by K.N. Senko

Disclaimer:  I came up with the labor shortage.  I made sure that Tom and B'Elanna got married and that they were having a girl.  I suggested that Seven get quarters.  Paramount stole it all from me:  i just wish they'd steal Kathryn and Chakotay's wedding and their baby, too.

To my readers:  I never wanted it to take this long for me to finish writing this story.  At the same time, i didn't want to write it too hastily.  I've read several stories with a good beginning, a great middle, and then a lousy ending.  I've decided that it's not only important for a story to have a good beginning and middle, but that it's vitally important that it have a good (if not great) end.

This story began to take form in my heart a long time before i started putting it down on paper, and it's changed with me along the way as i've actually written it.  I've always known that this story had to be written or it would drive me crazy for lack of expression.  I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to finish writing it, and as hard as it may be for you to understand, i've wanted to be able to read the end just as desperately as you have.

Inside, i've known what i've wanted to write since the beginning, but i had to find a way to unlock that and let it out for everyone to see, even me.  My muse couldn't be rushed, and i had to wait just as you had to, until God revealed to me the final touch and gave me the ability to finally write what you are about to read.  I apologize again for how long it's taken me to complete this journey, and i hope that you enjoy reading the story as much as i do.

Love in Christ,
Kristine ~ Star in Void

Kathryn had given up pacing when she became a captain.  The activity usually denoted apprehension, and seeing that one's captain was nervous only served to heighten the fears of any crewmember.  It had rarely given her any satisfaction anyway.  But tonight was not any night:  tonight was the only chance they had.  Deep down, she knew that she needed to see the crew just as much as they needed to see her.  Maybe it wasn't that she was pacing as much as she was walking the only corridors that were available to her.  She'd done it many times before:  touring the ship the night before a battle, an important away mission.  It was always for her as much as it was for them.  She wanted to be able to remember each face, to take them with her, to inspire her.  It had always served her well before.

She paused at most tables, taking the time to converse for a few moments with each member of the crew.  She could feel the tension in the air:  they were all as eager to be rid of this place as she was.  She wasn't sure how much they knew, but they were willing to follow her wherever she led.  They were always ready to follow her.

She was almost finished now.  Kathryn approached a new table, another four crewmembers that she wanted to see.  The quartet all turned to face her as she stopped before them.  Carey and Vorik were immedietely halfway out of their seats, and Kathryn held up her hands to stop them:

"Please," she smiled, "don't get up on my account."  The two engineers settled back in their seats, and she turned to B'Elanna.  "How are you all doing tonight?"

"I've briefed the team," she replied.  "We're ready."

"Well that's good to know, but it's not what I asked," Kathryn smiled at her chief engineer.  B'Elanna opened her mouth, but nothing came out.  She glanced at her subordinates, then back to the Captain, still unsure how to reply.

"We are eager to go, Captain," Seven supplied for her.

"Quite," B'Elanna finally managed.

"I would concur with those statements," Vorik agreed.  "I believe that the entire crew is highly anticipating tonight's events."  Leave it to a Vulcan to state the obvious...

Kathryn looked up suddenly, instantly aware of the motion that she had seen out of the corner of her eye.  They all watched one of the guards stroll by.  Several were posted around the perimeter of the room tonight...  They were all silent until he was out of earshot.

"How are you tonight, Captain?" Carey asked, breaking the silence.  She turned back to him, and he continued:  "I mean, it looks like you're getting close to being ready to deliver."  He looked away, embarrassed that he had said that.  She hadn't had much contact with Carey recently, and they had never been close enough to consider each other friends.  She knew that Carey was a father, though, and she understood--even appreciated--his concern:

"I'm doing fine, Lieutenant," she replied softly.  "Thank you for asking."  He looked up in surprise:

"Of course, Captain," he actually smiled in relief.  Kathryn smiled back:

"Enjoy your meal," she moved on, resuming her stroll.  She was all the way to the end of the next row before she realized that she'd better move, and fast.  The Borg twins catapulted past her so fast that she barely had time to get out of their way.

"Azan!  Rebi!" Neelix followed close behind them.  "I'm so sorry Captain," he apologized as he passed her the same way they had:  "I don't know what's gotten into them!"  Kathryn smiled:

"Boys will be boys," she replied as he bustled off.  She turned to find another trio standing before her.

"Good evening, Captain," Icheb greeted.

"Hello again," she greeted.

"You've grown, Captain," Mezoti stated.

"Mezoti," Naomi stated under her breath, elbowing her playmate.  Kathryn smiled and kneeled so that she was at the same level as the two girls:

"Yes, I have," she replied.  She lowered her voice:  "Don't tell anyone, though."  Kathryn pulled her baby blanket into view, out from behind her back:  "Do you think that you could take care of something for me?"

"What is it, Captain?" Naomi asked hopefully.  Kathryn opened up the blanket:

"Well, I have these clothes that I made for the baby..."  Naomi gasped when she saw them, and picked up the bootie:

"It's so tiny," she noted.  "Will the baby's foot actually fit inside this?"

"Yes it will," Kathryn replied.  "Do you think that you could take care of these for me tonight?"  Naomi made a face:

"We don't want to get them dirty..."  Mezoti was silent but contemplative, her finger rubbing the soft sweater.

"Oh, I'm sure that you two can handle it," Janeway replied.  "Of course, if you don't want the job, I could always ask Azan and Rebi..."

"No!" Mezoti blurted out suddenly.  She blushed, then took the sweater:  "They would only lose them," she stated logically.

"Well, then:  it sounds like I've come to the right persons."

"We won't let you down, Captain," Naomi smiled.  "Come on, let's tell Seven," Naomi pulled Mezoti across the room, and Kathryn watched them leave with a smile.

"May I speak with you, Captain?" Icheb asked, pulling her out of her reverie.  She nodded, placing her hand against the wall, trying to push herself up.  Unfortunately, it wasn't quite working.

 "Captain, are you alright?" Icheb asked in concern.  She started to laugh, unable to stop herself:

"I can't stand up," she chuckled.  Icheb reached down a hand and pulled her back up.  "Thank you, Icheb," she noted in relief.  "Now, you were saying?"
 
 
 

"Whoa," he told the two girls that stood before him.  "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?"

"To tell Seven," Naomi replied matter of factly.  "I'm sorry that I ran into you, Sir."

"Tell Seven what?" he asked.

"The Captain asked us to take care of something for her tonight," Mezoti supplied.  He glanced across the room, to where Icheb was helping his wife stand back up:

"And what might that be?" he asked, turning back to the girls.

"The things for the baby." Naomi proudly held out one of the small booties that Kathryn had worked so hard on:  "See?"

"Sounds like a big job for two little girls," he noted.

"We aren't little," Mezoti replied a bit defensively.

"I'm almost five," Naomi pronounced, rolling her eyes.

"Ah," he replied.  "Well, if the Captain trusted you with such a big job, she must trust you."  Naomi giggled in response.  "How would you two like to help me, too?"

"How?" asked Mezoti.

"I've been carrying something around for a couple of days, but I'm worried that I might lose it tonight."

"Lose what?" asked Naomi.  Chakotay stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out the second bootie:

"This."

"Oh," Naomi took it.  "I was wondering why the Captain only made one."  She looked inside, wrinkling her nose:  "What's shmily?"  Chakotay sighed:

"I wish I knew," he smiled.  "I've been meaning to ask her myself."  Mezoti took the note from Naomi and read it herself.  She held it out to him:

"Maybe you should keep this," she told him.

"Thanks," he took it.  "Now, I'm not going to have any problem getting those back, will I?"  Naomi giggled again.

"I don't think so," she replied.

"Good," he smiled.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Commander," Mezoti replied.

"Thanks," Naomi repeated.  She nudged Mezoti:  "Come on!"  Chakotay turned and crossed the room, nodding to several crewmembers along the way.  It didn't take him long to reach Kathryn and Icheb, who were just wrapping up their conversation:

"I see that you saved my wife," he smiled.  He discretely eased his hands onto her back:  "I may have to find some way to repay you."

"That won't be necessary, Commander," Icheb replied.  "I'm glad that I could help."  He turned back to her:  "Thank you for your time, Captain."

"Of course, Icheb," she replied as he left.  They both watched him go, standing in silence.

"What was that about?" he asked.  She led the way back to their table:

"He wanted to go with the engineering team," she spoke as she walked.

"What did you tell him?"

"What any good captain would say," she smiled.  "That I needed him more here."  She eased into her seat, setting the baby blanket on the seat beside her.  "I told him that Neelix needed help with the children."

"I'm glad that you didn't tell me that," he sat down across from her, and she laughed softly.

"He didn't like the idea of being told to babysit," she admitted, taking her fork.

"He'll get over it."  She nodded:

"They're growing up so fast."  He paused:

"How's our little one?" he asked.

"He isn't happy to be in such tight quarters," she replied.  "Did you realize..." she stopped, taking a deep breath, leaning forward slightly.

"Kathryn..."  She seemed a million miles away in those few seconds.  She smiled reassuringly when it was over:

"I'm alright."

"Your back?" he asked.  She nodded.  "You know, I could help you be more comfortable..."  He started to stand up, but she lifted a hand to stop him:

"No," she told him firmly.

"It's just a backrub," he retorted gently.  "The crew won't think anything of it... look at Tom and B'Elanna."  Her eyes didn't leave his as he motioned towards the couple:

"I'll live with it," she told him.  He sat back down, and they sat in uneasy silence.  "You know," she ventured.  "We haven't discussed a name."

"A name?" he asked blandly.

"For the baby," she replied.

"Captain."  They immedietely turned at Tuvok's voice, unaware that he had joined them, but immedietely aware of the warning his voice held.  Chakotay's eyes moved past him, to the two guards who were coming towards them.  They all turned in unison, only to find two more aliens approaching from the other side, effectively cornering the trio.  All three stood, but they had already descended upon them.

"You:"  Voyager's three highest ranking officers turned at the alien's voice.  "Come with us."  Chakotay stood and stepped forward, between her and the other men:

"Where are you taking her?" he asked calmly.  He knew without asking:  had been dreading such a possibility.

"She needs to see the doctor," the same man replied.

"That is illogical," Tuvok stepped forward this time.

"Is it?" the guard challenged.

"Yes," the Vulcan replied calmly.  He glanced towards Janeway:  "The Captain is not in need of medical attention at this time."

"Our doctor will be the judge of that."

"Forcing the Captain to travel to the medical facilities will only serve to tire her needlessly.  I doubt that 'your doctor' will be pleased."

"She's coming with us now," the alien stated firmly.  Tuvok exchanged a glance with the Captain, and both men stayed where they were.  "Step aside."  Chakotay could feel Tuvok comply, but he didn't move a millimeter.  He stared at the other man for a long, tense moment.  The guard shook his head:  "Don't make a scene," he stated, the challenge evident in his voice.

"She's my wife, and I'm coming with you," Chakotay stated firmly.  The guard took a half step backwards, allowing the silence to sink in, exchanging a knowing look with the guard that stood next to him.  Suddenly, he lunged forward, punching Chakotay in the stomach and sending him to his knees.

"Chakotay!" Kathryn was immedietely at his side, kneeling before him as he tried to catch his breath.  Chakotay shook his head, lifting it to see the man who had hit him:

"Is that all you got?"  The guard started forward in anger...  Kathryn moved between him and the alien, shielding him with her body.  The man took her arm, pulled her up, away from him.  Chakotay rose to his feet, but was held back by the two men who stood behind him.  Their superior officer turned towards the exit, pulling Kathryn with him.  Tom and Harry stood in the way, arms crossed.

"Let go of her," Tom stated glibly.

"Move aside," the man hissed.

"I don't think that you know what you're getting yourself into..."  B'Elanna pushed past her husband:  "You're liable to get hurt."  The man laughed:

"Nothing you could do to me would be anything compared to what will happen to you if you do not move out of my way."

"You wouldn't hurt a pregnant woman, would you?" Harry asked in mock worry.  That gave the alien pause.  Tom reached for the man's shoulder:

"Why don't we go somewhere nice and quiet and talk this over."  He squeezed the man's shoulder, and the man looked at Paris' hand:

"What...?"  Tom squeezed again, and the man fell to the ground.  Chakotay moved before the two men holding him could.  He turned on the one on his right, knocking him to the ground, unconscious, while Tuvok disposed of the one on his left and B'Elanna hit the one closest to Kathryn over the head with a tray.  Elsewhere in the room, other guards were disposed of just as quickly by various crewmembers.

"Mr. Paris," Kathryn stepped over the man that lay at her feet.  "I had no idea that you knew the Vulcan neck pinch."

"I've had a good teacher."

"You performed adequately," Tuvok noted.  He looked down at the man on the floor:  "Never the less, your technique needs improvement."

"It isn't easy learning on holograms, but I try."  Suddenly, he noticed that his wife was leaning on the table for support:  "B'Elanna..."  All eyes were on the young woman as he moved to her side:

"I'm alright," she said, a bit out of breath.  She straightened up:  "I just didn't expect the baby to complain so much."

"Perhaps you should restrict yourself to activities that are less strenuous," Seven noted, stepping closer to the engineer.

"The Captain's going tonight, so can I," Torres retorted.

"Yes, but she isn't actually hitting anyone," Chakotay stepped forward, handed Kathryn the baby blanket:  "I think this is our cue to leave."  Kathryn nodded, and pulled the afghan around her shoulders like a shawl:

"Alright, people..."  She paused:  "Let's do it."
 
 
 

It felt good to be back in control, to feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins.  She followed closely behind Chakotay and Tuvok, Paris and Kim at her side.  The group traveled silently, stealthily.  Tuvok signaled them to a halt as they reached the end of the building that sat next to the shuttle pad.  Surprisingly enough, they had yet to see any guards since they had left the ones in the cafeteria.  She knew that could change quickly and would at any time.

Tuvok turned to Chakotay, held up five fingers.  Her husband nodded back, and the two rounded the corner of the building.  There was no sound as the two men attacked silently, and Kathryn followed quickly.  It was obvious to her that they had caught this security detail by surprise.  That was expected:  what she couldn't believe was that one of them had the audacity to charge her...  Her, the pregnant captain!  She easily sidestepped his advance, and Tom assisted the man's trip into a wall.

Chakotay handed her a phaser calmly, then turned to follow Tuvok.  Fortunately, he seemed to be keeping his attention on the task at hand instead of worrying about her.  She was thankful for that:  it made her feel more at ease that she had finally made the right decision, allowing the nature of their relationship to change.  Now she just had to make sure that she wouldn't worry about him.
 
 
 

Chakotay dived out into the open, firing as he went.  A shot whined past his ear as he rolled, but he ignored it.  He landed in a crouch, and managed to take out two guards quickly and efficiently.  Tuvok had gotten the other two, but reinforcements were already trying to come out of the building.  He moved closer to the shuttle before he hit the dirt again and laid down fire, ignoring Kathryn, Tom, and Harry as they struck out for the shuttle.  He concentrated on keeping the men inside the building pinned inside.
 
 
 

Fortunately it hadn't mattered:  both Tuvok and her husband were experienced.  She rarely thought about how Chakotay had gotten some of that experience, but she took comfort in the fact that he had it.  He was out in the open, lying face down in the dirt, with only a phaser to protect him, could easily get hit by a good shot.  But he had been a Maquis and a Starfleet officer:  he knew what he was doing.  She pushed the obtrusive thoughts aside.

She saw the shield deactivate before she heard the alarm.  The loud sound startled her baby, and she smiled, laying a hand over him.  But she didn't allow herself to enjoy the moment.  She turned and moved closer to her two companions, trying to stay behind cover and see what was going on.

"Ow!" Harry cried out as he fell backwards to the ground, clutching his arm where it had been hit.  She helped him up, and he leaned up against the shuttle as best he could as she tried to examine his wound in the darkness.  He put his hand over hers, stopping her:  "I'm alright, Captain."  She nodded, then she took her phaser and left him, taking his place behind Tom.  She had phasered several guards before Paris yelped, pulling back and ducking behind the shuttle.

He had been grazed on the back of the hand, didn't seem too badly hurt, but Kathryn's attention had been pulled away from the battle entirely.  Tom pulled her back against the shuttle, effectively pinning her, just in time to avoid getting hit in the head.

"Won't hurt you, huh, Captain?" he asked, sarcastic.  He turned back to his work.  She didn't have a chance to reply, hadn't been ready for the contraction.  Perhaps it was because she had been distracted:  her attention certainly hadn't been on her body.  But suddenly her back was throbbing, and it was all she could do to breathe through it.  The sounds or the nearby fighting faded:  her attention was diverted inward.

Part of her was aware of the fact that her inability to focus on anything else left her vulnerable, but there was nothing that she could do about it.  She couldn't ignore what her body was doing any more than she could ignore her body's need for air.  The contraction didn't last long in reality:  but to her it seemed to take her body forever to release her from it.

 She hoped that Harry hadn't noticed, even ventured a glance towards him, but then she pushed herself back up to her feet, her mind already focused on the task at hand.  First to get back her ship, then to have her baby.  She would pay enough attention to her body to get through the contractions, but right now her duty was to the crew.  She turned her attention toward the expected rendezvous point.
 
 
 

Carey was already running out to meet him, and they both laid down the fire while Tuvok and Vorik escorted Torres and Seven to the shuttle.  Tuvok was actually assisting B'Elanna (he had no idea how the older man had managed getting her to accept that help), and he could hear Tom powering up the shuttle.

He signaled for Carey to climb aboard.  The younger man complied, then yelled his name as the hatch began to close.  Chakotay turned and ran the last five meters, while Carey and Tuvok made sure he didn't get hit.  Chakotay jumped into the shuttle, and Paris was lifting off almost before the hatch was closed all the way.  They were free.
 
 
 

Now that the immediate emergency was over, she needed to think about the next task at hand.  Harry seemed coherent enough, but didn't even seem to notice her contractions.  B'Elanna was quietly conversing with Seven, Carey, and Vorik, none of whom seemed even ruffled.  Chakotay was standing in the doorway to the cockpit, conversing with Tom and Tuvok.  Every few minutes he would look back, at her, as if he was afraid to let her out of his sight.

It didn't take her long to finish working on Harry's arm.  Once again her mind lacked focus, making it nearly impossible for her to keep her mind on anything besides what was happening to her body.  Her back ached so badly...  She longed for Chakotay's hands to work their magic, but they couldn't, not now, not in front of the crew.  Instead she stood to move to her husband's side:

"Status," her voice surprised the two men who were seated at the consoles.  They had been so focused on the task at hand that they hadn't heard her approach.

"We appear to have surprised our captors," Tuvok provided.  "As of yet, there is no sign of enemy spacecraft."

"ETA to Voyager?" she asked.

"Ten minutes," Tom replied.  "And there she is..."  Kathryn ducked to look, and her breath caught in her throat.  It did every time she saw her ship from afar.  Her grey hull was a sharp contrast against the black vacuum of space, the deep red moon she was in orbit around.  She didn't think that she had ever seen anything so beautiful in her life...  Well, nothing besides Earth and... she pushed that thought aside and watched Voyager slowly grow larger.  They would be back aboard her soon.
 
 
 

"As soon as we're aboard, I want you to go to engineering," she softly ordered him.  Chakotay didn't have a chance to reply.

"Two minutes," Paris reported.

Kathryn turned to watch their approach again, as professional as he had ever seen her, and then all that changed.  She placed her hand against the bulkhead for support, lifted the other to her back, and she closed her eyes, started breathing more deeply.  Her attention was pulled away from what was happening entirely, and it was more than enough for him to know.  He moved to stand behind her, his hands instinctively finding the tightness in her back.

He didn't think that she realized he was there at first.  He could see the subtle change in her breathing as it ended, as she relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy his touch, the relief he was providing.  And then she suddenly pulled away, turned to push past him into the back of the shuttle.  He followed her as she passed the crew without a word, pausing only to retrieve the baby blanket, stopping at the hatch.

"When do I get my wife back?" he asked softly.  She turned abruptly:

"I am your wife," she stated bluntly.  "I haven't gone anywhere."

"I'm new at the controls, so this may be a little bumpy," Paris called over his shoulder, loud enough for everyone to hear.  "Brace yourselves."  Kathryn placed her hand on the wall, but he ignored the warning.

"Kathryn, you're still acting like the Captain..."  She lifted a hand to stop him, death glare in place:

"I am the Captain, Commander, and I always will be," she replied.  "I don't have a split personality, as if she were someone I could ignore."  The shuttle landed with a slight bump, and Kathryn keyed the hatch open.

She was the first one out, and turned to wait, to watch the rest of the team depart.  She didn't have to:  everybody knew what they had to do, didn't have to be reminded to hurry.  But she wanted to.  She ignored Chakotay as he stood behind her, and fell into step beside Tuvok as he left the shuttle:

"Take the bridge," she commanded.  "Get the shields up and modified, and weapon systems online."  Tuvok nodded, looked towards him knowingly.  It was one of the rare moments in which a sense of understanding, even empathy, passed between the two men.  Tuvok turned back to his captain as she continued:  "I'll join you shortly," she finished.

"Understood," the Vulcan followed Tom and Harry from the room.  Kathryn turned to B'Elanna, who had just reached her, and adjusted her gate to match the other woman's.  The Half Klingon was actually slower than she was.  He followed behind them, waiting:  impatient.

"Are you still with me, B'Elanna?" Janeway asked her as they waddled across the room together.

"I'm fine, Captain," B'Elanna reassured her.  "We'll be ready."

"I had no doubt that you would be," she stopped, watching her leave, the last one, then turned to Chakotay.

"You're still here."  It was a statement, not a question.  She turned to lead the way out of the shuttle bay:  "They need you in engineering."

"Why?" he asked as he fell into step beside her.  She gave him a confused look, but didn't stop:

"We need to get the warp core up, and they need the hands..."

"No," he cut her off:  "why?"  She glanced over at him, not missing a stride:

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Why are you pushing me away, Kathryn?" he asked.  "Why are you treating me like just another member of the crew?"  Chakotay reached out for her, firmly held her by the arm, forced her to stop:  "In case you haven't noticed, you're in labor, and just because you're the Captain doesn't make you invincible!"  He could see that he had made her angry but he didn't care.  She had shunned him in the shuttle, pure and simple, and he deserved better than that.

"Do you think that being in labor gives me the permission to stop being the Captain?" she finally demanded.

"Yes!"

"It doesn't," she answered.  "Just because I'm having a child, just because my dreams of becoming a mother are finally coming true, doesn't mean that I can stop.  "I'm already the mother of every member of this crew, and I have to protect them, I have to make sure they're safe.  I already let them down when we got into this mess..."

"Is that what you think, Kathryn?" his voice cut through hers, stopping the stream of words that were pouring out of her.  "This isn't your fault," he shook his head.

"Isn't it?" she demanded.  He could see the pain behind her eyes.

"No," he assured her gently.  "This isn't anyone's fault:  no one's but the people who did this to us."  She turned away, losing the battle with the tears that were threatening to pour down her cheeks.  Suddenly, she placed her hand on the wall, lifted the other to her beautifully full belly, gasping out a sob.  "Hey," he moved to her side, put his arms around her, holding her as tight as he dared.

She was having another contraction; he could sense them almost as quickly as she could now.  But for the first time she was pressed against him, and he could feel it happening between them, her uterus contracting so hard that it scared him.  He could feel how hard her body was working to bring this baby into the world, and he was in awe of this process and of how she could have gone through this day so calmly, acting like nothing was happening in front of the crew and him.  "Kathryn..."

He couldn't keep the worry from his voice.  She didn't answer at first.  It seemed to take forever for her uterus to relax, for her to come back to him.  He hadn't realized until then that she had only been vaguely aware of his touch until then.  Just like in the shuttle...

"I'm alright," she told him.

"Are you sure?" he struggled to keep his voice calm.  He was scared for her.  How could she stay so calm, so levelheaded?  Didn't she understand what was happening to her?  She was about to have a baby!  Suddenly she saw his worry:

"Hey," she told him gently.  "Just breathe."

He smiled at this, and nodded.  They turned and traveled the last few steps to the turbolift, stopping at its doors.  He reached over to touch the button that would call it to them.  "How did you know?" she asked.  He looked to her, confused:

"Know what?"

"In the shuttle," she said softly.  "How did you know that I was having a contraction?" she paused.  "I've worked so hard to hide it..."

"Kathryn," he reached out to lift her chin, causing her eyes to meet his:  "I love you:  you could never hide that from me."

"Do you think that the crew knows?"

"No," he replied firmly.  "Except maybe Tuvok," he added in afterthought.  She nodded her understanding, and the turbolift doors opened.  She glanced toward the 'lift, then turned back to him:

"I need you, Chakotay," she told him.  "I need your support, your strength:  please don't make a huge deal out of this..."

"Kathryn, I understand how you feel the need to be there for the crew..."  She looked as if she were about to object, but he stopped her, lifted a hand to cover her mouth:  "I don't mind you being their mother..." he paused.  "Just let me be their father."  She nodded, smiled:

"You're right," she replied.  "I'm sorry."  He smiled back:

"I love you."

They met halfway, in their first kiss aboard Voyager.  It was different than any that she had ever given him before, because for the first time she was not only telling him that she loved him, but that she desperately needed him.  Not the way she had the night before, shyly wanting to know that he approved of her body...  No, this was a deeper need, a deeper kind of love.  She needed to know that she had his trust, approval, support, and would be there for her through this.  She was openly and honestly telling him that she couldn't do this on her own, that she didn't just want him to be a part of this, but needed him to be.

They pulled away to a hug, and he held her close to himself, could feel the baby move between them.  He rubbed her back in comfort, just holding her, offering the comfort that he knew she needed.

"Trust me?" she whispered.

"Yes," he told her.  "I trust you more than anyone else."  She sniffed by his ear, and he pulled away enough to see her face:  "Go to your bridge," he told her.

She kissed him again, quickly this time, almost as an afterthought, then backed away.  She let go of his hand as she stepped into the 'lift, still facing the corridor as was her custom.  Her gaze held his, and he saw her mouth the words 'I love you.'

"Bridge."  And then the doors close behind her.
 
 
 

"The modifications have been completed, Captain," Tuvok reported.

"We're breaking orbit," Tom reported.  "Setting a course for the planet at full impulse."  Paris glanced back at her as she slowly eased herself into the Captain's chair.  She shifted her weight:  it didn't fit her body quite right, the way she had known for six years.  She dropped the folded baby blanket into Chakotay's chair.

"I'm detecting two ships, Captain," Harry reported.  "They're on an intercept course."

"How long?" she asked.

"Twenty minutes."

"Go to red alert," Kathryn ordered.  The bridge darkened, was suddenly lit by the familiar red light.  She leaned as far to her left as she could, opened the console that she normally shared with her first officer, forced herself to calmly breathe through a contraction.  She could still only feel them in her back, but they were coming about every five minutes now, and she wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to work despite them.

She focused on the console as it finished opening, and as the contraction ended she noticed that it didn't seem quite right, the angle she was looking at the panel.  Then she realized that it was because she couldn't lean as close to it as she was used to:  her stomach was in the way.  "Bridge to Torres," she stated, her voice steady.  "How long until we have warp drive?"
 
 
 

"We may not have that," Kathryn's comm voice was steady, even:  every bit the Captain.  "We're going to have company."

"I'll see what we can do, Captain," B'Elanna replied.  "Torres out."
 
 
 

"We're entering orbit," Tom reported, glancing over his shoulder at her.  She nodded, turned to look toward Ops.

"Mr. Kim?"

"I've found them, Captain," Harry replied.  She smiled, turning back toward the front of the bridge: "Move us into position, Lieutenant."  Tom nodded, never turning his attention away from his console.  She turned her own console, noticed that the alien starships were still approximately ten minutes from intercept.  She wondered what was taking them so long.

"I've got a transporter lock, " Kim stated moments later. "Shields," Kathryn ordered.

"Shields are down," Tuvok reported.

"Energize."

"Captain, two ships are coming out of warp on our port bow!" Paris cut her off.  "They came out of nowhere..."

"Shields!" she ordered, cutting him off.  She turned, looking to Kim:  "Ensign?"

"I was able to get half the crew," he reported.  "I only need a few seconds..."  Voyager shook as both enemy ships fired upon her simultaneously.  Kathryn pushed herself out of her chair and walked toward the conn:

"Take us into the atmosphere, Tom," she ordered.

"Captain?" he looked up to her in surprise.

"I'm betting that they won't be able to follow us," she explained, inwardly cursing her body for choosing this moment to have a contraction.  At least she was able to continue functioning through it.  She didn't need to focus her full attention on it now:  they had become less painful since she had gotten back to Voyager.  She was more relaxed here, and the fact that she wasn't running around probably had something to do with it as well.

"Which will buy us a couple of minutes," Tom nodded his understanding as she reached his side.  "Aye, Captain, taking us down."
 
 
 

"Are you okay?" he asked.  She lifted her gaze:

"I'm fine," she turned back to her work.

"You're sure that you're not pushing yourself too hard?"

"Don't start," she held up a hand.  "The last thing I need right now is two Tom Paris' to deal with."  Chakotay grinned.  "Besides," she shrugged:  "If the Captain can do it, I don't see why I can't."  Chakotay nodded solemnly.

Voyager shook, and Chakotay grabbed B'Elanna before she could fall.  He recognized the familiar sensation of being under fire, and turned back to his console as soon as the engineer was steady on her feet again.

"What's happening?" B'Elanna demanded, walking around the core towards the console where Carey and Seven of Nine stood.  Voyager shook again, but she was ready for it this time.  They both turned in surprise when the red klaxons suddenly changed to blue, and Chakotay turned back to the sensors:

"Looks like we're going down," he informed her.

"Why didn't they call us?"

"Communications were damaged during the attack," Seven reported.  "Attempting to bring them back online..."  Suddenly, a dozen engineers entered engineering.  Chakotay smiled in sympathy as B'Elanna first yelled at them for tracking mud into her engine room, then started calling out orders.  She stopped beside Seven, who turned to her immedietely.  "Done," she stated with flourish.

"Finally," B'Elanna replied as the ship shook again.  She stopped at Chakotay's side again, grabbing hold of the railing just before the ship lurched from another barrage of phaser fire.  These aliens weren't going to give up easily.

B'Elanna hit her communicator:  "Engineering to the Captain."
 
 
 

"They're here, Captain, but..." "Just get the warp core online, B'Elanna:  Janeway out."  She turned back to her engineer's husband.

"They're breaking off pursuit, Captain," the ship suddenly leveled, allowing her to let go of the console.  "Inertial dampeners are back to 100%," Tom smiled at her.  She nodded, turned to speak to Kim:

"Harry, can you beam the rest of the crew up from here?"

"I think so, Captain," Harry scowled at his console.  "I'm ready."  Kathryn nodded:

"Do it."

"Shields down," Kim replied.  "Energizing."  Kathryn stared at the screen for a long moment.  "We've got them," he stated at last, the relief evident in his voice.  "All crewmembers are accounted for."  Another blast nearly knocked her off her feet:

"Shields up," she ordered as she steadied herself.  There wasn't time to celebrate yet:  "Take us up, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Ma'am," Tom replied.

"Captain, those ships are moving to intercept," Harry reported.  "And their friends will be here any minute now."  Voyager trembled for a moment, and Kathryn reached out to steady herself, wondering what this new development was.

"They have locked onto our hull with a tractor beam," Tuvok reported calmly.  Kathryn turned to face the Vulcan:

"Options?" she asked.

"Chakotay to the Captain."  Oh, it was good to hear his voice.  She smiled when her child moved within her, even at his father's comm voice.

"Janeway here," she replied.
 
 
 

"Of course," he heard Kim interrupt.  "If we beam it between us and the other vessel, it should give us time to go to warp."

"Provided that the smaller vessel is not destroyed in the process," Tuvok's voice.  "Captain, the forces that our hull would undergo without the protection of shields..."

"The way I see it, we don't have any other choice," Chakotay cut him off.  "I'm open to any other suggestions," he added to the end.  There was no reply for a long moment.  "With your permission," Chakotay continued, "I can coordinate this from down here."

"How long until the warp core is back online?" Kathryn asked.

Chakotay looked up in surprise as the deck suddenly acquired a new vibration, then smiled as the blue antimatter in the warp core began to dance and the tall column pulsed to life.

"We have warp drive, Captain," B'Elanna answered.
 
 
 

"Good work, Lieutenant," she stated.  "Let's…"

"Captain," Tuvok interrupted her.  "We are being hailed."  She studied his expression for a long moment, then turned to face the front of the bridge.

"On screen," she replied.

"You disappoint me, Captain," the alien's face filled the screen.  "I expected at least some feeble attempt at escape by now."

"Esod," she approached the navigational console, stopping at Tom's side:  "How nice to see you again."

"I assure you, the feeling is mutual, Captain," he replied.  "I've always wondered what it would be like to face a woman in battle.  I was looking forward to such a possibility, particularly because of your condition."

"Aren't your superiors angry with you for allowing a feeble woman in my condition to escape?" she asked calmly.

"Perhaps we underestimated you once…"  He leaned forward:  "I will not allow it to happen again."  She smiled:

"I feel compelled to inform you, Esod," she leaned forward as well, pressing her palms against the top of the conn:  "I never surrender.  I'll destroy this ship before I'll put up a white flag," she kept her gaze locked with her opponent's.  Esod shook his head, grinning sardonically:

"And kill your crew, your mate, and your child?" he asked.  "I think not."  Kathryn stood up straight again:

"Maybe you're right," she replied.  "But that doesn't mean that I have to bow to the wishes of the likes of you."

"What exactly would you suggest, Captain?" Esod scoffed.  "Reinforcements are only moments away, and you're in my tow pulse!"  He paused:  "Surrender now, and I'll spare the lives of your crew."

"And allow you to take our children from us?" she asked.  "Never."

"I ask you again, what option do you have?"  Tom turned to look up at her, clearly enjoying watching the conversation unfold before him, and Kathryn smiled, allowing the silence to sink in:

"Esod, it's been a pleasure getting to know you, but we have to go now."  He pulled back, confused.  "Maybe next time you won't underestimate a woman," she paused:  "or her crew."  Esod sputtered, and Tuvok chose that moment to cut the commlink.

"They're surrounding us, Captain," Tom reported.  Her smile faded, and she turned her attention back to the issue at hand and the console in front of her.  There was the ship in front of them, another on their port side.  Two more were coming to rest at starboard and aft:

"Janeway to Chakotay," she stated calmly. “Are you ready?”

"Yes, Captain," Chakotay's voice came back.  She paused:

"Do it."  Her crew jumped into action:

"Shields down," Tuvok reported.

"Energizing," Chakotay stated.  Kathryn watched the alien shuttle materialize in space, blocking her view of the alien warship that had filled their viewscreen only a moment earlier.

"Lieutenant…" she stated.

Tom didn't reply, but hit the thrusters, sending them straight up, barely in time to escape the brunt of the shuttle's blast as it was destroyed.  The ship lurched, then paused, its nacelle's rising into position.  Voyager jumped into warp.

Kathryn let out a breath that she hadn't even realized she had been holding.  She smiled when she heard the cheers that were coming from engineering, at Tom's smile.

“Good work, Chakotay,” she smiled, “all of you.  I’ve never been prouder of my crew than I am right now.”

“Glad to have helped, Captain,” her husband replied.  “Chakotay out.”  She turned to Paris.

"Congratulations, Captain," he told her.  She nodded:

"Set a course for home, Lieutenant."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.  She turned to face Tuvok, placing her hand on the railing that was between them:

"Signs of pursuit?"

"None, Captain," Tuvok replied.  "The ships in question do not have sufficient warp capability to overtake us."  She nodded:

“Damage report,” she looked to Kim this time.

“Transporters are offline, there are some isolated power failures… and moderate hull damage,” Harry reported.  “Other than that, we’re in pretty good shape,” he finished with a smile.

"Good work, people," she turned, fully intending to finally return to her chair, uncomfortable or not.  "Mr. Paris, remain at warp…" she gasped as a contraction cut her off.  The strength of it enveloped her, completely taking her by surprise.  She clung to the railing for support, falling to her knees on the steps that led from the conn up to her command chair.  Breathe, she told herself, just breathe through it.  It seemed like forever before the contraction subsided.

"Captain," Tom called her name, and she had the distinct feeling that it hadn't been the first time.

"I'm alright," she reassured the worried officer.  She tried to rise off her knees, but Tom stopped her:

“No, you stay there,” he told her, as if he was amazed that she had even tried.  She hadn’t been able to, anyway.  She rubbed her abdomen with her free hand, still holding the railing.  Then she hit her communicator:  "Janeway to Chakotay…" she was cut off by another contraction, just as strong as the last.
 
 
 

"I think that you'd better get up here, Chakotay," Tom’s voice finally came.  "Looks like this baby is going to be here pretty soon."  Chakotay was already halfway to the ‘lift.
 
 
 

During her daughter’s birth, it had terrified her.  She had been a young woman who had wanted nothing more than to be in control.  But she couldn’t control this.  Justin hadn’t been there, was already gone, and she had drawn strength from the only person she could:  her mother.  That had been a long labor, and eventually she had discovered that she had to let go and let her body do what it was designed to do.  It had been so much easier after that, and was still the most incredible experience of her life.

But this time it was different.  The pain she felt in her back was worse than anything she had ever known.  She had let go, had surrendered herself to her body as she had so many years ago, but the pain still threatened to overwhelm her.  What was worse was that it was slowly becoming even more painful, and she wasn't sure that she could get through this.

“Where’s that medkit?!?” Tom yelled.

“Perhaps it would be prudent to move the Captain to Sickbay,” Tuvok informed the medic calmly.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Tom replied.  “These contractions are right on top of each other.”

“Here,” Harry suddenly appeared above her, handed Tom a rectangular case.  “I’m on my way to Sickbay…”

“Right,” Tom answered as he opened the medkit, extracting its tricorder.  He was immedietely scanning her.  Harry rose to leave, to try to bring the Doctor online:  she had forgotten about him.  Ironically, he wasn’t the person she most wanted to see right now.  She could care less whether Harry and B’Elanna got him to work or not.  Who she needed was Chakotay:

“I’m here Kathryn…” she looked up in surprise as her husband knelt beside her.  She hadn’t heard him arrive:  he must have come in on the same ‘lift Harry used to leave.  She reached up, easing her hand behind his neck.  She pulled him down to her, and their lips met.  He probably had no idea how much she needed that kiss.  Her eyes met his when he pulled away:

“Took you long enough.”  He took her hand, and her fingers slid through his, meshing together until their hands were palm to palm:

“I came as fast as I could.”  She barely heard his reply:  her attention was suddenly turned inward:  another contraction.  What was happening to her body was all that she could think of.  She gripped his hand tightly, holding on for dear life.  Her eyes were locked on their fingers, on the way each one of hers pressed into the flesh on the back of his hand.  His hand was so white:  she was the reason.  She was hurting him, but she didn’t know how to stop.  The pain in her back was more than she could bear, was worse than it had been so far, and she needed that hand so much.

He didn’t complain, not even after it had ended.  He was her only anchor in the building storm.  The pain in her back was one huge wave, threatening to overwhelm her.  They rode the tide together, until she felt it subside into nothingness, leaving only a dull ache in her lower back.  She didn’t miss the way that her husband looked to Paris in concern:

"They’ve been like this ever since her water broke,” Tom told him returning to his scanning.  “It’s like she was just thrust into active labor without warning; I’ve never seen anything like it."  Kathryn actually laughed; it surprised her.

"You think my labor just started?” she asked.  Tom looked confused.

“She’s been in labor all day,” Chakotay supplied.

“Oh,” Paris blushed, then realized:  “You mean when she went with those guys…  You’re really crazy, Captain, running around down there,” he shook his head.  “You could have gotten shot...”

That was all she heard.  Another contraction already had her:  it seemed that one was hardly finished before another would begin, she mused as it ended.  Ended:  ha.  That was such a lie.  One contraction ending only  meant that there would be another one within minutes, if not seconds.  But this one wasn’t over:  it peaked a second time, causing her to gasp in surprise.  Finally it waned away to nothing, bringing her one contraction closer to the time she would be able to hold her baby in her arms.  Then the tricorder's alarm went off.

"What's wrong?" Kathryn asked.  She tried to fight down the panic that was already welling up inside.  She didn’t want to be scared right now, couldn’t handle being scared:  that wouldn’t be good for her or the baby.  Tom hesitated, and she propped herself up on her elbows:

"Mr. Paris, you'd better tell me what's wrong, and you'd better tell me now."  Tom looked to Chakotay, as if in question, and her husband nodded.

"The baby's breech, Captain.”  The bridge was suddenly silent.  Tuvok turned to watch her from the helm, where he had been seated since Chakotay arrived, and she closed her eyes, uneasy under everyone’s gaze.  She was the captain, even now they expected her to know what to do…  The trouble was, she didn’t have the slightest idea what she could do.

“The doctor,” she licked her dry lips, looking up at Chakotay.  “She said that the baby had already turned.”

“The baby must have turned again,” Tom replied  “All I know is that the baby's turned the wrong way now."  Kathryn eased herself all the way down to the deck, stared at the ceiling.  “I’d recommend a fetal transport, but…”

“The transporters are offline,” Chakotay finished solemnly.  Kathryn closed her eyes:  what now?

“I’ve never delivered a breech, Captain,” Tom told her, “not even in simulations.”

“Perhaps if you attempted to turn the baby…” Tuvok began to suggest.

“I don’t have the training for that,” Tom cut him off.  “This could be very dangerous.  I’m not sure that I can…”

"I can," Chakotay interrupted.  Her body chose this moment to throw herself into another contraction.  She fought to stay aware of the outside world, to hear what was being said…

"What?" Tom was asking, incredulous.

"My mother was our tribe's midwife," her husband told him.  “When I was born, I came out upside-down.  That’s what the tribe calls them... breech births.”  His attention was pulled back to her now as she let out as she keened in pain, the contraction once again peaking a second time.  She hadn’t been able to hold back the cry of pain it caused, hadn’t consciously turned towards him as she had, pulling her knees up as far towards her chest as she could.  Chakotay held her in his arms, rubbing her back as Tuvok knelt behind her:

“And you believe that you are qualified to assist the Captain?”

“Yes,” Chakotay replied.  Kathryn forced her body to relax and her uterus slowly did the same.  Chakotay stroked her hair, brushing it out of her face, as he spoke again:  “My mother delivered with only my father's assistance, and I once helped her deliver the baby of a woman in our tribe whose baby hadn't turned, either.”  Kathryn nodded, and her husband kissed her forehead.

“I have to get off my back,” she told him, still out of breath.  He nodded, and lifted her up, off the deck, so that she was sitting indian-style.

"Captain, Vulcan women…" Tuvok began to note that Vulcan women labored entirely on their backs as had been the custom for thousands of years.  Kathryn cut him off before he even had a chance to voice the thought:

"I'm not a Vulcan woman," she stated adamantly.  Her chief of security seemed surprised by the outburst.

“Like this?” Chakotay asked her, ignoring Tuvok.

“No, on my knees I think.”  He nodded, and started to help her up.  Tuvok assisted her from the other side.

“Tuvok, transfer all command functions to engineering,” her husband ordered calmly.  He took a pillow from Tom, eased it under her knees, lowering her to the deck until she was sitting on her heels:  “You’ll take command there,” he finished.

“Understood,” Tuvok moved his hand to rest on her shoulder, gaining her full attention:

“You are a strong woman, Captain,” he stated softly.  “I have no doubt that you will ultimately find that your pains are worth the effort.”  He paused, hesitated:  “You will make an excellent mother.”  Kathryn reached out to touch his cheek:

“Thank you, old friend,” she replied softly, managing a small smile.

“I will see that you aren’t disturbed, and that Voyager is returned to full efficiency.”

“Thank you,” she replied gently.  Tuvok nodded and left without another word.
 
 
 

He held her as she breathed through another contraction:  she was leaning against him for support, and he was starting to get tired, but he couldn’t complain.  All he wanted to do was make this as comfortable for her as he could.  He could only do so much…  For instance, he couldn’t reach her back from where he was.  It was Tom’s hands that were rubbing the pain away as each contraction came.  He wasn’t nearly as good at giving massages as Chakotay, but their friend wanted to help her just as much as he did.  They both knew that it helped her back more than she could say, almost made the pain bearable for her.  It was all they could do.

Kathryn head fell to his shoulder as the contraction ended.  She puffed into his neck, trying to get her breath back:  they were almost right on top of each other now.  Her calm demeanor amazed him.

“This baby’s in a hurry,” Tom scanned, relieved to finally have a short break.

“Easy for you to say,” she replied, her breathing slowly returning to normal.  “You aren’t doing all the work.”  Chakotay smiled and rubbed her arm.

“You’ve dilated three centimeters in the last hour,” Tom’s replied.  “How’s the pain?  Am I doing alright?”

“I’ll live with it,” she replied.  Typical response for Kathryn.  “It isn’t your fault that this baby is a stubborn as his father.”  He wasn’t sure if she was joking or not…  She moaned as another one started:  not an outburst as he had seen come from his mother’s patients or in the simulations he had went through at the Academy…  Kathryn didn’t allow herself that, was too much a captain, even now.  No, this sound was uncontainable yet controlled at the same time, distinctly Kathryn.

Tom was already back at his task, and no one spoke.  She held onto Chakotay as if for dear life:  even for him, it took forever for the contraction to end.  And then it was over, and she lifted her head to see him.  Their eyes met, and he was surprised by the tears he saw running down her cheeks:

“I can’t do this,” she told him, only loud enough for him to hear.  “Make it stop, Chakotay, please…”  Her admission amazed him:  she seemed so put together.

“I can’t, Kathryn:  but I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”  He lifted a hand to touch her cheek:  “You’re almost done.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” he assured her.  “I’m in awe, Kathryn:  I’m so proud of how well you’re doing.”

“You’re just saying that,” she scoffed.  He reached out to lift her chin, causing their eyes to meet:

“No,” he told her.  “I’m not.”  She looked like she was about to cry again:

“Only because I have you with me,” she told him.  She looked away, lifted her right hand to her abdomen, preparing herself for the contraction she knew was coming.  He searched his mind for something else to say.  He wanted to keep her as relaxed as possible while she waited:

“I got your note,” he pronounced.  Once again, he had her full attention:

“You lost it, didn’t you?” she asked of the bootie.

“No, I gave it to Naomi,” he brushed her hair off her face.

“Lucky for you,” she casually lifted a hand to wipe away the wetness on her cheeks:  “I would have had to throw you into the brig and make you knit a replacement."  She actually smiled.

“What does shmily mean?” he asked.  And then it hit her:  she curled slightly at the force of it, holding her midsection.

“You want to know now?” she managed to gasp out.  That was when B’Elanna suddenly burst onto the bridge.

“Alright, I have him,” the engineer proclaimed as she exited the turbolift.  B’Elanna crossed the bridge, stopping only a meter away from them.  She held up the mobile emitter, making the last few needed adjustments:  the Doctor shimmered into existence.

“Please state the nature...”

“The Captain needs you,” B’Elanna cut him off.  The hologram gave Torres a visual once over:

“Lieutenant, you’re pregnant.”

“So, I’ve noticed.”

“There must be some mistake:  according to my data banks, I’ve only been deactivated for a little over a week.”

“No mistake,” B’Elanna turned him around, and he noticed the Captain for the first time.

“Captain!”  The Doctor kneeled beside her:  “Are you alright?”

“Don’t touch me,” she managed to get out clearly, despite the fact that she was still in the middle of the contraction.

“Would someone please tell me what’s happening?” the Doctor asked.

“She’s in labor, Doc,” Tom replied matter-of-factly, not looking up from his task of applying pressure to Kathryn’s back.

“Leave it to you, to state the obvious, Mr. Paris,” the hologram retorted.

“The baby’s breech and she’s in back labor,” Chakotay answered the Doctor’s question softly.

“It’s not that bad,” Kathryn panted, her hands gripping his arms so tightly that it hurt.

“Right,” Tom rolled his eyes.

“Well why doesn’t someone perform a fetal transport?” the Doctor demanded.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Kathryn asked no one in particular.  She turned to face the EMH:  “Maybe it’s because the transporters are offline!”  The Doctor pondered that one for a moment:

“Good answer,” he replied.  B’Elanna shot him a dirty look as she handed him the tricorder that had been forgotten at Tom’s knees.  The Doctor opened it and began scanning:  her contraction had ended, but she was still out of breath.  “Well, no one ever said that she did things the easy way,” he noted.  “You’re almost fully dilated Captain:  fortunately, I don’t think that you’ll have any difficulties delivering the baby.  I wouldn’t recommend it in the future, however,” the Doctor closed the tricorder.  “Now if you’ll just move aside, Commander, I can take it from here.”

“No,” Kathryn replied.  The Doctor looked perturbed:

“Captain, I can’t…”

“She said no,” Chakotay told him firmly.

“Who’s going to deliver this baby, you or me?”

“It looks like Chakotay is, Doc,” Tom replied.

“Captain, I’m afraid that I must insist…”

“Stop it, all of you,” Kathryn ordered, her captain’s voice long gone.  She gasped as another contraction began...
 
 
 

“It’s a boy, Kathryn,” Chakotay smiled.  He was crying, too.  They were too happy not to.

“Well done, Commander,” the Doctor beamed.  Kathryn glanced towards him:  “Oh, and of course you did quite well yourself, Captain,” he amended.

“Thank you for realizing that, Doctor,” Kathryn turned back to her baby.

“I don’t suppose anyone could tell me how we picked up two extra passengers so quickly?”

“It’s a long story, Doctor,” B’Elanna replied.  “But two doesn’t even come close.”  The Doctor looked at her, confused, but didn’t comment.  He turned to admire his newest patient.  The half Klingon, on the other hand, inhaled sharply.

“B’Elanna,” Tom touched her in concern.

“I’m alright,” she said.  “Must be sympathy pains.”

“Seeing as the Captain is no longer in pain, I find that very unlikely,” the Doctor noted.  B’Elanna gasped again, obviously having a contraction.  The Doctor opened the trusty tricorder, concerned:

“There must be something wrong,” the half Klingon-half Human objected.  “I’m not due for another month.

“On the contrary,” the Doctor stated.  “You appear to be at full term, Lieutenant.”

“What?” she asked.

“We’re going to have a baby,” Tom smiled.

“I’m not ready,” B’Elanna puffed.

“You’ll have to get ready soon,” the Doctor replied.  “We’d better get you to Sickbay.”  The trio left in a hurry, oblivious to the blissful command team and their new addition.  Chakotay moved closer to his wife and son:

“He’s beautiful, Kathryn,” he told her.  She smiled:

“Thank you,” she pushed back the blanket with her finger, and her baby caught hold of it:  “for everything,” she told him.

They sat there in silence as she counted his fingers and toes, fell in love with his small nose and round, full lips.  She never wanted to let go of him… but she knew that Chakotay needed to hold him.  She sat up straighter, gingerly held him out to her husband:

“Kathryn…” he looked terrified.

“Hold your son, Chakotay,” she told him, laying him into his arms.  He took him without further complaint, and Kathryn smiled as she settled him into his arms.  He relaxed gradually, and she could she that he was falling in love with their baby just as quickly as she had.  Her hand moved to rest her son’s head, to rub the black fuzz that it was covered with, and their son gurgled.  Kathryn gasped:  “Chakotay, his eyes.”

Chakotay looked at her, worried, and then turned back to look at his son.  Then he smiled:  he saw what she meant.  Their baby’s eyes were blue.  “How…?” she couldn’t finish the question.  Didn’t need to:  Chakotay understood.

“Centuries ago, when the women of our tribe were raped by white conquerors, many gave birth to their children...”  Her husband spoke softly yet smoothly, as if he had heard this story a million times before and knew it by heart.  His voice grew stronger as he continued:  “But we did not reject them:  they were accepted by the tribe.”  He paused:  “One was a direct ancestor of mine…  His name was Seaktu; he became a great leader of our people.”  He lifted his eyes, and they met her own:  “Here is a man who was given life without his mother’s consent.”   A tear ran down her cheek:

“That’s his name,” she told him.  “Seaktu.”  Chakotay looked back to his son and nodded:

“Seaktu,” he repeated softly.  Kathryn watched the two most important men in her life study each other.  And then Seaktu opened him mouth and let out a cry.  Kathryn took him from her husband, and as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do, unbuttoned the top of her dress to give him her breast, silencing his cries.  Chakotay moved closer to her side, watching them both, and she leaned against him gently, allowing him to join in as their son ate his first meal.

She was the first to break the silence:  “This is shmily, Chakotay,” she told him.  “This is.”  She pulled her eyes away from their baby, and lifted her eyes to meet Chakotay’s again:  “See how much I love you?”  Chakotay smiled and lifted a hand to touch her cheek, his thumb wiping away her tears, and suddenly Kathryn realized:  for the first time in her life, everything was perfect.  They were still thousands of lightyears from home, and she knew that the journey ahead was long and hard, but they would make it.  They would get through it together.