Chakotay leaned against the doorway of laboratory room A. Kathryn was engrossed in conversation with Sekar, one of the Vulcan members of her science team. The base hadn't been set up for much more than 30 days and already Kathryn and Sekar had become fast friends. It appeared that they were arguing about the correct way in which to contain an energy source they'd discovered during one of the more recent survey missions. Chakotay didn't want to interrupt, but he was sure Kathryn wouldn't mind. He cleared his throat to get her attention. 

Kathryn glanced up, and said something more before handing a container to Sekar. She crossed the room with a determined look. "Chakotay, you're a mess!" she exclaimed, reaching up to remove one of the larger smudges across his cheek. 

"Oh, Sorry," Chakotay said with a laugh. "I thought I got it all." He'd removed the dust-covered smock upon entering the science area. He'd then wiped his face with it. Obviously, the smock hadn't been the proper thing to use. But, he hadn't wanted to wait to tell her the news. "Do you have a minute?" he asked her. 

Kathryn glanced quickly back into the room. "Sure. What's up?" 

"We've just received a new applicant requesting to be a part of our team." 

"Okay." Kathryn said, waiting for the rest of it. They were always getting requests to join their team. Theirs was the type of assignment scientists longed for. They currently had several hundred resumes on file. 

"He's waiting in the reception center," Chakotay continued. 

"Chakotay, you know we don't need any more --" 

"But Kathryn, he's different. Telorans are lining up to be trained on the old knowledge. You've already told me that some of the information looks like medical data. This new applicant would be uniquely qualified to handle that portion of our work. He's probably the most..." 

"Chakotay." Kathryn stopped him. "You don't mean..." 

"What don't I mean?" Chakotay asked, thoroughly enjoying himself. 

"The Doctor?" 

Chakotay's smile was her answer. "So much was lost here. The Federation has allowed him a leave of absence to pursue this interest. He'd like to assist in rediscovering some of their lost medical knowledge. He could teach. He could also fill in here as well should we need him." 

"It'd be wonderful to have him," Kathryn said. "I'm surprised though that the Federation agreed to do that. Aren't they worried about losing him, or his autonomous emitter?" 

"He's got a backup at headquarters. And I imagine that they don't think our mission is too dangerous. There are only a few races in this sector and non seem to be too interested in what we're doing here." 

"Well, whatever the reason. I'm glad he's here. I never thought I would miss his annoying..." 

"I heard that," a familiar voice sounded from further along the corridor. 

"I meant it in the very nicest of ways," Kathryn assured the Doctor as she entered the reception center. 

"I'm sure," the Doctor said skeptically. "You are looking well, Captain. It appears that this position is good for you, or is it perhaps married life?" 
 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

"You're going to wake him up!" Chakotay admonished, barely above a whisper. Kathryn was the one who put her finger to her lips. 

"No, I'm not. I just want to see him." She continued quietly into the room and leaned over a white bassinet. A tiny form was illuminated by the scant moonlight that shone into the room. 

"Oh, look at him!" Kathryn softly exclaimed. "He's precious." Unable to resist the temptation, she reached into the bassinet and ran a gentle finger over the child's head. The feel of soft downy hair brought an adoring smile to her lips. 

"Kathryn..." Chakotay warned again, though his tone was more amused resignation than anything else. 

"Shhh--" Kathryn put her hands to her lips again. "I'm just --" Both adults froze at the soft sound that issued from the bassinet. 4 week old Ian Paris opened pale blue eyes and gazed hazily at the adults staring down at him, then released a contented sigh and drifted back to sleep. 
 
"Told you." 

Kathryn completely ignored the remark. "Do you think she'd mind if I held him for just a little while?" 

"Kathryn," Chakotay sighed, knowing that the battle he fought was lost. "You're going to spoil him, and then B'Elanna is going to have my head." 

"Oh, come on, Chakotay. They expect us to spoil him. It's our moral duty. Besides, think of it as practice." Kathryn gently gathered the small bundle into her arms, murmuring softly to him as she moved toward B'Elanna's rocking chair. 

"Auntie Kathryn is going to take very good care of you while your mommy and daddy enjoy their first anniversary. See that fella over there...," Kathryn continued to coo, nodding in Chakotay's direction. "We can let him help..." 

Chakotay chuckled softly as he settled on a low stool. He watched her as she continued to talk to the sleeping infant. After a time, the room fell silent except for the sound of the Ian's gentle breathing. Chakotay broke it. 

"Were you serious about that?" 

Kathryn glanced up. "Serious about what?" 

"Having a child." 

"I've thought a lot about it lately," Kathryn admitted. "An awful lot. I'd always thought I'd have one someday, but there was always something else I wanted to do first. Now, I wonder if it isn't too late." 

"Why would it be too late?" Chakotay asked. "It isn't as if we're stranded in the Delta Quadrant." 

"No," Kathryn smiled. "But, we do live in the Delta Quadrant. And there's so much work to do on Telora. The science team is always short-handed -- " 

"Kathryn..." 

"There are only a handful of supply visits a year, and..." 

"Kathryn..." 

"I'd want them to have a back yard to play in and..." 

"Kathryn Janeway. Do you want to have a child? Our child?" 

"Yes. More than anything." 

"Then you have to admit to yourself that all of those reasons are just excuses. After that, the rest is up to nature." 

"You make it sound so easy. Can you really imagine us, with children?" 

"Yes. We had 150 of them, remember?" 

"Not exactly what I meant." 

"I know. And the answer is yes. I've already imagined it. A little girl, your stubbornness, my charm..." 

Kathryn laughed. "Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves, here? Don't we need to let nature take its course first?" 

"Well, much like parenting, that takes practice." 

"You're bad," Kathryn accused with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I like that." 
 
Ian interrupted the conversation with an unhappy whine. He raised a tiny balled fist into the air and struggled to get it into his mouth. 

"Looks like someone else has an appetite." 

 ~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

"You're heading for a meltdown," Chakotay warned as he returned to the small fire. Kathryn sat, her back leaning against a rock, her gaze far away. She started at his words and scrambled for the long stick containing a distinctly over-toasted marshmallow. 

She watched the brownish black blob droop into the fire. "I warned you I was no good at this," she said with a sigh, throwing the stick into the fire. 

"You were very far away. Tell me about it?" Chakotay asked. 

Kathryn smiled softly. "I was just thinking about Tuvok's visit. He seems happy in his new position...or as happy as a Vulcan is likely to admit to being, anyway." 

Chakotay nodded. Kathryn had seemed withdrawn since Tuvok had left, which was why he'd suggested the marshmallow toast. He'd been trying to pull her out of her mood. Tuvok was chief of security of the outpost that the Federation had built on the Alpha Quadrant side of the wormhole. Every couple of months, he also escorted the vessel that delivered messages and supplies to the moon base. Chakotay had a feeling he knew what was bothering her. 

"And little Ian, he's grown so much." She continued, obviously remembering the holo image Tom and B'Elanna had sent. Despite her happiness for the couple, sadness lingered. "She says he'll probably be walking soon. I can't believe how much time has passed..." 

"It'll happen for us, Kathryn." Chakotay squeezed her hand. "It's just a matter of time. You'll see. We just need to relax and let it happen." 

"I know," Kathryn sighed, turning so that her back was leaning against him. 

"You know what you need?" Chakotay asked, moving quickly to his feet. 

"What?" Kathryn turned to watch him as he ran back into their home. They divided their time between the home the Teloran's had built for them in the village and their quarters on the moon base. 

Chakotay appeared a few moments later carrying both their medicine bundles. She hadn't used hers in years, and she knew Chakotay often meditated early in the morning. 

"I want to show you the desert..." 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

Chakotay ran a hand over his face. It had been a long day, and he was tired. Most of the team had retired to the temp shelters. There wasn't much more they could do in the mountainous region after dark. 

Mudrilek, on of the young Teloran men who worked with the team, had remained about to help secure the site for the night. There were few wild animals on Telora, but they installed secure fencing just in case. 

"Why don't you go ahead and get some rest," Chakotay told him. "We'll start again at daybreak." 

Mudrilek quickly agreed to Chakotay's suggestion and disappeared into one of the shelters. Chakotay shook his head as he watched the young man go. Mudrilek had followed him around for days, eager to fulfill his every whim. It'd taken less than a day for Chakotay to figure out what the young man was after. 

Aukiyana would have been pleased to know that her affection was returned. Chakotay refused to become involved, preferring to tease the girl unmercifully. Kathryn had told him he was evil for not putting the minds of the young people at rest. But he felt it was much more interesting to allow the young people to figure it out for themselves. 

With a chuckle at life, and the universe in general, he entered his own temporary quarters. As he reached into his pockets to empty them, he was surprised to brush his fingers across something unusually warm. He grasped it more firmly and pulled it out. 

His butterfly disk. Frowning slightly, he brushed his fingers across its surface. Normally when he and Kathryn were so far apart, the surface of the disk darkened. Tonight it was so bright it fairly glowed. 

He blew gently on the disk. He gasped in delight when two shadowy dancers appeared. 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

They'd actually gone and done it. Kathryn couldn't believe it. 

Just a few weeks earlier he'd shown her the dream place, the desert that was somehow tied to Teloran belief. She was at a loss to explain how it worked, and so was he. All Kathryn knew was that when he'd shown it to her, there had been a connection between them like nothing she'd ever imagined. 

They'd done things there, things that still quickened her pulse just to think about. And then after, they'd carried out those acts physically. It was as if they'd become one in a manner beyond the physical. A merging of souls. 

And now, the day she'd found out the shocking truth of why she'd been feeling ill, he was away on one of his extended digs. He wouldn't be back for another three days. She'd made it through the afternoon without telling anyone. Only she and the Doctor knew the truth. Although she felt sure Sekar had her suspicions. 

As she stood in the real-water shower, hair full of lather, staring down at her flat abdomen it hit home that there was a small person growing there. Her breathing began to quicken and then tears began to fall. She began to feel overwhelmed. Could she handle this? 

A shadow crossed into the room and suddenly a tall dark form appeared before her. Chakotay, completely dressed, stepped into the shower cubicle and grasped her arms. 

"Chakotay!" Kathryn gasped. It had taken her a moment to focus on his bearded face through her tears. 

"Is it true?" he demanded, his eyes slightly glazed. 

"Yes," she whispered, her tears turning to laughter. *They* could handle this. Everything was going to be all right. 

He pulled her into a tight embrace, shampoo and all. Neither noticed or cared as the shampoo became first mixed with dust and then clothing as the water continued to wash down the drain. 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 
 
"Ambassador!" 

Chakotay looked up sharply, and shielded his eyes from the brilliance of the sun. All he could make out against the glare was a petite figure with a dark bob of hair. He squinted a moment longer and came to his feet, unconsciously wiping remaining grains of dirt against his trousers. 

As the form came into focus, he grabbed her up in his arms and squeezed. "B'Elanna! What are you doing here?" he yelled happily. He barely caught the knowing looks from other members of the team. 

B'Elanna squeezed him back. "We came to see you two! If you turn that thing off, we won't have to yell!" 

Chakotay grinned sheepishly as he settled the woman back on her feet and shut down the soil sorting machine. He'd grown accustomed to the sound of rock and other hard bits of dirt clanging against the bottom of the collection tray. It wasn't exactly the latest technology, but it did its job. 

"I see you got your wish," B'Elanna was laughing. "Although this isn't exactly what I would have pictured an ambassador to be doing." 

"That's one of the best things about being an ambassador, no one will tell me I can't join in the digs - especially since there's so much work to do." Chakotay said, attempting to beat the better part of the dirt from his clothing. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? We would have met your shuttle." 

"Tom and I have a seminar on Vulcan, so we thought we'd stop in. He and Ian are back at your place with Kathryn. But what I really want to know is what you're doing out here?" 

"Do you really need me to restate the obvious?" Chakotay grinned at her. 

"Do you really need me to tell you that you should be home with your wife? She'd due any day now, you know." 

"It's not time, yet." Chakotay spoke with a confident smile. 

"How can you possibly know that? Twenty-fourth century medicine can't even predict with any accuracy when a baby will come. That's why they tell you the due date -- so you'll know when to stick close to home." 

"What about you and Tom? I nailed that one, didn't I?" 

"Lucky guess." B'Elanna smiled, but she didn't let it drop. "You really should go in there, you know. She thinks she ran you off. Just don't tell her she has another entire week to go." 

"But it's the truth. Would you have me lie?" Chakotay feigned shock. 

"On second thought. You're safer out here. Care to show me around?" 

"I'd love to." 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

 
Delighted laughter filled the room along with the smell of strawberries. "Daddy! You weren't supposed to eat it for real!" 

Chakotay grinned down at the five year old wonder seated in the bath tub. "You're kidding me," he said in mock horror looking from one lather covered hand to the other. "Then what am I suppose to do with all of this stuff?" 

Elizabeth's blue eyes twinkled at his antics. "Here, let me help," she said, scooping a yellow plastic spoon across the mound of lather in her hair. 

"No, no, no, pumpkin," Chakotay responded immediately, gently pushing the spoon away from her mouth. "Daddy was just kidding. He didn't really eat the shampoo -- even if it does smell good enough to eat." 

"I know, Daddy!" Elizabeth laughed impishly. "When is mommy coming home, anyway?" 

"What? You don't think Daddy can wash hair as good as mommy?" 

Elizabeth smiled adoringly at him. "Ummm...." 

"Okay," Chakotay laughed. "Don't answer that. Mommy will be home tomorrow and she will have a surprise for you." 

"My new brother, right?" 

"Right." 

"Is he going to be very big?" Elizabeth suddenly looked very sad, her dark lashes shadowed her eyes. 

Chakotay frowned. "Why do you ask that sweetie?" 

"'Cuz all our stuff is getting put in cartons and sent away. He must take up lots of space." 

Chakotay stifled an amused grin. He wanted to meet her concerns with the same seriousness that she'd exhibited. "Remember our talk about moving back to Earth?" 

Elizabeth nodded. 

"Well, that's why we're packing our things in cartoons. We're going to move to a new home." 

"Are you sure we can't stay here? Uncle Mudri and Auntie Auki won't mind." 

"We can send messages to Mudri and Auki from Earth. They can even come visit us if they want. Mom's work here is completed, and now she needs to go back to Earth so that she can study what's she learned with other scientists. And since the Telorans have decided to join the Federation, Daddy needs to be on Earth more than he needs to be on Telora." 

Elizabeth's mouth drooped further. "Oh." 

Chakotay touched her chin. She'd been excited when they'd spoken about it weeks earlier, but now that the transition was beginning to take place, she seemed bothered. 

"Tell you what," he said. "After your bath, why don't we go to mom's lab? There is a holographic program of our new house. We can visit and check out your new room, if you like." 

A small smile began to light the child's lips. "Okay." 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 
 
"It's so big!" Aukiyana gazed down at the bridge that spanned the San Francisco Bay. 

"You'll get used to that," Elizabeth said matter-of-factly. "What you have to do is ride the horses!" 

Kathryn's eyes met Chakotay's with a smile as they watched their eight year old daughter attempting to teach twenty-three year old Aukiyana the ropes. Three year old Kolo lay sleeping in Chakotay's arms. 

Aukiyana had come to Earth as part of a cultural exchange program with the Telorans. Mudri would be joining her in several weeks. Aukiyana's help had been instrumental in deciphering much of the technology still available to the Teloran people. She'd become a teacher. 

"There will be lots of time to have a look around," Kathryn rescued the Teloran woman. "After all, you are going to be with us a year." 

"Yes," Aukiyana nodded, looking around the shuttle. Her eyes settled on Chakotay. 

*Who would have thought ten years ago that stealing into the mind of a passing alien would have led to all of this?* 

Chakotay smiled, and Kathryn could tell that some silent communication passed between them. She never had been able to hear it like he did. But she knew that whatever it was, he would tell her later. And she would wholeheartedly agree. 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 

"Chakotay, I can't believe this! Why is she behaving this way? I never did this as a child." Kathryn brushed a final few strokes through her hair and tossed her brush to her dressing table. "She knows how I feel about this type of thing." 

Chakotay sat gently on the edge of their bed, careful to avoid her path as she paced their bedroom. He nonchalantly slid a parcel beneath his pillow, watching as Kathryn struggled to braid and pace. 

"Why don't you let me do that for you," he asked, patting the edge of the bed. He did it most nights, anyway. In her current state she was only tangling it. 

She sank to the bed beside him, murmuring a soft thanks before continuing her rant. "What made her even think I'd allow her to have her toe nails cosmetically altered? She's twelve!! What was she thinking? Do you know she accused me of being too rigid?" 

Chakotay smiled softly when she turned to him, but continued to gently run his fingers through the long strands of her hair. There were a growing number of gray strands mixed in with the auburn of late. He loved it. Gently massaging her scalp, he divided the hair into pieces and began to braid. 

Kathryn fell silent as his fingers gently brushed her neck. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. "What do you think we should do about this?" 

"I have an idea," Chakotay said as he tied off the end of the braid. "But you might not like it." 

Kathryn turned to him and smiled. It was an old joke with them. "When has that ever stopped you before?" 

Chakotay held her gaze for a moment, then reached beneath the pillow and pulled out his package. "I found this at a novelty store. Several versions can easily be programmed into the replicator." He pulled a handful of small bottles from the package and displayed an assortment of colors in gentle shades. 

At Kathryn's look of dismay, he rushed on. "Come on, KJ. She's *thirteen*, and she's getting older. Consider the alternative. This...polish is easily removed, *without* undergoing a surgical procedure or a genetic alteration. *We* get to pick the colors and just think of the fun we can have trying it out..." He finished his arguments with a wicked grin. 

Kathryn's irritation melted and she returned the smile. "Okay," she said. "I like the idea." 

"Good," Chakotay grinned, spinning her on the bed. With a great deal of ceremony, he pulled one of her feet into his lap and selected a color. After gently kissing each toe, he carefully began to paint. 

~*~   ~*~   ~*~ 
 
"Who's that with Seven?" B'Elanna moved surreptitiously closer to Kathryn to ask. Kathryn glanced passed B'Elanna's shoulder to take in the talk dark-haired man who walked with the woman who'd once been a Borg drone. 

Her hair hung softly down her back and she was dressed casually for the warm southern California weather. She still wore her borg enhancements proudly, and though Starfleet listed her name as Anika Hansen, everyone who knew her called her Commander Seven, first officer of the USS Hale. The fellow with her, however, was a mystery. 

"I don't know," Kathryn answered B'Elanna's question. "Let's go find out." Both women got up from their seats at one of the wooden tables and moved determinedly toward the woman. They were interrupted however by a loud crash. 

"Buster!" a voice screamed. 

They turned in time to see one of the tables had been upended by someone's dog. Just who's dog was quickly apparent as Naomi Wildman-Sumner appeared to take charge of the animal and the small boy who had somehow ended up in the middle of the mess. 

Kathryn and B'Elanna rushed over to help her with the mess. By the time they were done, Seven was talking with Vorik, and the young man who'd appeared with her was nowhere to be seen. 

"Burgers are ready!" Tom called from the direction of the grill. Neelix was nearby, putting final touches on several dishes. Chakotay had an old apron tied around his waist, the words had faded from many years of use. No one was quite sure exactly what he was doing. 

"Look at them," B'Elanna laughed. "One would think they were great chefs, preparing to entertain high dignitaries. Speaking of which, where are our children?" 

"I think I saw Ian and Kolopak with the men playing on the hoverball court. Elizabeth is an entirely different story. I haven't seen her." 

"She nervous?" 

"Terrified. But she'd never admit it." 

"Did you ask Seven to go easy on her?" B'Elanna laughed. "It is her first Starfleet mission after all. Straight out of the academy." 

"Are you kidding? She'd have a fit if she found out I did something like that." 

"Don't worry. I won't tell her." B'Elanna said jokingly. "The Hale is a *good* assignment though. Has a great set of engines." 

Kathryn laughed and shook her head. B'Elanna and Tom both had a hand in the design of the Hale. It was one of Starfleet's newest and fastest starships. The other was the USS Tretari. It and its crew were on a deep space mission exploring the Delta Quadrant. They occasionally heard word of how Captain Kim's voyage was going through Starfleet contacts. 

"Uh oh." Kathryn said as she caught sight of a familiar figure gazing disdainfully into one of Neelix's pots. Tuvok, dressed in traditional Vulcan garb quickly closed the lid on whatever item Neelix had been simmering on the edge of the grill. "I think he just found the pot of no return." 

"Did we ever get a straight answer on what that was?" B'Elanna asked. 

"I don't know if I *want* a straight answer," Kathryn said. The majority of the annual crew gathering were moving toward the tables and food now. 

"Oh, I recognize those," B'Elanna said as Ian moved toward the table with a group of young men. Moira, her and Tom's younger daughter, followed among a group of girls all speaking in excited tones. 

"Well, I see one of mine." Kathryn said. Kolopak was among the group of young men with Ian. 

"Has he made his decision?" B'Elanna asked. 

"Yes. I think he's willing to join Starfleet because he thinks we expect it of him. But that's not where his heart is. He wants to study cultural anthropology. He's been accepted into a program at the University of San Quentin that begans in the fall." 

"How do you feel about that?" 

"I'm happy for him. It's what he wants to do." 

"And what's this?" B'Elanna nudged Kathryn's arm. Kathryn turned at the sight of Elizabeth and the young man that had arrived with Seven walking toward them. "Fill me in later," B'Elanna murmured as she disappeared toward the tables. 

Kathryn smiled graciously as he reached his hand toward her. "Hello, I'm Lieutenant Edward Johnson, ship's counselor. I'm going to be serving aboard the Hale with your daughter. Commander Seven asked me to help her become acquainted with the ship." 

Kathryn smiled and thanked the young man. He was very polite, darkly handsome, and vaguely familiar. One look at Elizabeth and she could tell that her daughter was looking forward to the assignment. She turned back to the young man as he continued to speak. 

"I believe you knew my father. His name was Mark Johnson."