Author: Abra Mitchell
E-Mail:abmitche@ucla.edu
Rating: PG
Summary: Tom and B'Elanna's thoughts after their first baby is born
Codes: P/T, J/C

Author's note: This is an example of what can happen when an author likes P/T, J/C, and C/P, but does not write foursomes. The title is from a book by a wonderful non-sci-fi writer, Linda Crew who encouraged me to start writing. This story is for a fan of both Robert Beltran and sap. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager is copyright by Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Viacom. This story is for fan enjoyment only and is not intended to infringe on that copyright. Please do not distribute or archive this story without the author's permission. Linking is fine.

"We would like to name her Kathryn," Tom Paris told the Captain as B'Elanna handed her daughter to the Captain.

Captain Janeway looked at the tiny infant in her arms and smiled. The infant looked her with blue eyes that had obviously been inherited from her father. She was surprised at how much the infant resembled Tom despite Tom's much lighter coloring. Tom's and B'Elanna's child was not the first to be born on Voyager and Janeway had greeted each new child, but this was the first baby born to officers whom she considered close friends. Janeway had long ago accepted the likelihood that she would never have children and she was deeply touched by her officers request. Maybe a part of her would live on in the children born on Voyager.

"I would be honored," Janeway said softly smiling at her namesake before looking up to meet Tom's gaze. Her helmsman looked like he could not decide whether to collapse in exhaustion- B'Elanna had been in labor for nine hours and he was the only medic on the ship- or bouncing off the walls. He seemed to be opting for the latter.

"Congratulations B'Elanna and Tom," the Captain said handing the baby back to B'Elanna. Her chief engineer looked exhausted, but her Klingon stamina was also evident. "I am sure that you will both make wonderful parents."

The new parents beamed at her. Both owed their lives and careers to the Captain and her compliments were treasured.

Little Kathryn started crying. B'Elanna tried to quiet her, embarrassed that the baby was crying in front of the Captain, and Tom looked anxious. Janeway almost smiled. She vaguely remembered when her sister Phoebe had been born and suspected that the new parents were going to have to get used to the sound.

"Captain, about returning to duty-" B'Elanna started.

Janeway put up her hand. "You are off duty for the next three weeks. If there is an emergency I might consider letting you talk Lieutenant Carey through repairs, but don't count on it. After that you will be on light duty; Chakotay can deal with that. Tom, you are off for the next week."

"Captain-" Tom started.

"Tom, Commander Chakotay and I already discussed this. The matter is closed," the Captain said before softening her voice. "Tom, you have a baby daughter who needs you. You are a good pilot, but at the moment she needs you more than we do."

"Thank you, Captain," Tom said.

"Don't thank me. It was Chakotay's idea," the Captain responded.

Tom reached over to touch little Kathryn's cheek and she grabbed his finger. Tom smiled in wonderment. "Her fingers are so tiny. It is amazing."

`Yes, it is,' Janeway thought. Looking at Tom smiling at his daughter, she wondered at how much the man had changed since they first met in a New Zealand prison. Sometimes she would look at him as he sat at the helm or took care of patients in sickbay and wondered if he was really the same young man who had responded to her proposal that he help her find Chakotay with, "What's in it for me?" Despite his rudeness something about him had made her feel that she was making the right decision by choosing him to help her and his actions on the Ocampa homeworld had convinced her of it. She had given him a commission and never regretted it. She hoped that someday she would be able to tell Owen Paris that his son was one of the best officers to serve under her command. She also repeated her promise to herself that she would get Voyager home. Owen Paris, whatever his flaws, deserved to be able to see his granddaughter.

"I got here as soon as I could," Commander Chakotay's slightly winded voice sounded.

"Chakotay, do you want to hold her?" B'Elanna asked.

"I would love to," Chakotay said looking at the baby in B'Elanna's. B'Elanna did not even bother to instruct the Commander. She knew Chakotay had experience with children. "Congratulations B'Elanna and Tom."

"She is beautiful," Chakotay said almost reverently. Chakotay loved children, but this one was especially special to him. B'Elanna was his oldest real friend on Voyager and if Paris was the Captain's "personal reclamation project" than B'Elanna was his project. As for Tom, even now he could not sort out his feelings regarding the lieutenant. It had been simple as long as he professed to hate the lieutenant, but once that hate died away he had been left with confusion. A part of him greatly respected and even liked Paris, but there was still a spark of hostility between the two that seemed ready to erupt at any second. The best of friends or the worst of enemies. Sometimes he was not sure. I could not help thinking that somehow the four of them were bound together.

Holding the baby reminded him how much he wanted children of his own. Chakotay loved children, but each day the possibility of having any of his own seemed less likely. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Kathryn, the woman he wanted to be the mother of his children, and mentally returned to the present. There would be plenty of time later for those thoughts.

"Well, we know which side of the family her looks come from," B'Elanna commented.

"From both her parents," Chakotay's voice was firm and he looked his friend of many years in the eyes.

The baby started crying again and Chakotay smiled slightly as he adjusted his hold on the baby. "You definitely sound like your mother."

"I think I can hear the resemblance," Tom teased.

"You try giving birth and then you can complain about my screaming," B'Elanna responded with dignity.

The Captain and Commander smiled slightly at the image of Tom in labor.

"I think I'll pass on that one," Tom responded.

"I wish I could," B'Elanna said.

"Do you really?" Chakotay asked seriously.

B'Elanna paused and looked at her daughter. "No, not really."

"Chakotay, thank you for the time off," Tom said.

"You earned it. Besides, we don't need our pilot falling asleep on the bridge," Chakotay responded. "Speaking of falling asleep, this little one seems a bit tired."

Chakotay handed the baby back to B'Elanna.

"Her name is Kathryn," Tom said quietly.

"A lovely name," the Commander smiled and was unable to resist looking at the Captain out of the corner of his eye. Kathryn Janeway blushed slightly.

"This is when you warn B'Elanna and I that we will never be able to get a good night sleep again," Tom realized knowing that the Commander was teasing him in his own stoic way.

"Not never. I am sure you should be able to get a full night's sleep in six years or so," Chakotay rose to the bait.

"Children," Janeway looked at the two men. Both of them looked chastened under her look of tolerant amusement.

Janeway turned back to B'Elanna and noticed how tired the new mother looked. "I need to return to the bridge. Try to get some rest."

Taking the hint, Chakotay also turned to leave, "If you need a break one evening, I would be happy to baby-sit."

"Thanks Chakotay," Tom smiled at the older man.

The Commander smiled at both B'Elanna and Tom before turning to follow the Captain. Without thinking, Janeway placed her hand on his arm and left it there as they headed for the turbolift.

"You look really tired, B'Elanna," Tom said as soon as their Commanding officers were gone.

"I am, but I want to hold her for a little while longer," B'Elanna admitted.

Tom nodded understanding her feelings perfectly. He was also ready to collapse, but too excited to sleep.

"Did you see Chakotay?" B'Elanna asked. "He wants children of his own so badly. I remember when we were in the Maquis he used to talk about eventually settling down and having a family. He isn't the type to be a permanent bachelor."

"I know," Tom said quietly. "And he is in love with the Captain, but she is convinced that it would hurt the chain of command if they got together."

"As if they are fooling anyone," B'Elanna responded. "They have been playing eye tag at staff meetings for years. I even caught them doing it on the bridge."

"Harry was keeping count for a while. Sometimes I wish the conn was not at the front of the bridge. I miss all the fun," Tom complained.

"I wonder what it will take for them to get together," B'Elanna commented.

"Well, we could always beam them into space in environmental suits and-" Tom started.

"Tom, you are incorrigible!" B'Elanna complained laughing softly in memory.

"That's one of the things you love about me," Tom replied. He reached over to touch his daughter and she grabbed his finger again. "I can't get over how small her fingers are."

"I remember when I was little I used to swear that I would never have a kid. My father. I don't want to be like him. I was afraid I would be like him. I thought all families were like mine. I am so glad that I changed my mind," Tom said almost unable to believe how happy he felt. He had thought his wedding day had been special, but this was even better.

"Are you still afraid?" B'Elanna asked. "I am. I look at her and I think of my mother and I don't want her to grow up hating her mother. I don't want her to run away and do everything possible to escape her family."

"Yeah, I'm afraid. I think we are supposed to be. I don't know what the future will bring, but I can't imagine she will grow up to hate you. I can't imagine anyone hating you," Tom said looking his wife in the eyes. "You really need to get some sleep whether you want to or not. I will hold her for a little while and then go to sleep. Sickbay is empty. I doubt the Doc will mind if I sleep on one of the biods."

Knowing how much Tom hated the biods in sickbay, B'Elanna argued, "You can go back to our quarters."

"I could, but I won't," Tom told her, his voice leaving no room for an argument. "Good-night B'Elanna. Sweet dreams."

B'Elanna's eyes were already drifting closed as Tom took Kathryn. "Night, Tom."

"Can you imagine what Kathryn is going to be like when she gets older?" Chakotay asked.

"I hope she doesn't end up with her mother's temper," Janeway commented.

"Or her father's attitude," Chakotay put in.

"I just hope she doesn't have both B'Elanna's temper and Tom's sense of humor. Those traits might be a frightening combination," Janeway said.

"I used to think that Tom and B'Elanna were a frightening combination, but they are good for each other," Chakotay put in.

"They have both matured tremendously since the mission started," Janeway pointed out. "You looked natural holding her. Although I do have to question your sanity for offering to babysat."

Chakotay idly wondered if Kathryn was trying to torture him with this conversation. "I like children."

"I have noticed," Janeway replied softly. Then she changed the subject. "With B'Elanna off duty for the next three weeks, you need to redo the schedule for engineering."

"I already have a tentative schedule. I should be able to figure one out in a few hours," Chakotay told her.

"Good. My shift is almost over. Why don't she stop by my quarters when you are finished," the Captain suggested, suddenly realizing that her hand was still on Chakotay's arm. She was a hands-on Captain, but when it came to her first officer she sometimes forgot to take her hands off him. She knew she should pay more attention, but he never complained.

"I'll have it to you by 2200 hours," Chakotay promised.

"I'll see you then," Janeway promised and exited the turbolift.

THE END