December 2378

Ken Dalby smiled as he soothed the young girl, who had sensed the excitement. "She's really ours now?" He anxiously asked the Doctor who had called him to sickbay just minutes before.

"I'd rather keep her for a few more weeks." The Doctor went on knowingly. "But I'm afraid if I do that Chief Delaney might deprogram me. I hope you're not going to be referring to her as Baby Borg Delaney-Dalby."

"I thought Bi-Bi Dee-Dee would sound cute as a nickname." Jenny Delaney rushed into sickbay and to her husband's side. "But neither of us want her to be forever known as the Baby Borg. How many pads of instructions are we getting?"

"Only two." The Doctor smiled. "So does Miss Delaney-Dalby have an official name?"

"Zuxia." Her father replied proudly. "We thought it fit her Denobulan, but not too Denobulan. You sure we can really take her today?"

"You've stalled every week for the last year." Delaney cut in. "Are you sure we can actually bring her home to her crib tonight?"

"As long as you keep the monitor on, she's still not as strong as I'd like. However, at this point the love of her parents might be the best remedy." The Doctor handed Delaney the pads as well as a basket of supplies. "Keep her on the set diet for now; the formulas are all in there. We'll see about starting solid food after Zuxia's next physical."

"Thank you." Dalby adjusted his daughter as Delaney began to gather her belongings. They were determined to get out of sickbay as quickly as possible--there was no guarantee that the Doctor would not change his mind.

July 2379

The First Officer cautiously approached his Captain. Their relationship had turned tense over the last few months. He didn't want to provoke her too much. "There are some things we need to address."

"Mr. Kim take the bridge." Kathryn Janeway motioned for him to join him in her ready room. Chakotay nodded and followed her. She closed the door behind them. "It's about her isn't it?"

"Seven has a name Kathryn." Chakotay tried not to be blunt, but he was entitled to be happy. "I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. I spent 25 years married to Starfleet to only have it betray me and everything I stood for. There is no guarantee because of my principals that I won't die in some Federation penal camp. My cell, they were for the most part young, misguided, and angry. I basically raised Henley, Gerron, and Carlson. If it wasn't for me Dalby and B'Elanna wouldn't be doting over their daughters, neither would've survived long enough to be parents." He let out a frustrated sigh. "There's this beautiful woman who's come on board, who's attracted to me, who doesn't care about my past. She doesn't see me as a father, an officer or a teacher. It's the first time I've been allowed to fall in love."

"For god's sake she's young enough be your daughter." Janeway slammed down her coffee mug. "She has the emotional capacity of an adolescent. You're in the midst of a mid-life crisis and that vulnerable young woman is your coping mechanism."

"You just don't get it Kathryn, you never have. There's no guarantee that we'll ever reach the Alpha Quadrant." He stood up to leave. "This crew has come to accept that and have moved on. Maybe one day you'll join us."

January 2380

Crewman Mariah Henley approached Voyager's Chief Operations Officer. "I never thought I would ever see him settle down."

"Seven for that matter either." Harry Kim smiled back at her. He reached for two drinks off the bar. "How'd you manage to weasel away from duty today?"

"Chakotay is the closest thing I have to a father." She put on a genuine smile as she accepted one of the drinks. "He took me in when I was a lost teenager and kept me from killing myself. If it wasn't for him I would've never seen the age of 20."

"It just scares me how happy they really are together." He sipped his beer. "Makes me wonder if we'll gain anything from staying out here?"

"Tell me about it." She looked out at the happy couple. "I'm the only one of us who has no problem with the prison term back there. Kessick is destroyed, I have no family, and prison will at least be a place to stay and a roof over my head. Pathetic isn't it?"

"No it isn't. I have the same worries most days. It's great I'm no longer the eager ensign, but I've spent almost a decade out here on one ship. Do you think Starfleet would ever give me another space posting? Because I doubt they will." The newly promoted Lieutenant smiled. "Rather than having us wallow in our misery, would you care to join me in a dance?"

"I'd be delighted to." She let him lead her out onto the dance floor. Henley smiled. She had spent nine years moping; maybe it was time to start living again.

September 2380

The normally stoic officer stood there and cradled his newborn son. "He's beautiful, Seven." He spoke to his wife. "He'll keep us on our toes."

"You have no problem with Benedick then?" Her voice was weak; labor had taken its toll. "I know it wasn't your favorite."

"It's grown on me." He smiled. "I'm going to go put her down, you get some more rest." He kissed his wife on the forehead.

"You sure you can handle the diapers?" She managed a weak smile. "It's not exactly flying a ship."

"I'll manage. Your main priority is getting healthy again." He put his son down in his bassinet and moved back to his wife's side. "Remember I said I want both of you healthy, and I intend that to be the case."

"I know nothing about mothering." Seven sighed. "At least not handling a newborn, I'm afraid I'll break him."

"You won't." He worked on the knot in his wife's shoulders. "You're going to be a wonderful mother. He will be just as stubborn and resilient as his mother.'

"You say that like it's a bad thing." The former Borg raised an eyebrow at her husband

January 2381

"So I was thinking." Kim wandered over to his couch. "You're stuck sharing those minuscule quarters with Amy. It just seems totally unfair."

"So, you're going to figure out a way to re-design the quarters of us lowly crewmen so we can have a little privacy?" Henley plopped down on the couch and curled up next to him. "The prison cell example might work."

"I was thinking Amy could have that closet to herself." He kissed her on the forehead. "These quarters have more than enough room for two."

"Are you asking me something?" She coyly looked up at him. "Or are you just rambling a random idea off of me before you approach Captain?"

"I love you Mariah." Kim whispered into her neck. "I want someone to spend the rest of my life on this ship with. Move in here with me, marry me." Kim kissed her. He reached for the ring he had hidden in the cushions. "Let's face it what we both want."

"What about those charges?" She looked worried. Henley knew there was a lengthy warrant for her arrest, if they made it home she could be spending years in prison. "I don't want to ruin your life with my past."

"We'll worry about that if we ever reach Federation space again." Kim rubbed her back. "You were barely 18, and most of the former Maquis have been vindicated. For now it's just about us."

April 2381

The bride beamed as she pranced down the aisle with her groom. "So." Kim kissed his wife passionately when they reached the small alcove away from their guests. "We actually did it."

"We actually did it." Henley could not let the smile off her face. "So after we deal with this hoopla, what's the next step?"

"The two of us not our leaving quarters and a disabled comm panel for four days." Kim winked at his wife. "Think you could go for that."

"I think so. Do you think Tom might pull pictures out of the unattainable sorority?" She smiled. "It would make a decent toast."

"He didn't seem afraid of the hormones." He held her close. "I warned him I wanted an appropriate toast, but then again one of Jenny's stares might scare him off."

"Appropriate to Tom isn't necessarily appropriate to the rest of us." The blushing bride giggled as she reached up to kiss her husband. "Can we skip the reception part?"

"As tempting it sounds, our public awaits us." Kim steered his wife towards the mess hall. They walked in hand in hand.

October 2381

Seven bounced her son on her hip as they sat in the mess hall. "You sure you don't mind Mariah? I can pull off if you do."

"We'll be fine." Henley assured her. "I can manage Ben for a few hours when you're in Astrometrics. I need the distraction."

"We'll find them." Seven handed over her son and comforted the shaken women sitting next to her. "We will get them back in one piece."

"I hope so." Henley sighed. "The last thing I could ever imagine is being a bride and a widow in the same six month period."

"Anything?" The First Officer quietly entered his wife's lab. "Even a breadcrumb?"

"There's some trace." Seven nodded. "Mariah has Ben; she wanted the distraction of our colicky, crying, squirming terror of a son."

"She needs it." Chakotay sighed. "A large part of her is the weak vulnerable teenager I rescued from herself. I really don't know how she'll be if she loses Harry."

"We won't lose them." She put on an assertive tone. "I'm not going to let that happen. Just the thought of the Paris children being raised by their father is motivating me. Could you picture Miral and Jon running rampant through this ship?"

"I'd rather not." He chuckled. "Only B'Elanna would insist on an away mission weeks after giving birth. Even you weren't that anxious."

"Supposedly after the second baby, a mother isn't as paranoid about her child." Seven looked to get a reading from her husband "But then again, we'll only know after we have the second baby."

"You're certain about Ben not growing up an only child." The First Officer received a raised eyebrow from his wife. "We're too late to be having the discussion aren't we?"

"I still have to go see the Doctor, but I suspect it probably the conversation would be irrelevant." She supported her mid-section. "And I won't be out three weeks after giving birth; I want to enjoy my children when they're still little."

He reached for his wife and took her in his arms. "We're ready for it." They were distracted by the beeping of the monitor behind them. She smiled up at her husband. "We'll just wait a few years for the third child."

"Who says I ever wanted a third?" She looked at him adoringly. "Let's see how we do with two in diapers first." They were distracted by the rapid beeping of the console behind them. "It looks like we found them. Let's just hope we beam them back in one piece."

April 2382

"Harry, take the bridge." The first officer sprinted down to sick-bay, only to have the Captain look at him with guilt as he ran in. His wife lay there on the bio-bed, barely alive. "How are they doctor?"

"I'm in the process of running scans now. Your daughter seems to be ok, Seven might be another story." The doctor sighed. "I just don't know yet."

"Ok." Chakotay let out a sigh. "I should've never given in to her request to go on the away mission."

"I wouldn't have assigned her if I thought there was any risk of danger." Janeway spoke up from her corner. "It was not supposed to be a hostile one Chakotay. Just let the Doctor do what he has to do."

"You know we were discussing baby names this morning." He sighed. "We wanted something that reflected all her heritages. We had a massive argument over it. I don't want that to be our last discussion."

"It won't be, she'll make it through." Janeway sighed. "You're relieved of duty as long as you need to be. You have more important things to worry about."

"Thank you Kathryn." The first officer didn't notice the glimmer in the Captain's eyes as he rushed back to his wife's side. "I'm not going let you lose this battle Seven."

The First officer ran to his wife's side. "How much longer do you give her?" She was barely breathing once again. "Tell me she'll at least be able to hear our daughter's first cries."

"The few nano-probes she has left started attacking." The doctor sighed. "I'll be running some tests, and then I'll let you know."

"Ok." He stood there in shock. "She'll come through it right?"

"I hope so sir." The EMH shooed the impatient husband away from his patient. "But you have to let me examine her. Crewman Henley has Ben, I suggest for her sanity and yours you go redeem your son."

June 2382

Henley protectively held the toddler as the young boy's father paced. "Pacing is not going to help the situation."

"Since when did you become ship's counselor Mariah?" The First Officer stressfully snapped back. In the years she had known him he had never once lost his temper. "What am I supposed to do, sit here and wait for my wife and daughter to die?"

"Harry is working on the chamber. The doctor has been pouring over research for the last five weeks." For once she seemed to be the parent in their relationship. "Take a deep breath, let them do their work. Let's go get some dinner and then you can go check on them after you get Ben settled."

"Ok, but I'm going to keep the comm. badge open so if anything happens they can get me immediately" He was so stressed that the persuasion was easy. "Let me take my son and get him ready for dinner. I guess some food in my system might be a good thing."

"Try a necessity." Henley smiled as she handed over the young boy. After she watched her mentor move into the other room she turned around and tapped her comm. badge, she called out to her husband. "Henley to Kim. Do you have any good news?"

"Not yet." Kim's voice came over. "Make sure he eats something, then we'll discuss options. I beamed a crib for Ben down to our quarters, we might have him the next couple of days."

"I figured that would be a possibility. Is she showing any change?" Henley allowed herself to get emotional. "If it wasn't for the baby I'd say stasis was our best option."

"Even then there would be no guarantee." Kim sighed. "I'm going to quit here in a few hours, I won't be any help without sleep."

"I'll see you then. Don't over stress it." Henley tapped off the badge as her mentor came out with his son. "If you want I can take Ben tonight."

"Thanks, but we've been ok so far." He put on a weak smile. "It helps that I'm not sitting in sickbay every night."

August 2382

They had gathered to say goodbye to one of their own. The funerals were never easy, but had become a yearly occurrence. This one was going to be the toughest yet--she wasn't supposed to die. There had been hope which only led to her daughter being born healthy as her mother's health faltered.

Henley stood off to the side with the newborn nestled on her chest. "Shh." She soothed the baby as she choked back her own tears. "We'll put you back in your crib in a little bit Kori. Right now you belong here."

Kim quietly approached his wife and their goddaughter. "Are you doing okay Sweetie?" He placed an arm around her shoulder. "We could've brought down a crib; you don't have to hold her the whole time."

"Trust me she needs to be held." Henley let her husband wipe away her tears. "She just lost her mother and has no clue about it. How's Ben doing?"

"Icheb is keeping him occupied with a plateful of cookies." Kim sighed. "If only their father could be distracted that easy."

"He's a survivor." Dalby limped towards them. "He's been thriving on hope for months. I don't think he's even comprehended that she's really gone. If you guys can handle the baby, we'll take Ben tonight."

"I think it's best if we let him have the kids tonight." Henley put on a smile. "I'll pull couch duty like I've been doing. We all know he needs the routine of normalcy at this point."