Chapter One: Setting the Scene.
"Captain," Tom jumped from the bed and shouted, only to discover he was stark naked. Attempting to cover his private regions with his hands, he forwent running his agitated digits through is hair.
The sudden and shocking revelation hit Lt. Paris. These are not my quarters.
"Come back to bed, Tom," Captain Kathryn Janeway purred, her voice thick with fatigue and something more intimate.
Confounded, Lt. Paris didn't quite know where to look or what to do. His mind working at lightning speed, it seemed whatever lead to this assignation had been reciprocated, not that it excused his lack of all good judgement. Yesterday, Voyagerhad been attacked by the Kazon-Nistrim in a battle lasting well over twenty hours. Finally released from duty, he'd fallen into his bed exhausted and alone.
When her husband's body didn't hit the mattress beside her, Mrs. Paris allowed one eye to crack open as she turned over. Standing beside their bed, her spouse's expression one of utter panic, Tom shivered slightly in the early morning without a stich on. Allowing a cat like smile to cover her lips, she patted the space still warm from his body heat and happily observed his physique.
"I might even allow you to demonstrate what you can do with that," Kathryn's smile widened as she searched for the phrase, "what is your archaic term, morning glory?"
"Captain," Tom Paris yelped.
Obviously, the woman was under some sort of alien influence. Tom didn't quite know where to look. Not at the floor which held two red shouldered Starfleet uniforms hurriedly removed and scattered in all directions. Not at the chair beside Kathryn Janeway's bed, happily displaying a silky negligee and matching robe. Most defiantly, not at the nude woman making suggestions with her eyes and lips.
"What is the matter," Kathryn sighed, finally sitting up and taking a long, hard look at her husband.
"I," Paris stammered, before finally gathering his wits and clothing scattered on the floor. "I don't know what to say," he apologised hurriedly, stepping into his trousers and stuffing his underwear into the pockets. His turtle neck came next, followed quickly by his jacket. This was like the warp ten fiasco all over again, waking up in sick bay to find he'd not only abducted the Captain, but mated with her. "I won't breathe a word of this, to anyone, I promise."
With that, Thomas Eugene Paris fled from the captain's quarters. He didn't bother to look back at the astounded woman still sitting with the sheets falling to her waist, exposing her more womanly attributes. Barrelling out of the door, who else but Commander Chakotay sauntered down the passage from the turbolift to his own quarters on the same deck.
"Going somewhere, Paris?" the older man enquired with a smirk.
They'd played hide and seek with their latest enemy over three shifts. Captain and Commander Paris remained at their stations throughout the confrontation. WhenVoyagerwas finally in less hostile territory, Kathryn turned the bridge over to her First Officer for the next watch. Chakotay had taken a break between skirmishes, allowing him to get the repairs started and give the exhausted command team a well-earned rest.
"No, Sir," Tom stammered, his eyes wide with shock. "That is, yes, Sir. Excuse me."
Once again Thomas Eugene Paris didn't bother to look behind himself as he bolted for the end of the corridor and called the turbolift. Luckily it hadn't moved after the First Officer exited a few seconds earlier. Commander Chakotay watched with amused eyes and a shake of his head. Not sure what had occurred between the Captain and her husband, it had obviously discomposed the Intelligence Officer completely.
Just as the lift doors opened, allowing Tom to escape with an audible sigh, Kathryn Paris appeared at her door in rather revelling night attire. Before she could call after her husband, Chakotay allowed his eyebrow to rise questioningly. A trait he'd picked up from both Kathryn and Tuvok over the last two years.
"What did you say?" the First Officer enquired with a slight drollness in his tone, while pointing to the closed doors. He was secretly amused by this situation. "You've both been off the bridge for less than six hours. Surely Commander Paris isn't in a rush to get repairs complete!"
"I have no idea," Kathryn looked and sounded stunned, her gaze flicking between the man before her and the one who'd disappeared into the turbolift.
"I've never seen Paris run from your quarters like a frightened rabbit before," Chakotay finally sobered, noticing the stunned expression in the Captain's grey orbs. "Has something happened?"
"No," Kathryn became quiet and thoughtful while her heart rate increased at Chakotay's suggestion. If anything, Tom's always known exactly what he wanted and gone out of his way to get it."I get the feeling something's not right."
The First Officer considered the situation. Tom Paris hadn't been acting any differently over the last few days. He appeared exhausted at the end of his very long shift yesterday, but no more so than the Captain who'd shouldered the responsibility for the entire ship. Tapping his comm badge, Chakotay requested, "location of Commander Paris."
"Commander Paris is on deck four, section beta one."
Allowing his hand to sweep before him, Chakotay offered, "shall we?"
"Perhaps you could wait until I've changed," the Captain stated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I don't think I'd ever retain my reputation, chasing after my husband in a peach coloured negligee."
"Producing three children in three days after the warp 10 trials," Chakotay managed to keep a straight face, "I don't think anyone on Voyagerquestions the veracity of your, ahm, more intimate life."
Captain Paris's expression stated that will be enough out of you!"Speaking of offspring," Kathryn sighed, "where are my children? As much as I wanted to see them last night, Tom and I fell into bed when the Nistrim finished with us!"
"Exactly where they should be," Chakotay smirked. He ensured Voyager's children were not removed until the all clear was given and the ship was in non-hostile space. "Kes returned all our children to their respective quarters a few hours ago. She chose to stay in the Nursery with Grace, Jane and Edward until you and Tom woke this morning"
Nodding, Kathryn Paris re-entered her apartment, diverting to the small room at the other end. Initially it had been a lounge for the VIP cabins on this deck, as Voyager'sdesign called for ferrying dignitaries around the Alpha quadrant. When their offspring were returned to human form, along with their parents, the extra room had been added to the Captain's quarters as a nursery with its own entry for the roster of care givers required to care for triplets. Another area on deck 9A, near Tom's Intelligence office had been redesigned as a panic room for Voyager'sfive children when the vessel was under attack. So far, they'd had to use it twice.
"Kes," Kathryn greeted the young Ocampan woman currently on duty with her children. "How are my brood this morning?"
"Fussy," she smiled. "They missed you yesterday. It's not easy communicating with a trio of one-year old's, especially when they don't understand why their parents are needed on the bridge during an emergency."
"Thankfully we have you," the Captain stopped at each cot, stroking the cheek of each child, "and your telepathic abilities to keep all the children calm during a crisis. I'm going to have to ask you to stay a little longer."
Nodding her agreement, Kes stated, "is something wrong with Tom?"
"I'm not sure," Kathryn watched the younger woman closely. Kes's abilities had savedVoyagerand her crew on many occasions. "What do you sense?"
"Confusion," Kes responded. "Bewilderment, fear. They are unusual emotions for the Commander."
"EMH to the Captain," Kathryn's comm badge chirped.
"Go ahead." The Captain watched Kes, the younger woman's eyes. curious.
"I've just received a medical emergency beam out for Commander Paris," the doctor stated
"On my way. Captain out." Taking one last long look at the three sleeping children, Kathryn Paris sighed. "I'll be a quick as I can. I'd actually like to spend some of my day off at home with my family."
