Disclaimer: the characters are obviously not mine

AN: This is the sequel to my story 'Acceptance' but you can make sense of this story even if you haven't read the other one.


Chapter One

Paris-Torres residence: San Francisco

She tossed him the brand new pillow and the brand new sheet, made of the latest spec of thermolactyl material and he arranged them haphazardly on the rather narrow looking bed.

"You know, I'm not sure the Big Guy'll actually fit in this tiny thing. It's a day bed, for you to lie on in here in the sun and read those novels of yours after taking a dip. Or for taking a quick nap when it's quiet. It was never meant for putting up guests. One day I guess we could think about putting a real bed in here."

Instantly alert, she turned on him, eyes glaring, trying to keep her voice down in order not to disturb the sleeping infant slung across her front. "No way! I'm not having you escaping out here to sleep in comfort. I need you. To help me with her."

"Sure, I know that," he backtracked. "But anyway - like I said - the Big Guy'll never fit on it."

She came to stand beside him to assess the situation. "It's not that small. You slept on it once, that time when you were in the targ house, remember?"

"How could I forget." Tom put his arm around her shoulders and leant in, planting a kiss on her temple to banish the unpleasant memory and gazing down at their sleeping daughter. He looked up and went on, "But you know he's always had a few pounds on me."

"Oh I see, been comparing notes all these years have you?" She poked him in the ribs causing him to wince with mock indignation. Then she approached the replicator unit, one section of the casing of which was open, and she surveyed the remaining components strewn on the floor.

Pulling himself up to his full height and pulling his stomach in, he went on. "I wouldn't say that. But a man has to keep tabs on the competition, doesn't he?"

"You cannot be serious, Tom!" He had her full attention now. Her hands went to her hips in a posture that caused the sleeping baby to protrude even further in front of her - a rather compelling illustration of her point.

"OK, I'll admit that things are different now, but it wasn't that long ago that I still kept my eye on him around you, you know. I'm man enough to admit that."

"Well, man enough, you'll be interested to hear then that the Big Guy is in pretty good shape these days actually. You'll be surprised how much less of him there is now to fit in this bed."

"Really? Well, perhaps he's trying to impress a certain Admiral?"

Her attention drifted again as she selected the appropriate hypo-spanner, negotiating her sleeping load into a position where she could crouch down to the level of the open panel. Another part of her brain held up her side of the conversation nonetheless. "I don't think it's anything to do with anyone else, it's just he's had free time again - like all of the rest of the crew, apart from us new parents of course - time to look after himself I guess."

"What did that certain Admiral say last time you spoke to her? Did she mention the trip they took together a few weeks back?"

"Of course, she talked a little about it. It all sounded pretty intense. I can't imagine what she made of it all really."

He wandered up to stand behind her, watching her work and marvelling as ever at her dexterity when she was in her comfort zone - achieved this time despite the precious burden which ought to be enough to prevent anyone completing a task requiring such delicate adjustments.

Determined to get a more detailed response he pressed on. "It was their first road trip alone together. Surely they must've gotten a little more intimate, what with Seven out of the picture and everything? I mean we've been back for two months. What's to stop them now?"

Exasperated, she actually downed tools and looked up at him with incredulity. "Tom, they went to Tevlik's moon together to commemorate a massacre - the massacre of over four thousand people, scores of them Chakotay's friends. That's hardly an aphrodisiac, you know! Chakotay was pretty stirred up about the whole thing, I doubt his mind was occupied with thoughts of romancing the Captain - I mean Admiral."

Well and truly put in his place, he had to concede. However, he wasn't one to quit so easily these days, especially when he was convinced he wasn't completely off the mark. "Good point. But all the same, surely all that time together must've made them both wake up and smell the roses? I mean it's a six day round trip. Alone together in that tiny rust bucket he insists on calling the Alpha Flyer."

"You're gonna have to just drop it, Tom, and leave them to it. They're both grown ups, you know." She was back to work, this time balancing a small component on the clasp of the sling that held Miral to her.

"That's half their goddam problem! They're both so responsible. Come to think of it, why are we putting him out here, when she's going to be in the guest room? Maybe we should re-think?"

"Just listen to yourself! You sound like some matchmaking maiden Aunt. We'll have this whole weekend together, and they'll have as much or as little time alone as they choose. We'll just stay out of it, right?"

She had finished working on the exposed section of the replicator and he moved closer to offer her a hand up from crouching. He was too slow anticipating her, however, as by the time he extended his hand, she had already manoeuvred herself to stand using the wall as leverage and had replaced the outer casing of the unit. She surveyed her handiwork as he bent to fuss over Miral, very gently stroking her head, being careful not to wake her. She didn't fail to notice his lack of acknowledgement of her request.

"I said, we'll just stay out of it, right?"

Tom addressed his wife with a well-studied nonchalance, without looking up. "Sure, honey. You know me. Soul of discretion."

"Why does that not reassure me in the least?" she threw back at him.

He straightened up and smiled lovingly at her, opting for one of his signature evasion tactics. "Good job the pool house is almost finished. At least the replicator, the plumbing and the heating systems are all up and running."

She handed him the hypo-spanner and motioned to him to help her collect up the rest of the tools. "Let's get this stuff out of the way, so we can leave it looking less like a building site. I already warned Chakotay it's not finished, but he just offered to help with the last few things that need doing. He said he'd actually prefer staying out here to being in the house - so he could get some peace away from Miral's night-time antics I guess. And he jumped at the chance of a morning swim before the rest of us surface."

Tom closed the toolbox, picked it up and followed her out onto the poolside.

'Well he's right about one thing, after the last few nights' 'sleep' I've had, I wouldn't mind staying out there for the weekend myself…. I wonder if she will ever actually sleep through a whole night?"