Kathryn didn't know whether to laugh or scream.

"Talk about timing!"

"Kate, sweetheart, it's just ..."

"It's just that we're doing this wrong! Usually, people start sleeping together, then they move in together. Not move out!"

"I know … I know it's backwards," Tom said, taking her by the shoulders. "But it's just next door." He sighed. "Look, my lawyer has been on me about getting a separate address before the custody hearing. And Nancy Connolly finally got that posting on the Hawking, so it's the perfect setup."

He was right, she realized; the house-sitting had gone on longer than could be considered reasonable. They lived quietly, but she'd gotten enough casual comments and questions to know that their living arrangements hadn't escaped attention. Not that it would affect her career; Tom was divorced, and a civilian. Starfleet had no official interest in her private life.

They'd also had an unexpected ally. One of her colleagues had let it slip: Owen had told a few select people about how B'Elanna had left her family for another man. Those folks had taken it from there.

On one hand, that knowledge protected her and Tom. But she suspected Owen had something else in mind. No doubt the story had made its way to his friends on the Reinstatement Committee. If B'Elanna should resurface and seek to return to Starfleet, well, a recommendation for a planetside assignment could be hard to come by.

She sighed. "How long?"

"Six month lease. An option for another six if Jeff gets that post-doc spot at Daystrom. And first right of refusal if they decide to sell. It is a great house … I think you'll like it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Suggesting that I move in? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?"

"I'm not suggesting you sell your house. But you could spend some nights with us. The terminal is still active, and I can add the security system feed. Though I'd rather we ate here, considering I finally have the kitchen set up."

"You realize that if I sleep over there, I'll never be able to look Commander Connolly in the eye again."

"Oh … OK, I'll buy a new bed."

"Speaking of, I'm assuming you can afford this?"

He shrugged. "I'm fine, especially since I just got all of Miral's back credits. Hopefully the reinstatement will be decided soon. Dad's starting to rail at people."

"You just want that garage, don't you?"

He grinned. "I do, plus the basement. And I can take down the fence between the yards. That way we can use the back doors."

She sighed. "And I suppose you've already made the deal, haven't you?"

"Yeah … it will be OK. It's just for a few months," he said, gathering her into his arms.

XXX

A week or so into their new living arrangement, she wandered outside to find Tom and Miral in the front yard with Lt. Zach Boramy, who lived down the street. Miral was playing with a puppy — mostly black Lab, though there might be a bit of German Shepherd involved.

"Hello, Admiral." Zach scrambled to his feet.

She waved him back down. "We're all off duty here," she said, crouching down to meet the puppy who had come to greet her, followed by Miral. "Who's this?"

"Barkey!" Miral answered. Kathryn looked up at Tom and Zach, who were laughing.

"His name is Jake," Tom said. "And he needs a new home."

"What happened, Zach? You get posted to a ship?"

"No ma'am. It's Mel. We found Jake at the shelter and fell in love with him. Took him home, and about an hour later, I had to rush Mel to Medical."

"My God … she OK?"
"She is now. Turns out she has an allergy to dog dander. She spends too much time with him and she can't breathe. You'd think they could fix something like that, but the docs say there's no guarantee."

"I've heard of those types of allergies; that's rough," she said.

"He's a good boy; I don't want to take him back to the shelter; none of this is his fault. But there's no way he can be around Mel. In fact, she's staying at her mom's house. Sam suggested I talk to you, Admiral. She said you really like dogs. Is there any chance you or Tom could take him? I've got food, toys, a bed … the place I use for doggy daycare is close by."

"He and Miral really are hitting it off," Tom remarked.

"Are you OK to have a dog at the house?"

"I think so, but I'll message Nancy. In the meantime, can he stay with you? Though I think you'll have to take Miral, too."

She considered. "How is he on house training?"

"Doing well. The daycare folks have given me good reports, too."

"How about chewing?"

"Not so far. He can really demolish those big chew bones, though."

She called the dog back and gave him a look-over as she talked softly to him. She smiled and stood up.

"All right, Zach, I'll take him. Tom and I will work out his living arrangements. And you can always visit; we'll just keep a hazmat suit here for you."

XXX

Kathryn relaxed into Tom as they rode along the back roads toward the Old Nappa region. He'd finished restoring the Zip King and had suggested a road trip to celebrate her upcoming birthday. She readily agreed, though she suspected he was trying to placate her over moving out.

Julia dropped by before they left. "Tom asked if I'd lend you my jacket and helmet for your trip."

"I didn't realize you rode hoverbikes," she said.

"Actually," Tom interrupted, "Mom gave the bike a test ride."

"It's nice," Julia said, "but I'm not fond of the clutch. Then again, I prefer Bentley bikes. I learned on a Blazer."

"Really? I learned on a Roadrunner," she said.

"Wait a minute, you ride, too?" Tom asked. "Why didn't you say something? I could have written you a holoprogram!"

"Guess it didn't come up. It's been years, though. An old boyfriend taught me."

"Me, too," Julia said.

Tom gave his mother a sidelong look. Kathryn didn't catch it, but Julia did. "Thomas," she chided. "I had a full life before I met your father. And Kathryn certainly had a full life before you came along."

Tom just raised his hands in surrender as Julia laughed. "Tell you what. You find us a couple of Bentleys and I'll pay to restore them. Then we can all go riding … maybe head up the coast for lunch."

XXX

They walked out of a winery to find a man looking over the hovercycle.

"Like it?" Tom asked. His voice was casual, but Kathryn could see his stance tighten.

"This is yours?" the man asked. "Wow! Where did you buy it?"

"Bought it from a junkyard and restored it … a lot of original parts, though not all from the same bike. I can't claim the paint job … sent that out."

The man shook his head. "Impressive! By the way, " he said, offering his hand, "Bill Simmons; I'm a broker for classic hover vehicles. If you're interested in selling the Zip, I have buyers who would be willing to offer a lot of credits for it."

"There's a market for that?" Kathryn asked.

He nodded. "Now that the war's over, people are ready to buy toys again. I've heard from a lot of service folks." Kathryn just smiled.

"By the way," Simmons continued, "if you're looking for another project, I can steer you to folks trying to sell their grandpas' old bikes. Most of them probably have been under a tarp for 50 years … but man, if you can restore a junkyard bike ..."

He smiled at Kathryn as he handed Tom a chip with contact info. "I do apologize for interrupting your time with your husband. But when I see work like this ... I at least had to say hello."

"Husband?" Kathryn murmured as they prepared to leave. "I guess we look like an old married couple, eh?"

He just laughed. "Told you we were good together."

"You thinking about selling the Zip?" she asked over lunch.

"Maybe," he said. "Depends on what I can get. It's a fun bike, but I don't have any sentimental attachment to it. I could put some of those credits into the Cloud Queen."

"Maybe you should find a nice shuttle to restore," she teased.

"Oh Kate, that's low," he said with a shudder.