Absence
6 Months after endgame.
Gretchen Janeway exited the transported station in Indiana and headed toward home. She was running late, something that never happened to her. She really didn't know where the time had went. She was only picking up a few last minute items for her daughters surprise birthday party.
As she made her way up the drive toward the house she noticed two people setting on the porch. They stood as soon as they saw her.
"May I help you gentlemen?"
"My name is Chakotay, and this is Mike Ayela. We are old friends of Kathryn, and we were hoping to speak with her."
Gretchen coughed. "Chakotay I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you. I'm planning a surprise party fro Kathryn tonight. You are both welcome to come."
Chakotay smiled, and turned to Mike. "We defiantly will be there. Would you mind if we brought a little surprise gift with us?"
Gretchen grinned. "Not at all Chakotay. The party will be here at 7. Please come early because after all it is a surprise party. I wouldn't want to let Kathryn see you!"
Mike shook Gretchen's hand. "We will be punctual. And thank you again!"
Admiral Kathryn Janeway sat in her office overlooking the bay. It was a sunny afternoon, and she was having a difficult time concentrating on the task at hand. It surprised her that, after all these years some days she was a heavy procrastinator. As she struggled with another assignment there was a knock at her door.
"Come in."
Her assistant Beth opened the door carefully.
"What is is Beth?"
"There is someone here to see you Admiral."
Kathryn was just about to ask who it was, when her younger sister peeped her head out of the doorway.
Phoebe entered the doorway. "I was hoping to speak with a stuffy Admiral that thinks she is the boss of everyone, and then I remembered you were my sister."
"Phoebe, it's so great to see you come in!"
Phoebe closed the door behind her. She took in her sister's office. "My Starfleet defiantly has unlimited funds these days!"
Kathryn went over to the replicator. "Sorry that you didn't stay at Starfleet Phoebe?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "No, after I'm the one who gets to tell all the great stories about you as a kid to everyone I meet."
Kathryn laughed, and gave her sister some tea. "Careful Phoebe I have a few of those stories of my own!"
Phoebe pointed at Kathryn. "Yeah, but mine are way better. And besides you're a highly ranked Admiral. Just think of all the endless possibilities!"
Kathryn laughed. If there was one person in the whole world that she really missed, it was her sister.
Phoebe Janeway was someone to reckon with. She was several years younger than Kathryn, but she was just as smart as Kathryn. She had skipped several grades growing up and was highly competitive. She worked as an English Professor in Massachusetts, and Kathryn almost never saw her.
"So what are you doing here in San Francisco Phoebe?"
Phoebe repositioned herself on the couch. "That is a very long story. I have this student who is a total show off. And apparently he thinks that he is smarter than I am.
Kathryn groaned. "Mistake number 1."
"That's exactly what I said." Anyway, so last week the class's final papers were due. He turned his in and I didn't give it much thought. I sat down and started grading the papers a few days later. Most of the people in the class did fairly well. And then I got to his paper."
"And let me guess Phoebe it was to good for even him?"
"Exactly. I mean some of the language that he used, isn't even used by Shakespeare himself!"
Kathryn groaned. "Mistake number 2."
"So I sent him a message to send me his sources. And apparently his parents are offianados of some Shakespeare organization and that's where he got the idea for the paper and some of the language that he used in the paper."
"So let me get this straight Phoebe, you transported all the way out here to check student's resources?"
Phoebe grinned. "That and make fun of my older sister."
Kathryn punched her sister lightly. "Have you gone to see Mom yet?"
"No, but I was going to head there this evening. Would you like to come with me? It will be like an old homecoming of the Janeway clan."
"I would love to Phoebe but I have so much work to do."
"Come on Kathryn! It's Friday, you're an Admiral your kind of young, and sort of pretty."
This time Kathryn hit Phoebe with one of the pillows on the couch.
Phoebe laughed. "You do remember who won all of those pillow fights growing up don't you?"
"As I recall sis, it was me!"
"Your memory at your age must be going Kathryn!"
Kathryn gave Phoebe the death glare. And Phoebe returned it willingly.
"Come on Kathryn, it will be just like when we returned home for break when we were both in college! Mom will love it, her two daughters back at the nest. "
"You know what Phoebe you talked me into it!"
"Great, I will come by your office later and pick you up and we can transport to Indiana together. I have to be going now; I have student's references to check."
Kathryn hugged her sister and she left. Then Kathryn went back to her work.
It was 6pm when Gretchen Janeway answered the door.
"Chakotay, I'm so glad you could make it!"
"It's great to be back Mrs. Janeway. Mike will be here a little later. He had some business to attend to. But I brought another person with me. Someone I know Kathryn will be happy to see."
From Behind Chakotay came a very tall blonde woman."
"My name is Seven; it is a pleasure to meet you Gretchen."
"The pleasure is all mine dear. But please come inside, I know you must be tired.
"I am thank you Gretchen."
The two of them sat down on the sofa and Gretchen fetched some tea.
"Here you are. And don't worry Seven I made sure yours doesn't have caffeine in it."
Seven stood up startled. She followed Gretchen back to the kitchen. "Gretchen how did you know that I'm …?"
Gretchen smiled. "Because you're glowing dear. I take it you haven't told your husband yet?"
"No."
"That's ok dear, I won't say anything."
Gretchen and Seven went back to the living room. "The other guests should be here any minute."
Chakotay smiled. Seven retreated back to the couch with Chakotay. TBC