Summary: Set post-Endgame, B'Elanna has to deal with the consequences of having never graduated from the Academy. Rated R.

Author's notes:

This was written for the inaugural Deck Nine P/T exchange, to Photogirl1890's wonderful prompt, "Tom has to help B'Elanna with something that she wouldn't need help with if she'd stuck it out at the Academy and graduated. Can take place at any time."

I have to admit that this is a story that had been brewing in my head for quite some time, and this prompt finally gave me something to write it around. So thank you so much, Photogirl1890!

I also have to thank CaptAcorn for holding my hand and giving me a tremendous amount of feedback (and information on how babies work...). I couldn't have written this without her. And many thanks to Delwin and RSB for much needed feedback to get things moving in the right direction. And finally, again to Photogirl1890 for using her eagle eyes to catch typos as she read her gift…

The Flying Buttress

by Sareki02

May 2381

B'Elanna moved quickly through the tightly packed throng. She dodged right, then left, trying to locate Tom and Miral. She scanned the top of the crowd, hoping to glimpse Tom's head bobbing above the masses. Someone knocked into her from behind, causing her cap to go askew.

She turned and glared at the back of the offender's head before righting her cap. As she began to move forward again, she felt as though she was swimming in the crowd just as much as she was swimming in her gown. She looked slightly ridiculous in it, and she had to keep a grasp on her hood to keep it from choking her, but for some reason she did feel… special.

Scanning the crowd again, she saw a small figure with wavy dark brown hair and cranial ridges rise above the crowd. Tom had evidently lifted Miral up on to his shoulders, using the three year old as a standard. B'Elanna quickly made her way to them, and when Miral saw her, she shouted (very close to Tom's ear), "Mama! I saw you on the stage!"

"You did?!" B'Elanna asked, as Tom lowered Miral to the ground, allowing her to run to her mother.

"I did! They said your name! I clapped for you, like this!" Miral proudly demonstrated clapping.

B'Elanna couldn't help but kneel down and embrace her daughter. "Thank you for clapping for me," she said, not really knowing how to express to the child how much it did actually mean to her.

"You're welcome," Miral replied matter-of-factly once B'Elanna let go.

Rising, B'Elanna met Tom's eyes. "So, did you clap for me too?" B'Elanna asked, a sly grin on her face.

"Of course," Tom replied with a broad smile before taking B'Elanna into a tight hug. He stooped slightly, placing his mouth next to her ear. "I'm so proud of you."