Here's the beginning of my sequel to Lapses of Judgment. I have the entire story mapped out in my head and I'll continue to update as often as I can, this one will be much longer than the former. It takes place six months after Endgame but will bounce back and offer glimpses. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Characters and themes are property of Paramount, my interpretation is my own.

Reconciliation

Chapter One

*Six Months Post-Endgame*

Admiral Kathryn Janeway sat alone in her office, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she tossed the PADD she'd been reviewing, adding it to the growing pile on her desk. In an absurd stroke of irony their seven year excursion in the Delta Quadrant had kept she and her crew from the war with the Dominion—however their triumphant return and her subsequent promotion coincided with yet to be negotiated peace treaties and the Federation assisting the rebuilding of the Cardassian Empire. All the legal jargon and red tape made her eyes cross and were giving her an all too familiar migraine. She braced herself against the desk as she rose and walked over to the replicator.

"Decaf coffee, Black." Those words were painful and her face cringed as the computer materialized her futile attempt at fooling her body. As she took the cup, breathing in the all too deceptive aroma her assistant, Ensign Alicia Fields entered, three more PADDs in hand.

"Admiral you have an incoming message and Admiral Paris apologized but he needs to reschedule your lunch for either tomorrow or next week." She laid the PADDs down and turned for the door. "I'm still working on the arrangements for the trip to DS9 for the mediation—I should have them taken care of before you leave for the weekend."

"Thank you, Alicia. Tell Admiral Paris that next week will have to do." She returned, coffee in hand and eased herself back into her chair, hearing the familiar beeping of the comm on her console. She paused, waiting for the Ensign to leave before activating the transmission, breathing a relaxed sigh at the familiar sight of her former first officer.

"How's the weather in Arizona?" She asked him, her smile growing.

"Not quite as nice as San Francisco. It's actually getting a little windy—unseasonably cold. But we're braving it." Dimples—God, those dimples, she silently hoped when they were eighty that they would still have the same effect on her.

"How's the dig going? Find anything interesting yet?" Upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant Chakotay had received a commendation and pardon from Starfleet, retaining his rank but accepting a position as Director of Archaeology at the Academy. He had assembled a team for a two week excavation over the holiday break.

"Well it's not quite as exhilarating as finding a fossilized chordate in the caverns on Mars, but it's been interesting," he teased her. She returned his playful smile and gave a laugh at his reference.

"I'm sure if you need any assistance I could be convinced to transport down there and take over for you," she joked back.

"Not a chance. You aren't exactly in a position to be climbing over rocks and handling shovels." She nodded with a rub of her back—he wasn't kidding. "How are my girls, anyways?" His eyes danced with a sparkle.

"One is going through a growth spurt, the other is sore, overworked and exhausted," she responded running a hand over a slightly swollen stomach "I'm afraid I've only got another couple of weeks in standard uniform," she winced. Her baby bump had been easily concealed thus far but it was getting harder to make it through the day with the pressure on her waistline.

"Can I see?" His voice filled with excitement. He'd been gone for almost two weeks and though he'd be back in one more, the distance was wearing on him. Shaking her head a little, enjoying the enthusiasm she indulged him and stood up, giving him a clear view of the subtle five month bulge where their daughter was growing.

"You're beautiful, you know," he commented once she sat back down.

"And you are biased," she reminded.

"So what if I am?" He laughed. "Last time I checked, admiring your beautiful pregnant wife wasn't a crime."

"It might be when you can't do anything about it for another week," she suggested with a devilish grin.

"You know if these first years could handle themselves I'd be there in five minutes," he promised. His entire purpose for the dig had been such to introduce his new students to the structure of an organized excavation and offer a little experience. He'd made a point to steal away a few times a day to keep in contact and check up on Kathryn. This had been the longest they'd been apart since his first day on Voyager, it was an uncomfortable adjustment. "How's the house hunt going?"

"Ugh," she moaned, her hands returning to the bridge of her nose. "I know we want to be settled by the new year—but I wish you were here to help. I've got two more to check out this weekend—Phoebe's going with me."

"Good. Was that the information I got this morning?" His face filled with concern, "you can put it off if you want. I know you're tired and this trip has been stressing you out." He had no idea. Four days after he was scheduled to be home she was to be on her way to the meetings on DS9, alone. He had graciously offered to accompany her but she had assured him it wasn't necessary. Chakotay may be a Starfleet Officer and a completely different man than the one she was sent to capture almost eight years ago but Maquis or not, his presence wasn't necessary with all the Cardassians at the mediation. No matter how much she wished that wasn't the case, she couldn't ask him to endure that.

"No, we'll find something—maybe I'll even have it settled by the time you get home."

"So you'll be staying at your mother's this weekend?" He wondered and she nodded.

"I miss you," she admitted with a sigh. "We both do."

"One more week," he promised, reaching out to lay his fingertips on the display. At the sound of a shout his head spun around and he heaved a sigh. "Winds kicked up—I'll try to call you tonight. I love you, Kathryn." There was an earnest and longing in his voice at the end of his sentence.

"I know," she assured him. "I love you too," she spoke just as the transmission broke off. Taking another sip of her cooling coffee she leaned back in her chair and focused her gaze on the picture next to her screen.

The glowing faces of her senior staff all in dress uniforms brought a wistful memory to the forefront of her mind. Some days it felt like yesterday—today it could have been a lifetime ago.

The gentle shudder of the massive ship relaxing on his landing gear—metal meeting rock had never felt so hopeful and yet so final. The then Captain heard her helmsman utter words that would stay with her—"We're home."

With unshed tears clouding her eyes she'd watched one by one as her friends left the bridge.

All these people she never expected to have such a close-knit bond with. A definite, seemingly uneven mismatch, every one of them and watching them go she couldn't help but wonder if fate had intervened and sent them on the mission or if they all had simply risen to the challenges they were presented with.

She could think of no reason at all why in her previous life, because that's what it felt like, she would ever have been seen in the company of criminals and Maquis. But standing on that bridge, hand in hand with the man fate had chosen for her she felt it all come to a close. She'd been working and fighting for this point for seven years—she was supposed to be happier.

She finally had the only man she'd ever want at her side where he'd stayed from the beginning, she had family waiting outside the airlock… She had desperately wanted to see her mother, her sister –finally meet her brother-in-law and their two children, introduce them to the man she'd marry in a week.

As the turbo lift doors closed on the image of the new Paris family, Kathryn couldn't help remembering years of stories his father had told her. Now he was headed to introduce his wife and daughter to the Admiral. A fresh wave of emotions forced the tears down and Chakotay took her in his arms.

"It's really over." She wasn't sure if that was more a statement or a question, he wasn't either and he hugged her tighter, brushing her hair back with his hands.

"It is, but really it's just the beginning." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Harry is finally going to get that promotion. Tuvok's family is right outside—he'll be healed before you know it. Sev—Annika is about to set foot on Earth for the first time since she was six and she'll do it with a man at her side who you helped bring to her. The Doctor is going to be one of the most remembered and celebrated members of the medical community instead of a simple holographic doctor. Tom & B'Elanna are about to go bury a twenty year hatchet with his father and introduce his granddaughter to him. Do I need to go on?" She nodded on his shoulder.

"One more."

"Ah yes, your first officer. Well he's the luckiest of them all. This amazing Captain who was sent to capture him ended up saving his life, numerous times and helped him let go of his anger and find peace. And once the pair finally steps off the ship—the whole universe is waiting for them and anything can happen, as long as she stays right by his side." She pulled away and looked straight into his eyes.

"You saved me too, again and again. You listened to me, you laughed with me, and you stood up to me— for me. I don't know how you stayed by my side all these years, I know I haven't made it easy, but we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I'm afraid I would have given up long ago." He interrupted with a shake of his head and she took a deep, cleansing breath. "What do you say we get the hell off this ship?" He broke her mischievous grin with a fervid kiss. When they broke he offered his arm.

"Shall we, Captain?"

"Absolutely, Commander." The pair left the bridge and as they made their way through the corridors they beamed. Their crew, their family, lined the walls the entire length to the airlock and burst into cheers at the first sight of them. Along every step they heard thank yous and congratulations, stopped for hugs and handshakes.

They came around the final corner to their senior officers and row of Admirals waiting on a platform just outside the ship. Captain Janeway suddenly lost her breath at the sight of it all and as if on cue Chakotay reached down, taking her hand in his. He leaned over slightly whispering, "Together." She smiled slightly and with a slow, almost rehearsed move they took the step off the ship. There were flashes everywhere; cheers seemed to shake the complex. She quickly released her commander's hand to stand at attention in front of the Admirals. After a nod Admiral Owen Paris stepped forward, breaking the formality, his arms wide as he too pulled her into an embrace.

"Welcome home, Kathryn." He said with a kiss to her temple, tears threatening both their eyes.

"It's good to be back," she reassured them all—and herself. She turned slightly to reveal what she knew he'd been waiting for, extending her hand as Tom took a step forward.

"Hey, Dad." The sight of his son standing before him, a lieutenant in a Starfleet dress uniform didn't quite hold the weight it always had in his dreams—his hopes. No, it was the sight of a grown man with an arm around a beautiful woman as they all stared down at the miracle that was his granddaughter. His chest swelled with pride and he stepped forward pulling Tom into a long overdue embrace. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres." He said when they parted, taking the baby to free B'Elanna's arms. "And this is your granddaughter, Miral Kathryn Paris."

No one in all the annals of Starfleet history would have believed the look of pure elation on the face of this formidable Admiral as he led the Voyager crew from their ship with his new granddaughter in his arms.

Kathryn had never seen his hardened exterior so vulnerable and radiant. She ran a finger over the baby in the picture. None of them had had a more perfect day than that. The reunion with her mother and sister—introducing them to her savior of seven years and announcing their engagement. Meeting the families of her crew, trying to explain to the entire assembly at the ensuing party that she had very little to do with their return, that she was confident no other crew could have done, become what they had and how she would cherish every moment of their journey for the rest of her life.

There was so much a part of her that for the longest time had been fighting the Delta Quadrant to get home to the life she had left behind. No matter how long she reflected, she couldn't pinpoint the day, the experience or the reason her life had taken on a whole new dimension. It wasn't her old life she'd gone home to. Somewhere over the years a new life—a new love, new friends, was what had been waiting for her. It was as if she was a completely different person and some days it was difficult to reconcile the two of them.

And yet at the same time, they both had melted together reminiscent of the blending of her two crews. Her family, overjoyed at her return and impending nuptials had welcomed Chakotay into the fold with open arms. All of the former Maquis from her crew had been honored and pardoned for their service to Starfleet, most of whom had chosen to retain their rank. And after a lengthy almost two months of debriefing had settled into their lives, keeping in contact as much as possible.

"Admiral?" A familiar voice broke her concentration. She looked up, shaking off her reverie to see B'Elanna standing in front of her desk.

"Oh, B'Elanna! I didn't even hear you come in," she exclaimed walking around her desk to give her friend a brief hug.

"So I noticed. Did I come at a bad time?" She sat down on the sofa when Kathryn gestured and joined her.

"No, not at all. Actually, I was just thinking about Voyagers return." She laid a hand on B'Elanna's shoulder. "I'm glad you stopped by. How's Miral?"

"Getting so big and bull-headed."

"Sounds like someone else I know," Kathryn joked, with a wry smile as the half-Klingon smirked.

"What about you? How are you feeling?" B'Elanna, Tom and very few others were the only ones who knew Kathryn and Chakotay were expecting, she hadn't even informed Starfleet yet. Given her age and in spite of the Doctors assurance that things were progressing smoothly they had decided to keep it to themselves until he made it back from the dig and her assignment at DS9 was completed. Of course they had informed her family and his sister but they'd grown even closer to Tom and B'Elanna sine they'd been back and Chakotay was too excited to keep it from her.

"I'm wonderful—tired, but feeling much better than a couple months ago." She laughed and rubbed her forehead in dismay remembering an incident toward the end of the debriefings, right after they'd found out she was pregnant. She'd almost let her lunch go on the briefing room table in the middle of an inquiry of the senior staff, but luckily was able to excuse herself in time, but not before her entire staff noticed and the conjectures began.

"How's Chakotay? I haven't heard from him since he left." Then she admitted, "I've been a little worried."

"I'm afraid I'm to blame for that, I apologize." Kathryn smiled and then hung her head. "He doesn't get much comm time and I seem to monopolize most of it. We went from seeing each other every single day to only being able to talk for a few minutes at a time. He's been really busy, but I know he's enjoying himself."

"You miss him horribly, don't you?"

"More than you know," Kathryn said with a laugh. "One more week."

"Is that your personal pep talk?"

"Of course." They both chuckled. "When he gets back we'll try to stop by and see everyone before I leave for DS9."

"Yeah, I meant to talk to you about that," B'Elanna replied as the mood changed. "Do you really think now is a good time to get mixed up with this absurd attempt at peace?" She didn't wait for a response but could tell Kathryn was perturbed. She'd heard this before, which was clear. "And are you really the one that has to do this? Doesn't Starfleet see this as a conflict of interest? They should send someone else."

"A conflict of whose interest, B'Elanna? Yours? I'm all for peace between Cardassia and Bajor—I always have been."

"You're married to a Maquis captain that you were sent to capture whose entire family was murdered by Cardassians—if that's not a conflict of interest I don't know what is!"

With a resigned sigh she replied, "I'm married to Chakotay. A Starfleet Commander, a professor, a good man—the Maquis don't exist anymore, B'Elanna. I know that's difficult—I know who you lost but things have to change. We can't always be fighting."

"I just don't want to see anything happen to you, or the baby. Or Chakotay. The Maquis may not be around anymore but the ideals and distrust is just as present as it ever was." B'Elanna gave up, she could tell there was no hope for her argument and she put her hand over Kathryn's. "Be careful. We've been through too much to have anything happen to you now." Kathryn pulled her into a hug.

"I will be careful, but there's nothing to worry about." She reassured her though Kathryn felt a slow uncertainty creeping from her insides. This, though not without danger, was a typical assignment. Yes, the trouble between Bajor and Cardassia were deep, gaping wounds, but she had faith that the Dominion War and eventual alliance from Damar's supporters had paved the first steps toward healing. She was determined to see it happen.

The Admiral was still repressing the doubts the next afternoon when Ensign Fields handed her a PADD with the arrangements for the excursion. In a little less than a week and a half she'd be transported to the space station with Admiral Ross and the rest of the team for mediations with the new leaders of Bajor and Cardassia. She believed in her heart of hearts that the deaths of Kai Winn, Dukat and Damar had been orchestrated by something more than sheer coincidence. The time for peace had finally come.

"You're going to miss your transport, Admiral." Alicia urged, again pushing her briefcase toward her. Kathryn was jolted from her distracting train of though and promptly stood, acknowledging the ensign with appreciation.

"Thank you, Alicia. Everything's set then?" At the Ensign's nod she smiled. "I'd like to think we got the hardest part out of the way, but next week is going to be a true test of our cramming abilities." She laid a hand on the young girls shoulder. "You've got a three day weekend; don't let it go to waste. Have some fun before I put you to work Monday morning." She offered a wry smile as she slipped into her coat.

"Yes, Admiral." The girl replied knowingly. "Enjoy your time with your family."