Naomi chatted happily with her new best friend as they walked, or rather ran, out of school. It was a sunny day and only a week until holidays, that fact alone let the children's mood increase at a high rate.

Even if Naomi had found new friends and settled into life on Earth she missed Voyager, her crew and the life onboard desperately. She called Harry, Seven, Neelix and the Doctor often and they called her but it wasn't the same. Most of Voyager's former crew also visited her but all had new lives and only showed up irregularly.

The person she missed the most was the person she saw least often. Captain Janeway. Naomi missed being captain's assistant. She missed Captain Janeway's bravery, her endless hope, the way she trusted people so they achieved more than they ever thought they could and her strength, her larger than life strength, with which she could make fear disappear. Naomi simply adored that woman.

Through the first months after Voyager's return Captain Janeway spent a lot of her spare time with Naomi. It wasn't much but Naomi appreciated every second of it. The debriefings had taken their toll on the captain and Naomi wasn't the only crewmember who needed her help. Besides her own regular debriefing Captain Janeway made sure that every single person of her crew was fine. She had taken most of the original Starfleet crew under her wing while Commander Chakotay was debriefed together with the former Maquis and helped them find their way and maybe even a new life in Starfleet. He reported daily everything that had happened to Captain Janeway, letting her know how the former Maquis were adjusting and if somebody needed her help.

But still, with all these burdens, Captain Janeway seemed to never forget Naomi and when she didn't have time for her she sent another member of Voyager's crew.

Harry visited her mostly since he was one of the few lucky ones who had reunited quickly with his family (and Libby) and didn't need help adjusting. Harry tried to help Naomi as much as he could. They talked about her new life, about the things she was missing and he showed her some of his favorite places on Earth. Nonetheless he noticed soon that he alone couldn't help her. But most of the other former crew was still in their debriefings, Tom and B'Elanna had their newborn baby while Seven and Icheb had to adjust to Earth first of all. Naomi understood their reasons but she felt terribly abandoned. Captain Janeway was somehow aware of it (Naomi didn't know how the woman could know everything) and organized for her a weekly part of the comm time with Neelix. Starfleet muttered at first, the comm time to the Delta Quadrant was still not more than eleven minutes a day, but Captain Janeway was persistent and finally they agreed. Naomi was literally bouncing as Captain Janeway came to pick her up and walked with her to the Pathfinder Project. As they talked to Neelix and told him of the agreement he was on the edge of crying and thanked Captain Janeway exuberantly. Since then Naomi went one day a week with her mother or Harry or another former crewmember, sometimes even Reg Barclay, to the Pathfinder Project to talk to Neelix. The officers who worked on the Pathfinder Project were at first a little confused that a child should come every week but they noticed soon how smart and well-behaved Naomi was and started to greet her in a friendly way and helped her whenever she needed help. Commander Harkins even stated with a wink one day that as soon as she graduated from the Academy she could come to work at the project. Naomi beamed but refused seriously and said that she wanted to be a captain on a starship, like Captain Janeway, and Harkins nodded, while suppressing a grin.

But even with all those attempts to make her feel better, Naomi couldn't help but feeling out of place on Earth. Not that she felt like an outsider, no, but Earth didn't felt like home. Voyager was her home.

Shortly after Voyager's abrupt homecoming Sam introduced Naomi to her father. He was a nice, gentle man and didn't push her. They began to spend time together but she often cried through the nights, hoping Captain Janeway or Seven or Neelix would show up and take her back to Voyager which, of course, never happened.

The months after the debriefings Captain Janeway spent more time with her and Naomi began to feel better. They visited Voyager (but couldn't go inside, she was still closed), Captain Janeway showed her her new office at Starfleet Headquarters where she would work as soon as her leave ended (and she told Naomi she would like it when her assistant would show up sometimes to distract her a little. Naomi beamed and agreed dutifully).

One day Captain Janeway came together with Seven and they beamed to Indiana where Captain Janeway showed them her childhood home. The little girl was mesmerized by Captain Janeway's mother. She treated Captain Janeway like a child and Naomi never saw Captain Janeway squirming and blushing before. Gretchen Janeway told Naomi that she had heard a lot about her and was pleased to meet her in person. She thanked Naomi for being such a good captain's assistant and Naomi swelled with pride. Captain Janeway's mother also told her stories from Captain Janeway's childhood (even if Naomi couldn't imagine Captain Janeway as a child) while she spoiled her with cookies and brownies. Naomi never felt so full in her life. And never so happy. Life on Earth wasn't so bad after all.

But suddenly in February Captain Janeway didn't call anymore. And after weeks Naomi was scared that she had been forgotten. Neither Commander Chakotay nor Tom or B'Elanna called her and Naomi thought she had lost her meaning for the former crew.

On Voyager's first anniversary she saw all of them again but the captain was oddly quiet and also seemed nervous. A behavior Naomi never saw before and it startled her deeply. Tom told them in the night that the captain had just married Commander Chakotay and the rest of the crew cheered joyfully but Naomi didn't believe him. Captain Janeway didn't behave this way and Naomi was concerned that something was wrong with her captain.

Four long weeks she only got calls from Harry and the Doctor, except from her regular calls from Neelix and Seven, until one day Captain Janeway appeared on her screen. She said she didn't have much time but wanted to apologize that she wasn't there for her. Naomi told her that she misses her and Captain Janeway told her that she misses her, too, and promised to call her again soon but she still hadn't called.

"Bye!" Naomi yelled to her friend as their paths separated.

"Crewman," an all too familiar voice called out in Naomi's direction.

Naomi turned in surprise. "Captain!"

Kathryn opened her arms and Naomi ran into her embrace.

"I missed you, Naomi," Kathryn said, hugging her tight.

"I missed you, too, Cap… Admiral," Naomi said under tears and Kathryn held her at arm's length.

"That's captain for you," she said empathically.

Naomi beamed and nodded while she wiped her tears away. "Yes, Captain. What are you doing here?"

"I have a job for my assistant."

The little girl stood prompt at attention. "Captain's assistant, reporting for duty."

"Very good. It'll take the whole afternoon."

"Really?" Naomi's eyes began to sparkle but Kathryn noticed a flicker of hesitation.

"What's wrong?"

"Have you asked my mother?"

Kathryn laughed out loud. "Of course and she agreed."

Now Naomi beamed and sparkled even more.

"Here…" Kathryn gave her assistant a PADD. "…are the things we have to do today. What's the first point?"

Naomi scrolled through the PADD. "Lunch."

"Are you hungry?" Naomi nodded. "Okay, let's find something to eat."

Kathryn recognized the glances Naomi gave her while they were walking.

"Have you something on your mind?" Kathryn looked down at her assistant and saw how the little girl bit her lip. "You can tell me," she assured her.

"You look different."

"I look different?" Kathryn asked surprised.

"I never saw you in casual clothes before."

"Never? Rarely."

"Rarely... but it's not only the clothes…" Naomi glanced up and down on her former captain. "You glow somehow."

Kathryn eyebrows arched amused. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. You look… happy and relaxed… and you smile more," Naomi stated pleased.

"That didn't happen often in the Delta Quadrant."

"No," Naomi's head dropped.

"Hey," Kathryn said softly and took Naomi's chin to raise her head. "Naomi, what's wrong"

"Are you mad at me?"

"Mad at you?"

"That I liked our life on Voyager? Everyone says it was hard for you…"

"Oh, I'm not mad. Yes sometimes it was hard and sometimes I was lonely but I met people I wouldn't have met and got to know without this journey."

"Like Commander Chakotay."

Kathryn couldn't help herself and started to smile. "Yes."

"That's what I mean," Naomi pointed in Kathryn's face. "You are smiling all over your face and you glow." Now Kathryn blushed. "It has something to do with Commander Chakotay," Naomi guessed.

"It certainly has…," Kathryn winked.

"Are you really married?"

"Yes we are."

"On Voyager's first anniversary?"

"That is true."

"Do you love Commander Chakotay?"

Kathryn chuckled and stroke over Naomi's hair. "You are very curious."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"You don't pry and yes, I do love Chakotay."

"That is great, Captain," Naomi smiled broadly, her concerns and doubts forgotten.

"What about you, Naomi? I'd like to hear what happened in your life through the last months."

Naomi told Kathryn everything. From her new friends over her school to her father. She babbled endlessly nearly without breathing and Kathryn listened to whatever Naomi was telling her.

They ate lunch in a restaurant and Naomi told Kathryn from her weekly chats with Neelix and they laughed at the fact that there was no leola root on their pizza today.

"So what's next?" Kathryn asked as they stepped out of the restaurant.

Naomi grabbed the PADD out of her pocket. "Captains assistant's advice is required." She frowned. "You need my advice?"

"I do," Kathryn stated and Naomi noticed that Kathryn had chosen this restaurant on purpose when she was guided by her Captain around the next corner. "And here we are." She stopped in front of a shop.

Naomi's eyes widened. "Bridal Fashion? You want me to help you find a dress?"

"I have one but I want your opinion. And please be honest. I won't be offended." Naomi nodded at Kathryn and they walked into the shop where the tiny lady who owns it helped Kathryn change.

"Are you ready?" Kathryn called out.

"Yes, Captain."

Kathryn stepped out of the changing room and Naomi immediately began to giggle but hesitated to tell Kathryn the truth. "Tell me," Kathryn demanded.

"You look like a princess," Naomi giggled but her cheeks burned red as she said it.

Kathryn suppressed a chuckle and raised an eyebrow instead. "And what's wrong with that?"

"You are the queen!" Naomi blurted out and held her breath, waiting anxiously for Kathryn's reaction.

"I'm glad we see it the same way." She looked down on the dress and missed Naomi's relieved smile. "I don't know why Phoebe and B'Elanna chose this… maybe as punishment."

"Will you search for another dress?"

"No." Naomi's forehead wrinkled around her horns. "We will search."

The girl began to radiate and gave her captain a proud nod.

After long hours and endless dresses later both were exhausted. Naomi hung tiredly in a chair while Kathryn changed again. She didn't know how many dresses she had tried, she had stopped counting hours ago.

Kathryn stepped in front of her assistant once again. "What do you say?"

Naomi sat up and beamed bright, her exhaustion abruptly gone. "Commander Chakotay will faint!"

Kathryn looked into the mirror and smiled pleased. "That's what we want. And do I look like a queen?"

Naomi cocked her head and surveyed her former captain. "No… but you look like a real bride. It's a beautiful dress."

"I think so, too. It's perfect." She looked through the mirror at Naomi. "Thank you for helping me."

"That's my job," Naomi replied seriously.