Kathryn keyed in her access code and escorted Owen into the Janeway family Quarters. The first thing she noticed was the silence, which was rare when it came to her children. "Anybody home?" She called out to determine if the silence was real or if her children were up to something. "I guess you'll have to wait to meet the rest of my brood." She quipped.
Owen looked around the large, spacious, room. He could see signs of children scattered all over the room; several pieces of clothing were scattered on the floor, childish drawings took up a large space on the walls, and what looked to be school Padds littered two of the rooms three sofa's and a good portion of the surrounding floor. "It's still hard for me to imagine you with children, Katie." He offered, good naturely.
"Mm." Kathryn motioned towards one of the less cluttered sofa's and moved to clear away the scattered Padds, some of which were hers and her husbands while the rest belonged to the children. "Please, have a seat." She dropped the Padds onto a nearby table and moved over to the replicator. "Two coffees, black." She removed the drinks and carried them over to the coffee table. Sitting down beside Own, she motioned for him to take one of the cups while she took the other. Taking a sip, she studied her former mentor and friend. "How are you holding up?"
"Pretty good, considering." Owen took a sup of the coffee and looked up in surprise at it's unfamiliar taste. "This isn't your usual blend, is it?" He asked, looking into the inky black liquid.
Kathryn smothered a smile by taking another sip. "Not exactly. It's actually one of Neelix's blends. We ran out of real coffee a couple months after we were brought here. Neelix experimented with several different blends until he landed on this one. I guess I'm used to the taste because I can honestly say that this is what I think coffee should taste like." She chuckled at his unsure expression. "Don't worry, it's perfectly safe. It's actually made from a plant that grows on several nearby planets, including our home planet. Much better for you than the other stuff."
Owen took another sip and settled back against the sofa and smiled at the familiarity of the situation. Before he could say anything else, the doors to swished opened and his breath caught in his throat. Standing there was almost a spitting image of his youngest daughter, Ariel, when she was a teenager.
"Mom!" The teenager stepped inside the room and stopped when she noticed that her mother wasn't alone. "Sorry." She said, sheepishly. "Dad said that you'd be here." She explained.
"What do you need, Bella?" Kathryn asked as she gave her daughter a small smile. She glanced side ways at Owen to see his reaction. "Owen, I'd like you to meet my eldest daughter, Isabella. Bella, this is my dear friend, Owen Paris."
Bella blinked and tilted her head to the side, strawberry blonde hair falling over her crystal blue eyes. "Isn't that daddy's..." She trailed off, unsure.
Closing his mouth, Owen sat down his cup of alien coffee. "She looks like Ariel." He whispered. "How is that possible? Ariel is on Earth with her husband and three sons."
Kathryn raised an eyebrow. "Because she's Tom's daughter. I imagine that's where the family resemblance comes from." She answered, honestly. "Now what did you need, honey?" She turned her attention to her daughter.
"Cullum, Owen, and I were wondering if we could go camping with Kendra, Kellen, Jordel, and Naomi, tonight, after George's party." Bella gave her mother her best puppy dog eyes. "Please! Uncle Neelix is going to be there too. He said that Sam needs a break so he's taking the kids for the night and asked if we'd like to come too!" She said quickly, forgetting that Owen was even in the room.
"Is your homework finished? All your projects for B'Elanna?" Kathryn inquired. "And what did your father say?"
Bella crossed her arms over her chest. "Of course my homework is done and all my engineering projects have already been turned in!" She was offended that her mother would even suggest that she would blow off her work for a night of camping. "And daddy said it was up to you. He didn't want to get in trouble again."
Kathryn eyed her daughter for a moment. "Very well, you and your brothers may go. But I expect their homework and any projects to be completed before hand." As soon as she gave the go ahead, she found herself embraced and released by her eldest offspring in a matter of seconds. "Dress warmly!" She called out as the doors swished closed behind Bella's retreating form. She sighed and shook her head. "Kids!" She muttered and chuckled. "But I wouldn't trade them for the world."
Owen was silent for a few seconds longer. "That was Tom's daughter?" Owen asked. "Why does she call you mom?" He was confused. "And why do I get the feeling that dad and daddy are two different people?"
"Well, I am her mother. What else would she call me? Hey you?" Kathryn answered, eyes dancing with mirth. "And she calls Tom daddy and Chakotay dad. I think she calls B'Elanna mama, but I could be wrong." She waved a hand, dismissingly. "Last week she was calling her step-mother by her given name. You know how children are."
"But your married to Chakotay, aren't you? And the boy I met earlier was a Janeway so I assume that he's yours?" Owen was very confused.
Kathryn took another sip of her cooling coffee. "I actually have four children with my husband, Owen. And yes, the boy that found you, Jaden Thomas, is mine but you haven't met his twin sister Jordan Mia. Or my oldest two with Chakotay, Caitlin Kes and Benjamin Edward." She waited a moment to let that sink in before continuing. "I also have triplets with Tom. Isabella Marie, Cullum Edward, and Owen Jacob weren't planned, I can assure you. Let's just say that we were both under alien influence and leave it at that. We love our children, no matter how or why they were conceived. And it does not do a person any good to dwell on the past."
Owen stared at her blankly. "You mean to tell me that you have seven children?!" He just couldn't get his mind wrapped around that. He thought Phoebe's twin boys, Brice and Branson, were a pain, he couldn't imagine seven little Janeways running around, especially aboard a Starship.
"The triplets are fourteen years old. They were four when I married Chakotay and Caitlin come along; so they think of him as a father just like Tom. They were three when Tom married B'Elanna so they think of her as a mother, just like me. I can assure you that there is no hard feelings between any of us. We were both glad to welcome the support of our spouses and just as glad when they became a apart of the childrens lives. We're one big family and I don't just mean the Janeway's and the Paris'. I mean the entire crew." Kathryn wanted him to be clear on how things were.
"This is all a little overwhelming, Katie." Owen finally said. "Twenty-four hours ago I thought you all were dead and now I find out that not only are you alive but also have families. I have three grandchildren I've never even met before." He sat back on the sofa and rubbed his face.
Kathryn chuckled and sat down her almost empty cup. "Actually Owen, Tom also has children with wife, B'Elanna."
Owen just stared at his companion. "H...how many?" He asked as his world was once again thrown into a tailspin.
"It isn't my place to say." Kathryn looked towards the doors as the chime sounded. "But I know someone who can. Come!" She stood and greeted Tom with a hug as he entered the room. "Now do you believe me?" She whispered into his ear before releasing him.
"Tom?" Owen stood and took in his sons appearance. Gone was the maquis rebel he remembered from his one and only visit to the prison colony and in his place was a Starfleet officer proud to be wearing the uniform.
"I had been hoping that this was all a comm malfunction." Tom admitted, dryly, as he eyed his father. "But I can see that I have no such luck." He stood up straight and placed his hands behind his back. "Admiral Paris, you are looking well." He decided to hide behind formality until he fully absorbed what was going on.
Owen was speechless for a moment then copied his sons posture. "As are you..." His eyes moved to his collar, in search of pipes. "Lieutenant Commander Paris." He couldn't believe his son held such a high rank. The Tom he remembered could careless about rank but the man standing in front of him was clearly proud of his place on the ship. "At ease." He managed to add.
Tom relaxed and shot his Captain a mock glare. "You could have prepared me a little better, Kat." He grumbled and ran a hand through his shaggy, blonde, hair.
Kathryn gave her helmsman and friend an innocent look. "I could have but I know how you adore surprises." She added just as innocently. "So...surprise!"
"We need to work on your definition of a surprise. Surprises are suppose to be fun not..." Tom looked at his father again. "Awkward."
Sobering, slightly, Kathryn had the decency to look guilty. "You're right, Tom. And I'm sorry. But I didn't know how else to tell you." She gave Owen an apologetic look before looking back to the younger man. "I know you'd rather be back on the holodeck with George but I thought you needed to know before the rumors began to fly. You know how this crew loves to gossip and such." She waved a hand, dismissingly. "Owen being here will be a juicy topic, indeed."
Tom nodded and shot his father a sympathetic look. "Don't let their innocent looks fool you, this crew is as bad as two old Talaxian women preparing a feast."
Kathryn chuckled at the comparison and nodded. "Very astute observation, Tom."
Having no idea what a Talaxian was, Owen just smiled. "All small ships have the same problem." He commented, pushing aside his nervousness. "Especially small ships on deep space missions." As soon as he said it, he knew he had mispoken. He watched as his sons face clouded over. Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. "George? That's the second time I've heard that name. Who is he?"
"George is my youngest son." Tom couldn't keep the pride out of his voice. "He's four today." His chest puffed up a little. "Speaking of which, you should get to the holodeck, Kat. Georgie was in full tantrum mode when I left because his Auntie Kat wasn't there." He raised an eyebrow in amusement at his sons attachment to his Captain.
"Smart boy." Kathryn commented, dryly, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. "I guess I should be getting to the party. Poor B'Elanna should be ready to pull her hair out if he is truly in full tantrum mode." She nodded as she made up her mind. "And I think I shall go alleviate her headache." With that said she started towards the doors but stopped when they swished open. "Feel free to stay as long as you like but remember...Neelix made cake." With that she disappeared out into the corridor and the doors swished shut behind her.
Owen blinked and shifted, slightly, on his feet. The feeling of nervousness was returning. "So...how have you really been, Tom?" He asked when he couldn't stand the awkward silence anymore.
Tom sighed when he was finally left alone with his estranged father. "I'm doing well. How's mother?" He was grasping for things to say.
"Elizabeth passed away seven years ago." Owen waited to see how his son would take the news.
"Oh." Tom didn't know what else to say. He knew he should be feeling sadness at learning of his mothers passing but he didn't. He didn't feel anything really. To him, his own mother had been a stranger. One he hadn't thought about in over fifteen years. "How did Ariel and Ariana take it?"
Owen was surprised by Tom's reaction. He knew his son hadn't really been close to his mother but he had expected a little more than just asking how his sister took it. "They took it as well as could be expected. Their children were a little less...composed."
Tom tilted his head to the side. "Being a grandfather agrees with you." He stated, honestly. "How..." He cleared his throat. "How many kids does Ariel and Ariana have?"
"Well, Ariel has three sons. Skyler who is seven, Jaxon who is four, and Reese who just turned two." Owen smiled as he thought about his grandchildren. " And Ariana has two daughters and a son. Elle is ten, Casey is five, and Mason is three months."
Smiling, Tom could picture the Paris house filled with childish laughter and joy. Something his own childhood lacked. "I have a couple, you know? Kids, that is." He didn't know how his father was going to react to hearing about grandkids he didn't even know. "Well, Cullum, Owen, and Isabella are the oldest at fourteen. Um...Miral is ten, Aryanna is eight, and George just turned four today." He couldn't help but feel pride at mentioning his offspring. "I've been married to B'Elanna for eleven years. She's our chief engineer."
Owen frowned. "Dammit Tom!" He turned to face the windows and the unfamiliar stars beyond. "Your mother didn't stop hoping that you'd walk through the door someday. She never gave up hope that you were alive even though everyone else did." He was silent for a moment. "Do you know what we went through? What all of Voyagers families went through? Now I find you here, alive, living it up!" He was angry.
Tom narrowed his eyes, frowned, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Living it up?" He hissed. "Is that what you think?" He snorted. "Oh ya, Dad. The Delta Quadrant is just one big picnic!" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You don't have a damn clue as to what it was like for us so don't even stand there and judge me! I thought after fifteen years you might have changed but I can see I was wrong. You're still that self-centered bastard that I remember!" He was angry now. "I hear the pride you have in talking about Ariel and Ariana's kids, but heaven forbid I have any? Well you know what, screw you and your self-righteousness! I have a family. One I love and would give my life for. So get used to it because we're along way away from your precious Earth, your darling daughters, and your perfect grandchildren! And if you do anything, and I mean anything, to hurt my children's feelings, you will wish you were anywhere but here. He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving his father alone. Taking a moment, he calmed himself before stepping onto a newly arrived turbolift and heading for his sons party. Nothing, not even his fathers unwanted presence aboard, was going to take away the joy of this day.
"Oh Lizzy." Owen mumbled as he stared at the closed doors. "What have I done?" He regretted his words now but he had been angry for so long at his son. And now to find him not only alive but thriving, it had been a kick in the gut. Something on a nearby stand caught his eye and he moved over to investigate. Leaning down, he came face to face with holoimages, lots of holoimages. He could clearly make out what appeared to be the Janeway family within the pictures but he could also see signs of Tom as well. Three of the children staring back at him were clearly Paris', or Janeway Paris' he was sure. Cullum and his namesake Owen, we identical in every way; from the strawberry blonde hair to the grey-blue eyes. And Isabella, the girl he had met earlier, however briefly, was also a spitting imagine of her brothers except for the eyes. Her eyes were crystal blue and held an intelligence that no child her age should have. But then again, he noticed that her brothers shared that look as well. His eyes moved over to another group of images and he could clearly make out his son, a woman clearly Klingon, and three hybrid children. This had to be Tom's family; his wife B'Elanna and their three children. His eyes scanned over the youngsters and he had to admit that they were cute. While the oldest of the three looked like her mother, the other two had less prominent features of their Klingon heritage. The little boy, especially. While his siblings had brown hair and brown eyes, he had dirty blonde and blue eyes. He still had forehead ridges but they were so indistinguishable against his pale skin, something else that differed from his siblings, that you had to be really looking to notice them. The more he looked at the boy, George, the more he started to look like his fathers oldest children. This gave him pause. After a few more seconds of scanning the images, he moved over to the sofa he previously occupied and sat down. He'd stay here until Kathryn returned. He welcomed the silence since he had alot to think about.