Two chapters in one day! Please review, as it will really keep me going.
"Where is my little girl?" she asked playfully, as the small child crawled under her desk. She grabbed Miral by the hips and picked her up, placing her squarely in her lap. "Give your favorite Admiral a kiss," Janeway said, directing her God Daughter to her cheek.
Miral gratefully obliged.
Although she inwardly chastised herself for such thoughts, Janeway couldn't help but notice how much more docile and loving Miral had become in her mother's absence.
"So does that mean I get to plant a kiss on my favorite Admiral too?" Tom said, walking into Janeway's office with his normal flirtatious bravado.
"Certainly, Mr. Paris," she responded in stead. "I'm sure your father would appreciate the display of affection." Janeway winked at Tom to rub the joke in further.
"Touché. Well, has my little girl been well behaved in my absence?" he asked.
"She's an angel," Janeway said. "But I will say I am surprised by how fast she is advancing. She's been scooting around my office all day. With those Klingon genes, she'll be walking in a week."
Over the past three weeks, Janeway had come to think of the little girl as part of her, and as Miral hit milestones, Janeway beamed with pride the way any mother would.
"So Admiral, I have a surprise for you," Tom said, grinning. "You'll never guess who just transferred into my class, halfway through the semester." His smiled widened, and the excitement was evident in his voice. "Apparently the year long intermediate flying class only takes about two weeks for the truly dedicated…"
"Oh, Tom! I think I'll wager a guess. Is she here? I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks!" Janeway beamed with excitement.
Just then, the three were greeted by their former crewman's distinct monotone voice.
"Lieutenant Paris said you requested my presence, Admiral?" Seven of Nine asked, perplexed.
"Oh good God, Seven! That's not what I told you to say!" Tom said, laughing. Seven's absurdity never failed to amuse him.
"Lieutenant Paris said that I should explain that because I had become accustomed to your company while with my Voyager collective, your absence is now uncomfortable," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Or something like that…" Tom added, still laughing.
Janeway leapt from her chair and hugged the former Borg. Seven responded in kind, yet her spine never left its 90 degree position.
"So how have you been? How is your aunt? How is the academy?" Janeway asked, her excitement evident in the rapid fire of her questions.
"My aunt and I are both running near 100% of our capacity. We are…" she paused in her typical manner, "…well. The academy's instruction is sufficient, yet lacks efficiency. They do not work as a simulated hive mind, as on Voyager."
"Well I'm sure your grades are impressive…"
Seven interrupted. "Grades are irrelevant. I value assimilation of knowledge."
Janeway joined Tom in their laughter.
"Where is the Commander?" Seven asked, unexpectedly.
"They should be returning soon," Janeway said. "He, B'Elanna, and some of the old crew took a mission. They've been gone for about three weeks. Chakotay's ship should be docking within the hour."
"Mommy!" Miral screamed, without warning.
"Oh my God, Tom! Did she just…" Janeway said, turning to the little girl.
"She is advancing at a rapid rate for a human child," Seven said, plainly.
"Say it again, Miral, say 'Mommy,'" Tom said, his eyes bright as he tried to coax his daughter.
She only giggled in response.
"Oh, B'Elanna is going to be furious she missed this!" Tom said, picking up his girl and spinning her around. "I should have known the presence of such brilliant ladies would rub off on her!" he said, addressing the Borg and the Admiral, but his eyes never left Janeway's.
Just then, the Admiral's console beeped, and Chakotay's strong voice was heard from the monitor.
"Permission to dock, Admiral," he said.
"Permission granted," Janeway responded, smiling at the sight of him.
"My presence is requested…elsewhere," Seven said awkwardly, before briskly turning and walking out the door.
"Did she just…lie?" Tom said, still smiling at Miral.
"You know, Tom. I think Seven is more human than we ever give her credit for. I think she's really hurting."
"You seem tired," Janeway said, kissing Chakotay softly as he walked into their house.
"It was a rough three weeks, Kathryn," he said, blandly. "I think I'm just going to go up to bed. Come up whenever you feel like it. I'll probably be asleep already."
He turned and walked up the stairs, without waiting for her reply.
Janeway was slightly taken aback, but blamed his temperament on the trip. She brushed it off and went to replicate dinner for herself.
As she sat drinking coffee on the couch with PADDs spread across her lap several hours later, she jumped slightly at the sound of the front door chime.
"Computer, who is at the door," she asked, unsure of whom would be stopping by – let alone this late.
"Lieutenant Thomas Paris," the computer responded
"Go figures," she said, under her breath as she rose from the couch. She and Tom had rekindled their old camaraderie of the early days of Voyager in his spouse's absence. She had grown to once again enjoy his playful banter, especially when he brought along Miral.
"Admiral," he said matter-of-factly, "I apologize for disturbing you, but I need to speak with Chakotay immediately."
Tom's attitude immediately sent up red flags for Janeway, who was concerned by the seriousness of his voice. It was very unlike her former pilot.
"Tom, he's upstairs, but…"
She did not get to finish, as Tom bolted past her and up the stairs.
Hesitating to follow, she heard nothing at first, but soon sounds of Tom's raised voice met her ears. Chakotay's followed in stead.
"You son-of-a-bitch," Tom screamed distinctly. As Janeway heard something crash to the floor above her, she ran up the stairs to intervene.
"What the hell is going on here?" Janeway said, as she walked in her bedroom to see Chakotay nursing a bloody lip, just as his fist connected squarely with Tom's jaw.
The force of the blow knocked Tom to the ground, and he turned to Janeway as he lifted himself from the floor.
"Why don't you ask your adulterous pig of a boyfriend," he said, emphasizing his disgust in the last word.
Janeway's stomach dropped.
"What is he talking about, Chakotay?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it. We'll talk later, just get him out of here," he said, pointing to Tom as he wiped the gathering blood off of his chin.
"You coward!" Tom yelled. "B'Elanna has bigger balls than you do! The least you can do is explain yourself to Kathryn!"
"To Kathryn?" Chakotay said. "I was unaware that you and your superior officer were on a first name basis. You're pathetic, Paris, with your idiotic school boy crush!"
"Fuck you, Chakotay! I'm not the one screwing another man's wife. How could you do that to her?"
"Do that to her?" he repeated. "She was begging me, Paris! Apparently you aren't satisfying her at home," Chakotay said, through his teeth.
"Not B'Elanna, you idiot! Janeway! How could you do that to Janeway?"
Tom swung again, hitting Chakotay in the nose.
"That's it! Get out of here! Both of you! If you want to kill each other, you sure as hell aren't doing it in my house!" Janeway screamed.
Tom retreated immediately.
"I'm sorry, Admiral. I didn't…"
"Get out, Tom," she said, interrupting him. She turned to Chakotay. "And you too. I don't want to see you right now."
Chakotay followed Tom silently down the stairs.