Chapter 9

Tom slowly came awake with the most satisfied feeling he'd had in a long time. His dream had been...wonderful. He had dreamed he was back on Voyager and he and B'Elanna had...

Suddenly he became aware of the fact that he was not alone. A warm body was next to him, against his body and he knew. It had not been a dream. He was back on Voyager and he was in bed with B'Elanna. The night before came crashing back into his mind. They had engaged in the most erotic night he'd ever known. He sighed and gently drew her closer to him, deeply inhaling her scent. Oh how he had missed her. As he thought about it, tears came unbidden to his eyes. He realized he had given up any hope of ever seeing her again and it had torn him apart. Like someone ripping his heart out. Only finding Joy had he been able to bear the deep depression that had come over his miserable life. He allowed the tears to flow as he thanked the gods for his daughter. She had saved his sanity.

He buried his face in B'Elanna's shoulder and began weeping uncontrollably.

"Tom what's wrong?"

B'Elanna had woke up as he had drew her closer to him and had reveled in his closeness. She had missed him so much and now they had spent his first night back in the most incredible lovemaking she had ever had. They had started out with the most frantic kissing and touching, but once they had made it to his bed, Tom had taken her to the heights of ecstasy. He had been gentle and loving thinking only of her pleasure and had spent what seemed like hours just worshiping her body. When they finally had joined together, the results had been overwhelming, and Tom had collapsed next to her and had immediately took her in his arms and had snuggled down and had said only two words before he had drifted off...love you. Now he was crying and clinging to her. She rolled to face him and said again

"Tom, please tell me what's wrong."

It took him a moment but he finally said

"Oh B'Elanna, I missed you so. I thought that I would go insane. The first year I thought of you so much that I knew I couldn't last long. Then the dogs came into my life, and I was able to at least talk to them...although they never answered me, I began to think they actually understood me...I told them all about you and my life on Voyager. When Harry was just a pup, he'd sit in my lap and we'd watch the sun set and I talked about you so much..."

He trailed off and looked deeply into her eyes before he continued

"Then when I found Joy, I thought my life was bearable again. I fell in love with her from the very day I brought her home. She was so...innocent. And so loving. Did you know, she hardly got cranky? She was such a joy, always giggling and smiling...that's why I named her Joy. She brought joy back into my existence."

"Oh Tom, I'm so sorry you had to go through what you did. The moment we realized you'd been sucked into that wormhole, my heart broke. We only stayed a couple of days to make sure we knew where to start to find you. No one ever gave up hope we'd find you."

He gave a big sigh and said to this beautiful woman.

"Please, don't ever leave me...I love you...have since the first time I saw you on Chakotay's ship. Such fire and beauty all in one. I loved to hear you talk and the intensity of your loyalty drew me to you."

For the first time he let a grin grace his face as he continued.

"Even when you called me a pig."

Now she lowered her eyes and said softly

"I should never had called you that...I'm sorry. I was so angry in those days. I had been treated like dirt by so many people and when you came on board I just saw your cocky manner and..."

He drew her closer and whispered

"It okay Lanna, I was a sorry SOB back then...I deserved it."

"No you never deserved it. You are probably the most caring and gentle man I've ever known."

They looked deeply in each others eyes and then Tom leaned in and gently kissed her.

"We should get up before a certain little ball of energy wakes up."

Tom smiled as he thought of his daughter and her unbounded energy in the morning.

"She usually gets me up pretty early by either jumping on my stomach or by just staring at me. I'm not sure how she'd react to finding us in bed together."

B'Elanna grinned at him and said coyly

"Well you could make an honest woman of me."

At first Tom didn't dare believe she had said that. He looked at her to see if she was teasing him, but he saw no hint of that in her eyes, just a longing that he felt was also in his eyes.

"Lanna..."

"Tom don't tell me you haven't thought of it too?"

She hoped beyond hope that he was feeling the same as she was. He was silent for a long time and her heart began to sink. Maybe he didn't feel that way...but last night had been so...she just lowered her head and suddenly her hands became quite interesting as they played with the sheet. Then she heard him say softly

"Lanna will you consent to be my wife...my lover...my soul mate...and Joy's mother?"

And at that moment, her heart soared and she finally knew what it felt like to be truly loved by someone so dear to her. She looked up at him and saw the look in his eyes. They was filled with love,passion and yearning. She felt tears building and she leaned in to capture his lips in a soul searching kiss. When they came up for air they rested their foreheads against each other and she said

"Yes Tom I will. I love you with all my heart."

And it was at that moment that all the pain and anguish he had suffered those first four years on that planet melted away and he felt he was whole again. He had his Lanna and also his Joy. His life was finally complete. He was the happiest man alive.

They has gotten up and checked on Joy, who to Tom's surprise, was still sleeping soundly. They had quietly showered together and then dressed and as Lanna made the bed, Tom had gone to start breakfast. He decided to go all out and replicate some eggs and vegetables for an omelet. He walked to the replicator and called up his account to see if he had any credits left in it. He seemed to remember that he had a few left before he had disappeared and was shocked to see at least six months worth sitting in his account. As B'Elanna came out of the bedroom, he turned to her and said bewildered

"I just checked my replicator account and it can't be right..."

She smiled and said

"It is, we all donated to it when we found you, everyone from the captain to the lower decks."

Tom stood for a moment in utter disbelieve at the notion. She moved to his side and hugged him and said

"You have to get over this notion that the crew don't like you. They all were devastated when we lost you and we all pulled together to find you...you're family and we love you."

He leaned into her hug and finally said

"I guess I'll have to...it's just hard sometimes. I still sometimes remember my early days on Voyager. It was rough."

"I know but that's all in the past now."

He sighed as he kissed her and then after a moment he turned to the replicator and ordered some eggs,tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, and cheese. He took them to the small kitchen and began peeling the potatoes to make hash browns. B'Elanna offered to help but he told her he wanted to do this for her. She went to the table and sat as he finished the peeling and began to chop up the potatoes. As she watched him, she marveled at his ease in the kitchen. She never would have guessed he could cook, but he seemed completely at ease as he placed the potatoes in a pan with butter to cook. He then began to chop up the tomatoes and mushrooms for the omelet, never forgetting the potatoes making sure they didn't burn. Once he had the vegetables done, he got out a large bowl and cracked the eggs in and then added the ingredients and began to whip the egg mixture together. Once done he got another pan out and melted some butter in it and then added the eggs to cook. He once again checked the potatoes and said

"Almost ready."

"Let me at least set the table."

"Okay."

She got up and got the plates and silverware out and set the table for three. She went to the replicator and ordered a pitcher of fresh squeeze orange juice and placed on the table. Tom had gotten a loaf of bread and began to slice it and toasted it. Just as he had determined that everything was ready and he had turned the heat off, he heard the sound of running feet from the other room.

Turning with a giant smile on his face he came out from the kitchen area just in time to have a bundle of pure energy jump into his arms.

"Daddy!"

Joy began to plant several wet and sloppy kisses on his cheek and he gave her several raspberries on her's. Then he swung her around and said

"How'd my little sweet pea sleep last night?"

"Good daddy. How did you sleep?"

It was then he turned to look at B'Elanna and as his smile broaden he said

"The best."

It was then that Joy noticed someone else was present. She looked at B'Elanna and then back at her daddy and then said to B'Elanna

"Did you sleep with daddy last night?"

B'Elanna's eyes widen for a moment then she smiled as she saw Tom's face turn a deep red as he said

"Joy, what kind of question was that?"

She looked at him for a moment confused

"Well its just that sometimes you'd talk in your sleep and you always called her name, Lanna, and then you'd get all..."

"That's enough Joy, we'll talked about this after breakfast."

He put her down and she said

"I'm sorry daddy."

"It's okay, now go sit down, breakfast is ready."

She walked to the table and shyly looked at B'Elanna and saw a soft smile on her face. Joy lit up and smiled back and climbed up on the chair as Tom brought the two plates for his girls. He went back and got his and they all sat down to a nice breakfast together.

After the breakfast dishes were cleared and cleaned, Tom took Joy and sat down on the couch with her in his lap. B'Elanna had joined them and after a little loving between father and daughter, Tom took a deep breath and said

"Joy, Lanna and I have something to discuss with you and I want you to listen carefully okay?"

Joy looked at him and it was as if she knew something because she looked at him with a small grin on her face, but she said

"Yes daddy."

He looked at B'Elanna and raised an eyebrow but she just watched the girl and gave a small grin of her own.

"Joy, what would you think about having Lanna around all the time?"

He looked at his daughter to gauge her reaction to what he said. He was surprised when she broke out into a large smile and clapped her hands and squealed

"She's going to be my new mommy isn't she daddy!"

She leaped off his lap and landed in B'Elanna's and began giving her the wet and sloppy kisses she given him this morning. B'Elanna only took and hugged her, looking at the completely dumbfounded look on Tom's face. And she just broke out laughing.

"Now wait a minute...how did you know...?"

Tom was completely confused. How would Joy know what he was getting at? Joy turned to him and reached out to encompass both in her hug and said

"Because every since we got here, I wanted it to be true. I wished last night that I would get a mommy and that you would get someone to be with...you've always been so sad and I want you to be happy."

She pulled them both together so each was against her cheeks and she continued

"Now my wish has come true. I will have a mommy and a daddy."

She turned and kissed her daddy and then turned and kissed her new mommy. B'Elanna just smiled and Tom sat there with that same bewildered look on his face.

TBC