The doors opened onto a poorly lit hallway with a high ceiling that was bordered by black curtains.

"What's this?"

"Oh haha don't worry Katie, this is just how we get to the room."

She nodded and walked slightly behind Owen, trying to compose herself enough to be strong and steadfast under the glares of the admirals.

When they approached the end of the hall, Owen turned around and offered his arm to her. This was it, she was really becoming an Admiral.

She took his arm and felt much more confident having him with her. He was looking down at her and she nodded to indicate she was ready.

They turned the corner and for a moment Kathryn was blinded by bright white lights. They kept walking forward and as they did she could hear something, like snapping or….. clapping.

Her eyes adjusted and and she stared at the ginormous room around her. She was on a round stage with bright lights pointing down on them from all angles, it was a room she had never seen before but it reminded her of the old 'Theatre in the round' set descriptions she had read while at the academy.

Owen walked her to the center of the stage where a large Starfleet emblem decorated the floor, they stood there are Kathryn got a chance to take in more of the auditorium. The Starfleet admirals were seated on the border of the circular stage surrounding her, she didn't know where to face at first but soon found the extravagant table with the Academy president and two high admirals sitting behind it.

When she was finished taking in the stage she tried to see the audience, but the crowd was dark and she couldn't make out any faces. Damn why didn't they listen to her? What happened to 'a small ceremony'? She dreaded what was to come good or bad because all these random people would be watching.

Owen raised his hand to indicate that he was going to speak and the room quieted.

"Friends! Today we are here to celebrate the most dedicated Captain that Starfleet has ever seen. For seven years she gave everything she had, everything she was to her crew, and she made choices no Captain should ever have to make. This woman gave all she had to Captaining that ship, and her crew looked to her, and emulated her determination. I think that a Captain like that, deserves to be an Admiral. Wouldn't you and your families agree!" He paused and the audience lights flashed on.

There, surrounding them, stood every single one of Voyager's crew and their families. Kathryn gasped as she turned and looked over the faces of her crew. Tuvok was there right in the front with his wife kids and grandkids, Be'lanna held Miral and stood with Tom, Seven and the Doctor stood next to them. She saw Harry with both his parents and a girl she didn't recognize, must be Libby, each member of the crew stood there looking at her.

Then there was her family, her mother, sister, nieces and nephews, everyone.

They were home. She was home.

"Thanks to your hard work, and trust in your Captain, you are here now. My son is back, I have a gained a wonderful daughter-in-law and beautiful granddaughter, I have this woman to thank for that." He looked down at her then with tears in his eyes, true gratitude and admiration showing through. "Kathryn, these people thank you for their lives, and every single one of them wanted to be here today, to thank you and honor you the way that they feel you deserve."

She couldn't take it anymore, the tears that had been welling in her eyes broke free. She was so in shock, so happy, so surprised, and so touched to see them all there.

With tears streaming down her face she looked again at her crew, at their smiling faces, and she knew that everything she had given, everything she had given up, had been worth it if they were happy.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we will now begin the ceremony!" Owen cried and everyone clapped, eager to make it official and then celebrate with their Captain.

Owen pulled her into a hug, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. Before taking his seat alongside the rest of the Admirals, he stood by her an arm's length away and put on his Admiral face, well, the best one he could muster.

Facing the Admiralty he said "I hereby move that Captain Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager be promoted to the rank of Admiral. She has upheld the core values of Starfleet protocol even when presented with other options and without having support from Starfleet. She has been an exemplary science officer, and an incredibly strong Captain despite

Voyager being her first command. Admirals, President, what say you?"

He walked over and sat down.

The Admiral to the left of the Academy president spoke in a loud booming voice. "I second your motion Admiral Paris."

She stood staring straight forward at the large podium-like table, not trusting herself to look anywhere else.

The President spoke next "Discussion."

Kathryn waited, taking shallow breaths, waiting for one of them to object, for someone to bring up how many times she had broken the prime directive. But there was silence.

"If there is no discussion we will move to a vote." They went around the circle of Admirals, the President saying their name and then the Admiral giving a yes or a no.

Kathryn subconsciously closed her eyes, waiting to hear the first vote, and praying that this went through.