The instant they had entered Starfleet command they were separated. Kathryn was swept off my some female crewman on security detail, managing only a glimpse of Chakotay as people swarmed. Photos were snapped in her eyes until the security officer managed to bully her way through to a secured door.

Once in a silent corridor Kathryn cleared her throat, "I've never been to any debriefing that started this way," she observed.

"You've never been a famous captain before, Ma'am," responded the officer easily.

Smirking Kathryn gave a nod, "Right," she said evenly, "I should have thought of that."

The officer didn't respond in any way to Kathryn's humor as she led her down the door lined corridor. When she finally stopped Kathryn found herself in a medium sized room with one table in the center, surrounded by four very uncomfortable looking chairs. "Please, have a seat," instructed the officer, "Someone will be with you in a couple minutes." Not waiting for a response she was gone.

….

Chakotay's nerves were reaching their limit; he had been stuck in a room and asked countless questions for what had to be hours. The Federation and Starfleet officials had decided, before meeting him that he was still Maquis scum, as they'd called him several times and he was having trouble remaining civil toward them. "Look," he finally sighed, "I've answered your questions, when exactly is the debriefing part going to start?"

Leaning back in his chair one of the 'interrogators' sighed, "You don't seem to understand what's taking place here," he said, "We only debrief Starfleet personnel."

Frowning Chakotay creased his brow, "So, what exactly is going on here then?" he asked, "I was told to report for debriefing, along with everyone else."

At this the man across from him smiled, "That was for the benefit of your captain. We couldn't really hull you off to be detained if she knew," he explained.

"Right now, you should consider yourself… persona non grata."

….

Kathryn had been answering every question asked to her for four days straight, to exhausted at night for her to even dream or miss the fact that she wasn't. On the fifth day she was beginning to wonder when it would all end. When Admiral Paris entered the room she gave a light smile as she stood, "It's good to finally see a familiar face," she exclaimed.

Smiling back Admiral Paris nodded for her to re-take her seat. "I understand these long debriefings can be strenuous," he said as he took a seat, "I only have a few more questions for you. Then you can go home, be with your family."

Taking a slow breath Kathryn nodded, "Alright," she agreed.

Giving a nod Admiral Paris leaned his elbows on the table, "I've been going over Voyager's records and I have found no mention of you being with child. Then with no mention of them prior these twins show up at two years old," he began, "Could you tell me how that came about?"

That was the question Kathryn had been dreading to answer. But now that is had been asked she had no choice. "If you had noticed, we had encountered an anomaly," she began to explain, "There were two Voyager's in the same place and time… During the commotion of it all… they sort of appeared on my ship." She had fibbed some, but the logs on that incident were patchy in Voyager's computers.

Admiral Paris seemed to accept her answer as he nodded thoughtfully. "Your Doctor discovered their parentage then and you took responsibility for them?" he pressed.

"Yes," responded Kathryn easily, "I couldn't very well ask someone else to care for them. I'm their mother and the captain."

Sighing Admiral Paris sat back, "You know Starfleet's stand on alternate time lines," he said softly.

"Yes, sir."

Blowing out a breath Admiral Paris took what looked to be a tricorder from his pocket, activating it he placed it on the table, "Listen Katie," he began, "The last time Starfleet had access to a person from an alternate time line they put them away. Ran tests… the person didn't make it."

Kathryn's heart dropped into her stomach, it was her worst nightmare coming true, "Are you telling me they're going to take my children?" she asked, her voice giving a quiver at her words.

Admiral Paris' lips thinned as he gazed across the table at Kathryn.

….

Instead of being allowed to rest and re-fuel after each interrogation Chakotay was deposited in a large brig. At first he was the only one held in the many cells, then he became aware that others were being treated to the same hospitality he'd been receiving. "Hello?" he called out one night, "I know there are others here."

"Chakotay?" called out a familiar female voice.

"B'Elanna," sighed Chakotay, "Please tell me Miral's not with you."

"No," responded B'Elanna, "Thank god for small wonders. Chakotay, what's going on? I came in for debriefing and they treated me like a criminal."

"I'm not sure… I think, when we were told the war was over. That it was to get us to trust them," explained Chakotay, "They won't tell me anything. But I believe Starfleet still has something to fear from our old cause."

"I wonder what?" thought B'Elanna aloud.

….

"What I am about to say stays between you and me," said Admiral Paris evenly.

At this Kathryn's brow furrowed, "We're being recorded," she said.

Tapping the device he had placed on the table Admiral Paris shook his head, "Every word we've said to one another has been… transformed," he said, "As far as Starfleet knows I've been asking you repeat questions." At Kathryn's nod of understanding he continued, "I was first to board and access Voyager's computers. I know everything and as a courtesy to your mother I have altered things."

"I'm not sure I'm following you," breathed Kathryn, "What do you mean you've altered things?"

"As far as Starfleet is concerned you conceived and gave birth to those twins. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't simply about courtesy."

"What do you mean?"

"For doing this… I need you to do something for me," dead panned Admiral Paris.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Kathryn. She'd do anything for her children.

"Not here," standing the Admiral motioned for Kathryn to do the same. When she did he pulled another device from his pocket, "This will allow me to alter you." As her eyes went wide he smiled, "Don't worry, its only for when they scan you before you leave. What they see will correlate with the information I've put in Voyager's computers."

Nodding Kathryn allowed herself to be scanned. Though at Admiral Paris's frown she crossed her arms, "What is it?" she asked.

"You've stopped receiving your contraceptives?"

"How did you…"

Putting away the scanner Admiral Paris sighed, "Kathryn, you're pregnant," he said bluntly, "I can't possibly ask you to help me now."

"If you can protect my children at risk to yourself Admiral. With all due respect I can make the decision to help you myself," insisted Kathryn. Her mind reeled; pregnant… it should have been happy news. But if it meant she couldn't do what needed to be done to protect Kerin and Kyda, "The least you can do is tell me. If I can't help you, my crew can."

….

She had expected Admiral Paris to tell her there was an issue with the inner workings of Starfleet. She hadn't expected him to tell her that the Federation was being manipulated from the inside and they believed it was the work of rouge Maquis. Her first question had been the security of her own Maquis crewmen, the answer had been imprisonment. Admiral Paris assured her that once she cleared up the situation her crewmen would be released and the people responsible for treating them this way would be handled.

When she had ended her meeting she had begun her journey home, contacting what was left of her senior crew as she went. She had to keep her mind on the task at hand, if she let herself dwell on her condition and Chakotay's imprisonment she knew she wouldn't be able to hold herself together.

Making it home she took a deep, cleansing breath before she made her way up the front steps of the house. She didn't know what she would tell Kerin and Kyda when they asked where their father was and she dreaded knowing that she would have to answer them in some way. As she reached for the door knob it was pulled from her grasp, making her give a startled gasp.

"Kathryn," exclaimed Phoebe, standing in the open doorway. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming back? I'd have picked you up…" fading off she frowned, "Where's Chakotay?"

Looking up to her sister Kathryn couldn't stop the tears that welled up and spelled over, "They took him," she managed to respond on a breath.

Unspeaking Phoebe reached out, pulling Kathryn into her arms. Holding her close she lead her inside, as they passed the kitchen doorway their mother's questioning look had her shaking her head as she made her way to their fathers office. Once there she kicked the door closed behind them and pulled Kathryn down to the couch, "Hey," she whispered, "Can you tell me what's happening?"

Struggling to control her breathing Kathryn sniffled as she lifted her head from her sisters' shoulder, "Because he was Maquis," she said, "The federation is in trouble. They believe the Maquis are to blame."

Breath catching Phoebe's eyes ignited with fire, "Every Maquis crewman on your ship has been in the delta quadrant for the last seven years. How could they possibly think they could have anything to do with something here, now?" she questioned, "This is completely absurd."

"I know," sighed Kathryn, "I have to figure out who is responsible so I can get them out."

"We'll do it," stressed Phoebe, "We'll start right now."

Shaking her head Kathryn wiped at her tears, "Could I just be alone for a while? I need to think."

Nodding Phoebe stood, "Sure thing… but what should I tell the kids?"

"Nothing," blurted Kathryn before blowing out a deep breath, "I mean, tell them mommy needed a nap."

Without a word Phoebe exited, plunging the room into silence. Alone, Kathryn lay back on the couch closing her eyes. She needed desperately to speak with Chakotay and she prayed he was sleeping.

….

Chakotay had forced himself to sleep every chance he got, in the hopes that Kathryn was trying to connect with him. As the familiar scene of Lake George appeared before him he thought he was imagining things at first. Standing by the lake, it was her, "Kathryn," he breathed.

Turning at his voice Kathryn rushed toward him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. "Oh Chakotay," she cried, "What are we going to do?"

"We'll get through this," he eased as he wrapped her up in his arms, "They'll realize they've made a mistake. They'll have to let me go."

"That's just it," sighed Kathryn, "They don't want to find the real person responsible… I have to do that. Admiral Paris told me what's happening. This is up to me."

"What do you mean find the real person?" questioned Chakotay, "Kathryn, what's going on?"

It took her several minutes to tell him all she knew and when she finished Kathryn looked up to him, "But that's not the biggest thing that's happened."

This made him frown, "What else is there?" he asked.

Taking a deep breath Kathryn cast her eyes to the ground, "Chakotay," she finally breathed, "I'm… I'm pregnant."

Chakotay's eyes brightened, "I needed some good news," he said. Taking Kathryn's face in his hands he tilted it toward him, "Kathryn, we'll be together, we will. You'll get me out of here and everything will be fine. In the meantime you will take care of yourself and this baby. Lean on your family, they won't let you fall."

"But I want to lean on you," said Kathryn softly, "I need you."

Pulling her against him once more Chakotay kissed the top of her head, "I'm right here. You can lean on me for now."

"I want forever," sighed Kathryn as she tightened her hold on him. She didn't want to ever let him go and if that meant never waking up she was ready for that. Though as the thought crossed her mind she was suddenly holding nothing, Chakotay was gone.