Author's Note: Thank you all for the wonderful comments! I love throwing people for a loop-it's what I do! Thanks for being committed to Separate Ways, and I hope you enjoy the next segment of our story! Sorry for the wait! I hurt my ankle and although I have had a computer available, I had to be able to walk to go get it first. haha Please excuse my absence.

"Mommy?" Elsa inquired as she watched her mother put the four pips on the right side of the collar of her dress uniform. Kathryn carefully applied the insignia with care, making sure that it was perfectly aligned. Glancing at her daughter's inquisitive face in the mirror, she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes sweetheart?" Kathryn replied smoothly as she gathered her own hair and spun it up into a formal bun. Elsa scrunched her face up for a few seconds, as though deciding her words carefully.

"Do all girls sleep for six months before the baby comes out of their stomach?" Elsa looked up at her mother with shining eyes, bright blue like her own, pure curiosity and naivety coursing through every word of her question. Kathryn laughed and patted her daughter on the head with her free hand. Obviously, Chakotay hasn't told them just how I was hurt. Quickly, she reached for a clear band and strapped her hair into position.

Although the Doctor had ordered bed rest with a combination of therapy for not being active for so long, Captain Janeway always found a way to be stubborn. She allowed some time to recover from the pregnancy and was amazed by Edward's health. He had been in utero while Kathryn was in a coma, meaning that all sustenance during his most vital times of development was provided by the Doctor.

The EMH requested that Edward remain at Starfleet Medical until the closing of the first week, and Kathryn could not wait to bring her newborn son home. The family had visited Edward frequently, so that he would become attached to them, and hoped that his transition would be easy. Janeway squatted down until she was just above her daughter's height.

"No, sweetie, mommy was asleep because she was hurt on an away mission," she soothed, trying to make the matter seem far less frightening than it really was. Elsa, satisfied with her answer, scooted away and rushed out of the room. The door gave a satisfied shut behind the footprints of a small child. Kathryn sighed and put her hands on her knees, ready to stand tall again when she felt strong thick hands grab her arms and lift her until she was straight.

"Chakotay," she whispered lovingly as she turned into his chest. He must have slipped in right before Elsa left. She breathed in the fresh familiar smell of wood and a hint of deep spices. Kathryn set her head on his right shoulder, while her left hand rubbed smoothly across the right half of his sleeveless shirt. Chakotay moved his hands to her side, linked in with her free hand and kissed her atop the head.

"You shouldn't be squatting down. You may not have been able to stand straight up again," Chakotay chided lovingly. Kathryn let her eyes wander up to his own, catching his familiar warm gaze.

"Although it may seem hard to believe, I think I'm fit for duty," she returned, loving their back and forth banter.

"I don't know, I may have to make sure you're in tip-top condition," Chakotay responded, with other intentions behind his retort. He tilted his head and kissed his wife full on the mouth, exploring and savoring. Chakotay unlinked his hands, allowing them to rub up and down his wife's back. Smoothly and slowly, he moved his right hand down over her hip, spreading his fingers over her buttocks.

"Mmm," Janeway moaned softly as she broke free of the kiss and, regrettably, his suggestive embrace. "Chakotay, I'm already in my uniform. I have a meeting with the Admiral at 1100 hours. My mom's coming to pick up Elsa and Kolopak at 1130, and then we're all going to meet up at Star Fleet Medical later to visit Edward. We get to bring him home today." She smiled, thinking about their new son. "Maybe tonight?" Kathryn closed in on Chakotay once again, finger tips tip-toeing up his chest as she continued: "It'll just be you and me and Edward."

"I hope he won't be too mad if I steal you for a night," Chakotay said as he drew his wife in close to him again. Kathryn reached up and kissed his lips gingerly, as a promise.

"I doubt he will."

Chakotay gathered his children's bags by the door just as Gretchen pulled up in her ground car. As much as Chakotay loved to show the children modern renditions of 20th century technology, he often wondered why she didn't just transport to and from the nearest transport station. As Chakotay watched out the window, he felt a very small hand grasp his own-Elsa's-and tighten around two of his fingers. He turned his face to her and smiled sweetly before picking her up in his arms. Kolopak joined his side as the three of them made their way to greet Gretchen.

"Grandma!" Kolopak yelled as he ran to her arms.

"Careful, Kolopak," Chakotay called after him. "At that speed you're likely to knock over your grandmother." He kissed Elsa's forehead and set her down on the ground, allowing her to rush toward Gretchen as well. Less hurriedly, Chakotay found his way near his children and mother-in-law to greet her. Although he had heard rumors that mothers-in-law tend to be the bane of most men's existence, he loved Gretchen as though she were his own mother. She reminded him too much of Kathryn for him to not love her. Gretchen took both of the children's hands, guiding them back to the house, though both were eager to leave. Gretchen, however, insisted on visiting for a few hours in order to catch up and rest from the long drive.

Gretchen spoke about the plans she had made for the children, and had hoped to run them by Chakotay to get his permission. His mind was in a much different place. Kathryn barely been awake for a week, and he wanted nothing more than to shield her from any and all danger. After her last accident, he was not will to let her go on another away mission. She had gone on a mission on a fighter vessel that had been named in honor of the Starfleet Voyager. It was called Voyager Mark II, the first and possibly last vessel to be named after their mechanical companion. Chakotay smiled as he remembered all of the things that had happened on their long journey home.

"Chakotay," Gretchen said, trying to catch his attention. He turned his head to her, realizing that he was utterly lost in thought. "Is that alright?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, wherever you take them, I'm sure they'll be fine," he responded honestly, even though he had no idea what Gretchen had just talked to him about. Kolopak and Elsa giggled at their father's response, and Chakotay gave them all a confused look in return.

"You are clearly distracted, Chakotay. Don't worry though, I won't really drop them off in the jungle," Gretchen smoothly responded. Chakotay's face scrambled, unsure what had just happened.

"I'm sorry, Gretchen, I am a bit distracted. I'm just thinking about-"

"I know what you're thinking about Chakotay." Gretchen reached her hand over and touched his arm gently. "It's a miracle to have Katie back on her feet. Promise me you won't let her overdo it." She gave a sly look as she continued, "And don't you work her too hard either." Quickly, she rose, grabbing the children's hands again, before Chakotay had time to protest, and made her way to the door. "Get their bags, would you, Chakotay?" He sat in a daze for a moment, unsure of what had happened, before he went to the door.

Chakotay squatted down and grabbed Elsa's tiny hand in his own and smoothed his other hand on the side of her face. "I love you, Elsa. You be good for Grandma Gretchen, okay?" She nodded quickly and he kissed her forehead. He turned to Kolopak and gave his son a pat on the back. "I love you too, Kolopak. You take good care of your sister for me." They exchanged dimpled smiles before Chakotay kissed his son's forehead.

"I can take care of myself," Elsa said defiantly, crossing her arms and taking a stance that Chakotay had seen Kathryn stand in so many times. He smiled at her and patted the top of her head.

"I know you can sweetheart," Chakotay replied before he leaned in next to Elsa's ear so Kolopak couldn't hear. "I have to give him some kind of a duty assignment though." He turned and kissed her cheek before anyone could protest any further and grabbed their bags. Swiftly, the four of them made their way to Gretchen's car. Chakotay had replicated booster seats for the children to sit on and strapped them in carefully. He stepped back from the car and waved to his twin children.

"We love you, Daddy," the two said in unison, waving to their father before the ground car sped off into the distance.

"I love you, too," Chakotay said softly as he watched the image disappear. Quickly, he spun around on his heels and walked back to the house, his thoughts consumed with Kathryn.

Kathryn stepped into Admiral Owen Paris's office for the first time since her return from the away mission. She was familiar with the setting now: solid metal desk with a comfortable rolling chair. A comm system sat near the wood panel wall for any calls he might receive. One of her own personal favorite decorations had to be the family picture that Tom and B'Elanna Paris had taken with their daughter Miral when Voyager had returned from home. Janeway wondered how the Paris family was doing, and logged it in her mind to visit them soon.

As she looked out the window, she realized that Owen was uncharacteristically late. Her finger stroked the brass rim of the portrait up until she finally heard the door swing open. Admiral Paris walked in the room, with a pad in hand.

"Kathryn. How wonderful to see you," Owen said, extending his hand to her. Kathryn politely shook it and stood at attention before the man whom she had come to respect greatly. "I'm sorry to call you away from your family, but I thought you might want to know that due to your outstanding duty in bringing Voyager home, and in your honorable actions on Voyager Mark II, we would like to extend to you the long overdue honor of the title Admiral. We will have an official Starfleet Promotion Ceremony wherever and whenever you so choose." Owen's face broadened into a smile as he clasped Kathryn's shoulders. "I'm so proud of you, Kathryn."

Kathryn beamed, nearly speechless. "Thank you, Admiral." She smiled greatly as Owen embraced her as he would his own child, and she suddenly missed her own family. They parted and began discussing the ceremony when there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," Owen called as he took his seat on the opposing side of the desk. Kathryn watched as she saw Chakotay's figure walk through the door and take his place at her side, where he felt he belonged.

"Chakotay," she whispered, looking into his eyes with longing. Chakotay turned to her face and winked as he stood at attention in honor of the admiral.

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, Admiral, but I felt that I needed to be here with Captain Janeway." Owen scanned Chakotay's face and chuckled.

"Well, Chakotay, I must say, you'll have to get used to calling her Admiral Janeway before too long," Owen replied. Chakotay turned to Kathryn and gave her a huge dimpled smile of approval.

End Chapter 11.