Chapter 13

Tom was in the clinic, holding his little brother. Kolo had been born exactly two hours ago, and he couldn't be more loved. Kathryn had had a long labor, and was now sleeping peacefully. The Doc had finally gotten Chakotay to go home to rest also, but only after Tom had promised to stay and look after them both. He was sitting in the rocking chair rocking his little brother.

He had Chakotay's coloring, black hair and that Indian ruggedness, but he had his mothers eyes and nose. Tom couldn't keep his eyes off of him. And Kolo seemed very interested in what Tom was saying.

"Hey, little bro...I'm your big brother. I'm going to watch out over you and when you're bigger, I'm going to teach you to play baseball, and take you up in the Flyer and teach you how to pilot, and..."

He was so engrossed in telling Kolo all he wanted to do, he didn't notice Lanna as she came into the room. She stood at the door and just smiled at the scene. Tom was cuddling the baby and just murmuring to him. Her heart melted as she watched. Tom was just a big teddy bear inside, and she loved seeing this side of him. He certainly was going to make a wonderful father someday. She just hoped she'd make a good mother someday also.

She quietly walked over to him and lightly laid her hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at her and smiled.

"Isn't he beautiful? He looks like dad, but he has mom's eyes and nose...see?"

"Yes he does."

She gently rubbed the baby's cheek. It was so soft.

"How's your mom doing?"

"It was a long labor, she's exhausted, but doing fine. The Doc is going to keep her over night just in case."

She looked over at Kathryn who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. She looked happy even in sleep. B'Elanna knew how much this baby meant to her. They had had a long talk about it only a week ago. B'Elanna had come to ask about motherhood. She was afraid she wouldn't make a very good mother, and she knew Tom wanted children. They had talked all afternoon, and Kathryn had told her that even though she loved Tom with all her heart, she was so looking forward to this baby, to be able to raise him and love him as she had wanted to do with Tom. She had shared the pain of having to give up her precious son and how she had been tortured by that fact since she had made it. She told her that if she had it all to do again, she'd have found a way to resist.

She felt she owed it to Tom, and she knew this son would be loved and cherished not only by his parents, but also by his big brother. Kathryn then told her that she had no doubt that she would make a wonderful mother and that with Tom at her side, she knew that any grandchildren that came into their lives would also be loved and cherished. B'Elanna had grinned at the love that Kathryn showed to her two sons and then had to laugh when she told her that after she became a mother, they could call Chakotay grandpa.

Now, as Tom continued to rock Kolo, she went and got a chair and sat with him just enjoying the closeness of the two. Neither were aware that Kathryn was watching them and smiling. It was so good to see them together, and she knew that someday, she'd see Tom holding his own son or daughter with the same look of love on his face.

Kathryn and Kolo had been home now for three weeks, and life was settling down. Tom had spent most of the week just doing odd things for his mother while Chakotay had been doing his duties as mayor. Kathryn had just finished feeding Kolo, and was now rocking him to sleep while Tom watched her. He had a thoughtful look on his face, so she quietly said

"What are you thinking about?"

Tom was quite for a moment and then said

"I was just wondering...was this how it was when I was a baby...I mean while you still had me, did you rock me too?"

She looked at him and smiled and said

"Yes, sweetie, it was just like this. You would fall asleep and I'd rock you for hours. It was something I enjoyed. You were such a happy baby, hardly ever cried. And when you woke, you always gave me a happy toothless grin and gurgled."

He sighed and said

"I love you mom."

"I love you too...always have and always will. No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby."

Tom reveled in the attention. It was something he seemed to need. He realized it was something he couldn't seem to get past, the need to know he was wanted. He'd never gotten it from his father. But he did get it from his mom and step dad. He had tried to convince himself that he didn't need to worry anymore, but sometimes that little worry of self worth would stick it's ugly head up, and he'd begin to wonder if his life as it was now was real. He had started to talk to Tuvok again about it, and Tuvok had assured him that when he felt completely safe, it would go away. When he had stated that he did feel safe, and that he now had had almost two years with his mom, Tuvok had reminded him that the years spent in the abusive household of his father would take some time to get past.

He had told Tuvok of the beatings and verbal abuse he had endured and how he had wanted to kill his father. Even though he was not proud of it, he had always hoped that some mission would take his father's life. He wanted to get past these feelings. His father had no more hold on him, and he'd never see him again. Why was it he sometimes had such a hard time letting go? At least this didn't happen too often, and he knew he could always go to either Tuvok, or his dad to talk things through. He usually took the really bad feelings to Tuvok, as he knew that his dad had a deep resentment towards his biological father. He didn't what to cause his dad any heartache.

Now, his mom got up and place a sleeping Kolo in his crib, and made sure he was settled. She then returned and sat and held out her arms to Tom. He came over and sat and cuddled in her arms. He so craved this, and even though he was twenty-five, he never refused the contact. He knew it was something he needed, the close contact. He was so glad that Lanna enjoyed cuddling. She had told him that before her father left, he use to take her into his lap, and she'd sit there for hours while he told her stories. But, cuddling was not a Klingon thing to do, and her mother had never done it. She had missed it as much as Tom had.

It was in this way that Chakotay found them when he came home for lunch, Tom cuddled up in his mother's arms as she gently rocked him. He had fallen asleep, and Chakotay marveled at the look of bliss on his face. This young man only wanted to love and be loved. It still made him furious whenever he thought of the Admiral and what he had tried to do to Tom. He knew it was wrong, as they would never see him again, but he still thought that if he ever did cross paths with him, he'd kill him. He shook his head a bit to get that thought out and quietly said to Kathryn

"You stay there, I'll get our lunch ready."

He walked into the kitchen and began heating up last night's soup. Once it was on, Chakotay returned to the living room and sat down in the chair that Tom had been sitting on and again smiled at the sight of his family. Kathryn smiled at her husband and said

"He's so sweet this way, so loving..."

"Better not let him hear you, you know how embarrassed he can get, but you're right, he is."

Chakotay looked at his step son and continued

"You know Katie, a few years ago, I'd have laughed if anyone had told me I'd feel this way about Tom Paris. He was so irritating and arrogant. That flyboy persona he wore like a shield. But now, I can't imagine feeling any different than I do now...its as if he's always been my son, and I love him as much as I love Kolo. He is my son."

She said

"I know, Tay, he was a blessing when we first started this trip, and he's a blessing now. Without the two of you being here supporting me, I don't think I could have had the strength to let go of all the guilt I carried over the last couple of years."

"We'll always be here for you, Katie both of us."

He rose and went to check on the soup. The aroma drifted out to Kathryn, and as she absently brushed a lock of hair off Tom's forehead, he stirred and woke up. Looking around, he said

"Sorry, I must have drifted off."

He sniffed and said

"Is dad home?"

She nodded and said

"Yes, he's heating up last nights soup for lunch."

Tom started to get up as he said

"Sorry mom, I should have done that before he got home...he works hard and doesn't need to warm his lunch up...it should be ready for him..."

Before he could continue, his dad said as he popped his head out of the kitchen

"I don't mind fixing lunch Tom...oh, and I stopped by Neelix's new bakery and brought a loaf of his newest concoction home. He calls it Delta Delight. Pretty good to, sort of has a nutty flavor."

Tom and Kathryn came into the kitchen as Chakotay began to slice the bread. Tom went to the refrigerator and got the butter and jam out and took it to the table. He loved the jam that Kes had made with a variety of the wild berries that grew abundantly. He then helped his parents bring the soup and bread to the table and they settled down for the meal. He told them that they had finally hook up all of Harry's solar panels at the main building and would test them out tomorrow, after they had gotten a sufficient charge from the sun. They were hoping to switch completely over to the solar power and thus not have to depend on Voyager's impulse power. Harry was sure that it would work, and he was already working on the water power idea.

They had discovered a large waterfall up river near the mountain range, and Harry had said it was as big as Niagara Falls on earth. He was sure that they could harness its power to use as a back up power source. He and Tom had studied the plans of Earth's use of that type of power back in the twentieth century to run the electricity, and Harry was sure they could also. They would need to build a power plant, and run the power lines to the community, which was about fifty miles away from the waterfall. It would probably take at least two years to finish.

When lunch was over, Tom cleared the dishes and went to clean up. His parents went to check on Kolo, who had woke up and wanted his lunch too.

Tom and B'Elanna were sitting on the front porch of want was going to be their home, swinging on the porch swing. Their wedding was two weeks away, and his dad was going to officiate. As the mayor, he also did the weddings and loved it. He also planned to give the bride away.

So now, they were making last minute plans

"I'm glad Neelix has opened his bakery, and I'm glad he has learned not to spice everything he cooks."

The people had after six months convinced Neelix that less was better, and he had gotten quite good at the AQ foods that they so loved.

"Yeah, me too. He really has gotten to be a great cook."

Tom smiled as he said it. They both remembered the highly spiced foods he had served aboard Voyager.

"Now no one will go home with an upset stomach from the reception."

He teased. She just nodded and grinned

"Especially me."

She had more than once gotten an upset stomach from the Talaxian's cooking.

As they continued to swing, the little black and white cat jumped up to settle on Tom's lap. He absentmindedly began stroking the little cat. It was the kitten he had adopted from that first litter. The momma cat preferred to stay outside and had had four more litters of kittens before the Doc had fixed her. Now, they had a thriving community of cats in town, and most were also fixed. They didn't want to be overrun by the animals, and all had loving homes. But momma cat belonged to them all. She would go from home to home and got fed, and loved spending the days in the main building either in the mayor's office or in security. Vulcan's, it seemed, were naturals with felines.

B'Elanna began to stroke the cat too, and they both heard the sound of purring. It seemed that no matter what quadrant you were in, felines purred.

"You really have bonded with that little rascal haven't you?"

Tom had named the little male cat Spanky after a child character from the early twentieth century kids show called The Little Rascals. And he certainly seemed to get into trouble. Twice, Tom had to get him out of the big tree in the front yard. He was always getting his nose into everything. Once a few months ago, he turned up missing, and Tom had looked for him for a couple of days before he found him down by the river. He had somehow gotten into the mill and been caught between the water wheel and the mechanism that ran it. He had lost a couple of pounds, and Tom had rushed him to the Doc. The Doc wanted to complain, that he was a Doctor, not a Vet, but after seeing the look of concern on Tom's face, he had calmly examined the cat and pronounced him healthy...just hungry and dehydrated. Tom had taken him home and made sure he had a good meal and plenty of water. Now, Spanky never went near the mill.

"Tom, I really like what you and Chakotay did with the furniture. Its reminds me of my father's heritage, real Spanish in feel. I like it."

Tom grinned at her and said

"I'd asked him if you'd like it all in Spanish, and he thought you would. He told me a story about when you two were in the Maquis before I joined, that you had told him of your childhood home and the massive Spanish influence, so I thought maybe you'd enjoy it."

"I do...thanks Tom."

They continued to sit and just seemed content to be with each other. They watched as the night sky sparkled with the stars. After a while, B'Elanna began to yawn and then Tom said quietly to Spanky

"I think my Lanna is getting tired. What do you think Spanky, should we walk her home?"

He tilted his head at the cat, who looked up at him with a sleepy look and continued

"What's that you say? We should?"

B'Elanna, in the mean time was just eying them both, and then she giggled and said

"You two are going to be a handful! But, I love you both."

She reached and rubbed the cat's head,who purred louder at the touch. She then leaned over and gave Tom a light kiss on his cheek. Tom smiled and again tilted his head towards the cat and said

"Did you hear that Spanky...She loves us!"

Lanna just laughed and Tom pulled her into an embrace and they shared a loving kiss. Once they broke for air, they both stood, as Tom kept hold of the cat, and they slowly started towards her temporary quarters. She was using Tom's old bedroom in Kathryn's and Chakotay's home. She had been the last one to come off Voyager, as even Tuvok had finally moved into the home built on the surface about seven months ago. It had a lot of Vulcan elements to it, and he seemed quite happy... for a Vulcan. Now, in this last week, both Kathryn and Chakotay had convinced her to come planet side so they could help with the plans for her wedding.

Tom placed his other arm around her waist, and they slowly walked to his parents home, Spanky still in his other arm, thinking that soon they would be going into their own home to start their lives together.

TBC