Chapter 14

Tom came out onto the porch, and sat in his favorite chair. He was working on a design for a new class of shuttle, and had brought the specs home to work on. Part of the perks to being the boss was the chance to work from home. Besides, he knew that both Harry and B'Elanna would hold down the fort. The department, which had started out with just five people, now was up to twenty. They were a good team, and worked well together. He had no worries that they wouldn't take care of business even if he wasn't there. He was busy working on some codes, when Micheal, Katie,and Owen came rushing out of the house.

"Dad, we promised Grandma and Grandpa we'd meet them at the transporter. It's almost time for them to come, we finished our chores, can we go now?"

Micheal the oldest said. He was eleven, and he was the unofficial spokesman of the Paris children. Katie, who was nine, gave her father a hug, and Owen, who was six, stood next to his brother. Tom looked at his kids and said

"You finished everything? Katie, did you gather the eggs and put them in the refrigerator?"

"Yes daddy and I didn't break any at all."

She said proudly and Tom smiled and gave her a kiss on her cheek. He turned to his boys and said

"Mike, Owen how bout you, did you clean the coop?"

"Yes, dad we did, and Mike made sure that the horses and cows were fed too."

Tom put the padd down and smiled at his children and said

"Okay, go meet your grandparents, and we will be having other company, so behave yourselves."

They all bounded off the porch and headed to the transporter station by the grove of trees, Tom watched them go and wondered for the millionth time how he was so lucky to have these kids. His oldest had his mother's hair coloring, and his blue eyes, Katie was the spitting image of her mother even to the cute perky nose that wrinkled when she laughed. And Owen was just like his father, Blond curls that seemed to fall in his eyes, that were the brightest blue color. His mom always said that Owen reminded her of Tom at that age.

Jill came out and sat next to Tom and watched her brood going towards then transport.

"They're excited about their grandparents coming for the weekend. They have been running around like wild Indians!"

"They love it when my parents visit. Today, they also have a visit from aunty Kathryn and uncle Chakotay. And add to that, Kolopec and Taya and we will have a houseful. I think they are going to wear us all out before the weekend is over."

They watched as the first pair of visitors materialize, and then the second group. There was lots of hugs and laughter as they all started towards the house, the kids skipping and running ahead. Tom and Jill got up and started towards the visitors, and the kids. It was going to be an interesting few days.

When they met, the kids were running around like wild Indians, talking and giggling while all the adults greeted each other. Elizabeth Paris hugged Jill and held up a basket and said

"Dear, I've brought you some of those berries from home. I have enough for you to make your wonderful jam...and maybe we have enough to make that cobbler that our husbands love so much?"

She smiled as she saw both her husband and son look expectantly at her. They were just the same when it came to treats. Jill smiled also and said

"Well, we'll just have to make sure we have a nice cobbler and some ice cream for tonight."

Now Kathryn joined the conversation and said

"Chakotay loves your cobblers, Jill, I'm sure our men will be grateful for that!"

She now looked at her husband's face. He had a grin on his face and turned to the other two men and said

"They really do know how to get to us...through our stomachs!"

Tom picked up then and added

"Jill really is an excellent cook...and the best is... no leota root!"

They all laughed then. It was an inside joke to them all. They had all been victim to Neelix's concoctions. Not long after they had gotten home, he had opened a restaurant, and at first had insisted on cooking his DQ recipes. He had invited all of the Voyager crew that was still on Earth to a pre grand opening. After a couple of hours of talking to him, they had finally talked him into hiring a couple of chef's and more traditional AQ food. They had made it out that he was more suited to being the matre'd, greeting the people and generally keeping the customer's happy. Tom had said it was like his diplomatic and moral duties he'd had on Voyager. He had like that idea, and had delayed his opening, and now Chez Neelix was a very popular place, not only with Star Fleet but with the general public. And of course Neelix was quite happy in his role.

They climbed the steps to the porch, and sat while Jill and Mrs. Paris took the berries into the house with a promise to be back shortly. Tom followed and came back out with the lemonade and glasses. He began pouring the lemonade and handing the glasses out. Once done, he retook his seat and they all took a moment to watch the kids, as they were playing. Mike came and sat down on the middle step of the porch, close enough to be able to overhear what the adults would be saying. At eleven, he had decided he was too old to be playing with the others. Katie and Taya were the same age, nine and Kolo was a year younger that Owen at five.

Tom had noticed that Mike had arrived to be with them and poured another glass of lemonade, and without saying anything held it out to his oldest son. Mike rose, and took it from his dad and then sat back down. Tom smiled and thought that his oldest son was growing up fast. He seemed to have his dad's love of flying, and showed signs of abilities in design also. Tom couldn't help it...he was proud of him. He was proud of all his kids. Katie was artistic...she loved to draw, and Owen showed signs of musical talent. He loved to sing and not a day went by that he couldn't be heard singing some obscure song. He showed an intense liking to twentieth century music, just like his dad, and sometimes Jill would find them holed up in the office listening to Tom's extensive collection of Rock and Roll.

"So, Tom what's new at the lab?"

Kathryn had asked and it had brought him back to the present. He grinned and said

"We're working on a new shuttle design...sort of a Delta Flyer two. It's got great potential. B'Elanna is just so happy, digging into her beloved engines."

Both Kathryn and Chakotay smiled, picturing her elbow deep in the warp core.

"We had invited them to spend the weekend too, but they and the kids had already made plans to spend it with Harry's family...I think B'Elanna's dad was coming too."

B'Elanna had finally made peace with her dad, and had started to build a relationship with him. He was turning out to be a good dad and granddad. Tom was happy for her, as he knew the sorrow of being estranged from your dad. He had worked hard at his own relationship with his dad, and now they were very close. His dad had made a great effort to make up for past hurts. Now Owen said, with tenderness in his voice

"I'm glad B'Elanna and her father have made up. There's nothing worst than being apart from ones children."

He looked at Tom with a smile. At that moment, Jill and Elizabeth came back out and sat down. Tom poured them both a glass and Jill said

"I've got the cobbler cooking, and dinner is ready to go when it's time. We thought we'd BBQ...hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings."

She looked at her son, who was still sitting on the step.

"Then, the kids decided they'd like to camp out tonight. Tom is going to pitch a couple of tents."

She looked at Kathryn and said

"Do you think Kolo will want to camp out tonight?"

"Oh, I'm sure he will. You know he just idolizes Owen. He couldn't wait to come today, asking if he could do everything Owen did!"

"Oh no, I hope not, Owen can be a little terror at times!"

Tom said with mock fear. His mother smiled and looked at her son and said

"Just like his father at that age."

Tom looked contrite and said

"Please, Mom not the stories again."

He had seen the look on Mike's face. He loved hearing his grandparents' stories of his dad as a kid. Elizabeth had also seen the look on Mike's face. She winked at him and said

"Later."

And both Mike and Tom knew that before the weekend was over that there would be stories told. Mike smiled but Tom just groaned.

The stars were out in all their glory, and Mike had brought out his telescope and now they were watching the night sky. Tom and Chakotay had pitched the tents, and now, while the kids were star gazing, the adults were sitting around the fire pit, talking. The night was warm, but the fire in the pit was nice. They had toasted marshmallows earlier and now were just enjoying the night and conversation. Kolo was sitting on his mom's lap, finally having worn down and was now dozing. Owen was sitting at his mother's feet and was also getting close to falling asleep. The three older children were still looking through the telescope at the full moon. And, Elizabeth had made good her threat, and told the children several stories of Tom as a child, much to the chagrin of her son. All in all it had been a great afternoon and evening. The men had been in charge of the BBQ and the women had brought out all the other food and set it all on the tables. They had enjoyed the meal, and then when it started getting dark, Tom and Chakotay had made the fire in the fire pit. Tom had teased Chakotay that, as a Native American, he should be a natural at building a fire. And together they had built a good one.

Now, it was getting late, so Tom said

"Okay, Mike, time to put up the telescope and go to bed."

At first, the Katie and Taya wanted to object. They were having fun looking at the moon and seeing the large dome that covered the large colony on the surface, but one look at her father's face told her not to. Taya saw the same look on her father's face, so they just said

"Okay, dad."

Mike was already taking the telescope down. Once done, Tom said

"Mike, Owen go take that inside and get ready for bed...Katie, take Taya with you to get ready."

He looked at Kathryn and she said

"I'll take care of Kolo."

She stood, and Jill led her in to get the littlest one ready for bed. Tom put the fire out, and once it was just embers and he was satisfied it wouldn't cause any problem, the kids were back. Kolo was barely awake, but had insisted on camping out with the others. He sleepily climbed into the tent, and before he climbed into his sleeping bag, he turned and smiled sleepily and said

"Night, mama, Night, papa."

His mother kissed him good night and then he crawled in and was asleep almost immediately. Owen follow suit, and so did Katie and Taya. Mike was the last to enter. Jill kissed him goodnight and said

"Good night sweetie, if the others need anything, come get us."

"Okay mom."

He yawned and turned and started to climb into the boy's tent.

"Night everyone."

The adults said good night, and then they all turned to go into the house. It had been a good day.

TBC

A/N

I have a epilog to write on this one. It is almost finished. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I wasn't sure how Tom would get his memories back...or if he would, but thanks to Alpha Flyer, I chose to do it with the idea I had been toying with. Besides, I love it when Q shows up. Right now, I have another story being worked on and I plan to start posting it after this one is done. Please let me know what you thought of this two story series. Reviews are always welcome.