Chapter 25

Shore Leave

Month Four: Angry Mother (and I'm talking about one that can rival Kathryn Janeway when she's in "battle mode")

On our way, Robert insisted that we should meet his family. He was carrying me to the shuttle. "Now, honeybunny," he said, cupping my cheek. "I want you to be yourself. No matter how proper they seem, I want you to be yourself, they'll appreciate you more." He tickled me, then nuzzled my neck. "Okay?"

"Okay, Robert..." I laughed. "I'll try to resist."

"Well, you'll be amazed how your resistance is futile." He laughed as he set me down and kissed me. He sat in the pilot's seat, working the controls.

"Quoting the Borg again?" I grinned.

"Hey, it's easier to convey the point."

"Then join the club."

"But you destroyed them, Kathy, so I can't!"

The shuttle banked, and I fell out of my seat. "Robert, you pilot like my dad!"

"Sorry, I almost hit an asteroid."

I looked out. "Hey, that was debris!"

"From the Dominion War, no doubt." He then entered Betazed's atmosphere. "We'll be there in a few seconds..."

I sighed, then gaped at the large mansion sitting there where we had landed. "You live there?" I pointed to the mansion.

"Yeah, mostly." He shrugged. "Well, Earth used to have them..." He brushed my cheek. "You feel a little sad, do you?"

I nodded.

"Why?"

"It seems like the family farm." I smiled. "Don't worry, it's normal for a space-faring Janeway..."

"How about Aunt Phoebe?"

"Well, they're Janeways too. My cousin Jonathan's a Commander in Starfleet-he's on DS6. And all of the others are diplomats for Command too, so it's a mutual thing..."

He opened the door, and led me to the front door, and pushed a button.

"Who's there?" A manly voice piped out.

"It's Robert, dumbass."

"Robert, who's that with you?"

"My wife, Fleet Captain Janeway, Jake, and please let us in, alright? She's not going to bite, dammit!"

I punched him playfully, and the doors opened to a large hall.

"Wow, she's cute!" Jake said-or I assumed that was Jake, as four men stood there, drooling.

"Kate, this is Jake, Kevin, Aaron, and Mike. They're my younger brothers."

"Nice to meet you." I smiled. "And by the way, guys, you're all drooling." I smiled.

"Who's there?" A lady came out. "Robert, how nice to see you. And I see-" She said that distastefully- "That you have a lady with you."

"That's my mom." He bent down to my ear. "She dyes her hair."

I laughed. "Hello, I'm Kate-"

"I know very well who you are, you're the fleet captain." She looked at Robert. "Commander..." She tisked. "You've should've surpassed this human long-"

I sighed. They were always like that.

"Robert, is she just a friend?"

"No, she's my wife."

Her face turned red. "Your wife? You know quite well that I already have a lady for you!" She glared. "What do you have to say for yourself, Kate Janeway?"

"That you're just an mother who doesn't care about her son's well being!" I turned and walked out, furious.

"Kate, Kate, come back here!" Robert yelled, running after me. I walked outside, and Robert grabbed my arm. "Look, I'm really sorry about my mom, she believes in traditional-"

"Robert...I don't want to see your mother again. We're going home."

"Kate, stay. She might like you after a few hours here. I only want for you guys to have good relations."

"Did you know that you were betrothed?"

"No." He looked into my eyes. "No, and that's truth."

I kissed him lightly. "Well, I'll try, but if she doesn't like me..."

"She'll never hear from you again, I promise."

He kissed my forehead, and walked me in again.

"Robert, I want you to divorce," she said.

"Mother, I-"

"It doesn't matter if you love her or you're just a pimp, I want you to break up."

I sat down and glared. "You can't do that."

"Why can't I?"

"Because my mother already let me marry him, and she'll break your bones before she'll let some bitch force us to divorce," I spat.

"Well, I dare her!"

I tapped my commbadge. "Janeway to Voyager-E."

"This is Voyager-E," my mother said.

"Robert's mom wants to divorce us." I smiled. I could already hear the smile on the other end.

"Well, well, I'll be down there in a second." I saw the transporter beam appear, and my mom materalized in front of me.

"So, you're Robert's mom, eh?"

"I demand that your daughter divorce with my son!"

My mom laughed. "Sorry, no can do."

Robert's mom got furious. "You're not going to stop me!" She stood up, and slapped her.

"Tag, you're it!" She slapped her back.

"Why you-"

I got in between them. "Goddammit, you old ladies have something to quibble about, and it's this! Look, why don't you let us decide, okay?"

"But-but-" they both started.

"But nothing!" I yelled. "Why can't Robert or I have our own choices? We're adults, not children! We're leaving, and if any of you stop us, fine, we'll shoot you out of the sky." I grabbed Robert's arm and dragged him out.

"Kate, honeybunny..."

I placed him firmly in the co-pilot's seat, and flew the shuttle out of the sky. "Robert...I hope your family and ours get together and agree on something."

"But we do, and it's love."

I turned to him. "But that's us, not the whole family. Anyway, who was the person that your family picked out?"

"Alexa Troi."

I turned. "Troi?" I smiled. "Will and Deanna's daughter?"

"Well, the Trois have been family friends since...well, ever since Betazed was part of the Federation." He smiled. "Yeah, she was going to be my bride, but I found better love closer to home." He kissed me, and I wrapped my hands around him, deepening it.