Five months pass quickly for me. The first doctor's appointment after I shared the news confirmed Kolopak and Chakotay's belief that I am carrying a boy. The feelings of contentment have grown steadily throughout my pregnancy. I am actually excited to be grounded for a while.

For the next ten weeks, I will not step foot off Earth. For the duration of my maternity leave, I am overlooking nothing but my baby and my husband.

As I stroke my belly to feel my son, the door chimes.

"Come." I say as I straighten up.

"Captain. It is pleasing to see you again."

"Tuvok. It has been too long."

"I have heard you have been busy in the interim."

I look down at my belly thinking married thoughts before seeing the Vulcan equivalent of gentle chastisement on Tuvok's face.

"You have gone before the Federation Council, designed a starship, been married, and yes, became pregnant, since the last time we saw each other."

"Indeed." I say borrowing a favorite word of most Vulcans. "Are you ready to captain my baby?"

"No. But I am ready to captain your ship."

Tuvok's joke catches me off guard. And people say Vulcans don't have senses of humor…

"If I wasn't about to pop, no one would be laying hands on Voyager. As it stands, I trust you more than anyone else to do this."

"I am gratified Captain, and I hope to live up to your expectations."

"Of that I have no doubt."

With the help of my desk, I haul myself up to stand across from Tuvok.

"Computer, transfer command codes to Commander Tuvok. Authorization Janeway Maquis Alpha one two six."

"Authorization confirmed. Command codes transferred to Commander Tuvok."

"Now that the business is done, I am glad to see you old friend. Did T'Pel come with you?"

"Yes. She needed to come to Earth for business, so it was logical for us to travel together."

"She's coming to my baby shower?"

Tuvok merely gives a brief nod.

"I'm glad. I hate to leave so soon, but Chakotay is waiting to take the mother of his child home."

"It is not solely a human reaction. I was very protective of T'Pel for all of her pregnancies. It should not be any other way."

I smile before grabbing my things and heading to the transporter room. My crew has already been briefed on the change of command, so I don't have to worry about informing anyone.

Waiting for me when I materialize is my increasingly protective husband. With less than a month left until my due date, we are both being more cautious.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"How are you feeling, Kathryn?"

"Like a shuttle running on reserve power. Emphasis on the shuttle."

"You look beautiful."

"I look like I should have my own gravitational pull."

"You look like you are nurturing a child. Our child."

The look on Chakotay's face is so open and loving, I can't say anything negative in response.

"Can we get home?"

"Our parents are expecting us."

As soon as we found out we were with child, Chakotay began looking for a house all our own. Within a month, he found a home about ten minutes from my parents' home in Indiana. While I have been on Voyager, he has been getting everything exactly how we want it – including the transport of my tub into the master bathroom.

I have only spent small amounts of time there whenever Voyager is orbiting Earth picking up supplies or passengers. I am ready to be home for more than a day or two at a time.

"Then we can go home?"

"Then we can go home. I have a surprise for you there."

I chuckle at Chakotay's ploy.

"That just makes me more antsy about getting there."

"I know."

With that, Chakotay leads me to my parents' front door.

"Katie. Let me look at you. You've gotten so big the last three and a half weeks."

"My lower back has been keeping me apprised of the situation. Also the fact that I need help to get out of a chair."

"How are you really?"

"Overall, I'm fine. I feel slightly swollen, but mostly I'm just glad to be home."

"Your baby shower is in two days. Kolopak and Yatzil are arriving tomorrow afternoon and staying until the birth. By the looks of things, I don't think they'll have long to wait."

"Me neither. He's been shifting a lot. He moved down, so I can finally breathe."

"Yes, well, he's just excited to get here. Why don't you and Chakotay get your seats at the table? Your father should be here any minute."

Chakotay places his hand on my lower back and leads me towards the table just off the kitchen.

"I can give you a massage when we get home since your back is hurting."

"That would be heavenly. It's just a lot for my body to adjust to. I have no equilibrium whatsoever."

"We'll get to meet the little guy who's been making it so difficult on you pretty soon."

Chakotay's smile is infectious, and before I know it my hands are covering his on my abdomen. And we are wearing matching smiles.

"I would ask how my Goldenbird is doing, but if that cheesy grin is any indication…"

"I'd stand up and hug you daddy, but I don't think you have five minutes to wait there."

My dad walks over and gives me a hug and kiss.

"I've got some news about the data you sent me."

Two weeks ago, I had the idea to encourage Starfleet participation amongst non-Terrans. Chakotay's story inspired me, and I proposed to send representatives to Federation worlds and associates. Instead of the usual tactic of obvious recruitment, the idea is to tell what they love about Starfleet.

"Quite a few Cadets have stated your program as the reason they decided to join."

"That's wonderful. I hope it's enough. I can't force anyone to join, but I'd like them together."

"You've done great work. We'll just have to wait and see. We still have three years."

"Because I'm patient."

My mom enters the room to our laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Katie made a joke about how patient she is."

"She wants things at warp 10."My mom replies with a snicker.

"I'd settle for warp 9.9."

"Considering everything you've accomplished already, I wouldn't consider it a fault." Chakotay says.

"I guess not. But I can't tell you how much of my mind is preoccupied with my surprise."

"You don't have to tell me. I know. That's why I told you when I knew we would have hours before you could see it."

"That's just cruel."

"It was your mom's idea."

"He showed me your surprise, and I told him you would love it. I might have encouraged him to keep you waiting."

"And to think, I am giving you a grandchild."

The humor stops when my stomach growls.

"I think someone is ready for dinner."

"He's always ready for meal time. He's already like his father."

Chakotay is beaming until he picks up his fork and starts to eat.

"Have you two decided on a name yet?"

"Yes, momma."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What is it?"

"Oh, I'm not telling."

"And why not?"

"Maybe I should answer that one. In my culture, the name isn't shared beyond the parents until the child is born and presented to the waiting grandparents."

"Can I get a hint?"

"Now who's impatient Gretchen?"

"I only asked for a hint Edward. I can wait a couple more weeks. No problem."

"You may be able to wait that much longer for a name, but I can't wait any more for my surprise." I chime in.

"We need to be getting home anyway. It's getting late, and you have some busy days ahead."

We arrive home ten minutes later, and Chakotay takes my bag from our new air car.

"Surprise first, then we both need to go to bed."

Chakotay leads me to the room we decided would be the nursery and stands in front of the door. With a smile, he opens the door to my surprise.

Inside the room is a crib, rocking chair, changing table and dresser that I know without a doubt Chakotay carved himself.

"They're beautiful." I say through my tears.

"I made them with a mixture of woods from Trebus and Earth. That way our son is close to both of his homes."

"They're perfect, Chakotay."

"How about we go to bed, and you can look at them more tomorrow?"

I just nod and allow myself to be led away.

As I make myself comfortable, or as comfortable as one can be at eight months pregnant, I place my hand over Chakotay's heart.

"Thank you for being a wonderful father already."

"You are already a fierce and loving mother, Kathryn. Our son is lucky."

Looking into his eyes, I give him the only response I can before drifting off to bed. "Yes he is."

…

I spend the next day with my momma, Yatzil, Phoebe and Sekaya in preparation for the baby shower. Most details have been taken care of, so my day is relaxing.

I spend the evening cleaning my home and preparing for my babies arrival before falling into an exhausted rest.

I awake at 03:00 because my back aches and find I can't get back to sleep. The shower is set to start at noon, so I spend the time writing on a padd. When I found out I was pregnant, Chakotay and I decided we would both write down lessons on padds and give them to him when he turned 15. My list is extensive only getting longer by the day. I'm telling him things to do, things not to do, people he should and shouldn't avoid, and anything else he might need.

At 07:00, the whole family meets for breakfast at my parents' house since they are hosting the shower. When I enter the kitchen, Yatzil, my momma and I share a knowing look that the rest of the party is oblivious to.

"I think your son might be as contrary as your husband, daughter."

"I think you might be right, mother."

Noon arrives quickly. By the traditions of Chakotay's people, men and women are both expected to attend the shower. In total, there are 30 family and friends in attendance.

By one, the guests are immensely enjoying the party and I am finally finished opening the gifts.

"Chakotay." Kolopak's one word command brings Chakotay quickly in front of me to kneel before my belly.

"My son, today I will tell you the story of your ancestors. It is a story to be proud of. Many moons ago, perhaps before anything on this plane existed, the Spirits conceived the idea of our people. We were placed on the land of the Spirits and taught to cherish their gifts. When the Spirits told all men who cherished the land to pack up and leave this land, we moved from this land to the land of our people. When asked how we would know we had found our home, we were told to look for a sign. For generations, we travelled waiting for the Spirits to give us the promised sign. On Trebus, many lightyears from here, we found our sign in Anam. Trebus and the planets around her are blessed by the Spirits. They were set aside for those who cherish the land. Anam awaits you son."

As Chakotay leans forward to kiss my stomach I bend over in pain. Looking down at the ground I see a puddle forming between my legs.

"Kathryn?"

"I don't think Anam will be waiting much longer Chakotay."