Sitting in my daddy's office on Earth is weird after the last couple years. There have been very few opportunities to come back to Earth in the two and a half years since my son was born, but I have been waiting for this meeting for years.

"Cadets, take a seat. I want to assure you that neither of you are in trouble. That isn't why I called you here today. I actually have a proposition."

"What kind of proposition?" B'Elanna's temper seems to be worse now than when I first knew her on Voyager – which is kind of hard to believe.

"Cadet Torres, Cadet Kim, I want you both to be a part of my program. At the end of next term, I want you to both to be stationed aboard my ship for the three month interim."

"But we're only cadets, sir."

"I prefer Captain, Cadet Kim. And I know full well that you are both cadets, but I want you nonetheless. For the next two terms, I will be on Voyager and unable to monitor your process, but I want you to work under two people I am close to. Admiral Janeway and Commander Chakotay are heads of Starship and Shuttlecraft design and Defense respectively. According to your entrance exams, those two areas hold interest to you both."

"Why us?"

"I have seen in three short weeks you do things that some cadets take two years to accomplish. If you aren't up for the challenge, just say so."

"I'm up for any challenge. I'm a Klingon."

"Of course. Though I want to lay down ground rules. They are the same ground rules I set for the last cadet I offered a position aboard Voyager. Any mistakes made are to be reported to me immediately. If you have conduct unbecoming an officer, you are confined to quarters. You are to react with the same decorum I expect from all my officers."

"B'Elanna, in the three weeks you have been here, you have already been reprimanded for your inability to keep your fist away from another cadet's face. That behavior won't fly if you are working with me. Commander Chakotay is a prized boxer, and you will be working with him on understanding when fighting is acceptable. You will always be working with a good friend of mine, Commander Tuvok, on meditation."

"What if I say no?"

"Then you don't work on Voyager. Moreover you are a coward who can't accept a challenge. I believe you can exceed all my expectations, but if you are scared, say so now."

"Of course not, sir." The gleam in her eyes accepting my challenge to keep her nose clean dampens the anger I saw since the beginning of the meeting.

"Cadet Kim, you and B'Elanna will be working closely with Admiral Janeway and Commander Chakotay as well as each other. There is also one more person you will be working closely with."

I stop my diatribe to hit my comm badge, "Lieutenant Grieves please send in Ensign Paris."

"Ensign Paris is the first cadet I allowed on my ship. He is now my best pilot, and he will be your mentor."

As they each introduce themselves to the others, I consider how close these three were on Voyager and see the beginnings of the same here.

"I want you three to take the afternoon asking and answering any questions you may have for each other. Admiral Janeway will be contacting you soon. You are dismissed."

Before they can head for the door, my comm badge beeps, "Captain, Commander Chakotay is here."

"Send him in Lieutenant."

When the door opens, I am expecting my husband, but I don't expect him to have Kole.

"Mommy!" Kole rips his hand from Chakotay's and runs at me. I bend down and scoop him up.

"Hey, Littlebird."

"Daddy told me I had to wait until you came home, but then I started crying because I was so sad that I couldn't see your face. So he brought me over."

"I'm glad he did. I missed your face too."

I hug Kole close to my body and see Harry and B'Elanna looking at me slightly astonished. Most people in Starfleet accept that to move through the ranks quickly, you have to give up your personal life.

"B'Elanna, Harry, this is my husband Commander Chakotay and our son Kole."

At this Kole wiggles from my arm and moves to the group of Harry, B'Elanna, and Tom. He lifts his arms to gesture he wants to be held by B'Elanna, and I can see in her eyes that she doesn't want to do it. Before I can tell Kole to come back, however, B'Elanna hoists him up.

Gently touching her forehead he says, "I wish I had these. They make you really pretty."

"My mother has them as well."

"My daddy has something on his forehead too, but it isn't as cool as yours."

I can see the crush in my son's eyes as well as the fact that B'Elanna is fighting between being flattered and being uncomfortable.

"Kole, come over here so you can help mommy pack her things. When I'm done, we can go get pizza."

Kole quickly hops down and rushes to help.

"Dismissed Cadets, Ensign. If you have any questions, comm me or Commander Chakotay."

"I think they look excited Kathryn."

"I hope so. Harry and B'Elanna always seemed so young, but now they are little more than babies."

"They can be a big help to you though. Even this young, B'Elanna looks ready for a challenge."

"I gave her one. She has to meditate with Tuvok."

"That should be fun. Luckily Tuvok has plenty of patience."

"I'll be excited to see if his patience or her anger will win out. I have to say, I don't think I've ever seen B'Elanna blush before, but her cheeks were pink when Kole started complimenting her ridges."

"Everyone adores Kole."

"Mommy, can we get pizza now?"

"Yes, Littlebird."

B'Elanna and Harry have so long to go, but I think with the guidance I am offering, they will be equipped to handle the coming challenges. Kole's growth makes me sad that I have only been able to see him for about half the time he's been alive, but he has an amazing family that is growing every day.