Disclaimer: They're not mine and I never said they were.
"You're so like your mother". That's what I've heard since the day I was born. I have her auburn hair and her quick temper, her pale skin and her stubborn pride, her firm chin and her scientific mind. One day I hope to develop her command presence, to be able to walk into a room and have everyone know I'm there even before they see me, to have the respect and love of my crew even when I'm ordering them to do something against their will. I may have that someday but I'll never have what I've always wanted the most. Mom's blue eyes. The eyes that can be cold as ice or shoot electric flame. The eyes that can sparkle like sapphires or be pools of midnight darkness.
Mom's eyes went to my brother. Ed inherited them along with Dad's black hair and quiet spirit, his bronzed skin and understanding soul. Don't get me wrong, I love my brother with all my heart, but why did he have to get the eyes?
Everyone on Voyager lives in fear of the famous Janeway "death glare". When I was growing up I'd watch my mother commanding her crew and think that if only I had her eyes people would listen to me. I'd watch the girls flock around my brother and think that if only I had Mom's eyes the boys would notice me.
Dad loves to see Mom's eyes dance with laughter. He says she doesn't laugh enough. She's laughing now and Dad is smiling as he watches her. Even from across the room it's obvious how he feels about her.
I see him looking at her with so much love and for the first time I hope that they're right when they tell me "You have your father's eyes".