Gretchen had been relieved at B'Elanna's reaction to the Task Force. She had nodded enthusiastically at the announcement, and quickly agreed when Sam and Athena's names were floated in front of her as potential members.
The K'Terrans: Be'nl, Soeur, and Shimai, had clapped enthusiastically when Gretchen was introduced as their official liaison, and Soeur, their leader, had raised up all the way on her blue tentacle feet and bounced in joy.
The first day was so busy Gretchen could barely remember it, but by the end of the week their home base on Engineering's second floor was fully set-up and running efficiently.
Gretchen had recently been fast friends with Athena Ariti, a dignified raven-haired Lieutenant, who did not at all meet Gretchen's stereotype of an Engineer. She could hardly think of a woman less like B'Elanna Torres in either temperament or interests. Perfectly composed in all circumstances, the woman made her own perfumes and loved fabrics of all kinds.
Like Naomi Wildman, another person Gretchen was now seeing a lot of, on her Voyager Athena had been long dead.
Gretchen shook off the sudden feeling of eeriness at changing the timeline and returned her thoughts to what was now the present. Her shift for the day was moments from ending, and she was about to visit the holodeck. Though she had not discussed her specific plans with anyone, she was not opposed to asking for Athena's general advice.
"Hey Athena?" said Gretchen casually, reaching into a panel, "What do you think about black? I think I'm supposed to wear that."
"Don't do that," said Athena's even voice, "It will wash you out with your complexion. What about ivory, or peach? Salmon pink?"
"That sounds beautiful," said Gretchen, finally finished with the task, "But I'm not sure I'm supposed to look beautiful."
"And what is the sense in looking ugly?" said Athena decidedly.
"What are they talking about mom?" said Naomi Wildman, suddenly entering the Task Force area as she had just gotten out of school.
"Fashion," said Sam Wildman, turning her head away from her panel to smile softly.
"What's fashion?"
"What you wear that's not a uniform," said Gretchen, turning to the girl.
"I miss it," said Gretchen, turning back to Athena, "I hardly ever wore a uniform on my last ship."
"What ship was that?" said Sam in surprise, "That's very strange for Starfleet."
"It was a very small ship, I guess you could call it an outpost," said Gretchen, managing to keep her voice even, "We had more freedom," said Gretchen, pulling at her collar, "We didn't have to wear these things."
"You're lucky," said Naomi, approaching her, "You get to wear a real Starfleet uniform. I wish I could."
"Don't be in a hurry to grow up Naomi," said Gretchen, crouching down, as Athena waved goodbye for the day, "You have more freedom the way you are. And you don't have to go to work."
"I wish I got to go to work," said Naomi frowning, "You get to be with mom all day. No one wants me around anymore."
"That's not true," said Gretchen, heart suddenly heavy. She stood up suddenly, "Sam I don't mind taking over….."
"No….." said Samantha, very kindly, "I have to pull my weight on Voyager…..Naomi you can sit there and watch if you want, and talk to me."
"I'll just be in the way….." said Naomi, turning away, suddenly vicious.
"Hey," said Gretchen, trying again, despite her previous failure, "I knew an Engineer who had four children….."
Gretchen's voice became fond as she spoke, and it seemed to bring Naomi back, "She had four children, and she could walk around Engineering holding a different conversation with each of them hanging off her and still do her work."
"Goodness," said Sam, turning to her again, "That's quite impressive."
"She was the best, and a champion multi-tasker," said Gretchen to Sam. Then she turned, "So see Naomi," said Gretchen, crouching down again, "Just because you can't do Engineering yet, doesn't mean we don't want you around."
"Are you off?" said Naomi, suddenly eager, looking up at her, "Will you braid my hair? We can sit here and watch mom?"
"Naomi," said Sam correctively, "I'm sure Gretchen has had enough of Engineering for today."
"I don't mind if you don't?" asked Gretchen, looking at Sam. The only younger child she had any real experience with was Lynna, whose mother had not liked anyone outside of the family around her only child when she could avoid it.
But Sam smiled, and nodded and turned back to the panel. Gretchen sat down on the floor, and without her asking Naomi crawled into her lap. Gretchen braided Naomi's long red hair while she eagerly asked questions of both Gretchen and Sam about Engineering, and fashion, and everything in the universe.
Two hours later the K'Terrans returned from their intensive daily check of the Esoterian Gas Core and B'Elanna sent Rachel Hargrove up from main Engineering to take over the night shift for the human side. Sam wrapped up her work and the three of them left. Naomi had begged Gretchen to eat dinner with her and her mother and then Gretchen hurried to change and make it to her scheduled Velocity segment with Captain Janeway.
I'll go to the holodeck on my own another day...Not like it's been working so far anyway.
It had been a long work day for Kathryn and she had been looking forward to the Velocity session with Gretchen all week.
I hardly ever get to see her anymore with her sleeping in her Quarters…..I'm so busy…and…..I still get the impression she's avoiding me.
It was not a surprise when Kathryn won all four games, but it did not seem to bother Gretchen as it would've three months ago. The young woman no longer seemed to believe that Kathryn would berate her as a person for her lack of ability in a game like Velocity.
If only I could convince the rest of her I'm not her mother…
"That was fun," said Kathryn, smiling as the court faded. Gretchen returned the smile.
"I've been thinking," added Kathryn, as they began to walk out tiredly, "Now that we're in transit, what about a ship wide Velocity tournament? Take everyone's minds off of our current troubles?"
"That sounds like a good idea," said Gretchen, smiling again.
"Will you play in it?"
Gretchen frowned and seemed to think for a moment, "Only if there's a doubles section….," she said definitely, "And I get to pick my partner."
Her expression made it clear that she was thinking of someone else.
"Alright," said Kathryn, smiling.
She doesn't want to play with me competitively, of course, I'm a veteran player and she's a rookie.
"Do you mind if I…..work on planning the tournament?" said Gretchen nervously, "I've been wanting to do something for the crew….and I couldn't think of anything without Tom and Harry, or Neelix here."
I'm happy she has another female friend.
"Of course, you run with it," said Kathryn cheerfully, as they exited the holodeck, "You can be our Acting Morale Officer, Neelix would be proud."
But it would've been nice…..if she wanted to play with me.
The next morning Captain Janeway went to the Mess Hall for breakfast. It had been unusual for her to do so before the stasis, but she wanted to keep an eye on the crew, and set a good example. She usually ate by herself, sipping her coffee and clicking through datapads, but even that was considerable companionship these days with her closest confidants in stasis and Gretchen not often around.
Kathryn glanced around as she entered and noted sadly that the table Gretchen usually ate at was empty.
She turned to head to the kitchen to see if Neelix, who had cooked up a storm before going into stasis, had left anything worth eating with her coffee. She stopped as she heard a familiar voice.
"So the Captain said let's have a Velocity tournament, and I said only if it's doubles and I get to pick my own partner."
Gretchen was kneeling on the floor of the kitchen, speaking to someone.
Kathryn heard a familiar giggle.
"And do you know who I was thinking of when I said that?"
"No," came Naomi Wildman's enthused voice, "Who?"
"You, of course," said Gretchen.
"Me?" said Naomi, "I don't know how to play."
Kathryn couldn't help herself, and turned enough so that she could see both Gretchen and the laughing Naomi, her mother Samantha Wildman behind her.
"Well it's not too late to learn," said Gretchen, a little dramatically, "I won't be able to play if I don't have a partner. And you are absolutely my top pick."
Naomi giggled again, "Okay I'll play with you."
"Yeah?" said Gretchen smiling.
"Yes," said Naomi, nodding and smiling back, "Mom can I?" the girl added, looking up suddenly.
"Sure you can," said Samantha, as Gretchen rose up. They exchanged a conspiratorial glance and Janeway realized Gretchen had already asked Naomi's mother.
Naomi was beaming as she came out of the kitchen with her tray of food, looking extremely pleased with herself.
I think that's the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Kathryn kept on thinking about how they had looked, staring across from each other smiling, Voyager's red haired daughters.
Kathryn smiled to herself as she waited for Gretchen to come out of the kitchen, hoping it wouldn't be too obvious she had been spying. Or that if it was Gretchen wouldn't mind….
I just have to tell Chakotay, he's going to think it's just adorable, she thought happily, I can just see those dimples and the flash of joy in his eyes…..
…..if I remember to tell him 6 months from now…
Kathryn sighed soundlessly, and sat down to sip her coffee in silence, clicking through datapads alone.