Penal Colonies and Yellow Houses: Part Two
Baby Shower Presents

Summary: ( don't ask about the title, please... ) BEGINS FIVE MONTHS AFTER 'THIRTY DAYS'. Voyager returns home, and Starfleet considers letting Tom go, but then they find out about his time in the brig and the demotion....
Notes: 1. This is my first completed fanfic, but i just realized I could put it on fanfiction.net! I felt really stupid for awhile....
2. Thanks to Kodee Walters and Christina Korpik for beta reading it for me. Thanks you two! You're the best!
Codes: AU, P/T, J/C, K/f
Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount.
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September 19, 2375

B'Elanna Torres sat down on the white swing bench outside of their house. She had just finished watering the plants, since Sarah was gone on an errand, and Harry and Eleri were out shopping for baby shower presents to give to Kathryn. She wished Tom was here to see the shower, but he still had a year to go in prison. That reminded B'Elanna to go check to see if Tom had written her yet. He always wrote her the same time every day, at one o'clock, and even though they were short, B'Elanna cherished every word. But over the past few weeks, the letters had been getting longer and longer.

Standing up, she set the watering can on the ledge, and went inside. Walking over to the computer, she saw that the words 'INCOMING MESSAGE' were blinking across the screen. After acknowledging that, she started to download the message.

A few minutes later, the message finished. She picked up the PADD and began to read.

Dear B'Elanna,

I'm writing to you from the hell hole. Tell Kathryn and Chakotay congratulations for me. Is it a girl or a boy? It's nice to know that you two aren't fighting anymore. I miss you. Thanks for the holo-image you sent me. Have you cut your hair at all? It's getting long. But I like it. Do you think you could give Kathryn and Chakotay a present for me? I want to give them this thing I saw in the databases on Voyager. Yes, I confess, I was looking through the databases for baby things. But I only did it once. It's a blue baby bag, and inside, there are four bottles, three pacifiers, two rattles, and a stuffed blue and pink bear. Do you think you could replicate it for me?

Do you think you could send me a pictures of everybody? I'd love to see how they've changed. And I've always wondered what Seven would look like without her implants. I would also like to see if your house is as beautiful as you say it is.

Thanks for giving the letter to my dad. I got a letter from him this morning. He says that he's proud of me for standing up for what I believe in, and that he wishes he could see me. Can you believe it? He's *proud* of me! *Him*, proud of *me*. I couldn't believe it. I'm debating whether to write him back or not. He wants me to, but I'm not so sure.

Well, I have to go now. I'll write you again tomorrow.

Love,
Tom

P.S. I love you.

B'Elanna smiled. He always put 'P.S. I love you' at the end of his message, and he always said that he missed her at or near the beginning. And she never got tired of reading it. She picked up a PADD and began her message to him.

Dear Tom,

I miss you, too. Kathryn and Chakotay don't want to know the gender, so we don't know yet. No, I haven't cut my hair, and I'm glad you like it. I'm sure Kathryn will love your present to them. I'm getting the baby a stroller. It's a really cute one, too. It's dark blue, with little brown bears all over it. Guess what? They named *me* the godmother! Oh, and Tom.... why were you looking at baby things?

Sure, I'll send you a picture of everyone and my house. And yes, it is as beautiful as I say it is. I just finished watering the garden. Sarah normally does it, but she's gone, and she gets mad whenever the plants don't get watered everyday at the same time.

I'm not surprised that your dad is proud of you. He has more pictures of you all over his office than he does awards. I'm serious. I went directly to him and delivered it in person. I think you should write him back. I think he'd really like that.

Love,
B'Elanna

P.S. I love you.

B'Elanna quickly sent the letter to Tom before she looked for the baby bag Tom wanted to give Kathryn and Chakotay.

"Computer, display all things related to baby bags."

Immediately, a long list of items popped up.

"Computer, narrow down the list to those that are the color blue."

The list shrunk, but there were still alot of items.

"Computer, list only those that include four baby bottles."

Now, there were only five items on the list. "Computer, replicate item number two. With wrapping paper in file Torres Omega-Five."

The baby bag appeared in the replicator, wrapped in the wrapping paper B'Elanna had specified. The paper was white, with little light pink and blue bears, rattles, and pacifiers patterned all over it. She had already picked out her present for the baby, and Eleri and Harry were at the store now, buying the gifts.

Her thoughts were cut off by the computer telling her that someone was calling her. She clicked on the screen to see Tom Paris.

"Tom!"

"Guess what? They let me call you."

"I noticed."

"You look even more beautiful than in the picture you sent me."

B'Elanna blushed. "I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"I replicated the present for Kathryn. It's all wrapped up, too."

"Thanks. I just received your letter. You want to know why I was looking through baby things? Because I was hoping that someday, we would get married, and have children."

"Children? As in more than one?"

"Sure, why not? Come on, 'Lanna, you know you were thinking about it, too."

"Well, maybe once or twice."

"See? Hey, is anyone else home?"

"No. Just me. Sarah is at the grocery store, and Harry and Eleri are out buying the gifts."

Tom sat there a long time and just looked at B'Elanna, as if they would never see each other again, and he needed to drink in every ounce of her.

"Tom, it's not nice to stare."

"I can't help it. You're so beautiful."

"Well, quit it. you're embarrassing me."

"In front of who? I thought you said no one was home."

"No one *is* home. Quit it anyway."

"I have to look at you, 'Lanna. In order to talk to you."

"Yes, but you weren't talking."

Tom smiled. Then a loud beep came from the console he was sitting at. "I only have thirty more seconds left. I have to go. I love you, 'Lanna."

"I love you, too, Tom."

And then his face blinked off the screen. B'Elanna kissed her finger and touched it to the screen, right where Tom's face had been.

"I love you, Tom."