Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A few moments of silence passed after Kathryn had settled into the comfortable couch. There was a fire blazing in the fireplace. Her mother sat in the chair opposite her and waited expectantly. After years of dealing with both her daughter and husband Gretchen had learned patience.

"I don't know where to start. Mom there is just so much."

"What does he look like?" Gretchen had pinpointed the one question that would bring a smile to her daughter's lips. She knew her daughter well. The way she spoke of this man was nothing like she had spoken of Mark or even Justin. There must be something very special there.

"Whatever I say now it will not do him justice. He is handsome beyond belief. He is tall, very tall with dark black hair. His eyes are dark brown and his smile is simply brilliant. When he smiles you usually see the dimples that he has on his checks. Mom I cannot describe the effect those dimples have on me. And that is just his face! He has extremely broad shoulders. His skin is bronze." Kathryn had laid her head back on the couch and closed her eyes to picture her first officer in her mind. Her lips began to curl up as she remembered what he looked like in the moonlight as they sailed on Lake George. "There is no hair on his chest but it is very muscular." She sees him pulling the rope to raise the sails and her minds eye focuses in on his hands. "He has the most beautiful hands I have ever seen."

Gretchen is watching her daughter and her own heart swells. He sounded nothing like Mark. Mark was scholarly, reserved. Katie walked all over him. Gretchen had a feeling that this man did not let her get away with much of anything. She had never seen Katie like this. She had finally found what every one long for. She had found what every mother wishes for her child, true love.

Suddenly Kathryn sat up and swung her legs to the floor. She looked at her mother trying to make her understand. "Everyday I sat next to him on the bridge. There were a lot of days that were boring. Those days I spent a lot of time watching his hands dance across his console. It was like a ballet, graceful and filled with beauty. There were other days that the bridge was hell and his strong hands were often the difference between life and death." Kathryn paused for a minute. She looked away and reached her hand to her mouth as she did. "I sound ridiculous." She started to get up and leave. Running away from emotion as was her custom. But her mother stopped her with her words.

"I understand exactly what you are saying. The strength of a rock yet the gentleness of a baby."

Kathryn was shocked. Her mother had just perfectly described a man she never met. Gretchen didn't need words to know what her daughter was thinking. "Yes, Kathryn I know the man but for me his name was Edward." They both laughed a little and sat back down to talk.

She spent all morning telling her mother stories about Chakotay. She talked about his beliefs and his people. The foundation that made him what he was. She described how he acted as ship's counselor to everyone on the ship and how it was in this capacity that he was instrumental in bringing the two crews together. In Kathryn's eyes he was every thing that she was not. Glancing at the old fashion clock on the mantle Kathryn was startled to see that it was two o'clock.

"Mom it's late how about some lunch. I'll go in the kitchen and get us something."

Gretchen stood up quickly and stood beside the couch were Kathryn was still reclining. "I am glad to hear that you are hungry. You were so thin when you returned. I didn't think that you ate for the entire time you were gone." She brushed her hands across her child's hair. "You lay there I'll get lunch." She left to go to the kitchen.

Kathryn called after her mother. "Mom, I am perfectly capable of fixing lunch for us."

Walking to the kitchen she yelled over her shoulder, "I know but I prefer to have a lunch that I can actually eat!"

Despite herself Kathryn laughed and settled into the couch and closed her eyes. "You are going to like him just fine mother." That was her last thought before she drifted off to sleep.

Three hours later Kathryn woke up to the sound of the doorbell. Gretchen hurried to answer it so it wouldn't wake her daughter up. On her porch stood a nice looking blonde haired man and a dark haired alien woman who was holding a baby.

"Mrs. Janeway I don't think you remember me but…"

It took only a moment for it to sink in. She reached out and hugged him fiercely talking as she did. "Of course I do. You're Owen's son, Tom." She stood back and looked him up and down. Finally she looked at the woman with the baby. "This must be your wife B'Elanna." Because she was holding the baby Gretchen didn't hug her quite so tightly. Reaching out her hands to the baby she said, "And you my precious must be Miral." Tom and B'Elanna held their breaths. The baby was rarely settled for them much less strangers. Paying no mind Gretchen grabbed the baby and ushered them into the house. She called loudly, "Katie you have visitors." B'Elanna and Tom gave each other the eye as they both mouthed the word "Katie".

Kathryn had heard the bell and rushed to her room to change out of her pajamas. She came down the stairs wearing a trim pair of gray slacks and a matching sweater. The only remnants of her lazy day were the slippers she still wore. She saw her friends and a wide smiled came to her lips. She immediately went to B'Elanna and hugged her. A multitude of questioned poured out. "How's motherhood? How's the baby? How's Tom's parents?"

"Hey what am I chopped liver." Tom said while displaying his best pout.

Kathryn tried to muster up the old death glare. "Mr. Paris you are out of line!"

He stiffened his back in mock defense. "Permission to speak freely ma'am."

Playing along Kathryn replied, "Permission granted."

He closed the distance between them and picked her up in a hug and twirled her around. "We have missed you, Captain."

Having had this discussion long ago she did not correct the use of her title. Tom still referred to her as captain as did B'Elanna except when they were talking privately woman to woman.

They all invaded the living room and sat down. Tom motioned his head in the direction of Gretchen who was rocking Miral and singing quietly to her.

"That baby is never this good. She drives Tom and I crazy."

"She has her mother's spirit."

"And her father's good looks," Tom added.

Suddenly Kathryn was crying. Tom leaned over and put his hand on her shoulder. Despite every thing they had gone through he had never seen his captain cry. "Captain what is it?"

Kathryn wiped the tears and blew her nose slightly. "I'm sorry I have been a little emotional these past months. My mother says it is all the stress. The Doctor just says it is about damn time I admit I am only human." She was laughing again but B'Elanna and Tom were worried. Kathryn could see her friends' concern in their eyes. "Don't worry I am fine. I am just happy to see you. I miss the fun we had on Voyager."

"Captain, no offense but you would say you were fine if the Videans were just about to harvest your organs."

Gretchen handed the baby to Kathryn and sat down. "Don't worry young man she is with her mother now. If she weren't fine I would know." That set their minds at ease.

They all watched as Kathryn played with the baby talking to her the entire time. As incredulous as her parents seemed Miral fell asleep in her arms.

They talked quietly. Tom told Kathryn how things were going with his father. B'Elanna seemed tense as he spoke. They were building a new relationship and things were going well. "Of course my wife already has him mesmerized."

"It's not me it's the baby" B'Elanna retorted.

Kathryn added, "Maybe he likes having a daughter-in-law that could kill him with her bear hands. Helps him feel safe!" They all laughed.

Tom's face sobered a little. "Captain the reason we came is that we wanted to give our decision regarding Voyager."

Kathryn sat up and laid the baby down on the soft rug in front of the fireplace.

Tom continued. "We have discussed it at length. We have tried to consider every possibility. We know how Starfleet feels about husbands and wives serving together much less children." Tom nervously ran his hand through his hair.

Kathryn sat a still as a statue. It was the first time her mother had ever seen her command mode. Gretchen could help being reminded of her husband.

"I am not doing a good job at this."

Reaching for his hand the Captain prodded, "Tom, it's all right. Tell me." She released his hand.

"Well despite my father protestation I feel," he paused and reached his hand to his wife's, "we feel that after serving on Voyager with you, anything else would pale in comparison." They were all smiling now. "So if the jobs are still open we want them!"

She hugged them both. "Welcome aboard Mr. and Mrs. Paris." As she turned she suddenly heard the similar words that Chakotay had said the night they said good bye.

Gretchen stood up and ordered everyone into the kitchen for dinner. As they ate desert the conversation picked up again. Everyone was talking about what they had been doing and would be doing while Voyager was in dock. That's when Kathryn mentioned the wedding.

Tom nearly dropped his spoon in the ice cream. "You're going to the wedding of the century?"

Kathryn looked at him in surprise. The kitchen was silent and as everyone sat around the table and waited for Tom to continue.

Moving his hand s through the air in desperate animation he went on. "You know Starfleet's golden boy marries his long time love, the next in line to the Holy Rings of something or other. I can't believe that you haven't seen any thing about it. It is all over. It is like the romance of the century."

The ladies all sipped their coffee wondering what this great romantic tale was all about.

Finally it was Gretchen who spoke up. "Well Tom, do tell."

Tom leaned back in his chair and smiled. He was a storyteller at heart. "It seems that they met years ago when Riker was assigned to Betazed. Rumor has it that they were engaged to be married and that he stood her up." Every mouth around the table opened in shock. "He was sent on some mission and got delayed or something but he never showed up. They never spoke again until they were both assigned to the Enterprise. According to my sources they spent years on the same ship and never continued their relationship. They became the best of friends but no more." Kathryn squirmed a little as his words hit very close to home. She wondered if this was a true story or if Tom was up to something. "They went out on a mission where they encountered a people called the Baku. It is then that the old flames were rekindled. Now they are getting married."

Kathryn couldn't help herself she laughed. All eyes were on her as she continued to chuckle. Finally she caught her breath and said, "leave it to Tom to know gossip about crew members that were not even on our ship!" She began to laugh again but this time she had company.

B'Elanna grabbed the Captain's arm. "I bet he even has a betting pool going!" Once she said it she realized her potential mistake. But the Captain only laughed harder.

Tom sulked a little annoyed. In attempt to validate his story he went on. "Didn't you ever wonder why he never took another position. He was offered his own ship twice for God sakes! People say he stayed because he wanted to remain on the flagship with Captain Picard. I have seen pictures of both Picard and Deanna Trois and my money is on the girl!"

Gretchen loving touched his arm, "Oh Tom a hopeless romantic you are." She got up and began to clean up. Tom jumped up and insisted on helping her. No one noticed B'Elanna and Kathryn quietly talking.

"Did you ask him?"

"Yes."

"Well, what did he say. Is he going to go to the wedding with you?"

"Yes, he is." The two women hugged. Tom and Gretchen turned in surprise at the high pitched giggling they heard. If she hadn't known better Gretchen would have sworn that she was looking at Kathryn and Phoebe as teen-agers again. Tom had no clue what was going on.

Once every thing was cleared away the Paris family decided to leave. After parting hugs and kisses the Captain addressed her friends. "I will see you in about two months to begin our next new journey." Kathryn and Gretchen stood on the porch and watched them leave. The couple reached the end of the walkway before Tome spoke. "It should be one hell of an interesting wedding."

"Why? It sounds like just another Starfleet propaganda event."

Tom laughed as he prepared to drop the bomb. "Any wedding on Betazed will most likely follow their traditions." He reached his arm and put it around his wife then whispered in her ear. "They get married in the nude, participants and guests!"

As they entered the house arm and arm, mother gave daughter a little squeeze. "You have a wonderful way with people. I can see how devoted those two are to you. You make people feel good about themselves."

"It's something I learned on the Voyager." She thought of Chakotay. "With a lot of help."

They paused in the living room by the steps. "Do you feel like continuing our conversation from this afternoon or are you going to bed?"

"I'm tired but first I need to check the message center." Gretchen smiled knowingly as Katie walked to the study.

Kathryn looked over her shoulder and called "coming?" Her mother practically ran to follow her.

There it was on the screen, Arizona. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She felt like a ridiculous schoolgirl. She opened up the message and she and her mother waited both holding their breaths.

Dear Kathryn,

I am sure that if it involves you and Will Riker it will be an interesting story. I would love to hear it when I come to Indiana. How is a week from Monday, late in the afternoon?

Love,

Chakotay

p.s. WHAT DO YOU MEAN NUDE?

Gretchen and Kathryn laughed at the same time. He was coming to Indiana. Kathryn almost couldn't believe. To stop her daughter from dwelling on his coming Gretchen lightened the mood. "Are you going to answer the man?"

Kathryn began to type much more vigorously than before. His message had lightened her heart a little. She might not know exactly where she stood with him but at least she felt like she was standing some where.

Dear Chakotay,

Nude means exactly what it implies naked.

Love,

Kathryn

"Well I guess that means you only have two weeks to tell me the entire story but on the bright side I'll get to see for myself how handsome he really is.