epilogue: walking on

_______Three Months Later_______

Night had freshly fallen over the rebuilt city of Licknok Moor. The royal attachés below the balcony were engaged in a rowdy round of singing and celebration, whilst in the city square, crowds reveled with fireworks commemorating the Inauguration of the new Empress. Yet it was quiet on the balcony. Janeway stood, breathing the clean night air, and gazing at the shimmering star in the sky that was Voyager . Behind her, arms around her waist, Chakotay followed her gaze and pointed the ship out. "Paris suggested that we called it Space Force One. He seemed to think it was funny. Any idea what he meant?"

Janeway laughed. "Pretty much. It's one of his twentieth-century jokes that most of us won't get. Don't worry too much about it." She looked downwards at the crowd below them. "There he is now." Paris noticed the eyes of the Eminent on him, looked up and waved at them, inviting them down with a characteristic Paris smile. Then Torres came over and said something to him, grabbed him by the arm and both disappeared into the crowd. "Well, there he goes."

Chakotay smiled. "He's got a handful, now that B'Elanna is pregnant."

"She's already starting the bloodline for the Head Warrior position," remarked Janeway. "Good thing, too."

"You're forgetting Janae." Chakotay pointed the young Warrior-Healer in the crowd, with her mate by her side. "I heard Harry's been keeping her up all night."

"This only goes to prove that you shouldn't listen to everything you hear," laughed Janeway. She quieted as a thought struck her. "I wonder what kind of rumors they're spreading about us?"

Chakotay leaned over to breathe the sweet smell of her long, fine hair. "The last I heard, the Empress was three months pregnant …"

Janeway elbowed him slightly. "That's not a rumor." His hand drifted to her abdomen and she held it there as they both laughed awhile. "Looks like we've begun seeding a bloodline of our own."

Chakotay turned pensive. "Haven't we all?" he said. His gaze returned to the sky. "Do you ever look up sometimes at night and wonder what's happening on Earth?"

"Many times," said Janeway softly, "but it no longer pains me to think about it. Our first families have moved on, so have we." She gazed back at the crowd again. Tieran and Aldophian were playing tag under the Doctor's watchful eye, whilst Calista and Josh were in heated debate about something. Neelix was serving one of his specialties with Kes' help. In the corner, Myriam was speaking to Seven, who was beginning to become inseparable from Tuvok—one hardly ever saw one without the other these days. It wasn't exactly a match made in heaven, but they worked well together and Seven respected Tuvok's need for privacy regarding the matter of his wife. All in all, everything seemed well. "You're right, Chakotay. We have begun families of our own here."

Chakotay sighed. "Taking over the Eminence isn't going to be easy, though."

"No, it never is. Thousands of years of Maldorian rule will not be gotten rid of so easily. They will fight back." As she said so her gaze rested upon Jackelyn—Jackelyn, the bitter young woman who had been unwillingly drafted into Janeway's service. She chafed in her new role as court advisor; her loyalties to Maldor were strong, yet Janeway hoped that someday she would finally see the light and serve with all her heart.  Myriam was her mentor; Myriam was mentor to so many of the children, including the incredibly talented Adolphian. Myriam had her doubts about Jackelyn, feeling that she had been too deeply ingrained in the Maldorian way. But Janeway had hope. Hope never died. She pointed upwards agin. "See those stars, Chakotay?"

"Yes, I see them."

"Those stars shine for us, Chakotay. As long as we keep believing in ourselves, nothing is impossible." She grasped his hand in hers, reveling in his touch. "If we remain strong, nothing can stop us."

He said nothing, just holding her close. After a pause, he said, "Let's join them below."

She nodded in acquiescence. He took her hand and guided her as they made their way back amongst their people. And above them, the stars continued burning brightly, beacons in the sky guiding their way. Voyager soared, the brightest of them all, a triumphant orbit embodying the spirit that encompassed House Janeway. Time turned as it always did, and the stars knew that all was well.

The End