Several months later –

Life onboard was about as normal as it was going to get. Repairs had been completed and Enterprise no longer looked like a rust bucket held together by gum and baling wire. Some improvements had even been made, thanks to an advantageous trade with the Desalaens.

They were mere creature comforts, but the additions had boosted morale for now the protein resequencers had more selections, much to Chef's chagrin.

"Double chocolate cheesecake," Hoshi said into the voice activated control panel. Soon, her troubles would melt away.

"Rough day?" a friendly voice asked, startling her.

"Hi, Travis," she replied, picking up her plate. "Not really, just a guilty pleasure before I head off to the gym. One must keep up her girlish figure, although you really can't tell in these uniforms."

"I hear the captain is instituting a casual dress day," Travis said, following her to a table.

"Really?" Hoshi's eyes went wide.

"No. Not really," Travis teased, almost choking on his milk.

Hoshi held some of her cheesecake back on a fork as though getting ready to throw it at him.

"Eh, eh! You wouldn't want it to go to waste, would you?" Travis stated, trying to coax Hoshi not to fling the food at him.

"Want what to go to waste?" Malcolm asked, walking up behind Travis just as Hoshi flicked the sacrifice at the helmsman's head. Travis ducked just in time for the double chocolate cheesecake to hit and stick to the armory officer's uniform.

Was it her imagination, or did the room just go silent? For embarrassing moments, this wasn't so bad. After all, Malcolm was the one with cheesecake slowly smearing down his pants. "I – I – I'm so sorry, sir," Hoshi said, standing up and crossing over to him.

Malcolm had yet to actually move, much less put his tray down.

Taking her napkin, she knelt in front of him and starting dabbing at his uniform. He smacked her hand away. "Thank you very much, Ensign!" His voice was strained and irritated as he walked out of the mess hall, taking his selection with him.

"I'm really sorry, sir," she called after him. She was still kneeling on the floor, her hand raised as though still wiping Malcolm's pants. That's when she noticed the whispers.

"I didn't think he could blush that red," one voice said. "Gives a whole new mean to the term 'red alert.'"

"I doubt she even realizes –" another voice said, stopping abruptly as Hoshi glared at the owner.

"You need some help there, Hoshi?" Travis asked, trying not to laugh.

Hoshi stood and took her seat opposite him, glaring at him and the cheesecake.

"Don't blame me," he laughed. "I had every right to duck."

Stabbing at a piece and shoving it into her mouth, she smirked. "How are things with Corporal McKenzie?" she said with her mouth full.

Travis looked down at his plate then. "Um, fine, kinda."

Hoshi frowned, concern for her friend clearly showing. "What's wrong?"

Clearing his throat, Travis looked up. His usual mirthful expression was gone and he muttered, "It's just that Katie is a MACO, and Kemper, Romero, and Chang are like her big brothers. I've lost count of the threats. Forget about having any time alone with her. I want to get to know her, but it's impossible with the three stooges hanging around."

For a moment, Hoshi forgot her own worries and focused on her friend. "I'll run roughshod over them for you, Travis. Just call me when they get out of hand," she suggested. "I can always have a four-way butt-kicking contest with them."

That got a laugh out of Travis and he smiled, but the smile diminished once he saw the look of concern cross Hoshi's face. "What's up with you?"

Swallowing some cheesecake, Hoshi looked down at the table. "Am I that obvious?"

"Still no luck tracking the father down?" Travis guessed.

Hoshi shook her head no. "Maybe he knows and he doesn't want to be with me. Maybe he wants to change his future."

"That's the most asinine thing I've ever heard you say, Hoshi," he replied seriously. "Maybe he's shy. Maybe he's thinking the same thing. Maybe he's waiting for you to make the first move."

"What if he didn't look either?" Hoshi asked worriedly. "I'll never know. The children have Japanese names. I didn't even bother to look for their last names."

"Give it time, Hoshi," Travis pleaded. "You can't expect to fall in love, get married, and have children all in one day."

"I know. I know," she replied, dabbing at her mouth, a sense of loss forming in the pit of her stomach. "It's just that…everybody I…we ever knew. They don't exist anymore. It's like they're dead. When I found out I have two children…well, it made me hope."

Travis chewed his lip thoughtfully. He had never seen her this despondent before. Always a busybody and a gossip, he had pretty much peeked at everybody's future, including hers. Did he dare tell her he knew who the father was? She hadn't wanted to know at the time.

And Malcolm's reaction had been anything but encouraging as he sat there and told Hoshi about his "impending bachelorhood." Maybe Malcolm didn't want her after all. Maybe he needed to talk to Malcolm about this.

One thing was for certain. Knowledge of the future didn't necessarily guarantee it.