Course: Oblivion

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy First Birthday to Quinn, Happy Birthday to you," the senior staff sang as Quinn sat in her chair and squealed at her 'family'. It was her first birthday and she was more than excited.

"Yay!" Quinn clapped as Neelix brought out a cake. "AKE!" She squealed as Kathryn laughed.

"That's right, a cake. You have to blow out the candle," she told her daughter as the cake was placed in front of them with a smile both Janeway's took a breath and blew out the single candle on the cake, which caused a round of applause from those in the mess hall.

"Fun," Quinn grinned as Tom, B'Elanna, and Harry pushed through the crowd carrying presents.

"Quinny, we got presents," Tom grinned as the little girl's eyes lit up and she looked at her mother.

"Me?" she asked.

"Yes they're for you," Kathryn smiled as the Three Musketeers set all the presents on the table. B'Elanna smiled and handed her the first one. Kathryn took the card attached and gave the box for Quinn to start unwrapping. "To Quinn, This year may have been your first, but you learned so much and we're so proud of you. Learning to fly the ship and helping in Engineering, you're a very special one-year-old. Lots of love, Your Uncle Tom and Auntie B'Elanna."

"Mama elp!" Quinn said as she tried to unwrap the present. Kathryn laughed and helped her undo the paper, as Tom took the bow that was on the present and put it on Quinn's head. The little girl giggled and looked at the present.

"Baby's First Tricorder," Kathryn laughed picking the plastic tricorder from the box. It was pink and had all the buttons. "Does it actually work Tom?"

"Yes it does," B'Elanna smiled. "In simple terms. Like if you turn it on and point it at you a picture of you will come up. Even if you hold it outside a room, it will tell Quinn who's in the room and if she's allowed in there."

"That's such a good idea, thank you B'Elanna," Kathryn laughed. "What do you say Quinn?"

"Ank oo," the little girl smiled as she pointed it at her cake. "Oclate!" Chakotay laughed and leaned over Quinn looking at the tricorder.

"It says the cake is chocolate," he laughed as everyone laughed.

"This one is from me," Harry said handing Quinn another box but slightly bigger. She smiled brightly and handed her mother the card before she and Chakotay unwrapped the present.

"Quinn, on your birthday you should get everything you ever wanted. Unfortunately since you're only a year old now I'm not quiet sure what that is, but Happy Birthday, Love Uncle Harry Kim, Ensign."

Quinn smiled and ripped open the box and her eyes went large. "TEEVIS!" she squealed pulling out the replicated stuffed toy, of Trevius. "Ank oo!"

"You're welcome," Harry smiled as Seven and the Doctor handed Kathryn their gift.

"It may not come in handy now," The Doctor said.

"On this chip is enough replicator rations for Quinn to replicate any type of instrument she desires," Seven stated as Kathryn smiled.

"Thank you. I'm sure she'll appreciate this when she's older," she smiled.

"Of course," Seven said. After all but two gifts were opened, Quinn wore half of the bows, and Kathryn had one on her head, and the rest were on the table.

"This one is from me," Chakotay smiled giving the little girl the bag and Kathryn the card. She took it with a smile and opened the card.

"My Little bird, today is the day when you learn of many things. You are very special to me, and this gift is to show you how you can always talk to me, even if I'm not here. Look back on today as a day of many firsts, most importantly, your first birthday. Love you forever, Daddy," Kathryn read as everyone looked at Chakotay.

"You big softy," B'Elanna smiled as Quinn pulled out a small rock from the bag before she stuck it in her mouth.

"Oh don't do that," Chakotay said taking the rock from his daughter. "This is special… I'll explain this to you when you're older."

Kathryn smiled and took the last present smiling when she saw whom it was from. "To Quinn, One year has passed, and many more will. My sincere wishes for the best, Lieutenant Commander Tuvok." Knowing that whatever Tuvok gave her, was a bit fragile, she opened the present for Quinn, who was still fascinated in her tricorder. Smiling when she saw the small snow globe with a hologram that changed with many holo-images of Quinn's life. "Who's that Quinn?"

"Me!" Quinn squealed as she reached for the snow globe. Kathryn chuckled and held the globe out to her.

"Happy Birthday," Kathryn smiled as she kissed Quinn's head.

"Hahbaba," Quinn babbled as she lay on the floor in Kathryn's quarters.

"What are you doing?" Kathryn asked as she watched her daughter from the couch.

"Ofbin," Quinn replied as she tried to stick her foot in her mouth.

"Stop that," she laughed moving to the floor and taking a hold of Quinn's foot, tickling it slightly. Quinn squealed and tried to squirm away from her mother. "Get back here."

"Ma!" she laughed.

"Quinn!" Kathryn laughed as her doorbell rang. "Come in!"

The door opened and Chakotay walked in carrying a few PADDS. "Captain."

"Commander," Kathryn smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I have the crew evaluations," Chakotay replied. "Someone however, forgot that the Captain needed to be evaluated."

"Oh darn, well I guess that'll have to wait until next year," Kathryn smiled. "Just set the PADDS on my desk."

"Sure," Chakotay smiled. "How is the now one year old?"

"Still trying to put her foot in her mouth," Kathryn smiled. Chakotay laughed and bent down so he could looked at Quinn who was standing up, holding her mother's hands.

"Fascinated with your feet still huh?" he asked as Quinn smiled and tried to move before she fell into Chakotay's lap. Chakotay and Kathryn laughed as Quinn giggled. "Well I should be getting back to the bridge. Captain, I will be sending someone to do your evaluation."

"I'm sure you will," Kathryn smiled as Chakotay picked up Quinn and walked to the door. Kathryn laughed and looked at the door before Chakotay returned.

"I thought you might like this," he smiled.

"I would, thank you," Kathryn smiled taking Quinn from Chakotay. Chakotay smiled, a full dimpled smile, and leaned over and kissed the baby on the head before he snuck a quick kiss from Kathryn. With a wink he left the room with Kathryn looking at him. "Well little one, nap time."

After Quinn was sound asleep in her crib, Kathryn walked to her window and watched the stars fly by. So much had happened over the past while that made her think. Quinn had been the biggest part of her life since the day the Doctor said she was pregnant. Oh she wanted to kill the doctor, then kill Q... Then kill anyone who dared to talk to her. No matter how angry she was, she never forgot how much she utterly loved her daughter.

Sometimes she wondered what life would be without Quinn… but she couldn't believe it would be possible, Quinn was her life.

Quinn was growing fast, her mind was that of a two-year-old, but her body that of a one-year-old. Her powers, if that's what you could call them, consisted so far of being able to appear where she wanted to when she wanted to.

"Good afternoon Captain," Tom smiled as he walked onto the turbo lift that carried the Captain and her daughter.

"Good afternoon Tom," Kathryn smiled.

"Ready for another day in the Delta Quadrant?"

"As ready as anyone," Kathryn chuckled as the doors opened and they stepped onto the bridge. "Good afternoon everyone."

"Good afternoon," Chakotay greeted standing up and seeing Quinn. Smiling he took the little girl who reached for him.

"Hi!" Quinn smiled wrapping her arms around Chakotay.

"Captain, we're receiving the distress signal again," Harry said quickly as Kathryn looked up from her chair.

"Are we in range to hail them?" Kathryn asked as Harry nodded.

"Hail them," Chakotay ordered.

"No response."

"Range?"

"Five million kilometres," Tom said taking his post.

"Try hailing again," Kathryn ordered.

"No response," Tuvok said.

"Captain, I've found the source of the distress call. It's coming from a vessel," Harry said as he pressed a few buttons on his console.

"Can you identify it?" Chakotay asked.

"No, the readings are erratic. Looks like they've taken heavy damage," Harry replied.

"Four hundred thousand kilometres," Tom said.

"Drop to impulse. Are the rescue teams ready? Bridge to Sickbay, stand by for casualties," Kathryn said standing up and looking at Quinn who sat on Chakotay's lap.

"In visual range," Tuvok announced.

"Onscreen," Kathryn ordered looking at the view screen. "Where's the ship?"

"No sign of it," Harry said looking confused.

"That debris. That couldn't be all that's left," Chakotay said, as everyone looked sombre.

"I am detecting residual deuterium, anti-neutrons, traces of dichromates. If it was a vessel, it is not anymore," Tuvok announced.

"Scan for life signs, escape pods," Kathryn ordered. "Something?"

"None," Tuvok said as everyone looked around the room.

"Make a note in the ship's record. We received a distress call at oh nine hundred hours, arrived at the vessel's last known co-ordinates at twenty-one twenty. The ship was destroyed, cause unknown. No survivors," Kathryn said walking back to her chair and sitting down. "Mister Paris, resume course."

"Yes, Ma'am," Tom said as he looked at the screen once more before looking at his console.

"Aht happfen?" Quinn asked looking at her parents.

"I don't know honey," Kathryn said taking Quinn into her arms. "I just don't know."