"As soon as I heard Voyager appeared in Cardassian space, I organized a reunion."

"When one of your shipmates is related to a full admiral, things get done," one of the Voyager crew said. The Federation and its Starfleet didn't abandon anyone, but maybe their story had gotten special attention.

The high warp courier USS Pheidippides had been almost due for a run to the Federation border anyway, and Owen ensured he and other Voyager crew relatives in the Sol system were offered a place on it. The civilians weren't all family of the crew. Clare Raymond had knowledge and experience relevant to Amelia Earhart's situation, being from the past herself, and having become a counselor to other such individuals.

Owen Paris was not the only Starfleet officer amongst the newly arrived visitors. Sofia Alighieri and Vorik had siblings on leave from the Enterprise-E. Picard had gladly approved that leave without the admiral even needing to imply that he could arrange to order it.

"Taurik, it is most pleasant to see you again." Not only as my brother, but as a Vulcan besides Tuvok.

"Vorik, the sentiment is mutual. I took a mate L'Dell and we have a daughter Talys, but they are here in photographs only. The Enterprise unlike its predecessor does not carry crew families." Such a policy would have saved Ben Sisko immeasurable grief … but then he wouldn't have so vigorously pursued an anti-Borg weapon that had proved so critical for Starfleet against the Dominion.

So the D was lost? Tom Paris thought. More news. "Your niece looks about two."

"Why is Ensign Paris so interested in this?"

The answer was the exact opposite of being a homosexual, not that there would've been anything wrong with that. Vorik decided it was illogical to keep a secret from someone who already knew it. "I attempted to mate with Lieutenant Torres, who mated with Ensign Paris instead." He also knew it would be highly illogical to remind Lieutenant Torres of this fact.

"The logical exception to no family aboard ship would be relatives who are themselves Starfleet personnel. On the Enterprise we have Commander Crusher in sickbay, and Ensign Crusher in engineering. Wesley redeemed himself after a grave error."

"So did Tom."

"Good to see other twins," Jenny Delaney said. She and her sister Megan had served together these five years, had double-dated Tom and Harry early in that timeframe, and remained friendly with the young men, including joining them on the holodeck. A.E. had recalled movies much like Tom's Captain Proton program.

"Tom could probably become a holonovel author after or in addition to Starfleet," Megan suggested.

One of the children had even less reservation about interrupting than the young adults. "I like the puppy program!"

"There she is – you see, my daughter inherited my enthusiasm for dogs. Plays holoprogram 636 subroutine 7 even more than Flotter, if you can believe it." Samantha had installed the latter, perhaps out of nostalgia – The Adventures of Flotter had been popular with many of the crew in their youth. Maybe it was wishful thinking, a wish which had come true. Perhaps it was both, what they liked as children they could trust showing to their own children.

Sandra Alighieri-Miller, like the other children on Voyager, was introduced to extended family.

"Maria, your sister's a keeper," Sarah Miller said.

This time, Edward Davis was the ensign to butt into the family reunion. "Indeed. We spent so bloody much time playing footy in the holodeck. A real pitch is one of the things I miss about Earth." Hopefully Voyager would head to Earth as quickly as Pheidippides had brought their family to them. Neelix brought over a plate of sweets; 'Toffee, butter' was as reliable from Davis as 'coffee, black' was from Janeway.

They'd kicked it around a bit on shore leave at times, but had been unable to find anywhere near 20 of their crewmates interested in the game – maybe they could find 9 to field a full side against the computer. Sometimes the Delaney sisters played with them. So did Francois Richard, and apparently he played with the Delaneys. The three had faced a multiple choice question to which they answered C. both of the above.

Tom recalled another celebration in this hall. Ensign Richard is going to be father of twins, in a way. Francois had worried about becoming a father of four, but the Doctor had pointed out that identical twins like his girlfriends were a rare random chance and they weren't particularly likely to have nonidentical twins.

Harry had been happy for them too. Both Jenny and Megan? Yeah, hard to have a favorite between them.

I was between them, alright.

Did they handle your ball? Davis said.

Balls, but no, they're not guilty of handball.

Francois' father Jacques said "You did what now? Did the other one know about this?" Such misconduct and hard feelings would've been particularly damaging when stuck with them for what you expected to be decades, but that was one of the things they didn't expect their Alpha Quadrant relatives to understand.

"Oui, she was watching."

"My boy! … Another glass?"

"Mon père, the 2305 is even better than I remember, maybe because we can share a glass again."

"To safe return."

"To a voyage longer than I could've dreamed that went better than ever imagined."

He was glad to offer the vintage to the mothers of his grandchildren. "To teaching your son how to treat the ladies!" Jenny said.

Mrs. Tina Delaney approached the situation from a different angle. "When I taught you girls to share, this is not what I had in mind."

The captain and her first officer husband were leaving their party, Chakotay's last goodbye being to the EMH. "Doctor, you needn't expect to deal with any broken clavicles tonight."

"Commander, given your predilection for boxing, you are not one to talk about gratuitous injury." Some people didn't understand. Seven, for all her virtues, hadn't appreciated that one of her ancestors was the 22nd century champ Buttercup Hansen. But that was all bullshit, just sports. Celebrations like the ones today were what really mattered.