Just some family-type fluff that started out as a drabble, but grew rather quickly. If you enjoy, or even if you don't, reviews are always appreciated.
ooo
"Commander Ragat, Lt. Commander Torres is calling for the Admiral."
Paul Ragat raised an eyebrow. As Admiral Janeway's chief of staff, he knew that her door — and vid line — were always open to her Voyager crew. But he was surprised that Torres would call: He'd heard that things were strained since the Admiral and Tom Paris married last year.
Torres looked harried. "Is the Admiral in?" she asked impatiently.
"Sorry, her shuttle just left McKinley Station," he explained. "We expect her in an hour."
Torres considered. "Can you give her a message? Someone needs to get Miral from the daycare center this evening. My team's been called to the Cerritos; won't be back until tomorrow night at the earliest. I know her father's out of town; left him a message."
"We'll get a message to her," Paul said. He was about to sign off when a thought hit. "Would you like us to call Admiral Paris's office? Just in case Admiral Janeway is delayed."
Torres looked uncertain, then nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate it," she said sincerely. "Oh, and I've called the daycare center."
Paul walked into the outer office. It was just him and Lt. Commander Jiabir today; Janeway took the technical staff to McKinley.
"Marc, call Admiral Paris's office. We have a daycare situation."
Jiabir raised an eyebrow. "Emergency?"
"No, Commander Torres' engineering team has been called out. Someone needs to pick up the kiddo."
A few minutes later, Jiabir stuck his head in the door. "No luck: Both Admiral and Dr. Paris are off-world."
Paul muttered a curse that Jiabir ignored. "Send a message to the Admiral. I'll go check on kiddo."
"They won't let you bring her here," Jiabir warned. "And the Admiral will be back in 45 minutes tops."
Paul shrugged. "Maybe she needs something. Comm me if something comes up."
Jiabir shook his head. Ragat wasn't fooling him: Half of Starfleet knew he had a crush on Royi Edra, the center's associate director.
ooo
"Sorry, Paul, you can't take Miral to the Admiral's office. You're not on the list," Royi said gently. "You know, if necessary, she can always stay overnight. We're used to it: 'Fleet jobs can be unpredictable."
She gave him that lovely, distracting smile. "Do you always have to deal with your boss' child-care issues?" she teased.
"No, no," he said quickly. "Miral's in the office sometimes, but this is the first issue of sorts." He shrugged. "I was a Starfleet brat; been in Miral's place, wondering where my parents were. Just thought I could help."
Royi's eyes darkened. "I need to take care of some things in the visitors' room," she said. "I'll bring Miral with me so you can say hello. She is upset about this, so maybe you can cheer her up."
ooo
Miral seemed to look another year older every time he saw her, Paul noted. Poor kid was upset, but she brightened when she saw him.
"Is my mommy coming?" she asked hopefully.
"Do you remember Aber telling you that your mommy had to go fix a ship and can't pick you up tonight?" Royi asked gently.
Miral just nodded. "Admiral Janeway will be here in a little bit," Paul offered. "She's coming back from the space station."
Miral considered, then nodded. Paul noticed she was holding a stuffed creature. What was it? A targ?
"I see you brought your friend," he said nodding at the toy.
"Toby," she said, holding out the targ for his inspection. Toby looked like he'd gone several rounds with a Nausicaan. One of his ears was torn off; his back leg was hanging by a thread.
"What happened to him?"
Miral gave him a mischievous smile. "I hit Tibik."
Paul looked at Royi in alarm. "Tibik is another of our children with Klingon heritage," she said quietly. "He likes to annoy Miral. We manage to keep the peace, but at some point, he'll pull her hair, and she'll use Toby to defend herself."
"You'd think he'd give it up," Paul remarked. Royi just smiled. "He wants Miral's attention, even if it gets him a face full of stuffed targ."
ooo
"Janeway to Ragat," Royi jumped at the sound. Paul just smiled and tapped his communicator.
"Ragat here, Admiral." Janeway started to speak but was interrupted by Miral's yell of "Hi, Amah!"
"I hear you, Miral," Janeway said affectionately. "But I have to talk to Commander Ragat right now."
Paul winked at Miral as he slipped out of the room. "Sorry, Admiral. Go ahead."
"Want to tell me what's going on? I have messages from the office, my husband, Admiral Paris' office …"
Paul quickly explained the situation. "All right. Transport is busy right now, but I'll be there shortly." She paused. "You're at the center with her?"
"Yes. Thought I'd check on her, tell her that you were coming," he explained quickly.
"I see," and he heard the amusement in her voice. "I'll see you in a few minutes. Janeway out."
ooo
It wasn't long before Janeway arrived, messenger bag slung over her shoulder. She managed to get down on one knee before Miral barreled into her.
"Mommy didn't come," she complained. Janeway patiently explained the situation and what was going to happen.
"Daddy?"
"He's with Aunt Moira in New York for his business. He won't be back until tomorrow. Now, where's your backpack?"
"Miral," Royi said as she held out her hand, "let's go to the dayroom and get your things."
"OK," Miral agreed and handed Toby to Janeway. "Tibik again?" she asked as she looked at Toby's remains. Miral just giggled and went off with Royi.
"She go through a lot of those?" Paul asked.
"We buy them by the case," Janeway said wryly, then raised an eyebrow. "I do appreciate you going above and beyond here, but she would have been all right for an extra hour or so."
How to explain? "I've been in her place. You know my parents were in 'Fleet. They'd get involved with work, or maybe they didn't communicate, but they'd forget to pick me up. I'd have to stay until the daycare staff found one of them."
Janeway just nodded. "I imagine that was distressing." She paused. "Having Miral in my life has taught me a lot about consistency and security."
She was interrupted by Miral and Royi's arrival. He noticed that Royi was carrying a briefcase. "Ready?" Janeway asked as she held out her hand for Miral.
"By the way, Commander. I've sent the tech staff home and told Marc to close the office. So you are relieved, with my thanks. Now, go have dinner," Janeway said with a knowing smile. Paul swallowed: He got the message.
He couldn't help but smile as he watched Janeway and Miral leave hand-in-hand, Miral happily chattering. Royi noticed and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh," he began, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's just … just nice to see that side of the Admiral."
"I've found her to be very gracious," Royi said.
"She is," Paul replied. "But she's also very private, especially when it comes to her family."
They fell quiet, and Paul mentally shook himself. Janeway had just handed him a gift, and he'd damn well better take advantage of it.
"Anyway, I guess my day is done," he began.
"Mine, too," Royi said.
Somehow, he got the words out. "I've been ordered to get dinner. Join me? Unless you're expected?"
"I'm not expected," she said with a smile. "I was going to hit Sullivan's. Does that work?"
"Absolutely," he said.
ooo
Miral was quiet on the drive home. Something was turning in that little head, Kathryn decided.
"I think Commander Paul and Miss Royi like each other," she announced as they got out of the hovershare.
"Oh, why's that?"
"They smile at each other," Miral explained. "That's usually a good sign," Kathryn said as they started the short walk home.
"Will he pull her hair?"
Kathryn had to hold back a laugh. "Now why would you think that?"
"Darcy told me that Tibik pulls my hair because he likes me."
Well, that confirms a few thoughts, she thought. "Do you like it when he pulls your hair?"
"NO!" Miral answered with a look that indicated that her stepmother was daft.
Kathryn just smiled. "Well, next time, tell him to find a better way to say he likes you."
Miral frowned, not comprehending. "Maybe he could save you a seat at lunch," Kathryn offered. "Bring you a cookie?"
She brightened at the mention of cookies, and Kathryn thought that was the end of it.
No such luck. She'd just poured Miral a glass of juice and herself a glass of wine …
"Daddy likes you," she announced.
"I certainly hope so," Kathryn answered. "I like him, too."
"Does he pull your hair?"
"No!" Kathryn said firmly.
Miral considered for a moment. "Did Daddy pull Mommy's hair when he liked her?"
Kathryn nearly choked as she flashed back to the complaints about the noises coming from a certain cabin on Voyager.
"I don't know," she managed, which was the truth. And some things she didn't want to know.
"How about you go wash your hands while I fix dinner?" she said to change the subject. "Daddy is going to call later, so we should eat before then."
Miral looked worried. "Will Mommy call?"
"If she can," Kathryn assured her. "Better hurry; I'm making chicken fingers."
Miral ran off, and she stepped into the dining room to have that laugh she'd been holding in. "Oh, Miral, sweetie," she said as she shook her head. "Life with you is never dull."
This would not be a quiet evening reading reports, she mused as she programmed the replicator. But that was all right; the reports could wait.
Besides, she thought as she allowed herself a wicked grin, her report to Tom on Miral's day was going to be very interesting ...