Deception proved Kathryn Janeway's potential to Starfleet. This being her first command, she was still testing her style, settling on attentive, motherly but hard as nails when the situation required. It obviously impressed someone at Starfleet as much as her bridge officers, Lieutenant's Paris and T'ant.
Demonstrating herself more than capable on the small vessel, Commander Janeway was awarded the role of First Officer on Billings after only a year. The Constellation class vessel might be old by fleet standards, but it proved Kathryn Janeway had been marked for early promotion. The crew under her care swelled to three hundred and fifty, the XO's duties would both test her command style and teach new skills, readying the officer for the captaincy of her own Starship in the not too distant future. However, those aboard Deception mourned the loss almost immediately.
"I'm going to miss you," Tom smirked, leaning in to hug the woman he now called friend. He'd waited until the rest of the crew had time to say goodbye. Even Lt. T'ant, the First Officer gave them a few minutes alone, allowing Tom to complete the transport. The closeness of their bond increased with the length of their association causing a few of the enlisted crew to start a betting pool on how long it would take the couple to become intimate once they weren't serving on the same ship.
"If I'm correct," Kathryn sent a hint of what might one day lay between them, "Billings and Deceptionare on a similar schedule, docking at Starbase 254 every month. As the First Officer, I'll make sure our furloughs coincide."
"After what you've done for me," Tom wasn't about to let this opportunity go without a fight, "I'll buy the first round."
"It's a date, Tom," Kathryn smiled as she stepped onto the transport pad. "Energise."
"Yes, Ma'am," he saluted. It was an old-fashioned gesture, meant to show respect to a senior officer. Tom Paris wanted it to be the last image Kathryn Janeway remembered from her first command.
The new Commander didn't have the same level of respect for Lt. Paris and felt she had the right to hold Tom's former mistakes against him, taking away the Second Bridge Officer's role. The rest of the crew weren't any happier with the change in leadership, especially as Lt. T'ant was demoted to Paris's former position. Commander Shizuko Armiger introduced her new Bolian XO, Lt. Comm. Crall Gadinat. Over the next year, Deception exchanged twenty-two crew from her compliment of twenty-seven serving under Commander Janeway. Strangely, only Lt. Paris was unable to secure a transfer.
"I'm telling you, Kate," Tom complained, lifting his glass and gulping the amber liquid in a single shot, "both the Commander and her blue yes man have it in for me. I can't even make a minor and necessary course correction without permission. Just about every time my hand goes to touch the control panel, one of them is standing over my shoulder. And," sighing heavily, shaking his head, "don't even ask about away missions. I haven't been on one since you left eleven months ago. As to our shuttles," throwing his hands up in the air said all Tom Paris couldn't.
"Off limits?" Kathryn Janway asked cautiously.
"Not even allowed in the shuttle bay," Paris complained. "I'm dam sure my communications are being redirected for the Commander's perusal and any request to Starfleet HQ made to disappear."
Eyeing her lover, Commander Janeway sat and listened. Although she'd noticed Tom's increasing dissatisfaction with his current posting, he'd never complained to this extent about his CO, until today. She'd thought his mounting frustration due to their developing relationship and limited time together. However, Janeway began to hear stories about Commander Armiger from her former crew as they managed to get out of the woman's direct line of command. Kathryn made subtle enquires, uncovering Shizuko's husband served at the Federation Medical Facility on Caldik Prime when Tom crashed his shuttle. Sighing, Kathryn hoped a year of impeccable service on Deception would help rebuild Tom's self-confidence and reputation. It had, until she'd been promoted. Someone at headquarters seemed to have a long memory.
"So," Commander Janeway pushed his empty glass into the recycler, refusing to allow her companion another. Placing her hand over Tom's, she gave him that look that stated he'd had enough. "What are you going to do?"
"I requested leave to assess my options the moment we docked, from a terminal on the Starbase so it couldn't be intercepted," Tom shook his head, trying to clear the alcohol induced haze. He'd consumed just enough to feel loose and unconstrained. "I haven't had leave in almost two years, so it was granted automatically. Besides, Deception has more than enough pilots without me. I'm hoping something will come up so I don't have to go back."
"I was hoping something else would come up," she teased, attempting to move the morose man's thoughts to a more intimate setting. When Lt. Paris looked at her with a confused expression, Kathryn sighed. "Obviously you've had way too much to drink. Come on Tom, I have to back on-board Billings in four hours. Let's get you cleaned up and sober before I leave for yet another month."
"I've got a better idea," Tom managed a lop-sided grin. He'd finally realised Kate handed him the perfect opportunity to do what he'd wanted for about two months. "How about we visit the Captain, exchange some promises, then retire to our quarters."
"What are you suggesting, Mr. Paris," Kathryn held her breath. They'd never discussed exactly where their relationship was going, especially over their almost daily comm's. Meeting for a night or two every month wasn't enough, but it was all they could manage under the current circumstance.
"Marry me, Kate," Tom's hand grasped hers, his reflexes not that of a drunk. In the back of his blue orbs, she could see the sincerity.
"The scotch," she gulped, "was for courage!"
"Yes," he whispered. The longing in those eyes assumed she'd refuse.
"Only if you agree to take my name," Kathryn knew the change would help his career.
"No," Tom responded immediately and vehemently, tightening his grip on her fingers. "You can keep Janeway, if that's what you want. I'm not using my wife's reputation to make mine better. If you want me, Kate, you'll need to take all of me."
"Warts and all," she couldn't help the laugh that escaped. Tom's expression was worth a thousand words.
"Warts and all," he agreed, finally grinning.
"Looks like we have a Captain to find. It's not going to leave much time for a honeymoon," Commander Janeway teased.
"You'd be amazed what I can do with two or three hours," Tom snickered.
"Promises, Mr. Paris," Kathryn responded with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll let you be the judge of that, soon to be Mrs. Paris," he returned in the same manner. Standing, Tom aided Kate from her chair. Taking her smaller hand in his, they exited the bar together.
Kathryn eyed her new husband at the end of their short Starfleet ceremony an hour later. A single comm to the bases Captain, an officer she'd served with on her second posting, allowed the marriage to go ahead quickly and quietly. She'd also arranged a little reprieve for the man wearing a matching old-fashioned gold band. One he was about to discover second hand.
"Janeway to Captain Kelias," Kathryn requested as they exited the office in which their simple ceremony had been conducted.
"Go ahead," Sojaan responded.
"Is there room for a passenger on our next run?" Janeway asked cautiously.
"Would this be the same individual who just became your significant other," the Captain responded with an obvious smile in his tone.
"I believe so," Janeway answered in a droll voice, watching Tom's face light up with delight. Shaking her head, Kathryn didn't quite know what she'd just gotten herself in for.
"If the stories you've led us to believe about Mr. Paris antics are correct," Sojaan openly laughed, "I'm sure there are other things your new husband would rather be doing with the remaining three hours of shore leave, Commander. I'll see you both in my ready room when you report aboard. Kelias out."
"I want to hear these stories," Tom teased, tugging his wife towards the quarters he'd requestioned on gaining leave. "Just exactly what have you been telling your crew."
"I would have thought you had other things on your mind," Kathryn responded in a similar vein, urging Tom to move more quickly.
"In a hurry, Kate," he smirked. Paris had been on the station two days before Billings docked. The Constellation Class Starship should have berthed at the same time as Deception, however, they'd been delayed at their last stop. Assuming he'd only have hours with Kate, Tom realised his life might just be on the improve. It seemed he'd be sharing a bed with his wife for at least the next month. After that, Lt. Paris could only hope he'd be posted to Starbase 245 so they might spend at least a few nights in each other's company every month.