As my father and I make our way to the transporter room, I feel a sense of déjà vu. A little over two months ago, we met before our first council. After we finished speaking, we walked in silence only to be bombarded once we walked through the door.
This time we make it to the transporter and are beamed to the front lawn. My father turns to me and takes me in his arms for long moments.
"I'm proud of you, Goldenbird."
"I couldn't have done this without you."
"Our family's probably waiting, but I need to do something first."
With that, my father takes the pip from my hand and places it with the other two on my neck.
"Very nice, Commander."
"Lead the way, Admiral."
No one meets us at the door, instead we find them all sitting in the living room. I quickly remove my boots and sit on the couch with my feet curled under me.
Chakotay leans into me in order to whisper in my ear. "I guess I can't expect you to serve under me anymore, Commander."
"I think I can defer to your tactical expertise, Commander." I smirk up at him.
"Everything went well at the council meeting. I was surprised though. The Federation President was there."
"Who knew my sister was in such high circles?" Phoebe jokes back.
"I answered all their questions, but the biggest surprise came from Admiral Thomas."
"Well don't keep us waiting, Katie." My mom chimes in.
"First he promoted me to Commander. Then he told me they would be giving me Voyager in a year and a half."
"You'll be the youngest Captain in Starfleet history."
"24. I didn't get Voyager the first time around until I was 35."
"This has been a year worth celebrating." My father says.
Glancing at Chakotay, I know he is right. Only four weeks stand between us and our wedding date.
Which reminds me, "Kolopak and Yatzil are leaving Trebus on Friday?"
"It is traditional to spend a week together as a family before the wedding. Rites of passage and such things."
"That's not a problem is it, momma?"
"Of course not dear. I'm very excited to meet them. As I'm sure they are me and your father."
"I spoke with them on subspace yesterday. They are excited to meet my parents of this land."
When Chakotay asked momma and daddy if he could call them parents by his traditions, my momma warmed to it right away. By the end of five minutes, Chakotay was calling her momma, and she was responding. My daddy was a harder sale. They settled on dad for him because neither men were comfortable with daddy.
"Daddy, I think you and Kolopak will be matched in will. Yatzil is very endearing mother. She reminds me of you."
"Let's eat dinner then, and you can tell us all about them."
Dinner is filled with stories from Chakotay's childhood and our recent trip. We decided not to share Anam with them. It is my hope that we will all travel to Trebus, and they can experience it for themselves.
