The next three months are spent doing nothing more than dropping off supplies and equipment to outposts and transporting dignitaries throughout the Federation.

We are now back on Earth for two weeks. I have set up a meeting with Tom Paris who just finished his second year at the Academy.

"A Cadet Paris is here to see you, ma'am."

"Send him through."

I decide to conduct the meeting in my father's office. On Voyager, Tom and I had multiple conversations about the pressure we felt as Starfleet brats. It was one of the first things we bonded over. I want him to realize that he isn't any different than me.

"Sit down, Tom. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Not right now, sir."

I try not to cringe, but I know I am unsuccessful when I see Tom's face.

"Cadet, despite Starfleet protocol, I don't like being addressed as sir. Captain will suit me just fine. And ma'am will work in a crunch."

"Yes, ma'am."

"It's not crunch time yet, Mr. Paris."

"Sorry, Captain. Is there a reason I was asked to come here today?"

"Yes, there is. When you graduate, I want you to fly my ship. Since this term is ending, I'd like you to come aboard for three months as pilot before next semester begins."

"What vessel?" I can see in his eyes that he thinks I probably Captain a barge or old pile of junk.

"Voyager. We leave on Stardate 40395.4 (May 25). We will spend time cataloguing the Badlands."

"Would I be an observer?"

"You would be a crewman. You would work duty shifts just like every other crewman on Voyager."

"Deal."

"There are a few rules first." Tom nods to show he is listening.

"First: if you make a mistake, no matter how small or how big, you report it to me immediately. Second: you are to follow procedure. I got special permission to have you on my ship before you graduate, and I will not have you make a fool of us both. Third: I want you to make a holoprogram of Sandrine's.'

"I can do that, ma'am." Tom's cheeky grin tells me that he knows he is pushing it.

"You are to report to Voyager at o six hundred. Dismissed."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Oh, and Tom, welcome aboard."

Two hours later, Owen sends me a comm telling me that Tom hasn't stopped talking about Voyager. And he thanks me once again for helping him fix their ailing relationship.

I head towards home to have a long anticipated dinner with my family. I haven't seen them since they changed transport after Trebus.

When I enter, I hear voices coming from the living room. There I find my family as well as the Parises.

"Captain?"

"Tom."

"You're Captain Janeway?"

"I thought you knew that. We did meet in my father's office after all."

"I thought maybe he was your Academy advisor or something."

"Or something is more like it."

"Then I'm very excited to pick your brain. I have been working on specs for a shuttle, and I'd like to run them by you."

I get giddy at his words somehow knowing that what he is proposing is most likely a rough draft for the Delta Flyer. We had just started working on specs when we met the Krenim. Most of the work, Tom had said he thought up years earlier for one of his classes at the Academy.

"Of course. I like a Cadet who has initiative."

If I had made this offer six months ago, I think Tom would've been angry thinking I only asked him because of who is father is. As it stands, I think he's just glad to be doing work that his father is proud of.

"The Parises came home for dinner and a little work. And I do me little, Edward."

"Yes, Mrs. Janeway."

My momma's cheeky grin vanishes when my father says 'Mrs.'

"Don't start with me, Admiral." When my mother glares, Elizabeth giggles at the mens' faces. Like deer in the headlights.

Tom and I make eye contact across the room. He gives another glance towards the scene then rolls his eyes.

He makes me think of a mixture of the Tom Paris I knew and Voyager's green ensign, Harry Kim.

I see an innocence that was gone from my Tom Paris, but I see his normal cunning whirl beneath the surface.

We spend the evening discussing mostly work with a splash of Starfleet gossip.