"We are gathered here today to honor a great Captain. A woman who risked the punishment of breaking the Temporal Prime Directive in order to ensure the safety of the Federation. She overcame personal strife, and led a Battle, the likes of which the Federation has never seen before. Captain Janeway, you are hereby awarded the Medal of Honor. I am the only Federation member with the ability to award this honor, and I can think of no one more deserving."

Through the President's speech, I am standing stiffer than I can ever remember standing in my life – which means a lot coming from a Starfleet brat. But I am almost scared to move, scared to shake.

"Thank you Madam President."

With my part of the ceremony over, I begin to think about the changes the last few weeks have brought.

It has been two and a half weeks since the Battle of Wolf 359. We ended up losing one vessel and 13 crewmen and women. The losses, though very low, still feel like immense to me. I did as much as I could, yet still 13 people never got to come home. The Borg have made no further appearance in the interim, and we have used our time analyzing the Borg vessels with the help of a rehabilitated Annika Hansen.

Without her extreme guilt from the various assimilations she performed as a drone, she has had a much easier time reintegrating into human life. Besides her, there were seven children ranging from infancy to what would appear in a human to be 14 years of age. They have all been given homes with Alpha Quadrant families since we don't currently have the means to take them to their original home worlds.

"Kathryn, are you ready to go home?" During my wandering thoughts, Chakotay had made his way to the stage.

"Of course." I say while placing my hand in the crook of his elbow.

There is a big party later this evening at Starfleet headquarters, to celebrate the successful Battle of Wolf 359. Yet no matter how much we tell him otherwise, Kole believes the party is for him.

"But Mommy," he says, "Why is it on my birthday?"

"Because honey," I reply (over and over – little kids are so pushy), "This is the earliest they could have it once they analyzed everything."

"Then why does it say honoring Janeway? That's my last name."

"That's mommy's last name, too, Kole. They are honoring me."

"But why?" He asks confused and slightly incensed. "It isn't even your birthday."

"They think mommy did something really special. Kinda like when we took you for pizza after you learned to use the big boy potty." I try to explain.

"But we didn't have a party. Parties are for birthdays. It's my birthday. So it's my party."

"Good deduction Kole. I can't argue against that." I say. What I actually mean is, 'it's not even worth it. What do I care if he thinks this party is for him?'

With that explanation over with, I get cleaned up and dressed before putting Kole's tux on him. As I'm walking down the stairs with Kole in my arms, I catch a glimpse of Chakotay looking very much like an adult version of the child in my arms.

"If we weren't already married, I don't know if I could stay away from a dashing man like you." I say when I reach the bottom step.

"I can't wait to show you off tonight. Every man there will be jealous that you're with me."

My dress is a deep shade of blue, the exact color of my eyes. It's sleeveless and satin with an asymmetrical neckline. It's incredibly simple, but pairs well with my now waist length red hair.

Chakotay and Kole are both wearing traditional tuxes and make the most handsome penguins I have ever seen.

"Are you two ready to go?" Chakotay asks.

"My party." Kole says trying to assert that the party is in fact for him.

"Are you two ready to go to Kole's party?"

"Yes." I answer for both of us.

Chakotay hits the badge in his hand and calls for us to be beamed to the lobby of the ballroom where the party is to be held.

"Katie." My dad says immediately upon our arrival.

"Hey, daddy." I reply with a hug.

My daddy and Kolopak are both decked out in tuxes. Phoebe and Sekaya are wearing original pieces – the only difference in the two of them being that Phoebe's is silver and Sekaya's is gold. My mother is wearing a three-quarters sleeve, lacy, floor length dress of a rich lilac. Yatzil's dress is a tribal design in burnt umber with a cinched waist of braided bronze.

"Don't we have a handsome family?" I say after I get a good look at everyone.

"Beautiful, mommy. You and my aunts and grandmas are beautiful." Kole says with a cheeky grin.

"Let's go in." My dad says with an ushering hand.

As I enter with one hand tucked into Chakotay's elbow and the other holding Kole's hand, the room goes completely silent. After a few seconds, a roaring round of applause begins with Admiral Paris. My face flushes at being the center of attention, but Kole waves and gives his thanks to everyone for coming to his party.

The evening is like any other elegant, Starfleet affair. There is a dinner made by combining specialties from many home worlds, speeches given by windbags, and dancing accompanied by a beautiful orchestra.

The night is standard until the end of the evening. I am feeling exhausted, so I have taken a seat near the corner of the room while Chakotay dances with Sekaya. Annika approaches as I see most of my family making their way towards my table to say their goodbyes.

"You look tired, Captain."

"It's Kathryn when we aren't working, Annika. I don't want to have to tell you that again." I say with a mock glare.

"Of course, Kathryn." Annika smiles.

Before I know what is happening, Annika whips a medical tricorder out.

"Why do you have a medical tricorder?"

"The Doctor gave it to me so I may monitor my remaining Borg implants each morning." She replies absently while scanning.

Before I can say anything else, two things happen simultaneously, 1) my family (all of them) arrive at my table, and 2) Annika says in a voice that can be heard by at least a third of the room, "no wonder you are so tired. You have entered your sixth week of pregnancy."

"What did you just say?" I stutter.

"You are six weeks pregnant. This time often causes exhaustion in mothers. It is no wonder you look as tired as you do. Your daughter requires an extensive amount of your energy."

"Our daughter?" Chakotay says over my shoulder.

"I am assuming by your reactions that this news was not known to you. As I have been reading about human customs, I have made a major blunder for which I apologize."

Everyone in the room has stopped even pretending to not be listening by this point in the conversation.

"It's fine, Annika. Is she healthy?"

"She appears to be so, but I am not a medical professional. I would encourage you to make an appointment with the Doctor as soon as you are able." Annika's eyes hold a thank you for not being angry with her.

"Of course. For now, however, I would like to head home. I happen to be as tired as I apparently look. Chakotay?"

"Yes, momma."

"Let's go home."

I hear nothing as I walk through a path made from the stunned crowd of Starfleet officers and their families. The last person I pass before entering the lobby is Tom Paris. Before I can completely exit, he finally speaks.

"Only you could beat the Borg recently assimilated, bald, and four weeks pregnant. Are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?"

"It's not all that hard to make you look bad, Tom."

"Tell that to the mirrors, Kathryn." He replies with a smile. "Congratulations."

After that, the room reverberates with a congratulations. I nod and wave before calling for a beam out, stepping out of my dress and immediately into bed.