Chapter 6: A New Dawn

Richard stretched; he had been working on the backlog of work that had piled up in his absence. He didn't regret being gone just the fact how things tended to pile up. While Lynn still on earth he worked extra hours to get it done. When she got back he wanted to have time, no make time, to spend with his family. He looked over at the holo on his desk. It had been taken the day Lynn and Chrissy got home from t he hospital. Their first new family picture, Lynn holding Chrissy, his arms around her, and Jack in his lap, all happy. All together.

"Captain..."

Richard's thought were broken," Yes LT. what is it?"

"The new sectors children's care specialist is here."

He sighed," Send them in." He put away his paper work away. Duty called and he had to answer it.

"Aye sir, I'll send the commander in, sir"

With in moments he heard the door to his office open. He didn't look up from the padd he was reading. It was listing of what all the duties this new officer was to do. It was basically a head of the pediatric care and child welfare for the sector. A lot to due but after his experiences with the individual ship he knew they needed one.

"Lt. Commander Skyler reporting for Duty, sir."

"What?" Richard looked up, and a wry grin came to his face.

"Lt. Commander Lynn Skyler reporting for Duty, Captain." Lynn's grin was wide at the look on his face.

"At ease Commander, and welcome." He stood and walked around his desk.

"I'm glad to be back, Captain."

"WOW! Back a week early, and with a promotion to boot. Congratulations Commander." he smiled.

"Thank you sir." she replied

"Permission to formally welcome you back, Commander?" he walked up to her and smiled.

"If you didn't I'd be angry."

"Good." He bent and kissed her as Lynn's arms snaked around his neck.

"I was expecting you home in a week, other wise I would have this place cleaned up." Richard sat the food on the table. Miraculously he had gotten his work done and had been about to go home. Lynn had dinner ready but just as it was ready Chrissy was getting hungry. Richard volunteered to finish it.

"Well plans changed," she rocked in the chair. Chrissy was covered in a blanket as she ate.

"I would say so. Now are you going to tell me how you got here." He sat Lynn's famous casserole on the table.

"You know how I got here, captain. You have my transfer orders."

"The captain knows but Richard would like to know how his wife came to back here earlier then normal." he went back to the replicator.

Jack pulled on Richard's trousers," I wanna' help. Give me pwate."

"What?" Richard looked down at the little boy.

"Program 724 in the replicator . It is plastic plate with stars on them. He wants to help set the table."

He called it up and 3 plates appeared," Here ya go bro." Jack took them and set them at the chairs, then came back to get the plastic cups. While jack did that Richard watched him, " When did he learn to do that?"

"Willie," jack laughed.

"Mom taught him. He wanted to help and that is something he could do." She checked on Chrissy, who was nearing falling asleep.

"Ahh OK, so are you going to answer my question?" he sat out the silverware.

"About a week ago I was approached by Admiral Voltare."

"The one that is head of children's service at Star fleet medical?"

"Yes, and he offered me a position in sector 271."

"That's clear on the other side of the Federation so how did you get here."

"Mom... actually mom eves dropped on us and she let him have it."

"I don't know who to pity more the Admiral or Lilly when security got done with her." he cringed.

"Actually the Admiral appreciated her honesty and he thought that since this area really needed one he said he would offer me it. I would be stationed on Star base 71 and I would work under Captain Skyler and care for the medical welfare of the sectors children. Needless to say I jumped at the chance."

"I bet." he laughed.

"Chrissy, Jack, Cinder and I caught the next shuttle here and here we are."

"I will tell you Win missed Cinder as much as I missed you and I'm glad to have my family home. " He reached down and scooped up jack who giggled.

"Well we missed you too." Lynn looked down at Chrissy.

"She asleep?"

"Yes," carefully stood and placed her in the bassinet.

Still holding Jack, Richard went over to look in on his baby girl. A tear of joy escaped his eye.

"Hey you OK?"

"Yes... just looking at her that's all."

"KY... Hungry..." Jack fussed. Richard put him down.

"Come on Fly boy let's get something to eat." She kissed his cheek then went to the table.

Richard couldn't help but smile. He never realized how much he had missed them since he returned. He was always buried in his work since he came back to clear his schedule out for them. Now that they were home things were going to change.

The next morning was a family day, No work were the ground rules that they had set for each other and they were fine with that. Richard woke up early to get a jump on the day. As he woke up, he walked through their spacious living room and gazed out the starport. The sun was beginning to peer out from behind the third planet in the Omega Prime System.

His family had come home to him and it was their turn to get his attention. Lynn appeared out from the bedroom and slid her arms around his shoulders. How he missed her touch while she was away. Neither of them spoke, there was nothing to be said. They just stared at the large gas giant a few more moments and smiled.

This was the perfect metaphor he had thought to himself. Today was the start of the renaissance. The rebirth. This moment, standing right here with Lynn, marked the beginning of a new dawn.

A/N: This was written about 10 years ago but I kept getting requests for it. If you enjoyed it let me know and I'll post their other stories.