Chapter Five

"Captain its like we've entered Borg space," Xena told her as they all sat in the meeting room. Eleanor and Miral were currently sitting in the Captain and Commander's chairs on the bridge and giving orders.

"And this isn't Borg Space or at least it wasn't, but with all the cubes around it is now." Kathryn nodded at Seven and Xena.

"I'm concerned about our cloaking system, I don't want it to malfunction especially what keeps the borg from detecting our life forms."

"Over the last few days Xena and a team of engineers have been moving all those particular sensors inside so we don't risk losing those, so even if we're revealed they won't detect our life signs, it'll be an empty ship, they might ignore us completely simply because."

"However we have to be prepared for the possibility that they may try to assimilate our ship anyway for the technology."

"How are weapons can't fight them all off," Neelix told them.

"Neelix stop being so negative," Tom Paris told him.

"Mr. Paris why so enthusiastic?" Kathryn asked.

"Well I was talking with Crewman Tudor and he said that it was possible to make some modifications on the shuttles to be more like the Delta Flyer perhaps even put a smaller cloaking device on all of them. We could than provide Voyager with a little back up in a fight also we could also build a new Delta Flyer as well. We have the room."

"But not the Dilithium," Chakotay pointed out.

"And the shuttles can't go to warp."

"But with the modifications they can."

"Torres what do you think?"

"I think that Tom and Crewman Tudor should prepare a visual and a better idea of the changes. It would give me a better idea of whether or not it could work. However building a second Delta Flyer is possible." Xena stood up and went to the screen as she thought. She pressed some buttons and immediately launched into the changes Tom and Hercules had come up with.

"In theory, they're plans could work."

"How did you know that?" Tom asked.

"Hercules and I share a special connection, we have the ability to share one mind. The link isn't strong, but it will be."

"Like the Borg," Kathryn commented.

"Something like that Captain, we don't have or need neural transceivers its spiritual you could say almost telepathic, but something much deeper. And our thoughts aren't exactly in sync, we have different thoughts."

"Well that must be annoying having someone in your head all the time," Kim joked. Everyone laughed.

"It can be, but I have the choice to block him out like now. He's not too happy."

"Is it possible to spy on people through the other."

"I suppose if I tried hard enough, but the link isn't strong."

"Captain?" Chakotay asked.

"How is your resistance to the Borg?" Kathryn asked.

"I don't know, no Q has ever gotten so close to the borg that they tried to assimilate them." Kathryn nodded. "Have the doctor run some tests on you and Crewman Tudor with Seven's Nano probes I want to see what would happen. If that's all right with you, Seven, and Crewman Tudor."

"I will donate some fresh nanoprobes Captain."

"He has agreed to donate tissue." Kathryn nodded.

"So Captain about the shuttles?" Paris asked.

"Assemble a team to help you make the modifications."

"Thank you Captain, we'll work as long and hard as we have too." She nodded.

"About our weapons Captain," Neelix reminded her. "There's still that issue."

"Captain you don't need to worry, at first Lieutenant Tudor and I began to modify our weapons to be more like the Delta Flyers since in reality the weapons were more advanced on a smaller scale. However as Seven pointed out they would not be enough to stop the Borg. So we went a step further, we've designed and tested a war head to give false information attracting all cubes and spheres towards it bearing our signature we travel away from it. Once the Borg vessels are closing it will emit a burst similar to that of Omega except not even close to harmful as Omega."

"That's a very huge explosion," Kathryn said. "How do we know that it won't do what Omega has done?"

"

Because you cannot create such perfection," Seven answered for them.

"Exactly there's no way to create something that big with our resources. I mean we can recreate its type of damage, but the warhead doesn't have exactly that much power though it could give it a run for its money in damages," Xena continued. They were looking at the warhead on the small screen in the room. Suddenly it got darker and an alarm went off.

"Who called a Red alert?" Kathryn asked they all rushed to the bridge and they heard Miral and Eleanor telling everyone to get to their battle stations.

"Eleanor," Xena said.

"Miral," B'Elanna and Tom said at the same time.

"What do you think you're doing?" They asked. They both pointed to the screen.

"Captain I'm detecting a Borg ship heading straight for us in a collision course, its like it knows where we are," Harry told her from his station. Xena grabbed Eleanor and B'Elanna grabbed Miral.

"Here give me her, get to Engineering," Xena said to B'Elanna who nodded. She put them down and they held onto the railing as they watched the screen in delight.

"How many others are heading towards us?" Kathryn asked.

"None ma'am only that one, the others seem to be oblivious or just waiting to see what happens."

"Tom evasive maneuvers."

"It was like it didn't matter the cube was following them and still on a course heading straight for them.

"I can't shake the cube ma'am."

"Tuvok full spread. If it won't move than we'll blast it."

"Yes Captain."

"I'm remojilating the shields to give a magnet effect and the protons to go right through the shield."

"Firing," Tuvok said when she finished. "Direct hit."

"Captain we took out their weapons, but they're still headed our way, but its like they can't move and we're pushing them back," Tom told her. Kathryn looked at Xena, who was staring at her daughter.

"Eleanor," She said out loud in a no nonsense told. "You are in so much trouble, stop it right now." Eleanor poked out her lip, but the Cube suddenly found itself on an interception course with another cube. They watched the huge explosion as it sent a shock wave that did a little damage, but not a lot.

"What happened?" Kathryn asked.

"Miral was bored, so Eleanor decided that a Borg Cube heading straight our way would be exciting."

"Miral, Eleanor being a crew member on voyager means not putting your fellow crewman in danger on purpose understood. You will report to me for punishment at 0600 hours as your Captain. You will report to your mothers right now for punishment as they are your parents."

"Yes ma'am," They said and Xena led them out followed by Tom as another Pilot took over.

"Can you believe those two?" Chakotay asked.

"Yes, I didn't think about the mischief all the children would get into. We're going to have to set up two rules of punishment depending on the crime. I mean Naomi Wildman has never caused trouble in her life."

"The days of good behavior are over Captain, now is the start of a new era."

"I'm well aware Chakotay."

"Captain I'm detecting Borg on the ship," Harry told her.

"Where?" She asked.

"In Commander Chakotay and Seven's quarters captain."

"Gabriella!" They exclaimed. They hurried out followed by Kathryn even bypassing Xena who was just about to enter her quarters with Eleanor.

"Stay," She told Eleanor before following them. When she entered they were all surrounding a chamber. "Why are you all surrounding a Borg maturation chamber?"

"Gabriella's inside it," Seven told her.

"Hmph so the nanoprobes are attempting to assimilate her, how odd."

"They have assimilated her from the looks of it," Kathryn commented as she looked inside.

"She's grown to be a year old," Seven said heartbroken. "There's a force field around it and she won't let even let me penetrate it. Xena can you?"

"No force field to my knowledge has ever held a Q back so yes, but is it safe to pull the plug, I mean we don't want her to die."

"Yes, I will give you instructions." Xena nodded and easily stepped through as if it weren't there and followed Seven's Instructions to the key. Gabriella was released and taken to Sickbay. They had to deactivate her neural transceiver.

"Is she more Borg or Human?" Seven asked.

"She will need to regenerate, but she is still eighty percent human. She will function as one with cybernetic enhancements," The doctor told them.

"At least she can grow normally," Chakotay said kissing his daughter's hair.

"Eleanor when you get bored it is not okay for you have one our enemies attack us," Xena told her. " I know your immortal sweetheart, but that doesn't give you a right to put everyone else on this ship in danger." She was silent as Eleanor spoke to her with her mind. "I don't care if you had no intention of letting them kill us, what would have happened had you gave them control back? Or worse do you want something to happen to Miral, do you want to live with that for eternity?" Eleanor shook her head and began to cry as Xena watched the images that were now flashing through her mind. She would have to be more careful with their link. "I'm sorry darling mommy didn't mean for you to have that image in your mind." She kissed her cheek and sent her images of anything happy she could possibly think of. She calmed down and wanted to be nursed. She nursed her as Hercules entered with Leonardo.

"All right let's get on with the punishing."

"Don't worry about it I already yelled at her and accidentally punished her in the worse way possible."

"Oh you mistakenly transferred an image didn't you?" Xena nodded.

"I did that to Leo this morning, he didn't like seeing you in…"

"Hercules!" Xena exclaimed.

"I didn't know he was invading until it was too late."

"No more invading without us knowing either of you," Xena told them. They nodded. Before she left Leonardo demanded to be nursed.

"How did you punish Eleanor?" B'Elanna asked. "We spanked Miral, she's still crying and now I feel bad."

"You, I was scolding Eleanor and I said what if something had happened to Miral to really try and make her see the weight her actions could have put on her, but I also made the mistake of thinking my what if and she saw the images in her mind. She's still crying too even though she's a bit calmer. I feel so bad, no child should see that." B'Elanna nodded.

"That's a harsh punishment however accidental."

"Agreed."

"But the link works with your children too." Xena nodded as they worked.

"It's a whole lot stronger too with our kids, but between us we could never dream of transferring a thought so easily."

"When will it be?" B'Elanna asked.

"Whenever we have sex, but with Ares still a threat to Voyager which has become my family over the years especially you, Tom, and Miral I can't get in the mood."

"I know what you mean, but with Miral who can't do that anyway not trying to traumatize the poor girl." Xena nodded.

"I was thinking of using the holodecks, but I'm not sure that's proper use of holodeck priviledges." They both laughed.

"That's a good one," B'Elanna told her.

"I know I've been waiting to tell that one for ages." They laughed some more before they continued on the weapons. They had worked all of last night to finish two warheads.

"You know most likely we're going to end up in a battle," B'Elanna told her as they walked their daughters to Kathryn's ready room at 0600 hours.

"Yes, isn't that how it always works." B'Elanna nodded.

"I was thinking just before Tom jumps to warp nine we grab a shit load of Borg debris."

" We already have a shitload of Borg Debris and its all going to the second Delta Flyer."

"Exactly this shit load could go towards the haul or enhancing weapons."

"Yeah this is true, but we had better confirm with the Captain."

"Yeah the only thing I hate about Starfleet, if the captain won't do it than you've lost an opportunity." Xena nodded as she looked at her daughter.

"Eleanor, Miral don't you dare think about tricking Neelix, you know how jumpy he gets in these situations."

"You can hear Miral too?" B'Elanna asked after giving her a stern look.

"No, not exactly, I hear Eleanor and she and Miral can hear each other because of Elly, so in a sense I'm hearing Miral as well in her mind. By the time I actually make out what Miral is saying in Klingon they've already replied six times."

"Klingon?" B'Elanna asked looking at Miral.

"Seems her and her Daddy as she says have been studying together."

"Tom," B'Elanna growled as they got into the turbo lift.

"We're close friends why don't we have the same connection as Eleanor and Miral."

"I think we do just not the same," Xena told her. "We easily follow each other in engineering as Seven would say we're very efficient together like a Borg collective, but we talk out loud all the time so its natural for it to be weaker." They got off the turbo lift and entered the bridge. Harry was in charge. They nodded to him and pushed the button at the Captain's ready room door.

"Ah Lieutenants' Tudor, Torres, Crewmen Torres-Paris, Tudor," Kathryn greeted.

"Captain," They all said.

"Lieutenants' how did you punish the children?" They told her and she nodded.

"Eleanor don't you have something to say," Xena told her.

"I'm sorry, I not know it bad Aunt Kathy." Eleanor dug her boot into the carpeted floor as she looked down.

"Me sorry too," Miral told her giving her the sad puppy dog eyes.

"Apology accepted, but I still must punish you as your Captain."

"Are you gonna spank us?" Eleanor asked.

"No, you're going to go to the holodeck 1 and spend time cleaning up a lot of safe plasma with old fashion tools that would keep you out of trouble."

"Yes, Captain." They led the girls out and soon they were cleaning plasma as punishment. B'Elanna and Xena supervised them since they were off duty. Xena easily monitored Eleanor as she went over some calculations and in a sense Miral as well. At dinner time the Captain walked in.

"How is it going?" Kathryn asked.

"Very well they're bored and tired, I suspect that from now on this punishment will be met with tantrums." They started crying because they were hungry, tired, and virtually being ignored by their mothers from their perspective. As intelligent as they were, they were still children and young children first and foremost.

"Well at least the tantrum came after," Kathryn said.

"They're not throwing a tantrum Captain, they're tired and hungry I think perhaps this punishment went on for too long for their age." B'Elanna headed over to Miral as Eleanor met Xena half way covered in Plasma. Naturally they were wearing protective suits as part of the program.

"Computer end program," Xena said. The suits disappeared as well as the tools, plasma, and everything else. They were standing again on the holodeck. They just continued as they were rocked and comforted.

"Next time we'll limit them to an hour."

"I think a sufficient time out is best for the early years. I think they got more plasma on them than they did cleaning it," B'Elanna commented. Kathryn nodded.

"Okay Elly let's go get dinner," Xena told her kissing her cheek. The captain followed them out. They entered the mess hall crying.

"I'll get dinner." B'Elanna nodded as she took Eleanor to her dismay. She got the food quickly also getting food for Tom, Leonardo, and Hercules. Eleanor immediately got back in her arms and let Xena feed her. Hercules showed up with no Leonardo.

"Where's Leo?" Xena asked as Tom entered.

"I don't know, I was working with Tom on one of the old flyers when he left out guess he got bored."

"Even I keep tabs on Eleanor when she leaves my side." Xena hit her commbadge. "Computer locate Leonardo Tudor."

"Leonardo Tudor is in Sickbay."

"

Go get him." Hercules stood up and left to retrieve his son.

"Men are so irresponsible when it comes to their children I swear."

"Well I'm not irresponsible am I Miral?" Miral merely stuffed her mouth with food ignoring them as one of her hands kept a tight grip on her mother.

"So what's this I hear about you teaching Miral Klingon in secret?" B'Elanna asked.

"I have not been teaching her that in private, did she tell you that?"

"Eleanor," Xena told her.

"What?" They asked.

"Eleanor told Miral to think that Tom was teaching her so you wouldn't get mad at her, B'Elanna. Miral and Eleanor have been accessing Voyager's language database and studying from there." Eleanor looked at Xena who looked back they were having a silent conversation.

"Miral I'm sorry, you don't have to hide anything from me, if you want to learn Klingon that's fine with me its part of who you are and I don't want you to think I hate part of you." B'Elanna left out with Miral as she talked.

"This is the best thing that could have happened."

"Why?" Tom asked eating knowing the issue was between them.

"Maybe now she'll stop fighting herself and become even more at peace."

"You mean your kind of peace."

"No, even after four thousand years I still haven't stopped fighting my dark side."

"Ah the dark side, the one that loves the call of war." Xena nodded.

"It's fortunate my designation, it helps me keep the balance inside. Now I can at least safely let part of her out to keep balance."

"You ever think that you might suffer from Dissociative Personality disorder?" Tom asked.

"Of course, I'm the child of a God there's always something wrong with us that makes us a little odd and out of the ordinary, but its not the same. It's not as simple as being naturally aggressive and quick to fight. It's a matter of coldness of a pounding need to be in charge. If I let her all the way out she would promptly weigh her options and take out the Captain, Chakotay, and Tuvok her biggest threats. She won't worry about the others because she's manipulative. Hercules and I we're so in love she'll let me out long enough to trick him because in the end he's her biggest obstacle because he's a God. And than she will lead this crew to battle."

"With the borg." Xena shook her head no.

"No, she's smarter than that, she knows that concerning the borg we can only do so much in one ship having so many modifications made to it. She'll get us pass the borg and defeat or embrace Ares I was never really quite sure how she felt about him. But whatever she does the borg will disappear and than she will conquer every territory you pass through on your way to earth. Your lives won't matter and neither will your children or her children, she can always have more she'll think, children who aren't just immortals. With that said she might even replace her entire crew with her own children. Then she'll really be on a roll and maybe Starfleet will fall first or the borg, who knows either way she will not only rule the world, but the universe." Tom stared at her in shock.

"I see you've thought about this." Xena shrugged.

"You could say that, but I love my children too much to let her slip out now. I look at them and I let their love reach her too, calm her down." She kissed Eleanor's cheeks who returned it. Hercules entered with Leonardo.

"What was he doing in sickbay?" Xena asked.

"The doctor was teaching him the basics of Opera, he lost track of time since he himself doesn't have to eat."

"Opera, well looks like we have another musical talent in the family." She kissed Leonardo. "Here eat your dinner." Hercules fed Leonardo. B'Elanna and Miral returned from their little talk. Xena nodded to B'Elanna to let her know she had gotten through to her, who smiled at Miral and kissed her cheek again before she began eating.

"You know its amazing how much smarter children are when they're born on a starship," Tom commented they laughed.

"Tom all children are smart, we're only more aware because we connect with our children on a more intimate level because our duties often take us away from them and its crucial we connect," Hercules told him.

"Don't forget through them we actually know what she's thinking, but any doctor will tell you the child mind is quite complex however naïve they may or may not be to the world."

"I concur with B'Elanna, Tom you ever just sit and watch Miral play in the fields in my Ancient Greece program?"

"Sure plenty of times how could I not sit and watch her."

"He's lying, he's always playing in the mud with her." They all laughed.

"Well one day let her explore on her own and watch her face and you'll get a glimpse inside," Xena told him.

"And you'll have a new kind of experience as a father, it's a memory that'll stay with you forever where your daughter is concerned." He rubbed Eleanor's forehead and kissed it. "There is just something about watching your little princess explore the world that's breathtaking." Eleanor smiled at him, as did Xena. The conversation turned more pleasant and Seven joined them with little Gabriella, Chakotay was taking care of some business he had neglected. Gabriella was stunningly beautiful.

"Oh she looks just like Gabrielle," Xena commented, she would never forget that youthful face of her best friend or her radiant strawberry blond hair that lost its light reddish color in the end.

"How can you tell?" Seven asked.

"Seven you'll learn that when you're as close to someone as I was with Gabrielle as you are with Chakotay and Gabriella you'll never forget their face."

"I was away for so long, but never once did her face fade from my mind especially her eyes." Xena smiled. It was a moment to kiss, but they did not knowing they would scar every child on voyager for life and break protocol.

"You know Seven don't think of Gabriella's new physiology as a curse, think of it as an enhancement a boost up in the world," B'Elanna told her. "Believe me when I say Xena and I we understand your concern about Gabriella and that part of you, you fight with everyday being inside her. But she's different."

"I am having an easier time adapting to her new physiology, it is just…" She stopped and looked at Hercules and Tom. Tom laughed.

"Okay I can see we're not wanted here, come on Hercules, Harry and I were going to go play Captain Proton care to join."

"Yeah sure, it'll be nice experience some other holoprograms, I've been too chicken to try anything other than peaceful fields, swing sets, and flounder with Leo." They laughed and the men left.

"I almost forgot about flounder Naomi hasn't said a thing about it in a while," B'Elanna commented. "I have time tomorrow we should all take the girls. They nodded.

"I wish to discuss this in a more private setting." They nodded and finished dinner quickly before taking the children back to Xena's quarters. The children were given baths and put to sleep before they all sat down nursing a glass of apple juice because they could not consume wine yet.

"So what's troubling you?" Xena asked.

"I worry that the Hansen family won't accept me or worse they won't except Gabriella. There's also the concern that Chakotay was Maki, and what about his family how will they accept us?" They knew Seven was concerned of the prejudice her and her daughter would come to face. "They are all the family we have."

"Okay firstly they're not all the family you have," B'Elanna reminded her. "I know we don't always get along, but believe it or not I consider you apart of my family, this entire crew even the ones I still don't particularly get along with. Even after we've all returned I guarantee that most of us will keep in contact." They gave small laughs.

"B'Elanna is right, I consider you and Chakotay family as well and the rest of the crew. And as for the Hansens I told you most can be stubborn, but they love with their hearts. Gabrielle's love lives inside them and you as well as Gabriella. If they took a turn for the worst in their lives than screw them you still have one Aunt who loves you and Ella, you also have us and Chakotay."

"And Chakotay's family?" She asked.

"I can't speak for them Annika, but I can say this if they're anything like Chakotay they'll love you before they even realize it and your past will mean nothing to them. Little Ella will be welcomed just as ceremoniously if not more."

"I hope so."

"They will I mean do you think I don't wonder how my mother is going to accept her granddaughter or Tom, she wanted me to marry a Klingon."

"And you Xena, will your family accept your choice?" Xena nodded.

"They have too Eleanor is Elizabeth's Aunt and Leonardo her Uncle. She has always known of my deep love for Hercules and she's always encouraged me to seek him out. She's all the family I have waiting for me back on earth unless more escaped the tragedy. I am fortunate that my grandchild have always been accepting of any new additions to the family we've had to be close to survive. But you forget my father is not so accepting of the relationship and I know my own mother would have approved as long as I was happy and she had her grandchildren come from my womb or adopted."

"You are fortunate that your survival as a collective depends on how close you are. In the Borg our closeness is through our connected minds and that depends on our survival though there is a lack of emotional attachment." They nodded.

"Yes, well we're your collective now and its crucial we all stick together while we're in the Delta quadrant." They each hugged Seven from the side and she returned it.

"Is this normal?" Seven asked. They laughed.

"Very normal Seven, I think you need a lesson in girlfriends."

"No, I know how to be a girlfriend, I was Chakotay's girlfriend before we married."

"No, not that kind of girlfriend," B'Elanna told her. "Don't get me wrong while that type of girlfriend relationship can exist between two women it does not exist here. For us it just means you're my friend and you're a girl. And girlfriends hug and comfort each other when we really need it though mind you Xena and I don't give hugs often." Seven smiled.

"Than we are compatible because I don't give hugs often either." They all laughed. Gabriella got out of bed without them noticing and walked over as she began to cry. They turned to look at her to see what was wrong.

"Gabriella Hansen you will stop crying and immediately return to the bed and regenerate." Gabriella had to have a mixture of sleeping and actual regenerating in an alcove. Gabriella just continued to cry as she stood there. "Gabriella you will comply and return to your spot on the bed." Gabriella did not comply and held up her arms, but Seven did not pick her up.

"I am confused what is she doing?" Seven asked. She had only been around newborns and the doctor told her motherhood was something you had to learn as you went along. There were no lessons.

"She wants to be held," Xena told her. "Children often wake up and cry to let you know they want to be near you, she's probably hungry too if she's anything like my children after rapid growth."

"Than I should replicate a nutritionary supplement."

"God no breast feed her and give the poor girl real food there are ways to achieve a healthy diet with the same nutrients," B'Elanna told her. Seven picked up Gabriella and held her, but Seven was now so confused on how to truly take care of her now one-year-old daughter that she was not relaxed as usual.

"Annika relax she's still a baby just with better control," Xena told her as the others were awakened by Ella's cries. Miral never one to cry in front of Eleanor merely got down and joined her mother. Eleanor and Leonardo followed her, but went to Xena. Xena put her drink down and pulled them close to her. Seven imitated their behavior with their children and Gabriella calmed down. She sucked on her thumb and soon fell asleep again comforted by her mother's presence.

"See she just wanted you, I bet you've been distant all day." Seven nodded.

"Motherhood is still new to me and now Ella has entered into a completely new stage of life."

"Well we'll help you out if you need it, but really you'll learn as you go along it's a journey motherhood."

"Sometimes I doubt that I will be successful."

"We all have our doubts and we even think should we be the one influencing and nurturing such and a young life that's easily taught. But you when you doubt yourself I want you to take a look at the fine young man Icheb has become since he left the borg. Look at how smart Naomi is, you've been as much a second mother to her as Neelix is a father to her. You nurtured that young mind by challenging her at six to learn several pads just so she could see her dream as Captain's assistant filled."

"Yeah and the Captain has told her in these uncertain times she's thinking about creating the position early. The poor girl has been pouring over pads in anticipation."

"Yesterday she told Evan to leave her alone so she could study, so unlike Naomi." They nodded.

"Our point is you've done a great job with Icheb and you already gained some experience with Naomi." They comforted her and soon they went to bed. Xena put her children to bed before activating the Nanny hologram. Her personal hologram resembled her mother and had all of her characteristics. She left out and took over the nightshift as engineer concerning the Delta Flyer. Tom and Hercules were working nonstop though B'Elanna and her switched off on who worked with them since they wanted to try something slightly different with this Delta Flyer.

"I'm going to have a look at the other Delta Flyer see how the cloaking device construction is holding up." They nodded as she left out. Xena had to make some changes, but all in all B'Elanna had kept a very close eye on the cloaking device for the first flyer. She looked at the model for the second flyer, which was of course slightly different because Tom and Hercules were making the Flyer slightly different.

"How's the cloaking device on the other flyer?" Tom asked when she returned.

"Perfect," Xena answered. "I'm going to head to bed if you need me call me I'll give Hercules the information. Night Tom." Tom nodded. "Goodnight Hercules, I love you."

" I love you too babe, Goodnight." She blew him a kiss, and he caught it before he gave her one of his own.

"You know it helps if you actually kiss your wife," Tom told him.

"Tom if I did that we'd scar everyone in this room for life." Tom looked at him and started laughing.

"That bad."

"That bad, but it'll be that good when Ares leaves us alone for good." Tom nodded.

"Yeah, sounds a lot like the years after you get out of jail before you find a woman who'll put up with your crap." They laughed. "How can you tell though?"

"Tell what?" Hercules asked.

"If she's in the mood. Its real simple with B'Elanna she does something short of attack me."

"Yes, Klingon mating can be quite aggressive. But don't worry Tom neither of us are above sex like the other Q's it's a mortal pleasure that I don't think should be given up. Any way I know she's in the mood because she'll tell me so or I just know."

"What do you mean you just know?"

"I figure if I'm in the mood every time I look at her she must be thinking the same thing at least fifty percent of time under normal circumstances. Now I'm hoping its all the time so that when all this is over I won't have long to wait." Tom laughed.

"Yeah, I bet you she's going to make you wait."

"Why do you say that?" Hercules asked.

"Because I didn't leave the cargo bay," Xena said coming back in and grabbing the pad she had left on a console. I was outside talking to an ensign while you discussed the sign of me showing you I'm in the mood. You know some men would not disclose such information." She left and Hercules hit Tom, but not hard as he laughed.

"You're back early," B'Elanna commented. She was sitting on the couch playing Kal toh by herself when she entered.

"Yeah, they didn't really need me. What are you doing here?"

"Miral wouldn't sleep without her best friend when Eleanor came knocking on our door." Xena looked alarmed.

"Was she okay?" B'Elanna nodded as they looked at their two daughters sleeping peacefully in Eleanor's crib.

"Yes, she was perfectly fine just lonely I guess Leonardo didn't want to talk. They were up for a little while just lying there, I assumed their conversation was in their head so I didn't think much of it."

"You could have slept in the bed rather than remain awake," Xena commented knowing that she was probably trying to wait for them to fall into a deep sleep before removing Miral back to their quarters.

"I fell asleep on the couch, I only just woke up to change Leonardo's diaper since I turned off the hologram since I was going to be in here awhile."

"Well I wouldn't try moving them they'll just protest, Eleanor's still slightly awake even though Miral's gone to sleep." B'Elanna nodded as Xena changed into her pajamas. She was surprised to see her in a sexy silk nightgown. Xena let her hair down and began to brush it.

"I kind of figured only an hour before she looked at me daring me to try and outlast her and take Miral away before morning." Xena laughed.

"Yeah, she's definitely my daughter." B'Elanna laughed a little too as she finished her Kal toh game. Xena kissed both her children even Miral. B'Elanna also did the same and Eleanor put a protective hand over Miral who also put a protective arm over her. Xena took a picture. "Shall we?" B'Elanna nodded and they got into bed and got comfortable.

"Computer lights out." They went to sleep. To Xena's annoyance Hercules did bother her as if she were up. While she didn't need sleep she liked too so she could see her family in her dreams.

Xena can you go see if something is wrong with B'Elanna she's not answering Tom.

She's fine, she's right next to me fast asleep. Miral and Eleanor won't sleep in their respective quarters so here we are. Anyway what does he want.

Xena could hear and see Tom very quickly as Hercules told him what she had said. The worried expression on his face disappeared in relief.