my J/C post return fanfic is nearly linear, starting where endgame finished, but a J/C quick reversal - coming home with you. I think my following fanfics prob don't need a readthrough of the initial fanfic first, but since i loved that, I would recommend that you do. My profile is going to try and keep the timeline showing, in case you are bothered about order!
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I hardly slept last night. I don't need sleep, I have never needed much. Voyager returned yesterday, and disembarqment today. I sip at my first coffee of the morning. It never stops pleasing me, first the aroma, then the bitter hit of the taste, and finally the caffeine that helps me keep going. All the better with something sweet on the side, and today, courtesy of the celebration, we have fresh pain au chocolat. perfectment, as they might say in Paris!
Damn! is that the time! I have spent too long in my memories today. too long imagining all the family in this house in indiana, imagining ed coming home and swinging me up and around, two little girls racing into his arms. Too long remembering that terrible moment when i was told that Edward was never coming home again, when a broken Katie was delivered too me. Too long remembering the recovery, and the joy she found again in a friends arms. Like her, i had believed then that she would never love as fully again. Now, I wonder. I watched the images last night, and the one that stays with me is her turning to her first officer and standing hands entwined with Earth behind them. Hope, pain and love. I wonder.
Hell woman, you are getting old! I have done it again, drifted into reveries of the past. I will not go there, to when they told me voyager was lost, and then finally declared Katie dead. A woman should never have to hear of the death of her child. Phoebe, bless her, carried me through. I had no idea she had the strength, bit by bit we resurfaced and then the miracle! Now, finally, Voyager is home and disembarking today. I shout as loud as i can for people to get up. Then I press the klaxon, bought for ed by the girls as a red alert for getting us all out of the house. Giggling, my grandchildren Katelyn and Paul running into the kitchen, 5 and 4, their parents not far behind. I have a spread on the table for them. Sekaya joins us, laughing, with Paka, who is grumbling about the noise. Her husband has stayed on Trebus. Soon the kitchen is one noisy happy family and we laugh at thinking of the family finally joining us.
Sekaya draws me to one side as she plans to stay with her cousin in Ohio to give us space. I try to persuade her to stay here too, there is plenty of room. She says she will ask Chakotay. she wonders about their relationship too.
we are off and out, and as Admiral Janeway's wife, and the Paris's friends, we have a perfect spot to watch voyager land on the presidio. Elizabeth Paris has joined me and we both laugh to think we are welcoming new grandchildren as well as our children back home. that Katie loves Icheb is enough for me to welcome him fully. The ship sure does make a grand sight as it lands. Phoebe is jumping up and down as the shuttle doors open, and there they are.
Sekaya catches and steadies me as i nearly fall. I would blame the heat, but damn we both know that it isnt that. My Katie, my dearest, darling child, oh how i have hungered to see you these past seven years. Here you are at last. Proud, strong, with your son on one side, and arm in arm still with your first officer. I see him bend to murmur something in your ear as the crew starts to file behind you. Owen has made a rousing speech - always one to grab the limelight if at all possible, the bands have played and then I hear your clear voice ring out. The gravel in it is more than when you left, there is more harsh confidence, you have lost your uncertainty. Then you descend, and finally the barriers are free for us to see each other. I cannot get there quickly enough. I do not need to, you have fixed your eyes on me since the speech and grabbing your son and first officer, you are running in my direction. I am swept into your hug. Before I can say it, you are telling me you love me, and hugging phoebe, and just laughing and crying. Your son, Icheb stands patiently until phoebes husband shakes his hand, and even i can hear him saying that 'they do this alot' . Katie lifts her head up and draws Icheb in as well. 'here is my son' she says, partly defiantly, as if we would take umbrage at the suggestion. But we all enfold him into our arms too, and he starts to relax. Soon the children are all acknowledged, and Katie says she must make sure all her crew are OK, asking icheb to stay with us.
I notice first she goes to her first officer, standing patiently, diligently waiting with Paka in his arms for her to come across, and his sister close to his side. A short conversation later, when she has shaken hands with sekaya and clucked at Paka, we all notice that he leans in and kisses her hair. such a gentle movement, but one that clearly gives away his love and her acceptance, particularly when she smiles up at him before moving off to walk between the crew. Sekaya brings him to join us. I look at him and can see his good looks, and the humour in his eyes. As he formally greets me, i admit to liking the formal position and the click of the heels. I smile and ask him to call me gretchen, and that is when the dimples catch me. i laugh and clap my hands. 'you'll do' . looking at Sekaya, she confirms they will all return to Indiana. I state the need for refreshements, and Icheb leads us all, holding my arm like a born gentleman.
Finally Katie returns, and we are all unaware of the photo that Jake Sisko has taken of us laughing, picking up children and moving out. It captures the very intimate joy of our family reunion. At least he sends it for pre-approval before it is used. It is clear to all who want to see that the command team are part of a more intimate alliance.
The transport officer is kindly, and we are soon all deposited outside our home in Indiana. I welcome everyone in and am unsurprised that Katie and Chakotay walk in hand in hand. He is dropped instantly she smells the coffee, and we all laugh and break whatever tension there may have been when Katelyn cheekily notices that her habit of drinking coffee is just like mine. Welcome Home Katie.
