I don't think my crew will ever know how much their gesture means to us. Since the data link was established with Starfleet, we've slowly been able to share brief video calls with our families back on Earth. I've written to Mom and Phoebe. So has Chakotay. Chakotay has also been able to reestablish contact with his sister Sekaya on Trebus. Today, though, is the first time we'll see each other. Video calls last mere minutes. But as a baby present, the crew has donated their time so that we can see and talk with our families for longer.

It's been 4 months since I found out that I was pregnant. The time is flying. We have a sort of 'expectant mothers club' on Voyager. All of us have a different outlook on pregnancy. Susan's having a tough go of it; her morning sickness took her off duty more than once. Jenny's in her 6th month and reports having to hit the head almost constantly. To me the worst part of being pregnant is the lack of coffee. Chakotay's caught me more than once trying to sneak the stuff. I swear, the first thing I'm having once I give birth is a nice strong cup of coffee.

I'm nervous. I'm excited. I can't wait to see my mom and sister face to face. It's been six and a half years now. I don't look too different from when I left. My hair's grown out and I've taken to wearing it in a low ponytail again.

I grab my husband's hand and mesh our fingers together. He's nervous too.

"Captain," Seven breaks the nervous silence, "the link will be established in fifteen seconds".

I mentally start a countdown. 15…14… my eyes look down. How do I look? I'm not showing much yet. We haven't told our families we're expecting. I know Mom is going to be excited for us. She always wanted grand children. I hope we find a way home so that she can get to know her aunts and grandmother!

Suddenly the screen in front of us lights up. There they are: Mom and Phoebe. In an instant I'm a basket case. I would be anyway just seeing them, but now that I'm a walking bag of oestrogen and progesterone, I'm going to pieces.

"Mom" I croak through tears and a smile. Chakotay holds me a little tighter.

"Oh Katie! You look so beautiful!"

"Mom," I pull myself together and stand up straight, beaming at the man next to me, "meet my husband."

He's smiling too, "it's an honour, Mrs. Janeway."

Gretchen smiles, "My, my Katie he's even more handsome than in your wedding picture! It's a pleasure, Chakotay. And call me 'mom'. We're family now."

"Hi Katie, Chakotay!" Phoebe exclaimed. Phoebe looks beautiful. She's always been the prettier of the two of us. She's tall and slight, but her figure is lovely and curvaceous. Her hair is still long and red, curled wildly around her head. She gave up trying to tame it a long time ago.

I still can't believe that we're talking to them! Our time is about to run out. We still haven't told them the news.

"Captain, the comm. link will terminate in 1 minute".

"Mom – " I look over at Chakotay, "do you want to tell them?"

He smiles and nods, "Mom, Phoebe – we're having a baby."

"What?! Katie! Oh Congratulations, the both of you! How far along? Boy or girl?"

"30 seconds."

Our time is nearly up, "4 months. We don't know if it's a boy or a girl. But, we have a hunch it's a girl. Our time's up. We love you. Talk soon!"

"Oh! Bye Katie we lo-" the link terminated.

Our visit was too short, but for now it's enough. Today our journey got a little sweeter.

/

We're still euphoric from our visit with my mom and sister, but we're on duty in an hour and we have to refocus ourselves.

I hold his hand as we leave Astrometrics.

"Breakfast?"

"I have a better idea," I reply suggestively… so much for refocusing.

/

He knows what I'm on about. It was bad enough before I got pregnant – when we were trying. I've always found Chakotay irresistible. He's a very handsome man. He takes care of his body and it shows. He's 47 now, but he shows no signs of age other than the speckles of grey around his temples.

Now that I'm pregnant, I'm on hyperdrive. Most days I feel like I'm tiring him out.

"We have to be quick," he whispers against my mouth between kisses.

"Uh huh" I nod, pulling his shirt off.

"Kathryn," he smiles as his hands move to the fastening on my trousers, "I'm serious. You have to eat something before we go on the bridge."

"Ok, ok," his trousers fall to the floor and join mine in the heap as we stumble into our bedroom.

"Kathryn-"

"Shh" I try silencing him with a kiss, but he's adamant, as he pushes me down onto the mattress and begins to kiss my neck, "I'm serious".

"uuuunnnhh" I groan as he trails open mouth kisses down my neck, his tongue darting out to swirl over the carotid pulse point.

"Okaayyy hurry up then!"

There are times when Chakotay can be expeditious. More recently, though, we've developed a knack for the slow and romantic. But, this morning, I am grateful for celerity.

Not forty-five minutes later we've finished, showered quickly, dressed, and I'm out the door with a muffin and tea in hand. I grab his hand once again and he leads me to start a new day.