Captain's Log: Stardate: 57618.6. We've returned to Earth and some of the crewmembers have taken some time off as well as myself. Even though none of us really mentioned where we were going, it was pretty obvious where we'd end up. I just hope we all can find a sense of closure now.

Jason Sparhawk sat with his mother and step-father at the dinner table eating dinner. He hadn't been home since being assigned to the Alexandria.

"When is the next time that you'll be home?" His mother asked.

"I'm not sure. It's hard to tell these days. One day I'll be in the Gamma Quadrant and the next I'll be at the Neutral Zone."

"How long are you going to be home?" His step-father asked.

"Only a few days. Some of the crew is taking some shore leave for a few days to re-cooperate. We entered a nebula and experienced dreams that revealed events that happened but it allowed us to give us a sense of closure. For me, I saw Karen on her last mission on the Valiant."

Sparhawk saw the reaction on his parents' faces.

"The dream seemed so real as if I was really there except no one could see me. Karen was second in command of Red Squad. She did her duty up until the end. Even though I can't agree with their mission, I can say that I was proud of her."

Dustin stood with his sister Amanda at their fallen sister's gravesite. Dustin put his arm around Amanda's shoulder and held her close. They hadn't said much since arriving. There wasn't really much to say. They just stood there staring at the headstone.

"So you saw her?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah."

"What was she doing?"

"Defending the communications array. She went out fighting. You know Avery, she won't go quietly."

Tears began to fall from Amanda's eyes. "Yeah, she was like that."

"She went like a true Starfleet officer. Even though it hurt to see what had actually happened, I don't think I have ever been more proud of her."

"I'm sorry." Amanda said.

"For what?"

"For snapping at you back then."

Dustin didn't have to ask when she meant. He knew exactly what she was talking about.

FLASHBACK

Dustin sat in his quarters on the Enterprise going over Avery's service record. Captain Picard had just posted the newest casualty list and Dustin had damn near dropped to his knees when he saw Avery's name. It was a good thing he had just gotten off duty; otherwise he didn't think that he'd be able to perform his duties with that on his mind. At that moment his door chimed.

"Come in." He said softly without taking his eyes from the screen.

The doors opened and to his surprise, it was his other sister. Amanda was stationed on the Solent. Dustin wasn't really expecting to see her. He stood up and hugged her tightly.

"Amanda? What are you doing on the Enterprise?"

"We were nearby and Captain Hinton figured it would be good for me to see you. She also saw it as an opportunity to talk to Captain Picard about the war."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm all right." Dustin said. "What about you?"

"Been better but I'll hang in there. What are you doing?"

"Just going over Avery's service record."

Amanda sat down in Dustin's chair and stared at their sister's picture. She saw Dustin turn away and stare out his window to the star field.

"I know you're mad and upset."

"You're damned right I'm mad. Avery was killed by those blasted Jem'Hadar and I plan to make every one of them pay for what they did."

"That's pretty damn selfish." Amanda said standing up.

Dustin turned to look at her.

"Do you think you're the only one hurting? Do you think you're the only one in pain? Let me tell you something. You're not. Everyone else who knew and loved her is in as much pain as you and I are."

Dustin knew she was right. It was just hard for him to accept that he would never see his little sister again. He grabbed Amanda and pulled her in for a hug. They both embraced each other tightly."

END FLASHBACK

"Don't worry about it. You had every right to." Dustin said. He pulled her in for a hug that lasted for a few seconds before he broke from it. "Come on, I have someone I want you to meet."

The two siblings walked off together.

Hoshi Sato sat on her knees in a praying stance in a cemetery in Kyoto, Japan. She looked at the Kimura family shrine and the names inscribed on the stone; Takashi and Hoshi. Takashi Kimura was the man who the Hoshi Sato of this timeline married. Hoshi stood there wondering what he was like and what their life was like after Starfleet. She wanted to know this Hoshi.

Then out of her peripheral vision. She saw someone kneel down next to her. She looked over and saw Dustin praying in a Japanese fashion. She seemed a bit surprised by his sudden appearance. He raised his head and opened his eyes.

"I know a bit about Japanese customs." He said. "I have an ancestor from the twenty-first century who married a Japanese woman."

She nodded and turned back to face the family stone.

"It almost seemed like a waste for someone like her to go through all that this timeline's Hoshi went through. She survived close calls, went on dangerous missions and only to be executed by a genocidal governor."

"It does seem that way. Captain Kirk died in a similar way. He survived close calls, dangerous missions, did all these great things but died when he and Captain Picard fought Doctor Soran on Veridian Three. A bridge collapsed and down he went. Doesn't seem like the right way to go for someone like him. One thing I know is that it doesn't matter how you go out, what matters is what you do before you do. This Hoshi did a lot before she died and I even though you're the same person biologically and share similar memories, she led a different life than what you're living. You will certainly not marry Takashi Kimura and die on Tarsus Four. You will do something else and become something else."

Dustin stood up as well as Hoshi. He placed a hand on her shoulder. The two turned and Hoshi just now noticed Amanda standing there. Dustin led Hoshi over to his sister and introduced the two to each other.

Ensign Michelle Stull stood in a cemetery in San Francisco. This portion of the cemetery was dedicated to those who fell during the Dominion War, more specifically on the day the Breen attacked Starfleet Headquarters and the Academy. The tombstone she stared at was one that had the name of Danielle Stull, 2355-2375, beloved daughter and sister. Just like Michelle, Danielle was a half Trill hence the human name. She was a year younger than Michelle and at the top of her class at Starfleet Academy until she was killed in the Breen attack. The two sisters were supposed to meet for lunch that day but Danielle was vaporized during the attack. Michelle never saw her again and never got to say goodbye.

"Goodbye, sis."

Until now.

Captain Jermaine Allensworth sat with his father and siblings around the dinner table. He hadn't been home since he took command of the Alexandria. He told them about the dream he had about their mother and at first they were a bit skeptical but after he told them precisely what had happened then they realized the dream was true. During their time around the table they shared stories of fun times they all shared together with and without their mother. Jermaine's father remained mostly quiet, taking in the sight of his three kids talking and laughing. He got up and walked out of the room and returned about a minute later with a glass of wine and four glasses. He poured an equal amount of wine into each of the glasses and handed one to each of his children. He then raised his into the air and the three siblings followed suite.

"Here's to Antoinette Allensworth. She was one hell of lady, one hell of a mother, one hell of a wife."

The four of them all took a drink to their mother's memory.

A few days later, the crew of the Alexandria stood at their respective stations. They seemed a bit more relaxed and collected after their shore leave. They all seemed to have a sense of completion about them. Allensworth sat in his center chair with Sparhawk on his right and Nycz on his left.

Merriell spun around in his chair to face the captain. "Course laid in and ready for departure, sir."

Allensworth turned to Sparhawk. "What do you think, Commander? Do you think we're ready to head out or do you think we still need a vacation?"

"Well, we could spend some time on Risa, sir."

Nycz smiled. Allensworth looked as if he was contemplating it. The captain looked around the room and saw the faces of his officers. Some looked like they wanted to go to Risa, others looked like they didn't know what to think. He smiled and then turned to face the view screen.

"Helm, hit it."

The End.