Kathryn's P.O.V.
Another year in the Delta Quadrant has come and gone again already. It has been a very interesting year also. Many exciting adventures discovering new worlds, systems and whole species. The majority have been friendly adn accommodating but no mission would be real without a few blunders and nail biting, hair raising close encounters. I can't stress enough how impressed I am with my crew. Time and time again they amaze me with their ability to set aside any personal feelings or objections they may have and work together as a team to get out of the current situation.
I have noticed a big change in Seven the most. Her growth to continue understanding and embracing humanity has reassured myself that I did indeed do the right thing when I freed her from the collective. Kimberley has made a full recovery from her accident other than some nagging pain in her leg when she has been on it for too long. Our relationship is rocky still but for the most part it has gotten better. She's more willing to help care for Katelynn now. I think her abortion has made her look at life through a new set of eyes.
Katelynn, my dear baby girl, is a story all her own. As she has gotten older I am seeing a little bit of Jaffen in her. I can just imagine what will happen when Starfleet reads the report and learn that not only did I become involved with an alien, I let myself get pregnant by said alien and I chose to keep her. As much as I love my daughters, though, they are both a handful. If it weren't for Chakotay I would have lost my mind with them long ago. He is definitely the best thing that came out of this whole mission. I still find it hard to believe sometimes that the man I was sent to capture and was my enemy would actually become my best friend and intimate confidante. It's nice to have someone to turn to who will show me he is angry at me, or can share a laugh with me. He also lets Kimberley call him 'dad' and he loves both girls like his own. He will make a fine father one day when he gets a chance to find that perfect someone – if that chance ever comes.
Kathryn's thoughts are interrupted by a call to report to the Bridge. "Report!" she orders as she steps off the turbolift. "We have entered an area that looks very promising for being able to stock up on supplies and possibly much needed repairs for Voyager." Kathryn sits in her chair and pulls up teh sensor scans on the console that sits between her & Chakotay. She smiles as she reads them. "This definitely looks promising. There's multiple places we could collect different materials to turn into fuels and the Doctor could maybe even use some things to make medicines. Chakotay IK want every department to make lists of needed supplies by the end of Alpha shift today."
"Yes Captain"
"In the meantime Mr. Kim, I would like you to send a standard greeting to the populated areas, see who responds."
"Aye Captain" he responds as his fingers already start moving over his console.
*****
Today had been a good day for Kathryn for once. Everything worked in her favour. All the supply requests weren't out of reason; all teh worlds they had hailed responded with pleasant acceptance, all willing to make trade negotiations and they were looking forward to meeting the infamous Captain Janeway of Voyager. After reading the reports she went and talked to the Chief Officer of each department arranging for them to join her during trade negotiations. The overall mood on the ship was an excited high energy one. It had been awhile since anyone had been able to take shore leave and if things went well she even considered taking a day to do some sightseeing herself. When she got to her quarters she was pleasantly surprised to find the table already set and Kimberley dishing up mess hall foods that she had brought back here. Katelynn was sitting in her highchair picking at a few cubes of a cookie bread to keep her quiet. "Well my goodness, this is a nice surprise" Kathryn says with a smile.
"Num num" Katelynn says as she holds out a piece of cookie for her mom. "Mmm that is yummy." Kathryn agrees letting her daughter feed her the cookie. She watches Kim silently dish out the food. "Kim, is there something bothering you that you would like to talk about?"
"Not right now, no." Kim opens her comm. Link, "daddy dinner is ready and mom's here now."
Chakotay arrives a minute later and is equally as surprised. During dinner he notices too how quiet Kim is being. When they finish eating Kathryn takes Katelynn to give her a bath, leaving Chakotay and Kimberley alone. "You're unusually quiet. What is bothering you?"
"I don't want mom to know"
"Depending on what it is that's bothering you she might not have to know."
"But she'll want to know. I just...I don't want to keep having duty shifts with a certain crew member because I can't work efficiently when I'm with her."
"What do you mean?" Chakotay asked, his attention fully on her now.
"She makes me feel like I'm not important because I don't have a rank"
"Not important how?"
"Just the way she orders me to do stuff and she wants to watch over me as if I don't know what I'm doing."
"Does this other person outrank you?"
"Yes, she's an Ensign"
"Well Kim, if she outranks you, then she has the authority to give you orders and you are obliged to follow those orders."
"I know that daddy and I don't have a problem with that part. It's just the way she tells me what to do. Like I'm stupid and shouldn't even be doing the tasks that I have been assigned to do by you or some other member of the crew. I get along fine with everyone else in that department."
"Who is the Ensign you don't get along with?"
"Canasper." Just then Kathryn comes out of the bathroom holding a towel wrapped 17 month old. "What about Ensign Canasper?" Kim looks to Chakotay with a silent pleading look. This was what she was afraid would happen. "Chakotay? Kimberley?" Kathryn's voice was full of curiosity and a hint of authority. Chakotay looks once more to Kim before turning back to Kathryn. "We were just talking about the way they the two of them work together, that's all." Kathryn silently looks at the two of them deciding if she should insert her authority for knowing more but decides against it. "Well she's an excellent worker and great officer." Kathryn heads off to Katelynn's room to get her ready for bed. When they are alone, Kim hugs Chakotay. "Thank you for not telling her more."
"I'll work on the duty roster to make sure you don't have shifts with her, and I'll also have a talk to her about your concern."
****
It is the last day that Voyager is in orbit and the day that Chakotay, with the Doctor's help, ordered Kathryn to take a day of shore leave. Kimberley was already out of bed and dressed when Kathryn got up. "Morning sweetheart."
"Morning mom. Could I go on my shore leave with you?"
"I thought you would want to spend it with Michael and Naomi or other friends."
"No. You and I never get to do anything together on shore leaves because you never take them." Kathryn felt a small wave of guilt wash over her momentarily from Kim's comment. "Okay. If you want to" she agrees, getting herself a coffee.
An hour and a half later Kathryn and her 2 daughters are standing at the beam out site on the planet. They could see animals grazing in the fields, houses dotting the hills, and the noise from all the people in the town market. They spent the day shopping, eating, visiting with friendly merchants and taking a guided tour of the village learning about the vast history of it. They made themselves a picknic dinner and ate it by a local lake as they watched the sun slowly turnt eh sky different shades of red, pink, orange and yellow. Snuggling up beside her mom, Kimberley leaned over and rested her head on Kathryn's shoulder. "Did you ahve a good day today sweetie?" Kathryn asked as she puts her arm around Kim's shoulder and looks down at her daughter. She notices a tear silently slide down Kim's cheek. "Kim?" she asks again this time her voice conveying concern.
"I'll never forget today for as long as I live. I love you mom. Even when I'm mad at you and bummed because I don't always see you much. I'm glad you're my mom." Kathryn choked up as she heard her daughter say these words. "Besides, when you get us all home we'll have plenty of time to catch up with each other. Kim looks at the Captain and a smile appears on her lips and widens when she sees how emotional Kathryn is. "We should probably be getting back to Voyager before Commander Chakotay sends Tuvok down here or he comes to get you himself."
"You're right. I'm glad you enjoyed today." That evening Kathryn climbed into bed with a renewed feeling of confidence that Voyager will one day be flying among the familiar stars of the Alpha Quadrant – the familiar stars of a place she once knew and called 'home'.
THE END