Chapter 4

Tom lay on the floor of the main room with a little bundle of energy sitting on his chest. Joy...for that was what he had named her. She had in the three months he'd had her brought him so much joy. She had blond curls which she had inherited from her parents and the most mischievous green eyes. Now she was sitting on him and giggling at the faces he was making at her. He had guessed her age at about six months and she certainly had been a handful. But he had loved every moment of it. As he bounced her up and down, he thought at how she had changed his life. He now had someone to take care of and love, and he realized how much he truly did love the little one. Even though he was not her biological parent, he felt like he was her daddy and he knew he'd do anything for her. His face sobered as he thought back to that terrible and wonderful day that she had come into his life. Terrible that her parents shuttle had crashed and killed them, but wonderful that he now had her in his life. He thought back to that day

He stood over the freshly dug graves and wept. He had been able to do nothing to save the two. He felt so helpless and he knew that two lives had been snuffed out trying to save the little baby from harm. He had been able, with the translator, to listen to the last moments of the flight and had learned that they had been outcasts from there society and had been looking for a new home when they had encountered engine trouble. They had not been able to fix it and the mother had place the baby in a stasis unit to protect her. Because they had not had time to activate the unit, the baby had never been in stasis but had been protected from the crash. He turned and looked at the baby who in turn was looking up at him from the small carrier he had found in the wreckage. She was grinning and gurgling at him. Harry was lying next to the baby as if on watch, his sad eyes looking up at his master. He knew something was wrong and he wanted to be there for his master and he knew that this new 'pup' would need looking out for. He was there to help his master in this, but he couldn't figure out why his master was so sad. He raised his head and looked first at Tom and then at the freshly made mounds of dirt and surmised that this must be the reason for the sorrow, but he still didn't understand. He again looked at his master and wagged his tail. Tom finally smiled as the tears were still rolling down his cheeks and finally said

"Well Har, we have a new addition to the family and I'm counting on you and Katie to help me."

He reached down and picked up the carrier and looked at the baby. She was so sweet looking and innocent. She had blond curls and the deepest green eyes he'd ever seen. She was playing with her toes and he had to chuckle at her as she looked at each toe and gurgled. She was such a bundle of joy...He thought a moment and then said

"Joy...Joy is gonna be your name because you have brought joy into my life."

As he said her name, she looked up at him and smiled and held out her chubby little arms to him. He again began to cry as he lifted her out of the carrier and, as he placed it back on the ground, he hugged her to his chest and cried. He had such mixed emotions at this time. Sad that she had lost her parents but happy he had her now. He brought her up and gently kissed her forehead and as he again cuddled her to him he felt her tiny hand reach and touch him on the face...

Tom came back to the present and again looked into the face of his daughter. She was looking at him as if to ask why he had gotten so quiet. He smiled at her and again made a funny face and she burst out with her little giggles again. She loved it when he made his funny faces. He held her up over his face and then lowered her down and blew raspberries on her tummy. She began laughing and he continued for several moments. Then he rolled over and got up with her in his arms and said

"Okay munchkin, its time for your bath. Daddy's slobbered all over your tummy."

She only grinned at him and said

"Da Da... Da Da."

He looked at her with surprise on his face. She had been talking baby talk now for a couple of months, but she's never said that. His heart swelled and he said

"Daddy... say daddy."

She smiled and said

"Da Da...Da Da...Da Da...Da Da"

He took and swung her gently around and she laughed harder and clapped her hands. He placed her on his hip and hugged her to his body as he went into the bedroom to get her fresh clothes and then went out to the Flyer and got her bath ready. She watched him get the water just right and eagerly leaned towards it. He laughed and said

"You are my little fishy!"

She seemed to love the water and he knew he would be teaching her to swim as soon as she was old enough. He placed her down in the water after he had divested her of her diaper and she immediately began splashing the water. He usually got pretty wet at bath times and this was no different. When he was finished and had her dry and clothed again he placed her in the make shift play pen and she began playing with her toys. He watched her few a moments and then said

"Time for daddy's shower...whew, you really got me wet this morning!"

She just looked at him and smiled and said

"Da Da"

"Yes, Daddy needs to clean up too, so you have fun and daddy will take his shower."

He turned and picked up his towel and clothes and went into the bathroom to clean up. He was out in fifteen minutes and she was still playing with the large teddy bear he had replicated for her. It was her favorite and she would hug it tightly to her and he'd even found her one afternoon sound asleep with her head on the bear. He leaned down and picked her up and held her at arms length and said

"So munchkin, are you hungry and ready for breakfast? I'm so hungry I could eat that bear!"

He pulled her to him and planted several kisses on her cheeks. She reached out her tiny arms and clung to him and the feeling he felt was wonderful. She had certainly been able to wrap him around her little finger. He took her out of the shuttle and back into the house and set her up in the 'bouncer' he had also replicated. She loved to bounce up and down and it seem to entertain her for hours. He turned back to the kitchen and began to assemble the ingredients for breakfast. He took the leftover mashed potatoes from last night out and took a large spoonful and placed it in the pan on the burner to heat up for Joy. She loved mashed potatoes and she loved it when he added the creamed corn to it so he added a spoonful to the potatoes and let it heat up. He decided he would make potato pancakes for himself and started the batter, all the while keeping and eye on the pan on the burner. After he had mixed the batter, he added a handful of the fresh berries he had gathered yesterday and got the large griddle out and placed some butter on it as it heated up. He turned and took the pan of Joy's breakfast off the burner and set it aside for a few moments as he poured the batter to start his pancakes. As they cooked, he set the table and got some juice out for him and fixed the bottle for Joy. He looked at her as she was happily bouncing and said

"Hey, sweetie, daddy's got some yummy potato corn mush for you and some milk."

She just kept bouncing and he chuckled at her. He flipped his cakes and pulled down a plate and bowl from the cabinet. He picked up the pan and tested the potatoes and decided they were at the correct temperature so it would not burn her mouth and dished the concoction into the bowl and took it to the table. He came back and put the cakes on his plate and buttered them and took the plate to the table along with the maple syrup. He took Joy out of the bouncer and placed her in her high chair and she grabbed the spoon and began to eat her breakfast. She was a quick learner and had been feeding herself for over a month now and Tom was glad as he could now eat and enjoy a hot meal himself. He dug into the pancakes and enjoyed them. Once he was done, he rose and took the dirty dishes to the sink and stacked them in the large tub. He now had hot water, thanks to the alien's shuttle. He had been able to salvage a few items from the crash and the one he really like was the portable heater that he had been able to attach to the sink so he always had a supply of hot water. He filled the tub with hot soapy water intending to let them soak while he tended to Joy. She was still drinking her milk and turned to watch him work. He turned around and smiled at her and he saw the grin that came to her face as she drank.

"You almost done with that munchkin?"

She held it out to him and he went to retrieve it and as he did he leaned over and kissed her on her forehead. He could see she was getting sleepy and said

"I think its nap time what do you say?"

She just looked at him with sleepy eyes. He took the bottle and placed it in a smaller pan he had also filled with hot soapy water and then he got the damp cloth and turned to wipe her face. She scrunched up her face as he did and he again chuckled at her face. He went to rinse it out and came back and wiped down the table and her tray and then tossed the rag into the tub of water. He picked her up and said

"Come on baby time for a nappy nap."

She had already laid her head down on his shoulder and he took her into the bedroom and laid her down in the crib. He took the light blanket and covered her as she settled down. He place the small teddy bear within reach and she took it and cuddled it to herself and was asleep in no time. He stood for a few moments and watched her sleep. Her face had a contented look and he just knew she was going to grow up to be a beauty. His heart again filled with so much love, that he felt emotional and with a sigh of contentment he went back to the kitchen to finish the clean up. As he passed the computer, he put on some piano music and with the soft strains of the music drifting through the home, he set to cleaning up.

Tom was sitting on the porch with Joy in his arms as they both watched the sun set. She was now three and they had celebrated her birthday today. Of course he really didn't know the exact date of her birth, so he had picked a date for her. It was his mothers birthday April twenty second. He had been able to keep track of time both for Earth and back on Voyager. At the thought of Voyager, he got a small lump in his throat. He still missed his friends. It had been seven years since he had been drawn into the wormhole and ended up here. Seven years and the first two had been agony for him. No one to talk to and it had been so lonely too. Then he had gotten his faithful dogs. The family had grown to about twelve as the pups had found mates and had pups too. Harry and the rest had been a great help to him as he had treated them as family and talked to them. Then three years ago he got Joy and his life had changed. She had made his existence bearable again and he loved her with all his heart. They were all his life now but he still missed his human companions. He had always wondered if they had made it home. He hoped they had. He had also wondered if they would have been looking for him? Did they care? Again he had to stop thinking like this. It just opened old sorrows and he didn't have time to think of that now. He had Joy now and she was his world. As the night got darker, Joy saw a shooting star and said

"Look Daddy a hooting tar!"

"Yes it is. Quick make a wish."

She squeezed her eye closed and got a determined look on her face and then turned and said

"Daddy I whised for a new fwend for you!"

He smiled at her and said

"Now why would I need a new friend when I have my little sweet pea?"

She cuddled up to him and said

"Just cause."

As if that stated it all. He smiled and rubbed her head with his chin.

"Tell me a strowy about unca Harry and Auntie Katwryn."

"Okay sweetie."

So he told her stories of Voyager, his friends, and the adventures they had in the DQ. She fell asleep in his arms and to the sound of his voice. He quietly got up and carried her into the house and took her into the bedroom and laid her down for the night. He gently kissed he good night and whispered

"Sleep tight my little one."

He watched her sleep for a moment, knowing that tomorrow would be full of adventures and stories as she never tired of his story telling. He sighed and decided it was time to hit the sack.

TBC