Chapter 5

Tom was acutely aware that he was being watched. He had been sleeping pretty deeply and dreaming of...

He cracked open one eye and saw a pair of bright green eyes looking intently at him. He groaned inwardly and closed his eye again. But he was not allowed to drift back to sleep as he heard his daughter's exited voice as he whispered loudly and said

"Daddy, wake up...daddy!"

Tom opened both eyes and looked into the beautiful face of his daughter and said

"I'm awake."

She jumped up and came and snuggled close to him and began patting his cheek. He took her and wrapped his arm around her and said

"And why do I need to wake up again?"

He knew full well that today was Joy's sixth birthday and he had promised to take her swimming today, but he liked to tease her. She looked at him with wide eyes and said

"Daddy, you remember today is my birthday and you promised to take me and Harry and Katie swimming and..."

He took pity on her as he looked into her expressive eyes and smiled at her as he leaned over to give he a kiss on the tip of her nose and said

"I remember sweet pea."

He shifted and began to rise as she giggled and said

"Daddy, when can we go?"

He stood and was stretching and he winced as he felt his back pop. He wasn't getting any younger. But he felt Joy slide out of his bed and stand next to him and reach for his hand. He looked down at her and smiled and then said

"Well first we need to get some breakfast, and then we need to clean up and then we need to finish up in the garden. It's planting time and we still need to weed it. I could use your help with that."

She looked up at him and screwed up her face and said

"But I don't like weeding. It makes my hands all dirty."

He smiled and said

"I know sweet pea, but it has to be done if we want a nice garden and lots of all the things you love to eat."

She thought about it for a moment and then said, looking up at him with bright eyes and said

"Okay daddy, but I won't like it."

Tom laughed and said

"Guess what sweet pea, I didn't like to weed when I was your age either, but my mom had me help her too and she always grew the most wonderful things."

Joy was quiet for a moment and then she said softly

"I wish I could meet her...do you think she would like me?"

Tom looked at her and almost cried as he saw the hopeful look on his daughter's face. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew his daughter into a hug as he said

"Sweet pea, she will love you very much if we ever get back home."

He gently kissed her on the top of her head and hugged her for several moments.

He thought back to last year as she had asked about her mother and why she wasn't with them. He had tried to explain to her about her parents and they had even gone to visit the graves. She had stayed close to him and had never let go of his finger as she had looked at the graves. It had been a sad couple of hours, but when they returned to the house and had sat down on the porch, she had snuggled up to him and had said softly to him that he was her daddy and that she loved him very much. He had cried that day. Once after she had said those words and later when he had watched her sleep so peacefully in her small bed.

He came back to the present and said

"Come on Sweet pea, lets fix some breakfast okay?"

She nodded and jumped down and said

"Are we gonna have a party with Harry and Katie?"

They were on their way to the kitchen and the two dogs looked up at the sound of their names. They were the only two left from the brood. All the pups had gone to make there way in the world so to speak. Tom saw them sometimes and they still came and wagged their tails and seem glad to see him, but they never came home. And Tom wasn't sad. He knew the need to procreate, and they had done that. So he only had Harry and Katie. At their age they seemed content to stay and take care of Tom and Joy, and they were fearsomely loyal and protected Joy like she was their 'pup'. Tom was glad that they were, it gave him a little peace of mind.

Joy stopped and leaned down and petted both dogs who thumped their tails. Tom went into the kitchen and said

"What do you want for breakfast Munchkin?"

She skipped into the kitchen and said as she clapped her hands

"Pancakes with berries!"

He looked at her and smiled

"Again?"

"Yes,daddy,yes"

He stood for a moment and thought, then said

"Didn't we have pancakes last week, and now you want them again?"

She looked at him and could not figure out if he was serious. Then she saw the twinkle in his eye and giggled. He was teasing her

"Of course daddy, you make the best pancakes in the world!"

"Pancakes it is then!"

Tom began getting the things ready to make the cakes. When he had poured the first batch onto the hot griddle, he turned to her and said

"Why don't you set the table while I finish the pancakes."

She nodded and carefully took the two plates he handed her to the table. She came back for the silverware and two glasses and took them to the table. She set the table and then came back into the kitchen and got two napkins out of the drawer and went an placed them at there places beside the plates. She then opened the small refrigerator and got the pitcher of juice out and carefully took it to the table and placed it next to her daddy's place. She came back for the syrup and carried it to the table.

Tom had gotten one batch done and was working on the other. He knew Joy would only eat three small cakes, so he had made her's first and buttered them and now he was making himself four larger ones. They were almost done, so he turned to Joy and said

"Okay, sweet pea, go sit down and I'll be there in a minute."

She did and as she settled in her place, Tom brought the plate with the pancakes on. He had made sure the griddle was off as he sat and took her three small one and placed them on her plate. He put the platter down and reached for the syrup and poured some over her pancakes, but she wanted more. He sighed and poured a little more and it seemed to satisfy her. He then poured her some juice and she said, with her mouth full

"Thank you daddy."

"You're welcome...and don't talk with your mouth full."

She nodded but continued to eat. He smiled as he fixed his own plate and they spent the rest of breakfast planning the day.

Tom was busy with the last of his weeding. The garden was looking good and he was anxious to start planting. He sat back on his heels and looked over at Joy who was playing with Harry. He grinned as he watched them running through the grass that was just outside the garden proper. He had let her out of the weeding about an hour ago when it became obvious that she was not really helping. He watched as she ran with Harry at her heels giggling as she ran in circles. He looked down and decided he had done enough for today and stood up to brush the dust off his legs. He looked again at his daughter as she played and then he called to her

"Hey, sweet pea, lets go get ready for our afternoon."

She immediately came running to him and he took her and swung her around a couple of time. She laughed and Harry just ran in circles and barked. He took her and set her on his shoulders and she wrapped her little arms around his neck.

"Are we going to go to the lake and swim now daddy?"

"Well first we need to get our stuff and guess what?"

"What daddy, what?"

"Well, we are going to have a special picnic today because its your birthday."

They had reached the porch and Tom swung his daughter down and set her on her feet. She skipped into the house and said

"What are we having?"

Tom smiled at his daughter and said

"Well I made something very special just for you but you will have to wait till we get there. Now got get your swimsuit on."

She dashed off to the bedroom and Tom went to get the picnic lunch he had packed the night before. He had made her favorite lunch, peanut butter and jam sandwiches, lots of fresh vegetable sticks and fresh fruit and a container of lemonade he had replicated. He had added a few cookies and their lunch was ready. He took the basket out and packed it with all they needed and placed on the table. Joy came bounding out of the bedroom in her swimsuit dragging a large towel behind her.

"Look daddy, I didn't forget my towel this time!"

He took it from her and folded it up and said

"I see, but what about your shoes?"

She was standing there barefoot.

"Oh..."

She ran back into the bedroom and a moment later came back out with the shoes in hand and sat down on the floor to put them on. Tom watched and smiled at her. Since she had been four, she had been so independent and insisted on doing so much on her own. He remembered doing the same himself as a child.

"Okay munchkin, you sit and wait, and I'll be right out."

"Yes daddy."

She began petting Harry and Katie and Tom went into the bedroom and packed up what else they needed for the afternoon. He was back in ten minutes. He had a medium tote slung over his shoulder and he went to pick up the picnic basket. Turning he said

"Come on sweet pea, let go have some fun."

She was up in a moment and was out the door, with both Harry and Katie following. He brought up the rear and they headed off to the lake. It was only a little way to the to the east and was more like a swimming hole than a lake. It was only about a half mile from the home and it was in a quiet place so he knew he wouldn't have to worry about Joy. He thought of the larger lake in the pristine valley he had discovered when he had first landed here. He had been there several times before he had Joy, but he had not been there since she had come into his life. Maybe when she was older he'd take her there for a camping trip. He watched as she skipped ahead of him with the dogs right with her. They never let her out of their sight when they were outside. Tom smiled to himself. The dogs took good care of his little sweet pea.

When they reached to lake, both dogs stopped and made sure she could go no closer till Tom got there. Joy stopped and turned and said

"Hurry daddy...I want to go swimming."

He grinned at her as he placed his load under the giant tree that was overhanging the banks.

"Okay just let me get this stuff situated."

Tom watched his daughter fidget as he took the blanket out and spread it on the grass. He placed the picnic basket near the edge in the shade of the tree and then took the two towels and laid them next to the basket, all the while watching Joy as she tried not to be so anxious to be in the water. He finally straightened and chuckled as he said

"Is my little fishy ready to go swimming?"

"Yes daddy, can we go in the water now?"

She pleaded with him and he couldn't tease her any more. He took off his T-shirt and took her up in his arms and said

"Sure we can. Come on"

He walked to the edge and waded in up to his waist. The water was not any deeper and he looked at Joy waiting for her to ask. This was a game they played each time they came here and they both loved it. He had taught her to swim last year and she was pretty good for a six year old. She looked at him and then said

"Daddy lets play splashdown."

She had a glow on her face as she looked at him and he had a twinkle in his eyes as he said

"You want to play splashdown? Are you sure?"

"Yes daddy, splashdown."

He looked her in the eyes and then threw her up in the air and she came down like a cannonball and made a big splash that covered him with water. A second later she surfaced and began giggling. She began to splash him more and he returned the gesture and soon not only were the very soaked but they were both laughing.

After twenty minuets of the rough housing, they both settled down to a leisurely swim in which now the dogs join in. The four of them enjoyed a couple of hours of play in the water. Finally Tom said

"Come on sweet pea, its time for lunch." He swam over to her and she climb on his shoulders as he stood and waded out of the water, the dogs following. As soon as they got back to dry land, both dogs shook themselves and deposited more water on Tom, but he just went to the blanket and set Joy down and picked up her towel and began drying her off. Once he had her dry he wrapped the towel around her and said

"Okay let me get dried and we'll eat lunch."

He picked up his towel and began to rub himself. He gave his hair a rub and then placed the towel around his neck. His hair was longer and curled around his ears..not star fleet regulation but he wasn't in star fleet anymore. His hair had lighted up a lot to where it had a lot of blond in it like when he was a child. It was all the sunshine he'd been in these last ten years. He was still lean, but he had developed new muscle tone he hadn't had before and he felt very fit. His skin was a golden tan now and his blue eyes always seemed to have a twinkle in them. That was what his daughter had given him, a sense of contentment and...joy. She was his life now, and he hardly ever thought of his old one anymore. He looked down at her as she sat cross legged with the towel wrapped around her and she reminded him of a picture he had seen once of the old west and an Indian with the blanket wrapped around him. She looked so cute sitting there.

He lowered himself and began passing out lunch. As they ate they talked and laughed and just enjoyed the day. After lunch they had both cuddled up together and taken a nap. And then it was back in the water for more play.

As the sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon,Tom said

"Come on munchkin, time to go home."

She had been squatting on the bank with a long stick and watching it play in the water. Both Harry and Katie had been right by her making sure she didn't fall in. She turned and said

"Okay daddy."

She got up and skipped over to him as he had gathered the last of their things. She took his finger in her tiny hand and looked up at him and said

"Thank you daddy, this was a fun birthday!"

He smiled down at her and said

"I'm glad you had fun but its time to go home. Besides I have a surprise for you when we get there."

"A surprise...just for me?"

She jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

"Of course just for you, did you think I meant for Harry and Katie?"

He teased as they started off towards home. She giggled at his joke and with both dogs in tow she skipped ahead of him as he wondered for the umpteenth time how little girls could have so much energy. He had to admit he was tired and he looked forward to sitting on the porch and watching the stars tonight. As they came into sight of home, Joy picked up speed as she ran pass the garden towards the house with Harry on one side and Katie on the other. Tom watched the three with a smile on his face when suddenly Joy came to a complete stop and both dogs took up position right in front of her. The smile faded and he quicken his pace as he saw the hackles on both dogs raise and he heard them both begin to growl. He dropped the things he was carrying and ran to his daughter and quickly picked her up and she clung to him with her little arms. He was now standing where she had been and the dogs now on either side of him still growling. He looked and saw... At first he didn't believe his eyes, and then in a whisper he said

"Chakotay?"

TBC