"Well?" I ask perfunctorily.

"Well what?" I feel the cool hem of my shirt replaced over my burgeoning belly.

"Well you know – uh," I struggle over the bump and my own unwieldiness. "Help me up."

Her arms pull at mine and she brings me into a sitting position at the edge of the bed. "Everything checks out, Bev. I did a fully scan and we aren't seeing any abnormalities."

"None at all? Because I remember it was around this time that we picked up Saoirse's aortic coartication. Are you sure that there's nothing?"

"Yes. Everything is completely normal." Hope mocks exasperation, but she knows that I'm only being cautious.

"Alright, Hope, I trust you." I smile as I pick up my white coat and walk out of the exam room.

"So," she begins. "How's Wesley liking UW?"

We enter the small office and I gather my purse from the floor. "He really likes it. I think he likes that it's not as structured as the Academy was. So, he's allowed to explore his creativity and working with Professor Gerhardt has even made him a little more confident. Personally, I'm just happy to have him home. I know he's 23 and doesn't want to live with his parents forever, but I still like having him around."

"You still haven't heard anything from the Academy? Nothing even from Owen Paris?"

I shrug my shoulders at the memory. "No. Nothing. A little bit after Voyager came home, there was a renewed interest in Starfleet and I heard the applications went up. At the same time, though, a lot of bad press came out about the admiralty and what had gone on with the Romulans."

Hope nods in recollection. "I remember that! I remember Nechayev, Hayes, and a few other admirals were brought under review for their involvement in that situation."

"Mmm," I nod, hanging up my white coat. "But, no news as far as Wes and the Academy. But, I don't think that Wes would go back after everything that's happened. Too much bad blood."

"I don't blame him." We shut off the lights and started to head out. "Bev have you heard anything on Kathryn or the other members of the Voyager crew since they got back 5 months ago?"

I shake my head. "No. I'd assume they were in debriefings for a good bit. I wonder what happened to the Maquis."

The night air is cool and I pull my jacket tighter around my body. "I don't know. I hope that they were pardoned after all that they've been through. It wouldn't have been right for Starfleet to have prosecuted them." I arrive at my car. "Goodnight, Hope. See you on Monday!"

"Night, Bev!"

/

"Wes! Jean Luc?" The lights are on and I hear laughing in the kitchen.

"Mom! Come in here!"

What is going on?

I see Wesley and Jean Luc sitting around Saoirse sitting in her high chair. They smile at me.

"She said her first word!" They beam.

My heart skips; I can't believe it! Saoirse took a long time to start speaking. Usually babies will say their first word around 12 months. But now, Saoirse is 17 months. She's been able to say vowel sounds, but not full words.

"What did she say?!" I move over to her and muss her hair and pick her up, attacking her little cheeks with kisses. "What did you say, baby girl?"

"Kitten." Jean Luc asserts with a grin. "But it more came out like 'kitteh'".

"Oh, Kitten!" She squeals with delight as I feather more open-mouth kisses on her rosy cheeks. "We are so proud of you!"