In the Arms of Family
Story by Janet and Christina
Written by Janet, Christina, Cybermum, Diane, Julie,Mary, Penny, and Rocky
Compiled by Janet

The small woman spotted the group she was looking for almost immediately upon entering the Promenade. They were at the far end of the rotunda, having just exited the docking link, and although they were obviously deeply involved in conversation, Mrs. Kim didn't hesitate for a moment. She clutched the precious parcel she had been carrying almost constantly for the past few months to her breast and made her way towards them with the same determination she had exhibited since she'd found out Voyager and those upon her had somehow survived the disaster in the Badlands and were on their way back from the Delta Quadrant. As far as she was concerned, his ship was finally home, and she was going to see Harry. Now.

"Excuse me, please," she said, as she brushed by a young Bolian woman carrying a small child, and shouldered her way through a group of cadets walking four abreast down the center of the Promenade.

"Lieutenant Laren, Colonel Kira," Mrs. Kim called, waving and gesturing at them almost before she was within earshot.

"Oh, no," Kira sighed in resignation. "I should have known."

"Is that who I think it is?" Ro sighed without turning around.

Chakotay, who was facing the Promenade, raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Mrs. Kim," Kira greeted her, trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

Mary Kim ignored her and moved right into the midst of the group to stand directly in front of Kathryn Janeway. She set her package down at her feet and proffered a hand to the Captain, who took it and shook it firmly.

"Mrs. Kim, it's so good to meet you at last," Janeway said. "I know how anxious you must be to see your son, and I'm sure we can arrange that fairly quickly."

"Captain!" Mrs. Kim continued shaking Janeway's hand vigorously. "Captain, you've brought my Harry back to me."

"Mrs. Kim…" But Mary Kim, who was obviously in a highly emotional state, suddenly let go of Janeway's hand and engulfed the astonished Captain in an enthusiastic hug.

Megan Delaney, who was standing directly behind Janeway, snickered.

Michael Ayala stood at attention and averted his eyes.

Tom Paris, who thought he'd seen just about everything, knew he would never forget the look on Janeway's face, and wished with all his heart B'Elanna was there with him to share this particular moment.

Chakotay, who realized anything he did or said would only make matters worse, showed admirable restraint, and with great difficulty suppressed the laughter that threatened to overwhelm him. The glare Kathryn shot his way did not help his self-control in the least.

The EMH fumbled with his camera, but upon catching a glimpse of the look on the Captain's face decided that perhaps this particular scene was one which would remain unrecorded.

Ro clutched at Mrs. Kim's elbow and tried to remove her, but to everyone's surprise, once the initial shock had worn off, Kathryn Janeway waved the Lieutenant away and returned the woman's hug with, if not quite the same enthusiasm, genuine warmth.

Finally, after what seemed forever to those surrounding her, the Captain gently removed herself from Mrs. Kim's embrace. She tapped at her combadge.

"Janeway to Lieutenant Kim."

::Yes, Captain?:: Mrs. Kim put her hand over her heart in response to the sound of her long lost son's voice.

"Please join us on the Promenade just outside the docking link."

::Yes, Ma'am,:: Harry responded immediately.

Janeway turned to Mary. "He'll be here in just a moment. In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to Commander Chakotay, Lieutenant Paris…"

"Tom Paris!" Mrs. Kim interrupted her. "You are Harry's good friend. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. How is your excellent wife? And your lovely daughter?" She greeted Voyager's pilot, who although speechless, reached out and shook the hand she offered him.

"Commander Riker, Deanna Troi." Mrs. Kim smiled at them. "I have seen both of you many times on the newsvids." She studied Riker for a moment. "You know," she continued, "you are much better looking in person, Commander."

"Thank you…" Riker replied. "I think," he added almost under his breath to Troi, who choked back her laughter with difficulty.

"And you," she turned to address the EMH, "are the hologram." She moved forward, not, he suddenly realized, to shake his hand, but to touch him, obviously wanting to see if he was solid. The Doctor jumped back quickly, managing to avoid the contact.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Madam. I too assure you your son is most anxious to see you." He said, echoing the Janeway's earlier words. "As a matter of fact," the Doctor gestured towards the corridor leading from the docking pylon, "I believe I see him now."

Mary Kim turned around to face in the same direction as the Doctor and caught sight of her son at almost the same time he spotted her.

"Mom. Mom!" Harry shouted, and broke into a run, waving and grinning at his mother, who, to the surprise of all those around her, stood rooted to the spot, unwilling, or more likely, unable to utter a sound.

Harry arrived at the group, and without thought to protocol or procedure, lifted his mother off the ground in an embrace that she returned with great fervor.

"Harry. Oh my. Harry." Mrs. Kim, finally overcome, burst into tears.

"Mom." Suddenly remembering where he was and who was watching, Harry tried valiantly to comfort his mother. "Mom, it's so great to see you. Please stop crying."

Mary Kim nodded and took a deep sniffling breath. "I'm all right now, son. It was just the moment, you know," She said, in explanation to the others, who had remained standing quietly during the reunion.

"We understand completely Mrs. Kim," Janeway said, obviously touched. "Take your time."

Mrs. Kim, nodded, and suddenly started to look around frantically. "Where, is it? Where…? Oh. There." She bent down to retrieve her bundle, which had ended up behind her in the melee. She handed it to Harry.

"I've been waiting for eight years to give this to you, son. You forgot it when you left."

Harry took the package from his mother, his eyes suddenly glistening. "Mom. It's not…?"

"Open it, Harry." She stood and waited as he did as he was told.

"My clarinet. The Clausen-Wang." Harry fingered the keys gently. "You had it oiled."

"The keys and the bore. And there are three new reeds in the bottom of the case," Mrs. Kim replied.

"Why don't you take your mother on board Voyager, Lieutenant," Janeway suggested, and Mrs. Kim nodded enthusiastically at the suggestion.

"Oh, yes Harry, I want to see Voyager. I want to see where you work, and Neelix, and Naomi, and your room and…"

"Yes, Ma'am." Janeway wasn't quite sure who Harry was answering at that point, and she suspected he wasn't either, but she nodded at him in response.

"Well… then you are dismissed, Lieutenant," she said, doing an admirable job of maintaining her composure.

"Ummm. Yes. Thank you Captain. Come on Mom, let's go." Harry bent down and gently replaced his clarinet in its case. He picked it up, and took his mother - who was still talking - by the elbow, turned her around and almost frog-marched her away from the group of officers, who at this point were all on the verge of laughter.

"Oh my," Kira said when she'd regained her composure. "That poor young man. How long do you think it's going to be before he applies for another deep space mission?"

"I don't know," Chakotay responded. "But I have a feeling Harry's going to get himself put on the fast track…."

"Fast!" Ro finished for him, to another round of laughter.

"We're laughing now," Janeway finally observed, "but perhaps we should also remember that within the next few weeks most of us will be experiencing reunions very similar to that one. And who knows how we'll react."

Kira smiled wryly. "As a matter of fact, a ship from Earth will be arriving within two days. I have it on good authority that the ship's passenger log includes a Mrs. Paris..." Tom winced, but his smile was broad, "and Mrs. Joseph Carey and her three sons..."

"And her two sons," Ayala corrected. "The third boy is mine!"

"That's wonderful!" Kira agreed, catching the tall man by the elbow. "I didn't realize that. Why don't you tell me all about him on the way to Ops."

"Very task oriented, isn't she?" Tom whispered to Ro as they squeezed through the loudly-buzzing crowd surrounding them.

"The good ones always are," Ro replied.

She had found an upturned storage barrel on a small metal platform on the mezzanine overlooking the Promenade and had been watching the goings on below her for well over an hour. She'd arrived on Deep Space Nine on one of the earliest transports. Starfleet had had the courtesy to notify her that Voyager was on the final leg of her journey home - as well they should have, she thought wryly - and she'd accepted their offer of immediate transport without hesitation. She'd also realized 'Fleet wanted to make sure she was 'unavailable to the press', and that having her on the station and under their watch, so to speak, was most likely their primary motivation. But she had no cause to complain - she was exactly where she wanted to be.

The increased activity surrounding the prodigal ship's return had afforded her, a civilian, an unusual freedom to roam about the station and when she noticed the raised area at the back of the mezzanine she had decided it would be an excellent place to wait. She'd climbed up the rather rickety stairs at the back of the platform and pushed the barrel as far forward as she could. Surprisingly, shortly after she had settled herself into her current position, a young ensign had spotted her, and without asking had brought her a large mug of tea. He'd handed it up to her wordlessly, smiled and headed off quickly to continue with whatever it was he had been assigned to do.

She'd recognized a few faces from the newsvids; Kira Nerys and Ro Laren were familiar, as were Riker and Troi, of course. And there were several Voyager people as well. She watched scene after scene unfold, some predictable, others unexpected and one or two almost comical. She'd seen the paper pushers, the publicity people and the 'brass'. She'd seen one particularly warm reunion between a mother and son. But the figure she watched most - could barely take her eyes from, in fact - was Voyager's captain.

Kathryn Janeway was totally focused - meeting and greeting, conferring, supervising, directing, comforting, ordering, and even, she thought, at one point doing a bit of reprimanding. Kathryn was smaller than she remembered (and she thought she remembered every detail) and at first glance appeared a little frail. Yet she also seemed almost larger than life. She obviously commanded great respect, even love from the crew who had served her for the past eight years and for the woman who watched her, this in itself was a reward beyond price.

She closed her eyes for a moment or two, reflecting upon the lost years, and the great gift this ship's return had given her. When she opened them the figure she had been watching so carefully had disappeared. She sighed, knowing she should get up, climb down from her perch and search out the proper authorities who would no doubt make sure she was afforded the treatment they thought she merited. But she didn't move, except to take a sip of her now almost chilled tea.

Finally, she straightened her shoulders and set the mug down. As she did she felt the platform shake almost imperceptibly beneath her. She didn't turn around, even when she heard the light step of someone approaching.

The bustle below faded instantly, every fiber of her being focused on the presence just behind her.

A hand - she knew it before she felt it - reached out and brushed her cheek as gently as any touch she'd ever felt.

"Mother?" Kathryn Janeway's voice was soft and full.

Gretchen turned and took her daughter into her arms, their tears mingling and falling unheeded on the cold metal floor.

Harry fell against the door to his quarters as it closed, heaving a sigh of relief. He was finally alone. No reporters, no curious onlookers, no officious Starfleet liaisons, and no inquisitive and over-protective mothers.

"Make way! Give my son room. He's a hero! Make way!"

Harry closed my eyes, remembering his mother's voice on the Promenade earlier as the crowd had made it difficult for them to pass. She meant well, and he loved her dearly. Almost nothing in the past eight years had felt as good-as right-as hugging her to him when he'd stepped out of the docking corridor to find her waiting on the Promenade. His heart had nearly overflowed with gratitude. He'd missed her, and his father, unbelievably.

He loved both his parents. Talking to his father via subspace and knowing he was so close now had been almost as emotional as hugging his mother. They'd been the best parents a kid could ever hope for, but he'd forgotten how persistent they could be, especially his mother. She'd ferreted out information from the VFA and other sources, and had come to a conclusion few others had-that Voyager would be arriving in the Federation via Deep Space Nine.

Harry chuckled wryly. He couldn't help but admire his mother's amazing tenacity. He imagined there were admirals from here to Earth who knew her name now, and shuddered when they heard it.

::Gilmore to Kim.::

Harry smiled, happy to hear Marla's voice. "Kim here."

::I heard you were back on board Voyager.::

"Yeah. I have some Ops reports to finish."

::Right.::

There was a small pause. They both knew everyone except the handful of officers manning the bridge was officially off duty for the rest of the day and evening.

"Okay, I had to get away from my mother for a few minutes. I already feel guilty."

::Why?::

Why? Harry shook his head. "I deserted my mother on Deep Space Nine."

Marla laughed softly. ::Harry, you showed her around Voyager, and you've been with her for the past several hours. Besides, she had the ingenuity to get to Deep Space Nine before we even arrived. I'd say she can take care of herself.::

"She *was* striking up a conversation with a Lurian named Morn when I left." His mother could strike up a conversation with a rock. If the conversation was one-sided, that was okay with her. But Harry did worry about her sometimes. He remembered now how trusting she could be around strangers, believing everyone was as straightforward as she was-

::Harry, your mother is obviously a very resourceful woman, and both your parents were terrific at their job. After all, look how you turned out.::

Harry chuckled at that. "You only met her for a minute, Marla. She hasn't had the chance to grill you yet."

He was joking, sort of, but the moment he said it he regretted it. He didn't want Marla to think his mother would judge her by her past and find her wanting. He didn't want to think it either. "Not that my mother will *grill* you; she's just the curious type. You don't have to answer any questions you don't want to-"

::Harry, it's all right.::

Marla didn't sound worried, though she could hide her feelings very well. "Are you sure you're up for dinner tonight?" Harry asked.

::Absolutely. I've always wanted to try real Klingon food.::

"My mom is looking forward to it too. Despite her presence here, she doesn't get off Earth very often." Harry frowned. "I still feel bad leaving her on the Promenade. I was so glad to see her here, but I was starting to feel smothered by her attention. I think she still sees me as a kid."

::Harry.:: Marla's voice had that reasonable tone she sometimes adopted. ::You were, what-twenty-two when you left on Voyager? So you *were* pretty much a kid when she last saw you. She just needs to get used to the fact that you've grown up.::

Maybe that was it. He'd spent all these years so desperate to get home, and to see his parents again. But it was different than he'd expected. The parents he'd left behind, who'd loved and supported him every single step of the way, who'd focused all their attention on him and had willingly made sacrifices to help him achieve his dreams-they hadn't changed. He had. Happy as he was to be home, much as he felt immense satisfaction knowing they were nearby, he didn't need them to guide him or run interference for him. He was his own person now, in a way he hadn't been when he'd left eight years ago.

As Marla said, he'd grown up.

::Hey, Harry. Still there?::

"Yeah. Thanks for the words of wisdom."

::Anytime. I'm still waiting to talk to my sister. The subspace channels to Earth are so clogged right now, I'll probably be here for another half hour. Have you made your call?::

That was the other reason Harry had returned to Voyager. He wanted a little more privacy than the communication booths on the station's noisy Promenade provided, and here he'd be able to use his senior officer status to get through directly to Earth. "I'm waiting too, but it should come through any minute."

::I won't keep you then. I just called to say...hello.::

Harry smiled. He liked that reason. "I'm glad you did."

::I'll see you in front of 'Qapla' ' at nineteen hundred hours.::

"Okay, but if you want to come to my quarters before then to escape all the pandemonium on the station..."

::You can't possibly be referring to all these polite and respectful reporters?::

Harry laughed at Marla's incredulous tone. They'd been warned not to talk, especially about the incident with the Romulans. Though he'd wondered briefly about Starfleet's sense of paranoia, he'd managed to evade the very dogged reporters who'd gotten word of Voyager's arrival, and he knew Marla had no trouble fending them off either.

::Anyway, I have a meeting with Lieutenant Torres at seventeen hundred hours to discuss repair procedures.::

Trust B'Elanna to keep on top of things, Harry thought, special day or not. "Okay, I'll see you in a couple of hours. I love you."

::I love you, too.::

There was a soft click as Marla disconnected. She'd sounded almost carefree, maybe because she was focusing on her reunion with her sister. Harry knew they had to talk soon about their future. Marla wanted to wait until they got back to Earth and found out just what Starfleet had in mind for them, but Commander Craig was being vague at best regarding when and how that might be decided. Harry didn't want to wait that long, and he couldn't see any reason why they should-

::U'Lanai to Kim.::

"Kim here," Harry answered the crewman currently manning the communications station on the bridge.

::I have your subspace reply coming in.::

"Put it through," Harry said as he moved to his desk console. "And thanks, U'Lanai"

::You're welcome, sir.::

A subspace origin identifier appeared on the screen-Copenhagen, Earth-and a moment later a fifty-ish woman with blonde hair appeared on the console screen. Her blue eyes held curiosity and a bit of trepidation. Clearly she hadn't expected the call, and her voice was soft and low as she spoke. ::I'm Irene Hansen.::

Harry smiled at her. "Hello, Mrs. Hansen. I'm Lieutenant Harry Kim."

Irene Hansen relaxed a little and smiled back. ::Ah, yes. Annika- -Seven, I mean-I'm afraid I still have trouble remembering her new name...she spoke of you in one of her letters. She said you were a fine young man and an excellent officer.::

Once he would have blushed at the compliment, but now he just said, "Seven was becoming a fine officer too, and she was a great asset to Voyager. Mrs. Hansen-"

::Please, call me Irene.::

"Irene," Harry amended obediently, "I know you haven't heard from Seven in quite some time."

::Not for over a year now. She sent me a brief letter in the datastream right before she left Voyager, informing me of her decision. Though I'm sorry she didn't come home with you, I know she made the choice she felt was right for her.::

Harry saw both regret and acceptance in Irene Hansen's gaze. "She did make the right choice." He believed that absolutely.

Irene's brief smile was grateful and a bit wistful. ::It's good to know you think so. I so much wanted to meet her-to know her again-my brother's little girl. But if she's happy, that is a comfort. Have you spoken with her since she left Voyager?::

"Yes. She contacted Voyager several times while we were still in range. Unfortunately, after we went back-after we had a slipstream mishap, we had a lot of communications problems and weren't able to reestablish contact."

::I do recall hearing Voyager was out of contact with Earth for several weeks.::

Harry nodded. "Since that time we haven't heard from Seven. During our last communication with her, she told us the colony was prospering. She also knew we expected to be home very soon, and she transmitted a letter for me to give to you."

::To me?::

Harry smiled at Irene's astonished look. "Yes. As much as you regret that you weren't able to meet her, I know she's also sorry she didn't get to meet you."

::I...didn't know. She was always so formal in her letters. Very polite, but she didn't reveal much of her feelings.::

"It was difficult for her," Harry agreed. "It still is, but she's learning to embrace her humanity." The vid of that last transmission flashed in his mind; Seven with her hair loose, and her expression relaxed in a way it had rarely been on Voyager, as if she was truly comfortable with herself and her surroundings.

::I know she had a rough time. She was such a little girl when the Borg took her..:: Irene paused, and shook her head as if to chase away that unpleasant thought. ::I'm very eager to hear about her new life.::

Harry nodded. "I can transmit the letter now, and you'll receive it in a few minutes."

::I'd like that, but I'd like it even better if you'd read it to me.::

Harry's brow furrowed. "Are you sure? It's meant for you-"