Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

Way The Wind Blows

Chapter Thirty Five

CHRISTMAS 2380

Snow fell outside the cabin, covering the Canadian mountain in a soft white blanket. Contained in a forcefeld, however, the cabin was untouched by the falling particles of ice. A circle of luscious green grass surrounded it and if it wasn't for the Christmas lights on the windows and the large wreath of holly and ivy on the door, it would be impossible to know at close inspection that it was winter.

Inside the cabin, Christmas decorations glittered in the light of a roaring log-fire, and dozens of Christmas cards adorned the walls. In the left hand corner of the room, directly next to the window, was a tall Christmas tree of faux-pine. It was handsomely decorated with tinsel, baubles and fairylights, and on top of it a silver star sparkled. At the foot of the tree was a large pile of presents, all different sizes and shapes, and wrapped up in papers of different colors and types, and variously decked with ribbons and bows

Lying before the fire on the brown rug she regarded as her own, Topsy watched as the occupants of the room stood in the middle of it, talking. Aunt Martha and Grandma Gretchen were dressed very formally in thick winter coats, one gray, the other black, and both had shimmering white scarves around their necks. In Aunt Martha's arms was a much loved little boy with wavy black hair and dark eyes, and Topsy tilted her head to the side as her mistress, wearing only gray pants and a white top, fixed something curious to his head.

"There," Kathryn said, putting a woolen sky-blue pompom hat on Bertie's head. "Now we only have to button up your coat and you'll be ready to go."

Her mother and Aunt Martha were taking him to Santa's Grotto in Lapland for the afternoon. He was a little young to appreciate it, but Gretchen had won tickets in a crossword competition and was determined to use them.

"You're going to have to be more organized than this when the new baby arrives," Gretchen said.

"I had to go out for a while," Kathryn answered. "And I got held up. It happens."

"It certainly does," Aunt Martha replied. "And you're a fine one to talk, Gretchen. Almost every time you and Edward came to our house for dinner, you were late."

"That was Edward's fault, not mine. I was always ready well in time but he was always held up somewhere and I'd have to wait."

"My mistake," Aunt Martha smiled.

Kathryn closed Bertie's padded navy-blue coat and then smiled at him. "All set."

"I don't know what time we'll be back," Gretchen said. "But it won't be before five o'clock."

"There's no rush. Have a good time." Kathryn affectionately squeezed her son's cheek. "Just make sure he doesn't eat too much chocolate. He could eat it all day."

Bertie smiled at her, sweet little dimples showing, and Kathryn kissed his cheek several times in quick succession, making the child laugh.

Gretchen looked into a silver bag Kathryn had packed. "Have you checked you've packed everything? Wipes, diapers, change of clothes?"

"Yes, Mom," Kathryn replied. "Everything's there."

"Then we'd better go," Gretchen continued. "Our ticket expires at two o'clock. It's quarter to now."

"So it is," Kathryn said, looking at an antique gold clock that adorned the chimney breast. "We'd better get a move on."

Quickly, she walked across the room to a door that led to the transporter room. When she and Chakotay had drawn up plans to modify the rear of the cabin, they had incorporated a door from the living room into the transporter room to save them having to go outside. Because space was limited, they had decided on using a folding door of mock pine, and Kathryn opened it by pressing a button. She then stepped inside the small room and her mother and aunt followed her. Topsy got to her feet, minded to accompany them, but just as she was about to trot to the transporter room, she saw Chakotay enter the living room. He was wearing a white shirt over black pants and the shirt's sleeves were rolled up passed his elbows. It seemed a long time since Topsy had last seen her master, so she hurried over to him, greeting him eagerly with a wagging tail. Chakotay scooped up the affectionate little dog and she licked his cheek happily.

A jingle sounded to his left, and Chakotay turned to a small silver electronic mail tray that was next to the front door.

"Looks like we've got mail," he said. He walked over to the tray and saw a pile of red, white, green and gold envelopes, all with the imprint of a Christmas tree in the top right corner. "More Christmas cards." He put Topsy to the floor and picked up the envelopes. Most of them were from well-wishers he didn't know, but one appeared the be from Harry and Libby, and another from the Paris family, which no doubt included the latest addition to their family, their son, Mikal.

"More cards?"

The voice was Kathryn's.

Chakotay turned around and smiled. "Half a dozen."

"Seems like we're getting more and more every year. If this carries on, next year we're going the need a whole room just to store them."

Chakotay laughed and held up two envelopes, one red, the other gold. "These are from B'Elanna and Tom and Harry and Libby."

Kathryn went over to him and he gave her the gold envelope from Harry and Libby. Kathryn opened it and smiled at the picture on the card, which was of a dog resembling Topsy standing in falling snow wearing a Santa's hat. "Cute," she said. Then she opened the card, read the greeting, and went to put it on display with the others.

"I'm so glad they got back together," she said, clipping the card onto a silver string. "But, to tell the truth, I don't think Harry ever really got over her. He could have had his pick of ensigns on the ship, but I just don't think any of them matched up to her."

Chakotay opened the envelope from B'Elanna and Tom, and laughed at the image on the card.

"I'm not sure you're going to like this," he said, his eyes glowing with amusement.

Kathryn turned to him. "Not one of those awful humorous ones, is it?"

"You could say that. Only the joke is on us." He opened the card and laughed again. "This is what B'Elanna says: Tom found this while visiting a cartoon shop in New York recently. I thought you'd get as much of a giggle from it as we did. Seems there's no end to our notoriety."

Kathryn made her way over to him. "Let me see."

He held up the large card, and Kathryn blushed crimson at the picture on it. She was sitting in the captain's chair on Voyager's bridge wearing sexy black underwear, complete with suspenders, while Chakotay was sitting next to her showing off his biceps and wearing only black boxershorts. Tom was sitting at the helm, seemingly wearing nothing at all, and B'Elanna was sitting on his lap in a black negligée. Tuvok was standing at his station with a disapproving look on his face, while Harry, in uniform, was at the left of the picture eyeing up Seven who was in a blue bikini. Neelix and Kes were lying on the floor kissing, and the Doctor was kneeling beside them getting readings with his tricorder. Each of the them had a red voice or thought bubble coming out of their mouths filled with suggestive words.

"That is definitely not going up," Kathryn said, taking the card from him. "And makes me wonder where exactly Tom has been shopping." She opened the card. "Have yourself a nicey, spicy, Voyager vicey Christmas. Definitely makes me wonder where Tom has been."

Chakotay laughed. "You have to admit, though, it's pretty funny."

"You're not the one in suspenders saying 'Thrusters now, Commander!'"

Chakotay laughed again while Kathryn studied the back of the card. "Viceroy Vaults. They will be hearing about this." She then put the card back into the envelope and put it onto a table next to the mail tray. She then looked through the rest of the cards on the tray. "They don't seem to be from anyone I know. It's so nice, though, isn't it, that people take the time to send them?"

"It certainly is."

"I'm going to have to put up another string. There's no way all these will fit in the remaining space."

Chakotay stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll do that later. Seeing as we've got the place to ourselves, how about I run you a warm bath and then treat you to a massage?"

Kathryn smiled and leant back against him, entwining her hands with his. "Sounds heavenly."

She turned her head towards his and they kissed softly.

"I love you, Kathryn Janeway," Chakotay said as they drew apart. "Just incase I haven't told you lately."

"I love you too."

"When we were first married, I didn't think that life could get any better. But it gets better all the time. I know we've had some difficult times over the past couple of years, especially with every attempt to have another baby, except this one, not working, but I've never been as happy in my entire life."

"Neither have I. What we have now beats even that time we shared all those years ago."

Chakotay kissed her cheek. "And I have a feeling this Christmas is going to be the best yet."

Kathryn smiled. "So do I." She paused. "I always dreaded Christmas more than any other time of the year. I always wished I could stay in space and just avoid the whole thing, but my mother always looked forward to having me home. But now it's such a special time, and will be even more so as the children grow up."

"Yes, and I can't wait." Chakotay then drew away from her. "I've been working on the nursery all morning. Want to see?"

Kathryn turned to him and smiled. "Sure."

They began to walk in the direction of the nursery, and Topsy got up to follow them. They passed the study, the now extended kitchen and dining area, and made their way into a well-lit hallway that led to the bedrooms. The long windows in the hallway overlooked the backyard, which was now a very nice patio area, and part of a garden they had cultivated. After passing the first bedroom, which was Bertie's, they stopped at the second.

Chakotay opened the door, and Kathryn walked inside. Ever since they had extended the cabin, this room had been left bare and empty, except for a blue carpet that covered the floor. But it looked like a different room now. It was bright and cheerful and very inviting. There was a fluffy pink carpet gracing the floor, a pretty blind of bunny rabbits and butterflies at the window, pink velvet drapes, and a pink border containing pastel letters of the alphabet on the walls.

"It's wonderful," Kathryn said, looking around. "You've done a great job."

Chakotay joined her in the middle of the room and gestured towards the right wall. "I was thinking I could put up a couple of shelves there to store toys and things. I think it would be the best place."

"Agreed. Given the position of the door, that side of the room would be too drafty to sleep."

"What color shelves would you like?"

"I think...blue. No, yellow."

Chakotay went over to the other side of the room and opened a pine door that led into a small bathroom.

"I was thinking we could also change the suite in here. Bertie has blue and I was thinking we could put in pink or yellow. Something that makes it look more cheerful. It makes more sense to change it now that we're doing up the room than when junior has arrived."

"Definitely. And I think yellow would be good. It goes with most colors so we wouldn't have to change the suite again if we change the colors in this room."

Chakotay closed the door and came back into the bedroom. "So, I guess now we just have to decide where to put the crib. I know it will be time for Bertie to move into a bed by the time Junior is born, but he loves his crib so the transition might take a while. It's better if I make another one."

Kathryn gazed at him, her eyes sparkling. "I think you'll find you mean two."

Chakotay stilled a moment as he tried to comprehend her meaning, and then his eyes lit up as he did. "You mean?"

Kathryn nodded. "We're having twins. I suspected last night when I checked the baby's lifesign and found two, but I didn't want to say anything until the Doctor confirmed it."

Chakotay closed the gap between them and took her in his arms. "Oh, Kathryn," he laughed happily. "This is just... fantastic."

Kathryn smiled and held him in return. Then Chakotay drew slightly away.

"But if this was our last ovum, then..."

Kathryn nodded. "They're identical. Just like my great aunts Martha and Mary." She paused. "I'm going to have to see the Doctor quite often, though. Because the split happened after implantation, the babies are sharing the same placenta and amniotic sac. That's always more risky than when they have their own. But, so long as they're carefully monitored so any potential problems can be dealt with before they happen, they should be just fine."

Chakotay looked deep into her eyes, his own shining with happiness. "I guess I'll be spending a lot of time making cribs."

Kathryn laughed softly. "I guess you will."

Chakotay then kissed her tenderly and they happily embraced.

END OF CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE