Mom ate a human
Rating: T
Pairing: J/C, P/T
Summary: After hearing her parents, Melonie gets a little confused
Disclaimer: I don't own Voyager or its characters. I own plot and Melonie. I don't have a beta either so mistakes are my own.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoy this little story. I know Melonie's speech might be a little advanced for her age but hey, Sci-fi.
=/\=
Melonie Janeway was super excited, it was a Friday and while her parents had to do an overnight shift on the bridge her god parents didn't. Hence the excitement, Uncle Tom was her favourite person aboard Voyager, excluding her parents and Naomi of course, because while he could be serious and mean he was mainly fun and always showing her the wonders of the 20th century. It just so happened that tonight he had promised to watch an old movie called Beauty and the Beast by this huge company called Disney, having been ecstatic all week Kathryn and Chakotay were glad to get several hours rest from their daughter who had been practically bouncing off the walls since she had been told the 'good' news
Arriving promptly at Tom's quarters she jumped excitedly waiting for him to answer.
"Lieutenant Paris, evening, we do have to rush but here is her usual bed-time things don't let her sleep without Marnie, the dolphin, and good luck." Janeway informed the young man.
"Oh and bed by 8 we don't want a grumpy Melonie tomorrow" Chakotay added as he and his wife walked away.
=/\=
Once inside Melonie found Harry and B'Elanna on the sofa waiting there was popcorn and water on the table for them all to share. Melonie smiled she liked B'Elanna lots and Harry was nice.
"Hey there, you coming to watch this movie?" B'Elanna pointed to a seat beside and watched the little girl run over and jump onto the seat.
"Wait a minute Miss Janeway, pyjamas first and what about Marnie, doesn't she want to see the movie." Tom teased but got a mini version of the death glare.
"Marnie is a he" she corrected grabbing her pj's and skipping into the other room.
"We're in for a tough time with her if she is anything like her mother." Harry mused the others laughing knowing it was true.
The movie wasn't exactly what the three adults would normally watch and were able to spot loads of plot holes and inefficiencies but just gave each other knowing looks instead of ruining it for the little girl who was totally mesmerised by it. As the movie credits rolled Melonie was too tired.
"Belle is pretty, my mom is pretty" Melonie suddenly announced
"I suppose she is Melon." Harry agreed not knowing what to say.
"Why do people call me Melon? I like it" she, again randomly asked. Tom smiled and explained to his goddaughter that Naomi had called her that at their first meeting and it had stuck.
"Ok missy, bed time" B'Elanna reached for the girl who was sitting on Tom's knee.
"My Mom ate a human" she really was one for saying random things "I heard her and Daddy said that he was happy and didn't mind if she was sick at night for nine months. Why did my mom eat a human?" the three stared at each other, they knew what was actually happening but how did they answer that question.
"Why don't you tell us what you heard and we can help you figure it out eh?" Tom suggested hopefully and was thankful to see her nodding.
=/\=
It was Thursday night, Kathryn and Chakotay were both exhausted and not just from their jobs. Melonie, their three year old daughter, was becoming increasingly difficult as her movie night with Uncle Tom, Harry and Auntie B'Elanna approached.
Kathryn sat up quite gloomily in bed she had seen the doctor for an emergency after spending a large amount of the previous few nights vomiting.
"Are you alright? Did you eat something bad, one of Neelix' failed culinary concoctions" he teased as she handed him a PADD with the doc's report of her health on it. His smile growing and growing.
"Kathryn, this is great, you clearly didn't eat anything that bad, eh" he joked but turned serious when her expression read 'seriously unimpressed' "What's wrong?" he asked pulling an arm around her.
"Night Owl Syndrome is the problem. My 'eating' habits are going to cost us all sleep" she groaned shoving herself don into the pillow.
"Well we will have a beautiful human at the end dear. What is this Night owl Syndrome?" he tried to be positive but then realised he had no idea what 'Night Owl Syndrome' is.
"The second born in my family causes the female to have night sickness for the entire process and normally the child moves during the night, all night." He looked as if was about to say something but she stopped him "It doesn't matter the gender I've 4 paternal aunts and each one has at least two kids, the second born being a night owl. No matter what the gender, Aunt Martha had a girl second time round and Aunt Joanie a boy and both had to be sedated several times due to the fact they had to practically sleep in the bathroom in fear of being sick again." She rambled as he began to chuckle.
"It will be fine, when my mother was with my sister she had the same problem, I used to think she was being punished for eating a person, now then go to sleep" he soothed stroking her hair "my cannibal" he added getting a sharp jab in the ribs
=/\=
The three adults had three completely different looks on their faces. Harry looked slightly disgusted, the thought of the Captain and Commander having sex was like thinking of his mom and dad having sex, Tom had mischievous grin on his face, he could start the betting pools early this time round and if she was gonna be grouchy that would be extra chances, B'Elanna's expression was difficult to read, it was clearly happy but also concerned maybe because she knew Tom would cause trouble with teasing and bloody betting pools.
"Is my mommy ok. She won't be killed for eating someone, will she?" the little girls big blue eyes bulged, she was so innocent and oblivious but she knew how to kick butt and solve things adults had difficulties with.
"No of course not Melon, she is going to be fine and I'm sure your parents will tell you all about it when the time comes but I wouldn't get too over excited around her for a while, okay." B'Elanna answered positively holding her goddaughter close, something she never imagined she would do, a child in her arms that is. Melonie and her godparents were close, Tom was her favourite if she wanted to do something fun like watching movies or pranking but B'Elanna was better at hugs and just talking, if she couldn't talk to her mom that is.
"I'm tired now, can I go to bed now?" she asked and Harry lifted her up and carried her to the other room where a bed was made up for her.
"Tom can we at least speak to the Captain and Commander before you announce it on the gossip stream, please for her sake" B'Elanna pointed to the room where Melonie was to sleep. Tom gave her a guilty look that said 'Oops, I kinda already have' the half Klingon groaned and through a pillow at her new boyfriend and stormed out.
=/\=
The Next morning Kathryn and Chakotay arrived at 0700 to pick up their bundle of joy. Once inside they sat patiently and Melonie skipped in, she hugged her daddy and then her mommy but this hug was a lot gentler.
"She was an angel, after the movie she went straight to bed." Tom lied slightly, Melonie knew this but the look her godfather gave her she knew to stay quiet.
"Marnie says she'd like to stay with B'Elanna next time and I have to be with Marnie." Melonie announced suddenly.
"Where is B'Elanna?" Chakotay asked noticing the chief engineer was not there.
"She left last night, after she called Uncle Tom a…lying, nosy, self absorbdeded PetaQ, he must have done something really bad. What did you do?" Tom looked around the room and mumbled something like 'B'Elanna being B'Elanna'. The family left swiftly after giving their thanks to Tom.
=/\=
Although Kathryn and Chakotay tried to avoid working on weekends, it was sometimes unavoidable being the command team, Kathryn wanted to speak to Tom without little ears about so leaving her husband and daughter to play she rushed to her ready room.
"Janeway to Paris"
"Paris here, M'am" came the prompt reply.
"Report to my ready room, now" she ordered, hesitating she decided to call B'Elanna to her ready room also. Tom, who was on the bridge, arrived in an instant but B'Elanna, who was in engineering, took a little longer there was uncomfortable silence while the two waited.
"You wanted to see me Captain" B'Elanna walked in, inwardly groaning as she saw Tom.
"What happened last night?" she asked very plainly. "This morning my daughter was exceptionally careful, and when we returned she proceeded to treat me like an invalid, getting pillows and all sorts. So what happened?" she explained further at the two very suspicious pair.
"Captain, Melonie was worried about you…" Tom began
"She overheard you and got a little confused" Kathryn raised an eyebrow "she thinks that…" B'Elanna hesitated.
"She thinks you ate…a human." Tom finished, they both heard the frustrated sigh from their Captain.
"Alright but that doesn't explain the language which graced her ears, B'Elanna" the engineer looked at the floor.
"Tom decided to put the findings into the gossip stream and create a betting pool, I was angry because I knew you would want to wait at least twelve weeks in case…worst came to the worst. I should have been more careful, especially with Melonie around." B'Elanna confessed.
"Thank you for the concern, yes ordinarily we would want to wait but I assume that isn't an option, now" she glared at Tom "does Melonie know she is to be a big sister?" B'Elanna shook her head and proceeded to tell her what she had told Melonie and was then dismissed.
"Well unfortunately I can't take back your gossip, I am disappointed that you couldn't be more discreet for the sake of Melonie, you are aware that some people opposed the idea and I don't want Melonie to be upset by this" Tom looked extremely sullen and guilty "so I want you to revert any bets you win to Melonie and you will be on sickbay duty for…until this one is born" she raised and really wished she could take a picture of his face, right now. "Dissmissed" she finalized and he left head hung low ready to make his way to sickbay.
Kathryn knew at some point he would start grovelling and that is what she was hoping for.
"Janeway to Torres"
"Torres here"
"You'll be happy to know Tom is on sickbay duty until we have a new crewmember" she heard a laugh from B'Elanna.
=/\=
Returning to her quarters shortly after she smiled to see her husband being thrashed at Kadis-Kot, but there was a suspicion that he was letting her win.
"How comes you are so good at this game honey?" she asked her daughter kneeling beside her.
"Marnie, he was a galaxy champion in another life, he tells me how to win. Daddy is also really bad." Melonie smiled innocently, she was so imaginative, and the parents could only hope it wouldn't wear off as she aged.
"Right then, you won't mind if I borrow, the galaxy's worst Kadis-Kot player then" Smiling broadly she went into their bedroom and made sure the door closed.
"The ship knows I'm pregnant. I suggest we have one more appointment and tell Melonie." Kathryn blurted out not keen on leaving a three year old unsupervised for too long.
"Do I want to know how they know?" he asked hesitantly.
"Two words, Tom Paris" and after and a chaste kiss they went to go play with their daughter.
=/\=
To those who are wondering what happened to Mr Paris. When the captain entered her third trimester, he began to grovel, hoping she was more lenient, sufficive to say she was not but during his rounds in sickbay he overheard the baby would be a boy and therefore managed to win that bet, which was the biggest win. He was gutted when Kathryn reminded him they actually belonged to her eldest.
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Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed that. Please let me know in a review.
Coming soon: ManWild and WayJane, a missing scene from Another time and Place.
That-geek-in-a-hat