Tom stood in the quiet house. It was the first day of school and he wasn't yelling upstairs for one of his children to get their butts down so they could eat and be on time for school. Selena was their last to leave and she was starting at the Academy today. The house seemed so big without their children there. Miral had gradated for the Academy last spring; she was an Ensign going to Q'onoS. Xavier was starting his third year at the academy and loving every moment of it.
Tom made his way from the kitchen to the stairs leading to the basement where his office was and tried to work. He saw that B'Elanna had left her coffee cup on the counter from this morning before running off to her classes. He could walk over and out it away or just leave it there. There weren't any other dishes around to put away. Tom sighed as he made his way downstairs to his office.
He sat at his desk and tried to pick up the PADD that he left here last night, but he saw the pictures he had of his family over the last twenty-four years. There was a picture of him and B'Elanna on their wedding day in the jumpsuit from the race with smiles on their faces. Tom laughed because they don't look that young anymore. They didn't know where their marriage was going and if they would have three kids, but they had each other.
Tom looked at the next picture and it was when B'Elanna was pregnant with Miral and Tom was talking to her bump. B'Elanna was trying to read a PADD but kept laughing at what Tom was saying to their child. Tom doesn't remember who took that picture because that was one of his favorites.
Tom remembers the moment when he held Miral in his arms for the first time. He ran from the bridge to sickbay and entered with no breath. B'Elanna and the doctor were standing by the bio bed. There was a bundle in B'Elanna's arms, and it was their daughter. Tom made his way over and looked down at her. She took his heart right away. B'Elanna asked if he wanted to hold his daughter and all Tom remembered was B'Elanna placing Miral in his arms. She felt so light to him. He had shed a tear.
Tom wiped the tear that was falling from his face. That was a memory that he was going to remember forever. He looked at another picture and saw that it was B'Elanna pregnant with Xavier because Miral was in his arms, and they just found their forever home. They were standing in front of the house as his mom took the picture. Now the house seemed too big for the two of them.
Tom sighed as another picture took his interest. It was in black and white. He was standing in Xavier's with a crying Xavier. Xavier wasn't sleeping through the night and Tom was walking with him. Tom was bare foot in only a pair sweatpants and a child on his chest. Tom knew that B'Elanna took the picture, and she gave it to him as a birthday gift. He loved that time he got to spend with his son. He would talk to him about what it was going to be like. Tom had to look away because Xavier was grown now.
Tom saw the picture that was next to that one and Tom smiled. B'Elanna was pregnant with Selena and Miral and Xavier were kissing her round belly saying something to their new sister. B'Elanna was laughing at something the kids were saying and Tom loved the light that was in her eyes. She had an arm around each child. Tom had to take a picture of his family.
Tom smiled as he looked at the next picture. It was the day that Xavier and Miral got to meet Selena. They couldn't wait to meet their little sister and had help with a sign that they made. Miral was sitting on one side with a big smile on her face as he held on to Selena's head. Tom remembered that B'Elanna was standing to the side to take Selena if something went wrong. Xavier was holding her bottom but there was a frown on his face because Selena couldn't play with him just yet. Tom had taken the picture quickly because either Xavier or Selena would start crying.
Tom continued to look at the pictures as his children grew. There was a picture of Miral and D'stil looking at each other and not telling their feeling for each other. Tom hoped that they would do something now that Miral was on Q'onoS because they could make each other happy. As much as Tom didn't want it his little girl was grown.
The picture next to that one was one of Xavier winning a local artist competition. He was standing there holding his winning artwork. It was something of a spaceship. Xavier winning that competition got him a place in the Starfleet designs program at Starfleet academy. Tom couldn't be happier for his son.
The most recent picture was of Selena graduating from high school with honors. Selena stood in the middle with Tom and B'Elanna to one side and Miral and Xavier standing to the other side. They were all happy for her. Now she was living her dream in Starfleet medical program.
"They grow up so fast," Tom spun around in his chair to see his wife standing in the doorway of his office. He glanced back at the clock he had on his desk to see that it was late afternoon. He didn't get any work done today. He was too busy going down memory lane with his kids.
B'Elanna came in the room and sat on his lap. "That picture is my favorite," She pointed to the where he is holding Xavier in the center of his room.
Tom wrapped his arms B'Elanna and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Now what are we going to do, now that they are all gone?"
"First," B'Elanna stepped out of his lap and held out her hand. "We are going to get some food than have sex in every room."
Tom took her hand and let her lead him out of his office. He saw a sparkle in her eyes at remind him of when they started dating and couldn't get enough of each other. They made their way upstairs to the kitchen. B'Elanna replicated dinner for them while Tom found a wine for them.
After dinner, Tom put the dirty dishes away while B'Elanna finished her wine. Tom glanced back to see that B'Elanna was unbuttoning her shirt. Tom moaned and made his way over to her. He took the wine glass from her and placed it on the counter. Tom kissed B'Elanna before lifting one corner of her shirt and pulled it off her shoulder. He did the same with the other corner and let the shirt fall to the floor. Tom reached for her when he heard the door open.
Tom glanced up to see his son, Xavier walking in the house. Tom gathered B'Elanna into his arms as B'Elanna hid her head in his chest. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Tom bent down, grabbed B'Elanna shirt, and handed it to her. B'Elanna quickly her shirt on. Tom eyes went from his wife to his son, who was smiling. "I thought that you and Mom could use some company tonight."
"Your mother and I are okay being alone," Tom growled. He could feel B'Elanna laughing.
"Are you sure?" Xavier asked.
'Yes, Xavier," B'Elanna said. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."
"Okay," Tom watched his son leave the house.
"Computer, lock all doors," Tom said.
B'Elanna laughed. Tom took her hand and led her upstairs to their bedroom. "I think that we can handle our empty nest just fine," Tom took B'Elanna's lips.