Gretchen blinked at her in shock.

"I didn't mean to surprise you so badly," said Gretchen, looking away awkwardly, "I suppose I could have introduced that better. It just….it didn't occur to me you could really be surprised."

"Well, I….." said Kathryn, breathing in, and struggling with her composure for another moment, "What do you mean?"

"I saw your father….I saw Earth, 20 years ago...It wasn't dreamlike. I really saw him...I know it was him. I…..you were my cadet advisor at the Academy, and you asked me to go to the farm with you, on one of our breaks…..I really spoke with him…..He was the last thing I saw."

Kathryn continued to stare at her, and Gretchen felt her face grow hot in embarrassment. She looked away for a moment.

"I mean….I know it sounds silly, but that's what happened," said Gretchen, turning back and making solid eye contact with Kathryn.

"It….it doesn't sound silly Gretchen, I was just surprised. So you really attended the Academy for six weeks?"

"Over five months," corrected Gretchen, "A semester. I don't understand the time difference. But I was," she said firmly, "I did everything: classes, labs, weekends. And it was freedom…..what I wanted to do. I didn't really have to answer to anyone, not like here."

Kathryn laughed slightly, eyes growing wide, "The cadets don't often think of the Academy as freedom, but compared to Voyager yes. There's not even a Brig on campus."

"And no morgue," said Gretchen suddenly.

"Yes, I…" said Kathryn seriously, "I can see why you would think of it as freedom."

"Well," said Gretchen, looking awkward, "So I saw the farm."

"What did you think of it?" asked Kathryn, too eagerly.

"Very green," said Gretchen, "But at the end…..I want you to know…."

Gretchen paused for a moment and licked her lips, but then turned and narrowed her eyes in on Kathryn's, "I told your father the truth. What was going to happen to him. And he believed me. And he said he didn't blame you. That he'd love you forever."

Kathryn continued to hold Gretchen's gaze, but her vision became blurry, and her shoulders physically fell. The guilt of her father's death left her body, and she could feel his love for her rushing in where it had been.

I didn't think I blamed myself anymore, thought Kathryn, pushing at the tears angrily, I didn't think I did….but then why do I feel like this now?

Kathryn put her hands up to her face, and allowed herself two sobs, before she stood up suddenly and moved to push the tears away.

Kathryn was never more shocked in her life, than she was when she realized Gretchen's arms were around her. Just a bit taller than Kathryn herself and very warm, her auburn hair smelled like cinnamon, and violets.

After a long moment, Gretchen pulled back a bit, and held her shoulders, speaking softly.

"He really did love you, you know. Really. The way Tom loved his kids. The way you love this ship. Really."

"I know Gretchen," said Kathryn softly.

"Once you're loved like that you shouldn't forget. Even hearing about that kind of love is reason for hope. Don't you think?"

Gretchen's eyes were shining, and the stars lit her auburn hair, giving it a radiant glow.

"Yes," said Kathryn, "Yes, Gretchen, I do."

They sat together for a long time. Kathryn did not want to bring it up, but felt obligated to do so.

"Gretchen," she said finally, "I haven't announced it yet, but they finished sorting through the information a few hours ago….we'll be leaving Asclepius soon…..I don't know whether we'll see any more Klingon worlds or not. I talked to Syrus and he says there's an official Klingon government ship coming next week…if you want they're willing to take you with them when they return. You can head on to Kronos when you get to the next major planet."

Kathryn did not want her staying in Klingon territory with a mysterious enemy lurking around destroying space stations.

Kathryn had not wanted to ask Syrus.

Kathryn did not want to make this offer. But it was Gretchen's decision.

Gretchen said nothing as Kathryn continued, "Syrus was sympathetic and Asclepius actually has the ability to award low level diplomatic status…..Voyager could stay another week until the ship arrives and see you off...I don't think they'd mistreat you…..it's as safe as it's going to be."

Kathryn looked at her daughter, eyes wide, waiting for an answer.

"No," said Gretchen shaking her head in firm denial.

"I'm not headed to Kronos," said Gretchen, holding her gaze, "I'm staying on Voyager, until she completes her journey."

Kathryn looked at her, evaluating. Gretchen looked back. There was no wavering in her eyes or manner. She was determined.

She really does seem better.

"So it's off to The Bridge and Earth?" asked Kathryn, still as neutrally as she could manage, just in case.

"Yes," said Gretchen, smiling. A real, genuine smile, with no shadow behind her eyes.

As Kathryn stared at her daughter's smiling face, she could not help but beam back at her. It was a wonderful, triumphant moment that Kathryn would remember her whole life.

And yet somehow as it ended, as Gretchen left for a moment to replicate a tea, Kathryn could not help feeling a sense of foreboding.

When has anything on Voyager been that simple?

Kathryn had no idea if the Bridge would work. Or what would come of the mysterious threat that had destroyed Kh'thoh's space station and killed thousands of Klingons.

Voyager was, as ever, one step away from disaster.

Still, she thought, as she asked Gretchen if she wanted to put on her favorite Bajoran composer and listen together, One can hope.

There's no hope, no prayer, no music in Hell. Thought Kathryn, remembering Dante's Inferno.

There was the prayer wheel on the table, and the symphony over the computer's sound system, and her daughter's auburn hair next to her, lit by the stars out the window.

Today there's hope in Hell.

Kathryn relaxed into the couch, and held her warm coffee mug up to her lips.

On towards home.

The Daughter and The Daughter End

A/N:

Thanks to everyone who stuck with me!

I know I was slow to post on this one. It's harder to write now that the pandemic is over. This one was also just harder for me to write because of its nature. This had to be a more introspective, quieter story focused on healing. The next one will have more action. It should also have more focus on Kathryn.

Look for the next story "The Mother and the Daughter" which will begin to be posted sometime in 2024 or the first half of 2025.

Acknowledgements: The Dante's Inferno commentary I mentioned is by Anthony Esolen.