Later that night B'Elanna lied in bed, thinking about what her life would be like if she never met Tom Paris. Tom had come upstairs at one point to grab something. B'Elanna had asked why she married him. They had talked about what her life would have been like without Tom. Even after they moved on to a different topic, B'Elanna still thought about what her life would be like without Tom.
The women had left before Tom and the kids were done in holodeck. B'Elanna made her way upstairs to bed stilling thinking about her life. B'Elanna didn't think that she would have a master's degree and almost be done with her doctorate. B'Elanna smiled to herself.
"What are you smiling about," Tom said as he entered the bedroom.
"Just thinking how amazing my life is," B'Elanna watched him disrobe.
Tom crawled on the bed and made his way over to her. "And where is this all coming from? The last I knew you were asking why you married me," His face was two inches away from hers.
B'Elanna wrapped her arms around his neck. "I was wondering what my life would be like if I would have never met you or fallen in love with you."
Tom moved the blanket away from her. "It would be a boring life," Tom leaned down and kissed her.
B'Elanna broke the kiss. "You don't know that."
"I do. The moment I entered your life," He ran a finger along the side of her breast. "I brought a level of interest to it."
B'Elanna laughed. "I think that my life was just fine without you. I was part of a rebellion before we got lost."
"After the rebellion you would have been bored," Tom leaned down and kissed her again.
"Again, you don't know that," B'Elanna broke the kiss.
"Shut up. I'm trying to make love to my wife, mother of my three monsters," Tom kissed her again as she was laughing.
B'Elanna looked out her shop window to see if Miral was coming home from school. Her daughter was healthy and loved. B'Elanna didn't know where she would be without her daughter. She was part of the maquis until she found out that she was pregnant with Miral. She didn't want to raise her baby in that environment. She found a place on this planet because they needed someone that could fix anything and B'Elanna had no problem doing that.
She went back to the replicator for the Andersons. She had music in the background playing that she almost didn't hear the voices outside her window.
"Hi, I'm Tom Paris and I'm looking for B'Elanna Torres," B'Elanna looked up and saw a blond hair man talking to her daughter.
Miral crossed her arms. "Why do you need Mommy?" She asked. B'Elanna had to hold in a laugh because her five-year-old daughter was trying to protect her.
Tom got down on to her level and looked her right in the eyes. "I need your mommy to help me with my shuttle. It is broken and I heard that she could help me," He smiled at Miral.
B'Elanna decided it was time to make her presence known. She stepped out of her shop and both daughter and man looked up at her. B'Elanna had to take a breath because his eyes were clear blue. There was an easy smile on his face. He was standing there in civilian clothes, but he had a stance of a Starfleet officer. She wondered if he was in Starfleet and had shore leave or something. There was something about that reminded her of a Tom Paris she heard about in the Maquis. He was pilot for Chakotay before he caught. The last she heard he was in penal colony on Earth.
B'Elanna had worked for Chakotay before he had disappeared. She was helping to fix a ship when he disappeared, so she wasn't with him. B'Elanna looked at Tom again. She wondered if he was the same Tom that she heard about.
B'Elanna crossed her arms. "Miral, go in and get a snack," B'Elanna told her daughter. Miral nodded and ran into the house. "I'm B'Elanna Torres and how can I help you."
Tom smiled. "My shuttle broken down just out of town and I was wondering if you could look at it." B'Elanna knew that there was a charm about him that could get him out of everything.
"Sure," B'Elanna said. "How does tomorrow morning sound. I have a project I need to finish, and my daughter will be at school."
Tom nodded. "It will be fine. I'll meet you here in the morning," He turned around and headed for the town hotel.
B'Elanna took a sigh because it has been a while since she was attracted to a man. She had gone on dates but once they found out about Miral they turned and ran away. Some of them tried to connect with Miral but it never lasted. She tried to think when the last time she had sex with a man.
B'Elanna shook her head. Tom was probably going to be here for a couple of weeks before he left. He wasn't the type that stood to settle down and raise a family. B'Elanna headed for her shop to finish the replicator and to her daughter.
The next morning, B'Elanna watched Tom make his way to her shop. Miral couldn't stop talking about him last night and this morning when they got ready for their day. Miral left for school with her friend Jessica and her mom.
Tom smiled at her. "Good morning, Ms. Torres," His smile very charming.
"Mr. Paris," B'Elanna said. She reached down and grabbed her kit. "Would you like to take me to your shuttle?" She asked.
Tom nodded. He led the way out of town. B'Elanna had to take a breath because he was close to her, and she could smell that he smelled like a raining day. They didn't say much as they made their way to the shuttle.
"This is my baby," Tom pointed out the shuttle. B'Elanna looked at the shuttle, and it wasn't standard Starfleet. It was something personal. "You think that after spending seven years in space I would want to spend some time on the ground, but flying was calling to me."
B'Elanna nodded. Tom opened the shuttle door, and they went in. She saw the console and made her way over there. She took out her tools to see what she could do for the shuttle. Tom stood by the side waiting to hear what she had to say about his shuttle.
"It looks like I'm going to need a part and it is going to take a week to get here. Then a week to put it in," B'Elanna said. "I hope you had no big plans."
Tom shook his head. "Thanks," He said. B'Elanna got up and headed for the door. "You'll like it here," B'Elanna stepped outside.
"Will I get to see you around town?" Tom asked. B'Elanna looked behind her to see that he was closing his shuttle and waiting for her answer.
B'Elanna smiled. "Maybe," She headed back to town.
B'Elanna stood to the side of the children playing a game for the harvest festival, watching Miral play. She looked away moment to see Tom Paris was standing with the other men. She has seen him around the town, but she hasn't talked to him since the beginning of the week. He looked up and saw that she was watching him. It had a feeling that they were the only ones around.
"So, when are you going to sleep with him?" B'Elanna broke eye contact with Tom and to see Jessica's mom and her friend, Mel standing next to her.
"Never, he only here for two weeks and then he is leaving," B'Elanna looked back at Miral to make sure she hasn't hurt anyone.
Mel rolled her eyes. "When was the last time that you," Mel looked around to make sure none of the children were paying attention to them. "Had sex?"
B'Elanna had to think about it for second. It has been a while since she had sex. "A while, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to sleep with Tom Paris."
Mel raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
B'Elanna sighed and glanced at Tom one more time to see that he was helping set the tables up. "He is not the settling down type."
"I'm not saying that he has to be, but he can help clean those cobwebs out," Mel looked at Tom too.
"Why do you care?" B'Elanna asked. She didn't think that her friend cared about her nonexistence sex life.
"One I need to live vicarious through you because I'm old married lady and two have seen how good looking he is. He keeps looking over here and I know it is not me he is looking at," Mel smiled.
B'Elanna laughed. "You are just going to have to dream because it is not happening," Mel shook her head. B'Elanna looked at Tom to see that he was making his way over to them.
"Hi, B'Elanna," Tom smiled. Before B'Elanna could respond they heard.
"Tom," All three adults looked to see Miral running over and hugging Tom. "Are you coming to the shop on Monday?"
Tom looked from the child to B'Elanna. "I was planning on it."
B'Elanna nodded. "The part should be here by then."
Tom stuffed his hands in his pocket. "I'll see you than unless you do the honor of a dance later." Tom smiled that it almost melted B'Elanna's heart. She had a feeling that it had worked on many women.
B'Elanna opened her mouth to say no when Mel jumped in. B'Elanna had forgotten that she was there. "Yes, she will," Mel smiled at her. B'Elanna narrowed her eyes at her friend. B'Elanna saw a giant smile on Tom's face before walking away.
"I will kill you," B'Elanna mumbled to Mel after Tom was out of ear shot. All Mel did was smile.
B'Elanna was nervous about seeing Tom today. The dance they shared at the festival was something out of this galaxy. When she was in his arms, she felt that they were the only ones on the dance floor. She could feel the heat coming from him. They didn't say much during the dance, but they said a lot without words. He would run his hand over back barely touching her butt. He would only smile when he got her to hitch her breath. The dance only lasted a few minutes, but to B'Elanna it felt like days.
"Mommy, do I have to go to school?" Miral asked. "I want to go with you and Tom."
B'Elanna looked at her daughter from her coffee. "Yes," B'Elanna touched a finger to Miral's temple. "You need all the learning you can get." Miral frowned. B'Elanna hated seeing her daughter unhappy. "How about I ask Tom to dinner later?"
Miral's brightened and smiled. "Yeah," She jumped off her chair and ran for her backpack.
B'Elanna laughed as she heard a knock on the door. She set her coffee mug down as she made her way to the door. Miral was already at the door and ready to open it. "Miral, you know to wait for me."
Miral frowned but didn't open the door. B'Elanna kissed the top of her head before opening the door.
"Tom," Miral jumped into his arms.
"Hi," Tom laughed as he put the child down. He looked up to B'Elanna. "I'm sorry if I'm here too early."
"No, this is fine," B'Elanna looked down at Miral. "I need to drop her off at school and then we can go."
Tom nodded and was ready to say something when Miral spoke up. "Can you stay for dinner tonight?"
Tom looked down at Miral before looking back at B'Elanna. "As long as your mom is okay with it."
Miral took Tom's hand. "Mommy said it was okay," She led Tom out of the house.
Tom looked behind at B'Elanna to find out that she was trying not to laugh at him. B'Elanna grabbed her tools and the box that held the part and followed Tom and Miral out of the house. They dropped Miral off at school and headed for his shuttle.
"I don't have to come to dinner if you don't want me, too," Tom said.
"It's fine. I told her that I would ask you later," B'Elanna remembered that she was nervous again. Maybe she should have Miral with them.
Tom chuckled. "I think your daughter beat you to the punch."
"My daughter likes you for some reason," B'Elanna rolled her eyes at him.
"I do have a way with women," Tom smiled. B'Elanna wanted to hit him, but her hands were filled.
They came to the shuttle and started working on it. They didn't say much as they worked. When the day was over, they headed back to town to pick Miral up from her friend's house. Miral took Tom's hand right away. They made their way home hearing all about Miral's day at school. B'Elanna was glad that Miral was doing most of the talking.
Dinner Miral played twenty questions with Tom. B'Elanna had heard everything about Tom's time on Voyager with Captain Janeway and Chakotay. B'Elanna had missed her old friend. She learned about his family that his dad was admiral in Starfleet, and he had two sisters. He told them that he was in Starfleet before leaving. B'Elanna had a feeling that he didn't want to talk about by his eyes as they went dark. Miral would have asked her more questions, but it was time for her to go to bed.
B'Elanna followed Tom to the door as she sent Miral to get ready for bed. "Thank you for having me," Tom said. "Its not everyday that I get pancakes for dinner."
B'Elanna laughed. "It's Miral favorite food."
They stood in the doorway neither one saying anything. B'Elanna should make sure that Miral isn't making a mess in the bathroom and Tom should get back to his hotel. The moon looked big behind Tom. Tom leaned over as B'Elanna leaned forward. They were inches from their lips touching when they heard.
"Mommy, I brushed my teeth," B'Elanna leaned back and moaned.
Tom nodded. "Goodnight, B'Elanna. I'll see you tomorrow," B'Elanna watched him walk into the night. B'Elanna might just kill her daughter later.
Tom showed up just before it was time to take Miral to school. The only person that talked was Miral and both Tom and B'Elanna answered when it was needed. Miral ran into the school yard when she saw that her friend was here. B'Elanna watched Miral for a moment before she and Tom went to the shuttle. B'Elanna was ready to get to work when Tom grabbed her wrist. She looked up at him.
"There is something I didn't get a chance to do last night," Tom pulled B'Elanna close.
Before B'Elanna could say anything, Tom had his lips on hers. B'Elanna moaned in the kiss. She had been dreaming about what would have happened if Miral didn't call out to them. B'Elanna opened her mouth to his tongue. He pulled her closer, so she was pressed close to him. B'Elanna had to wrap her arms around his neck.
The kiss was something that B'Elanna hadn't tasted before. She felt that she couldn't get enough of him. He ran his hands from her back to her ass. She was close enough to feel his erection through their clothes. She wanted to feel him inside her. Tom lowered them to the floor of the shuttle and the next thing that B'Elanna knew she was under him. Without breaking the kiss, they started to disrobe each other. They spent the rest of the morning speaking without words.
"We missed a day of work," B'Elanna sighed. Tom was running finger along her side.
"It's fine," Tom's eyes roam her body like he didn't learn every inch of it today. "I'm in no big rush to get back."
"Hmmm," B'Elanna closed her eyes as he ran his fingers over her body. She knew that they would be making love again soon. She didn't care because he made her feel special. She knew that she would remember this for the rest of her life. There was no one like Tom. Tom leaned up to kiss her when they heard voices.
Tom sat up and started handing her clothes as he looked out to see who was coming. They didn't think anyone would know this place. Tom saw that it was Miral and B'Elanna's friend, Mel. "It's your daughter with your friend," B'Elanna swore as she finished dressing.
"B'Elanna," Mel called out to her. B'Elanna finished putting on her boot before exiting the shuttle. Mel tried to look over B'Elanna's shoulder to what was happening. B'Elanna made sure to close the shuttle door before smiling.
"Yes," B'Elanna tried to keep the smile off her face.
Mel narrowed her eyes at her. B'Elanna had a feeling that if there wasn't a child around Mel would have asked what is happening with her. "You forgot about to pick up Miral."
B'Elanna moaned before putting her head in her hands. "Sorry, I got caught up working," B'Elanna looked down to her daughter. "Did you have fun at school?" Miral nodded. B'Elanna smiled at Mel. "Thank you for bring her to me."
"It was no problem," Mel still tried to look over B'Elanna's shoulder. "I hope you got what you needed done today," B'Elanna blushed. She hated her human genes sometimes. Mel smiled. "I have the answer I need," Mel turned around and headed back to town.
"Tom," Miral said as the man came out of the shuttle.
Tom smiled at Miral. B'Elanna couldn't stop thinking about what his lips were doing to her earlier. "How was school?" He ran his hand over her head like a father would do.
"Good," Miral said. She took Tom's hand. B'Elanna could see that her daughter was falling in love with Tom.
"How about I take you and your mom to dinner?" Tom let Miral lead him back to town.
"Can we go to my favorite place?" Miral asked.
"Sure," Tom said. B'Elanna followed them with her unused case of tools.
B'Elanna watched as Tom carried a sleeping Miral home. She ready to take Miral from Tom, but he shook his head. B'Elanna led him through the house to Miral's room. Tom laid Miral on her bed and B'Elanna changed Miral into her pajamas. B'Elanna turned on Miral's night light before closing the door. Tom was standing in the hall.
"I should go," Tom said. He headed for the stairs.
B'Elanna grabbed his hand. He looked back. "She is out like a light, and I think that we have some things to finish," She led him to her room down the hall away from Miral's.
"I will be gone by the time she wakes," Tom said as he closed the door to the bedroom.
B'Elanna took a sip of her coffee, she was going to need it today. They were going to have to get some work done today.
"Mommy, where is Tom?" Miral asked. B'Elanna knew that Tom was at his hotel room showering and changing before coming back over. "Because he should be here if he slept over."
B'Elanna choked on her coffee. "He forgot his clothes, so he had to go back and change," She hoped that her daughter believed her. B'Elanna wondered what her daughter saw. She figured that she didn't see anything because she didn't say anything about what they were doing.
Tom showed up five minutes later, B'Elanna missed his beard that was growing in. She liked the feeling of it on her skin. B'Elanna watched as he hugged Miral. B'Elanna didn't know what to say to Miral after Tom left. Miral was going to be heartbroken.
They went to drop Miral off at school as a family. That thought tugged at B'Elanna's heart. She had to remind herself that he was leaving after his shuttle was fixed. Miral hugged them both when they reached the school.
Tom reached for her hand as they left the school. He brought it closer and kissed it. B'Elanna didn't know what to think, but she wanted every moment she could have with this man before he left.
"Miral knows about you sleeping over," B'Elanna said as they reached the shuttle.
Tom gave a half smile. "I don't think we did a lot of sleeping."
B'Elanna hit him. "I was thinking that you should just stay over until your shuttle is fixed."
Tom reached over and kissed her. "I like that idea."
The week passed and the shuttle was fixed. B'Elanna looked at the man that was sleeping next to her. She knew that he was leaving this morning. She glanced from to the sun coming up. She was going to miss him. She already knew there were going to sleepless nights coming her way. She didn't know how it happened, but she fell in love with this man. She knew that Miral loved Tom, too. It was going to be hard on her when Tom was gone.
"Stop thinking," Tom looked up at her. There was a question in eyes that B'Elanna couldn't answer. She knew that he was asking to stay. She didn't want him to regret staying with her and Miral.
"Sorry," B'Elanna ran a hand over his blond hair. "This is all ending all too soon."
"I don't have to leave," Tom placed his chin on her stomach.
"Yes, you do. You have a life that is not here," B'Elanna felt the tears welling in her eyes.
"B'Elanna, I care for you deeply," Tom reached up and wiped a tear that came out.
"Tom," B'Elanna didn't know what to say. She knew what kind of man he was. "You'll get tired of me and everything."
"You don't know that," Tom hissed.
"Yes, I do," B'Elanna said.
Tom jumped off the bed and started to dress. "If you don't want me here, I'll leave." B'Elanna watched as he finished getting dress, gathering his things around the room, and leave the room.
B'Elanna made sure to hold the tears in until she heard the outer door close, and she knew that he was gone.
B'Elanna didn't know how she got up and started her day. She had to remember that she had a five-year-old to take care of and she had projects to work on that she put on hold while she was fixing Tom's shuttle. Miral asked where Tom was and B'Elanna had to tell her that Tom had to get home. Miral didn't think that Tom was leaving for good.
B'Elanna heard the door opened and thought that it was Mel coming to take Miral to school so B'Elanna could get to work. The footsteps were heavy as they made their way to the kitchen. B'Elanna took a breath in but didn't let it out when she saw Tom standing there.
"Tom," Miral shouted and ran to the man. Tom leaned down and hugged her. Miral looked between Tom and her mother when there was a knock on the door.
"Miral, grab your bag. Mel and Jessica are here to take you to school," B'Elanna said without looking away from Tom.
"But, Mommy," Miral whined.
"Miral," B'Elanna warned her. Miral grabbed her bag and ran from the kitchen. B'Elanna knew that later she was going to have to make it up to Miral after school. B'Elanna waited until she couldn't hear Miral anymore before speaking. "Tom, what are you doing here?"
"I'm not leaving," Tom said. "I love you and I love that little girl," He pointed to the path that Miral took.
B'Elanna closed her eyes. "Tom," She said his name.
"No," Tom hissed. "It is my turn to talk. Ever since I got back from Delta Quadrant, I have trying to find a place where I belong. I don't belong up there," He pointed to the ceiling and B'Elanna knew he was talking about space. "I could have stayed in Starfleet or Earth where everyone wanted to know me. I left to find where I belong, and I found that here with you and Miral. I love waking up to you and having pancakes for dinner," B'Elanna let out a laugh. "I don't know what to do to prove to you that we belong together. I'll get my own place and I will come over every day to see you and Miral until you agree to marry me, and I can be Miral's father. I want to adopt that little girl. I want forever, B'Elanna."
Tears came down B'Elanna's face. She could only nod. Before she knew it, she was in Tom's arms. He kissed away the tears before taking her lips. B'Elanna broke the kiss long enough to say. "I want forever, too."
B'Elanna woke with a startled. She glanced at Tom sleeping next to her. His back turned away from her. She hit him on the arm and heard him moan. He turned his head at her.
"What?" He smiled.
"Hold me," B'Elanna said. Tom only smiled and took her in his arms. He kissed her on the top of head.
"What is this about?" Tom asked.
"Just a dream," B'Elanna settle her head on his shoulder. Tom nodded and closed his own eyes.