Tom stepped into the garage next to the house. It wasn't used much since there weren't any cars around. Sitting in the middle was a small spacecraft. He hadn't thought about this shuttle in years until B'Elanna brought up a story for their kids. It was the story of him and the ship he had named Alice.
Tom got the spacecraft between Xavier and Selena's births. He had made a promise to B'Elanna that he wouldn't let this craft get in the way of their family. He hadn't. It got pushed back to a later date. As the kids got older, they got into things at school and out of school. He also had to think about his writing. Maybe he had time to work on it now.
Tom pulled off the cover and smiled as he looked at the craft. He ran a hand over it and remembered why he liked it. It had clean lines, and he knew that he was going to make it space worthy again.
"Dad," Tom looked up and saw his son, Xavier, standing in the doorway. "What are you doing?" Tom saw that he had just got home from school.
"Looking at the craft that I got so many years ago," Tom smiled.
"Can I take a look?" Xavier set his bag down by the door.
"Yeah," Tom said. Xavier made his way over to the craft.
Xavier looked over it. "Why haven't you done anything with it?"
"When I got this, I thought that I would have all the time in the world to work on it, but we had three kids to take care of and I had my writing career to think about. I guess it kept getting pushed to the back burner."
"Why now?" Xavier looked in the craft and saw enough room for two people.
Tom let out a laugh. "You remember the story told about last night at dinner," Xavier nodded. "Well, it got me thinking about this. I was a great pilot at one point in my life."
"Wow, I'm surprised Mom let you have another craft after the first," Xavier stepped out of the craft.
Tom laughed. "She made sure that it wouldn't control my life," Xavier nodded. "I was thinking of working on it again. Do you want me to help me?" Tom thought that this would be a good project to work on with his son.
The light in Xavier's blue eyes shined. "I can," There was excitement in the twelve-year-old boy's voice.
Tom threw an arm around Xavier's shoulders. "Yeah, if we get it space worthy maybe we can take it to space for a test run."
Xavier's eyes widen. "That would be great."
"Our own little project," Both Paris men stared at the spacecraft.
"Dad, you think that we can work on the craft today?" Xavier asked.
Tom glanced at his wife to see if they had anything going on and B'Elanna shook her head. "I don't think that will be a problem," Tom smiled.
"Yes," Xavier was ready to jump off his stool when he heard his mom's voice.
"Are you going to an engineer's help?"
Xavier glanced at his dad. Tom smiled at B'Elanna. "I think that we can handle it," B'Elanna nodded.
"Tom," B'Elanna said his name and Tom knew that B'Elanna wanted to talk to him about something.
"Xavier, I'll meet you in the garage," Tom said.
Xavier nodded and ran from the room. He knew that his mom wanted to talk with his dad alone.
Tom waited until Xavier wasn't in the hearing distance before turning to B'Elanna to see what she wanted to talk about. B'Elanna took a sip of her coffee before speaking. "Don't forget that we have two other children."
Tom sighed. He should have known that this would be a problem. "I talked to both of our daughters and neither one wanted any part in this. I am also doing something with the girls that interest them."
B'Elanna choked on her coffee. Tom smiled because he liked it when he could surprise his wife. Tom kissed her cheek. "I promised that I wouldn't let this spacecraft get in the way of our lives and I love all our children," Tom kissed her on the lips. "I also love their mother."
B'Elanna laughed, pushed him away from her, and picked up her coffee. "Just don't get too tired out there," B'Elanna smiled before heading to the family room.
Tom smiled because he knew the look in his wife's eyes. "Yes, Ma'am," Tom said before heading out of the house.
Tom took a cloth and wiped down the spacecraft. It was ready for space. It had taken Xavier and him a year to get the craft space worthy. "Dad when can we take her out?" Xavier asked as he came out of the spacecraft.
Tom had to think about the mental calendars. He ruffled Xavier's blond hair. "You have school for one more month and then we can go."
"Yes, can we start planning now," Xavier smiled.
"Yes, but I think we need a name for our ship," Tom looked around spacecraft. He was ready to get it in space but there were things that needed to be done before they could get it in space.
Xavier sat on the steps of the craft and placed a finger on his chin to think about a name for their ship. "What about the Paris Craft?"
"I like it," Tom smiled. "We'll get some paint and put the name on the ship," Tom sat next to Xavier and threw an arm around him. "Are ready for two weeks in space with your old man?"
"Yes," Xavier looked at his father. "It is going to be so much fun. Do you think that Mom is going to worry about us?"
Tom didn't have to think about that because B'Elanna voiced her concerns to him about them going into space. "Yes, so we have to set some rules," Xavier nodded. "You have to listen to every command I give even if you don't agree with it." Xavier nodded. "If I tell you to run, you run."
"Yes, Dad," Xavier said.
Tom wrapped his arms around Xavier. "I don't want to lose you and your mother doesn't want to lose both of us."
"I get you, Dad. Do as you say, and we will be okay," Xavier pushed out of his dad's arms. Xavier stood and ran from the garage. Tom knew that he was going to tell his sisters and mom about what was going on.
"Tom, be careful," B'Elanna said as they stood in the doorway of the garage. Tom had a bag on his shoulders.
Tom smiled. "I will," He leaned down and kissed her.
"You better take care of my son," B'Elanna crossed her arms.
"B'Elanna," Tom turned away from the ship for a moment and looked at his wife. "I made sure that if anything happens to me Xavier will get back to you in one piece."
B'Elanna pulled the bag off his shoulders and wrapped her arms him. "I don't want anything to happen to you either."
Tom leaned down and kissed her again. "I promise to make sure that Xavier and I come home."
B'Elanna knew that was all she was going to get from her husband. "You promise," Tom nodded. Tom wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Why are you guys so gross?" The couple broke apart and looked at their son. He was standing there with a bag on his shoulder and his sisters stood behind him.
"I was giving your mother a hug goodbye," Tom let B'Elanna end the hug. Xavier shook his head before he tried to head off the ship.
B'Elanna pulled her only son towards her and hugged him. "Mom," Xavier moaned. "I'm not leaving you forever."
B'Elanna pulled back. "You are still my son, and you are going to be gone for two weeks," Xavier rolled his eyes. "I love you," She told him.
"Love you, too, Mom," Xavier pulled out of her arms and headed for the ship.
B'Elanna glanced at Tom to see that he was hugging the girls. B'Elanna wrapped her arms around herself because she was going to miss her husband and son. Tom let go of his daughters. He smiled at B'Elanna.
"I love you," He said as he made his way over to her.
"I love you, too," Tom kissed her one more time before following his son the ship. B'Elanna and the girls moved out of the way as Tom started up the ship. He flew it out of the garage.
All B'Elanna saw were two smiling faces in the spacecraft as it flew off.
"Wow," Xavier said once they entered space.
Tom smiled when he saw the excitement on Xavier's face. Tom remembered the excitement when he was in space for the first time. This wasn't Xavier's first time in space since they made many trips to Q'onoS. This was the first time that Xavier had helped him pilot a ship of their own.
Tom moved them around the starships of Starfleet that were orbiting Earth until they were in a clear part. "Are you ready?" Tom turned to Xavier. Xavier nodded. Tom pressed a couple of buttons, and they were in wrap. It was only wrap two. They weren't going too far from Earth.
Once they were out of wrap, Tom looked around to the empty space before looking at his son. "Are you ready to pilot?"
Xavier nodded. Tom had made a holodeck program for Xavier to practice flying. The first time Xavier had crashed the ship, but Xavier had practiced every moment he could. Tom had a feeling that if he didn't have to go to school, he would have practice around the clock.
"Now remember…" Tom started.
"I know, Dad," Xavier said. Xavier made a face that had Tom reminded of B'Elanna when she had to prove herself to someone.
Tom smiled but threw his arms up. He watched as Xavier pressed buttons and started to fly the ship. Tom thought that Xavier was doing a good job.
"This is so amazing," Xavier sighed.
Tom thought that Xavier might want to become a pilot if he wanted to join Starfleet. Tom let him get a feel of craft before telling him to put in the directions and take them to wrap. Xavier took them to wrap, and they came to their first planet. They were going to spend the first night here before continuing their journey.
"Dad someone is hailing us," Xavier sounded nervous.
Tom woke from the nap he was taking. He looked out the window and saw Klingon bird of prey. He wondered what they wanted. He took a sigh and opened the channel.
The Klingon captain started talking in Klingon and Tom was only catching a few words here and there. Tom started looking for his universal translator that he must have taken off. Tom turned his head sharp at Xavier when he started talking to the Klingon. Tom knew that his children were taking Klingon language lessons and had picked up some words from visiting with family. Tom looked at the Klingon to see him smiling.
"Dad," Tom looked back at his son. "They would like us to join them for dinner," The way Xavier said it meant that they couldn't refuse.
Tom nodded. "Tell them that we would be happy to join them." Xavier nodded and told the commander what he had said. Tom finally found his universal translator and caught some of the last words they spoke. The Klingon closed the channel and Tom waited for a second before turning to his son. "How did we get roped into dinner with them?"
"He was impressed that I knew Klingon so well and he saw the ridges on my forehead. He wanted to know how much Klingon blood I had in me. I also told him about Mom's family. Once I said Nirgh's name, he was inviting us to dinner," Tom nodded. They were having dinner with the Klingons.
Tom and Xavier appeared on the Klingon ship with the captain of the ship waiting for them. The captain looked over at Xavier then Tom. "I am Captain T'otaka. Who are you?"
Before Tom could say anything, Xavier spoke. "I am Xavier, son of B'Elanna," Xavier said the name of his Klingon parent. Captain T'otaka nodded before looking at Tom. "This is my father, Tom Paris," Xavier said.
The captain looked between them and saw the family looks. He nodded. He grunted at Tom before walking away. Xavier was the first to follow him. Tom followed his son. They made their way to the mess hall. The captain took a seat at the head of the table while he pointed to two seats next to him for Tom and Xavier to take. The food was placed on the table. Tom and Xavier knew each dish.
"Eat," Captain T'otaka started putting food on his plate. Tom and Xavier followed suit. The captain looked at Xavier again. "How old are you, boy?"
"Thirteen," Xavier took a bite of the food.
The captain slapped Xavier on the back. "You are at the age for Ascension. Are you going to be a warrior?" The captain laughed.
Tom looked at his son. Both B'Elanna and he had told their children that they could do the Rite of Ascension if they wanted after they saw Vom do his ascension. Tom knew that all his kids turned it down, they said that they didn't need it to be proud of being Klingon. Tom wondered what Xavier was going to tell him.
Xavier smiled. "I still have a year to think about it because if I do it, I want to be on Q'onoS among my Klingon family."
The captain nodded as if that was understandable. "Take that year," He bit into something on his plate. "It is a big decision for a young man."
"Yes, I want to think it all through," Xavier took his own bite.
"How are you with a bat'leth?" Captain T'otaka asked.
"Fair," Xavier mumbled. Tom had to bite his tongue he knew that it was a lie. The last three years he has really taken to it. He just won his last tournament just before coming here.
The captain narrowed his eyes at him. He didn't believe it one moment. "After dinner, we will see how fair you are."
Xavier nodded. He looked around the room and saw it full of Klingons wanting to see how good this quarter Klingon was. Tom leaned closer. "You got this."
"I know, but these are Klingon warriors, who have been training with a bat'leth for most of their lives."
"Well, whatever happens know that if you don't come home your mother will kill me," Tom tried to get Xavier to let out a laugh. Xavier let out a little laugh.
"What is so funny?" Captain T'otaka.
"I just told my son to stay alive or his mother will kill me," Tom smiled at the captain.
Captain T'otaka nodded. "That is a Klingon wife for you. Once she has babies, she worries more about them than you. My wife is the same way, and we have five daughters. I pray for the day when they meet their match. Do you have daughters?"
Tom smiled. "Two and think they know better than me."
Captain T'otaka laughed. "I am guessing like their mother."
"Yes," Tom took a drink of his blood wine.
"Just wait until the boys start coming around. My youngest is here with me," The captain looked at Xavier. "She is around the same age as you. Fourteen."
Xavier nodded. He didn't need Captain T'otaka to play matchmaker with him and his daughter. The captain turned to one of his men and told him to bring his daughter here. Xavier watched the door as they waited for Captain T'otaka's daughter.
She came in like she didn't want to there. She looked right at her father while she slammed her hands on the table. "What is it, Father?" Xavier saw a fire in her dark eyes like she was ready for a fight.
"We have visitors," Captain T'otaka pointed out Xavier and Tom.
Captain T'otaka's daughter looked at them before turning back to her father. "They are your visitors," She turned to walk out of the mess hall when her father's words stopped her.
"Stonnahlo, you are going to fight the young man," Captain T'otaka said.
Xavier took a breath because he was going to fight an angry girl. She turned back to him and smiled. Xavier didn't like that smile. It was like she was planning his death. He didn't need to die because he still had a lot of life to live. He would like to go to college one day or live on his own.
"Are you ready to die?" She switched from Klingon to common.
"No," Xavier said in Klingon.
Stonnahlo smiled. "You do know Klingon."
"Yes, I have spent some time on Q'onoS," Xavier smiled. He didn't tell her that he had lessons in Klingon by a Klingon language master, and he was well versed in the Klingon ways.
Stonnahlo nodded. "We will see how well you fight," She said as she left the room.
After dinner they made their way to the fighting room. Stonnahlo was already there, holding a bat'leth. Xavier took a breath as he looked at the bat'leths against the wall. Tom could see how nervous his son was. Tom made his way over to his son and touched his back. "You got this."
"I know," Xavier glanced at Stonnahlo. "I just hope that it is a battle to the death because I don't want to die, and I don't want to kill her."
"You know how to fight without dying," Tom whispered. Xavier nodded as he chose his bat'leth. Tom moved to the back of the room with the other Klingons who came to watch. Tom hoped that his son would come out of this alive.
Xavier and Stonnahlo faced each other before a Klingon officer told them to fight. Xavier took a breath before blocking Stonnahlo's hit. He tried to take her out, but she blocked him. They were feeling each other out. The right fighting started out and there were Klingons yelling and making bets on who would win. Xavier found out that they were evenly matched. He felt a cut on his leg. He saw that he got her on the face. It might leave a scar. Xavier saw his moment and went for it. He had her on the floor and had his bat'leth pointed at her for the kill strike.
"I could kill you," Xavier said.
"Why won't you," Stonnahlo hissed.
"Because I value life," Xavier threw his bat'leth to the ground. He backed away from her and knew that she could kill if she wanted. He waited for her to kill him. He could hear the other Klingons yelling at her to kill him. Xavier looked around until he found his dad's eyes in the crowd. Xavier saw his dad give him a nod. He could see that his dad was proud of him in that moment. Xavier heard the other bat'leth hit the floor.
"You are worthy opponent," Xavier turned around and saw Stonnahlo standing. She held out her hand. Xavier shook her hand.
Xavier smiled. "Friends."
"Friends," Stonnahlo said before walking away from him.
Captain T'otaka made his way over to him. "You are better than fair," He slapped Xavier on the back. "You would make a great warrior," He turned away from Xavier and said something to one of his officers.
Tom made his way to Xavier. "I'm so proud of you," Tom hugged his son. "Now let me fix your leg." Xavier rolled up his pant leg so Tom could see the cut. "We'll have to get back to the ship, so I can fix it," Xavier nodded.
Father and son said their goodbyes to the captain and his crew. They made their way back to the ship so Tom could fix Xavier's leg. "It might leave a scar," Tom said. Xavier nodded before making his way to his bunk. Xavier fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Tom watched his son for moment before letting the young man sleep.
Tom and Xavier woke to the Klingon bird of prey gone.
B'Elanna stood outside, watching the sky for her husband and son. She knew that they were coming home today. She had missed them both.
"Mom, they said that they would be home today," B'Elanna turned to see her daughter, Miral, standing behind her.
B'Elanna sighed. "I know, but I missed them. The house seemed too quiet without them."
Miral smiled. "You know in two weeks you are going to be saying that they could go back to space." B'Elanna laughed because she knew that her daughter was right. B'Elanna was ready to say something when Miral pointed out a white dot coming closer. "Mom."
B'Elanna looked up and she knew that it was Tom and Xavier. The spacecraft got closer and closer. It landed right in front of the garage. "Is that Dad and Xavier?" Selena had stepped outside to see what was going on.
"Yeah," Miral mumbled.
The doors to the craft opened. Xavier was the first to get off and there was a big smile on his face. He almost ran to his mom's arms but remembered that he was thirteen now and didn't run to his mother. He let his mother take him in her arms. Xavier closed his eyes as he took in the feel and smell of his mother.
"Xavier don't forget your bag in the craft," Tom stepped out with a bag on his shoulder.
"Sorry, Dad," Xavier let go of his mother and went back to craft.
B'Elanna watched her son and saw something different about him. It seemed that he had matured out there. B'Elanna looked back at her husband as he hugged their daughters. He had let his beard grow out. She knows that he took his shaving kit with him. Xavier came off the craft with his bag and went to his sisters to tell them all about his trip.
Tom watched the children before making his way to his wife. He leaned down and kissed her. "I missed you."
"This needs to go," B'Elanna touched his beard.
"Wow, you haven't seen your husband for two weeks and the first words out of your mouth are about my beard." Tom smiled.
"I missed you, too," B'Elanna turned back at her children and was ready to say something when she heard.
"And she got me right here," Xavier lifted his pants' leg and there was a long scar on it.
"Xavier Paris, what happened to your leg?" B'Elanna said as she made her way to the kids. Before Xavier could explain, B'Elanna turned on Tom. "What happened to my son?"
"Mom, it is nothing and Dad fixed me up," Xavier tried to smile.
"What happened?" B'Elanna looked at both Paris men.
"I got into a bat'leth fight," Xavier said.
"How do you get into a bat'leth fight in the middle of space?" B'Elanna looked right at Tom waiting for him to answer.
"Why don't we go inside, and Xavier can tell you all about it," Tom said in a calm voice. He stirred B'Elanna to the front door and into the house. The children followed him.
Tom made B'Elanna sit on the couch in the family room. Tom gave Xavier a look for him to tell his mother what had happened. Xavier smiled as he told the story about the scar on his leg. B'Elanna didn't like it one bit but she had to be proud of her son. He was growing into a a good man.
Xavier smiled at his mom. "Dad fixed me right up," Xavier smiled at his dad.
B'Elanna looked at her husband. Tom smiled. "You do remember that I was a medic on Voyager and as soon as we found a Starfleet ship, we had a doctor look it and they said that I did a good job, but Xavier was going to have the scar for the rest of his life."
"Fine," B'Elanna sighed. Xavier leaned over and kissed his mom on the cheek.
Xavier went to the garage as he thought about his father. They had just buried his father yesterday. Xavier didn't know how his mother was going to take it after losing his dad. All day, Xavier kept thinking about the spacecraft that he and his father had rebuilt over a year and taking it out to space. It was fifty -two years since they took it out. He thought that his father would have gotten rid of it.
Xavier entered the garage and saw cover over it. He pulled it off and the Paris Craft was still there. Xavier felt a tear fall down his face. He thought that he had cried enough tears over his father at his funnel.
"Dad, are you okay?" Xavier turned to find his own son, Brice there. Brice stepped into the garage and saw the spacecraft. He smiled. "What is this?" Brice could see that his father needed this.
"Your grandfather and I rebuilt this for a year before we took it out in space for two weeks," Xavier ran a hand over the craft.
"Why didn't you go again?" Brice asked. He could see the joy on his father's face talking about this time with his father.
"We had planned to go but my grandfather, Owen had died, and we never got the chance to do it again." Xavier sighed. Xavier turned to his son with a small smile on his face. "Would you like to take it out with me?"
Brice could see that his father needed this. "Sure, Dad."