B'Elanna entered the quiet house. She set her bag on the floor next to her office door. B'Elanna had some thinking to do. She made her way into the kitchen to see that her husband was working on dinner for the two of them. B'Elanna enjoyed these nights because all her kids were grown and out of the house. Miral was living on Q'onoS with her husband, Xavier had his own apartment close to Starfleet command and Selena was living in her own apartment off Starfleet campus.
After four years of being alone with Tom, she loved this. It was something they didn't get to do when they were first married. She had gotten pregnant right away and they also lived on a ship with many other people.
"Hello, love," Tom handed her a glass of wine. She glanced at Tom and took a sip because she needed this. "How was your meeting?" He asked.
B'Elanna had a meeting with the dean and president of Starfleet. It was why she was late tonight. "They want me to be the new Head of Engineering Department," B'Elanna took another sip of her wine.
Tom came around the counter. He took her in his arms. "That is great, B'Elanna," He kissed her.
"I know, I never thought that they would want me as Head," B'Elanna held Tom close.
Tom leaned back. "Why wouldn't they?" He gave his wife a questionable look.
Before B'Elanna could say anything, they heard the front door open. They had to wonder who was here. Tom and B'Elanna traded a look because it could only be two people. It was either their youngest daughter or their son.
"Hi, Mom and Dad," Selena came in the kitchen. She looked over at her parents to see what they were having for dinner.
"What are you doing here, Selena?" Tom asked. She smiled at him.
Selena looked at her mother. "I heard a rumor that Mom is becoming Head of Engineering Department at the academy."
B'Elanna shook her head. The rumor mill at the academy was terrible, it was just as bad as being on a ship. Selena was looking at her mother waiting to see if it was true.
B'Elanna sighed. "Yes, I had a meeting today."
"That is great, Mom," Selena threw her arms around her mom to give her a hug. Selena let her mother go. "What is for dinner?"
Tom gave his daughter a look. "Don't you have your own apartment where you could have dinner."
Selena gave her father a smile. "Yeah, but I always enjoyed your cooking, Dad."
Tom shook his head, turned to the replicator, and ordered another plate. Tom was ready to place the food on the table when they heard the front door again. Tom sighed. That could only be one person.
"Hi, Mom, Dad, Selena," It was their only son, Xavier. Tom traded a look with B'Elanna. It was to be a quiet night.
"What brings you here?" Tom asked. Xavier glanced over t his mom. "Don't tell that you are because he heard a rumor of your mother."
"You are correct, Dad," Xavier smiled at his dad. Xavier turned to his mother. "Is it true?"
"Yep," Selena said. "Our mother is going to be the new head of engineering."
"That is great, Mom," Xavier hugged his mom. "I might be bias, but you are the best engineering teacher out there."
"I think you are biased," Selena said. She reached for a glass of water that her dad set down for her. "You only took one of her classes."
Xavier smiled at his sister. "True, but I heard from other students that took her classes."
"Who? Charles and Peata," Selena gave a sisterly smile.
Xavier rolled his eyes. "Maybe," He turned from Selena to B'Elanna. "By the way, Peata says congratulation."
"Tell her thank you," B'Elanna smiled. "Xavier, are you staying for dinner?" B'Elanna asked.
"Sure, what are we having?" Xavier looked over to see what his dad set out. Tom shook his head and replicated another plate.
All through dinner, the children filled them in on what was going on in their lives. After dinner the kids told their parents that they would clean up. B'Elanna gave Tom a look, they were never like this growing up. Tom and B'Elanna were ready to sit in the family room to watch a movie when a transmission went off. B'Elanna got up and went to see who it was.
She saw the face of her oldest daughter. B'Elanna smiled at her daughter. "Hi, Miral. How is Q'onoS? How is D'stil?"
"We're all good. I heard from someone that you are going to become head of the Engineering Department at the academy," Miral smiled at her mother.
B'Elanna threw her other children a look and both shook their heads that it wasn't them. "I haven't even accepted the position. How did you hear all the way out there in Q'onoS?"
Miral laughed. "I have a few engineering friends in Starfleet that asked if it was true," B'Elanna shook her head. "Mom that is something to be proud of. You have students that sing your praise. I think that you should take it. Also, D'stil says congratulation."
B'Elanna wanted to say something but was getting another call. "I must go. I'm getting another call," Miral smiled at her mom before hanging up. B'Elanna answered the next call. She saw the face of Charles Tucker.
"Hi, Dr. Torres," Charles smiled. "I hear congratulation are in order on you becoming head of Engineering." B'Elanna threw her son a look. Charles let out a laugh. "No, it wasn't Xavier that told me. I heard from the academy. They wanted to hear what I had to say about you. I told them how you make engineers that can decide to do in the field. Most of the engineers are out here because of you, Dr. Torres. You never just taught us the basics but what life is like out here. You can make changes in that department. Many others and I believe in you. The reason they connected me and others who took your classes was because we took your classes above others. I know by the time I was done; you were done seeing my face."
"Never," B'Elanna could feel the tears coming. She had to wipe a tear away. "You are my son's best friend," She gave a watery smile.
Charles returned her smile. "I hope that you take it because you are a great teacher and can teach the next generation of engineers a thing or two." Charles turned his head to someone behind him. Charles turned back to B'Elanna. "I have to go but take the position." Charles' face was gone.
B'Elanna turned back to her family to see them standing together watching her. "Are you okay, Mom?" Xavier asked.
"Yeah," She mumbled. She never thought when took this teaching job that she would make some good engineers out there. She took the job of staying close to home to be here for her kids and Tom. She wanted to make sure that her students knew what it was like out there and what they had to face in the real world.
Her family came over and hugged her. Tom kissed her on the top of her head. "I just never thought that this is where life would leave. If you would have told my younger self this is where life would lead me, I wouldn't believe it."
Selena smiled at her mom. "You are an amazing engineer," Selena let go of her mother. "I think that it is time that Xavier and I left you," She pulled her brother out of the house.
Tom and B'Elanna watched them leave before locking up the house and headed for the family room. B'Elanna stopped and that made Tom stop. Tom saw where she was looking. It was a picture of B'Elanna at twenty-five just starting her Starfleet career. Tom kissed the side of her head. "You are an amazing woman, B'Elanna Torres," Tom took her head and led her to the couch.