B'Elanna entered sickbay for the weekly checkup. "Commander Torres," The doctor said as he came out of his office. Please take a seat," He pointed to one of the bio beds. B'Elanna took her seat. The doctor ran his medical tricorder over her. "How are you feeling?"
"Good, just a little stress," B'Elanna sighed.
"I can tell," The doctor said.
B'Elanna gave him a look. "I do have a department to run, and I have three children to take care of, and find time to be with my husband."
The doctor gave B'Elanna a look. "I'm going to have to put you on bed rest for your last two months."
"Why?" B'Elanna asked. "I didn't need bed rest for the other three," B'Elanna put a hand on her round body.
"You have a lot on your plate right now and it could make your son come early."
"Wouldn't he be okay?" B'Elanna asked.
"Yes, but he would have to spend some time in the incubator before going home," The doctor feared.
B'Elanna didn't want her son to spend time in a sickbay when he was born. She was going to have to stay home for the next two months. "Alright," B'Elanna sighed.
"That means no leaving your quarters," The doctor said.
"I'll have to pick up my children from school," B'Elanna got off the bed.
The doctor went and started putting in information on his computer. "I'm sure you and Mr. Paris can come up with a plan."
B'Elanna narrowed her eyes at the doctor's back. "If you say so," B'Elanna headed for the door.
"I will tell the captain you are out for two months," The doctor said. B'Elanna nodded and left sickbay.
B'Elanna touched her comm badge. "Commander Paris."
"Yeah," Tom answered back.
"Can you pick up the kids?" She asked.
"Sure?" There was a question in Tom's voice.
"Yeah, I'll explain later," B'Elanna stopped in front of her quarters.
"Okay," Tom said.
B'Elanna entered her quarters to quiet. She went to change out of her uniform. "Lt. Vorik, to my quarters," She called over her comms.
B'Elanna took a seat on the couch and picked up a PADD to see what needed to be done in Engineering while she was gone. Vorik rang the chime and B'Elanna told him to enter. "Please take a seat," B'Elanna pointed to the chair that was next to the couch after Vorik entered.
"Yes, Commander," Vorik took a seat.
"I will be out of engineering for the next three to four months," B'Elanna told him. Vorik glanced down at B'Elanna's round belly. "The doctor wants me to be on bed rest for a couple of months and with the new baby. I'm going to need a couple of months to adjust. There are some things we need to go over some things for engineering while I'm gone."
They went over everything for engineering before Vorik left. She told him if he needed anything to ask her. B'Elanna glanced around their quarters to see that there didn't need anything to be done. She sighed, picked up a PADD, went to her favorite Klingon romance novel, and started reading.
B'Elanna didn't realize how much time had passed until she heard the doors open and the voices of the kids. "Mommy," She heard one of them call. She set her PADD down just in time before Gabby ran into her arms.
"Hi," B'Elanna laughed. She hugged Miral and Dexter before looking up at Tom. "Can you go and play for a moment? I need to talk to Daddy," The kids ran to their rooms. B'Elanna stood and made her way to Tom. She could see the question in his eyes. "Doctor thinks that I'm too stressed and it could make the baby come sooner," Tom glanced down at her belly and placed a hand on it.
"You never had to do this before," Tom looked up in her eyes.
B'Elanna sighed. "I know, but with my age and everything else that is going on," Tom nodded. Tom looked passed her to the close doors of the children.
"Do you think you can take care of them?" Tom asked. B'Elanna nodded. She could take care of her children. "Okay, I'll be home in a few hours with dinner," B'Elanna nodded as Tom left their quarters.
CRASH!
B'Elanna moaned. The sound came from one of the kids' rooms. B'Elanna made her way to the room as Gabby came out.
"Mommy, Miral broke something," Gabby pointed to the room and tears were running down her face.
"Tat tell," Miral yelled from the room. B'Elanna entered to see what was broken. It was a toy.
B'Elanna turned to her older daughter. "What happened?"
"She…" Gabby started.
"Gabby, stop. I want your sister to answer me," B'Elanna turned back to her oldest.
"She was making too much noise with her toy, and I didn't want to hear it," Miral threw her sister a look.
B'Elanna sighed. "Did you ask your sister to stop playing?"
"No," Miral rolled her eyes. B'Elanna didn't want to think what she was going to be like as a teenager. "I knew she wouldn't listen."
"Gabby, go to the living area," B'Elanna said. "While your sister cleans up the mess she made," Gabby didn't need to be told twice to leave. "After this mess is cleaned up, we can do your homework," B'Elanna turned to leave.
"Fine, I get in trouble, but she never gets in trouble for anything," Miral stormed around the room picking up the toy she broke. "Gabby's going to be in a rude awaking when the new baby is here," Miral mumbled.
"What was that?" B'Elanna put her hands on her hips.
"Nothing, mother," Miral had picked everything up and disposed of it.
B'Elanna didn't believe her for a moment. "Why don't you spend the time until dinner in your room."
"Fine," Miral fell on her bed.
B'Elanna walked out to see Gabby sitting on the living area floor in front of the TV. Gabby looked up at her with a smile. "Mommy, can we watch a movie," B'Elanna nodded. She had a feeling that Gabby was annoying her sister with her toy.
Before B'Elanna turned on the TV she asked. "Gabby, did you play with the toy to annoy your sister?"
"Maybe," Gabby looked up at her with those brown eyes. "Miral has been grumpy for a while," Gabby turned back to the TV.
B'Elanna sighed. "Maybe don't do that next time and you won't have broken toy." B'Elanna now knew something was wrong with Miral and knew she was going to figure it out. Dexter came out of his room, seeing if the drama was over. "Your safe," B'Elanna smiled.
Dexter returned her smile and came to sit next to her. "Why is Miral mad?" He asked.
"I don't know," B'Elanna answered, and she didn't like that answer. She knew what her children were up to and why. This was the first time she didn't know what to do. It's not like she tell someone about this. She was going to have to talk to Tom about this and what they were going to do about Miral.
"Thanks, Neelix," Tom grabbed dinner from him.
"Tom, how is B'Elanna doing?" Neelix asked.
Tom smiled. "I don't know. Today is her first day on bed rest."
"I hope everything goes well," Neelix smiled. Tom nodded before leaving the mess hall.
Tom smiled when he got close to his quarters and his family. He punched in the code and got in. Tom stopped in the doorway when he saw B'Elanna sitting on the couch with Dexter and Gabby. Both children had smiles on their faces as they felt their brother kick. There was a light in B'Elanna's eyes that Tom hadn't seen in a while. Maybe she needed bed rest.
Tom placed the food on the table before saying. "Can I join?"
"Daddy," The kids yelled and ran to hug him.
Tom hugged them before looking at B'Elanna. "Where is Miral?"
B'Elanna glanced at the girl's room. "She is in her room," B'Elanna stood and went to the door. "Miral, you can come out now."
Miral came out of her room and handed a PADD to B'Elanna. "I did my homework," Miral went to the table.
B'Elanna narrowed her eyes at her daughter before putting the PADD down. "I'll look at it after dinner."
The family sat down and ate dinner. After dinner, B'Elanna checked Miral's homework while the kids settled down with Tom to watch a movie. Before they knew it was time to put the kids down for bed.
After all the kids were down, B'Elanna and Tom went to their room. They changed into their pajamas and settled on their couch. "Something is going on with Miral," B'Elanna settled back on the couch and placed her hand on her round belly.
Tom raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you going to tell me why she was in her room when I got home," B'Elanna told him what happened after he left to go back to the bridge. "I see," Tom said.
B'Elanna hit him in the stomach. Tom let out a breath. "What are we going to do? I always know what my children re doing or thinking."
"B'Elanna, she is growing up and she isn't going to tell you everything. How are you going to be when she is a teenager?" Tom smiled.
"Tom," B'Elanna hit him again.
"She'll come to us if she needs us. We just need to let her know that we are there," Tom kissed the side of B'Elanna's head.
B'Elanna leaned her head against Tom's shoulder. Tom put an arm around her. "Why did have kids?"
Tom laughed. "We wanted a family."
"We should rethink having kids," B'Elanna laughed.
Tom laughed. "A little late for that," He placed a hand on her round belly. B'Elanna gave him a look. Tom leaned down and pulled up her shirt. "We have three sleeping peacefully," Tom kissed her belly. "And one in here." Tom looked up and saw a look in B'Elanna's eyes that had Tom smiling. He pulled up her shirt farther. "What did the doctor say about…" Before Tom could finish, they heard.
"Mommy, Daddy, Miral is not in her bed," Gabby said through the door.
"What?" Tom pulled B'Elanna's shirt down and helped B'Elanna stand.
They made their way to the girls' room to find Miral's bed empty. Tom glanced at B'Elanna and knew she didn't need this stress right now. Tom held her by the upper arms for her to look at him. "I will get our daughter back. Get Gabby back to bed," Tom stared at her until she nodded. He let her go and watched her for a moment before heading to their room to change. He came out. "I'll find her," He said when he saw B'Elanna standing in the living area. She must have gotten Gabby to sleep. All she did was nod.
Seven of Nine entered Atrsometrices to find Miral Paris sitting in front of the viewscreen. "Miral Paris, what are you doing here?" Seven asked.
Miral Paris looked at Seven. "I wanted to run away from home, but we live on a ship I have nowhere to go."
Seven could see the intelligence in the young girl's eyes. "Why are you running away?"
"My parents don't have time for me," Miral looked away so Seven didn't see the tears in her eyes. "They have a new baby on the way and don't need me."
Seven sat by the little girl. She had seen the way her parents looked at her. There was so much love in their eyes. "You are incorrect."
Miral looked back at Seven. "How can you say that? They won't even know that I am gone."
"They will notice. They are your parents. I have seen the way they look at you and your siblings. Your mother's face softens when she talks about you and there is a light in your father's eyes that happens when he talks about you."
Miral crossed her arms. "You're wrong," Seven could see the temper the girl had was her mother's. Seven knew there was no way that she could explain to the young girl.
"Well, I'll leave you," Seven stood and left the lab. Seven stood outside and pressed her comm badge. "Commander Paris to astrometric lab." Seven stood outside the lab until she saw Tom running down the hall.
"What is it, Seven?" Tom asked. "I'm trying to find Miral."
"She is in there," Seven pointed to the lab.
"Thank you, Seven," Tom headed for the door.
"Commander Paris," Seven words stopped him. "She thinks you don't want her, so she ran away."
Tom nodded and stepped into the lab. "Miral."
"Get out!" Miral didn't turn around as yelled at her dad.
Tom's heart broke a little. "Well, I go as long as you come with me," Tom made his way to the platform.
"No," Miral turned to her father. "I ran away from home. I'm going to live here now. I can help Seven working here."
Tom sat next to her. "Why are you running away from home?"
"You and Mom don't need me anymore," Miral turned away from her father, so he didn't see the tears running down her face.
Tom faced the viewscreen. "What makes you think that?"
"You have a new baby on the way, and you won't have time for me," Miral took a chance to look at her father.
"Oh, sweetheart," Tom wrapped an arm around her. She didn't shrug his arm off her. Tom didn't know what to say to that.
Miral turned to her father. "Mommy and you are always working and when you are home all we do is eat dinner then it is bedtime. How are you going to have time for me when the new baby comes?"
"Well then you are just going to have to say something to Mom and me," Tom said. He didn't realize that this is how his daughter felt. He remembered when Miral was a baby and how much time they would spend with her. B'Elanna and he loved being parents for the first time. Before Tom knew it, they had Dexter and had to split their time with two children. Before they knew it, Gabby was here. Now there was going to be a fourth in the mix.
"How?" Miral asked.
"Like this," Tom took her face between his hands. "Dad, maybe we should do something together," Miral laughed. Tom always loved his children's laughter. Tom let her face go. "You have to remind us, but it is going to be hard with the new baby."
"Why?" Tom could see the confusion on her face.
"You know how you can take care of yourself," Miral nodded. "Well, the baby does not and is going to need Mom and me," Miral nodded. "Mom and I are going to need your help around our quarters. Just remember that we love you."
"Okay, Dad," Miral leans over and hugs her dad.
"Can, we go home now?" Tom asked.
"Yeah," Miral stood.
Tom got up slowly. "You are going to have to help me up," Tom held out his hands so his daughter could help him up. Miral laughed and reached for Tom. They stood and left the lab.
B'Elanna paced her quarters, she knew that she wasn't going to sleep until Tom and Miral were back. She had gotten Gabby to back to sleep. The doors opened and Miral walked in first with Tom behind her. Miral ran to B'Elanna and B'Elanna hugged her. She leaned down and kissed Miral on the top of the head.
Miral looked up. "I'm sorry, Mom."
B'Elanna knew that she shouldn't yell at her, so she let out a sigh instead. "Please don't do that again," Miral nodded. "Why did you run away?" B'Elanna had to know why. Miral explained to her about not being enough time for her with Tom and B'Elanna's schedule. It broke B'Elanna's heart because Miral felt that. "You have to tell us how you are feeling instead of running away."
"I know, Dad told me," Miral glanced at Tom.
B'Elanna nodded. "Go back to bed," B'Elanna hugged Miral one more time before letting go. B'Elanna watched Miral hugged Tom. They watched Miral go back to her room. B'Elanna waited until the door was closed before turning to Tom. She sighed and placed a hand on her belly. "Are we bad parents?" Tears started to well in B'Elanna eyes. She hated her hormones.
Tom pulled her in his arms. "No, we lost sight for a while." He led the way to their room.
"What are we going to do?" B'Elanna watched Tom as changed back into pajamas. "Especially with a baby on the way."
Tom got in bed. "Make sure our children are first priority. I know it's going to be hard with being senior staff but maybe we'll take them on a holodeck soon," Tom moved closer to B'Elanna.
"Maybe the doctor should have taken the kids away and that would relieve me of stress instead of work," B'Elanna mumbled.
Tom laughed. "That is something we can't do, and you know that you would miss them," B'Elanna hit him. Tom kissed the side of her head. "Go to sleep," Tom closed his eyes.