B'Elanna stepped off the Delta Flyer, exhausted. She and her team had visited several M-class plants over the last two weeks. All she wanted to do was sleep for the next two weeks, but Miral was having her tenth birthday the next week and B'Elanna had to some planning for it. She also had to do her job in Engineering.
Before going home, she had to make her way to Engineering and check on them. She knew that Vork would he everything under control, but she had to check up on them. As she knew everything was running as it should. She grabbed a few PADDs off her desk before heading home.
B'Elanna entered her quarters to find that it was quiet. She knew the kids were at school and Tom would be on the bridge. She placed PADDs on the table before going to shower and climbing in the bed to sleep.
B'Elanna woke to the kids making noise in the living area. She heard the deep voice of Tom telling the kids to be quiet because B'Elanna was sleeping in the other room. B'Elanna stretched as she sat up and threw the blankets off. She got dress before heading out of the bedroom.
"Mom," "Mommy," The three older kids ran into her arms. She kissed them each on the head before letting them go. James held out his arms for her to pick him up. She did and looked up at Tom to see him smiling.
"I tried to keep them quiet when we got in," Tom gave each of the children a look. "And it seemed it didn't work," All the kids did was smile.
"It's okay," B'Elanna made her way to the table. The kids followed her. "What did Neelix make for us for dinner," B'Elanna saw that Tom had brought dinner home.
"I'm not sure," Tom started to pull out the containers. "I had four kids with me, so I just grabbed and left." All the children took their seats at the table. B'Elanna put James in his chair before taking her own seat. Tom took his seat and started passing out the food. "Did you see any good planets?" Tom asked.
"No," B'Elanna took a bite of her food that wasn't replicated. "We didn't think any planet would work for a crew and their families," Tom nodded. B'Elanna turned to Miral. "Are you ready for your birthday?"
Miral smiled. "I can't wait. I told Dad several times what I wanted," Miral turned to her father and gave him a look.
"It's not my fault that I have a bad memory," Tom shrugged his shoulders. Miral rolled her eyes.
"Why don't you tell me later and I'll make sure that you get it?" B'Elanna smiled.
"Thanks, Mom," Miral threw her dad a look.
"What? I forget a lot of things. Just ask your mother," Tom had a twinkle in his eyes. B'Elanna knew that he never forgets anything important, and she was sure that he didn't forget what Miral asked for her birthday. He might even have it. She knew that he would never forget one of their children's birthdays. He always knew when her birthday was.
The rest of the night, B'Elanna heard all about what happened to their kids while she was gone. The only one who didn't tell her stories was James and he was only saying small words. B'Elanna was glad when the kids were in bed, and it was only her and Tom.
They sat on the couch for a moment, just relaxing in each other's arms enjoying the quiet. Tom kissed the side of her head. "I've missed you."
B'Elanna moaned. "I did, too. Did you get Miral's gift?"
Tom smiled. "Yes," he leaned closer and whispered in her ear what Miral wanted for her birthday.
B'Elanna faced him and kissed him. "I think I have to show you what a wonderful husband and father you are," B'Elanna stood and held out her hand for him to take. Tom smiled and took her hand.
B'Elanna moaned as she left engineering, the captain needed her, and she had enough to do in Engineering after having been gone for two weeks. She was only back for three days.
B'Elanna stepped into the conference room to see the captain and Chakotay with someone she had never met. It was an alien with red tinted skin. It looked like he had no nose. They must have met this alien just now. B'Elanna had to wonder what she was doing here.
"Commander Torres, please take a seat," The captain smiled. B'Elanna took a seat and the others followed. "Vaaso's ship broke down and we offer to help them."
B'Elanna knew what was next. She was going to have to give up time in engineering to help this man. "Yes, captain."
"His ship is in Suttle Bay Two. Please help him with anything he needs," The captain said.
B'Elanna nodded and stood. "If you will follow me," B'Elanna said to Vaaso. He nodded and followed her out of the conference room. They went on the turbolift. They didn't say anything as they were on the turbolift.
"I have to stop at engineering to grab my tool kit," B'Elanna said. Vaaso nodded and stood outside of Engineering while B'Elanna went in. B'Elanna was stepping out of Engineering when a group of school children walked around the corner.
"Hi, Mom," B'Elanna saw her daughter, Miral leading the group.
"Hi, Miral," B'Elanna smiled at her daughter. B'Elanna watched as the children rounded the corner before looking at Vaaso. "Let's go and take a look at your ship."
Vaaso nodded. "Was that your daughter?"
"Yes, today is her birthday," B'Elanna thought back ten years ago when she brought that little girl into the world.
"How old is she?" Vaaso asked.
"She turned ten today?" B'Elanna entered shuttle bay two and saw Vaaso's ship. She took a breath before taking out her tricorder. "Let's take a look."
B'Elanna glanced at her PADD to what time it was, and it was time to be done for the day. She turned to Vaaso with a smile. "We are done for the day. We can start early tomorrow, but I need to get home to celebrate my daughter's birthday."
Vaaso smiled. "Understandable. I have a son and would do anything for him."
"I will take you to the Mess Hall and to Neelix, who will feed you and take you to your quarters," B'Elanna gathered her things. Vaaso nodded and followed B'Elanna out of the Shutte Bay Two.
B'Elanna grabbed the bags that said Paris on them after she settled Vaaso with Neelix. She saw Neelix sitting with him at the table with dinner. B'Elanna smiled before leaving the mess hall and going to her family.
"Mom's home," Dexter yelled as soon as B'Elanna entered their quarters.
"Dexter," B'Elanna warned him as she set the food on the table. Dexter gave a little smile as the rest of the family came to greet her. She hugged Gabby and took James from Tom, who had his arms out for her to take.
"Happy Birthday," B'Elanna gave Miral a side hug.
"Thank you, Mom," Miral looked up at her. "Can I open my presents now?" She gave B'Elanna a cheeky smile.
B'Elanna narrowed her eyes. "You know no presents until after dinner."
Miral sighed. "I know," She broke of B'Elanna arms. "I thought that I at least try," She went to the table to see what was for dinner.
B'Elanna made her way over and put James in his chair. She saw that dinner was Miral's favorite with a chocolate cake. The family sat down and had dinner before singing happy birthday to Miral. After everyone had a piece of cake, Tom brought out a wrapped present for Miral. She opened it and saw the art supplies she wanted.
"Thank you," Miral jumped up and hugged Tom and B'Elanna. "This is what I wanted."
They let Miral pick out the movie when it was time to start settling down for the evening. They got them to bed by age. Before Miral went to bed B'Elanna asked. "Did you have a good birthday?"
"Yeah, thank you for the gift," She hugged B'Elanna and Tom. "Good night, Mom, Dad," Miral went to her room with a smile on her face.
"Did your daughter have a good birthday?" Vaaso asked the next morning when they met in the shuttle bay.
B'Elanna smiled. "She did. Thank you for asking," B'Elanna started working on the ship.
By mid-morning, they were done with fixing the ship. "You should be able to leave this afternoon," B'Elanna told Vaaso.
Vaaso nodded. "I want to thank the captain for help and the use of her chef engineer."
"I hope you have a good trip home," B'Elanna smiled. Vaaso nodded.
Vaaso watched as B'Elanna left the shuttle bay. He checked over his ship one more time before leaving. He made his way to the captain's ready room and thanked her for her help and said that he will be leaving in a few hours. The captain nodded. Vaaso left the captain and made his way around the ship. He had one more thing to do before he left. Last night, he asked Neelix about the children on the ship. Vaaso learned a lot about them. He knew where the classrooms were all he need to find the girl. She would be perfect for his son. She was the right age for him.
Vaaso stood around the corner from the classrooms and watched as the children left. The girl he wanted was one of the last to leave the room. He saw another teacher watch them for a moment before closing the door to the classroom. Vaaso followed them for a moment before seeing his opportunity to take the girl. She was back with some other girls. The teacher wasn't watching them. Vaaso reached over and pulled the girl towards him. Her friends noticed. "Say anything and I'll kill your friend," Vaaso hissed to the other girls. They nodded. "Keep walking with your class," Vaaso said. The girls kept on walking, but they kept throwing looks at Vaaso and the girl.
Vaaso made his way back to his ship without anyone seeing him. He didn't know how long the girl would be quiet. He needed to get off the ship before anyone noticed that she was gone, or those girls said something to an adult. He got to the ship and made the girl sit.
"My parents will be looking for me," The girl said.
"No, they won't know you are gone," Vaaso hissed.
"You don't know my parents," The girl narrowed her eyes at him.
Vasso didn't let her say another word as he tied her up. He started up his ship before calling the bridge to leave. He was gone and hoped they didn't notice the girl was gone.