"Paris," Dexter turned around to see two older boys that was always getting into something. He could hear his parents saying to stay away from them, but he didn't care.
He looked around the mess hall where they were with other children and saw that no one was watching them. "What?"
Jack, the older one, smiled at Dexter. Dexter could tell that he was up to no good. But he didn't care. The older boys were talking to him. "Do you know how to fly the shuttle?"
Dexter has been on the shuttle, his dad had shown him a couple of things, but not how to fly the shuttle. His dad was going to show him in the next year to fly the shuttle. He really wanted to hang out with the older boys, so he said. "Yeah."
The older boys smiled. "Let's go now," Jack said.
Dexter nodded. He knew that he should not leave the mess hall, but to hang out with these boys was on his mind. His parents were working late tonight, so they wouldn't notice that he was gone until they came to pick them up. He will be back before his parents are here.
Jack led them out of the mess hall to the lifts, all three boys got on the lift. None of them said anything as they headed down to the shuttle bay. The doors opened and the three boys got out. Dexter led the way to the shuttle bay when he heard voices. One of them sounded like his mother. He put his hand out to stop the other boys. The boys paused against the wall to be hidden so they weren't seen by adults. They held their breath until he was sure his mother had passed.
Jeremy, the other boy, who was younger than Jack and older than Dexter, nudged Dexter to move. Dexter nodded and started for the shuttle bay again. As they reached the shuttle bay, they didn't see any adults around. He let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.
"Are you sure that you know how to fly this," Jack looked at Dexter.
Dexter nodded as he looked at the Delta Flyer. He had seen his dad do this enough. They entered the Flyer and Dexter went to sit in the pilot seat. He could barely reach the controls. He smiled as he ran his hand over them. He heard Jack and Jeremy take seats behind him. He looked over the controls to find the power button. Dexter found the button and pushed it.
Nothing happened.
"Why aren't we going?" Jack said.
Dexter threw a smile their way. "Sorry, just need to," Dexter didn't finish. There must be a way to start the shuttle. Dexter looked at the controls and thought back to what his dad had done on the controls. Dexter couldn't think about what buttons or nobs to push. His palms grew sweaty and Dexter started to get nervous. If he didn't start the ship, Jack and Jeremy wouldn't want to hang out with him again. Dexter took a breath and thought that maybe he should just press any button. Dexter was ready to push a button when he heard the shuttle bay doors.
"Alright, let's give the Flyer a maintenance check," Dexter heard his mother's voice. He didn't know who she was talking too, but he knew they needed to hide.
Dexter looked at Jack and Jeremy, they knew it, too. The door to the shuttle was opening. Dexter saw the other boys' duck under their seats and Dexter knew he had to duck, or his mother was going to see him. Dexter crawled under the counsel as his mother entered.
Dexter watched as his mother walked passed the others and made her way to the front of the shuttle. She stopped right in front of him. Dexter held his breath as his mother was in front of him. His mother bent down with her tricorder. Dexter looked in his mother's eyes. He saw the shock on her face first as she looked in his eyes. Then disbelief, then disappointment.
"Dexter Paris, what are you doing here?" B'Elanna stood up and pulled Dexter out. B'Elanna looked around. "Who else is here with you?"
Dexter tried not to look around where the other two boys were. "No one only me," He finally said.
B'Elanna didn't believe her son for one moment. "Stay in that seat while I look around," Dexter sat in the pilot seat as he watched his mother move around the shuttle. Dexter watched as B'Elanna pulled Jack out then Jeremy. All three boys knew they were in trouble.
B'Elanna looked at each of the boys. She knew who Jack's and Jeremy's parents were. "All three of you know that this area is off limits unless you have an adult with you," The boys looked down at the ground. B'Elanna had a feeling that it was one of the older boys' idea and Dexter's. She knew it was going to a hard to get a straight answer out of the boys. B'Elanna sighed. "Come on, I'll take you home," B'Elanna watched as three boys left the shuttle. "Finish the maintenance on the shuttle. I'll see you in the morning," B'Elanna told the crewmembers. The crewmembers nodded.
The boys followed B'Elanna out of the shuttle bay. Dexter didn't like that his mom was so quiet. He had never seen her this way. He was glad that she didn't take his arm and led them back to their quarters. She dropped off Jack and Jeremy at their quarters explaining to their parents what was going on. Jack and Jeremy's parents weren't happy when they heard what happened. Dexter had a feeling he wasn't going to see the boys for awhile.
After dropping off Jack, B'Elanna took Dexter's arm and led them home. Dexter knew he was going to have it when they were behind close doors.
The doors closed behind them. Dexter knew that he was going to get it. No one was home, his siblings were still in the mess hall with the other children. His dad was probably still on the bridge. Dexter looked at his mother because she still didn't say anything to him.
"Mom," Dexter said in a quiet voice.
"Sit on the couch while I think about what to say," B'Elanna said.
Dexter went and sat on the couch. He didn't say a word as his mother started to pacing the room. "Dexter why were you with those boys. Your father and I don't like you hanging out with those boys," Dexter opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't get the chance with the doors to the quarters opening and his dad came walking in.
Tom was surprised to see his wife and oldest son. B'Elanna gave him a look. She knew that he still had another hour on the bridge. Also, he had none of the other children with him. Tom looked between his wife and son. "What is going on?"
"I found your son was found where he shouldn't be," B'Elanna said. "What are you doing home. I know for a fact that you still have an hour."
Tom smiled. "I might have gotten done early."
B'Elanna raised one eyebrow. "And you didn't think about getting the children from Neelix."
Tom didn't say anything at first. He looked between his wife and son. "I can go and get the rest of them now," Tom headed for the door.
"No, you can deal with your son because I found him on Flyer with Jack and Jeremy. I will get the other children," B'Elanna headed for the door. Both Dexter and Tom watched her leave.
Tom looked back at his son. Dexter looked nervous about what Tom was going to do to him. Tom went and took a seat next to Dexter. "How mad do you think Mom is with me?" Dexter asked. "Because she didn't say a word the whole-time coming home."
"I don't think that your mom is mad, but disappointed in you," Tom watched as Dexter lower his head. "Why were in the Flyer with Jack and Jeremy?"
Dexter looked away for a moment. "I wanted to hang out with them," Dexter made a face. "I might have told them that I knew how to fly the Flyer."
Tom sighed. He knew what it was like to be Dexter's age and wanting to hang out with the older boys. He knew he couldn't tell Dexter not to hang out with them because he was just going to do it. "Dex," Tom sighed. He didn't know what to say to his son. His own father would just tell him not to hang out with those boys. "I could tell you not to hang out with those boys, but I know that is not going to work. I want you to think about the person you want to be. Your mother and I will love you no matter what. You are grounded for two weeks, but next time it will be longer. You go to school and come home. No hanging out with friends or any other activity. You got it?" Dexter nodded. Tom hugged his son. "Go to your room," Dexter stood and went to his room.
Tom took a breath before entering his room. B'Elanna didn't speak to him for most of the evening. He told her what Dexter's punishment was and she only nodded. After dinner, he told her that he would get the kids to bed and she could relax because after the kids from Neelix, she had to go back to work. B'Elanna nodded before kissing the children and going to their room.
Tom found B'Elanna sitting on the couch with a PADD in her hand. She was probably reading a Klingon romance novel. She looked up when he entered. "Are you okay?" Tom asked.
"I'm fine. You can come in," Tom was standing in the doorway of their room. "I don't bite," B'Elanna placed the PADD on the table.
Tom raised an eyebrow and stepped further into the room. "I know for a fact that you bite," B'Elanna gave him a look. Tom got closer and leaned down to kiss her. "I remember a bite that you claimed me as your mate," B'Elanna gave Tom a slight smile. Tom kissed her again. "Years later we are married with four monsters."
B'Elanna laughed and hit Tom on the chest. "Don't say that about our children."
"But they are monsters," Tom let go of B'Elanna and headed for the bathroom. B'Elanna shook her head and picked up her PADD again.
"I think we should go to bed," Tom said after he stepped out of the bathroom. B'Elanna gave him a look as he made his way over to her. "We are both off and can sleep in," Tom held out his hand for her to take.
B'Elanna knew what her husband wanted. She took his hand. "You know your children are going to be up early," Tom helped her up.
"Shh," Tom led her to the bed. "We don't have children right now."
B'Elanna opened her mouth to say something, but Tom kissed her. B'Elanna moaned in the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tom pulled her close. He reached for the edge of her shirt when they heard.
"Mama," They broke apart at the sound of their youngest voice. It was the only word he knew.
"Ignore him," Tom tried to pull B'Elanna close again.
James let out another cry. B'Elanna pulled out of Tom's arms. "It's your fault that he here," B'Elanna headed for the door.
B'Elanna went and grabbed James from his room, trying not to wake Dexter, but Dexter was already up. "Go back to sleep," She whispered as she took James out of the room.
B'Elanna paced the living area with James to quiet him down. Tom watched from the doorway. This was one of the reasons he loved this woman so much. The kids might drive him crazy, but he couldn't ask for a better life. B'Elanna got James back to sleep and put him back to bed.
Tom and B'Elanna went back to their room and climbed into bed. "It seems we can't get a moment to ourselves," B'Elanna sighed and closed her eyes.
"When was the last time we had a moment," Tom pulled the blanket over them.
B'Elanna moved into Tom. "A while," She couldn't remember the last time they had a moment just the two of them.
"We need a moment," Tom mumbled before falling asleep. B'Elanna followed her husband into sleep.