B'Elanna opened her call to find the smiling face of her husband. "Hello, my beautiful wife."
B'Elanna raised an eyebrow because she could tell that he was up to something. "What is going on?" She asked.
"I was talking to my publisher, and they want me in New York next week," Tom smiled.
"Oh," B'Elanna said. She still had another week in space before she was home. What were they going to do about the kids? "Did you tell them that I wasn't home, and I wouldn't be home until the twentieth."
"I did, but they really want me to do this talk show." Tom ran a hand through his hair.
"What about the kids? Can one of your parents or sisters watch them?" B'Elanna asked.
"I already asked them and my parents on going on vacation that week and my sisters have too much on their plates right now," Tom said. Tom looked around the room to make sure that none of the kids were around. "I think that we should put Miral in charge. She is seventeen and can take care of herself right now. We'll tell her that she must get them off to school, make sure that they do their homework. It would only be for a week until you get home."
B'Elanna sighed. It was a good plan. She didn't want to come to messy house or a million notes form teachers complaining about their children not doing their homework. Miral was responsible young woman. She had just sent her application into Starfleet Academy. B'Elanna had a feeling that she would get in.
"Alright. Make sure to lay down some ground rules for them," B'Elanna said. Tom and she set the rules for the children for the next week before they said goodbye and ended their call.
"Miral," Tom called Miral to the kitchen. Miral came from her room to see what her father wanted.
"Yeah, Dad," She sat at one of bar stools.
"So, I have a meeting in New York next week and as you know your mom won't be home until the week after. Your grandparents and aunts can't be here to help out, so your mother and I thought putting you in charge for the week." Tom looked into his daughter's eyes.
"Really," Miral really liked the idea. This could show her parents how responsible she was.
"Yes, but there are a few ground rules," Tom said. Miral nodded as her dad laid down the rules for the week. Miral put the rules away in head. She couldn't wait for her dad to be gone. She knew she could hold it if Xavier and Selena were okay with her in charge. She didn't see that a problem because they would want the house to themselves too.
Miral and her siblings waved at their dad as he took a transport to New York. They stood in the doorway as the transporter flew away. They all took breath as they entered the house. Miral was right in that her siblings about having in charge. It was going to be an easy week. All she had to make sure was that they got to school, did their homework, keep the house clean, and no one getting killed. Miral knew she could do that.
Miral made her way to the kitchen to get something to drink when Xavier got to her. "Miral," Xavier smiled. Miral knew the smile on his face. It was the same he used when he wanted something from their mother. Miral always wondered how their mother fell for it. Miral ordered a lemonade before raising an eyebrow to her brother. "I think we should have a party on Saturday."
"No," Miral said. She thought that it was the end of the conversation and left the kitchen for her room.
"Come on, Miral we have the whole house to ourselves," Xavier said as he followed her.
Miral turned towards her brother. "I said no," She started for her room again. "Mom and Dad said no to parties."
"They said no to parties, not one party. They never have to know because we can clean the house before Mom comes home Sunday afternoon." Xavier smiled. He found a loophole in their parents' rules.
Miral passed Selena's room. "And what are we going to do about Selena?"
"She could sleepover at a friend's or spend the night in her room," Xavier rolled his eyes as he already thought about their younger sister.
Miral smiled and Xavier thought that he had her. "It's still a no," Miral made it to her room.
"Come on, Miral. We could invite the captain of the track team," Xavier smiled as he saw his sister's blush. He just might have her. He crossed his fingers behind him.
"Fine, but there will be some rules," Miral said.
Xavier smiled. "Okay," He tried not to jump up and down. Miral gave her brother before closing her door in face.
"Wow, did Jack Ranger walk in?" Miral's friend Katie smiled. Miral looked up from her drink. Miral saw the dark-haired boy walk in. He was the captain of the track team. He looked around the room to see who was here. Miral watched as he made his way over to her brother. Miral made a metal note to ask her brother how he knew the track captain.
"He's walking over here with your brother," Miral other friend Amanda smiled.
"Jack, this is the girl that made it all possible," Xavier smiled. "This is my sister, Miral."
Jack smiled with his hazel eyes. Miral just felt her heart melt. "I think we have English together."
Miral smiled. "We do. Thank you for coming."
"Can you show me where the drinks are?" He asked.
"Sure, they are this way," She grabbed his arm. She turned to her brother and mouthed thank you to him.
Miral led Jack to the drinks with every girl and some boys looking over at them. Miral could see that they were a little jealous that he was talking to her. Jack leaned down. "Is there somewhere we can go to be alone?"
"Yeah," Miral led him outside to the patio. She took a seat on one of the lawn chairs. Jack took the chair next to it.
Jack looked back at the party. "This is some party," He gave her a smile that could melt Miral's heart if she let it. "So.." Jack was lost for words.
Miral smiled at him. "Thank you, I had my brother to put the idea in my head. I'm glad he invited you."
Jack returned her smile. "It also helps that your parents are away for a week."
Miral laughed. "It does," She took a drink because she didn't know what else to say.
Jack looked away to backyard, away from the party. Miral watched his face as he looked over the land that came with the house. "Your parents must do very well for themselves, if you live here."
Miral nodded. She didn't want to talk about her parents, who would kill her if they found out that they had a party. Miral opened her mouth to say something when she saw Jack leaning over. Miral closed her eyes as she felt Jack's lips on hers. Miral sighed because she wanted his lips on hers since the beginning of the year. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Mikal wrapped her arms around his neck. Miral let out a moan as Jack deepen the kiss. Miral felt Jack's hand make its way up to her breast. He gave it a squeeze and Miral broke the kiss.
She pulled back. "That is moving too fast," She pushed him away as he tried to move in.
Jack gave a half grin. "Come on." Miral didn't like the look in his eyes.
"I said no," Miral stood up.
Jack reached for her arm. "Come on, I heard that you were easy."
Miral gave him a shocked look. "I don't know where you heard that from, but they were wrong."
Jack still didn't give up easily. "You can tell all your friends that you slept with the captain of the track team."
"I don't give a damn who the hell you are. I am not going to sleep with you," Miral felt her temper coming. "I think you need to leave," Miral pointed to the door.
Jack made his way to the door. "You are tease," He said as he reached the door to see everyone watching them.
Miral smiled at him. "I rather be a tease than regret sleeping with you because you probably have a small penis."
Miral saw his face turning red. Jack didn't say anything as he left the house. Miral's friends came over to see if she was alright. Miral realized that she was fine and told them that she needed another drink.
B'Elanna sighed as she entered her house at six in the morning. She was home earlier than she thought. She was heading for the stairs to make her way upstairs to bed. She thought that she could get a few more hours of asleep before the kids started to make too much noise.
B'Elanna tripped on a bottle. She should not have tripped over a bottle. B'Elanna set her bag down as she picked up the bottle. She saw that the bottle and moaned. B'Elanna stood and looked around the rest of her house to see the mess. There were bottles and cups all over the place. There was food on the kitchen island. B'Elanna saw that her office door was closed, she tried the door to find it lock. She took a sigh before making her way to the basement door to find it locked too. B'Elanna let out another sigh before she saw the mess again.
B'Elanna let her temper take over as she made her way upstairs. "Miral Paris, Xavier Paris, Selena Paris," She called out her children's names once she reached top of the stairs. She saw Selena poke her head out of her room. "Why is there a mess downstairs?" She asked the young girl.
Selena shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I was in my room for most of the night, doing homework," B'Elanna gave her a look. "It's true. Ask the computer."
"I will but right now, get downstairs," B'Elanna pointed to the stairs. Selena knew how angry her mom was and didn't say another word. B'Elanna watched her youngest make her way downstairs before knocking on Miral's door. B'Elanna didn't wait for an answer as she opened the door. Her oldest daughter was sleeping in the center of her bed. "Miral Paris, get your butt up now," B'Elanna hissed in Miral's ear.
Miral thought that she might be dream until she opened one eye to see that B'Elanna was standing in front of her. Miral's eyes widen because she knew that her mom had seen the mess downstairs. Xavier and she were going to clean it up before her mom got home. B'Elanna wasn't supposed to home until this evening. She thought that she could get some sleep before her mother was home.
"Mom," Miral said. "What are you doing home so soon?" She asked.
"I got in little earlier than excepted," B'Elanna crossed her arms. Miral sat up in bed. "I want to know why there is a big mess downstairs," B'Elanna pointed towards the door.
"Um…" Miral could only get out.
"I'm waiting," B'Elanna started to tap her foot.
"We decided to have a party," Miral just wanted her mother out of her room.
B'Elanna raised an eyebrow. "Who is this we?" She asked.
"Xavier," Miral didn't want to be the only one getting in trouble, so she threw her brother under the bus with her.
"Get downstairs while I wake your brother," B'Elanna watched Miral get out of bed and race downstairs.
B'Elanna didn't even knock on her son's door when she opened it. She let the door slam against the wall. Xavier sat up right away. He wiped the sleep from his eyes as he looked at his mother. "Mom," He smiled. "You are home early."
"Don't even try it young man," Xavier heard the tone of his mother's voice and didn't say anything. "Why don't you meet your sisters downstairs to help them clean up the mess down there." Xavier nodded, jumped out of bed, threw on a pair of shorts before heading downstairs.
B'Elanna took breath before following her son out of his room. She slowly made her way downstairs. She saw that Miral was handing Xavier a trash bag. B'Elanna looked around the house. "Who thought it was a good idea to have a party?"
Miral and Xavier traded a look while Selena just looked at her mom. "Mom,' Selena said. "I had nothing to do with the party. I don't know why I am being punished. I spent the night in my room doing homework. You can ask the computer," Miral and Xavier gave their sister a look.
B'Elanna didn't know if she believed her daughter or not. "Computer where was Selena last night?"
"Selena Paris was in her room," The computer said.
B'Elanna gave her daughter a look. "You didn't hear the party that was happening last night," Selena shook her head. "You are release until I know more," Selena smiled before running upstairs to her room.
B'Elanna looked at her two oldest. "I want this house cleaned. You are both grounded for a month. I will talk to both of later," B'Elanna sighed. She didn't want to say something she was going to regret. "I will be upstairs if you need me," B'Elanna took another look around the house, shaking her head.
Miral and Xavier sighed as they got to work. They didn't mind getting in trouble because they knew that the party was going to be talked about on Monday at school. They would legends at school. They would take being grounded for a month.
B'Elanna got to her room to find that the door was locked. She unlocked it and saw that the room was same as Tom left it before he left. She got out of her uniform and jumped in the shower to wash the travel dust off. After her shower, she called Tom and left a message for him about happen last night. B'Elanna knew that he would get back to her when he could. B'Elanna laid in bed and fell asleep, because there was something about being in her own bed.
After her nap. B'Elanna got up and felt refresh, then she remembered that she needed to talk to her children about having a party and responsibility. B'Elanna sighed as she made her way downstairs to see that the house was clean. Miral was wiping down the counter and Xavier was vacuuming. They looked up at her and tried to smile.
"Can you both sit on the couch," B'Elanna pointed towards the couch in the family room. They both stopped what they were doing and took a seat. B'Elanna closed her eyes before she started to talk. "I am more disappointed in you two than mad. Your father and I trusted you to take care of your sister and the house. It does not mean that you have a party. Who's idea was it to have a party?" B'Elanna asked her children.
Miral and Xavier traded a look before Xavier spoke up. "I talked Miral into it," Xavier rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry," He said to his sister. "You didn't get the ending you wanted."
Miral smiled. "It's okay. I still had fun after he left."
"Really," B'Elanna said. "How are you having a conversation when I'm trying to talk to the both of you?"
Xavier smiled like his father and B'Elanna had to wonder what her mother-in-law went through with Tom. "I had told Miral we could have invited a boy she liked so she would have the party, but the boy turned out to be a jerk."
B'Elanna turned to her daughter and saw her nod. "I might have told the whole school that he had a small penis," Miral smiled at her brother. Xavier laughed.
B'Elanna wanted to throw up her hands and walk away. She never had siblings, so she didn't understand this connection. "Xavier, can you leave us," Xavier stood up. "You are lucky that I don't add on to your sentence," Xavier nodded before giving his sister a smile. B'Elanna waited until she heard Xavier on the stairs before turning to Miral. "How did your fourteen-year-old brother talk you into a party? I thought that you had a good head on your shoulders."
Miral narrowed her eyes at mother. "I do," They both knew that she was at the top of class and probably going to get in the college of her choice. "Do you remember being seventeen and having a crush on a guy?"
B'Elanna remembered being seventeen again. While she was trying to get away from her corner of the universe, there was a boy that B'Elanna had crush on. He was cute and captain of the football team. He was in her math class. She liked that he could play football and could do advance math. "Yes," B'Elanna told her daughter. "He didn't know I existed."
Miral gave her mother a look. She had a feeling that boys noticed her mother but didn't want to say so. "Well, I liked this boy and Xavier told me that we could invite him, and he showed up." B'Elanna raised an eyebrow because it seemed like her daughter didn't care for the boy anymore. "I realized what a jerk he was." Miral crossed her arms the same way that B'Elanna did while she had a chip on her shoulder. Maybe her daughter still had a good head on her shoulders.
"So having a party seemed like a good idea," B'Elanna said.
"At the time it did," Miral said. B'Elanna sighed. Her daughter was still a teenager. "To be fair you weren't to be home until tonight and the house would have been clean. You weren't to know about the party." Miral gave a half smile. There was a look in Miral's eyes that remind B'Elanna of the girl's father.
'True," B'Elanna smiled. "But since I am still the parent you are still grounded for a month," Miral shrugged her shoulders. B'Elanna sighed. "Miral, your father and I put you in charge to take care of your siblings and the house and I feel that I can't trust you being alone again." B'Elanna said in a quiet voice as she could a seat next to Miral.
Miral turn to look at her mother. Miral looked into her mother's eyes. The same brown that she had. Miral realized that she was the only one to have her mother's eyes. "I know that I disappointed you, but for most of the week I made sure that Xavier and Selena went to school. They both did their after-school activities. For the party, I told Xavier he had to do his homework for the week. There is message on the comm for you and dad from one of Xavier's teachers saying that he is doing better in their class. When you called everything was order. There was food on the table. We still had dinner as a family." Tears came to B'Elanna's eyes. Her daughter was becoming a responsible adult. She would make a great mother someday. "I hope to gain your trust again."
B'Elanna gave a watery smile. "Next time find something else to bribe your brother with," Miral laughed and hugged her mother.
"So am I still grounded," Miral said.
"Yep," B'Elanna stood and headed for her office. B'Elanna heard Miral mumble under her breath. It had B'Elanna smiling as she entered her office.
As she entered, she saw someone trying to call her. She answered the call to see Tom's smiling face. It made B'Elanna return his smile as she took a seat. "So, how is where you are?"
Tom smiled. "London and I'm good. I hear our children had a party,"
B'Elanna sighed. "Yeah, Miral and Xavier are both grounded for a month."
Tom raised an eyebrow. "What about Selena?" He asked.
"She spent the night in her room," B'Elanna was trying to see where Tom was going with this. "Saying she knew nothing about the party."
"I'm going to bet that Miral and Xavier paid her off somehow, so she didn't come or tell us about it." Tom smiled. "I know several times my sisters paid me off so they could have someone over or a party."
"Really," B'Elanna said. Tom nodded. "Did your parents know?"
"Yeah, my parents knew and would make me give it back after they found out," Tom said. "The thing about having siblings."
"I never had siblings, so I wouldn't know. Selena pulled one over me," B'Elanna frowned. She didn't like it one bit.
"I'm surprised that Miral or Xavier didn't tell you," Tom said. "My sister threw me under the bus many times when they got caught too."
"So, daughter might be sneaker than we think," B'Elanna said. Tom saw the look in her eyes. B'Elanna was up to something. "I love you," B'Elanna said and waited while Tom told her goodbye.
B'Elanna left her office and went slowly upstairs to not to alert her children. She stopped in front of Miral's door when she heard both of her daughters.
"You still owe that sweater," Selena said.
"Why Mom still found out about the party?" Miral asked.
"She didn't find out from me, and I stayed in my room all night," B'Elanna could hear the smile in Selena's voice.
"Alright," Miral sighed. B'Elanna heard her stand and make her way to her closet. "Here," B'Elanna thought it was time to make her way in.
"I see that you did know about the party," B'Elanna said as she saw the sweater in Selena's hand.
"Mom," Selena said.
"Give your sister her sweater back and you are grounded for two weeks," B'Elanna said as she walked out of room.
"Mom," Selena ran after her.