D'jono shouldered his bag and smiled. He was going to surprise his grandparents by just showing up at their front door. He had told his parents that he had made every arrangement with his grandparents for him to stay for the summer. He had wanted to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. His father wanted him to follow him into the Klingon space services and his mother thought that he could do well in diplomacies, but D'jono didn't think he would do so well. His twin brother knew right away that he was joining the military after college and flying in space like their father. Even his sisters knew what they wanted to do in life, and they were younger than him. It was his mother that told him that a change of scenery might do him some good. That was why he was here standing on his grandparents' front pouch.
He rang the bell and hoped that one of his grandparents was home. The door was opened by a young woman, who was blond and blue eyes. He always had a liking for human girls. She looked him up and down. He had to wonder who she was because he doesn't remember seeing her before.
"Who are you?" She placed a hand on her hip.
"D'jono," D'jono said. "Does Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres still live her?" He asked. The last time he knew his grandparents were still living in this house. He had a feeling that his mom would have told him that they had moved.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yes, how do you know them?"
D'jono smiled. "I'm their grandson." She looked from his to his forehead. He knew that his ridges were more pronounced with his father being Klingon and his mother only being a quarter Klingon. His brother liked to say that he let his human side out more than he did.
D'jono watched as she blushed. "May I ask who you are?"
"Kira Parker," Kira said.
D'jono tried to remember her. He couldn't place her. He gave her a questioning look. "Are you related to my Uncle Stephen?"
Kira narrowed her eyes at him. "He was my uncle first," She crossed her arms.
"Really," D'jono sounded shook when he wasn't. "So, you know my cousins Sam and Saxon."
Kira rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something when he saw his grandmother making her way to them. "Who's at the door?" B'Elanna asked.
"Hi, Grandma," D'jono poked his over Kira.
B'Elanna narrowed her eyes at him. "D'jono what are you doing here?"
"Can I come and see my favorite grandmother and grandfather?" D'jono smiled.
B'Elanna wasn't fooled by his smile. "Do your parents know that you are here?"
"Yes, I wanted to surprise you," D'jono rearranged his bag on his shoulder.
B'Elanna shook her head. "Come in," Kira moved out of the way so D'jono could enter the house. "You can stay in the guest room downstairs," B'Elanna pointed downstairs.
D'jono dropped his bag and hugged his grandmother, lifting her off her feet. "Put me down, D'jono." D'jono put B'Elanna down. "When did you grow so much?" B'Elanna looked at the grown man in front of her.
D'jono smiled. "Over the last year," He grabbed his bag and headed for stairs. "Is Grandpa here?"
"No, he should be home tonight. How long are you staying?" B'Elanna asked.
"For the summer," D'jono smiled.
B'Elanna rolled her eyes at him. D'jono let out a chuckle as he made his way to the stairs. "Love you too, Grandma," D'jono bounce down the stairs.
B'Elanna sighed. "It looks like a full house this summer," B'Elanna turned to Kira.
"B'Elanna, there is only going to be two of staying here," Kira wondered how it was going to be a full house.
B'Elanna headed for the family room. "You don't know my grandson," B'Elanna found a spot to sit down. "You've probably met him before."
"A few times over the years," Kira sat next to her. She remembered playing with him a few times as children when they were here for a visit.
B'Elanna heard D'jono bouncing up the stairs. He reminded her of her son sometimes. He found them in the family room. He fell on the couch and B'Elanna gave him a look. D'jono only smiled. B'Elanna shook her head. What were they going to do with him all summer? "What is your plan for the summer?" She asked him.
"To figure out what I want to do with my life," D'jono leaned back against the couch. B'Elanna got up to get drinks and snacks. D'jono turned to Kira. "Are you helping out my grandparents this summer?"
"No," Kira rolled her eyes. "I have a summer internship at Starfleet." D'jono thought that she could be knock down a few pegs.
"Wow, thinking of Starfleet as a career," D'jono put his feet on the coffee table.
"Yes, I think that it will be a good choice for me," Kira watched as he crossed his legs on the table.
"D'jono, you better get your feet off my coffee table," D'jono looked up and smiled at his grandmother. Kira thought that if looks could kill D'jono would be dead by the hand of his grandmother. She wasn't sure if his parents would appreciate that their son was gone. Kira watched as D'jono took his feet off the table.
"Sorry, Grandma."
B'Elanna placed the drinks and food on the table. "I know your mother taught you better that."
D'jono reached over and took a cookie. "You should know, Grandma because you raised her."
B'Elanna narrowed her eyes at him. "I did."
"But you also raised Uncle Xavier," D'jono took a bite of his cookie.
"Your uncle has nothing to do with this," B'Elanna took her cup of tea.
Kira wondered what was wrong with D'jono. She thought that all Klingon had honor, but it seemed that D'jono had none, or he wouldn't be treating his grandmother like that. Kira didn't like her grandmother, but she respected her. She listened as B'Elanna asked after his parents and siblings. It seemed that D'jono didn't want to talk about his siblings and what they were up to. Kira decided to leave the room before she said something to D'jono about the way he was talking to his grandmother. B'Elanna and Tom were good people for letting her stay here for the summer instead of staying on campus.
Kira made her way to her room. She was staying in her Aunt Selena's old room. If felt that Selena never left the room and maybe it was true because when Aunt Selena stayed in San Francisco she stayed with her parents. Kira didn't know how many times that she and her parents along with her sister had stayed here for the visits. Tom and B'Elanna's other kids weren't here as often. Kira knew that Tom and B'Elanna's oldest daughter lived on Q'onoS with her husband and kids. Their son, Xavier, was making a name for himself in the starship building world. His base was in San Francisco, but he and his wife were always traveling somewhere for business, taking their two kids with them.
Kira took a seat at the desk and looked over her PADD to see what her summer was going to look like. She couldn't wait to join Starfleet and see space. She loved hearing tales from her uncle when he came home for leave. She was almost jealous of her cousins because they lived in space with their parents but then again, she got to see her dad every day when they didn't. Kira felt that she would do well in space. She could become a captain one day.
"Kira, dinner," She heard Tom call for her. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
She saw that Tom was home from whatever he had planned. D'jono was already sitting at the table with as his grandparents took their seats. She took her seat at the table. It didn't take long when everyone had something on their plate.
Tom picked up his fork and looked across the table at his wife. "I got a message from Xavier," B'Elanna raised an eyebrow. She was wondering what her son wanted. "He was wondering if we could watch his kids for a month or so. They don't want to go on trip that Xavier and Peata are going on."
"Where are they going to stay?" B'Elanna asked. "We already have two guests."
Tom smiled and Kira wondered if that was the smile that won B'Elanna over. "They can stay in Miral's and Xavier's old rooms," Tom glanced at his grandson. "Even with our unexpected guest."
"Grandpa, you know that you love having your favorite grandson here," D'jono smiled.
"My favorite grandson is Saxon," Tom mumbled.
"That's only because he thinks you are a god," D'jono took a bite of his food.
"It might help," Tom gave a half smile.
D'jono gave Kira a look before turning back to his grandfather. "It might also have to do with Captain Proton."
Tom shook his head and turned back to his wife. "Do you agree with two other guests this summer?"
B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "I can't say no to my grandchildren."
"It will be nice to fill this house with noise again," Tom looked like he was remembering the past when his children were young and not parents of their own kids.
"I thought that D'jono was going to create enough noise," Kira smiled at D'jono.
D'jono smiled as his grandparents laughed. "The children will only add to it," Tom said. Kira saw a sparkle in his eyes. That had her wondering if he was really a kid at heart.
B'Elanna shook her head. "When are they coming?"
"Next week," Tom said.
D'jono stood at the back patio, looking into the backyard. He played in this backyard with his siblings. It was the same yard that his mother had played in with his uncle and aunt. He had spent the last week trying to figure out his life. He had barely seen Kira since she started her internship. His grandparents had their own lives and didn't need to think about him. He knew that they were getting ready for his cousins. They had watched him for the first couple of days to make sure that he was alright. He wondered what if they had talked to his parents. No one said anything as he did nothing all day. He had been to the lake for a swim.
The doorbell went off and he knew that his cousins were here. He looked in the house and watched as his grandmother made her way to the door. D'jono slowly made his way in and stood back as his grandmother opened the door. He stopped in the kitchen as his uncle and his family walked in. D'jono looked at his cousins and saw how much they had grown since the last time that he saw them. Riley was turning into a beautiful woman, and Brice was going to break some hearts when he was older.
"Hi, Mom," Uncle Xavier kissed his mother's cheek. "Thanks for taking the kids this summer."
B'Elanna greeted her son before saying. "It was no problem. We have a full house this summer," B'Elanna glanced behind her and saw that D'jono was there. Xavier followed his mother's eyes.
"D'jono, is that you?" Xavier smiled at his nephew.
D'jono stepped out of the kitchen and smiled at his uncle. "Yes."
Xavier made his way over to him and grabbed him in a hug. "What brings you to Earth?"
"Finding himself," B'Elanna said from behind them.
Xavier gave D'jono a worried look. "Any luck?"
D'jono gave a half smile. "Still looking."
Xavier nodded. It was then that Riley and Brice saw him. "D'jono," They hugged him. He let his aunt hug him.
"I thought that I heard voices," Tom said as he came upstairs.
"Grandpa," Riley and Brice went to hug him.
Tom looked at his son and daughter-in-law. "You are staying for dinner," Xavier and Peata nodded.
D'jono sat through dinner where his uncle and aunt asked after his parents and siblings. He hated that. He knew that his mother was close to her brother and sister and would talk to them at least once a week. So, his uncle knew all the answers to the questions that he would ask. He talked to his young cousins, and it seemed that they knew what they wanted out of life. Why was he the only one that didn't have his life planned. It seemed that Brice was ready to follow the Paris name into Starfleet and make a career of it. Riley didn't want to enter Starfleet but she ready to go to regular university to study twenty century writing. He could see his cousin doing that. He couldn't make fun of Kira because she wasn't there. Once she started her internship, she was rarely home.
After dinner his uncle and aunt left. His grandparents made sure that Brice and Riley were settled in their rooms. D'jono cleaned up after dinner before heading outside to the backyard. He took a seat in a patio seat but jumped up quickly because even his two young cousins had plans for their lives, and they were younger than him. He had to wonder if Sam and Saxon had plans for the rest of their lives.
"Is everything okay?" D'jono turned around to see Kira there.
"Yeah," D'jono sighed. He smiled and Kira gave him a look. "You missed dinner."
Kira shrugged her shoulders. "I already told Tom and B'Elanna that I would miss it."
"Well, you didn't have your aunt and uncle asking about your family even those you know that they probably know what you are going to tell them because they talk to parents." D'jono gave a fake laugh.
Kira raised an eyebrow. "Have you talked to your parents since you have been here?" D'jono shook his head.
"I'm sure that they know that I am here," D'jono hissed. Kira could see that his temper was coming through. "They can connect me too."
Kira didn't say anything for a moment. "What is wrong, D'jono?" She felt that he needed that question asked.
The dam that he was holding in finally broke. "What is wrong? Everyone in my family has everything planned for the rest of their lives. My brother and sisters all know what they are going to do with their lives. Even Riley and Brice know what they want to do with their lives. I bet that Sam and Saxon know what they are doing with their lives. I thought that this would be an easy summer because my grandparents wouldn't push me one way or another, but you are here," He waved his hands towards Kira. "With your plans to go Starfleet."
"I think that Sam and Saxon are too young to know what they want in life because they are nine and five," D'jono smiled. "If I remember Riley and Brice are young and might want to change their minds about what they want to do with their lives. Plans don't always work out." Kira smiled.
D'jono raised an eyebrow. "So, what would you do if you don't get into Starfleet?"
Kira smiled. "I have applied to several other schools, and I could get into them. I already know that I have a place at Oxford if I want it."
"But Starfleet is your top choice," D'jono said.
"Yes, but it is not the only path I can take," Kira. "You could always go to college on Q'onoS."
D'jono smiled. "I will be after I leave here," D'jono sighed. "I just don't know what to do while I am there," He took a seat on the chair.
Kira took a seat next to him in another chair. "Do you have to know right away?"
"Yeah," D'jono gave her a smile. She had to wonder if he was more human than the rest of his siblings. "They throw you into your studies right away."
"Oh," Kira said. "Have you thought about going to university here on Earth?"
"I have but every male in my family has gone to this college on Q'onoS and my brother knows what he wants to do when he gets there," D'jono laughed. "He's going to join my father in space."
"You don't have to be like every male in your family. My own grandmother wants me to marry the perfect husband and have two kids." Kira said.
D'jono smiled. "Your grandmother sounds like a winner. I'm sure she loved the idea of you joining Starfleet," Kira rolled her eyes. D'jono laughed. "I'll take that as no."
"I'm not going to live my life by what my grandmother wants but what I want," D'jono could see the determination in her eyes. He had to wonder if she had warrior blood running through her veins.
"I glad that you can do what you want," D'jono wanted to reach for her hand but kept his hands to himself.
"You can do that too. I'm sure your parents would support you in any thing you do," Kira folded her hands in her hand. "They will love no matter what you do."
D'jono sighed. "They would," He placed his hands under his butt, or he was going to reach for her hands.
"Have you thought about talking to your grandparents?" Kira asked.
D'jono let out a shallow laugh. "My famous grandparents."
"Yes, I'm sure they didn't ask to be taken in the Delta Quadrant and have their names to be remember forever in the history books. I have a feeling that they didn't have their lives didn't go as plan."
D'jono glanced up to his grandparents' room and let out laugh. "I bet it didn't."
"And I think that they are happy were their lives ended up," Kira whispered.
D'jono looked at her and saw that there might be some truth to her words. "Your life doesn't have to be planned to the last second."
D'jono reached over and put a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "You don't have your life planned to the last second either."
Fire flashed her eyes. "I don't," Her words were a whispered.
D'jono knew he could reach over, kiss her, and she wouldn't say a word. He pulled back and placed his hands on the arms of the chair. He saw disappointment in her eyes. He was raised to treat woman as equals. "You should go in," D'jono stood up and headed for the yard.
Kira sat out there until she couldn't see his back anymore. She didn't know where she got the urge to kiss D'jono. He was someone she had known for years. She used to play with him as a child. She thought that he was cute. She could tell that he was strong. She wondered where these feelings for him were coming from. She got up and headed for the house.
"Don't even think it," Tom said from behind B'Elanna.
"What?" She acted innocent. She was looking out of the window when she saw D'jono step out. She wondered what he was about until she saw Kira step out there. It looked like a serious conversation between the two of them. She saw D'jono reach out and touch a piece of her hair. They wanted something from the other, but D'jono stood up and walked away from Kira. Kira looked hurt for a moment before heading back in the house. B'Elanna didn't hear her on the stairs so Kira must still be downstairs.
"Playing matchmaker with our grandson and the young woman who is staying with us for the summer," B'Elanna turned to see Tom pulling back the blanket on their bed.
B'Elanna walked away from the window. "I am not. I just think that they can help each other."
Tom raised an eyebrow as he got in bed. "I'm sure," He mumbled before picking up the PADD by his bed.
B'Elanna walked passed the bed to the bathroom as she passed, she picked up a pillow and threw at her husband. "And they might not even need our help." Tom raised an eyebrow. "Our grandson just walked away from her."
"Idiot," Tom mumbled as B'Elanna entered the bathroom. She poked her head out of the bathroom.
"Did you just call our grandson an idiot?"
"No," Tom tried to look down at his PADD.
"You did," B'Elanna came out holding a toothbrush in her hand. She pointed her toothbrush at Tom. "You better not be a hypocrite, telling me that I shouldn't be playing matchmaker, and you want to do the job."
"I just think that they are young and have their whole lives ahead of them, so there isn't any reason that they should be falling in love," Tom pressed something on his PADD. B'Elanna went back into the bathroom, Tom was thinking that this conversation was over but B'Elanna came out saying.
"They could fall in love and planned their lives around their others plans," B'Elanna crawled in bed next to Tom.
Tom glanced at his wife. "Do you really think that is going to work?"
"No," B'Elanna sighed. "You never know what life holds for them."
"If they meet later in life and it was meant to be then so be it. I will dance happily at their wedding." Tom read something on his PADD. B'Elanna hit him on the arm. He gave her a look. "Do think that we would have made it if we were their age?"
B'Elanna had to think for a moment. "No, I would have killed you."
Tom laughed, leaned over, and kissed her. "I agree or I would have walked out after a fight we had. We had some growing to do and so do they."
"Fine," B'Elanna buried herself in the bed. "Turn off that PADD and hold me." Tom was all too happy to do it.