Disclaimer:  Roses are red, violets are blue, Paramount owns all; I hope they 
won't sue. ;-)  The characters of Ariana, Kathryn Paris, and Kolopak are mine, and 
the rest belong to the great and wonderful Wizard of Oz -- er, Paramount. :-) 
Copyright January 1997 by JoAnna Walsvik.  Spread around if you must, but give me 
the credit.  And please please please please send me feedback at 
jowalsvi@sendit.sendit.nodak.edu. Author's note:  The @@@'s indicate a change of 
scene and/or time and place on Voyager.  The ***'s indicate a change from the 
future, from when Admiral Janeway is talking to her granddaughter, to the time in 
which this story takes place.  Also, please read the following message: <pre> 
Enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Summary:  An elderly Admiral Kathryn Janeway 
tells a story to her five-year-old granddaughter, Ariana, about her life on 
Voyager. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Tell Me A Story   Voy; J/C and P/T; PG by JoAnna Walsvik
     "Grandma, tell me a story."  
     Admiral Kathryn Janeway, long since retired from Starfleet, stroked her 
granddaughter's auburn tresses affectionately.  "Let's see; a story.  How about I 
tell you about your Uncle Tuvok's latest paper  on -- "
     "No, Grandma!" little Ariana pouted.  "I want to hear a *real* story.  Tell 
me a story about Voyager."
     "About Voyager?"  Janeway said, feigning amazement.  "You don't want to hear 
another story about that old ship, do you?"
     "Yes."  Ariana stubbornly glared at her grandmother with a pair of very 
familiar dark brown eyes.
     "Well, let's see," her grandmother said thoughtfully.  "Have I ever told you 
the story of how your Grandpa Chakotay and I were married and had your daddy? Or 
how your Grandpa and Grandma Paris had your mommy?"  
     "Uh uh."  The little girl said, settling herself on the floor by Janeway's 
knee.  "Tell me, Grandma.  Tell me."
     Kathryn Janeway smiled at her granddaughter.  "Well, it all started one day 
when Voyager had been in the Delta Quadrant for almost six years.  Now, during the 
time your Grandpa Chakotay and I were dating, your Grandma B'Elanna and your 
Grandpa Tom had already gotten married.  In fact, they celebrated their six-month 
anniversary on my wedding day.  But, your Grandpa Chakotay and I hadn't gotten 
married yet; in fact, he proposed to me that very night.  I can still remember my 
reaction to his proposal..."
*********************************************************
     "You want to *what*?"  Kathryn Janeway stared at her first officer in 
astonishment.
     "I want to get married," Chakotay repeated.  "Come on, Kathryn.  We've been 
together for over three years.  The crew sees us as a permanent couple.  It's high 
time we did something about it.  I'm tired of going to your quarters every night."
     "Couldn't we just...live together?  Besides, I'm the captain.  Who would 
perform the ceremony -- that is, if I even said yes?"  
     "Just live together?  Is that the kind of example you want to set for the 
crew?  You know as well as I that it would give them the impression that we aren't 
serious about this relationship.  And, I've checked Starfleet regulations.  If the 
captain or the first officer is not available to perform a marriage ceremony, then 
the next highest ranking officer has the authorization to do so.  That's Tuvok.  
And I'm sure he'd be happy to marry us," Chakotay said patiently.  "I didn't come 
to this decision lightly, Kathryn.  I've thought about it for a long time.  I love 
you.  And I want to marry you."
     Janeway began to pace around the room.  "But *marriage*?  That's a lifelong 
commitment."
     "And you aren't *prepared* for a lifelong commitment?"  Somehow, Chakotay 
didn't believe that.
     "It's not that, it's just that...I guess you could say that I'm already 
married -- to this ship and her crew.  My first priority is them, Chakotay.  My 
personal life has to come second."
     "I understand," he said quietly.  "I feel the same way.  So what's the 
problem?"
     "The problem?" She stared at him in disbelief.  Couldn't he see? "The problem 
is, if we were married one of us might use our personal feelings to make decisions 
for Voyager or her crew.  That can be disastrous on a starship."
     "Kathryn, we've been together for the past three years.  In all that time, 
can you honestly say that either one of us has used our feelings for each other to 
affect any decision we made?"
     "Well, no, but -- "
     "You're stalling."  Chakotay's voice was sharp.  "I want a straight answer 
from you, Kathryn.  Will you or will you not marry me?"
     She brought her gaze to meet his, and he could see her blue eyes were 
troubled.  "I -- I don't know.  I just don't know."
     Chakotay remained silent, but it was clear that his feelings were hurt.  "You 
don't love me?"  he asked, his dark ebony eyes filled with honest bewilderment and 
sadness.
     "No -- no! I do love you, Chakotay.  I love you with all my heart, 
but...well..."  She trailed off and stared miserably at the floor.  This was not 
how she had thought the evening would turn out. 
     "You need some time.  I understand."  He stood up and gently kissed her on 
the cheek.  Her gaze remained fixed on the pale gray carpet.  "Good night, 
Kathryn."  Then, for the first night in a long while, he left her quarters to stay 
in his own.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
     Janeway stood nervously in the corridor, racked with indecision.  Was she 
going to the right person?  She needed someone to talk to. Under any other 
circumstances the first person she'd go to would be Chakotay.  Tuvok was out of 
the question; he was a good friend but logic wouldn't help in matters of the 
heart.  Kes was just too inexperienced to talk with; she was married to the only 
man she had ever dated and pregnant with that man's child.  There was really no 
one else she could confide in...except for one person.
     And she was standing outside that person's door now.
     *Come on, Kathryn, get a hold of yourself,* she scolded herself firmly.  
*Ring the damn doorbell.*
     She rang it; and waited.
     "Enter," was the reply from within.  Janeway took a deep breath, and stepped 
inside.
     "Captain," a surprised B'Elanna Paris greeted her.  "Can I help you?"  This 
was the first time in six years Janeway had ever come to her and Tom's quarters.  
It couldn't be about business; Janeway looked exceedingly nervous.  
     "Actually, yes.  I -- I need to talk to you."  Janeway hoped B'Elanna 
couldn't hear the tremor in her voice.
     B'Elanna could hear it clearly.  "Please, sit down."  Janeway sat, and 
B'Elanna eyed her worriedly.  She was clearly very nervous about something, but 
B'Elanna coudn't imagine why Janeway would come to her chief engineer, of all 
people, if she had a personal problem.  "Is something wrong?" 
     "Very.  I -- I need someone to talk to."  
     "Tuvok wasn't available?"  B'Elanna silently cursed herself.  *Good going, 
B'Elanna.  Did that sound as rude as I thought it did?*
     But the captain didn't seem offended at all.  Instead, she glanced up at 
B'Elanna rather apologetically.  "I mean, woman to woman."
     "Oh, I see.  What about?"
     "Well, it's just that -- that -- "  Janeway broke off.  Before she could stop 
herself, she burst into tears.
     "Captain?"  B'Elanna stared at her superior officer despairingly.  What the 
hell was she supposed to do?  Janeway obviously needed comfort from someone, but 
she had always been rotten at consoling people.
     Helplessly, she sat down next to the captain and put a tentative arm around 
the sobbing woman's shoulders.  She didn't know what else to do.
     But apparently, a sympathetic touch was all Janeway needed.  Her tears 
stopped as quickly as they had come, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her 
hand.  "I -- I'm sorry," she hiccuped.  "I -- "
     "Hey, it's okay,"  B'Elanna said gently.  She replicated a steaming hot cup 
of coffee and set it in Janeway's trembling hands.  "Here.  Drink this."
     Janeway obediently took a small sip, and the comforting aroma seemed to 
soothe her a bit.  "Now, can you tell me what's wrong?  Why are you so upset?" 
B'Elanna asked, her voice laced with concern.
     "It -- it's Chakotay," Janeway said softly, her eyes welling up with tears 
again.
     "Chakotay?  Did you two have a fight?"  
     "No, he -- last night, he -- he asked me to marry him."
     B'Elanna blinked in surprise.  That had been the last thing she had expected.  
"Oh, I -- I see.  Is -- is that a bad thing?"  Janeway remained silent, and 
B'Elanna became alarmed.  "You said no?"
     "I -- I said I needed more time.  Oh, B'Elanna, I don't know what to do!"  
Janeway jumped up and began to pace.  "I love him, I love him dearly, it's just 
that -- well -- I don't know if I'm ready for this!  I mean, marriage is a big 
step, a very big step.  I just don't know if I...."  She trailed off, beginning to 
pace even faster.
     B'Elanna now understood.  "Captain, did you have someone -- special -- back 
in the Alpha Quadrant?" she asked gently.
     Janeway stopped dead in her tracks at simply stared at B'Elanna.  Slowly, she 
sat down.  "Yes.  Yes, I did," she admitted quietly.
     "And do you feel like you would be betraying him if you married Chakotay?"
     Janeway looked at her chief engineer with newfound respect.  B'Elanna had 
just voiced the very concern she had, deep down, been feeling but had been too 
afraid to admit.  "I guess so.  Mark -- that's his name, Mark -- we were very 
close.  I had the feeling that he was going to propose to me any day."
     "Do you still love him?"
     Janeway sighed.  "That's the problem.  I -- I don't think so.  I mean, I'm 
fond of him, but not in the way I was before.  I still miss him, but like -- like 
-- "
     "Like a brother?"  B'Elanna supplied.
     "Yes.  That's it exactly," Janeway agreed.  "I just don't know what I'd do if 
we got home and Mark still loved me.  He's always been sensitive, and I'm afraid 
that my marrying another man would just about kill him."
     B'Elanna suppressed a smile.  So all Janeway was concerned about was the 
feelings of her former lover.  "Captain, I think it's pretty safe to bet that 
Mark's feelings for you have cooled as well.  It's been six years.  He probably 
has assumed you were killed and has gotten on with his life.  Maybe he's married 
by now.  But I think you have to stop being concerned for his feelings and start 
caring for your own."  B'Elanna paused slightly.  "For example, if there were to 
be an accident, and Chakotay was -- killed -- how would you feel?"
     Janeway's face turned ashen at the mere thought of it.  "I -- I'd be 
devastated.  I wouldn't be able to go on without him."
     "Then I think you have your answer."  B'Elanna sat back and looked at Janeway 
expectantly.
     The captain slowly considered this.  B'Elanna was absolutely right.  If 
something happened to Chakotay, her life would be over.  She would always regret 
not saying yes to his proposal.  
     Her purpose was clear.
     She looked up at her chief engineer.  "Thank you," she said earnestly.  
"Thank you very much."
     B'Elanna smiled.  "My door is always open if you ever need to talk."
     Janeway smiled also.  "I just wish I had come sooner."  She stood up, and 
glanced  at the door.  "Now, if you'll excuse me..."
     "Go to your fiancee," B'Elanna grinned.  "And congratulations."
     "Thank you."  And she was gone.  Before B'Elanna could gather her rather 
bewildered thoughts, Janeway was back.  "You won't tell anyone quite yet, will 
you?" she asked worriedly.
     "Not a word," her chief engineer promised.  And again the captain vanished.
     B'Elanna Paris grinned.  She felt -- well, damn *good* about herself right 
about now.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
     Janeway pressed the chime for Chakotay's quarters and waited impatiently.  He 
had to be there.  He just *had* to be.
     The doors slid open to reveal her first officer, dressed and ready for bed.  
"Kathryn?" he said with some confusion.
     Before he could say another word, her lips were on his.  "Kathryn?" he said 
once the kiss had ended, and an unasked question was in his voice.
     "Yes.  Yes, I will marry you," she said, and kissed him again.  "I love you, 
Chakotay."
     "I love you too," he agreed, rather dazed -- but happy -- at her sudden 
acceptance.  "What changed your mind?"
     "It's a long story," she smiled.  "I'll tell you later.  Right now, we have 
more important things to attend to.  Should we set a date?"
     Chakotay couldn't help but grin.  She was still the same practical Kathryn 
Janeway.  "Later," he told her, disappearing into his bedroom and reappearing with 
a small black box in his hands.  He opened it up and slipped something small and 
gold on her finger.
     Janeway gasped.  "Oh, it's beautiful!" she said, admiring the solid gold band 
with a lone, twinkling diamond.  It was simple but elegant, just the sort of 
jewelry she loved.  "Thank you."
     "My pleasure," he said modestly.  Then, with an impish sparkle in his eye, he 
added, "Mrs. Chakotay."
     "Mrs. Chakotay?  I'll be damned if I -- " she protested laughingly, but 
Chakotay silenced her with a kiss.
*********************************************************
     "And then you and Grandpa Chakotay got married," Ariana said brightly, 
climbing into her grandmother's lap.
     "We got married,"  Janeway agreed, smiling at her.  "Exactly two weeks later.  
Uncle Tuvok performed the ceremony, and Grandma B'Elanna was my maid of honor."
     "And Grandpa Tom was Grandpa Chakotay's best man," Ariana finished.
     "That's right, sweetheart."
     "But, Grandma, you still haven't told me how Grandma B'Elanna and Grandpa Tom 
had mommy!" Ariana said impatiently.
     "I was getting to that.  Be patient,"  she told her granddaughter.  "And just 
a few months after my marriage -- "
     " -- and after your honeymoon -- "  Ariana interrupted.
     " -- after our honeymoon," her grandmother continued, a faint blush spreading 
over her face,  "I went to tell your Grandpa Chakotay some wonderful news."
*********************************************************
     "You're *what*?"  Chakotay stared at his bride of three months in complete 
astonishment.
     "I'm pregnant!"  Janeway had to laugh at the completely dumbfounded 
expression on her husband's face.  "Can you believe it?"
     "No, actually, I can't."  Chakotay sank down into a nearby chair, his legs 
having turned to jelly.  "How -- how did this happen?"
     "Well, the sperm reaches the egg -- "
     "Kathryn!"  He gave her an exasperated look.  "I *know* that."
     "Just checking."  Janeway couldn't hide the broad smile that crossed her 
face.
     "What I *mean* is," Chakotay continued, ignoring the smile, "you know as well 
as I that the doctor told you that since you were considerably older then most 
women of childbearing age and I older then most fathers, our chances of conceiving 
without medical assistance were slim to none.  How did this happen?"
     "He said *slim* to none," Janeway pointed out.  "And we, my dear, just beat 
the odds.  The doctor says we'll have a bouncing baby boy or girl in about eight 
months."
     "Eight months?  That long?"
     "Long?  I'm only three weeks pregnant."  She paused slightly, and regarded 
him carefully.  He seemed more stunned then anything else; she couldn't tell if he 
was happy or not.  "Are you glad?"
     Slowly, the stunned look passed from Chakotay's face, and a rather delighted 
grin replaced it.  "Glad?  Darling, I'm ecstatic!"  And to prove it, he picked her 
up and swung her around, shouting, "I'm going to be a father!"
     "Chakotay, hush," she scolded laughingly.  "Someone will hear you."
     "Hear me?  I want *everyone* to hear me!  This is great news!" he exclaimed, 
but he lowered his voice anyway.  "When are we going to tell the crew?"
     "As soon as possible," she promised.  "But there's someone I want to tell 
first."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
     "Captain!"  B'Elanna Paris said in surprise, greeting Janeway at her door.  
"Come in.  What can I do for you?"  *I don't think she had a fight with Chakotay,* 
she thought, gazing at the captain discreetly.  *She looks positively ecstatic.  I 
wonder what she's up to?*
       "B'Elanna, I'm so happy I'm about to burst," Janeway said, her eyes 
sparkling.  "I wanted you to be the first to know -- I'm pregnant!"
     Instead of the joyful reaction she had expected, B'Elanna merely stared at 
her in astonishment.  "You're kidding."
     "No, I'm not.  I'm really pregnant."  Janeway smiled at her chief engineer.  
"Well, aren't you going to congratulate me?"
     "Oh, my -- you're really serious, aren't you?"  B'Elanna couldn't seem to get 
over the shock.
     "Yes, I'm serious," Janeway assured her with a note of exasperation.  "What 
is so hard to comprehend about my being pregnant?"
     "It's not that, it's just that -- so am I!"
     Now it was Janeway who stared in astonishment.  "So are you?  You mean...?"
     "I'm pregnant too!"  B'Elanna exclaimed, a smile crossing her face.  
     Simultaneously, both women started to laugh.  The entire situation stuck both 
of them as being outrageously funny.  That both of them would become pregnant at 
the same time was so uncanny it was hilarious.
     "How far along are you?"  Janeway asked when their giggles had ceased.
     "Two weeks.  Tom and I -- well, we've been trying for months," B'Elanna 
confided.  "We, ah, we haven't had any luck until this morning. I scanned myself 
with the tricorder, and then went to the doctor to confirm my findings, and, well 
-- I'm pregnant!  But what about you -- how far are you?"
     "Three weeks," Janeway answered.  "But, B'Elanna, what you said before -- you 
and Tom have been trying for months?"
     "Ever since we got married,"  B'Elanna confirmed. "Tom wanted to start a 
family right away, and I agreed."
     "And yet you consoled me when I came to you for help,"  Janeway said 
guiltily.  "To think I had to go and unburden all my troubles on you when you were 
trying to have a baby -- "
     "Hey, don't worry about it," B'Elanna said reassuringly.  "I was glad to 
help.  The important thing is that I *am* pregnant now -- and so are you!"
     "I wonder what the reaction of the crew will be."
     "Everyone will be thrilled.  We've been wondering if or when you and Chakotay 
were going to have kids."
     Janeway raised her eyebrows.  "Have our reproductive abilities been a hot 
topic for discussion?"
     "Try the *only* topic."  B'Elanna laughed when she saw Janeway's startled 
expression.  "No, I'm just kidding.  Actually, it just came up one day in the Mess 
Hall and a few people were discussing it.  No one has really talked about it 
since."
     "And what was the crew's opinion?"
     "Well, most of us weren't sure.  We thought that after the episode with 
Seska, Chakotay wouldn't want to have a baby.  But Harry was positive that you two 
would have at least one child.  He said that with genes like yours, you had to 
pass them along."
     Janeway burst out laughing.  "Leave it to Harry,"  she chuckled.  "Actually, 
we never really discussed it -- having children, I mean.  This was a complete 
surprise to both of us.  The doctor  had told us that since we were considerably 
older then most couples of childbearing age, our chances of conceiving without 
medical assistance were slim to none.  So we were *not* expecting this.  But 
Chakotay is thrilled anyway.  He was shocked, at first, but he's happy."
     "Tom doesn't even know yet," B'Elannna said.  "He had already gone on duty 
when I found out.  In fact, I'm waiting for him to come home -- "
     "Hi, honey, I'm home!"  Tom Paris called cheerfully, walking through the 
doors.  "I -- oh, hello, Captain.  Hey, Chakotay told me the good news.  
Congratulations."
     "Chakotay told you already?" Janeway repeated.  "Who else is he telling?"
     "Everyone within earshot," Tom grinned.  "He's really excited about this."
     Janeway rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.  "I wonder how he'll react when 
he hears who else is pregnant," she said, winking at B'Elanna.
     "Someone else is pregnant?"  Tom asked.  "Boy, we're having a regular baby 
boom.  Who's the lucky couple?"
     "We are," B'Elanna said quietly.
     "Really?  That's great, honey.  I -- "  Suddenly, the full impact of what she 
had said hit Tom like a torpedo.  "We -- we are?!"
     "We are,"  B'Elanna nodded, a wide smile crossing her face.  "I'm pregnant!"
     "Oh, my -- "  Tom swept his wife up into his arms and hugged her 
ecstatically.  B'Elanna laughed, delighted at his happiness.  "We're going to have 
a baby!"
     "Congratulations, Tom,"  Janeway smiled.  "You'll make a wonderful father."     
     "Oh -- uh, thanks,"  he said, glancing at his captain.  In his happiness, he 
had forgotten she was there.  Then, he had a realization.  "Hey...you two are 
going to be pregnant together!"
     Janeway and B'Elanna looked at each other and laughed.  "I guess we are," the 
captain admitted.  "What great timing, huh?"
     "Actually," B'Elanna said, "not quite together.  The doctor says that because 
of my Klingon genes, our little one will be arriving in ten months instead of the 
usual nine."
     "The doctor knew about this?  And he didn't tell me?"  Tom protested.
     "I told him I wanted to tell you myself," the ever-practical B'Elanna said.  
"Besides, you would have been too excited to work all day if I *had* told you."
     Tom opened his mouth, then closed it again.  He knew what his wife was saying 
was true.  As it was, he could barely keep from getting on the ship-wide comm 
system and shouting the fabulous news to everyone.
     "Well," Janeway said, standing and giving a quick glance to the chronometer, 
"I had better go and make sure my husband isn't annoying the hell out of everybody 
with his enthusiasm."
     "Chakotay?  Annoying?  That's an oxymoron, Captain,"  B'Elanna grinned, but 
she stood as well.  
     "I'll tell him you said so,"  Janeway joked, smiling warmly at her chief 
engineer.  "Again, congratulations to the both of you."
     "Likewise," B'Elanna agreed.  "Good night, Captain."
     "And give Chakotay our congratulations," Tom added.
     "I will,"  Janeway promised.  "Good night."  And she was gone.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
     "It's a boy!"
     Cheers and applause rang throughout the ship as Harry Kim, over the ship-wide 
comm system, announced the news everyone had been waiting for since Captain 
Janeway had gone into labor thirty-six hours before.
     Eight months had passed since Captain Janeway had made the formal 
announcement of her pregnancy.  As B'Elanna Paris had foretold, the crew had been 
delighted with the news.  Janeway had been fawned over and waited on hand and foot 
until she was nearly sick of all the attention.
     However, no one was more attentive or watchful then her husband.  Chakotay 
had officially earned the title of "The Delta Quadrant's Most Overprotective 
Father-To-Be."  He was hesitant to let her out of his sight, even for an instant.  
If she so much as picked up a tricorder without assistance, he would rush to help 
her.  He even asked other crewmembers to watch over her when he wasn't available.  
Finally, late in her pregnancy, after almost seven months of Chakotay's 
overzealous protection, Janeway threatened to throw him out the nearest airlock 
unless he stayed away from her.  After that, Chakotay backed off a little, but his 
protective nature was still very much in evidence.
     To her chagrin, the doctor had insisted of relieving her of duty once she 
approached her due date.  "If there should be an accident or an attack," the 
obstinate hologram lectured, "I don't want you and the baby right in the middle of 
it.  In cases like this, Captain, the authority of the CMO overrides your own, so 
don't try to argue."  After an initial protest, Janeway had agreed to the 
temporary leave of absence, leaving Chakotay in command.  Even with her not on the 
bridge, Chakotay would call her every five minutes just to make sure she was all 
right.  Janeway privately wondered what would come first: their baby's birth or 
herself going insane.
     Finally, early one morning just three days before her due date, Janeway went 
into labor.  And after thirty-six hours of interminable waiting, Kes contacted the 
bridge with the happy news that Captain Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay were the 
proud parents of a brand new, eight pound five ounce bouncing baby boy.  Harry 
Kim, who was on bridge watch, immediately related the news via the comm system.
     In their quarters, Tom Paris patted his wife's swollen belly and smiled at 
her.  Although B'Elanna still had a month to go before her due date, the doctor 
had insisted on relieving her of duty as well, since Engineering was a dangerous 
place during an attack or accident.  B'Elanna hadn't put up much of a protest, 
seeing how Janeway had complied with the doctor's same order.
     Since the crew had been delighted at Janeway's pregnancy, they had went wild 
when they learned Tom and B'Elanna were expecting a child as well.  B'Elanna had 
received much the same overwhelming attention as Janeway, and was equally sick of 
it.  Tom wasn't as overprotective as Chakotay, although he was almost as bad.  Tom 
knew the extent of his wife's temper, and wisely kept out of her way whenever she 
snapped at him for being too protective.  Other then these minor discords, 
B'Elanna's pregnancy was proceeding smoothly.
     B'Elanna and Janeway had grown to be very close friends during their 
corresponding pregnancies, both being the only woman aboard who could sympathize 
with the other's bouts of morning sickness, or swollen ankles, or aching backs.  
They now existed on a first name basis;  B'Elanna calling Janeway "Captain" only 
when they were on the bridge.  Off duty, it was Kathryn.  This kind of friendship 
with a superior officer was new to B'Elanna, and she enjoyed it immensely.  
     It was soon learned that Chakotay and Janeway had named their new son 
Kolopak, after Chakotay's father.  Little Kolopak quickly became a favorite of 
everyone aboard ship.  With his father's dark eyes and his mother's auburn hair, 
he was an adorable little boy with a smile that would melt the heart of even the 
most stoic Vulcan.  Nothing delighted him more then to be taken to the Mess Hall 
where he could be worshipped by all the crew.  Tuvok, although he would never 
admit it, was one of the little boy's most devoted followers and spent countless 
hours singing Vulcan legends or doing other activites with Kolopak.
     B'Elanna and Tom adored Kolopak as well, and were especially honored at being 
named godparents of the small child, along with Tuvok.  But as much as they loved 
Kolopak, nothing could equal the excitement or anticipation of having their own 
child.
     So, both B'Elanna and Tom were delighted when, exactly a month after 
Kolopak's birth, B'Elanna went into labor as well.  After only twelve hours, Tom 
and B'Elanna Paris became the parents of a baby girl, named Kathryn Kim Paris.
     Little Kathryn was a beautiful child.  She had clinging golden curls all over 
her small head, and big violet eyes with long, thick lashes.  Tom knew that the 
hair had been inherited from himself, but his daughter's striking eyes remained a 
puzzle.  The mystery was soon solved when B'Elanna said softly, after holding her 
daughter for the first time, "She has my mother's eyes."
     Just like Kolopak, little Kathryn became the darling of the crew.  She wasn't 
a bit shy and delighted in being held or fussed over.  Her namesakes and 
godparents, Janeway and Harry, spoiled her rotten, as did her other godfather, 
Chakotay.
     Kolopak and Kathryn, as they got older, became the best of friends.  Rarely 
was one seen without the other.  They were bestowed the nickname of "The Terrible 
Twosome" after they became toddlers, for their exploits around the ship kept their 
harried parents busy trying to keep up with them.  They snuck into Neelix's 
kitchen and made a ghastly mess, they played with the doctor's instruments until 
the poor hologram was driven to near distraction trying to baby-proof his sickbay, 
and they delighted in playing tag throughout the corridors, nearly tripping 
everyone who stumbled into their path.  
     They also began to show distinct personalities.  Kolopak showed a definite 
affinity for the bridge, and never tired of sitting in "Mama's big chair" while he 
pretended to command Voyager.  The bridge crew got a kick out of hearing his tiny 
voice telling them to set a course for the Alpha Quadrant at maximum warp.  He had 
his father's patience, combined with his mother's stubborness.
     Kathryn had her father's easygoing nature but her mother's fierce temper.  
Although no ridges appeared on her smooth forehead, her Klingon genes were very 
much in evidence when she got into a rage.  She preferred Engineering rather then 
the bridge; and was enchanted by her mother explaining the workings of the warp 
core.  She often stated she was going to be "a engineer just like Mommy," and 
nothing could dissuade her.
     And then, something unexpected but welcomed happened when the two children 
were just five years old:  Voyager found a wormhole to the Alpha Quadrant, and 
finally got home.
************************************************************************
     Looking down,  Janeway discovered that little Ariana was sound asleep.  
"Sweet dreams, little one," she whispered, kissing her granddaughter softly.  
     "Is she asleep?"  The quiet query from the door drew Janeway's attention away 
from the child in her arms.
     Janeway smiled at her daughter-in-law.  "Sound asleep.  I told her a story 
and she drifted off."
     "Here, let me take her.  She must be heavy."  Kathryn Paris gently lifted her 
small daughter from the arms of her grandmother.  "Was she good?"
     "Angelic, as always,"  the admiral told her.
     "Angelic.  Somehow, I doubt that.  She has more of Mother in her then I care 
to admit,"  Kathryn grinned.  "But thank you for watching her.  I didn't think 
she'd be interested in Klingon Opera, even considering her Klingon genes."
     "My pleasure.  It's always a joy to baby-sit.  She looks so much like 
Chakotay it's amazing."
     "Isn't it?  Kolopak was so proud of her when she was born.  But Chakotay 
thinks she looks like you."
     "The hair is mine, but the eyes are his,"  Janeway disagreed lightly.  "She 
has Tom's smile, though."
     "Dad agrees with you there,"  Kathryn grinned.  
     "What are you three women doing in there?"  Kolopak asked, entering the room.  
"Come on, Kathryn.  We're going to be late."
     "Kolopak, you are the captain of the Endeavor.  It's not like they're going 
to leave without you,"  Kathryn said, rolling her eyes as she smiled fondly at her 
husband.  "Besides, we're not scheduled to leave DS9 for a few hours yet."
     "Captain Kolopak of the U.S.S. Endeavor.  I'm never going to get tired of 
hearing that,"  Janeway commented, smiling at her son.
     "Tell that to my chief engineer," he said, winking at his wife.  "She gets 
plenty tired of hearing it."
     "Only because that's what I have to call you all the time," she retorted, 
handing his daughter to him.  "Here, take her."
     "Hiya, Angel," Kolopak whispered to his sleeping daughter.  Then, he turned 
his attention back to his mother.  "Oh, Mom, B'Elanna and Tom send their love.  
They want to know when you and Dad are going to come visit."
     "In a few days,"  Janeway promised.  "As soon as your father returns from the 
Gamma Quadrant, we're going to catch the next transport to Earth."
     "Great; I'll tell them,"  Kolopak approved.  "Bye, Mom.  Thanks again."
     "Yes, thank you,"  Kathryn added.  "Good-bye."
     "Good-bye,"  Janeway called, watching her son, daughter-in-law, and 
granddaughter leave.  "Come again!"
THE END