"Look at the sky  Tell me, what do you see?  Just close your eyes, and describe it to me.
The heavens are sparkling with starlight tonight  That's what I see through your eyes."(13)

XIII.

        "We should be going." B'Elanna's voice was tinged with regret, and I shared 
her sentiments.  It had been too long since we'd just been together, and it was so nice
to just....well, stop and smell the flowers.  Okay, so it was a cliche.  But it was nice
anyway.
        "I suppose."  How long had we been here, anyways?  Probably long enough
that the Doc was gonna be pretty grumpy by the time we returned.  I thought he'd 
be glad to have me out from underfoot for awhile, but I knew he worried anyway.  It
was a nice feeling that even the holodoc worried about you.  But we'd discussed
some of the wedding plans and arrangements -- personally I wanted the wedding
as far from Sickbay as possible -- and worked out most of the wedding party: maid of
honor, best man, etc. 
        "Come on," B'Elanna said gently, hooking her arms under mine and pulling me up
gently.  Thankfully my return to the repulsor chair was less painful than my departure.
        B'Elanna brought Dice back around, and I scratched the tired puppy behind the 
ears.  Evidentally she'd been trained not to wreak havoc in the hydroponics bay, a fact
for which I was grateful.  These flowers were Kes' material joy. 
        "You'll speak with the Captain?" B'Elanna asked softly. 
        "Yeah.  Soon as I check in with the Doc."
        B'Elanna nodded.  "Okay.  Dice and I'll drop you off in Sickbay and then 
talk to Kes."
        "Hey, B'Elanna," I added as an afterthought.  I offered her a half-smile.
"Thanks."

        It was late, but after returning from the excursion with B'Elanna, the Doctor 
had wanted to run a myriad of tests, effectively pinioning me to Sickbay.  I leaned out 
to press the door chime and waited.  A second hail went unanswered as well.  I frowned. 
        "Computer, location of Captain Janeway?"
        "Captain Janeway is in her quarters," the computer responded promptly. 
        Maybe I was interrupting something...? "Is she alone?"
        "Affirmative."
        Swallowing hard, I tapped my commbadge.  "Paris to Janeway."
        No response.  Ignoring the fear that was starting to constrict the back of my 
throat, I quickly used a trick I'd learned long ago.  The doors hissed open, strains of 
loud classical music drifting into the corridor, and I carefully guided the repulsor chair in,
fearing the worst.  The main room was empty, so I moved to the bedroom.....and stopped short.
        The Captain was in here, alright, uninjured, long hair unbound and decked out in
a baggy pullover and slacks, glaring into her bedroom mirror practicising what Voyager's
crew called The Look.
        I felt my face flush crimson.  "Ah....Captain?"
        She swung around, face turning as red as I imagined mine was. 
"Tom.... Lieutenant Paris," she said formally. 
        I couldn't help it.  It was too much.  The entire Voyager crew dreaded
 the thought of getting The Look, and here the captain was in her bedroom, _practisicing_.  It was 
entirely too much.  I burst out laughing, helplessly aware I was getting The Look at this 
very minute, but powerless to stop the laughter that was pushing its way past my throat. 
Finally, I slumped weakly over the arm of the chair and tried to school my voice into 
something a bit less....amused.  Bringing my eyes up to meet hers and focussing on the 
reason I'd come did the trick.  I sobered instantly. 
        "Captain, I apologize for barging in.  There was no answer at the door, and I tried 
reaching you on the comm, but -- "
        Her blush had mostly receded and her eyes had softened.  "It's quite alright, Tom.
You just startled me."
        I couldn't help it, I grinned.  "Yes, ma'am, I would say so."
        Janeway's grey eyes sparkled.  "Not a word of this outside this room, Mister Paris,
do I make myself clear?"
        I sighed. Rats. "Yes, ma'am." 
        "Come out to the living room, Tom, and tell me what it is you want to talk 
about," the Captain suggested. 
        "Sure...." I said hesitantly.  I'd never tried a full about-face in the repulsor chair 
before.  To my surprise, Captain Janeway grasped the chair's handles and lightly swung it
around.  I half-turned to grin my thanks at her and she smiled. 
        "Computer, end music," she ordered once we were in the main living area, and
stepped away from the back of the chair to move to the replicator.  "Would you like 
something, Tom?" she queried. 
        "How about coffee?" I offered.  "My treat."
        Janeway smiled.  "Tempting offer to resist."
        "Then don't," I retorted.  "C'mon, how often can I treat you?"
        She laughed.  "Very well, Lieutenant."
        When we were both settled with hot coffee, the Captain on her couch with her 
legs tucked up under her, I broached the subject I had come to speak about.  "Ma'am, 
B'Elanna and I....we'd...." I stopped, took a deep breath, and thought of my beloved. 
"We'd like to be married....before the surgery."
        Janeway's eyes widened, but only slightly, as if she'd already expected this but
hadn't been quite sure it would happen.  "Tom, that's less than a week away."
        "No one knows that better than I do, Captain," I responded, a little stiffly. 
        She almost grimaced.  "I'm sorry, Tom."
        "We'd like your help, Captain," I continued, ignoring her apology.  "Or I don't 
think we could pull it off in time."
        She smiled slightly.  "You're wrong there, Tom.  You and B'Elanna have many
friends on Voyager.  Anything you need, you could have in an instant."
        I quirked a half-smile.  Maybe she was right, maybe not.  "Thank you, Captain.
But we would like your help nonetheless.  B'Elanna will need help with the plans."
        Janeway nodded, and I smiled at how lovely she looked, her face thoughtful as she
ticked off  items on her slender fingers.  B'Elanna would aways have my heart, but there 
was something special about Captain Janeway. She'd make someone a wonderful wife 
someday.
        "Captain -- " I interrupted her planning.  She glanced up.
        "Yes, Tom?"
        "We'd like you to be the maid of honor." Though it was officially the Captain of 
the vessel's priviledge to marry couples, B'Elanna and I had decided we wanted the 
woman who had brought us together and given us both second chances to be in the actual 
wedding party.
        "Tom, I'd be honored," she said softly. 
        I smiled gratefully.  "Thank you, Captain.  This means a lot to the two of us."
        We discussed a few things B'Elanna and I had agreed on briefly, until I caught
the yawn Captain Janeway tried unsuccessfully to cover.   I decided it was time
to gracefully -- gracefully?? -- make my exit.  "I need to be going." I grinned wryly.  
"I promised the doc I'd be home by midnight."
        Janeway laughed delightedly at the unexpected joke.  "Well, you don't want to
keep him up, then," she chuckled. 
        "Thanks for your help, Captain," I said seriously. 
        "You're welcome.  And Tom," She rose from the couch and kneeled in front of 
me so we were at eye level.  "You are one of the finest officers I've ever had, or will have. 
You're more than a son to me, and more than a brother.  You are a very dear friend.  You 
will make it through this, you will marry B'Elanna, and you will," she smiled, "live happily 
ever after."  In a very un-captainlike manner she reached out and hugged me tightly.  I put 
my arms around her and hugged back, thankful for this wonderful woman who loved 
B'Elanna and I so much. 

        I had one last stop to make before returning to Sickbay.        
        "Meg, I need your help."
        "Sure, Tom," she responded instantly.  "Whatever you need."
        "I need your advice."
        One dark eyebrow lifted.  "On?"
        "I need to replicate an engagement ring, and I like your help choosing the right one."
        Megan looked stunned, exuberant, and excited all in one. "I told you!!" she said gleefully, 
leaning down and embracing me hard enough to take my breath away.  "I told you she would!" 
        I grinned, her enthusiasm contagious.  "Yes, you did."
        Megan froze, then cocked her head to look at me, eyes twinking.  "So I win...."
        I groaned. 

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