CHANGE OF COMMAND 
Part 10: Family Ties
By: Lauren Taylor


"Tom's been assigned to Voyager." B'Elanna finally admitted to Harry.
They were having lunch together, and Harry knew something was up when
B'Elanna wasn't her chipper self that she'd been just yesterday when she
got the big news. 

"Oh, my god. When does he leave?" Harry asked.

"In three days. And I've got to stay here on Earth. Tom's trying to get
Starfleet to let me go with him, but there's not much chance that it'll
work. He's talking to his dad right now."

"His dad? Tom hasn't seen his dad since we got back, has he?"

"He saw his sisters, and still talks to them, but he didn't even go to
see his dad when Voyager got back, and his dad never came to see him. But
his dad's still with Starfleet, so we're hoping it'll work."

"Well, listen. If he's got to go without you, Kes, Illie and I will be
here to help you whenever you need it, all right?" Harry grinned.

"Thanks, Starfleet." she grinned, and then began laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked, defensively.

"I was just thinking, how much has happened to all of us since we first
met. I mean, who would have imagined Tom and I getting married, and
having a kid? Me, becoming captain, and you my first officer? And you and
Kes! I'd always pictured Kes settling down with Neelix. God knows how
disgusting that is, but I did picture that. But now, I can't picture her
with anyone but you. And now you've got a kid who's at the Academy!"
B'Elanna exclaimed.

"It is a bit strange, isn't it? But, hey, we're Starfleet officers.
Weird's part of the job." Harry smiled, remembering what Captain Janeway
had told him years ago.

**************************************************************
"Thomas, how nice of you to come and visit." Admiral Paris said.

"Dad, I don't want any tearful reunion right now. I need to talk to you
about something. I've been assigned as Voyager's chief helmsman." Tom
said as he sat down.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Is there a problem with that?" Paris asked,
seeming more like just some Starfleet Admiral talking with some
lieutenant, than a father talking to his son.

"Yes, there is. See, my wife is B'Elanna Torres. Well, now B'Elanna
Paris."

"The captain of Voyager? You married her?" Paris asked, seeming to be in
disgust.

"Yes, dad, I did marry her. She's an amazing woman, and I love her more
than anything."

"But she's a Klingon. And she's a Maquis officer. Thomas, I expected more
out of you than this."

"Dad, she's only half-Klingon, and I don't give a damn what she is! She's
my wife, and she's being kept here on Earth while I have to go on
Voyager. Dad, she's pregnant. And I'd like her with me when she has the
baby." he pleaded.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about that. I think that the Maquis
officers need to stay here on Earth where we can keep track of them."

"Dad, she's practically a Starfleet officer now! She was the captain, for
crying out loud! And she'd be on a Starfleet ship, they can keep track of
her there!" Tom exclaimed, standing up out of his seat.

"Thomas, this has gone too far. The Maquis officers are staying here on
Earth, and that's final!" Paris exclaimed.

"Fine, dad. Just forget that she's your daughter-in-law, and that she's
about to have your grandchild. I'm ashamed to even be related to you.
This is the last time I come to this house. My last name may be Paris,
but that does *not* mean that we are family. Goodbye, Admiral." Tom
screamed, and ran out of the room.

TO BE CONTINUED

Legal junk. Paramount owns them, I just wish I did.