LKNB 15 'Homecoming'

          lauren35@juno.com (Lauren E Taylor)


HOMECOMING

        They were finally home. After ten long years, they had made it to
the Alpha Quadrant. In just a few minutes, they would be docked at Deep
Space Nine, and the long journey would be over for good. 
        B'Elanna and Tom were in their quarters, watching out the window
as the ship went through the wormhole. Katie was standing up on the
couch, watching in amazement at the blues, purples, and reds filling the
outside view. The couple smiled at each other. Soon, the time that had
changed their lives would come to an end. 
"Attention crew." Captain Janeway's voice sounded out, with the hint of a
tear in it, "We have reached Deep Space Nine. Before you leave, I wanted
to tell everyone that this has been the best crew a captain could ask
for. All of you were extremely devoted to your jobs, even after ten years
wandering around, lost. I could never have gotten a better crew, and I
doubt that I ever will. Janeway out."
*****************************************************
        "Well, do we want to stay on Voyager, or get new jobs?" Tom asked
everyone seated with him at the table in Quarks.  B'Elanna was seated to
his side, with 5-year old Katie in her lap, and across from them was
Harry and Erica, and their 3-year old son, Jonathan, sitting in Harry's
lap. 
        No one was sure of an answer. No one had thought of the fact that
they could all end up seperated after ten years together. 
"Mommy, do you *have* to work?" Katie whined, "Can't we have fun?" 
        B'Elanna smiled. That girl had a way of saying exactly what was
on her mind. She was right, though. They'd been working on a starship for
ten years straight, and needed some 'fun' for a little bit.
"Well, what do you say, guys?" Tom asked his three closest friends.
"I think it's a great idea. We should take a vacation. How about the real
Outer Banks?" Harry suggested.
"That'd be great." Erica agreed, "Especially because I won't be able to
do a lot in about 9 months."
"What are you saying?" B'Elanna asked, seeming to know.
"I'm saying that I'm...well...pregnant!" she exclaimed, "I just found out
yesterday, and wanted the perfect opportunity to tell you guys!"
        Harry looked at her in shock, and then hugged her. Then, the four
friends, and their two children, got up to make plans for a trip to the
North Carolina coast.
******************************************************
"Tom!" B'Elanna called from the porch, "We're going seashell hunting with
the kids. Wanna come?" 
        Tom shook his head no.
"Alright. I'll miss you." she kissed him on the cheek. She then ran to
catch up with Harry, Erica, Katie and Jonathan, who had already walked
down the walkway from their oceanfront house, and onto the beach.
        Tom looked after them. They were the best friends he'd ever had,
and he was glad to have this last time with all of them, before they all
got split up on different jobs. *God, this place is beautiful* he thought
to himself. It was evening, and the sky had turned to a purplish-orange
color, with the sun setting off in the distance. He never thought he'd
see anything like this again. Sure, there was the holodeck, but it was
nothing compared to the real thing. Even this amazing sunset couldn't
compare to the past, the years on Voyager, surrounded by friends. The
word 'friends' gave him a sick feeling as he remembered a friend that had
been lost; a friend named Kes. She died two years ago, at the age of
eight. Her death was hard on everyone, but it was the hardest on
three-year old Katie. Kes had been like a second mother to Katie since
the day she was born. It was hard on the little girl when she realized
that she couldn't go and play with Aunt Kes anymore. That girl understood
death now, one of the few five-year olds who did. Tom realized that he'd
begun crying, out of sadness for Kes, and out of joy, for the good times
on Voyager. He'd never find any friends like the people on Voyager, ever.
Each and everyone of them had their special qualities, some still
undefined. Then, there was B'Elanna. The day he saw her, and helped her
out of that cave, he never thought that she would be the one he'd spend
the rest of his life with. They'd gone through so much together, and had
always managed to survive, for, after all, love knows no boundaries.
*********************************************************
THE END <sniff>

Ok, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Paramount owns 'em, we
just borrow 'em.
Comments welcome to lauren35@juno.com