LKNB 8 'Farewell to a Friend' lauren35@juno.com (Lauren E Taylor) "Come in." B'Elanna called out as she brushed her hair. Little did she know that Tom was standing right beside her. Harry walked in wearing his dress uniform. Erica was sitting on the couch in B'Elanna's quarters, folding up a blanket. She'd slept there last night, in fear that the baby would come during the night, and B'Elanna would be all alone. "Are you two ready?" Harry asked them. "I am. I don't know about her." Erica told him as she walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "How's she doing?" he whispered to her. "Pretty good. We talked a lot last night, neither of us could sleep. It's going to be harder for her today, because it'll actually hit her what happened." she whispered back, her voice full of concern. B'Elanna walked out into the main room, where Harry and Erica were. She was also in her dress uniform. "Well, are we ready to go?" she said, not sounding at all like she just lost her husband. *Erica's right* Harry thought to himself *She's going to be a wreck after the service* The three friends walked out in the direction of the holodeck. Tom followed them, with his hand on B'Elanna's shoulder. ************************************************ When they walked in, the beach resort was running, Tom's favorite program. his face lit up when he saw the thought that his friends put into this. Already in the holodeck was the entire senior staff, and a few of his other friends. Not many people had come, but he'd heard B'Elanna tell Erica that she wanted to keep the service small, only Tom's closest friends. The captain walked over to them, with a sympathetic look on her face. "Is this everyone?" she asked B'Elanna. "Yes. I guess it's time to start." she said with a sad smile on her face. Everyone there had already formed sort of a circle, waiting for someone to come and speak. B'Elanna walked to the middle, as Harry took Erica's hand, and they walked to the side with the captain. B'Elanna began to speak. "When I met Tom Paris, five years ago, I never imagined that we would be married and I would be pregnant. I never even imagined myself marrying *anyone* or having a baby. Tom changed my life, in more ways than possible. I don't know where I'd be today without him. He was always there for me, what ever time of day I needed him. I could talk to him about anything. I trusted him with my life and...and..." she began crying and walked off over towards Erica and Harry. They dropped their hold on each other, and both wrapped their arms around their friend. Harry took his arm away from her, and moved to the middle of everyone. "Tom was one of my best friends. The memory of him that I will always have are the good times together, meals in the mess hall, creating every holodeck program on this ship, and like B'Elanna said, just having him there. Even though I only knew him for five years, I'll never forget the impact he had on my life." Harry ended his speech. He walked towards the two people still hugging, the two most important women in his life, Erica Johnson, and B'Elanna Torres. Everyone moved apart from the circle, and began talking with others. A few people left after awhile, but the captain, Chakotay, Harry, Erica, and B'Elanna stayed. The five officers walked over to an area in the holodeck with chairs all around. B'Elanna had finished crying, and was smiling at the stories everyone had been telling about Tom. No one knew that Tom was in the holodeck with them, observing their lives gong on without him. **************************************************** TO BE CONTINUED Next chapter: 'I Do' Legal junk. Paramount owns everyone in this story, except Erica. Erica is owned by the almighty Erin, goddess of the P/T'ers!