by Marleena
BASIC EMOTIONS
SUMMARY: Tom and B'Elanna's friends convince them to go on the
honeymoon they never had, but they encounter an old enemy. Will
they make it back to Voyager and to their children?
DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns Voyager and its characters. We've only
borrowed the characters to satisfy our own creative urges. Alera
Lerise and a few assorted other minor characters though are ours
and ours alone (that is unless someone else wants to borrow them
and give us credit). Archiving is okay, just e-mail us. Please
keep disclaimer and our names attached.
RECOGNITION OF APPRECIATION: A very special thanks goes out to
our beta reader Phyllis J. Sutherland for beta reading our text
and to Donna Thelen who had so graciously allowed us to use her
chat page while writing this story.
BASIC EMOTIONS
9/98
by PJ in NH ([email protected])
Marleena ([email protected])
Rated R
Chapter 1
B'Elanna's head rested against Tom's shoulder as he effortlessly
piloted the shuttle through space--their destination a little
planet two days away. Finally the two would be able to go on
their honeymoon, but they were going on it kicking and screaming.
When Voyager discovered the planet three days ago, their friends
and crew mates had insisted that the two take this time away,
saying that if anyone deserved as little rest and relaxation they
did. But all Tom and B'Elanna could think about was how much
they were going to miss their two little boys back on Voyager.
* * * * * * *
Eight months ago.
"Keep on breathing, B'Elanna, that's it," Tom coached, "breathe
in and out, in and out . . ."
"Do you think I'm a Telkan cubcat, Tom Paris!? I know how to . .
. " B'Elanna snarled as another contraction occurred causing her
to stop growling at her husband so that she could try and cope
with the pain.
"It won't be long now B'Elanna, the contractions are only two
minutes apart and you are almost fully dilated." her husband told
her.
"You know Tom Paris this is all your fault! If you had just had
your birth control checked after you became a lizard, then I
wouldn't be lying here right now in pain!" she yelled her eyes
flashing with anger as her hand tightly gripped his.
"Easy there, B'Elanna. I think I'm going to need that hand,"
Tom said trying to cope with the additional pressure that
B'Elanna was exerting on it, praying that she wouldn't break any
bones.
"Lt. Torres, please concentrate on the breathing exercises that
you learned in class," the Doctor admonished as another
contraction was about ready to peak.
"And you!!" she spat focusing her anger at the EMH. "You should
have thought to have him checked. And you call yourself a Doct .
. . aaaggghh!!!" she screamed as this contraction was even more
powerful than those before. "So help me if I live through this,
I'll get you both. You'll never have a moments rest," she
promised.
The EMH and the expectant father looked at each other and shook
their heads in amazement, since when had B'Elanna Torres allowed
anyone a moments rest, in particular lately?
Not long after, the Doctor was happy to report that a head was
visible and extolled her to push. "It's time, B'Elanna, now you
can push, twin number one is in position."
"Come on love," Tom said from his position behind her. "Push."
"I--am--pushing--I am---uhhhh---oohmp!" she grimaced as she
supported herself on her elbows and rivulets of sweat poured down
her face.
Despite the agony that B'Elanna was going through, the Doctor was
glowing. It wasn't often that there was a birth on Voyager, and
this time was even more special with twins. In fact, this would
only be the second and third children born on the ship since they
entered the Delta Quadrant. With another push the first twin
slipped into the hands of the Doctor. "The first one is a boy,
B'Elanna," the EMT announced as he held the crying infant up for
the mother to see. "Mr. Paris, if you'd like to come around to
laser-sever the cord, we can get ready for twin number two."
A very proud Tom Paris gave his wife a kiss and left her side
briefly as he performed the service. After he helped the Doctor
wipe the little boy off, he held him up again for the new mother
to see. "Look B'Elanna one healthy boy, and look at his hair,"
Tom commented with a huge grin on his face. The baby had a faint
impression on his forehead of the inherited Klingon ridges and a
stock of dark hair.
But before B'Elanna could even hold the little tike, another
strong contraction hit. "Well, Lieutenant, it looks like the
other twin is ready," the EMH informed her. "Give me another
push."
B'Elanna, though she possessed the strength of her Klingon side,
was very weak after having already endured nearly thirty-six
hours of labor, tried in vain to push.
"You have to do better than that, B'Elanna. I said PUSH!" the
Doctor demanded.
Tom having put the first baby in the previously prepared bassinet
knelt down beside his wife. "Come on B'Elanna concentrate and
push, you know I'd do it for you if I could."
His wife nodded her head, she knew that was true and it spurred
her into being able to give one final mighty push and twin number
two made its appearance.
"That's great. Lieutenants you have another boy," the Doctor said
as Tom joined him again to cut the second umbilical cord. "Now
you can relax a bit. Tom can now give you something for your
discomfort."
"Can I see him, Tom?" B'Elanna asked as she collapsed back down
upon the bed. The new father held up twin number two before he
placed him in a similar bassinet. The little boy had the same
faint forehead ridges as the first but this one had just wisps of
pale blonde hair.
"They are just beautiful, B'Elanna," he pronounced as he bestowed
several kisses on his smiling wife's face.
"Can I hold them?"
"Sure you can, just let the Doctor scan them, and then you can
hold your little miracles. Okay?"
A tired B'Elanna nodded her head and before long each arm held
one of the twins, both of the boys were squalling but it didn't
matter to her, to her they were just perfect. She kissed the
tops of both heads, one dark and one blonde, as tears of
happiness trickled down her face. Looking up at her husband she
saw a similar expression mirrored on his face.
"B'Elanna they're beautiful, just like their mother."
"I was going to say that they were handsome, just like their
Dad."
Four days after the birth.
Captain's quarters for their formal introduction to the highest
ranking Starfleet officer in the Delta Quadrant. Each holding
one of the children, they entered Janeway's cabin.
Kathryn Janeway happily welcomed the family into her living area
and requested that they all sit down.
"Tom, B'Elanna, they are beautiful, may I hold them?" the Captain
asked. B'Elanna nodded and motioned for her husband to go first.
"Captain, I'd like you to meet Kyle D'Trem Torres-Paris," Tom
announced as he passed Kathryn Janeway the blond-haired,
dark-eyed baby.
"And this is our other son," B'Elanna spoke up proudly holding up
the dark-haired boy with the blue eyes, "Lucas K'Lar
Torres-Paris."
"They are absolutely gorgeous," the Captain gushed as she ran a
fingertip over Kyle's nose and laughed. "I'm glad to see that
they have both human and Klingon names."
"Well that took a little effort," Tom admitted as he took Kyle
back into his arms and looked at his wife.
"But Tom convinced me that it was the 'honorable' thing to do."
B'Elanna smiled handing little Lucas over for the Captain to
hold. She remembered the argument they had yesterday regarding
the names. He had convinced her that the Klingon side shouldn't
be ignored, in fact he insisted that it was something to
celebrate.
She also reminded him that she would tell the boys about their
heritage, but it was up to them how much of their lineage and
traditions they wanted to explore and follow. B'Elanna was not
about to follow her mother's example and have her sons force-fed
all the Klingon rites and ceremonies.
It would be something that the four of them would discuss
together, when the time came.
Little Lucas grabbed a hold of the Captain's little finger with a
tight grip. "B'Elanna you've got one strong son here." she said
as the tried to pull her finger away from the little baby's grip.
"And the other one is just as strong," Tom boasted. "I keep
telling her it's the Klingon genes, but she swears the strength
comes from the Paris side."
"I sure it's a combination of the two," Janeway said
diplomatically with a smile at little Lucas. She glanced up to
see two of the happiest and proudest people she had ever seen.
If anyone of the ship deserved to be happy, it was this pair, she
thought. I hope I can keep them all safe and sound until we get
home.
Chapter 2
A great deal of time and energy was expended daily taking care of
the twins. Planning ahead of time, even before the babies were
born, Tom and B'Elanna had decided to work different shifts in
order to watch their sons. Both had admitted that they were
reluctant to allow anyone else to care for them, except when it
was absolutely necessary.
The typical day usually entailed Tom rising early, changing the
boys, and preparing bottles, while B'Elanna took the opportunity
to shower and change, before Tom had to report to duty.
Later in the morning after Tom left for the Bridge, B'Elanna
would happily look after the two rambunctious boys. She'd play
with them, feed them, and settle them down for naps in the
afternoon. One of her favorite activities was taking them for
long walks on the holodeck or around the ship using the beautiful
stroller that the Captain and Chakotay had given them.
Late in the afternoon when Tom was finished with his shift, he'd
rush to the mess hall eat quickly and hurry back to their cabin
so B'Elanna could report to Engineering. By midnight, B'Elanna
would quietly enter the cabin, usually to find that her three men
were already asleep. It wasn't unusual though, especially during
the first few months, that she'd come home and see her husband
rocking both of his sons while he sang them to sleep. Those were
special little moments she would always remember, it made her
reflect back over their relationship and back to a time when Tom
was in such despair that he had tried to end his life, not once.
but twice. It now seemed such a long time ago when she watched
him with his boys, or his little Flyboys as he liked to call
them. They were a happy family -- tired -- but happy.
* * * * * *
"...and then Alera turned to me and said 'Harry I'm the one with
the telepathic capabilities, so how do you always know what I'm
thinking?'" Harry finished the story with a laugh and Joe Carey
joined him until Joe's attention was diverted by a familiar tall
figure sprinting out of the Mess Hall.
"There he goes again," the Joe remarked. "Looks like he's
running late."
Harry didn't even need to be told who Joe was talking about.
"You know, I can't remember the last time I've had a meal with
either Tom or B'Elanna.
All they ever do is rush here and there, they never have anytime
for anything but work and the boys," Harry shook his head sadly,
he missed his friends.
Alera and the Captain, noticing the two men at the table, made
their way over to join them. "So what are you two talking
about?" the Captain asked, as she sat down next to Carey and
Alera took a seat next to her fiance.
"Oh about Tom and B'Elanna how they never seem to have any time
for each other. The twins certainly require a lot of attention."
Joe informed the ladies.
"It's a wonder that they don't fall asleep on their feet," Harry
added after he gave Alera, a kiss on her cheek.
Joe leaned forward so that only the group could hear what he was
about to say. "Well, actually I caught B'Elanna asleep on her
desk last week. I don't ever remember seeing her so tired."
Janeway chewed her first forkful of the colorful meal on her
plate in contemplation before she responded. "Thankfully Tom
hasn't fallen asleep but he certainly looks exhausted. I wish
there was something we could do."
Alera being somewhat shy was a little hesitant to speak up, in
particular in front of the Captain, but Harry could tell that
there was something on her mind. "What is it, Alera? Do you
have something to say?"
The half-Betazoid blessed him with a little embarrassed smile
that he just adored. "I keep on telling you, Harry, I'm the
telepath. How do you always know what I'm thinking?"
Harry chuckled remembering his previous conversation with Joe.
"I guess I was right again, so what were you going to say?"
"Well just that the two of them have been married, oh about a
year, and they still haven't taken a honeymoon. It would be nice if
they could have some time to themselves without the babies. Just
so they could get some rest and enjoy each other without having
to worry about whether the boys needed changing or feeding."
Janeway's eyes twinkled with enthusiasm. "What a wonderful idea."
"Do you think they'd go for it?" Joe asked. "They hate to ask
anyone to look after Lucas and Kyle."
"But they are such good little boys, never
any trouble," Janeway
told the group. "Just two weeks ago Chakotay and I looked after
them and they were just little angels--never a fuss."
"That's true," Joe said smiling. "Tom and B'Elanna's little
Flyboys are great kids, they even went through teething without
much of a fuss--must be the Klingon genes. Samantha and I looked
after them, oh about a month ago when Tom had to assist B'Elanna
in Engineering, they even went to bed without an argument.
They're great kids, don't you think so Harry?"
"Sure, but I haven't had the opportunity to look after them, I'm
always either on B'Elanna's shift or Tom's, but I'm sure I'll, or
we," the ensign said looking at Ensign Lerise," will look after
them sooner or later."
"Well why not sooner?" the Captain suggested, grasping the
opportunity that was presented. "I'd be willing to give both of
you some time off to look after the boys, that is if we could get
the parents to take a few days for themselves. Now it seems to
me between the four of us could come up with a holoprogram that
would be appropriate," she added with a glimmer in her eye.
"That is if we could keep them in it," Alera added. "I think
you'd have to put a security lock on the holodeck to keep
them inside, if you wanted to make them take a honeymoon on
Voyager."
Harry's face lit up. "Captain, I think I might have an idea."
