by Marleena
"I'm listening, Ensign."
"Yesterday when we were searching for more galacite, before we
found that asteroid field that had a wealth of the mineral, we
came across a group of planets about eight light years away.
While they weren't any use to us after we found the asteroids,
there were a couple of M-class planets that might be ideal for a
little vacation."
"That's a wonderful idea Harry, while we mine for minerals on the
asteroids, B'Elanna and Tom can take a shuttle down to one of the
planets and have a little time for themselves," the Captain
remarked. "And you and Alera can babysit."
"Well--I--uh," Harry stammered.
Janeway laughed at the young man's expression, it was as if some
one told him he had to look after a Kazon warrior for a week not
two little babies.
"You'll do fine, Harry. You two are the perfect choice. While
we are mining the asteroid, you two would have had little to do
anyway. And besides, if you two need any help, there are a lot of
people on Voyager willing to give you a hand."
"Sounds like we have a plan, Captain," Carey concurred, "but how
can we convince them to go?"
"Just leave that to me, Joe. I think I know just how to get them
to go. And if my idea doesn't work, I can just pull rank and
order them to go."
The four dissolved into loud laughter which caused the other
occupants of the mess hall to wonder what was going on.
Chapter 3
Tom holding Lucas and B'Elanna holding Kyle sat side by side on a
biobed in Sickbay as the Doctor scanned all four of them with the
medical tricorder. Occasionally, the Doctor would shake his head
or say just 'ah huh, ah huh' as he reviewed the information being
processed by the hand-held device.
B'Elanna took notice of the Doctor's actions and with each
passing moment looked more and more worried and frustrated.
"Doctor, quit saying 'ah huh, ah huh' and tell us what's wrong
with the boys." she demanded clearly having reached the limit of
what little patience she possessed.
The Doctor looked up at the family with a look of incredulousness
on his face. "Why nothing is wrong with Kyle and Lucas. They
are perfectly healthy."
"Then why were we asked to come down here?" Tom asked reflecting
his wife's impatience.
"Actually, the Captain asked you to come down. She's been
concerned about you and B'Elanna and she's not alone. I've had a
number of people comment to me during the last few months about
how tired you appear to be and how you two never have any time
for yourselves," the EMH explained as he sat down on the chair in
front of the four and clasped his hands in front of himself
resting his elbows on his knees. "And it was a good thing she
did too."
"What do you mean?" Tom asked as he looked from the Doctor to his
wife.
"What I mean is you two are clearly showing signs of exhaustion
in fact . . ." the EMH started to say but was interrupted when
Harry Kim barged into the Sickbay rubbing his forehead. "Mr. Kim
is there something I can do for you?"
"Just a headache, Doc. I came down to get a analgesic," he
explained as he headed over to the cabinet that contained the
routine first aid supplies and finding the medicine proceeded to
take it.
"Go ahead, Doctor," B'Elanna insisted not wanting to wait,
"anything you can say to us, you can say in front of Harry." Tom
nodded his head agreeing with his wife's statement.
"All right, I was going to ask you when was the last time either
of you slept for more than five hours? Or when was the last time
you two have been together, not counting work, without your
children."
Tom and B'Elanna shared a knowing look before Tom responded.
"Well I...you know we've. . ."
Harry piped up behind them. "They haven't. I believe that's
what he's trying to say." B'Elanna shot Harry a death glare that
usually struck fear in her staff, but Harry was too interested in
his friends' health to be affected for a change.
"Just what I thought," the EMH said. "I'm going to recommend that
you two take some time off. I'm prescribing both of you take a
vacation by yourselves away from Voyager without the boys."
"Uhh, Doc," Tom whined as he shifted Lucas from his right arm to
his left. "you've got to be kidding. We'll be fine."
Ensign Kim approached the family his arms crossed over his chest,
trying his best to look formidable. "Tom, it's all set, the
shuttle is prepped and packed all ready for you two to finally
take that honeymoon you've never been on," Harry explained.
"What's this, a conspiracy?" B'Elanna asked as she looked at Harry
and then back to the Doctor.
"Nope, it's just your friends and crewmates telling you to take
some time off for yourselves before you both collapse," Harry
added.
"And who are you, the new Doctor?" the pilot argued.
"No he is NOT the new Doctor," the EMH piped up, "but his
prognosis is remarkably accurate for a layperson. According to
the medical scan, it's a wonder you two function as well as you
have been. Now Mr. Kim here has found a lovely little planet for
you to explore on a honeymoon and before either of you say
anything about not going, I have the authority to order you to go
with the Captain's blessing."
"But what about . . . ," B'Elanna started to say.
"Alera and I will look after Kyle and Lucas," Harry answered
correctly anticipating her question. "Who better to look after
them than your friend and a Betazoid telepath?"
The logic was infallible. Tom and B'Elanna knew that this had
been planned most carefully, they had no choice but to take a
honeymoon.
* * * * * * *
A few hours later Tom and B'Elanna were packing away a few
personal belongings including holopictures of the twins as Uncle
Harry and Aunt Alera sat in the living area playing with their
little honorary nephews. Even though the parents tried to drag
their feet, eventually the packing was done and they found
themselves out in their living area taking turns holding the two
boys as they said their goodbyes. They admonished the boys to be
good for their aunt and uncle and showered them with kisses
before they handed them back over to the two ensigns.
"Now you've got our list of instructions?" B'Elanna asked
worriedly.
"Yes, it's right here," Harry said as he held up the datapadd
with his free hand.
"Remember, Lucas can't stand apple sauce and for some reason we
can't fathom Kyle loves pureed leola root," Tom told them as he
rolled his eyes at the mere mention of the vegetable.
"And they both love to be read to, I left the children's
holobooks right on the table by their cribs," B'Elanna added.
"And Alera, don't forget, sometimes to get them to burp you have
to hold them . . .ah I'll show. . ." Tom started to say as he put
his bag down on the floor and reached fo
r Kyle to demonstrate.
Harry laughed. "We'll be fine, Tom. Don't worry about a thing.
After all what could possibly go wrong? Besides Alera should be able
to tell what's going on inside their little heads."
"Is that true?" B'Elanna asked the Betazoid.
"Well, yes and no, their little minds aren't processing complex
thoughts yet, but I should be able to pick up on basic emotions,
whether they are happy or sad--things like that," she explained
trying to sound very confident though inside she was a little
unsure of how much she could understand the boys' thoughts as she
had never been around very many babies.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Tom and B'Elanna nodded their heads in
agreement and giving their sons one more kiss, hug, and a wave
goodbye, left the cabin.
"They'll be okay," Harry said to Alera after the door closed,
when he noticed her concerned expression.
"I'm sure they will be once they get going, but I can sense that
they feel that they are abandoning them," she replied a bit
worriedly.
"Come on, 'Lera, no bad thoughts, Harry said with a grin. "Let's
get their stroller and take these two for a walk on the holodeck,
I created a little program last night that I think they'll like.
It's based on a little park that my mother and father used to
take me to when I was a little kid.
Out in the corridor, Tom and B'Elanna walked hand in hand slowly
toward the nearest turbolift. "I just hate leaving them, Tom."
B'Elanna said as the turbolift door slid open and they stepped
inside. "Our babies. We've never left them before," she said in
a soft voice as the lift descended towards the shuttlebay.
Tom was thinking the same thing and looked over at his beautiful
wife to see that her eyes were becoming heavy with unshed tears
as she bit her lower lip.
"Computer halt turbolift," he ordered as he put their bag on the
floor. "Come here, B'Elanna, he said as he opened his arms to
welcome her into his embrace. He held her as the tears spilled,
stroking her hair, kissing the top of her head, until she finally
pulled away brushing away the wetness from her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Tom. I don't know what's come over me."
"I do, you miss our little Flyboys already, I know that's how I
feel," he said soothingly.
"Then why do we have to go if we are going to be miserable?"
The pilot cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her on
the lips.
"Because we need to get away and rest, and remember for a little
while how it was when it was just us. Our friends could see that
we needed to get away, but we couldn't. I don't know, maybe
because we were too close to the situation, but from their
vantage point they could tell. They care about us and Lucas and
Kyle, B'Elanna, they aren't doing this to be cruel."
"I know," she admitted. "I'm sure when I get back I'll be glad
we went, but now the boys are all I can think of."
"So are you ready?" her husband asked.
B'Elanna nodded and gave him a small, brave smile. "Computer
resume."
And the turbolift descended again towards its destination.
The door of the turbolift slid behind them as they entered the
corridor. They walked down the hall toward Shuttlebay One.
"I can't believe we were ordered to do this," Torres griped as
she walked beside her husband.
"You have to admit we do need a break," Paris mentioned.
Torres shook her head, "We were just fine, Tom. We don't need
this vacation."
Tom stifled a grin, "I heard you fell asleep in Engineering,
B'Elanna. Most of the ship is talking about it. I almost fell
asleep at the Conn yesterday. We definitely could use this
vacation. I do feel apprehensive about leaving the kids, though."
B'Elanna stopped then, her eyes wide. Several thoughts ran
through her mind, but one stood apart. A vision of their children
crying and sickly crept into her mind.
"Tom, the babies. We have to get back to them!"
B'Elanna spun around and ran back down the hall toward the
turbolift. Tom caught up to her in no time. He grabbed her arms
to stop her.
"B'Elanna, they'll be fine. Harry and Alera will take good care
of them. Besides, it will be good practice for them."
His wife turned around to see a mischievous grin spread across
Paris' face. She allowed a similar smile to fall on her face as
well.
"So you think it would do them some good?" she asked, running her
hands over his chest.
Tom nodded, "And this honeymoon will be good for us as well."
B'Elanna's smile grew wider and she nodded. The two then
continued down the corridor.
They walked toward the shuttlebay. With each step, the two became
more anxious. They kept telling themselves and each other that
they needed this vacation. When the doors to the shuttlebay
opened, they were ready for the trip.
"Looks like they finally showed up," Chakotay said with a smirk,
"I was sure they were going to be dragged in here kicking and
screaming."
Paris and Torres looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"You weren't far from the truth," Tom said, walking toward the
Commander and Captain, "B'Elanna almost turned back around."
"Tom!" B'Elanna growled as she hit him on the arm.
Chakotay and Janeway smiled at Paris' mock hurt expression. "I
know you will enjoy your honeymoon," Janeway stated, "We'll meet
up with you in a few days. So enjoy."
Tom and B'Elanna smiled and embraced their respective commanders.
Chakotay then shook Paris' hand as Janeway hugged Torres.
"See you two soon," the Captain said, holding back her happy
tears.
The two nodded again and went to their shuttle. The door slid
open and the two stepped in. A gasp of surprise was heard from
inside.
"It's beautiful," Torres said, staring before her in awe.
"We thought you'd like it," Janeway's voice came to them, "Lt.
Carey, Harry, and I worked quite hard on it. Carey will be eating
Neelix' cooking for months now after using all of his replicator credits."
"Thanks," Tom breathed.
Before the couple was a large bed for two. The covers were made
of red satin, and the pillows were shaped like hearts. On both
sides of the bed were pink and white candles. It gave the shuttle
a romantic glow. The soft light gave the couple a warm feeling
inside. They stood close together, their arms wrapped around the
other's waist.
"You know, I think I'm glad we waited this long to go on our
honeymoon," Tom remarked, stunned at the renovated shuttle
interior.
B'Elanna said nothing as tears once again rolled down her face.
She had never felt more loved and appreciated in her life.
"Let's get on our way," B'Elanna finally said, "I don't want to
leave Joe with my engines for too long."
"Get going you two," Janeway said, "Don't worry about your
engines, B'Elanna. I'll make sure Carey doesn't damage them too
much w
hile you're gone."
The shuttle's door shut as Tom sat in the pilot's chair. B'Elanna
blew out the candles and sat beside him, staring at the bed in
the back of the craft. Tom watched her from the corner of his eye
as he went through the check list.
"Don't worry, B'Elanna," he mentioned, "we'll get to use it
soon."
B'Elanna stared at him darkly, but her eyes sparkled, "We better,
Helmboy. I want this honeymoon to be memorable."
Tom smiled impishly, "Oh, it will. Trust me."
B'Elanna rolled her eyes as they exited the shuttlebay and headed
for the planet.
Chapter 4
With B'Elanna's head resting on Tom's shoulder the pair sat at
the helm watching the stars streak by on their way to their
destination.
"Do you hear that B'Elanna?" Tom asked in a soft voice after a
while, cocking his head to one side.
B'Elanna didn't move her head from his shoulder but listened
intently. "No, I don't. Why, what is it?" she asked.
"If you listen very, very carefully 'Lanna you'll hear silence,
It's been a long time hasn't it?" he asked as he stroked the
