Author's note: This is my first fan fic series, so please bear with the possible mistakes and other insignificant anomalies. This series is dedicated to Robbie McNeill and Roxann Dawson, two of the greatest Star Trek actors there ever were and will be.

Beloved B'Elanna, Part 1 - Yours and Mine
by Cheile

Lieutenant Tom Paris walked onto the holodeck one afternoon after his duty shift. It had been a long day.

First, they had encountered an asteroid belt, ten times worse than the Belt back in the Alpha Quadrant--which had taken some tricky flying and everyone holding their stomachs for hours after that. Then having to try and endure Neelix's leola root stew for lunch, which much to Neelix's chagrin, no one could eat. To top it all off, he had been distracted all day. He was surprised that he had been able to fly at all.

With a deep sigh, he flopped into a cushioned chair. One of the characters, a tanned blond girl, came toward him, but he waved her away. Ordinarily, he would have loved a backrub from the holo-girl to ease the tension in his back and shoulders, but not today. He was too distracted.

If only she would..... No, Paris, don't be ridiculous. You're completely wrong. It's another infatuation, nothing more.

But it was much more than that, Tom knew. He was in love.

Down in Engineering, Voyager's main warp core pulsed slightly, the plasma within flashing and flickering, swirling in a never-ending spiral. Hardly anyone was around; most of the engineering crew were off-duty, on the holodeck or resting after today's pitching ride through the asteroid belt. Only one person was there, still hard at work, despite the fact that every muscle ached every time one was moved or flexed.

With a sigh, Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres pushed herself out from beneath the main console, where she'd been fiddling with the circuits, and shook her silky raven-dark hair out of her face. Rising gracefully to her feet, she brushed the dust off her uniform and turned to the computer. Slender fingers danced over the console's keys. The computer beeped twice. She scowled at the screen, tapped a few more keys and waited. After a single beep, the results came up. Satisfied, she tapped another key and let the screen go blank.

Her dark eyes scanned the whole room. Deciding that there was nothing else she could do, she stretched, winced at the tension in her back, then left, heading for the turbolift.

Admit it, you're in love.

Oh, shut up!

Tom shook his head, trying to get the argument out of his mind. But he knew it had to be true. The constant thought of her, always wondering, even worrying on occasion, had to be more than a mere infatuation. He'd once been infatuated with Kes, but it had been nothing more than that. Besides, she and Neelix were too close anyway. He had gotten over Kes quickly.

But this one--it had been plaguing him since Vorik had gone through the pon-farr for the first time. Ever since then, he seemed to notice her more.

"Hello, Tom."

He froze. She was here.

He forced a smile. "Hello, B'Elanna."

B'Elanna Torres flopped into the chair next to him. "God, it's been a long day." She closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushions.

Tom studied her for several minutes. Her dark hair was shoulder-length, softly framing her face, accenting her high cheekbones. A few errant wisps fell across her forehead, slightly obscuring her brow ridges. She reached up a slender tanned hand to brush them back. He watched, transfixed.

She's so beautiful.

Well then, tell her so!

He was about to speak when she opened her eyes and sat up suddenly. The stubborn wisps fell back in place. Unconsciously, he reached over and brushed them back. Then he realized what he was doing and froze, his fingertips lightly touching her cheek.

B'Elanna had also frozen at his feather-light touch. Her stomach had twisted into a knot and she was trembling. What was happening to her?

For a minute, the two stayed in that position, their eyes locked, their faces inches apart. Then suddenly B'Elanna broke away.

"I have to go," she managed to say. "I'll see you later." She rose to her feet and walked away. Once outside the holodeck doors, her legs would no longer support her. She collapsed to her knees, still trembling.

What's the matter with me? I've been around Tom hundreds of times, but I've never felt like this.

After a few minutes had passed, she got to her feet and headed for the turbolift. She hadn't slept for nearly seventeen hours. She had to get some sleep. Perhaps everything would make more sense the next morning.

B'Elanna reached her quarters five minutes later. Kicking off her shoes and shrugging out of her uniform jacket, she flopped on her bed. Again, the puzzling questions returned. Why had she felt so strangely around Tom? Was there something wrong with her?

Still confused, B'Elanna drifted off into slumber.

"Oh, this heart's on fire
Right from the start, it's been burning for you.
Oh, this heart's on fire
One thing, honey, this heart's true." -- Bryan Adams, "Hearts on Fire"

Tom awoke the next morning. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, then got to his feet and groaned. He had gotten practically no sleep the night before.

Of course, you idiot. All you thought about was B'Elanna.

It was hard for him to admit that he was actually in love with her. He had been so overconfident to once think that no one could possess his heart. But he had never anticipated meeting someone like B'Elanna.

With a sigh, he started to get ready for the day.

Exactly fifteen minutes later, Tom walked into the mess hall. He anxiously looked around for B'Elanna and was more than a little disappointed to see that she was not there.

Neelix looked up from his cooking. "Good morning, Lieutenant. What'll it be?"

"Have you seen B'Elanna?"

"Lieutenant Torres?" Neelix thought for a minute, then shook his head. "No, actually, I haven't."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

He sighed and turned away. Neelix watched him go, then shrugged.

Tom looked around the room. Noticing Janeway and Chakotay sitting together, he headed toward them.

Janeway looked up, a light blush touching her cheeks as she saw him. Chakotay glanced at her, then up at Tom. "'Morning, Paris."

"Have either of you seen B'Elanna?"

The two looked at each other, then shook their heads. "Not this morning, we haven't," said Chakotay.

"Are you sure?"

Janeway laughed softly. "I'm sure she's all right, Tom. Check down in engineering. It's the most likely place she'll be."

Chakotay was studying Tom intently, watching the emotions play across his face. Disappointment, a slight flash of anger, then exasperation. He sighed and turned away. Chakotay couldn't help the smile that began to grow on his face.

"And get that grin off your face, Chakotay."

Chakotay's smile turned into a wicked grin as he glanced at Janeway. She was struggling to hold back her laughter as Tom left the mess hall.

Tom had looked everywhere for B'Elanna--the bridge, engineering, her quarters. Finally, he said, "Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres."

"Lieutenant Torres is in Holodeck two."

"It figures--the last place I'd look," he said under his breath as he headed for the turbolift.

He walked onto the holodeck. He didn't recognize the setting. It was a dark and dreary forest, with huge trees and tons of shadows. Puzzled, he ducked a swaying branch and started down a small path. "B'Elanna?"

A sound from behind caused him to spin around. A tall, Cardassian-looking figure, completely armed, stood not ten feet away. He knew it was one of the holodeck characters, but the sight startled him.

The Cardassian stormed forward, intent on murder. Tom decided that he would let the character "kill" him and that the program would end. Then maybe he could find B'Elanna.

Suddenly, a crimson flash streaked past him. Tom turned to see B'Elanna, bat'leth in position, knock the character to the ground, then deliver the slashing deathblow. The figure vanished.

Three more came out from different directions. She performed the same moves on each one, whirling to meet the next before the first had disappeared. As she turned to kill the third, he thought he saw the shine of tears in her eyes.

"B'Elanna, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she snapped, lashing out at yet another character.

"There is something wrong," he insisted. She wasn't going to get out of it and hide her feelings this time. He followed her across the field and grabbed her arm. She jerked away.

"Talk to me, B'Elanna."

"There's nothing to say," she insisted.

"Tell me."

She took in deep breaths, several emotions flashing across her face--anger, sorrow, a hint of fear. Then without warning, she flung the bat'leth down, fell to her knees and burst into tears.

Tom was shocked. Usually, B'Elanna hid her feelings--and she never cried. Seeing her like this, devastated, her face buried in her hands, broke his heart.

He knelt beside her and put an arm around her. "Tell me what's wrong."

She tried to shrug away from him. He would have none of it, however. Pulling her hands away from her face, he tilted her chin up so that she was forced to look into his eyes. With the other hand, he brushed her tears away. "Now tell me what's wrong."

"You can't help anyway, Tom, so it wouldn't do any good."

"If you tell me, you'll feel better."

B'Elanna took in a deep breath, then turned to face him. His cerulean eyes were locked with hers, full of gentle reassurance. A tremble went through her. She was still having odd feelings, yet somehow she felt better when she was close to him.

"When I was in high school, I had only one friend. Her name was Chelsea Roberts. She was the only one that didn't care that I was half-Klingon. We were walking home from school one day. We separated and she went her way. I had gone about another half-block when I heard her screaming. I ran back and found Chelsea trying to get away from a half-dozen Cardassians. I ran to help her. But they overpowered me--and forced me to watch as they heartlessly murdered her. They left me for dead, too. But I survived. The other kids at school blamed me. They said I was a curse--that Chelsea died because I was with her." Tears filled her eyes again. "She was so sweet. Why did they kill her? Why?!"

"It was meant to be. At least you tried to defend her. So many others would have run away. But you ran back." He pulled her close. "What counts is that you tried to help."

She shook her head, burying her face against Tom's shoulder. "But I couldn't," she cried.

"Shh," Tom whispered. He lightly stroked her hair.

B'Elanna sighed deeply. She didn't want to look him in the eye, for fear she would lose her nerve.

Cupping her chin in one hand, he tilted her face up, brushing the last tear away. Their eyes met. For several minutes, B'Elanna stared into the cerulean depths, full of concern--and something else. What was that softness in his eyes?

"B'Elanna," he began hesitantly. "B'Elanna, I...."

"Senior officers to the bridge immediately." Janeway's voice through the comm system interrupted the moment.

B'Elanna got to her feet and hurried for the holodeck doors.

....love you, he thought as he followed her to the bridge.

The turbolift doors opened. As B'Elanna dashed to the engineering station, Tom hurried down to the conn. "What's happening?"

"There's a displacement wave in front of us," Harry Kim called from ops. "It's moving toward us."

"Start backing us up, Tom," Janeway ordered. "Once we get enough kilometers distance between us and it, turn us around and take us to maximum warp."

"Aye, Captain," he answered, his fingers flying over the controls.

"I can try disrupting it with a graviton particle field," Tuvok said.

"Do it!"

Voyager trembled slightly as the graviton field burst out beyond the shields to meet with the displacement wave.

"No effect," Tuvok reported.

"B'Elanna, divert all possible power to the warp engines. Harry, full power to shields. Tom, turn us around and get us out of here. Now."

Tom shot a half-second glance at B'Elanna. She was frantically tapping at the console, her fingers racing across the keys. Turning back to the conn, he began to bring the ship about.

"Captain, we've lost warp power," B'Elanna called.

Janeway spun around. "How?!"

"I don't know." She tapped at a key, then scowled at the readout it gave her. "There's no way to create a stable warp field."

"Can you give us impulse?"

"Impulse is all we have."

"Tom, full impulse."

"Captain, the displacement wave is now in front of us as well as behind us," Harry spoke up. "No, it's on all sides. We're surrounded! It's going to engulf us!"

"Brace for impact!" Janeway's voice echoed through the decks below as the displacement wave took hold of the ship and hurled it into the void...... Beloved B'Elanna, Part 2--Fair is the Day
by Cheile

Dedicated to Robbie McNeill and Roxann Dawson, 'cause they're so cool. :)

A blinding white light flashed through the viewscreen and lit up the bridge. Tom was hunched over the conn, clinging to the small side rails. Control of the ship was now impossible; it was all he could do to control his panic.

I never got to tell B'Elanna I loved her, was his final thought before darkness overwhelmed him.

"Report!"

Janeway's command broke through Tom's unconsciousness. It took him a minute to realize he was face-first on the floor beneath the conn. Disoriented, he rose up, smacking his head on the underside of the console. He groaned, and crawled out backwards, pulling himself to his feet, but unsure of which way to turn.

"No damage, no causalities," Harry reported. "Primary systems coming back on-line."

Janeway was helping Chakotay to his feet. Tuvok was already back at his station. The two ensigns at mission ops were getting up.

Tom spun around in the direction of the engineering station and the sight terrified him. B'Elanna was slumped over the console, unmoving.

God no, not B'Elanna!

As if in answer to his prayer, she slowly raised her head and pushed herself to her feet, the only injury evident a nasty bruise swelling on her forehead.

"Harry, can you get the viewscreen operational?" Chakotay asked.

"I'm trying."

Static crackled as the viewscreen flared to life. A few minutes later, the image cleared. What it revealed shocked everyone.

"It's Deep Space Nine," Harry said, his voice full of amazement. "We're home."

At the conn, Tom let out a deep sigh. He had never thought that he would lay eyes on Deep Space Nine again. After six years in the Delta Quadrant, it was a wonderful sight.

"Neelix to bridge. What's happened?"

"We're home, Neelix. We're home," Janeway said, a smile lighting up her face.

A minute later, Neelix, followed by Kes, stepped onto the bridge. Neelix's eyes bugged out at the sight of Deep Space Nine floating in its graceful slow turn. "What's that?"

"Deep Space Nine," Harry informed him. "A space station."

"It's beautiful," Kes said softly.

Vorik, over at the engineering station, raised one eyebrow in Kes' direction.

Noticing Vorik's expression, Kes hurried to explain herself. "Look at its form and how it slowly revolves."

"You're right, Kes," B'Elanna agreed. "It is beautiful."

"We're being hailed, Captain," Harry said suddenly.

"Onscreen," Janeway ordered.

Captain Sisko's face appeared on the screen. "You are flying an Intrepid-class starship, yet I do not recognize you. Identify yourself."

"Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager."

"That is impossible. Voyager was lost six years ago."

"It is not impossible. We have made it home."

Sisko's dark face lit up with a grin. "The Federation will be happy to hear such news. Welcome home, Captain Janeway. You have permission to dock and we are looking forward to your arrival."

Janeway smiled back as the transmission ended. "Tom, bring us in."

"Aye, Captain."

Twenty minutes later, they were safely docked and Tom was in his quarters, trying to pack. But it was nearly impossible to stuff six years worth of possessions in that duffel bag. He began again and finally succeeded, zipping the bag shut.

The intercom clicked on.

"We have docked at Deep Space Nine." Janeway's voice echoed through the whole of the ship. "You may go into the station if you wish. The former Maquis need to meet with me so that I may have the necessary information to give Federation headquarters to grant your pardons so that you may either continue here on Voyager, go to another ship or go back to your homes. I do need to see all senior officers, Neelix and Kes before you go. The rest of you, it has been a long six years, but you are the best crew a captain could ever hope to have." Janeway's voice was full of warmth. "Those who plan to leave, I will truly miss you."

Click. The intercom shut off.

Tom shouldered his bag and was prepared to leave when the door chime sounded.

"Come in," he said.

The doors opened and B'Elanna slowly walked in.

"Hi, B'Elanna."

"Hi," she began hesitantly.

For a minute, they both stood there in silence. Then B'Elanna spoke. "I was wondering where'd you go--after this."

Tom shrugged. "I don't know. Where are you going?"

"Hopefully, Starfleet Command will give me a pardon. Then I guess--I'll either stay here or go to another ship. I might go to Earth for a while. I've never seen it."

He nodded, his mind racing all the while.

Say it.

No, I can't.

Damn it, Paris, don't be a fool! Tell her you love her!

"I'm going to see the captain. I guess I'll see you later." B'Elanna slowly turned to leave.

Now, you idiot! Before you lose your chance!

"B'Elanna?"

"Yeah?"

He had been prepared to say it, but now couldn't.

"Wait for me. I'll go with you."

"I only wanted to say that you were the finest group of senior officers that I've ever had or will ever have as captain." Kathryn Janeway studied each of the group, those she had come to know so well in these past six years.

Tuvok, her advisor and counselor. Harry, so young when he'd come onboard--now six years older and more experienced. She hoped that he might plan to stay with her.

Neelix. The funny little Talaxian had, to tell the truth, partly kept her sane the past half decade. Kes, his beloved. The sweet Ocampa girl had been her advisor along with Tuvok.

B'Elanna. At first, she had been rebellious and stubborn. But then she had softened up quite a bit and they had become good friends. Of course, her softening up might have had something to do with a certain lieutenant.

Tom. He was desperately trying to avoid her gaze and not make it obvious that he was looking at B'Elanna, but failing miserably. She had pulled him out of prison originally to attain his help in tracking down the Maquis. But he had proven to be, as he'd once said, "the best pilot you could have".

Janeway's gaze shifted to her first officer. Chakotay's dark eyes bored into hers, unnerving her for the slightest second. After Cavit's death, Chakotay had taken Cavit's place. In her private opinion, he was the better of the two.

"If you wish, you may request to stay with me. I plan on taking a six-month leave before returning here to Voyager. She will not be going anywhere until my return. Chakotay, B'Elanna, Starfleet Command had just called before you got here. They have granted you your pardons and are allowing you to keep your ranks."

Chakotay nodded. The look on B'Elanna's face clearly said that she was relieved.

"I can tell you where to contact me for the next six months if you need me before then. And of course, when I do get home, anyone is welcome to visit."

She rose. "I'll let you all go now. Most of you probably want to contact your families and tell them that you're still alive. Neelix, Kes, when I leave, I was going to ask you two to come and stay with me for a time. Get you used to things around here."

"We would love to, Captain," Neelix said, a little too enthusiastically.

Janeway smiled at his eagerness. "You two get packed and I'll meet you outside in about forty-five minutes."

Kes and Neelix got up and left to go pack. Tuvok, after bidding Janeway farewell, also departed. Harry was next, followed by Chakotay and B'Elanna. Tom was on his way out the door when Janeway called him back.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Sit back down, Tom. I wanted to ask you something."

He shrugged and flopped into a chair. "Ask away."

"Something seems to be troubling you. What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Tom Paris, I know you better than that. It's B'Elanna, isn't it?"

"How did you know?" he demanded.

Janeway shrugged. "It was only obvious."

Tom snorted. "Great. Now I'm transparent."

"You love her, don't you?"

Unable to lie with Janeway's ocean blue eyes boring into his, he nodded.

"Then tell her."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"She doesn't love me back." With that, Tom got up and left.

"Said I loved you, but I lied,
'Cause this is more than love
I feel inside.
Said I loved you but I was wrong,
'Cause love could never, ever feel so strong
Said I loved you--but I lied." -- Michael Bolton, "Said I Loved You But I Lied"

The Deep Space Nine promenade was noisy and busy, crowded with all races of people. Shops and other businesses covered every inch of available space that wasn't part of the walkways, Quark's bar being the highlight of the promenade.

The group from Voyager took in the whole sight--the shops, the twisting walkways, the people. So many different people, in the strangest groups. A young black human, presumably Sisko's son, walking with a small Ferengi cadet, who someone said was Quark's nephew Nog. Worf from the Enterprise, holding the hand of a beautiful dark-haired woman, a small, dark-haired, half-Klingon girl following them. As B'Elanna watched, the woman, who Janeway had identified as Jadzia Dax, scooped up the child in her arms, then handed her to Worf, who put the child on his shoulders. Pain twisted her heart. Her parents had never been that much in love, nor had they cared as much about her.

Tom followed B'Elanna's line of sight to Worf, Dax and their daughter, and instantly knew what she was thinking. He set a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She turned in surprise to look at him and he gave her a quiet smile.

The moment was interrupted when they were distracted by a crash. Startled, Neelix jumped a mile. They all turned to see what the noise was about.

It had come from Quark's. A huge hunk of twisted, contorted metal lay sideways in the doorway. Quark himself came to the door, grumbling, as he dragged the metal thing partially back inside and righted it. After hollering at whoever had knocked it over, he began to carefully dust it off.

The security guards had all turned, alerted by the crash, but when they saw that it was only Quark's statue, they returned to their rounds. One in particular, however, did not ignore the incident. The guard, who Tom recognized as Odo, DS9's chief of security, was heading toward Quark, his intent obvious. He was almost there when out of nowhere came a slight Bajoran woman. She took Odo's arm, stopping him, and spoke softly to him.

"I won't let him cause a scene," he heard Odo snap in response.

Tom couldn't hear her answer, but whatever she said seemed to soften Odo. The cross look on his face faded and he sighed, shaking his head. "Only for you, Nerys."

She smiled. To Tom's amazement, Odo smiled in return, and taking her hand, left with her, soon disappearing into the crowd.

"Now that's the first time I've seen Odo allow anyone to not let him chew out Quark," Chakotay remarked.

"Love makes us do strange things," Janeway answered.

Like hold back one's feelings because one is too afraid of his stupid pride to say it, a voice in Tom's mind mocked.

He glanced at B'Elanna. She glanced back, then returned to watching people go by.

He loved her. And he had to tell her before they were separated and he never saw her again.

B'Elanna glanced at Tom before turning her attention back to the crowds.

She had been feeling so weird for the past two days--ever since that holodeck incident. His hand had suddenly stopped--as if he realized what he'd been doing--his fingertips resting on her cheek. She remembered the feather-light touch of his fingertips, the pure longing in his cerulean eyes. What did it mean?

Does he love me? No, he couldn't possibly. Why would he want me? No one ever has--why would Tom Paris be any different?

B'Elanna shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. But her first question still lingered at the back of her mind.

The group from Voyager split into two groups: the bigger group including Neelix, Kes and Ensign Wildman, went to explore the shops, and the smaller group, which included Janeway and Chakotay, went to see Captain Sisko.

Tom decided to go with the bigger group. For one thing, he didn't know Captain Sisko. For another, he wanted to stay near B'Elanna. If he stayed close to her long enough, he might gain the courage to tell her.

An hour passed. As Tom followed Ensign Wildman, who was leading the overexcited Neelix and the fascinated Kes, he eventually gained the courage to talk to B'Elanna. But when he turned, she was no longer there.

Four hours later.

Tom had checked at all the shops on the promenade, in the guest officers' quarters, and couldn't find her anywhere. Where was she? He had to tell her he loved her. This was his only chance.

He finally ran into Chakotay outside Quark's. "Where is she?" he demanded breathlessly.

"Who, Tom?"

"B'Elanna! Who else?"

"You didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"She's going to Earth. Her shuttle's probably leaving right now. Why?"

Without answering Chakotay, Tom dashed in the direction of the shuttle bays, swearing silently to himself. If he missed her, it would be his own fault.

Ten minutes later, winded and exhausted, Tom made it to the shuttle bay area. Frantically, his eyes searched everywhere. There she was! On the far end of the line, almost to the shuttle.

He had to stop her. He wouldn't let her go without telling her that he loved her. He had almost made it to the middle when Odo stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Odo's amber eyes fixed on Tom, recognizing him and at the same time, knowing his intent.

"I have to talk to someone. I can't let her leave before I do."

"You're not going past this point." Odo shook his head vehemently. "No one who's not getting on the shuttle is getting past this point."

"Let me talk to her, Odo. You can come with me if you want."

"No."

"B'Elanna!" he called, his voice echoing off the rafters, hoping she would hear him. When she didn't turn around, his heart dropped. She hadn't heard him. And now she would never know how much he loved her.

B'Elanna let herself be caught in the flow of people heading for the shuttle. She thought she heard someone call her name from afar, but decided that she was mistaken. She had already given her good-byes to Chakotay and Joe Carey, and she would visit the Captain, Neelix and Kes, since she, too, would be in San Francisco, near Starfleet Headquarters in case they needed her. As for the rest of the crew that she hadn't known very well, like Ensign Wildman, she had said good-bye to on the ship.

But you forgot one person.

She hadn't said good-bye to Tom. It was just too painful. Though she hated to admit it, she cared for him more than she had ever cared for anyone--even more than her brotherly affection for Chakotay.

It's because you love him.

She did love him. But he didn't love her back.

Tom watched as B'Elanna boarded the shuttle. His heart went with her.

"B'Elanna," he cried, though it was too late for her to hear him. "I love you," he whispered.

And as he watched, the shuttle departed from Deep Space Nine, taking his beloved with it.

Beloved B'Elanna, Part 5 - Reconcile by (the one and only Gaelic Parisite) Cheile Dedicated to Robbie and Roxann, just 'cause. :)

"Marc, is it really you?" D'Lena couldn't believe her eyes. Here was the only man she'd cared about, who she hadn't seen in twenty-four years and had never expected to see again.

"D'Lena." Marc was speechless. He had reunited with B'Elanna, but had never expected to lay eyes on D'Lena again. Twenty-four years had passed, but D'Lena had lost none of her fiery beauty. Klingon or not, she was still beautiful to him.

B'Elanna was prepared for an argument, a fight, World War Three, thinking it inevitable.

"When did you get here?" Marc asked.

"I only heard this morning that Voyager had come back. I located B'Elanna early this afternoon. How did you find her?"

"We met on my walk."

B'Elanna finally found her voice, now that she was convinced that they weren't going to be at each other's throats. "Mother, Father, why don't you two sit down?"

The two turned to their daughter as if noticing her for the first time.

"Right."

"Of course."

They both sat, D'Lena on one end of the couch, Marc in a chair. B'Elanna perched on the other end of the couch. She had no idea what to say now that both of them were in the same room. Finally, she was ready to speak, but Marc beat her to it.

"D'Lena, I know that this is twenty-four years too late, but I'm going to say it anyway. I have regretted what I had done since the day I left Kessik. You were right to tell B'Elanna that I was a damned idiot, because I was. I told myself that I was thinking of you two, when in reality I was thinking of myself. I never should have left you, by yourself, to take care of B'Elanna when she was so little." Marc rose and approached D'Lena, dropping to one knee before her. "What I'm saying is that I'm sorry, and I want you back, 'Lena." He took her hand in his. "Come back to me, and forgive me."

For a long moment, D'Lena was silent. Then she rose to her feet, bringing Marc with her. "Get up, you idiot."

Marc quickly got to his feet. D'Lena's dark eyes burned into his. He was overcome by a mix of anxiety and slight fear. Which vanished the instant D'Lena kissed him. His hands went to her shoulders as her arms encircled his neck.

When they finally separated, Marc looked into her eyes for a long minute. The love that rarely showed was there, and Marc was certain if Klingons could cry, she might have. As it was, he was coming dangerously close.

As if by a sudden revelation, they both remembered B'Elanna. Marc blushed, and though D'Lena couldn't, she looked slightly embarrassed. They broke apart, but D'Lena kept a hold of Marc's hand as they returned to sit down, this time together on the couch.

"Sorry, B'Elanna," Marc began. "We sort of--forgot that you were here."

B'Elanna shrugged.

"Now that that's over, we can talk to our daughter, 'Lena."

"Exactly. And the first thing I want to hear about is your boyfriend--what's his name--Paris."

"Mother, he's not my boyfriend."

"You were with him, weren't you?"

"We were--good friends."

"You don't fool me, girl," D'Lena said. "I saw the look in your eyes when you first mentioned Paris. That lighting up--which you probably inherited from your father--obviously means love."

"Mother," B'Elanna protested.

"Now D'Lena, slow down. B'Elanna, you mentioned him to me slightly, but you didn't tell me much. Tell us about him."

For the past two and a half weeks, B'Elanna had been trying desperately to forget Tom, but fate refused to let her forget. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes.

"B'Elanna, are you all right?"

B'Elanna could stand it no longer. She burst into tears.

"So, Captain, what all did you see in the Delta Quadrant?"

"There's too much to tell, Quark," Janeway protested.

Quark grinned. "Start from the beginning. I'm in no hurry."

Janeway exchanged a glance with Chakotay and rolled her eyes. Chakotay smiled and reached up with one hand to brush back an errant wisp of her auburn hair.

A sudden crash from the doorway drew their attention. Quark's favorite metalwork statue had crashed to the ground, nearly braining whoever had stumbled into it.

"My Kilreny!" Quark hollered. "You better not have ruined it!"

The person got to their feet, then put the statue back up. "Don't worry about the dumb old thing, Quark. Besides, you should get it out of the doorway so people don't run into it."

Janeway exchanged another glance with Chakotay. They knew that voice--and its owner.

Tom Paris stumbled into the light near the bar, collapsing onto a nearby stool. Noticing Janeway, a crooked grin crossed his face. "Hey, Captain, Chakotay. What's up?" He tried unsuccessfully to hide a yawn that nearly split his face.

"Did sleeping ever occur to you?" Quark said acidly. "Then you wouldn't be so clumsy as to run into my Kilreny."

"Oh, hush up, Quark. Get me a Romulan ale. That way, when I leave, I'll be awake and I won't go anywhere near your precious Kilreny."

Chakotay squeezed her arm lightly. Janeway nodded. They got up. "Quark, we have to go. But we'll come back another time and tell you about our adventures."

"Do that." Quark waved as they departed, then turned back to Tom with the ale in hand. "Get started on waking up."

Quark watched as Tom began to sip the ale. He somehow instinctively knew that there was something more to this than insomnia.

"B'Elanna?" Marc let go of D'Lena's hand and moved to B'Elanna's other side, so that she was between them. He pulled her close. "Now tell us what's wrong."

B'Elanna realized that she was shaking, so she took a couple of deep breaths, and tried to calm down. When she had calmed down considerably and had brushed away her tears, she turned to her parents. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be," D'Lena told her. "Now explain what's wrong. It's not about Paris, is it?"

"Don't mention Tom." If they did, B'Elanna knew she would lose her nerve and start bawling again.

"B'Elanna K'Ehleyr Andrea Torres, explain yourself. Now," D'Lena said. "Only hours ago, you were recounting his every accomplishment like he was your child, and now you refuse to talk about him. I know you love each other, so what is the deal?"

"D'Lena, be calm," Marc said quietly. "Give her time to explain."

"It's easy to explain," B'Elanna began.

They turned to her.

"You're right, Mother. I do love him." Tears filled B'Elanna's eyes again. "But he doesn't love me."

"Another one, Quark."

"Well, I guess you were right, Lieutenant. You're looking a little more awake."

Tom snorted. "My body's here, but my brain isn't."

Quark brought a second ale. "So why are you alone? Last time you were here, you had the girls all around you."

B'Elanna.

The thought of her was never far from his mind. But he'd been a fool when he'd lost his temper at her after her being attacked. Now he'd lost her.

"Something troubling you?" Quark asked.

"Yeah. My whole life's a disaster."

Quark found his stool and perched on it. "Tell me."

"What for? You'll just tell everyone else."

"I promise not to."

Tom snorted again. "I don't suppose it matters. Everyone will know about it sooner or later."

"When I mentioned girls, a sad look came into your eyes. Is it a girl? One you've lost?"

"You're pretty perceptive for a Ferengi."

Quark shrugged. "It was just a guess."

"Yeah, it's a girl. She was on Voyager with me. The whole six years, I was infatuated with her. I didn't want to admit it until about a week before we found the wormhole leading back here. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but I couldn't get the nerve. By the time I did, her shuttle had left for Earth."

"Was she just a crewmember? Or was she someone important?"

"Only the chief engineer."

Quark nodded. "An intellectual."

"She's so smart--and so beautiful."

"What does she look like?"

A dreamy look crossed Tom's face. "Tall, slender. Raven-dark hair cut to about here--" Tom indicated his shoulder, "--dark eyes. She always insisted that she wasn't beautiful, because of her brow ridges, but I didn't care. They were a part of her." He smiled wistfully, remembering.

"Brow ridges?" Quark repeated.

"She's half-human, half-Klingon. She has the brow ridges inherited from her mother, but they're not harsh like full-blooded Klingons. They're soft, not really that noticeable. I noticed them, but it only made her more beautiful, not ugly as she once believed."

"And you love her," Quark guessed. Quark knew he hadn't needed to ask, the answer was clear on Tom's face.

"I do."

"So go to Earth, find her, and tell her."

"I'm not going to waste my time, Quark."

"What are you talking about?"

"I love her, but she doesn't love me."

"What do you mean, he doesn't love you?" Marc asked.

"What I said. He doesn't love me." B'Elanna felt the tears begin to fall.

"I thought you two were together," D'Lena said. A puzzled look crossed her face. "At least, that was the idea I got from the way you talked about him."

B'Elanna shook her head. "Bragging about Tom is so easy to do. He really is wonderful. He's made a few mistakes, but then everyone has. But to me, that didn't seem to matter. I love him." She buried her face in her hands. "God, I love him so much. And he doesn't love me."

"Did he tell you that?" Marc asked.

"No."

"Is there anything he said that would mean that he didn't have feelings for you?"

"No."

"Then how by Kahless do you know that he doesn't love you?" D'Lena demanded.

B'Elanna was silent. In her heart, she knew that her mother was partly right.

"Your mother does have a point," Marc said.

"Even if he did, it wouldn't matter. I lost my temper at him after my accident. He'll never want to look at me again."

"Are you certain of that?" Marc asked.

"No. But I'm pretty sure that's how he would feel."

"Prove him wrong," D'Lena said.

"What do you mean, 'Lena?"

"We'll go to Deep Space Nine, find him, and talk to him. It's the only way to really find out what the Paris kid thinks."

"That sounds like a good idea? What do you think, B'El?"

I might as well, B'Elanna thought. Even though it won't change anything.

"All right," she said aloud.

"Go ahead and pack, then. Can you be ready by 0630? The first shuttle to Deep Space Nine leaves at 0700."

B'Elanna nodded.

"Then we'll see you tomorrow."

Marc and D'Lena left, as B'Elanna prepared for leaving the next morning.

"A girl that's not in love with you?" Quark shook his head. "Kinda hard to believe."

Tom snorted. "You don't know her like I do. She's not susceptible to charm, like most girls are. She's tough. No one could get to her. I guess that's why I pursued her. I could never resist a challenge."

"Are you sure she isn't in love with you?" Quark persisted.

"Of course I'm sure. Why the hell would she want an ex-con like me?"

"That's in your past, though," Quark pointed out.

But Tom wasn't listening.

"Who was I kidding to think that the Captain's second chance would change anything? That it would matter?" He shook his head. "I must have been out of my mind."

Quark shook his head with a sigh. He knew that there was no way to talk Paris out of it.

2238.

B'Elanna lay on her bed in the darkness. She would get up at 0545 to get ready to meet her parents and take the shuttle to Deep Space Nine.

I love you, Tom. Forgive me.

Exhaustion finally drove her into a deep, dreamless sleep. To be continued........

Beloved B'Elanna, Part 6 - Look Twice by (oh, come on, you should know by now) Cheile :) Dedicated to Robbie and Roxann (do I really need to tell you this?) :) Author's note: When my friend Laurel heard that I was writing this series, she wrote a poem called "The Only One", which is a lament of lost love. There are parts from both of their points-of-view. So here it is, Laurel's poem...... The Only One I first saw her, pale and near death Yet she wouldn't give up, Wouldn't allow that death. Now we are home safe at last Yet I cannot forget the memories of the past. I love her, Oh, how I love her I was nearly gone, When he rescued me >From that moment on, Only him I could see. The journey has ended, We have come home Now I have made a mistake, With him, my heart will roam. But I still love him, Oh, how I love him. I belong to her, She is my heart and soul Now she is gone, I will never again be whole. She was my life, The only one I wanted My Klingon princess, Spitfire and beauty, my beloved B'Elanna. She is lost to me forever, We'll never again be together But I will always love her, Oh, how I love her.

Laurel DeCastro But things aren't always what they seem......

B'Elanna, followed by her parents, left Deep Space Nine's shuttle docking area. Marc and D'Lena were still hand in hand, and almost everyone turned to watch the trio pass.

"Where to, B'Elanna?" D'Lena asked her daughter.

B'Elanna shrugged. "Quark's, I guess. He's the one that knows all the gossip. Maybe he'll have seen Tom."

"Typical Ferengi," D'Lena snorted to herself.

Marc shook his head with a smile.

"B'Elanna, hello. It's good to see you."

Chakotay had appeared out of nowhere, Janeway on his arm.

"Chakotay, Captain."

Janeway shook her head and laughed softly. "B'Elanna, while we're not on the ship, call me Kathryn."

"Friends of yours, B'Elanna?" Marc asked. Then his eyes landed on Janeway. "You must be Voyager's captain. I'm Marc Torres, B'Elanna's father."

"Her father?" Both Janeway and Chakotay were stunned. From what they had heard the six years before that, neither had thought that B'Elanna would ever see her father again--or even want to.

As if reading their minds, Marc shook his head. "I bumped into her in Oakland and she has forgiven me for all the sorrow I've caused her." He turned a smile upon his wife. "And so has D'Lena."

After being introduced to D'Lena and the five talking for a short while, Janeway and Chakotay said their good-byes and departed, allowing B'Elanna, Marc and D'Lena to continue making their way to Quark's. "I'll make a wish for you, and hope it will come true That life will just be kind to such a gentle mind. If you lose your way Think back on yesterday Remember this way, remember me this way." -- Jordan Hill, "Remember Me This Way" (Casper)

"Another one."

Quark eyed Tom Paris. "Are you sure?"

Tom leveled a glare at Quark. With a sigh, Quark did as asked.

The doors swung open. He glanced up. Only a Bajoran. He brought the glass back to Tom, set it before him, then turned back to looking for his elusive data padd.

The doors opened again. Quark looked up. It was a group of three. At first, his attention was focused on the couple. A tall Klingon woman in battle armor, her hand in that of a human man with dark hair and blue eyes. This sort of couple was certainly unusual.

Then his eyes landed on the third person.

She was tall and slender. Her dark hair was shoulder-length, softly framing her face. But Quark's gaze was focused on her face.

She had luminous dark eyes and slight brow ridges, proclaiming her Klingon heritage. But it didn't take away from her attractiveness. It seemed to add to it.

"Tall, slender. Raven-dark hair cut to shoulder-length, dark eyes......"

Could it be? Was it possible?

"She's half-human, half-Klingon. She has the brow ridges inherited from her mother, but they're not harsh....they're soft, not really that noticeable. I noticed them, but it only made her more beautiful....."

That had to be Paris' girl!

Quark scuttled over to Tom, who was now half-asleep. "Paris, wake up."

Tom groaned. "Quark, go away. I'm tryin' to sleep."

"Get up, by damn!" Quark knew that if Paris' girl saw him like this, she would never forgive him. It was a typical female reaction and he doubted that she was much different.

But Tom turned away and was soon almost asleep again. Quark gave up. Now the trick was to keep her from seeing him. He rushed to the opposite side of the bar as the three, led by Paris' girl, approached the bar.

"Are you Quark?" the Klingon woman demanded.

"Of course that's Quark," Paris' girl laughed. "Who else would it be, Mother?"

Mother. Gods above, her parents are with her! Quark knew that if Paris was sighted by any of the three, that it spelled disaster.

"My daughter says you know all the gossip around this station," said the Klingon woman.

Quark gave her a charming grin. "Well, I do hear many things. What is it you wish to know?"

"Don't try to charm me, Ferengi."

"Now, D'Lena, calm down." The human man shook his head. "We're looking for a Starfleet lieutenant named Paris," the Klingon woman--D'Lena--continued. "He's about my husband's height, sandy hair, blue eyes, handsome by human standards. Seen him?"

Quark glanced down the bar at Tom, who, luckily, was still turned away, so that none of the three could see his face. He turned his attention back to D'Lena. "Why are you looking for him?"

D'Lena looked prepared to slit Quark's throat, but Paris' girl stepped in front of her. "Please, Quark, I have to talk to him. I've made a terrible mistake and I have to apologize." What he could have sworn were tears glimmered in her eyes. "Have you seen him? Anywhere?"

Quark was debating whether to either risk his life by lying, or telling the truth and ruin the girl's hopes when she saw what state Paris was in, when a familiar voice echoed from down the bar. "Quark, I think I found your data padd!"

Quark cursed inwardly. Damn it, Paris, shut up before the girl recognizes your voice!

The human man squinted in the dim light. "Who's that?"

The drunken idiot who's in love with your daughter. But what Quark said was, "I ignore most of them. It really doesn't matter."

D'Lena scrutinized him with her dark, flashing eyes. He knew that he was doomed, but he didn't want the girl to get hurt.

Stumbling footsteps from nearby drew Quark's attention to his right. "Here, Quark, found it." The data padd was dropped into Quark's hand as the person who found it stepped into full light.

The girl gasped. "Tom!"

Paris tumbled to the floor.

Tom handed the recovered data padd to Quark, then suddenly the world began to sway. He gripped the counter for support.

"Tom!" gasped a familiar voice.

B'Elanna, was his last thought before darkness overwhelmed him.

Quark watched the girl's face drain deathly white, almost ready to faint herself. But then she rushed to his side, feeling for a pulse. "How much did he drink?"

"Only three Romulan ales. I've seen him put away twice that and be perfectly awake. But he's gotten about two hours of sleep in the past three weeks."

"Why wouldn't he sleep?"

"Don't you know, girl? You broke his heart."

"What are you talking about?" D'Lena growled. "That idiot is the one who left B'Elanna when the ship made it back here. Didn't hardly care about her, though he claimed to."

"Oh, no, no, no," Quark corrected smugly. "Your daughter's the one who left the station without saying good-bye to him. Shattered his heart and didn't even think twice about it."

D'Lena slapped both hands down on the bar and leaned over so that her face was inches from Quark's. "Are you calling me a liar, Ferengi?"

"Not at all. I'm telling the truth."

"Wait a minute," the human man interrupted.

"What is it, Marc?" D'Lena snapped.

"'Lena, calm down and think about it for a second. You too, Quark. Tom told Quark that he doesn't think B'Elanna loves him. B'Elanna told us the same thing."

"And your point is?" Quark said.

"My point is--they're both wrong. They are in love with each other, they just think they aren't."

"I think he's waking up," said one of the other patrons.

The trio turned to look.

Tom's eyes slowly opened. The first thing he was aware of was that his head was pounding.

What the hell did I run into?

Then his gaze focused on the face above him.

B'Elanna.

He sat up slowly. He knew that he was dreaming. B'Elanna wasn't here. She had gone to Earth, not even caring. After all, she didn't love him.

Why would you expect her to?

Before he was completely coherent, he was jerked to his feet. He found himself staring into a pair of dark blazing eyes. At first, he thought they were B'Elanna's. But B'Elanna would never have had such dark hatred in her eyes. When his gaze completely focused, he was eye to eye with a furious Klingon woman.

"Are you Paris?" she demanded.

"That's me." He knew that this the wrong time to be acting the way he was, but with his life ruined and his heart broken, he no longer cared anymore. He might as well die.

"Mother, let go of Tom! You're hurting him!"

Again, B'Elanna's voice. Now he knew he was dreaming.

But no, she suddenly appeared beside him, glaring down the Klingon woman--her mother, it seemed--until she abruptly let go of him. He stumbled back and would have fallen if B'Elanna had not supported him.

"D'Lena, calm down," said the dark-haired man standing near the bar. "Let B'Elanna talk to him first."

"Tom, are you all right?" B'Elanna asked softly.

"Fine, only a little dizzy."

Quark watched the whole exchange in silence. Suddenly Marc's words dawned on him.

"I have small gaming rooms over there." He waved in the direction of the five doors across the room. "If you like, you may use one. I'm sure your daughter and Lieutenant Paris would rather discuss this out of everyone else's hearing range." And that way, if the girl's mother loses her temper at Paris, Odo can't come in here and start throwing a fit, he added to himself.

"Why don't we leave them alone to talk?" Marc suggested. He started toward the door, then turned back. "D'Lena?"

D'Lena hesitated for the slightest second, then after sending Tom another furious glare, followed her husband.

When they were alone, Tom sighed. "I really don't know what there is to say. You don't love me like I do you, and it no longer matters."

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "You're the one that doesn't......"

The irony of Marc's words struck them both at that instant.

"You do love me," she said softly.

"Of course I do." He rose and went to her side. "I've loved you since I first saw you. It wasn't obvious?"

"I've been tricked before." She bowed her head. "I was afraid to believe in you. That's why I didn't say anything."

"'Lanna, my darling, I would never do such a thing to you." He embraced her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. He savored the feeling for several minutes--her in his arms, so close to him. He rested his chin on the top of her head, breathing in the soft scent of her orchid perfume, one hand reaching up to stroke her raven-dark hair.

B'Elanna leaned against Tom, comforted by the feeling of his nearness. Her head lay on his shoulder, her eyes closed. She never wanted to be left alone again--never.

"B'Elanna."

Opening her eyes, she raised her head to look at him. His eyes bored into hers for a long time. Then he leaned down and kissed her, softly, sweetly.

"I love you," he whispered when they separated.

"And I love you," she whispered back.

He drew her close again. B'Elanna wrapped her arms around him, her heart swelling with happiness. Now he knew that she loved him. And he loved her.

I love you, Thomas Eugene Paris. And nothing will separate us again--ever.

Beloved B'Elanna, Part 7 - Agenais
by Cheile

"And there it was,
lit by a blue flame,
a gold and crystal palace
And they were dancing in long silver veils
and white lilies in their hair
And then we rose above in the moonlight
to watch the city sleeping
And this beautiful, magical place
I no longer want to leave."
-- Donna Lewis, "Agenais"

"I'm going to beat you!"

"Like hell you are!"

She bared her teeth in a grin and he laughed.

Tom watched B'Elanna execute the moves from the old Klingon martial arts program he'd created three years ago. After that time on the holodeck when she'd bared her heart to him, he never thought she'd go near the program again. But now she was at it, encouraging him, and beating him, too.

"Stop letting your mind drift off, Tom!" she called back. "You'd better watch out!"

Tom spun around in time to see one of the monsters coming at him. Bringing the bat'telh up, he delivered the deathblow at the last second.

"You're getting slow, Paris!" B'Elanna laughed. "I thought you were the martial arts expert."

"I am--but I'm letting you win," he teased.

"Letting me win?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows. "Oh, really?" She propped her bat'telh against the nearby wall. "Maybe you shouldn't and we'll see who beats who."

"Is that a threat?" A grin spread across his face.

"It might be."

Before Tom could react, he was slammed into the nearby wall. B'Elanna's eyes were narrow, but he knew she was kidding.

"Am I in trouble?" he asked glibly.

"You might be." She lessened her grip on him. "But then I have to be careful. I can't hurt you too much." A small smile slowly grew before she leaned over to kiss him.

"Can't hurt me too much, huh?" he asked when they separated. "How much is too much?"

B'Elanna had let him go and gone to retrieve her bat'telh. "I don't know. I'll have to think about that one for a while."

"I better be careful then." Picking up his bat'telh, he followed her. "Computer, end program."

He wrapped an arm around her waist as they left the quiet of the holosuite to the noise and clamor of Quark's.

Quark glanced up from his padd to see Paris and his girl crossing the room toward the doorway. His arm was around her waist and she was leaning against him with a soft, happy smile on her face.

Quark shook his head, though he had to smile a little himself. At least they were together now.

They disappeared out the door and Quark turned back to what he had been doing, the fleeting thought now forgotten.

Odo had never really understood love.

He had been told that love, and other such similar emotions, were more for solids than a changeling. And they were better understood by solids.

Yet as he watched Lieutenant Paris and his girlfriend walking down the promenade, his arm around her, her face alight, he had an idea of what they could be feeling.

"Odo?"

He looked down into the dark eyes of the person he thought most special. Her gaze reflected the same emotions he had a feeling of.

Perhaps the other Founders had been wrong. Maybe he could be different.

Deciding that, he took her hand in his and she leaned her head on his shoulder as he continued to observe the crowds coming and going, as always.

The Prophets have laid a rather unique path for me.

This thought ran through Major Kira Nerys' mind again, as it had for the past several days.

She looked down, observing the pair that everyone seemed to be watching the past couple of days--two of Voyager's former crewmembers. The pilot, a tall human with golden hair and bright blue eyes. And the engineer, the half-Klingon, half-human girl.

Kira was unsure why the two were attracting so much attention--there had been so-called "stranger" pairs. Worf and Jadzia. Garak and Ziyal. Rom and Leeta. Even the girl's parents were a more unusual pair--her dark-haired blue-eyed human father and her fierce, beautiful Klingon mother.

And then there was her and her closest companion. A Bajoran and a changeling. What could be more unusual?

So deciding, she leaned against Odo and let her gaze skip here and there, thinking how the Prophets had blessed her, to give her one such as him.

Linzia looked about, her bright blue eyes taking in everything on the promenade. She loved to sit up on Jake's shoulders and watch the crowds go by. It wasn't often Mommy let her go with him and Nog to just walk around. But Nog was busy today, so it was just her and Jake.

She liked watching couples especially. Nog's daddy and Aunt Leeta were always close together. You hardly saw one without the other in the same place.

She looked up. Sure enough, there was Odo, way up at his post, where he always was, Kira beside him. Sometimes, Linzia wondered if he ever left that spot.

As they passed Garak's tailor shop, Linzia waved to Garak. Ziyal wasn't with him--no, there she was, on the other side, where Linzia had missed her.

She returned to looking about the main crowds. The usual--wait a minute. Now there was a pair she had never seen before.

The man was human, like Jake. He had a shock of hair the color that Mommy called "blond" and eyes the color of Earth's sky.

The girl had dark hair that went to her shoulders and eyes as dark as Kira's. But what Linzia noticed were her brow ridges. They weren't full. They were like hers. Except for the difference in eye color and the fact that the other girl had no spots, they were almost alike.

Linzia wondered who she was. She would have to ask Mommy later.

They passed by. Linzia watched them go, then turned back to the rest of the crowds. Jake would have to take her back soon. She decided she had better look while she still could.

They had reached the habitat ring and B'Elanna was about to head for her own quarters when Tom stopped her. "Wait. Come to my quarters first. I have something for you."

Shrugging to herself yet curious, she followed him to his quarters, propping her bat'telh by the door so she could grab it on her way out.

"Sit down and relax," he told her. "I have to find where I put it."

B'Elanna settled herself into a chair and waited patiently, watching the stars slowly pass by the window as the station continued to revolve in its usual graceful pirouette.

"Found it!" he said triumphantly. He came back with a small box and handed it to her.

"What is it?"

"Well, go on. Open it."

B'Elanna took the small box and opened it. Inside was a ring, a small Koladan diamond set in a slender band of gold. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Tom, is this......"

"An engagement ring?" He smiled. "Yes, it is."

"You mean......"

Moving in front of her, he dropped to one knee and took her hand. "B'Elanna, will you marry me?"

B'Elanna was stunned. Only two months ago, she had thought Tom would never want to be more than friends. And now he was proposing to her.

"I can't imagine life without you. And I want to spend the rest of it with you," he said quietly.

Unable to speak, she could only nod.

Taking the ring from the box, Tom slid it onto B'Elanna's finger, then drew her close to kiss her.

"I love you, 'Lanna," he whispered. "You are everything to me." He gently brushed away a single tear as it slid down her cheek.

B'Elanna laced her fingers through Tom's, leaning against him, watching the stars slowly pass by the window, bright as the future, because she knew that with Tom's love, anything was possible. Beloved B'Elanna, Part 5 - Reconcile by (the one and only Gaelic Parisite) Cheile Dedicated to Robbie and Roxann, just 'cause. :)