The name Benjamin comes from JoAnna Walsvic's story, 'Love Is Blind'.  It was the name of B'Elanna's baby brother who died when he was a baby.  K'Ehyla is a name I made up.  It's actually Kayla, but I gave it a Klingon spelling.

Dedication:  This story is dedicated to the Parisites for being my friends and to Robbie and Roxann just 'cause.

Disclaimer:  Tom Paris, B'Elanna Torres and the rest of the Star Trek universe belong to Paramount.  Benjamin and K'Ehyla Paris belong to me.  This story may be archived, distributed, or whatever, just as long as you keep the notes, disclaimer and dedication attached.  Comments may be sent to: Mara_J_Antilles@hotmail.com

 P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!! P/T!!

Daddy
~~~~~~~~
By: Claire Daniels, (c) 1997
 
  They looked like little angels lying there in their crib, tiny fists curled into balls, mouths suckling an invisible bottle. Tom Paris looked down at his sleeping son and daughter. B'Elanna had gone down to Engineering to check on the status of repairs for her report to the Captain the following day. He still couldn't believe that he was a father. He hoped that he would do a better job with his kids than his father had done with him. He watched as Benjamin opened his dark eyes. He looked like he was about to cry, so Tom picked him up.
    "Hi there, Champ," he said looking into his eyes. He walked over to the window and held the baby upright in his arms so he could see the stars go by. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve you and your sister. I mean I'm not exactly the world's greatest guy. If you knew half the things I messed up in my life..." he said with a laugh, "but I'm not going to mess up with you." Benjamin turned his head and looked at Tom. Tom tickled him under the chin and he smiled. "That's right. Daddy's going to take care of you."
  B'Elanna quietly entered their quarters. She heard a voice coming from the nursery and crept to the open door to see what was going on. Tom was standing at the window holding their son, who had one tiny fist curled around Tom's finger. Benjamin looked up at Tom as though he were the greatest man in the world.
    "I'm going to teach you all kinds of things," Tom was saying, "and your sister, too. I'll teach you how to fly, and I'll teach you how to play pool. I'll teach you how to program the holodeck, and I'll teach you how to rock climb, and I'll teach you all about the stars, and not to eat anything with leola root in it," he laughed. "I don't know if I'm going to do a very good job at being your daddy, but I'm going to do the best I can. You and your sister and your mother, you're the most important people in my life."
  Tom looked down at Benjamin. He could see his eyes were getting sleepy, so he started to rock him and sing him a lullabye. After a few verses, Benjamin's eyes drooped. B'Elanna watched as Tom put the baby into his crib. She quietly walked over to him. He looked up in surprise.
    "How long were you standing there?" he asked.
    "Long enough," she replied. She handed him a package.
    "What's this?"
    "Just a little something from the kids. They can't talk yet, but if they could, they'd tell you what a wonderful father you are. Go ahead, open it."
  Tom opened the package and pulled out its contents, a tee shirt which read: Greatest Dad In The Universe Handle with love and care.  Tom felt his eyes misting over. B'Elanna put one arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. He draped his arm over her shoulders and kissed her.
    "Thank you," he said.
    "Happy Father's Day."
    "I love you, B'Elanna."
    "I love you too, Tom." They turned in for the night, and Tom held B'Elanna in his arms, thinking about how lucky he was to have her and their children. He drifted off to sleep, thinking of all the things he had promised his son. Promises he would definitely keep.
 
The End

Back to My P/T Page

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page