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Perfect Harmony
by ejspock, Aquiel and JCTrek

Three year old Jonathan Paris was exploring his parents' bedroom, pulling everything interesting off the shelves and dressers, and, if they would fit, sticking them in his mouth, much to his father's consternation. The words, "Jonathan Paris, PUT THAT DOWN!" were heard numerous times that day, and would no doubt be heard numerous more. As Tom was putting back some of B'Elanna's makeup that Jonathan had knocked over, his errant son had opened up the bottom drawer of Tom's dresser, and had pulled out a pair of wooden drumsticks. "Daddy, what are these?" he asked, curiously.
Tom smiled at the memory those drumsticks evoked. "Those are drumsticks. . .and they have quite a story behind them."
"Story? Tell!" young Jonathan demanded.
Seizing the oppurtunity to prehaps have his rambunctious son sit still for a few minutes, Tom relented. "Alright," he said, sitting down in a chair, and pulling Jonathan into his lap, "This story happened about five years ago. . ."

-/\--/\--/\-

"You want me to do what?" Kathryn Janeway said as she stared disbelievingly at her Helm officer, "You can't be serious!" she laughed.
Tom shook his head, as he replied, "Captain, look, I know you're busy, but I, we really need your help. Please?" he begged.
Kathryn opened her mouth to respond, but closed it just as quickly. The thought of her crew 'begging' her for help, was something she couldn't deny. I can't believe I'm going to do this she thought. "OK, fine, but before you go getting all worked up about it, there is one condition." she said.
Tom looked at her suspiciously. "What's that?" he asked, almost afraid to hear her answer.
Kathryn's lips turned into a mischievious smile as she took his hand, "Tom, if I have to do this, then so do you!" she answered calmly.

Tom nodded in agreement. Kathryn followed him out of the Ready Room. They walked into the holodeck as Paris called up the holoprogram, "So where is this program taking place in again?" She asked as the holoprogram came online.
"20th century," Tom answered, smirking.
Janeway sighed and shook her head. "What is this fascination you have with the 20th century? To me, it seemed to be a period of great turmoil, war, and racism."
Tom flashed her a grin, "You don't see it like I do, Captain. The people back then had many good points about them. . .their music, their clothes. . .their cars."
Janeway rolled her eyes slightly at the last. "Really, Tom, I don't think a type of transportation would make up for all their faults." "True, but eventually, they learned. And they did know how to have a good time, Captain. . .sometimes, I think that's a thing you've forgotten."
Kathryn looked over at him, raising an eyebrow at his last comment. "I do so know how to have a good time Tom, you've just never had the good fortune of being with me at the time" she said, smiling. "Ok, let's get on with this thing, I don't want to be here all day."
Tom started to laugh, "She always has to be in charge, doesn't she?" he muttered.
"Hey watch it mister!" he heard as he walked away, And ears like you wouldn't believe! he added mentally.

As Tom gathered the rest of his group, Kathryn sat down at the bar. This is going to be so humiliating she thought. I can't sing! The longer she sat there, the more she realized what a mistake she had made, and by the time Tom came back to the holodeck, she had jumped to her feet, ready to back out. She had an argument prepared, but as she saw him, joking with the rest of the assembled crew, she realized that she couldn't just leave Tom's newly formed band minus one lead singer. Ok, Kathryn, you can do this, she reassured herself, as she made her way to meet and greet her partners in music.
She approached the crowd, a knot forming in her stomach as she did. Kathryn, you're going tp regret this her mind kept telling her. She took one more deep breath before the group turned to face her.

"Well, here's our lead famale signer," Tom informed them.
Everyone greeted her as she smiled slightly. "Ok, but where's the lead male singer?" Carey asked.
Tom sighed, raising his eyebrows, "He's not here yet, but in the meantime, I'll introduce you to the rest of the band."
Janeway raised an eyebrow, "Tom, I already know all of these people."
"Yes, but you don't know what instrument they play," Tom reminded her. "Ensign Wildman is playing the ivories...or piano, for those of you who don't know 20th century slang, Ensign Vorik is our lead guitarist," Janeway was a bit shocked at that...whoever heard of a Vulcan playing GUITAR? Not noticing Janeway's reaction, Tom continued, "Lieutenant Carey is playing the bass, and I," Tom said, pulling out a pair of sunglasses and putting them on with a flourish, "Am the drummer." Janeway had to suppress a giggle; Tom really looked ridiculous in those sunglasses. "And our male singer, when he arrives, will be..." Tom paused at the Holodeck doors opened. "So the lost is found. What took you so long, Chakotay?"

The smile that had graced Kathryn's face only moments before slowly fadded, as her gaze fell to her first officer. Chakotay stopped, dead in his tracks, at the entrance to the holodeck, and stared at her, oblivious to those around him. When Tom mentioned he needed help in a band, Chakotay agreed, finding it easier to just go along with him, rather than argue. What he had not expected, however, was Tom's choice of singing partner.

"Well, now that everyone is here, let's get started." Tom said, breaking the silence. As the members moved to gather their music, Kathryn and Chakotay moved toward each other. "So, how did you get roped into this?" Chakotay asked, flashing a smile.
"He begged!" she replied.
"OK, Places everyone, we need to practice here, the show's only a month away." Tom yelled, banging his drumsticks together.

"Tom, what exactly are we supposed to be singing?" Kathryn asked as she and Chakotay turned in confusion.
Tom stopped banging his drumsticks, as he looked at them, "Well, considering we only have a 5 minute time slot, we can only play one song, but I thought we'd end the evening off with a slow number, called "Love You Always." he said, flipping through his music. "It really is a beautiful song." he said.

At the mention of the title, Kathryn started to blush, and Chakotay lowered his head to keep from laughing. They were going to get themselves into trouble sooner or later. "Ok, everyone, let's get to it!" Tom yelled, and turned away.

-/\- -/\- -/\-

Over the next few weeks, Voyager's newest band, apropriately named "Perfect Harmony" worked very hard to get their act together before opening night. but all to soon, it was time for their performance.

Janeway nervously waited backstage, watching the other acts perform. Her confidence in her singing ability grew less and less the longer she had to wait. Unfortunately, their act was last, so Janeway was forced to listen, with butterflies in her stomach, to Harry play his clarinet, Neelix and Naomi Wildman do a puppet show, and Tucok recite around 300 verses of Vulcan poetry (Janeway had tried to keep him on the bridge, but he had insisted on performing.) Finally, about an hour later, although it felt like an eternity, it was tme for their act. Janeway wiped her sweaty palms against her dress, then took the microphone in her hands, heart racing, as the first chord of the song was struck.
Kathryn gripped the microphone tightly in her hands, her knuckles turning white, as she began to sing:

"On a field of dreams we lay
Beneath the summer clouds
No need of ring or witnesses
To sanctify this vow
Cause I will run to you
Like the river joins the sea
I've belonged to you
For eternity.
And i will love you always
Like I do today."

Something in the words struck a chord within Janeway, and while her voice continued singing the words, her heart took a journey of its own, exploring her feelings for her first officer, and best friend, Chakotay.


I promise I will
Always feel this way
No matter what tomorrow takes
In my heart you'll stay
And I will love you always
In your eyes I see myself
The way I want to be
I hope that I can give to you
The strength that you give me
You're a part of me
Running through my veins
In the heart of me
Yours is the only name
The way I want to be

It was strange, but the words of this song were making her see things in a different light. . .protocal, command structure, those didn't matter, as long as she had love. She didn't want to be alone for the rest of her life, and there wasn't really any reason for her to be. Chakotay loved her, and she loved him, and that was all that mattered.


I promise I will
Always feel this way
No matter what tomorrow takes
In my heart you'll stay
And I will love you always
No matter where i go
I feel you here with me
And oh my heart has found its home
Cause I know that i will need your love always
No matter what tomorrow takes
In my heart you'll stay
And I will love you always."

When the final note died away, there was a brief instant of complete and utter silence, and Janeway stopped breathing, until the room erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause. Janeway smiled at the crowd, as she felt the slight thrill of happiness that comes with every perfect performance. Speaking into the microphone she said, "Thank you, everybody. I'm glad you enjoyed our performance. I hope you particularly liked the lyrics of the song Tom chose for us to sing. I know I did, for they made me realize something very important." With that, Janeway walked across the stage, and, purely on impulse, kissed Chakotay fill on the lips, as the room erupted into cheers once again.
Music was power.

-/\- -/\- -/\-

"Good story!" Jonathan said, giving his father a nod of approval. "So, drumstick are used to hit things?"
"Drums, and cymbals, yes," Tom answered.
"Are you a drum, daddy?" Jonathan asked, a mischeivious glin in his eye.
Tom's eyes widened as he realized where this was going. "No, Jonathan, daddy is not a drum!"
But Jonathan didn't hear him as he gleefully shouted, "Daddy drum! Daddy drum! Drum daddy! Drum! Drum! Drum!" while hitting Tom over the head with the drumsticks.
"B'ELANNA!" Tom cried, "HEEEEEELP!!!"

The End

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