Disclaimer: Star Trek and Star Trek: Voyager are the property of Paramount Pictures and Viacom. I make no money off of this story what so ever. No copyright infringement intended.

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Things Change

by Tamar Richardson

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Part 2

It had been months since Beilah's death, yet there was still an enormous emptiness inside Chakotay. He couldn't understand it. It was nine years since he had seen her, then she came back only for a week. Maybe it wasn't him completely. Maybe it was Natasha. He saw all sorts of hurt in her eyes. This poor, tortured youth- He closed his mind off to those thoughts as he walked off towards the Holodeck.

The doors swooshed open. The Holodeck was beautifully decorated. The Christmas tree was tucked away in the corner. It was Christmas, true, but Chakotay didn't show up for Christmas party. He had showed up for Natasha's birthday. After the Christmas party, Chakotay had talked the senior staff and Voyager's children into throwing Natasha a surprise birthday party. Natasha seemed to resent having her birthday on Christmas, she always had. Part of Chakotay also knew that Natasha resented her name. Her name served as a reminder of this time.

"We still haven't picked a name," Beilah reminded Chakotay.

"I know," he sighed. He turned back to the database and continued to scan through the list. Finally his eyes fell upon one that sounded perfect. "Hey, honey, I think I found one."

"Really? What is it?"

"Natasha. It means born on Christmas."

"I love it."

Chakotay sighed at the memory. Boy, did he ever miss her...

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It was hours later, the Christmas party had ended and everything was set for Natasha's party. The Holodeck doors opened casting light into the dark room. "Hey, guys? What did you need me for?" she called.

The lights immediately came on. "SURPRISE!!!" They jumped up. Neelix was holding a giant cake with 12 candles (and another for luck).

"C'mere, Natasha," Chakotay signaled. "I want to introduce you to everyone." He introduced her to the entire senior staff (even Tuvok showed up) first and then to Naomi and Owen.

"We've met," Natasha smiled when Chakotay introduced her to Owen. They had met when she had first come on board. He was cute, in a little brother sort of way.

The crew began to mingle, while Natasha grabbed a piece of cake and sat down (off to the side and by herself). Chakotay, seeing this, excused himself and went over to her. "Tasha," he said.

She looked at him, with a glow of bitterness in her eyes. "Don't call me that."

"What?"

"Don't ever call me Tasha. I don't like it."

"You used to," he said baffled.

"That was a long time ago," she said, sticking her fork into the cake.

"Alright," he paused. Beilah was right, Natasha had changed. Everything had changed. "Anyway, I was going to ask if it would be better to go over and sit by Naomi?"

"What for?"

"You have a lot more in common than you realize," he stated. "I'm sure you'll get along wonderfully."

"Fine."

Chakotay watched as she walk away. He thought of how he had missed her childhood. Although, in a sense, they had both missed it. He wanted the next 10 or so years to be spent together, not missing a thing.

After several minutes, he got up and walked towards his wife. "Your idea?" she asked, gesturing at Naomi and Natasha.

He nodded. Slowly, his attention swayed from his wife to his daughter and Naomi.

"Have you ever played Velocity?" Naomi asked.

"No," Natasha replied. "What is it?" Naomi explained the rules. "Oh," Natasha said. "We didn't have holodecks on the Damascus."

"You didn't?!" Naomi said in amazement. "What did you do for fun?"

"Well, there's wasn't a lot of free time to play or have fun," Natasha explained. "But we did have games, mostly card games. I mostly played on my Vulcan lyre."

"Can you teach me how to play?"

"On one condition."

"Name it."

"Teach me how to play Velocity?"

"You've got a deal." Naomi laughed, while Natasha smiled. Chakotay felt his heart warm over. Natasha hadn't smiled since she got here. It seemed astounding that all that was needed to bring out her happiness was a simple conversation with another girl her age. Chakotay was truly shocked.

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"You ready to go?" he asked, stepping into Natasha's quarters.

"All ready," she replied. He picked up some of her things and left. Natasha, not far from behind, came scurrying up with Vulcan lyre in tow.

"I understand that you and Naomi were on the Holodeck yesterday. Do anything special?"

"She taught me how to play Velocity," she replied, quickening her pace to keep up with his long strides. "I'm going to start teaching her how to play the Vulcan lyre."

"That's great," he said. Natasha's innocence was back. Unfortunately, questions still bubbled through Chakotay's mind. Would this last? If not, when and how would it stop? He didn't know. All he knew was that he was going to do everything in his power to keep Natasha from going back to the sad, depressed person she had been. For his sake, for Natasha's sake, and for Beilah's sake, he would do it.

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