Disclaimer: Star Trek and Star Trek: Voyager are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I own the story and make no profit off of this whatsoever. And I hope Paramount doesn't mind if I play in their sandbox.

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Storytime

by Tamar Richardson

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"Mommy, tell me a story."

B'Elanna looked over at the chronometer. It was 2130 hours (much too late for a six year old to be awake). "Not tonight, Janie," she replied. "It's way past your bed-time."

The young girl stifled a yawn, "But I'm not sleepy."

B'Elanna smiled. They had the same conversation every night. No matter how hard she tried, B'Elanna always gave in. "Fine," she responded. "Have it your way."

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"Once upon a time, there were two ships, each from rival groups. The first ship was big and strong, while the second one was small and not so strong. One day, the first ship was ordered to find and capture the second...

"After finding the second ship, the first ship chased it through an area of space known as the Badlands. When a 'energy pulse' hit them, they were launched 70,000 light-years away.

"The two crews worked together to annihilate the alien. In the process, the second ship was destroyed. The two crews became one and would work together to find a way home.

"At first, there were small skirmishes between the two crews. But the captains of the crews worked hard to keep them together.

"The captain of the second ship became the other captain's first officer. He was a tall strong man with a tattoo that ran across his forehead (a symbol of his people). He did his best to please the first captain. She, on the other hand, was as beautiful as she was intelligent. She always managed to save her crew from the most dangerous of situations. Most important, she had him standing by her side.

"The two soon fell hopelessly in love with each other. Unfortunately, neither of them could bring themselves to tell the other, for fear of rejection. She was able to cover up her feelings by using protocol as an excuse. He covered his feelings by constantly telling himself that she would never let him in.

"Two years later, they were both infected with a disease and forced to stay on a planet which they named New Earth. For four months, she let him in. They became close. When the ship came back with a cure, she locked him out again (but not as tightly).

"Within the next several years, numerous things happen to the two. The captain had come very close to dying and he had found (and then lost) love with another woman. They made contact with home through an alien relay system (that later was destroyed in order to save the ship).

"Several months after their contact with home, the ship took a detour, in the hopes of finding technology to take them home. Their trip turned out to be useless.

"The captain hid herself in her quarters, too ashamed to face her crew. After a week, the first officer barged into her room and told her 'stop moping around'. He then took her in his arms and kissed her. They got marries a year later."

"Did they live happily ever after?" the young girl asked.

B'Elanna held back her tears. "Of course they did," she lied. "Now go to sleep."

B'Elanna got up and left the room. She burst out crying the minute the doors swooshed behind her. Tom, who was sitting on the sofa, got up and hugged her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's been more than five years since they died..." she trailed off.

"I know," he replied. "The whole crew still misses them."

"When are we going to tell Janie who her real parents are?" B'Elanna asked. They had planned on telling her several months ago.

"Tomorrow," Tom replied. "Tomorrow."

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