The starship Voyager hovered in parking orbit about a thousand kilometers from a space station at the edge of the Ventrax Oligarchy, waiting for orders. Alpha shift had begun and the senior crew were all at their posts, with one exception: the Captain. The Captain was nearly ten minutes late. The First Officer, who had conducted an early meeting with the Gamma shift department heads, was beginning to look concerned when the turbolift doors opened.

As Captain Janeway stepped onto the bridge, she paused and looked around to see if anyone snickered. She was wearing a maternity uniform for the first time, and she felt not only conspicuous but also uncomfortably as if she were making Starfleet history. Weeks of research had convinced her that she was, or would be, the first captain to retain command during an entire pregnancy. The very few others who had found themselves in this position had taken an assignment at HQ during the second trimester and returned to their ships after the birth.

An HQ assignment was not an option for her.

She had every intention of retaining command as long as possible - with any luck, right up to the moment labor began. So far, she had not suffered any complications more serious than a little fatigue – no morning sickness, no wild cravings. The baby was not going to slow her down or interfere with her duty; on that point, she was determined.

Admitting the necessity of the maternity uniform had been difficult. As long as she was in the standard uniform, she could pretend that nothing had really changed. Not even the increasing discomfort of the past two weeks had been enough to push her to the new uniform. It was only this morning, when her trousers refused to close and her jacket could not be zipped that she was forced to give in to reality.

She was indeed pregnant.

No one on the bridge was even close to snickering. From the Operations station, Harry Kim smiled at her, but that was no different than any other morning when she took her station. Ayala, standing in for Tuvok at Tactical, was as stoic as usual. Tom Paris, looking tired, barely noticed her.

Poor Tom, she thought. As soon the "no-baby" policy had been rescinded, four more crew had come forward with the news they had conceived while the ship was in orbit around Lenash. B’Elanna was one of them. The twelve expectant mothers and their partners, quickly dubbed the "Baby Brigade" by Harry Kim, were all dealing with sudden upheaval in their lives, but Tom and B'Elanna had more adjustment than most of the others. Not only was she pregnant, but she was carrying twins. That, and the fact that it was a cross-species birth, made her the most at-risk of the twelve expectant mothers on board. Tom was apparently not getting much sleep these days.

Finally, she turned to Chakotay, and was perversely pleased to see that he looked surprised, and a little apprehensive. Just last night he had encouraged her to dress more comfortably. "You'll feel better," he had said.

"I feel just fine. Have I said anything to make you think otherwise? Have I complained about anything?" She had been angry, far angrier than the situation warranted. "I'm the one having this baby, dammit, so don't tell me how to do it."

He had backed off, and later, as they lay in bed, she apologized. "I think it's the hormones. And sometimes…I'm still not sure I believe this, Chakotay. Sometimes it doesn't seem real."

His arms folded around her and he held her close. "I know. It's harder for you than for me, I think. You never asked for this, but for me…you and the baby are all my dreams, wrapped up together."

The tenderness in his voice almost brought her to tears, and she snuggled her face against the comfort of his chest. "I love you. It's just…"

"I know." He smoothed her hair. "I've got an idea. If Tuvok gets things settled at the Ventrax station, let's take a few days shore leave. We never had a real honeymoon. A little time away from the ship would do us both good."

"Let's wait and see," she replied after a moment. She wasn't certain how she felt about the idea. "There's no point in making plans until we know if we can access the station."

No wonder he looks apprehensive now, she thought as she walked to the command chair. He probably wonders if I'm going to snap his head off or burst into tears. Or both.

He was watching her closely as she approached. Before she sat, she smoothed the tunic and winked at him. His anxiety melted into a broad smile so quickly that she couldn't help smiling herself. "My apologies, Commander. I was detained."

"Certainly, Captain."

I want a cup of coffee. Just one, small, strong cup of coffee. The Doctor had scratched that and all caffeine from her menu for the duration of the pregnancy. No wonder I'm cranky. "Have we heard from Tuvok yet?"

"He and Neelix are still meeting with Station Manager Mergy. Neelix called in about an hour ago, said things were going well." Chakotay leaned toward her, lowering his voice. "Have you given any thought to my suggestion?"

She had thought of little else all night. The Ventraxi station was reported to be an excellent site for entertainment and relaxation as well as trade, and the hostelries were said to be superb. Tuvok and Neelix were negotiating shore leave for the crew as well as trade rights. The prospect of a few days off was tempting, but she didn't want it to look like she actually needed the time away from duty. It might be interpreted as weakness. "Yes, but let's see what Tuvok has to say."

"Tuvok is hailing," Harry Kim said as if on cue.

Kathryn raised her eyebrows at the coincidental timing of the communication. Chakotay raised his hands, the picture of innocence. She shook her head. "On screen, Harry."

Tuvok's face filled the viewscreen. She knew immediately that he had good news; others might not realize it, but there were always subtle signals in Tuvok's face. When the news was good, his forehead was relaxed even if he was frowning. "Captain, I am pleased to report that we have come to terms with Station Manager Mergy. We are cleared for docking at Port 5-Epsilon. Also, we may schedule shore leave for groups of thirty at a time over the next several days. Manager Mergy has agreed to an amount of credit for the astrometric data we offered which I understand to be sufficient to cover the costs of the leave, including room and board for anyone so inclined."

She turned to Chakotay. He was staring straight ahead, carefully not looking at her.

"Good work, Tuvok." Kathryn turned away from her husband, and made a decision. "Ask Neelix to take charge of provisioning, and then return to the ship. You'll need to assume command while the first officer and I take shore leave."

"Understood. I had anticipated such a possibility, and took the liberty of arranging quarters for you. A room at the Starview Hostelry has been reserved in your names."

She started to reply, but the screen went dark. Technically, it was not insubordination; she had ordered his return. Tuvok was rarely so abrupt, though. "Why do I have the feeling that I've been set up?"

Chakotay was wise enough to say nothing.

*****

Three hours later, Kathryn and Chakotay strolled down the area of the station known as the Gallery. Small stands and kiosks lined one side of the corridor while the other was completely open, affording a stupendous view of the stars. Dressed in civilian clothes and holding hands, they blended in perfectly with the Ventraxi that composed the majority of the Station's population.

"You haven't said much," Chakotay said to her. "Do you like the room?"

"It's spectacular." It would be hard to call it anything else. The Station served as a vacation destination for many worlds of the Oligarchy, and the Starview was the most luxurious of the many hotels available. Their suite was large and comfortable, with a view of space and a huge bathtub.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. I just feel like being quiet."

He looked as if he wanted to dispute that, but then he changed his mind. They walked in silence, now and again looking at the wares displayed by the kiosks. Suddenly he pulled her over to one of the stands. It seemed to be overflowing with toys.

"Look at this," he said, a broad smile on his face. He picked up a stuffed animal that looked remarkably familiar to her. "It's a teddy bear."

It wasn't just a teddy bear, Kathryn realized with a start. It was the teddy bear, the one that Lucky had brought with her from the future. Or at least, it was the bear that the Doctor had used as the template for the form he took when he came with Lucky. A brown bear, with blue eyes and a red ribbon around its neck. She took it from him in wonder. "Oh. It's the one, isn't it?"

The owner, sensing a sale, leaned forward. She was an older woman, with curly gray hair and twinkling eyes. From appearances, she could have been a Human; any outward distinctions between Ventraxi and Humans were very hard to find. "Lovely workmanship, isn't it? And sturdy, guaranteed to last through the hardiest childhood. My great-aunt Jyl back on Bentre Colony makes them, and she raised five children. They all still have their Lucky Charms."

They looked at each other in surprise. The coincidence of her words seemed to transform the moment into something magical, somehow destined.

The look did not go unnoticed. "Ah, waiting for your own blessing, I see. How fortunate. You should have a Charm for your little one."

Kathryn looked at the bear she held, and ran one hand over it. Its plush "fur" was soft and silky, inviting to the touch. She nodded to Chakotay.

"We'll take it." He counted out the credits for the purchase.

The owner smiled with so much pleasure that Kathryn suspected that they could have haggled down the price. "A good purchase. Your child will treasure it."

Kathryn was about to acknowledge that fact, but her stomach spoke before she did. The rumble came without warning and was loud enough for both Chakotay and the proprietor to hear. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh, my, the little one is hungry," the woman laughed. "What a good sign. Perhaps I can recommend a place to eat."

"Please," Chakotay said.

"Go to the Red Door Tavern on Level 6. I warn you, it doesn't look like much but the food is excellent. And they have a beverage that most hopeful mothers love – it has no caffeine but tastes like the finest morning brew."

Kathryn's eyes lit up. "Really?"

She nodded. "Tell Ches – the owner - that Rina sent you. He'll take good care of you."

"Thank you."

Rina smiled. "It's my pleasure. We see so few hopeful mothers. Good fortune to you."

It took them only a few minutes to reach Level 6, but the change in ambiance was so dramatic that it might as well have been years. The Gallery was clean, quiet and well-behaved. Level 6 was dark and dingy, and bustling with an enthusiasm that had been absent above. The clientele was different, too. Unlike the stylish shoppers they had been mingling with, the population on this level was scruffy and unkempt.

Kathryn had been to enough space stations to recognize that this was the freighter's deck, the rough and tumble area for crew just in from long bouts in space. She wasn't at all worried; in fact, the raw energy of the place appealed to her more than the dully correct atmosphere of the Gallery. With a broad smile, she pulled Chakotay through the red door which, other than the sign showing a tankard of ale, was the only marker for the tavern. "Come on."

Once inside, they stopped. Rina had been right, it didn't look like much. The room was so dark it was hard to see, but they made out a long bar where every stool was filled, and a few Spartan tables and hard back chairs that did not appear at all comfortable.

A man with rust-colored hair and a three-day stubble that was silvery white came over to them. "I'm Ches," he said. "Are you folks in the right place?"

"Rina sent us," Kathryn said eagerly. "She told us you have the best food on the station."

"And," Chakotay added, "a certain beverage without caffeine."

Ches looked at Kathryn more closely. "Oh, I see. Congratulations. Yeah, I've got an old family recipe for hopeful mothers. Come on, I've got a table in the back. You can have a little privacy."

Feeling in the best mood she had experienced in days, Kathryn followed, clutching the teddy bear to her chest. Ches took them to the back of the tavern and sat them in a private booth. "I'll be right back."

She settled on the bench and looked up to find Chakotay studying her thoughtfully. "What?"

"Nothing. It's good to see you relax, that's all."

"I am relaxing," she said with some surprise. "I guess I didn't realize how tense I was."

"Here we are," Ches said, reappearing with two mugs in hand. "My mother's hot jamocha. I guarantee you'll love this."

"Wonderful. Have you got a menu? We need some food, too."

"Of course. I'll be back. Enjoy the jamocha."

Kathryn took a small sip. It was just barely hot, and at first taste very like coffee, although something was indefinably different. "What do you think?"

He sipped gingerly. "It's a little sweet."

"Yes, but you know what? I don't think I care." She took a larger sip, then another. "It's almost coffee."

He tried a little more himself. "It's too sweet for me."

She looked up, intending to say that she would finish his for him, but somehow the words wouldn't come out. He seemed to be swaying in his seat, and the edges of her vision were turning gray and sparkly. Chakotay, she tried to say but before the thought could become a command to her vocal cords, the sparkles engulfed her vision and she fell forward. She felt her head strike the table and heard another thunk nearby before she lost consciousness completely.