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"Good morning, Mr. Murphy. How passed the night?"

"Uneventfully, save we recovered more dark matter." A blond lock of hair fell into his eyes, and for a second he reminded her painfully of Tom Paris, when she had first encountered him at the penal colony in New Zealand. Her heart hurt for an instant, as she fixed his face and Chakotay's in her mind, then let them go. She extended a hand for his report and slipped into the command chair.

They'd purged two uninhabited planets and a nebula. last night, though probably the lower life-forms they'd had to disassemble and reassemble were still in a bit of shock from the experience.

"Excellent, Ensign. Dismissed."

As Murphy trotted for the turbolift, it hissed open. "Good morning, Mr. Kim," said Janeway. She'd slept unusually well and, after the successes last night, to her it was a very good morning. She raised an eyebrow in surprise as Khala, too, stepped out of the turbolift.

"Khala, is something wrong?"

"No, Captain. At least, I hope not." The young

woman blushed blue. Harry, standing beside her, reddened. Janeway smothered a smile. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out.

"Captain," began Kim, "may we speak with you in private for a few moments?"

"Certainly. Tuvok, you have the bridge." She indicated that the young ensign and his friend should proceed her into the ready room. The doors hissed shut behind them, and Janeway waved for the two to have a seat on the sofa while she went to the replicator.

"Captain, we-"

Janeway flung up a commanding hand. "We don't say anything to our captain until she has had at least a sip or two of coffee," she remonstrated jokingly. "Would you two care for anything?"

"No, thank you," said Harry.

"Nothing for me either, Captain," said Khala.

Janeway nodded. "Computer: Coffee. Hot. Black." She picked up the warm mug, inhaled the scent, and took a sip. "Now," she said, sitting down on the couch beside Harry, "you may proceed."

More than she cared to admit, Janeway sometimes felt like a mother to this crew. She'd never had children of her own, and probably would not now. These were her children, her crew. And who would say she was wrong to think that way? Who could have asked for a finer son than Ensign Harry Kim, he of the honesty and talent and skill and sheer likability that had made him a favorite with nearly everyone on the ship? Or who could have been more proud of a flesh-and-blood daughter than Janeway was of Khala, who had come from who knew where to a culture very alien to her, to pitch in with unwavering enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge?

"We have come to formally request authorization to pursue an intimate relationship," stated Kim. He smiled a little. "I want to do everything right this time. By the book."

"I'm delighted to hear it." Janeway allowed herself a smile in return, glancing from one young person to the other. "Though I have to say this comes as no surprise. Khala, you've been a valuable addition to this crew. I don't know where this relationship will take you, but if you decide to stay aboard Voyager, you could only be an asset. You'd be most welcome."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Have you thought about staying on? We haven't had time to try to locate your homeworld, but once we have solved the dark-matter problem that would be our top priority."

Khala thought for a moment before she answered. "I do miss my home," she admitted. "My family. I was close to them and I'm certain they wonder what's happened to me. But I've changed since I've been aboard Voyager, and it's not just my attraction to Harry." She smiled at him, and he visibly blossomed under her gaze. "I've opened my mind to so many things that as an Alilann were completely alien to me, even negative. I couldn't really go back, not even if I wanted to. I don't want to live like the Culilann, out in the elements with no technology, but no Alilann would understand my newfound enjoyment of me arts, of eating fresh foods. I'd