Disclaimer: Thanks to Paramount for loaning me their characters.

A/N: Well here goes nothing.

"Shannon Janeway is hereby found not guilty of sabotage and falsifying data. However, she will be required to go into counselling… court adjourned."

Kathryn closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose for a second. She breathed a sigh of relief before leaning back to rest next to Chakotay. "Thank God."

Chakotay half smiled, the 'Janeway Controversy' as it was called by the media had roused debates among many. How could Shannon lie to a crew who was dying to come home? Those who knew both mother and daughter could empathise. They knew of the close bond between parent and child and how Shannon had longed to be with her mother alone. Others said the child was a spoilt brat who deserved to be punished for her crazy and reckless behaviour. They said Shannon needed to be put in her place. All agreed, she was a troubled child.

"I'm not crazy," hissed Shannon as escaped the cheering ex-members of the Voyager crew and came to sit with her mother.

"I know you're not honey. Just because you need to see a counsellor doesn't mean you're crazy," Kathryn explained, "You've been through a lot, even before you came on board Voyager. You just need to sort your thoughts out."

Shannon nodded. She had explained to the press that the realised the mistakes of her actions. And she did. She had also explained that she was deeply sorry and regretted it. She even went as far as to bare her soul and explain why she'd done what she did. Her innocent yet mature attitude won over anyone with doubts about her sanity and her mother's ability to bring her up.

"I really do wish I hadn't done it," she'd told the Voyager crew later at the celebratory party. "I don't understand how all of you can forgive me so easily, but thank you."

Outwardly, the crew understood Shannon, how could they hold a grudge against someone they loved? But a small part of them all felt that if she had told them sooner, they could have been back long before. The thought was countered with 'did it make any difference when they got home'. Truth be told, it did. Many lives could have been saved, many mistakes avoided.

"I hereby propose a toast," said Tom Paris, standing on his chair, at the wedding a few days later, "To the Captain and Commander… I mean, Kathryn and Chakotay. May no protocol ever stand in their way."

"Hear, hear," chorused the attendees.

Chakotay grinned and kissed Kathryn on the head. Shannon blushed for her mother.

"Thank you," Kathryn mouthed to Tom. "And thank you," she said aloud to Chakotay giving him a light kiss on the lips. He pulled her close ignoring the wolf-whistles and cheers from their guests.

Married life suited Kathryn. She woke up early, made breakfast, packed a lunch for Shannon, before waking her husband and daughter up. It seemed that no matter how important a crisis, she still managed to get home in time for dinner and still manage to have everything sorted out. So, it was a surprise to Chakotay when one Thursday, as he set the table, Kathryn was no where to be seen.

At first, he reasoned with himself that there were many plausible reasons as to her absence. He went upstairs and read a book, wondering if he should get Shannon back from her friend's house? No, he decided, there was no need to worry. These things happened in Starfleet, he knew that all too well. Just last week, he'd been late home when he'd run into Ayala at the transporter padd.

"Hi," he said to the receptionist at HQ three hours later. "Is Admiral Janeway there?"

"One moment please, I'll patch you through to her office."

"Thank you," he fidgeted nervously as he waited.

"We're not getting a response, but she hasn't signed out. She might not be in the office. We're paging her," the receptionist replied. A few seconds later, she returned, "Still no response. I'm sending someone up there right now. I'll get her to call you back."

"Thank you," said Chakotay, ending the transmission. Well, at least Kathryn was in HQ and she was alright.

Minutes later the console came to life again. "Hello," he said, preparing to give Kathryn the dimpled smile she loved so much. The opportunity never came.

"Captain Chakotay, Admiral Janeway has been found unconscious in her room, we're transporting her to the medical bay immediately."

Before Chakotay realise it, he was running through the corridors of Starfleet's on-site infirmary. "Kathryn Janeway," he gasped to the woman behind the front desk.

"First room on your left. Don't worry, Captain." But he didn't hear the last part of her sentence.

"Kathryn," he gasped at the door.

"Hi," she said shyly, moving slowly to get off the bed.

He was at her side at once, "Are you alright?"

"Mmm," she said, allowing him to pull her tight. She felt his breath in her hair and she allowed herself to relax for the first time since she had woken up in the hospital. Chakotay was here, he would take care of them now. Them.

"I'm alright," she grinned at him, "Or should I say, we're alright."

"We?" Chakotay asked incredulously as his free hand snaked to her abdomen.

"Yes, we," Kathryn's hand covered his.

"Congratulations," said a doctor at the doorway.

"Thank you," said Kathryn, not once taking her eyes of Chakotay.

"Oh, Kathryn," said Chakotay, once they were home. "You have no idea how happy I am… Kathryn?" He asked his wife who was staring absently at the fire in the fire place. "Aren't you happy?" He asked, moving towards her, yet careful to keep his distance.

She turned to him and gave him a half smile, "Yes… yes, I am." She breathed softly.

"What's wrong?" He pulled her into his embrace.

"Shannon."

He nodded. Shannon hadn't reacted very well the last time a baby was mentioned.

"We'll talk to her. Everything will be okay."

"Will it?" Kathryn turned to face him.

"Yes," Shannon said from the door, "It will."

Kathryn smiled and held her arms out to her daughter, "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," said Shannon softly. "Long enough," she repeated, "To know it's okay with me. And long enough to feel bad that you didn't know the same." She turned to Chakotay as well, including him in the conversation, "I'm alright now," she said before going upstairs. She turned back as she reached the stairs and gave them a smile, "Congratulations," she said softly.

"Thank you," said Chakotay.

As Shannon walked upstairs Kathryn curled up with Chakotay on the couch. "I don't think I've ever been happier," she whispered to him as he played absently with her hair.

"Neither have I."

"You always have to do that don't you?" She asked tugging her hair free. "I bet you wish our child has red hair as well." She shuddered.

Chakotay looked at the ceiling and then back at his wife, "She already does."

Kathryn smiled, she was so lucky to get such an understanding man.

"I think, in a way Kathryn, her arrival brought us together. Forced us to understand each other and accept each other."

"She was a perfect message," said Kathryn, grasping his hand and staring at the picture of her daughter on the mantelpiece.

"A message, from home…" he said.

"Which brought us home." And she meant that in more ways than one.

THE END!

ps; I have no idea what you guys might think of this, but it's the ending that I felt was right… I dunno.