"Mommy there's a lady."

"Where honey?"

"She's following us."

B'Elanna turned and looked over her shoulder. There were lots of families playing in the park, but no lady.

"Miral Paris, don't lie."

"I'm not lying! She's right there."

"Come on," B'Elanna urged her daughter toward the edge of the park. "I think we've had enough of the park today."

"Okay, Mommy," she turned looked over her shoulder and waved. "Bye-bye Captain."

B'Elanna froze. She knelt down and looked her daughter in her blue eyes.

"What did you say?" she asked in a whisper as if she was afraid to disturb the leaves on the tree above them.

"She's a Captain, Mommy."

"What does she look like?"

"She's got pretty brown hair, and blue eyes like mine. She's sad."

B'Elanna felt tears well up in her eyes.

"She was a very special lady."

"You know her?"

B'Elanna nodded.

"Then why can't you see her?"

B'Elanna smiled a sad smile.

"She left us five years ago. She died."

Miral's eyes grew wide as she stared over B'Elanna's shoulder at something only she could see.

"But she's not dead, Mommy. She's right there."

"Would you like to go see the people who knew her?"

"Who Mommy?"

"Kate, Little Wolf, and Chakotay."

"Okay!" the little girl danced with happiness. She was eager to see her friends again.

The bell of Chakotay's house rang and the door was flung wide open by a very excited five-year old girl.

"Miral!" Kate screamed and hugged her friend, instantly they ran off to play, leaving Little Wolf staring up at B'Elanna.

"Don't you want to play, Little Wolf?"

The little boy shrugged and was joined by his father. Chakotay looked tired, but if Miral was a handful, B'Elanna couldn't imagine what looking after a pair of twins was like.

"Hello B'Elanna," Chakotay said. "Can I get you anything?"

"A cup of tea would be fine."

He nodded and made for the kitchen. B'Elanna surveyed his home, like she had so many other times on their visits. It was a place of memory, her memory, a place they never got a chance to make a home together. A picture on the mantel caught her eye. There was her Captain, dressed not as a Captain, but as a mother pregnant with twins. B'Elanna thought she looked beautiful.

"Penny for your thoughts," Chakotay's voice pulled her from the trip down memory lane that was threatening to happen.

"Just thinking about her, and how much your Kate looks like her."

"Looks like her," Chakotay chuckled. "You should see her put her little hands on her hips and give orders."

B'Elanna didn't know how to tell him what Miral had seen. There was no good way to start so she said,

"Miral saw her today."

To her surprise Chakotay smiled.

"I see her everyday. In my children, in my home, and in my heart."

B'Elanna shook her head hurriedly,

"No Chakotay, she saw her in the park today. Maybe that means-"

"No B'Elanna," Chakotay said quickly. "I have mourned her."

"I know Chakotay, but maybe-"

He silenced her with a hand.

"Please B'Elanna. I will never forget her, but I have to move on. They need me."

B'Elanna respected him enough to drop it, but inside she felt like there must be something she could do. Call me greedy, she thought. But I want my Captain back. I want her to see her two beautiful children, and her husband who has been through so much.

They talked about Tom and the children, soon their visit came to an end and the girls said good-bye. As they reached the door Little Wolf said,

"Miral."

"Yes?"

"Say hi to Mommy for me."

B'Elanna looked at Chakotay and saw tears well up in his dark eyes.

"I will," Miral answered, took her mother's hand, and left.

"Can we go to the park, Mommy? Please!" It had been a week since their last trip and the visit to Chakotay. B'Elanna looked out the window at the bright blue sky. She could do with a break.

"Come on."

"Yay!" Little Miral danced.

The park was busy with people playing hoverball and other games. Miral lead her mother around until they found themselves in the same place Miral had seen the Captain before. They both waited with bated breath. A minute passed, then two, then five. B'Elanna sighed. Come on Captain, we still need you.

"I know," said a soft voice.