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A (not so) unexpected visit

It was early afternoon in San Francisco and the sun was shining brightly into the window of Kathryn Janeway's office when the voice from her aide came over the comm. "Admiral, there's someone here who wants to visit you," she said mysteriously and Kathryn could swear she said it with a wide smile.

She didn't ask who it was, she simply replied, "Let him in."

Laying her PADD on her desk, she sat up in her chair and was suddenly very excited. She hadn't seen him in months, since the first anniversary of Voyager's homecoming, but she had known he would show up eventually.

The door opened and a familiar face peeked inside but she didn't see what she was expecting. He looked different. His hair was longer, silver rather than black, and his skin was even more sun-kissed than usual.

"Kathryn," he greeted her and stayed at the door after taking a step inside.

"Chakotay," she said and rose. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," he said, but without mirroring her excitement.

She frowned a little at his lack of emotions and circled her desk.

"Kathryn, I brought someone with me. She wants to meet you."

Kathryn felt her face fell for a nanosecond before her Starfleet training kicked in and she gave him a nod. He turned to the other side of the door and when a little girl who looked exactly like Chakotay stepped in, Kathryn's mouth opened in surprise.

"This is Maya," Chakotay introduced her as the girl stood in front of his legs, visibly shy. "Maya, this is Kathryn."

"Hello," Kathryn smiled and squatted before her. "Nice to meet you."

Maya looked at Kathryn with wide brown eyes and didn't say a word.

"She's a little shy, the trip to San Francisco was very exciting," Chakotay explained. "We should give her some time."

Kathryn raised her head and nodded at Chakotay. She stood up and guided them to the sitting area. Chakotay sat on the couch and settled Maya in his lap.

"Do you want something to drink?" Kathryn asked.

"A glass of water would be nice, thanks."

"And you?" She looked at Maya.

The little, still frightened, girl answered what Kathryn interpreted as apple juice.

"Apple juice?" she asked to be sure and Maya nodded, shyly looking at her.

Kathryn fetched the drinks and sat down in a chair on the opposite site of the table.

"No coffee?" Chakotay asked surprised and pointed at Kathryn's glass of water.

"No coffee," she said with a wink. "I still drink it, I couldn't live without, but I've cut it back a lot."

"Wow, I never thought you could live with less than ten cups a day."

Kathryn knew he wanted to tease her but there was an undertone in his voice that confused her.

"I can do anything… if I want," she joked and waited for a playful response but didn't get one. "What are you doing at Headquarters?" she asked to fill the silence.

"We wanted to pay Daddy a visit at work, right?" He looked at Maya and she nodded. "And what's more important, my sister needed some time on her own."

Kathryn opened her mouth, and shut it again. "You are Sekaya's daughter, of course," she said in realization.

"Who did you think she was?"

"I didn't think about it at all," she shook her head and addressed Maya. "B'Elanna told me you played with Miral when they visited your uncle."

Maya nodded with a smile and her tension began to disappear.

"I'm glad you found the time to drop by and say hello."

"Actually, there's a reason why we're here. When we met Maya's father, Maya had the idea of also visiting a certain starship. She thought you might want to join us."

"A certain starship?" Kathryn raised an eyebrow, still looking at Maya. "What starship?"

A big grin emerged on the little girl's face. "Voyager."

"Voyager?" Kathryn scratched her chin, pretending to think. "I don't know a starship called Voyager," she said but Maya knew that Kathryn was teasing her and jumped off Chakotay's lap to run over to Kathryn's desk where the same Voyager picture stood that she had on her bedside table. She pointed at the framed picture she couldn't reach and Kathryn rose to take it from the desk.

"Voyager," Maya said and pointed at the picture.

"Ah, you mean Voyager!" Kathryn said, enlightened, and Maya giggled. Kathryn handed her the picture and the little girl walked proudly back to her uncle.

"So you want to visit Voyager?"

Maya nodded, holding the frame tight against her small chest. "Do you want to come with us?" she asked and put on her puppy face which, she knew, most adults couldn't resist.

"I would like to come with you," Kathryn smiled. "If it's okay with you," she addressed Chakotay.

"If it wasn't, we wouldn't be here," he assured her.

"I have to check my calendar first but it shouldn't be a problem."

"Great," he smiled a small smile and she still tried to put her finger on what was different about him.

She didn't have time to wonder now, and shortly, she sent her aide home and took the rest of the afternoon off.