Waiting

Everyone should have a second chance.

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Time is a funny thing. You believe you have all the time in the Universe to plan out your life, but the Universe has other plans.

Lying here at home in my bed-having spent more than three quarters of my life in the service of Starfleet-I feel old and so very, very tired. We made it home after so many years. What has it been now? It's been more than sixty years since we made it, but at such a cost...a cost that I was not willing to pay. It left me adrift in my life.

We all kept in touch with each other and had yearly reunions. We watched as each of our friends married, and raised children who in turn had children of their own. Now I'm an auntie to a new generation. I have watched and moaned as each passed away, leaving me more alone with each passing year.

I remember the battles, and those we lost along the way as if it were yesterday. Yet those adventures and crew members will go down in Starfleet history, just as I will one day.

Will I be remembered as a great captain, scientist, or adventurer? Or will I be remembered as a Captain that got herself and crew lost for so many years? Does it matter in the end?

Now at the end of my life, I look back in wonder. No one could ever say that my life has not been full, but happy. No, but I continued on for my dear friends and family who tried to replace the loneliness that became my best friend.

I have watched as time has gone by. I wonder if things had been different, what would my life have been like? Would we have married? Yes, I believe we would. Would there be children? She so loved them, she would have made a wonderful mother, but all that was taken away from us.

I am so very tried of being alone.

The tired and old eyes of Admiral Kathryn Janeway, slowly drifted shut. Moments passed as she slowly sank deeper and deeper. Then wonderful smile graced her worn face as her breathing stilled for the last time.

Kathryn Janeway looked at her surroundings in wonder. Before her, was an open plain of white clouds. A soft summer breeze ruffled her hair. She looked down to find not, haggard and worn hands, but smooth soft and flexible fingers. She took a deep breath and smiled in sweet wonder, for she was standing in her old Voyager uniform.

"Hello Kathryn. Welcome home." said a soft melodic voice.

"Seven?" A tear ran down my cheek. "Is-is it really you?"

A smile graced the face I never thought I would see again. Nothing about her had changed. She was still young and beautiful. I could not stop the flood of tears.

"Annika?" Was the only thing I could speak.

"What...where...?"

My Annika stepped towards me, and into my arms, arms that have so longed to hold her.

"I have been waiting for you." she whispered in my ear.

The End