Different Paths
By: Julia and Lauren

Part I
By: Julia

Dedication: This part is to Deirdre, for just being Deirdre, I love ya! And
to Lauren 'cause she's my co-author!

        Tropical winds blew B'Elanna's dark hair away from her face as Tom Paris
sat down next to her on the beach. The moon was full and cast an eerie glow
over the deserted resort. 
        Tom sighed and looked over at B'Elanna. She  ran her hand through the wet
sand, picking up a handful in her fist. "Guess you calmed down from this
morning." He said to her.
        She looked over and studied him, before looking back at the sand. She let
it trickle out of her hand. "People stayed out of my way the entire day."
She smiled faintly. "I'm sorry Tom." She stood up and held out her hand to
him. He got up and they walked down the beach.
        "So much has changed, I don't think either of us wanted to acknowledge
it." She stopped. "We need too though." 
        Tom nodded and his features grew serious. "Yeah, we do."
        B'Elanna looked up at Tom. *Damnit, he's always been too tall.* His
blonde
hair was waving in the wind and his blue eyes that used to turn B'Elanna to
jelly were fixed on her. She stepped back. "What do you think happened?"
        She shrugged. "I don't know... grew apart? Tom, we're so alike. I loved
you... but something happened. I don't know what, but... things aren't the
same." She swallowed forcefully. Tom knew this was hard for her. All he
really wanted to do was take the small form in his arms as he had done so
many times before. Rock her gently, tell her things would be okay. But
things weren't. 
        His jaw twitched. "So... I guess its over?" He shouldn't have said it.
B'Elanna gasped for breath before falling to her knees, beginning to cry.
Tom dropped down beside her and tentatively put one hand on her back. She
didn't retaliate, actually, she moved closer to him.    
        Tears poured from her eyes and Tom blinked hard to keep a few tears of
his
own back. B'Elanna quieted down a few minutes later and leaned back to look
at Tom.
        "Its for the best..." She said, her voice still sounding as if she had to
cry.
        Tom nodded. "We both helped each other get out of difficult times, I'll
always love you 'Lanna, remember that?"
        B'Elanna smiled and wiped a tear away from her left eye. "I'll always
love
you as well... its going to be so different."
        "Yeah... It will. I always kinda imagined us getting married and having
kids..."
        B'Elanna looked shocked. "Children? Marriage? Thomas Eugene Paris, you
devil, you."
        Tom laughed. "Yes, I know... we'd hardly been together two months... I've
always wanted three kids. The first I would name Katrina Bella. The
second---." B'Elanna cut him off.
        "Joseph Owen." She smiled at his astonished look. "It was just a joke...
I
never imagine myself having children. Over the time that we've been
together," she stopped, "were together, I started to think you more of the
brother I never had... My mother did have a son... he lived for three days."
        "So... we're family?" Tom asked.
        B'Elanna nodded and stood up. "Yeah... you were the one that cared for
me.
I was the one that cared for you. love you Tom, I do." She turned then and
walked out of the Holodeck.