Chapter Text
It was her favorite time of day, late evening when the sun cast a golden glow over the rippling grasses around the farm. Gretchen Janeway took a long, peaceful look out over the view that always warmed her heart and settled her soul. She sighed gently, cup of tea in hand, and sat down with a PADD on the worn porch swing. It gave a familiar creak as she settled into an easy rocking rhythm, and pressed record.
"It's been so long since I made one of these recordings I’ve nearly forgotten how. Just talk, Gretchen…...it's not that complicated. I hope it doesn't sound like the ramblings of a sentimental old woman who has yet to learn to mind her tongue.
Oh well, I suppose you can tell people we Janeway women come by it honestly, right?"
Gretchen smiled and shook her head, her husky chuckle echoing in the still evening air.
"When your father used to go away I always recorded these messages for him. Did I ever tell you that? The wife of another captain suggested it to me before you were even born. Though I doubted it at the time, it helped. Sometimes I would share them with him when he came home, sometimes I kept them to myself. I was just so used to talking to him that it helped to know I could still share my life even if he was away.
Somehow, it just feels right to do the same for you now.
I am so fiercely proud of you, Katie. Voyager is the pinnacle of a career, as your father would say, a chance to finally make your mark. Even I know that to be given that type of command at your age is nothing short of miraculous. I’d be lying if I said I was surprised, though.
I was sitting on this porch swing last night with a cup of coffee. Don’t be so surprised, it was decaf…..but I wanted to raise a glass to your journey and it felt like the most appropriate thing. You know what I remembered? That time when you were five and your father took you on your first camping trip.
You were so excited, you tried to pack nearly everything in your room for your great adventure. That’s what you called it, the great adventure. You were determined to find the perfect campsite, looking for the one that would have the highest chance of seeing wolves, you said. You were always fascinated with wolves. So many children are scared of sleeping in the dark in a tent in the middle of the woods, but not you. Your father told me you insisted on sleeping outside the tent that first night, under the stars. You didn’t want to miss anything exciting that you might see.
I think that was when I knew you were destined to be an explorer, a slayer of windmills. Impressed by the Don Quixote reference there? I did finally read it at your urging. It's no Dante, but it passed the time on a rainy Tuesday quite nicely.
I hope this captaincy is your greatest adventure Katie, god knows you’ve earned it.
Oh, and Mark told me about Molly today! Puppies? That man is a saint I swear. I’ll head over next week to have lunch with him, but I’m not worried. He’s so steady Katie, he deals with the Starfleet life better than I did when I was young. Better than I do now.
I know you think I’m worried about you, but really I’m not. It's almost reassuring that I know you are the one in charge this time, and I have nothing but faith in your decisions. It's difficult to know your child’s life lies in another person’s hands. You, however, I trust beyond measure. You are an exceptional person, an exceptional leader. Don’t ever forget that. But yes, you are still my girl…..so I still worry, just a little.
Don’t be angry, but I did try to wrangle a little information from Owen about your mission. Of course he didn’t give me much, but I do know it's related to the Maquis rebellion. Not a surprise there, as it occupied so much of the news as of late. I’ll be interested to hear your take on that situation when you get home. Those people have been through so much…..too much. I don’t condone violence, but I also don't believe ein standing by while other people suffer. I wonder if this is the price we are paying for our own inactions against the Cardassians. That’s a longer conversation for another time though.
Safe travels, my girl. Enjoy your time among the stars. I’ll see you when you get home.
Also, please remember to eat something…..coffee doesn’t count.
Janeway out. "
She nodded and smiled softly, her mug empty and her heart more settled. It was dark now, and she walked quietly to the edge of the porch. In a gesture she had repeated countless times, blew a kiss toward the stars.