We're shown two sides of Owen Paris, right? We see him being a huge dick to young Tom (Thirty Days, et al), and we're told that Tom spent a not-inconsiderable amount of time crying in his room (Threshold). But we're also shown modern-day Owen Paris, who misses his son so much he is apparently supervising the Pathfinder project, or at least participating in some meaningful capacity (Pathfinder).
We also know that Janeway went around Owen to spring Tom from the penal colony (Relativity). We could headcanon-ly infer that this is because, for any number of reasons, Owen couldn't, or wouldn't, have done it for Janeway. (Though this isn't the only option, of course. She could've wanted to do something for her mentor, etc.)
So. Seems like Tom isn't on speaking terms with his dad. We don't know why Janeway didn't loop Owen into the plan but she seems to not have. Now imagine that the first time Owen Paris finds out Tom is out of prison is when he's told that Voyager is missing in action.
Like, first of all, as a parent, oh my god.
And it would probably radically, immediately snap Owen out of his frustration with Tom, since he will now have to assume his son is dead. Which would explain why we're told absolutely nothing positive about Owen Paris and then suddenly, in Pathfinder, Owen uses his like one second of screen time to say he's proud of Tom, and misses him.
And why Tom looks shell-shocked to hear it.
(And then also: Hunters. Tom gets a letter, knows he gets a letter, doesn't get to read the letter. And he's just so, so ready to have a relationship with "Admiral Paris," despite everything that came before, but he can't begin to know what's going on back home in his dad's head. Doesn't occur to him to assume anything good until prompted:
TORRES: You could assume that he said he loves you, and that he's proud of you.
PARIS: I think I will.)
Anyway, something something the Owen & Tom relationship is so gutting, can you even imagine.
Old men whose descriptions of their sons don't prepare you at all for what they're actually like (OR: "You're going to Starfleet academy and I don't want to hear another word about it!")
Happy Seven of Nine Day! 🥳 My treat to you is the FINAL story of The Journey! 😱 We've made it 🥲 It feels bittersweet somehow and I will miss it. Thank you all so much for your support and I hope you'll enjoy this last story. 🖖 I'll be back soon with more J7 adventures!
Summary: The news of Voyager's Homecoming spreads through the ship.
Takes place immediately after the last scene of the episodes "Endgame" (S07E2526).
A few months ago, a commenter suggested that I write a fic where Owen Paris finds out Tom is alive. I found the idea rather intimidating since I've read some fics, such as @curator-on-ao3's Finding Home: A Gretchen Janeway and Owen Paris Love Story, that portray that moment beautifully.
However, I ultimately found the idea intriguing and wrote something that takes place in the first year of Voyager's disappearance and when the EMH arrives at Starfleet HQ.
“Very well. They’re an exemplary crew, your son included.”
“Tell him…Tell him I miss him. And I’m proud of him.”
“He heard you, Admiral.”
I really do love words. I love how we can play with them, how they can evoke emotion in the way we pair them, and how they can surprise me with their meanings. And every once in a while the universe (all of them?) is kind and presents me with a … gift.
I have a persistent fic idea that will likely never be written but every once in a while pushes its way back into my brain and stays a while. And I can’t help but bask in the glow of what-if…? Sometimes I even find myself doing a little—a wee bit ‘o—research. And as the idea orbits my brain synchronicity magically appears from the depths of the aforementioned brain (unlike words in a fic I’m writing) and I find a few lines of delight on my computer screen. This happened today when I got it in my head to look up the meaning of Owen Paris’ name.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Owen is usually an anglicised variant of the Welsh personal name Owain. Originally a patronymic, Owen became a fixed surname in Wales beginning with the reign of Henry VIII.[1] Etymologists consider it to originate from Eugene meaning 'noble-born'.[2] According to T. J. Morgan and Prys Morgan in Welsh Surnames: "the name is a derivation of the Latin Eugenis > OW Ou[u]ein, Eug[u]ein ... <snip>
Now most (some?) of us know that the show runners named Thomas Eugene Paris after Gene Roddenberry, the legendary creator of Star Trek. But how absolutely wonderful is it that Eugene = Owen, Tom’s dad’s name!?
😃
The creators of Voyager inadvertently (unless they looked it up 🤷♀️) gave Tom his father’s name for his middle name.
Gretchen Janeway is one of my favorite characters to write about. This two-chapter story continues her journey of finding out about what happened to Voyager. Please enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments!
Summary: Kathryn thinks about what the news of Voyager's survival will mean for her family while back home, her mother receives the news from Admiral Paris.
Takes place a few hours after the episode "Message in a Bottle" (S04E14).
This story is a sequel to my story "Eye of the Needle - Messenger" but can be read on its own.
Admiral Paris's thoughts on Wolf 359 in regards to Tom
2373 - Two years since Voyager disappeared. Six years after the battle of Wolf 359. Owen is having one of his regular counseling sessions to deal with what he believes is Tom's death.
"Do you know the first thing I thought right after Wolf 359?" Owen asked.
"No. What?"
"That Tom getting kicked out of Starfleet saved his life." He paused. "You know the second thing I thought? That that was a damned stupid thing for me to think."
"I don't understand."
Owen began tearing up a little. "When I was a boy, my grandfather would tell me about all the people in our family who'd given their lives for Starfleet. He lost a son, my father, in service to Starfleet. My younger brother died in service of Starfleet. And here I am selfishly grateful that Tom was out of the fight!"
"Your grandfather was proud of your family's service, wasn't he?"
"Absolutely." Owen answered. "Damned proud."
"Do you think your grandfather was grateful that his son died in the line of duty?"
That brought Owen up short. "I, I wouldn't say grateful but..." he struggled to find the words. "My grandfather wasn't a heartless man. He loved my father. Are you saying that he thought duty was more important than his own family?"
"I never met your grandfather, so I don't know what he thought. But I do think a five-year-old boy who just lost his father might get that impression."
Owen leaned back. Ever since he was a child--after his father died--his grandfather would regale him with stories of the Paris legacy. Of all the brave men and women in their family who'd lost their lives in service to Starfleet. "He glorified death." Owen realized. "He may not have meant to but, he gave the impression that giving one's life for one's duty was the highest calling."
"It doesn't have to be a choice between your son or Starfleet. It never did. Your feelings about Tom should have nothing to do with your feelings towards Starfleet. They're totally independent of each other."
Owen sighed, realizing that Jerry was right. He spent Tom's whole life pressuring him to join Starfleet. Then when Tom was kicked out, Owen was angry, then grateful, then guilty for feeling grateful which made him angry again. Now that it was too late, he realized his mistake. He should've just let Tom be Tom.