Hey -waves my hand in the air like I’m conjuring something- um....what if Neelix ran up to Tuvok, doing his mail rounds, and was like “Ooh here you are again Mr. Vulcan! It’s from your children!” and Tuvok was like don’t read my mail (I only read the veeery start!) and Tuvok looks at it and raises an eyebrow. He hands the PADD back to Neelix. “It’s for you.”

Neelix is confused. For him? No, this is from Tuvok’s children. He’s sure...and then he looks down and sees that after greetings, small family updates and well wishes to Tuvok, they have instructed for him to give the PADD to Neelix.  Neelix is shocked. He looks at Tuvok and asks if it’s?? Okay??? Is it okay to just read this?? (It’s addressed to you.) Should you stay here and read it with me?? (There is no need. I have work to do. -pointed look at his stack of PADDS- as do you.) So Neelix finishes delivering the rest of the PADDS then runs off to his quarters before thinking its too intimate and instead going off to read in some slow corner of the ship.  The writer of the letter appears to Tuvok’s eldest, Sek - though as Neelix reads more he is introduced to basically his entire family who all have something they have asked Sek to dictate or mention. The very first one is “My daughter T’Meni has asked me to inform you that she is three years old, can tie her own shoes and ate all of her dinner last night. Important information, no doubt. All true.”   The letter is mainly just a very typical letter, like one would send a family member. They all say they were pleased to hear that not only was Voyager still operational but that Tuvok was alive and well. They say that Neelix has been mentioned quite a bit by both Tuvok and other crew members (whose families have in turn mentioned him to each other). They say that if he’s anxious about whether or not there will be a place for him upon Voyager’s return - they hope this letter will ease that anxiety.  Elieth thanks him for his ‘resilience’ in ‘dealing with my father’s taciturn nature.’ (Neelix grins, is that a sense of humor!?) Asil details a recipe which she has found to be hearty and broadly pleasing to most aliens she has encountered. Varith says that Starfleet is very interested in Talaxians as an unencountered species.  Sek finishes off the letter saying that his mother wishes to meet Neelix the next time Voyager is able to establish contact with Starfleet and video call. He then says, very quickly as if brushing past it, that they all understand to some extent the emptiness which can come from being without family. He hopes this letter has, perhaps, been a drop within that emptiness.  Neelix is very touched. Beyond touched actually. Then he freaks out. A video call!?? MEETING T’Pel!?? Tuvok’s treasured wife!?? He runs to Tuvok (I am eating.) and explains the situation. Tuvok appears proud of his children’s thoughtfulness and a bit dubious about Neelix meeting T’Pel. Neelix is anxious: Why, do you think she won’t like me?? (On the contrary. I believe she will ‘like’ you very much.) Then the day comes where they can talk to their family members for however many minutes they get this time and Neelix is so pleased to have someone to look forward to talking to!! Even though he’s also so nervous about it!! He goes to Tuvok, worried. I’m so nervous to meet her. This is your /wife/ we’re talking about after all!! Should I dress up?? (There is no need to ‘dress up’, this is hardly a formal occasion. -squints- ...perhaps you could comb your hair.) Then it happens and Neelix MEETS T’Pel. He’s nervous and stammering and he should have known she’d be beautiful but also she’s so important to Tuvok and she’s REAL and oh wow oh wow. T’Pel asks him to calm down. She’s certain Tuvok has exaggerated her attributes, he has a tendency to do so. “Only because he loves you Mrs. Vulcan- I mean, Mrs. Tuvok?? Mrs....oh, he never told me-!” T’Pel tilts her head as if considering something. “T’Pel will be adequate. Though...Mrs. Vulcan does have a certain ring to it.” And Idk man...just seeing Neelix so happy about passing out those letters and stuff made me go ‘ahhhhghghhhh and he doesn’t have ANYONE waiting for him!!!’ and that it’d be nice if someone sent him a lil letter....and I chose Tuvok’s family to do that because  1 Look at my blog then deep into my eyes and tell me HONESTLY that you don’t think I’d shoehorn them into whatever situation possible 2 I think it would take a certain amount of divorce from one’s own emotions to give up a very rare chance to speak with your loved one. Sometimes it takes a certain unyielding logic to be extremely kind.