Disclaimer: Characters belong to Paramount.
Parties Missed
"Beautiful."
"Yes" Kathryn continued to stroke the infant's cheek.
"Welcome home, Kathryn." He was right behind her now, his hand joining with hers on the baby's face.
"Home?" It was barely a whisper but the question was one she'd been asking herself since they burst through the conduit.
"I didn't see you at the party."
"No."
"Everyone asked for you. They missed you."
"I had things I had to take care of. They'll understand."
"They will." He noticed now the tears on her cheeks. "Kathryn?"
"Yes."
"You're crying."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's too late. I'm finally home and all I've wanted is supposed to be within reach and it's too late."
"Oh Kathryn, there are other ways to have a baby."
"Yes." She continued to stroke the baby's cheek.
Realization finally dawned on him as he watched her. "Kathryn?"
"Yes."
"We're not talking about having a baby are we?"
"No."
"Oh." He tugged at his ear.
Kathryn lifted her hands from the bassinette and made to leave but found herself face to face with him.
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault. All you did was move on with your life."
"About that… I need to tell you something—"
"Chakotay, I know about you and Seven."
"Kathryn, I—what?"
"The admiral told me that in her timeline you and Seven got married and I'm… I'm happy for you."
He was laughing now. "Spirits woman, you may be happy for me, but there's only one woman in any timeline who would make me happy, and I'm looking at her."
"You mean—"
"Kathryn, Seven and I had a total of 5 dates and I realized early on it was stupid. I could never move on from you. With you, is where my heart will always belong."
"Oh." If she was going to say something more she couldn't as his lips where upon hers, warm, welcoming and sweet.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"Beautiful."
"Yes." He stroked the baby's cheek.
"We missed the party."
"I think they'll understand." He handed her the baby and gently kissed her on the lips.
"Yes." The baby settled against her breast, "Chakotay?"
"Yes."
"I love you."
The end
