Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.

A huge thank you to KJaneway115 for her betaing!

Summary: Ten months after Voyager's return someone opens Kathryn Janeway's eyes.

"What do you think about that?"

Kathryn was obviously startled by Chakotay's suggestion. "I don't know... do you really want it?"

"Yes, if it's okay with you. I don't want to live in those Starfleet officer quarters anymore. I want something on my own." He looked at her while they were walking. "Something like you have."

"I understand but do you think it's a good idea to live in such close proximity to each other?"

"Yes why not?" He shrugged. "We lived in close proximity seven and a half years. And we would still have our own space."

"That is true."

Kathryn didn't know what to say. On one hand she wanted to have Chakotay near her like he had been in the Delta Quadrant, on the other she didn't know what to expect from this closeness. The two were friends, best friends, but what if this arrangement would be too close? Everyone needed time and space.

They walked on through the streets of San Francisco, silent.

"Kathryn if you don't want it I search for something else," he said as he recognized that she was becoming uncomfortable.

"No," she replied hastily. "I just don't know if it's a good idea. That's all."

"It's okay. I look for another apartment."

"You don't have to. Not now. Let me think about it." She smiled slightly at him and he nodded and smiled back before they turned around a corner.

For their former crew, Tom and B'Elanna, Harry with his new old girlfriend Libby, the Doctor and honorary crewmember Reg Barclay, it was nothing new that their former command team appeared together. They knew Kathryn and Chakotay were best friends and nothing more but they couldn't really understand why. The two were doing everything together since they got back and Chakotay broke up with Seven, except living together and having sex. It wasn't understandable, especially for Tom and B'Elanna, who knew how much Chakotay loved Kathryn through the first years after they got stranded. The topic was often discussed when one, Kathryn or Chakotay, wasn't present but both replied the same: "We are happy as we are". Tom and B'Elanna always shook their heads disbelievingly. It seemed that everybody knew they were in love, except for Kathryn and Chakotay.

The four former crewmates sat with Libby and Reg at a table in the corner of their favorite bar. Once in a month they met there for dinner. It felt good to have the Voyager family around even if they weren't complete. Every now and then other former crewmembers showed up and told what he or she had experienced through the last months but on this day it seemed that it was only the eight of them.

"Is it true that you saw Sam and Naomi last week, Doc?" Harry asked and took a sip of his beer.

"Yes."

"How are they?"

"They are doing fine. Naomi is really settled now, I think. She told me about her school and her new friends."

"That's great. I know how hard it was for her to adjust to life on earth," Tom said.

"Yes. The school, lots of other children and away from everyone and everything she ever knew. It scared her but she seems to have gone through that and is happy now."

"Good to hear. And Sam?" Tom took a handful of nuts and put it in his mouth before he spoke and earned an elbow in his ribs and a dangerous glance from his wife for it.

"She is pleased with her choice not to go back on a ship and has taken the job in Starfleet Headquarters instead."

"And her husband?"

"They don't live together yet but they are trying to find a way back into their relationship. She looked very happy when she talked about him."

At that moment Kathryn and Chakotay entered the bar and looked towards them.

"Ah, another couple who is not living together…," Tom whispered meaningful and waved in their direction.

"They aren't a couple," Harry hissed as the two made their way through the room.

"Yet, Harry. Yet," Tom patted his friends shoulder. "Kathryn! Chakotay!" he greeted his former command officers. "How are you?"

"Fine," Kathryn answered with a smile and greeted the others while B'Elanna noticed that Chakotay stood very close behind Kathryn and she could swear her shoulders touched his chest and he had his hand on the small of her back.

They sat, next to each other of course.

"What do you want to drink?" Chakotay asked Kathryn.

"Wine would be nice. Red."

"I'll get you one. Does anyone else want something?" he asked as he stood up again. Everyone, except the Doctor, said something.

"I'll help you," Tom laughed and joined Chakotay on his way to the bar.

"How are you?" Chakotay asked Tom as they ordered the drinks.

"Good, just a little out of sleep with a ten month old Klingon," Tom rubbed his face. "And you? Seems that you and Kathryn are closer than any time before…"

Chakotay sighed. "We had this conversation before Tom. We're fine." He knew exactly what Tom wanted to say.

"She maybe. But not you."

"I'm fine, too."

"You're not."

"How do you know?" Chakotay raised his eyebrows at Tom.

"I see it."

"You see what?"

"The way you look at her. The way you act around her. Admit it, Chakotay."

"There is nothing to admit. We are good friends, best friends."

"And you don't want more?" Tom asked unbelieving.

"No."

"What if she finds somebody else and moves away and has a family and children?"

"She doesn't want children and if she finds somebody who really loves her I'm happy for her," Chakotay replied firmly. "And if I find somebody who loves me and I love her then she will be happy for me," he added before Tom could say something.

"I don't understand you. When I think of the beginning of our journey…"

"Yes." Chakotay interrupted him. "If we would have got back earlier then maybe we would have started a relationship but now…"

"Now…?"

"It's too late."

"It's never too late."

"It is too late."

"No."

"You don't understand, Tom." Chakotay looked him straight in the eyes. "We don't have feelings for each other anymore."

"Is that true? Is that really true and you could really be happy for her if she finds someone?"

"Yes. Believe me Tom, yes."

Tom shook his head. He didn't believe him or maybe he just didn't want to believe him. He would do anything to get them together.

They got the drinks and settled back at the table.

"Thank you," Kathryn said as Chakotay handed her the drink. He grinned and sat down.

The Doctor told his story about Sam and Naomi again and after he was finished they ordered their dinner.

More and more people came into the bar and the air was soon filled with happy chattering.

As there was a lull in the conversation during their dinner B'Elanna looked at Kathryn. "I almost forgot that I wanted to ask you something!" She looked angry over to Tom. "You could have reminded me."

"Huh?" Tom looked surprised up from his plate.

"Ask," Kathryn said and put her fork in her mouth.

"Tom's sister's birthday is on Saturday and she invited us. Would you take Miral for the night?"

B'Elanna saw Kathryn's expression and knew she has asked the right person.

"Oh yeah," Kathryn beamed. "We can make a pajama party."

Harry and Tom exchanged an amused glance. Their former captain? A pajama party?

"Why don't you take her with you?" Harry asked from B'Elanna's side.

"There are no other kids at this party. It would be boring for her."

"When does the party starts?" Kathryn wanted to know.

"Err…," B'Elanna looked unsure at Tom who, like ever, had no idea why. "At 1100 hours."

"Good. I'll pick her up at 8. Is that fine?"

"0800 is great."

"It has to be a long party if you stay 'til Sunday," Chakotay noticed.

"Err… not exactly… we will be back in the evening."

"Then no sleeping over?" Kathryn asked disappointed.

"No, I mean yes… it's just…," B'Elanna struggled and even Tom didn't know why. "It would be nice if Miral could sleep at your place and I could have an evening alone with my husband." She smiled mischievously at Tom who gave her a surprised but wicked grin back.

"Oh, don't say more." Kathryn held her hand up and smiled knowingly. "I like to spend time with her."

"You say that now…," Tom winked.

"Thank you, Kathryn. If you need something you can call us."

"I know. But I think we will have fun." She smiled broadly at Chakotay.

"We can go to the park," he said not surprised that she thought they would babysit Miral together.

"Yes, to the playground!"

"And visit Voyager."

"Don't forget the pajama party!"

The others shook their heads amused as they watched them. None of their former crew was used to Chakotay and especially Kathryn being this relaxed and playful.

"Of course not. And Sunday morning we can go to the little café at the Embarcadero to eat breakfast at the pier."

"That's a great idea. And after that we visited my Mom in Indiana."

"She will be happy to see Miral again."

"We will never get our daughter back," Tom laughed.

"Seems so…," B'Elanna shrugged.

Kathryn laughed. "You will get her back on Sunday evening. Is 1800 hours okay?"

"An evening and a day alone with my wife? That's more than okay." Tom grinned mischievously and kissed his wife's cheek.

They returned to their dinner and as everyone was finished Harry turned to Libby. "Would you like to dance?"

Libby nodded and they left the table to join the other couples on the dance floor.

"They are so sweet together," Kathryn noticed as she watched them.

"They are. So much that my teeth are aching…," Tom commented dryly and earned once more an elbow in his ribs from the woman next to him.

"Don't say that! He deserves it."

"He really does. He lost so much out there," Kathryn said absently.

"We all lost much out there," Tom replied.

"But some found something new, something that changed their lives in a good way." Kathryn gave Tom a glance and he smiled at B'Elanna.

"You're right, Kathryn. And some only have to admit it." He winked at her and Chakotay rolled his eyes. Will this never end, he thought annoyed.

Kathryn overheard his comment and watched the couples dancing. Chakotay recognized the longing in her eyes. "Permission to dance with the captain?"

She turned her head and smiled her crooked smile at him. "Permission granted."

He took her hand and they headed for the dance floor. Reg excused himself and Tom saw someone across the room. "Uh oh Doc… seems your pretty friend is here tonight…," he said and nodded in the corner were a beautiful woman with long curly, brown hair stood next to a piano.

"She is not my 'pretty friend', Mr. Paris." The Doctor replied but if he had been human his neck would have hurt from stretching as he tried to look in the corner. The pretty lady at the piano smiled at him and he left the table in a hurry.

Tom laid his arm around the shoulders of his wife and as the Doctor took his place beside the woman at the piano he whistled quietly.

"You shouldn't bother them all so much."

"Huh? I don't bother them."

"Maybe you don't even recognize it."

"The Doctor will get over it."

"I'm not speaking about the Doctor."

"Then whom do you talk about?"

"You know that… 'the other couple that doesn't live together'!"

"What do you mean?"

"Kathryn and Chakotay. If you wouldn't bother and tease them so much then maybe they'd finally find their way."

"Are you saying it's my fault that they aren't together?" Tom asked surprised.

"No…," B'Elanna sighed. "But your comments don't help at all."

He turned his head to find the two dancing close to each other. Chakotay's hands rested on safe ground on Kathryn's back and her hands were around his neck. They looked at each other, but to Tom's disappointment they talked happily instead of glancing full of desire at the other.

He shook his head. B'Elanna couldn't be right. It wasn't his fault. If they really wanted to be together it wouldn't matter what he said.