A/N- This is my first Voyager fic in a long time. And of course, it's Janeway/ Chakotay and takes place just after the episode 'Basics' part 2. This comes from the stand point that during 'Resolutions' they had an actual intimate relationship.

A Time of Peace

"Tuvok?"

"Commander Chakotay," Tuvok began turning from the captain's chair to face the first officer. "What can I do for you?"

"Do you know where the Captain is?"

"I believe that she is in Holodeck 2 and does not wish to be disturbed."

"Thanks Tuvok." Chakotay stated with a grim smile as he left the bridge adding silently to himself 'but this is urgent. Kathryn has been avoiding me for weeks ever since we got back from New Earth'

oOo

"Kathryn?" Chakotay called out as he entered the serene forest, instantly knowing where he was. "Kathryn are you in here?" he wandered through the simulated forest until he game upon Kathryn gardening. "Well," he began breaking the silence. "Isn't this familiar..."

"What?" She asked looking up, her face softening when she saw that it was him and not someone else. "Oh, Chakotay- its only you."

"Kathryn." Chakotay began kneeling down opposite her on the other side of the garden, trying not to admire the way the forest green dress hung to every curve of her body and how her shining red hair was left to be untamed. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to..." she faltered, trying to find her voice. "I wanted to return to a simpler time." She smiled and looked up at him with longing in her eyes. "When the angry warrior and the female leader who was lost could be as one..."

Chakotay sighed and rose from where he was kneeling only to come back down beside her. "Kathryn," he began but she cut him off.

"Chakotay." She sighed as she relaxed into the chest of her first officer and former lover's arms. "I thought that I could leave my heart on New Earth, but I can't."

"You're only human." Chakotay replied softly as he placed his arms around her.

"And so are you." She sighed as she pulled away from him to look around at the serene surroundings. "Here we could be ourselves, but now..."

"We can still be ourselves Kathryn." Chakotay insisted.

"The regulations," she pointed out wearily.

"Regulations only mean so much..." Chakotay pointed out taking her hand. "You know we could keep it a secret."

Kathryn shook her head but didn't take her hand away from his. "No secret would survive on a ship this small. Besides keeping secrets is not us...and I am the Captain."

"Even the Captain has a right to experience love."

"Oh," Kathryn sighed. "How I wish that that was true but-"

"But your principles won't allow you anything beyond friendship." Chakotay finished realising that for the time being, Kathryn could never be his- not while there was a change that they could reach Earth. "Especially since you could see Mark again..."

There was such a defeatist tone in his voice that Kathryn felt her heart lurch. "I am sorry." She stated sympathetically caressing his face with her hand. "I am so sorry."

"Don't be sorry." Chakotay stated with a small smile. "It's one of the reasons why I love you."

"And your infinite patience and understanding is what I love about you." Kathryn said with a sigh. "And maybe if we had met in another time and another place or if our situations were different..."

"I know." Chakotay interrupted, caressing her face one last time. "I know."