This story takes place after the events of my story 'A special proposal'. I doubt this here makes sense without reading the other one first.

Again, a huge thank you to KJaneway115 for her betaing!

No copyright infringement intended.

For four weeks after the wedding nobody saw Kathryn and Chakotay. Both took a month off and disappeared. No one knew where they stayed and no one knew about the private mission they tried to accomplish.

=/\=

"It's good to be back," Kathryn noticed with a smile as she opened the door to her apartment and turned the lights on.

"It was good where we were," Chakotay replied and let their bags to the floor. He stepped forward and embraced his wife to kiss her passionately.

"It was better than good," she mumbled in his mouth as she entwined her arms around his neck. He hummed his agreement and lifted her off the floor.

"I'm surprised we reached the bed," Kathryn chuckled as she sat up half an hour later.

"I am not. We never did it in bed during the last weeks. You can't imagine how sore my back was."

"Are you mad about the way we spent our honeymoon?" She looked down at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely not! It was great. Just saying I like it the normal way too," he grinned at her. "…as long as you're the one I do it with," he added as his hand reached out to touch her but she waved it away and stood up.

"Let's get dressed and unpack our bags."

He sighed, disappointed, but obeyed and rose. They walked through bedroom and hall and each piece of clothing wandered to its place.

"Look," he pointed at the open front door were the bags lay. "I hope nobody saw us."

Her eyes widened in horror. "I hope not."

"Or heard us," he laughed and nudged her with his elbow.

"What do you mean?" She pulled her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"You are pretty noisy."

"I am not."

"You are. I never expected it."

She pursed her lips and picked her shirt up. "You never seem to have a problem with me being 'noisy' when we're doing… it."

"I don't have a problem now either, though I think our house should stand alone."

She narrowed her eyes. "Very funny, Commander."

He grinned at her comment, pushed the bags out of the doorway and closed the door.

#

She entered the kitchen and stepped behind him to peek in the huge pot.

"Hmm, this smells good."

He saw her puppy eyes so he grabbed a spoon to let her taste the soup. She melted immediately. "Oh Chakotay, it tastes wonderful."

He smiled pleased. "Good, we can eat."

"I tried to call Tom and B'Elanna," she told him as she set two dishes on the little kitchen table. "But they aren't at home."

"That's odd. Shouldn't Miral be in bed by now?"

"Yes."

"Have you tried to call Harry?" he asked and set the pot with the soup in the middle.

"No, I'll call him after dinner."

He nodded once and they ate in companionable silence before she went into her study while Chakotay cleaned up the kitchen.

"Admiral," Harry said surprised as he answered her call.

"Hello, Harry. How are you?"

"Fine, but the question is how are you and Chakotay. When Tom told me what happened on Voyager's anniversary night I didn't believe him."

"We are fine, Harry. And if Tom told you that Chakotay and I got married you can believe him."

"That's what he told me. Congratulations Kathryn," Harry said and Chakotay's face appeared behind Kathryn. "And to you, Chakotay."

"Thank you, Harry," Kathryn smiled. "Do you know where Tom and B'Elanna are?"

"They are on Kessik IV."

"On Kessik IV?" Chakotay repeated disbelievingly.

"Isn't it B'Elanna's home planet?"

"Yes it is. She hadn't been to Kessik since she left the planet for Starfleet. Her mother is still living there. Did she want to go visit her?"

"She wanted and it was her idea. They left Earth a week after you two got lost without a trace."

"We weren't lost without a trace. We were on honeymoon," Kathryn reminded him and earned a boyish grin from Chakotay. Harry's face got deep red as he watched them.

"Do you know what they really want on Kessik?" Chakotay asked as he could steal his eyes away from his wife.

"She wanted to show Tom and Miral her childhood home and meet her mother."

"B'Elanna really wanted to go and visit her mother?"

"Tom doubted that they would visit Miral but it was the plan. I haven't talked to them yet. They wanted to be back in June that's all I know." A noise from behind the screen got Harry's attention. "I'm sorry I have to leave. Will we see you at the bar?"

"We'll be there. Bye, Harry."

Harry gave them a nod and the screen went black.

Kathryn turned to Chakotay, sighing uncomfortably. "I better call my mother now."

"Do it," he kissed her cheek from behind her.

She tapped a few buttons and only moments later Gretchen's face appeared on the screen. "Kathryn, Chakotay!"

"Hello, Mom."

"Where have you been?" she asked insulted. "You didn't call for four weeks."

"I'm sorry."

"What have you done that excuses your behavior?"

"Err…," Kathryn looked at Chakotay for help but he shrugged only.

"Oh I know that you two are married. And you didn't call to tell me either," Gretchen said disappointed but Kathryn noticed a twinkle in her mother's eyes.

"I am really sorry. It was so out of the blue that we needed time on our own."

"I understand that Katie but don't you think your mother would like to be at the wedding of her oldest daughter?"

"Yes I think so."

"Then why didn't you invite me?"

"It's Chakotay's fault."

"Mine? Why mine?" Chakotay faced Kathryn incredulously.

"Why? I can tell you. I didn't know anything about the wedding you'd planned. You invited the guests. So why didn't you invite my mother?"

"I didn't invite either of our sisters either."

"That doesn't answer the question. That only makes it worse," Kathryn said, glad that she could turn Gretchen's not-so-serious anger at him.

"I'm sorry, Gretchen," Chakotay said quietly and Kathryn noticed a glance between the two.

"It's okay," his mother-in-law smiled pleased and Kathryn sensed that her mother had something on her mind.

"Mom?"

"I just thought that it would be fair to celebrate this marriage a second time."

"A second time?"

"Yes, with your family and friends."

"What do you think about that?" Kathryn asked Chakotay.

"I think it would be appropriate. Our friends are surely disappointed, too, that we didn't celebrate will all of them."

"You're probably right…"

"So it's done," Gretchen said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"We're going to have a party."

"Wait! We have to talk first. And by that I mean Chakotay and I."

"Okay," Gretchen rolled her eyes. "Talk and then call me."

"I promise."

"And Katie?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations." She looked at Chakotay. "To both of you. It was time," she added with a wink right before she cut the link.

Chakotay laughed. "Your mother is great."

"Do you think so?" Kathryn leaned back and studied his face.

"What?"

"You two are hiding something from me."

"We're not," he turned away and busied himself with stacking her PADD's.

"Chakotay tell me," she put her hands on her hips.

"There is nothing to tell," he said without looking at her but she saw the corner of his lips twitching.

"Commander," she said, using her command voice what made him look at her.

"You know that this isn't working anymore?" He pointed in her face.

She pursed her lips and rose. "I will find out," she said as she left the room.

=/\=

In the following week they went to Indiana to visit Gretchen and start their search for a nice little piece of land.

As soon as they walked towards Gretchen's house the front door rushed open.

"It looks like we were expected," Kathryn laughed.

"I like it. She's happy for us."

"She is."

Gretchen stepped on the porch. "There you are." She hugged her daughter firmly.

"I… can't… breathe," Kathryn gasped playfully and her mother let off her to hug her son-in-law.

"It's good to see you again, Gretchen."

She pulled away and narrowed her eyes in a familiar way at him. "That's 'mom' from now on."

"Yes, Mom," he stood straight.

Kathryn chuckled.

"What?"

"That reminded me of something."

He felt a heat rising in his cheeks. "It was embarrassing."

"It was… but now I think it's funny."

Gretchen looked with a smile from one to the other. "You are cute."

"Mom," Kathryn rolled her eyes and walked past her mother in the house.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Let's just say certain Starfleet captains think they are not allowed to be cute," Chakotay winked at her.

"She's not a captain anymore," Gretchen reminded him.

Chakotay looked surprised. "You're right. I'm still not used to it."

"Are Starfleet admirals allowed to be cute?"

"I don't think so."

"Sad… I always thought of my husband as cute."

"Mom!" Kathryn's voice came out of the open kitchen window and Chakotay imagined how her face turned red.

"Don't you think your husband is cute?" Gretchen shouted back.

"I can't hear you!"

Gretchen rolled her eyes once more and shook her head. "Did she behave in the Delta Quadrant this way too?"

Chakotay laughed out loud. "Not at all."

#

The three of them settled on the back porch after Kathryn found the homemade brownies Gretchen had tried to hide from her.

"We want to celebrate a second time, Mom," Kathryn came right to the point.

"That's great, Katie."

"We thought we could do it here in your yard."

"That's a wonderful idea. Do you know how many people you want to invite?"

"The whole Voyager crew with their families. And our own families of course."

"Which are not so many…," Chakotay added quietly and Kathryn stroke comforting over his arm.

"Chakotay's sister and cousin with family, Phoebe with whomever, you…"

"Don't forget Aunt Martha," Chakotay chimed in.

Gretchen raised an eyebrow. "You know Aunt Martha?"

"Only from stories."

"Let me guess. Shannon O'Donnell?"

The smile on Chakotay's face told Gretchen that she had guessed right.

"But only the Voyager crew with their families are about 250-280 people. This is going to be huge…," Kathryn noticed.

"Too huge?"

"No, the crew deserves it." She took his hand under the table and linked her finger with his which made his smile grow.

"You haven't told me yet how you two got married. The only thing I know is that Owen and Tom and B'Elanna were there."

"Yes." Kathryn took another brownie. "It was on Voyager's bridge."

"She was hiding from me."

Gretchen looked surprised at her daughter.

"I was a little overwhelmed that our first year on Earth was over and to see all these people again." She squeezed Chakotay's hand for support.

"That doesn't sound like you, Katie. Run and hide. And why you two got married? I don't mean that I don't like it but it was so sudden."

"I don't know…," Kathryn broke a bit from her brownie and played with it on her plate. "He asked me and I said yes." She looked up. "It felt right."

Gretchen frowned and Kathryn knew her explanation wasn't enough for her mother.

"There has to be more."

Chakotay looked at Kathryn and asked silently for permission to tell Gretchen the real reason but Kathryn denied.

"You have always seen more in our friendship, Mom. We now see it, too, and we want to explore it."

"I never thought you would marry someone before exploring the relationship."

"We lived seven and a half years on a tiny starship. We got to know each other very well," Kathryn refused.

"That was different, Katie. You said it yourself. You were the captain, he your first officer."

"What do you want to hear?"

"I want nothing. I am happy for you."

"Then why do you ask?"

"You always said there was nothing more than friendship between the two of you and then I received a message that you got married. I was surprised, happily surprised, but I thought there has to be more."

Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged a glance.

"There is more," Gretchen said loudly.

Kathryn sighed. "Yes."

"You are pregnant," Gretchen exclaimed excited.

"No," Kathryn replied amused.

"That's sad…," her mother said disappointed. "I always hoped to be a grandmother someday."

"We'll try to fulfill your wish," Chakotay said much to Gretchen's delight.

"Really?" Gretchen's face lit up. "You're trying?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Katie, come here," Gretchen jumped up and took her daughter into a firm embrace. "That is great, Kathryn. I am happy for you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I am going to be a grandmother," Gretchen said cheerful as she let Kathryn sit down again.

"Not yet."

"Then why are you sitting here?" Gretchen pulled her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows.

"MOM, please!" Kathryn blushed to a deep red and Chakotay chuckled. "I'll get more coffee." Kathryn rose and left before her mother could say more.

Gretchen watched Kathryn leave. "You really did it," she said as her daughter was out of sight.

"Seems so."

"I really thought she would say no, though I wished otherwise."

"Me too."

"So how did you get her to say yes?"

He smiled. "I asked Phoebe for help."

"Phoebe?" Gretchen asked unbelieving and sat down.

"I didn't want to make a fool out of myself so I asked her to tell me something about Kathryn before we went away and it was very helpful."

"And she wasn't sad that you didn't invite her onboard?"

"Of course she was," he chuckled. "But I told her about our plan, to celebrate a second time… if there is something to celebrate."

"What's this for a conspiracy?" Kathryn stepped in the doorway, the coffee pot in her hands. Chakotay swallowed hard. "Chakotay?" She set the pot on the table.

He looked rueful at her. "I'm sorry."

"You asked Phoebe for help?"

"Yes," he admitted sheepish. "I needed someone to talk to after I made my decision to ask you to marry me."

"Did you tell Phoebe what I've asked you?" Kathryn asked calmly, which confused Chakotay more than if she would yell.

"No, this was only between us. I told her I wanted to ask you and that I needed advice. I told her how and what I had planned and she laughed at my plans so we talked and planned it differently. It wasn't exactly how we planned it in the end but I think it was more beautiful." He looked apologizing. "I'm sorry, Kathryn."

She exhaled loudly and he guarded himself for her attack. "It was beautiful."

"Huh?"

"It was beautiful. It was perfect." She smiled much to Chakotay's surprise. "And I'm astonished that Phoebe held back and never told me a word."

"She almost burst."

"The dress!" Kathryn yelled in realization and put a hand on her forehead.

"What?"

"The dress. Phoebe wanted to pick out a dress for the anniversary night. She bothered me for days until I said yes. Then she showed me that dress. I didn't think it would be appropriate for that kind of party but she almost pulled me into it. Now I know why…"

"You looked breathtaking."

"It's amazing that she didn't tell you the real reason." Gretchen knew how much her youngest daughter liked gossip.

And why did you talk?" Kathryn pointed at the two in front of her.

"I asked for permission."

"You asked my mother for permission?"

"Yes, of course."

"And what did you say?"

Gretchen smiled all over her face. "Take her."

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Why did I ask?" she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Chakotay pulled her down on his lap. "Are you mad at me?" He pushed a lost strain back behind her ear.

She pursed her lips what soon turned into a grin. "No. I'm too happy to be mad." She kissed him gently and got up. "But my revenge will be terrifying."

"I better raise my shields."

"That would be wise," she said, patting his thigh.

#

Gretchen retired to her room for a nap while Kathryn and Chakotay started their search. Kathryn sat in her father's office, on her console a map, when Chakotay came in.

"Hi, do you want to take a look?"

"Sure." He bent over her shoulder.

"Those are for sale," she pointed on the map. "Here and here… and here, but this is too small I think."

"Yeah…," he tugged at his earlobe.

"Chakotay?"

"I thought of somewhere else."

"You found a piece of land already?"

"It's a suggestion." He turned his face to her. "Do you want to see it?"

She nodded curious and he took her hand, guided her outside and stopped on the lawn.

"Where now?" she asked slightly confused.

"There." He pointed to a hill at their left.

"What's there? I only see some trees and green grass."

"Our place… if you want."

Her jaw dropped.

"This is far enough from your mothers place to not be disturbed every second and close enough for our child, or children, to walk over here. There is no neighbor closely so you can be noisy," he wriggled his eyebrows. "And you said you want a yard with vegetables, we would have plenty of space."

"We would have enough space for Voyager!"

"If that's what you want… We could place her in our backyard but I think the people who visit her would bother us after a while."

"That's true."

"What do you say?"

"Let's walk over there. I want to see the view." He grabbed a little basket. "What's that?"

"Surprise." She raised an eyebrow and but he didn't say more.

They walked the short way through the grass hand in hand while the sun warmed their skins.

"I never thought about this place in my childhood years. It's wonderful," Kathryn said as they stood on top of the smooth hill.

He took a blanket out of the basket and placed it on the ground. "It is."

"A picnic?"

He grinned at her and pulled her down with him.

"Why did you choose this place?" she asked as they spread the contents, lots of boxes with food, on the blanket.

"It caught my eye when I was with you the first time here in Bloomington," he said and opened a champagne bottle. "I didn't think of building a house here, I just noticed how lovely and peaceful it is. And as you said yes to a house in Indiana I remembered it and I knew you would like it."

"I love it," she told him and held two glasses while he filled them. "Did you know I would love it? Is that why you brought champagne?"

He smiled a large, dimpled smile and took one glass. "I don't think we need an occasion to celebrate… I simply like to spoil you."

She chuckled and held her glass up. "To our new home."

He clinked his glass against hers. "To our home."

=/\=

Chakotay woke up. Though it was dark he could see from the faint light of the moon how the wind moved the curtains. Rolling over he patted Kathryn's side of the bed blindly, searching to take her back in his arms but she wasn't there. He sat up and switched the lights on. Her side of the bed was empty.

"Kathryn?" he called in a whisper. He rose and walked in the dark bathroom. "Kathryn?"

Quiet, to not wake Gretchen, he walked downstairs and checked kitchen, study and living room but there was no sign of Kathryn. He climbed the stairs to their bedroom and looked for a note. He was aware of Starfleet's night calls but she would have written him a note, or wouldn't she?

As he found none he made his way into her father's study and called Starfleet.

"Commander," the poor ensign of the nightshift saluted even if Chakotay obviously came right out of bed.

"Ensign, is Admiral Janeway in her office?"

"No."

"Was she being transported to Headquarters?"

"No, Sir," the ensign said visibly uncomfortable. "This night is quiet so far."

Chakotay rubbed his disheveled hair. "Thank you, Ensign. Please inform me if she should arrive in her office."

"Yes, Sir."

Chakotay closed the link and noticed how nervous he was. Where the hell is she, he thought. The old willow tree came to his mind and he strode on the back porch where he suddenly stopped as he remembered that he had been there only once. With her, guiding him, on a bright, sunny day. He had never been there alone, and had certainly never been there in the dark of the night.

He began to walk in, what he hoped, was the right direction.

"Kathryn?" he called out into the darkness.

Nothing.

"Kathryn?" he shouted, walking faster.

Still nothing.

"Kathryn, where are you?" he began to run.

"Kathryn?" he yelled frantically.

A flash of light let him stop in his tracks. It came from the top of the hill.

Out of breath he stopped his run in front of her. "Could… you… please…," he took several breaths. "…never frighten me so much again."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"What are you doing here?" he frowned as he realized that she was sitting on the picnic blanket.

She patted on the spot beside her and he sat down. "Lay back."

He did and saw thousands of familiar, beautiful stars on the black sky. "This is incredible," he whispered.

She placed her head on his shoulder. "It's the perfect place for us." He laid his arm around her, smiling, and kissed her hair. "But I have one condition."

"Anything you want."

"We take Voyager with us."

She felt him chuckle under her cheek and turned her head and kissed him.

#

She shivered.

"Are you cold?"

"Of course I am," she giggled happy. "I am sweaty and naked and laying outside in the cold night."

"You seduced me."

She propped her body on her elbow. "I never made love outside until I met you," she said, poking his chest.

"After you met me and eight years of celibacy."

"I had a…"

"… crew to bring home. I know that Kathryn. You don't have to remind me."

"Was it so hard?" she asked and he made a sad puppy face. "I'm sorry," she touched his face and kissed him softly. "Better?"

"A bit."

She kissed him once again. "Better?"

"A bit."

She rolled her body on his and kissed him more intensely. "I know what makes it better."

#

"We have to stop having sex every time we touch," she protested and sat up.

"It's you who can't take her hands of off me!"

"Don't say it's bothering you…"

"I'm not complaining. I rather think we have to make up eight years and it will take more than five weeks."

"You are crazy."

"Did you never recognize that before?"

"No. Onboard Voyager you were so nice and patient and now…"

"Now you let the beast out," he laughed and pinned her body with his to the ground. "I'm glad you did," he breathed against her mouth and kissed her.

Her body molded once again against his but her mind objected and she pushed him away. "We aren't teenager! Get off me."

Noticing that she meant what she said he helped her to her feet and they pulled their clothes on and lay on the blanket again. She snuggled against him and savored his body heat.

"This is it…," she whispered. "…our home… the place for our family."

"We could have created it today."

Without noticing her hand wandered protectively over her belly. She turned her head, facing him. "You're right," she beamed. "I can't wait to get pregnant…," she murmured as she placed her cheek on his chest, watching the familiar stars and listening to his heartbeat.

He caressed her back. "I know something…"

"No!" She raised her voice playfully. "Not again."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

=/\=

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Chakotay," Tom greeted Kathryn and Chakotay broadly after he had opened the door. "Or is it Mr. and Mrs. Janeway?"

"Tom!" B'Elanna shook her head as she walked next to him.

"We haven't talked about it yet but Mr. and Mrs. Janeway sounds good to me," Kathryn smirked and glanced over to Chakotay to see his reaction.

"Mr. Janeway… why not?" he shrugged, not giving her the reaction she wanted to have. "Hi, B'Elanna."

"Hey, old man. How you're doing?"

"Great, thanks." He hugged her and B'Elanna let them in. Harry and the Doctor sat already in Tom and B'Elanna's living room.

"Sorry we have to meet here but Mom can't babysit Miral tonight," Tom apologized.

"No problem," Kathryn waved dismissingly. "Doc, Harry," she gave them a nod.

They settled down and Tom brought drinks while Harry explained Libby's absence. She was on a trip with her elementary school class.

After Tom set the drinks on the table and joined them there was a lull in the conversation and Kathryn felt everyone staring at her and Chakotay. "What?" She looked confused at her former crewmember.

"What?" Tom repeated with sarcasm. "We want to know everything!"

Chakotay laughed while Kathryn shook her head amused and smiled. "They are curious, aren't they?" She nudged him with her elbow.

"They are," he agreed.

"And?" Tom asked impatiently as they remained quiet.

Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged a wicked smile and stayed silent. They knew Tom almost burst in expectation and cherished every moment of power.

Finally Kathryn turned to the group. "We are married," she stated simply.

Tom exhaled exasperate. "We know! We want to know what happened afterwards."

Kathryn smiled pleased but didn't bother to say something.

Tom looked over at Chakotay. "You're not going to tell us, are you?"

Chakotay only grinned in response.

"We were on honeymoon, Tom," Kathryn begun to Tom's relief. "You know what we did."

Harry's blushed to a deep a red as he tried, unsuccessfully, not to create pictures in his mind.

"I want to know where you did it."

"Tom!" B'Elanna stopped him.

Kathryn chuckled. "It's okay. We did it everywhere except the bed."

Tom beamed with joy, Harry coughed over his drink, B'Elanna's jaw dropped and the Doctor's holographic eyebrows jumped under his not existing hairline.

"Actually I meant where you have been," Tom corrected her.

Now it was Kathryn's turn to blush. "Oh…, we were at Lake George."

"Lake George?"

"Lake George. I always wanted to show Chakotay the real thing."

"It is beautiful," Chakotay said and took her hand.

"It is."

"Perfect for a little getaway house," he whispered as he leaned over to her.

She was surprised but agreed eagerly. "But not until our house in Indiana is finished."

"Sure," he breathed against her cheek and kissed it.

They felt the gazes from the others and turned to see four happy people watching them.

"Hi," Tom grinned.

"Hi," Kathryn frowned.

"Do you want to tell us more?"

Chakotay chuckled. "I think they want the whole story," he said and gave Kathryn a quick kiss before leaning back.

He then told them about their little wedding ceremony, their escape to a quiet, small house at Lake George (he didn't tell them any details, to Harry's relief) and their plans for a home in Bloomington. He left the real reason for their marriage unanswered. The crew didn't need any other reason than their love for each other to believe their former command team.

"You forgot something," Kathryn noticed.

"Have I?"

"We want to celebrate a second time with our families and friends, including the whole Voyager crew."

"You want a big wedding?" B'Elanna eyes widened unbelieving.

"That's great," Tom exclaimed excited.

"The one on Voyager was great, too."

"We don't know… you two were the only ones who had the honor to join it," Harry said disappointed.

"That's right and that's why my sister and mother think we should celebrate a second time."

"It will be a huge party with Voyager's crew."

"Yes, that's why we want to do it in my mother's yard. There is enough space for everyone."

"And when shall this party be?"

"In July."

"A summer party, huh," Tom noticed happy.

"Yes," Kathryn said and turned to her former chief engineer. "I have a question… do you want to be my third maid of honor, B'Elanna?"

"Of course," B'Elanna answered, a little astonished that Kathryn asked her.

"Fine," Kathryn smiled pleased.

"Who are the others?" Tom asked curious.

"Phoebe's my first… she would kill me otherwise," Kathryn rolled her eyes. "And Sekaya is my second."

"And who's your best man, Chakotay?" Voyager's former helmsman asked with more than a subtle hint.

"I asked Mike but you could be my second."

"And what about me?" the Doctor yelled and earned a death glance from B'Elanna because Miral was sleeping in the other room.

"I have three, why not you too?"

"Okay. Tom, Mike and our Doctor."

"I'm always left out…," Harry said frustrated.

"We need somebody to watch Miral," Tom said and patted Harry's shoulder.

"Thank you," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"We would love to have Miral and Naomi as flower girls. It would be great if you help them, Harry."

"Of course I'll help," he smiled at his former captain.

"And I need help when I plan the whole thing," Kathryn said while her eyes pleaded with B'Elanna for help.

"I think Miral will do a fine job," B'Elanna laughed.

"Yes, that I'm sure of," Kathryn chuckled in response.

"I thought Phoebe would help you."

"Yes and that's why I need someone who will help me change Phoebe's weird and crazy ideas into something appropriate. B'Elanna, will you help me?" Kathryn begged. "Please."

"Of course, but I don't think I'm very good at planning a wedding. I'm not very romantic."

"That's exactly what I need. My sister is romantic enough for all of us." B'Elanna chuckled and nodded. Kathryn smiled pleased and took her drink from the table. "And now I want to know everything about this bet of yours," she said after taken a sip.

Tom and B'Elanna's faces got abruptly unreadable. "It wasn't a big deal," Tom said quietly.

"I thought you went to Kessik IV because of this bet?"

"Yeah…," he exchanged a tensed glance with his wife. "…that's true."

Kathryn, ever the captain, was aware of the look between them.

"There isn't much to tell," B'Elanna said before Kathryn could ask more.

"Didn't you visit your mother?" Chakotay asked and got a glare from Tom, telling him the visit hadn't gone well.

"We did," B'Elanna could barely suppress to snap. She snorted at Chakotay's quizzical face. "Let's just say she is still my mother and I am still her daughter."

"B'Elanna," Kathryn said softly, reaching out.

B'Elanna pulled her hand away. "Nothing to be sorry about. There are simply things in life which will never change."

Kathryn sat back, sighing inaudible. She noticed it was better not to argue with B'Elanna now. But she wouldn't be Kathryn Janeway if she let drop this topic forever.

Tom noticed glad that Kathryn hold back and changed the topic smoothly back to the wedding.