Out-Planned by Kristie Goldberg

I don't know when or how this happened. Really I don't! One day I was "the Angry Warrior" who no one could touch. And, the next thing I knew, I'm Chakotay "family man"!

That little witch weaseled her way into my cold heart. I'd vowed no one would ever get that close to me, but then, SHE came along! The minute I saw her on the view screen of the Liberty, I wanted her. Ok, so I'd go after a fast romp in the hay and then end it! Sure! That was the plan!

I went after her alright and, LOL, she caught me! Seems she had plans of her own. She out-planned me! There should be laws against "out-planning"!

That was ten years ago. Now, we're married and living on Dorvan with most of the crew. We moved here after finding it hard to live on Earth after our return. We've worked hard to make Dorvan an outstanding place to live. And, our hard work has paid off. We are now members of the Federation. More and more people are coming here to live. They are bringing all kinds of knowledge with them.

Sitting here on the porch swing, I listen to the commotion in the house as she puts the twins to bed. They had listened to my version of the Angry Warrior as they do most nights. Now they are listening to her version! Soon they will be in dreamland. I hope that always their dreams will be of happiness and love.

I hear her moving about, as I move over in the swing. Soon she's by my side handing me a cup of tea. I'll move my free arm around her shoulders and draw her close. She and our children mean the world to me (even if I was out-planned!)