Prologue
-shreds of dream-
The view from the lake shore was amazing, Kathryn Janeway couldn't keep her eyes off the water. She had found the lake hidden in that weird looking forest by accident, and she had stopped, dead on her tracks, transfixed by the beauty of the water: it was crystalline and the sun was reflecting on it, creating golden and rosy reverberations, which sparkled almost like diamonds.
The woman got closer to the shore, smiling. She closed her eyes for a second, savoring the smells which surrounded her. She was sure that the water wouldn't be too cold, if she ever decided to free herself from her uniform to take a swim in the lake.
Onamr'jegh had been a beautiful surprise: they had discovered the planet by accident, and had been soon invited to the surface, what was supposed to be a brief stop for a commercial exchange had soon turned into the longer shore leave they had ever had.
Almost two weeks away from their ship and their duties and their journey toward home. Two weeks spent with her crew...which she was finding now more and more difficult not to consider her family, especially after the past two weeks.
She was alone, now, a last walk before going back to their ship, their duties, she had walked into the woods, which surrounded the city of Eroh 'avlask, leaving B'Elanna, Tom and Chakotay while they tried to dissuade Neelix, from getting more Leola's roots.
Last thing she had heard while she was leaving had been a threat in Klingon from B'Elanna.
She had smiled while she left her officers, and the smile hadn't left her face...especially when her thoughts, as it more and more often happened focused on Chakotay.
To say that they had had some problems for the past few years, it meant using an euphemism.
Truth was that they had almost reached a breaking point, almost but not quite. Somewhere along the line they had been able to reconnect, to make amends, to grow closer than before. It hadn't happened overnight, and there were still things unsaid between them. Lots of things unsaid...but things were going surprisingly well, and that shore leave had helped them to be comfortable again around each other.
Comfortable? That was another euphemism if she had ever heard one, she thought blinking her eyes open. She felt alive next to him...and she had been surprised realizing for the past few days, that she couldn't keep her eyes off of him.
When had it happened? Why hadn't really noticed how adorable his smile really was? Why hadn't she noticed that his eyes revealed so much of his soul...of what an amazing man he was?
Why hadn't she really ever allowed herself to notice such things? Why was it happening now?
Maybe because she had stopped pretending she didn't notice the way he looked at her? Or could it possibly be because she had missed it when for a long time he hadn't really looked at her?
She didn't move when she heard footsteps behind her, and she knew, without a doubt that it was Chakotay behind her. It was almost as if she had conjured him up just by thinking about him.
She turned and smiled at the man approaching her, ignoring for a moment her heartbeats gone crazy. Chakotay was smiling back at her, he looked around for a second then said, "You'll be glad to know, captain that our joined effort to stop Mr. Neelix from buying more Leola's roots succeeded"
She couldn't help chuckling at his words, a sound that surprised her...it sounded so carefree, unlike the woman she was used to being!
Chakotay on the other hand didn't look surprised, only the look in his eyes became softer for a second, especially when she said, "Oh, my hero!"
Chakotay didn't comment on her words, he just took a step forward and was next to her, he was still smiling when he said, "Breathtaking..."
Janeway frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, a brief moment of silence fell between them and then Chakotay looked at her and slowly added, "This lake...the woods...it's all breathtaking."
Yet he was looking at her, and Janeway wouldn't be surprised if he'd be able to read right through her soul...
And right now she was breathless...and it had nothing to do with that lake and that planet. It was him...it was the two of them, together.
"Yep..." She heard herself saying, "It's beautiful here..."
"One would just..." Chakotay shrugged, "take off the clothes and swim in here...I bet the water is still warm"
She smiled at Chakotay's words and had to force herself not to talk, the things she would say would take innuendos a bit further than what they were used to.
As always Chakotay surprised her, he let out a laugh and teased her, "Oh, c'mon Kathryn! I bet the thought crossed your mind too!" Her breath caught in her throat at his words, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach when she felt Chakotay's shoulders brushing hers. She turned toward the man and he smiled at her.
When did they got so close? And why didn't she notice?
He was looking at her now, his eyes bore into hers and she was sure now, that he could read right through her. He could see what she herself had refused to see for such a long time. Yet, it was so clear now...so impossible to hide that she didn't even try.
She didn't want to.
She wasn't aware of anything surrounding her, it had all faded, all disappeared. She was losing herself in Chakotay's eyes and she didn't care. She lightly started when she felt Chakotay's arm gently circling her waist and she blinked in surprise when their bodies were closer so much that if she had touched his chest now, she would have felt his heart beating under her palm.
Would it beat as fast as hers?
His left hand went to her face, to graze her jaw and she closed her eyes as he said, "Breathtaking"
Her hand went to his face...to make sure it was real, that it was really happening. Her thoughts, though, eclipsed when Chakotay's lips caressed hers.
She closed her eyes, as Chakotay pulled her closer at him and his lips caressed hers, again and again. They were just caresses, tentative kisses and yet they were enough to let fire flow through her veins. She circled her neck with an arm, seeking an even more intimate contact as her lips parted open, accepting Chakotay's silent invitation.
Fire, passion, love, trust, images that filled her mind and heart at once...images of the two of them together, through the years. The Maquis and the Captain, the Warrior and the Princess, Kathryn and Chakotay...
They were together...and she didn't think she had ever been so happy, so whole in her life.
It was a dream come true, one he hadn't even allowed himself to dream for such a long time. Their bodies were so close now, so much that he could feel Kathryn's breast against his chest and her nipples hardening through the fabric of her shirt.
His left hand was still on Kathryn's face, brushing her soft skin with his thumb, he moved it up, to feel the silky softness of her hair.
His heart was furiously hammering in his chest but he didn't care, all he cared about was the woman in his arms, her body pressed against his, her perfume that was gently invading his senses.
All he cared about were the dreams he was fulfilling, dreams where he kissed Kathryn and she kissed him back with love, desire, trust.
He was dimly aware of how uncomfortable his trousers had become but when he tried to break away from Kathryn she stopped him, pulling her closer at him, rubbing against him.
He deepened the kiss and his hands went to her neck, to brush with his fingertips her naked shoulders.
Later, he would think of the consequences of their actions, later he would face her regrets if there would be. That wasn't the moment, though. Not on that lake shore in the last minutes of that shore leave.
Later he would think about what their life on Voyager was going to be.
He just wanted to grasp those shreds of dreams, he just wanted to have the chance to hold the woman he loved in his arms.
He just wanted to feel her love, her passion, her trust. Even if for a little while.
He felt Kathryn's hands grazing his shoulders, the woman's fingers tracing the lines of his cheekbones, he shivered when with her fingernails she tickled his neck.
They stood still under the clear sky of Eroh ' avlask, suspended in time and space.
They didn't hear the light rustle which announced the beginning of a transporter. They slightly broke their embrace only when a beam of purple light blocked them, beaming them into their worst nightmare.