They laughed their way up the corridor, loosing the snug collars of their dress uniforms as they recalled B'Elanna's shriek when Tom picked her up and carried her into their gaily decorated honeymoon shuttlecraft.

"Care for a nightcap?" Janeway asked as they came even with her door.

"Twist my arm," Chakotay answered and followed her inside.

She produced Irish whisky from some mysterious source and brought the bottle and two glasses to where he sat on the cushions by the viewport, one leg bent in front of him so he could watch the slow drift of the shuttle away from Voyager's protective hull. Janeway followed his gaze with her eyes and smiled.

"They're so happy," she said with a contented sigh as she settled in across from Chakotay and offered him a glass. "It's good to see the crew that way, after everything we've been through together."

"It is indeed," Chakotay agreed. "To the newlyweds," he toasted. They clinked glasses and their eyes met in satisfaction as they both sipped.

"Seven tells me that B'Elanna took offense at something she said about Tom earlier this week," Janeway said.

"Our B'Elanna?" Chakotay grinned. "Never. How did Seven manage to insult Tom this time?"

Janeway shook her head. "Oh no, it wasn't an insult. Seven told B'Elanna that she was trying to improve her relationship with Tom."

Chakotay made an amused face at the bottom of his glass. "Improve their relationship? I bet B'Elanna loved that."

"Oh yes. Seven also told B'Elanna that Tom was a very competent officer and a skilled pilot. She came to me because she didn't understand the hostility she has noticed from B'Elanna since then."

Chakotay lifted his eyes to his companion, bemused. "She didn't understand that? We forget how short a time it's been since she left the collective. But if it motivated B'Elanna to close the deal with Tom, maybe we should be grateful to Seven for the nudge."

Janeway lowered her glass to the cushion and ran a finger around the rim. Her eyes flickered between the glass and Chakotay's face.

"She also told me that you have many admirable qualities."

Chakotay coughed on a swallow of whisky. "Me? Didn't she ever notice Harry following her around like a lost puppy? What does she want with me?"

Janeway took a long breath, let it out, set her glass on the small table beside them. "At the time, I wondered if it was a little test."

"What sort of test?"

Her eyes snapped back to see if he was teasing, but Chakotay kept a perfectly straight face.

"To see if I would react with the same hostility B'Elanna showed … when Seven admired Tom."

Chakotay held very still. "And did you?" he said in a tone far milder than his taut body language.

Janeway let a half smile move across her face. "I told her you do have many admirable qualities."

"Why thank you. I admire you very much myself."

Their fingers tangled together on the cushion and both stared at the knot their hands had made. Finally, Janeway spoke.

"What Seven said … I couldn't tell her that you were spoken for."

Chakotay tightened his grip on her hand. "Yes, you could."

When Janeway raised her eyes again, they held tears. "You told me once that we had plenty of time. I've wondered more than once if that time had run out."

"Kathryn." Chakotay put a hand to her cheek and stroked her temple with his thumb. "Are you trying to tell me that Seven made both you and B'Elanna jealous in the same week?"

That drew a full smile. "Just a tiny bit."

"So now if I propose, you'll say yes too?"

Her mouth fell open. "I didn't - " she faltered and he laughed.

"I was joking. I'd settle for a kiss."

Janeway took another deep breath, closed the distance, and placed her lips fully on his for a long, slow, probing kiss. As they broke away, he whispered,

"You can marry me next week."

They both burst into laughter. She fell into his arms and he pulled her against his chest, solid and secure, as if they'd done this a hundred times before. He kissed the top of her head and she nuzzled against his warmth.

"Commander Chakotay has many admirable qualities," Janeway announced in a pitch-perfect imitation of Seven.

Chakotay laughed aloud as he pulled Janeway up onto his lap and made ready to kiss her again.

"And I intend to show you all of them."

(Now continued ...)