A/N: This is a particularly fluffy piece of J/C flummery, but I quite like it, actually, so I thought I would re-post. It was originally posted in May 2014. Unbeta'd, as the original was, but tidied up here and there.

Summary: Voyager stops for a spot of shore leave. J/C fluff.

Chapter One

Occasionally, it was almost possible to believe that there was nothing wrong at all. It was almost possible to believe that they weren't stranded in a distant and often hostile galaxy, decades from home. That they weren't separated from their loved ones by the greatest chasm that had ever parted human populations, that whatever plans for their lives they'd all had hadn't been put on indefinite and possibly infinite hold. Sometimes, just sometimes, being in the Delta Quadrant held a wonderful charm all of its own. The ship's current location was a perfect case in point.

Voyager had stopped at a planet that scans had shown to be uninhabited. Further exploration had also determined it to be beautiful, not to mention teeming with fruits, vegetables and meats that, if harvested, would completely replenish the ship's dwindling supplies of fresh produce. Neelix had wasted no time in coming to Janeway to request that they stay put for at least five days.

"After all," the Talaxian implored her, "the morale of the crew really could use some polishing right now, Captain. So what do you say? Two days to gather produce, three days of shore leave?"

His whiskery face had been so honestly earnest that Kathryn had been forced to suppress a smile. Even if she hadn't already been inclined to make their stop a significant one, she might have let herself be persuaded by his argument anyway.

"All right, Neelix, let's do it. Work with Commander Chakotay on the rotas for the harvest and for shore leave – I'll let him know I'm authorising skeleton crews on board for the duration of our stop here," she told him, dropping the PADD with the latest scans of the planet on her desk as she stood. "This is the first chance the crew has had for decent R&R for too long, and we don't know when we'll next get the chance. Let's make the most of it."

Neelix's beaming smile was enough to light up the ready room. "Aye aye, Captain. And – you will promise me you'll do exactly that yourself? You won't just stay up here, on Voyager?"

She smiled, moving around her desk to rest her hand on his shoulder with a gentle squeeze. "I promise, Neelix. You can hold me to that."

In truth, the Talaxian hadn't needed to force a promise from her. Kathryn was as eager for real air as the rest of them, and the idea of an entire week with a planet at their disposal – well, she hadn't had that since New Earth. Not that she'd be thinking too much about that particular shore leave…

"I've had so many requests for extra shifts, you'd think we were paying them," Chakotay told her, as he delivered the final rota. "I've never seen the crew so eager to undertake manual labour."

She laughed, taking the PADD he offered and scanning it quickly. "I don't blame them. I'm half-tempted to take a few shifts myself. In fact, I think I will. Add me into one of the orchard rotations. It'll be like being back at home. My sister and I used to pick apples for one of the local farmers over summer when we were in high school."

Chakotay chuckled. "And now here I am visualising a teenage Kathryn Janeway up a ladder, pigtails flying, apples everywhere…"

"Pigtails?" she repeated.

His dark eyes twinkled. "No pigtails?"

"As a teenager? Absolutely not, what do you take me for?"

"Dammit," Chakotay said, without missing a beat. "There goes another mental image ruined."

He pulled off a swift exit before she'd even managed to open her mouth to respond. Hours later, she still found herself smiling.

The two days of gathering produce passed in a haze of activity and excitement., and with the cargo bays crammed to the brim, the crew set out to enjoy themselves with all the gusto of inmates on day release. Some opted to camp on the planet, but others returned each evening to sleep on board, filling Voyager's corridors with laughter and the lingering impression of captured sunshine. Janeway alternated with Chakotay so that one of them was always aboard ship while the other was down on the planet, working in half-shift patterns so that each of them had ample time to enjoy the break.

The week was such a success that mid-way through it, Neelix began to worry.

"They've just all had such a good time, Captain," he fretted, calling her aside on the morning of the fourth day, "I'm concerned about what happens when we have to leave tomorrow evening. If anything, morale may dip even lower."

Kathryn saw exactly what he meant. There was part of her that didn't want to leave, either. The planet was beautiful, bountiful and peaceful. But still, she reasoned, it wasn't home and never could be. Or at least, it couldn't be for her. But for others? Maybe.

"Suggestions, Mr Neelix?" she asked.

"Well, Captain, I was wondering if we should have a – a big finale, of some kind."

"Oh? A party?"

"Yes, exactly, a party. And… perhaps you could say a few words, Captain. To start it off? Something positive about our journey – about continuing it, together."

Janeway nodded. "Good idea, Neelix. Oh – and one more thing…"

"Yes, Captain?"

"You are going to make one of those Jibelian fudge cakes, aren't you? For the party?"

The Talaxian's grin had been so wide that his whiskers quivered. "For you, Captain – anything."

Their final planetside gathering was to take the form of a cook-out. Once he heard about the party, Tom Paris introduced Neelix to the idea of a firepit, and after that there was no stopping them. The final day passed in a fury of preparation that involved the entire crew. Janeway, popping down to see how things were progressing, realised that Neelix really did know what he was doing where crew morale was concerned.

"He's a genius," she remarked to Chakotay later, as they convened in her ready room. "He's got everyone involved in preparing for tonight. Everyone has something to do, no matter how small. He's creating a natural climax to the week, and the build-up to it is helping them all adjust to the idea that it's coming to an end. Brilliant. We're lucky to have him, Chakotay. When we get home, I may even suggest the Fleet starts cloning him for every ship."

"Emergency Morale Officer Hologram?" Chakotay suggested.

She laughed. "Yes, exactly!"

Chakotay smiled, and then leaned against her desk. "You will stay this evening, won't you?" he asked. "Don't just start the party with your speech and come back to the ship."

She rested her chin on her palm and looked up at him. "That'll mean we're both on the planet, Chakotay. I think one of us should be here, don't you?"

"Tuvok will be here. He's already said he'd rather take bridge duty than attend the party. You should be there, Kathryn. The crew would like it. So would I – I feel as if I've hardly seen you this week."

She smiled. "Ships in the night, huh?"

Chakotay returned the smile. "Something like that."

Janeway thought for a moment, and then nodded. "All right. I'll stay."

"Good. Oh, and-" he paused in the act of walking for the door.

"What?"

"Just – how about foregoing the uniform tonight? You're the only member of the crew who hasn't taken it off, even for the days of shore leave."

She stood up and moved around the desk, leaning against it slightly. "Oh?" she said lightly, though even to her, her voice sounded slightly huskier than usual. "Does that mean you have a suggestion as to what I should wear, Commander?"

Chakotay covered his spark of surprise well, but she saw it. "Oh, I don't know, Captain," he said, after a moment, with a smile. "My guess is that you look good in anything."

She laughed. "Good answer, Commander. Very smooth."

[TBC]