Kathryn sat on the couch of her ready room in the dark. She was thinking about home, the love she left behind, and the new love she had found on Voyager. She felt like she was going to cry. It had been three years today that she made the decision to destroy the caretakers array and stranded the whole crew in the Delta quadrant. Even though she has found friends and a very special person to share her life with Kathryn still felt very alone. She sat in deep thought for close to an hour until she heard the chime on her door.
" Come in." Chakotay walked in and found her sitting on the couch. He was worried but didn't want to jump to conclusions. " I brought you the engineering and tactical report you wanted."
" Thank you just set them on the desk." Chakotay put them on the desk and then went and stood beside Kathryn.
" Is there anything else Chakotay?" He sat down beside her. " Yes what's wrong?"
" Nothing." He took her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her cheeks. " Kathryn sweetheart what is it?" She finally broke down and cried he put her on his lap and cradled her. After a while the sobs slowed into little trembles. " Shh it's ok sweetheart. I'm here."
" It's all my fault."
" What is?"
" That we are stuck here. I did this, and I have ruined everybody's lives in the process." Chakotay lifted her chin so that she was looking him in the eye.
" Kathryn you didn't ruin anyone's lives, you have actually made some of them better." She put her head back on his chest.
" How did I make things better Chakotay? We are stuck out here." He put his arms around her.
" Well, first of all if we weren't stuck out here B'elanna and Tom wouldn't be married and expecting their first child. Second, this crew has become a family which is all some of them have. Third we helped seven regain her humanity and she is now engaged to Harry. Last but not least if you wouldn't have stranded us out here I would have never found the love of my life, and be married to her now."
Kathryn looked him in the eye and saw all the love in the world. " I love you Kathryn and nothing is ever going to change that. Even if you did make a decision that made us stranded out here you gave us hope. I would have become a bitter old man if you wouldn't have made those decisions, and my crew would probably be dead. You saved us Kathryn. You saved me."
Tears were sliding down his cheeks. She slowly reached up and wiped them away. " You saved me to Chakotay. You taught me how to love again, and that it was ok to have a personal life and be a captain. I love you more than anything." He leaned in a kissed her. " Why don't you turn the bridge over to Tuvok and we go have a quiet evening at home."
" Ok Commander." Kathryn hit her comm badge. " Captain to Tuvok."
" Yes Captain."
" You have the bridge for the rest of the shift. The commander and I have some reports to go over."
" Yes Captain."
" Thank you Tuvok. Janeway out." Chakotay took her into his arms once more, and hit his comm badge. " Site to Site transport from the ready room to Captains quarters." The couple were transported to their quarters. Once in their quarters the Chakotay picked up Kathryn and sat on the couch as he placed her on his lap. " Chakotay I love you."
" I love you to honey, now you have had a long day why don't you get some sleep."
She snuggled up closer to him. " I think that is a wonderful idea." Within minutes she was asleep. The couple stayed there in each others arms for the rest of the night. Knowing they saved each other.