He was about to kiss her but the third hand proved to be distracting. Letting a small sigh escape from his lips, Chakotay turned and looked around the room, pretending not to see the small girl pulling at his trouser leg.
He slipped a hand around Kathryn's waist and leaned in close to her ear. "Can you see anyone?"
Kathryn played along pulling a confused face. The only giveaway was the sparkle in her eyes. "Nope, no one in the room but us."
A fit of giggling erupted from below them and the little girl pulled harder on her father's leg. "I'm here, silly!"
The girl was close to three years old with lightly tanned skin, the dark curls of her father's hair falling against the deep sapphire eyes of her mother. Every trait you could attribute to one parent or the other; her mother's walk, her father's nose, and her laugh, she definitely had her mother's laugh. Everything except for her smile; she was a perfect mix of the two, soft and caring but devishly cheeky and framed by two familiar dimples. She really was a beautiful child.
"Still can't see anyone," Chakotay said, beginning to crack, "Can you hear something?"
Kathryn was working hard to keep her own straight face. She placed a hand on her husbands shoulder. "Maybe it's the wind?"
Another rumble of laughter came from the little girl and deciding she needed a better method of getting their attention she clambered up onto the sofa next to her parents and began to jump; a cheeky grin spread across her face.
Chakotay moved quickly, wrapping his arms around her mid-bounce and falling onto the sofa in such a way that she landed softly on to his chest.
"Oh, there you are!" he said in mock surprise, his dimples on full show. He hugged the girl tightly to him as she laughed and wrapped her small arms around his neck.
Once she was settled comfortably in his arms, he reached a hand out and clasped it around Kathryn's, pulling her gently onto the sofa beside him. She kissed him on the lips, much to the excitement of their daughter, and laid her head on his shoulder as his arm draped protectively round her.
Kathryn ran through her fingers through their little girl's soft hair and Chakotay smiled as he watched the exchange of expressions between mother and daughter. His chest burned with pride; these were his favorite moments, when he had both of his girls securely in his arms.