"I upset you haven't I admiral?" Chakotay asked bracing himself for the outburst as he took his seat next to his former captain as the room began to fill the memorial service.

"No" was all Kathryn offered in bitterness without even looking at her former first officer.

"You know if there is one thing you are Kathryn Janeway it is a bad liar." Chakotay told her trying to keep in his smirk but his dimples giving him away.

"There is no need to agree to my invitations on my behalf." She snapped at him trying hard to keep her cool without making eye contact with him sat next to her.

"Would you have said yes?" He asked her calmly.

"That is none of your concern." She snapped at him in a deep undertone.

Chakotay waited steadily for a moment choosing not to say anything and then said softly "you didn't come to my dinner last week."

With his words Kathryn stiffened, she had been waiting for it. Setting her jaw she turned to him and hissed threw gritted teeth "not now commander."

"Is there ever a time with you admiral?" he asked feeling slightly exasperated.

"Commander" she sighed heavily "I have come to the memorial service of one of Starfleet's finest officers, this is not the time to talk with you my attendance or not to your engagement party." With that she rose from her chair, Chakotay quickly tried to follow in her actions but not with much effect "excuse me commander." She said with a curt nod before she was gone from his sight.

"Well done big man." Tom joked as he came up behind the now stunned Native American.

"Tom" growled B'Elanna in warning as she came to join her husband and best friend.

"B'Elanna, tell me something." Chakotay asked, "Why is she avoiding me? Did I upset her?"

"I thought that is clear" Snorted Tom which in turn earned him a sharp kick from his wife.

"Chakotay" sighed B'Elanna "you need to give her time to adjust to it, none of this is easy for her, just don't push her."

Chakotay scowled at the young couple now watching him "I am not pushing her, I just want to talk to her. I am aware it's difficult for her loosing command of Voyager and in turn joining the higher, I only want to help." Chakotay felt like all the crew, including Kathryn herself, were blaming him for Kathryn's sadness since their return to earth and it was beginning to frustrate him.

"What a p'tack!" hissed an angry B'Elanna "Kathryn loves being an admiral, sure she misses deep space missions from time to time but what admiral doesn't?"

"I don't understand?" Chakotay asked confused glancing over and the small woman, her auburn hair lining her face and a radiant smile on her lips as she greeted the Wildman's, glancing back at Tom and B'Elanna he asked "how often do you see her these days?"

"When she's not working heavily at least once a week" Tom told him "but all this with the Enterprise took it out of her, she blames herself, as I am sure any commanding admiral would, it's the way of command you know that, but seeing Picard and the crew will help."

Chakotay looked shocked "she was involved with the enterprise incident?" he asked almost horrified.

"She was the Admiral who sent Enterprise in.," sighed B'Elanna "it can't be helped, somebody had to do it, she knew Data was a good officer, just give her chance to morn him."

"Today should bring closure," agreed Tom "then she can return to Vulcan in peace."

"Vulcan?" Chakotay asked in confusion but never got a reply because they were interrupted by admiral Paris who wanted to steel away his son and daughter in law.

Chakotay looked at the woman he would have once called his best friend, two years clearly was a long time, had he known she had been the commanding admiral involved in the Enterprise incident he would have made more of an effort to see she was Ok but life with his beautiful new fiancé had taken over his world. No wonder she was out of sorts today he thought to himself.

(+)(+)(+)

Chakotay tried to talk to Kathryn after the service but she was a very popular woman and many demanded her attention. Always the radiant Starfleet Officer she willingly gave herself and her radiant smile to anybody who wanted her attention, anybody but Chakotay. Slowly the room began to become quieter as most of Starfleet's finest had gone leaving only those involved in the incident, Enterprise crew and Kathryn. Picard seemed to have not noticed the Native American and his beautiful Borg fiancé waiting at the door to talk with the admiral who was keeping herself busy in conversation with the Enterprise's resident Klingon.

It was Deanna Troi finally went over to talk with the couple, "Commander" the half Betazoid said with a smile and curt nod before turning to Seven of Nine who was stood close to his side and greeted the woman with a smile before saying "Seven of Nine isn't it?"

"Indeed, although friends call me Seven." The tall woman stated plainly.

Deanna looked slightly confused as she could sense little emotion from the former Borg before Chakotay smiled and said, "she is saying you may call her Seven."

"I see" smiled Deanna "lovely to meet you seven, have you and Commander Chakotay set a date yet?"

"A date? We have had several." Seven informed her "Would you like the details of each?"

Kathryn who had been talking with Warf not so far away heard what was said and froze loosing her cool, calm, joyful Admirals mask for just a second as Chakotay spluttered quickly interjecting "Seven darling, The commander is asking do we have a day set for our wedding."

Deanna smiled warmly all the while keeping Kathryn in the corner of her eye who had just excused herself from Warf and appeared to want to attract the attention of Captain Picard to bid him farewell. Deanna was brought back to her conversation as Seven said, "not as yet, we hope Admiral Janeway would conduct the ceremony as of jet we have not had sufficient opportunity to request this of her."

"The admiral has a busy schedule" Deanna reminded them with a smile as Chakotay watched her closely, out of the side of his eye he let his eyes wonder to where Kathryn now stood deep in conversation with the captain of Enterprise.

"Tell me" Chakotay asked the half-Betazoid "do you know why Admiral Janeway is avoiding us?"

Before Deanna could reply in a more tactful way Seven of Nine stated coolly "That is obvious for all to see, she still has romantic feelings for you."