Chapter 2 – Att ha och att hålla
Stardate 56056.1 (AU2), Location – Starship Voyager in Delta Quadrant
Author's note: This chapter is a prologue to "The Folly of the Stewards" (although that story has not been written yet!). So, think of this AU as the unaltered Endgame timeline about a year after when Endgame would have taken place.
#
Seven's regeneration cycle ended and she stepped out of her alcove. The day marked the one thousand eight hundred and fifty second day of her being disconnected from the Borg Hive Mind and the three hundred and eighty third day since she and Commander Chakotay had started dating.
Or perhaps the first day of something even more significant.
The night before was still fresh in her memory. They hadn't planned anything special for the night, having lost count of which particular date they were on. Although, if Seven gave it some thought, she could figure that out readily. She resisted the temptation. Instead, they simply ate a meal in the mess hall and followed Tom and B'Elanna to Voyager's movie night. The movie itself was unremarkable, but the comments and jokes she shared with Chakotay had made it fun. It was so comfortable and natural. By now, the entire crew expected to see them together while off duty. Their romance, which had raised a few eyebrows early on, was now an established part of the Voyager routine.
And then, as Chakotay walked her back to the cargo bay, he seemed quieter than normal. Seven knew there was definitely something on his mind, but also knew he would share it with her when the time was right. How could she have guessed what that something was, and that she would find out just outside the cargo bay entrance?
Seven closed her eyes to better visualize the scene from the night before. They were holding hands as they walked. And then, as they paused in front of the cargo bay doors, Chakotay pulled her closer. She was expecting a kiss, but instead, Chakotay lingered as he looked at her. Drinking her in, as he would often say. "I love you," he said. Seven smiled at the memory. It hadn't been the first time he had said it, but this time, knowing what she knew now, it held so much more meaning and power. "I want to be with you always," he said. She let the memory of the words splash over her like the incoming tide. Again, she knew exactly how he felt about her. They were always honest and open with the other. It was something very reassuring about their relationship. Chakotay knew she shared those same feelings for him. "I want to be married."
Seven opened her eyes. The memory of the words were as surprising as when he expressed them the night before. But of course, not surprising. Why should she be surprised? She had entertained fantasies of marrying Chakotay, but they had always been at an indistinct time in the future. So much to learn. So much she was still uncertain about with her individuality and humanity.
"I want to be married," he said.
That was real. That was now. That was no turning back.
Chakotay must have sensed the panic she had felt. He had placed his arms around her waist and drew her even closer. "Think about it," he said. There hadn't been disappointment in his voice. Hopeful expectation, perhaps. They kissed. Of course not their first kiss, but a kiss infinitely more significant than any that had proceeded. Seven licked her lips at the memory of that kiss.
"I love you," she had managed before they parted. He smiled, and she couldn't move. She watched him walk down the corridor back to his quarters, and she still couldn't move for quite some time.
Hopeful expectation.
How could she think? How could she regenerate? But of course she did. She thought of him. Her love. Their love. Eventually she did regenerate. And now here she stood. The next morning.
Seven sighed and touched her comm badge. "Seven of Nine to Commander Chakotay."
"Go ahead."
"Yes," she said simply.
There was a pause on the other end, but then Chakotay replied, "When should we have the ceremony?"
"Today," was Seven's response. And why not?
"I'll go speak to the Captain immediately." There was a smile in his voice. She couldn't see him, but she knew it was there. She knew him well enough to know it was there. She knew him better than anyone. The smile. The dimples. All of him.
#
Captain Kathryn Janeway entered the Mess Hall in her dress uniform. The room was slightly crowded with those invited by the bride and groom. Unfortunately, only a fraction of the crew could attend the upcoming ceremony in person, due to space limitations, although it was likely most of the crew would pause in their duties and watch via the monitors recording the event. When she had left the bridge, an interior shot of the Mess Hall was already on the main view screen. Somehow even Lieutenant Barkley knew of the union, and requested a copy for Project Pathfinder personnel at the next uplink.
"You two never cease to surprise," Janeway commented as she approached Chakotay and Seven. "I knew things were getting serious, but you could have given us some warning."
"There was no reason to delay once the decision was made," Seven replied. Seven wore a simple white dress, and although lacking the frills of a typical wedding gown, it was particularly stunning on her. Her hair was down and cascaded over her bare shoulders, and on her head was a garland of myrtle leaves. Beside her stood Naomi Wildman in a nearly identical dress, although colored a light aqua. She beamed with pride and held a bouquet of flowers from hydroponics.
"Naomi, are you the flower girl?" Janeway asked.
Naomi looked slightly indignant, and Seven quickly corrected the Captain, "Naomi is my Maid of Honor. I have spent the morning researching the Earth wedding ritual, and in particular, traditions from my parents' native Sweden on Earth."
"You planned your entire wedding in a single morning?" Janeway asked with a smile.
"Yes," Seven replied without seeing the humor. "Naomi is my only attendant, and in addition to the best man, will stand beside us as Chakotay and I share our wedding vows."
Janeway shifted uncomfortably. "Is there something specific I need to say?" she asked.
"I will leave it to your discretion Captain," Seven said. "It need not be extravagant."
"I'll do my best," Janeway replied, trying hard to repress the laugh that threatened to escape.
"I picked out the color and replicated the dresses," Naomi said proudly. "Do you like them?"
Janeway smiled and nodded. She stepped up to Chakotay, the smile still on her face. Chakotay was not in a Starfleet dress uniform, but rather a dark gray suit with an open collared shirt. On the suit was a white rose attached to his lapel. He looked rather handsome, and Janeway felt a fleeting sense of regret. But, that was long past. Chakotay was her friend. Her best friend. "Are you ready for this Chakotay?" Janeway whispered.
"I am," Chakotay responded happily.
Janeway gazed about the room. Chell and Icheb were busy preparing something at the far end of the room, and Harry Kim appeared to be assembling his clarinet. "Have you taken part in any of the planning?" she asked, a bit bemused.
"I selected my best man," Chakotay replied, "and then stood back. Seven has everything under control."
Janeway looked again at the assembled crowd and spotted the best man immediately. Ayala was wearing an identical suit to Chakotay, of course, with an aqua tinted rose. He was talking amiably to Amelia Jenkins. Many of Chakotay and Seven's closer friends were also in attendance. Janeway spotted several former Maquis crew members including Cathal O'Donnell, Marina Jor and B'Elanna Torres. She knew B'Elanna and Seven didn't see eye to eye on many things, and so assumed she was there for Chakotay. Janeway didn't know Crewman Jor very well, so couldn't decide what her connection was to the bride and groom. There were about a dozen others. She was surprised to see Tal Celes. Although Celes worked for Seven in Astrometrics, the times Seven had mentioned her seemed to always involve a concern for the quality of her work. Tom Paris, the Doctor, Harry Kim, Samantha Wildman.
Janeway noticed Chell consulting a timepiece, and then he started uncovering what turned out to be various dishes of food at the far end of the Mess Hall.
"Seven prepared a traditional meal for the reception, with Chell and Icheb's help," Chakotay said, leaning closer to Janeway. "The recipes have been entered into Voyager's replicator database so those who aren't here can partake if they wish."
Indeed, everything seemed to be going like clockwork. Seven hadn't missed a thing. "Who will be standing in as the father of the bride to give Seven away," Janeway asked, suddenly curious, and then held up her hand. "No wait, let me guess. The Doctor."
Chakotay shook his head. "The two of us will walk down the aisle together actually," he said. "A father giving away his daughter, even symbolically, a little too patriarchal."
Tom stepped up to the two of them. "Precisely two minutes until we begin. Harry's getting ready to play the Wedding March. You two better take your positions."
Janeway stepped quickly over to where Naomi and Ayala were already assembled. Tom followed behind chuckling to himself and then turned back to Chakotay and Seven. "Chakotay, did you get to help in planning the honeymoon?" he joked.
"I have something very special planned," Seven responded, wrapping her hand in Chakotay's arm, her ocular implant slightly raised and the corner of her lips curled up.
Tom smiled back and raised his own eyebrows.
At precisely 1700 hours ship time, Harry Kim began playing the Wedding March on his clarinet. The doors to the Mess Hall opened, and in walked Chakotay and Seven. The Mess Hall wasn't very big, so it didn't take long for Chakotay and Seven to be in position and Harry had to improvise to quickly end the song.
Janeway looked out at the assembled guests. As Captain, the honor of uniting these two people together in matrimony was hers. An honor she had performed only twice before on this long voyage through the Delta Quadrant. How wonderful that responsibility was. "We're gathered here today, not as Starfleet officers, but as friends and family, to celebrate the marriage of two of Voyager's finest, Chakotay and Seven…"
#
Observer's note: Reference subjects continue in nominal trajectory. Recommend one or both as normal subjects in necessary spatiotemporal confluence for 7983-17 correction – target E577:345:07.3.
Observer's summary: Timeline proceeds at 0.14 in a general deviation of -0.086 from median.
End – E574:215:06.1
5582
Key indicator (7234/5): 0.01
General: nominal
#
Author's note: So, eventually I'll write "The Folly of the Stewards" the last of the "Alternatives" timeline stories. It's going to be a bit different than all the others stories, since the main character will be a non-humanoid 'steward' wishing to return to his own universe with the aid of Seven and Chakotay.
Next chapter: A missing scene from the last chapter of "Out of New Earth." I think by now you can guess what might happen.