The Day he Found Out

Prt 2

A Year Earlier-

After Kathryn Janeway had returned Voyager back to the Alpha Quadrant, she was more than a little tired. In fact she was completely exhausted. So when the debriefings began she was ready for them to e over. As captain she had to be present for all of the crew's debriefings. But by far, the hardest for Kathryn to get through was Chakotay's debriefing. There were more than a few times that she had to excuse herself when she felt herself get teary-eyed.

Kathryn had found out through much older self about the relationship between Seven and Chakotay. She was more than shocked. She never thought that Chakotay, who had been apprehensive about Seven, would have ever married her. But the words that the Admiral had spoken tore her apart. In fact they not only tore her feelings for him apart, but also the friendship strings that had remained intact for years.

A month later it was all over. Kathryn had been promoted to Admiral. Chakotay had disappeared. Apparently there was a rumor going around Starfleet that he and Seven were eloping. Kathryn had never given credence to rumors, but this one was different.

So life began to get back to normal for Kathryn. The work of an Admiral started to pile on her desk, and she loved all the extra coffee perks she got to have as Admiral. She even got around to ordering the Sumatran blend of coffee that she missed having on Voyager.

And then he showed up. She hadn't spoken to him since Voyager had gone missing. And now he was here in person. Her brain which was temporally stunned for a moment, regained its control as she finally said his name.

"Hello Mark."

"Kath, it's so wonderful to see you."

"You too Mark. Tell me how are the kids and your wife doing."

Mark looked down at his feet, but didn't answer the question.

Kathryn sensed something was wrong, very wrong. "Mark?"

"You always did start with the hardest questions first didn't you Kath? The truth is that my wife took the kids and left. They left about a month ago."

"I'm so sorry Mark. Why did she leave?"

"I had to face the facts in front of me. I didn't love her the way that I loved you. And frankly I never got over the fact that I have loved you since I was a kid. My wife sensed it when you returned, and we were already having problems, and she left."

Kathryn was speechless. Maybe it was the fact that she had been waiting for years for him to tell him how he felt about her. Maybe it was the fact that she was getting older and felt completely alone. Or maybe she just wanted to be selfish for once in her life. Whatever the reason she found herself saying it out loud for him to hear.

"I love you to Mark."

Mark's head flew up. "Kath are you sure?"

"That I love you? Mark I have been sure of that for years. "

Kathryn walked over to where Mark sat. She kneeled in front of his chair. "I love you Mark and I want to be with you."

Mark smiled and leaned over and kissed her.

From that moment on the two of them were in-seperatable. They spent every day together. Kathryn was happy because she finally had someone who truly cared for her the way that she cared for him.

Kathryn's mom on the other hand, had not been as understanding as Kathryn. In fact the day that Kathryn had transported to Indiana to tell her mom, she was almost kicked out of the house.

Kathryn had only seen her mother this angry one other time in her life. And she was 15 at the time. That had been the day that she had taken her mom's car out for a spin. She had been very careful not to hit anything on her joyride out. And she parked the car back in the garage without any dents of scratches. But when her younger sister came out and told her that Mom had returned early, because she forgot one of her books in the car, she knew she was in huge trouble.

The look that her mom had given to her then was the same look that her mom was giving her now.

"Kathryn Janeway of all the people you have ever dated why would you date Mark?"

"We love each other Mom."

"I thought you were in love with that handsome man that you were with on Voyager!"

"Chakotay? Mom Chakotay and I were friends, and he's married to a woman half his age that could be my baby sister! How could I love a man like that?"

"The question is how could you ever love a man like Mark?"

"How could I not mom? You're the one who insisted that we be friends remember?"

"Kathryn certainly you're not going to hold me to something that I told you to do when you were 7!"

Kathryn stood up and faced her mom. "Why not?"

"Because you needed to make friends then! Kathryn if you want to be with Mark, I just hope that you really care for him. Because if you don't things will really get complicated quickly."

"Listen Mom, Mark and I belong together the way you and dad belong together! And this is the last time that you will ever bring up Chakotay's name!"

Gretchen shook her head and returned to the kitchen.

Kathryn stood in the living room for a moment. Before she charged out of the house she uttered a few last words.

"ONE LAST THING MOM! I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY!"

And then the door slammed.

TBC

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