Disclaimer: It's not mine and I won't take credit or money.
A/N: But I enjoy changing the story, even if it's not Canon, I think the J/C story deserves a total re-write in a general. I'm writing in a couple characters though, I'd like to think Amelia Earhardt stayed on board Voyager, and that Ja-Car-Dain might have gone with Chakotay, as I think the story deserves to be explored in that, and Resolutions happens right after Initiations. Coda happens a month after their return, for a few reasons.
On February 14th, 2373, Captain Janeway and her first officer were still on New Earth. Before they had been stranded, Chakotay had felt a clear obligation to a young Kazon to take him and show him the ways of Starfleet, but he hadn't been counting on being trapped on a planet, unable to fulfill his duty to the young boy. He left the boy in the care of the one person he trusted more than Janeway: Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres. He also hoped the two would bond over the experience in caring for the boy. He was truthful that Janeway had helped him find peace, but beyond that, Car-Dain as well, had helped him to be at peace with his father's untimely passing in a way he hadn't expected.
He had just shown Kathryn the plans for the boat he wanted to build, and truly wanted to do everything in his own power to make her feel like she could be comfortable here, as they were unlikely to be rescued soon.
"I doubt we'll fit the bathtub in the boat..."
"It's okay I love the river!" Kathryn had looked at him with such joy at the idea of rowing the river that he'd set right to work on the boat's framework. At this rate, he'd have the boat finished for it's maiden voyage in two days.
When it came time to launch the boat, they had some difficulty actually getting it out into the river, the rudder kept getting stuck in the muddy reeds. After Kathryn fell for the third time, the rudder shook free, and suddenly Chakotay, who had been at the bow of the boat, was flung immediately onto his back, into the freely flowing, faster water in the deeper section of river. If he hadn't pressed his heels in, he'd have been dragged off, much like the boat was currently doing in the fast current of the water. Thinking very quickly, Kathryn grabbed one of the oars at her side, as she'd been carrying them, and hooked it onto the boat's aft starboard side.
"Careful Chakotay. Obviously we both need swimming and boating lessons." She joked with a wink at him.
"Well, I suppose the water is a bit too fast right now for a bath." He replied to her, smiling at the very free banter they had grown accustomed to.
They climbed into the now corraled boat, and were a few meters down the river when they began laughing at themselves, each looking ridiculous with soaked hair and clothes.
"It's starting to get a bit cold, perhaps we should head back."
"You're right, I'm thinking hot cocoa by the fire would be a good idea. We'll wait a few days for the next journey." Kathryn suggested.
Getting back proved to be taxing on Kathryn, as she hadn't had as much upper body conditioning and since Chakotay had been a boxer in a previous academy career. Chakotay decided then to give her a better massage than the one previous. He slipped off her robe and slowly massaged her back, arms, and upper shoulders on her bed.
"Thank you for being so open to me the past few days. Have you thought more about truly creating a life here?"
"I have." Kathryn gazed at him softly for a long while, conveying a deep love, fear and passion and duty to her crew. "I love you, Chakotay,if we do leave here, we do so together. As a couple."
Chakotay was truly overjoyed at her declaration, and as he responded in kind, "I love you, too." They heard the staticy "Car-Dain to Chakotay..."
"Chakotay here."
"We have recieved a gift from the Doctor's old friend Denara Pel, and though we needed to fight a few ships, we're on our way back to you. We'll be there in 4 days, with medicine that will treat your condition. I had to fight Tuvok to be able to get back to you. You have shown great honor and loyalty to me, and truly, I owe you my life. I consider this a debt re-paid."
"Car-Dain, I... Thank you, my son." Chakotay said with this with tears in his eyes. Making eye contact with Kathryn, he spoke softly, "I suppose we'll go back to command now?"
"Yes, but... I can't go back to how things were, not now, I love you. We'll make this work." She said, putting a hand on his.
Looking at her with a deep longing and passion, they both made a decision in that moment. To be complete with one another. He took her in his arms, and made love to her several times, expressing his love for her in so many ways that it scared them.