'Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling

And every time we kiss I swear I could fly

Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last
Need you by my side

'Cause every time we touch, I feel the static
And every time we kiss I reach for the sky
Can't you hear my heart beat so I can't let you go
Want you in my life

- Cascada, "Every Time We Touch"

Chakotay

She fell asleep in his arms. Such a day emotional turmoil took a toll on Kathryn and she was exhausted. Chakotay commed Tuvok and asked for no interruptions and to tell him the Bridge was his. The Vulcan agreed and confirmed his logic about the Captain's sleeping habits.

With very little effort, he lifted her up and walked to the turbolift. He called for deck three and observed as she nuzzled closer to him. She opened her eyes slightly as if to corroborate he was still there.

"Hey," he said gently, "I'm here, go back to sleep."

"Where are you taking me?" she asked dazedly.

"To your quarters, so you can get some proper sleep," she nuzzled closer to him, craving his warmth, "Do you want me to carry you there or do you prefer to walk?" he asked, well aware of Kathryn's ultimate fear.

"It's okay, you do it." She seemed completely relaxed.

"Why, Captain, aren't you worried about someone seeing us?' he joked.

"Frankly, my love," she replied, "I am much too tired to give a damn." She nuzzled back up against him and closed her eyes once again.

Once in her quarters, Chakotay walked into the bedroom and sat Kathryn down on the bed as gently as possible, as if she were made of glass. Glass my ass, he thought more like duranium. Kathryn Janeway was no damsel in distress; she was the toughest woman he'd ever known; both physically and emotionally.

He removed the standard-issue uniform jacket, the combadge, and the insignias, removed her boots and tucked her into bed. He bent down and kissed her temple softly as he removed auburn locks away from her face.

"Sweet dreams, my love," he whispered into her ear. As he turned to leave, a lean hand on his wrist stopped him.

"Don't go!" she pleaded, her blue eyes met his.

"I won't," he promised, gently releasing his hand from her grip to remove his uniform jacket, combadge, and insignias, setting them aside next to hers. He walked to the other side of the bed, sitting to remove his boots.

"Computer, lights at 5%," he asked and instantly the room took a low lighting that was enough for Kathryn to sleep and for him to look at her. As he rolled into place, next to her, she drifted toward him and placed her head on his chest; an arm draped lazily around his waist, sliding through his torso and coming to an end right above his heart. He wasted no time in pulling her close. They complemented each other perfectly as if they were made to be together.

Kathryn

The lights got brighter suddenly, accompanied by the insistent computer voice.

"The time is 0700 hours." Kathryn shook herself out of sleep and noticed Chakotay staring back at her.

"Good morning, Commander," she said, voice husky from sleep, "I trust you slept well?"

"Oh, believe me, Captain. That is the best I've slept in years." He laughed, she kissed him and then repeated softly.

"Good morning, my love."

"Good morning, Beautiful," said he.

"I want to wake up like this every day."

"From now on, you will." Another kiss was shared. Then, Kathryn groaned, a smile beginning to form.

"I hate to break it to you, Commander, but we're due on the Bridge in 20 minutes."

"Well, there's that."

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you," Kathryn kissed him one more time, then kicked away the covers, "I talked to Admiral Paris earlier. Due to your excellent performance in Voyager these seven years, you and every Maquis crewman onboard have been fully pardoned. As soon as we set foot on Earth you and the rest of the Maquis crew can go as you please." Kathryn saw Chakotay's expression become euphoric.

"How did you..?"

"Arguing. Hours.. and hours.. of arguing. You'd be surprised at what a woman in love is capable of doing."

"Especially if said woman is Kathryn Janeway, am I right?" Chakotay added.

"Yes, especially if said woman is me," Kathryn beamed at him. He knew her so well.

Chakotay

Kathryn came out of the bathroom ten minutes later. Chakotay observed her carefully as he finished adjusting his uniform. She came into view wearing nothing but a thin, pink silk robe. Her short hair was tousled and wet from the shower.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" She had her back to him, but he could feel her rolling her eyes.

"I'm not staring at you," he replied.

"Yes," she turned around to look at him, "you are. I've known you for nearly a decade. Don't you think I know when you're staring at me?" Chakotay blushed.

"Are you some sort of sorceress? Because I still don't get how you do that."

"Consider it flattering, Commander," she tapped her palm to his shoulder twice, "it means I know you well enough to know certain things about you that not a lot of people would." And she went into the bedroom to change.

She came out five minutes later, immaculate as always. Chakotay handed her a cup of coffee, which she gladly took. He observed her take in the first sip.

"Okay, you can now start giving me the lecture."

"What lecture?"

"Well, you know... The one where you go on and on about how much coffee I drink. The one you've been giving me every morning since the day I met you." He laughed. It was a good, earnest laugh.

"Ah, THAT ONE," he said, pulling her to him for a kiss, " You know what, Kathryn? I give up. You win. I hereby declare impossible the task of separating you from your caffeine addiction." He kissed her again, then they were out the door and into the hallway.

As always, he let her take a few steps before him and lagged behind. It was an instinctive response, natural as breathing. She stopped and turned to look at him intently.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

"Yes, Captain," Chakotay replied.

"Then why the hell are you falling behind and not walking beside me? And why are you calling me 'Captain' all of a sudden?" He wasn't sure what to answer, so he opted to stay silent instead and walked quickly to her side. They walked inside the turbolift in silence, and Kathryn called for the Bridge.

"Halt turbolift," she ordered a few seconds later when she sensed the strangeness stretch between them. Chakotay frowned.

"Now, you listen to me, Commander," she said, blue eyes narrowed on brown ones, "We might have just walked out of my quarters, but that doesn't change anything of what I said last night."

"Kathryn, I thought..."

"Forget what you thought, Chakotay," she interrupted him, " I might be a Starfleet officer, I might be the Captain, but that doesn't change the fact that you're not 'just my first officer.' You're so much more than that! You're my best friend, my partner in crime. You're the man I love, the one that I chose to share what life I have left with. I don't know if you've noticed before, Darling; but we're not kids anymore and we're not getting any younger."

His eyes were on the floor now, and she gently placed her index finger under his chin to get him to look at her.

"I want you to look into my eyes and tell me what you see," he was silent. She took one of his hands and placed it on her heart.

"You feel that?" she tried again, this time he nodded, "That's because of you. Because you're with me. Every time you touch me, every time you kiss me, every time I look at you my heart beats like it wants to get out of my chest. All because of you. I am done, Chakotay. I am tired of lying to myself and to the world, so I'm done. I'm done trying to be someone I'm not, I'm done hiding. Chakotay, I love you. I always have, I always will. You're my one and only," she offered him her hand, "So, what do you say, Commander? Are you in for accompanying me to the Bridge, this time as my partner?"

Chakotay smiled, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly.

"You had me at 'Halt Turbolift'"