Disclaimer: as I'm sure you all know Star Trek isn't mine.
Author's note: I'm completly disregarding any information given outside the TV-show, such as the name of Janeway's sister.
"Hello, Seven."
The young woman was stunned and breathless. "Captain, you're here!" she exclaimed. Uncharacteristically, she embraced the smaller woman in a tight hug. Taken by surprise, Kathryn remained stiff for several seconds before returning the gesture. "It's so good to see you again," Seven said as she released Kathryn from her embrace, leaving her hands lingering on her mentor's arms.
"It's good to see you too," Kathryn replied with a soft smile, underlining her reciprocation by mirroring her companion's gesture.
"Won't you come in?" Seven stepped back to let Kathryn through the door.
"I'd be delighted to, and do call me Kathryn. I'm not your captain anymore."
"I will do my best to comply, but I cannot deny that on some level you'll always be the captain of every single crewmember of Voyager." Kathryn had no idea how to respond to such a compliment and simply smiled with gratitude before she turned to look at the apartment.
"I love what you've done with the place. A big change from Cargo Bay Two," she joked, attempting to alter the subject.
"Yes; Chakotay helped me decorate."
Knowing this wasn't the only thing Chakotay had been doing with Seven, Kathryn felt a sting in her heart. "Of course," she responded as she started wandering about the room to put more distance between Seven and herself. Stopping by the window, she looked out and asked, "How have you been?" Bracing for the reply, she took a deep, relaxing breath.
"I…I'm fine."
Janeway had to smile at this. "Now, you know very well that's my line." More seriously she added, "Tell me the truth, why don't you? Please."
Seven gave her a very-well nod before she opted to sit down on the couch by the window where Kathryn was standing. "I've…been better."
Her role model sat down next to her. "How so?"
"I think it began shortly after our return to the Alpha Quadrant. In the beginning, everything was so strange and…intimidating. I'm very grateful to Chakotay for helping me adjust to life here."
"That's good, Seven. I'm glad he can help you." She joined Seven on the couch.
"However, though he always assists me when I ask him to, he seems…distant. His mind is occupied elsewhere. Last night he took off in the middle of dinner without even telling me why."
"I'm sorry." Kathryn wasn't sure she really was.
"It is of little consequence. I've experienced a decrease in my feelings for him as well. He was stimulating at first, but I feel he has little more to offer me."
"I see. What do you intend to do about it?"
"I've been debating the issue for some weeks now, but when he left yesterday I finally decided…" Before Seven could complete her sentence, a gentle knock at the door interrupted her. "Excuse me," Seven said as she rose to answer it. "Doctor, what are you doing here?"
"Our weekly social lesson, remember?"
"Of course. I forgot. Please come in."
The doctor gladly obliged and was delightfully surprised to see the reason why the appointment had slipped Seven's mind. "I haven't seen you in months, Captain. Where have you been keeping yourself?"
"Oh, I've just been doing some thinking," she replied vaguely, not quite meeting his eyes.
"I see."
"How have you been? Enjoying life as the first hologram declared a sentient individual?"
"Indeed. Things have been going quite well. I expect it won't be long before my Delta Quadrant research and discoveries are approved by Starfleet Medical." There was no denying the pride shining through his countenance and words.
"That's wonderful, Doctor. Well, I'd better get going," Kathryn announced as she left her seat.
"Won't you stay for lunch? I've…missed your company." Seven almost seemed to plead.
"I'm sorry, Seven. I'd love to, but I have work to do. I promise I'll stop by again soon." Kathryn hugged her protégée, bid the doctor goodbye, and let herself out the door.
xxxxx
Later that day, Chakotay received a visitor at his door. It was Seven.
"We need to talk." That clichéd phrase had never sounded more ominous.
"I had a feeling," he said as he let her in. Knowing it was pointless to offer her a seat, he refrained.
As soon as she found herself satisfactorily far into the living area, decorated to reflect his native heritage, the young woman turned squarely on her heels and looked decidedly at the not-quite-so-young man. "I do not believe there is any point to our continuing the current nature of our relationship."
Chakotay tried not to show how thrilled he really was as he attempted to make sure he'd heard right. "Aha. When did you come to this conclusion?"
"I made the specific decision last night, but I've been debating the issue for several weeks."
"I see. Then you're sure about this?" he asked, feeling he might be pushing his luck.
"I am. I believe we had something for a short while, but after arriving here in the Alpha Quadrant our feelings have continually been fading. Now we are friends, nothing more."
"Well, I can't argue with that." Nor did he want to. "What now then?"
"I have gathered from my research and conversations with others that couples who are no longer together often discontinue any contact with one another. However, I fail to see the purpose of this. We live in close proximity to each other and are colleagues. It would be ineffective for the both of us if we were to avoid each other deliberately. We may as well continue as we were before dating."
"I don't see why not."
"Good."
"Uhm…can I offer you some tea?"
"No; I can't stay, but I'm sure I will see you around sooner or later."
"I'm sure. See you around," he concurred as he let the ever-efficient Seven back out the door, then went straight for the comm.link. On the way, he wondered if this could have been the quickest and most painless break-up in history.
However, Janeway didn't answer his call, so Chakotay decided to take another walk around the grounds.
xxxxx
When Janeway returned to her office, she sat down heavily in her leather-chair and gazed out the newly-washed window, which covered the entire back wall of the room. Her crew was finally free to go where ever they wanted, and the proverbial skies were blue. As her eyes fell on the Golden Gate Bridge, fond memories of returning home swept through her mind. That morning's visit to Seven had restored some of her hopes of future happiness. Her initial gratitude for being back on Earth, which had faded so quickly, was now revived. What was more, she'd been granted a promotion. She couldn't wait to tell Chakotay.
As if by design, she then spotted that very man walking along a gravel path among the richly green bushes down on the ground far below. It didn't take her long to decide she should indulge in an early lunch-break.
"Hey there." Chakotay whirled around at the familiar voice behind him.
"Kathryn!" He could hardly believe his luck. "What a pleasant surprise." His smile was warm and gentle.
"I spotted you from my office and wanted to bring you the good news right away."
"Really? What news?"
"You're free. Starfleet has declared all former Maquis members exonerated due to their loyal and excellent service to Starfleet over the past seven years."
"That's wonderful!" His chest swelled with excitement. This might just be his best day ever. "I guess I'll have to start looking for an apartment then."
"I'd say so." Her happiness on his behalf combined with his gentle, warm smile made her laugh slightly as a fuzzy feeling, emanating from deep within her belly, flowed through her entire body.
"Let's celebrate. Have dinner with me tonight."
"Dinner? What about Seven?"
"I'm glad you asked. She dumped me this afternoon."
"Really? When I saw her this morning, she did intimate that her future with you was uncertain, but I didn't dare assume anything." Though somewhat confused at first, as the news sank in she began to realize what this meant. Her happiness was further exalted, and she hardly knew what to do with herself.
"Well, what about that dinner?"
"Oh, I'd love to!" Laughing with joy, she almost threw herself into his warm embrace, but stopped herself when remembering where they were and that Seven had made him a free man only hours before. The last thing she wanted was to be disrespectful towards her dear friend. It would have been quite humiliating for the young woman too, her ex-boyfriend dating someone new such a short while after the dissolution of their relationship. Hence, she decided they should keep the new intentions for their relationship a secret for a couple of months at least, so Seven could retain her dignity. Additionally, it would allow the two of them to keep their privacy for a while.
"Good. My place at eight." Never had there been a greater smile on his face. Nearly kissing his precious love, he received a warning look and understood instantly why that would be wrong. Instead, they decided to warm up to dinner with a perfectly innocent lunch date instead. After all, they had a lot of catching up to do.
xxxxx
"So where do we go from here?" Kathryn asked at the dinner table later that night.
"You know what I want, Kathryn, and I believe it's the same thing you want." Chakotay looked deeply into her eyes. Lunch had been wonderful. The food had been so-so, but the company and the conversation and sensations that came with it had been oh-so-divine. If possible, dinner had been even better, perhaps because of the sacrifice that was their separation between lunch and the end of her workday. They'd already wasted so much time. "I want to be with you. Forever."
Kathryn took his hand across the table and smiled sweetly at him through the soft candlelight. "I thought so. I just needed to be sure it wasn't all in my head; it's been so long".
Chakotay held her hand tightly, but gently, stood up, and rounded the table to stand next to her. "Nothing will ever be more real than this, us." With the dark, handsome man now kneeling before her, she kissed him as tenderly as a woman possibly could. As they rose simultaneously, their lips never broke contact. Pausing to draw their breaths, they didn't just gaze into each other's eyes once more, but into each other's souls. Then two strong, warm arms took Kathryn into their gentle care and carried her to the soft bed. Finally, she felt truly at home.