A month and a half later, Kathryn is happily and yet still somewhat reluctantly back at headquarters and to her life as a highly decorated Starfleet Admiral. The honeymoon had been an absolute dream, in that it was all at once wonderful and passed by far too fast for her liking. They had visited every part of Europe and Asia they were never able to enjoy when their working lives kept them too busy, indulging in fascinating exploration, exquisite cuisine, and the peace of each other's exclusive company. Now reality once again rears its ugly head. Well, ugly may be too harsh of a word. She truly does enjoy her work with the admiralty (most of the time) and she's never been the type to tolerate lazing about for very long. But still, some part of her continually longs for the languid, carefree days wrapped in Chakotay's presence, even after a couple of weeks of being back to the grindstone.
Shaking those distracting thoughts off, Kathryn crosses her office to the replicator to retrieve the cup of coffee she ordered, never once taking her eyes off the PADD in her hand. She reaches for the cup only to feel her hand swoop through empty air.
Confused, she finally looks up from her PADD and sees no coffee. She rolls her eyes at herself, only now recalling that it would help to actually speak her order to the replicator out loud as she had neglected to do before.
"Coffee, black." The replicator obediently reproduces her liquid sanity and she immediately picks it up to take a sip while returning her eyes to the PADD in her other hand. Crossing back to her desk, she sits down and drains the cup in three quick gulps. Putting aside the empty cup, she suddenly realizes that while her eyes have been making a show of reading the data, her brain hasn't actually chosen to participate and she can't recall a single word of the last three paragraphs she just read. She sighs and picks up her cup to take a sip, only to sigh louder when she belatedly remembers that she drained it not two minutes ago.
Rolling her eyes, she puts the cup down with a clunk and scrubs her face. Get it together, Janeway, she tells herself. You may have been on your honeymoon recently but that's no excuse for letting your brain go soft.
Kathryn smiles as she glances over at the holoimage adorning a place of honor on her desk, her favorite picture of her and Chakotay at their wedding reception. The Doctor had gone crazy with his holoimager that day, snapping away even when they weren't aware of his presence. As a result, he managed to catch a very candid moment of Chakotay and Kathryn dancing and gazing into each other's eyes as if they were the only two in the galaxy. Thinking back to that moment, she remembers that that's in fact how it very much felt.
She sighs and tears her eyes away from the image, chastising herself for getting even more distracted than she's already been. Three months leave plus a wedding plus a little extra time away for a honeymoon seems to have done a number on her higher brain functions. She's been having more trouble than usual getting back into command mode…or even reading mode, for that matter.
In truth, she hasn't been feeling quite right for some time now. It isn't so much a physical discomfort, although she is beginning to feel the early signs of a roiling stomach thanks to the coffee she drank way too fast. It's more of a nagging feeling of off-ness somehow, and not really one she can logically prove to anyone but herself. But then again, even the fact that coffee could have any sort of negative effect on her is a pretty tell-tale sign that something isn't quite right. She's been practically mainlining the stuff since she was a teenager.
Kathryn sighs and shakes off the feeling, picking up the PADD with a new found determination to beat whatever it is that has her off her kilt. Admitting something is wrong means submitting herself to a trip to see the Doctor, especially if her husband gets wind of anything. And as much as she loves seeing the Doctor on social occasions, a medical visit would only get her a round of hyposprays and an endless stream of lectures about her long working hours and coffee abuse.
She just manages to get herself legitimately immersed in work when her commbadge chirps.
"Ayala to Janeway." Kathryn smiles at the familiar voice, once again glad that Mike decided to take a posting as head of Starfleet security at HQ to be closer to his family. It makes her feel more connected to the old days of Voyager again. She taps her commbadge.
"Janeway here."
"Admiral, do you have a visitor with you in your office?"
Kathryn looks around, rather dumbly she realizes because she already knows her answer. "No, no one in here but me. Why do you ask?"
"A routine sensor sweep shows an unauthorized lifesign in your office. It might be a malfunction from this morning's systems maintenance, but I'm on my way up just in case. Please arm yourself, Admiral, I'll be right there."
Immediately alert, Kathryn jumps up from her chair so fast her head swims a little and grabs the phaser clipped under her desk. "Acknowledged. Janeway out."
She opens the drawer in her desk and grabs her tricorder, keeping her phaser at the ready and pointing it at what she hopes is the general direction of the unseen assailant. She knows it could be a simple malfunction as Mike said, especially since she can't detect anything with her naked eye, but her years in the Delta Quadrant have taught her that nothing is really impossible. There could be some invisible entity in her presence, and she'll be damned if she's going to be caught with her guard down.
Her tricorder beeps an alert that there is indeed an additional lifesign besides her own, very faint but present nonetheless. She sweeps the tricorder around her desk then around the rest of her office, keeping her finger on the phaser's trigger. Whoever is in her office, it seems to be following her.
Mike enters a few seconds later, his own phaser and tricorder drawn in each hand.
"Are you all right, Admiral?"
"Fine. But there definitely is another lifesign in here. I just can't pinpoint it, it's very faint."
"I'm reading it too," Mike answers with his eyes on his tricorder. He moves away from Kathryn to sweep the opposite side of the room while she continues to scan her area. The lifesign stays with her but she can't determine a specific location or even a species.
"That's strange," Mike pipes up a corner of the office.
"What is?"
"The further I move away from you, the fainter it gets." He comes back towards her with his tricorder and phaser pointed.
"Do you think it's drawn to me somehow?"
"Possibly." He studies his readings, brow furrowed, then realization seems to dawn on his face. "Admiral, I think I have a theory."
Before she can ask questions, Kathryn watches as he clips his standard tricorder back on his belt and pulls out a medical one instead. He begins to scan her.
"Am I going to get an explanation anytime soon, Mike?" she asks, trying to keep her tone light but inside she's burning with curiosity and just a hint of irritation.
"I'm sorry Admiral, I just have a suspicion that-," he cuts off and looks at her with wide eyes. "Admiral….according to these readings, you're…pregnant."
Mike's last words cut through the haze that had been clouding her brain as if he had just shot her with the phaser he's still holding. "Preg-pregnant?" she asks breathlessly. "Are you sure?"
"Well, we only received basic medical training in case we need to help any injured, but these are readings we were taught to recognize with absolute certainty."
Kathryn puts a shaky hand to her midsection and stares into nothingness with what she's sure are comically large eyes. "Pregnant," she says again, then a grin spreads across her face when the word finally begins to coalesce into a stunning and wonderful reality. I'm going to be a mother. And Chakotay's going to be a….
She beams at Mike and notices for the first time that he's smiling as well. As one of Chakotay's closest friends and a father himself, he probably arrived at the same thought long before she did.
"Permission to hug the admiral?" he asks with barely restrained delight.
"Permission most definitely granted." Kathryn laughs when he engulfs her in a tight bear hug and feels happy tears prick the corners of her eyes.
"Congratulations, Admiral," he says into her hair. "To you and the Captain. I know the Big Guy's going to be thrilled."
"Thank you," she answers breathlessly. When he lets her go, she wipes at the tears and takes the medical tricorder from his hands. "Is that the baby's lifesign?"
"Yes, right there," Mike says, pointing to the faint little line under the much bolder one, hers she presumes. She feels tears again, realizing vaguely that she could very well be hormonal already. "The sensors probably picked it up and didn't recognize it. We can recalibrate them to register the extra lifesign tonight, no problem."
"Great," Kathryn says absently, still staring at the little line. That is her child. Her's and Chakotay's…
"Oh Mike!" she blurts out. "You can't put this on report just yet. I don't want anyone else to know until I've had a chance to tell Chakotay."
Mike smiles. "Not a problem. I have at least 'til morning before I have to turn in a log. And your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you, Mike," she smiles and pats his arm. "I know I can trust you. I'll tell him tonight, I promise."
Now the question is how, she thinks, already giddy with anticipation. Kathryn knows Chakotay has always loved and wanted children. He admitted to her when they discussed the possibility about a month ago that he had given up hope of ever having any at his advanced age. She had too, admittedly, despite the Doctor's prognosis before they had left for their honeymoon. But it seems that fate finally decided smile down upon them and grant them yet another dream they thought had eluded them forever, even after being granted the already wonderful dream of finally being together. Chakotay will be beyond thrilled.
Suddenly an idea occurs to her. She turns to Mike and smiles mischievously.
"Mike, how soon can you write up that report?"
Chakotay adjusts the messenger bag on his shoulder and sighs as he makes his way down the block to his and Kathryn's Starfleet issued apartment, grateful for the manageable walking distance after such a long and trying day.
He still doesn't regret trading starship flying for Academy teaching. He loves the work and it allows him a normal home life with his wife, something he's wanted for a very long time. But on days like this, when meetings run long, students ask questions that he's sure he had covered nearly a hundred times in the lecture, and hot tea decides to leap out of its proper place in its cup and onto his shirt, he can't help but give in to a little bitter grumbling. But at least he has only a few more summer class sessions before getting a brief respite until the fall classes start up. Right now though, he's perfectly content to have a nice, quiet dinner with Kathryn and then maybe a long soak in their tub….also preferably with Kathryn.
He arrives at their building and takes the 'lift up to their high rise flat. He still considers the place a temporary housing, albeit a very nice one thanks to the perks of being married to an admiral, but he's starting to really like it after living there through some of the biggest and happiest events of his life. He might even miss it when they finally move on to greener and more permanent pastures.
Chakotay walks through the door still dreaming of houses and gardens when he looks up and stops dead in his tracks. Their large living room is sparsely lit by a low level lighting and many candles spread throughout the room. The couches are pushed aside and a lovely, romantic dinner for two has taken their place. Soft, jazzy music plays in the background. He's starting to wonder if he has the right apartment when Kathryn comes out from the kitchen, dressed in a simple but elegant black cocktail dress and looking absolutely beautiful. She is carrying a plate of surprisingly delicious looking food and grins when she spots him.
"Oh good, you're home," she says as she puts in the plate down in front of one of the place settings. Chakotay drops his messenger bag by the door and begins to walk over to her.
"Indeed I am." He looks around. "It was me you were expecting, wasn't it?" Kathryn laughs and stands on her tiptoes to kiss him when he finally reaches her side.
"This time," she jests, eliciting a low chuckle from him.
"So what's the occasion? You're not proposing, are you? Because I'm pretty sure we sealed that deal over a month ago." He grins when she thumps him on the chest for his teasing and rounds the table to stand in front of her seat, gesturing with a flourish.
"Can't a wife have a romantic home-cooked dinner waiting for her husband when he gets home from a long day at work without any ulterior motive?"
Chakotay channels Tuvok and raises an eyebrow. "Home-cooked?"
She relents. "Okay, can't a wife beg her mother to beam over said home-cooked meal so she doesn't kill her husband only a month into their marriage?" Chakotay laughs and crosses over to her side of the table.
"Well it was cooked in a home so I guess it still counts." He bends down to give her another kiss, a lingering one this time. He pulls away before he begins to forget about the dinner. "And it's a lovely gesture. Thank you. I could really use it after a day like today."
"Oh?" Kathryn asks as Chakotay pulls out her chair and lets her sit before crossing to his own. "The youngsters giving you a hard time already?"
"Yes, but only slightly more than usual."
"You'd think years of trying to reign in Tom and Harry would have you used to that by now," she jokes. He chuckles.
"You would think."
They continue their light banter over a wonderful meal that he'll definitely have to thank Gretchen for later. But he doesn't believe for a second that she didn't have an ulterior motive for planning this romantic setting, and he knows her well enough to tell easily that she's sitting on some news that she just can't wait to share with him.
He suspects he knows what it is though. Earlier this afternoon their realtor commed him at his office to tell him that the house they had been in a bidding war over had just officially become there's. He was thrilled beyond measure, the house sits in a secluded community in Big Sur surrounded by trees and the ocean and close enough to Starfleet Headquarters and the Academy to remain convenient (especially if they get that hovercar he's been trying to convince her to buy) but far away enough to give them the separate home life they both crave. It's perfect, and they've both been a bit edgy the last few days hoping the other couple trying to outbid them finally gives up. Now it's their home and he can't wait to start planning the move.
He suspects the realtor commed Kathryn as well but from the set up to a big announcement, he has to assume that the realtor didn't tell her that she had already informed Chakotay as well. But after going through so much trouble to surprise him, the least he can do is bring the surprised reaction, fake or otherwise. Now he just has to sit back and wait.
The moment comes after they finish dessert, when her barely contained anticipation bubbles forth into a sly grin. "You were right earlier, you know."
"Oh?" Chakotay asks, still feigning ignorance. "About what?"
"I do have an ulterior motive for the romantic dinner. A surprise, actually."
"A surprise for me?"
"More like a surprise for both of us."
Yup, it's definitely the house, he thinks with a hint of triumph over reading her so well. "Both of us?" he teases. "I don't know how much I'd want to share my surprise. Especially if it's edible."
She laughs. "Definitely not edible, but there will be more than enough to share, don't worry." She pulls a PADD out from her lap. "But first you have to read this."
Chakotay's brow furrows as he takes the PADD. Is she breaking the news with a deed to the house? He looks down and instead discovers it's an incident report.
"Read it out loud, please," Kathryn requests. His confusion spikes but he complies.
"Incident report, Lieutenant Mike Ayala, Chief of Security, Starfleet Headquarters." He looks up to her still smiling face. "Kathryn, what-?"
"Go on, read," she encourages. His brow furrows further as he continues.
"At 0800 hours, a routine sensor sweep was done throughout Starfleet Headquarters to ensure that earlier maintenance of the sensor grid had been performed successfully. Scanners picked up an unauthorized lifesign originating from the office of Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway. I commed Admiral Janeway and inquired of her status. She said she was alone in her office and I advised her to arm herself in the event that the lifesign was somehow cloaked and therefore hostile."
Chakotay paused his recitation to look up at his wife with concern. "An authorized lifesign? Kathryn, are you all right?"
She waves a dismissive hand. "I'm perfectly fine. Just keep reading."
Chakotay frowns a bit more, wondering how her being in potential danger could ever possibly be considered a good surprise for him, but keeps reading. "I arrived at her office at approximately 0802 hours. The admiral and I scanned the vicinity, noting that the lifesign seemed to be following her location as she moved about the office. After following a suspicion and performing an additional scan with a medical tricorder of the admiral, I determined the intruder alert to be a false alarm and the sensors in need of additional calibration. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Admiral Kathryn Janeway is expecting a baby…."
He tapers off there and rereads the last line in his head several times before it slowly begins to sink in. He looks up at Kathryn, who is outright grinning now.
"You didn't get to the part where it says that the sensors will have to be recalibrated to pick up the extra lifesign of Admiral Janeway's and Captain Chakotay's child."
"Our….our child?" he asks, his voice breathy with wonder. He watches Kathryn's features soften and her eyes mist over.
"Yes, Chakotay. Our child. I'm pregnant."
Pure joy wraps around Chakotay's heart and soul and has him out of his chair and gathering Kathryn in his arms before his brain even registers himself moving. He feels tears sting his eyes and he pulls back just enough to look at her.
"You're pregnant?"
"Yes," Kathryn answers happily.
"With a baby?"
"I should hope so."
"I'm going to be a mother and you're going to be a father?" Kathryn laughs.
"Something like that."
"Oh, Kathryn!" He hugs her again, then pulls back to kiss her lips, her eyes, her cheeks, her nose, any part of her he can reach. Then he covers her midsection with his hand.
"There's a baby in there?"
"Yup, our little unauthorized lifesign." Chakotay gives a watery laugh, then reaches up to discover his face wet with tears. Kathryn reaches up to, wiping them away even as her own tears spill over her cheeks.
"I-I can't even express how happy this makes me, Kathryn," he says as he thumbs her tears away too. "I love you, so, so much."
"I love you too, Chakotay. With all my heart."
He kisses her again, deeper this time, and it doesn't take long for the kiss to heat up and spiral out. He sweeps her up off the chair and into his arms, carrying her into their bedroom while still peppering her with kisses. When they arrive at the bed, Chakotay lays her down with extreme gentleness, causing Kathryn to laugh.
"I won't break, you know." He grins.
"My child's in there, I don't want to jostle him or her around." Chakotay removes his jacket then stretches himself on top of her, kissing along her jaw and neck and across the top of her dress, eliciting soft sighs and moans that increase his desire tenfold. They remove clothes quickly, but before they go any further he hesitates. She breaks their kiss when she feels it.
"What's wrong?" Kathryn asks him, then can't help but tease. "Afraid you'll knock me up?"
Chakotay laughs, but his eyes gleam with worry. "It might sound ridiculous, but I'm afraid of hurting the baby."
Kathryn strokes his face lovingly. "You're sweet to worry, but you won't, I can assure you. All you'll do is make Mommy very, very happy." Her voice drops an octave on the last few words and desire comes coursing back through Chakotay's veins, even as his heart swells at the word "mommy".
"I love you, Kathryn."
"I love you more," she answers sincerely. He doubts that's possible but he's honored nonetheless.
The impending new parents spend the rest of the night that way, lost in their love and passion for each other.
The next day, an excited Kathryn tugs along an equally elated Chakotay down the halls of Starfleet Medical towards the Doctor's office. She finds it hard to believe that she's back there so soon for the very reason she suspected she would return after that conversation prior to her honeymoon. It seems like their lives have finally come to a settling point, after over a decade of being together in incredibly extraordinary circumstances. Star-crossed lovers on a ship lost in the nether regions of space, now husband and wife with desk-bound careers expecting their first child. Kathryn never suspected she'd be so happy with anything so wonderfully ordinary.
They arrive outside the Doctor's door and give each other one last secretive grin before schooling their features and entering the office calmly.
"Good morning, Doctor," Kathryn calls out. The Doctor looks up from his work and stares in surprise.
"Admiral, Captain! What an unexpected pleasure!" He frowns in concern. "Is one of you ill?"
"Not at all, Doctor," Chakotay assures him. "Kathryn is just here for a checkup."
"A voluntary checkup?!" the Doctor asks in pure disbelief. Kathryn nods.
"Do you have the time?"
"Um, oh yes, of course!" he sputters, thrown off by the novel turn of events. "Please, have a seat."
Kathryn hops onto the biobed and Chakotay goes to stand by her side as the Doctor pulls out his medical tricorder to begin scanning her.
"Any complaints?" the Doctor asks.
"None at all. I feel great."
"So you're really just here for a routine physical?" he responds, still not believing it.
"It would seem that way," Kathryn answers somewhat slyly. The Doctor clucks his tongue as he continues scanning her.
"For seven years in the most treacherous parts of the galaxy, you've fought me like a cat at a vet every time I tried to treat you. Now we're back in the relatively safe Alpha Quadrant and all of a sudden you're-,"
The Doctor's tirade cuts off suddenly as his medical wand floats over her midsection and he brings the tricorder closer to his face, as if not believing his own visual subroutines. He passes the wand over her abdomen again to be sure, then looks up at Kathryn, who gave in to her grin a long while ago.
"Admiral, did you know…you're-,"
"I think you just confirmed what we already suspected." The Doctor tosses his tricorder aside carelessly and envelops her in a fierce hug, laughing joyously. He pulls back and holds her at arm's length, grinning.
"Congratulations, Admiral. I'm so very happy for you."
"Hey, I helped too, you know," Chakotay teases from her side.
"Of course!" the Doctor exclaims, releasing Kathryn to give Chakotay an equally excitable embrace. "Congratulations, Captain."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Does anyone else know?" the Doctor asks after he releases Chakotay.
"Just Mike Ayala. He's the one who discovered I was pregnant, actually," Kathryn answers.
"Other than that, you're the first to know," Chakotay assures him. The Doctor beams with pride.
"Do you know how far along you are?" he asks Kathryn. She chuckles.
"I was hoping you could tell me."
"Oh right!" The Doctor seems to remember himself then and reclaims his medical tricorder, though his absolute delight in the situation hasn't dampened in the least. "Well, it looks like it's still very early, only about four weeks along. Any morning sickness?"
"Not really. Coffee has been making me a little sick to my stomach though."
"Yes, you're definitely going to have to cut back on that," he tells her while studying his readings, missing the glare she throws his way. "Any fatigue? Dizziness?"
"A little. And I seem to have trouble concentrating lately."
The Doctor smiles as he turns away to load a hypospray. "A common side effect of pregnancy, I assure you, what with a new little life inside trying to hog up all the resources." He turns towards her and holds up the hypospray. "This is the monthly dose of vitamins you'll need to keep you and your little one in tiptop shape." He administers the dosage. "I'll need you to come back every month for continual administration, and more than likely more frequently as your due date nears. And Admiral, these are appointments you definitely cannot miss."
"Don't worry, Doctor, she'll be here even if I have to carry her over in stasis," Chakotay assures him.
"Hey!" Kathryn protests good-naturedly. "I know I have a bad reputation for taking care of myself, but can't I get a little benefit of the doubt for my child?"
"Only time will tell," the Doctor quips, then gets back to business. "It's a little early to expect morning sickness, with some expectant mothers it doesn't kick in until around the sixth week or so. If that happens, feel free to stop by before your next scheduled appointment so that I may give you something to relieve it. Other than that, you need plenty of fluids, lots of rest, and very little coffee."
Kathryn groans.
"And what you do drink has to be decaf."
Kathryn groans even louder. Chakotay chuckles.
"Come on, honey, it's not like he's just sentenced you to your death."
"He may as well have," Kathryn grumbles. The Doctor grins.
"Well, what I have for you next will be sure to cheer you up." He pulls out a device similar to a tricorder but more complex looking. He hovers it over Kathryn's midsection and a low, pulsing sound fills the room.
"Is that-?" Chakotay starts to ask in wonder.
The Doctor nods. "Your child's very healthy sounding heartbeat."
Kathryn looks over at Chakotay, who is already staring at her in amazement, and the tears she finds lining his eyes fill her own as the sound of her child's heart pounding rhythmically quickly takes the grand prize for the most beautiful sound she's ever heard in her life.
"Would you like to know the gender?" the Doctor asks softly, loathe to break this reverential moment for the new parents. Kathryn's curiosity piques immediately, but she looks over at Chakotay before she answers. She wants to know, but if he doesn't she will somewhat begrudgingly oblige him. He smiles at her.
"You'll be wheedling for the next eight months if we don't find out today, won't you?" he teases. She grins back.
"You know me too well." Chakotay shakes his head good-naturedly and turns to the Doctor.
"We'd like to know, if you please." The Doctor grins.
"In eight months, you'll have a very healthy and undoubtedly very beautiful baby girl."
Kathryn reaches out for Chakotay's hand and squeezes it, too emotionally overjoyed to comment. Chakotay squeezes her hand right back and lets out a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh.
"I've always wanted a little girl." Kathryn's mind conjures up pictures of freckle-faced little girls again as Chakotay wraps an arm around her and pulls her into his side, where she snuggles happily. The Doctor smiles fondly at the pair.
"Well, I won't contest for a spot as godfather since I've already had that honor with Miral, but I do have a plethora of name suggestions, all of which I'm sure you won't be able to resist." Kathryn and Chakotay exchange amused looks.
"And we'd love to hear them, Doctor," Kathryn assures him. "Just don't be offended if we end up going with a family name instead."
"Ah yes, of course," he concedes, then claps his hands together excitedly. "So, when do we get to inform the rest of the crew?"
Chakotay's eyebrows shoot up. "We?"
"You," the Doctor corrects himself. "When will you get to inform the rest of the crew?" Kathryn grins.
"As a matter of fact, Chakotay and I have another little surprise. We bought a house just outside of San Francisco."
"Oh, marvelous!" the Doctor cries. "I trust now you'll want to move in right away to prepare for the baby."
"That's the plan," Chakotay confirms. "And as soon as we do we'll have a big housewarming party. I'm sure all Earth-bound crew will more than likely attend. We were planning on telling them then."
"You think you can keep a secret until then?" Kathryn asks suspiciously, wary of the Doctor's renowned big holographic mouth. He scoffs, offended nonetheless.
"Why of course I can, Admiral! You know you can trust me with anything that falls under the Doctor/Patient confidentiality law. Besides," he adds a tad bitterly, "there's no getting around these damn confidentiality subroutines anyway."
Kathryn pats his arm patiently. "Don't worry, Doctor, you won't have to sit on the secret for long. We're planning on moving in this week before the fall term at the Academy begins. If all goes according to plan, we could have the party by next Friday and you'll be free to discuss potential baby names with the entire crew.
The Doctor beams. "I'm looking forward to it." He puts a hand on both their shoulders. "And again, my sincerest congratulations to you both. I can't think of anyone else in the world who deserve more happiness than the two of you."
Kathryn and Chakotay lean in to hug either side of the Doctor, and Kathryn once again marvels how fond she's become of the holographic being who, when she met him eleven years ago, was little more than a talking set of subroutines to her. How lucky she is to have been proven so wrong.
They bid the Doctor a fond farewell and walk hand in hand back home, talking animatedly and spinning their hopes and dreams for a family-filled future.
The house, when completely moved into, is heavenly.
Furnished in rich, dark oaks and with plenty of large open windows, it allows for beautiful vistas of the Pacific on one side and the lush greenery on the other. There is a deck and a large backyard perfect for entertaining, and the two-story home provides a large living room that Kathryn and Chakotay have filled with plush and inviting furniture. The whole house is coated in warm and inviting colors, textures, and decorations, giving what could be a cold, opulent house a soft and homey feel, perfect for the largest of parties or the most intimate of family gatherings.
The party they are having now is in no way small, but still very intimate. Their home is filled with most of their former Voyager crew as well as a few family members and other friends. Even Neelix has made his appearance via comm again, and the rest of the guests mill about, admiring their former commanding officers' new abode and reminiscing and laughing and genuinely enjoying being reunited for yet another a happy occasion in so many months. Chakotay grins to himself as he takes a sip of his champagne, amused that no one knows of the happiest occasion yet.
"Okay, out with it, Old Man," B'Elanna suddenly sounds from behind him as she comes to stand by his side. He's soon flanked by Tom on his other side.
"What are you talking about?" Chakotay asks as innocently as he can.
"All night long you've been grinning like Neelix would after he found fresh supplies of leola root, and I'm starting to suspect it's not just about the house. So out with it. What's got you so giddy?"
"Can't a guy just be happy about his new home with his wife?" he asks her, taking another sip to downplay the smile he just can't get rid of.
"Well, I'll admit it's a very nice house, Chakotay," B'Elanna concedes, "but it's not split-your-face-open-you're-so-happy nice. What's the big secret?"
"Aw come on, B'Elanna," Tom cuts in. "If Chakotay has something that he wants to tell us, I'm sure he will soon. No sense in wheedling him about it. He gets enough of that from the Admiral."
"Whose side are you on?" B'Elanna demands of her husband, laying a hand on her slightly more rounded belly. Chakotay looks down and suddenly recalls how far along in her second pregnancy she is. With all that's gone on in the past few months that new development kept slipping his mind. Now it serves as a wonderful reminder that that'll be his own wife in a few short months. A wide smile steals across his face again before he can help himself.
"Ah! There it is again!" B'Elanna cries. "Come on, Chakotay, spill the beans, as Tom would say!"
"B'Elanna, leave the poor guy alone," Tom tells her gently. "He's entitled to his secrets as long as they're the happy kind." B'Elanna clucks her tongue in disdain.
"I'm starting to regret him making you his first officer," she says. "You're far too damn loyal now."
"What can I say?" Tom replies as he claps a hand on Chakotay's shoulder. "I learned from the best."
"Flattery won't get the secret out of me, Tom," Chakotay teases.
"Ah! But it did get you to admit there is a secret to tell," Tom shoots back smugly. Chakotay pauses and frowns.
"Damn, you're good." Tom grins proudly.
"It's a gift," he says with a shrug then takes a swig of his champagne. "So I trust we'll hear about this secret eventually though, right? I mean, we are your best friends, after all."
"Best friends who've saved your life on more than one occasion," B'Elanna points out.
"And your wife's life," Tom adds. "Not to mention all those years of faithful service."
"Unflappable devotion…"
"Hilarious jokes and stories…"
"All right, all right," Chakotay gives in, holding his hands up in surrender. He scans the room and immediately catches Kathryn's eye from her place by the staircase where she had been conversing with Samantha Wildman and her husband. Chakotay almost imperceptibly nods towards the couple in his company and she grins knowingly then nods her head and excuses herself from Samantha and Gres to make her way to the center of the room. Before the party they had agreed that if any of the more perceptive members of their Voyager family (namely Tom and B'Elanna) caught on to the crackle of suspense only a secret can project, they would make the announcement soon after. Chakotay lets his dimples show without reserve as he turns his attention back to his companions.
"Look, if you'll help Kathryn and me quiet everyone down, I promise we'll put you out of your misery." Knowing they'll comply, he begins weaving his way through the crowd to join his wife. By the time he gets there, most people have turned their attention to them thanks to Tom and B'Elanna's efforts, but he grabs a fork and begins clinking his glass of champagne nonetheless.
"If the Admiral and I can steal your attention for one second please," he calls. The rest of the room turns towards their former commanding officers, even Neelix with a helpful twisting of the comm unit on the table by Naomi. A hush falls over the room.
"Thank you. First of all, Kathryn and I would like to thank you for coming to celebrate this joyous occasion with us so soon after celebrating an even more joyous occasion only a few short weeks ago. I promise we'll stop monopolizing the Voyager social calendar very soon."
The room chuckles, and Chakotay takes the momentary pause in his speech to look at Kathryn. He asks silently if she'd rather make the announcement, but she nods her encouragement at him to continue. He happily obliges.
"But not before we make this one more announcement." He pauses to take in the curious looks of all their friends save for the knowing faces of The Doctor, Gretchen, Phoebe, and Mike Ayala. He relishes this moment before finally breaking the suspense. "Kathryn and I are expecting a baby."
A loud raucous erupts from the group so suddenly that it startles even him, and he jumps a bit closer to Kathryn. He hears shouts and whistles and a few rounds of "I knew its" go through the crowd, then a surge of people come forward to offer their congratulations. Hugs are exchanged, kisses are received, standard questions are asked, and even pieces of advice are already given as their unique family shares in this wonderful moment in his and Kathryn's life.
"So is it a boy or a girl?" a Delaney sister shouts over the din, though Chakotay would never be able to tell anyone which one it was. The question has the room almost completely silent again and he sees Kathryn grin.
"We're having a little girl," she answers loudly, and another chorus of whoops and aww's follow. Though he wants to stay by her side, Chakotay and Kathryn are soon separated as he is pulled away by the men to receive hearty pats on the back while she is ambushed by every mother in attendance with questions about how she's feeling and plans for the nursery. They spend the next couple of hours that way, making the rounds to receive the sincere well wishes of their loved ones.
By the time it's all over though and the last guest has transported home, Chakotay is extremely grateful for the quiet once again. He surveys the living area, littered with champagne glasses, empty plates, and scattered cutlery. He sighs, tempted to take care of it all tonight, but then he looks through the large floor-to-ceiling windows that leads out to the back of the house and sees a sight far more tempting. Kathryn is leaning against the railing at the end of the deck, staring at the stars twinkling on the Pacific. Ignoring the disaster area that is their living room, he goes to join her.
"So this is where Starfleet admirals sneak off to avoid cleaning up after their own party," he teases when he gets to her side. She graces him with that half grin he loves.
"I'm actually very busy now making your child," she says, turning to him and resting a hand on her still flat belly. "Seems unfair that you expect me to clean up as well."
"Oh of course," he answers mock seriously. "How horrendous of me. Please continue with your baby making."
"I believe I shall," she responds royally, then turns her attention back to the stars and the ocean. Chakotay takes the time to admire her, grateful for the moments when a certain look or action from her can remind him of how beautiful she is all over again. A pleasant warmth rushes through him at the thought of being loved by this amazing woman, and how their love has created a creature that will no doubt be equally as wonderful.
Chakotay steps up behind Kathryn and wraps his arms carefully around her middle, one palm lying flat across where he approximates the baby is. She, in turn, leans back against his chest and covers his arms with her own.
"I love you, Kathryn," he says close to her ear, a lump forming in his throat as he gently rubs her abdomen. "I love both of you, so very, very much."
"I love you too, Chakotay," she responds, voice thick. "And I'm so happy. I never thought I could be this happy, not after everything. But I am. And it's because of you. You and this life we've built together. And this life we've made together." She rests one of her hands on top of his as they continue to caress their unborn baby.
"I never thought I could be this happy either, Kathryn. My whole life I never have been, until I met you. You're still my peace, and you always will be. And I can't wait to see what life has in store for us."
"Nothing as wild as the Delta Quadrant, I'm sure," she jokes.
"Probably not," he concedes with a chuckle. "But I wouldn't trade all the new adventures in the galaxy for one moment here with you and our new family."
"Neither would I," she assures him, snuggling further into his embrace. "Did I mention that I love you?"
"Only once today," he quips.
"How terrible of me."
"I'm inclined to agree." She tilts her head back to look up at him.
"I should tell you much more often."
"No time like the present."
"I love you, Chakotay."
"I love you more, Kathryn." He bends his head down to kiss her softly and sweetly beneath the starlit sky. When they part, she leans back against him again and he hears her sigh in contentment. He rests his chin on top of her head as he gazes out into the ocean along with her, his arms still wrapped tightly around her and their baby.
In this moment, as Chakotay stands on the deck of his beautiful new home, holding everything he'll ever want and need in his life tightly in his arms, his mind flashes quickly through the journey that has been his life. All the loss, all the trials and misdirection and horrendous suffering he's ever been through, all leading to this simple little moment in time with this woman he would have otherwise never met had his life not taken all the twists and turns that it had.
Suddenly with perfectly clarity he understands how grateful he is for all those moments, painful though they may be, because he wouldn't trade being here for anything. He would go through it all, again and again, if the results would mean ending up here holding Kathryn Janeway in his arms and calling her his wife and the mother of his daughter.
He would choose her every time.
