It was a gentle kiss, filled with love. When he broke the kiss, they were both breathless. Not because it was an intense kiss but because of the emotions behind it. It was like nothing either of them had ever felt before. It was like they were made for each other.

They sat silently for a moment before Chakotay asked, "Do you want a boy or a girl?"

"I hadn't really thought about it yet," she admitted. "I was too busy worrying about telling you and then being upset that you didn't want the baby."

"What do you mean I didn't want the baby?" he asked. "I never said that. In fact, I just told you that I was hopelessly in love with you. Of course I want a baby that I made with the woman I love."

"I know that all now," she responded, "but when I told you, you didn't seem too happy about it. That's why I thought that you didn't want anything to come out of the planet and told you I would take care of the baby by myself. I thought that you were upset and didn't want the baby."

"Never," he said softly. "I do want the baby. I was just surprised. All I could think was 'A baby? I'm going to be a father? And, this time, it's for real!' Honestly, that's all I thought from the time you told me until you left the bridge and I followed you here. Well, that and whether I should tell you what I told you or not."

Kathryn smiled and felt tears coming to her eyes again. 'Damn,' she thought, 'if I am this emotional already, we are going to be in for a bumpy ride.' She hastily swiped the tears from her eyes. "Sorry," she mumbled. "Stupid hormones."

"Don't worry about it," Chakotay smiled.

At that moment, the Captain's stomach began to growl. Chakotay chuckled and asked, "Hungry?"

"Just a bit," she laughed. "I was too sick to eat anything before I went to the Doctor and afterwards, I was too preoccupied."

"Then how about we stop by the Mess Hall?" the father-to-be suggested. "We can see what Neelix managed to come up with today."

The pair left her quarters and made their way to the Mess Hall. They saw a few officers on their way there but it was mostly a quiet trip.

"What do you have for us today, Neelix?" the First Officer asked that Talaxian cook.

"That would be Plomeek and Leola root casserole," Neelix replied amiably.

"We'll take two of those, then," the Captain told Neelix.

Neelix scooped two helpings onto trays and handed one to each commanding officer. They, in turn, sought out an empty table, happy to find one that was a bit apart from the other crew members who were also eating lunch.

"I am going to see the Doctor after dinner tonight," Kathryn told Chakotay. "He had some more to tell me but I was too shocked to stay and listen."

"Do you know how long the appointment will last?" Chakotay asked. "I was going to play a game or two of Hoverball with B'Elanna at 2000 hours but I can reschedule it if the appointment will be longer."

"You want to come?" Kathryn asked, a bit surprised.

"Of course," he replied, after swallowing his bite of the casserole.

Internally, Kathryn Janeway couldn't have been happier. She hadn't doubted him when he had said that he loved her and wanted to be with her but this, him wanting to go to the first prenatal exam, had gotten rid of any doubts she may have had unconsciously.

"You might want to start that," Chakotay said, gesturing to her meal with his fork. "Its tolerable warm but I imagine it would taste like compost cold."

She heeded his advice and took a bite of the casserole. Almost immediately her stomach lurched and she found herself rushing to the nearest bathroom. Everyone in the room looked up as she ran to the bathroom. Not many were surprised to see Commander Chakotay run after her. Almost everyone on board could tell how enamored he was with her just by the way he looked at her.

"Kathryn?" Chakotay called gently. "Are you ok?"

"Not really," she said in a weakly sarcastic tone.

"Do you need my help?" he asked.

Instead of answering, she came out. "As long as I stay away from that casserole, I think that I will be alright."

"Why don't you go back to your quarters and replicate yourself some toast or soup?" Chakotay said. "I'll watch the bridge for the rest of the shift."

"What ever would I do without you?" Kathryn smiled.