Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own anything related to Star Trek Voyager.
A/N: For those of you reading my story 'Dismissed', today is the last day to vote on the final 'Reader's Choice' poll.
Janeway knew this was a serious situation. She was the captain after all! And captain's didn't usually get pregnant like this. Of course, most starship captains weren't this far away from the nearest Federation command base either, but that was besides the point. The point was that she knew what this could mean and the dangers it could have. It certainly made things more complicated.
But she also knew that she, Chakotay and this crew could handle it. Just look at what they'd already accomplished and the obstacle they'd maneuvered through. It probably wouldn't be easy all the time, but they could deal with it…they would deal with it. Like the Doctor had said just this morning, it was the crew's baby too. Knowing this and accepting the situation made dealing with it easier.
Which was why she would be able to have a bit of fun with this instead of stressing herself out over it. She had no doubt the stressing would come later anyways. At first she'd figured they'd just make a formal announcement after telling the senior staff, but as Chakotay started recommending different ideas she found herself pulled into the little game as well.
Some of the plans they'd come up with were a bit…over the top and others were just too boring. In the end they agreed on one that would keep the crew guessing and interested for a bit before eventually just telling them out right.
Their idea seemed fitting as well considering the way the crew had 'discovered' the relationship between the command team. Had it really been nearly eight months now? It didn't seem that long ago that she and Chakotay had finally gotten together after dancing around each other for so long.
Three months into their newly defined relationship, the crew had begun to see just the slightest bit of differences. They noticed how Chakotay always seemed to be in her quarters, or he'd be caught staring at her with a far away look, some people even saw the goofy grin he'd get as she whispered in his ear during lunch in the mess hall. B'Elanna later told her that it was the small things that tipped the crew off the most.
She and Chakotay had wanted to keep their relationship to themselves at first, just to make sure it wouldn't interfere with their ship duties. B'Elanna and Tuvok had been the first to know about their relationship officially. In a way they were used as test subjects to see what their reactions would be. She and Chakotay were then going to tell the rest of the senior staff and then eventually the entire crew. They didn't get that far though.
Naturally it didn't work out quite how they'd thought it would. It was only a matter of time before the gossip had started and in the end the command team decided to just confirm what they all already thought.
That was five months ago now. Just enough time for the crew to be completely accustomed to their captain and first officer being together romantically….and now that same pair was about to drop an even bigger torpedo in their laps.
Tom had once mentioned that no one had been all that surprised by her and Chakotay being together, but she had a feeling the newest development might just give them a bit of a shock. For some reason she found that oddly amusing and also quite satisfying.
She was pulled from her musings when she heard the familiar foot steps of her first officer. Looking up she gave him a half smile which he returned with a grin as he took the seat opposite her at the table.
"How's Neelix's newest concoction?" He asked indicating the plate in front of her and the one he had as well.
"Let's just say I've had worse." She answered glancing down at the still full plate of what resembled lumpy mashed potatoes with orange dots mixed in. "I've also had better." She added, taking a sip of her tea.
Damn. She really wanted coffee instead of this tea substitute. She'd only had one cup today. One more couldn't hurt, right? And the Doctor didn't need to know…
"Kathryn…" Chakotay's voice broke her out of her thoughts making her look up from where she'd apparently been staring into her tea cup. She was met with a knowing look and a barely hidden smirk as he glanced between her face and the tea.
She rolled her eyes at him and just took another sip of non-caffeinated tea. She'd have to wait until she was alone in her office to have another cup of caffeinated bliss it seemed. That is as long as he hadn't seen fit to program her replicator to only allow one cup per day. He'd already threatened it once…which she then responded to by detailing just where she'd throw his ass if he so much as touched her replicator.
They set and finished their meal, nonchalantly talking about ship business as they normally would and, expect for the occasional secretive looks they gave each other, they did nothing too obvious that would draw attention besides holding hands under the table, but the crew was already used to seeing that in the mess hall by now.
Once they were done eating she glanced around at the various tables. Yep, this would be the perfect time. It was full of crewmen…including Neelix, Tom, and Harry who could each spread news faster then the Doctor could fix a scraped knee.
She looked up and caught Chakotay's eyes. He nodded slightly with a glint of both amusement and adoration in his dark orbs and even a barely hidden spark of pride that made her smile in return.
She stood first, picking up her empty tray, and moving to stand alongside her first officer as he picked up his tray as well. Then together they walked to the disposal to drop off their used plates and cups, barely being noticed by the others in the room.
This was it. She made sure no amount of amusement was showing on her face and adopted a casual expression as they slowly moved towards the exit. Glancing to her left she noted Chakotay had managed to adopt a similar nonchalant exterior as well.
Once they were only a few feet from the door and just about to pass by Tom and Harry's table they began talking. "I'll meet you in the holodeck in an hour?" Chakotay half stated, half asked in a voice loud enough to be heard by others, but not too loud as to be obvious.
"I'll be there, but don't bring the wine this time. It's not good for the baby." She answered in an equally nonchalant tone and just loud enough to be easily overheard.
As the command team left she noted, with a mischievous grin, the sudden lack of noise in the mess hall. The only thing that could be heard was the swoosh as the doors slid shut behind them. It seemed they'd managed to knock the crew speechless. However, it wouldn't be long now before the entire ship was buzzing with gossip.
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