Meanwhile, in her ready room, Captain Kathryn Janeway was sitting with her head in her hands and her hands on her knees wondering how her life would go now. She sighed and walked to her secret closet and decided to tempt fate. Janeway put on a slinky green dress, some multi strapped sandals, and her favourite perfume. She decided to leave by the back door, so as not to arouse suspicions in her crew. She arrived at Chakotay's cabin not thirty seconds later, with her head in the clouds.
"You're late." said Chakotay not looking up from his book.
"I should have thought I was worth the wait." said Kathryn stepping out of the shadows into the light of the room.
"And you are worth the wait. Look at you; you look absolutely wonderful. Wow, that isn't even the right word; there isn't a word in any language I've yet learned that is right to describe you. Come here." said Chakotay spinning Kathryn into a hug and dipping her into a sexual kiss.
Kathryn dropped into a chair in utter delight, surprised at how well her day was going. Chakotay walked to the replicator, turned to Kathryn and said, "Would you like something to drink? Let's just relax for a while before I ask my question. It might be a little bit shocking."
"Coming from you nothing shocks me anymore. I'll have a white wine spritzer to calm my nerves, however. All your little statements are making me nervous." said Kathryn proving herself right with a nervous giggle.
"Don't be nervous, my love. It's natural that I should ask such a question, after all we've been dating for two years and our relationship has been going really well, so this is just the next step in our journey of life together. I know you're scared and I'm nervous too, but that's no reason for us to say we can't do it; we can do anything we want to do and you know that as well as I." said Chakotay trying to calm Kathryn.
"Chakotay, what a beautiful sentiment. It was so poignant and eloquent. You really know how to renew a person. By the way I was going to ask you to start this a long time ago, but I was too stubborn to admit that I cared this much for you. All my close personal friends, and family call me Katie, it's time for you to start." said Janeway taking a huge leap of faith. She'd never asked one of her boyfriends to call her Katie before; this was a new realm of commitment for her.
"Wow, Kathryn, I mean Katie, this is a huge step for us. Here's your white wine spritzer, now stay right there do not move, and if you run I will find you." said Chakotay with a devious smile. And with that he was off and in a heartbeat he was back with a bouquet of red roses, and a ring. As he knelt down in front of Katie with the ring, she began to cry. "Wow, and I haven't even asked yet. Will you Kathryn Janeway give me your hand in marriage and make me the happiest man in the galaxy?"
"Yes, I thought you'd never ask." said Katie, her face wet with tears, holding out her hand for the ring to be placed on it. Although she never thought the day would come, it came and went all too fast. "Well, are you going to put the ring on or do I have to do it myself?"
"Oh, sorry." said Chakotay slipping the cold metal ring of fate on her finger. Kathryn took Chakotay's hands in her own and pulled him to his feet. She ran her fingers down his washboard chest, slipped her arms around his waist, grabbed his butt and kissed him with all the passion she possessed.