After they had completed a large amount of the reports Chakotay had bid Kathryn good night with a kiss before he had headed off to bed. Standing in her main living area Kathryn touched her tingling lips, wondering if the reaction to his kiss would ever end. Giving a sigh she decided she hoped that it never would as she headed to her bedroom.

….

Chakotay knew he was dreaming when he found himself next to a large lake. He had never been to this place, though before he could think on that his eyes fell on her. Kathryn stood not twenty yards away in a blue dress he remembered from new earth. Smiling he began walking toward her, "You look beautiful," he said as he came close.

Smiling Kathryn reached out to Chakotay as he neared, "Thank you," she said as she took his hands.

Needing no other words Chakotay slid his hand around the back of her neck, leaning in to claim her lips possessively.

….

Kathryn's stomach fluttered as she stood next to Lake George, being kissed soundly by Chakotay. She'd had dreams like this before, though none ever so… exhilarating. Her legs felt as though they were made of rubber, threatening to give under her weight.

As Chakotay's arm raped around her waist, pulling her against his body in support she melted into him. Before she knew what was happening they were sinking down to the ground, Chakotay's lingering hands a welcomed feeling over her body.

….

When his alarm sounded Chakotay pulled himself from his dream, his breath heaving, his body covered in sweat. If he hadn't been positive he had only just woken he would have thought he had taken Kathryn on the holo deck. But that wasn't possible, so he kicked from his bed and began to prepare for the day.

….

Eyes snapping open, Kathryn's breath was labored, her body tingling nicely. She'd dreamed of Chakotay taking her so many times, though none had been as real as what she had just experienced.

As her breathing evened out she licked her lips and ran a finger through her hair. Maybe finally admitting her love had brought about this amazing dream, just maybe she was in for more of them.

….

As the days passed into weeks neither Kathryn or Chakotay wondered about the dreams they had, neither wanting to admit to the other that every night in their dreams they made love. Though instead of quenching their needs, the dreams merely made them long for the feel of one another in the real world all the more.

Sitting in her quarters Kathryn looked from the report in her hand to Chakotay, sitting on the floor playing a game of before bed blocks. When he looked up to her, a smile playing across his lips her breath caught a moment before she looked to her chronometer. "It's eight," she said softly, "Bed time."

"No bed," said Kerin, his eyes moving from Kathryn to Chakotay, "Blocks daddy." Holding a block out he waited for his father to take it.

"Sorry buddy," sighed Chakotay, "Its bed time, whether you like it or not."

Kerin looked as though he wanted to complain, though one look to Kathryn had him pushing to his feet. Mutely he took Kyda's hand and they both entered their bed room. "Night," he called over his shoulder softly.

"Sometimes I wonder," chuckled Chakotay, "Is that boy three of thirty?"

"It's a tossup," said Kathryn as she stood, "Let's get them tucked in."

As they returned to the main living area Kathryn paused and rubbed her face as she heaved a deep sigh. Coming up behind her Chakotay wrapped his arms around her waist before placing a kiss to the side of her neck, "You're exhausted," he said softly.

Closing her eyes Kathryn tilted her head, her hands dropping to cover his on her stomach, "Just tired," she breathed, "But never ending reports need to be done."

Knowing how to choose his battles Chakotay kissed her neck once more before he urged her toward the couch with his body, "Sit," he instructed, "I'll get the reports and some tea."

As Chakotay released her Kathryn gave a stretch, "Coffee," she called after him as she sat.

"Tea and reports or bed and sleep," countered Chakotay as he sat a stack of reports to the coffee table.

Looking up to him Kathryn had a counter on the tip of her tongue only to swallow it at his look. She too knew how to pick her battles, "Fine, tea. But…" holding up a finger she frowned at Chakotay's smirk, "…Are you really smiling at me?"

"Yes," responded Chakotay without hesitation.

Dropping her hand Kathryn gave her head a light shake, "Why?" she questioned.

"You're cute," said Chakotay, "But please, continue. You were about to tell me something… a but."

Heaving a sigh Kathryn's lips thinned, she'd had a point she had wanted to get out, though now her mind refused to cooperate and she couldn't remember what it had been. "You know what, never mind," she sighed, "Just get the tea so we can get this done."

Unspeaking Chakotay turned to retrieve the tea before returning to sit next to her. After handing her a cup the each grabbed a report and began to work in silence. In only a couple hours the pile was down significantly and they found themselves lying sided by side on the couch reading contentedly. As a yawn left Kathryn she thought of her bed only a moment before she fell blissfully to sleep.

….

The next morning Kerin and Kyda grinned at the sight before them. Their parents were sleeping soundly together on the couch. Breaking into runs they jumped on to the sleeping forms, "Morning!" they called out.

Jerking awake startled Kathryn's arms instinctively reached out as she moved, expertly catching Kyda before she fell from the perch she'd found on her mother's hip, "Good morning," she greeted groggily, "Go wash your faces."

The children scrambled away, used to the morning face wash's their mother insisted upon. As they disappeared Chakotay gave a stretch, "I guess we fell asleep doing those reports," he pointed out sleepily.

"I guess so," agreed Kathryn as she shifted herself, "Our bodies are going to regret sleeping here though."

"Let them," sighed Chakotay, "It's more than worth it to wake up to this view." He pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked down to her. "Your eyes are as close as I can get to a bright blue morning sky."

As he kissed her Kathryn smiled, "Do you ever turn off your charm?" she asked, humor lacing her tone.

"Charm?" questioned Chakotay.

Shaking her head Kathryn's eyes gave a twinkle, "You are incorrigible," she chuckled as she made to sit up.

Pulling her back down Chakotay wrapped and arm around her, "Incorrigible?" he asked with a chuckle, "Really?"

As he began to assault her with kisses anywhere he could land them she wiggled from his grasp, "Yes incorrigible," she laughed as she gained her feet, "Now make yourself useful and negotiate with the replicator for breakfast, while I save the bathroom from a giggling flood."

Sitting up Chakotay grinned, "I'll get breakfast, though you're the one in for negotiations, the replicator likes me," he called out.

Glancing over her shoulder Kathryn too grinned, "Rub it in," she called, "One day we'll find some daily used electronic that isn't crazy about you."

"Good luck!" laughed Chakotay as Kathryn disappeared into the bathroom. Standing he moved to the replicator and easily got breakfast on the table, so when the three k's of his life returned they were ready to eat.

After breakfast Sam stopped by to take Kerin and Kyda to play with Naomi on the holo deck, leaving Kathryn and Chakotay to go about their work, each going to their separate offices. As the day went on Chakotay couldn't keep him mind from going back to waking next to Kathryn that morning.

As he finished his work he went to check on the special project he had been thinking on. Entering the free holo deck he nearly gasped at the sight before him. It was his dream lake, exactly. "How'd I do?" asked Tom as he came out from behind a tree.

"It's perfect," said Chakotay, his eyes moving back and forth, trying to take it all in, "How did you get it done so fast?"

Holding his hands behind his back Tom rocked from heel to toe, "Have you ever heard of Lake George?" he questioned. At Chakotay's from Tom smiled, "Well, This is all a program made by the captain. The only difference from your description and the original is… Computer begin original Janeway Lake George."

With a shimmer a cabin appeared around a hundred yards from the lake, a small dock and row boat appearing only feet from the two men, "You mean… Kathryn had this all already programed into the computer?"

"Exactly," affirmed Tom, "Are you sure she never brought you here?"

"Positive," breathed Chakotay, his mind running over how he had dreamed of a place clearly from Kathryn's past, only to not know about it.

….

"Chakotay to Janeway," his voice sounding out over her comm badge made her smile as she leaned back in her chair.

"Janeway here," she responded, "What can I do for you this afternoon?"

"You can take a break and meet me in holo deck two," said Chakotay, his smile clear in his voice.

"Any reason why I should?" questioned Kathryn as she stood, crossing her ready room to recycle the cup she had been using, "I mean, other than I need a break."

There was a pause before he finally responded; "How about because I have a surprise for you?" he tried.

Scrunching her nose Kathryn turned from the replicator, "I'm not big on surprises," she said.

"Alright," laughed Chakotay, "How about this one. I love you and want to spend some time swooning you."

At this Kathryn grinned, "Well, in that case, I'll be right there."

"Good," called Chakotay, "I'll be waiting."

Entering the holo deck Kathryn gasped, it was Lake George, just the way she had been dreaming it, "Wow," she breathed.

"You like it?" questioned Chakotay as he stepped out from behind a tree, offering her a glass of cider.

"I love it," said Kathryn softly, "Only; I'm wondering how you created my dream world so perfectly."

"Your dream world?" Chakotay frowned, ""I was going for my dream world… and I think it came out pretty well."

"You've been to Lake George?" questioned Kathryn before she took a drink of her cider.

Placing a hand to the small of her back Chakotay guided her to a blanket near the water's edge, "I'll admit I didn't know what it was called until Tom informed me, "he said, "And I've never been here on earth…"

As he faded off Kathryn's eyes fell on the blue dress Chakotay had laid out on the blanket. It was the dress she always wore in her dreams, her favorite dress from new earth, still tucked away in her dresser. Though now she would have to check on that, "Chakotay," she finally managed to annunciate, "Is that?"

"Not the actual one. I wasn't sure you still had it so I replicated you a new one," explained Chakotay.

Kathryn's mind raced as she looked to Chakotay's clothing, really looking at it this time, his light pants, and his white shirt. This… this was her dream, only come true. "This is exactly like the dream I have been having every night for several months… Chakotay, how could you know this?"

Chakotay frowned, "I know this because for several months I have been having this dream every night, only in mine…" fading off he looked unsure only a moment, "We make love."

Kathryn's mind burst with images of her dream only a moment before her eyes widened, ""We've been having the same dreams… Chakotay, the connection… What if?" she exclaimed.

"You mean every night… you… you, you made love with me?" questioned Chakotay, clearly baffled.

"Chakotay," snapped Kathryn, "That's not important at the moment. We're sharing dreams," she stressed.

"I get it, we share dreams," dismissed Chakotay, "But it's very important to me… You made love with me?"

"Yes, I did. It was a dream and I'm only a woman," agreed Kathryn, "Now back to this connection."

Chakotay grinned, "Alright, we'll continue that later," he said happily, "Now what do you suggest we do about this connection?"

At this Kathryn groaned and took Chakotay's hand, "As much as I hate this… we have to go to sickbay."

….

The Doctor had been hunched over or standing in front of several panels as he analyzed, re-analyzed, tested, scanned and everything else he could think of to Kathryn and Chakotay for two hours. Kathryn was trying to be a patient woman, but her rope was only so long. "Well Doctor?" she called from her seat on a bio bed.

Straightening the Doctor turned to her, "I believe the dreams… may be the only connection," he said tentatively.

"But?" questioned Kathryn as she rubbed her head against the oncoming headache.

"I can't be sure that there won't be more… connections made between the two of you," answered the Doctor.

Letting out a deep breath Kathryn sent a glare to the doctor, "So you're telling me that we could gain more connections mentally, or are you unsure of even that?" she growled.

"Don't kill the messenger Kathryn," eased Chakotay as he stood, "It's not his fault, no one in our species has ever encountered this. He's doing everything he can."

"Are we done?" questioned Kathryn. At the Doctors nod she stood and exited sickbay.

….

After everything was done for the night and Chakotay had left, Kathryn found herself staring at her bed. She wasn't sure she wanted to sleep, her dreams would never be the same, not knowing he was really there.

….

A/N: What do you think? Dreams? Will this twist finally have Kathryn swooning completely to her man?

Comments make me want to finish faster!

And they make me smile! ;-}

Angie H