First and foremost, my apologies for taking so long to post the next chapter...I fear my muse has been on vacation and has been reluctant to return! I know this is a rather short chapter; but it serves as a connector to get us from the macro virus incident to preparing for the wedding festivities of the next chapter. As my muse is slowly returning, I promise to post the next chapter soon; and, again, thank you for your patience!

Without further ado...

Chapter 7: Four days

Chakotay awoke with a smile remembering how Kathryn had refused to even discuss the possibility of Neelix providing food for their wedding. As much as he enjoyed teasing her about it, he was concerned that she wasn't getting enough nourishment for herself and the baby. He also wasn't sure their ration accounts together would be enough to provide all the food she would need to ensure a healthy baby. This dilemma would require him to use some creative thinking to resolve.

Deciding that thinking of any kind was not first and foremost on his mind this morning as his body was still very sore from his run in with the macrovirus, he determined that a warm soak in the tub with Kathryn would be just what the doctor would order.

He turned over, fully expecting her to be lying next to him. The bed was empty. He decided to avail himself of the technology at his disposal so he could surprise her and drag her into the bathroom for the nice soak he had planned. "Computer, locate Captain Janeway."

"Captain Janeway is in sickbay."

Forgetting his sore muscles and having a flashback about the last time the computer had echoed those words, he leapt out of bed, issuing orders to the computer, "Emergency beamout to sickbay for one!" With a blur of light, he was gone.

He arrived in sickbay in the same whirl of light. He immediately scanned the area to find Kathryn on a biobed with the Doctor hovering over her completing a series of scans. He rushed to her side. "Kathryn! Doctor! What's wrong?"

The Doctor looked away from his scans long enough to run a critical glance over the Commander. "Nothing – now that I know the answer to the question that has been just burning up the electrons floating around in my cortical area."

Chakotay stopped short of the examination table waiting to hear what the Doctor had been questioning. "What question, Doctor?"

Before the doctor could answer, he heard her voice. "Never mind, Chakotay. Why the emergency beam in? Are you ok?"

"I was worried about you. I woke up and you were gone. Why are you here?"

"The Doctor was just checking to make sure the antivirus that I took while trying to rescue all of you has not harmed the baby. I left you a padd on the nightstand explaining as I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry, Chakotay, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"I didn't even look, Kathryn. I just asked the computer where you were…and, here I am. So, Doctor, is the baby alright?"

The Doctor glanced up and down Chakotay again before responding, "Yes, Commander. I've completed my scans and all appears to be well with the baby." With his diagnosis complete, he pushed the button that would remove the screen from over the Captain.

Chakotay helped her up from the biobed and started to leave sickbay.

"Chakotay?"

"Yes, Kathryn?"

"Perhaps we should call out for a beamout rather than take the turbolift back to our quarters."

"Why?"

She couldn't help but grin, "Well, I don't want anyone but the Doctor knowing the answer to the big question."

"I still don't have any idea what you and the Doctor are talking about, Kathryn. What question?" Chakotay was truly puzzled at their statements.

Kathryn grinned as she explained, "Boxers or briefs, Commander!"

Blushing, Chakotay realized that in his haste to find Kathryn, he hadn't bothered to put a uniform…or even pants for that matter. "Perhaps a beamout would be a good idea! Computer – two for a site to site transport to Captain Janeway's quarters."

As they vanished, the Doctor just shook his head and returned to his work.

Once back in their quarters, Janeway turned to Chakotay, wrapping her arms around him, "So was there something special you needed earlier that sent you looking for me?"

He returned her embrace, "Just thought a nice soak in the tub would be good for our sore muscles. You up for it?"

"Sounds heavenly. Lead the way, Commander."

After a nice long soak in the tub, the Command team was ready to tackle their day. "What are your plans for today, Chakotay?" Kathryn asked since they both had been given the day off to aid in their recovery from the virus.

"I'll be in the holodeck. I'm working on the setting for our wedding."

"Would you like some help with that?" Her inquisitive nature bubbled to the surface.

His smile lit up the room, "Oh I'm sure you would like that very much, wouldn't you? But, this is a surprise."

She pouted, wrapping her arms around him. "But you know how I hate surprises. Come on, Chakotay – let me help! It's my wedding, too." For emphasis, she let her hands wander a little lower down his back

He chuckled as he grabbed her hands and pulled them back to a safe resting place. "You are incorrigible; but, I love you anyway. You catch up on your reading, plan the menu and write your vows. That should be enough to keep you busy, don't you think."

She reluctantly let him go as she moved to the sofa to begin her reading and planning.

A few hours later

Kathryn stood stretching to relax her taut muscles. She was still a little disappointed that Chakotay had not let her help with creating the atmosphere for their wedding; but she had accomplished a lot in his absence. She met with Neelix and they finally agreed on a menu that she found palatable. She made him promise that there wouldn't be a leola root within 50 feet of the mess hall for the entire day of her wedding. Tuvok had agreed to officiate and Tom was to walk her down the aisle. Harry was in charge of the music and B'Elanna was her matron of honor. Little did Kathryn realize that by making B'Elanna her matron of honor, she was, unwittingly, putting her in charge of the bachelorette party.

The only thing she had not accomplished was the writing of her vows. Both she and Chakotay had agreed that they would write their own; but now she was second guessing that decision. How could she find the right words to say to him? How does one convey the words resting deep within your soul to tell another that they complete you? How….for once in her life, Kathryn Janeway didn't have an answer. And, she was running out of time. Only four days left until their wedding. Four days until she could officially call Chakotay her own.

She sighed, picked up the padd she had started to write the words on, and forced herself to try again.

Four days….