Kathryn Janeway was stood facing the crowd, reporters pushing trying to get the best holo images of the radiant captain. Everyone was trying to get a glimpse of Starfleet's golden girl and there she stood with all her splendour and beauty a radiant smile drawn across her face. Chakotay felt like he couldn't move. He watched her stand with such poise and grace, her slim figure fitted well into her admirals dress uniform which was quite a sight on her, even Chakotay had to admit. He hadn't seen her wearing it since her own promotion within weeks of Voyagers return, an event that had been broadcast across the entire federation, not so unlike this event Chakotay silently commented in his own thoughts. As he watched Kathryn brush a stray strand of her golden red hair from her face Chakotay realised she was slightly more relaxed than the strict admiral he had grown to see in her.
Turning to tom he felt like his tongue was sticking to his mouth and a stunned silence, his hands were clenched and his head swimming "Kathryn?" he managed to gasp "Kathryn did this for me?"
Tom nodded with a stupid grin on his face "the admiral was truly disgusted at how low key, impersonal and in her word 'barely honouring' the ceremony that was scheduled was to be, she has thought tirelessly for weeks to have this arranged with every person present here because she made it possible fir them to be." Chakotay's eyes flickered from the cheering crowd to Kathryn who was stood on stage giving admiral Haze a warm welcome, ever with grace and dignity. "I knew she really tried to get Seven here she was so sad when B'Elanna confirmed with her last week that Seven wouldn't be here. I know she won't mind ne telling you, she had been planning to give her own public congratulations to your wedding and her blessing fir your wedding to be the last official act to take place on board voyager before she is decommissioned."
Chakotay couldn't keep his eyes off the radiant and smiling Kathryn as she stood and listened as her commanding officer admiral haze addressed the crowd.
"... Has not only shown the federation a new way of thinking but also both the Starfleet and marquis parts of the voyager crew" announced admiral haze. "Commander Chakotay has given this generation of cadets at the academy a new sense of excitement and valour in his teaching of delta quadrant anthropology. Just as it can be said for the cadets he took for deface tactics in the early part of his career."
Barely taking in what the senior admiral was saying Chakotay watched as Kathryn stood with her deep blue eyes shining with joy. Chakotay hadn't seen her looking so radiant in many years and had often contemplated weather she had actually forgotten how to smile or weather she was just in a mood with him. She had been in a mood with him, there was no denying that but suddenly here he was stood in the most ornate room about to be promoted before all those he loved and it was Kathryn who had arranged this whole event for him. Chakotay had been watching the beautiful admiral Janeway so closely that he suddenly realised he hadn't been at all listening to what admiral haze had been saying about him nor had he realised that Mike Ayala his good friend and Marquis Conrad had now taken the stage and was making a speech and Kathryn was making her way off the stage to greet somebody who had clearly just appeared off the back of the stage.
"I need to talk to her" Chakotay said turning to Tom, "I need to talk to Kathryn"
"Chakotay, she wanted you to enjoy this event not worry about her" tom reminded him looking feebly at Harry and his band who were now preforming a song they has especially written for Chakotay.
"Chakotay my love." to which even Chakotay froze the feminine voice breaking through him, so close and yet so far "why do you looked so troubled, you and I are to share the first dance."
Turning ever so slowly hoping he was in a dream he asked "dance?"
"Yes" his tall blonde fiancé told him "admiral Janeway has just informed me its tradition."
