"Three more bites," Kathryn instructed, gazing across the table at the half-empty bowl of oatmeal.
It was all she could do to suppress a smile when Chakotay gave an audible groan and shrugged his shoulders in exasperation.
"You're going to play hoverball," she reasoned. "You need to eat a good breakfast."
"I ate," he argued, pushing his spoon into what was by now cold oatmeal; he'd been taking his time eating.
"All of it," she insisted. "The orange juice, too."
Another groan.
And this time she had to cover her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.
Chakotay glared at her, but her expression was unyielding.
"You know what the Doctor says – breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
And he grimaced as he took another bite of the oatmeal, spoke with his mouth full. "He doesn't even eat," he muttered, chewing slowly.
"Yes, well, sometimes we have to do as the Doctor says, and not as he does," Kathryn laughed. "He does know best." She picked up her cup and took another sip of coffee, inhaling the deep aroma appreciatively.
Chakotay watched her as he took another bite. Kathryn loved coffee. He knew that. And sometimes she'd let him have some – with lots of cream and sugar – sweet – not black the way she drank it. He'd tasted hers once – it was bitter. Most of the time he liked tea or hot chocolate.
But not oatmeal – at least, not this morning. With a heavy sigh, he pushed the bowl away from him, eying Kathryn carefully to see what she'd say. He'd eaten almost all of it, except for a bite or two. She raised an eyebrow as she studied the remaining contents of the bowl. He pushed his fingers restlessly against the tabletop, toyed with the spoon in his other hand, waiting.
She pursed her lips. He knew that look. And he dropped his spoon, stubbornly crossed his arms across his chest. "I don't want anymore," he declared, chin jutting out slightly.
And Kathryn sighed. She wasn't going to quibble over the last few bites. "Fine." She nodded toward the bedroom. "If you're finished, go get dressed." He was still in his pajamas. "B'Elanna will be here soon."
He sat for a moment, half expecting her to change her mind. When she didn't, he picked up his glass, downed the rest of his orange juice, then pushed back from the table and escaped into the bedroom before she reconsidered.
Kathryn stifled a laugh, took another long sip of coffee, and then set about clearing the table. She tried to let him have his way some of the time – but not all of the time. All of the time, and they'd be eating pizza for breakfast.
As she was placing the dishes in the recycler, the chime sounded. "Come in," she called, turning to greet B'Elanna as she came through the door.
"I hope I'm not too early," she smiled.
"Not at all," Kathryn assured, waving a hand toward the couch. "You might as well have a seat, though." She tilted her head toward the other room. "He's still getting dressed."
B'Elanna nodded, understanding – getting dressed wasn't always a fast process and sometimes he still needed help. She settled on the couch.
"I'll go check on him," Kathryn added, heading into the bedroom.
Chakotay had shed his sweatpants and was pulling his t-shirt off over his head. Kathryn sat down on the edge of the bed, smiled up at him when the shirt was finally removed and his face was uncovered. He stood before her in only his boxers.
"Shorts," he announced, turning toward the dresser and pulling open a bottom drawer. He searched through it and found a pair of gray shorts. Two drawers up, he found a black t-shirt to go with them. Moving back closer to the bed, he let Kathryn hold the t-shirt while he stepped into the shorts and pulled them up around his waist. Then he stayed very still while she stood and pulled the t-shirt over his head. He could do it himself, but sometimes he let her help.
She smoothed the fabric over his shoulders. "You take a bath when you get back," she informed him.
And he frowned, stared down at the floor.
She smiled, knowing what he was thinking.
"B'Elanna's taking you to play hoverball, but Tom's bringing you home. Let him help." He looked back up, relief evident in his expression. "Afterwards, you can meet me for lunch in the mess hall."
"Okay."
She pushed him gently down onto the side of the bed. "Sit, and I'll get your socks and shoes."
He sat patiently while she knelt down and pulled the socks into place, laughing softly as her fingers brushed over the soles of his feet. "You're ticklish," she smiled up at him, and he shook his head in denial.
"Am not," he insisted, pushing his feet into the shoes she set before him, and waiting while she tied the laces – another thing he couldn't do, he thought, watching as she looped the strings and tightened them.
And she looked up, read his thoughts. "You and Tom can practice later," she said, patting his knee as she stood back up.
He just nodded, grabbed hold of the hand she instinctively offered him, followed her into the next room.
"Hey, old man," B'Elanna greeted him, getting up from the couch. "You ready?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "Ready to beat you at hoverball."
And B'Elanna laughed at his assertion. "Someone's feeling cocky this morning." She rolled her eyes in Kathryn's direction.
And she smiled back. "Tell me about it. Someone wouldn't finish his oatmeal either."
She was teasing, but Chakotay heard her words and was suddenly unsure. The grin on his face faded, and he turned toward her. "I'm sorry, Kathryn."
The apology caught her off guard, and she reached out and touched her hand to his cheek, saw the sudden look of concern on his face. "For what?"
He shook his head. "I didn't… finish my breakfast."
She released a deep breath, smiled at him. "Oh, Chakotay, I was just teasing. I'm not mad. You ate almost all of it." She rubbed her fingers along his cheekbone, up over the lines of his tattoo. Leaning closer, she pressed a kiss to his forehead. "You go with B'Elanna now. Have fun."
She felt him nod his head before she pulled back, gazed into his eyes, a hint of concern still evident in their brown depths. "I mean it. Don't you worry about a thing – just… let B'Elanna win a few rounds."
And he smiled, tentatively, the corners of his lips turning up. He nodded again. "I will."
And Kathryn knew it was a promise.
~vVv~
