Everyone had been abuzz with Christmas this holiday, mostly because of Naomi Wildman. She was so excited, she always was for this holiday. It was also a good time, no Borg, no enemies period, and they had cut an exceptional amount of time on their trip home. In that time they had a chance to talk to Starfleet, some even got messages, but nothing too insane. Everyone came together to talk about a good gift. It was also a buzz because everyone seemed to be taking a pool on Tom's date to the Christmas party. Only Kathryn, Chakotay and Tuvok knew but they were adamant on keeping a lid on it. B'Elanna was honestly quite scared to say anything. At the same time, she didn't want to keep hiding it. Everyone seemed to be dressing nice, at the party and everyone was having a great time. Tom was getting ready still as the party was still early. He heard a chime and was going to tell them to come in before B'Elanna came in. Tom turned to her and saw her in a beautiful dress. It wasn't too tight but it definitely showed off her very nice body. Tom couldn't help but stare and realize he might've not been as nicely dressed.

"I know," B'Elanna sighed looking down at herself, "But I figured if we reveal tonight that I of all people am the one you're there with I might as well knock'em dead."

"Knock'em dead…" Tom laughed softly, "You'll knock them into the next life," He smiled brightly, his blue eyes sparkling as he walked up to her, "You look amazing."

"Stop," B'Elanna said shaking her head and not looking at Tom.

"I mean it," Tom smiled and gently moved her chin up forcing her to look at him, "You looks...so beautiful," He leaned down kissing her lips softly before kissing her cheek and then her neck.

"Do you even want to go to this party?" B'Elanna joked.

"To show the whole ship the beautiful woman on my arm, you bet," Tom nodded, "I'm the luckiest guy there."

"Have you noticed something different about Chakotay?" B'Elanna asked wrapping her arms around Tom's neck.

"You mean the way he looks at the Captain?" Tom asked, "Yeah. You can see something there."

"Do you see the way she looks at him," B'Elanna laughed softly.

"Mm," Tom nodded slowly, "Do you think they'll ever…?"

"Oh no," B'Elanna shook her head, "Captain Janeway would never go against protocol."

"Does that mean we're going against protocol? I've technically got seniority," Tom smiled smugly.

"Barely," B'Elanna smiled up at Tom, "Seniority or not, I'd still kick your ass Paris."

"Don't I know it," Tom kissed B'Elanna before pulling away, "How do I look?"

"Handsome as ever, good enough to be on my arm I guess," B'Elanna teased.

"You guess?" Tom said looking at her, "Well then I guess going naked is an option."

"Ha!" B'Elanna laughed, "Come on, let's go."

"Yes ma'am," Tom put his pips on and went to follow B'Elanna.

Harry was standing with Seven, the Doctor, Neelix, Tuvok, Chakotay, and Kathryn they were talking about how they missed their families around this time, aside from Seven. Harry ended up bringing up that tonight was the night Tom revealed who he was seeing.

"Why is it such a big deal to you?" Kathryn asked.

"Captain, you and Commander Chakotay have your sight set on B'Elanna being the woman he's with, of all people. No offense but I think even Tom knows when to quit," Harry smirked.

"I put Ensign Hobbes as the one," the Doctor stated.

"Bad choice," Chakotay stated.

"I put my money on Ensign Kolt," Neelix nodded, "Per Harry's suggestion."

"She's cute, definitely Tom's type," Harry noted.

"You ready?" Tom asked as they approached Holodeck 1.

"As ready as I'll ever be," B'Elanna noted.

Tom and B'Elanna walked in together, and at first, no one seemed to notice but B'Elanna was linking arms with Tom. A few Ensigns walked up to Tom and was glad he seemed to be doing a lot better. No one seemed to care that they were together. Tom leaned down whispering to B'Elanna.

"See, I told you," Tom smiled smugly.

"Yes, you did," B'Elanna agreed, "But the night isn't over yet flyboy."

"Mm," Tom nodded and saw Harry and the others. They both made their way to the group.

"Well, B'Elanna, you look beautiful this evening," Neelix smiled softly.

"Thanks, I clean up nice huh?" B'Elanna smirked.

"You do," Neelix nodded, "I think Ensign Kolt will get the wrong idea though."

"Why?" Tom asked.

"Well, B'Elanna's hugging your arm, you both came in together, I thought Ensign Kolt was your date," Harry stated.

"Thanks for telling me you had another date," B'Elanna joked looking at Tom.

"I was unaware myself," Tom smirked, "I thought you were my only date tonight."

Harry, Neelix, and the Doctor looked shocked. Meanwhile, Kathryn and Chakotay smirked. Tom smiled softly at Harry.

"Not that Ensign Kolt isn't beautiful but she's...not really my type," Tom noted.

"So...you and B'Elanna?" Harry asked.

"Me and B'Elanna," Tom nodded leaning down kissing B'Elanna's cheek, "She's alright I guess."

"Yeah?" B'Elanna asked gently elbowing Tom. Tom jolted a bit looking at her.

"You know what that means don't you?" Tuvok asked.

"What?" Tom looked at Tuvok.

"We won the pool," Chakotay smirked at Kathryn and Tuvok.

"You participated Tuvok?" B'Elanna asked looking at Tuvok.

"The Captain assured me it was a sure-fire win," Tuvok nodded, "It wouldn't be logical to not go for it."

"You'll share the winnings with us right?" Tom smirked at Kathryn.

"Wait you knew this whole time? Well, that's rigged!" The Doctor stated.

"It's not like you ever asked," Tom stated.

"I did!" Harry looked at Tom.

"B'Elanna wanted to keep quiet, Tuvok caught us, the Captain and the Commander did too," Tom shrugged.

"They simply pulled a Tom," B'Elanna smirked playfully, "Using the pool to their advantage."

"I'll go get you a drink," Tom nodded at B'Elanna before walking away.

"Well played Captain," Neelix smiled at Kathryn.

"Thanks," Kathryn smirked.

"You're going to share with us right?" B'Elanna smirked at Kathryn.

"Well, if I shared with you, then it'd really be a rigged system," Kathryn noted.

"Well, that's not fair! You got the tip from Tuvok and Chakotay," B'Elanna sighed.

"All's fair in love and betting," Kathryn noted.

"Tricks up her sleeve like that are the reason she's Captain," Tom noted handing a drink to B'Elanna.

"Well, it's definitely unfair," B'Elanna noted.

Tom took notice as a few people began dancing with each other. Tom grabbed B'Elanna's hand smiling at her.

"Hate to steal her away, but...I'm not sorry for it," Tom smiled gently pulling her away from everyone and towards the dance floor.

B'Elanna noticed a few people were staring, and she felt a tightness in her chest. Tom looked at her noticing her worry. He pulled her close putting one hand in the middle of her back. He used his hand to raise her chin up before grabbing her hand and dancing with her.

"Don't mind them," Tom said softly.

"It...just feels...weird," B'Elanna said slowly.

"Maybe they can't help but stare at how great you look in that dress," Tom noted as he held her close.

"I highly doubt that," B'Elanna looked around for a moment.

"Doubt all you want, but I'm almost certain it's because we are the best dressed," Tom smiled at her softly. B'Elanna looked up at him and couldn't help but smile back. She put her head on Tom's shoulder closing her eyes. Tom smiled resting his head on hers now.

"You're a good date so far," B'Elanna quipped.

"Yeah?" Tom asked softly, "Glad you think so, is it bad that I really only have one thought on my mind?"

"I could guess," B'Elanna chuckled, "It's the same thought I've had for a few weeks."

"Mm, glad I'm not the only one," Tom nodded slowly.

"Wait, what thought?" B'Elanna asked.

"A nice lavender bath?" Tom said slowly.

"After sex right?" B'Elanna asked quietly.

"I adore you," Tom chuckled kissing the top of her head.

The group left over seemed to watch Tom and B'Elanna and talked about what they would do when they got home.

"Captain," Chakotay looked at Kathryn holding out his hand, "Care to dance?"

"I'm not much of a waltzer," Kathryn noted.

"Neither am I," Chakotay smiled softly and nodded towards the dance floor.

The two of them walked out to the dance floor and they began to dance together. Kathryn couldn't deny that she enjoyed this. She couldn't deny that she liked being in his arms. Kathryn was terrified of the looks she'd get in being with Chakotay. So far, everyone seemed to have their eyes on Tom and B'Elanna. Imagine if it were her. She looked over at Chakotay who was just smiling at her. He took a moment looking at her.

"Are you okay?" Chakotay asked.

"Just thinking," Kathryn admitted looking at Chakotay, "I'm sure they're more relieved than anything that they're public now."

"Mm," Chakotay looked at Kathryn, almost lost in her gaze.

"What?" Kathryn asked arched a brow.

"I'm happy for them," Chakotay said shaking his head.

"I think that's not what you wanted to say Chakotay," Kathryn said softly. The space between them seemed to close naturally.

"It's nothing," Chakotay said swiftly looking at her.

"Mm," Kathryn looked him in the eyes. Something felt different, she suddenly forgot she was the Captain, she forgot who Chakotay was. She felt a tightness in her chest, something that she hadn't felt in a long time. It was a feeling of wanting...wanting Chakotay. She tried her best to shake it out of her head but she had a feeling it's the same thing that Chakotay wanted to say. Kathryn just watched the people around her, then watched Chakotay as he too stared back in her eyes, as if they were communicating telepathically. Not saying a word, only a shared smile.

TBC...