Hi all sorry for the delay these last few days, I have been rather busy but will be back on track now! Thanks. X

"As I have said before captain the admiral is in a very important meeting" a rather flustered ensign told the man who had arrived uninvited into her bosses' office.

"That's quite all right" the unperturbed captain informed her with a dimpled smile "I am happy to wait" with that he sat down in the admiral's chair and put his feet up on her desk. The young girl looked horrified at his actions but didn't know whether to protest or not, he did out rank her after all. Glancing at the young woman he asked "what's your name ensign?"

"Ensign Taylor, sir" the young woman announced.

"First name?" he asked rather casually which took her slightly off guard.

"Hannah" she replied "captain please can you at least wait in the admirals reception room?" it was a plea from the young ensign fearing being in trouble with her boss.

Chakotay lowered his feet from to desk and surveyed the large room which brought back memories of Voyagers ready room. As his eyes fell on the flustered young woman he smiled joyfully and said calmly "captain Chakotay" with that he extended his hand "the admiral and I are old friends."

"I know who you are." she informed him "first officer of voyager, everyone knows that."

Losing his smile he watched her carefully, "are you afraid she might react in a less than pleasant manner to my being here?"

"A little" admitted the ensign, in a strange way she liked this over confident captain.

"She can get herself in a bad temper cant she" smiled Chakotay "well we must obey the orders of an admiral, the reception room it is"

Relived ensign Hannah Taylor directed him to a room just next to the admiral's office in which there were rather comfortable sofas and a desk behind which she sat gesturing for Chakotay to sit on one of the sofas. Sitting where he was told Chakotay laughed to himself Kathryn really had emerged herself completely in Starfleet after their return to the alpha quadrant. She really was beginning to be one of those dreaded admirals. Shaking his head at the thought of Kathryn growing into a stuffy stuck up fully-fledged member of the brass made him laugh. As did the selection of reading material for those waiting to be seen by the admiral, Dante, Austin, Bronte, Gandhi and other ancient world scholars and literature writers.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you" Hannah Taylor said as she watched him pick up one of the PADDs displaying the ancient writings of Dante.

"You wouldn't?" he asked looking up at her with curiosity "don't share your bosses love for ancient earth classics?"

"They are a long read, I told her a good gossip magazine would work fine."

Chakotay let out a loud snort and raised his eyebrows to look at the innocent young girl "I bet that didn't go down so well?" he commented.

"No it most certainly did not" came a husky voice from behind him as the small red headed admiral placed a number of PADDs on the frightened looking aids desk. Then turning to Chakotay she said with that dammed fake smile "captain Chakotay, this is a surprise, anything I can do for you?"

Watching her closely he saw that ever deceptive mask form across her face and a smile that Chakotay knew was to mask some much deeper emotions "a chat?" he asked calmly "it has been a while since you and I actually sat in one place to talk." he remarked realising that the last time could actually have been while they were on voyager.

She took him in for a second and contemplated turning him away but then she nodded turning to the young ensign and asked "Hannah will you deal with the PADD and also contact Tuvok and tell him I will be in touch as soon as I am done with captain Chakotay, he will understand."

Hannah agreed giving Chakotay a pleading glance to not tell Kathryn he had already been in her office. Chakotay gave the young woman a smile and a slight nod before the two looked away from each other.

"Do you know my aid captain?" Kathryn asked as she gestured for Chakotay to enter her office before her. The woman in question was now busying herself with the computer terminal and pretending not to hear her boss's remark.

"Should I?" he asked rather too casually as the door closed behind her leaving them alone in her office.

"no" Kathryn said slowly turning to him and watching for any sign of him revealing anything, when he gave nothing away she watched him out the corner of her eye before taking her seat.

"Damn it Kathryn, we exchanged pleasantries while I awaited your return." he told her nearly laughing at the shifty way she surveyed him.

"You had her looking somewhat shell shocked and frightened" Kathryn remarked "feel free to take a seat captain" she added quickly surveying the many seats in her large office. "She is fresh out the academy you know" Kathryn continued as Chakotay took the large arm chair opposite her "she's a good girl, hardworking, as green as they cone, more so than harry when at the beginning."

Chakotay smiled warmly at the memory of the relationships Kathryn shared with each member of her crew separately "another child for mother hen to add to her group?" he laughed.

Kathryn smiled at him but as their eyes met her smile faltered and she asked "what can I do for you today captain?"

"Talk to me Kathryn" Chakotay said completely ignoring the use of his rank "how are you?"

"you travelled across continents, forced your way onto my office uninvited, put your feet up on my desk, flustered my aid in the process and frightened her half to death just to exchange pleasant small talk with me?" she asked him tilting her head with a crook smile at the bewildered look that suddenly appeared on her ex-first officers face.

"Kathryn how- but you were-"

"In a meeting yes." nodded Kathryn "now what can I do for you really?"

"Damn you Kathryn how do you do it?" he asked her with only pretend annoyance.

"I didn't get to be an admiral on my good looks alone you know" she teased with a real smile and a twinkle in her eye.

"I don't doubt it" he told her with his own smile "and I really did come here with the hope of simply talking with you." he insisted "I miss you."

"We have both been busy." she said a little too stiffly as she tried to work him out.

"I should start with sorry" he admitted trying to watch her for a little bit of emotion. When she gave him none she merely tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. After a while Chakotay sighed and said sadly "you're not going to make this easy for ne are you?"

"What do you want from me?" she snapped exasperated "I try to do it right for you but none of it is easy for any of us, we all find fitting into life after voyager and the delta quadrant easy but we do the best we can."

"You have found it hard, and the announcement of the decision to decommission Voyager must have been hard, waiting for a vote of her fate to be cast."

"A little" she admitted "but are you aware I was part of that decision, I was one of the admirals who voted for it."

"That Kathryn, surprises me" Chakotay admitted as he watched Kathryn move towards the replicator beside her desk.

"With everything that happened with the Enterprise I saw life differently after that, voyager has lived her life, as has her captain, and it's time to let the younger folks and those with life still left on them to have a go at running the show. Let them learn from us, shall we say older officers, your position at the academy for example" she pointed out "coffee black" she announced turning to her replicator to make her order "tea or anything captain?" came her question in offer of an invite.

"Tea, please" nodded Chakotay watching her closely as she made his order to her replicator.

"B'Elanna and Tom are both about to take up their positions at Jupiter station and I here Seven accepted Starfleet's proposal once your wedding is out the way." Kathryn commented as she handed Chakotay his drink as sat back down in her seat from before "I don't see why I am needed in quite the same way" the tired woman admitted to her old friend.

"Kathryn?" he asked her slowly "are you saying you are leaving Starfleet?"

"no" she told him not at all convincingly

"really Chakotay I just know it's time to let voyager go."

"a drink to our fine old ship" he said raising his tea cup almost in a toast.

After a long pause Kathryn looked deep in her coffee mug before asking "so tell me Chakotay, how's your wedding preparations going?"

The question took Chakotay off guard, he couldn't quite work out what she thought he was going to say next nor what she wanted him to say and so didn't know what he should say. H had not expected she would be so readily interested in his wedding. Was this a time to talk to her and tell her he had overheard her talking to Tom at the ceremony or was it best he act as though he heard nothing. What he said next could change everything between him and Kathryn forever and I didn't know what to do.