Chapter 11

Later that day, Gretchen was upstairs and Kathryn was in the kitchen. She had taken the whipped cream out of the refrigerator and was spooning some onto a piece of pie when Chakotay came in. He hugged her from behind and watched her. When she finished, he asked for the spoon and dipped it into the whipped cream, holding her hair back as he leaned over her. Before she could ask what he was doing, he smeared the spoon down her neck, leaving a thick trail of whipped cream. She yelped and started to turn, but he kept her pushed up against the counter and proceeded to lick it off with long, slow slides of his tongue. She was caught between a giggle and a moan as she felt his warm mouth over the cold cream and his muscular body pressing into hers. "Chakotay," she said, her voice deepened. "What if my mother comes in?"

"Would you like me to stop?" he mumbled against her neck between licks.

"No," she sighed.

When he had cleaned off her neck, he dipped his finger in the whipped cream on her pie, turned her around, and raised it to her. When she sucked it off, he bent to her and thrust his tongue into her mouth, sharing the sweet taste of the cream. She grabbed his hips and pulled him against her as his hand slid to the nape of her neck. She moaned against him, his tongue circled hers, and she felt him swelling against her pelvis. She held him to her for a few more seconds, then gently pushed him back.
"Chakotay," she panted.

He caressed her cheek and said, "You're right. We are in the middle of kitchen." He smiled at her and said, "You have no idea how irresistible you are."

She massaged the muscles of his chest and gazed into his dark eyes. "Oh, I think I do. But we can't make up for seven years in one week."

He laughed and took her hands in his, kissing each palm before saying, "No, but we can have fun trying."

She grinned at him, kissed him deeply but briefly again, and carried her pie to the table. He sat down and watched her eat. "When is Phoebe coming?"

"Not for a couple of more days," she said. "She has to coordinate work and the kids' activities and John's job so they can be here for more than an afternoon."

Gretchen walked in and said to Kathryn, "I need Chakotay to come into town with me. Do you want us to drop you off somewhere for about an hour, or would you rather stay here?"

Kathryn looked at Chakotay, who kept his expression blank, then at her mother, who was wearing her best "because I said so" face. "Neither one of you are going to tell me what this is about, are you?" she asked.

Chakotay kissed her on the cheek and said, "Don't wheedle, love."

She smiled at him, remembering the first time he used that term with her on New Earth. "Oh, you are good," she said.

He chuckled and said, "We are not building a bathtub, I will tell you that much."

Kathryn turned to her mother and said, "It's a long story for another time. You two have fun. I think I will stay here and make some calls."

The drive into town was pleasant. Gretchen was easy to talk to and loved to laugh. Chakotay had seen that trait in Kathryn over the years, as well. As quickly as she could harden to tritanium to face down death, she could soften with a smile and infectious laugh that lit up a room. He was thinking he would spend the rest of his life trying to make her laugh when he realized Gretchen had said his name. "I'm sorry?" he said.

"I was asking what you are grinning at. Clearly, it isn't me," Gretchen said.

He looked a little sheepish and said, "I was thinking about Kathryn."

She smiled at him and said, "I assumed as much."

He looked out of the window and said, "I was remembering the first time I ever saw her smile. She seemed so stern, so commanding. I was very wary of her, and then, she smiled. Her face lit up, her blue eyes shining, and I think my heart stopped in my chest for several beats. I had never seen anything so beautiful." He looked back at Gretchen again and cleared his throat. "Sorry," he grinned.

"Don't apologize for loving my daughter, Chakotay. She's not an easy one. All of her traits that make her the ideal Starfleet officer also make it hard for people to get close to her."

Chakotay said, "There are probably humanoids in the Delta Quadrant still having nightmares about the Janeway stare."

Gretchen laughed as she turned the vehicle into a parking lot. "I think this jewelry store will be a good place to start."

They entered and looked around for a few minutes. Nothing seemed to stand out to him. The rings they had just did not look like Kathryn. Gretchen asked, "Do you see anything you like?"

"I don't know," he said. "These seem like too much. Kathryn is more elegance and romance. These are flashy, too bold."

Gretchen nodded her head. "You're right."

The store owner overheard them and approached. "Commander Chakotay, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Darren. Pardon me for interrupting, but I assume you are looking for a ring for Gretchen's daughter, Captain Janeway?"

Chakotay shook his hand and smiled. "Yes, I am looking for engagement ring for her."

"If you have something in mind, we can replicate it for you. I can help you design what you are looking for."

Chakotay considered for a moment. "I'm looking for something more open and delicate, not quite so thick or clustered. Maybe a single stone or two or three smaller stones." The manager studied him before saying, "I have an idea. Give me just a minute."

He went behind a counter and started entering something in a computer. When he returned a few moments later, he said, "I have known Kathryn a long time, and I think this might be to her liking." He held up a design for them to look at. Chakotay's eyes went wide as the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. The man had recreated his tattoo into a ring, thinning the lines and narrowing the spaces, softening it to create a more flowing scrollwork but still recognizable pattern. Set in the widest part of two bottom arches, those that rested just above Chakotay's eyebrow, were a single large diamond on the top and a smaller red ruby on the bottom. "It is you, with just a touch of Starfleet," the man said.

"It's beautiful!" Gretchen exclaimed.

Chakotay beamed at him. "It's perfect."

Darren said, "It will take some time to program in the design. What size does she wear?"

Chakotay said, "I was hoping I could contact Starfleet Medical."

Darren raised his eyebrows and said, "Of course, Commander." He waved him to the computer and Chakotay put in a call to the Doctor.

When the Doctor saw who it was, he said, "Commander! What a pleasant surprise."

"Hi, Doc. I need your help."

"Is everything alright? Is the Captain okay?"

"She's fine. My question is about her, though. I am in a jewelry store with her mother. I need to know Kathryn's ring size for an engagement ring."

"That's wonderful, Chakotay! Congratulations!"

"Well, I haven't asked her yet."

The Doctor said, "Just a formality, I am sure."

"Can you look at her last medical scans and tell me her exact ring size?"

"I don't think that would be problem, Commander, since it is not really privileged medical information. If the Captain has a problem with it, I will deal with her. Just remind her that if it were not for my exceptional skills at pulling her back from the brink of death on multiple occasions, she would not still be here to receive the ring. Give me minute to pull up the records."

Chakotay chuckled, but when he looked up from the screen he saw that Gretchen's face had paled. "Ah, I'm sorry, Gretchen. Maybe that was something a mother didn't need to hear."

She held up her hand. "No, it's okay. I'll get used to it."

"My apologies, Mrs. Janeway," the Doctor's voice said over the link. Chakotay turned the screen so Gretchen could see him. "It was insensitive of me."

"It seems I owe you my deepest gratitude, Doctor," Gretchen said.

"While it is no secret that the Captain was by far my worst patient, I think sometimes it was not only my treatment that kept her alive. She was simply too stubborn to die. As far as I know, she is the only one to ever go head to head with the real, alien equivalent of the Angel of Death and walk away the victor."

Gretchen smiled finally and said, "Now that, I can believe."

Chakotay turned the screen back to him and the Doctor said, "The Captain will require a size five for the engagement ring, Commander."

"Thanks, Doc. Please keep this between us for now."

"Of course. I expect to hear from you soon that you are officially engaged."

Chakotay terminated the link and asked Darren how long it would take to replicate the ring.

"I can have it ready tomorrow," he said.

"That's fine. I may have to send Gretchen back alone to pick it up for me. I'm not sure Kathryn will let me slip away twice without ordering me to tell her why."

During the drive back, Chakotay could see black clouds hanging low on the horizon. "It looks like storms are moving in. It might be nice to experience a simple Earth thunderstorm again." They reached the house just as the thunder started and Kathryn was waiting at the door for them.

"I was hoping you would make it back before the weather," she said looking worried.

Chakotay kissed her. "We're fine, love." He knew she didn't like storms no matter the kind. "Did you get your calls made?"

"I did. Baby Miral is doing fine, as are Tom and B'Elanna, and Harry is complaining about his mother meddling. Reg Barkley says hello, and he promised to send along communications from Neelix when Pathfinder makes contact with him again soon." A loud clap of thunder struck, and Kathryn jumped.

Chakotay pulled her over to the sofa and reclined onto it, settling her between his legs with his arms around her. "It's okay, hon," he soothed. "It's just a rain storm."

Gretchen sat down in the chair and saw Kathryn smile softly. "Do you remember the first time you held me in a storm?" Kathryn asked softly. Chakotay kissed her neck. "How could I forget?" They proceeded to tell Gretchen about their time on New Earth, and how Chakotay tried to make a home for them while Kathryn was determined to find a cure so they could leave. Kathryn told her about the bathtub and other things he built for her. They told her about the plasma storm that destroyed the research equipment and how he held Kathryn in his arms under the table. She talked about finally letting go of the idea of leaving and beginning a garden. Neither of them spoke of the night Chakotay first told her his feelings for her, but Gretchen watched as their hands found each other and their fingers laced together.

They relived together that experience that had solidified their friendship and deepened their feelings toward love for each other. They had never really discussed that time since leaving the planet, and Gretchen could see in both of them that while they were glad to have been rescued to rejoin their ship, it had also been painful to leave New Earth behind. She thought she was truly beginning to understand the sacrifices they made along their journey.

The thunder and lightning moved off into the distance, leaving behind a steady, gentle rain. Chakotay helped Gretchen prepare dinner, and after the meal they returned to the den with wine and more stories.

Gretchen left around mid-morning the next day, telling them she was going to the market. Chakotay seemed distracted as Kathryn sat beside him outside. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

He smiled at her and said, "No, just a little antsy. I think I need some exercise. Your mother's cooking and nothing to do is little too relaxing."

"What would you like to do?" she asked.

"Actually, I was thinking of going for a run. Would you mind?"

"Not at all. The road is a straight shot in both directions. You can't get lost." He kissed her and went inside to change. When he came back out, he was in gray gym shorts, a tank, and pair of running shoes. He leaned over to her and she held him in a deep kiss. She released his neck and said, "If that is what you are going to wear, I might have to chase you for a bit."

He grinned and winked, then took off down the steps at a jog. She went back inside to check her messages and read through more science journals. She was surprised to hear Chakotay return less than an hour later. "That didn't take long," she said. "I seem to remember you spending more time in your exercise programs on the ship."

He smiled and said, "Yes, but on Voyager I was trying to wear myself out. I didn't want to do that today. I'm going to take a shower. Do you think you will be ready for lunch when I get out?"

She nodded and said, "Sure. What would you like?"

"Something simple. Soup or a salad is fine."

When Chakotay entered the kitchen after his shower, Gretchen was back. Kathryn went to retrieve her coffee cup from the den and Gretchen slipped him the small box with the ring. He took a quick look at it, grinned and nodded to her, then slipped it in his pocket. He would find an excuse to go in the bedroom and hide it after lunch. They sat down to eat the vegetable soup and Gretchen said, "I ran into Margaret in town. Some of the ladies from the community center are getting together for dinner tonight. I'm going to join them then stay the night at Margaret's house since it will probably be late before we are done."

Kathryn saw a look pass between Chakotay and her mother. Clearly they were up to something, but she knew it would be useless to ask. Soon after lunch, Gretchen packed an overnight bag and left. Curiosity was killing Kathryn, but she held back her questions and passed a comfortable afternoon reading on the porch with Chakotay, sitting side by side with their legs brushing against each other and their hands clasped between them.