Thank you, Singing Violin. You were a ton of help on this one. Well, you're always helpful, but this time especially. =)
Gretchen returned to the house feeling much better about life. Kathryn was back and she seemed different somehow. Gretchen couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was there.
After clearing away a significantly large space in the living room, she went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee.
While taking a large swallow, Gretchen noticed a blinking light on the computer console. She walked over and turned it on. Apparently, she had missed a call from a public computer in Rome. Who would be calling her from Rome? The call had come when she had been talking to Kathryn on the porch. Aunt Elizabeth owned a cottage in Rome, but she hardly went there now. And it was nowhere near the location of the public computer.
Gretchen scrunched her face, puzzled about the call, but it was soon forgotten as she heard the hum of the transporter. She returned to the living room and almost dropped her mug.
There was a mountain. A mountain of stuff piled on the floor. Bags, suitcases, shoeboxes, and a chair.
Kathryn had bought a chair. What on earth had possessed her to buy a chair?
Gretchen reached out to open one of the suitcases, but stopped. It was Kathryn's bag and she might not appreciate Gretchen snooping in her stuff. Pushing the thought away, she opened the bag anyway. She gasped when she saw a gorgeous deep purple dress neatly placed in the case. At the bottom of the bag in a carefully sealed container was a pair of black stilettos. In a side pocket was matching jewelry.
Gretchen was speechless. Kathryn had never been a big shopper. In fact, while growing up, Kathryn had hated shopping.
Opening a few more bags, Gretchen discovered that they contained clothes, jewelry, shoes, a few household decorations, and other random items. It looked like Kathryn had tried to make up for seven years without shopping in a matter of days.
The chair in the corner caught Gretchen's attention and she walked over to it. She removed the numerous boxes on the seat and sat down. Relaxing into the chair's pillows, she sipped her coffee.
The chime of the door startled Tom, causing him to drop a plate. "I'll get it," he called to B'Elanna.
He picked up the fallen dish and placed it in the recycler, then made his way to the front door. Pulling it open, he was stunned.
"C-captain."
"Hello, Tom."
Not knowing what to do, Tom just stood in the doorway.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Uh, yes." He hastily opened the door wider and motioned for her to enter.
Kathryn smiled and walked past him into the house.
"It's great to see you, Captain-"
"I'm not your captain anymore, Tom. Please, call me Kathryn."
Tom nodded and pulled the door shut behind him. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you see, my mother told me I could find Chakotay here. And I wanted to see my goddaughter."
Just then, B'Elanna walked into the room holding sleeping Miral in her arms. "Tom," she yawned. "Who's - Captain."
"B'Elanna, as I just said to Tom, I'm not your captain anymore. Please, call me Kathryn."
Tom cleared his throat. "Kathryn is here to see Chakotay."
B'Elanna paled. "He left about thirty minutes ago…to find you in Rome."
Kathryn looked up. "Oh. I see."
Getting over the shock of seeing Kathryn, Tom tried to fill her in. "Harry mentioned that you had wanted to go there and Chakotay left in a hurry. Were you actually in Rome?"
Kathryn nodded. "Yes, I was." She sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands then looked up and smiled. "I also came to see that beautiful daughter of yours. May I hold her?"
B'Elanna handed the small child to Kathryn. "You sure can. If I put her down she'll wake up." She gently handed Kathryn the baby. "Is it all right if I head to bed?"
Kathryn smiled and inclined her head. "It's fine."
Tom watched as B'Elanna left the room, leaving him alone with his former captain.
He sat down next to her on the couch, trying to think of something to say. Kathryn, his captain, the woman who had given him the chance to change, was sitting on the couch next to him and he couldn't figure out what to say to her.
"Chakotay is really worried about you," he finally blurted.
Kathryn turned to face him. "That's what I've heard. I'm afraid I've only been thinking of myself lately." She held Miral close to her body, rocking her slowly.
"I think it's a good change."
She looked down ran her hands across the soft fabric of the baby blanket. "It was."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I promised my mom I would tell her what I've been up to lately, so I guess I'll go home tonight and talk to her."
"That's a good idea."
"Yeah, I think so too…"
"Listen, Kathryn. I want to thank you for everything you've done for B'Elanna and me. We're both better people because of you."
"You both always were a good people. Just a little lost. I didn't change either of you. I just gave you two the opportunity then you both helped each other. But you're welcome, nonetheless."
Tom was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say next. He watched Kathryn with Miral, the longing in her eyes was evident as she studied the baby.
"Kathryn, the captain I know and love wouldn't let Chakotay get away that easily. Go get him."
Chakotay sat on the steps of the small cottage with his head in his hands. What was he going to do now? Part of him wanted to give up and the other part wanted to storm into the house and look for any clue or possibility that Kathryn had been there.
Standing, he tentatively turned the handle of the front door. He was surprised when it actually opened. Stepping inside, he examined the house. The interior was pleasant and welcoming, but there was no sign of Kathryn…or anyone else, for that matter.
Not ready to give up, he walked into the living room, where he saw something that made him stop in his tracks. There, on the mantle, was a painting. A painting of the river on New Earth. He walked up to the picture and ran his fingers it, feeling the texture of the paint.
Kathryn had been here.
Maybe she was just out for a walk.
He sat down and leaned back against the back of the couch. He closed his eyes and felt himself dozing off.
Kathryn quietly entered the house. She shut the door softly behind her and stepped into the foyer. Slipping off her shoes, she checked the clock. It wasn't too late.
"Mom?"
Kathryn made her way to the kitchen, looking for Gretchen. She wasn't there. Kathryn then went upstairs and checked her mother's bedroom. She wasn't there either. Getting a little worried, Kathryn checked the living room.
She chuckled when she spotted her mom, asleep in the chair with an empty mug in her lap.
Gently tapping Gretchen's shoulder, Kathryn reached for the empty mug and set it on one of the end tables.
"Oh, you're back." Kathryn turned to see Gretchen stretching and rubbing her eyes.
"Sure am."
"Where's Chakotay?"
Kathryn shifted her feet uncomfortably. "He…he went to Rome to find me."
"Ah. The cottage. That's where you were."
Kathryn nodded.
"It seems so obvious to me now. I wonder why I forgot about it."
"I'm glad you did. As unintelligent as leaving was, I'm really glad I had the time to myself."
"I was worried that…you know."
"That I was depressed?"
Gretchen nodded and studied the fabric on the chair. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, Mom. We've both know it's happened before."
Gretchen stood and walked to the kitchen. "How about I make us some coffee and you can tell me that story you promised me earlier?"
Kathryn laughed. "I would like that. I would like that a lot."
Ten minutes later, mother and daughter sat on the couch cradling mugs in their hands and inhaling the scent of coffee.
"So?" Gretchen prodded.
Taking a deep breath, Kathryn began her story.
"For seven years, I had to be Captain Janeway twenty-four seven. At the beginning it wasn't too hard. I was able to be the captain on the bridge and myself off-duty. But as we were out there longer, I found that the captain was slowly strangling Kathryn. Each day it was harder to wake up and remember who I was before the Delta Quadrant.
"When we got home, I realized I needed to find Kathryn again. That was my intent when I left. I was going to find myself. And I did. I've begun to remember who I was and now I can become who I need to be. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, dear."
"I had put others first for so long I had to do something for myself. It was my turn."
"What did you do while you were gone?"
"I went to Rome, to the cottage. While I was there I read a few books, went swimming, relaxed, did some thinking, and went shopping."
"My heavens girl, yes you did." Gretchen pointed to the mass of bags on the floor. "That is a lot of shopping."
Kathryn ducked her head. "Sorry about that. It was a lot of fun…"
"It's all right, dear. I was just surprised. Anyway, please continue."
"I talked to Aunt Elizabeth a little, sat in the garden, and I got a letter…from Chakotay."
Gretchen leaned forward, cocking an eyebrow. "Mm, that sounds promising. What did it say?"
"He told me he loved me. That he met me in a another timeline and it reminded him how much he loved me. Then he left it up to me. But I never got the letter. Well, I got it, but I didn't ever read it."
"Kates!"
"I was busy. It was hidden in the back of a book that I never got around to reading."
"That's no excuse."
"I know. So I came back early. And now he's gone. He left to look for me when I left to look for him." She laughed humorlessly. "It's ironic isn't it? We're finally in a position where we can be together and it isn't working out."
"Oh, Kathryn." Gretchen scooted closer and wrapped her arms around Kathryn. "I'm sorry he left. I'm sorry…for everything"
Kathryn relaxed into her mother's embrace, welcoming the feeling of being held. "I am too. What should I do now?"
"Why don't you just stay here until he comes back?"
"What if he doesn't?"
"I'm sure he will, dear. He was staying here before you got back."
Kathryn sat up. "He was what?"
"I let him stay here while we looked for you. He'll be back. "
After Kathryn went to bed, Gretchen stayed up and made herself yet another cup of coffee. There were so many more questions she had wanted to ask Kathryn, but she felt that it wasn't the time. Sitting at the kitchen table, she thought of the predicament Kathryn had gotten herself into. Only she would be able to spend seven years with a man she was attracted to and not do anything about it. If it had been Phoebe, she would have had her way with him in a matter of weeks.
Gretchen smiled and thought of how different her two daughters were. Kathryn was reserved and determined and very cautious about her personal life. Phoebe had always been flamboyant and loud. At least until she got married. Her husband, Mike, had tempered her.
Blowing on the hot drink in her hands, Gretchen thought about Kathryn and Chakotay. They were meant for each other, but every step they took in the right direction seemed to lead them three steps in the opposite direction as well.
It was time she took matters into her own hands.
Gretchen smiled as she thought of Abby's party in two days. It was the perfect opportunity. Kathryn had already promised she would be there, and Gretchen could invite Chakotay.
It was the perfect plan.
Swallowing the last of her coffee, Gretchen stood and went to the kitchen. She tapped on the computer console and quickly recorded a message for her Aunt Elizabeth.