I'm hoping to have another Chapter up soon. Please read and review
Tom and B'Elanna worked furiously on two holodeck programs. They were on a serious time constraint and they wanted them to be perfect. Working side by side quietly they kept their conversation relatively short and work related. Their fingers expertly gliding over the consoles they worked on, entering data and setting parameters; making the entries as perfect as possible. They were almost done when Jarvis walked in.
"Lieutenant Paris, can I talk to you?" Jarvis asked. B'Elanna heard the request but figured that if he wanted a private conversation he shouldn't have it in an open work area in engineering. She kept working to complete the program.
Tom glanced up at Jarvis for a moment but continued working as he asked, "What's up Jarvis?"
"Umm… Do you know if Harper has a date for the wedding?" Jarvis asked uneasily as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. A touch of anxiety played across his face.
"How am I supposed to know that Jarvis?" asked Tom a little irritated.
"Well," he glanced at B'Elanna "I thought maybe she had mentioned something to B'Elanna."
B'Elanna finished entering the string of commands she was working on then turned to Jarvis with a slightly frustrated sigh. "I'm sorry Jarvis, but..," she momentarily considered telling him that Julia was waiting for Bristow to ask her to the wedding when she suddenly felt sorry for the guy, "I'm not sure if she has a date yet."
"Oh? Is she still waiting on Bristow?" His melancholy was weighing heavy on his being.
"I don't know Jarvis, why don't you ask Tal to the wedding?" She asked.
"Celes? She's nice. Maybe I'll ask her… Thanks B'Elanna." He said sadly and walked off.
Tom and B'Elanna finished up the programs and headed to the holodecks to test the programs and make the final adjustments to perfect them. "Poor guy, Julia is hell bent on getting Bristow to ask her out." B'Elanna muttered.
"Yeah but Bristow is still trying to get over his crush on you." Tom said with a smirk. B'Elanna smirked back and slapped his arm.
"Let's make sure these programs work and finish up all the preparations." She said changing the subject.
XXXXX
Kathryn stirred from her sleep, slowly at first, then suddenly popped out of bed asking, "What time is it?"
Chakotay, who was in their small shared kitchen/living space, the small space left over since they each kept a private space for work related issues, answered her "It doesn't matter Kathryn, you have the day off. Tea?"
"Yes please dear. How long did I sleep?" She tried again.
"About sixteen well deserved hours. It's about 0800 hours." His reply was a simple statement of fact. He took a cup of tea from the replicator and placed it on their small table and motioned for her to sit down. As she sat he placed a veggie omelet in front of her. "Eat Kathryn, you probably didn't have anything to eat on that planet either, did you?" He turned away from her and back toward the replicator as he spoke.
"No, no I didn't have anything to eat." Then quickly doing the math in her head she said "You mean to tell me it was only 1600 when we went to bed yesterday?"
"I didn't matter what time of day it was, you had spent four days without sleep, It wouldn't have mattered if it was 0600 hours you needed to sleep." He spoke at her sternly.
"Yes Chakotay, but you went to bed, too. Now unless you didn't sleep at all while I was…" She paused considering the possibility that perhaps he hadn't slept. "Chakotay, you didn't stay up that entire time did you?" Her eyes widened with concern and disbelief laced with a touch of anger.
Coming away from the replicator he went to press a hypospray to her neck. "Vitamins." He explained and she tilted her head allowing him access to her neck as she continued to glare at him. "I tried to sleep, I knew you'd want me too, but I didn't get much rest anyway. I was worried. Even so I did still get a considerable amount more sleep than you did; and you are carrying our child."
"I need to know that you can take control of things in my absence, Chakotay, especially now. If something happens that leaves me unable to perform my duties, temporarily… or otherwise, it will be your responsibility not only to take over as Captain and get our crew home, but you will have to take over all aspects of caring for our daughter. You do understand this, right Chakotay? With or without the other we would each have to go on doing what was necessary for our crew and our child."
"Kathryn, I probably got more sleep per night than you do on average. And yes, of course I'll do what's necessary to care for the crew and our child; just don't forget that your safety and wellbeing is my responsibility and I take that responsibility seriously. You can't ask me not to do everything in my power to bring you home safe and sound." There would be no further argument he stated his position and that was all there was to it.
Kathryn noticed he said 'home' he said 'bring you home'. They both considered Voyager their home, and her crew their family. She smiled at the thought of how this once ordinary group had proven time and time again to be so extraordinary.
She stared at him thoughtfully for a few moments before he snapped her out of her thoughts. "Come on Kathryn, eat up. You need your strength and the rest of us need you."
As soon as she began to eat she realized how hungry she really was. She tore ravenously through the first omelet and Chakotay provided her with another. The second was soon gone too. Chakotay smiled at her, encouraged by her healthy appetite.
After breakfast he took her for a walk down to the hydroponics bay to see the new flowers that had been gathered on the surface. Normally Kes would have chosen any new flower species but in her absence Neelix, after picking out some edible grains and fruits, had thoughtfully picked out some flowers he thought Kes might like to have. Kathryn wondered if Harry knew about that. In the bay a young female crewman was tending the plants. Ever since Kathryn had informed the crew that Kes would need help tending to the plants various crew members had taken to "gardening" as a form of relaxation and in consequence Kes was never short of volunteers.
Kathryn admired the new flowers, smelling them and carefully caressing their pedals. A thin delicate flower with a pink center that transformed into purple at the ends of its pedals, caught her eye. She commented on its beauty. Chakotay took a small bunch to adorn their quarters with. In their quarters again Kathryn went to change out of her civilian clothes and into uniform when Chakotay stopped her. "You're not on duty Kathryn."
"I often wear my uniform on days off." She stated as a matter of fact. "Besides I need to check on all departments, I was gone much longer than I thought I'd be."
"Not this time, I turned the ship over to Tuvok. He is acting Captain for the next week and you are officially on leave. In four days you'll be my wife and in eight days you can be Captain again, but not before. I like the idea of you being all mine, at least for a few days." He flashed his dimpled smile at her and she couldn't help but smile back.
"Okay… I'll wear civilian clothes and we'll go… say hello to the crew. As we've both established we are all family now and I haven't seen them in days." She smiled mischievously. "They should see that I'm alright. We wouldn't want them to worry."
He knew it would be good for the crew to see that she was well. "Alright, we do this quickly and we don't talk business! Say hello and don't ask for any reports for goodness sake." With that they began visiting all the ships departments. Much as she tried, Chakotay wouldn't let her skip sickbay, and it wasn't until the doctor scanned her and declared her health acceptable that he finally let her continue on.
After spanning the entire ship and talking to just about every single crew member, he took her back to their quarters for a nap. She complained about being treated like a child but before long she was sound asleep in Chakotay's arms. After allowing her to sleep for a couple of hours he gently shook her awake. "Kathryn, wake up. Get dressed we're going to spend the evening on the beach."
"On the beach? Didn't we leave orbit already?" She asked groggily.
"A holographic beach." He corrected.
"Oh. Alright, let me change into something suitable. Will you get me some tea please, Dear?"
XXXXX
Tal sat on a lounge chair in a short sundress on the beach. A waiter with very short tight spandex shorts and a bow tie stopped to take her order. After giving him her order she turned to Jarvis, who had arrived and taken a seat next to her, and asked. "What was he wearing?"
"Oh, Tom Paris said that is what some male exotic dancers wore in the twentieth century. He specifically looked it up for the Captain's bachelorette party. The waiter was supposed to dance for her. He said it was either that or policemen and fire fighters with tear-off-clothing'. Although I don't know why policemen would want tear-off-clothing" Jarvis shrugged. The waiter disappeared behind the outdoor bar jutting out of a large beach club. There was also small gazebo bar positioned further out on the beach; for those who were sitting closer to the water. Tom had gone all out on this program.
"So why the bow tie?" Tal asked with light laughter.
"Um, apparently women found it sexy. Or at least I think that's what Tom's research said." Jarvis couldn't hide the slight amusement in his voice.
"A bow tie was sexy?" Now Tal's laugh was a good and hearty. Jarvis had to laugh with her.
"Tal… I don't have a date for the wedding and I was wondering…" Tal knew he was interested in Julia and so Jarvis felt nervous and a little dumb asking Tal for a date.
"I don't either. We should go together; as friends, of course." Tal smiled at him and with her words took the pressure off of her friend.
Jarvis smiled relieved "Yes, as friends of course. I would be honored to escort you to the wedding." His confidence returning he spoke without faltering this time.
"Wonderful." She answered. "Hey have you tried the kite things that Paris was talking about?"
"No not yet, but Baytart is out there flying one." He pointed at a small figure some distance away who was holding a string with a flying diamond attached to it. "You wanna go try one with me?"
"Let's go!" They struggled to get the kite to rise up into the air despite the breeze. They finally figured out that working together, one holding the kite one holding the string while running, was the best way to get the kite to fly. They were running together and laughing as they sent the kite flying higher. Once the kite seemed pretty securely set in its flight they sat together on the sand passing the spool of string between them occasionally, taking turns "flying" their kite. They sat there talking and laughing when they heard a chorus of cheers and they knew that the Captain and Commander had arrived. Reigning in their kite they joined the crowd of people greeting and cheering the couple.
"Chakotay what is all this?" Kathryn asked upon entering the holodeck and hearing the cheers.
Chakotay shrugged and mumbled, "Ask B'Elanna." He gestured at the beautiful half-Klingon woman who had become Kathryn's good friend.
Hugging Kathryn she said "We weren't able to have your bachelorette party, so I thought maybe we could settle for a couple's shower." She motioned the couple to enter the beach club and the entire party immediately followed. The men were all very good sports as B'Elanna began to engage both genders in ancient bridal party games. Soon several women and some men were wearing toilet paper wedding dresses to the hysterical laughter of the onlookers. After a brief deliberation the Command Team, aka bride and groom, determined that Mike Ayala had the best and most detailed paper wedding dress, complete with veil and fringe. He, and the small team responsible for dressing him, would get an extra half hour of holodeck time next month. Ayala, Susan Nicoletti, Tal Celes, and Jarvis happily accepted their prize.
"Next we're going to separate the happy couple and have them each answer a few questions how they think the other would answer. The one with the most correct answers gets to pick how the honeymoon will be celebrated. That means they get to pick all the holoprograms, off duty activities, and shore leaves for the next month, even after they go back on duty." As B'Elanna spoke Kathryn interrupted.
"A month! That seems like an awful long time B'Elanna."
"Well Captain, I mean Kathryn, we aren't anywhere near a hospitable planet at this time and we want to give the winner the option to take the other on shore leave, if the opportunity should come up in the near future." B'Elanna explained.
"What if I'm too busy to go then?" Kathryn furrowed her brow.
"You'll have to make time, a deal is a deal. Are you up to the challenge?" B'Elanna pushed.
Kathryn glanced over a Chakotay who had a mischievous grin on his face. "Wipe that smirk off your face Commander; there are still limits to what you can make an almost-seven-months-pregnant woman do!" Then turning to B'Elanna she said "Alright let's do it!"
With all the questions completed and the written answers on large cards turned written side down, B'Elanna took the podium and addressed the crowd again. "This game was inspired by a twentieth century game show played by couples. Tom found it and thought it would be fun. Here's how it works. I will read the question that was asked of Kathryn and Chakotay will tell us what he thinks her answer was. Kathryn will then read and show us the answer she wrote and if he was right he gets a point. We will repeat the process with the questions that were asked of Chakotay and the same process will ensue."
"Ok, first question was What was the name of your first pet? Chakotay how do you think Kathryn answered that question?"
"Well, B'Elanna, I believe that her first pet was a dog named Brambles." As Chakotay answered B'Elanna gestured toward Kathryn so that she may reveal the answer. She nodded as she confirmed that, yes in fact, her first pet was a dog named Brambles.
"Kathryn, who was Chakotay's sponsor when he applied to Starfleet Academy?"
Kathryn Chuckled a bit and answered "Captain Sulu." Chakotay confirmed that she was correct.
They continued with questions of favorite meals, colors, family member's names. They both seemed to have a pretty good handle on the answers the others would give.
Then suddenly came a startling question. Well, it had been when Kathryn first read it but she decided to answer honestly. "Now on to how well you know each other's romatic past. Chakotay, in terms of romatic relationships; who was your first heartbreak?" Kathryn took a deep breath and steeled herself for his answer.
He half-jokingly responded, "Was I supposed to keep track?" Kathryn laughed and showed her written proof that she had in fact answered, in writing; I don't think he's kept track of them all.
Kathryn blushed as the entire room roared with laughter and disbelief. Chakotay himself turned crimson as he realized that she knew exactly how he would try to deflect the question.
Once the room had settled down B'Elanna continued "Kathryn, same question, as far as romantic relationships are concerned who was your first heart break?"
Kathryn's half smile was a wistful expression "Cheb Parker."
Chakotay's face fell. His answer had been Justin Tighe. He knew how devastated she had been at his loss. He had read her files. He had no reason to think, however, that he had been her first love, yet that had been the only answer he'd come up with. Now he dreaded showing his answer for fear, not of appearing that he didn't know her well, but of bringing that awful tragedy in to taint their happiest moments. "Well let's just say, I haven't really asked my future bride about her former love interests. I'm something of a jealous guy, and I'd like to imagine that she's never loved anyone but me." The room filled with somewhat subdued laughter. After all, no one wanted to laugh too loudly for fear that their laughs may be misinterpreted as a belief that the Captain "slept around". No one wanted to imply, with laughter or otherwise, that their Captain was anything less than moral and upstanding. Even though it was common knowledge that she had been engaged at the onset of this mission, It wouldn't do to possibly insult the Captain in that manner. Kathryn blushed just a bit, knowing that her crew was aware of one of her engagements, but certain that Chakotay knew of both.
Almost no one took any notice of Chakotay's failure to show his written answer. Those who did, knew it was best not to draw attention to it. B'Elanna moved on to the last few questions. "How many children do you want? Remember Chakotay, you need to tell us how you think Kathryn would answer."
"I think Kathryn would say two." Chakotay answered.
Kathryn raised her card and said "I answered two."
"Ok Kathryn, same question, how many children does Chakotay want?"
Kathryn almost laughed out loud "Well given that he doesn't have to carry them I'm going to say six."
Chakotay lifted his card up and said "I answered five."
"Well I was close." Kathryn said gruffly. The crowd howled, they were really enjoying this, and in the process getting a glimpse of who the people behind the uniforms really were.
"If you were settling down and purchasing your first home, and not traversing the vast expanse that is the Delta Quadrant, where would that home be located?"
Chakotay quickly answered, "Kathryn would want a home in Indiana."
She nodded, he was correct. When it came time for her turn she had to answer the same question. She realized that she hadn't considered where he would want to live. Somewhere close to nature that was a given. She had never considered asking him. "Where ever his children are." Was all she could come up with.
Chakotay answered "I want to live where my children have access to nature; trees, streams, creatures like rabbits, deer, wolves, geckos, fish, frogs… the exact location wouldn't matter only that Kathryn and I would be there raising them together." The spectators breath their aww's and how sweet's as Chakotay and Kathryn locked eyes and acknowledged a mutual understanding that their daughter's entire childhood may be spent on a ship traveling an endless journey toward a home she'd never known.
"Sorry Captain, "close to nature", or "anywhere with me" would have been acceptable as they were part of his answer but as you can see his answer does not say he wants his children to live there with him just that he wants to live where they would have access to nature." Declared B'Elanna.
"B'Elanna that's a technicality and you know it!" chided Kathryn.
"Technically yes, Captain, but we've learned to exploit technicalities from the best, Captain Janeway herself. I'm declaring Chakotay the winner here today." B'Elanna gave Kathryn a friendly pat on the back as Kathryn glared at her.
Chakotay smiled and walked over to Kathryn. "I can't wait to tell the Captain she has to join me on the holodeck or take shore leave with me." Kathryn just rolled her eyes.
There were a few more games and quite a few more laughs. When Chakotay had been blindfolded and asked to identify his blushing bride solely by the feel of her leg Pablo Baytart had quietly joined the line of women whose legs Chakotay would be caressing. He positioned himself just before Kathryn. Chakotay crouched down and began feeling the legs lined up before him. By the way Chakotay was taking his time feeling all the women's legs Kathryn was beginning to suspect that he was purposely spending more time than he needed to determine that it wasn't her leg he was touching. She eyed him suspiciously thinking he deserved the prank Baytart was about to play on him. As he slowly moved along the line the women he touched would blush and do their best to hold in their giggles as Kathryn rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but notice the silly grin on his face as the felt so many smooth female legs. When he reach Baytart his hands reach out expecting the silky smooth calf of another bare legged female crew member. Kathryn watched in amused expectation for his response. As he felt the thick calf rough with curly coarse hair his expression suddenly changed as he shouted, "Oh, Damn!" and almost fell over. Luckily Tom had anticipated this response and had stood by close enough to reach and steady his friend before he fell. Chakotay reached for his blindfold but Tom stopped him. Kathryn successfully struggled to hold in her laughter, she knew any sound from her would give her position away.
"You can't take it off unless you think that's your bride, Chakotay. Is this really your guess?" Tom was amused but he maintained his composure while the rest of the room laughed. Pablo Baytart's plan worked; Chakotay was so shook up that when he moved on he was hardly paying attention, still reeling from the unexpected feel of Pablo's leg.
He barely touched Kathryn's leg before continuing; wanting to put distance between himself and the hairy limb. It wasn't until he had passed Kathryn up that he realized that he could smell the scent of her hair. More specifically, her shampoo. With his left hand on Julia Harper's leg he turned his head slightly toward the person he had just passed. He reached his right hand out and felt her leg again. He slid his hand from her knee to her ankle and back up to her knee. This was her; he was certain, so he took a chance and gave her knee a fluttering kiss before announcing. "This is Kathryn."
He was a little surprised when no one spoke for a moment. Then he heard Toms voice, "Um, Commander, you're going to have to pick one." That's when he realized that his left hand was still on someone else's leg.
"Yes, Commander, do pick one." He heard Kathryn's voice coming from a few feet's distance. Oh Damn!- He thought as, for the second time he stumbled backwards. This time, however, Tom wasn't there to catch him and he fell onto his butt. He rose quickly tearing off his blindfold in a panic wondering whose leg he had just kissed. He stared in disbelief. One leg had belonged to Julia Harper, but the other, the one he kissed, was Kathryn's. He was right, but her voice had been further away.
"Sorry Commander, you can't have them both…" The room roared with laughter. "and since you failed to pick her you didn't win any of Kathryn's replicator rations. Oh and B'Elanna you can change the holographic waiter's voice back to normal."
"Already done flyboy." Responded B'Elanna.
The Captain easily picked out Chakotay's leg from the legs of the many men who lined up, winning twenty percent of Chakotay's replicator rations for the following month. Chakotay remarked that the contest had been unfair because of Baytart's involvement. Kathryn countered pointing out that she had felt female legs amongst her line up of male legs, which was absolutely true. Chakotay muttered a complaint about it not being the same thing, but even as he did a smile stole across his face. "I'll bet that was pretty damn funny to watch wasn't it?"
"Yes, Chakotay, it was." They both laughed. Kathryn was glad he was a good sport.