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THE LINK

EPILOGUE

AUGUST, 2379

In a cute pink bunny romper suit, Amber Janeway slept soundly in her father's arms. He was sitting on the balcony, the evening sun setting over Lake Tahoe, and from the doorway Kathryn watched them. Amber was now six weeks old, having come into the world a little sooner than expected, and was a petite baby with a mop of ginger hair. Chakotay was a doting dad, just as Kathryn was an adoring mom, and he had taken to parenting as a duck to water. Having helped his mother take care of his younger siblings as babies, he knew exactly what to do and when, where as Kathryn was still learning. But she was loving every moment and was looking forward to all the special times ahead.

"I hate to break up the party," she said at last, "but Sam and Naomi will be here any moment."

Chakotay looked up from his daughter and smiled. "I'm ready. I just wanted one last cuddle before we leave."

Today was Chakotay's birthday and they were going out for a meal, just the two of them, to celebrate. Kathryn was dressed for the occasion in a classy black gown and Chakotay was also formally dressed in a white suit. Kathryn's hair was now back to a bob and she tucked a stray strand behind her ear as she made her way over to Chakotay. Amber was awake now and was spreading out her tiny fingers. Kathryn gazed at her fondly, still finding it hard to believe that this bundle of cuteness was hers, and then sat beside them. As she did, she placed her little finger in the child's hand and Amber clutched it tight.

"Do you think we're doing the right thing leaving her?" she asked, all of a sudden not sure.

"Of course," he answered. "She'll be fine with Sam."

"I know. I'm just turning into one of those annoying overanxious mothers."

Chakotay laughed. "A night out will do us good. I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too. After all, it is your birthday."

Chakotay gazed deep into her eyes. "And the best one ever."

Kathryn smiled and then kissed his lips softly. Then, as she drew away, the computer spoke.

"Incoming transport request, Samantha and Naomi Wildman."

"Accept," Kathryn replied.

Seconds later, Samantha and Naomi appeared before them on the balcony.

"Hello, hello," Naomi cried. "We're here!"

"So we can see," Kathryn smiled. "And hello to you too. But where's Tessi?"

"At home with my husband," Samantha replied. "I'm playing it safe tonight."

"Can't say I blame you," Kathryn said. "But she's welcome any time."

Naomi skipped over to Chakotay and looked down at Amber.

"Oh, she's awake," she cried. "Oh, I've never seen her awake! But why are her eyes blue, Chakotay? The Doctor said they would be brown."

"That's because they haven't changed yet," he answered. "Most babies are born with blue eyes."

Naomi turned to Kathryn now. "May I hold her, Admiral? Please?"

Kathryn smiled. "If she will let me have my finger back, certainly."

Naomi laughed and watched as Kathryn tried to free her finger. When she was finally free, Kathryn stood up and Naomi took her place.

"Ok, mister," Kathryn said to her husband. "Time to pass her over."

Chakotay took one last look at his daughter and then kissed her forehead before handing her to Kathryn. Kathryn did the same and then placed her in Naomi's arms. Naomi beamed a smile and cradled her happily.

"Rex is in the lounge," Kathryn said to Samantha, "flat out on the rug. Chakotay took him for a long walk so he'll probably sleep all night. But if he does wake up, and is hungry, there are some snacks on the table. Amber's due a feed at 22:00 hours, but a replicated bottle will suffice. Everything else, like diapers, you'll find on the table."

"Ok," Samantha said. "Thank you."

"No," Kathryn replied, "thank you. I really appreciate you being able to babysit at such short notice. My sister was meant to, but she's been called into work, and my mother and Aunt Martha are on vacation in Scotland."

"Oh, it's an honor," Samantha said sincerely. "Any time you need someone, for either Amber or Rex, don't hesitate to ask."

"That's right," Naomi said. "I'm your assistant and assistants must always be called upon in emergencies."

"Well," Kathryn smiled, "hopefully there will be no emergencies tonight. But if there is, contact us over the comm right away."

"Oh, nothing bad is going to happen, Admiral," Naomi declared. "This isn't a bad house anymore. Amber was born here and that makes it a happy one."

At that, Kathryn smiled and put her hand to the child's cheek. Then she kissed her daughter one last time.

"Goodbye, my angel," she said. "Daddy and I will see you later." She then turned to Samantha. "We'll be home by eleven. Please make yourself at home and help yourself to our replicators."

"Thank you," Samantha smiled. "Have a wonderful evening. And happy birthday, Chakotay."

"Thank you," he replied.

Naomi looked up. "Did you get our present and card?"

"I did," he smiled. "Thank you very much."

"I made the scarf. I knitted it especially for your birthday. The Admiral taught me and I'm very good now."

"You certainly are," he answered. "It's a fine scarf and blue is my favorite color."

"I'm glad you like it. I know it's summer, so you don't exactly need it right now, but you will in winter. No where gets as cold as here!"

Samantha spoke. "That's not quite true, honey. There are colder places."

"No place that I've been too. Not even Boston where B'Elanna lives. But it is cold there in winter and my next knitting project is a hat and scarf for Miral. I'm going to give them to her at Christmas as it will take me that long to make them. I might need help with the hat, though, Admiral."

"Then how about I help you with that," Kathryn said, "and you help me make a Christmas cake?"

"Fair deal," Naomi smiled. "I can't wait!"

Kathryn smiled back and then linked her arm with Chakotay's. "Well, we'd better be off. See you both later."

Samantha and Naomi said goodbye and then Kathryn requested a beam out.


When Kathryn and Chakotay rematerialized, Chakotay found himself standing somewhere he had stood a million times before. It was Voyager's bridge. The lights were low, classical music was playing, and in the space between the command team's chairs and the helm was a beautifully set dining table. It was decorated with candles and flowers and upon it, covered with silver lids, were several dishes.

"Welcome aboard Voyager," Kathryn smiled.

Chakotay turned to her, his eyes moist. "This is...wonderful. But how?"

"Let's just say I pulled some strings. Voyager is completely ours for the night." She reached out and took his hands in hers. "I wanted us to celebrate your birthday somewhere special and there is nowhere more special to either of us."

"No," he said. "Here on this bridge we first met, here we fell in love, and here we sat side by side through the good times and the bad."

"And that's why I wanted us to dine here. Not in my quarters, not in your quarters, but here on our bridge." She broke away from him and walked over to the table. "Please be seated, Sir."

Chakotay sat and looked around as Kathryn opened a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. The bridge was so still, so empty, so different to the action and the chaos that had once filled it. And yet in the solitude there was tranquillity and peace. Voyager was a special ship, a ship that had been a home and a haven, a ship that had fought and won many battles, a ship that had reached its impossible destination. It was presently the most famous ship in the Federation, a ship that millions of people wanted to see, and for that reason Voyager was now a museum. Thousands of people walked through this bridge every month, hundreds of schoolchildren, people who were strangers to each other and yet united by their fascination for a ship and crew that had beaten the odds to get home. Voyager was a living legend, one of the most important ships in exploration history, and it warmed his heart, warmed Kathryn's, to know that their beloved ship would be preserved for generations. Kathryn had been Voyager's first captain and she would be its last. Although she was an admiral now, it was as Captain Kathryn Janeway history would remember her. And history would remember her as one of the greatest captains of all time. He would be remembered as her Maquis First Officer, and of that he was proud.

"I'm told," Kathryn said as she poured them both a glass of wine, "that of all our delta quadrant dramas, it's our encounter with the macroviruses that schoolchildren find the most fascinating. Nevermind the Borg, the Vidians, or the Kazon, it's the macroviruses they want to fight on the holodeck."

Chakotay laughed. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. To kids, a deadly flying bug has got to be a winner."

"Especially if it bites."

"Yes," he smiled.

Kathryn sat down and, like Chakotay, cast a nostalgic look around the bridge. "The wheel of fortune is such a rollercoaster ride," she mused. "When I accepted the mission to capture you, I never thought for a second that you would become the most important person in my life. It was a very different future I had imagined. Mark and I would marry, I'd captain for a couple of years, nothing too demanding, just a few short missions, and then we'd have children and live happily ever after in my house in San Francisco. Yet eight years later here I am with a completely different life." She turned to Chakotay and smiled. "And it's fantastic."

Chakotay smiled back and took her hand in his. "It certainly is. Thank you, Kathryn. Thank you for loving me when I couldn't love myself, thank you for believing in me when no one else did, and thank you for always seeing the best in me."

"Thank you, Chakotay. Thank you for being the best First Officer a captain could have, thank you for being the best friend a person could have, thank you for being the best husband a wife could have, and thank you for being the best father Amber could have. Thank you for being you."

"Ditto," Chakotay said, tears in his eyes.

They gazed at each other for a moment, then Kathryn reached for a glittering gold box, a small one wrapped with a silver ribbon, and held it out to him. "Happy Birthday."

Chakotay took it with a smile. "Another present? You're spoiling me."

"No one deserves it more."

Chakotay carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside, nestled in white velvet, was a ring. It was an intricate design of three ropes, all intertwined, and each rope was a different color. One was yellow gold, one was white gold, and one was rose gold.

"It's an eternity ring," Kathryn said. "I had it made especially for you. It compliments the maternity ring you gave me and represents our family. Inside are our names."

Chakotay took the ring out of the box and looked at the names inside. They were written in flourishing italic and read: Chakotay, Kathryn and Amber.

"Thank you," he said. "This is...very special."

Kathryn smiled. "Let me put it on you."

Chakotay handed her the ring and she gently slipped it onto the third finger of his right hand.

"A perfect fit," she said. "Just like mine."

Chakotay smiled. "It's amazing...just like you."

Kathryn smiled back, her eyes sparkling. "We're getting mushy again aren't we?"

Chakotay laughed. "I like mushy."

"Good," she answered, "because..." She reached for a silver dish and pulled off its lid. "I made this shepherd's pie while you were out earlier and, while it tastes good, it's kind of one lump of mush."

Chakotay looked, saw a swirl of brown and white, and laughed. "Oh darling, I hope that's not all that's on the menu."

"No," she answered. "There's plenty else. And all replicated, I assure you. I tried to roast some veggies, but they burnt and..."

Chakotay was laughing heartedly now. "I'm sorry," he said. "But some things never change." Then, as he sobered, he reached for her hand and squeezed it. "And I hope they never do."

Kathryn smiled and squeezed his hand in return. "Ditto."


After they had eaten their meal, Kathryn popped to her old ready room on the pretense of replicating chocolates, while Chakotay waited for her on the bridge. As he waited, he looked around, memories playing out before him, and he wanted to walk through them for a while. He got up, walked slowly around the bridge, and then sat in his old seat. It felt the same as it always had, and for a moment, just a moment, he was back in the Delta Quadrant in the heat of action. But then the ready room doors swished open and he was back in the present. He stood up and looked towards the ready room, expecting to see Kathryn emerge. But, when he saw her, his mouth fell open. She was posed in the doorway in sexy blue lingerie.

"Commander Chakotay," she said seductively, "my ready room now."

For the longest time Chakotay could only gaze at her. Then, with a smile on his face, a smile that was mirrored on hers, he walked towards her. When he was close, Kathryn seized his shirt and then pulled him into the room with a kiss.

THE END