"What did Jan have to say?"

"Nothing much," Kathryn took his hand as they walked back to the cabin together. "What were you and Gregg doing in the barn?"

"Planning projects to renovate the barn, maybe put it back into use for something other than a storage shed for tools. And," He took a breath of frigid air. "Dreaming about the addition to the rec centre and the messhall."

"Jan," Kathryn slipped, but was caught in strong arms before her bottom met with the cold, hard ice underfoot. "Thanks," She grinned up at him as they continued their cautious amble before she reached into her pocket to produce the small cheque. "Our first paycheque."

He stopped. "Paycheque?"

"Mmmhmm," she nodded her head and handed him the slip. "We have to go into town and open a bank account to deposit it. She wants to put us on the camp's business account as well. Chakotay?"

He was caught in his own thought as he looked at the paper. "It's real, isn't it?"

An elegant eyebrow quirked at the ambiguous question, "Of course it's real. What are you talking about?"

"This," He gestured between them and all around them. "Money, cheques, contracts, bills, licenses… This is our life."

"Yes," She met his eyes in resignation. "This is our life."

He turned, tugging at her hand again and continuing to walk. "So we'll go and do that today. Is there anything else?"

"Well," she took a deep breath and started going over the mental checklist she'd made for herself. "After the bank, we need to buy groceries because the only thing we have in the kitchen is hamburger helper, which I am not eating any more of. And if we have time we need to get a head start looking at the applications that the medical students submitted for counsellor positions…"

"Well," He opened the door to the cabin for her a they stepped into the warm room. "Sounds like another full day."

"Jan asked me what we were doing to Valentines Day this year – oh!" She stopped and pointed to her right. "Take this turn. I remember Jan taking it when we went into town a few weeks ago. Something about a short cut."

"This turn?" He flashed his indicator as she nodded. " So what did she say about Valentines Day?"

"Just if we were doing anything for it," She told him absently while on the look out for their next turn. "I'd have forgotten about it altogether if she hadn't mentioned it."

"When is it again?" Turned again onto a busy road. "Do you remember where we go next?"

"Right after the stop sign," She indicated. "So get over. This Friday, the fourteenth."

"Is that it over there?" He pointed to a long four-line street dotted on both sides with shopping centres.

"Uh huh," She looked out and found the large shopping centre she and Jan had gone to before locating the Chase sign right next to it. "And there's the bank."

"Bank first?"

"Might as well."

"So what did you tell her?" He glanced wickedly at her.

"Nothing salacious!" She guffawed hitting his arm. "I didn't say anything. We don't usually do anything."

"Which bank is it again?"

"Chase," She showed him. "The one with the big sign."

"We've never been in the position to do anything, Kathryn." He grumbled. She recoiled, the guilt of their separation over the years hitting her squarely in the gut. He didn't have to look over at her to know his callous comment had hurt. "I'm sorry, Kathryn." He whispered as he pulled the car into the near-empty lot at the bank and turned off the ignition. "That was out of line. I'm sorry."

She sat back in her chair, trying and failing to hide how much the reality had stung. "No, it's fine. You're right."

"Kathryn" He coaxed, taking her hand after he'd parked the truck. "It was a careless comment and I'm sorry. We don't need to go over this again. I understand why you kept your distance and I respect that. Let's just forget I said it."

"But it's true," Her eyes were clear as her gaze met his. "And you're still angry with me-"

"Hey," He smiled placing two gentle fingers over her lips. "I'm not angry. I shouldn't have said it."

"But you said it."

"I know," He nodded. "It's just that I-

"Wish we hadn't wasted so much time," She filled in forlornly. "I know."

"Come on," He kissed her forehead and gave her hand a squeeze before exiting the truck. "The sooner we finish here the sooner we can go home and…" A wicked smirk finished the rest of his thought.

Kathryn laughed heartily at that, releasing his hand and rolling her eyes as she got out of the car. "Do you think of anything else?"

"Me?" He laughed and pulled her into his side. "What about you?"

"Well you see," She explained pedagogically. "I have an excuse."

"And what's that?"

"I have this very tall, dark and handsome man who I live with and I simply can't keep my hands off of him."

"Oh," He nodded in understanding. "I see your dilemma."

"And did I also mention..." She lowered her voice as they entered the bank before she leaned up and whispered something in his ear.

"Kathryn!"