And loving him wasn't hard to do – even when he was being maddeningly difficult and wickedly funny all at the same time.
His eyes had blinked open just before they reached the house, so Kathryn didn't have to wake him – although she did touch her fingers to the corner of his lips and edge of his chin as he was getting out of the back seat, wiping away a touch of wetness caused by sleeping with his mouth half open. He grimaced slightly, realizing that he'd dropped off and knowing that she knew. She simply cupped his cheek in her hand and gave him a quick kiss before leading him up the porch steps and into the entry hall.
Gretchen stopped beside them, still insisting on carrying both suitcases. "I thought you might want the downstairs guestroom," she nodded down the central hall past the staircase and then looked back at Chakotay. "Kathryn's old room is upstairs, but there are an awful lot of stairs to climb."
Chakotay grinned slyly over at Kathryn, then turned the dimples toward her mother. "Actually, I'm quite adept at climbing stairs. I've been told it's one of my greatest talents."
"Well, if you want to tackle the staircase…"
Kathryn glared over at him, her lips pressing into a thin line, trying not to laugh at his adolescent cheekiness. "No, Mom, the guestroom will be fine." Her gaze hardened even more. "We'll save the stairs for therapy. It'll be a good work out."
Chakotay nodded, his expression exasperatingly neutral. "Yes, climbing stairs is always a good workout. Maybe we can climb some after lunch."
Kathryn could see that his eyes were alight with humor, but, thankfully, her mother hadn't picked up on the double meaning of his words. She headed off down the hall toward the guestroom. "Well, you're welcome to climb them anytime, although I'm afraid your only reward will be Kathryn's old bedroom – it's still filled with books and tennis trophies." She went into the guestroom and set the suitcases next to the bed. "I haven't changed a thing in that room since she left for the Academy."
Chakotay sank onto the edge of the bed and smiled over at Kathryn who was still standing in the doorway. "It'll be like going back in time – the girlhood of Kathryn Janeway."
And Kathryn sighed. "That may be against the temporal prime directive."
"And we never break the temporal prime directive," Chakotay shook his head solemnly.
"I'm sure you don't," Gretchen agreed with a nod. "But speaking of temporal matters, lunch will be ready in about fifteen minutes. That'll give you time to get settled in." She squeezed Kathryn's arm as she passed by her and went down the hall to the kitchen. "If you need anything, just holler."
"Thanks, Mom," Kathryn called over her shoulder, then turned and leveled her eyes on the man sitting on the bed. "Adept at climbing stairs? One of your greatest talents?"
Chakotay shrugged, spreading his hands out in front of him. "What was I supposed to say?" he asked innocently. "It's the truth. Scott told me just the other day that my stair-climbing abilities were excellent, and I seem to recall that the woman I've been living with agrees."
Kathryn swung the door closed behind her and advanced toward him. "Oh, you are asking for it, mister."
Chakotay flashed his dimples at her just as she reached him, her hands pushing against his shoulders and causing him to fall back on the bed. "I thought that was implied," he grinned, as she climbed on the bed beside him, her arms and legs tangling with his. She kissed him, and he readily responded, the kiss deepening for several long moments before they pulled apart. "We're supposed to be… settling in," he breathed.
Kathryn pressed closer, her hand running along the collar of his shirt, fingers warm on the skin of his neck and chest – two could play at this game. "I am settling in," she sighed, kissing the cleft in his chin, then nuzzling under his ear, her actions both playful and predatory.
She felt him shift beneath her, her thigh registering the affect she was having on him. "But… you heard what your mom said – lunch in fifteen minutes."
Kathryn pulled back slightly, propped her head on her hand and gazed down at him. His breathing had increased and a fine sheen of perspiration glistened on his forehead, causing the lines of his tattoo to appear even darker against his skin. "Be careful what you ask for, Commander – especially if there's not enough time to open the present."
He drew in a deep breath and nodded. "Point to Kathryn Janeway," he conceded.
And she grinned triumphantly.
"This time," he added.
"Really?" she arched an eyebrow at him. "And just who has all those tennis trophies upstairs?"
He pursed his lips in thought. "I don't know. I haven't seen them yet."
"Oh, you will. You just have to climb the stairs." And she leaned over and kissed him again.
~vVv~
