Kathryn and Chakotay approached the apartment she had shared with Jack Lang several months ago. As Kathryn took a deep breath Chakotay saw she was worried "you don't have to do this you know." He told her taking her hand tightly in his.

Kathryn turned to him her blue eyes unusually bright set against her pale face "I want to, it was your idea."

"Yes" admitted Chakotay looking at her not trying to hide his concern "it was my idea months ago, I thought as the child's father he had the right to know."

Kathryn stood trying to understand what he was saying now, tilting her head she looked at him stood in the dusk night air. Drawing her brows together she asked firmly "you don't think he has a right not know now."

"No Kathryn it's not that" Chakotay told her placing his free hand on the large protruding bump "I suppose somewhere in me I started to see myself as- well-" he shook his head and turned away.

"Chakotay" Kathryn whispered in that way she reserved for only him. Taking his hand she placed it back on her swollen belly "you are the best father this child will ever have, I want you as part of that." When he turned to look at her face she whispered "I promise one day I will give you children of your own, a son to call Caleb but right now all I can give you is this." With that she looked up at the apartment block "Jack has the right to know, I won't lie to my child, one day it will know of it's true father and it's true father should know of it. "Kathryn if you do this I don't want differences between own children" he told her "I don't want it to be these ones are mine but that one is not"

Kathryn looked at him closely of course she had thought about that in some fleeting moment but it had never been said quite that way. He meant what he was saying Kathryn could see that. "Chakotay parenting is as new to me as it is to you, we will work it out together, but don't ask me to lie to my children." She told I'm in an almost command tone.

Chakotay had long since given up when he talked to her that way in personal situations. "Fine" he said softly "in that case let's go and see Jack"

"My mother wants to see us again soon" Kathryn said casually as they walked into the apartment building.

"We say her last week" Chakotay pointed out.

Kathryn's face broke into a tiny crooked smile as she said "She's afraid of losing me again"

Chakotay smiled his dimpled smile, kissed the top of her head and said lovingly "I don't blame her"

To which Kathryn only replied with a scowl before breaking into a smile and locking eyes with him. She maneuverer herself round, with a little help from Chakotay and kissed him on the lips gently as she said "Chakotay I love you"

Chakotay's heart skipped a beat, all those months ago when they had gotten engaged in the Jeffery's tube on Jupiter Station she had never said it and to his recollection she had never out rightly, by her own choice said it since. He looked into her eyes, smiled and in true Janeway fashion said "I know" to which she rolled her eyes, awaited his arm and whispered "were here"

The two turned to the door which they were stood outside, the apartment Kathryn had shared with Jack all those months ago. Chakotay looked at Kathryn but when she made no move to do anything he told her "I'll go first"

"Don't provoke him" Kathryn told him a slight hint of worry in her voice.

Chakotay squeezed her hand but made no promises and she banged his fist of the door. It was seconds later when Jack Lang swung open the door and looked completely taken aback to see Chakotay stood in his door frame. Chakotay slammed his hand on the door to stop him from closing it as he smiled a somewhat pleasant smile and said "I have brought somebody who wants to talk with you"

Jack looked freighted but his fear quickly went to confusion as he realised Kathryn was stood behind him, tough he could only see her face, Chakotay seemed to be purposely obstructing the rest of her. "Kathryn?" Jack stammered the confusion evident.

Kathryn held her head high, set her jaw and said in her command tone "it is customary to invite us in first"

Jack looked from Kathryn to Chakotay and asked firmly "is this some kind of trick"

"I assure you no trick" growled Chakotay "Kathryn is here to talk with you but let this be my only warning, if you do any more than talk, if you attempt to lay one finger on her you will not live to see anything but Starfleet Medical"

Jack looked fearful for a second as he heard the intensity to the darker man's voice he gulped hard and look to Kathryn who seemed unperturbed by her partners comment, the Kathryn Jack knew would have protested openly if she had disagreed with nothing that was said on her behalf. Jack turned to Chakotay nodded stiffly and said "understood" even Jack knew when he was beat.

Turning to Kathryn he found his composure and smiled a smile Chakotay didn't like very much as he said "well Kathryn you and your friend should come inside."

"Thank you" Kathryn confidently smiled as she walked passed both the men and held her head up high. Jack wasn't sure what he saw but he had a fair idea. Following her into his apartment closely followed by Chakotay who closed the door behind him Jack looked Kathryn up and down, Kathryn who was now taking off her coat to reveal more clearly what he was sure he had seen. Jack looked at swollen belly she was now showing him to Chakotay, was this some kind of game? Deciding to play the higher man he smiled at her and said "I think it's customary for me to say congratulations" then turning from her he turned to Chakotay and gave a curt nod saying "so you got the girl after all" Chakotay merely stared at him in wordless response. "Gone shy on me?" Jack sneered "only last time you were here you had a lot to say."

"I am here because Kathryn wants to be here, nothing more." Chakotay said coldly.

Jack opened his mouth to sneer more but Kathryn cut across him "perhaps I should say Congratulations to you?"

Jack turned slowly from the firm dead pan face of Chakotay to look a Kathryn "me?" he questioned.

"this is your doing, not Chakotay's" it quite hadn't gone how she had thought it might, the mood in the room as a deep tense, Chakotay didn't trust Jack one bit and was keeping a steady restraint but Kathryn knew him, she knew one false move from Jack and Chakotay's restraint would snap. Kathryn saw now that really Jack didn't care for her. He circled her looking her up and down to disgust on his face clear.

Looking at Chakotay Jack said darkly "even somewhat attractive women become disgustingly fat when they get themselves pregnant." Kathryn spun round to let her wide eyes meet with his.

"Get myself pregnant?" she almost shrieked "it takes two if I recall"

Jack looked at her with disgust "didn't you use precaution you dumb whore?"

Chakotay stepped in and placed his hand protectively on Kathryn's lower back but didn't say a word. The whole time Chakotay didn't take his eyes from Jack. "Well I thought I did" she whispered shaking her head "but what about you, were your boosters not up to date?"

"I shouldn't have to be taking boosters, it's your responsibility if you go and get pregnant not mine." He spat at her waving his hand "what are you here for? Child payments? Like some begging whore" then his smile deepened in to a sneer as he leaned in and whispered "because I know how you beg, the great Kathryn Janeway on her hands and knees begging me to let her climax"

Kathryn narrowed her eyes at him but didn't attempt to deny his words. Chakotay fists clenched at the imagery of it but still he said nothing. It was Kathryn who spat out the next sentence "I came here to tell you off your child and offer you a chance to be involved as a father, nothing more nothing less."

"No thank you" Spat Jack which took Kathryn slightly aback. Jack turned to her said "you are a dirty little whore who was gagging for sex when you didn't take the proper precautions, that's not my problem." Then he looked at Chakotay as smiled saying "What my advice, keep well away from this slut, she's using you to provide for another man's child, don't fall for it."

"my involvement is my choice, as is yours" Chakotay told him "she is offering you as father the choice to be involved in your child's life, it seems you have turned her down in that case, we wish you well admiral. Goodbye."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Jack laughed as he gestured towards the door "don't forget to take your whore with you."