Before they knew it, Chakotay and Kathryn were celebrating the arrival of the new year and noticed near the middle of January that the weather was turning warmer. Though the nights were bitter cold and they experienced several heavy snowstorms, the sun was out nearly every day, bringing afternoon temperatures well above freezing. Kathryn loved spending time outside to feel the warmth of the sun on her face, but the warmer days meant that the Phreezah would soon be leaving to head back below ground. Kathryn didn't know when that would be but tried to spend as much time outdoors with their alien visitors as possible before they left for the year.

A few days later, just as Kathryn was getting ready for bed, there was a knock at the door. Chakotay's heart clenched at the look of sadness that swam across Kathryn's face as she glanced at him before going to the door.

Oona stood there, with Ono and several others. Chakotay knew before any of them spoke.

They'd come to say goodbye.

Hugs were spread around and everyone wished Kathryn a safe and speedy delivery of the babies. Oona listened to them one last time, telling Kathryn that they were well and happy, and everyone was eager to meet them when the cold weather came back again. Chakotay was amazed that Kathryn held her emotions in check as they bid their neighbors farewell. They stood in the doorway and watched as the Phreezah gathered and began their walk back towards the caves. The night was clear and cold and the mass of silvery bodies could easily be seen under the light of the moon as it grew smaller until they were out of sight.

Kathryn didn't speak as Chakotay slowly pulled her away from the door and shut it. She didn't speak as he guided her gently towards the bed, and didn't speak as he lay her down and covered them up. He knew she would have to process the temporary loss of their friends in her own way and time. They both knew that the Phreezah would have to leave, but neither had been prepared for it. They both knew it was only until next winter, and then they would be back, but it didn't stop Chakotay's heart breaking for Kathryn as he felt her crying silently in his arms. He knew nothing he could say would bury the ache inside her at the loss of her friends, so he simply held her, pressing kisses into her hair until she fell asleep.

=/\=

Kathryn hated to admit it to herself, but she was tired. She was tired physically. She was tired mentally and she was tired emotionally.

She was tired of being pregnant. She hated that the thought even occurred to her, but as January became February, and she closed in on and surpassed week thirty, she was fairly miserable.

Sleeping lying down was a fifty-fifty crapshoot on whether or not she could get comfortable, even with her body surrounded with pillows. Many nights she would fall asleep in her rocking chair, but couldn't stay in that position for more than a few hours because of the pressure that it put on her pelvis. She would usually try to nap during the day but had the same problem of being unable to get or stay comfortable.

And because she was tired, she was irritable.

Kathryn Janeway had always been a woman that could do anything she wanted to by herself. She was a Captain in Starfleet for goodness sake. She had conquered the Kazon on numerous occasions and faced off with the Vidiians. And now she couldn't always stand up without Chakotay's help.

Chakotay…

He was nothing but loving and kind and considerate, always stopping whatever he was doing to help her. He constantly checked in to see how she was feeling. He rubbed her shoulders and back every day, cooked or replicated whatever she was in the mood for, ran her a bath whenever she needed a good soak, and always seemed to be around when she needed him. It was absolutely endearing…

...and absolutely annoying. With the Phreezah being gone now, Chakotay was her only source of companionship. That in and of itself was not at all a problem. Kathryn adored Chakotay in a way she'd never adored or appreciated another human being. She loved that he was overly protective of her and the babies, their impending arrival playing in both of their minds daily. She was glad that he was around to do the things she was no longer able to do.

And it frustrated her to no end.

After breakfast, on one of the first warm mornings they'd had since the snow had melted, Kathryn was in her rocking chair, putting the finishing touches on another baby sweater. She enjoyed knitting, but it seemed that lately, that was all she had the energy to do, and between their visitors being gone and the weather, it was pretty much all she could do. Tossing her work back into the yarn basket, she decided she had to get out of the house for a bit.

Using the momentum of the rocker, she pushed herself forward to stand up, nearly overcompensating her forward momentum. She lost her balance for a moment, catching herself on the small table beside her chair. Chakotay was by her side in an instant, his arm coming around her to help her catch her balance. Instantly frustrated with his hovering, she shrugged out from under his arm. "Chakotay, stop. I'm fine."

She saw the hurt flash across his face and felt bad for snapping, but she needed him to understand. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself."

"I know that." Her tone was still laced with more bitterness than she'd meant, but she knew she could attribute it to her hormones and her exhaustion. "I just...I can still do some things on my own. I know you mean well, and I really do appreciate it, but I need you to wait until I ask for help."

Chakotay backed up away from Kathryn, giving her space. She could still see the hurt that lived on his face, and though she felt awful for being the one to put it there, she was frustrated beyond measure at the way he constantly hovered over her. "I just...I need some time alone. I just need some time to remember that just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm an invalid."

"Kathryn, you're not an invalid," Chakotay retorted, watching as she moved towards the door to slip on her shoes and pull on her shawl.

"I know that. Do you?" she sighed in frustration, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be so short. I just need some time alone. I need to go for a walk." She pulled open the door, watching Chakotay out of the corner of her eye as he moved to pull his own sweatshirt from the hook by the door. "No, please. I just need some time alone."

"Kathryn, what if something happens?"

"Chakotay, if we were still on Voyager, I'd still be Captain, pregnant with twins, and dealing with who knows what on our journey home. You wouldn't be able to follow me everywhere and keep me from doing my job."

"Kathryn, that's not fair, and you know it." His tone was turning darker, and Kathryn sighed as she stepped outside.

"I know that! I'm sure the Doctor would be annoying me just like you with shortened duty shifts and increased bedrest." She noted her error immediately when Chakotay flinched, "Chakotay, I'm sorry," she sighed, "You're not annoying." She leaned against the doorframe, "I'm annoyed at myself, and I'm frustrated that I have no control over my body anymore, and I'm sad that Oona is gone, and I wish my mom was here to help me through the birth of our children, and I love you, but I'm just so frustrated with everything right now."

This time when Chakotay approached her, she accepted his nearness, leaning into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry." He breathed into her hair, "I'm sorry about all of it."

Kathryn gave him a squeeze before pulling back, feeling slightly more in control of her emotions, "I don't need you to be sorry, I just want you to know how I'm feeling. I love you so much, but I need you to know that I can ask for help when I need it. I know you're worried about me and the babies, and I love you for it, but I can handle being pregnant. I'm not the first woman to do it. I just need to know that you'll be there for me when I need it, but give me space when I need it too."

Chakotay grinned sadly at her, "I do, and I'm sorry," her eyebrows went up, "I am sorry that I've been making you feel that way. It wasn't my intention. I do know that you can handle being pregnant. You can handle anything. I've witnessed it many times over the last few years. I guess I've just never been in the position of being a soon to be father before, and without anyone else or any help, I just want to make sure I can do all I can to make all of this easier for you." He tugged on his earlobe, "I guess with all of that I forgot that you are more than capable of asking for help when you need it."

Kathryn nodded, "I appreciate that," she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "Now, I'm going to go for a walk. I won't be gone long, and maybe you can have lunch ready when I get back," she smiled gently at him, "I love you, you know."

Chakotay smiled back at her, "I know, and I love you too."

Once out of the house, Kathryn couldn't help the smile that lifted her lips; it felt amazing to be outside and in the fresh air. Though it was still chilly, she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face.

She meandered through the trees and towards the river, following the path through the woods that they had worn down from months and months of walking the same trail.

The tree branches were still bare, but she knew it wouldn't be long before buds would form, turning into leaves and blossoms. They had arrived on New Earth in the heat of the summer. She was eager to see what it would look like in the various stages of spring.

The last big snow storm they had had taken a lot of smaller branches and some big ones down, littering the path. Kathryn wanted to pick them up, clear them out of the way, but she knew her center of gravity would not allow it, not to mention the fact that she shouldn't be lifting anything heavy anyways. With a sigh she kept walking, stepping over the debris in her way.

She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air in her lungs. She had enjoyed the winter and all of their time with the Phreezah, but she had spent the majority of her days inside, and hadn't really realized how much she was suffering from cabin fever until she was outside, literally able to stretch her legs.

In less than two months the babies would be here, and she and Chakotay could walk their trails together, only this time carrying their son and daughter. She smiled at the thought. As much as she had loved feeling the babies growing inside her, she was ready for this to be done. She was uncomfortable so much of the time, she knew that her small frame was not meant to carry twins, and she hoped to never do it again.

She smiled at that thought too. Though they hadn't ever really talked about it, she imagined being pregnant in the future; adding to their growing family here on New Earth. When she'd imagined having a child on Voyager, she had imagined just one or two. At the time, she and Chakotay had been merely friends and co-workers, and though having children together would certainly link them in a more intimate bond for the rest of their lives, they hadn't had a romantic attachment at the time, and she was sure (though Chakotay would probably disagree) that she wouldn't have let one form...

...at least not right away.

When they were on Voyager, she had had a job and a goal and a purpose. Her job was to get her crew home. Now she had a different purpose, no less important, and one she was looking forward to just as much.

She walked on, deeper into the woods, feeling a chill as an increase in tree branches blocked out much of the sun's warmth. There was a bit of a breeze, and she figured she'd walked far enough, turning to head back down the hill she had just climbed. Though the incline wasn't steep, she felt slightly out of breath. As she picked her way back down the hill, she thought she heard movement in the trees. Just when she had almost reached the bottom a loud chirp caught her attention.

Spinning to find the source, eager to potentially see her primate friend, back after the winter was over, she lost her balance. Her momentum pushed her backward and as she reached for the tree beside her, her right ankle hooked in the low crotch of a tree, changing her momentum as she went down.

All Kathryn could do was reach behind her to try to stop her fall. She'd rather break her wrist than fall and hit her head. She felt her ankle pull and crack, still stuck in the tree as she landed hard on her back. She cried out through gritted teeth as the pain shot up her leg.

She lay prone on her back, and having spun as she fell, she now lay at a downhill angle from the tree where her ankle was stuck. The weight of her stomach pressed down on her hips, keeping her from being able to sit up to dislodge her foot. She tried to sit up, but her abdominal muscles were a thing of the past, and gravity was working against her. She tried to push herself into a seated position, but her pregnancy wouldn't allow it. Pain pulsed with her heartbeat as she moved, reaching into her pocket for her comm badge to call for Chakotay.

She squeezed her eyes shut to the pain as she felt around in her pocket.

It was empty.

In her earlier anger she had forgotten to grab her communicator.

And she had told Chakotay she needed time alone.

She knew she was too far from the house to yell for help, so she simply lay there, cringing as her ankle pulsed with pain. The babies moved as much as they were able in the small space, the adrenaline coursing through Kathryn's body alerting them that something was wrong. "Don't worry babies," she whispered through gritted teeth, "Daddy will come find us soon. I hope."