Disclaimer: Paramount owns the rights to Janeway and Chakotay.
Author's Note: This story is based on the song "Right Here All Along" by the fabulously
talented Amanda Marshall. I'm not trying to step on her toes by using this song.
Rating: PG
NOT ALONE
Janeway opened her eyes slowly, feeling the body next to her. Only half-awake, her mind
tired to decide why she was sharing her bed with someone. It then dawned on her that she
wasn't in her bed, but was actually lying down on the couch in her living room.
*We must have fallen asleep.*
Her mind began to reel as she looked closely at her sleeping companion. She felt like a teen-
ager again, sharing a scandalous moment with a boyfriend before her parents came home. But
she was an adult, and there were no more rules to say she couldn't have this man in her life.
Still, she wasn't sure if this was right. Their friendship had been so unique; would that all be
gone if they decided to give into what they'd been fighting against for so long? She hoped
that she wouldn't have to give him up. She prayed that his gods would intercede on their
behalf.
He tightened his hold on her, mumbling gently in his sleep. Squirming a little, she planted a
soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled in his sleep.
*Yes,* she thought, *this will be okay.* She could call up a hundered different instances from
the Delta Quadrant where he had saved her, reassured her. When she wasn't sure about the
journey home, she would look at him, and his eyes would say that he wanted it as much as she
did. Looking back, she had known even then that this was what she really wanted.
*****
Chakotay busied himself in the kitchen, trying to decide what to make for breakfast while he let
Katheryn sleep just a little longer. Even after their return, she had been constantly busy--telling
Starfleet about their adventures, trying to explain her actions to a group of old men and women
who would never be in that type of situation. She needed a chance to sleep.
And even though she wasn't saying anything, he didn't feel like he was alone anymore. When
he had shown up at her door the day before, she had welcomed him with a hug and an
apology, followed by a lunch she managed to burn.
*Only Katheryn could consistently burn a replicated meal.*
He had counted on that during their stay on Voyager. Every time she invited him to dinner, it
would inevitably be burned and they would end up sharing cereal and hot chocolate out of his
replicator. The affectionate jabs they shared over her inability to cook had been as close to a
declaration of love as he had gotten.
But her last letter had said it all. It was time to start over; no more games, no more hiding.
She had been a pillar of strength during their journey. Anytime he needed to remember what
Earth looked like from space, he would just look into her eyes and he could see it there,
waiting for the whole crew to return. And every time he looked at her, all the other women in
his life just faded away. All the mistakes he made with them, he would not make with her.
He was startled to feel arms around his waist.
"Good morning," she said drowsily. "Tell me you've made coffee."
He grinned. "Of course." He handed her a cup that was still steaming and she drank it down
gratefully.
"Ah...thank you."
They looked at each other for a moment, smiling. She took his hand with her free one and
squeezed it gently. "You came back," she said softly.
He nodded. "I knew neither of us wanted to be alone anymore."
Author's Note: This story is based on the song "Right Here All Along" by the fabulously
talented Amanda Marshall. I'm not trying to step on her toes by using this song.
Rating: PG
NOT ALONE
Janeway opened her eyes slowly, feeling the body next to her. Only half-awake, her mind
tired to decide why she was sharing her bed with someone. It then dawned on her that she
wasn't in her bed, but was actually lying down on the couch in her living room.
*We must have fallen asleep.*
Her mind began to reel as she looked closely at her sleeping companion. She felt like a teen-
ager again, sharing a scandalous moment with a boyfriend before her parents came home. But
she was an adult, and there were no more rules to say she couldn't have this man in her life.
Still, she wasn't sure if this was right. Their friendship had been so unique; would that all be
gone if they decided to give into what they'd been fighting against for so long? She hoped
that she wouldn't have to give him up. She prayed that his gods would intercede on their
behalf.
He tightened his hold on her, mumbling gently in his sleep. Squirming a little, she planted a
soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled in his sleep.
*Yes,* she thought, *this will be okay.* She could call up a hundered different instances from
the Delta Quadrant where he had saved her, reassured her. When she wasn't sure about the
journey home, she would look at him, and his eyes would say that he wanted it as much as she
did. Looking back, she had known even then that this was what she really wanted.
*****
Chakotay busied himself in the kitchen, trying to decide what to make for breakfast while he let
Katheryn sleep just a little longer. Even after their return, she had been constantly busy--telling
Starfleet about their adventures, trying to explain her actions to a group of old men and women
who would never be in that type of situation. She needed a chance to sleep.
And even though she wasn't saying anything, he didn't feel like he was alone anymore. When
he had shown up at her door the day before, she had welcomed him with a hug and an
apology, followed by a lunch she managed to burn.
*Only Katheryn could consistently burn a replicated meal.*
He had counted on that during their stay on Voyager. Every time she invited him to dinner, it
would inevitably be burned and they would end up sharing cereal and hot chocolate out of his
replicator. The affectionate jabs they shared over her inability to cook had been as close to a
declaration of love as he had gotten.
But her last letter had said it all. It was time to start over; no more games, no more hiding.
She had been a pillar of strength during their journey. Anytime he needed to remember what
Earth looked like from space, he would just look into her eyes and he could see it there,
waiting for the whole crew to return. And every time he looked at her, all the other women in
his life just faded away. All the mistakes he made with them, he would not make with her.
He was startled to feel arms around his waist.
"Good morning," she said drowsily. "Tell me you've made coffee."
He grinned. "Of course." He handed her a cup that was still steaming and she drank it down
gratefully.
"Ah...thank you."
They looked at each other for a moment, smiling. She took his hand with her free one and
squeezed it gently. "You came back," she said softly.
He nodded. "I knew neither of us wanted to be alone anymore."