Chapter 16

The reception was held outside. There were huge tents set up to shade people from the sun. The theme of flowers and the color scheme of white also prevailed. Each table had a white table cloth and a vase filled with gardenias in the center. There was an old fashioned orchestra playing on the far left and to the right of them was a dance floor.

Kathryn and Chakotay found themselves seated at what they considered a table of honor. They sat with Captain Picard and Beverly. Also joining them at the table was Commander LaForge and his date along with Commander Data. There were two empty place settings remaining. When Kathryn looked around she saw many familiar faces. This was a Starfleet event. Many of the admirals that had taken part in the debriefings were there, some she knew and some she didn't. There were also tables filled with local people. Of course there was a table set in the front for the new couple and their families. The orchestra began to play softly in the background.

Geordi La Forge was the first to speak. "So, Beverly spill, what was the wedding like?

"It was beautiful, very romantic."

"Oh come on, everyone was naked! How beautiful could it have been?"

"There were some interesting moments! Wouldn't you agree Kathryn?"

"Yes, there were some unusual sites!" They both barely contained their laughter.

Captain Picard spoke up. "I didn't see anything all that unusual."

Beverly reached over and lovingly stroked her husband's cheek. "That's because you didn't see yourself backing out of the room dragging Deanna's mother." That was all it took for Beverly, Kathryn and Chakotay to burst out laughing.

"You did look a little undignified Jean-Luc," Kathryn added in defense of Beverly.

Picard was not amused.

Data sat as stone faced as ever. "I do not understand."

"You had to be there Data," Beverly assured her friend.

"No, I think I can describe it for you."

"That's enough Captain Janeway." Captain Picard spoke in his sternest voice but no one paid him any heed.

Kathryn had the full attention of the other guests at the table. "Will had just stepped to the front of the room and was waiting. The door to the right of the room opened and suddenly all you saw was a derrière sticking out."

Geordi asked astonishingly, "It was yours Captain?" The ladies at the table were covering their mouths to hide the sounds of their laughter.

Kathryn continued. "Yes, it was the Captain. Then he was struggling with what we thought was something. He looked to be pulling something and as he did his butt was wiggling back and forth. It was quite an unusual sight."

Picard was embarrassed. "I was carrying out a time honored tradition of the Betazoid people! I was escorting Lwaxana through the door. She was acting out her protests to the wedding."

Beverly hugged him. "You were very dignified sweetheart." She kissed his bare head.

"It could have been worse. You could have been facing us and pulling her from behind."

"I don't think I would talk if I were you Commander Chakotay. It wasn't me that Lwaxana eyed up and down as if she was ready to eat me."

"Damn Data, I think we missed all the fun."

"It would have been intriguing to witness these rituals. Perhaps we will get a chance to make similar observations during this, what is it called again Geordi?"

"A reception, Data. I think you may get your wish. Don't look now but I believe Mrs. Troi is approaching our table."

Lwaxana swept across the floor. She reached their table and stood behind Geordi which allowed her to be directly across the table from Chakotay. "Jean-Luc, I wanted to thank you for your assistance in today's ceremony. You performed your duties admirably."

"Thank you Mrs. Troi. It was a beautiful ceremony."

Lwaxana stared intently at Chakotay. "Yes, it was, some parts more beautiful than others."

Chakotay thanked the spirits that he was in his full dress uniform. He foolheartedly believed that it gave him protection from her penetrating stares.

"It was very touching that Will chose to speak his vows twice, once telepathically and once out loud." Kathryn added.

"Yes, he did in fact amaze some of the people there. But of course, I always knew, he had that kind of depth. Otherwise, I would never have encouraged the match." Beverly and Picard nearly choked as Lwaxana rewrote history before their eyes. "I have other guests to attend to. Captain, Commander I will grant both of you the honor of dancing with me later." She left to visit other tables. Before she got ten steps away she stopped and turned. She looked directly at Commander Chakotay. "Really Commander!" Then she turned and left.

"Chakotay?"

Chakotay jumped up. "Kathryn, anyone, I am going to the bar, can I get you anything?"

Picard joined him. "Good idea. I will help you." They took orders and went to get the drinks.

"What did you mean when you said that Commander Riker said his vows telepathically?"

"Geordi, it was amazing. Deanna had finished her vows and it was Will's turn to speak and there was silence. We all just assumed he was waiting and then we found out he was projecting his thoughts. It was incredible. After all these years of knowing both of them, and I never knew he could speak to her that way. It was intensely romantic. Speak of the devil."

The bride and groom just entered the party. Commander Riker wore his dress uniform but Deanna had chosen something different. She wore what could only be described as a dressed that flowed. With every movement she made the dress seemed to float around her in an ethereal manner. She looked angelic. The white of the dress contrasted with her dark hair made a beautiful picture. The band began to play and the newly married couple took the floor. Chakotay and Picard had since returned with drinks for everyone and were watching the couple along with everyone else. The music grew a little louder and several people at the table exclaimed, "Nightbird!"

Kathryn and Chakotay looked perplexed. Beverly smiled sweetly. "Nightbird was the song that Will spent years trying to perfect on the trombone. I heard a rumor once that he promised if he got the solo perfect that he would marry Deanna."

Kathryn settled into Chakotay's arm and watched her friends dance. Not for the first time she wondered what it would be like to be the one getting married. As much as she wanted to believe Picard when he said that Starfleet would not separate them if they married she was still leery. It took her so long to find her home in his arms she knew she would rather resign her commission than be separated from him again. The music ended and Deanna and Will headed over to their table and sat down. After the congratulations were complete Beverly asked her friend why she was not sitting at the head table. "It was a compromise I made with my mother. Mother agreed that the head table would be provided for all the families of the great houses of Betazed but I would be able to sit with my friends if I agreed to go along with all the ancient traditions of the ceremony."

Kathryn reached over and touched Deanna's hand. "It was a beautiful ceremony." Kathryn chuckled just a little. "If you would have told me that I could be at a wedding and actually forget that I was stark naked I would have thought you were crazy."

Deanna was curious. "Did you really forget? I have found that it is so uncomfortable for most people that they miss the entire ceremony."

Chakotay looked at Will as he spoke. "At first I did spend a concerted amount of energy trying to control my thoughts. I didn't think Starfleet would appreciate another incident like the last wedding you attended."

Kathryn playfully slapped his arm. "Who exactly were you looking at Chakotay?"

He leaned in and kissed her head. "Only you!" He grabbed her hand and led her out to the dance floor. As they danced he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Just imagine how bad it would have been if we had not gotten together before the wedding. I don't think I could have seen you naked and controlled seven years of longing no matter how much I tried."

Kathryn grinned. "Then Lwaxana really would have gotten an eyeful!" He laughed. "Yes, she would have!" She settled against him and laid her cheek on his chest. They had danced at various parties on Voyager as well as the many receptions after they returned but they had always kept the proper distance. She snuggled closer. Her left arm was wrapped around his waist while the right one was clasped in his hand resting on his heart. His other hand was roaming up and down her back while his chin rested gently on her head. They continued in silence until the music ended. When they separated they both noticed the eyes of Starfleet upon them. Before they could comment they were cornered by Deanna's mother. "Commander, I believe I will dance with you now." Chakotay was stuck and he knew it. He took her hand and returned to the dance floor.

Lwaxana smacked him lightly on the back. "Don't be afraid Commander. I don't bite, unless of course you want me to." She looked at him expectantly. "No, I didn't think so." They danced around the floor in silence. Chakotay spent most of his time trying to keep a physical and mental distance from her. "She is the great love of your life." Chakotay looked up in shock. He had not been thinking about Kathryn at all. He didn't know why she said that.

"What made you say that?"

"Well, I can't really dance with an incredibly attractive man and not acknowledge the fact that I know he loves another woman. I may be eccentric but I am not stupid!" They were silent again for a long period of time. "You have tremendous depth for a non-empath. There is a connection between you and the world. It is very unique."

"Why do I feel like I am getting my palm read at a traveling show?", Chakotay asked her skeptically.

Lwaxana feigned insult. "You wound me. Fine, we can change the subject. Let's see what can we talk about? Oh yes. You looked extremely enticing at the wedding. I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were very…"

"Stop!" He spoke a little too loudly. People were staring. "I prefer the other conversation."

She shrugged. "Pity, I would have enjoyed you immensely."

Chakotay clenched his teeth. "Mrs. Troi, please!"

"Fine. Now what was I saying?" She held her fingers up to her temple and rubbed. "It has been a strenuous day. My only child has married and left me."

"I think she left you long ago when she joined Starfleet."

"But now she will not need her mother, she will turn to him for comfort. You will see one day Chakotay when you have children of your own."

"I don't think that is in my future."

"Nonsense! After you two marry you will have a family like everyone else. Did you propose yet?"

He was going to ignore her question because he didn't think it was any of her business but then he looked in her eyes and saw something. He didn't know what it was but it made him tell the truth. "Yes I did. We both agreed to marry."

"When?"

Now he was getting irritated. This had to be the longest song he had ever heard. He wanted to escape! "We haven't made plans yet."

"Ask her again. It would be a very romantic gesture to make plans to marry while attending a wedding."

Thankfully, the music ended. They stopped dancing and he turned to go back to his table. She held his hand to force him to face her once again. "Make it soon Commander. There are things you do not know."

Chakotay returned to the table practically shaking his head. Kathryn took his face in her hands and kissed his cheek after he sat down. "That was very good of you. I am sure it wasn't easy."

Chakotay took a long drink of cold water. Despite the fact that he found Lwaxana very annoying her final words rang in his head. As quickly as they came back he tried to dismiss them but he found that he could not. He put his glass down on the table. Before he began to eat he said, "She is an interesting woman."

"You don't know the half of it," Picard added.

Deanna climbed to a balcony that overlooked the dance floor. All the unmarried women were called out onto the floor. Geordi's date was among the crowd. Kathryn did not budge. She was firmly planted in her seat. Her table mates had to shame her into getting up. As she slowly walked toward the crowd of women Deanna threw her headband in the direction of the throng below. Many women grabbed at it but it flew over their heads to the far side of the floor just to where Captain Janeway stepped. It hit her square in the chest and, motivated solely by reflex, she caught it. The entire group surrounded her and cheered. Deanna smiled warmly and called for the traditional dance. Will stepped onto the floor and took Kathryn in his arms. They waltzed around the floor a few times. He stopped before her table, where Chakotay stood, and handed her off to him. The new couple took the floor to finish the dance.

"Do you know what that was all about, Chakotay?"

"It is a tradition. The person who catches the ceremonial headband dances with the groom."

"That much I figured out by myself. What does it mean and why didn't he finish the dance?"

He placed just enough pressure on her back so she would move closer to him. "Tradition states that if you catch the headband at a wedding that signifies that your one true love is in attendance, whether you know it or not. After you catch it, you dance with the groom as a sign of the past. And if he knows who this true love is he then places your hand in his as a symbol of what is yet to come."

Kathryn rested her head on his chest to hide the tears. She managed to whisper, "That is beautiful."

"Did you know that Deanna caught it at Chandra's wedding?"

"It kind of makes you believe in fate."

"Or destiny." He held her close once again thanking the spirits for her presence in his life. "I think it is time to settle our bet."

"What bet?" Kathryn pretended to not know what he was talking about but she knew full well she owed him.

"I seem to remember a certain game of pool that a certain captain lost. It was a very memorable event because you see she did not lose often."

"What do you mean often? Try never!"

He twirled her quickly as he asked. "Never?"

"Well, almost never. Once to be exact."

"I believe we had a little wager riding on that game. Do you remember the stakes?"

She was getting annoyed. She didn't like to lose. Even though it was three years ago she didn't like to be reminded of it. "Yes, I do."

"And what was that wager?"

She hated when he gloated! "I promised you a kiss."

"Despite my intense desire for you, I did not claim my kiss. Did I?"

"No, Commander you did not."

"And why is that?"

He was going to make her say it. What they did and said in private was one thing but this was a very public place and she could feel the eyes of Starfleet upon her. "You said you would only claim the kiss when we got home and I was ready to make a declaration of my love."

"Well?" He looked down at her and smiled. Not that little bitty almost smile so you can kind of see my dimples smile. It was the full force, knock me over with a feather, he looks so damn cute with those dimples smile. As usual, resistance was futile. Kathryn grabbed the back of Chakotay's neck and brought his mouth to hers and kissed him. The passion in her kiss was the public declaration he desired. When they broke apart she added, "I love you."

He hugged her tightly and breathlessly asked, "Will you marry me?"

Even though he had asked before she cried again. "Yes."

The two remained in their embrace long after the music stopped. They were oblivious to the conversations around them. In the far corner sat a table full of dignitaries.

"I knew there was something going on between them. You can't tell me that they did not break protocol on that ship." A voice filled with venom spewed out those words.

A second voice joined in. "Even if they did we cannot prove it. There is nothing we can do."

A third voice filled with haughty superiority added his thoughts. "We may not be able to do anything about the past but we can do something about the future!"

"Yes, we can not allow them to serve on the same ship!"

"It would serve her right. She thinks she is so high and mighty, bringing her ship back like the prodigal daughter. Only her father is not here to praise her. Is he?" The woman smiled wickedly as she spoke.

"I don't see how we can do anything. They are not married and even that is no longer grounds for automatic separation."

The third speaker began again. "We will wait and see. When they marry we can demand that they not serve as captain and first-officer or we could simply ask one of then to resign their commission."

"It will happen. They will get married and then we will put our plan into action." All three smiled.

Finally the second voice spoke again. "A toast, to removing the filth from the chain of command!"

"And," the woman added, "to breaking Janeway in the process!"

Although Kathryn and Chakotay were not aware that they were being talked about in such a manner one woman was.

Lwaxana went to the table where Deanna and Will sat with their friends. "Commander Chakotay, I believe it is time for another dance." Before anyone at the table could protest on his behalf he stood and led her to the dance floor. He might not have been able to read her mind but he could read her eyes.

Epilogue

Captain Kathryn exited the turbo-lift and entered the bridge of her ship just as she had seven and a half years ago.

"Captain on the bridge."

The three bridge crew members stood at attention.

"At ease Harry before you sprain something." She smiled at him broadly.

He returned her smile and purposely added, "Yes, ma'am."

"It's good to see you all." She looked at each officer, Tuvok, Tom, and then Harry. She walked to each and greeted them personally. As was her way she touched her friends on the arm as she spoke to them. Each in his turn noticed the gold band on her left ring finger, but no one commented.

Captain Janeway stood in front of the screen and surveyed the bridge of her ship. She felt a calm in her stomach as she realized that she was glad to be back. The Captain turned when she heard the turbo-lift doors open. Her first officer entered. All eyes were on him as he walked toward the Captain. Only the Commander and Captain remained oblivious to the tension. Chakotay stood directly in front of her. "Commander Chakotay reporting for duty."

"You're late."

Harry and Tom winced. Tom knew instantly that things between them had not improved since they left. He and B'Elanna had hoped they would work things out when he escorted her to the wedding. It didn't seem so right now. He guessed that time did not heal all wounds. Tom wondered what would happen when Chakotay noticed the ring.

The commanding officers took their seats.

"Take us out Lt. Paris."

Once they cleared the docking area the Captain gave the order. "Lt. Paris is the course laid in?" Tom nodded in reply. "Ahead warp factor six."

The bridge remained quiet as everyone contemplated their new mission. They all couldn't help but remember the first time they had set out together on Voyager. A lot had changed since then. Tom broke the silence. "Hopefully this journey will be a little less eventful than our last."

"Lt. Paris it is illogical to compare this mission to our last. Each one has its own variables. No two missions are the same."

Tom smiled to himself and thought that some things or people never change.

"I think what Tom meant is that hopefully this one will not take us seven years to complete."

Tom silently thanked his friend.

"Even though it was an eventful seven years, I think even the Captain would agree that it was worth it. Yet, I think we both expect this one to be different." Chakotay turned in his command chair and faced Kathryn.

Now Tom was confused. He would have bet they were still at odds but now he wasn't sure.

"Yes Commander, I expect this trip to be different." As she spoke she reached her left hand out to him. Chakotay smiled deeply. He took her hand in his exposing his matching ring. "I'd say very different. Wouldn't you agree Commander?"

Harry gasped audibly.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow.

And for once Lt. Paris was speechless.

The End

I hope you enjoyed the story. I am thinking about a sequel that chronicles their adventures. What do you think? Should I continue to explore this or not? Opinions are always welcome! I also need to say that I could not have done this without my "editor" Sue and my "publisher" Tammy! Thanks again.