Kathryn and I are having dinner tonight.  We are celebrating.  She's returned from her two-month vacation in Indiana, and I have finally put my relationship with Seven in the past. Kathryn starts her new lecture series tomorrow at the Academy on the Delta Quadrant and tThe Doctor is one of her guest speakers. This is a yearlong assignment, after that she will be itching to get back to space. I haven't decided to discuss the Admiral's letter with her. I wanted, though, to discuss my relationship with Seven with her. Let her know why and how it happened. And to tell her that it was over and that it had been over for two months now.

When I walk into the restaurant, I can already feel that she is there. Not only because of the quiet buzz of the other patrons, discussing the presence of such a celebrity in their midst. I always know when she's in the same room. I think she can feel my presence too. She is seated in a shadow filled corner, better for the private discussion I plan on having. I must remember to tip the maitre' de well for the privacy.

She extends a hand when I approach the table and feeling gallant, I bend over and kiss it. A quiet gasp escapes from her mouth and her eyebrows have almost reached her hairline. Her expression is a treasure.

"Kathryn, you look lovely."

"Thank you Chakotay. You look well, yourself." She lit up her brightest smile for me. I swear that smile could outshine a supernova.

"How have you been" we both started at the same time. Realizing this, we explode into laughter. The waiter interrupts the scene and I manage to order a bottle of wine. Kathryn just placed her hand on mine and I boldly take the opportunity to hold onto it.

We chat and catch up with each other and pass on news of the rest of the crew as the food arrives. Dinner was lovely and I relish in the time spent with her.

"Tell me Kathryn, I've always been curious about what the Admiral told you to convince you to go back to the nebula and take on the Borg, again."

Kathryn grew very silent for a moment and again took my hand. "Chakotay, that story should be told over another bottle of wine, in someplace more private. It is a sad, bittersweet story, and I'm hesitant to tell you, to be honest." She stared into the bottom of her glass, remembering. I see a myriad of feelings cross her face in those few moments.

"I believe that I should hear the entire story, however sad it is.  For I suspect that I play a role in it. There is also a small story of my own that I need to tell you. My apartment is within walking distance. Why don't we take a bottle of wine with us?" She nods approval and I call over our waiter to settle the account.

The short walk to my apartment is a quiet walk. Both of us are contemplating how to tell our stories without wounding the other. When we arrive, I pour us each a glass of wine and settle onto the couch. Kathryn is the first to break the silence.

"Chakotay, I'm going to go first here. If I don't begin now, I'm not sure that I will ever be able to tell the tale. Do you remember when the Admiral first arrived on board and I wasn't quite sure if we could believe in who she was?" I nodded.

"At one point, she and I took a walk around the ship…

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