After Endgame

When I had watched the programme, I sat back and tried to sort out the temporal paradoxes it brought up. Does anyone else get somewhat confused? Plus, where did the whole Chakotay/Seven thing come from?

Disclaimer: Voyager et al belong to.uh.other people than me. Don't sue, I have no money.

For Katherine and Marc, who keep me thinking of Star Trek, and give me someone to argue with about (at least, once a year).

Captain Kathryn Janeway wandered away from the party, which had been going strong for several hours now. In one corner, Neelix and Harry Kim were attempting to outdrink each other, while the Doctor watched with curiosity. A few people had already left, mostly those with children, notably Tom and B'Elanna with their new little one. The drink had been flowing freely since not long after Voyager had returned home.

Kathryn sighed as she weaved through the crowds, realising that tomorrow her crew would start to disperse. After years of all living together on the ship, stranded in the delta quadrant, it would be odd at first. They would be working with strangers, and even living with them. Many things would have changed here on earth, and they would need getting used to.

She stepped out onto the small balcony and looked up at the stars, tracing their familiar shapes. She had done this in the holosuite of course, but it wasn't the same. This was real, and they were home. Slowly sipping her wine, Kathryn thought about what her former self had told her.

Surely, even if we got here sixteen years early, I'm still going to have to go back, to guide Voyager home. Twenty-six years from now, I'll need to go back through time to tell myself about going into the nebula. And, I'll.have to sacrifice myself, to die, so that the ship can go back, meaning that I can go back and do it again. I'm trapped in a vicious circle.

She shivered suddenly, feeling the cool air against her skin. She almost jumped as a hand dropped onto her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Kathryn?"

She was silent for a moment, enjoying the warmth of his hand, before speaking.

"I'm fine, Chakotay. You should get back to the party."

"If you're sure," he said. She nodded, not turning, not wanting to see him going back to Seven of Nine, to see him wrapping his arm around her. Kathryn blinked back the tears. He was Seven's man now, and there was nothing that Janeway could do about it.

It's almost comforting to think that she won't be looking quite as good in those skin-tight outfits in some years' time.

Still, it won't make much difference, if I'm leaving in twenty-six years. It may be a long time, but it would be unfair.

Captain Kathryn Janeway stared up at the stars, blue eyes damp and wine forgotten in her hand.