CHAPTER SEVEN:
The crew of Voyager was overjoyed at the return of their Captain and First Officer. Everyone had something to say to the pair. The love and respect they showed for Kathryn and Chakotay was humbling. Despite all the years, the crew acted as if they had just left for an away mission.
"I can't thank you enough for the loyalty you have shown us," Kathryn said when she addressed the crew. "Leaving Voyager and our crew was one of the hardest things Chakotay and I have ever done. We never stopped trying to find a way home to you. The fact that you came back for us makes us proud to have served with you, because you are the most loyal and steadfast crew I have ever served with. Thank you."
Later, in the Captain's ready room, Chakotay and Kathryn met with Tom, Tuvok, B'Elanna, Bob, Neelix and Harry. Kathryn yawned tiredly. "This has been one of the best days of my life." She muttered softly, as she sank down onto the couch.
"And it's not over yet." Harry said. "Kathryn, there is something the crew would like to ask you. We all would like to ask you." He took a deep breath. "Will you do us the honor of returning to Earth with us?"
Kathryn smiled softly, and looked at Chakotay. Something unspoken seemed to pass between them that the others could not understand. She turned back to Harry. "We would love to." She said. "It is so hard to leave, but returning to Earth is something we have to do."
Everyone broke out into grins and delighted laughter at her words. "I hope our children are included in that offer?" Chakotay asked.
"Of course." Harry grinned.
Kathryn reached for Chakotay's hand. "But there is something I wish you could do for us before we leave."
Tom nodded. "Anything." He said.
"We would like to be married, and want you all to come." She turned to Tuvok. "My old friend, would you do me honor of performing the ceremony?"
Tuvok nodded his eyes glistening.
"Well I never," Bob muttered. "A Vulcan showing emotion."
* * *
Kathryn and Chakotay sat outside their house, watching the sun set behind the mountains. "It's going to be so hard to leave this place." She said.
"I know." Chakotay said. "There are so many memories here. Like when you first planted that tree." He pointed to a large evergreen next to the house.
"And when you kissed me under it." She said.
"And when we went down the river in the boat and almost drowned." Chakotay laughed. "Because you wanted to bring your bath."
She tried to glare at him, but couldn't help smiling. "And then you had to rescue it."
They sat in silence for a while, watching the planet around them and remembering all the memories they had shared. "Our children were born here." Kathryn said.
"True children of New Earth." Chakotay agreed. "But they deserve a chance to see Earth."
"I know." Kathryn said softly.
"They all volunteered to come and rescue us." Chakotay said, changing the subject.
"Which would explain why we have at least two Captains, several First Officers, an Admiral, an Ambassador and four Chief Engineers." Kathryn laughed. "And no crewmen or ensigns."
"They haven't changed much. Gained experience, but they still seem like the crew that we left." Chakotay added.
Kathryn smiled, and noticed two figures approaching the house with heavy packs. "Our sons are home."
"Mum! Dad!" they called excitedly. "We found a whole colony of primates over the river delta!"
Chakotay chuckled. "We're fine, thanks for asking."
The twins grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. So, what's been happening?"
Kathryn grinned wickedly at Chakotay, before turning to her sons. "Nothing much. Your sister came home, Voyager came back and we're getting married tomorrow, but that's about all."
The twin's mouths dropped open, before Tay spluttered, "Voyager came back?!"
"You getting married, TOMORROW!?" Leo said at the same time.
Chakotay and Kathryn laughed before telling them the whole story. "I hope you won't mind leaving your home, too much." Kathryn said, when they had finished.
"Miss it too much? We'll be too busy!" Leo called. "Just imagine it, Tay! Earth!"
"I am, Leo. Think of all those new animals! Not to mention the Academy!" Tay retorted.
Chakotay and Kathryn said goodnight to their excited children, and retreated inside to prepare for their big day.
The crew of Voyager was overjoyed at the return of their Captain and First Officer. Everyone had something to say to the pair. The love and respect they showed for Kathryn and Chakotay was humbling. Despite all the years, the crew acted as if they had just left for an away mission.
"I can't thank you enough for the loyalty you have shown us," Kathryn said when she addressed the crew. "Leaving Voyager and our crew was one of the hardest things Chakotay and I have ever done. We never stopped trying to find a way home to you. The fact that you came back for us makes us proud to have served with you, because you are the most loyal and steadfast crew I have ever served with. Thank you."
Later, in the Captain's ready room, Chakotay and Kathryn met with Tom, Tuvok, B'Elanna, Bob, Neelix and Harry. Kathryn yawned tiredly. "This has been one of the best days of my life." She muttered softly, as she sank down onto the couch.
"And it's not over yet." Harry said. "Kathryn, there is something the crew would like to ask you. We all would like to ask you." He took a deep breath. "Will you do us the honor of returning to Earth with us?"
Kathryn smiled softly, and looked at Chakotay. Something unspoken seemed to pass between them that the others could not understand. She turned back to Harry. "We would love to." She said. "It is so hard to leave, but returning to Earth is something we have to do."
Everyone broke out into grins and delighted laughter at her words. "I hope our children are included in that offer?" Chakotay asked.
"Of course." Harry grinned.
Kathryn reached for Chakotay's hand. "But there is something I wish you could do for us before we leave."
Tom nodded. "Anything." He said.
"We would like to be married, and want you all to come." She turned to Tuvok. "My old friend, would you do me honor of performing the ceremony?"
Tuvok nodded his eyes glistening.
"Well I never," Bob muttered. "A Vulcan showing emotion."
* * *
Kathryn and Chakotay sat outside their house, watching the sun set behind the mountains. "It's going to be so hard to leave this place." She said.
"I know." Chakotay said. "There are so many memories here. Like when you first planted that tree." He pointed to a large evergreen next to the house.
"And when you kissed me under it." She said.
"And when we went down the river in the boat and almost drowned." Chakotay laughed. "Because you wanted to bring your bath."
She tried to glare at him, but couldn't help smiling. "And then you had to rescue it."
They sat in silence for a while, watching the planet around them and remembering all the memories they had shared. "Our children were born here." Kathryn said.
"True children of New Earth." Chakotay agreed. "But they deserve a chance to see Earth."
"I know." Kathryn said softly.
"They all volunteered to come and rescue us." Chakotay said, changing the subject.
"Which would explain why we have at least two Captains, several First Officers, an Admiral, an Ambassador and four Chief Engineers." Kathryn laughed. "And no crewmen or ensigns."
"They haven't changed much. Gained experience, but they still seem like the crew that we left." Chakotay added.
Kathryn smiled, and noticed two figures approaching the house with heavy packs. "Our sons are home."
"Mum! Dad!" they called excitedly. "We found a whole colony of primates over the river delta!"
Chakotay chuckled. "We're fine, thanks for asking."
The twins grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. So, what's been happening?"
Kathryn grinned wickedly at Chakotay, before turning to her sons. "Nothing much. Your sister came home, Voyager came back and we're getting married tomorrow, but that's about all."
The twin's mouths dropped open, before Tay spluttered, "Voyager came back?!"
"You getting married, TOMORROW!?" Leo said at the same time.
Chakotay and Kathryn laughed before telling them the whole story. "I hope you won't mind leaving your home, too much." Kathryn said, when they had finished.
"Miss it too much? We'll be too busy!" Leo called. "Just imagine it, Tay! Earth!"
"I am, Leo. Think of all those new animals! Not to mention the Academy!" Tay retorted.
Chakotay and Kathryn said goodnight to their excited children, and retreated inside to prepare for their big day.