AN: Ok here goes part two. Hopefully the last part...We'll see. Thanks for reading!
Kathryn Janeway looked at herself before going onto the bridge. She had slept more last night than she had in a long time. For some reason, just knowing Chakotay was there made her feel so much better. She knew that he was there with her, holding her, smelling her hair and just loving her silently.
There was no greater peace than that.
She walked out onto the bridge and walked over to the doors of the ready room.
"Tuvok, may I see you in my ready room please?"
He nodded and walked behind her.
"Have a seat Tuvok."
He looked at her and gave her no sign of emotion, since he was Vulcan, she knew he wouldn't anyway.
"Tuvok, I need you to tell me your honest opinion. As my friend, I know that you would want me to find happiness, but also follow protocol...Now, Tuvok, I know that we are several thousand light years from home, but that doesn't make protocol any less important...so I guess I should just come out with it..."
He looked at her, "You wish to be romantically involved with Commander Chakotay."
She looked at him in shock, "How did you..."
"Captain, I have known you many years, and to be honest, I would suggest it. It seems that you are more yourself today than you have been in the recent days."
"So...you think it's ok that I break protocol?"
"I would not say that, I would not advise you to do something that would cost you your career, but we are far away from Starfleet, I don't think there is a rulebook for our situation."
She still couldn't get over the shock. Tuvok was actually with her on this. She figured she would have to fight on it. Well, better take this victory and hold onto it for as long as she can.
She hit her combadge, "All senior officers please report to my ready room."
She sat down and looked at all of her senior officers come through the doors. All but Chakotay.
She stood up and looked at all of them, "Now, I need to talk to you about something that is on a personal level. The Commander and I have been thinking of becoming...a couple...for lack of a better phrase, and I need to ask all of my crew how they feel about this. If I'm going to throw protocol out of the window, I at least want to know that my crew will back me until we get home."
She looked at the crew, they were all speechless. Then Tom began to laugh.
"Captain, come on, we knew you two were hot for each other since you came back from New Earth."
B'Elanna chimed in, "Yeah, I mean, who do you think you were fooling Captain? It is very easy to see how you feel about each other..."
She laughed a little, of course her crew would be the only ones to throw smart ass comments back in her face after being asked something serious.
"Then I have your support, no matter what the means?"
They all nodded their heads as Tom came up to the Captain and patted her shoulder, "It's about time you allow yourself some happiness, don't you think?"
"Yes, I suppose so. Thank you all, dismissed."
They all filed out of the room. Hitting her combadge she called out, "Janeway to Chakotay."
"Yes Captain."
"Meet me in my ready room."
"I'll be right there."
She sat down and waited for Chakotay to appear before her. He came in and looked at her, "Yes?"
"Care to join me for a sail on Lake George tonight?"
He smiled at her, "I'm assuming the chat with the senior staff went well?"
She laughed a little, recalling the conversation, "You know Chakotay, they have to be the only people who can come out of Star Fleet and still have a sense of humor about everything. Yes, they were alright with it, actually, they said they have known for quite some time."
"That obvious, huh?" She laughed and walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Yes, I suppose it was that obvious."
"Alright then Kathryn, I will meet you in the Holodeck this evening. What time?"
"1900 hours."
He got up, "Am I dismissed then?"
She laughed, "For now."
B'Elanna and Tom were sitting in the mess hall. It was their normal evening activity, eat dinner, talk a little bit, talk about Neelix's cooking and then leaving. They were becoming better friends. It made their journey a lot better, having someone to lean on. After all the time of arguing and hating each other, they finally realized that they could make a friendship out of what they had.
Even with Tom being as obnoxious as he was.
"B'Elanna, what do you think of the Captain and Commander? Seriously?"
She looked down at her barely touched food, "Well, to be honest, I don't really think much of it. When Chakotay saw her on the screen from the Liberty, I knew he was going to give up the ship for her. I just knew it, I've seen that look in his eyes before, but not quite like that, do you understand? He was just...smitten from there and I knew that they would end up as something more later on in this journey."
Tom smiled, "Yeah, strange things do happen out here."
"Like you and I becoming friends?"
He looked at her seriously, "You know, I would've never thought that I would be able to trust another person again after everything that's happened, but I knew when I met you, as much as I didn't want to admit it, that we could be friends."
"Well flyboy, looks like you're right. I'm rather tired, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you later B'Elanna."
Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay were sitting on the calm lake in the Holodeck. She was looking over at him, her eyes misting a little as she though about everything that has happened in the past few weeks.
Chakotay looked over at her, "What is it Kathryn?"
She looked at him and smiled a little, "I'm just...happy Chakotay. I haven't felt this way in a long time," she moved closer to him, "I'm happy to be in love with you, and to have those feelings returned."
He laughed, "And that the crew is behind you."
She laughed a little, "yes that was a bit of a help, I'll admit it."
He took her in his arms and sat her on his lap, they were looking over the lake, shinning by the moonlight they had added for this special evening.
"Kathryn..."
"Yes Chakotay?"
"I was wondering...I know it may be a little sudden, but I can't hold this to myself any longer," he positioned her so she was looking in his eyes, "I'm in love with you, and I've been thinking about things, about us. I want you to be my wife."
She looked at him, shock evident on her face.
"Don't you think that's a little soon?"
"I've been in love with you since the day I gave my ship up for you...I can't help but feel incomplete if I come back to my quarters and you aren't there. I can't sleep knowing that the woman I love is just beyond a wall...Kathryn, I want to come back to my quarters and find you there. I want to be able to hold you while we're sleeping, to know that you're safe beside me. Say yes..."
She got off his lap and moved to the other side of the boat and looked at the river, her tears reflecting off the water.
"I don't know Chakotay..."
He took her hand, silently asking her to look at him, "Kathryn, I would do anything for you...I would do anything, anything you make your burden lighter...Make my burden lighter Kathryn, be my wife...be by my side forever."
She looked over at him, tears falling down her cheeks, as he got on his knee and pulled out a ring. A beautiful gold band.
"I had our names engraved in it Kathryn...a circle that never ends, a promise that my love will never end," he handed her the ring and kissed her cheek, "Think about it."
He looked at her one last time, as she stood up he called, "Computer, end program."
Kathryn stood there, tears in her eyes, looking at the ring in her hand. The doors closed behind Chakotay, she didn't see him again that night.
Kathryn Janeway sighed, it was time again for Neelix's morale booster...meaning another talent night. She made a promise to herself that she would never make her crew listen to her singing voice, but this was a special occasion. She had to tell Chakotay this evening, in song, what her answer was.
She looked over her lists of songs from the 21st century, these songs always soothed her when she was nervous, and there were a lot of them that had meaningful lyrics.
She looked over all of them and finally narrowed it down. When Chakotay heard this, he would know.
"Welcome to Talent Night! It is my great honor to introduce our first act! Tom Paris, singing "Car Wash"."
Neelix sat down and watched Tom do his charade on the silly song no one's ever heard of before. The crowd laughed and joked with each other during his performance.
Chakotay was sitting with B'Elanna at the bar, looking at the stage.
Chakotay was laughing at Tom and B'Elanna was shaking her head.
"So, where's the Captain?"
Chakotay looked over at her, "I'm not really sure...she said I had to be here, so I expect her at any moment. Knowing her she got caught up with some sort of work."
B'Elanna looked back at the stage as Tuvok came on to recite some Vulcan poetry. After almost falling asleep, Harry went up for his clarinet playing, which he was quite good at, and did every talent night. After the crowd died down, Neelix went up.
"Well everyone, I'm honored to introduce our last talent of the evening. Someone I never thought would grace us with her presence on stage! Captain Janeway!"
Chakotay almost spit out his drink when he heard her name. He looked up at her, she was wearing a red dress, her hair done to perfection like normal. There was something different about her though...he couldn't put his hands on it. Soft music began playing and Chakotay was then robbed of any intelligent thought.
Baby, you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
Oh, thinkin' about all our younger years,
There was only you and me,
We were young and wild and free
Kathryn's eyes locked on Chakotay's as she sang the words. The crew fell silent as the obviously intimate song was sung.
Now nothin' can take you away from me We've been down that road before But that's over now, You keep me comin' back for more
Baby, you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
Slight tears filled her eyes as she kept the contact with his eyes. She couldn't look away, he had to know what she was saying through these lyrics.
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven
Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me Oh, there's lots that I could say But just hold me now, Cause our love will light the way
Baby you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven
Now our dreams are comin' true, Through the good times and the bad, Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Kathryn put the microphone down and looked at Chakotay. She held up her left hand, reveling what was out of place to Chakotay. She was wearing the ring. She jumped down off the stage, the crew watching every movement as she ran into Chakotay's arms.
"Yes Chakotay, my answer is yes," she breathed into his ear.
He smiled and spun her around, "I love you so much Kathryn."
"I love you too."
The crew looked on as their Captain and First officer stood in the middle of the bar, hugging each other as if their lives depended on it. Smiles ran across everyone's faces, minus Tuvok of course who was really rejoicing on the inside.
Neelix got up to the microphone again, "Looks like there's a wedding to plan!"
Kathryn and Chakotay were unaware of anyone else around them...There was nothing but each other, nothing but the promise her words and the ring held...Nothing but each other.
AN: Well, that's the end...hope you all liked it! Please if you get the time Review. Thanks for reading it!
Kathryn Janeway looked at herself before going onto the bridge. She had slept more last night than she had in a long time. For some reason, just knowing Chakotay was there made her feel so much better. She knew that he was there with her, holding her, smelling her hair and just loving her silently.
There was no greater peace than that.
She walked out onto the bridge and walked over to the doors of the ready room.
"Tuvok, may I see you in my ready room please?"
He nodded and walked behind her.
"Have a seat Tuvok."
He looked at her and gave her no sign of emotion, since he was Vulcan, she knew he wouldn't anyway.
"Tuvok, I need you to tell me your honest opinion. As my friend, I know that you would want me to find happiness, but also follow protocol...Now, Tuvok, I know that we are several thousand light years from home, but that doesn't make protocol any less important...so I guess I should just come out with it..."
He looked at her, "You wish to be romantically involved with Commander Chakotay."
She looked at him in shock, "How did you..."
"Captain, I have known you many years, and to be honest, I would suggest it. It seems that you are more yourself today than you have been in the recent days."
"So...you think it's ok that I break protocol?"
"I would not say that, I would not advise you to do something that would cost you your career, but we are far away from Starfleet, I don't think there is a rulebook for our situation."
She still couldn't get over the shock. Tuvok was actually with her on this. She figured she would have to fight on it. Well, better take this victory and hold onto it for as long as she can.
She hit her combadge, "All senior officers please report to my ready room."
She sat down and looked at all of her senior officers come through the doors. All but Chakotay.
She stood up and looked at all of them, "Now, I need to talk to you about something that is on a personal level. The Commander and I have been thinking of becoming...a couple...for lack of a better phrase, and I need to ask all of my crew how they feel about this. If I'm going to throw protocol out of the window, I at least want to know that my crew will back me until we get home."
She looked at the crew, they were all speechless. Then Tom began to laugh.
"Captain, come on, we knew you two were hot for each other since you came back from New Earth."
B'Elanna chimed in, "Yeah, I mean, who do you think you were fooling Captain? It is very easy to see how you feel about each other..."
She laughed a little, of course her crew would be the only ones to throw smart ass comments back in her face after being asked something serious.
"Then I have your support, no matter what the means?"
They all nodded their heads as Tom came up to the Captain and patted her shoulder, "It's about time you allow yourself some happiness, don't you think?"
"Yes, I suppose so. Thank you all, dismissed."
They all filed out of the room. Hitting her combadge she called out, "Janeway to Chakotay."
"Yes Captain."
"Meet me in my ready room."
"I'll be right there."
She sat down and waited for Chakotay to appear before her. He came in and looked at her, "Yes?"
"Care to join me for a sail on Lake George tonight?"
He smiled at her, "I'm assuming the chat with the senior staff went well?"
She laughed a little, recalling the conversation, "You know Chakotay, they have to be the only people who can come out of Star Fleet and still have a sense of humor about everything. Yes, they were alright with it, actually, they said they have known for quite some time."
"That obvious, huh?" She laughed and walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Yes, I suppose it was that obvious."
"Alright then Kathryn, I will meet you in the Holodeck this evening. What time?"
"1900 hours."
He got up, "Am I dismissed then?"
She laughed, "For now."
B'Elanna and Tom were sitting in the mess hall. It was their normal evening activity, eat dinner, talk a little bit, talk about Neelix's cooking and then leaving. They were becoming better friends. It made their journey a lot better, having someone to lean on. After all the time of arguing and hating each other, they finally realized that they could make a friendship out of what they had.
Even with Tom being as obnoxious as he was.
"B'Elanna, what do you think of the Captain and Commander? Seriously?"
She looked down at her barely touched food, "Well, to be honest, I don't really think much of it. When Chakotay saw her on the screen from the Liberty, I knew he was going to give up the ship for her. I just knew it, I've seen that look in his eyes before, but not quite like that, do you understand? He was just...smitten from there and I knew that they would end up as something more later on in this journey."
Tom smiled, "Yeah, strange things do happen out here."
"Like you and I becoming friends?"
He looked at her seriously, "You know, I would've never thought that I would be able to trust another person again after everything that's happened, but I knew when I met you, as much as I didn't want to admit it, that we could be friends."
"Well flyboy, looks like you're right. I'm rather tired, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you later B'Elanna."
Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay were sitting on the calm lake in the Holodeck. She was looking over at him, her eyes misting a little as she though about everything that has happened in the past few weeks.
Chakotay looked over at her, "What is it Kathryn?"
She looked at him and smiled a little, "I'm just...happy Chakotay. I haven't felt this way in a long time," she moved closer to him, "I'm happy to be in love with you, and to have those feelings returned."
He laughed, "And that the crew is behind you."
She laughed a little, "yes that was a bit of a help, I'll admit it."
He took her in his arms and sat her on his lap, they were looking over the lake, shinning by the moonlight they had added for this special evening.
"Kathryn..."
"Yes Chakotay?"
"I was wondering...I know it may be a little sudden, but I can't hold this to myself any longer," he positioned her so she was looking in his eyes, "I'm in love with you, and I've been thinking about things, about us. I want you to be my wife."
She looked at him, shock evident on her face.
"Don't you think that's a little soon?"
"I've been in love with you since the day I gave my ship up for you...I can't help but feel incomplete if I come back to my quarters and you aren't there. I can't sleep knowing that the woman I love is just beyond a wall...Kathryn, I want to come back to my quarters and find you there. I want to be able to hold you while we're sleeping, to know that you're safe beside me. Say yes..."
She got off his lap and moved to the other side of the boat and looked at the river, her tears reflecting off the water.
"I don't know Chakotay..."
He took her hand, silently asking her to look at him, "Kathryn, I would do anything for you...I would do anything, anything you make your burden lighter...Make my burden lighter Kathryn, be my wife...be by my side forever."
She looked over at him, tears falling down her cheeks, as he got on his knee and pulled out a ring. A beautiful gold band.
"I had our names engraved in it Kathryn...a circle that never ends, a promise that my love will never end," he handed her the ring and kissed her cheek, "Think about it."
He looked at her one last time, as she stood up he called, "Computer, end program."
Kathryn stood there, tears in her eyes, looking at the ring in her hand. The doors closed behind Chakotay, she didn't see him again that night.
Kathryn Janeway sighed, it was time again for Neelix's morale booster...meaning another talent night. She made a promise to herself that she would never make her crew listen to her singing voice, but this was a special occasion. She had to tell Chakotay this evening, in song, what her answer was.
She looked over her lists of songs from the 21st century, these songs always soothed her when she was nervous, and there were a lot of them that had meaningful lyrics.
She looked over all of them and finally narrowed it down. When Chakotay heard this, he would know.
"Welcome to Talent Night! It is my great honor to introduce our first act! Tom Paris, singing "Car Wash"."
Neelix sat down and watched Tom do his charade on the silly song no one's ever heard of before. The crowd laughed and joked with each other during his performance.
Chakotay was sitting with B'Elanna at the bar, looking at the stage.
Chakotay was laughing at Tom and B'Elanna was shaking her head.
"So, where's the Captain?"
Chakotay looked over at her, "I'm not really sure...she said I had to be here, so I expect her at any moment. Knowing her she got caught up with some sort of work."
B'Elanna looked back at the stage as Tuvok came on to recite some Vulcan poetry. After almost falling asleep, Harry went up for his clarinet playing, which he was quite good at, and did every talent night. After the crowd died down, Neelix went up.
"Well everyone, I'm honored to introduce our last talent of the evening. Someone I never thought would grace us with her presence on stage! Captain Janeway!"
Chakotay almost spit out his drink when he heard her name. He looked up at her, she was wearing a red dress, her hair done to perfection like normal. There was something different about her though...he couldn't put his hands on it. Soft music began playing and Chakotay was then robbed of any intelligent thought.
Baby, you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
Oh, thinkin' about all our younger years,
There was only you and me,
We were young and wild and free
Kathryn's eyes locked on Chakotay's as she sang the words. The crew fell silent as the obviously intimate song was sung.
Now nothin' can take you away from me We've been down that road before But that's over now, You keep me comin' back for more
Baby, you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
Slight tears filled her eyes as she kept the contact with his eyes. She couldn't look away, he had to know what she was saying through these lyrics.
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven
Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me Oh, there's lots that I could say But just hold me now, Cause our love will light the way
Baby you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven
Now our dreams are comin' true, Through the good times and the bad, Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Kathryn put the microphone down and looked at Chakotay. She held up her left hand, reveling what was out of place to Chakotay. She was wearing the ring. She jumped down off the stage, the crew watching every movement as she ran into Chakotay's arms.
"Yes Chakotay, my answer is yes," she breathed into his ear.
He smiled and spun her around, "I love you so much Kathryn."
"I love you too."
The crew looked on as their Captain and First officer stood in the middle of the bar, hugging each other as if their lives depended on it. Smiles ran across everyone's faces, minus Tuvok of course who was really rejoicing on the inside.
Neelix got up to the microphone again, "Looks like there's a wedding to plan!"
Kathryn and Chakotay were unaware of anyone else around them...There was nothing but each other, nothing but the promise her words and the ring held...Nothing but each other.
AN: Well, that's the end...hope you all liked it! Please if you get the time Review. Thanks for reading it!
