Disclaimed: Paramount owns all Starfleet characters, no infringement intended at all - winks.

Author's Note: Hiya, last day of the holidays and believe it or not I have nothing to do, so I decided to write another chapter. Thanks for all those e-mails and reviews..... I'm glad you guys like the extra J/C I've 'finally' managed to put in.

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With this knot...

Kathryn sighed as she turned to study her reflection in the mirror, only too aware that she was no Seven of Nine. Nevertheless, she grinned when she spotted Chakotay standing at the door, "Very nice," he said approvingly.

She sauntered over to him, "You think?" she teased, twirling around in her green silk dress, "As a rule, red heads aren't supposed to wear green," she sneaked another look at herself in the mirror.

"Well, I know a red head who defies most rules; I think she definitely defies this one."
"Flattery will get you..."

"Everywhere," finished Shannon, marching into the room, "Red heads were never meant to wear green," she mumbled under her breathe and tugged at her dress in front of her mother's full length mirror.

Chakotay chuckled at the sight of both Janeway women standing there studying themselves in front of the mirror, both wearing an equally agitated look, except Kathryn wore hers because she was upset by the interruption.

"I really appreciate you wearing the dress Shannon, my ancestors do as well."

Shannon huffed, "Tell me again what this ceremony involves?" she asked, flopping on her mother's bed.

Chakotay opened his mouth to explain, but Kathryn exclaimed, "You'll wrinkle your dress," she ushered her daughter off the bed, "Stand there," she instructed, "While I do your hair."

"That rhymes," Shannon pointed out.

"Do you have a personal vendetta against me or are you just being irritating for the fun of it."

"You think?" asked Shannon.

Chakotay laughed, "You do that often don't you."

"Do what often?" asked Shannon and Kathryn in unison.

"Say the same thing, even if its ages later and you had no idea that one of you has used the exact same sentence before."

The glare he received from both Janeway women was enough to frighten the Borg and Species 8472 scuttling into the next Galaxy.

"I'll just... straighten my tie," he said, moving to walk away.

"Hey," called Shannon, "You still haven't explained this green dress ceremony to me."

XxXxXxX

Kathryn smiled at the guests as they walked into the holodeck, from her place on the stage, or what appeared to be a wooden platform suspended above the ground, she could see that most of the crew had turned up with the exception of the skeleton crew on duty.

She and Chakotay had decided that if they were going to have a traditional earthen wedding, they would have a pre-wedding ceremony that followed his customs and believes. Unfortunately, the one they had chosen required all attendants to turn up in green, but as usual the crew realised they just had to be creative and had turned it into a fancy dress party. She laughed at Tom and B'Elanna's 18th century outfits, B'Elanna seemed to have a difficult time moving about in her crinoline. Harry and Megan Delaney had come in what looked like Peter Pan outfits and even Seven was wearing a green 'cat suit'.

Chakotay took one look at Kathryn and sighed peacefully, she looked so radiant sitting next to him, smiling at her crew and talking with those who wandered over. He glanced at the throng of 'green' people before him. He had to admit, the crew certainly knew how to be creative. They blended in with the forest surroundings perfectly and if not for uncovered parts of their bodies or patches of patterns on their green clothing, it would be camouflage at its peak. The clearing was slightly bigger than the ones they had on Dorvan VI, but then they had a larger community.

"Commander, shall we begin?" asked Tuvok.

"Yes, go ahead... are you ready?" he asked Kathryn.

She nodded, "Shannon."

Shannon hurriedly grabbed both ends of what seemed to be an endless green and brown ribbon, made from coconut husks. One end she gave to Chakotay and with the other she walked around the clearing, as she walked by, each member of the crew grabbed onto the ribbon and by the time she reached Kathryn to give her the other end, they had formed a circle around the clearing.

"The circle is a symbol of our happiness and support for you," she said, her rehearsed lines, loudly for everyone to hear.

Kathryn smiled as she turned from the smiling faces of her crew to her daughter, "Thank you," she said equally loudly, meaning to acknowledge the whole crew, but there was a hidden meaning, for Shannon as well. Shannon smiled and bent down for a kiss.

When Shannon has resumed her place, holding her piece of ribbon between Tom and B'Elanna, Tuvok continued.

"The circle also represents the fullness of your love, your commitment to each other and unity, with binds you together – never ending."

"Hear, Hear," muttered Tom under his breath. B'Elanna gently whacked him on the elbow, narrowly avoiding Shannon's head. Shannon grinned at him, and scowled at B'Elanna when she felt her finger tips narrowly miss her ear.

"With the knot, you complete the circle – may it never break."

Together, Kathryn and Chakotay tied the piece of ribbon together and handed the other's ribbon down the circle. When both sides met on the other, the knot was so firm, that it would take a phaser to undo it – and, blast it to smithereens.

"And now a moment of silence, in which we will honour the couple and allow the forest to bestow their blessing."

XxXxXxX

"To Kathryn and Chakotay..."

"And gracious hosts," Kathryn chimed in as they raised their glasses in the Paris Quarters.

"Seems like just yesterday we were scheming to get you together," joked Tom.

"I'm still deciding if I should demote you to ensign. Attempting to get your commanding officers together, surely that violates some sort of Starfleet protocol," Kathryn paused and glanced over at Chakotay wondering if he remembered the last time she had spoken those words. The had managed to work their relationship through thick and thin and love like that sometimes made Kathryn feel overwhelmed, but now she was comfortable with that.

"Well Captain, if you do that, then you won't have much of a senior staff left – or, well, any rank on the ship for that matter, other than yourself, Chakotay and... Tuvok."

"B'Elanna!" Kathryn shot her Engineer a shocked look, "You too?"

B'Elanna just smiled and munched at her food, "You'd be surprised, Captain – remember the turbo lift? That was my idea."

"No it wasn't – it was mine!" argued Tom. "Well, I can claim credit for getting Shannon to climb that ceiling anyway, but it was such a waster – you two were going out the whole time."

"You made Shannon climb the wall?" asked Chakotay, biting his lip and glancing at Kathryn.

"It was her idea – she wanted to get both of you together. I just contributed small suggestions, which she carried out willingly...." Tom looked at his Commanding officers, "She did it out of her love for both of you."

"She did, did she?"

"Gee," said Tom, resting his head on his hand, "Having dinner with your seniors can be – taxing."

"Relax Tom, its all water under the bridge."

"Let me help you with that," said Kathryn, helping B'Elanna carries the dishes over to the replicator.

"B'Elanna, I was wondering, if, you could do me a small favour," she asked, once they were out of ear-shot of the guys.

"Sure Captain."

"Kathryn...."

"Of course, Kathryn," said B'Elanna, trying not to show that she was shocked the Captain had asked her to call her 'Kathryn'.

"Well, you've done a lot for me... and Shannon and well you've saved my life on countless occasions and my relationship with my daughter, I was wondering if you could be my maid of honour."

"I'd love to Captain," said B'Elanna hugging Kathryn before she knew what she was doing. "I'm sorry Cap... Kath... um."

Kathryn smiled and walked back to the living room.

"But what about Shannon?" asked B'Elanna hurrying to join her.

"Shannon?"

"Won't she want to be maid-of-honour too?" she asked.

"I thought she's much too young. She was going to be bridesmaid cum ring bearer," Kathryn laughed at her the thought of her daughter in a pretty pink dress.

"But, Cap... Kath... I mean, won't she be upset. I mean, if you change your mind, I understand."

"Thank you B'Elanna, but I'm sure Shannon won't mind."

XxXxXxXx

"She said yes," sighed Kathryn as they strolled through the empty corridor, her head leaning against Chakotay's broad shoulder.

"I heard, but she was right, about Shannon. Won't she be hurt that you asked B'Elanna to be your maid-of-honour. She'll probably end up thinking you like B'Elanna more than you do her."

"Oh Chakotay," said Kathryn pulling away from him, "You know why I'm not making Shannon my maid-of-honour. She'll have too many things too do, there's too much responsibility and – with what we have planned for her, that's too many things in one day... you're not backing out are you? I mean, it as your idea in the first place."

"I know Kathryn; I'm just not sure if she'll say yes."

"She loves you too Chakotay," she allowed him to pull her back into his embrace. She closed her eyes, taking in the strength he offered.

"What do you think?" asked Shannon, holding up two dressed as they walked in. "This one matches your dress, but this one," she waved the dress in her right hand, looks better on me.

"What's this for?" asked Kathryn, walking over to examine each of them.

"Well, I have to look good if I'm going to be your maid-of-honour, right?"

The look Kathryn exchanged with Chakotay didn't go unnoticed, "What?" asked Shannon.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry, but listen to me. I asked B'Elanna to be my maid-of-honour."

Shannon's shoulder's slumped, but like her mother she preferred never to show weakness in front of others, especially her own mother.

"Shannon, B'Elanna has done a lot for both you and for me, don't you think?"

"Yes," surprisingly the child's voice didn't falter.

Kathryn moved to the couch and indicated Shannon join her, "Listen, I love you more than anyone I've ever known and if anything were to happen to you I'd be devastated, I've proved that to you more than once before, haven't I?" She only paused to let Shannon nod, "You've done sweet things for me... and Chakotay and we appreciate that more than we probably tell you. I know as the Captain, I don't have much time for you, so how about tomorrow you and I spend the day together – just Kathryn and her daughter?"
"I understand Mum, Tom told me what B'Elanna did when I came on board and tomorrow sounds perfect," Shannon grinned, "Personally, I don't think could have been your maid-of-honour, I mean, I'm not even tall enough to put your veil on and hold your shoulders and tell you, you look beautiful like that woman did in that comedy I watched at Tom's last week...."

Kathryn smiled, "Tomorrow?"

"Sounds fine," Shannon kissed her mother, "Good night," she nodded towards Chakotay.

"That went well," said Chakotay, taking up the place Shannon has only just occupied.

"It did, didn't it?" said Kathryn, toying with his hair as he rested his head on her lap. "She was afraid as well, don't you know Chakotay? She is like me in many ways and responsibility escapes her."

"You're a Captain, isn't that being responsible?"

"Not that sort of responsibility... she's afraid of showing her feelings, dealing with them and well, being a big old softy... like you," she swatted him on the chest.

"Hey," he complained, "Tom warned me about that swatty thingy. Do they have a school where you learn this sort of thing?"

"They have a course on it at the Academy... Marriage 101."

"Hmm, must've been sick that day."

"Probably," she entwined her fingers with his.

He turned and sat up on his elbows and looked at her, "You know something Shannon said, just occurred to me."

"What's that?" she asked lazily, tracing his tattoo with her index finger.

"She's seen your dress!"

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To be continued... dum dum de dum.