Anymore

Written by: Sher of Sherkay

Pairing: J/C!

Disclaimer: These Disclaimer things always make me realize how grateful we should be to TPTB and Kate Mulgrew for not getting J and C together, because it's made so many of us become friends and I'm betting if they had (put J/C together) then there wouldn't be as many stories where we could let our imaginations run wild. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Props to J/C.

Chapter 9- Slip of the Tongue

Chakotay had never felt so utterly happy before, but a small part of him wished they hadn't agreed to spend the day with B'Elanna and Miral. He could think of a hundred things he would rather have been doing with Kathryn, from just holding her in his arms to the things he wished he had done on New Earth.

He looked up from the newspaper he was pretending to read, to watch Kathryn playing with Miral in her lap.

"Have you seen all the magazines we're in?" asked B'Elanna slumping down in a chair opposite Chakotay. "I mean, you'd think after almost six months the excitement would've died down."

"Tell me about it. I needed an armed escort to get out of HQ yesterday. It's amazing they're not camped outside our apartments."

Chakotay nodded pointing to the newspaper, "Look, here we are again… it's about our next reunion."

"Next reunion… we haven't even been back a year." Kathryn still holding Miral walked over to Chakotay's end of the room. "What will Captain Janeway wear to the first ever Voyager reunion?" She red aloud as she perched herself on the arm rest of the sofa. As though some sort of reaction, Chakotay's arm went out to steady her.

B'Elanna sighed at the picture before her. Kathryn was reading over Chakotay's shoulder, balancing a restless Miral on her lap. Chakotay's arm help her tightly around the waist and B'Elanna could see Kathryn's other free hand was playing with a loose thread on his sweater.

"I'm home," the door slammed close behind a frazzled Tom Paris. Immediately Kathryn got up and shifted Miral to her hips.

"Look who's here," said B'Elanna as she allowed her husband a quick kiss.

"Hi, Tom," Kathryn gave her ex-chief pilot a quirky grin. B'Elanna swore the Captain was blushing, slightly.

"Gaaaa," said Miral holding out her arms to her father. As Tom gave Kathryn a quick kiss on the cheek, Miral decided it was best to stay with her Aunt Kathryn. She shook her head when her father tried to take her out of Kathryn's safe arms.

"She'll want to go home with you next," said B'Elanna, secretly enjoying the little freedom Kathryn was giving her.

"No, I don't think so. She loves her mother too much… right Miral?" Kathryn nodded to the child. Miral mimicked the older women's actions.

"I'm just going to change out of the suit, I'll be right back."

"I'll get some coffee," B'Elanna offered. "I'm sure you'd like another cup Cap… Ad… Kathryn."

"Mmm" Kathryn sighed. "Thank you very much."

"You really should cut down Kathryn," Chakotay reminded her.

Kathryn rolled her eyes at B'Elanna who walked into the kitchen. "Here, get to know your wife's goddaughter, while I help 'Lanna."

Only as she sauntered to the kitchen, did she realize what she'd said.

"Wife, Kathryn?"

Kathryn looked frazzled. "Slip of the tongue. I know we're taking things slowly, I'm sorry."

"No, Kath… I…"

"So Captain, Chakotay… what brings BOTH of you here on the same day?" Tom wiggled his eyes suggestively as he watched the command team look anywhere but at him.

"Nice carpet," the Captain whispered hoarsely.

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A/N: Not a particularly good Chapter, I think, but bare with me…. The 'idea' mill wasn't churning so well today.