Chapter 7

A/N: dedicated to Rachel who insisted on some smooching and of course our reviewers and the Dutch KM-girls !


"Oh, Harry!" Kathryn Janeway exclaimed as she held up the pink little dress the young ensign had given her. She turned it around and saw it had 'Voyager' embroidered on the back, in a darker shade of pink. "It's wonderful, thank you."

B'Elanna and two other female crew members admired the tiny dress while he smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Captain."

"I love it, Harry thank you," she said again and patted his shoulder gently.

"Well, well…" Chakotay said, as he approached her, a drink in his hand. With his free hand he gestured at two of the messhall tables who were now completely covered with gifts for the Captain's babyshower. "And there's even more where that came from."

"I know." Kathryn smiled and glanced around the room. Most of her crew was present, eating the sugary pink cake Neelix was serving, talking, laughing, having their pictures taken by the Doctor and his holocam. It wasn't even the fact that they'd given her these gifts… just that they showed up meant a lot to her. It meant that they supported her, that she could count on them even if she hadn't been truthful about her pregnancy.

"Did you like Tom's present?" Chakotay smiled, his dimples showing as his eyes twinkled with delight.

"Oh yes!" she chuckled. They both stared at the tiny replica of the delta flyer, just big enough to hold a toddler. Instead of warpdrive and thrusters, it had 4 wheels and no engine.

This because, in the pilot's own words, B'Elanna had told him not to get carried away.

The couple had also given their Captain and good friend, a new holodeck programme under the name of Alpha Janeway 2. She had to admit she was very curious about it.

"Captain?"

Surprised, Janeway turned around. She hadn't seen Seven around when the party had started.

"Seven, I'm glad you were able to make it."

The former drone arched an eyebrow and nodded curtly. "I wouldn't have wanted to…miss this…occasion."

Though delivered in a way that could make you doubt whether she was sincere or not, Janeway knew how much her protégée disliked social gatherings. And, despite her monotone voice and stoic face, she had come because she wanted to be there for her Captain. And Kathryn was genuinely touched.

"Thank you, Seven." She put a hand on the blonde's shoulder and softly pressed it.

Seven nodded in return then held out a package. "My gift."

"Oh you didn't have to do that." Kathryn smiled as she took it from her.

"I did not? The doctor told me that on social functions such as these, one is obligated to-"

"The Captain just means, she appreciates the gesture," Chakotay interrupted, before smiling at the woman standing next to him.

"I see," Seven said, then saw Tuvok enter the messhall. "Commander, Captain, if you'll excuse me."

Before any of the two could respond, the blonde had already marched away. Chakotay turned to Kathryn, who had just unwrapped Seven's present.

"What is it?" he asked, intrigued. It wasn't often the former drone presented someone with a gift.

"A photo-album." Kathryn looked up at him in surprise. Clearly, she had not expected a present like this. "It's beautiful," she said softly as she opened the album.

On the first page was a picture of Janeway sitting in a corner of the messhall, staring out of the window, a hand on her swollen stomach. It was taken recently, but she couldn't remember which day.

She'd been unaware of the whole thing, but suspected the fanatic doctor had something to do with it.

"It is," Chakotay nodded, leaning in even closer to look at the picture. "So are you."

He immediately regretted the remark, but when she looked up at him in surprise, he flashed a cheeky grin at her, as if it were just a playful comment instead of a heartfelt slip of the tongue.

"Ha!" She shook her head and arched en eyebrow. "To embrace this wonderful cliché; I look like a whale." Kathryn paused and glanced at the now closed album. "But it's a great gift."

Chakotay was about to object when the sound of an all too familiar voice made every single head in the room turn. "Wow! Kathy! I didn't know you were this popular!"

"Q! When did you get here?" Kathryn asked him, surprised

He shrugged. "Just now, I was actually just inspecting your presents. I'm impressed, really. Your crew is more creative than I thought."

"Why, thank you," she replied, and walked over to him. "Can I offer you something to eat or drink?"

Q glanced at the pink cake standing on the table. "No thank you. We omnipotent beings don't eat. Ever."

"You don't eat. Since when is that?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Since you let that bar rodent of yours poison the crew with his creations. What if one of his whiskers falls in?" He shuddered at the thought.

She rolled her eyes. He was incorrigible. "It's nice, actually. And no whiskers in it either."

"Hmm…I suppose I could try." Q shrugged.

"You do that," she told him.

While Q munched on the cake Neelix had served him he walked around the room and looked at the enormous stack of gifts Kathryn got from the rest of the crew.

"So what did you get her, Chuckles?" Chakotay turned around and stared Q in the face.

"A crib," he responded without batting an eyelid.

A little surprised by that answer, Q gave him a look. "Right." He glanced around. "Then where is it?"

"I gave it to Kathryn before the party began."

"Ooh…a nice little romantic get together huh?" Q said, with a mocking hint in his voice.

Chakotay sighed. "Look, whatever is going on between the Captain is private, but let me tell you this: we may be very good friends," he paused and took in Q's sarcastic smirk. "But there is nothing else going on between the Captain and me," he quickly added.

Q snorted at that. "That didn't sound too convincing."

Chakotay suddenly hated omnipotence. But Q was on to him, it hadn't sound convincing. As much as he was trying to disregard the playful tension and those special moments they had shared lately, it wasn't working.

He couldn't ignore it.

But like a guardian angel, Kathryn had walked up to them and saved him from losing his patience and make a fool out of himself in front of everyone.

"Is everything alright, gentlemen?" she asked.

He smiled and nodded. How like her, to stay so professional, so diplomatic.

"Kathy can I have word with you?" Q suddenly spoke up.

Kathryn raised an eyebrow and wondered what he had on his mind this time. "Yes. What's wrong?"

Q motioned her to a quieter place in the mess-hall. "I thought I got to design the nursery."

"What are you talking about?" She gave him a confused look.

"The crib of course!"

Kathryn tried very hard not to laugh. "That's what you're so upset about? The present itself? Or whom I got it from?" She folded her arms and her expression turned cold. "I think I know the answer."

"Kathy, you know me too well." Q had a cheeky grin on his face. "But this can't go on like this!" He pointed at Chakotay, who was talking to some other crewmembers. "I mean, look at him. Put the man out of his misery!"

The moment Kathryn's eyes met those of her First Officer and best friend, her face softened again. Chakotay had been observing them all along and he was afraid Q was upsetting her. Her agitated behaviour worried him.

She smiled at him, as to say everything was alright. However, the reaction she got was not what a little unusual. In fact, Chakotay was no longer looking at her, and looked a strange combination of annoyed and uncomfortable. Always looking out for her, always protecting her.

"Q stop that," she said without looking at him.

Behind her, Q had also been looking at Chakotay and gave him a gloating look.

"You know what Q; this must be some kind of record. You're right again. I'm going to 'put the man out of his misery' as you so delicately put that." And with that she walked away, leaving a bewildered Q behind.

"Right," he muttered. "I was going to say: and stay with me, but that didn't quite work out the way it was supposed to…"

Kathryn, on the other hand, didn't hear Q's last comment. The surroundings and crowd standing in the mess-hall seemed to fade as her final goal became clear in the distance.

Standing tall as a statue from her point of view, Chakotay turned his head and noticed Kathryn walking up to him. However, there was a strange look in her eyes that he couldn't quite explain.

"Captain?" She felt someone tugging at her sleeve. Snapping back to reality, Kathryn turned around. "Yes? Oh hello Naomi." She smiled at the girl standing in front of her.

"I made you something, Captain!" Beaming, she held up a drawing. "That's you in the middle and next to you is the baby...and over there"... Naomi leaned in and pointed at the letter Q floating around in the air. "That's the dad."

"It's beautiful, thank you, Naomi. You know, I couldn't ask for a better Captain's assistant."

The Captain smiled at Sam, who was standing behind her daughter, softly stroking Naomi's hair.


hours later...

Kathryn was absent-mindedly turning the PADD Tom and B'Elanna had given her.

She wondered what Tom had made this time. Preferably not something in black in white. And she could do without the smitten, evil mastermind wanting to take over the world, as well.

The doors swished open and the Captain slowly refocused on her surroundings.

When she looked up, she realised most of her presents had already been dropped off at her quarters, leaving behind a rather empty mess hall. Even Neelix had left his 'domain'.

"Still here?" Chakotay joined her at her table, sitting down opposite her.

"Still checking up on me?" she murmured, with a small smile, still eyeing the PADD.

"What can I say?" he replied. "It's my job."

"I'm flattered." She looked up and her face softened. "I'm just…taken aback, I suppose."

Chakotay tilted his head slightly and frowned. "You mean because of the crew's gifts?"

She gestured at the now empty messhall table. "Their gifts, their presence, their support… everything."

"There are about 150 people on this ship that care a great deal for you." He nodded, then added with a smile. "Whether you like it or not."

"Oh, I like it," she smiled, then gazed at the PADD. What could this be? Surely, not Captain Proton and Arachnia. B'Elanna said something about it being especially for her and the baby. But what…?

"Chakotay to Captain Janeway?"

"What?" Kathryn immediately looked down at her commbadge, before realizing her First Officer was sitting in front of her. She slowly looked up, smiling sheepishly as Chakotay waved a hand in front of her.

"You spaced out. Pun intended."

She grinned for a second, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. It's not the company, I assure you."

"It's just that the PADD's more interesting?" He tried to arch an eyebrow, but failed when he smirked because of her reaction.

"Oh no! Well…a little. Tom created this holoprogramm for me, on holodeck 2. Some of the details are in here, but it's still a mystery."

"Well," he shrugged. "Why don't you go see what's all about?"

She nodded. "You know what? I think I might." With some effort, she pushed herself up and walked around the table. She held out an arm. "Well Commander, would you like to join me?"

He grinned and stood up as well. "Would love to. After all, someone has to protect you from Tom's imagination."

Kathryn chuckled and was just about to comment that she didn't need protecting, when she stopped herself. She noticed, with some surprise, that she didn't mind him being her protector. But, still, so he wouldn't get suspicious, she rolled her eyes and sighed, "My hero," as the messhall doors closed behind them.


"Computer," the Captain said as she and Commander Chakotay slowly walked onto holodeck 2. "Play programme Alpha Janeway 2."

She glanced over her shoulder at Chakotay standing behind her and watched as their surroundings immediately began to change. The grey metal floor changed into soft, green grass filled with colourful flowers. The metallic walls were replaced with a forest and the ceiling was now a blue sky, not a cloud in sight. They actually could feel the sun's warm rays on their skin.

Chakotay made a half turn and shook his head in amazement. "Tom really outdid himself this time."

Kathryn could only nod and took in everything around her with wide eyes and an open mouth.

When she gazed down at the grass, she noticed she was no longer wearing her uniform or her boots. Instead, she was wearing a lilac dress and was barefoot. Chuckling, she turned around, noticing Chakotay was also barefoot and wearing khaki pants and a loose, white shirt. "He really did! And how could he have known you were going to join me?"

Chakotay smirked and walked up to her. "Not a clue. But I like the change of outfit."

Kathryn nodded then looked him up and down. "Can't disagree with that."

He raised his brows at her and smiled but she was too busy looking around. Silence enveloped them as they both stared at the beautiful scenery.

After a soft sigh, Kathryn was the first to break the silence. "I think Mia will really like it here."

"Mia?" he asked, a little puzzled.

"Short for Amelia. Q has always been fond of nicknaming everyone or shortening their names, if you can call it that. I think he'll like 'Mia'." She glanced to her right, where Chakotay was standing. "What do you think?"

"I … love it," he said, lowering his voice. He took a step closer, his chest now touching her right arm. "And I'm positive Mia will as well."

Kathryn took a deep breath, suddenly very aware of the contact. She could feel her cheeks flush and placed a hand on her stomach, in an attempt to calm herself. "Chakotay…" she finally breathed.

He didn't say anything, afraid of the speech that would follow.

"Q…advised me…to um…" She inhaled deeply and slowly turned around. "To put a certain First Officer I know out of his misery."

Chakotay averted his eyes and she immediately regretted having repeated what Q had said.

"Please," she reached out a hand and gently touched his cheek. "I have every intention of doing so. If you're in misery, that is."

He looked up and covered her hand with his. "This isn't misery, it's…bliss. I can assure you, I can keep this up for a long time."

Touched by his words, she nodded her head and smiled warmly. "I know you can. You have for six years."

She leaned in, as much as she could with her pregnant belly. Her warm breath pleasantly tickled his ear as she spoke, "It's been here all along between us. Even though it took…this pregnancy for us to…"

"Cross some barriers?" Chakotay whispered back, slowly running his hands over her back.

Kathryn leaned back a little, so she could see his face and placed her hands on his lower arms. "And let some parameters…remain undefined."

"Can't… disagree ...with…" he murmured slowly before leaning in. His lips brushed against hers softly and gently and he was about to pull away again when she put his arms around his neck and firmly pressed her mouth against his.

His eyes widened at her passionate, direct approach, but then he closed them and revelled in the moment.

Eventually, she was the one who pulled back, her cheeks as flushed as his. She covered her face with her hands and chuckled.

He still had his arms around her waist and gently pulled her closer. "What? I'm a little out of practice, but was it really that bad?"

"Oh no." Kathryn smiled and leaned in to give him another kiss. "Quite the contrary."

He moved one hand up her back and the let the other rest around her waist. "Then what is so amusing?"

She chuckled again. "Just… that it took about two minutes in a holodeck programme for us to finally… act on our feelings."

Chakotay leaned in. "Two minutes and about six years."

"Then why the hell are you still talking?" she smiled, arching an eyebrow seductively as he claimed her lips once more.


TBC ?