Disclaimer: see part one.


Kathryn Janeway, former Captain of the Federation Starship Voyager and now resident of Vora, Karim III, smiled to herself as her gaze travelled the length of the large and beautiful hall. Her eyes took in all the special details: the lovely decorations, a lot of which had been made by little Naomi Wildman; the food and drinks, a joint effort from both local restaurants; the couples who were dancing in the left corner, their attention solely on their partners as they moved slowly to the gentle tones of the piano. Surrounded by all these familiar faces, she turned pensive and her mind travelled to a year back when they'd practically crash-landed on this now dearly loved planet, though she'd cursed it many times in the beginning. Thinking back to her almost frantic search for a way to leave this planet, which had nearly ended in her own desperate attempt to sacrifice herself by staying behind. She found it hard to believe now how much she had wanted to leave the planet that was now her home. Then she became sombre, as the faces of those they'd never see again drifted through her mind's eye; those of her crew who hadn't made it and those they'd forever left behind in the Alpha Quadrant.

She silently left the room, leaving her wineglass on one of the assorted tables and looking back once before stepping through the doors into the cool night air. She quickly made her way to the park, unhindered by the absence of light. Remembering a night of months ago, when she had also visited this place after dark while a party – a wedding that time – had continued in the hall, she sat down on the stone bench. Letting her mind drift as she stared at the sleeping flora around, which trembled slightly in the cold late-summer breeze.

Just like that other night, she suddenly became aware of someone approaching her from behind, though she rather felt than heard his presence. She smiled, knowing he'd come looking for her just like last time. She didn't turn around.

"What is it, Chakotay, miss me already?" He came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her small frame and she happily snuggled into his embrace, feeling the low rumble as he chuckled softly.

"And here I thought you'd be happy to see me."

"Always, my love." She finally looked up at his handsome face and smiled tenderly. "But you do know you'll have to go to your own home tonight; the groom can't see the bride before the ceremony the day of the wedding, it's bad luck."

"I know." Chakotay sighed. "And I still wonder how I'll be able to stay away from you for that long."

Kathryn's grin turned up at the corners, looking slightly devilish. "I'm sure you'll manage." She shifted slightly. "But until then, you can keep me company here." He wordlessly sat down next to her and they remained there for a long time, spending the last few hours before their wedding day together.

Fine

Ab Urbe Condita is a Latin saying that means 'from the founding of the city'. The Romans used it as a reference point to state the year (like we do with the birth of Christ – BC or AD) wherein the city of course referred to Rome (753 BC). It is also the title of Titus Livius' life's work, which comprised of 142 books that detailed the history of Rome from its founding some seven and a half centuries prior until his time (he was a good friend of emperor August's who ruled from 27 BC till 14 AD).