~ Kathryn ~
Kathryn watched as the Doctor wrapped little Miral in the blanket Tom provided. As Tom set the newest member of the family in her mother's arms, Kathryn felt a slight pain in her heart. Miral was making soft gurgling noises at B'Elanna, who kissed the small ridges on Miral's forehead in response. The birth had been fascinating to watch. She was surprised that she hadn't been kicked out, but she guessed that the Doctor and Tom had forgotten about her after B'Elanna came in.
Or not. The Doctor was now walking towards her, a tricorder in hand.
"Captain, why don't we step outside for a minute to talk, and leave the new parents to Miral." The Doctor gestured her towards the door, and she stepped outside into the sunlight. He started towards the outer ring of the woods to stroll, and she took his lead and followed. Kathryn squinted into the sunlight, and clasped her hands behind her back, keeping the slow pace the Doctor had set. It was indeed a nice day outside. For a few moments, it was just blissful silence and enjoying the scenery. Many woodland creatures scuttled about underneath the blazing sun. Kathryn finally broke the silence, turning a head towards the Doctor, who was still strolling alongside her.
"Surely, Doctor, you didn't bring me out here to tell me I'm dying," she prompted.
"No, no. Actually, you are much healthier than I thought you would have been considering how much weight you've lost and all the food you've been throwing away." Her cheeks flamed suddenly. "Yes, Commander Chakotay came to me with that particular concern. Believe it or not, he cares about your health. As well he should." Kathryn continued to walk, waiting for his judgment of herself. He didn't bring her out her to tell her she was fine. What was wrong?
"Doctor, I'm going to be blunt. What's wrong with me? You don't have to sit here and beat around the bush, because I've been through it all." She raised a hand and ticked off fingers. "I've mutated into another specie, I've contracted the seemingly incurable disease, I've died in multiple time lines, I've done it all!"
The Doctor stopped and faced her, a warm smile on his face, quite unlike his usual goofy smile. Kathryn felt a slight tingling at the base of her skull, a foresight of what he was going to say. She slowly turned towards him, hoping to delay the inevitable, unknown verdict. Time seemed to come to an excruciatingly slow speed.
"You're pregnant."
And then time did a double take and sped up incredibly fast. The woman in her was happy. The Captain in her was disappointed. And the Kathryn was confused more than she had ever been. She was faintly aware of the Doctor's voice.
"…Captain? Captain, are you all right?"
"Yes, yes I'm fine," she replied, perhaps a little too strained.
"Captain, you should know that Mr. Paris is quite aware of your condition, which means the entire camp will know by tomorrow's breakfast." She nodded, and turned to go. The Doctor was still talking, so she turned back, trying to make an effort to listen.
"Captain, I will need to see you tomorrow morning to run some tests and scans to make sure the fetus is okay." She nodded her acknowledgement. "Oh, and if I may ask, who is the father?" That finished it. Janeway walked at a rather brisk pace back to the cabin she resided in with…him…and sat down on the bed, calmly collecting herself.
"Okay." She collapsed her hands on her lap. "Okay, I'm pregnant. By my first officer. And the whole crew is going to know." Kathryn flung herself back on the bed, resting an arm across her face. Her shame was going to be made public to everyone by tomorrow. Then everyone would know that the Captain and commander of Voyager had succumbed to their feelings and were now laying around without publicly acknowledging it, like harlots. How terrible! This child was going to just complicate things more…
Kathryn's fingers slipped down to her stomach, and her face lit up. On the other hand, this is what she had always wanted, wasn't it? A child by the man she loved. In some ways, Kathryn was surprised; she had thought herself past being able to bear a child. Now, what to do about telling Chakotay…
She didn't have to wait long before he came in with lunch. Chakotay was teetering two trays of food on one arm, with his other hand carrying a stack of PADDs. He smiled hello and shut the door with a foot.
"I brought you some food. You weren't in line, and I figured you had come back early to read a report on something…what?" Chakotay asked playfully, when he saw the grin on her face. "What trouble have you gone and gotten yourself into now?" She smiled to herself. Over the past few months, their relationship had become so much more…relaxed. It had always been relaxed on Voyager, but this was different. It was very open. Kathryn put on a face of mock disbelief.
"I haven't a clue what you're talking about Chakotay." She rolled over on her belly, and then decided to sit up on the bed, legs dangling over the side. "It's actually not my fault, you know." Kathryn smiled inwardly. This could be fun, slowly dragging it out.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I have it on excellent authority that this is actually your fault!" she said teasingly. Now Chakotay truly looked dumbfounded.
"My fault?"
"Yes!" Chakotay brought over a tray for her and plopped it in her lap, and then went to his bed to eat, picking up a PADD and skimming over the contents. He feigned disinterest for a few moments, but Kathryn knew him better than that: he would simply have to know, eventually.
So she bided her time, watching him. He ate slowly, went over several PADDs, and even spent some time toying with his fork. Finally, he looked up, only to see her watching.
"Okay. Tell me. I'm all ears."
Kathryn got up, placing her tray on the ground, and went to sit next to Chakotay, who immediately got up and fetched the abandoned food. He sat back down next to her on his bed, and placed the tray in her lap. She rolled her eyes; she knew what was coming.
"The Doctor says you need to eat more. He's always commenting on how unhealthy you look."
"Actually, that's who I just came from." His eyes searched hers.
"And – what? What's wrong that actually has you smiling?"
"And," she leaned in a little, resting her head on his shoulder, "I'm pregnant."
It took him so long to react that she thought that maybe she hadn't said anything yet. He just sat there, still looking straight ahead, etched in stone. Kathryn drew a breath and was about to repeat herself when Chakotay laid an arm, so carefully, around her shoulder. She could have sworn his breathing had come to a temporary halt, and the next breath he drew was ragged. They simply sat there for a moment, and then he spoke.
"Are you okay with this?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Kathryn, for seven years you fought me in our relationship boundaries. All for preserving public image. I know you love to keep that immaculate, and I love you for it. But we come down to this planet, and two and a half months later the entire crew is going to find out one morning that not only have we been sleeping together since we landed, but you're pregnant. And we concealed all of that from them. That's not exactly my Kathryn's idea of a great image, now is it?" Chakotay smiled at her.
"No, not really. But I'm okay with it now." She could feel his eyes scrutinizing her.
"Really?" Kathryn laughed.
"Yes Chakotay! I really am!"
"Good." Chakotay leaned in and kissed the top of her head, and then she stood up.
"Oh, and by the way, no one actually knows that you're the father. I didn't tell the Doctor, so I'm sure you'll have plenty of people asking." He looked at her quizzically.
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"I…I was a little confused about the whole situation. I didn't really feel like talking about anything at the moment."
"Well, okay. As long as they know eventually." He smiled at her lightheartedly.
"So, the Doctor wants to give me a check up in the morning, but I would rather go now and get it out of the way. What would you say to coming with me, and we can visit the new parents while we're there." At the confused expression on his face, she continued. "Didn't you hear? B'Elanna gave birth this morning to a healthy Miral!" Chakotay stood and opened the door for her.
"Well, in that case, let's go." Chakotay said, following Kathryn over the threshold.