Star Trek Voyager Characters are the property of Paramount Pictures

BEFORE THE DAWN
(PG:13)

Chapter Fourteen

TWO WEEKS LATER

A bright silver moon shone down on a quaint log-home high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On a long terrace over looking a deep valley, Kathryn sat by a beautifully decorated table, Chakotay opposite her. She was wearing an elegant dress of blue velvet and had matching high heel shoes on her feet. Chakotay was also smartly dressed in a fawn shirt over fawn pants, and soft music playing in the background completed the perfect setting. They had just fnished a delicious dessert of chocolate gateaux with vanilla ice cream, and Kathryn topped up Chakotay's half-empty glass of wine.

"It's so peaceful here," she said, pouring the sparkling gold liquid into his glass. "I'm so glad we chose this place. Not only is it in a most beautiful setting, but it's also secluded. I can't believe how much media interest there is in our lives. We would never have a moments peace in San Francisco."

Chakotay smiled. "The price of fame. You're a major celebrity now. We both are."

"So it seems," she replied, putting down the bottle in her hands. "I find it kind of strange, though. I mean, I'm not an actress or a singer or anything like that." She picked up her glass of wine. "But I guess we'll have to get used to public attention, especially if..." She paused, bit her lip, and took a sip of wine.

Chakotay questioned. "Especially if?"

Kathryn took a deep breath and she put down her glass. "If we...if we get married."

A dark shadow fell over Chakotay's face. "Let's not talk of marriage, Kathryn. We still don't know what my prognosis is and..." He paused. "Let's just enjoy now."

Kathryn reached for his hand and held it in hers. "I love you, Chakotay. Whatever happens, I want us to face it together."

"I know you do. And I know that you would be completely committed to me. But I...I have to try and accept that I might be like thisfor the rest of my lifeand...and I need time. I'm not ready for...I'm not ready for marriage."

Tears filled Kathryn's eyes and she tried hard to suppress them. She wanted to marry this man, wanted to marry him so much, but she couldn't force the matter, would have to take things at his pace.

A tense, awkward, silence hung in the air, then Kathryn broke it.

"Dance with me?"

Chakotay nodded and Kathryn got to her feet. As he heard her approach, Chakotay turned towards her and Kathryn took his hands in hers. As he got to his feet, she guided him to an empty space on the terrace and then wrapped her arms around his neck. Chakotay's arms closed around her waist and she lay her cheek against his. As they swayed softly to the music, Kathryn's heart raced at his closeness and her whole body felt alive at his touch. Slowly, tentatively, she drew slightly away from him and then raised her lips to his in a tender kiss.

Chakotay flinched and broke away from her. "No," he said tearfully. "We can't..."

Kathryn closed the gap between them and put her hands on his arms. "We can...Of course we can..."

"But I can't see...I..."

"You don't need to see to kiss me..."

"What I mean is...I might be like this forever. We need parameters, we can't...it will only make things harder if...if I don't..."

"There's every chance that the treatment you'll be starting next month is going to work," Kathryn replied. "You've been so strong up until now, so positive. And you have to stay that way."

"I'm trying, I just...What if it doesn't work? What if I'm always like this?"

"Then you need to learn to adapt...how to still enjoy life. And you can. Just give yourself a chance, Chakotay. Let your other senses be your eyes." She took his hand and put it to her dress. "You could tell earlier that I was wearing velvet because your hands told you so. Use your hands to see me...use your touch..."

Chakotay gently began to explore her neckline with his hand and then moved up to her face. His hand brushed against a dangling earring and he fingered it.

"You're wearing earrings...long...slim..."

"That's right...Gold..."

He moved to her hair and felt it with both hands. "Your hair is like I remember...soft...same style..." His fingers made their way to her face and touched her tears..."You're crying..."

At that, Kathryn took his hands in hers. "Don't push me away, Chakotay. I know I have no right to say that after the way I always held back from you on Voyager, but there were real barriers between us then. Now there's only the barriersyou're making. I love you, I need you, and I want to be with you...no conditions. Marry me, Chakotay. Please..."

A tear ran down Chakotay's cheek. "Only if you're sure it's what you want, that I won't be a burden..."

"Never, Chakotay. You could never be a burden. I love and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Chakotay smiled softly. "Then I will...I'll marry you."

Kathryn smiled happily and then joyfully drew him close. Chakotay held her in return and kissed her hair.

"We'll be happy," Kathryn said. "I promise you that we will. You, me and Billy."

Chakotay buried his head in her hair. "I'm scared, Kathryn. I'm scared that the treatment won't work and...But if I have you, if I have Billy, then...then I can get through it, I know that I can..."

"And you'll always have us," Kathryn said sincerely. "Always."

They held each other a while, and then Kathryn drew slightly away. "Now may I kiss you?"

Chakotay nodded with a smile.

Kathryn gently secured her arms around his neck again, and then raised her lips to his. This time Chakotay responded, and they kissed deeply, sensually, under a sky full of stars.

TEN DAYS LATER

Holding each others hands, Kathryn and Chakotay stood beneath an arch of pink and yellow roses as they prepared to exchange marriage wows in the garden of an Irish gothic castle. Almost every Voyager crew-member was amongst the large crowd, and all Kathryn's family and friends were present. Chakotay's sister had also made the journey all the wayfrom Trebus to attend. Kathryn was wearing an off the shoulder knee-length gown of white satin, and Chakotay was wearing a smart white suit, a blue waistcoat, and a blue bow tie. Tom stood behind him, equally as smart in a suit of black and blue, and watching from the aisle were their two proud bridesmaids in gowns of blue satin: Chakotay's niece, Sarlara, and Naomi Wildman. Sarlara was holding the bridal bouquet, and Naomi was holding Billy's hand. He was their Pageboy and had definitely stolen the heart of everyone present as he looked absolutely adorable in a tiny white suit with a blue bow tie to match his father's.

The registrar was a friendly woman with black hair and blue eyes, and she made everyone laugh as she announced the purpose of the gathering, and went through the formality of asking whether there were any lawful impediments to the marriage. When no one presented any, she began the vows.

"Do you, Kathryn Martha Janeway, take this man, Chakotay, to be your lawful wedding husband? To love him, to cherish him, to honor him and be faithful to him, for as long as you both shall live?"

Kathryn squeezed Chakotay's hands. "I do."

The registrar then addressed Chakotay. "Do you, Chakotay, take this woman, Kathryn Martha Janeway, to be your lawful wedding wife? To love her, to cherish her, to honor her and be faithful to her, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Chakotay replied.

The registrar then turned to Tom. "The rings..."

Tom was holding a white velvet cushion on which rested two gold rings and he stepped forward.

Kathryn took the largest ring and then slipped it onto Chakotay's finger. "I give you this ring as a token of our marriage, as a symbol of the promises I have made to you today."

Tom then picked up the remaining ring and put it in Chakotay's hand. He then guided Chakotay's hand to Kathryn's and helped him select the right finger. Then he stepped aside.

Chakotay slipped the ring onto Kathryn's finger as carefully as he could. "I give you this ring as a token of our marriage, as a symbol of the promises I have made to you today."

The registrar then united their hands and smiled. "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Kathryn smiled happily and drew Chakotay close. Then, in front of a cheering crowd, they sealed their union with a kiss.

END OF CHAPTER 14