Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.
AURORA
EPILOGUE
Chakotay sat before a cozy log fire that crackled in the hearth. Outside the window, snow fell, and the distant snow capped mountains glistened in the silver moonlight. He got up, and went over to the large window to close the rust velvet curtains that adorned it. Stars twinkled amidst the falling snow, and for a moment he gazed up at them. It was hard to imagine that Kathryn was somewhere amongst them. They looked so far away, as though it would take an eternity to reach them. Looking at them now, it seemed as though his life in the Delta Quadrant belonged to another existence.
He fingered the gold ring on his left hand, and tears welled in his eyes as he remembered the last time he had seen his wife. He had not wanted her to go on this mission and for days they had argued about it. He argued that she had not commanded a ship in over sixteen years and should let someone else go. But Starfleet was reluctant to be involved at all, and would only agree to help the Talaxians if Kathryn personally lead the mission. Neelix and his people needed her, she said. If she did not help them, they would all be destroyed by a species called the Unortan. He argued it was too risky, that even if she was not killed, there was a strong chance of her being stranded in the Delta Quadrant again. Starfleet may have developed technology to create wormholes, but use of them was new and the novelty made them highly dangerous and unpredictable. She had left on the mission regardless of his words, and without his blessing or a good-bye. He had tried to get in touch with her before her ship took off, just to heal the wound between them and tell her that he loved her. But there was atmospheric turbulence and communication with the ship could not be established. Perhaps he would never get the chance to right the wrong now. He had been selfish in wanting to keep her from going, he knew, but although he had come close to losing her many times during the Voyager years, the pain never lessened at the thought of his life without her. If anything, it only deepened.
He closed the curtains and went back to his chair before the fire. He picked up a photograph of Kathryn with four year old Aurora, taken while they were picnicking in the mountains. Aurora looked so much like Kathryn, except for her dark brown eyes and dark hair which she had inherited from him. Now, at fifteen years of age, she was growing into a very beautiful young woman. It was a relief to him, and he knew to Kathryn, that she had no interest in joining Starfleet. It was a rewarding profession, but a dangerous one, and neither of them wanted to lose her. History and literature was her passion, and to step into her bedroom was to leave the twenty fourth century behind. Every now and then a new antique would crop up somewhere in the house and the library was full of antiquarian books she had accumulated. She could recite poems from all the great poets of history, and knew in detail each one of Shakespeare's plays. Her intelligence was advanced for her age, but with a mother like Kathryn, he would have expected nothing else. Motherhood and marriage had changed Kathryn. She took life at an easier pace now, and took time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. She enjoyed nothing more than sitting before the fire listening to her daughter read one of the classics to her.
"They say if you stare long enough into the flames, you'll see images there."
Chakotay froze at the sound of Kathryn's voice. Then he looked up and saw her standing before him, complete in her Starfleet uniform. He had been so lost in thought that he had not heard her come in. She smiled at him with tears in her eyes and he instantly took her in his arms and held her tight. All that had passed between them before she left was already forgotten.
At last they drew away and he studied her carefully. She looked tired and he could tell the mission had been a difficult one. He brushed his fingers against her cheek. "It was tough?"
She nodded. "We suffered many casualties. The Unortans were much more advanced than we thought and it took all that we had to defeat them." She put her hand over his and held it to her cheek. "We got back about an hour ago and I transported home as soon as I could."
Chakotay gazed deep into her eyes. "I love you so much, Admiral Kathryn Janeway."
She smiled through tears. "I love you too ... Dr Chakotay Janeway."
She touched his lips with her own and deepened the kiss as he responded.
Aurora locked her photo album and put the key back into her jewelry box. She watched the ballerina dance and left the lid open to hear the pleasant melody while she brushed her long hair. There was a knock at the door and she closed the lid, silencing the music.
"Come in."
The door was reflected in the mirror and she gazed at it, expecting her father or housekeeper, Lauren, to come in. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her mother enter. She turned to her, and Kathryn opened her arms wide. Laughing through tears, Aurora got up and ran into them.