Disclaimer: I only wish Voyager was mine, but Paramount owns them and it is our duty to speculate what they don't see fit to reveal in the series, and are too lazy to make a movie. If only they would see it our way...

Banned From Coffee Chapter 18 - A New Form Of Stubborn

At seven months pregnant, deprived from coffee and confined to quarters, Kathryn Janeway was entitled to be a little unsociable. But, as Chakotay had observed, locking herself in the bedroom and refusing to let anyone in was going a little too far.

Faced with this new problem, Chakotay sought out the help of the five month pregnant chief engineer, B'Elanna Torres.

"B'Elanna, she's locked herself in, set up a level 10 forcefield and is refusing to even speak to me!" An exasperated Chakotay told his best friend and her husband over lunch. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!"

"Have you tried the transporters?" B'Elanna asked, even though that was a tiny bit obvious.

"No, she has a transport inhibitor in with her. And she's deactivated her comm badge," Chakotay moaned, dropping his forehead to the table.

"Hopefully she'll have the twins soon. She's due in what, 2 weeks?" Tom said, trying to boost their moods, unsuccessfully.

"Nineteen days, Tom. Nineteen miserable days." The commander unwillingly raised his head, propping it up on his hands.

"Atleast we have the nursery finished, and she hasn't seen that yet," B'Elanna tried optimistically.

"She knows about it, and when she decides to talk to me again, I'll probably be the one ending up in Sickbay for not showing her!" Chakotay dropped his forehead to the surface, narrowly missing their long-abandoned dinners.

"I could try sending a power surge through the EPS relays around your bedroom to short out the forcefield," B'Elanna suggested, using her position of chief engineer to willingly blow up a part of the Captain's quarters.

"What are the chances of her being hit by any sparks when the forcefield is cut out?" Chakotay looked worried, even though she was really starting to annoy him.

"The chances of her being hit is quite high, but if she was hit it wouldn't be harmful to her or the babies," B'Elanna looked almost upset about her news. "Hopefully," she added as an afterthought.

"Hopefully?" Chakotay raised his voice at his best friend.

Before anyone could respond, the internal comm system interrupted the arguement.

"Red Alert! Senior officers report to the Bridge," came Tuvok's calm, stoic voice.

"On our way," Chakotay grovelled as he, Paris and Torres rose from their table in the crowded Mess Hall. "We'll continue this later," he said to the pair behind him.

The Bridge was in chaos as Chakotay, Harry, Tom and B'Elanna stepped out of the turbolift.

"Tuvok, report!" Chakotay called as soon as he saw the amount of panic-stricken junior oficers running around.

"Commander, the Alomen-ar have just dropped out of warp off our port bow. They have not yet fired upon us, but their weapons systems appear to have been charged."

"Thanks, Tuvok, take tactical. Paris, take the helm, Kim take Ops and Torres," he turned to look at the other pregnant woman, who was standing very close to the turbolifts' open doors. "Continue your way to engineering."

Smiling, B'Elanna nodded. "Sure thing," she said, right beforethe closing doors prevented any more speech from anyone.

Chakotay smiled at the closed doors, then turned to walk towards the command deck and take his seat, or rather, the Captain's seat.

"Commander, we are being hailed by the Alomen-ar," Harry called from behind him.

"On screen," came the reply. The commander was not impressed when he saw the unpleasant features of First Marne Ashwaith grace the large viewscreen. It took all of his self control not to openly shudder at the appearance, though he noticed many of the junior officers did.

"First Marne Ashwaith, I can't say I'm actually happy to see you," Chakotay half grumbled towards the man he currently detested.

"Commander Chakotay," First Marne Ashwaith said, his ugly face smiling. "I'm glad to see your Captain is not in that chair now, or I would have had to destroy your ship."

"What Kathryn Janeway does in her spare time does not concern you or your crew, but she is currently confined to quarters awaiting the birth of our children."

"Children, I was under the impression she was only carrying one child, but you suggest she is carrying more?" His inquisitive tone almost made him sound sincere. Almost.

"We have just recently found out she is pregnant with twins, not that it's any of your concern." The bitterness in Chakotay's voice directed at the unwelcome visitor brought out the built up hostility he currently felt towards his wife, who was being overly stubborn.

"Very well then, Commander. Since you have obeyed my wishes, I grant Voyager safe passage through Alomen-ar space. And I also wish you safe journey and a safe birth of your children."

"Why, thank you, First Marne, for your well wishes, I'll be sure to pass them on. Chakotay out."

As the distinguished face of the Alomen-ar dissapeared off the viewscreen, Chakotay heard a large sigh emanate from the senior officers on the Bridge.

"Well, that was completely unexpected, him wishing us and Kathryn well and all," Tom said, swivelling around in his chair to face the commander.

Before anyone could answer, an anxious comm call came to the Bridge.

"Chakotay, you'd better get down here. I think I'm going into labour!"

Every face turned to face the man sitting in the centre of the Bridge, a mixed look of happiness and panic on their faces.