Almost unnoticed, soft melodies had been playing all afternoon from speakers hidden among the trees and bushes. As darkness fell, conversations became more hushed and the music became more noticeable. Everybody smiled indulgently when the first couple tentatively tried out some dance steps, but soon more pairs joined the first. Phoebe turned up the volume a little more, and before long the area in front of the porch had been cleared of tables and chairs so that the dancers had room to move around.
Kathryn and Chakotay had been sitting with Danny and Belinda for the past half hour, regaling each other with anecdotes from their different postings. Danny, who worked as a concept designer for starship interiors and followed his wife wherever she was assigned to, did his best to balance out the stories with his civilian views and occasional criticism of Starfleet stubbornness. Throughout the conversation, Chakotay subtly deflected all questions that cut too close to Kathryn's recent experiences. From the way she gratefully smiled at him he knew that she noticed. He suspected that Belinda did as well, but since she didn't say anything, he also kept quiet.
Danny's story about refitting a decommissioned, badly damaged Galaxy-class Captain's Yacht for a wealthy Likosian businesswoman who'd insisted on a cut-glass chandelier on her flight deck was winding down, and Chakotay was just waiting for him to finish speaking so he could ask Kathryn to dance. But then Mark suddenly appeared on her other side, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Hey," he smiled, throwing a cursory glance around the table before focusing on Kathryn. "Could I tempt you to dance, Kath?"
She gave him an answering smile but then turned to Chakotay, one eyebrow raised in questioning. "Do you mind?"
Mark looked none too pleased that she was asking his permission, and the thought made Chakotay grin inwardly. "Go right ahead," he encouraged her. "I'll cut in later."
"Alright then." Kathryn held out her hand and let Mark pull her up.
Chakotay watched them join the other couples in the dance area. Even though he wouldn't have dreamed of telling Kathryn that she shouldn't dance with her childhood friend, he still felt a twinge of jealousy when the other man slipped his arm around her waist, gathering her closer than necessary for the fast-paced rhythm.
"They've known each other for a long time," Danny said, leaning over. When Chakotay frowned at him, he grinned knowingly. "Mark's folks moved here when Phoebe was still a baby. I remember I was visiting for a week because my parents had to go someplace where they couldn't take me. He's only a year or two older than me, and we became fast friends. Kathryn was so jealous, she kept arguing that she wanted to play with the 'big boys' but Gretchen wouldn't let her roam the fields with us. Not that we wanted that bossy little girl tagging along." He laughed.
Chakotay raised an eyebrow. "Bossy?"
"Oh, you bet. Once she's set her sights on something, there's no stopping her. There was this one time –"
"I know what you really want to ask," Belinda cut in with a wink at Chakotay and poked Danny in the arm. "Were they ever together?"
Chakotay tried to hide his embarrassment behind a chuckle. It was true that he felt jealous of Kathryn's close attachment to Mark, and he had been wondering just how much history there was between them, but he didn't like being so transparent.
Danny however didn't seem to mind the question at all. "Kathryn and Mark? I don't think so. Or if they were, it can't have been for very long. I certainly never heard either of them mentioning it."
Belinda nodded in agreement, but Chakotay had his doubts. Mark's earlier comment about not appreciating certain things when he was younger nagged at him in a way he wouldn't acknowledge to anyone, not even to Kathryn. His eyes strayed to the dancers again, noting how easily the pair moved together, quite obviously comfortable with each other. Kathryn was talking and Mark was listening intently, only making short comments when she paused. Then they both laughed and he suddenly swept her around in a tight twirl, causing her to laugh even harder and clutch his shoulders for support.
Chakotay excused himself and went into the house to retrieve his and Kathryn's jackets. The day had been warm, but now there was a definite chill in the air. Coming back out, he hovered at the edge of the dance area, waiting until one song ended and then swiftly moving through the crowd. When he came up behind Kathryn, he overheard her describing an Yssanthi, the six-legged dog-like pets they'd seen on Kelvaris.
"Maybe you should get one," Kathryn was telling Mark. "I hear they're quite loyal."
"Oh Kath, you know I'm not a dog person," Mark replied, shaking his head. "Besides, I've already got a pet. A Caitian friend gave it to me."
"What is it?"
"A tiny amphibian with wings. They're called Toss'Aute. By day, they hunt insects, and by night, they submerge themselves under water to sleep."
"Did you bring it with you to Earth?"
"Yes, I've got a terrarium set up at my parents' house. You can see it when you come visit on Monday."
Before Kathryn could reply, Chakotay stepped in by placing a hand on her arm. She turned, her face lighting up when she recognized him.
"My turn," he smiled.
"Of course." She looked back at her dancing partner. "Thanks, Mark, it was fun catching up with you. And I look forward to hearing more about the Caitian homeworld on Monday."
"I'm sure my parents will be more than happy to share the several hundred holos they took," Mark grinned and then laughed when Kathryn groaned in mock exasperation. "I'll see you then." He nodded politely in Chakotay's direction, turned and made his way back to the tables.
"I brought your jacket in case you were getting cold," Chakotay said, holding it out for her.
"That's very thoughtful of you, thanks." She smiled up at him as she slipped on the garment and then stepped into his waiting arms. They'd never danced together before but quickly found their own rhythm, moving naturally among the other couples. "How are you feeling?" she asked after a while.
"I'm enjoying the party," Chakotay replied, pulling her closer so he could rest his cheek against her hair. "It's been a long time since I attended a family gathering such as this. I won't pretend to remember everyone's name though." He chuckled and felt Kathryn respond likewise. "I had a good time talking with Danny and Belinda earlier."
"Danny has always been Mom's favorite nephew. He and his family used to visit all the time when we were younger. And now that Belinda is stationed at McKinley, they come down every couple of weeks. Mom loves to babysit little Fiona," Kathryn explained, referring to the couple's six-months-old daughter.
"She's a real cutie," Chakotay nodded, having bounced the baby on his knees for a while during the afternoon. "Speaking of family, where's your Aunt Erica? I haven't seen or heard anyone all day who'd fit her reputation."
"Now that you mention it, I don't think she's here." Frowning, Kathryn pulled back a little and let her gaze travel over the assembled guests. "That's odd, because she never misses a good party, and Mom mentioned that she'd made an extra batch of caramel brownies since Erica always eats at least half of what's there." She shrugged. "She must've called to say she'll be late or something. Let's enjoy the quiet while we can."
"Yes, Ma'am," Chakotay laughed and pulled her into another turn.
After a while, the music slowed, and now the couples were mostly swaying in place instead of moving around. Kathryn had slipped both arms around Chakotay's waist and rested her head against his shoulder, humming quietly along with the tune. His lips grazed her forehead, and she responded by lightly squeezing his middle.
"I think I learned something about myself tonight," Chakotay renewed the conversation, his voice taking on a serious tone. "I need to go home."
Kathryn drew back, startled. "Tonight?"
"No, no," he soothed, realizing that she'd misunderstood. "I don't mean going back to San Francisco. Nothing could tear me from your side before the weekend is well and truly over." He dropped a quick kiss on her lips before continuing. "I mean that I need to go back to Dorvan to visit my family. Not tonight or next week, but maybe in a couple of months when I can get a leave."
"Why the sudden revelation?"
He shrugged. "I think it was partly what you said the other day at the beach, and partly the realization how much I miss my sister, my cousins, everyone. Even if my father is still angry with me, I want the chance to see how they're all doing, and whether our world has changed at all since I left."
"Then you should go," Kathryn encouraged him. "Maybe time and distance will have mellowed your father somewhat."
This time, Chakotay shrugged and sighed at the same time. "I doubt it, but I guess I won't know for sure until I face him."
She nodded, smiled, and wrapped her arms around him again, resuming her previous position.
After another few minutes of silence, Chakotay finally couldn't keep his curiosity at bay any longer. "Mark seemed awfully glad to see you," he probed cautiously, drawing back a little so he could watch Kathryn's reaction.
She eyed him with a smirk, apparently sensing his thoughts. "I've known him since I was about four. Phoebe used to try and convince me to marry him. Do you want to know why?" She laughed, not waiting for an answer. "His family owned a pony, and Phoebe thought if we were married she could come and live with us and ride every day."
Chakotay joined in her laughter. "But why didn't she want to marry him herself? Surely that would've been even better?"
"Oh, no!" Kathryn rolled her eyes. "She figured he was much too old for her, but just right for her big sister." Sobering somewhat, she lowered her voice and leaned closer. "He did actually have a crush on me when we were teenagers. We even kissed once, but it was very awkward and never went any further than that. He eventually left for Saturn University and I went to the Academy. I've probably seen him three times in the past eight or nine years." She paused, then added shrewdly, "Are you jealous?"
To deny her question would've been a lie, but he didn't want her to think that he questioned her affections. Instead, he opted for a roundabout answer, keeping his tone light. "If I were jealous of every male who ever had his eyes on you, that'd probably be a very long list."
He'd expected a flippant reply, maybe an off-hand laugh, but Kathryn remained serious. "Maybe; I've never kept any records." She regarded him thoughtfully, almost making him squirm under her close scrutiny. Then she placed her hands on his chest. "It seems to me though, as if this male is in need of a little reassurance."
Without breaking eye contact, she slid her hands up to link them behind his neck. Her body pressed into his, igniting desires he'd consciously suppressed throughout the day. Slipping his hands inside her jacket, he ran them down her sides, just grazing her breasts. When he brushed against the bow above her hip, he involuntarily let out a small groan at the recollection of peeling the green dress off of her the first night at his apartment. Kathryn smiled knowingly and leaned in closer, her eyes drifting shut as her lips sought his. Chakotay closed his eyes as well, blocking out all sensations except for the incredible and highly desirable woman in his arms.
Her kiss was slow, sensual, and full of promise, and he knew that no one watching them right now could doubt the depth of her feelings for him. Feeling himself blush with shame at his earlier thoughts, he hoped that the darkness would hide his reddened face. By her very public display of affection Kathryn was making it clear that he was her companion of choice, and he'd better make damn sure not to ruin their relationship over ill-placed jealousy.
Feeling lightheaded, he had to break the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, willing his rapid heartbeat to slow. Once he'd caught his breath, he dropped his voice to a suggestive whisper. "Would anyone miss us if we left now?"
She chuckled at his innuendo. "Probably not. I just have to tell Mom, and –"
At that moment, there was a commotion on the porch. Everyone turned to see a somewhat plump older woman noisily shove her way through the party guests watching the dancers. A tall, white haired man followed in her wake, his expression a mixture of amusement and irritation.
"Gretchen!" the woman called loudly, her beady eyes rapidly scanning the crowd until she spied her target. Turning to grab the man's arm, she dragged him along to the table where Kathryn's mother sat conversing with one of her brothers and Julia Paris.
Kathryn turned away from the scene, burying her face against Chakotay's chest, and groaned, "Aunt Erica!"
He wrapped his arms around her and began moving them to the other side of the dance area, further away from the tables, all the while watching the proceedings with interest.
"Oh, Gretchen," Erica exclaimed upon reaching her sister-in-law who had risen up from her chair. "My dear, I am so very sorry that I missed most of your party, but it is all Horace's fault! He dragged me off to an exotic lunch in Tahiti, and we had such a splendid time that we quite forgot to watch the clock. It was only half an hour ago that I realized how late it must be here, and then we went straight back to the transport hub." She threw an admonishing glance at her companion. "Really, Horace, you should have paid more attention to the time. I'm sure Gretchen will never forgive us for being this late."
Gretchen's reply wasn't loud enough for Chakotay to overhear, but when she hugged Erica in greeting, he was startled to see her wink conspiratorially at the unfortunate Horace. Both new arrivals were soon ushered into seats at Gretchen's table from where Erica started waving and nodding at people all around despite being immediately engaged in conversation by Julia Paris.
Kathryn still refused to look in her aunt's direction. Chakotay bent his head to whisper in her ear. "She's occupied for the moment, and I don't think she's spotted us yet. I'm ready to leave if you are."
She hesitated, probably weighing the merits of a quick escape against incurring her mother's wrath by not saying good-bye. After chancing a glance around, she finally nodded. "Alright, let's go. We're expected back here tomorrow for brunch anyway, so I can explain then."
Her mind made up, Kathryn led Chakotay around the side of the house rather than through it. They squeezed through some bushes, narrowly avoided being seen by Phoebe and Leo who looked to be 'making up' again on the front doorstep, and soon walked back to their hotel the same way as the night before, hand in hand.
"Who's Horace?" Chakotay asked as they reached the town perimeter where there was more light and he could see her more easily.
"The former mayor of Bloomington, and a really close friend of my mother," Kathryn explained, her lips curving into a smile. "In fact, I'm not altogether sure just how close they are. For a while now I've suspected that there may be something going on between them, but whenever I drop a hint, Mom just ignores it. I tried to enlist Phoebe's help, but she claims there's nothing. I think she's just not looking closely enough because she's too busy sorting out her own relationship."
"Maybe there is something..." Chakotay told her about the conspiratorial wink he'd seen when Erica had scolded poor Horace for forgetting about the time difference between Tahiti and the Midwest.
Kathryn stopped dead in her tracks, staring open-mouthed. "You think my mother enlisted Horace's help in keeping Erica away from the party?"
He shrugged. "Of course I don't know for sure, but I think it's possible that after your quick exit the other night your mom put two and two together and found a way to spare you further embarrassment without openly confronting your aunt." Especially after overhearing Gretchen talking to Belinda about having noticed Kathryn's disquiet, Chakotay thought this scenario quite likely.
Kathryn shook her head. "I don't believe it. My mother's never been into subterfuge like this."
"How long has it been since you last came home?" Chakotay objected. "I think you may not be giving her enough credit. She knows you have a dangerous job, and since she can't protect you from all the evils of outer space, she may be all the more hung up on the idea that your childhood home should always be a safe haven for you. And that may just include making sure that certain people don't get a chance to upset you unnecessarily. Besides, if Horace really has designs on your mother, why else would he go out with Erica, at his own suggestion?"
Kathryn still looked doubtful.
"Do you know whether Horace was part of your mother's guest list?"
"I'm sure that he was," she replied promptly. "And I really don't understand why he'd pick today of all days to take Erica on an exotic getaway and risk being late. He's the kind of man who's always fifteen minutes early rather than five behind the time." Chakotay watched as Kathryn frowned, and then he smirked when she suddenly turned to him wide-eyed, a new realization having struck her. "Unless you're right and their lunch really was an elaborate ruse to keep Erica away from the party. I never would've thought..." She chewed on her lower lip, thinking. "I'll have to ask her about it tomorrow."
Chakotay shook his head. "I don't think that'd be wise. Let her keep her secrets – just like you like to keep yours."
She threw him a hard look, ready to object, but then her face softened. "Touché."
He grasped her hand again and they continued on their way, the hotel now coming into view. When they'd left the party, Chakotay's main objective had been to speedily take Kathryn back to her room so he could finally divest her of her green dress and act out his newest fantasies invoked by her earlier kiss. However, with their destination now within reach, he found that there was one more thing on his mind that he needed to get out first.
Lacing his fingers with hers, he squeezed lightly, prompting her to turn her face his way. His expression must've given away the seriousness of his thoughts, because her brows lifted in silent questioning. Chakotay took a deep breath. "I don't know how things will pan out over the next couple of months, how long I'll stay at the Academy and whether or when I'll get a leave," he said, releasing the words in one rush. "But if there's a chance that I'll make it to Dorvan... Would you consider coming with me?"
Kathryn didn't hesitate. "Of course I would. You bravely faced my family – I'd be honored to meet yours. Unless you think that my being Starfleet would cause problems."
"I don't plan on beaming down to Dorvan in uniform if I can help it, but even so I don't think it would," he replied, then added, "My people don't have a problem with Starfleet, they just don't like to see their way of life interfered with. If they object to you, it'll be because you're an offworlder, not because you're Starfleet. But I wouldn't ask you if I thought you'd be treated unkindly."
"Then I'll come," Kathryn agreed. She stepped closer, bringing their joined hands up to rest against his chest and smiling enticingly. "Even with my time here now, I still have some leave saved up. I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."
"I'm counting on that, one way or another," Chakotay whispered and sealed the agreement with a passionate kiss.
-==/\==-