The next day all but flew by as the crew got ready for the party. The dress code was swimwear, and they where all under orders from Lieutenant Commander Kim to leave the ranks at the door, even the Admiral and Captain.
Harry had been given the reigns as to the scheduling for the necessary crew during the party. He had scheduled the minimum number of people required, allowing each person scheduled two hours at the festivities. Kim had also ensured that neither Chakotay or Kathryn where working during the event.
By 1945 hours all of those planning to be at the party for 2000 hours had all been dismissed and where getting ready. This included both Captain and Admiral. The two quickly returned to their individual quarters where they attired themselves in their recently replicated swimsuits. Once they'd finished the captain escorted Janeway to Holodeck One.
Just outside the Holodeck Chakotay turned and looked at Kathryn. "After you," he offered, motioning towards the door.
She simply shook her head and took hold of his hand. "With me, Captain, not after me," she stated.
"They'll talk," Chakotay noted.
"When don't they talk?" the Admiral questioned.
Chakotay simply laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I thought you wanted to take this slow?"
"Walking into a room together, after seven years, is slow, Chakotay," she responded as they stepped onto the Holodeck.
Unlike the last time Kathryn walked into a party, the crowd didn't fall silent. Tom, however, had to give his input as the black clad Admiral joined his group, Chakotay still at her side.
"Nice suit," Paris noted, although she had a sarong wrapped around her waist.
"Thank you, Tom," Janeway responded politely as she felt Chakotay's arm tighten, somewhat possessively, around her.
Along with her blue skirt, the Admiral was adorned in a black suit with a modest halter style top and no back. A pair of strings tied together just under her shoulder blades, at the small of her back, kept the suit fitted to her. Chakotay, for his part, had on a black pair of swim trunks and a white tank top. Most of the males where dressed In a similar fashion to the Captain, while the swimsuits that the female crew wore where as different as their individual personalities.
B'Elanna walked up to Kathryn, having opted for a light weight dress, as opposed to the traditional beach wear. "Kathryn, I didn't know you'd taken to wearing arm candy," the engineer stated with a wink as she peered at Chakotay.
"B'Elanna, I'm not arm candy," the Captain stated.
"You've been spending way too much time with Tom, B'Elanna," Janeway chipped in.
"He is my husband, who should I spend all my time with?" she responded. "Besides, you are good looking, Old Man. You look good on Kathryn's arm too," she gave with another wink.
"B'Elanna…" the two said in unison.
Torres held up a hand, the other keeping firm hold of little Miral. "Right, I got it, no picking on the cute couple till they've gone public."
"B'Elanna!" the pair repeated.
The engineer simple managed a laugh before she retreated to her husband's arms.
Chakotay simply smiled at the retreating engineers back before pulling Kathryn tighter. In doing so he also pulled her closer to the waters edge.
Upon feeling the wet sand under foot Kathryn struggled, trying to squirm away from Chakotay. She was unsuccessful, however, as the captain picked her up and walked, with a struggling Janeway, deeper into the water.
"Don't you dare, Chakotay, I have no intention of dripping water all the way back to my quarters."
"And what will you do if I do, Katie? Throw me in the nearly dismantled brig? Toss me out of the nearest airlock?" he enquired, just loud enough for Kathryn to hear him, still wading deeper into the water, just deep enough so that Janeway was just above the waters surface.
"Chakotay…"
"I bet Tom would be willing to help, even at the Admiral's wrath," he mused as he dropped Kathryn into the water. Luckily the water was just deep enough for her to avoid hitting the bottom.
Once Kathryn surfaced, spluttering, she turned an evil eye to Chakotay. "I will demote you, Captain," she said, pushing her drenched locks off her face.
"Threats, Admiral, will get you nowhere," he stated, before making the short trek out of the water, Kathryn following close behind.
"Not until I throw you in the brig and knock you down to ensign," was her laughable response, the glint in her eyes revealing amusement.
Eventually the whole party turned into one big water fight, with two teams squaring off. Chakotay and Tom unofficially led the male contingent, while Kathryn and B'Elanna took lead of the females. The Doctor and Seven elected to stay out of the battle and, therefore, ended up watching Miral. The final result of the battle being a very soaked crew wrapped in towels, leaving water droplets to their quarters at 0017 hours, or there about.
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AN: Keep an eye out for the next coupla chapters ;) It'll be a fun time.