The door chimed at 19:01. Kathryn smiled at his punctuality and bid Chakotay enter.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Like I got hit by a bomb and buried under rubble," he replied tiredly.

Kathryn offered a sympathetic smile and laid a hand on his chest. "Dinner can wait," she said. "Let's sit for a while."

They moved to the couch and Chakotay pulled her in close. She nestled into his side and sighed contentedly.

"Thank you for the flowers you left in my quarters," he said. "It was very sweet of you."

"My pleasure," she smiled. "By the way, I still have something of yours." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the velvet box.

"Did you open it?"

"No."

"How remarkably restrained of you."

Kathryn turned the box over in her hand and looked up at her companion. "Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

He smiled and took the box from her. "I had a whole speech planned out," he said, "but now I don't remember a word of it.

"Kathryn, you've been the brightest light in my life these last few years. You're what keeps me getting out of bed in the morning, and what I look forward to at night. I can't imagine my life without you in it, and I hope you'll be by my side for a long time yet. I don't want to spend another day apart from you, so…" He opened the little box to reveal a gleaming silver ring adorned with sparkling blue sapphires. "Will you marry me?"

Kathryn blinked back the tears of joy pricking at her eyes and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Yes," she said.

Chakotay hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. "I was thinking that while we're here we could ask the Azkarians to officiate, and do it quickly before either of us nearly dies again."

Kathryn nodded. "A very good idea."

He took the ring out of its box and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly.

Chakotay cupped Kathryn's face with his hands and pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms about his neck and opening her lips to his tongue's exploratory probing. When they finally broke apart, she leaned her forehead against his and said, "If you're not feeling up to anything more, we'd better stop this right here."

"I think a little workout would do me good," Chakotay replied. "Do you think dinner can wait?"

"Screw dinner. I want dessert." And with that, Kathryn claimed his lips once more.