Epilogue:
"Kathryn are you ready?" Chakotay called up the stairs.
"Coming," she hurried down the steps and tried to balance while putting her heels on.
He smiled and took in the image of her.
"You look beautiful," he said, kissing her cheek.
"And you look very handsome," she said, fixing his tie.
"Thank you," he said.
"Alright, let's get going," she suggested, pushing him towards the door.
"Do you realize that this is the first event we'll be attending as a real couple?" he asked.
"I know, it's kinda strange. It will also be the first event where we leave early due to the fact we can't go very long keeping our hands to ourselves,"
"Hey, that's all you," he said, innocently.
"Mmmm maybe, but I haven't heard any complaints yet," she said, leaning in close.
"And you never will," he said, kissing her lips gently.
They arrived at the party and immediately greeted their friends. Once the man of the hour had arrived, the whole room was bustling with joyful laughter and retelling of memories with Admiral Paris. After a few dances and two glasses of champagne, Chakotay asked Kathryn if they could go somewhere private to speak. Before they could get away, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to face Mark.
She looked at Chakotay and told him she'd meet him in a second, then turned back to her former fiancée.
"Mark, how are you?" she asked.
"I'm great. I actually wanted to apologize for how I acted a few weeks ago. I was out of line and it wasn't right to try and avoid my marital problems by getting back together with you. After that night, I really put an effort into trying to work things out with Carla. I want to thank you for …pushing me away. As crazy as it sounds, it's what sent me back home and forced me to really try and repair my relationship. Carla's actually here tonight so I should get back to her, but you look very happy yourself. I guess I was wrong, you and Chakotay make a great couple. I'm glad everything worked out," he said.
"Me too," she said, brushing a hand over his shoulder and saying goodbye.
At least that was one less thing for her to worry about. She was glad to see him and his wife happy again. He deserved someone who could give him what he wanted, and that was never her.
B'Elanna, Tom and Harry continued talking. Harry, facing the couple, was telling a story about his new job promotion. Suddenly he noticed the pair grow oddly quiet.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Tom pointed over Harry's shoulder, causing him to turn around. His breath was nearly knocked out of him by the gorgeous sight.
"Hello, Harry. It's been a while," she said with a small smile.
"It's nice to see you Seven," he replied.
"Please, call me Annika. Actually, I came over here to see if you'd like to dance. I'm not very good, but hopefully, you can accommodate your dancing to my skill level,"
"I'd be glad to," he replied, his cheeks blushing slightly.
Kathryn walked outside the glass doors, closing them behind her.
"What did you want to talk about?" she said, approaching Chakotay.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hand," he said.
"Okay," she complied, slightly confused.
Three seconds later she felt him place something small in the center of her palm.
"Open your eyes," he said.
When she followed the direction, she saw a beautiful silver ring with a large diamond adorning its center.
"Kathryn Janeway, will you…"
"Yes!" she interrupted.
"Can I finish?" he asked laughing.
"Sorry, yes go ahead," she said, blushing.
"Will you marry…"
"Yes! Sorry, I'm not very patient," she said quickly before kissing him.
"I don't think I should wear the ring until we get home. This is Owen's night and I don't want to take away any attention," she said, putting the ring in her clutch bag.
"When do you want to leave?" he asked.
"After we sing happy birthday and get cake,"
"Ok,"
"The ring is beautiful by the way," she said.
"I'm glad you like it,"
"What do you think about a spring wedding?" she asked.
"You pick a day and I'll show up," he replied.
"Spring it is,"
"I'd marry you right here, right now if I could," he said.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too,"
Three months later
"Are you ready?" Tom whispered.
"More than I've ever been," Chakotay replied.
Suddenly their attentions were both drawn straight ahead as Kathryn began walking towards them, arm in arm with her mother. Chakotay's eyes started to tear up. He had never seen her so beautiful, and he never thought he'd be lucky enough for this day to come. Her dress was simple and gorgeous, embroidered with lace and perfectly shaped to fit her body. Her hair hung in loose curls and contained small flowers.
Owen Paris volunteered to lead the ceremony. Now it was time for their vows.
"Kathryn, I told you once that you were my source of peace, you taught me the true meaning of the word. I should have added that you were also the one who taught me love. Even then I knew. We've made some mistakes, took the long way to find one another, but I can honestly say that I've never been happier. You are everything to me, and for so long I convinced myself that I'd have to live without you by my side. Any life I lead without you is only half a life. I vow to protect you, care for you, and love you until my last dying day,"
"Chakotay, I should never have agreed to let you go first," she said, wiping a tear from her eye.
She waited for the laughter to fade before continuing.
"For two people who were supposed to be enemies, I'd say it's rather incredible that we're standing here today. I have so many regrets, not telling you how I felt sooner is one of my biggest. I knew I loved you within the first year of being lost in the delta quadrant. It was your friendship which helped keep me grounded and sane. Spending seven years out there, facing danger, and beating the odds, I don't think I could have done it without you. You are my rock. And while, yes, we took a long time to finally get here, in the end we stand today, proclaiming our love to the world. I have never loved someone so deeply, never understood someone so well, never knew the happiness that I was missing could be found in you. I promise never to hide any part of myself from you, I promise to stand by you through anything, and above all, I will do my best not to give you orders as if I'm still your captain,"
He laughed, and they slipped the rings on one another's fingers.
"You may now kiss the bride" Owen said over the thunderous applause.
"It's about time," he said.
The reception was extravagant and beautiful and every member of Voyager's former crew came to see the happy couple.
"You look beautiful Aunt Kathryn,"
"Thank you, Naomi. You were an excellent bridesmaid. I have to say you handled Miral's meltdown very well, without you, our flower girl may have thrown the basket instead of the petals,"
"No problem, hopefully, her little brother will have a better temper. Probably not, but one can dream,"
"Naomi, I have to thank you for what you did that day, sending the letter. If it wasn't for you, none of this would be happening,"
"I'm just glad to see you happy," she said.
Kathryn smiled brightly and hugged the young girl.
"I should go check to see where my mom is. I'm sure she'll want to say hi,"
"Alright. Meantime, I should find my husband,"
Before she could move, someone wrapped their arms around her in an awkward hug.
"Hi, Pheebs," she said, knowing those bony arms anywhere.
"This is a great party. That crew of yours really knows how to have a good time. Now give me one good reason why you haven't ditched this thing to go off with your new husband,"
"If I could find him, I would," she said.
"Congratulations Kat, you look great, I've never seen you so happy," she said, smiling.
"I am happy. So happy that I won't punch you in the arm for calling me by that ridiculous nickname,"
Phoebe chuckled and looked to the right.
"Ahh just in time, I see the wonderful groom. Oh, but Kathryn you have to throw the bouquet before you leave, it's tradition,"
"Fine, you tell everyone to get ready. I'm going to go talk to my husband,"
She walked across the room and then it hit her; the thought that he was 'her husband', and she was 'his wife' was rather insane.
"Hey, you," she whispered in his ear.
"I was wondering where my beautiful bride had gone," he said, gathering her in his arms and staring down into her lovely eyes.
"I'm giving us fifteen minutes to throw the bouquet and find the fastest way to the hotel room. I want out of this dress for more than a few reasons," she said suggestively.
"Did I ever tell you that I love you?" he said with a smirk.
"A few times, but I'd rather you show me,"
She walked away, hips swaying, towards the group of women gathered on the dance floor.
She stood with her back facing towards the crowd, counted to three, and hurled the flowers over her head. When she turned around, she noticed Annika staring down at the bouquet in her hands, followed her looking across the room and smiling at Harry. He smiled back and took a sip of his drink, secretly fiddling with the ring box in his pocket which he had carried everywhere with him for the past two weeks.
As the crowd clapped and focused their attention on Annika, Kathryn took that moment to make her escape.
"I can't believe we're ditching our own wedding," he said.
"Oh relax, it's just the reception. I'm proud that we made it through the ceremony,"
"What happens when people realize we left?"
"They keep partying, meanwhile you and I are attending a more…exclusive party of our own," she said with a wink.
"You're amazing,"
"I know,"
"Is it possible to want to marry someone all over again after only a few hours?" he asked.
One Year Later
He walked in just like he did every day. Usually Kathryn would beat him home and would be downstairs playing with the dog, or finishing up some work, but the house was almost too quiet. The dog was in her bed, nearly asleep, and his wife wasn't at her desk.
"Kathryn?" he called.
"Upstairs," she yelled back
He walked up the steps and through the doorway of their bedroom. His stride came to a halt when he heard her sniffling.
"Kathryn? What's wrong?" he asked, not bothering to hide his concern.
"Nothing," she said wiping her tears and hiding a padd behind her back.
"What do you have there?" he asked.
"I don't have anything," she said.
"Yes, you do, I saw you hide it," his voice grew playful as he tried to reach around her and grab it. Her sad expression changed to match his playful one.
"It's a…letter," she said, holding it away from him.
"You mean the kind you write when you…"
"When I fall in love," she said, finishing his sentence.
"So, can I read it?" he asked with a smirk.
"Who said it was for you?" she asked.
His stomach clenched at the thought of her heart belonging to anyone else, but her smirk and raised brow told him she was messing around and any bad thoughts that he had quickly vanished.
"If it isn't for me, who is it for?" he asked.
Rather than replying, she simply handed it to him.
"It's a little short right now, but I'll add to it," she said.
He started reading.
"To the man, I will love,
Today I realized what was missing in my life. Today I found the piece I needed to complete our puzzle. Today I fell in love. It was instant, never before had I felt anything like it. I'm not sure what you look like, I don't even know your name, but I know that you are my everything from now until the end of time. I can't wait to meet you. I wonder what your father will say when I tell him. I know he'll be just as happy as I am.
Love, your mother"
"Kathryn…" he started to speak but so many thoughts were flying through his head, that one word was all he could manange.
"I had the doctor confirm it this morning. We're having a baby," she said with a teary-eyed smile.
His face shifted from shock to utter joy in seconds and he scooped her up into a hug.
He pulled back to look at her, the mother of his child, his son.
"How do you know it's a boy?" he asked.
"He ran a few tests, he asked if I wanted to know the sex and I'm really impatient. I hope you don't mind me ruining the surprise,"
"Spirits, I love you so much," he said, hugging her again and kissing the top of her head.
"I know," she replied.
Author's Note:
Yay! The story is finished! (Just in time for my birthday). I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This was a fun story to create. Thanks to everyone who favorited or reviewed or supported this story in any way, you guys motivate me to keep writing. I wouldn't say this was my best story, it certainly isn't a masterpiece, but I love it anyway. Maybe, if people are interested, I'd be compelled to make this into a series and continue their story. Or maybe I can make a series where I put our favorite command couple into a bunch of different romantic movie plots. I'm not sure. Let me know what you think and thank you again for all the support.