I recognize that voice. I would recognize that voice anywhere. I take a breath and turn slowly.

"Yes, they are."

There's a heat that sparks between us that I have become accustomed to over the course of the last few years. As soon as he materialized on my bridge, I felt the overpowering electricity.

And then he smiles, and all I see are dimples. Dimples that I have sorely missed over the last two months. I smile coyly back.

"Boothby's roses are one of the reasons I decided to take an Academy posting." The need to share thoughts instantly with each other is also nothing new. When we were on Voyager, I instantly knew I could trust him. Looking deep into his brown eyes, I want to tell this version of the man I somehow fell in love with everything about our lives together – and everything about my life before him.

"I'll probably be seeing you around then. I just switched to command track, so I will be stationed on Earth during my training."

"Wanted the uniform to match your hair instead of your eyes? That muvst've been a tough decision."

By this point Chakotay and I have forgotten completely about my father standing two feet beside me. As any good Admiral he makes his presence known. "Katie, we really need to head home, or your mother's going to think we decided to get straight back to work."

"You're right, dad." Turning to Chakotay, I give a goodbye. "It was nice to meet you" I almost say his name before realizing that he hasn't given it.

"Nice to meet you, Katie. My name's Chakotay, by the way."

I decide right then that I can't stand to part from Chakotay. In this reality we may have only just met, but I don't want to think about another full day without him. "It's Kathryn. And if you want to join us, we are having a celebration. We could talk more about Boothby's roses." I know my face looks hopeful, and I'm trying to mask it in case I'm disappointed by his response.

"I'd love to. If that's alright with you, sir?" Chakotay responds turning to face my father. I didn't even think to ask, even though the get together is at my parents' home.

"It's Katie's celebration."

Another dimpled smile is his answer as my father begins to lead us all towards the transporter room.

Rematerializing in my front yard, I watch fascinated at the series of emotions that cross Chakotay's face. My home has always been permeated by a strong sense of family, and I can see in Chakotay's eyes that he feels it, too.

"This is my parents' home and location of the festivities."

"It's a lovely home."

"Goldenbird, I'm going to head in and talk to your mother. Why don't you show Chakotay around?"

"Of course, daddy."

With that I lace my arm through his elbow and tug him along for the grand tour. "This is my thinking tree. It's one of the most important places on the whole property. It's also where I fell and broke my arm when I was six."

"Sounds important." Chakotay jokes.

"Yes, well, it's been a great help whenever I have to come to a decision."

"That's why I like Boothby's gardens."

"They are definitely tranquil. My room and the gardens were two of the only places one would find me whenever I was studying at the academy."

"You're one of those types, hmm? I should've guessed."

"Let me guess, you were top of the class. Intuitive. Comfortable." I know from Chakotay's own mouth that these assumptions are wrong, but I want to relearn this Chakotay. I want to share with him, and I want him to share with me.

"Not exactly. I entered the Academy when I was 15. I was two years younger than most other incoming cadets and felt the need to hunker down and work. I didn't grow up with a lot of technology either, so I had a lot to learn on that front as well."

"Not me. I'm a true child of the 24th century. Technobabble was my first language."
Lighthearted laughter fills the space around us as I tug Chakotay to sit beside me under my tree.

"Not that I'm not enjoying myself, but why did you invite me to join you today?"

"When I first heard your voice behind me, I felt connected to you somehow. Then when I saw your face, I knew I didn't want to part from you so soon."

"I don't know why, but I felt the same way when I saw you."

"Can I say something without you thinking I'm crazy?" At Chakotay's nod, I continue. "Almost two months ago, I was in a shuttle crash. It's the reason we are celebrating today because my father and I both got permission to go back to active duty. Anyway, when I was lying there, I felt what I can only describe as seeing the future. About a decade and a half. And for some reason, I feel very secure in the knowledge that it was more than just delirium. It was real. The recollection ended with me doing something that reset a timeline. I expected it would reset a year of my life, not 15 years."

"My father's people believe in visions."

It makes me sad to hear him say father's people instead of his own. "It was more than a vision quest. It was so real. You were there. When I heard your voice in the garden today, it was the first time I had heard it in almost two months. I missed it."

"We seem to be awfully close in this future of yours."

"We are, but that future will never happen now. There are too many heartaches that I want to stop now that I'm able." I can see in his eyes that he is trying to believe me. "Only there was a major difference in your appearance."

"I'd say 15 years would allow for that."

Leaning across his lap, I extend my hand towards his forehead. "Age yes, but you also had a tattoo right about here." I trace the tattoo along Chakotay's temple and into his hairline before trailing my hand down his cheek to once again rest in my lap.

"My father's tattoo?"

"Yes." I know Chakotay got the tattoo when his father passed in my timeline, so I decide not to say more.

"Kathryn, I'm beginning to believe you."

Those words aren't all that surprising considering the absolute trust Chakotay has always engendered in me, and I in him, but it is still wonderful to hear.

"May I say something else? Two months ago, the crash I was in, there were three of us. My father, me, and my fiancé." I see Chakotay mentally taking a step back from me, so I rush on. "My fiancé died. I was ejected from the shuttle and only had time to transport one of them. So I saved my dad."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Kathryn." It's a common platitude, but I know Chakotay truly means it.

"In my head, I lived so long that the loss feels somehow tempered by time. The first time around, I did not handle the death nearly as well. But in my recollection, my father died as well. That's why I saved him this time. I saw the look of devastation that stayed on my mother's face for years. I couldn't do that to her."

"Not an easy choice to make."

"No it isn't, but I knew it was the right one. But what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't feel like I just lost my fiancé. Time and your friendship have brought me strong measures of peace."

"My friendship."

"From where I stand, we have known each other going on four years. The situation made it impossible to be anything other than friends. Even though I wanted more, your friendship was invaluable to me."

"Give me a second. Sorry, but this is a lot to take in. You are telling me what exactly?"

"That in this life that flashed before my eyes, I fell in love with a strong warrior who had your face and your memories."

"I only met you this morning."

"But I met you a lifetime ago."

"Give me a few days on this, okay. I do feel a connection, but I am only sitting under this tree because I commented on peace roses a couple hours ago."

"I'll give you a lifetime to think on it. I know it's probably hard for you to believe, and I feel foolish even saying anything. But I don't want to ever have secrets. If you do ever return my feelings, I want you to know that I never misled you."

"Katie, mom said get your butt in here or she's going to call Star Fleet and death glare them into reneging their offer."

"That's our cue. Just a little warning though. Call my dad Edward and my mom Gretchen. Ranks aren't allowed on this property, and my mom hates being called Mrs. Janeway."

"Thanks for the tip."