Trebus is beautiful from the spaceport. I remember seeing it after the Cardassians got a hold of it, and it makes me sick all over again to think about the level of destruction.

"Your home is beautiful Chakotay."

"This planet is beautiful, but it's not my home. My home is even more magnificent." For a moment I think he's talking about Earth and I am about to disagree with him. That's when I notice the look in his eyes that suggests he was talking about me."

"You must like things hot then." I mutter.

Chakotay's laughter makes me replay what I said.

"I meant hot headed. My temper."

"Yes, of course."

I feel the final seconds of landing then take his hand and smile.

Ten days after I talked in front of the Admirals, I was informed that I would go in front of the Federation council eight weeks from that date. Two days later Chakotay sent a subspace message to his mom telling her he was coming home to visit. I kissed my parents goodbye, and two weeks later, here we are.

The rings on our fingers are simple bands with a delicate carving of Chakotay's tribal tattoo surrounded by two small stones. When he slipped it on my finger the night he proposed he told me that his mother had given them to him on his 15th birthday to signify his manhood.

Chakotay retrieves our luggage while I go to speak to the Starfleet contingent on Trebus about reloading supplies.

The padd exchange takes about ten minutes. When I finish, I head to our prearranged meeting place. I round the corner and see Chakotay with two older people who are quite obviously his parents.

I'm stunned by how beautiful Chakotay's mother is. She's much narrower than Chakotay with thick, silky black hair that falls to the very bottom of her back. Her eyes are lighter than Chakotay's but equally soulful.

When I see Kolopak, I see Chakotay. His eyes, his dimples, and his posture are the exact same.

I slowly make my way towards the group. Chakotay didn't inform his parents that he was bringing anyone. I asked him to multiple times, but he said this is how he wanted to do things.

Since I was the one who wanted the trip, I agreed.

I touch his right elbow with my left hand bringing my ring inadvertently into focus.

"Chakotay."

Before he can respond, his mother grabs my hand.

"Daughter?"

"Mother, I would like to introduce Kathryn. She will be my wife in three months."

"You leave the land of your fathers for ten years, Chakotay. Instead of just returning, you also bring us a daughter. Contrary indeed."

I can tell Chakotay is about to say something that he should probably think on before speaking aloud, so I interrupt.

"It is nice to finally meet you mother and father. The trip made me tired, and I'd like to go home now if we can."

"Of course, daughter."

Yatzil takes my hand and leads me towards the village.

Though their names are Kolopak and Yatzil, Chakotay told me to call them mother and father. Before we made it to Trebus, I wasn't comfortable with the idea. But I see so much of Chakotay in them both that I can't help but want to acknowledge that they are family.

"Welcome home children." Yatzil says with a flourish as she opens the front door.

The living room is quaint and filled with beautiful weavings, woodwork and sand paintings. It looks nothing like my parents' home in Indiana or my Starfleet apartment in San Francisco, but it feels like home nonetheless.

"It's beautiful."

"We are blessed to live here. Yatzil does the weaving, and I work with wood and sand."

"It is almost like I remember it father." I see in Chakotay's eyes the same look I get whenever I see my childhood bedroom in Indiana.

"You two sit while Daughter and I get something to drink."

I wish I could hear Chakotay's first conversation with his father in close to eight years, but I know he needs to do it on his own. Yatzil understands the same thing. So we give our men space.

"I am glad you have come daughter. May I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"You made Chakotay come here, didn't you? I don't mean to say that he isn't happy being here, but we both know he is too stubborn to come on his own."

"I told him I wouldn't marry him until we came to Trebus. I want all of my parents at my wedding, and I sensed Kolopak wouldn't come until Chakotay made amends. And you wouldn't have come either because you would've stood behind your husband's decision."

"I did something similar when Chakotay was in the Academy. Kolopak only went to San Francisco because I told him I would not be a proper wife until he made an effort to seek out our son."

We both laugh at the absurdity of it all. In the other room are two men who love each other. Two men who are incredibly similar. They just haven't communicated well.

"I am glad you are stubborn daughter. I see a peace in Chakotay that I have never seen before, not even when he was a young child. Before you walked up, I was trying to figure out what was different. Now I know."

I smile at how similar those words are to something Chakotay told me on New Earth.

"The feeling of peace is mutual. He completes my spirit."

"I am glad to hear that daughter. I will be pleased to see my son and my daughter unite their souls."

Yatzil places her hands on my face and brushes my hair back from my forehead.

"We have given the boys enough time for apologies. I fear if we give them too much time I won't see Chakotay for another decade. Your father knows how to aggravate my son."