Kathryn held tight to Chakotay's hand as they walked towards the front door of the building. She cracked a smile when she saw a Owen Paris pacing just outside, waiting for her. When he spotted them he power-walked towards them, never losing his admirals posture, but bursting with excitement nonetheless.
"Katie!Oh my dear I was afraid you weren't coming."
"Of course I came Admiral, and the ceremony isn't for another 30 minutes I thought we had time."
"Yes we have time, I was just afraid you wouldn't come. And call me Owen! At least until the ceremony."
"Owen really I'm fine."
"Good. Commander Chakotay how good to see you."
Owen turned to Chakotay and shook his hand fervently.
"If Kathryn calls you Owen, you call me Chakotay." Owen chuckled and clapped Chakotay on the back. "Good man. Chakotay it is then."
They walked together into the building, Kathryn still crushing Chakotay's hand in hers. Owen was rambling on about some project or another, but Kathryn was to nervous to pay attention.
This was it, she was about to become a Starfleet Admiral. She could remember attending her father's ceremony when she was young, she couldn't remember anything they said but she remembered how proud she was to be there with him. Her mother had done her hair in a waterfall braid and she wore a deep red dress that matched her the color of her father's Uniform.
Phoebe was to young to go, so her mom had to stay home with her, and Kathryn was the only one with her father. She had proudly introduced herself to other admirals, making sure they knew that Edward was her father.
She remember wanting nothing more than to have a ceremony of her own one day, where her father would be the one walking proudly beside her.
But he couldn't be here, he was gone, and never got to know how much she admired him and wanted to make him proud.
Chakotay's voice brought her back to the present, he had called out to someone. She suddenly realized, that even though her father wasn't there, she had him.
Chakotay was smiling and talking with Owen, his dimples showing as he laughed. She smiled as she realized how proud she was to have HIM on her arm today.
Without him, there was no way she would have gotten the crew home to Earth, and even if she had, she didn't want to think where she would be had he not saved her from herself. He was always there for her, there for anyone who needed him, but he always put her needs first just as he had promised. She wished now that she had been more accepting of his help, acknowledged it at least, but that's what their life now was was showing him what she couldn't all those years, that she loved him, and she would never leave his side as he would never leave hers. She couldn't think of a better person to accompany her on a day like today.
And then there was Owen, always looking out for her, while pushing her to do her best, never settling for anything less than her best work. He had really tried to be a father figure for her and she appreciated it. She had missed his guidance, his smile, his challenging comments, she had missed him like she had missed the rest of her family. He really was family to her now, and she was happy it was him who would take her father's place in the ceremony.
When she fully paused in her musings they were approaching a door she didn't recognize. She looked around and realized she didn't recognize any part of the hallway they were walking down.
She turned to Chakotay and began to ask where they were. She noticed that he and Owen had been conversing in hushed tones and cocked an eyebrow. Chakotay looked at her then and tried and failed to act normal.
"Kathryn did you say something?"
"Chakotay where are we." she was stopped now, crossing her arms and looking at the two men, obviously suspicious. Owen stepped in then.
"Katie relax, this is the entrance to the room in which your ceremony is being held. This is the back door where you and I will enter in, the admirals are waiting."
He turned to Chakotay.
"Chakotay you will enter through the front doors and tell the admirals that we are ready. Contact me when you are settled and I will bring Katie in."
"Yes sir." He said with a smile. He walked to Kathryn them and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"It's okay Kathryn. You don't need to say anything unless you feel like you need to, I know you, you won't miss a chance to correct them." He brushed his thumb across her cheek as held her in his hand.
"I love you."
Before she could say anything he was walking swiftly down the corridor and around a corner.
She turned to Owen and realized that he had seen that. She blushed. He walked to her and grabbed her gently by the
shoulders.
"Katie...Kathryn, I am so happy for you. Chakotay is a good man and you deserve nothing less, he is strong and brave and he will take care of you."
She smiled a bit and dipped her head, still blushing. She wouldn't admit it but his approval meant a lot. He reached under her chin and lifted her head.
"Kathryn, your father would be happy for you, he would be proud of you. I am sorry I he isn't here to spend this day with you, but I am honored at the chance to present you to the admiralty."
She couldn't hide it any longer, she hugged him. He really was a father to her when she needed it. His arms embraced her and she could feel him pouring strength into her. She hugged him for a bit longer and then stepped back. "Sorry…" She said as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
"Nothing to be sorry about Katie." He squeezed her shoulder and opened the doors to the room.
