The first thing he noticed when he regained consciousness was the lack of pain. Next he remembered was how much he loved Kathryn. Memories of Kathryn's final battle and victory over protocols, their first kiss, the secret courtship, the many candlelit dinners, and the decision to make their secret relationship public when they would announce their engagement flowed unimpeded through his mind.

Chakotay leaned up on his elbows and scanned sickbay. It was then that he saw Kathryn on the bed next to his. She looked pale and his heart squeezed with concern for her. He swung his feet to the floor and moved to her side. Taking her hand, he kissed it.

Kathryn's eyes fluttered open. "Chakotay," she whispered. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine." He kissed her hand again. "Especially now that I remember about us."

"Us," Kathryn sighed in awe. "I remember I love you." She cradled his cheek with her hand.

Chakotay felt that he couldn't wait another second to kiss Kathryn. He leaned down and covered her mouth with his. Even though he remembered every kiss they'd shared before, this one seemed as if it was their first. He relished the rush of warmth and longing that surged through him. The wonderful knowledge that they were going to be married made the caress even more meaningful.

"You're going to be my wife." Chakotay's voice was thick with emotion. "And to think I couldn't remember that."

"But we do now," Kathryn said, reassuringly. "That's all that counts."

"I see my patients are awake." The Doctor's voice boomed from his office doorway. He picked up his tricorder on his way to them. "I just got word that Curneth transported to his ship with his prisoner. He told me that she will be tried before a secret tribunal, a tracer administration council. She will likely be confined for the rest of her life."

Chakotay and Kathryn looked at each other and asked the same question at the same time. "How did we get our memories back?"

"Oh I'm sorry, you did miss that part, didn't you?" The Doctor smiled as he thought what he said was humorous. "I was told that we have the commander to thank for that."

"I don't understand." Chakotay looked confused.

"Curneth said that you were the one who thought of using the magneton sweep to disrupt the runaway's personal cloak. Since Kellin had adapted the nanoprobes to make very small versions of that cloak, I only had to set up a similar sweep for each of you. It worked well since you obviously have your memories back." The Doctor's grin was his usual slightly pompous and self-important one. "I would like to write a paper about all this, but Curneth informed us that he has planted a virus in the computer that will wipe any evidence of their time here, so none of us will have any memory of it by tomorrow."

"Thank you, Doctor, for briefing us on the situation." Kathryn sat up and asked, "Is it all right for us to leave now?"

"Oh yes! Now that your memories have been restored, you'll suffer no ill effects." The Doctor turned to go back to his office, when he stopped and looked back and winked. "Your secret is safe with me"

Chakotay pulled Kathryn into his arms. "I'm more than willing to let it out."

Kathryn chuckled as she looked deeply into Chakotay's eyes and replied, "Don't worry, Doctor, you won't have to keep quiet long."

Waiting until the Doctor was out of the room, Chakotay drew Kathryn close for another kiss. Wonder and joy swirled through him. He had loved this woman for a long time. Forgetting wasn't something his heart would allow.

He pulled back slightly and grinned. "I'm going to make sure we have a paper marriage certificate and have it framed. I want the kind of document that will prevent someone from erasing our memories and pulling a stunt like this again."

THE END