Chapter 2

"Or, I'd rather say, it's time I get us that bottle of wine." Chakotay answered though he didn't really want to leave, but admitting that he needed to cool down somewhat.

Attempting to get up, he was held back by her. She had to smile, as he didn't get the hint she was giving him.

"Wait, you didn't get that answer."

"What answer?" He was confused now, B'Elanna's interuption having thrown him out of line, if there ever was one.

"That revenge? I'd say, you have a pretty bad timing, but I don't mind." She laughed, leaning closer into him and kissing him fully now.

"What about those parameters?" he asked hesitantly, remebering her words on New Earth.

"I think we need to redefine them." she whispered, "or maybe we don't need them at all..." she concluded, pulling his head to hers, wanting to feel his lips on hers. Still Chakotay wasn't so sure about what she really wanted. Maybe he was just a substitute.

"What about Jaffen?" he asked bluntly.

She was taken aback by his question, but looking at him realized he meant it seriously, so she leaned back and looked directly at him. Her eyes gleamed with longing, but Chakotay could see the honesty there.

"Jaffen..." she began, "I think he showed me what I wanted, what I needed."

"Do you miss him?" he asked carefully, aware that she may hurt from his absence.

"I guess, I do...but what I meant is, that when I came back here and got my memory back, I realized, that it wasn't Jaffen I fell in love with...it was that feeling of belonging, of being wanted. I thought, when I met him, that he gave me that feeling. I thought, I felt a connection to him, because he gave me that feeling. But being back on Voyager made me realize, that he only provoked this feeling and it reminded me of you. I mean, that feeling felt familiar...that's why I fell for Jaffen. I guess, he reminded me of you, even though I didn't know then." She watched him closely, waiting for his reaction. When he didn't respond right away, she thought she had said to much. Starting to pull away she only said, "Sorry, that was uncalled for."

Standing up quickly she walked over to one of the windows, not daring to look back at Chakotay, but instead staring out into space. She didn't hear him walk up behind her, so she jumped a little bit, when he laid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"Don't be sorry. That was called for. I asked. I wanted to know. Needed to know that this feeling wasn't just on my side. That I hadn't imagined it. I wanted to know if this is what you want." He said honestly.

"So you don't mind?" she asked turning around in his arms.

"Surely not." He answered pulling her haid towards his, her lips onto his, and her into a warm embrace.

Their kiss quickly heated up, leaving them both breathless, as their hands lovingly explored each other's bodies through the material of their uniforms. Clothes were shed fast. They felt both in a rush, yet they also felt the need to take it slow, enjoy this feeling they had been denied for far too long. Somewhere along the way, she had managed to lead him to her sleeping area, pulling him down on her bed, her skin never breaking contact with his. Both felt as if in a dream, yet neither one of them wanted to wake up. And they both felt like falling, but they didn't care, knowing they'd be caught after all.

She thought she could feel his hands everywhere on her body and soon her skin tingled so much she couldn't figure out any longer where he was touching her right at that moment or where he had touched her just an instant before. His fingers were heaven, his skin, his smell, his moans even, were pure heaven.

When they reached the line of no turning back, the kisses slowed down. Both noticed, but they didn't say a word, couldn't form a single thought that made sense. Chakotay was the first one to pull his senses together.

"Are you scared?" he asked, prepared to stop if she said yes.

She only nodded. "Somewhat." she breathed.

"Me too." He gave back.

"But I'd be damned if a little fright kept me from this." she smiled.

"Right."

So he took her all he way, and she took him all the way. They were climbing and they were falling. She lost control, but for once in her life she didn't mind, she derived pleasure from that state of mind, and the look in his eyes told her he felt the same way.

Afterwards, they were lying in each others arms, relishing in the reverie of that perfect night. He lay spooned against her back, kissing her shoulder and caressing the tender skin of her waist and hip. Her head lay on his arm, her hand held secure in his hand.

Suddenly one of the comm badges interrupted them again. It was Kathryn's.

"Neelix to the captain." Sighing she answered the call, sitting up.

"What is it Neelix? Can't it wait until tomorrow? I was sleeping." She knew that last information was a blunt lie and furthermore plain unnecessary. But she couldn't help herself, she needed to get rid of any interruptions for now.

Lying back down and turning around to face Chakotay, she noticed him tapping against the back of his hand. She had to smile as his gesture.

"You're not dreaming, are you?"

"I guess not, at least I didn't wake up." he kissed her once again.

"Would you want to?" she was still unsure.

"Would you?" he asked back, knowing she knew his answer.

"No" she breathed against his lips before kissing him lightly, her thigh carefully but quickly slipping through his legs, entangling their bodies into each other, pulling closer to the heat of his body.

"Good, because I'm starting to like this new game." he grinned at her.

He noticed her slipping down somewhat, getting comfortable against him, this way letting him know, he would stay the night and not return to his quarters. Her head was now on his shoulder, her breath tickling his skin, her arm stretched across his chest.

"Do I win?" she asked sleepily, not being able to suppress a yawn, but also too tired to hide it, her eyes already closing, her eyelashes fluttering against his skin.

"I'd say we're even." he mumbled. He couldn't believe that after years all it had taken was a simple malfunction to have her here in his arms. So he watched her slip into a deep, peaceful slumber and closed his eyes as well, breathing her smell as he too drifted off to sleep.

I do not intent on continuing this. It's meant to be a stand alone. BTW; my first VOY FF. Reviews are appreciated. :)