Delta of Voyager

Part 19

G rated chapter! J/C to the max!

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Chakotay fought himself every step of the way, but found he was entering the Holodeck despite every sane impulse in his being. When the doors opened he could see her on the dock.

Kathryn was leaning on a weather beaten railing near the boat they once sailed in together. A full golden moon hung in the computer-generated sky showing her form in silhouette. The lake reflected shimmering golden flashes and little flicks of light danced up and dappled her freckled cheeks. Her tousled auburn hair hung loosely to her mid-back and caressed her shoulders. A plaid robe covered her flannel pajamas and she held her ever-present mug at a cant for it was obviously empty.

She did not need to turn around, she knew he was there. He tried to make himself leave her alone, but was suspended in thrall by her despite himself. Even in her crumply garb, Chakotay thought she was more compelling than all the scantily clad temptresses on all the pleasure planets in the universe.

"Chakotay," she said softly. "Please, come in."

He walked up beside her, secretly celebrating that she was not with anyone else.

She sighed and released her tense muscles.

"Have you seen Q?" she asked quietly.

He rolled his eyes. "Let me see. Is there any way to avoid seeing Q?"

"No," she smiled, lighting his world. "I don't suppose there is. He has been around a little too much lately."

"I think you're going to need to have a long discussion with Seven," he told her, regretfully.

"Oh?"

"She is really confused about a lot of things. I wasn't able to help matters."

"That is to be expected. I'll talk to her as soon as possible."

"Thanks."

There was a moment of silence.

"Well, I'm…I…was…" he stuttered, feeling foolish.

"Just walking by?" she asked, knowing that Q had a hand in Chakotay's early morning presence.

"I can't help the way I feel about you, Kathryn," he told her, and released a breath. He also leaned on the railing. "Believe me, I've tried to move on."

Finally she confessed, "Me too," with resignation.

"I suppose we should both get to bed," he observed.

"I am so tired," she said. "Do you think it's too late?"

He turned to her with his elbow still on the railing.

He wanted nothing but to hold her, not just then but hold her every night for the rest of his life. No Starships. No Cardassians. No Command Structure. No Rules. No Social Barriers. No Q. And, he would endure all those things if only they could truly be together. He thought about all the things that kept them apart.

"Admiral Janeway," he said, thinking of her father. "That's a lot to live up to. Just like Paris."

"Yes, it is," she agreed with a quick nod. "But, if anyone can do it…"

"You can."

"I can," she agreed. "He never held me back. Told me I could do anything I wanted to do and gave me everything he could to help me get there."

"That's good." Chakotay said, not really knowing what to say.

"Said I was stubborn, more stubborn than any one he had ever known."

"I don't doubt that," he smiled.

"Said it would get in my way someday, and he was right."

"My father called me a 'Contrary'. I guess it amounts to the same thing."

"I didn't appreciate my father at the time," she said regretfully.

"No, we don't when we're young. My father's words mean more to me now than ever."

"It all makes sense to us now."

"I'm sure your father would not think much of a Maquis leader."

"Oh, you didn't know my father. He had a way of looking past surface perceptions and right into a person's character. He would have liked you."

Chakotay was surprised by that. Berman's Starfleet was intolerant of anyone who did not view the universe their way.

"He knew that Starfleet often made serious mistakes. He fought the Cardassian Treaty, did you know that?"

"No, I didn't. He must have been a good man."

"Yes, he was. He would have seen through that file…those lies. Questioned it all, line by line," she choked up. "He didn't take every Starfleet word as if it were the absolute truth from on high."

"When we were on New Earth…" he began.

"Yes."

"You thought you were stranded with…some kind of monster? Is that why you kept me away?"

"No, I…I didn't know what to think. I knew you. I trusted you and even loved you but somehow that file was in the back of my head. I can't begin to ask you to forgive me."

"Maybe it'll take a lifetime."

"I wouldn't blame you for that," she said with regret, ignoring his implication.

"I liked your new parameters," he smiled. "A bit vigorous, but I would manage somehow."

"Oh, that. Complete rubbish!" she smiled through tears. "I looked like an idiot."

"I don't know. We could try it and besides," he grinned playfully, his dimples still shining through his stubbly beard, "leather suits you. Almost as cute as what you're wearing now."

Suddenly she was self-conscious of her wrinkled bedroom attire as he looked at her with all his love.

"I should change…"

"Would you like to sail?"

"What? I…I don't think I have the energy."

"Come on," he coaxed, leading her by the hand into the boat.

"I shouldn't," she tried to refuse. "There's so much to do tomorrow."

"We'll delegate," he told her.

"We have to deal with the rigging on the boat, the sails…" she tried to object again.

"We're on the Holodeck. Let it do everything this one time. Computer…"

They settled into the vessel and he instructed the program to attend to all the sailing chores. He included a replay of the moon-set and the addition of a perfect breeze.

Gently, they cruised into the main part of the Lake. After her every protest had been settled, she finally allowed herself to cuddle onto his chest, like the old days allowing him to breathe in her scent and kiss her temple.

"It's been a long time. Too long," he said, as he caressed her hands.

"Yes, it has." she said as she closed her eyes. "I'd forgotten how much I missed being here. With you."

"Will you marry me?" he asked, stunned by his own sudden forthrightness.

He waited for her rejection or her dismissal or even an outright "No!" Instead, she only sat quietly, nestled in his strong arms, her breath as deep and rising with the rhythm and movement of the waters.

"Are you awake?" he asked, quietly, thinking she had begun to slumber.

"Oh, yes, very much awake."

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to answer me?" they laughed, but he was losing his mirth. This little woman held him on a tenuous gossamer string betwixt heaven and hell. Did she know the power she had over him? Could he ever be free even if she simply denied him outright? He needed some release, one way or the other.

She pulled herself up, turned and looked into his eyes. "That depends. I need my First Officer back."

"If you won't marry me, will you at least execute me quickly?" he said, reluctantly, under his breath.

"What? You really have been spending too much time with Mr. Paris."

"I suppose we should go," he got up, feeling more foolish than ever. "Computer…."

"Don't you want to hear my answer?" she rose.

"They always play with their quarry before the final kill," stated the ever-unwanted Q, who appeared draped on the bow like a gangly figurehead.

The pair sighed in unison.

"And, anyway, it's a moot point. You're already married."

Something occurred to Chakotay and the realization washed over his face with a twinge of horror.

"What are you on about now, Q?" Janeway prodded.

"Oh, nothing. Just a quaint tradition from your big oaf's ancestors."

"I certainly wouldn't expect…" Chakotay objected. "She's not in my tribe!"

Janeway turned to Chakotay for explanation.

Q put his hand up causing the wind to blow just enough to knock Kathryn aside so Chakotay had to catch her in his arms.

"Congratulations are in order," Q exclaimed. "I'm a witness!"

"Would someone tell me what is going on?" she demanded.

Q put up his eyebrows and turned his hand toward Chakotay as if to say, "You're on!"

"I think he's referring to an old tribal tradition," Chakotay choked out. "It's archaic. It was something my people observed when we were on Earth, centuries ago."

"Yes, and…" she led.

"My father was a Chief and so, in effect, I'm a Chief." He looked pained. "Kathryn, this hardly applies to this situation."

"Q?" she prompted.

"When a Chief asks a wench for her hand in marriage," Q informed her, "then they are already married. Ta da!"

Chakotay was deeply embarrassed. "That was not my intention, Kathryn. I would never expect…"

"Well, good," she said forcefully. "I like it. Saves time! You didn't tell me you were a Chief!"

He got that. Before Q could hurl another jibe—sailing or verbal—the couple kissed ardently, as if for the first time.

"Well, I'll just be popping off," Q told them, but he might as well have already been thin air. "Don't mind me.

"No need to show me to the door.

"Let me know where you're registered."

TBC….