"Kathryn you have been in there for hours please come out. Other people would like to have a shower you know." Called Phoebe while she banged on the bathroom door
"Okay give me a minute I am just drying off." Kathryn called back as she towel dried herself off.
Kathryn opened the door and was face to face with her sister
"So phoebe I lost track of time."
"I know Kathryn. I would too if I was in your spot. Listen I want to talk you and the kids out to dinner tonight after you get back from the meeting. I know this great family restaurant that the kids would love."
"Phoebe, that's very kind of you. But Tucker is just a baby and well I don't know what kind of mood I will be in when I get back. I might not be good company." Kathryn replied
Phoebe studied her sister for a moment
"Kathryn, you haven't left this house since you got here. You go back to work tomorrow and that would be the first time you have left. If I didn't know any better I would think you have become depressed again."
"Phoebe! No I am not depressed I just have a lot to think about."Kathryn snapped at her, hands on hips and an angry stare
Phoebe smiled a little
"Good to know you still have that famous temper." Phoebe laughed and pushed past her sister to get into the bathroom.
An hour later
"Phoebe I am off to take the kids to school and Tucker to his fathers. I will be out of the office for most of the day at meetings but if you need e you know how to get a hold of me." Kathryn yelled down the hall hoping Phoebe heard her in the studio where Phoebe painted.
Kathryn opened the front door and moved out of the way to allow Edward and Tayla to go outside, doing one last check to make sure the kids had their school bags and lunches she walked outside and closed the door.
"Okay you two stop playing around and get inside the shuttle please." Kathryn said
Tayla and Edward did as they were told. They sat down in the chairs near the back and Kathryn sat down beside the pilot.
"Well long time no see Miss. Denis." Kathryn said with a smile on her face
"It is wonderful to see you too Ma'am." Ensign Denis replied
They talked a little bit about the kids and the ensign's first posting before they landed in front of Kathryn and Mark's beautiful and big cottage home.
"Okay you two stay here while I drop Tucker off. Okay?"
"But mom I want to see dad too." Tayla said to Kathryn as she looked at her.
"I know sweet heart maybe you can see him later today okay." Kathryn said
"Okay mom." Tayla replied while lowering her head to look at the floor.
Kathryn positioned Tucker better in her arms and walked out of the shuttle. As she walked towards the door Mark came outside, Kathryn stopped walking for a second and looked at him. She began to walk again with a smile on her face.
"Kathryn your looking good. How are you?" Mark said to her
"Mark. Thank you, I am fine, tired of staying home, thankfully I will be back at work today meetings all day." Kathryn replied
"Talk about diving into the deep end." Mark joked
Kathryn laughed as she stepped up the stairs to join Mark on the front porch. He reached out and rubbed her arms while pulling her closer.
"Mark I can't right now. I'm sorry I need space." Kathryn said softly
"I know Kathryn I just wanted to kiss your cheek." Mark responded in a softy tone as well
Mark leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheek. He moved back to smiled at her and his son. Kathryn thought to herself about how she wished she kissed him back but knew she had to keep from doing so until she decided what to do.
"I will be back to pick him up as soon as I am done with my last meeting. Should be around 20:00 hours." Kathryn said as she handed Tucker to him, kissed Tucker on the head and kissed Mark on the cheek turned around and walked quickly to the shuttle for fear that she might not leave if she didn't walk quickly.
The first meeting went by quickly, nothing to important just updates on new ships and new treaties. Kathryn had time between the first and second meeting to stop by her office and check her messages. As she walked to her office she saw a few people she hadn't see in a long time.
"Admiral Martin long time no see, put any more innocent people away?"
Admiral Martin looked at Kathryn "Well now isn't this a nice surprise. It has been to long. You know I was reprimanded for what happened, Lost my rank. But I received it back just two weeks ago." He smiled at her and Kathryn couldn't help but shudder.
"That's good to hear." Kathryn said forcing herself to smile. Kathryn shock his hand and moved away quickly. As she walked into her office she was greeted by Admiral Paris, Commander Paris and Commander Torres.
"Owen, Tom, B' Elanna, it is so good to see you." Kathryn said as she hugged each one in turn
"How's Tucker? I haven't seen him since he was born." B' Elanna asked
"He is getting so big. Soon he will be talking. And I am sure he will love it when you come and visit him more, Godmother." Kathryn said with a big smile on her face
They talked more about the kids when Kathryn stopped and moved away to look out the window.
"You know when I came back after staying with Tucker I felt like wasn't right. But after spending a few months away I missed it too much. Starfleet is my family and I can't stay away. Which brings me to something else I have to say." Kathryn said still looking out the widow.
"B' Elanna I would like to talk to you alone please."
Everyone else hugged Kathryn and left
"Chakotay is not dead. Q made him a Q. I thought at first I was dreaming but he is alive, the only problem is I am no longer married to him I am living with Mark and quite frankly I have moved on. I was hoping to marry Mark some time, but I don't know what to do with this. I lost Chakotay and well I didn't want to be with anyone again. When I ran into Mark and he told me about losing his wife and son I felt like I had someone to talk to. When we started getting closer and closer I slowly started moving away from Chakotay. To find out that he is alive and wants me to go back and live with him is so hard. I love him but he has been gone for ten years, ten years I thought he was dead and for ten years I mourned, healed and moved on." Kathryn explained as she paced around her office.
B' Elanna sat on the sofa watching Kathryn unsure of what to say. Not wanting to say something that would upset Kathryn.
"Well this has to be very hard for you. I know it is not a simple fix for sure. Since you have moved on and love Mark, which I know you do, why not just stay with Mark and tell Chakotay that you love hi but he has been gone for ten years and has know idea how much you have changed and that you just want to live your life away from him." B'Elanna said
Kathryn stopped and looked at her friend
"I know what you mean. I will have to think about it. I will contact you tomorrow for dinner."
B' Elanna got up hugged Kathryn and walked out of the office. After a few minutes Kathryn made her way to the next meeting.
"Ma'am its 1930 hours." Said Ensign Denis as Kathryn packed her things fro the last meeting of the day
"What a day Ensign. I think next time I will try to have less meetings and more teaching classes." Kathryn said as she stretched
They both walked out of the building and into the shuttle. Kathryn studied some of the notes she took during the meeting and reviewed the agreements for the new alliance between the Federation and the Klingons.
"Phoebe picked up Edward and Tayla from school today so all you have to do is pick up Tucker from your fiancés house." Ensign Denis said
"He is not my fiancé, he was just my boyfriend." Kathryn said correcting the ensign
"Sorry Ma'am."
Kathryn looked at the ensign and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Its okay why don't you go home and I will pilot the shuttle myself. And that's an order." Kathryn said and she stared to activate the shuttle. Ensign Denis got up and left the shuttle without saying a word.
With in a few moments Kathryn had landed the shuttle outside of her home she shared with Mark and walked inside.
"Mark!" Kathryn called she heard a faint call to come up to Tuckers room. She made her way up the stairs and stopped in the doorway.
"How are my boys doing tonight?" Kathryn whispered. Mark looked up at her making sure he heard her right and smiled. He got up from kneeling beside the crib and came over to her. Placing his hands on her back he pushed her into him.
"I love you he whispered into her ear before landing a deep and passionate kiss on her lips. At first Kathryn kissed back and allowed him to push her up against the wall across from Tuckers room, but as soon as he started to lower his hands to the waistband on her pants she pushed him back.
"Mark Please I can't. I just need tie to think." Kathryn said as she tried to focus her thoughts away from the bedroom.
"Kathryn I know you need time but I need you. I miss you, please stay tonight with me. I will not ask again if you stay with me just tonight." Mark said as he kissed Kathryn's neck.
"Mark I can't not tonight Phoebe wants to go out for dinner so I can't." Kathryn replied while digging her nails into his back as he kisses her neck.
They stayed like this for a while and before Kathryn new it they had slowly moved into the bedroom and onto the bed where they started pulling off each others clothing.
"Oh Mark that was so good. You wouldn't believe how much I needed that. But I shouldn't have." Kathryn said as she woke up
"I know Kath. Its 0800 would you like me to make you some thing to eat or wou---"
"Oh my God!! Its 0800 why didn't you wake me earlier I have to get home and take the kids to school. Damn it I missed an early morning meeting with Admiral Lewis and Admiral McNeil." Kathryn said as she rushed out of the bed trying to get dressed. Mark got out and grabbed some pants from a chair and went to check on Tucker.
Kathryn rushed down the stairs and attempted to get her boots on when she slipped on the rug by the door, banging into the door with her shoulder.
BANG!
"Ouch damn door." Kathryn said
"Kath maybe if you slow down you wouldn't hurt yourself." Mark said with a smile on his face.
"Your loving this aren't you?"
"No, not me." Mark said as he walked down the stairs with Tucker in his arms. He watched Kathryn get into the shuttle and took off.
"Kathryn! Where the hell have you been? I was up all night worried sick."
"Oh mom I am fine. I was at my house with Mark." Kathryn said
"You decided!! That's great Kathryn when do you move back??" Phoebe asked "I am not mom by the way"
"I didn't decided. I was just there to pick up Tucker and well we kissed and well one thing led to another and we slept together."
"I see.. Was he any good?"
"Phoebe!"
"What! Okay okay I am sorry. So was he?"
"Phoebe that is none of your business. You need to go live with your husband more Phoebe." Kathryn said as she changed her uniform
"Well if you must know Kathryn he is here with me. We had wild sex in your room.."
"Phoebe! I did not need to know that." Kathryn said as she fixed her makeup and hair.
"Well I have to try anything to get you to hurry up with your decision making.. No really Kathryn I am just joking take all the tie you need." Phoebe said as she left Kathryn alone in the kitchen.
"I took Ed and Tayla to school for you." Phoebe yelled from the art room
Kathryn took a flask out of the cupboard and filled it with coffee when and single red rose appeared on the counter.
"Chakotay stop it." Kathryn said
Chakotay flashed in
"Hello Kathryn my love."
He kissed Kathryn on the cheek
"Please no."
"What. You let him touch you. Make love to you and you will not let your HUSAND do that? That is not right."
"Chakotay you are not my husband anymore. And with you attitude now I am glad you aren't." Kathryn said as she dropped the rose into the trash.
"Kathryn I am sorry. Your right we are not married anymore but I was hoping we would again someday. I can give up my powers and be human again. And I am sure I can be a great husband to you. This time will be different no one will try to kill you. I will be there for you." Chakotay said as he picked up the rose and handed it to her.