I never really had him-

Part 5

Circumstances beyond my control

Kathryn Janeway had thought about what her sister had said to her for week. For some reason she could not get what her sister had said to her out of her mind. Kathryn knew that Chakotay loved Seven; she had saw it in his eyes the day he left Voyager. Heck he even said that she had waited to long.

Kathryn missed her friend, her confidant. She decided to give him a call and ask him out to lunch. After all there was no reason that the two of them couldn't be friends. So she decided to give him a call.

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Chakotay awoke to an empty bed, and an empty house. He called out to Seven but no one answered. He noticed a small PADD next to his bed. It was from Seven apparently she had an early job interview and would be home later in the evening.

Chakotay stretched and managed to get out of bed. After several pieces of pineapple on the balcony. He realized that he heard a beeping on his computer console.

He turned on the console, as it beeped its reply of a message being transmitted. He put in his password and was greeted by a voice from the past. Kathryn.

Hello Chakotay,

It's Kathryn. My view screen is working today, some kind of malfunction that I intend on fixing later. Hopefully I will be more successful in fixing it than I was at fixing my replecator on Voyager all those years.

I'm sorry I'm babbling. She takes a deep breath and continues. I was hoping that you would meet for lunch today at singing clam on fisherman's wharf.

Another deep breath. I miss my friend. Please tell me we can still be friends. If you decide to come I will meet you there at one. Please think about it.

End Transmission.

Chakotay took a deep breath himself. "Well I honestly can say that I didn't see that coming. Why not he thought to himself. Seven won't be back for hours and its nearly one now. So he through on a new shirt some slacks and headed toward the transport station.

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The singing clam was always a popular destination for lunch. Kathryn was glad that she had decided to make a reservation. She was seated next to the window overlooking the wharf. She sighed and hoped that Chakotay would come. As she looked up she saw a familiar face enter the restaurant. Even though it had only been a few weeks since there arrival back on earth, she had forgotten how handsome he really was.

Chakotay sat next to Kathryn and smiled. They chatted with each other about their new jobs and their future plans. Kathryn was surprised when Chakotay had told her that he had bought a house and that he had been remolding it. She was just to ask about Seven. When Chakotay took her hand.

"Kathryn there is something that I have to tell you. That I haven't even mentioned to anyone yet. But since you are my best friend, I figured that I would tell you first."

Kathryn's heart began to beat a little harder. In the back of her mind she could almost already here him say it. She waited patiently for him to say that he still loved her and that he wanted them to be together. But it didn't happen.

"Kathryn, I want you to be the first to know that I am planning on asking Seven to marry me tomorrow at dinner. And if she accepts I would love for you to come to the wedding, after all you are important to both of us."

Kathryn had to choke back tears. It really was over between them.

TBC