Closing his fist tightly round the ring, his only proof that any of it had actually happened, Chakotay leaned heavily against the wall, allowing his eyes to close momentarily as he tried to corral his scattered thoughts. "Chakotay? Are you all right?"

Jumping violently at the voice he opened his eyes to see Kathryn peering at him in concern. "Captain…" he mumbled shakily.

"What's happened with you? You look like you've seen a ghost." That ghost is you, where I was you were long dead, well I was dead too, oh I'm getting a migraine.

"Kathryn, can I talk to you about something?"

Janeway had been about to relax in her quarters, but she looked at his pale face and wild eyes and decided that could wait. "Yeah sure, we'll go to my quarters."

"I'd prefer your ready room Captain." He wasn't about to have such a complex conversation in her quarters.

"My ready room? Is something wrong with a crewmember?"

"No…I'll explain I promise." Having a brainwave he pressed his comm. badge, "Seven, can you meet the Captain and I in her ready room?"

There was a slight pause before the voice he'd been longing to hear answered. "As you wish Commander." Thank you for not asking any questions my darling, he thought deeply relieved at the prospect of seeing her.

The Captain meanwhile was even more confused. "What's Seven got to do with anything? Has she done something wrong?"

"No! I just need her to prove something to you that's all." Chakotay wished at that moment that Janeway would follow Seven's lead and not question him but he knew that was never going to happen. Seven would find Temporal Anomaly whatever it was and the Captain would have to believe him. "Let's just go meet her, okay?" he said in exasperation.

"Alright Chakotay, fine, but I'm expecting an explanation."

"Don't worry, you'll get one."

They walked into the ready room to find Seven standing waiting for them. The beaming smile he gave her must have unnerved her because her eyes met his only briefly before moving on to the Captain. I'd better wipe that stupid grin off my face, I'm freaking her out. Despite these thoughts his eyes kept on thirstily drinking her in.

Seven shook off the unease she was feeling. "Good evening Captain, Commander." She nodded her towards him hurriedly not wanting to become absorbed with analysing the dark eyes which were permanently fixed on her.

"Good evening Seven." The Captain replied, "Right Chakotay, you want to tell me what's going on?"

Chakotay nervously rubbed the palms of his hands on his trousers. "I've just returned from 2382, I was there for three days."

Janeway and Seven stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Commander I saw you in Cargo Bay 2 fifteen minutes ago…" Seven started.

"From your perspective I know you did, but from my perspective that conversation was three days ago before all this happened." The Captain began to speak but he cut her off. "Look Seven, your future self told me it was something called Temporal Anomaly 8564 that did all this, she sent me back by doing something with the deflector…"

Understanding must have dawned on Seven because she immediately ran to the wall console and began running scans. "He is telling the truth Captain, I've checked the Astrometrics scans and Temporal Anomaly 8564 occurred at precisely 1930 hours and again half a second later."

"Half a second isn't exactly three days Seven!" said the Captain.

"I am aware of that Captain, but if the Commander's account is accurate then my future self returned him as close as possible to the point of his departure."

"Yes, she did!" said Chakotay relieved at finally being believed.

"Chakotay, go and tell the Doctor to give you a full physical and don't tell him why." The Captain ordered.

"Kathryn, I'm fine…"

"It's an order! I don't mess around with anomalies of any sort but especially not temporal ones. Go now."

Chakotay reluctantly went and got checked out by the Doctor as ordered and was found to be in near perfect health as he knew he would be. He returned after half an hour in Sickbay to find the Captain alone in her ready room. "Where's Seven?" he asked with anxious urgency.

The Captain hid her surprise at his sudden strong preoccupation with Seven, "I sent her away, there's no need for her to hear you break the Temporal Prime Directive as I know you will."

She needs to hear and understand more than anyone else! Thought Chakotay in frustration but he held his tongue, imagining what Kathryn would say if he told her Seven needed to hear this because she was his future wife and that he was already in love with her. "I respect your opinion Captain but it needs to be broken because you, I and many other crewmembers are going to die in the next five years."

"What?" choked the Captain.

Chakotay proceeded to tell her everything that he had memorised from the data Tuvok had given him, when he was finished she sighed deeply and put her head in her hands. "You are to tell no one of this, is that understood? I think it would be best if you tried to forget what you learned."

Chakotay unconsciously felt for the ring in his pocket. "I don't think I can Kathryn…"

"Try your best. You're dismissed." Chakotay rose to leave but as he reached the door Janeway spoke again. "So, Seven helped you in the future did she?"

Chakotay turned and looked her directly in the eye. "Yes, she did." He said softly, leaving quickly without another word. Kathryn felt a small laugh leave her lips, he couldn't be…it was impossible. Taking a quick swig of coffee, she dismissed the thought that had passed through her mind as he looked at her. My mind is starting to play tricks on me. I'm seeing things that can't possibly be there.

Chakotay rubbed his eyes after another unsuccessful attempt at sleep. "Computer, date and time."

"Stardate 7657.2, 5th of May 2377. 0605 hours."

5th of May, 5th of May, why was that significant? Wait, it was three days after himself and Seven had returned from Ledosia, future Seven had told him this was the day he had first asked her out. Today he really would have to confront his nerves. It wasn't as if he'd been avoiding her, far from it, in fact he'd been spending an almost unhealthy amount of time just watching her in Astrometrics or finding an excuse to go down to her cargo bay, but he had never been able to get beyond the most basic small talk. Well, today I will. "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is in Astrometrics."

Not needing to be told twice he jumped out of bed and went to Astrometrics.

Seven knew it was him entering before she turned around, she was becoming used to the sound of his distinctive footsteps. She could feel his eyes on her with that expression she both wanted and feared to be longing, the dark handsome eyes which she privately wished she could just sink into…Oh why had the Borg left her with ability to feel attraction? It caused unrivalled difficulty with humans. "What are you doing here so early? Couldn't sleep?" he asked her gently in greeting.

Now that she thought about it she hadn't had the most efficient of regeneration cycles but what did that matter to him? "I am here because I am on duty…" she couldn't help shooting him a quick questioning glance. "…unless you have changed the duty roster Commander?"

Chakotay cringed inwardly, how could he have forgotten that he himself had given her this shift? "No…no…I haven't…" he mumbled awkwardly. She said nothing and he fell into observing her again, it was still strange not seeing Luke and Isabel round her feet.

With every passing second Seven tensed up further until she couldn't take it anymore. "Is there something I can do for you Commander?"

He was starting to hate his own rank. "Call me Chakotay."

Seven swallowed, she called everyone on the ship by their rank and no one had ever requested otherwise. All she could do was nod but it seemed satisfy him for he beamed at her in that vivid way of his.

Chakotay's impatience overrode his nerves. "Seven, come and eat breakfast with me…" Seeing the look on her face he clarified, "It's a request, not an order."

"I am on duty Comman…Chakotay…"

"I'd take the blame if anything happened, don't worry."

Seven blushed, "I would never blame you if…"

He lightly touched her arm to stop her. "I know Seven."

Seven looked down at his hand still on her arm and then into his eyes. "We would be alone?"

"Yes."

"A date?" she whispered, too mesmerised by his face to realise the implication of her words.

"I'd like that."

"I…would also…like that." She stammered.

"Good." He breathed, taking her hand and leading her from Astrometrics.

Chakotay paced round his quarters, he couldn't believe they were on their forth date already. He had prepared too early and now he had nothing to do but wait for her arrival. He looked intently at the door but was shocked when she suddenly beamed in before him with a bunch of flowers. Misinterpreting why he was stunned she asked, "Am I early?"

"No…you're right on time. Something wrong with the door?"

"I thought it would be indiscreet to be seen taking flowers to the First Officer's quarters."

Don't worry Seven, they get used to it. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her but pushed it back, remembering his decision that he would take it slow. "I'll put these in water…" Impulsively Seven leaned in and kissed him and he had deepened and prolonged it before he knew what he was doing.

Seven suddenly pulled back, the most flustered he had ever seen her. "I've… been told that there's… a great deal of tension leading up to a first kiss…I wanted to alleviate that tension."

"You succeeded. What about the second kiss?" he murmured, unable to resist pushing his luck.

"I am unsure…I can check the database…" His kiss stopped her, his arms pulled her close and they began kissing passionately with more confidence than before. Their comm. badges beeped but they both ignored them, lost in each other until the Captain's voice broke through, "Senior officers report to the bridge." They allowed their lips to part reluctantly, Seven still keeping her grip on his uniform.

"Next time we turn off the comm. system." He whispered to her and she smiled, letting go of him and heading to the door. Following her many thoughts passed through his brain. Wow, if I didn't know before I know now why I married her. At least I know now we'll have plenty of time.

A/n: If anyone can guess what's happened I'll be impressed. Please review! I've published a new C/7 story called "Frozen" Please give it a look!