It turned out that Tom's fear was ungrounded. The nebula was simply a nebula, they acquired a few tons of different gasses that the engineers and scientists on board could use. The Captain was really glad – she knew exactly what her helmsman thought. These two days had been so quiet and full of pleasure that something was bound to go wrong sooner or later. But the day simply went on uneventfully. Later in the afternoon she received Tom's report. She expected him to leave again, but he lingered, obviously something on his mind.

"Tom?"

He didn't beat around the bush. "Are you coming tonight?" He clasped his hands. The Captain gave him her mock-indignation-half-smile. "Are you kidding? I'm dying to know what happens next!" He grinned. "And.." she had walked around her desk and leaned towards him confidentially. "...how Han gets the girl." She smiled mischievously.

He laughed now. "You're just like B'Elanna." She pulled a face. "--I, I mean, it's nice to see you get along." He smiled a warm, honest smile. Kathryn was glad she had seen him grow into such a confident, good-natured person.

When he left, he basically exchanged places with Chakotay, who was in before the door had closed again. He pulled out a report PADD from behind his back, she thanked him and glanced over it. When she looked up again, she was staring into a small, beautiful bouquet of white lilies. A huge smile spread across her face as she took it. "Oh, Chakotay... that's sweet, what's the occasion?" I have a pretty good idea what the occasion is, she thought. Looking up to him, she noticed he was standing a little closer than before. Closer than usual. His smile. Gods, he smells good. Such wonderful eyes. Argh.

But he didn't cross that bridge yet. "Oh just glad you're in a good mood..." Her heart was beating madly. He casually strolled to the replicator. "...and trying to keep it that way." Just stay in the room, then, and maybe get naked? She had to suppress a grin at her somewhat... radical thinking. But when she had been pondering the 'consequences' of their flirting and teasing, she always ended up in his bed. Although she grew nervous at the thought, out of practice and all, she also felt other instincts awaken that she had carefully buried over the last years. Back on New Earth, resisting him had been difficult. Why the hell did I do that again?

He placed the flowers in a vase he'd replicated and sat down on her couch. She joined him and tried to concentrate on his report instead of his muscles. She read about a great idea that Ensign Wildman had come up with. She was back in scientific-curiosity mode. "This sounds promising – do you think she'll be able to do that?" She was enthusiastic.

Chakotay saw her eyes smile and gleam, he loved it when she was fascinated by something. But he was sure that something in her had changed as well. Her eyes told him what he had hoped for so long. She actually blushed. And her voice is softer when she talks to me.

"I think so, yes. I already told her to enlist a few more people to help her."

"Good, let me know how it turns out."

"I will. Oh, and..." he got up. "... I'll see you tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Wouldn't miss you for the world! "After all, B'Elanna and I can't wait to see what happens to the princess!" She said that deliberately. And it worked.

"Don't worry, Kathryn, you know the handsome smuggler will get through to her eventually." He winked at her and left. He might have as well said Maquis, because that's what his eyes said.

Kathryn and Chakotay had taken on providing the replicator rations for the evening and were filling the table with beer and popcorn when Harry and Tuvok arrived. Tuvok raised an eyebrow, probably because of the virtually non existent nutritional value of the 'meal', but didn't say anything. Kathryn really was surprised now. She went over to the replicator where Chakotay was standing and leaned closer. "You know, I think I'm getting a little worried about him. One could think he's going through the pon farr or something," she murmured so Tuvok wouldn't hear. Chakotay grinned and looked over his shoulder. "Well, if he makes a pass at you, he's gonna have to deal with me first." With that he turned back to the others and left her, very flustered, to take in his words.

B'Elanna was already sitting on the couch expectantly, legs crossed underneath her. Tom was finishing programming the TV and called them all over. Harry passed Tuvok a beer and smiled. "Glad you could make it tonight. Need an update on what you missed?" The Vulcan eyed the beer suspiciously and put it down again. "I've familiarized myself with the plot, thank you." Harry grinned.

They sat like before, although Chakotay imagined that Kathryn was sitting a little closer this time. He had his arm around the back again. Tom gave B'Elanna a kiss on the forehead and nestled an arm around her. Harry and Tuvok got comfortable, Chakotay bent forward and grabbed a bowl of popcorn. "My turn," he smirked at his lovely Captain, who shot him a playful Janeway-Glare No. 3: You better watch out. At least this time they were prepared for the fanfare.

Again, there was a great deal of commenting, especially at the beginning with the 'snow beast'... and B'Elanna and Kathryn grinned at the bickering of Han and Leia. They quickly saw though, that this film set a more depressing mood than the one before, and before long, Chakotay felt Kathryn actually snuggle up against his shoulder. His heart seemed to expand. Tom smiled at him over the two women's heads. It was a sincere glad-for-you smile, and Chakotay returned it openly. He realised that Tom was actually a good friend, more serious than he'd like people to believe.

In the scene where Han goes to help the princess and ends up kissing her, B'Elanna and Kathryn actually grabbed each others' hands and sighed. Chakotay grinned. He hadn't known they had such a soft spot for romantic stuff. He figured that he wasn't the only one Kathryn was forging new connections with these days.

Tuvok deemed Yoda's methods 'logical' and 'efficient', while Tom cringed at the X-Wing sinking into the swamp. Apart from Tuvok, everyone snickered when Vader killed off one of his pawns, in turn promoting another. Tuvok simply stated that he was glad the Captain didn't employ such methods. Kathryn giggled. Her hair tickled Chakotay's neck.

B'Elanna became quite aggressive when Lando came into the picture. "It's a trap for God's sake, how can they not...?" She was lost for words. Tom chuckled. When it in fact turned out to be a trap shortly after, B'Elanna only muttered "Idiots...told you so" under her breath. Kathryn visibly suffered the whole torture scene through and involuntarily grabbed Chakotays shirt. He noticed her biting her lip. She started for a second when he gently plucked her hand from his shirt and cradled it with his instead, softly brushing a thumb over her slender fingers. She tensed up even more for a while, shivering, but then gradually relaxed and snuggled even closer against his body.

B'Elanna quickly decided that Lando definitely belonged in the 'dirty petaQ' group, along with Goldfinger. And when Luke wandered into the trap, she simply threw her arms up in frustration at how stupid people could be. Tuvok quietly informed her that her comments were illogical since the film wasn't going to change. She shot him a glare and the others grinned. But soon her attention was captured again, and when Leia confessed her love, she was quiet and a little more subdued. Kathryn stifled a tear and had a look of full sympathy on her face. Chakotay planted a soft kiss on her hair, almost in passing, not even noticing what he was doing. B'Elanna noticed though, and she smiled, very content.

Then, things happened quickly. Hand chopped off. They all winced. No, I am your father. They all exploded; apart from Tuvok at any rate.

"NO Way." "I agree. Absolutely ridiculous." "It seems illogical to detect family affiliation through feelings." "Well, blood is thicker than water..." "I actually had a feeling this would--" "Liar."

At the end, B'Elanna could only add "like hell would I let him take off with the Falcon!"

The room turned darker when the credits ran, which they enjoyed for a while, all chattering on about the film. All, apart from Chakotay and Kathryn, who seemed awfully quiet. Harry and Tom were discussing building an X-Wing whereas B'Elanna bent around to look at Tuvok. She did not fail to notice how preoccupied the command team was, and took in their joined hands. She was really grinning now. "So, Tuvok, what do you think?" Kathryn and Chakotay snapped out of it and Chakotay let go of her hand. They tried very much to concentrate on Tuvok, who was considering the question thoroughly.

"It was a fascinating opportunity to study humanity's visions of the future, or rather space exploration. However, I must take my leave now, and will gladly explain my observations to you tomorrow." He got up. "You do that.." B'Elanna yawned. When he had left, Harry grinned. "He just didn't want to admit he actually enjoyed himself."

Laughter. Kathryn was so glad the laughter on this ship never died. But at the moment she didn't feel like laughing anymore. She wasn't tired, but she was paralysed. Her entire body was painfully aware of the man beside her. The man she loved. Craved. His hands caressing hers. Gods, what happens now?