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Switched
Chapter 18
3 Weeks Later
"Packing early for our trip?" Kathryn asked Chakotay as he walked into the lounge with a silver suitcase. Now the investigation was finally over, she and Chakotay had booked a top hotel on the Emerald Coast for the following week and planned on going straight from there to Trebus. As they'd expected, the investigation had not turned up any answers. It was still, and perhaps always would be, a mystery how she and Lacey had gone home with the wrong parents.
"Not quite," Chakotay smiled. "But packing for a trip, certainly."
Intrigued now, Kathryn put down her book and got to her feet. "What are you up to, Mr Chakotay?"
"It's a surprise," he replied. "But you have five minutes to put on shoes."
"Five?" Kathryn said, kicking off her slippers. "Who needs five? Give me two." With that she hurried into the bedroom. "Casual or smart?"
"Casual," he answered.
Kathryn picked up a pair of black shoes and slipped them on as she hurried back into the lounge. "Where are we going?"
"I told you," Chakotay smiled. "It's a surprise."
"Don't I even get a clue?"
"No." He went over to the wall comm and pressed a button. "Ready to transport."
Before Kathryn could ask for a clue to a clue a blue transporter beam engulfed them and they dematerialized.
When they rematerialized, Kathryn found herself in a magnificent gothic bedchamber. It had gray stone walls which were stunningly decorated with rich tapestries and from a ceiling of intricate plaster work hung a glittering chandelier. Inside a huge fire-place roaring flames crackled over logs and before it a white fur rug adorned a wooden floor. Luxurious gold chairs with red-velvet seats surrounded a marble table that was beautifully set for dinner with sparkling glasses, burning candles, gleaming cutlery, porcelain plates, and silver dishes of food. Scattered around the room were several pieces of antique oak furniture and through a narrow doorway an old-fashioned bath-tub sat in the middle of a tiled floor. A glorious four-poster bed with red-velvet drapes filled one corner of the room and opposite the fire were two grandiose gothic windows that had sconces burning beside them.
"Oh Chakotay," Kathryn said, looking around in awe. "Where are we?"
"Stanmore Castle in Ireland," he told her."It was built as a private residence 200 years ago but is now a hotel." He smiled. "This room is ours for three nights."
Kathryn turned to him with a dazzling happiness in her eyes. "It is? Really? Oh Chakotay..."
"And there are more delights besides," he said. "A classical music concert in the great hall, a Regency Ball, a Victorian picnic and a 1920's Jazz night." He went over to a tall wardrobe and opened the doors. "Our costumes are in here."
Inside the antique closet was a shimmering gown of blue satin, a long beige skirt with a frilly white blouse, a black velvet evening dress, a gold flapper dress with sequins, fringes and a matching feather headband, an assortment of shoes, and several men's suits, including a black pinstripe suit with a matching fedora hat.
"There's a lot to see and do in the castle," Chakotay went on. "Galleries, museums, re-enactments, exhibitions. I replicated all these so we don't have to waste time getting outfits together. But if you don't like them you can replicate new ones. There's a costume catalogue by the replicator...which is concealed in a cabinet."
"How could I not like them?" Kathryn said, running her fingers over the glitzy flapper dress. "They're fabulous, absolutely fabulous." She looked up at him. "This place is fabulous. And so are you."
Chakotay smiled. "Glad you're impressed. I wanted everything to be perfect."
"And it is...absolutely perfect." She closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thankyou."
Chakotay held her in return, kissed her hair, and then went over to the bed. On it was a white scroll, wrapped in a red ribbon, and he picked it up.
"This is for you."
Kathryn took it eagerly. "What is it?"
"Open it and see."
Kathryn carefully undid the ribbon and pulled open the scroll. Painted on the long parchment was a gold tree with flourishing names in small italic letters on every branch. On the trunk of the tree, in large letters, was her name: Kathryn Janeway.
"My family tree," she said.
Her eyes searched up the tree and her heart skipped a beat when she saw a familiar name, also in big letters, at the very top of the tree. It was Shannon O'Donnell.
"It took me a long time to compile," Chakotay said, "but I wanted to trace your ancestry all the way back to your Janeway connection." He pointed to a branch on the tree. "And here it is. Draye Brenton is descended from this couple, Milly Janeway and Terence Stowe. Milly Janeway is Shannon's great granddaughter. So you're as much her descendant as Phoebe."
A happy tear ran down Kathryn's cheek. "Then I really am a Janeway. I was afraid of digging incase that only consolation was taken away from me. But the Doctor was right. I do have Janeway blood in my veins." She looked up at Chakotay. "Thank you. This means...I can't put into words what it means."
Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "It's your anchor," he said. "It anchors you to a familiar past."
Kathryn nodded. Then she gazed into his eyes and smiled. "Did anyone ever tell you how wonderful you are?"
"Only the woman I love," he smiled, "about ten minutes ago."
Kathryn laughed softly. "Well you are. I don't know what I've done to deserve you, but what ever it is I hope I keep on doing it."
Chakotay gently put his hand to her cheek. "Ditto."
In the golden light of fire and burning candles, Kathryn and Chakotay talked as they sat at the marble table enjoying a delightful dinner.
"This spaghetti bolognaise is delicious," Kathryn said, eating a second helping. "The best I've ever had. I can't believe it's vegetarian. I'll have to ask the chef for the recipe."
"Thinking of improving your cooking skills?"
"No," she answered. "Of downloading it into our replicator."
Chakotay laughed.
"Normally I wouldn't take seconds," she went on, "as I like to leave room for dessert, but this is so good I could eat thirds and still have room for a generous slice of coffee cake." She took a sip of wine. "Be warned. I was a porky child. Now that I'm a lady of leisure, I'm gravely in danger of piling on the pounds."
"I've never been skinny myself," Chakotay said. "And I like to see you eat. On Voyager you nibbled. You got so thin sometimes I worried you'd melt away."
"Well there's no danger of that now," she smiled. "Since we got back I've put on at least ten pounds. Another ten and I'll have to take up jogging." The last fork full went down and Kathryn sat back against her chair with a sigh. "That was so good."
Chakotay smiled. "Still got room for desert?"
"Absolutely."
He pulled the lid off a luxurious coffee gateaux and split it between them. Kathryn tucked into it straight away. "Divine," she said. "Simply divine."
"It should be," Chakotay replied. "It's made with your favorite beans."
"Indiana gold?"
"The real McCoy. The chef got them especially for you."
"I'll have to thank him," she said "...when I'm asking him for the recipe."
In a couple of mouthfuls the gateaux was gone and Chakotay opened a bottle of champagne. A fountain of bubbles rained down upon them and they laughed heartedly. Chakotay then filled two tall glasses to the brim.
"Let's make a toast," he said. "To us, to the future, and to the Voyager years."
Kathryn held up her glass. "To us, to the future, and to the Voyager years."
They knocked their glasses together and then took a drink.
"As champagne is for celebrating as well as toasting," Chakotay said, "I'd like us to have something to celebrate." He reached into a pocket, pulled out a white velvet box, and carefully opened it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"
Kathryn took the box but with a sadness in her eyes. "Yes," she said quietly, "I'll marry you. But I won't engage with you. Every time I've got engaged I've lost the man I love. I couldn't bear to lose you too. If you're serious about marrying me, then let's just do it one day on the spur of the moment. No planning, no dressing up, no guests. Just you and me strolling into a registry office on the spur of the moment, calling my mother and sister to come over, and getting married." She handed him back the box. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Chakotay said, putting down the box. "Marry me. Amongst the wonders in this place is a wedding chamber. Civil marriages are performed on demand. Let's go there now, just as we are, call your mother and Phoebe, and get married."
Kathryn's lips broke into a smile and her eyes filled with joy. "Yes," she said. "Let's do that."
Beneath a silver dome decorated with roses, crowns and birds, Gretchen and Phoebe watched as Kathryn and Chakotay made vows of marriage to each other. The bride and groom stood with locked hands and only had eyes for each other. When the last vow was made, the pretty registrar presented them with their rings, which lay on a white velvet pillow embroidered with gold. Chakotay picked up the smallest ring and gently slipped it onto Kathryn's finger.
"I give you this ring as a token of our marriage," he said. "As a symbol of the promises I have made to you this day."
Kathryn then took the bigger ring and put it on his finger.
"I do the same," she said.
They locked hands again and turned to the registrar.
The friendly dark-haired woman smiled warmly. "I pronounce you husband and wife."
Phoebe whistled and with happy tears in their eyes Kathryn and Chakotay sealed their union with a kiss.
END OF CHAPTER 18