AN: I swear it's almost finished :) and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"I've been looking for you." Shane said as Kathryn rounded the corner towards him. She looked up to him with a guilt in her eyes that she had no idea he knew of.

"I've been helping out a friend." She replied as she joined him, walking by his side.

"Was that before or after you told Chakotay you love him?" His words left her trailing behind his stride, frozen to the spot. He rolled his eyes. "Don't get all clammed up on me now, Kathryn." He walked back to her and grasped her gently by the arms as he forced her to walk with him.

"First, I want you to know I'm not angry. I've known for quite some time how you feel about him. Second, I want you to know that we can't get married." She stopped again but he held his grasp on her and she didn't get too far away from him.

"I still intend to marry you." She tried to assure him in a shaking voice. He smiled.

"So I heard." He pulled her along again.

"Unfortunately after hearing your talk with Chakotay, and having one with him myself, I don't intend on marrying you." She thrust her arm away from his hand and refused to be hauled along anymore.

"I do love you, Shane." She argued.

"You love him more." He countered and she faltered with a comeback. He smiled faintly.

"See."

She breathed deeply through her nose and frowned at him in anger. He shook his head exasperated.

"I told you earlier, Kathryn… I told you to follow your heart. And for a while up there, although it pained me to see it, I actually thought I had gotten through to you. But in the end you went the way of your pride, your loyalty. The honorary Captain that will do no wrong. Even at the cost of her own happiness." Kathryn glared at him with steel in her eyes and tried to quell the overwhelming urge she had to hit him in the wake of his the harsh words. But she wouldn't - couldn't - because she knew he was right. He had always been right.

"I may be a scientist, Kathryn, devoted to fact and proof, but even I know that the heart is more than a vital organ that pumps life into our bodies. Sometimes I think that you haven't quite grasped that concept. Then ... then there are times times when your tenderness is so astounding, so amazing, that I chase those thoughts away. But they come back to me and I still can't figure it out. I still can't figure you out." Her face was soft with sadness now, her features sullen and her anger deflated.

"He has you figured out, Kathryn, more than even you want to admit." He strode up to her and planted a soft kiss on her lips. "I will miss you." He whispered as his fingers trailed along her shoulders. Once again he began to walk away while she simply watched.

"I'll call you sometime. Maybe we could go for a coffee." He called as he turned with a grin and walking backwards. Her smile grew until she let a small laugh escape and shook her head at him.

"I'll miss you too." She said, her smile echoed sadly in her voice.

"How's the bride to be?" Neelix poked his head around and into Kathryn's line of vision as she sat back at the bar enjoying set another drink to soothe her raging emotions. She chuckled lightly at his exuberance and swiveled on the bar stool slightly so she could see him clamber up on the one opposite her.

"I didn't know you were here, Neelix." She said with a warm smile for the lovable Talaxian.

"Oh I was otherwise engaged up until a few hours ago." He blushed orange and she couldn't help but wonder what had engaged him. She decided it best not to ask for now.

"I was down here before the dancing finished, but um I seemed to have missed you." He said rather perplexed. She turned back to her glass and gave a wry grin.

"I was otherwise engaged." She turned to him still wearing the grin and he chuckled, blushing again perhaps realising now how what he said had sounded like. He recovered quickly though.

"I haven't even met the Commander to congratulate him." He chuckled again. "I hear he's not the only one in need of congratulations." His whiskers waved in the air excitedly and he looked expectantly at her. She raised her eyebrow as she stared back into her drink again.

"Take my word for it, Neelix, he's the only one in need of congratulations." She turned her face back up to him and tried to look passive with a hint of amusement on her face. Neelix only frowned in a hasty confusion. Suddenly he decided that maybe she was joking. He released a bubble of laughter and bounced in his seat.

"Now Captain, is that any way for tomorrows bride to be talking?" He chastised her teasingly. Her eyes dropped away from his gaze, embarrassed.

"No Neelix, I suppose it's not. But the case is - I don't have to worry about it anyway." Neelix really frowned now. Her utterly sad tone and dejected eyes tore at his full heart.

"But Captain, aren't you getting married tomorrow? Or did I hear wrong?" He asked tentatively, hoping he wouldn't cause her any more discomfort with his words than she already obviously felt. His hope was quashed when she grimaced into the whirlpool she had created in her drink.

"No I'm not and no you didn't." The first thing Neelix thought was that that didn't make sense. He frowned deeply, searching all his knowledge for a way to understand it. He noticed stirring out of the corner of his eye and he looked up to investigate.

All he found was the cold empty space that his Captain had just vacated abruptly. His frown deepened and he scowled at himself for something he knew nothing of.

"Kathryn! Kathryn!" Chakotay called as he saw her speed out of the bar area. She turned and spotted him and he ran to her as she waited.

"He heard us." He told her, panting from all the running he had done to find her.

"I know." She said solemnly as she turned and resumed her path again. Chakotay sucked in air to his hungry lungs as he frowned after her. Slowly he became aware she was getting further away each moment he waited.

"He was in the room." He informed her as he caught up again. She nodded silently as she swirled the liquor in her glass, watching it.

"You talked?" He enquired, curious as to her mood. She nodded again.

"I guess we did." She said distantly. Chakotay's forehead furrowed listening to her. They walked silently in a calm atmosphere for some time.

Kathryn was examining her glass when her attention fell upon her hand. She faltered in her steady stride. Chakotay noted it and looked to her.

"What is it?" He asked. She smiled at something and he followed her gaze to the ring on her finger.

"He never did ask for it back." She smiled again. He looked on in puzzlement until her words finally sunk in.

"He called off the wedding." He whispered. It might have been perceived as a question but both already knew the answer and didn't want to voice it.

"I'm sorry, Kathryn." For the first time she looked up and into his eyes. She stared at him for a long while and he could see in her eyes that her mind didn't echo the silence of her mouth. However, at times her eyes told him more than her words could ever hope to.

- Next chapter is almost ready! Hope you enjoyed ;) -