Later that evening, Kathryn and Chakotay sat at their café in the waning sunlight. They were enjoying their last dinner before Voyager was headed out into space. She smiled at him as the server cleared their plates and said, "I heard about a certain party to be held in your honor aboard Voyager while you are away."

Chakotay's lips froze on his wine glass. Sneaking a few looks at her, he cleared his throat and put the glass down. "Party?"

Kathryn leaned forward and said, "Bachelor party. An old Earth tradition for men before they become husbands. Ever hear of it?"

"No, I don't think my people practice that one."

Kathryn grinned. "Hmmm. I'll bet you'll learn real fast especially with Tom as your guide."

Chakotay chuckled. "Are you canceling my party?"

"No, just expect glitches in that little plan and that's all I'll say."

"Ruining my life already." Chakotay laughed and took a swig of wine.

"I beg your pardon." Kathryn sat back in her chair. "Is that what you think I'm doing?"

Chakotay swallowed. "Oh no. I've been taking orders from you for years. I am under no illusion that will change once I marry you. It's been good training, in fact."

Kathryn crossed her arms. "Is that so?"

"I'm teasing you."

Her expression remained stern. "You're not funny. And while you're in trouble, I heard about what happened with Seven today."

Chakotay's smile faded. "How did you hear about that? Did Seven come running to tell on me?"

"She didn't have to. I asked."

"You saw Seven?"

Kathryn nodded. "Yes. I make a point to visit her once a week. Guess which day I picked this time? She told me about your conversation."

Chakotay fiddled with the stem of glass. "I see. And you think I shouldn't have spoken to her? I was trying to do what you wanted. I was trying to be nice."

"Being nice doesn't mean threatening her."

"Threatening her?" Chakotay said. "Is that what she told you?"

"You know, every time I think she is right there on the verge of trusting again, someone like you comes along and criticizes her and sets her right back to square one."

"Someone like me?"

"Yes, Chakotay. You and I and the rest of Voyager's crew know her better than anyone. And hardly anyone makes an effort to support her."

"That should tell you something."

Kathryn stared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that Seven is not sorry for killing you. In fact, I think she would be sitting just as peacefully in that park today if you were dead and buried the way she wanted and not sitting here the picture of health."

Kathryn sighed. "You can't let this go, can you?"

Chakotay shook his head. "No, not when someone hurts you. It's my job to protect you."

"You are not my first officer anymore. I can take care of myself," Kathryn said evenly.

"Sometimes, but you couldn't when she threw you to the Borg on that cube. Where were your exceptional survival skills then, Kathryn? You died, remember?" Chakotay regretted his tone and his words immediately.

Kathryn glanced away as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

He reached for her but she settled back into her chair even further. "Kathryn, look, can't you and I just disagree about this? If you want to befriend Seven, do it. Just leave me out of it."

Kathryn turned back and said, "Well, now that I have your permission…"

Chakotay slapped his hand on the table. "That's the second time someone has said that to me today. I don't like it!"

"Well then maybe you should think about why you're engendering that reaction. It's because you're trying to control other people."

"I'm trying to keep you safe!"

"I don't need a bodyguard, Chakotay. And if that's what you think you're going to be by marrying me, then maybe we need to slow it down because that's not what I want at all."

Chakotay pulled his hand back and sat up. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I want an equal partner. Not a father or a security detail or a man who wants to pick and choose the world around me."

"You want to be respected."

"Yes and I thought you could do that. You always did."

"And now you think I can't?"

Kathryn shook her head. "No."

Chakotay glanced around at the people milling about and said, "You keep telling me I have to accept Seven in our lives. It's the same thing, Kathryn."

"I'm asking you to be a decent person and…"

He gave her a look. "Now I'm not a decent person?"

Kathryn threw up her hands. "That's not what I meant."

"No, but it's exactly what you're thinking. You have me made out to be some type of primate controlling you and slaying others including a woman who you believe is an innocent lamb even though she tried to kill you! She did kill you!"

"I'm not dead!"

"I know that!" he roared back.

The other diners stared as Kathryn and Chakotay tried to compose themselves. Kathryn wrapped herself in a small shawl to protect against the now chilly night air as Chakotay rubbed his face.

"I don't want to do this," he said. "I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't want to leave like this."

"Well, maybe it's for the best," Kathryn said. "Maybe it's good that we take a break and really decide if this is what's best for both of us. Maybe we aren't who we think each other is."

"I don't believe that," Chakotay said. "I've spent the past seven years getting to know every intimate detail about you. I love you, Kathryn."

Kathryn looked at him and said, "I know you do. But maybe the woman you love just isn't me."

Chakotay pointed a finger at her. "Don't do this. Don't do this to me again. Every time we get close you pull away. I thought we made it over that hurdle. I thought we were done with these games."

Kathryn bristled. "It's not a game. I love you, Chakotay. But, I won't lose myself and my life to someone else's agenda."

"Someone else's agenda? My love for you is not an agenda. It's real and it exists. I want to protect you because I don't want to lose you. You've died on me twice already. I don't want to try for number three."

Kathryn smiled. "I appreciate that, Chakotay. I really do. But I have to live my life. And if that means I shorten it by minutes, months, days, or years, it's my life to live, not yours."

"It's our life. Our lives. Together."

Kathryn was silent for a minute. "Maybe," she finally whispered.

"You don't mean that."

Kathryn took a deep breath. "I've been through a lot these past few weeks. Maybe I need to slow down and reevaluate things."

Chakotay reached for her. "I can understand that. But reevaluate us?"

"I just need some perspective. I think being apart this next month may be very good, for both of us."

Chakotay pulled back. "You need some perspective on Seven." He saw Kathryn frown and quickly added, "So I guess I should tell Tom to hold off on the party?"

"I love you and I believe I want to marry you."

"Believe?" Chakotay exhaled and said, "I'm going to make this easy for you, Kathryn. I love you. I want to marry you. When I return in six weeks, I want you to be ready to walk with me into a bright future together as husband and wife. If you meet me when Voyager returns, I'll know you're ready. If you don't, I'll never bother you again."

Kathryn gave him a small smile. "Chakotay, you don't have to be that dramatic."

His eyes met hers and he said, "I'm not being dramatic. I'm being realistic. I won't play this game with you anymore. Either we do this or we don't. If we don't, you really will see me move on for good."

"I see," Kathryn countered. "Is that a threat or an ultimatum?"

"Neither. It's self-preservation. Only a fool keeps putting his neck out or in this case his heart and keeps hoping for the best. I'm done, Kathryn. I can't do it anymore. Not even for you. You don't want me to control you. I won't. It's your decision. It always has been. You just let me know your final decision when I get back and I'll move on from there." He pushed his chair away and stood up. "And, for the record, I do want to marry you."

As he walked away, Kathryn allowed a single tear to slip down her cheek.