The next morning, Voyager sped out into space. Kathryn hadn't seen them off which didn't surprise Chakotay. He sat in his ready room and found her standard greeting and well wishes attached to his official orders as they would be for any other Captain.

Tom popped his head in and said, "Spare a minute?" Chakotay nodded and offered him a seat. Tom sat and held up a padd. "Do you prefer blondes or brunettes for the party? I'm putting the program together now and I need some aesthetic guidance. I know you obviously have a thing for redheads but I thought that would be a little too inappropriate and Belanna's already unhappy with me. So, what's your poison?"

"Neither. We may not be having a wedding."

Tom lowered his padd. "Why?"

"Because Kathryn won't be showing up for it if we do."

"Why?' he repeated.

"We had a fight last night over dinner. Apparently, I'm a controlling overprotective ape because I won't make nice with Seven."

"Seven?"

"Yes, the woman that killed her a few weeks ago. Apparently, I should just forgive and forget. I'm sure Kathryn can even have her stand up at the ceremony. Isn't that some sort of tradition?"

"The Maid of Honor," Tom said. "I thought you guys were going an untraditional route?"

"Right now, we may not be going any route."

Tom leaned forward in his chair and said, "Look, Chakotay, take from an already married man. If the wife says do this, do it. Make your life easy."

"So I just forget that Seven did what she did, even though she's not the least bit sorry for it?"

"Seven seemed pretty remorseful the last time I saw her."

"When she was in front of a panel of Admirals, you mean? I would feign my apologies too."

"Aha. I think I see what Admiral Janeway is picking up. I really don't think Seven is as manipulative as you think."

Chakotay sighed. "What is it with you people? Someone kills you and you just brush yourself off and become best friends with them?"

"Maybe not best friends but we've all had encounters where we've been taken over or hurt by one of our team members."

"Not intentionally," Chakotay said. "Seven acted of her own accord."

Tom nodded. "Agreed. But if the Admiral was the victim here and she wants to move on, why won't you let her do it?"

Chakotay glanced away to choose his words and then said, "Because, I think Seven will do it again."

"Turn Admiral Janeway over to the Borg?"

Chakotay shook his head. "No. I think Kathryn has enough sense not to take anymore solo trips with Seven anytime soon. I just know Seven will betray her again. I can't explain it, Tom. I just feel it. I see it in her when we talk."

Tom rose up and said, "Careful with those expectations, Captain. I know what it's like when people don't expect much, or worse; expect nothing from you at all. And believe me when I tell you, it gets hard to hold your head up against it and even harder to not give into the bad behavior other people are expecting from you. Admiral Janeway saw potential in me. Without her, I wouldn't be here today and have the good life I have. She's got a good track record in placing her bets on supposed outcasts. You might want to give in and trust her on this one." Tom tapped his padd with the female pictures still displayed. "Besides, these are never as good as the real thing."

Tom smiled and walked back onto the bridge as Chakotay sat in silence for a few minutes. He rubbed his chin and punched up his communications channel. Composing a simple 'I'm sorry' message, he sent it to Kathryn and then leaned back and watched the stars as Voyager sped even faster away from Earth.