They took the lift up to the penthouse honeymoon suite they had booked for night finding a butler outside the large double doors. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked politely.
Chakotay glanced at Seven and she shook her head. "No thank you. You may leave." He gave the man a tip and he nodded gratefully before discreetly taking his leave. Seven was astounded when she entered, the room was luxury itself, a huge four poster sat in the middle facing huge windows which framed panoramic views of Flagstaff. "I had forgotten how well appointed this room was." She remarked as she sat down at the dressing table and began to take her jewellery off.
"Yeah, we really went all out didn't we?" Chakotay said as he came up behind her and ran his hand up her back. "It was definitely worth it though."
"Yes it certainly was." She smiled, "I'm glad we're alone now." She murmured, hoping Chakotay would get her drift. He did and began fiddling with the buttons of her dress. "You like the dress don't you? I wanted you to see it…"
Chakotay gasped, "No! It's bad luck!"
Seven sighed. "I know. That's what everyone else said."
Hearing the exasperation in her voice he pressed his face into her shoulder, kissing it repeatedly. "I love it…I can't imagine a better dress…" He groaned in frustration as another button wouldn't give way to his twisting and pulling. "I wish it was a little quicker and easier to take off though."
"It took me an hour to put on this morning."
"An hour?" he gasped in horror.
She turned round on the stool to face him and began to carefully remove his tie, folding it up before starting to unbutton his shirt. "Don't worry, we have all night." She reassured him as she began to kiss his chest.
He wrapped his arms round her back and pulled her tighter against him, all the while continuing to try to undo the dress. "You married an impatient man…"
"That does not seem a flaw at this particular moment in time…"
"No it doesn't…" He paused and gave a moan of triumph as the dress parted under his hands. "Finally!"
"Stop talking." She ordered, kissing him on the mouth. She gasped in shock as he lifted her up into the air. "What are you doing?"
"I thought we had stopped talking." He teased as he whirled her around in his arms.
"You'll injure your back…" she began fretfully.
"Not tonight I won't." he told her confidently as he lowered her onto the bed.
The next morning Chakotay was woken by a rustling sound at the foot of the bed, blinking his eyes open to find Seven opening suitcases. "Seven, what are you doing?"
"Preparing for our honeymoon."
"Seven, it's the morning after our wedding! We don't leave until this afternoon…"
"It is 1230 hours; we are now in the afternoon."
"We can delay it…just come back to bed…"
"If we do that we will not reach the cabin until early evening."
"It doesn't matter…"
Seeing the frustration growing on her husband's features, Seven left what she was doing and climbed onto him, giving him a deep kiss. "You'll say anything won't you?"
"Yes…yes I will." He admitted with a laugh, returning her kiss.
In the event they didn't leave the hotel until after three to take the transporter up to Alaska, arriving in Kodiak several hours later than they had originally planned. They walked out of the transporter bay, Chakotay laden with two large suitcases and Seven carrying the third and her portable regeneration unit. Seven scanned the empty street uneasily. "Where is our vehicle of transportation?"
"Over there." He replied, pointing with his finger. Her eyes followed his direction and she couldn't help gaping in shock. "That is how we're travelling?"
Chakotay began lifting their luggage into the back of the somewhat battered pick up truck, going back for Seven's bags before fully registering the shock on her face. "It's perfectly safe Seven and unavoidable, it's the only way to navigate the roads out here. The cabin is a ninety minute drive from here in good weather so I suggest you stock up on groceries before we leave. The replicator in the cabin is temperamental." All she could do was nod silently and head into the shop, her head reeling as she wondered what lay in store for her.
When she returned and loaded the pick up with her purchases she joined Chakotay in the cab. "Belt up please." He ordered.
Seven did as he asked but couldn't help saying, "This antiquated piece of safety equipment would not fully protect us if you were to crash."
He shot her a look, "You trust me to fly a shuttle but not to drive a truck?"
"I trust you, it is the vehicle I don't trust." She replied. His only response was a laugh as he started the engine.
After an uneventful hour on the highway, Chakotay took a turn towards the forest and the road deteriorated into a dirt track as the trees closed in on them, shutting out most of the light as potholes made the couple continually rattle in their seats. Seven was beginning to regret not choosing the Caribbean cruise after half an hour of this but just then Chakotay turned again and the trees parted to reveal a log cabin charmingly placed in a gap in the trees, sunlight flooded the entire area and spring flowers bloomed all around. Seven immediately felt bad about her prior feelings as she escaped the truck, inhaling the fresh air and relishing the peacefulness. Chakotay beamed at her reaction and opened the door of the cabin, taking the luggage inside. Seven followed him in and took in the house that was to be her home for the next fortnight. She walked from room to room, observing the Native American objects dotted around and the family photographs in every room. "A piano!" she cried in delight when she saw it, tracing her fingers over the keys.
Chakotay smiled thoughtfully, "My mother's hobby. She was always trying to get me to learn but I was unwilling and had no talent whatsoever. She'd laugh knowing I've married such an accomplished pianist."
Seven looked at the photograph sitting on top of the piano, it showed Chakotay, aged around nine or ten sitting between his parents, laughing about something lost to history. "You and your parents came here frequently during your childhood?"
"Yeah, every year around my mother's birthday. I inherited this place from her; I didn't keep up the tradition through…"
Pain filled his dark eyes and she touched his arm soothingly, "We can, if you wish…"
"I'd like that…" he gave her an affectionate kiss, glad of the comfort she offered him.
Seven decided to change the subject. "What would you like for dinner?"
"Something simple, we've been having huge meals recently."
After a light but delicious meal of tomato and basil risotto, they sat quietly in each other's company until Chakotay had an idea. "Come on a walk with me, I have something to show you."
Seven looked up from the book she was reading, "What is it?"
"That's a surprise."
They walked hand in hand through the trees until Chakotay knew he was approaching what he was looking for. "Close your eyes." He whispered in her ear.
She sighed and closed her eyes but not before Chakotay heard her mutter "Humans!" in a teasing tone.
He guided her to the perfect position. "Open them!"
Seven was mesmerised and stood in silence for several seconds just gazing at what was before them. They were standing at the edge of a stunning waterfall, fast flowing with snow melt from the majestic mountains looming above. "It's beautiful…" she whispered in total awe.
"I know, I had forgotten how beautiful, you should see it when it's frozen…"
Seven sat down on the grass, tucking her knees up to her chest, Chakotay following and putting an arm around her shoulder, she rested her head on his and they sat in contemplative silence until Seven asked, "When was your mother's birthday?"
"The 5th of November, 5th of November 2288…my God, she would have been ninety this year."
"You were a late baby." Seven commented.
"Yeah, she was approaching her forty first birthday when I was born. I was a miracle she always said, she had lost her first husband five years before…she actually met Father at his funeral, from what I gather they hated each other at first…but then they fell in love and she followed him from here to my home world."
"That was a big change for her to make." Seven said in admiration.
"She always said it was a big leap of faith, she always brought us back here at some point though. When she died…I never wanted to come back but Father dragged me back here one more time, I hated it, it was no different from home I wanted access to civilisation for once. My father never brought me back and never took me home either, pulled me from planet to planet in search of more of our people, eventually I got so fed up as soon as I turned eighteen I ran off and joined Starfleet. Then the Cardassians invaded my world, Father was killed, I've never felt so angry…that's why I joined the Maquis…" He laughed bitterly. "I don't regret doing it, even though revenge didn't help…"
Seven stopped him, cupping her hands around his face. "I am glad you did, we would have never met otherwise. I am certain your parents would be proud of you…" He stopped her by kissing her lovingly over and over until they were lying on the ground. Seven pulled back breathlessly sensing what he wanted. "We can't…we're out in the open…"
"There's not a soul within twenty kilometres of either side of here." He pointed out.
"True…" she murmured as she allowed him to kiss her again.
A/n: Please review! I hope it wasn't tastelessly smutty but this is a wedding night/honeymoon chapter and this is rated T.