*28*

Voyager I,

June 20

For the first time in almost two years Voyager's mess hall was in full use. The kitchen was a beehive of activity, and Neelix, in official ambassadorial garb was supervising a team of ensigns who were putting the finishing touches on several very elaborate desserts. Sarexa tried to pull him away, but to no avail.

"It's all under control, Neelix," she told him. "Ensign Blatock is following your instructions exactly. You really should join the party."

"But I want to do this my dear," he explained. "It's so very important things be just right tonight."

Sarexa, realizing her mate was as happy as she'd seen him in a long while, patted him gently on the cheek and left him to his own devices - and the many devices in what would always be his kitchen.

"Don't worry, Sarexa," he called after her, "I'll be where I'm supposed to be, when I'm supposed to be there!"

"Saxa, Saxa!" A small form hurled herself towards her, and Sarexa bent down just in time to catch Miral in a great big hug.

"How are you, my sweet?" she asked the child, who clung to her with her usual fierce enthusiasm. "And where's your Mommy?"

"I'm here, Sarexa," B'Elanna answered, slightly out of breath. "You know, I chase my staff all over engineering every day, and they don't seem to wear me out the way this little bundle of energy does!"

Sarexa laughed as Miral bounced off towards another familiar figure on the far side of the room, and they both watched fondly as the child was hugged and petted by all she met.

"She'll be just fine here," Sarexa said reassuringly, "She's got a roomful of caregivers to watch out for her. Why don't you sit with me for a moment and relax."

B'Elanna needed no second invitation. She sat down gratefully in the chair Sarexa offered. "It's so good to see everyone, isn't it?" She said. "This gathering of Chakotay's...of just our Voyager family and friends...it was a great idea. I can't stand those big Starfleet affairs. All that brass and formality aren't for me. I couldn't wait until the dedication ceremony was over so I could just come here and relax."

"Those ceremonies do serve a purpose, B'Elanna," Sarexa reminded her.

"Oh, I know it. Morale, image, public relations. That Commander Craig's been down to Engineering a number of times asking for statements and information he can pass on to the press. But it's all a bother, as far as I'm concerned."

The mess hall was filling up quickly and the party was in full swing. Chakotay, who had been standing at the door greeting all who entered had finally been pulled into the center of the room by Kathryn Janeway, who was one of the last to arrive. She'd had to remain at the Starfleet reception until it was officially over and had not been happy about it. To the amusement of all who were watching, he welcomed her with a quick kiss and a full flute of champagne, which she downed immediately and promptly handed back to him with a request for 'more of the same'.

The room was abuzz with conversation and laughter. Although a lot of them had kept in touch with one another, there were many crewmembers who hadn't seen each other in the months since Voyager's return, and reunions were definitely the order of the day. The warmth and joy in the hall was palpable.

Chakotay, standing in a group consisting of Michael Ayala, his two sons and a lovely young woman Michael had introduced as Kajee Narel, Tal Celes and Angelo Tessoni, watched as Janeway, her second glass of champagne in hand, circulated through the room. She stopped to hug Mark Zimmerman and he couldn't help but grin, remembering the battles the Captain and the hologram had engaged in over the years. He excused himself when he noticed his sister Maya and his cousins, Julia and Tervan deep in a conversation with Professor Zaji.

"Well big brother," Maya teased as he hugged her, "You obviously made quite an impression on your professor. But now I've told her how you learned your technique digging under rocks looking for worms to frighten me with when we were children, she might just have to reconsider your degree, isn't that right, Kimani?"

"I remember a time when both of you were chasing us," Julia recalled. "You and Tervan. Papa caught you and made you bring all the worms back to the woods."

"Yes, I remember," Tervan grinned at the memory. "We spent a whole day digging holes and burying those worms. Now that was fun!"

Kimani Zaji laughed. "I will definitely have to review his thesis...and his digging techniques."

"Too late Professor," Chakotay replied. "The degree has been approved and registered. You'll all have to trust that I deal with any worms I might find in a proper manner." He glanced across the room and spotted Owen and Alicia Paris standing in front of the mess hall's largest viewport talking with Gretchen Janeway, Tuvok and T'Pel. "I'm afraid you must excuse me," he said, "I think it's time we got things underway."

"Are you almost ready?" The Admiral asked as he approached them.

"I've been ready for a long time," Chakotay replied with a smile. "But yes, I think I am."

"Well then, let's get started, shall we?" Paris smiled back at him. "I think this is the sort of thing that should be done quickly, don't you? I promise we'll make it as painless as possible."

"Owen...do you really think that's funny?" Alicia Paris asked, and Chakotay and Gretchen laughed.

"I don't believe the Professor will find what he is about to do will be at all painful," Tuvok said solemnly, "However I'm not so sure about the Captain."

There was a moment's silence, before they all burst into laughter. "Tuvok, I do believe you've made a joke!" Gretchen said with delight. "No wonder Kathryn is so very fond of you."

Chakotay gestured to Neelix, who had long since left the kitchen and was doing his own circulating through the room. The Talaxian hurried towards them, nodding and smiling as he made his way through the crowd.

"Are you ready Comm...Professor?" he asked.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Chakotay said plaintively, but his tone was belied by his grin.

Neelix picked up a glass that was sitting on nearby table and tapped it several times with a small silver beater he dug out from a deep pocket in his jacket. Chakotay recognized it as the same one they used to ring the triangle at Prixin.

The sharp clear sound of the beater on the crystal rang through the room and immediately caught everyone's attention. The chatter stopped as all turned to the source of the sound.

"Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, officers, members of the crew, family, friends..."

Tuvok coughed gently.

"I just want to make sure I don't leave anyone out," Neelix explained amidst much applause and laughter.

"The Professor," Neelix pointed to Chakotay, "Invited me to say a few words, and so I will!" More laughter.

"Welcome, welcome, all of you," he continued when the crowd had finally quieted down. "As you know, tonight is a very special night, and we're all here to celebrate. Our ship and crew have been given a very special honor and we should all be very proud." He paused for a moment, gazing out at the many familiar faces in the crowd. "I know I am."

"But tonight we're going to celebrate something else. And I'd like to ask Admiral Paris to help me out."

As Neelix retreated and the Admiral stepped forward, a small clear voice called out "Pop Pop!" And Owen Paris grinned and waved at his grand daughter.

"Hush, Miral, Pop Pop's busy now," Tom Paris admonished his daughter gently, and turning to B'Elanna asked, "Do you know what's going on here?"

"Not a clue," she whispered back. "Shhh..."

"Chakotay," The Admiral called him forward.

"Kathryn." Janeway made her way to the front of the room to stand beside Chakotay.

"I believe Chakotay, you have something you'd like to say?" Owen Paris stepped back and left the two of them to face the crowd.

"Tonight, so far, we've witnessed not one, but two dedications," Chakotay began. "We dedicated this ship as a living memorial. We remembered our fallen, and celebrated our success. And we embraced our future when we received the dedication plaque for our newest journey - and another starship named Voyager. But there's one more dedication we'd like to make this evening."

"A dedication and a commitment," Kathryn Janeway continued, "One that we've already made, really, but that we'd like to share with you. Admiral?"

It took a moment before their guests realized what was about to transpire, but when Admiral Paris stepped forward again and faced Kathryn and Chakotay, Gretchen Janeway moved to stand beside her daughter, and Maya beside her brother it became clear.

"Yessss!" Harry Kim's voice broke through the applause, which started at the back of the mess hall and grew in volume until it became almost deafening.

The Admiral raised his hand, demanding quiet, and the crowd complied. He addressed the couple before him.

"You both have indicated to me that you wish to be joined in matrimony in the tradition of your parents. Is this still the case?"

"It is," they replied in unison.

"Then let us begin. Chakotay..."

Chakotay turned to face Kathryn and took both her hands in his.

"Kathryn Janeway, I commit to you with all my heart and all my soul. I cannot imagine a life that doesn't include you. Your joys are mine, and your sorrows are mine as well. No matter where I am, and no matter where you are - we are together in mind, in spirit and in heart."

"Chakotay..." Janeway's voice was low and steady, but her hands shook slightly as they rested in his. Chakotay stroked her palm with his thumb and they stilled. She looked down at them and up at him and smiled. "You steady me, you anchor me and you complete me. I commit to you for now, and forever - in mind, in spirit and in heart."

Chakotay gently withdrew his hands from hers and looked at his sister, who handed him a small square box. He opened it and removed two simple silver rings, one of which he handed to Kathryn.

"These bands were made from duranium taken from the hull of this ship - of Voyager," he explained. "We will wear them with great love - and pride." He slipped the ring he held onto Kathryn's finger and then held his hand out so that she could do the same for him. They both turned back to face Admiral Paris.

"This ceremony, then, has united the two of you as you requested, according to the laws and regulations of the Federation and the customs of your ancestors," Admiral Paris intoned formally. "You are now husband and wife."

Chakotay pulled Kathryn towards him, tipped her chin up and kissed her soundly on the lips. The cheers and hurrahs that accompanied this action caused them to break apart grinning. Gretchen Janeway hugged her daughter and her new son in law and handed them each a glass of champagne, which she had instructed Neelix to have ready and waiting for them immediately after the ceremony was over. Kathryn smiled at her mother in gratitude and raised her glass in a toast. Chakotay joined her, and throughout the room their guests did the same.

Tom Paris was the first to reach them, B'Elanna close on his heels. "I can't believe you did that - I just can't believe it," he exclaimed as he shook Chakotay's hand. "Congratulations to the both of you. I'm impressed you were able to keep it such a secret."

"Thank you, Tom," Kathryn replied. "Coming from you that's quite a compliment." She patted Chakotay's arm fondly. "It was his idea, but I thought it was a pretty good one, myself."

"Chakotay...I...you..." B'Elanna, suddenly at a loss for words found herself engulfed in Chakotay's warm embrace.

"Thanks B'Elanna," he smiled as he released her.

"I'm so glad this is finally over," Kathryn's sister Phoebe exclaimed as they hugged. "I had a terrible time keeping it a secret you know!" She turned to Chakotay. "And now I've finally got a brother," she grinned at him. "Always wanted one of those..."

"Glad to oblige," he replied, "And we appreciate that you managed to keep it quiet, believe me."

"And it was a lovely ceremony, too," she turned back to her sister, "Typical Kathryn - short and to the point!" Kathryn grinned and reached out to embrace her sister once more. "And exactly what we wanted," she replied.

"There's dessert, there's ice cream," Neelix announced as he bustled through the crowd. "And there's coffee, Captain," he said as he hurried by her on his way back to the kitchen.

"Captain, Professor." The voice was insistent and the tone was one of annoyance. Janeway turned to find herself face to face with Commander Craig, Starfleet's number one public relations and communications officer, and, recently one of the banes of her existence.

"How could you do this without telling me," he complained. "I would have had a photographer and someone from the networks here to cover it. What an opportunity we've missed."

"I beg your pardon?" Janeway replied. "I don't recall inviting you this evening."

"I overheard some of your staff discussing this gathering. You must be aware that all public functions on this ship are subject to approval by my department."

"The approval for this gathering came from the Admiralty, and as far as I'm concerned that's approval enough for me. This is a private party, and there is to be no coverage. No coverage at all. Do you understand me?"

"But it's a great news story, Captain," Craig was almost whining. "Great publicity."

"In a few days you can send out a small release announcing the Captain and I are married," Chakotay informed him. "I'll call your office and tell you when. But in the meantime, if there is one hint of this in tomorrow's papers..."

"There will be hell to pay." Admiral Paris finished for him. "Now have a glass of wine, there's a good man, and leave these people alone."

Owen Paris took Commander Craig firmly by the arm and led him away.

The party continued, and one by one each of the guests filed by and offered their congratulations to the bride and groom. By the end of the evening Janeway was exhausted and even Chakotay was feeling the strain.

"I'm glad we only have to do this once," he said to her as the last of their guests finally left the mess hall.

"Once is more than enough, thank you," she replied.

"Are you sorry?" he asked her, suddenly serious.

Instead of replying, she pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Never," she whispered into is lips, just before she kissed him.

"Now take me home, Professor, that's an order."