And here is part 16 tell me what you all think.

The Inevitable Truth
by: AW

Chapter 16

Rating: MA
Pairing: J/C
Summary: The Consequences of 'The Killing Game'.
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom owns the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: words
Date: February 2018

[0600 JANEWAY QUARTERS]

Kathryn was startled out of her slumber by the alarm blaring.

She turned to her left to see Chakotay slumbering next to her. "Come on sleepy head. Time to get the day started."

She walked to the living room and ordered a coffee.

As she sat down by her computer terminal she saw a message from the Doctor on DS9.

All Voyager crewmembers clear.

Kathryn let out a huge sigh of relief and turned to Chakotay finally leaving the sleeping area. "Well the crew is all clear of Changeling activity."

Chakotay nodded. "Ready to get going to Earth?"

She nodded, "This day has been five years in coming but we're finally going to see Earth…"

Chakotay stared at his wife. "What's wrong Kathryn? This is what we have been working towards for those five years."

Kathryn sighed, "Look at me." She tried to smooth her clothes over her baby belly. "What are they going to say?"

"I think they'll understand. You were under mind control –"

"When I got pregnant with William I was." She walked toward the windows in he quarters staring at the familiar stars.

"Then I lost him; then what do I do?" She laughed, "Marry my first officer and get knocked up again. What is Starfleet going to say about that?"

He stared at her, "Does it really matter?"

"Of course it matters Chakotay. This was my life: my career!"

He shook his head and put a hand on the barely noticeable baby bump. "Is that all you want from life now? We have the twins on the way, there were how many births because of the Hirogen? How many couples have found each other out here? Do you really think that Starfleet is going to penalize you for that?"

She looked down, "I don't know Chakotay; I really don't know."

He pulled her in for a hug full of hope and to a certain extent uncertainty. "If we had never gotten trapped in the Delta Quadrant, we would not have found each other."

She nodded, "But was that selfish of me? Finding happiness when so many other people found nothing but despair?"

He sighed, "If we had've been stuck there for seventy years, we would have needed replacement crew in half that time. I think that marriages, relationships, babies… they were inevitable."

Kathryn slowly nodded her head. "I know we could have been out there the rest of our lives; and as you say are you willing to give up today for a tomorrow that may never come?"

It was almost half past 6, "We have to get to the bridge."

Chakotay nodded and watched his wife go to the replicator. "One maternity uniform size four."

She then went to the bedroom and put on her wedding ring. "All or nothing Chakotay. All or nothing."

Chakotay got out of the sonic shower and put on a clean uniform. "Let's go face the music."

Kathryn nodded and led the way out of their quarters.

[BRIDGE – 0700]

Kathryn tapped her combadge and made a ship wide announcement. "Well it's been a long five years. We've won some we've made some friends and some enemies; but now it's time to go home."

She closed the channel and turned to Tom. "Set a course for Earth, warp 7."

"Yes, ma'am. Estimated time to the sol system, four hours 20 minutes."

"As you were. Tuvok you have the bridge."

He nodded, "Commander, after you." Kathryn and Chakotay walked into the room and she spun around on him. "This could be our last days of freedom."

He sighed, "Kathryn you are overthinking this."

She stared at him, "Am I Chakotay? While the rest of the Federation was putting its life at risk in a fight against the Dominion, I am what?" She paused, "Playing house?"

Chakotay approached Kathryn, "You had every right to do what you did. We had a right to be happy."

She let out a snarky laugh, "Did we? Had we been in the Alpha Quadrant, we wouldn't have found each other. I'd be on the front line possibly dead, but instead here I am married and pregnant." She stared at him, "Look at how they're going to see this."

"They are going to see that you were stuck in an impossible situation – and we were going to need replacement crew, and as the Captain you were leading by example."

She looked into his deep obsidian orbs, "You think they'll buy that? If that were the case I wouldn't have to marry you."

"You were creating a stability for your crew by creating a complete union."

She laughed, "I think in a past life you could have been a lawyer."

He smiled at her and bent down to envelop her lips in a kiss. "You have to stop worry and calm down it is not good for the twins."

Kathryn tilted her head in an 'I told you so gesture' "And that is exactly why I should not be pregnant."

Chakotay smiled, "I hate to point out the obvious…"He pointed at her belly…

She smacked him playfully on the shoulder. "Oh, you."

They got a hail from the bridge, "Paris to Janeway, we've just reached the sol system should be at Earth within the half hour."

Janeway smiled at Chakotay, "Well looks like the time of reckoning has arrived."

He smiled at his wife, "It will be fine."

Kathryn grabbed Chakotay's arms and they headed back out to the bridge.

"Mr. Paris, how far are we from Earth?"

Tom spun around and grinned, "Approximately eight minutes."

Kathryn turned around and went to sit in the command chair. "Alright people almost done our mission; almost home."

She drew in a deep breath and waited. Chakotay surreptitiously took her hand in his silently telling her that all would be okay.

Five minutes later, a little sooner than originally expected they made their way into orbit around Earth.

Harry blurted out, "We're receiving a hail from Starfleet. Kathryn smiled, and Chakotay could once again not believe how much younger she looked when she smiled. "On screen ensign."

"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. We're home."

Admiral Paris' face lit up the screen. He looked at Janeway's changed form. "Welcome home. I bet you have some stories to tell."

Kathryn self-consciously slid a hand over her baby bump. "That we do Admiral, that we do."

END CHAPTER 16

TBC IN CHAPTER 17