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Way The Wind Blows

Chapter Fifteen

"Ireland would be perfect," Kathryn said as she and Chakotay walked by the lake the following evening. "There are some really remote spots there and the time difference could only work to our advantage. Their day is virtually our night. Would definitely reduce the chances of unexpected visiotrs." She then stopped walking and turned to Chakotay. "But do you really think you have to live in the shadows? I mean, it's not like you've done anything wrong. If we tell Starfleet Command what's happened, what's the worst they could do? They couldn't kill you. That would be murder."

"They'd do worse than that," Chakotay said. "They'd want information. They'd want me to tell them about the future and...and it isn't my place."

"Even if what you could tell them could make the future better?"

"How can I be the judge of that? How can I judge what is better? Better for who? Someone's gain is always someone elses loss. And there's no guarantee that things would be better. Things could be worse." He paused. "A life in the shadows is the only life I should lead. And, after they'd got what they want from me, Starfleet Command would insist on it."

"I suppose you're right," Kathryn conceded. "I just don't like the thought of you being invisible, of wasting your brains and education."

"I can still make good use of my time," Chakotay said. "I can work the land, make things out of wood, study. I've seen a lot in my life, more than I could ever dream of. My hunger for exploration is satisfied. And I'm not exactly young anymore. A slower pace of life won't be a bad thing." He smiled. "Besides, someone's going to have to do the cooking. I don't fancy living on burnt roast."

Kathryn laughed softly. "So long as you'll be happy."

"I will be," he assured her.

"Then let's see what we can find in Ireland," she smiled. She then began to walk again and Chakotay accompanied her. "And talking of food," she said, "how would you like to go for a moonlight sail tomorrow? My Uncle Ted has a yacht that I'm sure he'd lend us and it could be here in the blink of a transport. We could dine beneath the stars and sleep to the sound of lulling water."

"Sounds wonderful," Chakotay replied.

"I'll ask my mother if she can have Petunia. As much as I love her, she's so demanding."

"Your mother or your dog," Chakotay teased.

Kathryn laughed softly. "Both."

They stopped walking again as they gazed into each others eyes and then they began to kiss. After a while, Petunia nudged Kathryn's legs with her toy.

"See what I mean?" Kathryn smiled. "Never a moment's peace!"

Gently, she took the toy from Petunia's mouth and threw it as far as she could. Petunia woofed and chased it.

"Now," Kathryn said, turning back to Chakotay, "where were we?"

Chakotay slipped his arms around her and gently kissed her lips. "Right about here."

Kathryn smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him in return.

Stars glittered in a sky of black velvet and a full moon shone brightly. From the deck of a spacious yacht, Kathryn looked up at the magnificent sky and then out at the tranquil water of the lake. Waves lapped gently against the stationary boat, and the dark water reflected the pearl light of the moon. The night was calm, but chilly, so she and Chakotay had erected a forcefield around the deck to protect themselves from the cold air.

Behind her, there was an elegantly set table with a white table-cloth, gleaming cutlery, porcelain plates, crystal glasses, a single vase with red and white roses, two tall white candles, sliced bread rolls on a silver plate, salad in a bowl, and a bottle of wine. Chakotay emerged from the cabin, dressed very smartly in black trousers, a gold and black embroidered waistcoat, and a black shirt, and was carrying a silver tray in his hands. Upon the tray was a very large gold plate covered with a silver dome.

"I'm so glad we decided to do this," Kathryn said, turning towards Chakotay when she heard him emerge from the cabin. "It's so tranquil." Her eyes fell on the plate and she questioned. "So, what's for dinner?"

"Vegetable Risotto," Chakotay replied. "But this isn't dinner." He carefully put the plate down on the table and then gestured to the lid. "Care to do the honors?"

"Certainly," Kathryn said, her curiosity piqued.

Quickly, she closed the gap between them and reached for the lid. When she lifted it up, she gasped at what she saw. On the plate were two beautiful floral garlands, four burning gold candles surrounding a sparkling silver bowl, and inside the bowl golden water decorated with pretty yellow flowers.

"Oh Chakotay," she said. "It's beautiful. What is it?"

"Caratara," Chakotay replied. "Water of love. It's used by my people in a ceremony to unite a man and a woman in marriage. The water is made from the flowers you see, Caranturin, the flower of love. After a couple commit their lives to each other, they drink of the water. It's believed the water will bless them with a long and happy life together. The garlands represent everlasting love, love without beginning and end, and the candles represent the four elements of nature." He paused. "I'd like to share that ceremony with you. I'd like to commit my life to you before my God and the spirits of nature."

Kathryn gazed at Chakotay, half thinking she was dreaming. "Me too," she said. "I mean...I'd like to do all that. I can't say I've ever really believed in God, but you being here sure is a miracle, so maybe there is a God after all."

Chakotay smiled, her happiness mirrored in his eyes. "Then let's begin."

Carefully, he took up the two garlands, and after placing one on Kathryn's head, placed one on his. Then he took Kathryn's hands in his.

"Now," he said. "Close your eyes."

Kathryn did as he asked and he began to speak.

"Oh great one," he said, "god of gods, creator of all, before you this night I commit my life to this woman, to love her with all my heart, to cherish her with all I am, to protect her with all my might, and to comfort her with all my strength. Bless us, oh great one, as we journey through life together."

His following silence told Kathryn that he had finished speaking, so she began.

"I don't know if you're there, God," she said, "but if you are, and you're listening, I do the same. I commit myself to this man, Chakotay, to love him, cherish him, protect him and comfort him, for the rest of our lives. And thank you, God, if you're there, for bringing him into my life. Amen."

Kathryn then opened her eyes and found herself gazing into Chakotay's. He smiled warmly, let go of her hands, and picked up the bowl. Reverently, he took a sip of the ceremonial water and then offered it to Kathryn. She did the same and then handed it back to him.

"Now," Chakotay said, holding the bowl between them, "we both place our hands on the bowl and seal our promise with a kiss."

Kathryn placed her hands opposite his on the bowl. "Like this?"

Chakotay smiled. "Perfect."

He then lowered his lips to her and they kissed tenderly.

When their meal was over, Kathryn and Chakotay danced in a close embrace to classical music on the open deck.

"I keep thinking this isn't real," Kathryn said. "I keep thinking I'm dreaming or have stepped into a romantic holo-novel."

Chakotay smiled. "If this is a holo-novel, am I your knight?"

"Oh yes," she laughed, "in shining armor so bright it's dazzling."

Chakotay laughed softly. "I keep thinking I'm dreaming too. For so many years I've longed for us to be together."

"Why weren't we? Now your future has gone, you can tell me."

"You know I can't."

"But why not? What harm could it do? I want to know everything about your life."

"And I would like to share it with you. But there are parts that I can't, at least not now. When my present becomes the past, maybe I can, but until then we both have to accept that I can't. We don't know to what extent the future has been rewritten and I could tell you things that...that might impact it in ways neither of us can imagine."

Kathryn protested. "But if your future has..."

Chakotay silenced her with a finger on her lips. "Please, Kathryn, don't ask me about the future."

At the longing in his eyes, Kathryn capitulated. "Ok, I won't."

"Promise me."

Kathryn took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "I promise. I can see you feel strongly about the temporal prime directive and I won't ask you to betray your principles."

"Thank you. I know it isn't going to be easy for either of us to not talk about my future. You have a natural curiosity and I have foreknowledge. Let's just hope...let's just hope that events in this future play out differently. Then I won't have that knowledge and won't face the dilemmas it inevitably brings."

"I'm sure everything will be different. I certainly hope so. Because in your future I must have gone nuts. A woman would have to be nuts not to want you. I mean, you're a walking dream."

Chakotay seemed surprised at that. "I am?"

"Absolutely. Not only are you kind, gentle, intelligent, but also dashingly handsome. I'm not surprised women have fallen all over you."

"Hardly," he said. "Besides, the women I've dated wouldn't have appreciated night's like this."

Now it was Kathryn's turn to be surprised. "Really?"

He nodded. "They weren't romantics."

"And I am?"

"Let me see," Chakotay teased. "You like Gothic romantic novels, you like castles, you like romantic classical music, you like flowers, you like meals by candlelight, you like poetry and you like dancing. I'd say you're a certified romantic."

Kathryn smiled. "I guess, then, I must confess that I am. But you must be too because...well...here you are dancing with me on the deck of a boat to classical music in the moonlight."

Chakotay's eyes twinkled. "Oh, just part of a charmer's technique. All part of an elaborate seduction plan."

Kathryn laughed, but then fell serious. "I just always liked the dream...you know? I never really expected it to be reality. Not to say that I wasn't in love with Justin, because I was, so very much, but our relationship it was...it was different."

"I understand," Chakotay replied. "And you don't have to justify your romantic side. There's nothing wrong with being romantic. I've experienced the other end of the spectrum and I can tell you that it's a cold and lonely place." He smiled. "So yes, I like romance. I like dancing with you here beneath the moonlight, I like dining with you amongst candles and roses, I like spoiling you with coffee-treats, and I like making love with you in satin sheets with champagne and strawberries."

Kathryn smiled, happy tears in her eyes.

Chakotay took her hand in his and kissed it tenderly. "The first night we spent together...it wasn't just a first for you, it was a first for me too." He looked deep into her eyes. "It was the first time I truly made love."

A tear ran down Kathryn's cheek and Chakotay traced the course of it. Then slowly, gently, he lowered his lips to hers in a loving kiss.

Chakotay's tender kisses woke Kathryn up from a peaceful sleep. When she opened her eyes, Chakotay smiled down at her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," she smiled.

For a long moment they gazed into each others eyes, then Kathryn's eyes strayed and she saw that he was fully dressed. "What time is it?"

"Almost 10.30. I hated to wake you, but we have a certain Irish cottage to view in less than an hour."

"We sure do," Kathryn said, already getting out of bed. "I'd better go and grab something for breakfast."

"No need," Chakotay said, going over to a small oak table at the other end of the cabin. "Your breakfast awaits."

Kathryn looked in the direction of the table and saw that it was set for one, complete with toast, cereal, a jug of milk, and a bottle of apple juice.

"Oh, Chakotay...thank you."

He smiled, picked up her black satin dressing gown, and held it out to her. Kathryn slipped into it and then embraced him.

"For everything," she said. "I had a wonderful time last night...really incredible."

Chakotay smiled and embraced her in return. "Thank you, Kathryn," he said. "Thank you for loving me."

"I love it," Kathryn said, looking around an empty Irish stone cottage. "It's got character, loads of land, plenty of space, and a magnificent view." Outside an old sash window, green grass rolled into a sandy shore. "It needs a lot of work, but we can stay at the cabin until it's done."

"I like it too," Chakotay said. "It has a good soul. Happy lives have been lived here."

Kathryn turned away from the window to look at Chakotay. "I could be happy here. Really happy. Could you?"

"Very," Chakotay replied.

Kathryn smiled happily. "Then, my Jack, let's snap it up!"

END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN