Shortly after Kathryn finishes her pudding the soft strains of waltz music peals across the room. Chakotay leans closer to Kathryn and says, "Would you like to dance?"
Kathryn looks up at Chakotay and smiles. "I would love to dance. This music is perfect." Chakotay extends his hand to Kathryn and they walk onto the dance floor. Kathryn gasps as Chakotay pulls her closely to him and dances slowly across the floor. All eyes follow them across the floor. Kathryn leans her head on Chakotay's shoulder. She's so comfortable with him now, even in front of the entire crew. The music slowly dies down and Kathryn looks up at Chakotay and asks, "Can we go talk out on the balcony?"
Chakotay looks down at Kathryn in confusion. "We can if you want to. Let's go talk then." He wants to know what's going on with Kathryn.
Kathryn walks slowly towards the balcony. She's not sure to tell Chakotay what she need to tell him. Her hands are shaking and she's terrible nervous. "Kathryn is something wrong?"
"No, for once in the Delta Quadrant, everything is right. I'm just not sure how to say this." Kathryn says quietly. She feels as if her confidence has deserted her.
"Just say what you need to say. Whatever it is it can't be that bad. I'll support you no matter what." Chakotay says supportively.
Kathryn takes a deep breath and starts speaking. "I've been avoiding my feelings for three years and now I need to speak my truth. If I don't my feelings will consume me. I love you, Chakotay. I have since you defended me the first time. When Mark's message came through to tell me that he was engaged to someone else my heart soared. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to tell you so." She leans against the rails of the balcony. Tears glisten in her eyes as she watches Chakotay pace the small balcony.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You could have told me and I wouldn't have told anyone else on board." Chakotay says resentfully.
"I couldn't have told you. I was so stuck on Starfleet protocol and getting home that I didn't see the point of forging close relationships. Besides, I still thought I was engaged to Mark. My loyalty was to him, but that has all changed. Please don't be angry with me, Chakotay. I couldn't have prevented this even if I wanted to." Kathryn says tearfully.
"I can't be angry with you, Kathryn. You just spilled your innermost thoughts and feelings to me. In fact, I'm ecstatic about your confession. I've been waiting to hear you say that you have feelings at all. I doubted it for a while. I love you too, Kathryn. I have since you decided to destroy the array without support from any of your crewmates. You were so brave considering you were in a situation you'd never been in before." Chakotay says holding Kathryn closely.
"Can we make this work? Can we just try to keep this quiet whatever it becomes?"Kathryn requests quietly as she wraps her arms around Chakotay's waist.
"Of course we can keep this quiet for a while. We will make this work. What do you mean whatever this becomes? It will become a wonderful, positive, intimate relationship. We are capable of making it exactly what we want it to be." Chakotay says as he rubs Kathryn's back.
Kathryn relaxes into Chakotay's arms. He's hugged her often, but not ever for this long. She smiles into his chest. She's so glad she told Chakotay the truth.
"Can I kiss you?" Chakotay whispers in Kathryn's ear.
"I thought you'd never ask. You took long enough." Kathryn teases.
"I had to regain my courage and all my brain to catch up with all the information you've given me." Chakotay explains before he leans forward and lays a kiss on Kathryn.
"If I'd know you were such a good kisser I would have told you the truth long ago." Kathryn says as she pulls away from the kiss.
"Would you really have told me earlier if you'd known I was such a fabulous kisser?" Chakotay asks, but he already knows the answer.
"Of course not, but you are an excellent kisser. I should have known you would be." Kathryn says sweetly.
"Shall we go dance? The crew will be getting suspicious of us being out here alone for so long." Chakotay asks as he reaches for Kathryn's hand.
"I would love to have another dance with you. You dance divinely." Kathryn says as they walk back through the balcony doors. The Blue Danube Waltz is just starting as they step into the ball room. They immediately fall into step on the floor. Chakotay doesn't step on Kathryn's toes once. The rest of the crew doesn't really notice that their commanding officers have joined them again. They just join the dance naturally.