We'll give the credit for this one to CaptainLyssa. She wanted the scene from Tom's mention in "A Thorny Situation" that B'Elanna had turned down his marriage proposal. Well, to be honest, my muse couldn't quite come up with THAT scene. However it happily conjured a J/P scene in which KJ offers a little advice to the lovelorn. So, Lyssa, it's your turn ;)

ooo

As usual, the characters don't belong to me. I just enjoy some AU time with them. I certainly make no money from this.

Kathryn wandered into the Mess Hall, more for the change of scenery than anything else. It had been quite a day … despite the drama, the Antarian Rally had been a lot of fun. It was just too bad that the Delta Flyer didn't win.

As she replicated a cup of coffee, she noticed a solitary figure sitting in the corner, staring at the stars streaking by.

"Tom?" she called. He looked over and gave her a half-smile. Something wasn't right. And while she didn't like to intrude on her crew … this was Tom.

"Are you all right?" she asked, stepping closer.

He didn't answer. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I'll see you in the ..."

He seemed to shake himself. "No, no," he said quickly and motioned toward a seat. "Please sit, Captain. Maybe I shouldn't be alone."

Now she was alarmed. "What's happened? Is this about the race?"

"No, not exactly," he said. He was quiet for another moment. "I asked B'Elanna to marry me."

Kathryn hadn't expected the gut check this news delivered, but she managed not to react. "And ..."

"And she said no."

Something began to flutter in her stomach, but again, she held herself in check. "I hadn't realized that things were that serious."

"Maybe I'm the only one who thought that," he said resignedly. "She said she joined the race to help improve our relationship. Hell, I wasn't aware anything was wrong with it … at least nothing we couldn't fix."

She bit back a retort. Was he the only one who didn't notice how often they fought?

"Anyway, I told her that she meant everything to me, and proposed. She said no, that she'd been planning to break up. I guess the race didn't improve things."

"I am sorry," she said sincerely. "That's a rough way to find out."

He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a moment. "So what do you do when you're life's been pulled out from under you?" he finally asked. "When you find out that you've lost the person you want to spend your life with?"

She took a sip of coffee, wishing she'd replicated Irish whiskey instead. "Admittedly, I'm a poor excuse for a counselor." She could see his eyes glaze … he probably thought she was going to joke her way out of it.

"You know, I've been faced with that question, more than once; never found an easy answer," she continued softly. "The short, and admittedly trite solution is that you learn to let go. You grieve, and then as Seven might say, you adapt."

"Easier said than done," he snorted.

"No kidding," she replied. "It hurts like hell. When I lost … well, I was a mess. I didn't think I'd ever find my way out … didn't even try until I was forced to.

"This time, not that it's been any easier, but I'm finding my way. You will, too. Eventually, you'll be OK."

He looked at her thoughtfully, a bit surprised at her admission. Captains, admirals … they didn't expose their feelings to subordinates … didn't show any sign of weakness. Tom would have learned that at his father's knee.

"This is probably my fault," he finally said, looking down at the table. I was a jerk for forgetting about our weekend. I was going to make it up to her."

"I can't speak to that," she said softly, then paused … how to say this? "We all make mistakes, and hopefully, we learn from them, become a little wiser about ourselves. And sometimes, people, their expectations, their needs, just don't mesh.

"You're a good man, Tom. I have no doubt you'll find someone who will think you're a perfect match."

His smile was almost shy. "Well, thank you for the compliment." She just gave him an affectionate smile.

They were quiet for a moment, and he glanced at the chronometer. "It's getting late. Guess I'd better get some sleep."

She nodded. "It has been a long day."

He nodded in agreement and got up. About halfway to the door, he turned. "Captain … thank you."

She lifted her cup in a salute. "See you in the morning."

Kathryn looked out at the stars for a few moments, then got up to dump her cup in the recycler.

Perhaps she should drop by the holodecks in the evenings, she decided as she walked to the lift. She had a feeling that Sandrine's would be back in business.

Or maybe she should find that dartboard Chakotay talked her into replicating. After a suitable amount of time, perhaps, she could ask Tom to give her a few pointers.

Either way, she certainly knew where she could find a stash of Antarian cider ….