Disclaimer: Paramount owns everything but I doubt they want this.
Rated PG-13
"Come," Kathryn called out without looking up from the display in front of her.
When the silence stretched out, she finally glanced up to find an amused First Officer, though he was trying to hide it.
"Yes?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. That trick she had learned from Tuvok; it was guaranteed to provoke a full confession.
"Kathryn, I'm assuming that you didn't read Neelix and Tom's request for a party fully before you okayed it." Now his grin was out in the open, as he held out a padd to her.
She looked alarmed as she jumped up from her chair, hurriedly grabbed it and quickly scanned the contents. She gasped.
He watched her face as the information sank in. Just seeing her react was the most fun he'd had in over a month.
She leaned back weakly on her desk as if her legs had lost their ability to support her.
At her stunned silence he finally decided to take pity on her as he plucked the padd from her limp grasp. "I thought as much. Especially when I read the part about the dance contest among the senior staff and the requirement that they participate. That was probably Tom's doing."
"Well, I'm sure I've got bridge duty that…" she said rallying, but trailed off at the shake of his head.
"No, I'm afraid Mr. Tuvok has that privilege. I wouldn't be surprised if he arranged it just so he could avoid this requirement." He flashed his dimples again.
"Chakotay, if memory serves me correctly, YOU arranged the shift rotations!" She looked outraged and more than a little angry as her voice rose.
He held up his hands up in mock surrender as he grinned even wider. "It can't hurt to have the Vulcan in my debt. You never know when I might need a favor, and believe me, he's very grateful right now."
Kathryn snorted. "You…" she started in a threatening voice as she advanced with an accusing finger aimed right at him.
"Hey, I'm not the one who okayed the idea," he exclaimed as he backed away from her. "I just wanted to see if you'd be my dance partner. After all, the Captain is requiring full participation." He had the audacity to grin.
His biggest mistake. He ducked the first padd thrown in his direction, but the empty coffee cup hit him full in the chest. He looked at her considerable arsenal of padd's and coffee cups, and quickly made a tactical decision. "I surrender!" he yelped even as she reached for another cup.
"Good thinking mister," she said in an ominous voice, "especially since the next cup isn't empty. You might end up in the brig if I had to waste a single drop of this." Kathryn took an appreciative sniff and looked mollified as she wrapped her hands lovingly around her cup.
"Drink your coffee, Kathryn," he said as he slowly approached her. His soothing voice and placatory hand motions made her eyebrow rise again dangerously. Seeing this he froze.
"Well Chakotay, it would seem I have two choices open to me. I could cancel this contest or I could participate as required.
He interjected quickly, " Kathryn, the crew needs this too much. After one month with the replicators down and the drawn out negotiations with the Cearans, the crew needs some time to enjoy themselves."
"I thought that throwing open the replicators for a few hours and celebrating would diffuse the tensions of the crew." Kathryn sighed then added, "God knows I missed coffee and I don't think I could face any more of Neelix's casseroles."
Chakotay felt his hopes rising. "It is the best thing for everyone right now. Requiring the senior staff to participate is the best part of the idea." Seeing her skeptical look he said emphatically, "Really Kathryn, the whole crew is already excited by the idea. They need to see you, especially in a setting like this, and if you are honest you'll admit that you need it just as badly.
She still wasn't convinced and told him so.
"Look at it this way, it's exercise and friendly competition. There is the prize you okayed! It is three days off duty."
Kathryn raised her eyebrow and tapped impatient fingers on her desktop whilst looking at him.
"And we could add a month's extra replicator rations," he added.
Kathryn gave an ostentatious yawn and waited expectantly.
Reluctantly he added, "Oh, and a bottle of Ketarian brandy."
Kathryn sat up abruptly and said, "Okay Chakotay, you're on, but only on a few conditions." She held up a hand counting off her requirements. "First that we practice every night until the competition. If we do it, we do it to win. Second, I pick the dance and music, and finally," she smiled broadly, "when we win, you come and share that bottle of brandy with me."
He returned her smile. "We couldn't let it go to someone who might not appreciate it, now can we? 1900 hours on the holodeck then?"
"No, my quarters," she replied. "Fewer interruptions. Come prepared to work hard."
"I'm always happy to comply." His look was arch with meaning as he turned and left the ready room.
Katherine gave a wicked grin as she leaned back in her chair. Propping her feet up on her desk she put her hands behind her head, smiled and thought, this is going even better than I'd planned.
"So, do you think Tom and B'Elanna are going to be much competition?" Chakotay asked Kathryn as she poured him another glass of wine.
Kathryn shot him a playful look as she rose from the table and moved to the couches under the window. "Tom does have good moves," she smiled suggestively, "but B'Ella tends to react to competitions like she's going into battle. It makes her take the lead, which confuses the hell out of Tom!"
"Sounds like another woman I know," he said moving to join her. He saw Kathryn aim her infamous death glare at him, so he added with emphasis, "Seven of Nine. She was partnered with Harry, but I suggested that she dance with the Doctor instead. She doesn't try to walk all over him, and Harry can partner with Jenny Delaney instead." His knowing smile practically screamed 'gotcha!'
Kathryn's wry smile acknowledged the hit. She leaned in close to take the wineglass out of his hand. He froze. Her smile became warm, almost sultry, and she leaned in until their lips were almost touching. He took a deep breath, inhaling her perfume.
"Chakotay?" She whispered.
"Yes," his voice was hoarse, and after clearing his throat, he said again, "Yes, Kathryn?"
"I want…" her voice was husky. She took his hand and looked deep into his eyes.
He didn't think his collar could get any tighter.
"I want to go over the ending again. There are some changes I'd like to make." She gave a Cheshire cat smile and pulled him to his feet briskly.
He smiled even as he shook his head. "One point for Kathryn. Game, set and match."
Her overly innocent look, of 'were we keeping score?' dissolved into a burble of laughter as she winked at him.
Tom and Neelix had set the holodeck up to look like a 20th century nightclub, complete with colored lights on the floor and shining down from the ceiling. There was even a sparkling ball hanging down over the center of the dance floor. Tom was telling the curious crowd that it was based on one from a twentieth century movie from Earth, Saturday Night Fever. The Doc quipped he'd never heard of it.
"Never mind!" He said with a roll of his eyes and a grin. "Just trust me," which was of course met with groans and cries of "yeah right, Tom!"
"Disco never dies," he stated valiantly against the obvious disbelief. "You agree, don't you B'Elanna?" he asked as he pulled his wife closer to his side.
"Sure Tom," she said smiling. "I agree, at least until the honeymoon is over."
Catcalls and amazement at her acquiescence drowned anything else she had to say out.
Kathryn and Chakotay were of course the last to arrive. Neelix hurried over to greet them. "Captain, Commander," he beamed at them, "the party is just getting warmed up. If one of you will just follow me we can sign you in for the contest. The couples are drawing numbers, Tom's idea, to decide the order. The whole crew will be judging the contest, or at least the people who are here. Captain, I must compliment you on your dress. It's so wonderful to see you out of uniform." Neelix blushed a bright orange, "I mean it's nice to see you in civilian clothes, of course. And in such a lovely color too. What do you call it by the way?"
Kathryn smiled at Neelix's embarrassment and decided not to tease him further. "It's called midnight Neelix, and I'm glad you like it." She caught Chakotay's amusement and signaled him to go with Neelix to sign them in. "I'll just go get us some drinks Commander."
He nodded and took Neelix's arm and led him away asking questions about the theme.
Kathryn made her way to the bar where a hologram with a thick New York accent asked, "Whadda ya have lady?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes at the things Tom threw into his programs, and ordered two glasses of champagne.
"So Captain, what do you think?" Tom asked from behind her.
"You've done it again Tom. Very creative and your attention to authenticity is always a marvel." She smiled to show him her appreciation. "I hear you and B'Elanna have quite a dance number."
"Yeah, you could say that. Luckily for me, we're still in the honeymoon phase, or I'd never have gotten her to go along with a disco dance number. It took a bit of work as it was."
"I can imagine." Kathryn's voice was dry. "Do you know what everyone else's choices for dance numbers were?"
"Well, Doc and Seven are doing a ballroom dance number, luckily we're in the holodeck, so we can make changes to the setting for every number. Harry is following Jenny and my suggestion and doing a dance number from the 1950's-from a show called 'Grease'." Seeing her perplexed look at the title, he started to explain, but she waved it away.
He then said, "Oh, did I mention, Seven required Icheb to participate? She said it would be valuable in his assimilation of social interaction skills." He grinned at her reasoning.
Kathryn smiled and asked, "Don't tell me she picked out his partner and dance number too?"
"Well she did pick out his partner, Naomi, but she asked me to pick out the style. Naomi had her own ideas so I just helped her out instead. I think they are doing a collection of styles from the 1950 and 1960's. Icheb said that Naomi's lack of height would make the proposed activity more of a challenge, but he didn't have a choice but to agree. You know how Seven is."
Kathryn laughed and nodded. "She is right though. Icheb does need to socialize more. He doesn't quite understand the subtle differences between friendships and relationships, from what B'Elanna told me."
Tom laughed out loud at Kathryn's reference to Icheb's misunderstanding of B'Elanna's friendship for something along a more romantic line. "Live and learn!"
Chakotay came up and took his drink from Kathryn and said, "You outdid yourself this time Tom. This is even better than Sandrine's." Kathryn elbowed him in the ribs. "Speak for yourself Commander, I prefer the pool table to the dance floor."
"Sorry," he said without a trace of apology. "I forgot about the pool shark in our midst."
"Well I'd better get things going so I'll see you two later okay?" Tom waited for their nods before walking over to where Neelix was waving for his attention.
"You ready Chakotay?" she asked.
"If you are Kathryn. You are sure about this dance number? It may scandalize a few of the crew who don't know how sexy you really are." He smiled as he watched her blush.
"Well we'll just have to shock them down to their toenails then, won't we? I don't ever do anything by halves." Her grin was almost feral.
"They won't know what hit them." He laughed and laid an arm across her shoulder. She looked surprised, but didn't protest or move away.
"Attention everybody!" Tom said loudly, and the microphone gave a whine of feedback.
"Tom, there is such a thing as too much detail!" Harry called loudly.
Tom grinned and said, "Just adding to the mood, Harry. Now everybody, we're going to get things rolling but first I'd like to thank the Captain and Commander for allowing this party to happen and for taking part. I personally am looking forward to seeing them dance tonight."
Neelix grabbed the microphone from Tom's hand before he could add to that statement. "All right, now since Naomi has a curfew we thought she and Icheb could be the first to dance so as soon as everyone clears the floor, we'll get started." He gestured to a seating area that had candlelit tables but which was raised above the dance floor so everyone could still watch.
Kathryn and Chakotay joined Tom and B'Ellana at a table at the front of the seating area.
Tom leaned over and grinned at the Captain and Chakotay as he said, "I can't wait to see how Icheb reacts to this dance routine!" He was almost gleeful at the prospect of Icheb's discomfort.
"Be nice Tom, he's just a kid. He's not in competition with you, at least not on the dance floor." B'Ellana said with a mocking grin.
Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged amused glances at the constant sparring these two engaged in. It was apparent that marriage had not softened this part of their relationship
Naomi and Icheb's number was fun for everyone to watch; especially when they got to a number called 'the Twist'. Kathryn hadn't laughed so much for a long time. Icheb clearly was self-conscious but Naomi threw herself into the number with gusto.
As the lights lowered at the end of the dance number, Tom was too busy laughing to comment. "Shut your mouth helmboy, or you will be as wooden as Icheb when it's your turn out there." B'Elanna dug him in the ribs with her elbow.
"Sounds like fun to me!" Tom was still laughing.
B'Elanna and everyone else at the table just rolled their eyes.
Chakotay leaned over and whispered in Kathryn's ear, "The kids may be stiff competition for us, Kathryn."
She turned to find his face close to hers. She smiled and put a hand to his cheek. "Stiff is right, did you see Icheb's face?"
Chakotay laughed and sat back as the lights brightened upon a ballroom dance floor.
Seven was standing alone in a spotlight looking like a torch in her floor length ruby red dress and her shining golden hair. Suddenly a spotlight opposite her displayed the Doctor as he slowly approached and took her hand. The music swelled and he swept her up in his arms. The couple floated across the floor with many flourishes and dips. Seven never took her eyes off the Doc's and he seemed to be mesmerized. At the end of the number, he dipped her and she lay back upon his arm, then she smiled almost blindingly. Everyone gasped and even the Doc seemed to be surprised by this display. As the light's dimmed Seven could be heard to say, "You were correct Doctor, the champagne did positively enhance our performance."
Kathryn looked at Chakotay in the candlelight from the table and smothered her laughter behind her hands. He thought she looked adorable with her eyes sparkling.
"Two more couples to go, before we take a spin. I don't know about you but I'm nervous." He smiled and held out a hand.
She took his hand and said, "There's only one thing to do then…" and added at his querying look, "have some champagne!"
Now it was his turn to smother a laugh.
The lights came up with the original disco lighting and thumping music. Tom was in the middle of the floor in a white suit and vest with a black shirt, which was opened to reveal a large gold medallion. B'Elanna was also wearing a red dress like Seven, but with a more daring cut. It had a deep neckline and a skirt that just brushed the top of her knees. The dancing showed B'Elanna's beautiful legs frequently during their very energetic routine, but somehow she didn't expose anything more even with that plunging neckline. Tom was obviously reveling in his twentieth century simulation. Their dance ended with Tom standing with one arm raised and his hand pointed skyward. B'Elanna was posed similarly.
"Now I'm not sure how to judge that," Chakotay said with a quizzical look at Kathryn.
"With Tom and B'Elanna there is no comparison," she replied. "They are definitely one of a kind, but they do look good together, don't they!"
He nodded agreement, and raised his champagne glass to Kathryn, "A toast, to all the happy couples aboard Voyager. May they always have reason to celebrate."
Kathryn smiled softly and kept eye contact as she touched glasses and took a drink. "To all the happy couples."
He took her hand and she pressed his warmly.
Harry and Jenny's number was next and most of the crew didn't recognize the setting. Tom could have informed them it was a typical twentieth century high school gymnasium done up with crepe paper and balloons. Harry, who looked nervous, was wearing a black suit with a hot pink shirt and matching handkerchief in the pocket. Jenny Delaney had a spaghetti strapped white ankle length dress with a fluffy skirt and a corsage pinned at her waist. She had her part of her hair pulled up in a bouncy ponytail with the back hanging down. Her smile was radiant. When the music "Hand Jive" began it was obvious that they had practiced a lot. Harry even started loosening up after a few minutes. By the end, his smile was as wide as Jenny's and they ended with a flourish and rain of holographic balloons. The lights went down as Jenny turned and flung her arms around a pleasantly surprised Harry Kim.
"Kathryn it's our turn now." Chakotay had stood and was pulling her up out of her chair.
"In more ways than you know Chakotay," she murmured.
"What was that?" he asked.
At his curious look she said, "Later, I promise." He nodded.
"Good luck you two," Tom said. "You'll need it against B'Ella and me." His look was smug.
"Break a leg, Chakotay," B'Ellana said, "while I break Tom's."
Chakotay hadn't seen the dance scene Kathryn had created, she had told him he could wait for it along with everyone else. She led him by the hand out into the middle of the holodeck stage and said quietly. "Computer begin program Janeway-salsa-one."
The whole crew waited in hushed anticipation as the lights came up slowly on a crowded dance floor. The club was smoky and the lighting was muted and shifting through the color spectrum. The holo dancers slowly moved to the edges of the dance floor leaving Kathryn and Chakotay standing facing one another. Chakotay reached out one hand to her waist and pulled her towards him. He then slowly ran his hand up from her waist, skimming her side and then down her arm until he was holding her hand. He kissed her hand and placed it on his shoulder.
The crew was completely silent. Kathryn reached up with her other hand to his neck and pulled him in to kiss him, then slowly ran her hand down to grasp his. It was apparent to B'Elanna, but probably to no one else, that Kathryn had surprised Chakotay with that kiss. He raised their joined hands to eye level and put his other hand on her waist. There was very little space separating them, and Tom drew in a breath to say something but a look from B'Elanna stopped him. The music started and it had a definite Latin beat.
Kathryn and Chakotay began to move together in a discreet front and back movement with Chakotay guiding her by the contact of their joined hands. Their torsos never touched and the space between them stayed almost constant, but there was a tension there that all could see. After moving together in this pattern for a few moments, and without losing eye contact, the music grew more complex and suddenly Chakotay swung her into more complex moves. He led her through a series of turns, at times cuddling her to his side with his arm, at others spinning her and stopping her with a hand to her hip or thigh. Kathryn's hair whipped around and she smiled at him provokingly during some of their closer contacts. Chakotay just looked determined and damned sexy was the female consensus. The motion of their hips was fascinating to the crew and the glimpses of the Captain's legs offered by the side slits in that dark dress. The dance ended when Chakotay pulled Kathryn into an inside turn, he released her hand to reach around and hug her closely, one hand on her back and the other on her right shoulder. The space between them had evaporated. He twisted to the left, stepping to the left with that foot and bent his left knee, and leant left. Kathryn's body twisted and she leant back on his arm and leg during this move and Chakotay simultaneously, reached down and grasped her left leg and wrapped it up around his hip. The music stopped leaving Kathryn and Chakotay wrapped around one another, and the lights fell dramatically.
"Whew, remind me to ask the Captain for dance lessons," Tom said.
B'Elanna elbowed him. "I'm the only one who gives you those kind of dance lessons, you pig. Now shut up before they come back again, Tom."
When he started to say something, B'Elanna gave him a fierce look and raised a warning finger. Tom wisely decided to take heed.
Harry and Jenny had joined Tom and B'Elanna at their table. Harry, must have look surprised at Tom's response, because B'Elanna transferred her stare to him. "I'm not going to say a word, about anything!" he said quickly.
"Smartest thing I've heard all evening, Starfleet."
Tom said, "Now B'Elanna, you're not supposed to browbeat Harry, I'm the one you're married to."
B'Elanna started to glare at him, but instead softened into a smile. "You never know when to quit do you Tom?"
"That's just part of my charm." He gave a mocking grin before leaning over to kiss her.
"Save it for later guys, here comes the Captain and Chakotay." Harry said and then winced as B'Elanna kicked him under the table.
"Kathryn that was wonderful. Chakotay, I didn't know you had that kind of rhythm." B'Elanna said and smiled at them both as they approached the table. "If you'd like to join us we can modify the table size."
"Thank you," said Kathryn quickly before Chakotay could reply, "but we have a quiet little table over there. Don't let us interrupt you." Seeing their looks of surprise and rampant curiosity she smiled widely. "Have a good time, we really enjoyed all of the dances by the way. Come on Chakotay."
Chakotay was surprised, but he wasn't about to argue as Kathryn took his hand and led him off.
"Hmm, if I'm not mistaken there's something going on there," Tom said with a speculative look in his eyes.
"Just shut up Tom, I don't want to hear about this in the betting pool." B'Elanna said warningly.
"B'Elanna, get real, after that dance there is no way in hell that they are not going to be in the betting pool." Tom's face was incredulous.
"Yeah, but you don't have to add to it! I'm serious about this Tom." Her face was mutinous.
"B'Elanna," he said with a mixture of defensiveness and outrage on his face, "I wouldn't do anything that would hurt either of those two. I care about them too, but I don't have control over the betting pool though."
"I'm not angry at you Tom. I know you care about them, it's just the betting pool is one of the things that has kept them apart all of these years." B'Elanna started apologetically but ended with gritted teeth and clenched fists.
Tom accepted her apology and put his hands over her fists. "It'll be okay B'Ella. I promise not to add anything to the pool or the rumor mill. I think they belong together, but there must be some way we can help them."
"No Tommy, I think they have it well under control. They just need to be alone." B'Elanna's mile was enigmatic.
"If I could have everyone's attention please. I'd like to thank everyone for attending and the senior staff for participating in the contest. We all enjoyed watching and we hope you had fun too. Now, to get to the results. I decided, after consulting with the Captain and Commander, to modify the prize. We will be giving something to each couple who took part, for putting so much into this." Neelix beamed and the crew laughed at his obvious desire to reward everyone.
The holographic bartender approached Neelix with an envelope.
"All right, the results are in. Let's give everyone a round of applause please before I tell you the winners." After the applause he added, "Now then, the fifth place goes to…Naomi and Icheb! Since they are both gone already I'll give them their prizes tomorrow." He held up ribbons and a padd.
"Next, we have fourth prize, and it goes to…. Harry and Jenny! Come on up here you two!" Neelix shook their hands as they arrived. He gave Harry two medals on ribbons and to Jenny a dozen white roses. "They will both be getting a weeks replicator rations and an extra day free from duty shifts." They smiled and exited the stage waving.
"Where were we?" Neelix asked as he looked around. "Oh yes, we were up to the third prize. The winner is…Tom and B'Elanna for their lively performance!" Tom dragged B'Elanna up onto the stage and took the trophy Neelix handed him. Neelix gave her a dozen yellow roses and announced, "Tom and B'Elanna will receive two weeks of extra replicator rations and two days free from duty shifts. That is if she feels that she can leave her engines for that long." B'Elanna threw him a look as he ushered her and Tom who was bowing, off the stage.
"Now, the second prize goes to…Seven of Nine and the Doctor for their inspired presentation!" When the couple didn't approach, Neelix leaned over to a nearby crewman and listened for a moment to what they told him. "Oh, it seems that Seven is indisposed at this time and the Doctor is attending her. I will tell you that Seven and the Doctor won three weeks of extra replicator rations and 3 days free from duty shifts, but whether that's useful to them, we'll let them decide. So it gives me great pleasure to award the first prize to the Captain and the Commander!" Neelix clapped and beamed equally as the command team came up to the stage.
Kathryn looked rather embarrassed for a moment but gathered herself to approach Neelix and accept from him a large bouquet of pink roses, giving him a kiss on the cheek in return. Neelix who seemed a bit flustered absentmindedly handed Chakotay a large trophy. He pulled himself together when Chakotay shook his hand.
Kathryn approached the microphone, "Thank you all for coming tonight. You all know how proud I am of your endurance over the last month, I knew I could count on you to make it through again."
Chakotay handed her a glass of champagne. Kathryn raised her glass. "To the finest ship and crew a captain could ever hope to lead, and to the family and friends I've come to love." Her voice got husky with emotion.
Chakotay stepped in, "To Voyager and our family." He touched his glass to hers.
They smiled at each other as the ring of glassware sang around the room and their crew raised glasses in celebration.
Chakotay and Kathryn continued to sit at their quiet table drinking champagne. Occasionally a friend like the Doctor, who had returned, Tom, or even Harry would ask Kathryn to dance and Chakotay would take the opportunity to seek out someone likewise. They always returned to each other and their table.
They stayed late until the only the more serious couples were still dancing.
Kathryn was humming softly along with the song that was playing when Chakotay leaned over and asked, "One last dance, Kathryn?"
She smiled, "No, first things first, why don't you retrieve that brandy and deliver it to my quarters."
His eyes were curious as he nodded and helped her up. She gathered her roses and he carried the trophy.
When they arrived on the deck of the officer's quarters, he said, "I'll be there in a minute."
"Give me fifteen, okay?"
He smiled and nodded, and left her at her door.
She watched him walk away for a few seconds before she turned and entered her quarters.
"Come in," Kathryn called at the chime of the door.
Chakotay entered slowly. Soft music was playing and it was dark. Except for a few candles, the only light was starlight. "Kathryn?"
"Just a second. I wanted to get a little more comfortable. Why don't you pour us some of that contraband." Her voice was full of laughter.
He smiled, as he moved over to the couch under the viewport, on the table were two glasses. He heard the swish of her clothing and smelled her perfume as she came and sat down next to him. Turning he handed her a glass.
"What shall we drink to, Kathryn?"
"To winning, to dancing…to us?"
"That I can drink to." He smiled.
She smiled back at him, took a sip, and set her glass down. Reaching out she took his from his hands and pulled him to his feet. "Now, you asked for a dance."
He swallowed and rose with her. He realized she'd changed into a floor length satin nightgown with thin straps and a large amount of skin gleaming in the starlight. It was similar in color and style to her dancing dress. Just the thought of touching Kathryn encased in smooth dark satin made him catch his breath. He sternly ordered himself to get a firm grip---no don't use that image---on his self-control.
"Chakotay?"
He realized she'd been standing there waiting while he did his rock imitation. He smiled and took her proffered hand. She led him to dance in the starlight of the viewport.
He was trying to maintain his calm as he kept an easy distance between them, but Kathryn seemed oblivious as she moved in to rest her head on his chest. She wrapped both arms around his waist and she snuggled like a cat against him.
"Uh, Kathryn…" he started.
"Hmmm?" her voice was a murmur.
"Kathryn, don't we need to define some parameters? You're driving me crazy if you weren't aware of it!"
Kathryn gave a throaty laugh. "Chakotay, I'd have to be dead to not notice your reaction. I'm not sure I can 'define parameters' though." Her hands slid up his chest until they were looped around his neck. Standing on tiptoe in her bare feet, she kissed him until he was dizzy. She then started nuzzling his neck and nibbling on his ear.
"Kathryn! Kathryn?" Chakotay leaned back to see her face. "Have you had too much champagne?" Her hands were migrating, one was making lazy trails down his chest and the other hand had taken a hold of his hip, pressing him into her.
"Kathryn!" he groaned. His voice showed his struggle. Here was everything he'd wanted, but he wasn't sure if he could believe it.
"Chakotay." She said meeting his eyes with a serene smile. "How much trouble to I have to go through to show you how I feel. I had to manipulate Tom quite a bit to get him to suggest that dance contest. I wouldn't have danced like that with a friend. Just with you, you're more than my friend"
Seeing his doubt she added, "For such an intelligent and confident man, I didn't think I'd have to spell it out for you. You are the one I love, Chakotay, today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. I don't want to waste any more time. We both have lost so many people we love. I don't want to take what we have for granted, and I won't gamble the chance to be together on the chance of us getting home. We will get there, but we'll do it together."
"You know I'd wait for you Kathryn." He protested softly. "If that's..."
"No!" She covered his lips with his fingers and he kissed them. "Life is where we are now, who we are with now. I won't ask it of us anymore-not for protocol or regulations that can't apply to us." Her smile grew broad; "Starfleet never had an ex-Maquis officer in mind when those rules were written. No, my darling Chakotay, you are more than anyone could have foreseen or even hoped to deserve."
He pulled her in for an ardent kiss. His hands came up to cup her face. His face was full of happiness as he looked at her. "I have loved you for forever."
Her radiant smile and the tears standing in her eyes as she looked up at him made him feel overflowing with joy. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground, spinning her around, and saying her name with such love.
She threw back her head laughing and watched the stars spin by. Tonight, she'd won more than a dance contest...she'd won the only prize that mattered. Him.
Feedback? Oh yes please. Autopilot
© Shayenne, August 2000 Please email me to post/distribute elsewhere.