Ho, ho, ho. Enjoy your story. (Wait… that doesn’t rhyme). ?Disclaimer: This is a story written about two characters owned, but not properly operated by Paramount. Any resemblance to the canon versions of Captain Kathryn Janeway and Commander Chakotay are completely unintentional, because there’s no way I would write that crap on purpose.
A big thank you to Kat Lady who did a swift and mighty Beta read on this. Thanks! ?
Anniversary
Friday December 22, 2378
Chakotay walked out onto the porch to find Kathryn bundled up on the swing. “What are you doing out here?” he asked.
“Hi,” she said quietly. She had been a million miles away when he’d come through the door. She moved the blankets so he could slip easily underneath them. “It’s a little more private out here.”
It was true. The Janeway family home was crowded with people. It was December 22, and Kathryn’s mother was holding her annual holiday party for neighbors and friends of the family.
It was also the first anniversary of Voyager’s burst out of the Borg sphere and into the Alpha Quadrant.
They had been home for exactly one year. Kathryn still had trouble believing it. Her mother on the other hand, seemed not only to believe it, but was determined to celebrate it with a vengeance this holiday season.
During the seven years her daughter had been missing, Gretchen had first refused to throw the annual event, which was held so friends had an opportunity to celebrate the holidays together. The yearly party only resumed after Voyager’s EMH had made contact with the Federation and Gretchen had been informed that not only was Voyager still out there, but that her daughter was alive and well. Even then the get-togethers were small affairs, scaled way back only to the people Gretchen felt the most comfortable with, those she knew would understand that she was likely to become melancholy over the absence of her eldest daughter.
Having arrived home from her seven year journey just two days after last year’s event, this was Kathryn’s first year back at the party. Everyone seemed eager to share the joy. On top of Gretchen’s crowd there were friends of Phoebe and her husband Dennis. Dennis’s family was also in the house. Old friends of Kathryn’s were also in attendance as well as former crew members who were now considered family. The Paris family – all three generations of it, was there, as were Harry Kim and his date Jenny Delany, Mike Ayala, with his date Megan Delany, and Voyager’s Doctor with his date, Seven of Nine. Kathryn and Chakotay had been surprised by that.
Chakotay came over and sat down next to Kathryn. He arranged the blankets so they were snuggled warmly beneath them. “Here,” he said holding up a steaming mug so she could take a sip.
“Mmm…” she said as she drank.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “Gretchen makes the best hot chocolate.”
When she made no response, he looked over at her. She was staring up at the stars.
“You’re remembering,” he said wistfully and she looked at him.
“It’s our anniversary,” she said with a hint of tears in her eyes.
He kissed her forehead. “It sure is,” he replied. “And what a year it’s been.” He paused trying to collect himself, as the emotions threatened to over-take him. “The happiest year of my life.”
“Mine too,” she replied quietly. A tear escaped and slid silently down her cheek. “That day started off so…” she didn’t continue.
“Badly?” he offered, but he knew that there was no one word that could describe the horror of sending yourself off to be assimilated and killed. No matter how much good came out of that day or how many blessings it had yielded, the day had still begun with the death of Kathryn Janeway. Even if it wasn’t *his* Kathryn, the loss was still keenly felt.
She snorted. “That’s putting it mildly. But it works, I guess.” He tightened the arm around her shoulder. “Sweetie,” she asked.
“Yes?”
“Do you think that they’re together?” she asked with a hitch in her voice.
They had, of course, discussed this many times before, but it made them both feel better to talk about it from time to time. “I have no doubt that they are.”
“Even though that Chakotay was married to Seven?” This time the hitch in her voice was more pronounced.
He nodded. “Even though he was married to Seven. She wasn’t his soul-mate, you know. You’re my soul-mate so that means *his* Kathryn was his soul-mate too,” he soothed. “There’s no lifetime where you aren’t the other half of my soul Kathryn.” He felt her snuggle just a bit closer at his words.
The Indiana night was cold and quiet around them as they both contemplated his words.
“She died to give me everything she lost,” she said softly. Again he nodded.
“Me too. She gave me everything I thought I’d lost, but was really throwing away.”
He held up his cup of cocoa to the sky. “To the Admiral,” he began. “Had she not shown us the error of our ways, we wouldn’t be celebrating this anniversary tonight. Not only would we still be in the Delta Quadrant, but we wouldn’t have any of the gifts that we were given on this same day last year.
“To the Admiral,” Kathryn said quietly.
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Thursday December 22, 2377
Kathryn was pacing her quarters. It was the first time she’d been alone all day. With all the excitement of the day behind them, she found this quiet time maddening. There was just too much time to think.
She’d already reported in with Starfleet. Already attended an impromptu meeting via subspace with the few Admirals who were not out of town for the holidays. The crew had been addressed, and Neelix had been informed. Everything was over but the waiting and now Voyager was safely cruising towards Earth.It had already been decided that the crew – the *entire* crew, would be allowed to see their families for the holidays and that after the first of the year, a debriefing plan would be drawn up. Once the ship reached home, the crew would all have physical examinations and then be released on leave. There had even been talk of a gala ball in honor of the crew on New Year’s Eve.
With everything that had come out during the Dominion War, the Maquis issue was no longer an issue. There had been no room for doubt or misunderstanding. They were returning heroes one and all.
Starfleet was going out of their way to arrange accommodations for anyone needing them and once given a list would contact the families of off-world crew members. Kathryn could not have dreamed up a better reception. Except… all this perfection just gave her too much time to think. Perfection. She shuddered as the word played through her mind. Too Borg-like, which of course just started her thinking again.
Earlier she’d replicated boxes and had begun to pack her personal belongings. However it was just busy-work and didn’t really require a lot of thought, so her mind was free to wander elsewhere. Before she knew it, she had finished.
“Too much time to think,” she said to herself as she strode around the length of her living room. She couldn’t seem to sit still.
The Admiral. Chakotay. Seven. Chakotay and Seven together. Together. She couldn’t see the triumph and joy of her ship’s current situation for these sad and horrible images of a timeline that was not hers. Except Chakotay and Seven are together, her treacherous inner voice reminded her. As if she needed reminding.
Her door chime sounded and she decided to just ignore it. After all, they were home now. She could just turn her back on whatever it was. The chime sounded again. She would replicate a drink and take a nice hot bubble bath. A drink? Hell, what about an entire bottle? she thought
“Chakotay to Janeway.” She groaned. “I know you’re in there, Kathryn,” he said.
Trapped like a rat, she thought. She thumped the combadge on her chest hard enough for it to hurt. “What can I do for you, Chakotay?” she asked huffily.
“I have the departmental reports you requested,” came the response.
Shit! she thought. A minute ago what wouldn’t she have given for something to occupy her mind? But now that she’d actually found the idea of getting blitzed and taking a bath pleasurable, she had work to do. And of course there was the fact that she’d have to see Chakotay and she just didn’t want to see him. Her defenses were weak, and she was too tired to put up a really strong wall. She supposed it shouldn’t matter. He was gone. As both a friend and possibly as a lover or more.But there was no getting out of it. She had to know what the reports said. She had to know the status of her ship before they pulled into the shipyard.
“Come in,” she said and her doors slid open revealing her handsome first office. He strode into the room without hesitation and planted himself directly across from her.
Surveying the room he said jokingly, “Packing already, Kathryn? You don’t let any grass grow under your feet, do you?
She bit back her first thought which was to tell him that *she* didn’t have anyone to celebrate their return with the way he did.
“You know me,” she tried to joke in return. “Always prepared.” She put out her hand.
“Here you go,” he said handing over the PADD. “But it would probably be quicker if I just told you what it said.”
She didn’t want to spend any more time with him then she had to, but she knew he was right. “Very well,” she said, indicating the couch. “Have a seat.”
She didn’t offer him anything to drink, not wanting to encourage him to stay a moment longer than necessary.
Chakotay took a seat on the couch, leaving room for her to sit next to him. She ignored the unspoken invitation and sat in the armchair.
When she was settled, she waited for him to begin.
“Despite the damage we sustained today, all departments are running at their fullest capacity and are ready for inspection,” he reported.
“That’s it?” she asked incredulously, but what she was really thinking was - For this he had to come barging into my quarters? A hint of irritation had come through in her voice.
“Didn’t I say it would be quicker if I just told you what it said?” Determined to improve her mood, he smiled his fully dimpled smile at her. She melted a little. It had worked.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just a little irritable.”
Even though he already knew this, her admission surprised him. “I would have thought that you’d be ecstatic,” he said. “What with getting home and all the good news – or lack of bad news if you will, from Starfleet.”
She nodded. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” She began pacing anew.
“Maybe it’s just too much at once,” he volunteered. “After all, you started the day by sending yourself off to die. Even if it was another you, from a different timeline, that’s still got to take its toll,” he continued kindly.
She turned to face him and they looked at each other for long moments. She wasn’t sure if she should let her guard down and open up to him. After all, the wound to her heart, which was his relationship with Seven, was still fresh. But his eager _expression was an invitation and she decided to confide in him.
“It was horrible,” she said softly. “*She* was horrible, and I get physically ill when I think of what I…she became.” She hesitated
He nodded and waited. He was sure she’d go on.
“She reminded me of my Aunt,” she continued. “She was an old bitter woman who never had a life or a family of her own. Her anger ate at her and she became twisted by it. She never gave a moment’s thought to anyone’s feelings but her own.”
“In that respect,” Chakotay cut in. “Your Aunt and the Admiral were nothing alike. The Admiral gave her life for us. The woman you’re describing wouldn’t have done that.”
Kathryn wrapped her arms around herself as if looking for warmth. “She wouldn’t have. She was a miserable selfish woman who made a sport out of being hateful to others,” she said of her Aunt.
“I didn’t see any of that in the Admiral. And I don’t see any of that in you.” He was answering her unasked question of whether that was also what she would become. “Oh, I saw the bitterness and the hardened demeanor,” he continued. “I’m not talking about that. I mean to say that I didn’t see a selfish woman who was hateful to those around her.”
At this Kathryn snorted indelicately.
“Kathryn, she seemed to genuinely care about this crew…”
“By going back and fixing the mistakes in *her* life,” she interrupted.
“But even that she did for others, not for herself,” he pointed out. “And in that respect, the Admiral did remind me of you.”
Kathryn was shocked. She did not want to see any parallel between the bitter old woman and herself. “Anyone would have done those things,” she said feebly.
“No,” he disagreed. “Not just anyone.”
“You did,” she whispered. “You and Harry both did.”
“And so did she. And so would you,” he said trying to make her see.
They looked at each other and she nodded. He understood her so perfectly. It was a sad thought, since he was now lost to her forever.
That thought hit her like a ton of bricks. Like a physical blow to the stomach. She actually gasped.
Chakotay thought her reaction was in response to what he’d said to her. He came a couple of steps closer. “There were still parts of you that were recognizable, Kathryn,” he said of the Admiral. “There were traces of you there. I know you’re thinking that you could become her, but I think it’s more important for you to realize that, given the right circumstances, she could have returned to being you.” His voice was soothing. Reassuring.
Again she nodded and a silence enveloped them. When it became awkward, Chakotay broke it with talk of business.
“I’ve taken the liberty of drawing up an exit schedule for tomorrow. I didn’t think you’d be considering it. And if you were considering it, it was going to be to ask me to do it anyway.” he said with a hint of mirth and a disarming smile. He was hoping she’d laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
The words were out of her mouth before she even knew she’d said them.
Chakotay was momentarily knocked off kilter by her sudden change of subject. “Wha…?” he stammered.
She merely looked at him. She couldn’t take it back now, but she sure as hell didn’t have to repeat the question. Kathryn began to open her mouth to say ‘never mind’, but he began to talk.
He knew exactly what she was asking about. But he’d lost his bearings because he didn’t know that she knew about his relationship with Seven.
“I don’t know, to be honest,” he said. “The only thing I can say is that it was so new that we didn’t want to make it public yet. If it’s any consolation, I want you to know that I haven’t told anyone.”
But it wasn’t a consolation, she found. If anything that made her feel worse. “You didn’t tell anyone?” Her voice was desolate.
He shook his head. “I’m assuming that she, the Admiral that is, told you.” Since no one else knew, it didn’t really take a genius to figure it out.
“Yes, she told me,” she said.
He sighed. “I wish she hadn’t done that,” he said.
Kathryn gave a phony laugh. “I wish she hadn’t either. I wish I’d have heard it from you,” she said in a quiet, yet harsh voice.
He was surprised by her anger. “We, that is to say, Seven and I, agreed that we weren’t ready to go public yet,” he explained again. “It’s very early on yet, and we just wanted to keep it to ourselves.”
“You keep saying that like it’s supposed to make me feel better,” she snapped.
“Well of course it is!” he cried. “You weren’t singled out. We weren’t trying to hide something from you and *only* you,” he said in exasperation. “But you’re behaving as though you wish we had.”
She turned from him, but not before he could see that her cheeks were patchy with pink. If he hadn’t known better, he would think that she was embarrassed by that last statement. But why would it bother her to know that she wasn’t the only one they’d kept the secret from? He wondered.
“Is there a reason why you would think I *would* tell everyone else, while I concealed the truth from you, Kathryn?”
Her cheeks became even more flushed and she refused to turn and face him.
Chakotay was beginning to get an inkling of why this might bother her. But it couldn’t be. For years she’d pushed him away and made it clear she didn’t want him. It just couldn’t be. Most people would be upset at being left out of a secret like that. Even mad that they weren’t the first to know this kind of news. But Kathryn was hurt that she’d been kept in the dark as long as everyone else.
And then it occurred to him. She wanted to be singled out because that meant he’d have a reason to hide it from her. That would make her special – set her apart from the crowd. And why? Because to her way of thinking, the news would adversely effect her.
The upshot was, that in her mind, it would hurt her and not anyone else.
He smiled as he continued his silent detective work. And why would it hurt her in the first place? Because she had feelings for him! Could it be? he wondered.
“Kathryn,” he said gingerly. “Why would you want me to tell everyone but you?”
She sputtered. “I didn’t wa… want you to… to… tell everyone but… me.” But she was shaking now and he knew he had her. His heart leapt in his chest. Spirits, he thought, let it be true.
“Yes you did! I can see it in your body language. I can see it all over you. I bet if I could see your face it would tell me that you wanted it to be true that everyone knew about me and Seven, but you,” he said excitedly.
She walked over to the replicator and began to fiddle with it. “That’s not true,” she said but there as no real fight in her voice. “I was just surprised that no one else knew about the two of you. You know that the grapevine on this ship is notorious.”
“Yes it is,” he agreed. “I remember how they used to speculate about us being involved, even when you’d made it perfectly clear that you had no feelings for me.” He was fishing for a reaction and he got one.
Kathryn’s incredibly straight back and shoulders slumped noticeably and she stopped fiddling with the dial on the replicator. She made no reply.
Ah ha! he thought. So it is true.
He came up behind her. “But back to the matter at hand,” he said softly. “I think it is true, Kathryn. I think you wanted to hear that I’d hidden the truth from you.”
She whirled around to face him, her mind screaming - deny, deny deny! How embarrassing, she thought, to have my feelings for him finally come out this way. And when he’s already involved with someone else.
She put on a good act, he had to give her that. Righteous indignation oozed from every pore.
“Why would I want that? That’s… crazy," she said, not looking at him.
Chakotay was a tracker. He sensed fear coming from her just as he could sense it coming from any scared animal. He knew he was right. He took her face in his hands so she couldn’t look away from him. “Love is irrational,” he said quietly.
“Love?” she sputtered. “You sure think a lot of yourself, Mister,” she said feebly.
“I think a lot of you too,” he responded. “Enough to let you go when I believed you didn’t care about me as more than a friend. When I didn’t think you loved me the way I love you. And make no mistake, Kathryn, I do love you.”
She was dumbstruck and began to fight against his hands so she could get away. He held her firm. She lashed out the only way she could – with her mouth.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend you should be saying that to?” she said harshly. “A lover who you should save those words for?” she finished angrily.
He shook his head. “Seven and I are not lovers,” he said quietly. “Maybe in another lifetime we were, but not in ours. In our time Seven and I have been on four dates and have shared a couple of kisses. Nothing more. In our time I gave up on the woman I truly love because I thought she was lost to me. I gave up on the idea that she could ever love me in return. But if, as I suspect, you do feel the same way, then you are the one I should rightly be saying those words to.”
Tears tracked down her face as he spoke. He wiped them away with his thumbs. “Do you? Do you feel the same way?” They stared at one another then she nodded her head as he continued to run his thumbs along her cheeks.
He smiled a brilliant smile. “Then why do you look so sad?” he asked as he grabbed her up in a fierce embrace. “Don’t be sad. We love each other.”
“Because you’re with Seven,” she said miserably. “You’re supposed to be with Seven.”
Chakotay pulled back and held her at arms length. “I’m supposed to be with you. You’re the other half of my soul and I love you. I don’t know what happened to make that Chakotay marry Seven, but he’s not me. You’re my soul-mate and if you want me, we’ll be together from now on. It’s as simple as that.
But could it really be that simple? she wondered. Could everything she’d been hoping for really be within her grasp? With a sound that was part moan and part roar, Kathryn launched herself back into his arms.
“Should I take this as a good sign?” he asked jokingly. And she laughed.
Kathryn laughed until she began to cry. Then she began to sob. She sobbed with relief over their triumphant return home. She shed her tears for the loss of the Admiral, who in another timeline had been her. And she wept with joy that this man whom she had pushed away, taken for granted, hurt innumerably and loved beyond reason, loved her in return. She cried over all seven years of it. And he held her though it all.
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Kathryn opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her sleeping quarters – in bed actually. She didn’t remember how she got there. Then a soft snore captured her attention. Rolling over she took in the sight of Chakotay’s sleeping form. He was in bed and under the covers with her.
The last thing she remembered was bawling like a baby in his arms. She smiled. Despite the fact that her eyes felt puffy and her mouth felt pasty, she felt wonderful.
Kathryn remembered how he had held her and let her sob her heart out. How he’d carried her to the couch and settled her in his lap. How he’d soothed her – letting her wail and rage at seven years of pain and frustration.
She’d obviously worn herself out and he’d put her to bed. And he stayed, she thought happily.
Kathryn wondered what time it was, but didn’t dare ask the computer for fear of waking him. She slipped out from under the covers and saw immediately that he’d stripped her down to her tank and panties. Damn! she thought. I wish I’d been awake for that.
She tried to get out of the bed without disturbing him but her foot caught on the sheet and she stumbled and kicked the mattress.
He looked up at her groggily. “Good morning, Grace,” he said. He was sleepy and rumpled and just about the sexiest damned thing she’d ever seen.
“Where are you going?” he asked sleepily.
“I just wanted to know what time it is,” she explained.
“Computer, please state the time.” His voice was husky and just then Kathryn realized that he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Her knees went weak.
“The time is 02:47,” the computer reported dutifully.
“Come back to bed, Kathryn,” he said pulling back the covers. In doing so he revealed that the only thing he was wearing was a pair of briefs.
Reflexively she started to object. Protocol was second nature to her. Then she remembered that he was hers if she wanted him. He’d said so himself. Her eyes passed over his body. Boy did she *ever* want him.
Her leap back onto the bed took him by surprise. She rolled over to face him.
“Wow,” he laughed. “Talk about enthusiasm,” he said slipping his arms around her.
She played with the short black hair just above his ear. “Well, I remember you saying that you were mine if I wanted you. And I suddenly realized that I do,” she said saucily.
He grinned. “I was hoping we’d get around to that part.” He kissed her - his mouth heated and demanding. Hers was supple and responsive.
Chakotay rolled so that he was on top of her. “You want me right now?” he asked.
She nodded. “Mmm hmm. Do you want me?” she asked.
“Feel how much,” he said moving his hips so that his erection rubbed against her.
“That fast?” she asked with delight.
“Yeah,” he said, moving back so he could sit up. He hastily removed his underwear, then pulled her up so he could slip off her tank. Once that task was completed, he pushed her gently onto her back and eased her panties off. He looked appraisingly at her as he threw the panties to the floor.
He smiled, liking what he saw. Then he moved to position himself between her thighs, with the intention of taking her with his mouth, but she stopped him.
“Not this time,” she murmured. “Join with me this first time. There’s plenty of time for everything else later.”
Chakotay nodded and then moved to cover her, settling himself on his forearms which were on either side of her head. Kathryn reached down and took hold of his hard cock. Her cool hand on his hot member made them both moan. Then she guided him to her entrance and he slid effortlessly inside of her.
He sank into her until he could go no further, then stilled, wanting to enjoy the feeling of simply being inside this woman. He could see that she was getting a great deal of pleasure from feeling him inside her, as well.
Kathryn ran her fingernails up and down the smooth skin of his back and gazed up at him. He was right. She was enjoying the feeling of him within her. It had been a long time for her and she had missed the feeling of sexual desire moving through her body and settling between her thighs. She hadn’t felt this way in many years. It was another thing he was giving her.
He began to thrust into her hard. Her counter thrusts were just as powerful. Planting her feet firmly on the bed, she lifted so she could move her hips back and forth even further. This created a sweet friction when their bodies came together.
His long fluid strokes were masterful. Chakotay was a generous and ardent lover. He bent his head so he could take her nipple into his mouth. His interchange of biting and licking at her hard peaks caused her to falter a bit. Her legs slipped out from under her and she was once again flat on her back as he continued to drive himself in and out. He moved to the other nipple and treated it to his wonderful torture.
Kathryn was could feel her orgasm beginning. She welcomed it, and had no intention of trying to hold it off. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she met his hips thrust for thrust and began to cry out with the pleasure. Moving her hands down to his firm ass, she held it so she could control his thrusts so they were just the length she needed. Kathryn came with a rapturous shriek as they slammed together in a frenzy.
Chakotay continued to thrust for a bit longer. His face sweaty and his groans delighting her as she worked against him. She wanted him to come, wanted to watch his beautiful face alight with his climax. And then it happened.
He moved faster against her then gave a howl as he emptied himself deep within her. Kathryn came again. This time the orgasm wasn’t as strong but it was no less gratifying.
Chakotay collapsed in a heap on top of Kathryn. They were both fighting for breath from the exertion.
“Oh my Spirits,” he panted. “How good was that?”
“The best,” she said against his shoulder.
He pulled back and looked at her. ”Really?” he asked.
“Really,” she repeated. And he smiled.
Later when Chakotay had managed to move onto his back and she was resting her head against his chest, she asked, “When are you going to break it off with Seven?”
“I broke it off with Seven when I got into your bed,” he responded. She smiled against his chest.
“When are you going to tell her, is what I mean.” she said drowsily.
“First thing tomorrow,” he said with a yawn. “Listen, as much as I’d love to do that again, I think that we should get some rest. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
Nodding, she added, “Do you realize we made it home just in time for Christmas?”
“Mmm hmmm,” he replied sleepily.
“Thanks to the Admiral, I got every gift I could ever want tonight,” she said as she drifted off to sleep. He kissed her on the head and joined her in slumber.
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Friday December 22, 2378
On the porch, they sat quietly remembering that night and all the good things that had come out of it.
“We came together that night,” he said, fingering the ring he’d put on her finger nine months ago. “And like this ring, we’ll go on without end.”
She smiled. She loved it when he got mushy. Big tough guy. “That night was our first time,” she said softly.
He nodded. “Lot of firsts that night.” They both smiled at the memories.
Then without warning a considerable belch tore through the quiet. They looked down at their three month old daughter, who was another blessing of that night one year ago. Tess had finished her dinner and then, not used to being ignored for so long and in need of some attention, had heralded the end of her meal.
“Excuse you, Miss,” Kathryn said playfully, then they both burst out laughing. At the sound of her parents’ amusement the baby gave a milky smile. She gurgled happily and kicked her feet merrily against Chakotay’s side.
Leaning over he gently pinched his daughter’s chubby cheek. “She definitely has her mother’s singing voice,” he said. It was something he loved to tease her about. He’d been delighted to find out that Captain Kathryn Janeway liked to sing, albeit badly, in the shower. “Why do you think I prefer a bath?” she’d asked.
Kathryn elbowed him “Very funny, Mister.” She handing him the baby.
“She burped herself,” he said proudly as Kathryn adjusted her nursing bra and blouse.
“She’s getting to be a big girl,” Kathryn said just as proudly.
“Let’s hurry up and have another one,” he said in jest. Actually he was only half joking. He wanted as many babies as they could have. Neither of them were getting any younger.
She groaned. “Give me a break! I’m a newlywed with a three month old baby. I’m *tired*.” It was true that between the baby and the fact that they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other, there wasn’t a lot of sleep in their household.
“Well you’d better get used to it,” he said as he lifted the baby over their heads. She babbled happily down at them, her face the only part of her that was visible out of her little snow-suit. “We’re going to have a lot of babies and it’s not like I’m ever going to want to stop fuc– hey!” he said as he felt a splash on his face.
They looked up at the baby who was grinning down at her father. Another splatter of drool hit him squarely on the forehead.
Kathryn broke up. “That’s what you get – pervert,” she howled. “She knew you were going to use the ‘F’ word in front of her. That’s mommy’s good girl.”
The baby kicked her feet again gleefully at the sound of her mother’s voice and Chakotay couldn’t help but laugh himself.
“Hey, are you three going to stay out here all night?” asked a voice from the door. They turned to see Tom Paris standing half in and half out of the house. “Gretchen wants to make a toast and you’d better get inside if you know what’s good for you,” he said smiling.
“Oh no, not that!” Chakotay cried in mock horror, pulling the baby to him and jumping to his feet. “Anything but Gretchen’s wrath.” He held Tess with one arm and held out his hand to help Kathryn out of the swing.
“Hey look,” Tom said. “You’re standing under mistletoe.”
Chakotay didn’t need telling twice. He was new to the Christmas holiday and all its rituals, but he found that this was one tradition that he actually enjoyed.
He kissed his wife soundly on the lips, then his baby gently on the cheek. After that led his family back inside the house to toast their anniversary.
THE END.