~*~Paramont owns the characters etc.~*~
“So, Chakotay, what do you want for Christmas?” Kathryn Janeway asked smiling at him. She was having dinner with him, Tom Paris, B’Elanna Torres, Harry Kim and Seven of Nine. Everyone else had already said what he or she wanted and now it was his turn.
He knew that it was his turn to tell them and had prepared to just say nothing but the moment he looked into Kathryn’s eyes he knew better then to kid him self. So he before he could stop his lips from forming the word he said, “You.”
The coffee cup she had in her hand stopped immediately half way between her mouth and the table, and her eyes widened in shock but she quickly regained control and continued to put her coffee cup down. Still some what in shock she said, “Excuse me?”
“I said that out loud didn’t I?” Chakotay asked bringing his hand up to tug at his left ear.
“Apparently,” B’Elanna said stopping for a moment to think then smiled as she continued, “Captain may I speak to you over there for a minute please.”
“Of coarse,” Kathryn said jumping up to follow B’Elanna over toward the replicaters. “So what did you need Lt.?” she asked when B’Elanna stopped.
“What do you say we give Chakotay what he wants?” B’Elanna said and seeing the warning in the Captains eyes continued, “Captain… Kathryn just think about it, just one date, one night. What could happen?”
“What could happen!?” Kathryn said frowning.
“It would raise moral,” B’Elanna said.
“I don’t see why,” Kathryn told her.
“Well for one do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you two to get together? Six damn years that’s how long. You two were meant to be together you love him he loves you. I don’t see why you two aren’t a couple!” B’Elanna said shaking her head.
“Who said we’re in love?” Kathryn asked her bringing her hands to her hips.
“Everyone! It’s so obvious. Okay well we can tell that you’re in love with him because of how you’re always finding some excuse to touch him and don’t you dare denie it either. Second how you let him call you by your first name all though if you don’t mind I’m going to start calling you Kathryn too! The way you look at him and how you smile at him and joke with him,” B’Elanna finished smiling.
“I don’t really care as long as we’re off duty if you call me Kathryn. But please don’t start telling me who I love and who I don’t. You just don’t understand the relationship Chakotay and I have and why it can’t be anymore,” she said sighing slightly.
“You’re right I don’t understand why it can’t be more then friendship so why don’t you tell me why,” B’Elanna said.
“It will ruin the command structure, Captains don’t date members of their crew and especially not their First officers. And what happens if we had a messy break up and couldn’t work together any more. What are we supposed to do then? And I’m scared B’Elanna,” she said. And seeing the shocked expression that came across B’Elanna’s face at her last statement added, “The people I have loved the most in my life in the past and all been taken away from me, first my father and fiancé, Justin, were killed in that shuttle crash. Then we were pulled 70,000 light years away from our homes and lost everyone we loved except for each other.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” B’Elanna started.
“That I could be scared of something as little as loving someone?” she finished for her.
“Well yeah I mean you’ve conquered everything in this quadrant so far and didn’t even blink an eye. I didn’t even think you could be scared,” B’Elanna admitted.
“I’m the mighty Captain Kathryn Janeway of the star ship Voyager, I can’t be afraid of anything or anyone,” she said sadly. “I’m just like the rest of you. It’s just I have a mask that can hide every thing under from everyone at times. I have to be strong and fearless B’Elanna, what good would I be if I let everyone see how afraid I was? I’m suppose to be you’re leader and I have to be the Captain out here all the time, there’s no room for Kathryn any more,” she said looking around the mess hall sighing.
“That’s not far though!” B’Elanna said frowning.
Janeway laughed, “No it’s not but it’s the way it is I’m the only star fleet captain in this region so I have to be the best even if it means killing Kathryn I have to pull through if not for me then for the crew.”
“I’m so sorry,” B’Elanna said and then leaned over and hugged her Captain thinking life can be so unfair some times.
“It’s okay. I’ve learned to live with it,” she said then pulled back, “So should we go and rejoin the group?”
“Yeah we should I guess. What are you going to tell Chakotay?” B’Elanna asked as she started to follow Kathryn back to their table.
“I don’t know,” she said shaking her head, “I do love him you know?”
“I thought so,” B’Elanna said smiling. “I know everything you just told me and don’t you think that the Captain loves the Commander?”
“Yes I guess why?” she asked stopping and turned to look at B’Elanna.
“Well then can’t the Captain and Commander have a relationship?” B’Elanna asked.
A smile started forming on Kathryn’s lips as she said, “Yes I guess that would be okay and when we have time alone we could be our selves in a relationship.”
“Yes! So shall we go tell Chakotay he’s getting what he wants this Christmas?” B’Elanna inquired.
“Yes we shall,” Kathryn replied smiling as they started walking back to their table.
Once sitting down again B’Elanna said smiling, “Well Chakotay Kathryn and I just had a little talk and thanks to yours truly, you get what you want.”
The surprise was evident on all the people’s faces at the table but most so on Chakotay’s after a moment Tom said, “Merry Christmas Chakotay.”
There was a series of yeahs from everyone at the table when Kathryn got up and told everyone good bye and left with Chakotay following closely behind and once inside the turbo lift he asked her, “Are you sure you want this?”
She turned toward him and smiling took a step nearer to him and put her arms around his neck pulling him down closer she whispered, “I’ve never been more sure about anything else in my life.” And kissed him on the lips.
