Author's Note: This does contain references to C/7, but is in no means a C/7
fic!
The Reunion
Kathryn Janeway walked through the rose garden of Star Fleet Academy. She
couldn't remember the last time she had been there, it had been so long ago. By
doing this, she realized just how much she missed it.
As she knelt down to smell a flower, she squeezed the hand of her husband, making eye contact and smiling. She loved his smile, it was the best...well, second best.
They continued their trek through the garden, finally arriving at their destination, a large banquet hall. The room was already bustling with people, her long ago crew. They hadn't had a reunion in years. She had beaten the Borg, Hirogen and countless other species, yet merely walking into the room gave her butterflies.
*
Chakotay walked through the door, holding the hand of his wife. He felt her squeeze it, and was suddenly very glad she was by his side.
They weaved their way through the tables, looking for their assigned seats. They came to the center table, the one marking their seats.
Chakotay took a deep breath, and continued forward, not making contact with the person whose seat was next to his.
*
Kathryn took a deep breath, sensing someone pull out the seat next to her. She didn't need to look at the person to know who it was. In fact, when she had sat down, she didn't even look at the nameplate of the seat next to her, she knew. She couldn't explain how, but she knew.
As Chakotay sat down, an admiral tapped his glass, getting the attention of the room. He began to talk, but Kathryn made little sense of it, she was too concerned with the occupant next to her. 'Come on Kathryn, you're 75, not 15,' she told herself. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the admiral. As she did so, he stopped talking. Kathryn looked around, noticing everyone out of their seats, heading towards the refreshment table and dancing.
"Honey," she heard, and turned to look at her husband. "I'm going to get a drink."
"Okay," she replied.
"I shall join you," a woman's voice followed.
Kathryn turned to look at the owner of the voice, Seven, she realized. She nodded and watched as Seven walked away with Erick.
Her and Chakotay sat there for a while, not saying a word.
"Kathryn..."
"Chakotay..."
They both said in unison. Doing so, they laughed slightly, and for the first time in many years looked one another in the eyes.
In one glance, when they had been on Voyager, they could tell exactly what the other was thinking. And after all these years, Kathryn felt good knowing they still could. Kathryn saw the happiness, the sadness, the hope, the regret...but mostly, the unsaid words.
"How have you been Chakotay?" she asked, not knowing what else to say.
"Good..." he trailed, not able to take his eyes off her. "And you Kathryn?"
"I'm doing well," she answered back.
Before anything else could be said, Seven and Erick returned. They sat down, holding their drinks, as waiters began to bring out the meal.
The rest of the night went about smoothly. Proceeding the dinner was dancing and mingling, lastly desert was served. Throughout the night Kathryn and Chakotay said nothing. They caught up with crewmembers, ate, laughed, and danced. But, every once in a while, they would make eye contact, and for those brief moments, they were back on Voyager, at one of Neelix's parties, just the two of them. But those moments were always cut short with a hello from a crewmember or some other interruption.
"Honey, I'll get your coat," Erick told his wife as he excused himself.
Seven, not wanting to be in an awkward situation, once again joined him.
Chakotay and Kathryn sat there for a few seconds.
"Did you ever imagine this ending?" Kathryn asked.
"No," Chakotay replied softly, the sadness apparent in his voice.
"I guess our minds were too clouded with happily ever afters."
"I never imagined it this way. I had always figured we'd end up together in the end," he confessed to her.
"I always figured you'd wait for me," she replied.
Chakotay grimaced, not wanting to think about it. Whenever he did, even after some many years, he felt as if he had in some way betrayed her.
"I couldn't wait forever Kathryn," he answered. "If I had only known we'd get back so soon..."
"It's okay," she interrupted. "That's just the way life works sometimes."
He looked up at her, into her eyes. He was thankful for her indirect way of showing that she understood, it meant a lot to him.
"Honey, ready?" Kathryn heard Erick call from several feet away, breaking her and Chakotay's eye contact.
"Give me a minute, I'll meet you at the transporter pad," she replied, glancing at Erick and then returning her gaze to Chakotay.
They were then once again alone.
"I've got to go."
"I know," he replied. "Kath..." Chakotay started, but was interrupted.
"Don't," she said, a small smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Silence once again enveloped them.
"I never stopped loving you Chakotay," she finally managed to get out. "I love Erick very much, but a part of my heart has always and will forever belong to you."
"I'm sorry I never got the whole part," he replied, trying to lighten the mood.
Kathryn smiled at his attempt. "Well, personally, this is more romantic than our once clouded ending."
"Really?" Chakotay teased.
"Yes, the unrequited love, the never getting together, and marring other people. And after so many years finally confessing our feelings."
"Well, I guess in a way it is a happy ending after all."
"I agree."
Kathryn stood up and took a few steps, but was stopped by Chakotay's voice.
"You know, a part of my heart remains yours as well."
She turned around and looked, most likely she realized for the last time, once more into his eyes, though not missing his wonderful dimpled smile in the process.
"Good-bye Chakotay."
"Good-bye Kathryn."
With that, she walked away.
The End
