It was a day like any other on the star ship Voyager, at least on the surface. If you looked hard enough you would see a crew that is trying to recover from one of the biggest disappointments in seven years; the Admirals plan hadn’t worked. Well it actually did but not the way the captain and crew would have liked. They crippled the Borg, but didn’t make it home. At the last minute they had to take the exit that lead back to the delta quadrant. The did however take about eight years of their journey home.
It had been six months since there adventure with the Admiral. Every thing on Voyager was running just how it was suppose to. Except its captain, Kathryn wasn’t the same every one could tell. But those who were close to her notice that something was defiantly wrong with her. Chakotay had decided to give her space, that maybe she needs to figure this one out for herself. Any way he need the time as well but not to recover, but to spend time with his girlfriend Seven. There relationship had advance a lot quicker than he thought. They had become lovers about two and a half months after the Admiral left. And they were now engage to be married. They had decided to do it as fast as possible; maybe it would bring up moral.
Now Chakotay was face with a hard job, he had to ask Kathryn to marry them. He was sure that she would do it, but kind of felt bad of finally reaching out to her only to ask something of her. But he had to do it, he thought it be worse if Seven ask.
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So here he was standing in front of her door. He touched the chime and heard the “Come” that could not be mistaken to be any one else but Kathryn. The doors open and he step in, “Captain, I need to talk to you.” Kathryn was stretched on the couch. “Sure what could I do for you?” He moved to stand in front of the couch “May I?” He gestured to the couch, she moved to a seating position “Yeah of course.” He seat and look at her and decided to go straight to the point. “Kathryn I’m getting marry and I was wondering if you would do the ceremony.” Kathryn was totally surprise; she was definitely not expecting this. “You’re getting married?” “Yeah” She looks at him then at the floor. “And you want me to do it?” “Yeah, well Seven really wants you to do it too.” “You’re marring Seven.” “Yeah, Kathryn are you alright?” She got up from the couch, “Yeah I’m fine. Congratulations Chakotay. I happy for you.” “So this means you’ll do it.” “Yeah just tell me where and when.” He hugs her, “Thanks Kathryn you’re the best friend any one could ask for.” He turned and left, leaving in his wake a very shattered Kathryn Janeway.
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The door chimed, “Come.” Kathryn steps in the room. “Captain, what can I do for you?” Kathryn seat on a chair, “Be’lanna I need a friend right now.” Be’lanna couldn’t help but notice how shaky Kathryn’s voice was. “Sure Kathryn.” She seat on the couch facing her. “His getting marry and asked me to do it.” Ok, now Be’lanna was confused. “Kathryn who is getting marry?” Kathryn started to cry, to Be’lanna’s surprise. “Kathryn?” She didn’t answer, Be’Lanna got up went to the replicator and got her a cup of water. Kathryn took the cup and drank. “Chakotay, Be’Lanna.” Be’Lanna was more than a little surprised. “Chakotay? To who?” Kathryn looked at her then drop her gaze, “To Seven.” Be’Lanna practically jumped from her seat. “Seven? Kathryn what the hell are you talking about.”
“About half an hour ago Chakotay came to see me and asked me to perform the ceremony at his wedding.” Be’Lanna flopped down on the couch again. “What did you say?” Kathryn sighed “What could I say Be’Lanna? I have I duty to him as a captain and a friend. I said I would do it and I congratulate him.” Ok so why are you so sad, Be’Lanna thought? “Kathryn forgive me for asking but why are you so sad about it?” Kathryn looked up, surprise and sadness was evident on her face. “I guess I did a better job at it than I thought. I love him Be’Lanna.” It took Be’Lanna a whole minute to realize what she had just been told. Proof that every thing she had once thought of the captain was one big leu. The Captain actually was in love with Chakotay. “I have a feeling that you never told him this.” Kathryn just nodded so Be’Lanna continued “I didn’t know that he was going out with Seven. I mean I knew but I never thought it was serious. So are you going to tell me what you’re holding back?”
Kathryn was astonish that Be’Lanna could tell that she had something she wanted to get of her chest. “Be’Lanna the Admiral as way to get me to go along with her plan told me that Seven was going to die.” “So that’s what made you change your mind!” “No, she said she would be injured on an away mission. That she would make it back to the ship and die in her husband’s arms. I asked who her husband was and she said Chakotay.” “So which part made you change Captain?” “When she said that Seven’s husband was Chakotay I felt my heart sink. I swear Be’Lanna that I love him more than any thing or any one in me life.”
Be’Lanna just kept looking at her. “Let me guess Kathryn you’re going through with it, aren’t you. You’re just going to let him get marry.” “Be’Lanna I have to if Seven could make him happy then I shouldn’t get in the way.” Be’Lanna was going insane “He loves you not her. I know that Kathryn, actually every one on this ship knows it. He has been in love with you since that incident with the life forms that made Kes want to procreate. I always thought that was when this whole fatal attraction between the two of began.” Kathryn smiled “Really what makes you think that?” Be’Lanna thought that by the smile Kathryn had given her, she was probably correct. “Well do you remember a certain captain saying ‘Good work commander, if I ever have any questions on mating behavior I’ll know where to go.’ Because to tell you the truth I think if you say no you are the only member of the crew that was on the bridge at that moment that doesn’t remember.” Kathryn was laughing “Thanks Be’Lanna you helped a lot but I have to ask you to not say a word to any one or at least make sure that they don’t interfere with Chakotay wedding.” “Sure Captain, good night.” “Good night Lanna.”
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And so the day had finally arrived, they were all happy for Chakotay but still they felt that it should be Kathryn the woman he should marry. Be’Lanna had end up telling Tom, she couldn’t help it any way she knew that he would keep his mouth shut. “Be’Lanna I can’t believe this she is actually going to go through with this?” Be’Lanna knew exactly what he was going through it had been her reaction. “She thinks that Seven could make him happy. Man talk about two very blind people, she would make him happy not Seven. For god’s sake they have been in love with each other for the better part of seven years.” “Let’s just hope that they don’t regret it.”
Everyone had gotten a message with the formal invitation the next week, so the whole crew knew he was getting married but only Be’Lanna, Tom, and Kathryn herself knew about what she would be sacrificing for love. Man it made Tom more than just a little jealous to see that Chakotay was loved so much or was it that the woman he admired so much was willing to do it. That someone could have so much love for another person to the point that they would be willing to sacrifice themselves and their love, so the one they love could be happy.
Every one was already there Tom was the best man after Chakotay asked and Be’Lanna the maid of honor because Kathryn was doing the ceremony so she wouldn’t be able to be there for Seven. They had accepted out of respect for Kathryn more than any thing else. “Ladies and gentleman we are gathered here today to join Chakotay and Seven in holy matrimony. Do you Seven take this man to be your lawful husband?” Every one looked at Seven, “Yes.” “And do you Chakotay take Seven to be your lawful wife.” All eyes were on him except Be’Lanna who was looking at her captain. “Yes.” “If any one knows a reason why these should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.” There was silence, then just as Kathryn opened her mouth to declare them husband and wife, Be’Lanna spoke up “I have a reason, sorry Seven but he doesn’t love you. He loves another woman who by the way loves him very much. A woman that was willing to let this happen because she thought that you would make him happy, but I don’t think you’re up to that task Seven. He needs to be around her to be happy, I’m telling you because I have had about eight years to observe.”
Every one was silent, and then Seven ran out. “Be’Lanna what the hell do you think you were doing?” She looked up at Kathryn which looked ready to jump out of her skin. “I just save you form a life of unhappiness. I thought you would be more grateful.” Kathryn couldn’t stand it any more she fled. Leaving a very confuse crew behind.
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Kathryn had been in her quarters for the past hour, crying her heart out. ‘What the hell were you thinking Lanna? What in god’s name would drive to interrupt the ceremony?’ Then she felt rather than heard someone in her quarters, near her. There was only one person who would come in with out permission. “Why Kathryn, I just want to know why now?” She turned around and came face to face with Chakotay, a very angry Chakotay to be correct. “I was going to do it Chakotay believe me. I never thought Be’Lanna would talk, especially at the ceremony.” “You were really going to let me go through with it?” “Yeah, if you asked her to marry you I figured that she must really make you happy and that’s all that matters to me Chakotay.” He put his hands on her shoulders and looks into her eyes with such intensity that made Kathryn nervous. “Kathryn do you really love me?” Kathryn felt relief wash through her right now that was seem like the easiest question she every heard. “Yeah, Chakotay I love you. I have for a very long time.”
Slowly ever so slowly there lips meet in an explosion of sensations, which neither of them had expected just from a kiss.
Fin………