Three Little Stars
by Fiona
beta by Kim

Had yet another Christmas really come and all but gone again? It was hard to believe that this was their fifth Christmas in the DQ.

This year, the crew had decided to celebrate not only Christmas Day itself but the whole twelve days. The ships sensors had picked up no suspicious aliens within several light years of their current present position. So the whole crew was just keeping its fingers crossed that things remained that way a while longer.

Today was the third day and Chakotay had a special present he wanted to give to Kathryn this evening. He was just waiting for their shift to finish before they retired for their evening meal, which they planned to have together in Chakotay’s quarters, before joining the rest of their crew on the holodeck for one of Tom’s 20th century musical events.

Chakotay noticed Kathryn Janeway was leaving her ready room and already heading toward the turbo lift at the rear of the bridge. He noted out of the corner of his eye that she looked tired and he was pleased that she had given herself permission to leave a couple of seconds early. Chakotay made a mental note to himself to tackle Kathryn on her over working.

As soon as he had handed over to the next shift he would follow her as he was in need of a little time to prepare for the events of this evening. There was no denying the fact that Chakotay was feeling edgy, in fact he may go as far as to say very anxious. All the same he hoped that would pass as the evening wore on, he just hoped that he was correct and that he would not be disappointed.

The relationship between Voyager's two most senior officers had become more romantic. They where more than just friends, however they had not taken the final step in their relationship and become lovers. Not yet, however Chakotay had every hope of it doing so.

The bridge hand over had been due very shortly, so commander Chakotay took this opportunity to go and leave his daily report on her desk along with a personal message for her to find a little later. Also this was the opportunity he had been waiting for to go and hide his gift to Kathryn in her ready room.

Chakotay handed the bridge to Lt. Paris on the pretence of going to deliver his report. When the doors had hissed shut behind him Chakotay had taken a deep breath before he had crossed the room. He had stopped before Janeway’s desk and laid the two pads that he had been carrying down, in the open so they could be seen. He took a quick look around before deciding on a hiding place for his gift to Kathryn, he then headed straight for the Christmas tree.

The job done he had once again looked around him to make sure there were no tell tail signs that he had been in the room. He then turned on his heel and had headed for the bridge and his seat.

Chakotay had not long returned to his seat on the bridge when the turbo left arrived delivering the next command officer and the bridge crew for their shift.

He had been lost in his own thoughts when the next crew rotation arrived. Therefore he had nearly jumped out of his skin when Tuvok who was in command this shift had spoken to him.

“Commander are you alright?”

“Ah Tuvok, yes I am fine really I was just lost in thought. You may now have the bridge; I am going to my quarters first then later will join Mr. Paris and the others on the holodeck.”

With those last few words he had turned on his heel and left the bridge.

Having had a sonic shower and laid the table he was thoroughly ready by the time Kathryn Janeway had rung his door-bell.

“Good evening Kathryn come in our meal will be here any second.”

The alarm on the replicator rang.
 

“That’s what I call good timing, Chakotay.” smiled Kathryn.

“My mother; she always told me that timing was every thing. I try to carry that piece of advice to every thing I do, not just cooking.”

Kathryn smiled at him and took his hand.

“Your mother must have been a very wise woman? I wish I could have known her.”

“The two of you would have been great friends.”

Little conversation interrupted their compatible meal and their coffees they took to the couch. Kathryn sat beside him not quite touching, “Thank you Chakotay that was an enjoyable meal.”

“It was nice to share a meal with you Kathryn.”

“It is so pleasant to see that this is a peaceful area of space after all, allowing our crew to relax and enjoy themselves.”

“Hopefully we can enjoy the rest of this evening without interruption. You are just as entitled to have a good time as anyone else without the continues worry that you face just about every day we are out here.”

“Kathryn, we still have time before we are expected at Tom’s do on the holodeck. I have a small gift for you. However you are going to have to go and find it, I thought you may enjoy the puzzle. I have a clue here for you.”

“Chakotay, now you made me feel rotten I have nothing for you. I was not expecting this. If you would wait until next week I will have more replicator rations, I used the last, yesterday evening.”

Chakotay smiled reassuringly at her and uttered a single word “coffee?”

She just gave a single nod as her reply.

Kathryn looked at Chakotay, then the pad that was handed to her; she read it before she spoke again.

“Are you coming with me? This looks as if I need your moral support. ”

“Yes, I would not miss this for anything. We need to get started.”

They left commander Chakotay’s quarters and headed for the turbo lift. The couple entered Kathryn’s ready room by the back entrance without crossing the bridge. She looked around her to see if there is anything that should not have been there. Then spotted the two pads on her desk, she had gone over to take a closer look. Kathryn had picked up the first one finding it contained a message from Chakotay the second she has discarded until tomorrow.

She looked at Chakotay who had seen at first glance how moved she had been by what she had just read. Chakotay had taken Kathryn’s small hand in his and given it a gentle squeeze of reassurance, before letting it go once again; giving her a chance to go and look for her gift.

Kathryn started towards the small Christmas tree the two had erected on Christmas Eve.

“You are getting warmer, yes definitely warmer.”

Kathryn glanced at the foot of the tree, but nothing new lay under it. She knelt down and checked under the table for her surprise.

“You are getting cold again Kathryn.”

So Janeway retraced her steps towards the tree and looked closer. Her heart began to beat a little faster; she had not searched the branches of the tree. Starting at the top Kathryn moved down the beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

“You are getting really warm now.” His voice came from close by, “Really warm.”

She saw something hidden deep within the branches of the tree.

“Found something.”

Kathryn held the small neatly wrapped present in her hand waving it in triumph above her head and smiling at Chakotay.

“Now that was not very hard now was it, you soon found it?”

Kathryn looked from the small neat package in her left hand, into the brown pools that where commander Chakotay’s beautiful and much-loved eyes. She had held his gaze for longer than was necessary before she had started to open her gift.

Chakotay noticed that she held her breath for a second or two then she opened the package. Kathryn removed the wrapping paper which she just let float to the floor; which had revealed a box with a hand carved lid. Then lightly traced the pattern with one finger in amazement; on closer inspection Kathryn could see that it was their initials; a K and a C intertwined one with the other.

Having turned towards Chakotay, Kathryn rests her empty hand on his chest as she spoke.

“Chakotay, thank you it is beautiful. This has caught me by surprise, you really have; did you carve the lid?”

“Yes and the pleasure is all mine, however the main present is in the box.”

A shy smile started to spread across Kathryn’s lips as she began to open the lid of the box she held. Pulling back the tissue she found three silver stars, each engraved with a different star date. Kathryn had examined them more closely.

”Chakotay this first star holds the date of our first meeting and this second one is New Earth.”

The blank star puzzled Kathryn; she turned to Chakotay holding up the item in question, for an explanation.

“Why blank, Chakotay?”

“Because I am hoping that today will mark the beginning of a new stage of our relationship, that we can carry it on to a deeper more personal level than we had at the moment.”

Kathryn Janeway had moved to stand directly in front of Chakotay, and gave him a reassuring smile. Both officers had felt the tensions of a moment ago just dissolve; he had looked deep into her eyes before Chakotay had spoken again.

“Kathryn will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? That is if that is what you want?”

She gives him a sideways glance and shy smile.

“If it is what I want? Chakotay it is most definitely what I want. I love you and I think I have kept you waiting more than long enough, don’t you?”

Chakotay looked into Kathryn’s blue eyes he saw all her feelings for him revealed there. Her unshed tears moved him to pull his love into his arms once again, and she laid her head on his shoulder returning his light embrace.

They stood that way until Tuvok’s voice came over the comm link.

“Tuvok to Captain Janeway.”

“Janeway here.”

“Mr. Paris is asking when he might expect you. You did agree to oversee the gift exchange.”

“Chakotay here commander. The Captain and I will be there shortly.”

“Yes Commander, Tuvok out.”

Kathryn smiled at Chakotay before speaking once more

“He certainly has the knack of interrupting us at the important moments of our lives.”

“He really does, so we had better go and find out what it is that Tom Paris is doing on the holodeck with the rest of our crew.”

The command pair had looked at each other. Moving closer together they shared their first true kiss, it told of things to come, of the love they had one for the other, and of the nights of passion that awaited them.

“I think we had better get a move on and before Lt. Paris sends out a search party to come and find us.”

“I totally agree on that one.” smiled Chakotay as his arm wrapped around Kathryn’s waist and he kissed her yet again.

In the empty turbo lift, Chakotay felt a new anxiety to replace the one he had left behind in the ready room.

This was the beginning of a new and momentous journey for the two of them. He realised that at long last they would be a couple both in public and in private. They stood close together arms still wrapped around each other as if they never wanted to let go of each other.

“Kathryn, do you want to keep this to ourselves for the time being or are you ready to have the news spread by the Paris telegraph company?”

“Why do you ask?” Kathryn’s slow, almost lazy reply came.

“I was just wondering if you and I can hold hands as we enter the holodeck or not?”

“We are both new to this, nevertheless the crew and Lt. Paris and his grape vine will find out, so why not tonight in the here and now?

Chakotay pulled Kathryn even closer to his chest just as the turbo lift arrived at its intended location. The doors opened to reveal a pacing Tom Paris who looked as if he was wearing a hole in the carpet of the corridor.

The command pair just smiled at him and moved past him still with their arms wrapped around each other’s waists and happy smiles on their faces. They entered the holodeck to cheers of “About time!” and “Good luck!”

The happy command pair just smiled their thanks as they found the rest of the senior staff.

The happy couple had spent the evening mixing with crew, and watching them enjoying themselves. It was getting late when Tom and Belanna had come over to have a quick word with Chakotay and captain Janeway.

Belanna had started, by turning to Chakotay to ask the all important question as to what was up between the two of them.

Just smiling happily Kathryn had then nodded to Chakotay, giving him her consent to tell the other couple what had transpired that evening.

“It is like this, tonight Kathryn has consented to become my wife.”

“Did you just say your wife?”

“Yes I did, is there something wrong with your hearing Tom. If so you had better go and see the E.M.H.”

“My, my, you two are fast movers; one moment there is not a sign that you two are involved with each other. The next you are going to get married; that is lovely really it is. I for one could not be more pleased.”

“Fast is not right Belanna, I have kept poor Chakotay here hanging on a hook for years. Tonight it just did not seem fair to keep him waiting any longer. Any how I love him and have no intention of sitting on the shelve any more. So I just agreed to his proposal and as soon as we have finished here we will retire together to my quarters to make love all night long.

Kathryn squeezed Chakotay’s hand and smiled at him to reassure him that she meant every word she had just said to the others.

“Chakotay, it is time for us to leave and fulfill each others dreams.”

Chakotay just nodded his head, he was so full of emotions he did not trust his own voice not to let him down, in front of everyone else present.