You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so nice by the fire
While that breeze on night sings a lullaby You'd be all my heart could desire Under stars chilled by the winter Under an August moon shining above
You'd be so nice you'd be paradise To come home to and love
Disclaimer: I bow for the great god Paramount who owns all the toys I want to play with.
Well people, my first J/C story (make that my first story) on the internet. Please tell me what you thought, but be kind, I'm new at this. After inspiration from the best CD ever: Kiri te Kanawa sings Cole Porter.
* ~ * ~ *
Another day on the Bridge, followed by the quarterly crew evaluations in the evening, and then the loneliness of her quarters: life was not following the path she wanted it to. She should've known that pushing him away time and again would result in this. Of course, he'd cook dinner for her when they were busy with the evaluations, but after they were finished, he'd probably go to Sandrine's and enjoy some time off with the crew. She knew, of course, that she would be more than welcome, especially since she was the only one who could beat Tom Paris at pool, but she didn't want to, because she knew it was difficult for him. They had come so far, but now it was as if she was losing his friendship, something that had always frightened her.
He wasn't on the Bridge, he had asked if he could spent the remaining time in his office to prepare for the meeting with B'Elanna for tomorrow. Of course, she hadn't refused him; she could not blame him for not wanting to spend even more time with her than absolutely necessary.
"Torres to Janeway."
"Go ahead, Lieutenant."
"Captain, could you come down here? We need your assistance."
"On my way, B'Elanna. Tuvok you have the bridge."
* ~ * ~ *
"What is the problem, Lieutenant?"
"Hello Kathy, so nice of you to come so quickly. And thank you, Lieutenant, you are smarter than those other Woof's!"
"Q! I didn't ask for your help just to be insulted!"
"Sorry Lieutenant. Well, Captain, shall we go?"
"Could someone tell me what's going on here?"
"Now really Kathy, they're just trying to help. You'll find out when we get there."
Q and the Captain disappeared.
* ~ * ~ *
"Chakotay to Torres."
"Go ahead, Commander."
"Is the Captain with you?"
"Eh.no. She just had to leave."
"Where is she? The computer doesn't recognise her signal."
"Yes, well, that's because ...eh ...right, you see ..."
"B'Ela!"
"Q took her."
"WHAT?"
"Q took her."
"WHY?"
"Because he had to show her something. But don't worry, Chakotay, Tuvok agreed with us."
"Lieutenant, come to the Ready Room, now, and take everyone with you who knows more about this latest Q-business."
"That won't be possible ..."
"Why not?"
"Well, you see, it's sort of ...everybody is involved in this."
"What do you mean 'everybody is involved'?"
"Commander, I'll get the main instigators to go to the Ready Room, 'kay?"
"Yes, I'll be there in 2 minutes. Chakotay out."
* ~ * ~ *
"Q, where are you taking me?"
"Patience, Kathy, you'll see."
* ~ * ~ *
[door chime]
"Come."
Paris, Tuvok, and Torres enter.
"Commander Chakotay, there's something you should know ..."
"Torres, shut up! Tuvok, please tell me."
"Commander, what Lt. Torres was trying to say, is that what happened to Capt. Janeway is for the good of the ship."
"And ...?"
"I am not at liberty to tell you. Capt. Janeway will tell you when she returns."
"'When'? Good. Now in what way will her disappearance help the ship?"
"Commander, I think I'm the best to answer that one."
"Lt. Paris, for now I'm sticking with Cm. Tuvok. After all, he always seems to have the most 'logical' explanation. Commander?"
"Actually, Lt. Paris would the ideal person to explain, besides of course Lt. Torres. She is the one who came to me with her request."
"Alright, I'll bite. Commander, you can return to the bridge."
"Yes, Commander."
* ~ * ~ *
[a poppy field somewhere on Earth, no time-period]
"Okay, now that we're here. What's going on, Q?"
"Mm ...what, o, nothing. I'm just doing your resident Klingon and her loverboy a favour. That's all: it was their idea."
"B'Elanna and Tom? I'll get them for this. They'll be cleaning ..."
"Mommy? Mommy? Where are you?"
"Q?"
{Just follow your feelings, Kathy!}
* ~ * ~ *
" ...and that's about it, really."
"You've told Q to take Kath ...the Captain, and now you give me this 'she gave me a second chance'-story. I don't think so. You two are going to have to come up with a better explanation!"
"Come on. Chakotay. This is all we can tell you. When she gets back, she will tell you everything. Don't worry: she is in good hands."
"I'm still not satisfied, but I guess if everybody is in on this, I won't get any answers. When will she return?"
"Well, whenever she's learned what she needs to know."
"Right, another enigma."
"I'm sorry Chakotay, don't worry; when Tuvok said it was good for the ship, he also meant to say it will be good for you."
* ~ * ~ *
"Mommy? Where are you? Daddy told me to look for you because dinner is almost ready."
Kathryn walked up to the searching girl. She was approximately 5 years old with long dark-brown hair.
"There you are. Come on, we have to go home now."
When she looked up, Kathryn saw a reflection of her own grey-blue eyes. The girl took her hand and started to pull her towards a house Kathryn had not noticed before.
"Come on, or Daddy will be upset you left him alone with Paka."
"Daddy, I found her! She was on the field just staring. Can I go eat now?"
Chakotay was standing on the porch holding a 9-month old boy with dark hair and dark brown eyes.
"Hi honey, do you mind taking Paka? I've got to finish dinner."
As she walked up the porch, he handed her Paka and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
But before she could question Chakotay, he'd already moved back inside. Paka started to play with her hair, and gave her an adorable smile, showing off his dimpled cheeks. She could hear Chakotay setting the table, helped by the little girl, whom she heard him call 'Sarah'.
When she went inside, she could smell Chakotay's 'famous' chilli. She put Paka in his high chair just as Chakotay and Sarah carried in the dishes. They all sat down.
"Mommy, what were you doing out in the field? I though I heard you talk to someone."
"No sweetie, I was just talking to myself. You know, just wandering what I did to deserve all this."
"Don't you know. Daddy always tells me it's because you brought 'Peace', but I think it's because you brought Voyager back home. Am I right?"
"Sarah let Kathryn eat: between your questions and Paka's undivided attention for throwing his food around, she can't eat herself."
"Sorry, mommy."
"It's okay, Sarah-bug."
Dinner was uneventful, except for Paka throwing his chilli everywhere.
* ~ * ~ *
"Tuvok to Chakotay."
"Go ahead, Commander."
"There's someone here to see you. Shall I direct him to the Ready Room?"
"Yes please."
"Hello Chakotay."
"Q? What the ..."
"Now, now, Chucky boy. Your precious Kathy is right where she wants to be. If that's what you were going to ask."
"I guess.. But could you please tell me when she'll be back?"
"Didn't your helmboy tell you: when she's ready!"
"Q!"
"Sorry, Chuckles, but that's all I can say. I thought you'd appreciate the personal touch here, jeez ... HUMANS!"
And he was gone again.
* ~ * ~ *
"Mommy, will you tell me again how you and Daddy got together? Please?"
"I don't know, don't you think we should ask Chakotay? After all, he's the best storyteller ..."
"'kay."
Chakotay came into Sarah's room, only to find 2 pairs of sparkling eyes trained on him.
"Okay, what's going on? What are you two up to this time?"
"Nothing."
Kathryn smiled sweetly and Sarah copied her.
"Right, I'm supposed to believe you two? Don't think so."
"Daddy, stay and tell em how you and Mommy met."
"Mm ... alright, but you'll have to make some room here."
Kathryn sat at the head of the bed supporting Sarah's head in her lap, while Chakotay was holding her feet in his lap.
"Now where do I begin?"
He looked into Kathryn's eyes, but it was Sarah who gave the answer: "the viewscreen!"
"Okay, miss smartypants, the viewscreen."
While Chakotay was telling a brief version of how they met, Kathryn could not keep her eyes off him.
Chakotay saw the emotions in her eyes, and wanted nothing more but to take her in his arms and just enjoy the feeling of their perfect fit. But someone else was demanding the continuation of 'the best story ever'.
" ...well, then your uncle Tom put something in the punch ..."
" ...which he still regrets. You know, looking at him now ..."
" ..."Kathryn?"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Mommy! Daddy is telling a story!"
"O, sorry, I got distracted."
"That's what you told B'Ela that night when she caught you staring at me while she was trying to explain something to you."
"Well, it was all your fault. I couldn't just let you dance with Jenny that way."
"Which is why you told Neelix to start handing out 'dance-books': you told him it'd be fun to now have men carry them around and women to have to write their names in it."
"Yes, don't tell me you didn't like it. After all, yours was already filled up before you'd even seen it."
"Why was that, Daddy?"
"Well, you see, your Mommy was jealous ..."
"I was not jealous! I merely wanted to claim what was mine to begin with."
"You put your name in all the vacant slots in my book! All of them!"
"You didn't seem to complain."
"No, though the next day you threatened to throw Tom out of the nearest airlock if he mentioned it to one more person ..."
"That was not because of your little book, Commander."
"We're back to titles are we? Well, Captain, I can tell you that I didn't mind at all."
"Mm ... charmer. I believe you have a story to finish."
"Yes, so after that ..."
Before he got a chance to finish it, Sarah had already fallen asleep. As Kathryn put her to bed, Chakotay just looked at them. Slipping his arms around her waist, he whispered 'I love you' in her ear. Kathryn only responded by pulling him closer.
* ~ * ~ *
After they'd cleaned up, they just sat on the couch, each reading their own reports. Kathryn discovered that she was still a Captain, but now as a professor at the Academy. She also had the chance to scroll through her bio and filled in the missing facts. Apparently, Chakotay and she had got married six years ago (actually, for her own timeline it would be in the future), and after 1 year Sarah was born. They'd still been on Voyager. Exactly one year later, they'd discovered a wormhole leading to the Gamma Quadrant, and now 4½ years ago, they finally mad it back to DS9.
At their arrival on Earth, they were filled in on things, and there had been no trial against the crew — Maquis or Starfleet. Kathryn and Chakotay had settled down in Indiana, near her mother's house, and both had got a position at the Academy. Just 9 months ago their son Kolopak had been born.
After a while Kathryn noticed that Chakotay had fallen asleep. Only briefly did she wonder about sleep arrangements, but when she went over to wake him up, she finally gave in to her love for him.
A bright flash, and Q appeared. Kathryn immediately checked if Chakotay was still asleep.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Q! Be quiet."
"Don't worry, I created this, so I can stop it. They won't notice a thing. I'll ask again: enjoying yourself?"
"Why, yes. I think I know why you took me here."
"Great, then we can leave again."
"Leave? No, I mean, I'm not finished yet."
"Yes you are. Let's go."
"But before Q could whisk her away, Kathryn kissed Chakotay and whispered 'I love you too' in his ear. Except this Chakotay didn't notice.
* ~ * ~ *
She was back in her quarters, feeling very alone.
"Janeway to Torres."
"Torres here. Yes, Captain?"
"Hello B'Elanna. Could you and Tom come to my quarters please?"
"Yes Captain, we're on our way."
[door chime]
"Come in."
"Hello Captain."
"Yes, hello, you two. Q told me that you were behind this, now, please can one of you explain to me: WHY?"
"Captain, you know how we all worship the ground you walk on ..."
"Tom, I'll handle this."
B'Elanna gave Kathryn a run down on all the reasons why they wanted Q to show her a different life.
" ...so basically, we wanted you to see that you can find happiness here, just as you have done for us."
"Wow, that's quite a story. Did Chakotay believe all this?"
"Well, we didn't exactly tell him everything, but I guess the fact that Tuvok was in on this ..."
"Tuvok? My Tuvok?"
"Yes, all he told us was that 'there is strength in unity'. He may not have thought that our methods were conventional, but yes, he agreed."
"Poor Chakotay, he must have thought you'd all gone crazy."
"The only thing we told him is that you'd tell him about what happened to you. So, I guess, what we're asking: will you tell him?"
"Tom, I may not always agree with you. As far as I am concerned you're crazy, but I have a weak spot for you ..."
"That's because I got you to get me all those hors d'oeuvres at my parents' parties."
"You could be right. Your Academy PJ-s was just too cute ..."
"But Captain, will you tell him?"
"Don't worry B'Elanna, your little scheme has helped me focus on the important things. Now, since I haven't slept in days, or at least, that's how it feels, would you excuse me: you don't need a sleep deprived Captain tomorrow."
"Okay, good night Captain."
"Goodnight you two."
* ~ * ~ *
But Kathryn wasn't tired at all. She put on comfortable clothes and brushed her hair. She punched in Chakotay's code and the doors to his quarters opened. The lights were at half, and she saw him sleeping on the couch in much the same position as 'her' Chakotay in Q's creation. She went over and tenderly stroked his cheek.
"Chakotay? Wake up sleepy."
Slowly one of his eyes opened. It closed again, but before she knew it he opened both his eyes.
" ...Kathryn?"
"Yup, the one and only."
"You're back ..."
"How very perceptive of you. Yes, and you'd better change positions. I will not have a grumpy Commander on my bridge tomorrow, just because he fell asleep in his chair."
"Mm ... yes ... what happened?"
"It's a long story. Would you like something to drink? You may need it."
"Yeah - I'm sorry, I'm still a bit sleepy. I'll have some tea, blend Chakotay 2.3"
"Sounds intriguing. You think I could handle it."
"You'll like it."
"Okay, two teas it is."
As she got the teas, Chakotay had gotten up, and started to flex his muscles.
"Thanks for waking me up. I really am getting too old for this."
"You're not old."
"humph, no thanks to you. You really scared me with this little stunt ..."
"You scared? What about me? Here I am, one moment down in Engineering, and the next moment a little girl is running up to me yelling 'Mommy'!"
"Why don't we sit down, and you tell me everything that happened."
They sat down on the couch, nearly touching, but no yet: Kathryn felt she needed to keep her distance - for now.
"Okay, here we go. I went down to Engineering right before I came of my shift: B'Elanna said she needed me for something. When I got there, Q appears and starts baiting B'Ela. Before I know what is happening, he whisks me away. Almost immediately, we are in a poppy field ..."
Seeing his confusion, Kathryn takes his hand and smiles at him.
"Before I could ask what was going on, I heard a little girl shout 'Mommy', and then heard Q say in my mind ' ...just follow you feelings, Kathy!'"
"He keeps calling you that, doesn't he?"
"Yes, but I don't mind it as much anymore."
"Why?"
"He made me see things from a different perspective. Don't worry, nobody harmed me while I was there; in fact I wouldn't have minded to stay a bit longer."
"Go on then."
Kathryn gently caressed his face. "I hope you're ready for this. As I walked towards the girl, she ran up to me explaining we'd better get moving, or else Daddy might be upset for leaving him and Paka alone for so long. The little girl, whose name was Sarah as I found out, was adorable. She had long dark-brown hair and clear grey-blue eyes. She pulled me to this house, where I found her Daddy carrying our 9 month old son Paka."
Chakotay didn't know yet if he liked where this story was going, but the fact that Kathryn was so obviously showing her emotions, and that she was almost sitting on his lap, momentarily helped him forget what she was saying.
" ...you, Chakotay! ... Hello, Chakotay, are you listening?"
" Mm ... what, o, sorry, I was just thinking about yo ...something."
"I guess I'll have to repeat myself then."
"I'm sorry Kathryn, it's just that, well, frankly, I don't know what to make of all this, I mean, I can't do this anymore. I don't just want to have to be your 'friend' in the morning. And if this makes me sound selfish, well, I'm sorry."
"Chakotay, would you please be quiet for a moment ..."
" ... but ..."
"Please? I just want to finish telling you what happened, I owe you that much."
"You owe me? Kathryn, I'd never ..."
"Chakotay, stop babbling!"
"Sorry."
"Okay, where was I? Right, I was saying that the man standing on the porch, who was obviously Sarah and Paka's father, ... you still listening?"
"Yes, 'mom'."
"Funny you should say that. Well, the man was you."
" ... what do you mean 'me'? I was here!"
"I know, silly. Q created this whole setting to show me something."
"What did he show you?"
"First I'll continue. 'You' handed Paka over to me and went back inside to finish dinner. O Chakotay, I wish you could've seen Paka; he looked so much like you: he even had your cute dimples."
"My dimples are not cute."
"Yes, they are. You should get a licence for unleashing them on me. Anyway, when I went in 'you' and Sarah had set the table, and we ate dinner. Then afterwards, we brought the kids to bed, and Sarah and I begged 'you' to tell a story."
"Was it any good?"
"Quite, Sarah wanted 'you' to tell how we got together."
"Mm ... interesting choice, so 'how did we get together'?"
"'You' never got to that part, because Sarah had already fallen asleep."
"I guess Q didn't want you to find out."
"No I guess not, but I'd much rather figure that out on my own."
"What?" Chakotay almost whispered.
"Nothing. Anyway, back to the story. We went back down, cleaned up, and sat down to read something. I found out that we'd been married for six years: we'd gotten Voyager back to the Alpha Quadrant four and a half years ago."
"And ...?"
"Well, you fell asleep; pretty much in the same way as when I just found you, and then Q took me back again."
"Right, why do I have this feeling that you're not telling me everything. Tom and Q told me that you'd be coming back when you were ready: so, were you?"
"I guess, yes. You see, I learned to look at my life differently, and I found peace in the life I saw."
"Yes, well, but why?"
"Chakotay! It's not easy letting go of my parameters. What I'm trying to say is that ... humph ... I love you!"
"You what?"
"I love you."
Kathryn looked so vulnerable, opening up to Chakotay: the only thing he could do was to take her in his arms.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you to say that?"
"Sorry."
"No, don't be sorry: I love you too, you know."
They just sat on his couch holding on to each other. Chakotay pulled back and took Kathryn's face in his hands.
"So, now that we've finally told the truth: what are we going to do next?"
Kathryn found that he'd put the ball back in her court, this was her call.
She didn't want to go back to just friendship, but she was still afraid of the whole idea of them being together.
"Well, for starters, we could, you know ..."
"What? What 'could we'?"
"O Chakotay, do you want me to spell it out? Well, I guess you do. Okay, but for now I want to take this slow, because 70 years is too long to hurry and have the whole thing not work out."
"You're right, I had been thinking along the same lines. First, I court you, then we'll see."
"Court me, Chakotay? Well, then I guess I'll have to leave now, I wouldn't want to be seen in your quarters without a chaperone. Goodnight, Commander."
Kathryn got up, but before she'd gotten to the door, her commbadge chirped.
"Tuvok to Janeway."
"Go ahead, Tuvok."
"Captain, I just found out that you were back, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"That's sweet of you, and yes, I'm perfectly fine. I heard I have you to thanks for that as well, you know, for looking after mine and Chakotay's well-being."
"Yes, well, Captain, I must state that I didn't agree with Lt. Torres' approach, but she told me it would be the only way."
"Tuvok, don't worry, I'm great."
"Captain, must I remind you that we Vulcans do not ..."
" ... worry, yes I know. But you can rest assured, Q did me a big favour. Was there something else Tuvok?"
During her conversation with Tuvok, Chakotay had gotten up, and he was now standing in front of her.
"No Captain, good night."
"Janeway out. Well, Commander ...mm ... I'm not good at this, I must warn you."
"Don't worry Kathryn. Go to bed and enjoy your rest."
He leaned over, and just as she thought he was going to kiss her, Chakotay pulled back and took her hand, he kissed it.
"Good night Chakotay."
* ~ * ~ *
As soon as she was back in her quarters, she let out a very un-captain like cheer.
"Chakotay to Janeway. Kathryn?"
"Yes, Chakotay."
"See you tomorrow."
"Okay, goodnight 'Kotay."
"Night, Kath."
* ~ * ~ *
The next morning even Neelix' breakfast was great. Paris noticed the Kathryn's mood when she came on the Bridge. Even Harry was tempted to shout 'Captain on the bridge'. Instead he and Tom kept sending messages back and forth, occasionally forwarding them to B'Elanna. As soon as Chakotay came on the Bridge, Paris couldn't stop himself and he had to see how they would react.
"Mr Paris. I realise that you are Starfleet's finest pilot, but even you couldn't fly Voyager sitting backwards."
"No Captain."
Kathryn hadn't wanted to sound so harsh, but she was trying to keep her emotions in check, which was becoming increasingly difficult with Chakotay sitting next to her.
Her comm-unit beeped: there was a message for her.
This is just to say You look beautiful. Love C.
Kathryn felt her whole body tingling. She had to fight really hard not to look in his direction, but found she couldn't stop herself. Chakotay was looking at the viewscreen with a face that betrayed nothing. She slowly moved her hand, and started tracing small patterns on the back of Chakotay's hand: he immediately stiffened.
"Commander, you have the bridge, I'll be in my Ready Room."
"Yes, Captain."
Alone in the sanctity of her Ready Room, Kathryn let out the sigh she'd been holding.
[door chime]
"Come in."
"Captain, I was wondering if you could have a look at these reports."
Chakotay asked her, part to fool Tom Paris, who was leaning back in his chair to see if he could catch their conversation, and partly to make sure that what had happened on the Bridge was real.
"Why thank you, 'Commander', and no, I will not have a look at them."
"Excuse me?"
"Chakotay, how about we take the day off, secure a Holodeck and have wild sex?"
"Mm ... Bridge-duty, or having my dreams come true? I don't know Kathryn, yesterday you told me you wanted to take things slow."
"Yes, I know, and I still feel that way, but then you just had to send me that really sweet note, and I couldn't stand it anymore. Sorry if I put you in an uncomfortable position. It's just, well ... I want to shout from the rooftops that I love you, but I'm afraid that no one will listen."
"I'll listen."
"Good. Any plans for tonight?"
"Well, B'Ela asked me to have dinner with her at Sandrine's. Wanna come?"
"I don't think she'll want me there. You see ..."
"But I want you there!"
"But it would be awkward ..."
"No, because Tom'll be there. Great, we could actually go on a double date with them!"
"No."
"Don't worry, Before yesterday, B'Ela had already told me to ask you to come, so I'm just extending the invitation."
"In that case, I'd love to come. What time shall I be there?"
"I'll pick you up at seven, okay?"
"Sounds great, it's a ..."
"What, date? Sure, but I'll expect a kiss when I bring you back."
Kathryn got up and walked over to Chakotay until she stood nose to nose with him. Without giving him chance to say something, she took his face and kissed him gently on the lips. Their kisses became more and more passionate and Chakotay started backing her up the wall ...
"Paris to Janeway."
"Damn!"
Chakotay laughed hard, as Kathryn tried to gain her composure. She was still leaning against his chest, feeling the bubbling of laughter erupt again.
"Damn, damn, damn."
"Paris to Janeway. Are you alright, Captain?"
"No Mr Paris, I'm not alright. What is it that you wanted?"
"There's something here that you might want to see."
"On our way, Mr Paris."
FIN
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