Star Trek: Voyager 'Meet The In-laws' Captain_Crystal Chakotay stepped out into the bright Indiana sunlight, and closed his eyes at the scent of lilacs which was carried on the breeze. He quickly glanced left and right before beginning the walk up 'Janeway Drive.' During the ten minute walk, Chakotay had time to think about what he would say to Kathryn when he saw her face-to-face. How he would explain to her why he was just showing up on her doorstep. He couldn't say that he was just in the neighborhood, because she would know that to be a lie. She knew that he lived in Arizona, so what should he say? Before he knew it Chakotay was walking up Kathryn’s front porch steps. Hesitating only momentarily, he gently pressed the doorbell on the old Victorian style home. "Just a moment, please," was shouted from inside of the house. After a brief minute, Kathryn opened the door and was face-to-face with the last person she expected to see on her doorstep. "Chakotay, what are you doing here?" she asked as she stared at him with wide eyes. "I'm not really sure, I realized I just had to come to see you. Do you want me to leave?" he quietly asked. "No!" she said quickly. "No. Please come in." Kathryn stepped to the side of the doorway to let him pass. "Nice house. Do you live here alone?" he asked as he looked around. "No. Mother and Phoebe live here too. They're in town right now but should be back in an hour or two," she replied as she closed the cherry wood door. "Would you like some coffee?" "Please," Chakotay replied following her into the kitchen. "Two sugars?" Kathryn asked with her back turned as she smiled to herself. "You know me too well, Kathryn." She grinned at him as she set their coffees on the table. "So. What's new with you, Chakotay?" Kathryn asked as they settled at the kitchen table. "My sister got married last week." "That's wonderful! I hope she's happy." "Oh, she is. Taleetay was aglow at that wedding." "Was it a nice wedding?" "Oh, yes. She got married in a garden under a trellis arch of red roses." "It sounds lovely and so romantic." "It was and that's how I imagined my wedding would be someday. What about you?" "Oh, I don't know. I always imagined my wedding to be in a huge church with a glass pipe organ, lots of candles and hundreds of peace roses." "Why peace roses?" "They remind me of you," Kathryn replied simply and without thinking. Chakotay glanced up quickly to see if he had heard her right and her blushing face truthfully gave him the answer that he wanted. "Katie! Come help your mother with these bags!" a voice from outside the house filtered in through the open windows. "Please excuse me," Kathryn said as she pulled out her chair and stood up. "I'll help you." "That's ok, Chakotay, honestly. You're a guest." "No, really. I don't want to be sitting around watching three women carry bags in off the shuttle. No way. If I just watched I would feel completely useless. Let me help," he almost pleaded. "You know, Chakotay, you’re anything but useless. Come on, I'll let you carry the heavy ones." "Oh, Goody!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Whoa, Katie? Who's the hunk?" a thin woman asked as her eyes swept over Chakotay's body. She had hair as dark as night and her eyes were as close to clear blue as possible. "Phoebe! Watch your mouth, he's a guest!," a slightly plump older woman said to the thin woman. "Sorry Mom," she whispered. "I'm Phoebe," she said as she looked directly at Chakotay and waved in his direction. "I'm Gretchen Janeway. I'm these two little disasters' mother." "My name is Chakotay. I'm pleased to meet you Phoebe; Mrs. Janeway," Chakotay smiled as he tried to imagine Kathryn as a disaster. "Oh goodness, Chakotay! Mrs. Janeway is my mother-in-law. I'm Gretchen. Remember that," she ordered and Chakotay suddenly knew where Kathryn inherited her commanding captain's presence. "Of course, Gretchen," Chakotay said as he carried bags into the house. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "So, Chakotay, how long have you been dating Katie?" Gretchen asked as they sat down once again at the kitchen table for tea. Chakotay sank down into his chair and hid his smile with the tea cup. "Mom! Are you always this nosy?" Kathryn asked annoyed. "I just want to get to know my future son-in-law." "No Mom. Chakotay and I are not dating and we are nowhere near marriage." 'At least not yet,' she thought to herself. "Not yet," Chakotay said under his breath, but he had to struggle to hide the smile that wanted to burst forth at the thought of Kathryn as his wife. "Wha.... What? What did you just say, Chakotay?" Kathryn asked scooting closer to him and looking him in the eye. "Nothing. I didn't say a thing." "Liar! You said 'not yet'. What did you mean by that?" "Kathryn, it was nothing." Chakotay's face began to fall as he saw tears gathering in her eyes. "Wait. No, Kathryn...." "It's alright. You were trying to be funny so it's fine." Kathryn moved away past her mother and sister who were looking on with interest. "Kathryn! Wait, please," he pleaded. Kathryn stopped walking away, but kept her back turned so that no one saw the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. "Kathryn, that's not what I meant to say. Please turn around and look at me." Kathryn did as she was asked and showed Chakotay her tears. He gently placed the palms of his hands against the sides of her face and used his thumbs to clear away the tears that were starting to spill from her lovely blue eyes. "Oh, Kathryn!" he cried as he pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I never wanted to make you cry." Chakotay rubbed his hands on her back as she cried into his shoulder. "Gods, Kathryn. I'm so sorry. I love you more than life itself." Kathryn pulled herself back far enough to see his face and looked for the truth in his eyes. "Do you really mean that?" she sniffed. "I wouldn't have said it otherwise. You know me well enough to know I'd never tease about my love for you." She rubbed her knuckles over his jaw and cheek and finally clasped her hand behind his neck to pull him down for a passionate kiss. He offered no resistance, in fact his kiss was even more hungry than hers. As their lips met in love, their souls joined together forever. Kathryn's mother just smiled. The End February, 2003. |
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