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After All These Years

by Holly

He looked at her sitting across from him. They were having one of their weekly dinners. They discussed the ship, the crew, and other such topics. Even though he knew he loved her and wanted more than just a friendship with her, he respected her decision. Maybe someday their relationship would advance, maybe.

She looked  at him sitting across from her. She had been telling him about an encounter she had had with an ensign earlier that day. She loved having these dinners with him. She knew she loved him, but hadnt yet told him. Why not? she asked herself. She had been contemplating this very question for many years, far too many years, she thought.

They looked at each other, realizing they hadn't spoken for several minutes.

Well Kathryn, she told herself, why not now? There isn't anything stopping you. The world isn't going to end if you and your best friend try a romantic relationship.

"Chakotay," she started.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Well," at this she started laughing, it was all too absurd, she thought.

"What's so funny?" he asked, amused at her behavior. He loved when she acted like this, like her real self. Though it made him wish for more.

"I was just thinking, about us," she paused. "About our relationship."

"What about it?" he asked. He wondered if maybe she thought they were getting too close. Well it wouldn't be the first time, he thought regretfully. Or maybe...

"Well, we're friends," she said. Oh yeah Kathryn, that was great, she told herself.

"Yes we are," Chakotay laughed.

She send him a death glare and then laughed herself.

"What I mean, is that we're very close, in fact you're the closest friend I've ever had. And..." she stopped. Should she, after all these years? She knew that this was the point of no return...either tell him now or never tell him at all.

"And well..."

Chakotay noticed that Kathryn was fidgeting and looking intently at her hands. He reached across the table, and with his right hand he stopped her hands and with his left hand he brought her chin up so she was looking at him. He then retracted his hands once he had her undivided attention.

"And well, early on we were a little at odds with each other, but then we quickly became friends. Then we were on New Earth..."

"And everything changed," he added.

They looked at each other and she smiled at him.

"Yes, it did," she replied. "And then what would have inevitable happened never did on account of Voyager returning to "rescue" us. The fact that I was engaged didn't help with our relationship," she laughed. "But then Mark married someone else and, and now, well for the last few years there haven't been any excuses..."

"Protocols," he cut in with a smile.

"You know as well as I do that they don't apply to our situation," she told him.

"You see what just happened?" he asked?

"Yeah, we just switched roles," she laughed.

"What about Star Fleet?" he asked. At that she looked at him and smiled.

"They're a long ways away Chakotay."

"Then what's stopping us?"

"Nothing."

They sat there for a minute, just looking at the other. Neither of them knew what to say.

"Well then..." Chakotay trailed.

She was fine with them getting together, he thought to himself. So, he guessed, that it was now or never. He might not be given another chance.

"...Kathryn, would you care to join me tomorrow night at Sandrine's?" he asked with trepidation.

She smiled at him and replied "I take it not as Commander and Captain, or even plain friends?"

"As Kathryn and Chakotay," he smiled.

"That'd be great," she smiled back at him for the millionth time that night.

"Well, I have a few things to do before I go to bed," he said as he stood from the table and walked over to the door.

"Goodnight Kathryn," he said as he left.

"Goodnight Chakotay," she replied.

And a good future too, she thought. The End

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