Disclaimer: Paramount owns all, no infringement intended.

Author's Note: Okay, personally this is the worst fic I have ever written, so I apologize in advance. :)

Together

by Holly

"Do you love me?" Seven of Nine asked, her face reveling no emotion.

"What?" Chakotay questioned, wondering why she would ask such a question.

"It's a simple question, do you love me?" she repeated.

"Well, I like you very much," Chakotay told her. "And maybe someday that will lead to love."

"Good then."

"Good?"

"Yes, I believe good is the correct response," she informed him.

"Good as in what?"

"Good, meaning, that the pain will not be as severe," she answered.

"Pain?" he questioned quizzically. What was she talking about? Sometimes he wondered just how they had started dating in the first place. There really wasn't anything they had in common or what have you.

"Yes, tomorrow I am leaving for a four year deep space mission."

"But..." he tried.

"I have come to conclude that many people are..." she paused," afraid of me and that I discomfort them greatly."

"Seven, you have to give them a chance. They will eventually learn."

"I want to go," she said. "I am an individual and feel I belong out in space. It is...home to me."

They stood there, looking each other in the eyes.

"Furthermore, it is for the best. Our relationship would not have lasted."

"Why is that?" he asked.

"You are in love with Captain Janeway," she told him simply.

He wasn't in love with Kathryn....he stopped himself from finishing that thought. So what, he was still in love with her and probably always would be. But she had made it quite clear over the years that she didn't want a relationship with him.

"Seven, Kathryn and my relationship is..." he tried but was cut off.

"I have observed you both for the last several years now and it is quite evident that she loves you and you love her. Thus, you two should be together."

"If you had known this all along, why did you start a relationship with me?" he asked.

"I thought, for a brief while, that you two no longer had feelings for one another. But, I was obviously incorrect."

She walked over to him and put her arms around him.

"Good-bye Chakotay," she said and then left.

*

"Chakotay?" a hesitant voice called out.

Chakotay just sat there, thinking about what had just transpired. He was woken from is reverie by a hand touch to his shoulder.

"She's gone for a four year mission," he said sadly.

"I know," Kathryn told him soothingly. "I guess the girl gets around."

He looked up at her.

"Sorry," she said with a slight smile. "Guess I was never good at humor."

"Your humor is fine Kathryn."

She sat down next to him on the sofa.

"It'll all work out in the end, Chakotay," she assured him. "Though, why exactly did she leave?"

"She said something about how she doesn't fit in here and for me to not be sad because I didn't really love her, that I loved someone else."

At that Kathryn froze for a brief second. First Seven and now another woman?

"Who would that be?" she asked coolly, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"You," he replied truthfully, looking deep into her eyes.

"You love me?" she questioned, wondering if maybe her hearing had been recently been impaired.

"Of course I love you Kathryn."

"Well, then she's right. You shouldn't be sad."

"Why?"

"Because I can love you better."

"Well haven't we loved one another for quite a while now?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Then where does that leave is?"

"Right where we are."

They sat there, looking into each other's eyes, seeing just what the future held.

The End

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