Chakotay still sits at the table, working now on the PADD. There's a sound, and Janeway emerges from behind the partition. She walks purposefully to the table and sits down.
JANEWAY: We have to talk about this
CHAKOTAY: All right...
JANEWAY: We know we're going to be here the rest of our lives. The question is... what is our relationship going to be exactly? I think we need to define some parameters.
She, characteristically, is taking refuge in the rational approach. He regards her with bemused fondness.
CHAKOTAY: I don't think I can tell you -- "exactly." And I'm not sure I can define parameters.
|beat|
But I can tell you a story... an ancient legend among my people.
She looks at him quizzically.
CHAKOTAY: It's about an angry warrior... who lived his life in conflict with the rest of his tribe... a man who couldn't find peace, even with the help of his spirit guide. For years, he struggled with the demons inside him, but the only satisfaction he ever knew came when he was in battle.
|beat|
This made him a hero in his tribe, but the warrior still longed for inner peace.
Chakotay stands up and paces a bit as he tells his story.
CHAKOTAY: One day he and his war party were captured by a neighboring tribe, led by a warrior princess. She called on him to join them, for her tribe was too small and weak to defend themselves from all their attackers.
Janeway regards him solemnly as he spins this tale.
CHAKOTAY: The warrior princess was brave, and beautiful. And very wise. The angry warrior swore to himself that he would stay by her side, doing whatever he could to make her burden lighter. From that point on, her needs would come first.
|beat|
And in that way, the warrior began to know the true meaning of peace.
Chakotay turns and looks right at Janeway.
CHAKOTAY: He didn't realize for a long time that what he was feeling was love -- because he had never known love before.
A silence.
JANEWAY: Is that really... an ancient legend?
CHAKOTAY: No. But that made it easier to tell you.
She rises and moves to him... stands looking up at him for a moment, then lifts her mouth to his. Chakotay puts his arms around her, gathering her in, feeling the comfort of safe harbor at last.
FADE OUT.
