Rating: quite G ~~ just some smooching

The mess hall was oddly quiet today. Even little Naomi seemed subdued as everyone watched Kathryn walk across the room and sit in a vacant seat. Something in her eyes lately had been on the tongues of everyone on board and though she tried to hide it, everyone had a similar theory as to the cause.

It was the thirteenth day of February and nearly everyone on board was preparing for the feast of Saint Valentine. With the exception of Tuvok, Seven, and the occasional other alien, it seemed as though only the Captain was alone.

Nursing the cup of coffee in her hand, she sipped it silently. The taste was equal in bitterness to the inner demons that were winning her over. It was never easy being alone on Valentine's Day, she thought, but it was hardly the first time for her.

Several crewmembers had received candy, flowers, or a gift of some kind, while her desk remained cold and seeming unloved.

"May I sit down?" the voice of Commander Chakotay broke through her dreary thoughts.

With a hand motion she invited him down. He sat before her, a plate covered with Neelix's latest concoction. It didn't look like it to Kathryn, but Neelix claimed it was Lunch.

Kathryn's stomach nearly pushed the coffee up her throat when she saw the Commander spoon up some of the food and fight it into his mouth, a loud gulp from him made her wish she hadn't invited him to sit.

He winced as he swallowed another spoonful down, and his pained expression eased some of her sorrow. "Try not to scare the others who haven't tasted it yet," she whispered from behind her cup before she placed it on the table. Her blue eyes crinkled a bit.

Chakotay swallowed loudly and gave her a crooked smile, "It's not that bad," he took up another spoonful and actually brought it mere centimeters from her lips, "try it."

Both her brows shot up as her jaw fell open to respond to him. He took that as a yes and quickly pushed the spoon inside. Only years of training stopped Janeway from gagging there and then.

She swallowed and forced herself to not wince. Once the hideous stuff was halfway to her stomach, she opened her mouth again, to yell at him, when she saw that again the spoon was raised and coming near her mouth. This time she was quicker and pulled back before he could deposit that onto her palette.

Chakotay laughed and asked, "Well? Wasn't it all you thought it would be?"

Kathryn couldn't hold back a mean guffaw this time and she shook her head at him. "Chakotay, do that again and I'll throw you into the brig for poisoning your Captain."

Her stomach did small somersaults each time she saw the way he licked his mouth. "Really, Captain? I'd never kill you. Hit you with a pillow, probably. But never kill you. Ex-angry warrior's pledge."

Kathryn felt an odd tingling sensation on her upper arm, absentmindedly she reached up and rubbed the spot all the while staring at the Commander.

The sight of his lips, the pillow idea and the endless possibilities made her nearly giggle aloud. *What am I thinking? * she wondered, startled by these ideas… A Starfleet Captain doesn't act girlish in front of her first officer. The urge to make goo goo eyes at him made her straighten her spine a bit.

*Where did this come from? * Janeway got up so suddenly that she nearly took the seat with her. "I'll see you on the Bridge, Commander." She darted out before he could so much as acknowledge her goodbye.

The Commander sat there, having completely lost his urge to eat the horrid food before him.

From the corner of her eye she swore there was a movement but when she turned her head to look, there was nothing there. Perhaps she needed some time just reading the small mountain of pads before her she decided and walked around her desk. Once sitting and concentrating, her mind began to quickly pick up on the desired work.

In one instant she heard what could only be described as the faint flutter of wings before something whizzed by her back, just barely missing her.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed and jumped up from her seat. Squinting her eyes hard she could see a faint outline of something floating in the far corner of her ready room. "Security!" She screamed as she ran from the room.

No one on the bridge was more surprised than Tuvok, who hid it well, when the Captain all but took the door with her as she fled the ready room and came to a complete stop in right in the middle of the bridge.

"Something is inside my ready room. It shot at me!" her voice was now once more controlled but her heartbeat was still going a mile a minute.

Just as Tuvok walked over and was about to enter the ready room, something nearly translucent came out and was aiming what looked like a small bow holding an arrow towards the Captain. Chakotay instantly came to stand in front of her, planning to shield her with his own body if need be.

The creature seemed confused by that motion and instantly with a few flaps of its wings moved its position to a spot the Commander wasn't protecting.

Tuvok exclaimed, "Intruder alert. Security to the Bridge!" and he walked over to stand behind his Captain and protect her physically as Chakotay was doing. "Ensign Kim put a shield around the Captain."

"Sir," replied Kim, "The system isn't functioning!"

And so began an odd dance around Kathryn, each time the winged thing would move to one side, so would either of the men surrounding her.

As seconds passed, it was quickly becoming easier to see what looked like a pixie carrying a bow. It was a female creature, with nice dark curly hair and an almost childlike look about it, dressed in a tiny toga like cloth. It's translucent wings glimmered with an surreal shine.

The security team finally came and when this pixie saw more people looking at it, it gave an angry pout and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

The questions were barely out of her mouth when suddenly a small flash of light appeared exactly where the last pixie had been.

Yet, this time, it was an angry little male with a five o'clock shadow, sporting a mean scowl and a little pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Out of the corner of its mouth there was a half-burnt cigar and, similar to the one that had disappeared, this one also held a small bow and arrow.

"Look sista," its voice was whiskey rough as he addressed Janeway. "We can do this tha easy way, or ya can fight me each inch of the way. Now just let me getcha with my arrow and we'll all be happy."

Chakotay was the first to speak, "Who are you? What do you want with our Captain?"

The little mean scowl went to the Commander. "Hey, Dances with tattoos, I'm doing this for yer benefit. Whatcha mean, who am I? Don't none of you's know who Cupid is?"

This time it was Harry who managed to speak as he walked over to also help in protecting his Captain. "Cupid? The Greek mythological god of love? But you don't really exist and why do you speak with that odd accent?"

The little beady eyes looked at the Ensign. "Bingo, Kimmo. Dat's me. Don't exist, huh? Goes to show where all the romance has gone in this century. I ain't tawking odd. Whatcha tawking `bout? Now step aside, gents, so's I can do what I gotta do to yer Ice Queen and then I can get back ta work."

At the nickname she so detested Kathryn stepped a bit from behind the Commander's body. "Ice queen!?" she yelled, her hands gripping her hips.

Instantly the little man raised the bow and took aim, but the Vulcan was quicker and pulled Janeway back as the arrow flew, and landed on Harry's chest. It instantly disappeared as if by magic.

"Ow!" Kim cried and then got a huge silly grin on his face. His eyes fell on Seven where she stood. "Oh, baby! A blonde Borg goddess. Mama mia!"

"Damn!" cried out Cupid and reached for another arrow.

Chakotay grabbed Kathryn by the wrist and pulled her towards the turbolift. He yelled to the security team, "Raise a shield around him!" before he pushed her into the lift and ordered a lower deck.

The doors were closing as they both saw that this thing was not being held back by it. One of the security officers tried to shoot at it as well, to no avail since its body had become translucent.

Kathryn looked over at Chakotay and wondered aloud, "Why is this thing after me? First the female one and now "Cupid." What have I done to deserve this?"

Chakotay didn't immediately answer as they came to a stop. The doors opened and they raced over to Holodeck one. "I'm afraid this might have something to do with tomorrow."

"What are we doing?" asked Kathryn, as he pushed her into the room and ordered the program to make various duplicates of the Captain. In a second various doubles of Kathryn filled the room, several standing there with their hands on their hips.

Chakotay finally spoke, "I have a theory."

The copies of Kathryn were created just in time since the Holodeck doors opened and the winged god entered the room and looked about to see various holographic versions of his latest victim.

"Oh, Tattoo boy, ya are smart," he looked at Chakotay and gave him a half smile. "But ya do realize that all this work is for ya, dude?"

Chakotay walked into the midst of all the holograms and stepped as far from the real one as he could. "What do you mean by that Mr. Cupid?"

The winged love god began to circle the Holodeck, eyeing each Janeway, searching for the original one. "Well, ya see: since it's nearly the day of love and you's two are the most stubborn couple I've met in a while ... I decided to send down one special pixie ta help get you's together, but that little trick didn't work so I have another ace up my sleeve. That's why I'm gettin' her with a triple love dose this time. This chick of yers has the toughest skin!"

Luckily, Cupid didn't see one of the Kathryn's scowl get downright nasty with that last remark. She blanked her expression as quickly as possible when he made another fly by her head.

Cupid continued, "I like the two of you's. No matter what happens, ya stand by her and she trusts ya. Don't see that too often and I was gonna be extra nice this year and make sure yer surprise gift to her went smoothly."

Chakotay coughed aloud to hide his sudden embarrassment. No one knew of the hidden gift that he'd gotten Kathryn. It had taken months of saving up his replicator rations to get it and now this winged big mouth had let some of the secret out!

"Quiet Cupid!" was all Chakotay muttered as his eyes drifted over the many Janeways in the room, nearly all of them stared back at him. He knew there'd be questions too soon asked.

"Hey," the little love god yelled back, "it ain't MY fault if ya ain't told her yer feelings yet! I've given ya lots of chances to do so but each time ya go for some quirky alien chick instead. Don't be blaming ME for that!"

From the redheaded crowd a small mean chuckle could be heard. Cupid turned quickly and spotted his target. "Now be a good Starfleet cutie and stand still!" he growled while bringing his bow up and taking careful and precise aim.

The real Kathryn tried to run but the ocean of holograms made it near impossible for her, while Chakotay fought to reach her as well. The love arrow flew through the air with the speed of tiny hummingbird and struck her square between the shoulder blades. "Ouch!" was all she could mutter before Chakotay grabbed her and put himself in the bull's eye.

Cupid shrugged and aimed again, this time it struck the Commander as well and they both fell into a puddle of arms and legs on the hologram floor.

"Computer. End da program," shouted Cupid as he left with a wink and a frisky smile before he returned to Mount Olympus.

On the floor with nothing else around them, the two love stricken people stared at each other. The high dosage of love potion was a heavy molasses in their veins, being pumped in and out of their wanting hearts.

"Chakotay. I never knew how to explain to you how I felt."

His fingers came up and caressed her smooth cheek, "And I was so afraid of losing what we had worked for. I can't hold back anymore."

Kathryn smiled and leaned over to place a tender kiss on his mouth. She would have pulled back but his lips opened and his warm tongue reached out to taste her. Running it over her teeth and playfully tangling with her tongue as he discovered all the wants he had always wished for but could never seek. Her hands came up and held him closer to her, all the while she moaned low in her throat.

They were still kissing when the security team led by Tuvok found them. With hurried blushes and half muttered excuses they dashed out of the Holodeck and back to their posts. After much discussing, the senior officers decided not to officially put down their latest conflict, knowing that explaining it to Starfleet would be too difficult. All the while they were sitting in the conference room, Janeway would look up to find Chakotay's eyes piercing her and she would blush delicately under that intense onyx look.

After everyone was dismissed and working once more did she begin to wonder about what had gone on. The ancient god of love had found her and personally shot her with an arrow, no matter how much her scientific mind tried to understand only her heart was speaking to her. Trying to convince herself that she didn't feel any different was impossible: her heartbeat was going double time whenever her commanding officer was near and her lips still had the flavor of his, she itched to taste him again.

Luckily, the shift was nearly over so she remained there until it was time to head to her quarters.

*A quick shower. That's all I need. * she kept thinking as her quick footsteps took her within her quarters. But a particular scent was wafting all around the place when she entered. It was a delicate, flowery scent that enveloped her entire darkened room… She saw what it was instantly: inside a gorgeous crystal vase were what looked like two dozen red roses and two long heart shaped candles that were lit, each inside a large crystal holder, on each side of the vase casting lovely shadows thru out the room.

Kathryn walked up and touched the thorn-less red roses, taking a swiff of one and touching it against her now tear filled cheek. Each flower was perfect blossomed and seemed almost unreal but the softness of the petals proved they were very much so. There was a small card barely hidden between the flowers and she opened it to see a handsome handwriting inside. "I know it's a bit early but I did not wish you to think I had forgotten you on this Valentine's Day. Thinking of you always. Yours, Chakotay."

Two dozen red roses.

Red roses.

She thought back to something she knew, as many women did: red roses meant love.

Forgetting her shower and the slight hunger she was feeling in her stomach, Kathryn reached up to tap her commbadge. "Janeway to Chakotay."

The answer was instant. "Yes, Captain?" He must have been waiting for her call.

"Could you please come to my quarters?"

"Of course."

Two seconds later her door opened and there he stood, with a full goofy smile on his face as he caught her when she ran into his arms. "Thank you," she muttered against his chest. When her eyes met his again, they were red rimmed and leaving trails of tears down her cheeks. "I thought no one would remember me today."

The pad of his thumb wiped away the wetness and he smiled down at her. "No. I had planned for weeks on how to sneak those flowers in while we were on the Bridge. Did you honestly think I wouldn't give you a gift on Valentine's?"

She couldn't breathe thru her now reddened nose and her eyes were puffy from the tears but in his eyes she was beyond beautiful. "Honestly? Yes, You and I haven't exactly been too romantic lately. Just eating dinner and working. It takes a direct confrontation with a mythological god to see what we're doing wrong!"

Kathryn had begun to cry again so Chakotay gripped her harder in his embrace and placed kisses into her hair. "No. Cupid merely brought down some barriers we had. We've never been wrong for each other."

She snuggled deeper into the warmth of his body and murmured something into his uniform. "What?" he asked her.

Kathryn looked up and repeated herself, "I want you to know: from here we can only go forward."

"Aye Captain. That one order I'll happily follow."

The End