Disclaimer: I own nothing nor anyone. Lyrics of song are by Tonic, lovingly used without permission. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Rating: G

She stood besides the window within her ready room, peering at the vastness of planets, nebulas and space that zoomed by.

"No. They aren't moving. We are." Kathryn spoke aloud and the sound of her own voice seemed odd. Her thoughts were not centered, hardly stopping on any one image. Trying to clear her mind, not wanting to once again feel the emotions that had coursed through her earlier before.

The morning had begun innocently enough with her enjoying the shower. Then the warm feel of water caressing her throat, chest and flesh had for the briefest of seconds brought Chakotay's face to her mind's eye.

Why? Why?

Now after so much time had passed. One of her hands crept up to span the area of the neck, beneath her thumb she felt her heartbeat as it throbbed out steadily.

It had been quite some time since they'd been marooned together for those precious days. She'd refused to reopen that Pandora's box since the only thing that could escape was personal frustrations.

Yet sometimes ... When the moment lulled or she allowed a hidden desire to raise its head, she remembered.

The way he could make her melt. Each time she would touch him, even if it was hidden behind the caress of a friendly pat on the shoulder. She was but a mere woman.

One that had tasted passion during many moments of her life and enjoyed it. As hard as it was for her to play the role of sexless Captain, she did tuck away pleasant moments and then when her defenses were down she'd enjoy them. An emotional miser who hid behind the wall of protocol because giving in would be overwhelming.

"Captain?" That voice startled her out of her reprieve as a cold bucket of water would have. So intense had been her thoughts that she'd not heard the doorchime.

She didn't turn around for she knew that her blue eyes were defenseless, easy to read until she could hide behind that mask again.

"Yes Chakotay?" Her voice sounded normal? Yes, it did. Her sigh of relief was silent.

His footsteps were right behind her now. Slowly she turned and arched her head back to meet those eyes. They were smiling at her, the mirror of his soul presenting as clear as summer's rain.

The lump in her throat appeared again and she breathed softly in through her mouth to calm herself. Not now, her thoughts screamed as her heart churned faster. She looked on as his Adam's apple bobbed once and he asked, "Are we still on for dinner?"

Reluctantly she looked up at his face.

Oh those eyes, she wondered. How do they look when glazed with desire and ecstasy? What would that mouth taste like? Unable to speak she merely nodded once.

Chakotay opened his mouth as if to say more then thought better. Instead his large hand came up between the small space between them, palm upwards.

Her eyes fell to it. Her limbs felt leaden on either side. Kathryn wondered a million things in the blink of an eye.

Each one came to the same conclusion. Fate deals you a card and you deal with it. This was hers. But it wasn't hers alone. She had known it but merely refused to accept, due to fear and being too in control. Her smaller hand fit into his, the proper key to that lock.

"You wanted more at one time," she said. "And now I'm prepared to give into that offer if it still stands."

Without hesitation he answered, "For you, anything."

Their fingers entwined and held as they stood there before her window as the planets, nebulas and space continued on by.

The end