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CRACKER JACK CAPTAIN
(PG-13)
~*~ When regular communication with Voyager became possible Gretchen Janeway had taken full advantage of the opportunity and resumed mothering her oldest child albeit long distance. For months she and her daughter had written back and forth. In the beginning their letters were bittersweet as they came to grips with the very real possibility that they might never see each other again and shared everything on their hearts. Gradually the letters moved beyond the sentimental into an enjoyable exchange of sharing their everyday lives. Kathryn treasured her mother's letters and often read them several times while composing her answer. Kathryn picked up the padd that contained her mother's latest letter and went to join Chakotay on the sofa where he was reading a book. As she stretched out and rested her head on his thigh she caught the disapproving look on his face and rolled her eyes. "No, this is not work. It's a letter from Mom." Satisfied, Chakotay went back to his book and rested an arm across her waist. A few moments later he felt her shake with silent laughter and looked down at her pretending annoyance. "Care to share what is so amusing?" "I'm sorry," she said, sitting up. "I didn't mean to disturb you." Placing the padd on the coffee table she snuggled into his arms. "My mother is a real piece of work." Chakotay placed his book on the sofa arm and held her close. "What's Gretchen up to now?" Tilting her head back she grinned at him. "She's asking me about my love life." Chakotay's brows went up. "Are you serious?" "Oh, yes!" she laughed. "Gretchen Janeway is known for speaking her mind." "So that's where you get it. Ow!" He grabbed the pinching hand and held it to his chest. "What does she want to know?" he asked, wagging his brows at her. "Chakotay!" she cried then laughed as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Actually, she's worried about me. I haven't told her about us yet." "I see." Kathryn heard the slight disappointment in his voice and moved out of his arms to sit sideways facing him. "Only because I wasn't ready to share it yet," she explained, allowing him to see the sincerity in her face. "It took us so long to get here, to be together, I wanted to keep it all to myself just a little longer. Do you understand?" If his feelings had been hurt, her explanation definitely made it all better. He smiled, nodded and pulled her back into his arms. "Funny." "What's funny?" "You wanted to keep it all to yourself while I wanted to make a shipwide announcement." "There's a man's ego for you." Her head snapped up. "Did you just spank me?" "If you can pinch, I can spank." he answered with a wink. Kathryn gave him a most wicked little grin and snuggled back against him. "Careful, Commander. I might just like that." "How is it I never knew this naughty side of you existed?" "Because I never, ever let her out to play," she answered. "What's the matter? Don't you like her?" "Hell, yes, I like her!" he answered quickly. "She was just a surprise, that's all. An added bonus." "Like the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks?" Tom Paris had spared no details in his holoprogram of the old movie house. "Exactly." They shared a chuckle and gave each other a squeeze. "So, what are you going to tell your mother about me?" "Everything." "Everything?" "Now who's being naughty?" "Seriously, what will you tell her?" Kathryn twisted in his arms and lay back against his chest. She idly stroked his arm around her waist and thought for a moment. "I'll tell her that for six years, the tall, dark and handsome man of my dreams patiently waited for me to come to my senses. That he's the best thing that's ever happened to me and he makes me deliriously happy." "Seriously, what will you tell her?" he teased. "Ow!" Again he captured the offending hand, chuckling. "You're really begging for it, you know." Kathryn sat up and turned to look at him. "It will take far more than one letter to tell Mom everything I want her to know about you. I hope we make it home in time for her to meet you, but if we don't, I want her to feel like she knows you." Chakotay's smile had faded away. Her words touched him deeply. "I'll meet her, Kathryn." he said softly then leaned it to kiss her. It was a sweet and gentle kiss and Kathryn moaned with the pleasure of it before wriggling from his grasp. "Where are you going?" he asked. "We have an early shift." "It's only 19:30." She stood up and grinned down at him, hands on hips. "I thought you might like a little snack before bed." She moved toward the bedroom, adding over her shoulder, "Cracker Jacks maybe?" ~ end ~
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