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Fitting End
by Liz Barr
July 2001
J/C
rated [PG-13]

summary: life goes on after "Endgame".  Things change.  Relationships change.  Takes place 7 years after Voyager's return.
notes: can it be?  A happy J/C fic from Liz?  Has the world gone mad?  ::checks sky:: My, those pigs sure get some altitude.
characters: property of Paramount
profit: none
feedback: I wouldn't say no.  elizabeth_barr@yahoo.com.au
website: http://www.oocities.org/elizabeth_barr/
 
 

Kathryn woke up to find Chakotay's mouth on her neck and his fingers caressing her stomach.  She lay still, enjoying the morning sunlight, until his hands brushed her side.  Involuntarily, she laughed.

"Ah," said Chakotay, "she awakens."  He paused for a moment.  "You're ticklish?  Really?"

"I've been awake for a few minutes.  I was enjoying your hands.  And I'm not ticklish.  Just sensitive in places."

The hands in question moved down her arms, stroking her wrists.

"I think I may have found several such places," he said, his breath on her ear.  "And they *are* nice hands, aren't they."

"Nice to see that the divorce hasn't damaged your ego," she said before she could stop herself.

There was a moment's silence, then he said, "Oh, it was bruised.  Especially after Seven told me that I was clearly an inappropriate choice for a life partner."

"*Her* life partner, anyway," Kathryn muttered.

"I didn't see you running to defend me."

"I was angry with you and Seven for being so--"  She frowned. "So complex.  I wanted my friends to be happy, and instead you were desperately unhappy.  And I was desperately unhappy."  She rolled onto her back and began nibbling on his fingers.  "I had my own problems last year."

"I know."

"I mean, you weren't the only one going through a messy divorce."

"I know that, Kathryn.  I was just -"

"Don't."  She kissed him.  "We are enjoying the morning after our long-overdue first night together.  This isn't the time to hash out old disagreements."

"Yes, Admiral."

She poked him in the side, making him laugh, and promptly regretted it as he began disproving the not-ticklish theory.

"I'm glad to be here," she said after they'd settled down.  "Should I feel bad about that?  Because Seven—"

"Seven will be fine, Kathryn."

"I just feel—"

"You taught her to take care of herself.  And since you've apparently stopped living vicariously through her—"

"I was never—"  He kissed her, hard.  "Fine," she said after they broke contact.  "I'll let the argument stand."

"Thankyou."

"I'm not saying that you're right."

"Of course not."  Chakotay ran a hand through her hair.  She wondered if he noticed the spreading grey.  Probably.  "I'm glad you're here, too," he added.

"Thankyou."  She glanced at the chrono.  "I have to go in an hour, though."

"Meeting?"

"Hospital."

"Ah.  David."  His voice was flat.  Kathryn raised herself up on one elbow and looked down at him.

"Something to say?" she asked.

"No."

"Liar."  Her tone was affectionate, but her eyes were serious.

"I just – I just."  He sighed.  "I think that you take responsibility for things which aren't your fault."

"He wouldn't have joined Starfleet if I hadn't encouraged him."

"His father should be here."

"But he's not.  And I'm not going to abandon David the way his parents did.  I'm his stepmother.  I'm all he has."

"I know."  He kissed her.  "But I've seen you after a day with David.  It wears you down."

"I can't walk away, Chakotay."

"And I wouldn't want you to.  Don't want you to.  I just worry."

"I know."

He traced a pattern on her shoulder.  "Do the doctors think the damage can be reversed?"

"They're not confident."

"Any word from his father?"

"He was seen in the Badlands three months ago.  I sent him a message after the accident, but we haven't actually spoken since the divorce."

Chakotay put his arms around her, and Kathryn accepted the comfort he offered.

"I can't remember exactly why I married him," she said finally.  "I must have loved him at one point.  I can't remember."

"Kathryn..."

"I did like him.  He was charming, and interesting.  And he'd been a hero in the Dominion War.  He seemed to understand me."

"And no one else did.  I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be."

"I feel like I let you down after we got home."

"You did.  But it's okay."

"Oh."

She kissed him.  "You let me win the arguments.  I appreciate that."

"I seem to recall never having a choice.  Admiral."

"Stephen, now, he never let me win.  Never even let me compromise.  Just talked at me – never screamed, just spoke, softly – until I was too tired to go on.  And then he resigned from Starfleet, and never spoke to me at all.  Even after the Bajorans arrested him.  I pulled strings to have the smuggling charges dropped, but he never said anything to me.  I was *humiliated*, and he never even thanked me."

"Or apologised?"

"I never expected an apology."  She sighed.  "I still feel like an idiot," she admitted.

"Do you really think that you're the first person to come out of an *extremely* traumatic experience and jump into bed with the wrong person?  Kathryn, I married Seven of Nine."

"Oh.  Right."

"At least there were no children.  For either of us."

"There was David.  Might as well be a child."  She shivered, despite the warmth of the sun, the bed and the body beside her.  "I was with Owen Paris when I got the call from the Academy shuttle range.  I felt fine – I felt fine for days afterwards – but Owen, he just went white.  I thought he'd keel over.  But I coped well.  Until I took a look at my freshman tactics class – all of these kids, all gangly and skinny in their uniforms – and fell apart.  I'm so glad I never had children of my own."

"I should have been there.  I'm sorry."

"You were out on the Reta Colony.  Stop apologising for having a life without me."

"I should have been around."

"You're here now."  She kissed him.  "It's enough."

"I know."  Chakotay hopped out of bed, dressing quickly.  "Come on.  I'll make you breakfast.  You'll have to hurry."

"Coffee?"

"Naturally."

She allowed him to pull her out of bed and hold her tightly.

"This is going to last, isn't it," she said.

"Yeah.  I think it is."

"Good."

"I love you, Kathryn."

"I could really do with some coffee."

"Kathryn..."

She kissed him.  "I love you too."
 

END

("Fascinating..."
"What is it, Spock?"
"I believe it's a happy ending, Captain.")
 

Copyright © 2001 Elizabeth M. Barr

Star Trek ® is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Star Trek: Voyager is a trademark of Paramount Pictures.