Kathryn had deliberately waited until today to visit the doctor.  One day out of every ten she and Chakotay each worked a half shift instead of a full shift.  Today was her afternoon off.  The doctor had told her what she had expected to hear.  There would be a third child in their quarters in about 7½ months.  She was thrilled and knew Chakotay would be ecstatic.  This child was planned and wanted perhaps more than their first two children because this would in all likelihood be their last child.  They had been trying to conceive this baby for nearly a year so this would be a wonderful surprise for Chakotay when he came off duty.

Anticipating the doctor’s report, Kathryn had arranged for Taylor and Kay to spend the night with Tom and B’Elanna.  The couples often traded off overnight visits.  Both couples appreciated an evening without their beloved offspring once in a while.  Chakotay would not be expecting anything other than a quiet evening alone with his wife.  They would celebrate the new baby but then Kathryn wanted to discuss something else with him.  She wasn’t sure how he would react.  She hoped she could explain how she felt so he would understand.

Kathryn was sitting on their couch running all this through her mind and trying to decide exactly how to phrase her side of the discussion when Chakotay entered.  Crossing the room he kissed her cheek before sitting down beside her and putting his feet on the couch.  Kathryn had long since stopped fussing about that habit of his.

“Where are the kids?”  He had expected to see the three of them romping in the living room when he came in the door.  A thoughtful Kathryn had put him a little on guard.

“Oh, I thought I told you.  They’re staying with Tom and B’Elanna tonight.  I’m sorry.  Do you mind terribly if it’s just us tonight?”  Her voice went from distracted to apologetic to suggestive.  She smiled and was rewarded with one of “his” smiles.

“No, I think I can handle an evening with my best girl.”  He put his arm around her and pulled her close for a kiss which soon turned much more passionate than friendly.  Kathryn was laughing as she finally pulled away.

“Yes, I see you can handle your best girl.  Go change your clothes while I get our dinner.  I picked it up earlier so we wouldn’t have to eat in the mess hall tonight.”  She busied herself getting their meal out of the stasis containers.  He returned from their bedroom padding softly on bare feet.  He walked up behind her as she put the last dish on the table.  She literally jumped when he put his arms around her waist so he could nuzzle her neck.

“I hate when you do that!”  Kathryn was laughing.  After all these years, he thought she should be able to sense his presence and not jump but she didn't so he still enjoyed surprising her.  Chakotay chuckled at her reaction.  He was very careful to try to catch her off guard only when he was certain she was distracted by something.

“So what did you do this afternoon?”  Chakotay continued nibbling at Kathryn’s neck as he spoke.  He was surprised when Kathryn took a deep breath before answering.  Kathryn decided this was as good a time for any to share her news with Chakotay.  She put her hands on his and moved them so they were over the baby.

“Well, we finally got it right!”  She could feel his bewilderment.  She waited a few moments before she continued.

“We finally accomplished that joint mission we’ve been working on so earnestly for the last year.  I’m pregnant, honey.”  Realization dawned on his face followed by a huge smile.  He turned her in his arms and hugged her, then lifted her off her feet and spun them both in a circle.  His smile said more than any words he might have spoken.

“I’ll take that to mean you like the news.”

“Of course I like the news, Kathryn!  I love the news.  Is the baby healthy?  Are you OK?  How soon . . ?”

“Slow down, dad.  The baby is fine.  I’m fine, or as fine as a woman my age can be when she’s six weeks pregnant.  You on the other hand need to calm down.  Come on, our dinner is getting cold.”

“But Kathryn, we should be celebrating this baby.  We’ve waited so long for this day, I just want to shout it to the world!”  He set her on her feet so he could look at her face.

“Chakotay, we can shout it to the world tomorrow.  Tonight let’s just the two of us celebrate – right here, together.  Tomorrow is time enough to share the news with everyone else in the quadrant.  OK?”

Chakotay realized that over the years nothing significant had changed between them.  They worked well together.  He never challenged her authority as captain but frequently forced her to consider alternatives to her first choice of action.  In their years together she had never challenged his command of their personal life.  They loved each other, possibly more than in their early years.  Even though their relationship had not changed, surprisingly both of them had changed.  Chakotay was more insistent when it came to protecting Kathryn or the captain from herself.  Kathryn in contrast had learned patience and now maintained a level of calm that she had not possessed before Chakotay came into her life.  Tonight Kathryn was the one to calm Chakotay’s exuberance rather than the other way around.  He chuckled at the irony as he held Kathryn’s chair for her before taking his own.  He spent the next ten minutes explaining the thoughts that had inspired his chuckle.  They ate and discussed those thoughts and ship’s business; updated each other on the latest gossip; debated who would make the next baby announcement after theirs; decided to schedule a surprise inspection for a few departments and debated whether Necheyev had retired from Star Fleet yet.

After they finished eating, Chakotay insisted on clearing the dishes.  When he finished he watched Kathryn where she stood gazing at the stars drifting by the viewport.  She was definitely distracted by something other than the baby.  Chakotay approached her quietly.  Gently he took her hand and led her over to his favorite chair where he pulled her down on his lap.

“OK.  Tell me what’s been bothering you all evening.  Are you uncertain about having this baby or how Taylor and Kay will react?”

“No, I’m not worried about the baby or the girls.”  Kathryn’s quick response put his mind at ease on that point so he waited for her to continue.

“At least not in the way you mean.  I’ve felt for a long time there was something missing from my life, but I couldn’t figure out what.  I have you.  That’s the most important thing.  I have our children.  I have my career and I can’t imagine any other career.  I didn’t expect to end up out here in the Delta Quadrant but that’s just geography.  I didn’t realize what was missing until I suspected I might be pregnant again and started thinking about this baby.”  Chakotay waited while she gathered her thoughts to finish.

“I started thinking about the first tooth, the first word, the first smile, the first step and suddenly it hit me.  I had missed Taylor’s first words and first steps.  I missed Kay’s first smile and first word.  That’s when I knew there was nothing missing in my life.  I was missing my life.  Everything that I value and love is right here in my life and I’m missing it.

“You’re going to think I have lost my mind, but I want to be a stay at home mom and wife for a few years.”

“What!”  Kathryn had been correct because Chakotay did wonder whether she in fact had lost her mind.  If he understood her correctly, she had just said she no longer wanted to be the captain of Voyager.

“A stay at home mom and wife.  I wouldn’t work.  I would spend my time with my children and with you.  If we were back in the Alpha Quadrant, I’d ask for an extended leave of absence until this baby starts school and hope you would get a posting that would let us be together.”

“You want a leave of absence as Captain of Voyager?  You want to turn over command of Voyager to raise our children?”  Chakotay was certain he was misunderstanding Kathryn.

“Yes, exactly.”  Kathryn waited for Chakotay’s response.  He seemed to be trying to find the right words, any words.

“Well?”  Chakotay’s silence was increasing Kathryn’s anxiety exponentially.  Finally Chakotay spoke.

“Kathryn, I’m stunned.  I never for a moment thought you would even consider something like this.  I’m stunned.”

“You're repeating yourself, Chakotay.  Do you think this is a good idea?  Do you understand why I want to do this?

“I do think it’s a good idea for the children and for me.  I’m overjoyed that you want to spend your time taking care of our children and home.  I love you very much and know how much doing this will cost you.  Are you sure you want to do this though?”

“Yes, Chakotay, I am sure, but I need your unconditional support to do this.  If there’s even the slightest doubt in your mind then I don’t think we can make this work.  You’ve told me what my husband thinks.  Now I need to know what my first officer thinks.”

“Your first officer understands why you want this.  He just needs some time to adjust to the idea and figure out how to make it work for the ship and the crew with the captain on leave.  This will probably be the hardest adjustment this crew has ever had to make, and they’ve had to make some big ones, but they’ll handle it.  Don’t worry, Kathryn, your husband and first officer will make this work if this is what you really want.”

Kathryn’s relief at Chakotay’s words was evident.

“It is, Chakotay.  I really want this.  Thank you for understanding.”

“I do understand, love.  I really do.  Let’s not worry about details tonight.  That is something that is better left for tomorrow.  I think I heard you mention something about celebrating a baby tonight alone with no children.  Why don’t you show me what kind of celebration you had in mind for the two of us?”  Kathryn smiled and kissed Chakotay gently at first then with increasing fervor.  After a few minutes he took control and the kiss turned into one of possession and passion.  Just as she had so many years before at their first meeting in her ready room, Kathryn accepted the possession and returned the passion.