Disclaimer from Part 1 applies. 

Note: While KJ's mom and Ad.  Paris are in condo 134, it's more like a townhouse complex that they live in, so the condo starts on the ground floor (the guest room is on the second floor).  Note #2: I mean no disrepect to native customs, nor to Christian (and like) ones.  I hope that no one takes offence at what I have written further in this story - I do not know all the customs and expectations - I simply wrote what I think could happen.

VOYAGER - THE 'LUCKY STAR' SHIP
Out the Window
By Amanda Darling
adarling@geocities.com

Kathryn spent all day doing reports in order to catch up before she went to Risa.  She got a grand total of four hours of sleep before her alarm went off.  She dozed for precisely nine minutes, at which point she was woken again.  This time she got up, turning off the alarm and turning the lights on full, though it was agony.  She stepped into the shower in the bathroom off the guestroom and first had a sonic shower then turned the water on hot, then cold, carefully keeping her hair away from the path of the water.  She didn't have time to dry her hair if she was going to be ready on time.  She stepped out of the shower, feeling slightly more awake.  She toweled dry and pulled on tan dress shorts and a casual white blouse.  She clipped her hair back in a partial ponytail and added a touch of makeup.  She put on some gold earrings and her engagement ring, which she'd removed before her shower.

She snuck quietly downstairs to get a cup of coffee from the replicator and that also helped her to wake up.  She left a brief note for her mother and Admiral Paris - she had yet to think of him as her father - and returned to her room, glancing at her chronometer.  A few seconds later, she heard something hit her window.  She glanced over, startled.  Another something hit her window and she realized what it was.  Idiot, she thought fondly.  I swear Paris suggested he do this the old-fashioned way.  She went to her window and opened it.  Sure enough, her love was there with a rose between his teeth.

"Juliet, Juliet, let down your long hair!" He called softly to her, in order not to wake the neighborhood.

She laughed.  "I thought it was Rapunzel, with the long hair, and Juliet was a character in Shakespeare's play."

He shrugged.  "Ah, well, guess I'll stop taking advice from Tom," he kidded.  "I tried, my love.  Will you still run away with me?"

"Sure, why not," she said with a casual shrug.  "Nothing better to do at 0500."

"Your words sting me, fair maiden," he said with a hand over his heart.

Smiling, she hurried away from the window and grabbed her two standard issue duffel bags.  She returned to the window, telling Chakotay to watch out before she threw them out the window.  Then she told Chakotay to come closer and that he had better catch her or he'd be out of a fiancée.  She stepped over the sill and her foot rested on the small ledge where she grabbed hold of the drainpipe and hoisted her other foot out the window, then turned around and waited for the go ahead from Chakotay.  When he was ready, she stepped off the ledge and was soon in Chakotay's strong arms.  They looked back up at the guestroom where Kathryn had been staying, and noticed that the light was still on.

"Is this normally what happens when people run away?" Chakotay asked critically, eyeing the well-lit window.

"Beats me.  Computer," she called softly, figuring she might as well give it a chance.  "Off lights in guest room."

Like magic, the lights went off.  "Must be extra sensitive," Kathryn rationed, "considering it's in a complex meant for older people."

Chakotay took her hand.  "Ready?"

"Nothing stopping us." She picked up one of her bags and Chakotay took the other along with his own.  Kathryn looked enviously at his single bag.  How did men do it?  She wrote it off as one of the mysteries women would never understand.

They arrived at the transport site and were beamed to the site of the shuttle service.  Chakotay gave them his name and fingerprint and the attendant smiled and directed them to their bunk.  The room was small, but neither minded much.  There were two single bunks bolted to the floor (not much fun), but they would make do.  There was a reasonably comfortable couch and a table with two chairs.

There was a washroom in the back, and several painted prints on the wall.  One of a vase of flowers, the other two of landscapes.  The guest's dining room was near the center of the ship; the children's play area behind that and the two holosuites a floor below them.  It had been many years since either of them had been on a commercial service vessel.  They certainly had not had this kind of room service on Voyager.

"You won't believe how many credits it is for a cup of coffee to be delivered to your doorstep at 0830!" An outraged Kathryn Janeway exclaimed.

"Then we'll just have to find other ways of waking you up in the morning," Chakotay told her as he put one of her duffels on one of the beds.  "Don't worry.  We only have two nights of this before we'll arrive at Risa."

"Oh, that reminds me, did you make reservations for a place to stay while we're there?"

"I did.  Ever stayed at the Paraside resort?"

"Paraside?  No doesn't ring a bell.  Any relation to Paradise?"

"I think so.  The 'side' comes from its location.  It's right by one of the nicest beaches.  It's a good thing we're traveling during one of Risa's quieter seasons, or the place would be impossibly packed."

"Definitely.  Should we go and say hello to Tom and B'Elanna?"

"Might as well.  Should we tell them we want them to witness our wedding?"

"Let's not.  Let's send them a note once we're on Risa.  That way," Janeway reasoned, "there's more of a chance that I can get away with telling my mother it was spontaneous."

"Alright." They explored the ship while on the way to find Tom and B'Elanna and their children.  They weren't in the room assigned to them, but Kathryn and Chakotay got it right the second time when they guessed they might already be in the children's play area.

The two days' transport passed quickly and the 'Captain' announced that they would be landing on Risa within the hour.  Kathryn and Chakotay finished packing and met Tom and B'Elanna by the landing bay.  They had to make a crossover at Risa in order to get to Kilnar III.

Once on Risa, Kathryn and Chakotay dropped their bags off in their resort.  Kathryn noticed only that the room was gorgeous - before she had changed into her bathing suit and pulled on a pair of shorts as Chakotay changed into swim trunks and put on a short-sleeved shirt though he did not do up the buttons.

They went for a walk on the beach, ending with a swim in Risa's famous turquoise water.  They looked for the famous sea rose coral, but didn't see any.  The sea coral was rare and was said to bring luck and happiness to all who saw it.  After dinner, they sent a message to Tom and B'Elanna, feeling nothing less than truly evil.  'Decided to tie the knot here.  Come witness?' and after that was only the date and time and place, followed by their signatures.  They knew the couple could leave their children with B'Elanna's mother for a few days.  The trip from Risa to Kilnar III was only four hours, or, if the transporters were running, six separate transports, which would be easier to navigate just the two of them than with three children under five.

Janeway and Chakotay went out every day for a stroll along the beach, talking and dreaming of their future together, spent two hours in a holosuite playing in one of the newest inventions in entertainment - multiple-player holonovels - and played several games of tennis.  The afternoon before Tom and B'Elanna were to arrive, Kathryn was quiet, pensive and mellow really.  Chakotay asked her if anything was wrong, praying to all the gods he knew that she wasn't having second thoughts.

"I wish I could speak to my father," she said quietly.  "I wish I could tell him about you."

"Do you really want that?" He asked her seriously, and she stirred, hearing some kind of catch in his voice.

"Yes, I do."

"I know how.  Do you want to try now?"

"Yes." She stood up and he picked up his medicine bundle and joined her on the floor in the center of the room.  He opened the bundle and placed her hand on the akoonah.  He spoke the words, but said to her, "It is you who must call to him."

"Father," she said timidly.  Her voice sounded hollow, slightly skeptic.  She heard a voice as if it had been implanted into her mind.  Louder, Kathryn.  Call to him. "Daddy," she called, gaining confidence.

"Yes, my little bird?"

She watched with awe as his form solidified and the area around them was transformed.  It was no longer the planet Risa they were on, but by their old house, in the cornfields she'd loved so dearly.

"Daddy, is it you?" She couldn't get over the feelings of deja vu.  She reminded herself firmly this was not an alien invading her consciousness, but her father, and that she had instigated this, not the other way around.

It was almost as if he'd read her mind.  "It's me, Kathryn.  I was watching you, then, when that alien imposter tried to kill you."

She heard the contempt in his voice.  She had rarely heard that tone of voice.  Her father had very rarely gotten so upset about something.  He got 'disappointed' and that was often worse.  She could remember how horrible she'd felt after 'disappointing' him as a child.  Well, she'd felt horrible when she wasn't furious at him for only noticing her when she or Phoebe were acting up.

"Then you know."

"About Chakotay?  Yes.  He spoke with me often.  It's difficult for me to watch over you constantly, but he asked me to watch you when he thought you'd died."

Her eyes misted slightly.  She could hardly believe that anyone could be so thoughtful as to think of asking the spirits of the departed for her protection.  Chakotay had always done the best for her, always given her everything she might have needed, before she even thought of it.

"He told me a few weeks ago that you had told him you loved him.  He asked me for my blessings to propose to you," her father continued.

"And did you?"

"I gave them.  Actually, Goldenbird, he had my blessings shortly after the first time he spoke with me."

"When did he first speak to you?"

"Do you remember when you told Chakotay your father had been killed in an accident that was your fault?"

"Vaguely.  When was it again?"

"You had been in the Delta Quadrant for twelve months.  It was the night of your one-year 'anniversary'.  You and Chakotay were working on reports in his office.  It was late and you'd put aside your work.  You started talking about the year, and comparing it to other years.  You named the year I'd died as the worst.  Chakotay spoke to me before he went to sleep that night.  He wanted to know if my spirit was at peace, and he told me that he would protect you, because I could no longer do it.  And then he told me he'd fallen in love with you."

Kathryn's breath caught.  Her question was finally answered.  It had been a question that had been eating at her for many years, and had been one of the many things that she had always used as an excuse to hold herself back.  She had always wondered whether he had fallen in love with her out of convenience on New Earth, and it had just carried through when they had returned to the ship, or whether he had loved her before.  She had never really asked him.  The question just didn't seem fair.  He had told her teasingly, when she'd asked, late one night, that he had fallen in love with her the moment he had laid eyes on her.

"Kathryn, I don't know why you held back so long," Edward Janeway's voice was a gentle reproach.  "He knew you loved him.  He told me on many occasions.  I kept telling him to confront you about it, force you to see how destructive Starfleet can be to your life, but he refused, saying he wanted you to come to the decision on your own.  I regretted never telling you not to let Starfleet take over your life, but I thought you would know that from seeing me, learning by my mistake."

"I didn't have a family, Daddy," she said softly, "and you did what needed doing in this universe.  That was your purpose for being." Years of friendship with Chakotay had caused her to think of things in a different, more spiritual light.  She no longer needed answers that were totally scientific.  She took peace from rational, and though still not entirely on faith, she was learning.

"That's true.  But it didn't stop me from regretting it."

"We all do what we think is best, Daddy." Kathryn's voice was soft and if there was regret, it had calmed down now that most things had worked out for the best.

"You're right.  You did that for nine years - I'm so glad you decided to forget that." His eyes crinkled with his teasings.

Kathryn grinned.  "You've changed, Daddy."

"I have.  Unfortunately for me it was here, and not with you, but I learned a few things here.  I went horseback riding with Captain Kirk."

"Horseback - Daddy, you hate horses!"

"Shh, don't tell him that!  He thinks I love them."

She laughed.  "I wish you hadn't had to leave us, Daddy...."

"Kathryn?"

"Daddy... do you blame me for your death?"

He came forward and took her hands in his.  He looked down at them as he said, "No, Kathryn, never.  I always loved you, and saw how much pain you were going through.  I was sad to go, but I know you always tried your best.  You didn't want us to die.  It was an accident."

"You're not telling me straight," she told him.  "You always used to look me in the eyes when you were telling me something serious."

He looked up.  "I was angry, at first - who wouldn't be?  But I was angry that I couldn't be there to see you finish growing up, and in a selfish way, I wished you had sacrificed Justin for me."

Kathryn tried to remain unwavering, but found it hard.  "Daddy, if I could have given you my life I would have!" She cried out in agony, clutching at him.

"Kathryn," he said sternly.  "I told you because you asked me.  I didn't do it to have you crying all over me.  I know you would have sacrificed yourself, and I thank the heavens everyday that that wasn't an option.  But, Kathryn, I got over feeling that way shortly after the funeral.  Justin and I had a long talk, and we both agreed that we didn't blame you."

"Justin," she whispered.  "How is he?"

"You would know better than I would.  Kathryn, do you believe in angels?"

"I don't know."

"Justin was your - and I know this sounds cliché - but he was your guardian angel, and still is.  I was your sister's, which is why I could never be with you for long periods of time, only when you needed me most."

"And Mom?  Who's her guardian angel?"

"Your grandmother."

Kathryn smiled.  "I thought guardian angels entered a child at birth."

"No, a guardian angel is a spirit that loves a human so much that they want to help them whenever they can.  Not everyone has one.  Neither you nor Phoebe had one until Justin and I died."

"What does Justin have to say about me marrying Chakotay?"

"Why don't you ask him?"

"How?"

"Just like you called me."

"Justin," she said hesitantly, and she remembered Chakotay's words.  She called a little louder.  "Justin."

She watched as another figure materialized in front of her eyes.  Her father let her go and Justin came forward and hugged her tightly, without saying a word.  Justin had always been one of those strong, silent types.  She hugged him back hard, and both had tears when they pulled apart.  "I miss you, Justin," she told him, wiping the tears from her face.  "I wish I hadn't killed you."

"Kat, you didn't kill me." He nearly laughed, which was something she noticed had changed.  He had been so intense, before; nothing was a joke and there was no time for laughter.  That was something she had always regretted.  "I heard that," he told her, and she looked more than a little startled.  "I'm your guardian angel, I've been hearing most of your thoughts since I died."

She now blushed.  He laughed outright, "Kathryn, I hear your thoughts only when I choose.  I made many discreet exits."

"You've changed, Justin," she said, speaking aloud for the benefit of her father who was still near them.  Now she looked over at her father.  "Daddy?"

"Say no more, call me if you ever need to talk.  If your sister doesn't need any guarding, I'll be right over.  Remember how proud I am of you, Kathryn, and give your fiancée a hug for me." He gave her a hug and she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome, my little Goldenbird."

He stepped back and faded until she was alone with Justin.  The scenery had changed at some point and now she and Justin were in the garden in front of the house they had lived in for the eight months they had been stationed on Earth together.  That was the house where they had been intending on raising a family.  "Oh, Justin," she said softly, her thoughts full of regret at his death, thoughts she knew he was reading.

"Tsh, Kathryn, I understand.  Frankly, I'm flattered!  In the angel lounge I was talking with some fellow angels about a decade ago.  They were complaining that they had been replaced by their lovers or spouses within six months, a year, something like that.  They mentioned their lovers or spouses had been saddened by their deaths, but had gotten over it and gone on with their lives.  And then I totally blew them away!  I told them my fiancée had been in mourning for five months and had only stopped because her sister had forced her.  Then I told them that it was years before she dated anyone, and when she did it was a guy she'd known since childhood.  They were terribly envious.  Oh, Kathryn, I love it up here!  At my death, I found the contentment that I'd only found with you.  I could stop fighting.  It was wonderful.  I missed you everyday, but I was with you, in a way, even though you didn't know it.  I wish I could show you around, but that's against the rules.  So I hope you don't see it for many years.  Now that's an order!"

"I outrank you," she laughed, "and besides I was never very good at taking orders."

"Ha, you don't outrank me in the immortal world.  Even the great Captain Janeway can't pull a non-existent rabbit out of a hat."

"Have you been talking to Q?" She asked with a grin.

"Q?  Q who?  Oh, do you mean that wonderful gentleman who proposed to you seven years ago?"

She nearly choked.  "I- guess you could call him that."

"I did.  I encouraged him to talk to you.  I thought that if he mentioned marriage and children it might get your mind thinking of your First Officer, whom I knew you had a crush on, but, unfortunately, you became even more stubborn about the whole issue with Mark."

"You're really one to talk about being stubborn," she commented dryly.

"You remember that photo you had of him and Bear?"

"Yes.  I lost it a year after we were stranded in the Delta Quadrant."

"Well...." He needled guiltily.

"Justin!"

"No, I didn't burn it or anything.  I just pushed it into the bulkhead of your closet.  I'm sure if you took out the wall you'd find it.  I did it for a reason, Kathryn, not just because I didn't think Mark was the right man for you, but because I knew Mark would end up marrying someone else.  That part of his future was written in stone.  Yours wasn't.  There were two paths." He stopped abruptly.

"What were the paths?"

"I don't know if I should tell you.  It's strictly forbidden." He hesitated and she waited.  She knew that in silence he was most likely to convince himself.  "There were two paths you could have taken.  The first one involved you and Chakotay never becoming anything more than the close friends that you were on the ship.  After your return to Earth, he tried to convince you that your relationship was right, but he failed and he returned to his homeworld and eventually married there.  You were invited to the wedding, but you didn't go.  You were miserable for the rest of your life, and bitter, but Starfleet saw you as a hero.  You accepted a position in Academy Science, giving Voyager to Tom and Harry, and you never saw Chakotay again.  You wondered what was missing in your life.  You finally realized it was him, but it was too late.  Thank God you didn't choose that route.  The other one was where you allowed yourself to be convinced that you should at least try a relationship and the rest, as they say in heaven, is the future.  I'm not allowed to tell you what happens, though.  Can't pollute the time line, you know."

She grinned.  "Thank you, Justin.  If I hadn't heard this, I would never have the confidence to do what Chakotay and I are doing without regret."

"Don't thank me, Kat, thank yourself.  It's you who allowed it.  You know your life with Chakotay will be happy.  How could it be otherwise?  He loves you and you love him.  I know that sounds simplistic, but that's because it is.  It's simple and perfect and totally contrary to your Starfleet life.  But let me tell you, when I got up to heaven and found you fated to fall in love with a Maquis Captain, first I had to check if that's what was supposed to happen to you, then I had my first really big laugh.  Trust you, Kathryn Janeway, to choose the rocky road all the time.  Your father and I laughed for hours, because of course we already knew what kind of man Chakotay was, and we already knew that he would fall head over heels in love with you."

Kathryn smiled, sending him a thought Are you mad that I didn't save you?

What he returned was stunning.  At first it was a simple, for thirty seconds, yes.  After that I realized the truest peace for me was here.  And then for an eternity that lasted only several seconds, he opened his whole mind to her and she saw all that heaven was, and she longed to join him right away.  He heard this thought and abruptly ended the link.  "NO!"

The force of his words, both spoken and imprinted to her mind, sent her physically reeling.  She felt caught, but it wasn't by Justin.  She looked behind her, but no one was there.  She looked to Justin for an answer.  "I'm sorry, Kathryn.  I didn't mean to do that to you.  I was just so scared.  You can't think that way.  No matter what life is like here, you are to stay there with Chakotay.  I know how peaceful it is here, I know how wonderful, and no matter how much I love you, I won't join you again, because I would miss heaven too much, not to mention that that would throw the whole master plan out of whack.  No, you have many years left being mortal.  Enjoy them.  A person is only mortal for roughly a century, then they move on to be with us.  After that, the person is an angel for the rest of eternity.  And trust me, I've seen the plan, it goes on for a very long time.  As for who caught you; I'm sorry I touched you so deeply that it affected the physical world, but you fell back and Chakotay caught you."

Chakotay seemed almost a distant memory - how far she was from him, and yet how close!  She concentrated and could feel his arm on her back, steadying her.  She took a breath and felt her physical self do the same.  Good.  "So how are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine.  I've been keeping myself busy.  I'm the head of the Angels' Union."

"What?!" She sputtered.

"I'm kidding.  Actually, I watch over you, but I'm also in education.  I teach people how to be angels.  You wouldn't believe how long it took for me to get my license.  The Old Man is booked up solid, and getting an appointment for my final exam was horrendous.  It was the first time I'd seen Him."

"Congratulations, then.  I'm sure you enjoy the work."

"I do.... Kat, I'm sorry, I have a class and have to go.  I'm teaching the baby angels now and you can't take your thoughts off them for a moment!"

She smiled and hugged him quickly.  "Thank you for watching over me.  I never stopped loving you."

"I know," he chided, tapping his head to indicate the one-way telepathic link.  "I love you, too.  And don't worry about me being alone.  I met a wonderful angel several years ago and we're very happy together." He stepped back and faded.

The moment she could see no more of him, she was back on the floor by the coffee table in their resort room on Risa.  She opened her eyes and smiled at Chakotay.  He didn't ask her a thing.  He didn't have to.  He had seen the whole experience through her face: the radiance; the happiness; the excitement; the peace; the surprise; the shock that had sent her reeling; everything.  There were tears budding in her eyes, but she blinked them back and for once they obeyed.

"I'm ready now," she said softly, and while he didn't understand to what she was referring to, it didn't matter and it seemed out of place to ask her.

Instead he took both of her hands in his and smiled at her, telling her, "I'm glad." She leaned over and kissed his neck, her hand reaching up to run over his tattoo.

"Time to leave, Justin," she whispered as she moved her mouth to Chakotay's.

This, Chakotay could not let pass.  "Kathryn?"

She laughed.  "Don't worry, love.  I'll tell you later." She had an easy time winning him over as she began unbuttoning his shirt, her hands slipping beneath the cottony material.

"Tom!  We're late!  We have to beam to the shuttle right now or else we're going to miss it!" The pair had opted for the slightly quieter four-hour shuttle trip than running to catch six different transports in many different terminals.  Tom hurried down the stairs.

"Sorry," Tom said breathlessly.  "I almost forgot something."

"Come on," she said, not bothering to ask what he had forgotten.  She locked the house on their way out and dropped the keys into her shoulder bag.  Her mother had taken the children to a museum of the Klingon Empire.  And while B'Elanna felt slightly guilty for leaving them with her mother (a full Klingon with all their lack of affection) she knew it was only for a few days and her mother would take good care of her grandchildren.  At first their meeting had been tense (B'Elanna had not told her mother she would be coming, and she had been extremely surprised to see her daughter, thinking her dead.  She had not heard anything about Voyager's return.), but they mended the rift that had separated them for many years.  B'Elanna accepted her mother as who she was, and accepted herself, and B'Elanna's mother accepted her daughter for who she was and what she did.

She had agreed to keep her grandchildren for five days while Tom and B'Elanna were on Risa.  They had not had a vacation just the two of them since before Sarana's birth.  And even then, it had been only short shore leave.  They were both planning on enjoying the time with each other, though for the entire transport, they talked about nothing but their children.  Kaeori had just started talking and had a small vocabulary that thrilled both B'Elanna and Tom.

B'Elanna and Tom had sent confirmation to Janeway and Chakotay about when they would be arriving and Janeway and Chakotay had sent back a message that they would be waiting for them at the shuttleport.

Tom and B'Elanna arrived in time for dinner and they all ate in the hotel restaurant.  The next day B'Elanna and Kathryn attacked the dress stores.  Kathryn had not gone looking until then, wanting to wait and go with B'Elanna because she hated shopping alone.  Chakotay wasn't supposed to see the dress until it was on her at their wedding, so it would have been difficult shopping with him.  Kathryn and Chakotay had reserved a Justice and a found the perfect strip of beach for sunrise the day after next.

Tom and Chakotay went off for the day - they would not tell the women where they were going - but promised to be back for dinner.  Kathryn and B'Elanna also left reasonably early and spent all day looking for dresses.  They had found several that looked good on Kathryn, and had also been searching for a dress for B'Elanna, though she said she could wear the dress she'd worn to Samantha's wedding.  Near the time they had agreed to meet the men, they found the perfect dress.  It looked like a dream on her.  The dress was pure white satin with a sweetheart neckline and low back.  The dress fell to the floor, the full skirt pleated nearly invisibly so that when she spun, the dress twirled out around her, but fell straight when she stood still.  She found some high heels that lifted the dress a centimeter off the floor and left the dress at the store until tomorrow when she and B'Elanna would return to pick it up, since they didn't want Chakotay to see the dress.

They ran to the location of the restaurant where they were to meet Tom and Chakotay but still they were a quarter of an hour late.  They apologized, kissed the men and slid into their seats, picking up the menus the waiter had recently provided.

"So how was your day?" Chakotay asked the women, deciding to ignore the fact that they were late.

"Great.  We hit all the boutiques in town."

"Please tell me you didn't deplete our entire credits account," Chakotay grinned to a put-on insulted Janeway.

"I did not.  I should hope you didn't spend it yourself today, which raises the question how was your day - and please tell me you remember it."

"Of course I remember it!  I have a perfect memory."

"That wasn't exactly what I was referring to," Kathryn muttered and B'Elanna hid a smile.

"We got tuxes," he informed them pointedly.

"Anything else?" B'Elanna asked, teasingly and non-verbally suggesting they had visited one of Risa's brothels.

Tom smirked at B'Elanna.  "No.  We played pool most of the afternoon."

"Meet anyone?"

"As a matter of fact, we did.  Two barmaids tried to put the moves on us, but we told them no could do." Tom shook his head in regret and both Kathryn and B'Elanna laughed.  "Other than that it was pretty quiet."

The following day, the foursome spent the day on the beach.  Then Kathryn and B'Elanna split from Tom and Chakotay to pick up her dress and then celebrate her last day as a bachelorette.  They dressed and went to a bar where they had their last night of seeing how many guys they could pick up.  They had done it nearly every time they'd been on shore leave since they had started nearly seven years ago.  The last time they had done it had been the night of B'Elanna's wedding.  They quit after they had picked up five sets of men, having timed themselves.  A little over an hour; not bad.  They played some pool and spent the rest of the evening talking.  They didn't stay out late because they would be getting up very early the next morning for the sunrise wedding.  They walked back to their hotel, and Kathryn saw a familiar face in the lobby.

"Tuvok?!" She hurried over.  "Tuvok, how are you, how did you know we were here?"

"I invited him," B'Elanna said.  "I thought it might be nice to have him here."

Kathryn hugged both her friends.  "Thank you for coming, Tuvok."

"You're welcome, Captain."

"Tuvok, we've been friends for well over a decade.  Will you please call me Kathryn."

"Very well, Kathryn.  I remembered how much you said you loved the lyra, so I brought my instrument.  B'Elanna provided me with the music to your favorite classical piece - Ode to Joy - and with the music for the Wedding March, and she mentioned a piece of native origin that Seska had mentioned Chakotay always liked.  If you would prefer other music, I would be happy to learn them this evening."

She smiled at Tuvok.  How thoughtful he was.  He shattered many myths about insensitive and cold Vulcans.  "No, Tuvok, I'm sure those songs are perfect.  Have you seen Chakotay and Paris yet?"

"Not yet, Kathryn." As he said that, all of them heard Tom and Chakotay's voices as they entered the main doors of the hotel.

"Chakotay," Kathryn called, waving them over to the corner of the lobby.

Chakotay saw Tuvok and greeted him, wondering why he was here.  Had he heard he and Kathryn were to be married and had come to state his disapprovement?

"Chakotay, Tuvok's going to play his lyra for us tomorrow at the wedding.  Isn't that wonderful?"

"That's terrific.  Thanks, Tuvok," Chakotay said with sincere enthusiasm.

Tuvok named the Native Indian piece and asked Chakotay if he was in agreement with Tuvok playing that selection.  Chakotay said it was fine and then Tom suggested everyone retire to their rooms because they would have to wake very early the next morning.  The rest agreed and rode up the elevator to their rooms.  Kathryn and Chakotay were in separate rooms that night because Kathryn still followed the ancient custom of not letting the groom see her at all the next day, until the Wedding March was played.  The rooms could be next door, she had said, and that's what Chakotay had arranged.  That way he could make sure she awoke with enough time for them to get to the beach before sunrise.

Chakotay knocked on the door connecting their rooms.  He heard no sounds from Kathryn, so he called, "Kathryn, wake up!"

"I'm awake," mumbled a sleepy voice.

"Hey, Monkey, we're getting married in fifteen minutes!"

"WHAT?!" Kathryn jumped out of bed, instantly awake.  She looked at the chrono on the table by the bed and groaned.  "Very funny, Chakotay."

"Well it woke you up, didn't it?"

"Yes."

"You may extend you deepest thanks."

"Not likely." She turned on her shower and realized with some amount of surprise that she wasn't at all nervous.  She had no worries after she had spoken with Justin and her father.  She stepped out of the shower and stuck her head in the head-porter - a version of a transporter with a twist.  The device transported a programmed moisture level out of the hair.  Kathryn had just pulled her head out of the head-porter when her door chimed.  She called for B'Elanna to enter and quickly pulled on her underwear.  B'Elanna would help her get the dress on - the clasps up the side were impossible - and then help with hair and makeup.

B'Elanna stood on the bed and guided the dress over Kathryn's upraised arms - the dress was also a pain to put on, but since she'd be wearing it only once she didn't think it would be a big problem - until it settled into place.  B'Elanna did up the fasteners then brushed some makeup over Kathryn's features.  She combed Kathryn's hair and curled it, but left it long as Kathryn had requested.

"Do you remember this?" Kathryn asked at one point, smiling at her friend.

B'Elanna paused, remembering.  "Yes, I do.  Nearly six years ago now." She smiled, thinking of Tom and her own wedding day.  "You're going to remember this day forever," she promised.  "Though what I remember most is feeling dizzy and sick to my stomach," she commented.  "I was so nervous the butterflies started the moment I woke up and didn't quit until the party was over and we were really married.  Though you helped.  You were totally calm about the whole thing.  I remember that, too."

"Thank you.  I remember how happy I was for you... maybe even a little envious, for the happiness and love you had found."

"Now you've found your own," B'Elanna said softly.  "And may you be happy and in love forever."

"Amen." Kathryn wasn't a religious person, but the word seemed to fit.

The final preparations they made were putting on the veil, which was lined with pearls and picking up the flowers that had been recently delivered.  Kathryn and B'Elanna walked downstairs and got into the inner-planetary shuttle that was waiting to take them to the beach.  Kathryn and B'Elanna would then enter the small beach house that was reserved for these kinds of occasions.  Once they were inside, the men would arrive in another shuttle and the Justice would set up for the wedding.

Kathryn looked out the window and saw some of the first rays of daylight touching the sky.  It was a glorious feeling, being awake before the rest of the world, starting out on a new day as it was.  The sun was nearing the horizon and starting to shed some light on the world.

The women could hear the shuttle that was carrying the men arrive and knew that it was almost time.  The music from Tuvok's lyra soon floated towards the beach house where Janeway was waiting for her cue.  She had always loved the pure, graceful music that Tuvok could strum from the harp-like instrument.  The sounds produced were a cross between a guitar and a harp, and were quite suiting for the pieces he had selected.

Paris glanced over at Chakotay.  This is it, he smiled and saw Chakotay take a deep breath.  Yes, good, prepare yourself, my new step-brother-in-law, because no matter what you feel and what you expect, she will be ten times more beautiful than you've ever seen her, and you will fall ten times more in love with her than you ever thought possible, because now she is finally yours forever.  Trust me.

At that thought, B'Elanna entered for the music and his heart filled with love, seeing B'Elanna walking towards the front of the altar.  In his eyes, she was in the dress she had worn for their wedding, an ivory silk with what he called butterfly wings falling from her shoulders.  The wings had been nearly transparent and fluttered on the light breeze from the Holodeck.  He remembered how incredible she had looked and remembered how his breath had been taken away.  He couldn't have imagined a happier, more right moment.  He had felt everything in his universe fall into place when he had put the ring on her finger and Janeway had pronounced them husband and wife.  He knew his friends would experience the same happiness.

The music changed to the expectant Wedding March and Kathryn stepped out of the beach house.  She looked up to where she knew Chakotay would be waiting for him, and their eyes caught.  She noticed none of the other scenery around her for nothing existed in her universe at the moment other than him.  She held the small bouquet of peace roses demurely, walking perfectly in step, finding this her destiny of sorts.  Her smile was radiant and her confidence calming.  The bride was normally the most nervous, but Kathryn had an aura of calm about her that calmed even the slightly-nervous (though he would never admit it) Vulcan lyrist.  The music held its final note as Kathryn took her rightful place beside Chakotay.  She handed her roses to B'Elanna and turned to Chakotay, both of her hands fitting into both of his.  They faced the Justice and he began.  The ceremony was to be short and simple, for they wanted their life together to be that way.

"It is a beautiful day and a beautiful time for you, Chakotay and Kathryn, to be taking your vows to be husband and wife.  The relationship you are about to enter is one of sacred trust, fidelity and love; both of you know the commitment you are entering."

Chakotay felt that the joy that washed over him had to be tangible.  He had thought before, years before, that it was enough to be near her, help her out in anyway he could, and through that he would find the happiness and peace that he so craved.  He had been wrong.  He couldn't imagine how he could have survived all the years to come without Kathryn as his wife.  It had taken nine years, but in the end his love and patience had held out on him, and he had gotten what his heart had wanted since she had shaken his hand after he had agreed to be her First Officer.

Paris looked at B'Elanna and they exchanged a private look.  Their happiness for Kathryn and Chakotay was second only to their personal happiness at their wedding and special moments with their children.  Tom kissed the air lightly, looking at B'Elanna as he did so, the kiss floating through the air to her.  She returned the gesture and looked back at Kathryn and Chakotay.  The Justice was almost at the part where he wanted the rings.  Paris had both in his pocket.  B'Elanna could remember Tom telling her that Chakotay had said he would ring Tom's neck if he lost them, and Tom had promised, trying not to give into Chakotay's humor and smile.

Chakotay turned to Paris then and Paris gave him both the rings and Chakotay in turn gave the simple precious metal band to Kathryn in order for her to put it on his finger in a moment.  B'Elanna liked the symbolism of the ring in modern-day culture.  Kathryn had chosen to have only the one ring.  The fact that Kathryn had walked down the aisle without a ring indicated that she had total choice in the marriage, no obligation to carry this through.  It was a gesture of deeper promise than had been displayed in years past.  Tom had brought her up to speed on weddings of the twentieth century.

"Kathryn, my love, my life.  You have brought me a peace I had never thought possible.  You offered me a chance and your trust right from the start, and you gave me a faith in myself which I had thought was lost forever.  With this ring I pledge my love and devotion to you for all time."

Her throat felt tight but she swallowed back the lump of emotion and smiled.  "Chakotay, you have been my center, my support since the day we met and my life has been forever altered because of you.  You taught me to laugh and to relax and never gave up on me.  With this ring I pledge my love and devotion to you for all time."

They both turned expectant faces to the Justice.  "To good life, good living, good love and good loving," he said, ending the ceremony in the Risean tradition.  He closed his book and smiled at both of them.  "I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may kiss the bride."

They both murmured 'I love you' before their lips touched to seal the vow that was inevitable since the day they had landed in the Delta Quadrant.  When the kiss ended and Kathryn turned to B'Elanna to take back the flowers she had held for her, Tuvok started with the native music, sounding different but still pretty on the lyra.

The wedding broke up after that, the Justice leaving and B'Elanna and Tom and Tuvok offering their congratulations.  "Are you coming back to the resort?" Tom asked them.

"Actually, we thought we would take a walk on the beach and watch the sun finish rising." Since Chakotay did not extend an invitation to the other to join them, and neither did Janeway, they agreed to meet for dinner, Tom and B'Elanna and Tuvok's treat, at one of the fanciest restaurants on Risa.  Chakotay and Kathryn had insisted they didn't want a party and that they wanted to tell their friends and crewmembers.  So far it appeared that the officers were following orders.

Tom, B'Elanna and Tuvok returned to the city and Kathryn took Chakotay's arm, loping her hand through his elbow.  Chakotay then placed his other hand on top of hers after patting it twice.  "So how d'you feel?"

"Relieved, exhilarated, overjoyed, and most definitely in love." She sighed slightly and rested her head against his shoulder for a minute.  "You?"

"All of the above and more," he told her, turning his head to kiss her hair.

They walked in silence as the sun rose, stronger and higher.  Both loved the thought of marrying at sunrise.  They had stepped into a new world, while the old one was still waking.  Kathryn felt two things, which surprised her.  Total exhaustion and total energy.  She broke away from Chakotay suddenly, running towards the surf, hiking up her dress and wading in the water, which the growing sun had not yet heated.  She shivered, but continued until the water was just below her knees.

"Kathryn, what are you doing?" Chakotay laughed at the sight of his love.

"Feeling totally alive!  Come join me!"

He rolled up his pant legs and waded into the water, calling, "Kathryn, this is totally nuts!"

"I know that, but trust me, you'll understand when you get here."

He came to her side and stopped.  She pointed towards something a little more out to sea.  "Do you see it?" She asked softly, as if a louder voice would disturb the object.

He looked over.  "Yes," he whispered.  It was a patch of the Risean coral roses.  They were the color of mother-of-pearl and one of the most rare on the planet.  That they could be found here was a surprise.  The plants were rarely near public beaches.  The fact that this beach was one of the quietest, because of the lack of nearby resorts, was most likely the answer as to why these underwater roses had bloomed undisturbed.  "Would you like me to pick you one?" He asked, feeling as if he could not disturb the flowers without a purpose or some kind of permission.

"No, let's leave them.  I read that once one is picked, too much water enters the plant and the whole thing dies."

"You mean the way to kill an underwater flower is to drown it?" He asked and she laughed softly.  She had never really considered it in that light.

The remained there, talking, until the water proved too cold and they were forced to return to land, both having goosebumps on their legs.  The sun was fully in the sky, the world was awake now, and they were ready to return to the resort.  It was nearly noon and both were now drained from the excitement and the many late nights beforehand.

They walked slowly back to the transport site, not minding the kilometer hike, and transported back to civilization as husband and wife.