chapter 2

Chakotay gazed miserably at B'Elanna after recanting his tale, and, reading it in his eyes, she bit back the "I told you so" remark. Kahless, the man was a doofus, but perhaps now wasn't the time to remind him.

"So...she didn't say she didn't love you."

"No, she didn't," he replied, his misery lifting a little. The thought had occurred to him.

"And she would have said it, if she didn't. Because it would have put an end to the conversation once and for all. Kathryn is too generous to lead you on with false hope."

Chakotay glanced up in astonishment. "She did it all the time...on Voyager."

"Did she? I thought you said the words were never said, regardless of any unspoken promise for when you got home. Don't blame her because you got off the ship with the wrong woman."

"I gave up hope," he admitted sadly.

"But you should have done something about it as soon as you got home."

"I know that now...at the time the thing with Seven was novel and exciting."

"And now? Do you see your relationship with Seven progressing?"

"No...not anymore. She runs the home as if it's a Borg collective. Not a thing is allowed to be out of place. She argues with me about the slightest thing. She's so needy and attention-seeking. Her emotions are swinging all over the place. She engages in sex as if it's a fitness exercise that it she is duty bound to perform and, despite everything, she still thinks everything is perfect between us. She's even mentioned the m word."

"M word?"

"Marriage. And I'm sorry, the more I think about it, the more the idea fills me with dread. I can't imagine trying to build a life with her now. She isn't the one to fill the void in my life."

"Chakotay, if you feel like this, you need to get out now."

"I know. I've been putting it off...trying to find the right moment."

"Which may never come. It's not fair on Seven to drag it on."

"I know, but I'm just not looking forward to that conversation."

"You need to get it done. Get a clean break."

"And Kathryn?"

"Give her time. Let her absorb the fact that you're single again and let her mull it over. Look, she pretty much said that Seven was the reason nothing could happen between you. So, if you take Seven out of the picture..."

"That's true, but she's also got to forgive me for walking off the ship with Seven and not her....I'm beginning to think that's a bigger deal than I ever realised."

"You said it, big guy. Look...don't expect things to happen overnight."

"No, and it's not like I'm getting much chance to see Kathryn anyway. She doesn't answer my messages or take my calls..."

"You'll just have to patient. I can't think of anyone with a more forgiving spirit. There must be a way to get through to her. Maybe you could accidentally drop in when she's visiting us."

"She visits you?"

"Quite often, actually. Although I'm sure the main attraction is Miral." She gave the sleeping baby a pat on the back, as if to reassure her of her importance.

"There's a rumour that we might be working together at HQ next month, reviewing our contact with the Borg."

"Well...there's your opportunity to mend fences..."

"The project will take several weeks, maybe until Voyager's refit is completed." He sighed as he thought of the obstacles to a reconciliation. "Then there's Will Franklin. Do you know what's going on there?"

"Pfft! I shouldn't worry about him. He's just the latest in a long list of boyfriends...and she didn't mention him as a reason you couldn't be together."

Chakotay grinned at last. That had not occurred to him before. "No, she didn't."

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