The BLTS Archive - Under a Silver Moon
by Shonetta

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Published: 07-14-09

Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount
Pictures

Another old story re-posted due to (impending) closure of
geocities.

Episode addition to Coda. Set in season seven.

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//So close, they were so close, closer than she had ever
imagined they could be... There was no protocol between them
now, no rank, no command ... they were simply Kathryn and
Chakotay... a woman and a man. He kissed her lips gently,
searched her mouth with infinite tenderness ... She murmured
softly and he traced her tears with his fingers ... His own
fell in rhythm and he kissed her deeper... deeper... He
explored her body with his hands, touched every precious
part of her ... it seemed as though his soul merged with
hers as their bodies finally became one ... They were a part
of each other now ... always ... forever...//

Kathryn Janeway lay on the shore of a moonlit beach and
gazed up at the stars. They were crystal clear in the black
heavens and sparkled like diamonds. As she lay there, a
single tear rolled down her cheek and fell into the white
sand beneath her, and a warm breeze blew the pale blue dress
she was wearing, rippling the soft material. Lost in the
stars and the sound of the waves caressing the shore, she
didn't hear Chakotay approach. He knelt beside her, and his
falling shadow alerted her to his presence. Quickly, Kathryn
sat up and wiped her face, hoping he wouldn't notice the
betraying tear stain on her cheek.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said.

"That's quite alright," she replied.

"There was a problem with the warp core, but it's all sorted
now."

Carefully, he put down the basket he was carrying, opened
the lid, and pulled out two crystal glasses. He handed them
to Kathryn and then pulled out a bottle of champagne.

As he opened the bottle, a ribbon of foam filled the air. It
fell like snowflakes upon them and for a moment Kathryn
found herself falling through time ... back to another night
when they had shared a bottle of champagne like this under a
silver moon to the sound of lapping water. She had laughed
then as the bubbles fell down on her and she could hear her
laughter now, could hear Chakotay’s. Then, her laughter had
turned to tears ... so suddenly, so unexpectedly ... and she
could hear herself weep. She could feel Chakotay’s arms
around her, feel him rocking her, soothing her, and could
feel herself clinging to him for dear life. She heard
herself beg him not to let her go, to hold her always, to
hold her safe. She heard him tell her that he would hold her
forever if she wanted him too. She heard herself whisper
that she loved him, heard him whisper that he loved her,
would always love her. She felt his tears against her cheek,
felt his mouth against hers, and felt him sweep her into his
arms and carry her into the cabin of their boat. In the pale
moonlight he had undressed her, and in the softness of satin
sheets they had made tender love.

"Hold up the glasses."

Chakotay’s voice drew Kathryn back to the present, but she
didn't lift up the glasses.

"This isn't a good idea," she said sadly.

She saw Chakotay lower the bottle, but dared not look into
his eyes. Instead, she opened the lid of the basket and
popped the glasses inside.

"I should never have suggested this," she went on. "I just
thought ... I don't know what I was thinking."

As she was closing the lid, she felt Chakotay’s hand on
hers. "A drink between friends, Kathryn, that's all this
is."

Kathryn looked up at him tearfully. "Friends?"

"Friends," he whispered.

"Then why is my pulse racing at your touch? Why do I feel I
can't breathe when I look into your eyes? And why is my
heart aching so much for your love that the pain is tearing
me apart?"

Chakotay’s eyes darkened with pain and Kathryn turned away
from them, regretting her uncharacteristic outburst. Then
Chakotay lay a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"If you want more than friendship, Kathryn, all you have to
do is ask. You know how I feel about you."

"I don't know what I want," she said quietly. "All I know is
that it's been so hard all these years. I can't forget,
Chakotay. I wish I could, but I can't..."

Chakotay gently turned her face to his. "I don't want to
forget," he said, looking deep into her eyes. "Never have I
felt in my entire life what I felt when we made love."

A tear escaped Kathryn's eye and ran down her cheek.
"Neither have I."

"I've tried to do all that you've asked of me, Kathryn. I
resumed our command relationship, kept my distance, tried to
go on as though nothing had happened between us. But things
have never been the same, have they? It's always been there
between us."

Kathryn nodded and lowered her eyes.

Chakotay then carefully put the bottle of champagne back
into the basket and took her trembling hands in his. "As you
asked, I have never mentioned that night. And after tonight,
if it's what you want, I will never mention it again. But
first I want you to be honest with me, Kathryn. I loved you
then, I love you now. I need to know how you feel about me."

Kathryn's eyes found his again and she gazed into them. "I
told you that night that I loved you and I meant it. And
I've never stopped. What I said to you the next day, about
not loving you, it was a lie. I was scared, Chakotay. I was
so scared. I was scared of what I was feeling, of how you
made me feel. Here on the holodeck, when we were just
Kathryn and Chakotay, it seemed so right, but the next day
in my ready room, on my ship, it all seemed so wrong..." She
paused. "But I'm not scared now ... not as much ... not
here, with you..."

Chakotay put his hand to her cheek. "It doesn't have to be
this way, Kathryn. We don't have to suffer this torment.
There's no reason why we can't be together, no reason at
all. I love you, will always love you, and I want us to be
together."

Kathryn smiled softly. "I want us to be together too... no
more running, no more hiding..."

Chakotay gently drew her close and Kathryn lay her head on
his shoulder. For a long time they held each other, both
cherishing the closeness, and then Kathryn kissed his lips
tenderly. Chakotay deepened the kiss and they sank slowly
into the soft white sand beneath them.

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The End