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© 2002 Anne Rose
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Rating: PG
After Tom and B'Elanna married, Janeway began receiving requests from other crew members. Naturally, she granted them all, and performed most of the ceremonies herself. In a few cases, the couples chose to be married on a planet or space station where Voyager stopped for trade and shore leave
The ship was changing.
She was thinking about that as she sipped her coffee and read the latest department reports. Chakotay sat across from her with his own PADD and a cup of tea. It was their usual command level meeting, although her Ready Room was more festive than usual. Neelix had been there.
"What sort of personnel issues have you got for me this week?" She winked at him over her cup. "Or have you solved them all as usual?"
He gave her a broad smile, flashing his dimples at her. "There are four issues requiring your personal attention."
"Four?" Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Did you have an off week?"
"No, you've got four more applications for marriages." He handed her the PADD with the names.
She scrolled through the information. "This is more than normal."
"I think the holidays have inspired some of them. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic. Although the Holodeck may be a problem if they all want to go on honeymoon at the same time."
She tapped the PADD against her chin and rocked her chair back as she considered the situation. "Sounds like we'll just have to stay here a little longer. Neelix and Tom have been after me to extend shore leave. I guess they get their wish."
"I'll let them know and get the duty rosters switched around." He made some notes. "I think that's everything, except..."
"The rings?"
"In anticipation of your decision, I asked the couples to meet here in..." He checked the time. "About five minutes."
She stood and clapped him on the shoulder. "What would I do without you, Chakotay? Do you want to do the honors while I spruce up the place?"
He patted her hand back and gave her a bright smile before walking to the replicator and feeding in the data from his PADD. A moment later small velvet boxes appeared and he scooped them up.
Ever since the first wedding on Voyager, Janeway had been providing rings for the couples. They were simple gold bands, and the couples would recycle them into the design of their choice.
It started when supplies were short and she learned that crewmembers were planning on foregoing rings for their wedding as part of the ship's conservation measures. It struck a chord with her and just seemed wrong. The crew had already given up too much of their humanity. Some things were necessary for morale, even if they weren't efficient or a material benefit to the crew. She replicated a ring herself for the couple, and the tradition was established.
Janeway meanwhile was imprinting documents for the soon to be married couples and moving some chairs aside to make room for everyone by the "Christmas tree".
Actually, it wasn't a tree, it was her pet plant. She'd been concerned about its reaction at first. It could be quite stubborn when it didn't want to do something. But the silly thing really seemed to like being dressed up for the holidays. It loved the extra attention.
She reached over and gave it a drink of water and a snack of plant food. "Are you going to behave today?" It always helped to feed it a little extra treat when she wanted it to be on its best behavior.
It rustled its branches and rubbed its leaves together till they shined.
She patted it gently. "I'll take that as a yes."
The door chimed and eight crewmen walked in. Janeway walked over to greet them. She hugged each of them and spent a minute or two talking and congratulating them. After that they gathered by the "Christmas tree" and Janeway spoke to them.
She talked about the importance of family, especially when they were so far from home. But Voyager was like a home to them and she hoped that they and their new family would prosper here. It was a short speech but it was from her heart.
As she finished Chakotay handed her the first box with a smile. She thanked him and took it, smiling back.
She gave a ring to each of the couples and said a few more words privately to them. After that they enjoyed a brief engagement party, more like a tea, as Neelix arrived and served refreshments.
As the couples left she noticed Chakotay standing off to the side talking to Neelix and went to join them. "I'm lucky to have both of you to make me look good." She patted Neelix on the arm and then reached over and gave Chakotay quick hug.
"It's my pleasure, Captain," Neelix said. He excused himself and went to clear away the dishes.
After he left Janeway looked around the empty room. "I guess it's just us." She glanced at Chakotay. "You, me, and our rather odd child."
He chuckled and flashed her another brilliant smile. "I'd better go take care of the baby. I think Neelix overdid it with the decorations."
Janeway wandered around the room straightening the chairs, stopping when she reached the coffee table. There, next to her coffee cup was a small velvet box.
"Someone forgot their box." She picked it up and started to carry it out of the room.
Chakotay was extricating a wayward streamer from Janeway's plant. It seemed to like the new decoration and was thwarting his attempts. Without looking back he said, "You don't want to chase all four of them. The names were inside the boxes."
The plant took advantage of his momentary distraction and flipped the end of a streamer back over itself, much like an eccentric old woman flipping a feather boa over her shoulder.
He could have sworn the plant would be smirking at him if it had lips. As it was, it did a fair impression. "Fine, keep it. It matches your eyes."
The plant rustled in response.
He was distracted and didn't notice Kathryn until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Chakotay?"
He tried not to tense as he turned to face her.
She had the box open and was staring at the contents. "Someone left their ring."
He swallowed and hesitated before meeting her eyes. "Did they? I thought they were all wearing them when they left. Maybe you should check the PADD and see who it's for."
Kathryn turned and picked up the PADD. Her eyes got big and round as she read it. She looked up at Chakotay and noticed he was fidgeting and not making eye contact with her.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched her as she pressed her thumb into the PADD, imprinting the orders. He met her eyes as she handed it back to him.
"Tell your fifth crewman that he has the Captain's permission. And you can tell him from me, his fiancé is the luckiest woman on this ship."
Chakotay practically leapt forward, wrapping his arms around Kathryn and picking her up so she was at eye level with him. "I love you, you know."
She tapped him with the PADD she was still holding. "I got that memo." She still had the box in the other hand and it made her hug awkward, but she managed it along with a kiss.
Chakotay settled her back down to her feet and took the box from her hand. "May I?"
Kathryn nodded and set the PADD aside.
He took out the ring and slipped it onto her finger.
She stared at it and then at the man who had given it to her. His dimpled smile was brighter than she could ever remember.
THE END
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