A/N: Well, guys, you know how it is. I said I'd make this story more than 10 chapters long, but I think I'll have to end it here. I was really thrilled by all your reviews. They really kept me writing. Although this was my first Voyager story, I doubt that it'll be my last. :)

The doors had barely shut behind Kathryn, when Chakotay was already assailed by a very curious Tom, with Harry trailing behind him, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Spill," was the only thing Tom said as he took the seat Kathryn had just vacated. He pulled Harry down onto the chair next to him, and they both looked at their superior officer expectantly.

Chakotay almost laughed. "Excuse me?"

Tom wasn't known for subtlety, and this marked no exception. "Harry here thinks there's something going on between you and the captain. The whole ship's talking about it."

Harry flushed a deep red at Tom's words and elbowed his friend in the side with enough force to make him grunt.

The commander raised an eyebrow. He was trying - and probably failing - to hide his amusement. "And just how is it that the whole ship knows about this, Mr Kim?"

The ensign squirmed miserably in his chair. "I'm sorry, commander. I wasn't sure what I was seeing, so I ... reported it to -"

"Me," Tom interrupted. "He was just doing his duty, commander. There have been too many weird body snatcher type aliens running around for us not to view our shipmates with a healthy dose of paranoia."

Chakotay had to smile when he remembered that Kathryn had said something similar earlier. "I suppose you're right. Well done on keeping Voyager safe." He toasted the young officers with his coffee, eyes twinkling with humour.

Tom already knew about his date with Kathryn, of course, and he quickly weighed the pros and cons of telling them both about what else had transpired. He came up with an overwhelming majority of cons, so he emptied his cup and rose from his chair.

"If you'll excuse me, gentlemen," he grinned, devilishly pleased at leaving them with little to no information. He felt bad, though, and added: "I've got a date to prepare for."

His grin spread further as he heard Tom and Harry whisper excitedly behind his back on his way out of the mess hall.

She listened to the minutiae of the shift, nodding gratefully when she heard that there hadn't been any incidents. By the time the ensign in charge had finished her report, the rest of the day shift had arrived and relieved their counterparts. She did the same, releasing the ensign into a much-deserved home time.

Kathryn was well aware of all the eyes on her, but waited until everyone but the senior officers had left, before she addressed the issue. "Mr Paris, shouldn't you pay more attention to our course than to me?"

"Yes, ma'am!" He sounded slightly cocky, but then again, when didn't he?

She managed to keep everyone more or less focused on their work until about 1500 hours, when the conversation on the bridge turned to after-hours activities. Harry mentioned that he was going to check the holodeck usage timetable, hoping to score a slot for some sports programme.

Tom's smirk was obvious in his voice when he replied. "I think you'll find that you're out of luck tonight, Harry. Somebody has reserved quite a lot of holodeck time."

Harry sighed. "Who is it? Maybe I can persuade them to trade."

Kathryn chuckled. "I'm afraid Tom's right, Harry. You're out of luck. I wouldn't trade it for the world." She knew that she'd opened the door to Tom's questions with that, but she kind of wanted to share this with her family.

Tom's reaction was like she'd predicted. "Oh, really, captain? What do you have planned for tonight, if I may ask?"

She grinned. "You may, but I don't know. Commander Chakotay wouldn't tell me. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you, Tom?"

Tom turned around to face her. "Only if you give me an order."

She shook her head. "That wouldn't be very fair. I'll have to let him surprise me."

Tom and Harry went back to discussing alternative means of entertainment for their respective Saturday nights. She soon tuned out, too excited to listen to them. She had to take a trip to astrometrics shortly thereafter, and that helped occupy her mind. Seven had devised a slightly altered route and wanted Kathryn's approval. The captain suggested a few minor changes but told her to send the revised course to the helm right away.

When she checked the chronometer next, she felt her heart skip a beat. Her shift had ended while she had been talking to Seven, and she had just enough time to race back to her quarters and stress about what to wear. She finally settled on a sleeveless red velvet dress she'd worn to a party once. She freshened up, touched up her lipstick, and put on some eyeliner, before running a brush through her hair.

She was quite pleased with the result, and dearly hoped that she was dressed properly for whatever Chakotay had planned. Kathryn had barely finished that thought, when the doorbell rang. She grabbed an elastic hair tie from the dresser, then went to open the door. It wasn't necessary, of course, but it felt more polite than yelling 'come in!' from across the room.

Chakotay was dressed in one of the ridiculous vests he'd worn in his Maquis days, with a coarse white shirt underneath. His long black trousers and heavy boots suggested hiking, and she suddenly felt silly in her outfit.

She invited him in, eyeing his attire more obviously as he stepped inside. "Just tell me this. Do I need to change?"

Chakotay laughed his soft chocolate laugh that always resonated deep within her body. He caught her eye and her hand. "You're perfect."

His words made her smile. "Let's go then." Inviting Chakotay in had been horrendously futile, but she hoped he'd chalk it up to nerves.

Kathryn slipped the hair tie over her wrist, then she linked arms with Chakotay, enjoying the way he put his free hand on hers. Anyone passing them in the corridors now would be able to tell that there was something going on between them, and in the strangest way, Kathryn wanted them to.

Kathryn had already deduced that Chakotay was leading her to the holodeck, because ... where else would they go on a date?

She stood very close to him on the turbolift, one arm draped around his hips. She was getting really comfortable with this.

When they arrived in front of the huge double doors, Chakotay turned to her and grinned one of the brightest grins she'd seen in ages. "Ready?" He looked nervous, and hopeful, but also proud, and excited.

Kathryn felt his nervousness roll off him. It was infectious, and she raised her clasped hands up in front of her face. She would finally see what he had been keeping from her for the last few days. She'd come up with a million theories, of course, but now she was actively trying to let go of her expectations.

"Yes." Her voice sounded impatient even to her own ears.

"Close your eyes," she heard him say next to her, but she just raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to repeat that.

He chuckled. "Fair enough. Computer, run program Surprise Sigma Six."

Her amusement won out over her anticipation for the moment. "Surprise Sigma Six," she repeated with a grin.

He just held out his hand, though, and led her through the opening holodeck doors.

Everything she'd been about to say slipped out of her mind the second she caught the first whiff of familiar air.

It was like stepping into one of the few recurring dreams she had that wasn't marked by failure, loss, and death. She wasn't even trying to hide her joy at seeing their home on New Earth again.

"Chakotay," she whispered, letting go of his hand to take a few steps into the programme. They were standing in the forest surrounding their shelter. She could already glimpse it in the bright light filtering through the leaves.

Overcome with memory, she meandered between the trees, touching the bark of this, the low-hanging branches of that one. She had all but forgotten that she wasn't alone, when Chakotay's gentle touch on her waist brought her back to reality. Or the representation of reality, at least. She gazed up at him, amazed affection clouding her vision slightly. "I never thought I'd see this again."

Chakotay's smile was radiant, his dark eyes warm. "Permission to show you the rest of it, Captain?"

The teasing edge in his voice reminded Kathryn of the reservations she'd had regarding this relationship back on that planet. Of all the opportunities they'd wasted - she'd wasted - by waiting this long. She pushed that pain down and met Chakotay's eyes with a cocky grin. "You know what I always say: When you're on the holodeck with the captain, there are two rules to observe. One, leave your rank at the door."

His smile stretched, dimples showing in his tanned cheeks, as he put his hands on his hips. "And two?"

She laughed and hooked her arm through his, leading him through the trees and into the clearing.