Epilogue

December 2380

Tom leant over the table carving the turkey. B'Elanna and Chakotay had just returned from taking Miral out to kick snow all over the place - the little girl hadn't the slightest interest in making a snowman, but had giggled herself silly whilst pelting her mother and 'Uncle' with snowballs. They'd come in exhilarated with flushed faces and muddy boots that were now abandoned in a pile by the door.

The log cabin by the side of the lake had been lovingly decorated with a variety of traditional Christmas, native American and Klingon trimmings and was looking truly festive. There was a roaring fire in the hearth and the table was set ready to eat.

All they needed to now was rouse Kathryn who had been feeling rather tired since her earlier arrival from San Francisco and had gone upstairs for a lie down. Chakotay was just about to go and wake her when she came downstairs. She smiled when she saw the impressive spread.

"I was just going to come up and get you", Chakotay smiled back.

"The smell of the food woke me. Besides, I didn't feel like keeping our news from our dearest friends any longer".

"News?" Tom looked up from the turkey with the same eagerness for gossip that had become synonymous with him. B'Elanna too glanced over from where she was settling Miral in her highchair.

Chakotay looked at Kathryn with a raised eyebrow - clearly amused by her timing.

"Did you want to or shall I?" he asked.

"Oh you go ahead". He looked at her a little suspiciously, getting the sense that there was something she wasn't telling him, but he took her cue. Looking back towards to Tom and B'Elanna he said,

"I'm very pleased to announce that Kathryn has agreed to marry me".

The joy that spread over both their friend's faces had the seemingly impossible effect of making Chakotay even happier than he had already been.

"Congratulations" they said almost simultaneously, as B'Elanna moved over to hug Kathryn and Tom gave Chakotay a manly slap on the back. As soon as the news had sunk in they were full of questions, how and when had he proposed, could they see the ring, and most importantly,

"When's the wedding?"

Chakotay answered, "Well clearly she's serious because for some reason she wants us to do it as soon as possible. And who am I to deny her anything?"

Kathryn laughed indulgently, and added in a feigned nonchalant fashion, "Well yes I mean we need to get on with it whilst I can still fit into my mother's wedding dress".

It took a few moments, but as realisation dawned she happily watched the shock and then even greater happiness lighten each of their faces.

"You mean you're..." She nodded with a coy smile.

"Yes, I'm pregnant". At that point Tom and B'Elanna realised there was even more of a dumbfounded expression on Chakotay's face than there was on their own. There were tears in the big man's eyes as he moved over to his fiancé and embraced her. He whispered into her ear,

"I'm going to be a daddy?"

She drew back slightly from the hug so she could look at him,

"Yes you are. I hope you don't mind me springing it on you like this but I just couldn't wait any longer to tell everyone and you were so busy when I got here".

"I don't mind at all. Tom, get out the real champagne, this calls for a toast". Tom fetched the bottle and poured four glasses, passing one to each of them. Chakotay held out his glass as each of the others clinked theirs against it.

"A toast to my wonderful fiancé, and our soon to be family. If there's one thing that the last decade has taught me, it's that - whilst waiting can be one of the most agonising things we're forced to do in life - some things are worth waiting for."