Disclaimer: ST: VOY is not mine.
Author's Note: Written to wean myself off of drabbles for a bit… This is the result of listening to Frank Sinatra on a loop.
Clandestine
By mistress amethyst une
"Care to dance?" he asked, with a shy smile.
He offered her his hand. She immediately took it in hers.
"Why not?"
She grinned as he led her to the dance floor. A slow song began to play.
"Are you sure you want to dance to this sort of song?" she asked him, almost teasingly.
"Why not?"
Her brow furrowed a bit as he took her in his arms. They swayed gently on the floor as he held her. They danced cheek to cheek. His arms encircled her waist as she gripped his shoulders…
"So very many reasons," she whispered in his ear.
"Protocol?" he whispered back.
"Among other things…"
"Forget what the crew would think."
"We're sending them the wrong message."
"What could possibly be wrong about this?"
They were barely swaying now. Using the dance as an excuse to embrace and whisper…
"Everything," she said, as she suppressed her tears.
"Oh, Kathryn…"
"We can't ever be like this."
"Why not?"
"Don't mock me."
"I'm not mocking you. I'll always love you. Know that…"
"But we can't-"
"I know… Never could. Just let me hold you."
Her voice trembled slightly. "Why couldn't we? I've forgotten."
"So have I."
"What you did to me… It was horrible."
"I was hoping you'd open your eyes before it was too late. Before I lost my heart."
"And is it too late?"
He was silent.
She changed her query. "Are my eyes still closed?"
He replied with a question of his own. "Do you still think this is wrong?"
"I don't know…"
He couldn't see her face, but he could hear the distress in her voice. "Should we stop?"
She knew he was talking about more than just the dance. "The song is almost over…"
"Does this end with this song?"
"You know very well that this could never possibly end. I'll always love you."
"We're a pair of fools, aren't we?"
"That's an understatement."
He felt a tap on his shoulder just as the last few notes of the song played out.
"Chakotay," grinned Seven. "It is time to cut the cake."
Kathryn released him even as she sensed his reluctance to go. "You heard her."
"Remember what I told you," he said, as he left the warmth of her embrace. "Always."
"Same to you," she replied, as she did her best to keep her emotions in check.
Seven was oblivious. She didn't see the underlying exchange of sentiment carried by those words. "Care to join us, Captain?"
Kathryn did her best to smile. "I think I have to go. Early shift in the morning… I wish you two all the best."
"We wish you the same," said Seven.
Chakotay smiled as he took his new wife in his arms. "That we do. See you when I return on duty, Kathryn?"
"Until then," she said, throwing him her usual lopsided grin. "Take good care of her, Chakotay."
"Of course," he smiled. "I love her."
He was looking at her, not at Seven. It was enough to break her heart. He loved them both, but it was only Seven who could reciprocate openly, who could do his heart justice…
Seven smiled at him as he said those words. Such bliss…
"I know you do," said Kathryn, as she struggled with the lump in her throat.
And now I'm off to bed... :)