After leaving sickbay, Tom decided he wanted to talk to Harry and made his way through the nearly empty corridors to the ensign's quarters.

"Tom, is everything okay?" Harry asked, blurry eyed and rumpled, as Tom walked into his quarters. His worry over Tom's early morning visit apparent on his face.

"Terrific," Tom said. "I just wanted to let you know that the Captain will be on the bridge this morning."

"You woke me up nearly 2 hours early to tell me that she'll be on the bridge?"

"I didn't want you acting all weird around her, so, I thought I'd give you some advance warning."

"I wouldn't act all weird around her," Harry said defensively.

"Yeah, you will," Tom answered back. But, it will be okay, she'll forgive you."

Harry looked over his friend. "You seem to be in a better mood then you were when I asked about dinner. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Harry," Tom answered, a bright smile spreading across his face. "I was wrong. She wants to give this a try."

"Really?" Harry exclaimed, a matching smile on his face. "That's great for you. Weird for me, but, great for both of you."

"You'll get used to it," Tom answered.

"I'm sure I will." Harry spotted the dermal regenerator in Tom's hand, motioning to it, Harry asked, "Are you okay?"

Tom blushed slightly, "Ummm, actually the Captain needs it before she starts her shift."

"You've got to be kidding me! What the hell did you do to her?"

"Nothing she didn't enjoy," Tom replied with a grin.

"Please, don't tell me. I shouldn't have asked the question," Harry said, shaking his head. "At least, not yet. I'm not quiet ready to hear about the Captain's sex life."

"But, Harry," Tom whined, "Who else is there for me tell? I need to talk to someone about the amazing woman I've got in my bed."

"There's always Chakotay," Harry quipped.

"I'm sure Chakotay would really love to hear about what he's going to be missing," Tom said. "I'm certain if he doesn't want to kill me now, he'd want to after I told him all the things Kathryn likes to do."

"That's too close to telling me about the Captain's sex life," Harry stated with a yawn. "Congratulations on keeping the girl. Now can I go back to bed?"

"I suppose," Tom said. "I have to get back to my quarters, the Captain has some wicked bruises that need my medical attention."

=/\=

"Kathryn," Tom whispered as he ran his hand along the curve of her body.

He kissed his way up her arm, over her shoulder, lingering on her soft neck before working his way across her jaw and to her lips. "You need to wake up," he said against her lips.

She placed one hand on his hip and pulled him closer to her as she opened her eyes. "Good morning," she said before kissing him thoroughly, running her hand along his body.

As they pulled their lips away from each other Tom said, "I thought you'd like to get out of here before the Alpha shift is all up and about. The corridors will still be mostly empty for a little while longer."

"Thanks," Kathryn answered. "While I'd like my crew to know about us, I don't want them to find out by seeing me slinking out of your quarters in the early hours of the morning."

"How do you plan on telling them?" Tom asked, then added in observation, "That kind of makes it sound like you need to tell your children about your new boyfriend."

"Guess what? I imagine that's kind of how it feels." Kathryn admitted to him. "How about if we ease into it? Let them see us together more often. Before jumping into the whole, 'The Captain's got a boyfriend' thing. Let them speculate for a while."

"Before you get up," Tom started, showing her the dermal regenerator, "I suppose if you don't want the bridge crew saying 'Did you see the size of the hickey on the Captain's neck,' I had better fix you up a bit."

Tom went to work on removing the bruises from her neck, "Sorry about that, I got a little carried away last night."

Kathryn gave a short laugh, "Don't be. A little morning dermal regeneration never hurt anybody."

"I suppose not," he answered back as he finished with her neck and began checking over the rest of her body.

He found fingerprint bruises on her thighs, where he'd been grasping her hard as he held her up against the wall. He moved down to run the dermal regenerator over them.

When Kathryn slapped his hand away, Tom looked at her in confusion. "I wear pants on the bridge, no one is going to see them," Kathryn kissed him, again, before rolling out of bed with a sigh. "I suppose, the bridge awaits."

"Your clothes are in the bathroom. Sorry, but, your shirt didn't make it. I left a t-shirt in there for you."

"Kathryn smiled, "I'll have to confiscate the t-shirt as payment."

"Keep it," Tom said as his eyes wandered over her naked body. "I find you very sexy in my clothes and out of my clothes, for that matter."

"You're so easy," Kathryn laughed as she entered the bathroom.

Tom got out of bed and went to the replicator and asked for two cups of coffee. He was sitting at the table drinking his as she entered the room, dressed in his t-shirt. "Coffee for the road," he said motioning to the cup on the table.

Kathryn gave him a full smile. "You have won my heart," she sighed, picking up the cup and inhaling deeply before taking her first sip.

"Now who's easy?" Tom smiled.

She held the cup in both hands as she sat down at the table across from Tom. "I'm a little worried."

"About?" Tom asked.

"About what the crew will think. From everything you've said, I get the impression that the crew is of the opinion that Chakotay and I are a couple."

"Some of the crew believe that. It's all just speculation, though. Why, does that worry you?."

"I don't want them thinking I threw Chakotay out and started up with you."

"The crew would definitely look at me with new respect," he teased.

"Seriously, Tom," she said, not able to hide the smile at his joke. "I think it's important that Chakotay and I remain much the same as we have always been. The crew should see us together, like before."

She continued on a more personal note, "I value him, not only as my first officer, but, also as one of my closest friends. I don't want things to change between Chakotay and myself. Can you handle me being friends with the Commander?"

"Are you sure you can't just let Tuvok be your best friend?" he asked in jest. "Yes, Kathryn, I think I can handle you being friends with Chakotay. If I can't, I'm sure you'll have no problems with setting me straight."

Kathryn gave him a full smile as she stood up and moved over to him. Tom placed his hands on her hips as she leaned down and gave him a searching kiss. She regrettably pulled away, "I have to go get ready."

"I can see my long day of boredom ahead of me, already," Tom said.

"Meet me in the messhall for breakfast in an hour," Kathryn offered. "That should keep your boredom at bay for a few more hours."

"In public? Do you think we can handle it?" Tom teased.

"I'm convinced I can handle it, I'm a Starfleet Captain. I've had extensive training in how to keep my personal feelings to myself. We'll have to wait and see about you," she answered back. "If not, one of us can always leave."

Tom pushed his chair away from the table and stood up, taking a step closer to Kathryn, he wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. "In that case, I'd love to have breakfast with you. If only to prove to you that I can be taken out in public without causing a scene."

"I'm sure I have nothing to worry about," Kathryn answered back, bringing her arms around his neck and pulling his lips down to hers.

Their mouths melded together, both enjoying the slow exploration of each others lips. Tom 's hands found the hem of Kathryn's T-shirt and slid underneath to touch her smooth flesh. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss, "You should go, before it's too late," he let her go, taking a step away from her, "I'll see you in the messhall in an hour."

"Sounds good," Kathryn replied, taking a step that closed the distance he had just put between them.

She placed a hand on his chest, "Does this have a chance of working?"

"What? Keeping what's happening between us from your crew? That doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of working. I give it two days, but, they'll start asking each other questions tonight."

Tom reached up and caressed her lips as she smiled and continued, "If you're referring to us, then yes we have a chance. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure we have more then just a chance. With you is where I want to be."

Tom gave her a quick kiss and a gentle squeeze, "Now, get going or you're going to be late for our first public appearance."

She smiled as she walked towards the door. "I'm leaving, I'm leaving," she laughed as the door to his quarters slid open, she turned back towards Tom before leaving, "Tom, with you is where I want to be, too."