Disclaimer: Characters belong to the Almighty God, aka Paramount. Lullaby belongs to Shawn Mullins. They all come back unharmed.

Kathryn Janeway lay on her couch, a PADD on her stomach long forgotten. Chakotay was draped similarly over a chair opposite her. "So, you gave Neelix permission to do another Talent Night? I could use you in a William Tell simulation…" Kathryn laughed at his joke.

"Yeah, and I’d lose my head, and you’d get to be captain. Are you seriously doing anything, Chakotay?"

"I’d make a fool of myself. Besides, I can’t do anything out of the ordinary," Chakotay shifted position uncomfortably.

*Fine, I’ll do what it takes* Kathryn thought. "I’d bet 2 weeks of replicator rations that you wouldn’t get up there."

"You’re on, Kathryn. And before my legs go ahead and completely fall off, goodnight," He walked stiffly out of her quarters, leaving a smirking Kathryn behind.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next three days went by as usual. Except for the use of Chakotay’s holodeck time. Scanning the computer’s archive of songs, it took him six hours to find the right one. "Computer, insert musical background for song" he paused to look it up "Alpha Chi 7." *Perfect, I am going to knock her dead* he thought as he sung the first few bars of the song.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The audience clapped as Harry Kim and Leigha walked off the stage after completing their clarinet-saxophone jazz duet.

"And now, the much-talked about last act of the evening: Commander Chakotay- please grace us with your presence," Neelix said into his microphone. Chakotay told the computer to bring up the setting for "Chakotay Zeta 4."

Everything's gonna be alright, rockabye....rockabye
Everything's gonna be alright, rockabye....rockabye

The tears that had threatened to spill over finally did. Kathryn found herself smiling at Chakotay through her tears. Chakotay smiled back. During the musical interlude that followed, Chakotay unhooked the microphone and walked off the stage, towards Kathryn. He whispered something in her ear and she smiled.

I tell her, I ain't so sure about this place
It's hard to play a gig in this town and keep a straight face
It seems like everybody's got a plan.
Kinda like Nashville, with a tan.....

Everything's gonna be alright....rockabye.....rockabye
Everything's gonna be alright....rockabye.....rockabye

Chakotay finished the song and cheers and hoots rose up through the crowd. Chakotay wrapped Kathryn in his arms in a hug and to his (and her) surprise, she hugged back. After a moment, he pulled back, cupped her face in his hands, bent down and lightly touched her lips with his own. More whistling erupted, the loudest from Tom, who Chakotay expected would get a rather large amount of replicator rations from that.

After the festivities, Kathryn and Chakotay were walking back to their quarters, hands interlaced. They stopped at the mess hall to look outside at the stars.

"Where do we go from here?" Kathryn asked, seriously.

"Define parameters?" Chakotay laughed, and Kathryn joined him.

"Very funny. Thanks. Chakotay?"

"Yes. . ."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"everything. Being there, waiting for me. The song, the hug, the kiss, which is.." "Just about everything" they said at the same time.

"Anything for you, Kathryn." They continued back down the hallway towards their quarters. "I love you, Kathryn," Chakotay said, not letting go of her hand.

"Love you too, Chakotay." Chakotay bent down and gave Kathryn a kiss goodnight. Her lips parted and she let her tongue explore his mouth as he did hers. They came up for air, smiled, and went to their separate quarters. They left Tom Paris, B’Elanna Torres and Harry Kim open mouthed and bug-eyed.

Leigha Robinson, not fully comprehending all that happened, said "Are you guys catching stray molecules or what? It’s a kiss for crying out loud, like you’ve never seen people kiss in public before." Harry slugged her in the arm, and shut his mouth. The four of them headed to the holodeck to play pool, still bewildered.

As she lay in bed that night, Kathryn Janeway could’ve sworn she heard Chakotay say "Goodnight, Kathryn," through the wall. She said it back and rolled over. A moment later, she fell asleep with a smile on her face-the first time in over four years.