Title: Second Chances
Author: Megan Faye
Episode Basis: Resolutions
Rated: PG
DC: Paramount owns all things Trek


What if Kathryn and Chakotay were away from the shelter when Voyager hailed them? Who knows what could have come of the relationship? I have often asked myself the question 'What if' over many things. What if I had never started watching Voyager? What if I had stayed in the Air Force? What if I had a pink font ?

Q watched silently hidden from view of the mere mortals on Voyager as Kathryn settled onto the couch.

'What if we'd missed the hail?' she thought to herself. 'I could have loved him then. I almost wish we'd missed Voyager's hail.'

Q grinned to himself and waved his hand.





"Chakotay, come into the shelter, I've got something to show you," Kathryn called towards the river. She wanted him to see the plans for the little boat he mentioned wanting to build.

"Come for a walk first. I found a magnificent cave less than a kilometer away. You'll love it." Being the scientist, how could she refuse. "Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm. Kathryn found herself falling more in-love with him.





Harry sent the signal again, becoming more frustrated with every try. Still, no response.

"Still no response, Sir." Tuvok frowned lightly.

"Keep trying, Mr. Kim. Mr. Paris, how long until we reach New Earth?" he asked of the pilot.

"Four hours, 26 minutes, sir." Tom silently cursed. They weren't responding to hails. He felt something had gone wrong. After all they went through to save them, and it was too late.

"Sir," Harry called. "There's no response," he said, voice shaking. "They aren't there."

"They need an answering machine," Tom mumbled softly

"Mr. Kim, if there is no response it is because they are away from the shelter. The Captain and Commander are very able to care for themselves. Their life signs are masked to everything but our sensors. Worrying will just waste energy and time. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." Tuvok silently mourned for his dear friend, who he too was worried about.





"Its amazing, Chakotay! Look at these formations!" Kathryn called, pointing at the rocks inside the mouth of the cave. After nearly half an hour of hiking deeper into the cave she stopped and pulled out some rations. "Its beautiful, Chakotay. I love it!"

"I had a feeling you would. Come look further in. The river branched into the mountain and-" A puzzled look flushed over Chakotay's face.

"Chakotay, what's wrong?"

"Your life signs just disappeared from the tricorder's sensors. As soon as I moved more than 2 meters away." He scanned the rock she was standing near. "Its the cave. It totally masks life signs," he said, frowning. "I suggest we leave. There is no way to scan for dangerous life forms." Kathryn stood and lead the way out, still collecting samples as they walked. "Always the scientist."

"Would you want me any other way?"

"I didn't say that, Kathryn," He said, winking at her. "I would want you any way," he joked.

"Always the romantic."

"Would you want me any other way?"

"I'll have to think about that one." Kathryn smirked back at her companion. Chakotay gently smiled at her and her smirk softened. She let him take her hand and they slowly wandered through the cave, completely oblivious to the ship in orbit scanning the planet for its Captain and First Officer.

"Kathryn, promise me something."

"All right."

"You'll never shut me out, or push me away. Promise me. I don't think I could handle knowing that you share my feelings, but won't let me in. Please."

"I don't think I ever could shut you out, Chakotay. I don't want to." Chakotay closed the distance between them and held Kathryn against his chest in a long gentle hug. "I think I'm falling in-love with you, Chakotay. I know how you feel about me, and I want to hear it from your lips. I need to hear it, Ch-"

"Shhhh." He tilted her head up and bent down to meet her lips in a hungry kiss. "Kathryn, I love you."





Voyager broke orbit, leaving its Captain and Commander below, not even knowing they were alive.






Chakotay opened his eyes down at Kathryn as she slept in his arms. It had been nearly a month since their trip to the cave. The boat was nearly finished, and the plans for the cabin had been started. Chakotay decided that today would be the day he was going to ask Kathryn to marry him. He grinned at the thought; Kathryn snuggled deeper into his arms.

"G'morning, my love," he whispered into her hair. "Sleep well?"

"Mmmmm." Her stomach growled against his.

"I guess that means I'm cooking breakfast?" She nodded. "Good, I've got a surprise for you. Stay here, I'll cook. Breakfast in bed, or at the table?"

"Table. After yesterday, I think I'll eat at the table." Chakotay chuckled at the memory of ant-like creatures in their bed when they got out of the shower. They didn't bite, and were rather large insects; Kathryn cleaned then out while he stood on a chair shrieking. It was a rather humorous event.

"Give me five minutes." Chakotay kissed her and stepped out of the bed and into his pants.

"Five minutes," he reminded her as he headed for the replicator. They had built a room onto the shelter for the bedroom to give them enough room for one bed to share.
A few minutes later, Kathryn wandered out of the bedroom. Just as she reached the table, she was hit by a wave of dizziness and fell.

"Kathryn! Are you all right? Hold still, Love." He pulled the med kit out and scanned her. "Oh my Gods. Kath, hon!"

"Will I live?" Chakotay scooped her up in his arms and kissed her. "What is it?"

"You're pregnant, my love!" Kathryn smiled to herself as he held her tightly. "Marry me. I was going to ask you today. That's what the surprise was. I want to marry you. Will you, Kathryn?"

"Oh Chakotay, yes."





Voyager's maximum warp decreased every day. When they left New Earth, it was warp 4, now, warp 1 was impossible. Harry felt like the ship was trying to tell them to go back.

"I'll take the shuttle myself, Tom."

"Har, I said I'd help you, but I don't think bringing B'Elanna into it will help matters right now. Its an impossible mission."

"With a shuttle, we could go warp 9. We could be there in a week. Every day we wait, we loose time. Tonight, Tom." Tom sighed, Usually, he'd be the one dragging Harry into mischeif kicking and screaming, but this little plan of his was going to get them into a lot of trouble.

"All right. I'll ask B'Elanna to mask our trail until we get out of the shuttle bay. We've already lost warp. That's one thing we don't have to worry about." Tom tapped his comm badge. "Paris to Torres."

*Torres here. What s it Tom? I'm a little busy down here.*

"Do you want to get the captain and Chakotay back?"

*I'll be there in 2 minutes.*





Kathryn stepped into the clearing. Chakotay had made an arch covered in flowers; the same kind Kathryn had in her hair. He'd rigged a tricorder to play music. 'Return to Innocence' played in the background.
He noticed her before she came into the clearing. She looked angelic in the white summer dress. Chakotay felt like he was floating as she walked towards him. It was almost perfect.

"Kathryn, I take you as my beloved wife until the sun doesn't rise. I will forever love, and honor you."

"Chakotay, I-"

"Captain Janeway? Commander?" Harry called as he stepped into the clearing. Tom saw the way they held eachothers hands. He understood what was happening.

"Sorry to inturrupt," he said, smiling lightly. "Would you like us to wait at the shelter?"

"No, stay," Chakotay said. He looked down at Kathryn, who was smiling up at him. "Kathryn, I take you as my beloved wife until the sun doesn't rise. I will forever love, and honor you."

"Chakotay, my love, I take you as my husband for as long as the stars above us shine down. I'll forever charish, and honor you as my beloved." Chakotay kissed his wife with all the passion in the universe.
He took Kathryn's hand and they walked towards the shelter.

"Commander, Captain, we have the cure. Are you ready to go home now?" Kathryn frowned.

"Chakotay, I'm not sure if I want to leave here. Its become my home."

"I know Kath, but we should go. They crew will probably want to throw us one helluva reception. You need to see the doctor, love. For-"

"We'll be ready to go in an hour." Kathryn didn't want to announce her pregnancy yet.





"Oh, Kathy, I give you a second chance and what happens? You almost abandoned your crew. What would Star Fleet have thought about that?"

"Q, what are you rambling on about?" Kathryn asked, softly as she settled into her chair.

"Watch." He played over a view screen what her life would hav been like had they been in the shelter when the first hail had come through; how lonely she'd have been when Chakotay fell in-love with and married Seven of Nine, a borg drone they'd have rescued later on.

"Thank you," she breathed. "Thank you for giving me this chance, Q."





Captain's Log Personal

We've just marked the seventh anniversery of being stuck in the Delta Quadrant, and Tehya's fourth birthday and Chay's first. Tom and B'Elanna's baby is due any day now. Chakotay tells me that he regrets nothing about being in the Delta Quadrant. It has to be said, two beautiful daughters later, I have to agree with him.