Chapter Text
Kathryn woke that morning to gentle hands caressing her body; soft sensual movements. She let out an agreeable moan. “Don’t wake up,” Chakotay whispered an instruction, and so she did as suggested and kept her eyes closed, remaining blissfully on the edge of sleep.
After two days onboard a cramped transport ship, they were halfway to Trebus. Chakotay had been unusually quiet since their departure from Risa. She suspected he was feeling a little apprehensive about his return home. Despite the subtle distance he was keeping, he was no less affectionate or insatiable. This wasn't the first morning he'd woken her so sweetly.
Chakotay worked his way down her body, lifting her nightdress up and panties down. Taking a familiar position between her thighs, he began making expert sweeps of his tongue between her folds.
Kathryn forced herself to remain in the wonderful haze of sleep for as long as she could. Reaching down, she threaded fingers through the back of his dark brown hair, arching up against him.
Eventually the pressure became delightfully intolerable, and she found herself grinding against him, consciously seeking conclusion to his diligent efforts.
As she came against his hot, wonderful mouth, she heard a similar grunt of satisfaction escape his lips, and she knew he'd given in to his own needs.
Tugging at his shoulders, she encouraged him back up the mattress, snuggling into the hollow of his body, which perfectly fit against hers. "I love you," she whispered, "I want to wake up every morning beside you."
Chakotay gave her shoulder an agreeable squeeze, but was unusually quiet.
Kathryn knew he was mulling something over, so she gave him time, waited him patiently out.
"Have you had any conversations about your next assignment?" Chakotay finally asked, a curious lilt to his voice which she hadn't expected.
Kathryn ran an affectionate hand down his side, "I thought we agreed not to talk about work whilst we're away."
He pursed his lips. "I know," he pulled back a little, and she could see a concerned look on his face. "This is important though... I heard you applied to join me on the Gage?"
That had her attention. "Who told you that?"
"Have you?" He pressed.
She hesitated, having wanted to surprise him with the posting, or avoid his disappointment if she was refused. Starfleet had been hinting at a more challenging posting in the pipeline, but for the first time in a while, she was tempted to the quiet life with her new husband.
"I've applied, yes," she reluctantly admitted.
"For the head of science?"
How could he possibly know that? It was no use denying it though. "I was hoping to surprise you," she confessed, with a slow smile.
Chakotay looked hesitant. "That would be a step down for you," he needlessly pointed out.
Knowing that he was about to mount a protest, she reached for him, wrapping arms around his neck. "So?" She shrugged, "It's a position I'll enjoy and do well, and most importantly, it will allow us to be together."
He stilled in her arms, and she could instantly tell that he wasn't nearly as happy at the prospect as she'd hoped he would be. "I don't want you to make that kind of sacrifice for me," he said simply.
She watched him carefully, furrowing her brow. "It's hardly a sacrifice."
As he met her gaze, it looked like he wanted to say something more, but he was holding himself back. Eventually, his posture relaxed and he let out a deep breath. "If that's what you really want? If you think you can be happy with that?"
Kathryn kissed him. "I'm happy wherever I am with you," she promised.
And that was the truth. Starfleet was a passion, and her career was being fast tracked, and whilst space exploration and the challenge of command brought her much excitement, it was Chakotay who brought her contentment. It wouldn't be easy, but if she had to choose between the two, Chakotay would always come first. She could live without Starfleet; she couldn't be without him.
****
The Homeworld
Trebus was a mostly a barren planet, except for the northernmost hemisphere where there was luscious vegetation. Endless acres of forest, interspersed with meadows and spotted with settlements.
Chakotay's family were located just outside one of the largest towns on the planet. A chalet style house where there was just as much outdoor living space inside as there was inside.
The rooms all opened out onto a wooden veranda which wrapped the entire building. The kitchen contained a modest dining table inside for the rare occasions that the weather was bad enough to take shelter. Most of the time, they would dine out on the decking, where a canopy provided shelter from the warm sun and other elements.
Chakotay glanced over his shoulder one last time as they approached the house, watching his new wife's reaction to seeing his childhood home.
Her eyes were darting curiously in every direction. To the children playing cricket on the meadow with no shoes. The native species of quadrupeds, which looked something close to a cross between a giraffe and bear grazing in the foliage. The tall Treban trees which reached up to the sky, whilst their willowy branches swayed in any direction except the breeze.
She was so distracted by all the wondrous new things around her, that she almost forgot where they were headed.
"Chakotay, Kathryn!" The voice of his mother drew their attention, as they both looked over to the tall slender woman who had appeared at the entrance to the home.
Tananka moved quickly in their direction. Chakotay caught his mother first, in a fierce hug, lifting her a little from the floor as they quickly made up for their last three years apart.
When they eventually parted, Tananka turned to Kathryn, holding out an inviting arm, to welcome her daughter in law.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Tananka," Kathryn said, as they embraced.
"The pleasure is ours," came a quick reply. The older woman pulled back, taking her face in both hands. "You're so much more beautiful in natural sunlight," she exclaimed, much to Kathryn's embarrassment. Then, turning back to her son, "You don't do things by halves, do you my son?"
Chakotay just grinned.
"Well, you'd better come in and get something to drink," she ushered them towards the building. "This planet has a dry heat. You'll lose moisture quickly. Drink twice as much as what you think you should."
"Where's father?" Chakotay asked as they followed his mother inside.
"At a council meeting," she said dismissively. "He'll be home for supper."
Chakotay dumped their bags by the front door, and immediately made his way onto the kitchen, following the path of a familiar smell. At the hob, he found a pot, and lifted the lid to inspect the contents. "Chilli," he noted, reaching for a spoon to take a sample.
Tananka came up quickly beside him. "Yes," watching carefully as he took a bite, and tapping away his hand when he went for another sample. "I've toned down the spice."
The heat of the spices finally caught the back of Chakotay's throat with an afterburn. "Wow," he exclaimed, having forgotten how intense his mother's cooking could be.
"Too much spice?" She asked worriedly, grabbing the spoon to check the seasoning for herself.
"You might want to make sure there's plenty of sour cream on the table," he suggested quietly.
Listening to the interaction from the doorway, Kathryn felt it necessary to reassure them. "I'm sure I'll be fine," she insisted, "Please don't adjust your recipe for me."
Tananka smiled pleasantly over her shoulder, "It's not you I'm so much worried about," she patted her son's shoulder, "It's your husband who can't handle the heat."
Kathryn looked unconvinced. "You love my grandmother's Biryani," she noted.
Chakotay nodded, "Yes, because it's perfectly balanced. My mother, however, doesn't think she's made a good chilli unless you're crying throughout dinner."
Tananka laughed, tussling her son's hair with great affection as she stepped past him and towards Kathryn. "I'll show you to your room," she said, changing the topic, gesturing for them to follow her.
The older woman led them out to the back of the house, where Kathryn was surprised to find a small outbuilding across the garden.
"This used to be my father's workshop," Chakotay explained as he carried their bags down the steps from the main house, and along the short path to the entrance.
Tananka opened the door, and they both stepped inside the high vaulted room with wooden panelling. There was a large double bed in the centre, a couple of doors leading to cupboards and a bathroom, and a couch and small guest kitchenette. It was quaint and homely. Kathryn immediately loved it.
"I'll leave you both to settle in," Tananka said, then lowering her voice to her son, "Dinner will be in an hour, try not to be too late."
Chakotay couldn't suppress the grin as he watched his mother leave, closing the door behind herself. Once they were alone, he turned to his wife with a predatory look.
"Don't even think about it," Kathryn said quickly, as she caught the look in his eye.
"I'm already thinking about it," he said, putting their bags down, and taking some deliberate steps towards her.
"We should help your mother set up for dinner."
"She's not expecting us to help," he assured her, closing the distance between them.
Kathryn circled around him, "I'm not going to be rude and ignore your family when we've just arrived."
"Kathryn, we're newlyweds, they're not expecting us to leave this room for at least the next couple of days."
She carefully dodged his arm as he attempted to take hold of her. "I'm not having sex with you when your mother is right outside the door," she hissed.
Chakotay placed his hands on his hips, struggling to suppress his amusement. "She won't be trying to listen in," he assured her.
Kathryn headed for the door.
Moving quickly, he intercepted her before she could leave, positioning himself between her and the exit. Finding her path blocked, she folded her arms and glared up at him, clearly unimpressed.
Chakotay held his palms out, as if taming a wild horse. "Do you remember our first time at your mother's house?" He asked carefully.
She rolled her eyes at the memory. Of how she'd woken him in the early hours to peppered kisses and wandering hands. Reassuring him that the old building had been retrofitted with modern soundproofing when he tried to quieten her enthusiasm as their passion escalated.
"Trust me to know what's acceptable in my parent's home; as I've trusted you."
Her stance softened, so he carefully took her in his arms, kissing her gently as he eased her into the idea, distracting her from her concerns with lavish attention to her neck and cleavage.
As she willingly succumbed to his seduction, he led her to the bed, where he encouraged her to lay back along the bottom edge and allow him to undress them both.
Lips followed fingers, fingers followed eyes, as they enjoyed every inch of each other's skin. Chakotay marked every freckle, and her touches incensed every goosebump on his body.
His probing fingers discovered her already slick and ready for him, so he climbed carefully between her thighs, and positioned himself above her. Swooping down to kiss her breathless, he allowed his member to find her entrance and slowly nudge himself inside.
Chakotay let out a satisfied sigh as he began to penetrate her. His shaft sliding up into her warm, welcoming folds, up to the hilt until she could take no more of him.
They began gentle movements. Rocking slowly at first, building up the momentum.
He felt exquisite inside of her. Everything she could ever want, currently held between both of her legs. She arched back, eyes closed, as she enjoyed every sensation he elicited.
The sound of a click followed by the squeak of a hinge, and they both stilled as a door opened.
Kathryn's eyes flew open and she strained her head back to catch sight of their intruder. Involuntarily making eye contact with Kolopak.
The older man looked immediately away, but stood his ground, refusing to be embarrassed in his own home. "Son," he said simply.
"Father," Chakotay gritted out in reply, as he held himself protectively above his wife, knowing that if he made any move to withdraw he would only further expose her.
"I didn't realise you were home already," Kolopak had his eyes carefully trained on the ceiling.
"If you don't mind giving us a moment, we'll get dressed and come out to greet you properly."
"Of course," Kolopak said, stepping back from the door and quickly closing it behind himself.
Chakotay slipped out from her body and rolled away the moment they were alone again. He turned to her, "I'm so sorry," he said quickly. "Are you okay?"
Kathryn buried her face in her hands, mortified with embarrassment at what had just happened. "I can't believe that's your father's first real impression of me."
"He should have at least knocked first," Chakotay looked rather annoyed.
Without knowing the routine in their household she didn't dare comment.
"That's not normal by the way," he felt it was necessary to assure her, "My father doesn't regularly just walk in on people having sex."
Kathryn raised an eyebrow; she hadn't even thought of that. Still, her embarrassment was the most overwhelming thought.
"Come on," he patted her thigh, as he jumped off the bed and headed for the bathroom. "We should go face the music before it gets too awkward."
"I think I'm going to have to stay in this room for the rest of our trip," she grumbled, sinking back into the covers and willing them to swallow her up.
From the bathroom he began running the water for the shower. He called out to the bedroom. "My father's seen me emerge out of a woman, I'm sure he'll find the humour in seeing me trying to get back onto one."
Kathryn rolled her eyes at his terrible joke. Knowing that her husband was probably right about facing up to the consequences, she dragged herself off the bed and crossed over to the shower.
"You're not in the slightest bit funny by the way," she admonished, as she stepped under the spray of the water with him.
Chakotay pulled her into a reluctant hug, the warm water washing over their mingled bodies. He kissed the top of her head. "You'll see the funny side eventually."
-
Despite Chakotay's insistence of trying to find the lighter side to the situation, he still glared daggers at his father when they joined Tananka and Kolopak at the outdoor dining table. Making clear his disapproval for the invasion of privacy.
The older man stood hesitantly as they approached, his focus entirely on Kathryn. "I'm sorry about earlier," he began. "I was intending to move out some boxes from the outhouse before you arrived. I hadn't realised either of you were already in there."
"It's fine," Kathryn was desperate to brush it off and move on with the evening.
"No it's not," he insisted, "We're open about sex and love in this family; but not that open."
Kathryn glanced to Chakotay and Tananka for their responses, and to her surprise found they were both struggling to suppress smiles.
Noticing her attention, Kolopak explained. "You'll have to ignore my wife and son, they both have the same terrible sense of humour."
Tananka gave Kathryn a kind smile. "It's really nothing to be embarrassed about," she said quickly. "And it's not the first time Chakotay has been caught in a compromising position with a young woman."
That comment quickly wiped the smirk from Chakotay's face. "Maybe we should begin dinner," he tried to change the topic.
"Which woman was this?" Kathryn pursued the topic the moment she realised her husband's discomfort.
Tananka ushered her towards a seat at the table as she began to serve up the chilli. "Oh, the daughter or our community leader: Dasani. She'd had a crush on Chakotay throughout school, and pursued our son relentlessly when he came back to visit during a summer break from the academy. On the last night of his stay, her cousin walked in on them in a compromising position behind the community hall."
"We were kissing," Chakotay quickly interjected.
His mother raised an eyebrow as if to suggest it was likely more than a simple kiss, but she graciously let the topic slide to save her son any further embarrassment.
Kathryn was unable to suppress her amusement at seeing her husband squirm before his parents.
"It was quite the gossip around the town for a time," Tananka continued. "Kolopak's son and Open Water's daughter would have made quite the political power couple."
"Or quite the political power struggle," Kolopak cut in, his expression stern.
The atmosphere around the dining table instantly cooled. Not understanding what had changed, Kathryn glanced between all three of them, finding that they were all suddenly avoiding eye contact with one another. Unwilling to be left in the dark, she decided to ask what Kolopak meant. "Am I missing something?" She asked carefully.
"No," Chakotay covered her hand with his own, but she didn't miss the sharp, meaningful look he shot his father.
This only further fueled her curiosity. "What's going on?" she pressed.
After some reluctant looks between them, Kolopak finally spoke. "There was a time when it was hoped Chakotay would eventually become part of the council. He is a natural born leader; at least within our community. People gravitate towards him, look to him for advice and inspiration." His father said simply, without inflated pride or ego. It was a simple statement of fact. "It was always my hope that he would rise to his potential; step up one day to lead this planet."
Kathryn felt Chakotay's grip on her hand tighten. Turning to her husband she saw an unusual fire in his eyes, directed at the older man. "Those were your desires, Father."
Kolopak turned his gaze to Kathryn and offered her a small smile. "I apologise; I don't mean to cause any disrespect. We are very delighted to have you in our home; as part of our family. The spirits always warned me that Chakotay had a split destiny. I just never imagined however that the second path would lead him all the way to the stars."
Chakotay took a breath, and she witnessed him trying to force a calm he didn't feel.
"You mentioned a power struggle ?"
Both men were locked in a fierce exchange, so it was Tananka who filled in the gaps. "Dasani is now our community leader. She has always been traditional, but also impulsive; short sighted in her decisions. Kolopak worries that she is giving the Cardassians too much leeway. That she is too focussed on avoiding healthy conflict, and not pushing back against their unreasonable demands."
Kolopak pushed back from the table but addressed his wife with a softness shared by his son. "I'm sorry my love, I've lost my appetite."
"Take a walk, Kolopak," she suggested, brushing the back of his hand. "I'll keep your food warm for supper."
It took a moment after he'd gone until Chakotay spoke, and when he did there was a disquiet and guilt to his features which she'd never known before. "Is it that bad?" He asked his mother.
Tananka attempted a brave smile. "Your father is upset because he believes you would do a better job in Dasani's place. We have made peace with your choice, but perhaps whilst you are here you'd be willing to talk with Dasani. Help her see the longer term consequences to the decisions she is making now?"
"I don't know Mother…" Chakotay said carefully, "Dasani has always been a force of nature, and I don't see how my opinion after such a long absence would hold any weight here."
"Maybe not," Tananka agreed thoughtfully. "There will be an opportunity at the Equinox celebrations tomorrow. Perhaps you could find time for a subtle word with her; listen and ask questions."
Chakotay neither accepted or rejected her proposal, but Kathryn could tell he was weighing it up.
-
Later that evening as they prepared for bed, Kathryn found herself probing a little further into the conversation.
"I hadn't realised your father had expectations of you becoming a leader on Trebus," she commented quietly.
Chakotay shrugged it off, as he rooted through his bag for a nightshirt.
"It's vanity, Kathryn. Nothing more. Just the proud hopes of an old man for his only son."
"No," she disagreed, "It's more than that. I see it too; that potential. For leadership, that instinct to help people; to reach them. It's part of you."
He looked less than convinced. "That's not what I want. This planet; this rejection of technology and of progress. I've known my whole life that I wanted more; needed more."
Kathryn was quiet for a while, as she acknowledged a thought which hadn't been conscious until now. "You fight against it, even in Starfleet."
"What?"
Her eyes widened as the realisation fully hit her. "How many years did you resist progressing along the command track before you finally gave in? And then even after you completed the advanced training; you've resisted promotions and shied away from your own potential."
Her husband looked away, his jaw hardened as he carefully considered his response. "I've always had other priorities," he said. "I enjoyed the lower decks because they afforded me a sense of freedom. I became a senior officer because it came naturally over time. Now, I enjoy supporting your career."
"I think you're scared," she said, a challenge in her tone.
His eyes widened.
"I think you're scared that if you command a ship, you'll realise how good you are; and then you'll worry that if your father was right about your potential as a leader, then he might be right about other things; such as his desire for you to live on Trebus."
Chakotay folded his arms protectively around himself, feeling exposed before this woman. "I choose my own path, Kathryn. I choose you," he stubbornly insisted. "I haven't allowed my father to influence my decisions since I was fifteen. I won't start again now."
Kathryn reached out, carefully touching his arm. However she decided against pressing the issue any further; Chakotay was many wonderful things, but his stubbornness was at times unmovable. Offering him a kiss, they allowed the topic to slide, joining beneath the covers in a comforting embrace.
For a while after he'd drifted off to sleep though, Kathryn found herself lying awake with a new thought. Chakotay was so easily prepared to put her first in his life, but to what extent was she willing to do the same? When the time came, would it be necessary to compromise on her own ambitions to support him, or would they always be able to find synergy in a way forward together?