Introduction: This story takes place about seven weeks after my 'Resolutions- My Version' rewrite story and was a Secret Santa gift for a special VAMBie- Anna. I hope everyone, especially Anna, enjoys this little Christmas story.
Christmas Surprises
Rated PG
‘Captain’s Personal Log:
Back on Earth Christmas has already passed, but some of the crew are preparing to celebrate a little late this year due to Chakotay’s and my return to the ship. Of course, the damage the Kazons did to the ship hasn’t helped with Christmas celebrations either. I should be in the festive mood myself, but for the last several days I haven’t been feeling well. I wake up feeling nauseous and spend the next several hours trying to keep even tea down. I’ve been trying to convince myself that it is some sort of alien flu or something, but somehow I have a feeling it’s much more than that.
End Personal log’
She rushed to her bathroom. Her new morning ritual continued once again. When she could, she tapped her combadge.
“Janeway to Doctor.”
“Doctor here,” he replied. “Captain, you don’t sound well.”
“I don’t feel well,” she gasped for breath as she was still leaning over the toilet praying she would not heave again as she spoke. “Doctor, I think I need your assistance.”
“Now that’s a first,” he remarked sarcastically. “It must be serious. Can you come to Sickbay or shall I send Kes?”
“I think I can make it to Sickbay,” she stated. “Or at least I’ll try. Give me a few minutes.”
Surprisingly she made it to Sickbay, although she was not sure if she would. It took a lot just to wash her face and get dressed this morning due to her upset stomach.
“Ah, good morning Captain! Why don’t you have a seat in my office?” The doctor greeted. “We’ll try to make this as discreet as possible.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate that.” She walked into the doctor’s office as suggested and took a seat in front of his desk, even though she would have preferred to be in her quarters.
The doctor opened his tricorder and began to scan her, “What are your symptoms?”
“Well, for the last several mornings I have been sick to my stomach and tired. That’s about it, but the nausea goes away around midday,” she informed him. “Please tell me it’s some sort of alien flu or something.”
“Let’s just say it’s something,” he said closing his tricorder. “Tell me, Captain, when was the last time you menstruated?”
At first Janeway was shocked by his question then she thought for a moment. “Not since before we left New Earth almost two months ago.”
“I see. That would place you about right according to my calculations.”
“Doctor, stop beating around the bush and tell me what the hell is wrong with me.”
“Well, I’m not sure if I should say congratulations and Merry Christmas or ask you how it happened that you and Commander Chakotay missed your injections.”
“What?” His statement stunned her at first, and then she remembered the storm on New Earth had destroyed many things, including some medical supplies. Then she remembered their nights of passion that followed shortly after that. Not that they had not made love since they returned to Voyager, but it had been that long since she had to put up with her monthly visitor.
“I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise to me. Somehow, I had a feeling it wasn’t some sort of flu.”
“Well, now that that’s settled,” He began smugly. “I have a patient who has managed to injure herself during a Klingon exercise program.”
“Lieutenant Torres?”
“Yes, but don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone until you do.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” the captain replied. “Yes, attend to Lieutenant Torres. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I just need to figure out how I’m going to tell Chakotay.”
“I’m sure he will be a proud father,” the doctor said joyfully. “Assuming you are going to keep the baby.”
“Yes, yes,” she said distractedly. “I don’t know though, it maybe as much of a surprise for him as it is for me.”
“I’m sure it will be,” the doctor stated as he began to leave his office and head off to see what he could do for Torres. Then he paused briefly at the entrance of his office as though he had forgotten something. When he turned to face the captain one last time before leaving, he said, “Merry Christmas, Captain.”
“Yes and you too, Doctor,” she replied as she stood to leave his office.
“It would be if people would stop injuring themselves,” he returned smartly. “Just once I’d like to spend my holiday doing something other than putting people back together.”
The captain had left Sickbay to return to her quarters briefly before heading to the Bridge. “Computer, what is the time?” She asked as she entered her quarters.
“The time is 0700.”
“Good that leaves me an hour before I have to be on the Bridge, barring any more problems from junior. You know, you and I are going to have to get a few things straight and the first one is Mama has to be on the Bridge in the morning. You cannot keep me from doing my duties.”
Then she sighed. She could not believe she was already talking to the child she was carrying. “I just found out you exist and I’m already talking to you. Guess motherhood suits me well and why not? I have whole ship full of people to take care of, so what’s one more? Actually, the more pressing question is, how do I tell your father?”
Several minutes later Janeway arrived on the Bridge.
“Captain,” Chakotay greeted her with concern. “I was just about to send someone to check on you. You’ve been late several times lately. Is everything alright?”
She did not want to tell him why she had been perpetually late the last few days, not on the Bridge at least. “I’m fine, just been a little tired.”
“Too many late nights?”
“Yes, I guess I’ve been working too hard again.”
“Well, why don’t you take it easy tonight and have dinner with me? After all, it’s Christmas.”
“I don’t know. I thought I’d turn in early tonight.”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” he encouraged with a smile.
“Your cooking always makes it worth my time, Chakotay.”
“Yes, but I have something special for you this time. After all, it is Christmas.”
It was then she realized she had not gotten him anything. “Oh, Chakotay, you shouldn’t have.”
“I wanted to, but don’t worry if you’ve been too engrossed being ship’s captain to remember to get me something.”
‘Damn! He knows me like a book!’ She thought briefly then replied, “Well, I… um… I do have something for you. It’s not much.”
It was not a lie, but it was not quite the truth either. She just was not sure how to present it to him.
“So, you’ll have dinner with me?” He asked with a grin.
“Just tell me what time,” she stated as she smiled back at him.
“1800 hours sound good to you?”
“Sounds perfect, now if you’ll excuse me,” she said as stood slowly. Suddenly, she was beginning to feel a bit nauseous again. “I’ll be in my Ready Room.”
“You sure you’re alright?” Chakotay asked with concern. “You look a bit peaked. Maybe you should see the doctor.”
“I’m fine,” she replied as she shook her head. “Just a little tired.”
Then she went to her Ready Room.
Once inside, she leaned against the wall trying to settle her stomach. ‘This isn’t going to work. I’m not even sure I can tell him, but I can’t go on like this either. Everyone is going to figure it out eventually and then what is Chakotay going to say?’
After she felt her stomach had calmed down, she slowly approached the replicator. “Tea, hot and sweet.”
‘Guess it’s no more morning coffee for me for a while. That is going to be a real pain.’
When her drink materialized, she grabbed it and went to sit at her desk. Then she pondered just how she was going to tell Chakotay.
‘How is he going to take the news? I’m not sure if he’s going to be thrilled, then again, he might not take the news as hard as I’m taking it right now. I’m just wondering how things are going to function around here as I progress in this pregnancy. I don’t know if I can do this, but if I don’t, neither of us is going to be very happy. This wasn’t how I had pictured it. Some how I thought we’d be back on Earth, settled some place, and maybe, just maybe, married. As is, we are out in the middle of nowhere, trying to get home alive, with no real commitment to each other. Or do we have a commitment? Didn’t we both decide we didn’t want to end our new relationship just because the doctor found a cure for us and we returned to Voyager?’
She sighed heavily as she laid her arms on her desk and placed her head on top of them. ‘This is really bad timing. How do I even explain this to him? We’ve gotten through so many things together, I’m just wondering how we’re going to get through this. Except, what if he reacts as he did towards Seska’s child? I don’t think I could handle that. Then again, why would he? I mean, our relationship is completely different. It’s upfront and honest, not like Seska was with him. We’ve always worked as a team and that is probably even more reason why I need to tell him. Still, the timing seems to be completely wrong. I just don’t know what to do or even how I should tell him.’
Realizing Kathryn had spent the morning in her Ready Room, Chakotay decided to check on her.
“Come,” she said curtly when she heard the chime ring.
“Is everything alright?” He asked after he entered.
“Yes, I was just reading over these reports,” she gestured to the padds on her desk, but the truth was she had not read any of them. She had been too busy dealing with the nausea, her tea getting cold, and fretting over what Chakotay would say after she told him.
“Would you like to see what Neelix has cooked up for the crew today?” He asked her. “I hear he has laid out a real spread for Christmas.”
The thought of Neelix’s cooking brought back a sudden wave of nausea. “I really don’t think so,” she frowned with disgust as she held her stomach.
“Why do I have the feeling you haven’t eaten all day?”
“Chakotay, I’m fine!” She snapped. “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Now I know something is wrong,” he commented. “Kathryn, what’s bothering you?”
“I’m sorry,” she said regretfully. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m fine really.”
Realizing that she was not ready to talk about what ever was bothering her, he said, “Alright, but why don’t we get a bite to eat. It might make you feel better.”
Kathryn could not help but smile back at his dimpled grin. She rose from her desk and proceeded to join Chakotay for lunch, even though she was not too sure about Neelix’s cooking. “OK, I need a break anyway.”
Lunch went by quickly and still she had not told him. They sat at the table in silence, with only a brief observation from Chakotay.
“You haven’t eaten much,” he stated with a concerned look on his face.
“It’s nothing, really. I just have a lot on my mind,” she informed him as she noticed his facial expression. Then she quickly added, “For starters, I still have all those reports to read.”
“Kathryn, why don’t you let me take some of those off your hands?”
“No, no,” she said after she took a sip of tea and brushed his question aside with her hand. “I need something to do. Nothing else is happening.”
“You just said you had a lot on your mind.”
“Isn’t getting this ship home enough?”
“That’s not so unusual anymore.”
“Well, then there is the next new race of people we may encounter. Will they be friendly or hostile?”
Something was bothering her and Chakotay did not know how to get her to talk to him. He hated it when she got this way, always retreating to the safety of her quarters or her Ready Room. He knew it could be days before she emerged from her sanctuary as her happy self once more. Whether or not she decided to talk about what was bothering her before she came out of her self-induced seclusion was another story. Sometimes she did and sometimes she did not.
Meanwhile, he had to listen to her talk about everything except what was actually bothering her ‘Maybe a private dinner in my quarters tonight will help,’ he thought. ‘The good thing is I’ve managed to drag her out of her Ready Room. How long will it last though?’
After lunch, Kathryn went back to her Ready Room. She was thankful Chakotay had given up trying to figure out what was wrong with her.
‘I don’t think I can continue keeping this from him. I have to tell him somehow, but how?’
She headed for the replicator, “Cof…” She paused and decided that maybe coffee was not such a good idea. After all, she had drunk more than her fair share in the past two months.
‘I wonder what effect that is going to have on our child?’ She thought. ‘Guess I should ask the doctor next time I talk to him.’
“Tea, hot,” she finally decided, and then she went back to the reports on her desk, wondering how she was going to tell Chakotay.
‘How is he going to react once I tell him?’ She sighed and tried to concentrate on the reports. ‘I just hope his reaction is more positive with this child.’
Before she knew it, her shift had ended. It had been a very uneventful day for Voyager. She was not sure if she was glad that nothing exciting had happened or not.
‘It definitely would have taken my mind off of things. Well, I guess I’ll get ready to have dinner with Chakotay. Maybe I will manage to work up the courage to tell him tonight.’
Kathryn arrived at Chakotay’s quarters promptly at 1800 hours, still trying to figure out how to tell him they were going to have a baby. She finally took a deep breath and rang the chime to his quarters.
“You’re right on time,” he said with his irresistible smile as he answered the door. He admired her as she walked through the door, ‘She seems to be glowing tonight and is as beautiful as ever.’
Kathryn felt as though she could melt everytime she saw his smile, ‘Careful, Kathryn,’ she scolded herself gently as she entered his quarters. ‘His smile is one of the reasons you are in this mess. Then again, who’s complaining?’
“I didn’t want your cooking to get cold,” she replied. “It’s too good for that. Much better than Neelix’s. I think I could stomach your cooking far better any hour of the day or night.”
‘Oh no. That didn’t come out right,’ she thought.
Still smiling he stated, “Glad to hear that. I wouldn’t want to find out one day, after many years of eating my cooking, that you didn’t like it.”
“So, when do we eat? I’m starved!” Kathryn told him.
“In about five minutes or less,” he informed her. “While we’re waiting, why don’t I go ahead and give you my gift?”
“Actually, I can wait until after dinner. I wouldn’t want you to burn anything.”
“OK, we’ll wait.”
'She seems nervous about something,’ Chakotay noted.
“Glass of wine?” He offered.
‘OK, he’s going to know something is up after I decline it,’ she thought to herself. ‘But I can’t exactly drink a glass and then say, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant’, can I?’
“Um… Actually, I think I’d prefer some water, but you go ahead if you want.”
“OK, I’ll get you a glass of water.”
‘Well, he didn’t ask what was wrong again,’ she thought.
“Here you go!” He said as he handed her a glass of water. “Have a seat. Dinner is ready to be served.”
Kathryn took her usual seat at the table, which was perfectly set as always. She then watched him bring out each dish one by one.
As he took the lid off each dish, he announced what it was, "Mushroom soy loaf, roasted potatoes, green beans in a mushroom sauce to go with the loaf, and rolls.”
“Alright, what is the occasion?” She asked when he had finished showing her everything he had prepared.
“Christmas, of course,” Chakotay replied with shock.
“Looks like you went to a lot of trouble. Something is up.”
“Now can’t I cook something special for you on Christmas without you thinking something is up?” Chakotay served her some of each dish, and then he dipped himself up a plate of food. “The fact that it’s Christmas should tell you something’s up, but I’m not telling you until you unwrap your gift.”
“Well, I guess I’m going to have to wait to see what is in that little present you want to give me so badly,” she teased as he sat down to eat. Kathryn started to eat when he did. After she finished savouring a bite she exclaimed, “Oh, Chakotay, this is delicious as usual!”
“I thought you’d like it,” he said with a smile.
“Maybe I should come here for breakfast, too,” she said as she lifted her glass of water.
“Who said you had to leave? Be a lot easier just to stay if you’re going to come back for breakfast.”
Suddenly, Kathryn put her fork down. She had been avoiding him for breakfast the whole week and now he wanted her to stay.
“Chakotay, there’s something I need to tell you.”
‘Judging by her voice and facial expression this seems serious,’ he thought to himself. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure how to say it.”
‘Is she wanting to ‘define parameters’ again or worse? I don’t know if I could go for the worse. Not after the last several months,’ Chakotay wondered. After a moment he spoke, “Just say it.”
She took a deep breath as she thought, ‘He’s right, I need to just say it and be done with it.’
“Chakotay, I’m pregnant.”
There was dead silence. He sat there staring at her, not knowing what to say. ‘Should I jump up and hug her, or say nothing or… Or what?’
“Say something Chakotay.” Her stomach bounced as she considered all the possibilities for his silence.
‘Guess I should tell her exactly how I feel, but what if she doesn’t feel the same way? I’d better say something before she decides this was a bad idea.’
“Kathryn, that’s wonderful!” He finally exclaimed. “I mean, that is, if you’re happy about it.”
“Well, I’m not sure or I wasn’t until I told you.”
“I don’t think I understand.”
“I was afraid of what you might say.”
“What did you expect me to say?” He inquired.
“I don’t know, but it seems too soon,” she said sadly. “I mean, it wasn’t like I had imagined it to be.”
“Well, it’s not exactly the way I thought it would be either, but I think this is the best gift a woman could give the man she loves,” he told her. “Remember what you said when Seska had stolen my DNA and given birth to a son? My son.”
“All too clearly and I meant every word of it.”
“Well, this is our child and I really believe you are my soul mate, and for me, this is cause for celebration,” he told her as he remembered the words his father said to him in a vision concerning another child. “In my opinion, this child is a blessed gift.”
“Good, because this baby is all I brought for your Christmas present, but he or she won’t be here for a few more months. So, your present is going to be a little late.”
“I had been wondering why I didn’t see a package,” he teased her. “I think I can wait for the actual present to get here.”
She suddenly became serious again, “So, what are we going to do?”
“Well, we wait for… um… how far along are you?”
“The doctor figured around two months.”
“Well, we wait for about seven months.”
Kathryn laughed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know what you meant, but I know what I’m going to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Give you this gift before you give me another reason to wait.”
“You don’t have to; after all I didn’t really get you a gift.”
“Oh, on the contrary, you did.”
“You were serious?”
“I most certainly was and I’m serious about this too,” he stated as he walked over to the other side of the table where she sat and handed her the gift he had gotten her.
She finally took the present from him and opened it. Under all the wrapping paper was a velvet box.
“Oh Chakotay!” she said without even opening the little box.
He took the box from her, opened it, and then he pulled out a gold ring with a diamond on it. “I wanted to,” he replied.
“Chakotay, really you shouldn’t have!”
“I had better if I’m going to ask you something.”
“Wait! Did you have in mind asking me this question before I told you about the baby?”
“Apparently I did. I had the ring before you told me, didn’t I?”
She did not say another word, but instead she let Chakotay take her hand as he got down on one knee and place the ring on her finger. “Kathryn Janeway, will you marry me?”
Her stomach leaped for joy as she threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him over and onto the floor. “You don’t have to be so formal, Chakotay.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, Chakotay, I’ll marry you. Not because I’m carrying your child, but because I love you.” Then she kissed him.
When she released his lips, Chakotay said, “I love you too, Kathryn. Now, may I stand up before my knees lock up on me?”
“Oh yes. I guess I’m already having strange mood swings,” she said as she released him.
“Well, if this is part of what I have to look forward to while you’re pregnant, I like it already,” he said with a grin as he stood and took his seat across from her again.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“If you can put up with the other moods too.”
“We shall see, but I think I’ve passed that long ago.”
She smiled and shook her head, then said, “That reminds me, your quarters, or mine?”
“I’m not sure...” Then it dawned on him what she meant. “Why don’t you stay here tonight and we’ll talk about which quarters later? We have plenty of time.”
“You sure?”
“Well, I think we have time to make that decision.”
“No, I meant are you sure you want me to stay tonight?” She restated her question. “I’m not at my best in the morning lately.”
“Oh, I think I can deal with it,” he informed her with a smile.
“When do we tell the crew?”
“About our engagement, you being pregnant, or both?”
“All of it.”
“Well, I think the engagement should be broken to them first, unless you want to tell the crew now that you’re pregnant.”
“What? You afraid that they may say we are doing it backwards?” She taunted.
“No, no. I just don’t think we should dump too many things on them at once. They’ll see the ring, or I hope they do, but they won’t see that you are pregnant for a while.”
“They will, Chakotay. They will most definitely see this ring,” she beamed with happiness as she examined it again.
“Some Christmas, huh?” He asked with a smile.
“Sure is! Mind if I have more potatoes?”
“Help yourself,” he replied as he gestured to the serving dish. “And Merry Christmas, Kathryn.”
She paused for a moment before placing more potatoes on her plate as she looked at him with a smile and said, “Merry Christmas, Chakotay.”
© Copyright December 2004, Mriana
