Balance of Power  NC-17

Part 6

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Once more an informal meeting was set up in the messhall. The Chakotay's had prepared a delicious vegetable lasagna, while their wives prepared the salad and bread. Per Kathryn's request, Kat had dipped into her stash of Killiam brandy, which turned out to be a delicious compliment to the meal. The conversation stayed light and lively as the Captain's merrily related earlier adventures. It was during one of these tales that Ryn and Dare entered, late and flushed. As Kathryn wrapped up her story, the group focused in on the late comers. Dare hastily guided Ryn into an empty chair, and sat next to her. Even as they mumbled their apologies, Kat grinned. "Hot damn, looks like I ain't the only one who got lucky over the break!"

Kadi chuckled as she slapped her twin in the back of the head. "You have no tact."

Kat rubbed the sore spot vigorously as she threw her twin a mock glare. "Me?!? I'm not the one nearly a half hour late." She winked at Dare before pointing at Ryn, "Or sporting a bright purple hickey on my neck that everyone can see."

Katie choked on her ale as Ryn slapped a hand over the sore spot on her neck and glared at Dare. He shrugged and tried to look contrite. "Sorry, got a little carried away."

Chakkers studied his daughter, seeing a lightness about her that had previously been absent. "Never known you two to get so carried away, you forgot a meeting?"

Ryn huffed a little. "Sheesh, you'd think a girl wasn't entitled to a little hot and heavy sex after a hard days work. It's not like I'm surrounded by a bunch of nuns or anything." She shot a quick glance at Kathy "Well not completely surrounded that is."

Kat snickered. "Ain't that the truth..."

Kathryn shook her hand at her daughter. "That one is notorious for her escapades."

Kat blinked innocently. "What did I do?"

As Kadi giggled, Chakotay rolled his eyes. "I seem to remember you nearly giving us a heart attack by not returning from your sister's bachelorette party. I also remember beaming down to the planet and finding you half naked and in bed with several young men..."

Kat held up her hands. "Now Daddy, I explained the whole situation to you. I didn't do anything but pass out, and Harry can vouch for me."

A loud chorus of "Uh huhs" circled the table as everyone looked to Harry for confirmation. The young man calmly buffed his nails on his uniform before glancing at his partner. "I personally wasn't there so I couldn't tell you."

Kat came flying out of her chair. "We… you...."

Hope caught her arm as she flew by, intent on hurting her lover. "Now Kat, just calm down. He's just trying to get a rise out of you."

The girl sputtered for a moment before sinking back into her chair. "Yeah, well, he better enjoy it, because a rising is all he's getting from me for a long time and its not going to be the kind of rising he wants either."

Young Tom clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Looks like its time to reset the shower controls again my friend."

Harry just shrugged, and winked at Kat. "I'm not too worried about it. She likes sex too damn much to cut me off for long, and we always have a helluva go making up too."

Kat growled in her chair. "That's it. I'm creating my own damn holodeck program and you can go to hell."

Ryn nodded in apparent sympathy. "You tell him girl. And remember you have fingers too. After all we are competent women!"

Kat nodded missing the look between Hope and Ryn. Hope reached over and patted her arm. "That's the spirit. And while you're at it, you can forget all about magic mouths."

Kat blinked for a moment then gaped at her. "It's a conspiracy I tell you." She glanced over at Kathy. "Tell 'em! We Janeway's don't need a man to make us happy! Holo-programs rule!"

Kathy took another sip of her drink before turning her attention back to Kat. She barely noticed as Kadi refilled her glass. "I'm staying out of this one if you don't mind. I'd rather not get into a discussion of sexual activities or lack there of on board ship."

Kate nodded. "See Kat, if you don't get any for a long time you tend to forget what you're missing. That way you don't want it as much. Better lay off the holo-programs though dear, they just aren't as satisfying."

Katie snickered from across the table, "But they can be fun. As you know, they are... adjustable."

Chak shook his head slowly and lifted his own glass, "I don't need those mental images."

"Oh hell," Chakotay leaned back in his seat and put an arm across the back of his wife's chair. "You've been having those mental images since before you actually knew her first name."

Tay nodded, "And don't try to convince us you didn't, because we know you. We also know you had each and every position you intended to try out the first time deeply imbedded within your head before you had even been her first officer for a week."

Chakkers snickered as the elder Kathryns stared at their mates, "Not to mention his own holographic character."

At mention of that all the Chakotay's in the room cringed, blushed, and sank down into their seats.

"Holographic character?" Kathy glared at her first officer, "Do I even want to know?"

"Nope, nada, that’s a negative on that one Captain." Chak buried his face in his drink, which had just been topped off by their hostess.

Kathy continued to glare at him, "Mmhmm..."

Kat snickered, "Like she's never done it herself..."

Kathy blinked, her eyes slightly unfocused. "I've never made a hologram of Chakotay. I thought about it once or twice, but always felt it would be a violation of privacy. Besides there is much more variety in the fictional characters."

Chak nodded and held his cup out for a refill. "Besides, I don't need a holographic character."

Tay raised a brow. "Mr. Happy and Mr. Hand are well acquainted are they?"

Chak started to nod, but then realized what he was agreeing to and shook his head instead. "Nope."

Hope tipped her head. "Abstinence is good."

This time Kathy shook her head. "Nope, alien babes of the week."

Chak started to nod again then stopped once more looking around the room confused. "I don't need alien babes!"

"Blond bimbos then." Kathy said definitively.

"Now Kathryn that's not fair!"

Kathy snorted. "Life isn't fair."

"At least my women are real."

"Uh huh, tell me another one." The two of them were practically glaring at each other.

Hope decided to pipe in at this point. "Rumor on their ship is that he's seeing Seven."

The Chakotay's spewed drink everywhere as the Kathryn's gaped, and the second generation issued a series of "ewws" and "gross."

Tom Kim scrubbed his hand across his face. "Ah man, that's just wrong!"

Dare and Ryn shared a look and shuddered. Dare hugged her. "While I wouldn't mind having a sister, you are definitely not what I had in mind."

Kate reached over and smacked Tay upside the head. "What the hell is he thinking!"

Tay rubbed his scalp. "I didn't do it! I wouldn't! Don't get me wrong, I've always thought Seven looked good in a catsuit, but my eyes have always been focused on a certain redhead. And, I have a daughter to prove it."

Katie curled a sympathetic arm around Kathy. "I don't blame you for turning to a hologram. Obviously your Chakotay doesn't have the balls to tell you how he really feels."

The Chakotay's all took a stand with Chak. Chakker's held up a hand. "Now wait just a minute. Katie honey, you know damn good and well that balls has nothing to do with it. " He caught a snicker from his daughter and grinned sheepishly. "Well not all of it anyway. Chak here has had to deal with an extremely stubborn woman. Let's face it love, it took a lot of extenuating circumstances to make you change your mind."

Tay nodded. "If not for outside influences, we might never have gotten together."

Chakotay nodded, walking over to his wife and resting his hands on her shoulders. "If there had not been outside interference, we would have split up completely."

Chak and Kathy just stared at them stunned, as Katie raised a brow. "True Chakotay, but in our case or relationship was initiated by a move from you. The Arion merely changed our mind about breeding. You had to convince me that our getting together wasn't a mistake. And if I remember correctly it involved a lot of arguing, before you were able to get me to see reason. You had to want me enough to fight for me."

Chakkers nodded. "That's true Katie, but if not for a moment of weakness, I would never have made the move in the first place." He glanced around the room briefly. "You see I was worried about her because she looked so tired. When I stopped by her quarters and she didn't answer, I went in to make sure she was okay. One thing basically led to another. It was a move we both wanted, but something neither of us was ready for. When Kathryn tried to pretend nothing had happened, I got pissed. It took time on both our parts to straighten it all out."

Katie nodded again. "I don't disagree with you love, I'm just saying, you made the move, forced the issue, otherwise we would have stayed in a state of denial for spirits only know how long. I had very definite ideas about my responsibilities on board my ship."

Kate held up a hand. "We can all agree that our Chakotay's need that extra kick in the butt to get them moving so they could convince us it was a good idea. What Katie is saying is that Chak here was just never motivated by those outside forces, and, believing the endevoure hopeless, has turned to greener pastures, or at least younger ones." She glared at the younger man a moment before slapping him upside the head. "Are you stupid or something? Seven for crying out loud?!?"

Kathy smiled almost evilly as he rubbed his head. "He has a thing for blonds."

Chak stood abruptly. "I have a thing for you but you're too damn self absorbed to notice." He blinked as he realized what he said and swayed in place. Glaring at them all, he stumbled toward the door. "I don't have to sit here and be insulted. I get enough of that on my own ship."

Tay chuckled and guided him back to the table. "I forgot how much fun we are drunk. It's a good thing we don't do it more often."

Chakkers nodded. "Might want to cut him off pretty soon. We tend to get mean when we've had too much."

Kathy sighed. "Enough about our love lives, or lack thereof. What is, is. " She held up her glass for a refill. "Why don't you pour me another one? It's been a while since I've had this nice a buzz." She glanced around the room as she took a sip of her newly refilled glass. "Besides, its time for someone else to be in the hot seat."

Kat waved her hands in the air. "I've been in my quota of trouble thanks. I'm not admitting to anything without proof."

Hope snickered. "And then some I'm sure."

Kadi elbowed her. "What about you miss perfect?"

Hope just shook her head. "What can I say? I'm the good child."

Kalin grinned at her lecherously and patted her knee. "You certainly are my heart."

Hope blushed. "Besides I'm not into sharing."

Ryn laughed. "That's not what I heard the other night."

"Ryn!"

"What? We're all family here?"

"True but there are some things my parents don't need to know!"

Tay nodded and covered his ears in mock horror. "If I still had my way you'd still be a virgin."

Kalin growled. "Go ahead, try and take away all my fun."

"It's not that I don't love ya son, she's just my baby. Think about that when Kayli starts leading those boys to their doom."

Kalin growled. "She still a baby, don't give her any ideas."

Tay contemplated it for a moment. "If it weren't for the fact that I don't like the idea of her growing up any more than you do, I'd receive a great deal of satisfaction tormenting you about it."

Katie grinned. "Men!"

Kathryn nodded. "Tell me about it. When I realized the girls were actually interested in those two," she motioned to Tom and Harry, "I debated long and hard about telling Chakotay about it."

Chakotay scowled at her. "Which she didn't, I might add. I got to find out while on duty on the bridge. What a shock I might add. Those two" once more motioning to Tom and Harry "came on the bridge to talk to Kathryn, and not ten minutes later, here comes my son in tears. I barely get the story out of him, and my oldest daughter is running off with a shuttle craft. I tell you, if I'd have known they were going to be this much trouble, I'd have stayed single." Kathryn threw him the glare of death, after which he quickly amended "er, remained childless. Yeah that's it."

Kadi giggled. "Looks like Daddy's in the doghouse again."

Chakotay smiled indulgently at his youngest daughter. "I live there Kadiluv. I live there. Kind of like you and Kat and the Brig."

Kadi glanced up at him with big blue eyes. "But Daddy we were only in the brig once, and it was all Kat's fault."

"Hey!" Kat stood and tugged a piece of her sister's hair. "I didn't steal that shuttle by myself."

Kadi gave her sister's hand a swat, "No but it was all your idea. I just went along with it, like I always do."

"And that better not be a complaint," Kat glared at her twin, "Because I don't recall you complaining at the time either!"

"Aww," she leaned over and hugged her sister, "I never complain about the actions babe, just the consequences."

Kat snorted, "You're not complaining about either this time."

"Shut up!" She slapped her sister upside the head, but not before she earned several looks from the others around the table. "She's punch drunk, don't listen to her."

"I'm perfectly fine Kadiluv, you're the one that’s going to be puk---" The rest was muffled as a hand was clamped over her mouth. Hope gave her a careful look before removing the hand, "Remember what we talked about."

Kat nodded, then smiled as the hand was removed. "It's not my fault she got kno-"

"Ahhhnt!" Hope snapped the hand back over her mouth, "No! Bad! I'm going to put you in a corner, all by yourself and no toys!"

Kathryn stared at her youngest daughter very closely, "What is she talking about."

"Nothing mom, absolutely nothing. You know how Kat is, get a little alcohol in her and she starts hallucinating." She smiled sweetly and drove an elbow into her husband's ribs to keep him from smiling like a lunatic.

"But Kadi," he rubbed the sore spot and scowled, "Everyone knows but the old folks."

"And its going to stay that way," she said between her teeth, "Or you're rooming with mommy and daddy tonight."

He blinked, grinned, and straightened, "Gotcha, my lips, are sealed."

That earned a round of suspicious looks from the older generation. Unable to stand the hilarity of it all, Ryn burst into giggles. "Spirits, I can see it now. We are going to be them one day and just as befuddled by our children, only they are probably going to be worse."

Chakotay’s eyes widened in horror. "Do you have any idea what you are saying?!?!?! Worse than my children?" He paused for a moment than glanced at his wife, taking her hand. "I only hope we are around to see it love." Kathryn grinned evilly at her girls and nodded in agreement.

The remainder of the night continued with a lightness that had previously been missing. It was as if a family reunion had occurred and the chance to compare notes and celebrate the good times overran the place, allowing for the moment everyone to let go of the problems they faced and just enjoy the now. As the party broke up, a slightly intoxicated Kathy and Chak escorted themselves to the turbo lift as they prepared to beam back to their ship. Conversation had been stilted between the two, but it was more an internalization of thoughts rather than any true irritation at each other. Each stayed absorbed in their own thoughts as the command was quietly given. Getting comfortable, Kathy leaned back against the wall of the turbolift, arms quiet, and lost herself in thought.

"You can't ignore me forever you know."

She glanced up briefly at her first officer, then went back to her silent brooding.

"They're lucky."

"Who?" She glanced up again, "Oh," she blinked. "I guess."

Chakotay sighed, "Kathryn..."

"This isn't the time, or the place Chakotay. If we're going to have this conversation I'd rather do it after we get Voyager back to our own time and dimension."

"Fine," he turned away from her to face the doors. He was going to comment on the younger generation when the 'lift jolted to a stop, sending the two of them sprawling across the deck plate.

Kathryn sat dazed for several moments, then finally stood, "Janeway to bridge--report." When she got no response she slapped her badge again, "Janeway to--Janeway," she shrugged at Chakotay's lopsided grin, but still she got no response.

Chakotay lifted himself back to his feet and tapped at the controls for the 'lift. "Looks like we're stuck here."

"Wonderful." She sighed and leaned back against the lift wall again. "Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse."

"They'll probably have us out of here pretty soon, don't worry about it."

"I hate it when you say that," She glared at him, "That means it can only get worse."

"Hey I can think of worse things than being trapped in a turbolift, on a Voyager that isn't ours, with the woman I lo--whose my best friend."

She snorted, "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't see Seven around at the moment. Maybe you'll get lucky another time."

Chakotay blinked at her, stunned and more than a little hurt, "That was uncalled for Kathryn. My feelings for Seven have absolutely nothing to do with how I feel about you."

"Well you always did have a wonderful way of showing it. If its not one blonde bimbo it's another." She sighed, "And I would really prefer we didn't do this right now."

"Too late, we're doing it." He stepped in front of her, eyes dark, his stance unmoving, "I've never made any bones about the way I feel about you. I've never hidden my feelings, I've never pretended, I have of course, made attempts to move on with my life since you've let me know more than once that you're not interested."

"I never said I wasn't interested," she fired back without thinking, "I just wasn't available at the time!" She drew back from him again, pressing as close to the wall as possible and crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

"You never said anything about it, every time I tried to bring it up you changed the subject, found another way to turn me down. I always understood why Kathryn, which is why I never pushed harder, I always thought that maybe you'd realize after a few years out here alone that the principles you were sticking to had no baring on us. But after a while I got tired of waiting. I had needs that weren't being met, so I went looking for someone willing to fill the void."

"I never asked you to wait," she refused to meet his eyes, "And I never once said my principles as you called them were what was in my way." She did look at him then, "I was engaged, to a man that I have known my entire life. It was difficult coming to terms with the fact that I might never see him again. And while I wanted him to be able to move on with his life without me, it was difficult learning and coming to terms with the fact that he had. I gave you a chance then, I opened myself up to the possibility. You just never accepted it. I got tired of waiting too Chakotay, and I got even more tired of watching you move on at every chance you got. But Seven? That's something that I cannot accept. Moving on with a member of my crew is fine, I've only ever wanted you to be happy. But moving on with my own protégé, that's a slap in the face that I can't readily accept. I can respect your choice yes, but I cannot accept it, yet."

"I never knew," He stepped back, shoulders dropping, "I knew you were hurt over Mark, but I thought you needed time. I didn't want to push you, if you weren't ready. I always thought it was protocol that kept you--"

"No," she angled her head to the side, eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm no fool Chakotay. I know how different our situation is. I just thought that you had lost interest."

"No," he stepped back toward her, "Kathryn, I'm still--"

"Don't," she pressed a hand against his chest, just over his heart, "Please don't."

"Don't what?" He stepped forward again, effectively trapping her against the wall, "Don't tell you that I'm still in love with you? That seeing those other couples hurt me in ways I can't even begin to express? That I want nothing more than to be them?"

"Chakotay..." She lowered her head until it rested against his chest, tears sliding down her cheeks. "You're involved--"

"Not really. A couple of dinners does not a relationship make, you should know that."

She glanced up, smiling despite the tears, "I don't know.."

He lifted a hand to her cheek, heart leaping when she turned her face into the palm, lips brushing his skin. "You don't have to know anything, except how you feel."

She sighed, "But what if we aren't like them? What if we can't make it work?"

He gripped her shoulders gently, "We've seen three examples, each one with a different beginning. Each of them harder than the last. We are different Kathryn, we're not beginning with a tragedy, or a disagreement, or any hard feelings between us. At least I hope not." He gave her a lopsided grin, showing off his dimples, "Let's blow them out of the water. What do you say?"

She stared at him for several long moments, her brain trying to override what her heart was telling her to do. Finally she leapt, blowing all cautions to the wind, she slipped a hand behind his neck and drew his head down to meet her lips.

Chakotay pressed her into the wall of the lift as the kiss grew in intensity. Then he pushed his tongue into her mouth and they both groaned. He kept one hand in her hair and the other trailed down the side of her body, brushing her breast, and then going around her waist to pull her tightly against him. Her hands were pressed against his chest, sliding upward to his shoulders, and then her arms were around his neck, holding onto him tightly. Chakotay slid his tongue along her teeth, the top of her mouth, then finally their tongues met and dueled eliciting another groan from both of them. Then he released her mouth and trailed a series of kisses down the side of her neck, his tongue smoothing along its softness, his teeth nipping gently at her. "Oh god," she moaned when his tongue found the sensitive spot behind her ear. She curled the fingers of one hand into his shoulder while her other hand slid into his hair. Her back arched against the bulkhead as his mouth slid down over her collarbone. Chakotay's hands were sliding up her sides and when they cupped her breasts she ground her hips into him, groaning as his hardened member pressed against her.

His hands tugged her uniform jacket open; he bent his head and used his teeth and tongue to tease her through the material of her turtleneck, while his thumbs coaxed her nipples into hardened nubs. He molded the soft mounds against his palms, then let his hands slide down her sides, moving to her waistband. He unfastened her trousers and pushed them down her leg were she could kick them away. She moaned at the feel of his hands against her bare thighs. When they began to slide up her soft skin she arched into him again, her hands going to his shoulders as one of his hands slid up her inner thigh, cupping her as his mouth once again took hers in a fierce kiss. She arched into it, grinding her hips into his palm, her arousal soaking through her lace panties. His eyes darkened and he leaned forward again, a knee going between her thighs to press against her aroused center as his hands moved to tug her turtleneck up and over her head. Then they once again cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing them through the lace of her bra. The bra itself didn't last long under his impatient hands, and ended up torn on the floor beneath their feet. Chakotay admired the view before him for only a moment before bending his head and taking one of the soft mounds into his mouth.

Kathryn buried both hands in his hair, holding his head in place as his tongue and teeth teased her, sending jolts of desire shooting through her body. She rocked against his thigh, riding him, her arousal soaking through her panties and wetting his trousers. The friction sent sparks shooting into her belly, and she moaned deeply at the assault on her senses. Then without warning she was lifted, turned and lowered to the deck of the lift. It was then that she allowed her desire-clouded eyes to wander over them. "You're over dressed Chakotay."

"Guess you'll just have to rectify that won't you Kathryn." His head bent and he nipped at her nipple, causing her to cry out in delight.

"I guess so," her hands reached for the front of his uniform and she tugged until the jacket was torn open. She pushed it off his shoulders and reached for the hem of his turtleneck. He helped her pull it over his head, and knelt before her, bare to his waist. Her eyes darkened immediately at the sight of his finely muscled chest. She let out a purely feminine purr of delight, "That'll do nicely." Her nails trailed down his chest, grazing over his nipples, down his finely toned stomach until they rested at the waistband of his trousers. Her hands slid the zipper down agonizingly slow, then trailed inward to cup his aroused flesh. She purred again as her other hand pushed his trousers and boxers past his hips, her other hand slowly stroking the length of him.

Chakotay's eyes darkened and he caught her hands and pressed them into the floor behind her. He leaned forward and captured her mouth again, briefly, her back arched as his mouth once again enveloped her breast, suckling gently while his tongue teased her. One hand molded against her other breast, while his other hand trailed down her body, over her thighs then against the damp lace of her panties. His fingers pressed against her, drawing circles against the damp material, causing her to arch into him, moaning in frustration and desire. Then he moved away from her for a moment, only long enough to kick off his boots and free his legs from his pants and boxers. When he returned to her his mouth went to her belly, lapping at her naval, teasing it with his tongue as his thumbs hooked into the waistband of her panties and began to pull them down her hips. She arched upward, lifting her hips as he tugged the lace down her body, eventually removing it. As he did, his nose nuzzled against her damp curls, pulling another deep moan from within her body. He tasted her only briefly, his tongue caressing her damp folds, swirling around her swollen clit. But his need to be buried within her was more urgent than his need to lap at her juices.

She was trembling beneath him as he took her hips in his hands and positioned himself at her opening. He entered her slowly, their eyes meeting as he sank into her centimeter by precious centimeter, filling her completely. He groaned at her tightness, and fought the need to close his eyes. He stopped only when he was completely embedded within her, his flesh pulsing within her welcoming walls. They stayed like that for a moment, then he began to thrust, his hands going to her hips as he moved, slowly, deeply at first, and then much quicker, his thrusts growing harder. She cried out with each one, her body rocking against him, their mouths meeting again to press firmly together, tongues dueling in an imitation of their lower bodies.

When he felt his release approaching he wrapped both arms around her and held her tightly to him as he began grind their hips together. She moaned into his mouth, the ache in her lower body growing with each deep thrust, building and spiraling through her lower body. Kathryn wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him tightly to her as they moved together. She felt her release, hovering just out of reach, and began to buck against him, her body tightening as she strained toward it. And then the first wave crashed over her. She screamed with the force of it, their kiss was broken and she buried her face in his neck as he continued to thrust into her contracting body. Then she felt him stiffen against her, and the warmth of his release filling her.

They held tightly to each other for several minutes, chests heaving, and bodies trembling long after their release.

TBC

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