"Torres to the Captain."
"Torres to Janeway."
"Captain?"
Janeway came awake with a start, rolling over and fumbling upwards for the comm switch on her terminal. "Janeway here." *Oh, you sound--*
"Captain, are you okay?"
"Fine, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to let you know that we'll be ready for your Engineering inspection whenever you can make it down here." *The inspection--what time--* Her eyes caught the chronometer. *0900?* She felt the body next to her shift, heard a sleepy groan. Hoped no one else had heard it. "I'll be there as soon as I can--I seem to have overslept."
"Don't worry about it, Captain--the Commander rearranged your duty shift so you would be off today; we can have the inspection at any time during alpha shift. Torres out."
B'Elanna turned around with a broad smile for her friends. "Holodeck program Kim-Paris Delta four three nine...success!"
Harry rubbed his chin a little guiltily. "I'm still not sure if interfering like that was wise."
Paris clapped him on the back. "Harry, we weren't interfering. Just...offering up an opportunity. It was, after all, the Captain's birthday."
"And she deserves the best," Harry finally agreed.
B'Elanna's smile softened. "She certainly got it."
********************************************
*The Commander rearranged my duty shift, did he?* Janeway ran a hand through her hair, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them. They had never even made it into the bedroom--not the first time, or the second, *or the fourth,* she thought, blushing. So much for not damning protocol. There was nothing in the Starfleet database about proper behavior when you wake up on the floor of your quarters after having a night of torrid lovemaking with your technically outlaw first officer. She had really done it now. There was no going back, unless she wanted to damage their relationship irrevocably. They had already spent so much time in hurt and distrust. Enough wasted time.
Large hands curved around her stomach gently, warm lips brushed the back of her neck. "Good morning." His touch was sure, his voice--guarded. He was worried. Thought she might have regrets. *How long have I known him this well?*
She turned in his arms, pulled him to her. Kissed him thoroughly. "Good morning, Commander."
His eyes brightened a little. "I--"
"Sshh." She lay a finger on his lips, shuddered when he took it into his mouth. "It's a lovely morning."
He grinned. "The loveliest."
"I don't think that's a word."
"Shut up, Kathryn."
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Janeway eased her uniform over aching muscles, rotating her shoulder carefully. She was really too old to behave like that. *It was worth it,* she smiled to herself. She ran a brush through her hair several times before quickly pinning the sides up and clipping the rest at the nape of her neck. A hand holding a cup of coffee moved into her view, and she looked up and caught the image of her first officer behind her in the mirror. She accepted the offering, raising the cup to her lips.
"Ready for that inspection of Engineering?"
"Are you coming *with* me?"
"I have the day off, too."
She groaned, turning around to face him. He took the cup from her hands and put it down on the counter, framing her face with his hands and brushing a kiss across her lips. "I'm sure that won't cause any gossip."
"If you don't stop talking that way, I'm going to go back to my quarters, ring up Ensign Donaldson from Security, and invite her in for a cozy dinner."
"You wouldn't dare. I'll throw her in the brig."
"I'm sure *that* won't cause any gossip if the reason gets out." His eyes twinkled at her. "Everyone knows, Kathryn; they practically wrapped me up and gave me to you yesterday."
She stared up at him, and the last of her resolve faded away. "It certainly was fun unwrapping," she quipped.
He muffled his laughter in her hair, hugging her tightly.
"But Chakotay?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Do you think next time we could try to make it into the bedroom?"
FINIS
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