Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
Chakotay sighed as Kathryn kicked him yet again. He had been pacing back and forth in front of her, trying to ignore her death glare, her bound limbs and the thudding of his own heart. It had to work. He had been blunt -- for once, he had been blunt.
Sighing as his ankles received yet another pounding from her small feet, he knelt down and took off the gag.
"You're going to the brig, mister" were Kathryn's first words to him.
"Don't you want to know what he states in a reply?" Chakotay smiled.
"Chakotay --" she sighed with worry. "You could be hanged for this!"
"I'm already up against five charges, what's one more?" he asked. "Besides," he knelt in, ignoring her pursed lips, to press his own lips against hers lovingly -- loosening them from their line of disapproval. "I would raise a rebellion for you."
"Not wise--" she murmured against his lips.
"Okay," he paused, "I would call Owen Paris an 'old bastard' then."
"Chakotay!" she roared.
The console in front of them beeped.
"Do you want to check or should I?" he asked, wondering if it were good news or bad news. Then again, a 'yes' to his requests would leave him married to Kathryn Janeway and he still had to answer to the charges of kidnapping her, tying her up and calling her former mentor, Owen Paris, an old bastard. And of course, there was the gag. The response could be more bad news than good.
Thinking this over, he knelt to untie her -- considering that he had sent in his last reply.
"You'd better check, finish what you start," she said tartly as he untied her limbs and helped her to stand. "If it's a yes then you have me to deal with for the rest of your life. And," she held up the ropes, "I owe you one."
"Are you offering to tie me up?" he grinned.
Kathryn glared, "Just answer the relay, Commander."
"Aye, Captain," he stated and turned to do so but Kathryn held his shoulder, gently, for a moment.
"And Commander?" she smiled.
He looked into her eyes, and held her gaze steadily,"Yes, Captain?"
"Whatever happens -- I love you."
Owen Paris sent the message, trying not to worry whether or not he had done the right thing. No doubt Katie knew what she wanted, by now, in life -- he only hoped that she would forgive him, forgive Starfleet, for having made her put love on hold for so long.
Commander Chakotay:
Message relay from Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth, Alpha Quadrant.
After careful consideration, and after review of the outstanding service provided to the Federation by the Command Team and crew of the U.S.S. Voyager, permission to marry Captain Kathryn Janeway of the U.S.S. Voyager granted. Please, cease your requests.
As for permission to stay onboard Voyager, together: PENDING -- until after the honeymoon.
Sincerely,
Owen Paris (the Old Bastard).
THE END!