They moved together, their feet crunching into the snow that, though soft, was packing tightly into clumps on the ground.

"I don't see this as a hostile event, do you?" Chakotay stated quietly.

"No . . . but that could change," she stated evenly.

"How so . . .?" he asked, knowing they were discussing what was between *them* more than what was happening with the holodeck.

"These things always start off relatively simple and then turn complicated . . ." she explained.

"I don't like my life simple, or else I wouldn't be here . . . with you," he stated, glancing down at the woman who walked by his side, holding his hand.

"You didn't have a choice in the matter," she added and looked off into the distance. Sure enough, the yellow glow came from a cabin window. What she wouldn't give to go back to sleep, to just sleep one night through . . . away from her quarters, away from Voyager but . . with him . . .?

"Neither did you, but I don't hear either one of us complaining," he chuckled and they made their way up to the door. Knocking, he waited and then slipped his hand out of Kathryn's to turn the knob of the door. Pushing it open a crack, he peeked inside and then pushed the door open, letting Kathryn enter through it. "I think they were expecting us--" he smiled as he walked to the table looking at the dinner that had been prepared.

"They?" Kathryn looked up from a bouquet of dried flowers that had a gift bow wrapped around the stems. After looking around at the room, quickly, she happened a gaze at the bedroom door that was open to reveal a huge sleigh-bed with a rather fluffy comforter and lit-candles on the bedside table.

Chakotay didn't immediately answer. Instead, he waited to watch as she walked into the bedroom, mulling things over.

Chakotay walked a small distance to her, holding out a small card, "It was over there." He looked up at the skylight that was directly above the expansive bed, the moon and stars reflecting directly down onto the room as though the Universe itself were created for them and only them . . . and the night . . . spent together.

Kathryn reached gently for the small, folded piece of antique paper and read the words that had been hand-printed, in calligraphy, on its surface:

Kathryn turned the card over gently in her hands and then looked up at Chakotay.

"You don't have to stay . . . I'm pretty sure between the two of us we could override that security lock . . ."

Kathryn walked back out into the main area of the Cabin, to the table.

Not saying a word, Chakotay followed her.

Setting the card back between the two place settings that sported a warm, if not 'late', dinner, Kathryn Janeway sat down and waited . . . waited for Chakotay to join her in the Celebration of Christmas.

"Do you think it worked?" B'Elanna asked quietly, through a delicate yawn as she rubbed her cheek lovingly against Tom's chest. He held her in his arms, exhaustion actually *keeping* him from sleep.

"Yes, I think it did," he stated with wonder. "Only six more hours till we have to gather for Christmas Presents in the messhall . . . so I guess we'll find out then."

"What time is it?" B'Elanna leaned up from his embrace and looked at one of Tom's favorite devices . . a replicated antique clock. "Three twenty three a.m.," she stated and then turned her gaze toward the man in her bed, "Merry Christmas, Helmboy."

He pressed his lips softly to hers, "I can only wonder what next year will bring."

EPILOGUE!

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