Disclaimer: Characters within these stories belong to Paramount Pictures and Co. But the story and the plot belongs to me.

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Thoughts part 16 ::: Till Death Do Us Apart:::

I was permitted to take Tom home the same night, and it comforts me that he is now laying here safely in my arms. Baastor is not a problem anymore--he's dead. Suicide Tuvok had concluded, as all the evidence was removed when Baastor's body was transported out into the middle of nowhere. Knowing Ayala, he wasn't dead when that happened. Ayala knows his victims and their limits, and he can make it extremely painful. Though a part of me still wishes that I was the one who had ended his miserable live, I am happy that I was with Tom, my Tom, in sickbay. And soon we will be not only bonded in our souls, but also in matrimony. Till death do us part.

A soft sigh escapes Tom's lips, and I gently kiss them. I know everything will be better.

*************

It's been two weeks since I woke up from that damn nightmare; well I wish it had been a nightmare anyway. Now I'm getting married to the man of my dreams. The man that is always present in every thought that I have.

We only had to arrange food, clothing and the honeymoon, the rest Kathryn took care of with a little help from everyone on the ship. Chakotay and I decided to treat the guests with sandwiches, fruit and other things that go with the theme of a wedding in nature. Yeah that's right. Kathryn asked us if we would want to be married on Malind, a nice and friendly planet, and we both agreed, mostly because we needed to get off the ship and be together with each other for a while.

We've spent a lot of beautiful moments walking around this Eden, well as much as the Doctor permitted anyway. I still managed to get a little tan and a sunburn.

Now as I stand here in the beautiful garden we found, where the ceremony is going to be held in less than five minutes, I'm starting to feel nervous. Not about getting married, there is nothing I want more than to share this gift with Chakotay. I'm nervous because I know everything is going to change, and even now I still wonder if I deserve it.

"It's time Tom." Neelix's words pulled me out of my thoughts. It takes me a few seconds, though, to understand the meaning of the words. It's time. It's time for me to get married. Slowly I start walking towards the podium placed in the middle of the Garden, towards my future husband to be.

*************

If I ever said Tom was beautiful, it was an understatement. He is more than beautiful; he is the essence of my life, the most divine creature in this universe, not just on the outside but within too. I hear the soft music begin and see Tom walk towards me. He looks absolutely eatable in his clothing. Sand colored loose pants and a white silk shirt, a real contrast to his blue eyes and flushed cheeks. Ayala is walking him to the podium, his strong hands ready to help Tom if his legs fails, but they never do, and suddenly he is standing right in front of me, looking deeply into my eyes. He smiles, a warm and loving smile--a smile of complete happiness.

I look at Ayala and give him a gentle and thankful smile. Everything will be okay. Janeway starts the wedding ceremony, but neither Tom nor I are paying that much attention. Everything that we could possibly say with words and then some is being spoken with our souls. I hear him say, "Yes...I do," in the distance and know that I'm next. "I do."

Applause and shouts are heard over the entire area. Everyone is looking intensely at us, almost as if they are bound by a spell, as we both slip a ring on each other's ring finger. They're the same rings Harry gave me, but now they have our names engraved in them, courtly done by Tem Geron.

Before the ceremony, we both agreed that we were not going to exchange vows. We had too many things to say to cut down to a piece of paper, and we both decided that we had the entire future to talk together, to enjoy.

I'm so drunk with happiness that I am actually starting to feel as if I have consumed alcohol. Everything passes by like a blur, and only Tom stands out as the one clear object, my spouse. My lover, my friend, and the one I would die and kill for...

*************

He looked drunk as we all starting dancing, and I suspected that it was the same happiness that I was drunk on that had gotten to him too. I laughed to myself. A laugh of happiness, joy, and love. The entire day had gone by so fast, but I had enjoyed every minute of it. Now however I was tired, my legs still won't cooperate with me entirely, and I use a lot of strength to stand up. The Doc is not sure if I ever will regain full use of them, but I am starting to believe in miracles.

I sit here alone at the table, but I don't feel alone. I know that all present are friends and people who care. Had it been merely two years ago, I would have laughed--but not now. So much has changed.

I sit there deep in my thoughts when a voice suddenly says, "Congratulations." I look behind me to where the sound came from and see nothing. I turn back to the crowd, seeing Chakotay on the floor with Seven, trying to teach her the finer moves of the Tango. He's failing miserably, but somehow the evil glimmer in Seven's eyes tells me that she is just starting to learn the meaning of fun.

"He'll take good care of you." It's the same voice as before, and I turn around again, still seeing nothing. A hand on my shoulder startles me. It scares me, but at the same time comforts me--Harry. The hand is suddenly gone, leaving behind a tingling sensation in my body. Harry was here. I feel like shouting with joy, but a part of me knows that--that little show was just for me.

I stand up not feeling tired anymore. Maybe Chakotay and I can still find some strength tonight to carry out some aerobics in bed.

*************

We both lay here spent in our bed, exhausted and tired. Tom's head is positioned over my heart, and I can hear his breath slowly evening out with the beats of my heart. Till death to us apart, we will share this bed. I wonder though where he suddenly got all this energy from. It must be the drink Neelix made for him.

Lying there it comes to me that we are no longer just Tom and Chakotay, we are one. Married, both a Chakotay and a Paris.

I am starting to wonder about our future together. Will it just be us forever or will there be children? If we make it back to the Alpha Quadrant, where will we live? Will we even have a home? The questions run quickly through my mind. Thoughts and questions yet unspoken, but one thing is for sure. Tom is my home, and wherever he is, home will be.

I love him. He's everything.

The End