May 20, 2374 (version 2)

Summary: Chakotay always seemed to give her the perfect birthday gift.
Characters: Chakotay, Janeway
Codes: Janeway/Chakotay
Disclaimer: Characters are Paramount's. No infringement intended.
Notes: Stardate 51380.8, during Concerning Flight. Due to a temporal glitch, Kathryn has two birthdays this year.
Rated K
There was a violet smudge of ink on her chin that drew his gaze and made his fingers twitch with the urge to rub it away.
He thrust the package toward her. She wiped her hands on a rag before she unwrapped it: an inkwell, a stylus, a paintbrush. He’d carved the wooden handles himself.
For a moment her hands faltered and her expectant smile dimmed.
“What is it?”
“The strangest thing,” she murmured. “For a moment I pictured an old-fashioned watch –”
She shook the ghosts away, and smiled at him.
“This is perfect,” she said. “Thank you, Chakotay.”