Disclaimer: The twosome on New Earth are Paramount's toys. I'll give them back in more or less good shape when I'm finished making their lives a little happier.

Rated PG-13 for mentioning of adult situations.

This one is dedicated with love to all my friends who've encoura-ged me to write more and especially to those who kept asking for a sequel to Gifts. Enjoy.

Gifted with a Name

Part 2 in the Gifts Trilogy

by Claudia

"Kathryn," he just said, rose from his chair and went to embrace her tightly when she returned from the bathroom. She was still pale and looked a little sick but there was a glow around her that told him she was as healthy as any woman could be. This time it'd been the fifth morning in a row that she'd run head over heels into the bathroom to get rid of her breakfast. But he hadn't said anything until now. Chakotay was no fool, he'd been living long enough with the women of his tribe to know the first signs of pregnancy. He'd even helped some of them giving birth to their children. So what he kept wondering about was why Kathryn wouldn't tell him about her blessed condition. She couldn't really believe he wouldn't realize what was going on.

Kathryn literally stumbled into his arms, breaking into tears. He let her weight pull him down to the ground with her, kneeling there with her tiny form cradled in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth. He sent a silent prayer heavenwards, thanking the Spirits for their gift. They'd come here because death was threa-tening their life, now they'd not only fooled him but created a new life out of their utter love.

To his surprise, Kathryn was crying silently, no heavy sobs were shaking her body. He felt her tears soaking his shirt, making it stick to the skin of his left shoulder. Gently he cupped her face with both his hands and made her look him in the eyes. He placed a tender kiss on her lips, not saying a single word, just taking in her radiant beauty with his eyes.

"I've been wondering for quite a while how to tell you," she finally managed to say with an embarrassed smile on her lips. "And I've been wondering for quite a while when you were going to tell me," he teased her with a sincere glance at her. "You knew?" she almost exclaimed.

"That radiant glow around you is all too evident. Besides, you didn't really think you could fool me about your morning sickness, did you?" he explained, tugging a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. He gently caressed the soft skin of her cheek with his fingertips. Instead of pursuing him further she took his caressing hand and kissed its palm. Then she leaned her face back into his huge, tender hand keeping it there with her own. "I love you, Chakotay," she whispered and her eyes spilled over once more. Chakotay gently brushed the pearls away with his free hand. "I was wondering," he began after a while. "Neither of us stopped taking their contraceptives, didn't we?"

Kathryn sat erect with a start. She managed her trademark mocking half-smile and blink away the tears. The way she looked now made him remember every single moment of the evening she'd given hers-elf to him. "That is exactly why I've been wondering how to tell you," she said, taking his hand away from her cheek and holding it with both her hands in her lap.

Chakotay didn't know what to make of all of this. Was she about to tell him ... no, she'd never ever betray him like that, not after the mess Seska had caused him. He opened his mouth to say some-thing, what he didn't know, but before the harm could be done, Kathryn quieted him with a quick kiss. When they separated again, she explained. "The virus isn't the only thing New Earth's atmosphere makes inefficient. It's the contraceptives and some other Starfleet chemical compounds too. So, this child is a gift of the planet, you understand?"

His utter surprise and suspicion on his face were replaced by a broad smile that showed off his dimples and made his eyes twinkle ever more cheekily. "You've certainly made your homework, my beautiful lady. Don't tell me you knew that before ..." Surprise and disappointment showed on her face. "Chakotay, what do you mean by that?" she asked dangerously softly, narrowing her eyes to slits.

"Hey, Kathryn, don't get me wrong!" he pleaded when he realized what he'd said. "I just mean, you only found out when you found out about the child, right? I don't want to ..." "Damn it!" she hissed and sprang quickly to her feet. "I'm not Seska! I thought we were in love and trusted each other! I can't believe you think me being capable of betraying you!" Chakotay was about to get up and calm her down, but before he could make a single move she'd turned on her bare heels and ran off down to the riverbank. "Kathryn!" he yelled after her but she pretended not to hear him. He could slap himself for his stupidi-ty. How dare he say something like that to her? So much about his sensitivity regarding pregnant women. But didn't she get that this had only been a joke? Well, alright, a very bad one. No, a disgu-sting one. How on New Earth could he apologize?

When he followed her down to the riverbank he found her sitting with her back against the smooth trunk of a willow like tree, her knees drawn up with her chin resting on them. When he sat down next to her she kept staring at the troubled waters of their river. Chakotay watched her and found her cheeks still red and lined with the trails of tears that had streamed down her cheeks. Her eyes were still red and puffy too.

"I'm sorry," she finally said.

Chakotay who'd propped up his head on his hands let his arms slide down the outsides of his thighs. "No, I'm the one who has to apo-logize. I shouldn't have even thought what I've said. I'm really sorry. How ..."

"You really are a fair uafáseach, you know that?" Kathryn cut in. "The most beloved fair uafásaech on New Earth," she continued their running joke. When Chakotay looked at her now he found her smiling. He had to laugh because she looked so funny with her puffy eyes and the broad smile on her face. "Don't do that ever again, promise!"

He sealed his promise with a passionate kiss that expressed his feelings better than all the words in the world could have said. Subconsciously, one of his hands slid down her belly and rested there reassuringly. When he felt both her hands letting go of his back and neck and joining his on her belly, he broke the kiss. "It's still going to be a while before you can see anything, you know?" she told him with a glance at their intertwined fingers, stroking the back of his hand with her thumbs. Chakotay managed a smile despite his utter overwhelming. "I can't believe it. Kathryn, I'm so happy I can't even understand how I deserved you. I love you so much ..." he softly said, blinking away tears from his full eyes.

"I love you too, Chakotay."

He rolled over to lie on his left side and extended an arm to the other half of their bed, expecting her to lie there. But he found the other half empty and cold. It took him quite a while to rea-lize that, but then he sat upright with a start. With the help of the pale moonlight filtering in through the skylight his eyes made sure what his arm had told him but what he'd refused to realize. "Kathryn?" he got up and went over the small cabin that was their bathroom, expecting to find her there because of her bad morning-sickness. But it was still morning-sickness and the pale light told him that it was still nighttime. So he found the bathroom dark and empty.

"Kathryn?" he asked again, but still didn't get an answer. With a worried furrow on his brow he slipped into his bathrobe and picked up the quilt from their bed. Then he opened the lower half of the door to their shelter and closed it behind him when he'd stepped out into the cool night. It was almost pitch black outside if it hadn't been for the stars. It was new moon's time these days and they weren't going to see her for another two nights. That was why the night was quieter than the others. Only few animals were out and making comfortable noise while looking for food or just roaming the light wood around their shelter. No animals they had to fear, at least something that offered comfort to Chakotay when he went looking for Kathryn.

He found her where he thought her to be. Ever since their silly fight when she'd told him about their going to be parents, the willow-like tree at the riverbank had become something like her sanctuary. And whenever he was looking for her this was the first place he went to. Most times he only looked after her and made sure she was well, keeping his distance. He didn't want to intrude her privacy, he didn't even have the right to. This was just like she did when she found him retreated to the spirit world. So she literally made him jump when she softly called his name. "Chakotay." This was no question. She knew he was standing there, unsure whether to approach her or leave her alone. Thus encouraged when her voice touched his ears, he went over to her and sat down beside her, embracing her tightly with both his arms and the quilt. Her body was cold and he felt her shivering. "Kathryn, why don't you at least put on your robe before going out? I'd hate to get you or the baby ill," he said, his voice concerned but not angry. He made her sit between his legs with her back against his chest. The nights were getting colder by now and they both were sure that they had to expect a cold winter, maybe even massive snowfall.

"I know, Chakotay, I know," she said with a sad voice. This was the third night in a row that he'd found her out here in the middle of the night. But she wouldn't tell him why she was so sad and he didn't want to push her. Although it made him worried and sad as well. But then he thought that it was just because of her hormones, both her body and soul had to get used to the life that was growing inside her.

Subconsciously his hands wandered down to rest on the soft swell of her belly. It'd been two and a half months since she'd told him. Her hands joined his, traced the outlines of his big hands that were laying protectively on the child. "I'm afraid," she eventually said, her voice trembling. She star-ted to shiver again, despite Chakotay's warmth that surrounded her. "What if there's anything with me or the baby? I'm not that young as one should be to give birth to a child," she murmured, her worry shaking her voice and body.

Chakotay began to rock her gently in the cradle of his body. They'd talked this over and over again, but he'd always thought that the visual representation of the Doc offered her comfort. He couldn't act like the hologram of course, but he could answer any question and describe any examination.

"Shshsh, tohopt nabituh, you're both perfectly alright, and you know that," he softly whispered into her ear. "I know, Chakotay, but my heart doesn't," came the sad reply. So this was what was bothering her. But why didn't she ask him to accompany her to the spirit world then? He always thought they could trust each other. He couldn't help but feel disappointment building up in the pit of his stomach.

As if she were able to read his thoughts, she said: "I was afraid that maybe a vision quest would be ... too dangerous for the child and me."

The feeling in the pit of his stomach eased somewhat. A smile raised the corners of his mouth. "Why haven't you asked me then?" She shrugged and rested her head on his shoulder so she could look at his face. She couldn't see much, but the illumination was enough to see his smile. "I don't know. Really. Maybe because I'm afraid to meet our child's spirit guide?" "Why so?" he asked puzzled. "He or she can tell you about our child. Isn't that what you want?"

"Yes and no. Chakotay ... don't you understand?" Of course he did. She was afraid that something wasn't right with the baby. But his examinations with the tricorder always confirmed that the child was in perfect health. What she wanted was to know in her heart that the baby was right, reason alone wasn't enough for her. Not any longer. This was one of the miracles that had happened on New Earth. Kathryn was just Kathryn, the scientist in her had died in that plasma storm. Well, not entirely of course, but it had helped to make her feelings and spirituality come to the surface, just as he'd known ever since he'd first shown her how to contact her spirit guide.

"Yes, my love, I do. Come on, place your hands beneath mine." She did as he'd told her and he felt her body relax against his. Only then did he realize how tense she'd been until now. His hands covered hers completely on her belly.

"Akoocheemoya. We are far from the bones of our ancestors, but we're home. We pray you Spirits of both our worlds to ease this woman's tormented soul so that her heart and reason be at peace with each other ...."

The beach was gone.

The clearing was gone.

There was nothing around her but darkness.

Darkness and warmth.

Warmth that surrounded her body, warmth that brought life to her, life that felt alive, life that loved.

Warmth that surrounded her soul, throbbing warmth that echoed the heartbeat of hers and the warmth that surrounded her body. Quicker than hers, but nevertheless perfectly regular and strong. She felt something soft touch her cheek, like a caress. It was not his fingers that touched her like this. It was something soft like feathers, something utterly tiny and precious, and yet strong and full of life.

And then she knew.

Her heart knew.

The feather-soft caress caught the tear that had escaped her las-hes and was rolling down her cheek.

Gently, he wiped the tears off her cheeks. Despite the cool night they were hot and certainly flushed too. But he couldn't tell with the little light the stars provided. But then there wasn't need to see, it was enough to know.

Just as it was enough for her to know that their child was in perfect health.

They lay cuddled together in peace, cooling off the sweat of their passionate lovemaking. Chakotay had been very gentle with her, almost to his own discomfort. He was afraid that he could hurt Kathryn or the child if he got too passionate. But however often she told him that he wouldn't, it was the same ever after. Not that Kathryn wouldn't enjoy this, she'd always been the type who preferred slow, gentle lovemaking, it was one way of expressing her love for him. But sometimes she wanted him so badly that alone the thought of his lips on hers was enough to send her over the edge. These were the times when she cursed her hormones. On the other hand, those were the only-and very rare, too-occasions when her hormones played tricks on her. If anybody had told her that she'd be a calm mother-to-be, she'd have told him or her to go and take a pill.

"Chakotay?"

"Yes, my love?" he murmured with his face buried in the curls of her long auburn hair. His breath touched her sensitive skin and made her shudder in his arms.

"What about a walk down to the riverbank?"

"But we've just returned from down there," he sighed. Kathryn chuckled. "Of course we have. So let's go down again and start it all over again. What do you think?" she turned in his embrace, so that the soft swell of her belly touched his flat stomach and that she could trace the outlines of his tattoo. "No, I don't want to see you cry again, not if it's not necessa-ry," he said with a sincerity that made the fine hair in the nape of her neck stand on end.

"But it was so overwhelming when her spirit touched mine and the second I knew she was alright was so ... I can't describe it. I am so happy, Chakotay," she eventually said, molding her body against his to give him at least the slightest hint of what it was feeling like when a new life was growing inside her. But of course he could only imagine.

At times, he envied her so much it hurt. It would take him quite a while until he too would be able to feel the child inside her-what wasn't going to be until the child started kicking her mother. Until then he had to be satisfied with what he got-listening to the heartbeat with the tricorder's help, touching the soft swell of her body, resting his head on her lap with his ear pressed tightly against her, trying to make out what only the tricorder was able to make audible.

But then it was his privilege to bring their child into the world, he would be the first one to see her, the first one to hold her. And for that he felt ashamed. It should be her mother to see and hold her first. But there was no way to change that, wasn't there? Even I think it's going to be a girl, he thought with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. What made them so sure they were having a daughter? With Kathryn he thought it was something like maternal intuition, a kind of sixth sense women had always been blessed with. But with him? He hadn't checked the tricorder for it, nor had he summoned the advice of his father Kolopak. What made him so sure?

"Kathryn, what makes us so sure that we're going to have a daugh-ter?" he suddenly asked. Kathryn looked at him puzzled. She'd never asked the question herself. She didn't know what made her so sure. She simply knew. Wasn't that enough? Why second-guess ever-ything?

There had been times when she would only rest with a scientifi-cally perfectly sound explanation for everything. But somehow, this had become less important the longer they stayed on New Earth. Not that her scientist's curiosity or her need to do some-thing, to actually engage in research had faded-no, it had just become less important. Ever since that first plasma storm had destroyed her work, she'd come to realize and even cherish Chakotay's philosophy.

"Even the eagle must know when to sleep." She still could hear the sentence echoing in her head as if it had been only yesterday that he'd said this. But so much time had passed since then, so many things had happened. She felt as though they'd been living on New Earth for ages.

Sometimes, her thoughts wandered back to Voyager and she wondered

how they were doing. Had they already found a way back home? Was

everyone safe and sound? Had they encountered the Borg? What if ...

But those thoughts had become fewer and fewer over the months. She almost felt guilty for forgetting. They didn't deserve this. They were leading a happy life on this planet while their fine crew were exposed to the perils of the Delta Quadrant. "I don't know," she sighed. She didn't want to indulge in this questions any longer. "Chakotay, when I seduce you in a second, please don't hold yourself back. Would you?"

Two months later, nature had covered the land with a thick layer of snow. It had been snowing all afternoon, and when Chakotay woke in the morning he found that there'd fallen at least one meter of snow that night. Fortunately, he'd built a thatched roof over the entrance to their shelter so that he could make at least a few steps outsides without drowning in the white masses. Dawn made the deep cover of snow glow red and sparkle. The air was ice-cold, just as it had been for several weeks now. But only yesterday it had begun to snow. He inhaled the fresh air deeply and when he exhaled, his breath was visible in a small cloud that quickly vanished in the cool air.

With his hand, he gathered some snow and pressed it into a ball. The snow had the right consistency-not too wet, not too soft. He took the ball back to their bed. Soon after the temperature had dropped to a uncomfortable coolness, they'd put up the paravent again that once had separated their beds from the living-area. Through its milky pane he could see that Kathryn was still sound asleep. Ever since her pregnancy had become visible, she slept more, not only did she go to bed early and get up late, but she also took naps during the day. Chakotay had been very concerned about this, but then the tricorder readings showed him that both mother and child were in perfect health. The snowball in his warm hands began to melt and the icy drops found their way through his fingers. Just as they were hovering above Kathryn's face, one or two drops fell down on her cheeks and made her shift and cry out with surprise. Hadn't it been for her condition, she'd sat upright at once, but now she could only prop herself up on the elbows with some effort. "Chakotay, you fair uafáseach. I've just had such a nice dream ..." she yawned. Chakotay only laughed. The snow in his hands was melting more and more and he left wet spots on the quilt Kathryn insisted on having in addition to her already thick blanket. "Yes, I know. You drea-med you were a duck and just had caught a real fat worm," he chuckled.

"How come you know? But tell you what ... the worm looked like you and I threatened to eat it alive if it didn't make me a decent breakfast in a minute," Kathryn retorted at once, with laughing and loving eyes.

"Sure. Can you hold that for me?" With that he handed her the melting snow and rose so quickly that Kathryn simply had to take the dripping cold white mass from his hands. She cried out again. It was so cold!

When she came back from the bathroom-both dressed and refreshed-the breakfast was ready. She checked the contents of her mug and sat down with a sigh. Hot chocolate again. Why the hell ... she needed some coffee. She'd die for a cup of coffee, especially for Chakotay's special brew. But he wouldn't let her have even a sin-gle drop. But at least she didn't have to do without some toast and jam. Homemade jam from the first strawberries of her tiny garden. She'd never had any better jam than this. Chakotay frowned. "Kathryn, are you sure you're alright?" Kathryn put her half-eaten slice of toast down on her plate to take a sip from the hot chocolate. "Of course. Why do you ask?" She took a careful sip of the hot beverage. By the end of her pregnancy she'd have gotten that used to it that she wouldn't like coffee any longer ...

"You've hardly eaten half a slice. Don't you think you should eat more?"

This time it was Kathryn who laughed. "Why should I?" "I mean," Chakotay began, not quite sure how to go on, "I always took it that pregnant women had a healthy appetite?" Kathryn covered his hand with hers and looked him straight in the eyes. "You should have realized by now that I'm not like the others." Her eyes twinkled.

"Yes," he smiled, "but ... don't get me wrong, I don't mean to mother-hen you. I'm just concerned about yours and the baby's health." His looks were really concerned and made Kathryn smile mildly. He was so sweet. She didn't know how or why she deserved him and where he got all the patience from. She knew that living with her hadn't been so easy over the past few months. The uncertainty, the morning-sickness, their fight (and reconciliation), and then again her uncertainty, their vision-quest, her emotional ups and downs, her fatness ... she loved him so much. She didn't know how to pay him back his understanding, his kindness and end-less patience.

"I love you, Chakotay," she whispered, "just trust me. I feel and I know that everything's alright."

Chakotay managed a smile, although his eyes didn't answer it. This woman never ceased to surprise him. But something made him know that everything was not alright. Somewhere in the pit of his sto-mach. How came it that she didn't feel it too, she was the mother-to-be after all. Why didn't she sense anything? Or did she simply not tell him? But when he looked in her clear blue eyes he found that they said the same her words just had said. Everything was alright. *Maybe after all I'm the one who's nervous. She's the one to know, not me. Heck, Chakotay, stop it. If she says every-thing was alright, then it is,* he told himself and managed a lopsided smile.

"Want a kiss for desert?" he offered softly. "You haven't even kissed me good morning yet, so it makes two for desert," she said and bent over the table to let his lips close over hers. He tasted sweet from the cocoa and jam, just like she did. The table between them was extremely disturbing, so Kathryn rose without breaking the kiss. But when she rounded the piece of furniture to sit on her beloved's lap for desert, she hat to let go of his kiss. Chakotay took another mouthful of cacao to share it with her, never paying attention to the narrow bands of bever-age that escaped the corners of their mouths and trickled down their chins and necks.

Chakotay supported her back with one hand, the other slid down from her cheek to rest on her belly. But he couldn't feel any movement. Obviously their daughter was asleep. Well, after all it was better considering that her parents were about to make love ...

Later that day the two of them were taking one of their long walks they had so gotten used to during the last two or three months. It helped Kathryn to ease her restlessness that overcame her since there was nothing to do in the garden or when the confinement of the shelter made her feel restricted. They'd put on heavy winter coats, thick woolen scarves and gloves to make sure they were warm enough. The air had even grown more chilly during the day and clouds had come up again. It was about to snow any moment but nevertheless they agreed to take a walk. They needed some fresh air and stretch their legs.

Arm in arm they trudged through the deep snow, both of them laug-hing and enjoying New Earth's new beauty. The snow had covered the gray-brown scenery in all its splendor and made it look more friendly-and utterly peaceful. Kathryn couldn't see enough of the snow in the branches of the trees and bushes. But when they even-tually came down to the river they both gasped with surprise. It was almost completely frozen, only in the very middle the water was still flowing.

"You hardly can imagine we went on a boat ride just a few months ago," Kathryn softly said, stepping into Chakotay's embrace and leaning back against his broad chest.

"I hardly want to, after we capsized," Chakotay added laughing. Kathryn laughed out loud too. "Yes, maybe you're right. But it was fun after all, wasn't it?"

"What do you mean? The CPR on the riverbank or taking a hot bath afterwards?" Chakotay asked quite sternly. Kathryn softly slapped him. "You fair uafáseach, you know per-fectly well what I mean. Both things of course!" They stood there laughing for a while and then resumed their walk. Meanwhile it had started to snow again and the big soft flakes were dancing around them to a music they weren't able to hear. It was perfectly quiet and the peacefulness of the land soon rubbed off on their cheerfulness and made them walk almost in solemnity. Kathryn had rested her head on Chakotay's shoulder and clung tightly to his huge frame. It wasn't so easy for her to work her way through the masses of snow as it was for Chakotay. "You okay?" he would ask every now and then.

"Yes. A bit of a workout won't do any harm, let's just take it slowly," she'd reply and go on.

Her cheeks were bright red, as was her nose. Tiny beads of sweat had built up on her forehead and she breathed as if she were run-ning. But she was radiant with happiness. She really seemed to enjoy their walk, and despite it took them on their usual route it was so very different from the previous walks. It was the snow. Chakotay knew that it made her remember her home in Indiana, back on Earth. Not that she missed it that badly, her home-their home-was here now. It only proved how appropriate a name they'd chosen for their first hated and then later beloved planet-New Earth.

With her he could be happy anywhere, the main thing was that she was around. All other things wouldn't matter then, at least not that much.

"What about going back? Dusk is going to fall soon and I don't want to be out when it's dark, at least not with this weather," Kathryn suggested.

"Hm, just what I was thinking," Chakotay nodded. They turned and followed their own traces that were already about to be covered by snow again, but still visible. They walked in silence for a while, but then Kathryn wondered: "I was thinking ... We're going to need some contraceptives that work when our daughter is born. I don't mean I don't want to have any more children, it's just ..." Chakotay stopped and made her face him. He kissed her deeply before he replied: "I know. I've been thinking about it too. About the contraceptives I mean. Let's wait with some brothers or sisters for our daughter. Don't you think it curios that we haven't thought about a name for her yet?" Kathryn's eyebrows rose in astonishment. "You mean you haven't. I have."

Chakotay mirrored her expression and tilted his head. "Oh, have you? And to what conclusion have you come?" "Rhianna," Kathryn simply said, looking him straight in the eyes, as if there was no doubt that this was the right name for their daughter. It was a glimpse of the commanding Kathryn she'd once been. He couldn't help but smirk, his dimples carving valleys and mountains into his face, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "What?" Kathryn inquired when she recognized his looks. "Don't you even let me make some suggestions, Captain?" he asked smiling. The woman in his arms almost blushed and she bent her head. "Sorry, the name just seemed so perfectly right for her ..." "Tohopt nabituh, that's what a name is supposed to be. Besides, I think it's your right to chose a name for her. You know her best, you're the one who's giving life to her," he calmed her when he gathered her in an even tighter hug.

Go on to Part 3

Back to the JetCafé