Chakotay opened his eyes the next morning and smiled. Kathryn sat on the edge of the bed with her bare back to him, the sheet gathered around her hips, and her fingers running through her auburn hair.

"You are a vision."

She glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. "You're awake."

He slid across the bed and trailed his fingertips between her shoulder blades. Curling around her, he looked up to see the pale swell of her breast and her dark nipple bathed in sunlight. He admired this soft, feminine glimpse of the complex woman he loved.

"This is almost too perfect," Chakotay remarked as he roamed his eyes over her hour-glass figure. "It's not supposed to be like this."

"What isn't?"

"The morning after a first time is supposed to be awkward."

"So then," Kathryn turned, pushed him on his back, and pulled the sheet away before straddling his legs, "I should be blushing right now, and you, no doubt, should be calculating the proper amount of time before you can leave."

"Something like that." He clasped her hands and pulled her down on top of him. "Instead, I desperately want to stay."

"Lucky for you, I don't blush easily." Her lips pressed to his, and he held her to him as his passion grew. When he bent his knees to bring her up further, a short moan escaped his throat.

Kathryn pulled back at the noise. "I know that sound. You're in pain."

"No, love, only little sore from new muscles being used in new ways last night."

She laid a hand along his cheek. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," he assured her. "It feels more like I've hiked uphill for a while. I'm okay, really."

Kathryn chuckled and rested on her elbows. "Truthfully, I'm in the same shape you are this morning. Except, my muscles are old and out of practice."

He laughed and patted her backside. "Should I apologize?"

"Don't you dare."

Rolling over until they lay facing each other, he caressed her arm. "Maybe we should get up before Gary has to make a house call for both of us."

"As long you promise to revisit this idea later."

"Many times." He captured her lips for one more passionate kiss, and then they each stretched and matched groans. Laughing, they crawled out of bed and headed for the replicator with Kathryn wearing his robe and Chakotay a pair of boxers. After downing a cup of coffee, they dressed and returned to her house.

Back in Kathryn's kitchen, Chakotay made more coffee and cut up fresh fruit for breakfast. After setting the table, he wandered down the hallway and found her in her bedroom. "Are you hungry?" he asked as he entered.

"A little. I'll join you after I've unpacked my bag."

"Would you like some help?"

"I've got it," she smiled. "How much room do you need?"

Confused, he asked, "Room for what?"

"For your clothes. I can give you half the closet and a drawer, maybe two if I rearrange."

"Oh." Chakotay blinked and looked around the room. "I don't know."

Kathryn laid her yellow dress on the bed and went to him. "You seem surprised," she remarked with a hint of concern.

"No, I just, well..." He paused and chuckled. "I hadn't thought about the details of sharing our lives. It makes sense that I will move out of the guest room, but it only hit me now. I'm moving out of my apartment, aren't I?"

She smiled with amusement. "Yes, I thought last night you said that's what you wanted."

Chakotay laced his fingers through hers and held her hand to his chest. "I did. I do. Then, I was distracted by something else I wanted. I'll make arrangements to have my things brought here."

Kathryn leaned into him and slid her free arm around his waist. "If you prefer separate beds, you can keep the guest room," she teased.

He bent down to blow warm air across her ear. When she shivered, he slid his hand under her hair and clasped her neck, whispering, "One home, one bed, for the rest of our lives."

She moaned in reply as he thrust his tongue between her lips and let go of her hand to hold the small of her back. For long moments, they tasted and caressed each other, free to love each other as they had longed to do for almost eight years.

Chakotay ended the kiss and stroked her cheek. "As much as I want to have my way with you, I do have therapy this morning. I'm going to eat breakfast."

She smoothed his shirt front and then patted his chest. "Be right there." Kathryn watched him leave the room, worried by his slight limp. After their night together, it was easy to forget that less than a month had passed since he'd lain broken and barely alive in Medical. She thought back over his struggles as she put away her dress and empty bag.

Chakotay waited at the table and noticed she seemed pensive as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "Kathryn, are you all right?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes." She stood looking through the kitchen window. "The birds are out this morning."

Puzzled by her inane comment, he replied, "They are. I think I'll build that feeder tomorrow."

"You shouldn't push yourself. There's plenty of time before winter."

"It's a bird feeder, not a barn, love. What's really on your mind?"

Kathryn leaned against the counter and shook her head. "I'm sorry, you're right. You were limping when you left the bedroom and it caught me off guard."

"Does my limp bother you?"

"Of course not! We were talking about moving your things and making a home together. I guess I forgot for a few minutes that you are still healing."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Chakotay pulled out the chair beside him and held out his hand for her. "Come and sit down. Talk to me."

She set her cup on the table and took her seat, holding onto his hand. "I'm fine, Chakotay."

"You need a break from me."

"That is not at all what I said," she protested.

He kissed her fingers. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. You need to take some time for yourself, do something just for you. You put aside your work, invited me into your home, took charge of my therapy, and have spent every second looking after me. Now that I don't need you to do those things anymore, you should get back to your normal life. What would you have done before if you had a day off?"

She shrugged. "Probably go see my mom."

"Then call your mother and make plans for the day. I'll go to PT, and then return to the apartment to start packing. You don't have to worry about me. Take Gretchen to lunch or shopping. Take her to London to see a play, if you want to."

Kathryn smiled and squeezed his hand. "I don't need that much time away. Maybe you're right, though, a date with Mom sounds nice. I haven't even been to Sunday brunch since your accident."

He kissed her cheek and then fed her a tangerine slice. "We'll go together this Sunday. Now, eat your breakfast and get out of here."

She licked his fingertip and grinned at the spark in his eyes. "I'll tell Mom about us."

"Us in general, or us last night?"

"Just girl talk," Kathryn answered vaguely.

"I don't want to know," he groaned. "At least pretend I was good. Remember, I'm still healing."

She laughed and pressed fruit-sticky lips to his, the rush of warmth through her body reminding her how good he'd been.