Title: Two Teardrops
Author: Cait N. 
Series: VOY
Codes: Janeway, Chakotay, Mark 
Rating: PG 
Feedback: Yes! Please! caitn @ mindspring.com 
Archive: ASCEM, ASC - all others, please ask.
Beta: Mariel 
Website: http://www.asstr.org/~CaitN

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters, I just take
'em out for a spin every once in a while.

Summary: Janeway gets married.

Author's Note: This was inspired by the first two verses
of the song
quoted below. 

= = = = = = = = = = = =

"Two Teardrops" 
copyright December 2001 by Cait N.

"Oh the ocean's a little bit bigger tonight 
with two more teardrops somebody cried..." 
- from "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner



The setting sun spread its multi-colored hues over the
ocean and the small party gathered along the shore. 

"With this ring," the minister intoned, "I thee wed."

Kathryn repeated the words, sliding a plain gold band into
place on the hand of the man standing beside her. She
raised her head and her eyes locked onto his. Her wedding,
an event she'd only dreamt about, was now reality. Tears
filled her eyes and threatened to spill over onto her
simple beige wedding gown.

"With the power vested in me by the state of California, I
now pronounce you husband and wife." The minister smiled.
"You may kiss the bride."

Kathryn raised her head as lips pressed warmly and gently
against hers. No public display of wanton passion; that was
for later. Some habits were hard to break.

A small cheer of approval came from the friends and family
who'd gathered for the joyous occasion.

"Why the tears?" the love-struck groom asked, staring down
into the face of the woman he'd first called enemy, friend,
lover, and now wife.

Kathryn looked up at him and just stared. She heard the
noise of the sea combined with the chatter from the guests.
The waves lapped gently at her bare feet, tickling her
toes, adding another page to the book of memories she'd
treasure about the day. She caressed the lines on his face
with her fingertips. "I just..." she faltered for words. "I
never thought this day would ever come. This is the
happiest day of my life."

"The happiest? Are you sure?" he teased gently.

"Oh yes," she answered. She wiped at her tears with a
gloved hand. "And in fifty years my answer will still be
the same." 

He leaned down to kiss her again, as another tear escaped.
It fell unnoticed into the salty sea, carried away by the
currents...

...and met up with another of its kind, the two blending
into one...

...as more tears fell from the sad brown eyes of a man
several yards down the beach. He watched as the tears fell
into the cold water at his feet. He stared into the water,
wondering if there was anything he could have done
differently. Hindsight and "I should have" were instruments
of torture, yet try as he might, he couldn't avoid either
one.

"If only I'd had a little more hope," he said softly to
himself. "We were perfect for each other, and then she was
gone and there were so many questions without answers." He
tossed a wayward shell back into the ocean. 

He stood lost in memories of  "what might have been" for
several more minutes, then wiped the rest of the tears from
his face. "Wherever you are, Kathryn, whoever you're with,
I hope you're happy."  

He whistled sharply and an aging Irish Setter ambled over
to him. He leaned down and scratched her behind the ears.
"Come on, Molly, let's go home."


THE END

