Title:  You’ll Be Mine

Author:  Angelee

Fandom:  Star Trek Voyager

Pairing:  Chakotay/Tom Paris

Rating:  Adult

Summary:  Will you wait for me?

Beta:  By my sister Anna.  All remaining errors are mine-with apologies.

 

You’ll Be Mine

 

“Hello.”

 

Chakotay turned from his contemplation of the stars outside his shuttle window.  Seeing a little boy of no more than ten looking at him as if he were the most fascinating person in the universes.

 

“Hello,” Chakotay replied gently, smiling at the little, blond boy, with the bluest eyes he’d ever see.

 

The little boy blushed a bright red.   “Hi,” he replied shyly.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“Tom Eugene Paris.”

 

“Well, Tom Eugene Paris, how are you?  I’m Chakotay by the way.”

 

“I’m fine.  You?”

 

“Great, now that I’ve made a new friend.  Would you like to sit with me for a while?  That is if your parents don’t mind.”

 

Tom climbed quickly into the empty seat next to Chakotay.  “I’ll sit with you.  They’re fighting again.  They won’t even know I’m not there.”

 

Chakotay looked toward where Tom indicated.  Seeing two people arguing in silent, hissing words.  Not realizing that in the close confinements of the shuttle their voices carried.

 

“Oh.  I’m sorry to hear that.”

 

Tom scrunched up his face.  “Not as sorry as me.  They’re always fighting.”

 

“Oh.  Sorry.”

 

“Don’t be.  I’m use to it.  You’re Starfleet?”

“Yup.  Going to Earth for training.”

 

“Cool.”

 

Chakotay smiled.  “Yeah, it is.”

 

Tom looked out the window watching for a moment as the stars whizzed by.  “I’m going to be a pilot when I grow up.”

 

“Really?  That’s great.”

 

Tom gave him a brilliant smile.  It lit his whole face, making him look angelic.  “It is, huh?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

The smile vanished.  “My Dad doesn’t think I can do it.”

 

Chakotay didn’t like the deep sadness in the words.  “But why would he think that?”

 

Tom sighed heavily.  “I don’t think my Dad likes me very much.”

 

Chakotay frowned looked over at the stern man still arguing with his wife.  “What makes you say that?”

 

Tom leaned over, closed to Chakotay.  “Because he’s always yelling at me.  Telling me I’m not a very good person and that I’ll never amount to anything.”

 

Chakotay watched the blue eyes fill with tears.  How could a father be so cruel to his own child? It was inconceivable To Chakotay who had grown up in a family full of love and laughter.

 

“Tom, come here.”  Chakotay pulled the blond little boy into his lap.  “I want you to listen to me and never forget my words, alright.”

 

Tom nodded solemnly.  “Alright.”

 

“Do not let your father’s hateful words hurt you.  You can be whatever you want to be.  If you want to be a Starfleet pilot and make one of the most powerful ships in the galaxy dance to your touch, you do it.”

 

“Like the Enterprise?”

 

Chakotay gently tucked a strand of soft, blond hair behind Tom’s ear.  “Like the Enterprise.”

 

“Do you think I could pilot the Enterprise?”  Tom asked so wistfully, it broke Chakotay’s heart.

 

Chakotay nodded.  “Yes, I do.  All you have to do is believe and work very hard to make your dream come true.”

 

“Believe and work very hard?”

 

Chakotay ran a finger down the side of Tom’s cheek.  Smiling when the blue eyes closed in pleasure.  “Yes and the Enterprise will be yours.  Tom, will you do something for me?”

 

“If I can.”

 

“Do not let anyone sway you from your dream.  Can you do that for me?”

 

Tom nodded.  “Okay.  Cha?”

 

Chakotay smiled at the nickname.  “Yes, Tom?”

 

“Can I touch you?”

 

“Hmm?” Tom looked at the tattoo on the right side of Chakotay’s face. “Oh, yes.  If you like,” Chakotay replied, lowering his head.

 

“It’s very pretty.”

 

“Thank you.  I did it as a sign of respect for my father and my people.”

 

Chakotay felt the small hand trace the pattern of the tattoo.  “That’s really nice.”

 

“I hope so.”

 

“Did it hurt?”

 

“Some.”

 

Chakotay watched the blue eyes widen.  “Oh.  I’m sorry.  Can I kiss it and make it better?  My Mommy does that for me when I’ve got an owie.”

 

Chakotay smiled.  “If you like.”

 

Tom rose slightly to gently kiss the long healed tattoo.  “Is that better?”

 

“Much.” Chakotay helped the little boy resettle in his lap. 

 

“I’m glad.  Cha?”

 

“Yes, Baby?”

 

Tom frowned at him.  “I’m ten years old,” he was told indignantly.

 

“I meant no harm.  I called you baby as a sign of affection.”

 

The frowned disappeared.  “Oh.  In that case it’s okay.”

 

Chakotay bit back a chuckle.  This child was a true wonder.  Destined to be a real beauty when he grew up.  Chakotay hoped that they would cross paths again later.  Wanting desperately to see what kind of man Tom Eugene Paris would grown into.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Tom smiled at him.  “I like you.”

 

“I like you too,” Chakotay replied, wrapping his arms around the small body.  “Very much.”

 

The smile deepened.  “Cool.”

 

Chakotay returned the smile deeply, allowing Tom to see his dimples for the first time.  “Yes, it is.”

 

Blue eyes looked at his face in utter fascination.  A small hand coming up to where one of the dimples rested, tracing it lightly.  “You’re beautiful.”

 

“Why thank you.  I think that’s one of the nicest compliments anyone has ever given me.  I think you’re cute too.”

 

Tom made a face.  “Cute?  Just cute?  I’m not sure I like cute.”

 

Chakotay chuckled softly.  “Are you fishing for compliments, Tom Paris?”

 

Tom smiled up at him sheepishly.  “Heck, yeah.”

 

“Oh, in that case-I think that when you grow up you will be very, very beautiful.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.  All the girls and boys are going to want to be close to you.”

 

“Cool.” Tom practically bounced in Chakotay’s lap at the compliment.  “Cha?”  he asked looking at him speculatively.

 

“Yes, Tom?”

 

“Can I marry you?”

 

Chakotay blinked in surprise.  “T…Tom, you’re ten.  I’m almost positive that’s not allowed.”

 

Tom rolled his blue eyes. “Not now silly.  When I’m older.”

 

“Why would you want to marry me?”

 

Tom rolled his eyes again and shook his blond head as if that was one of the stupidest question ever.  “Because you’re beautiful, you’re nice and I want to marry you.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Well?”  Tom asked impatiently.

 

“Well, what?”

 

Tom sighed heavily.  “Don’t be dumb.  Will you be mine when I get older?”

 

“Tom, a lot of things could happen between now and then.  You might find someone you want more than me.”

 

Tom sighed again.  Sitting up in Chakotay’s lap carefully cupping his face in his hands. “I really don’t think I will. Besides I really, really want you.  Be mine?”

 

Chakotay looked into the solemn blue eyes looking into his.  Tom was serious.  “Tom, I… Hmm, don’t know what to say.”

 

“Cha, it’s not that hard a question.  Will you be mine?”

 

“W…Why?”  Chakotay asked weakly.

 

“Because I want you to be.”

 

“Tom, you’re ten years old.  Your emotions could be different next year, the year after that.  You may not even want me when you get old enough to decide something as life altering as that.”

 

Tom tilted his head to the side.  “I will never change my mind about this.  I want you to be mine.  Will you?”  he insisted vehemently. “Say you’ll wait for me to grow up.” 

 

Chakotay sighed.  “Oh, Tom.”  If he committed now.  It was for life.  His beliefs would have it no other way.  Tom was ten years old.  A child wanting to commit to a twenty-six year old?  Chakotay had never heard of it before.  “I don’t know what to tell you.”    

 

 Tom smiled at him.  “It’s not that hard.  All you gotta say is yes.”

 

Chakotay wrapped his arms around the slight body, pulling him close. Resting his head on top of very blond, baby-soft hair as he searched his heart and soul for the answer.  Not wanting to hurt this very, special child.  When it came Chakotay wasn’t all that surprised.  “Alright, Tom.  I will be yours,” He told the patiently waiting little boy.

 

Tom pulled away slightly to meet his eyes.  His own shining happily.. “Really?”

 

Chakotay smiled at him.  “Yes.”

 

“You’ll wait for me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I can still be a pilot?”

 

“Yes,” Chakotay cupped Tom’s face in his hands.  “Follow your dream.  I will wait for you,” he replied, kissing his forehead lightly.  “For as long as it takes.”

 

“Cool.”

 

“Tom?”

 

“Yeah?”  The little boy asked curiously.

 

“If you change you mind, I will not hold you to it.  Follow your heart.”

 

Tom contemplated Chakotay for a moment.  “Silly, Cha-I am.”

 

“W…What?”

 

Tom sighed heavily.  I. Am. Following.  My.  Heart,” he replied as if to someone dumber than dumb.

 

Chakotay smiled.  “Alright, Tom.  I understand.”

 

“Finally.  I thought I was going to be marrying someone not so smart.  Even if you are in Starfleet.”

 

Chakotay smiled.  “I’m smart enough to keep up with you,” he replied, tickling Tom.

 

The little boy giggled, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a tiny figure of the Enterprise.  “Here,” he told him solemnly.

 

“What is it?”

 

Tom rolled his eyes.  “It’s the Enterprise, silly. And you’re in Starfleet?”

 

“It’s very nice.”

 

Tom frowned.  “You don’t get it, do you?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I don’t have a ring to give you right now.  Don’t think I could even afford one.  Don’t have any credits to buy one.  This means a lot to me.  I’m giving it to you as a sign of my commitment.  It won’t replace the ring, cause I’ll get you one as soon as I’m old enough to get a job.  Will you take it, in place of the ring?”

 

Chakotay felt his eyes fill with tears.  “Oh, Tom.”

 

“Cha?  Cha?  Don’t cry.  Did I do something wrong?”  Tom asked worriedly.

 

Chakotay swallowed heavily.  “No, baby.  You didn’t do anything wrong.”  He took the little figure in trembling hands.  “I’ll guard it with my life.”

 

Tom’s blue eyes widened.  “No.  No, don’t do that.  Your life is worth more than the toy.”

 

Chakotay smiled.  “It was a figure of speech.  It means I will treasure it always.”

 

“Oh.”

 

A small hand came up to cup the side of his face.  Chakotay closed his eyes, allowing the simple pleasure of being touched by his bondmate fill his heart and soul with warmth.  For better or worse his life now belonged to a ten year old.  He opened his eyes.

 

“T…Tom?”

 

Tom met his eyes.  “Yeah?”

 

“Will you write to me?”

 

Tom nodded.  “Every day.  Twice a day if anything interesting happens.”  He looked out the shuttle window.  “We’re docking,” he said sadly.  “I don’t want to go.  I want to stay with you.”

 

“Tom, listen to me.  You can’t go with me.  You need to start on the path the Goddess has set for you.”

 

Tom’s eyes filled with tears.  “But my path is with you.”

 

Chakotay sighed.  “You are too young to go with me, my bondmate.  You need to grow a little more.  Learn the ways of the world.  Follow your dreams, then come to me when you’re ready.  I’ll be waiting.”

 

Tom wiped at the tears impatiently.  “But…”

 

Chakotay pulled the little boy into his arms.  “No buts.  You need to begin following your path.  We will eventually be together,” he told him, kissing the top of his head.

 

“I love you, Cha.  I don’t want to go.”

 

“I love you too, baby.  But you need to do this.  Please?”

 

Tom sighed heavily.  “Alright.  But I don’t want to.”

 

“I know you don’t.  But for me, please.”

 

“Alright.  You’ll write me back, right?”

 

“Every day.  Twice if something interesting is happening.”

 

Tom smiled at him.  “Cool.”

 

“Your parents are looking for you, my love.  Go.”

 

Tom wrapped his arms around as much of Chakotay as he could. “No.”

 

“You promised.”

 

“I take it back.  I don’t wanna.”

 

Chakotay cupped Tom’s tear-streaked face.  “You have to.  You must keep your promise to me, bondmate,” he told him sternly.  He needed to do this even though it was breaking his heart.

 

“Don’t you want me,” Tom asked his bottom lip trembling, hurt by Chakotay’s tone.

 

“For the rest of my life, Tom.  For the rest of my life.  You are my bondmate and I expect you to do me proud, in all your endeavors.”

 

Bondmate?”

 

“It means I am yours for always.  Just as you are mine.”

 

Tom gave him a watery smile.  “Cool.”

 

Chakotay returned the smile, just as tear-stained around the edges.  “I think so.  Go now before your parents start calling for you.”

 

“Alright,” Tom replied, reluctantly.  He moved into the aisle, turning back toward Chakotay.  “You’ll write?”

 

Chakotay nodded. “Every day.”

 

“You’ll remember.”

 

“I will never forget, my bondmate.”

 

Tom gave him a brilliant smile.  “Cool.”

 

Chakotay watched as Tom rejoined his parents.  The little boy flinching as his mother spoke to him harshly.  Wishing with his whole heart he could grab his bondmate and run to the farthest reaches of the universe.

 

Tom turned giving him a last look before walking out of the shuttle.