2Wouldn't It Be Loverly
By: amberholguin23
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and all of its characters belong to Paramount. The song "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" belongs to Warner Bros. and music writer Fredrick Loewe. I do not make any profit, I just write for my and others' enjoyment.
Summary: While Stranded on New Earth, Katheryn Janeway goes to check her insect traps. While walking through the woods Katheryn starts to sing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady. What she is unaware of is that Chakotay can hear her back at the cabin. A little dabble for your enjoyment.
A/N: This takes place in the season 2 episode 25 Resolutions. The song is from My Fair Lady the Broadway and movie. (I listened to the Julie Andrews version. I feel like Janeway would sing like her for some reason).
After spending about a month on new earth, Janeway never gave up hope of getting back to voyager. Chakotay watched Katheryn day after day slaving away at her research that was getting nowhere. Chakotay didn't fully give up hope that a cure could be found to their mysterious illness. Yet, there was a thought that he couldn't fully shake. If the doctor couldn't find a cure after working 24 hours a day without deactivating himself, then Janeway would not find it any sooner. In the meantime Chakotay knew that if he got involved in Katheryn's research he would just get in the way. Chakotay was not one for medical research, he was one for exploring. With Janeway focused on finding a cure all Chakotay felt he could do was to support her. In the near future he knew that without success that Katheryn would come to terms with their predicament and work on making a home. Chakotay felt useless and wanted to be useful. The only way to do that was to make their dwelling more comfortable.
Chakotay decided to take their maroonment on New Earth day by day. Today Chakotay decided to make headboards. Living in close quarters with Katheryn, Chakotay was able to see a new side of her that he was never able to before. Her little habits for instance she was a night owl. She would stay up late most nights working or reading. Since being on the planet, Katheryn woke no earlier than 10am and was first to shower. She was also not the best cook. The first week together Katheryn attempted to cook and Chakotay ended up taking over those duties for both of their safety. All of her little habits and quirks made him love her more. Janeway emerged from the cabin with supplies for her research. Chakotay paused, shaping the head board when she spoke.
"I'm going to check the insect traps in beta four. What are you up to now?" She asked with a smile.
"Making headboards." Chakotay simply replied, continuing his sanding.
"Headboards?" She questioned.
"I've noticed you sometimes sit up in your bed to read. I figured you might as well have a comfortable backrest." Chakotay spoke his mind.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Chakotay. You've done so many things to make our lives easier here. The cooking, for example. I hate to cook." Katheryn said genuinely.
Knowing where she was going with the conversation, Chakotay finished her sentence, "But what I do makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it? Every time I do something that adds a personal touch to the shelter, you resist it."
"Sometimes it feels as though you've given up, that you're focused on making a home here instead of finding a cure that will let us leave." Katheryn said disappointed.
"I can't sacrifice the present waiting for a future that may never happen. The reality of this situation is that we may never leave here. So, yes, I'm trying to make a home. Something that's more than a plain, gray box." Chakotay said with passion.
"Someday I may have to let go." She said wistfully, "But not today, okay? I've tried a new glucose bait in the traps. I have a feeling this might be the day I make a breakthrough."
Katheryn continued off into the woods in good spirits. As she walked through the woods that was mapped out for her research she used the alone time to think. Was this a lost cause? Should she give up? Why quit when she was so close to a breakthrough in her research. Katheryn knew that the time to give up was coming soon but decided to fight that urge. She would never give up unless she was forced to. Her father always taught her to never live her life with the regret of what could have been.
She noticed along her walk that being one of the only humans on the planet made the whole world around her silent. She appreciated the silence yet dreaded it. Silence leads to open space for her to think which could be good or bad. To fill the space and to not allow her mind to wander further, Katheryn began to whistle a tune of a song she grew up with hearing. As she heard the sounds of Chakotay working fade away, her confidence grew and she began to sing.
"All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air
With one enormous chair
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of chocolate for me to eat
Lots of coal makin' lots of heat
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Oh, so lovely sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still
I would never budge till spring
Crept over me window sill
Someone's head restin' on my knee
Warm and tender as he can be
Who takes good care of me
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly
Loverly, loverly."
Katheryn continued working humming, whistling, and singing the song absentmindedly over and over.
Back at the shelter, Chakotay could hear something in the distance. To be able to hear it more clearly he paused his work and focused on the singing in the distance, a smile growing across his features.
"Warm and tender as he can be
Who takes good care of me
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly
Loverly, loverly."
Chakotay continued his work more gingerly, making less noise and listened to her sing more. Not even at the talent shows on Voyager did Katheryn sing. This was a new side of her he was yet to see. He found it to be a special surprise whenever he learned something new about Katheryn. She was a very private person and when her personality began to shine though the captain's mask Chakotay was determined to learn more about her. She was a beautiful singer and he wished she sang more.
"All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air
With one enormous chair)
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of chocolate for me to eat
Lots of coal makin' lots of heat
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Oh, so lovely sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still
I would never budge till spring
Crept over me window sill
Someone's head restin' on my knee
Warm and tender as she can be)
Who takes good care of me
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly
Loverly, loverly
Loverly
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly
Loverly
Loverly
Loverly"
Katheryn continued to sing and hum until she neared the cabin. She was beaming with joy. Her traps caught a few insects. When the shelter was in sight Katheryn stopped humming.
"Find anything in the traps?" Chakotay called to Katheryn as she washed up for dinner.
"There are a few specimens that might be similar to what bit us". Katheryn said emerging from her room dressed in lounge wear.
She picked up her research equipment and began to work on it. Chakotay washed his hands and started dinner.
He replicated the ingredients to make tofu and vegetable curry. As he cut the tofu and washed the vegetables he absentmindedly started to hum the tune he heard Katheryn sing in the woods earlier.
Katheryn looked up from her work, startled with the recognition of the tune of the song. She immediately turned red with embarrassment.
"I-I didn't know you could hear me", She stammered.
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about Katheryn. You have a nice singing voice" He said genuinely.
"I don't know about that-" She started to say sheepishly.
"You're being modest, I'd like to hear you sing more, you look happier when you sing".
Chakotay continued to stir the dish in the pan and sang,
"Lots of chocolate for me to eat
Lots of coal makin' lots of heat
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?"
Katheryn covered her face in embarrassment and burst with laughter. Chakotay was definitely not the best singer but sang with passion. Picking up the spoon he was stirring the vegetables with and he sang into it like it was a microphone. In mock annoyance she threw the dish rag at Chakotay. He ducked, playing along, and laughed. He was happy she was enjoying herself for once. She rolled her eyes, thankful for the distraction from her work and what lied ahead. Eventually she would have to give up on working for a cure but not today.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this little dabble. I got this idea when I was listening to showtunes the other night at work. It also didn't quite fit my other story "Dreams". I promise I will be posting another chapter of that story soon. I have finally gotten rid of my writer's block. Feel free to leave a review.