STAR TREK: VOYAGER
An Original J/7 Voyager Story
Ó2007 by Patricia L.
Givens
December 2007
Disclaimer #1: This story is an original work of fiction set in the
pre-existing universe of Star Trek: Voyager.
As such, many of the characters and references used within belong solely
to Paramount Pictures. No gain, monetary
or otherwise, is expected from their use and no copyright infringement is intended
or should be inferred.
Disclaimer #2: All original characters and storylines contained herein
belong to the author. (Like anyone else would claim them! ) This story may be archived upon request with
the stipulation that it must be posted exactly as it was written, with all
disclaimers intact.
Disclaimer #3: This story depicts a romantic relationship between two
women. Some scenes may be graphic but
lovingly so. If this bothers you then
please let me know and I will send you a detailed diagram of how to pull your
head out of your ass. If you are under
18 then take a girl to your prom… I guarantee you won’t regret it! If this is illegal where you live then you
really need to stop assuming that everyone else is going to vote so you don’t
need to.
Who To Blame: Thanks
must go out to Ky for uniting the hyphen and semi colon factions against me, as
well as to Andrea and Anne for beating the beta bush.
IMPORTANT NOTE PLEASE READ: The sketch of Seven is a homage re-work by my Chief Engineer of an incredible charcoal on paper drawing called “Afternoon Light” by one of my favorite artists, Rene Porter. No copyright infringement was intended and there was no momentary gain from its use. As such I ask that you please do not post it anywhere else as it was created simply as a visual for this story. If you would like to see the original and the rest of her incredible artwork, you can by going here: http://www.reneporter.com/. The Manip for "Voyagers" was done by the very talented ZoeAmory! Love ya babe!
This one is for Ky,
for the research and the name. (It’s pronounced ky-tane btw.)(Oh and if you
take exception with my explanation of the ship, sue me. You can find me in the book under “Ass, Kiss
My.”)(Damn it Jim, I’m a writer, not an engineer!)
No plastic cake
toppers were harmed during the writing of this story but they, and several
others we won’t mention, did get licked clean.
To all that makes us
unique!
DAx =/\=
Love is composed of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies.
-Aristotle
Chapter One: A Night
To Remember
Admiral Kathryn
Janeway straightened the jacket on her dress whites, smoothing down the lapels
as she checked the time again.
“Annika!” She called up the
stairs. “It’s 19:45 hours!! We have to be there in fifteen minutes!”
“Kathryn,” Gretchen
admonished. “Give the woman time. She wants to look her best for you, you
know.”
“Yeah, sis.” Phoebe winked at her. “If you hadn’t insisted everyone wear their
original uniforms for Voyager’s last
flight we’d already be at the reception!”
Janeway rolled her
eyes. “I know. I just thought it would feel more… fitting if we dressed the way we did for the
entire voyage home.” She looked at her
mother and sister with appreciation.
Gretchen Janeway looked very stylish in a black evening gown with a
modestly cut high neckline, her hair swept up and back into a gentle bun. Phoebe looked rakish in a tuxedo jacket,
complete with cummerbund and bow tie, finished off with a black miniskirt and
knee high boots. Her hair was pulled
back at the sides with silver combs and left hanging long down her back.
She had to admit; the
Janeway women cut an elegant picture tonight.
Her brows furrowed in
confusion as she watched Phoebe’s eyes go wide and her mother smile
gently. Following their line of vision,
she looked up the stairs and felt her heart stop dead in her chest.
Seven of Nine stood
at the upper landing, looking like a vision in silver and gold. She wore a low cut, strapless gown of
shimmering sunlight that was painted onto her every curve. It flared out at the knees, creating a small
train that flowed down the staircase as she descended. Her hair was down, one side pulled back with
a gold and silver comb while the other side was free to caress the alabaster
skin of her face. Her eyes flashed fire
and her full, dark red lips were curved into a deliciously wicked smile. “Has the expenditure of the time required
been adequately accounted for?” She
asked playfully.
“Nuh…” Kathryn felt as though she had swallowed her
tongue. She flushed red when she heard Phoebe
begin to laugh behind her.
“Nice, Katie. You really know how to sweet talk a
woman.” Her little sister teased.
The Admiral threw her
sister a venomous look before centering her attention on the beauty standing
before her. “You are radiant.” She breathed.
“There are no other words to express how you look tonight.”
Seven smiled shyly,
overwhelmed by the adoration in her lover’s eyes. She reached out and ran her fingers lightly
down the Admiral’s jacket. “You look
very handsome in your dress whites, Kathryn.”
The barest whisper of
a memory from their vid messages coalesced in Janeway’s mind, causing her to
grin. Leaning up, she captured the
Borg’s lips in a gently loving kiss.
“Ahem.” Phoebe cleared her throat. “If you two are done drooling all over the
carpet, we should probably get going.”
Seven tore her gaze
away from her beloved to glance at the other two women. “You both look very pleasing.”
“Thank you,
dear.” Gretchen placed an arm around her
shoulders. “You look lovely yourself.”
“Lovely?” The youngest Janeway snorted. “You’re going to have to have a security
detail follow her around, Katie.”
“I might at
that.” Kathryn laughed. Reaching out, she took Seven’s hand and led
them all to the hover-car waiting for them at the curb.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Grand Ballroom at
Starfleet Headquarters was filled to overflowing. In addition to the officers whose attendance
was required, every other member of Starfleet that could wrangle a ticket was
present. It wasn’t everyday you got to
see a fairly new vessel receive a vaunted place in the history books. It was also the first chance most of the
Fleet had to get close to the larger than life people that comprised the Voyager crew.
Even now, most eyes
were scanning the crowd and watching the door, waiting for the entrance of the
one officer most notably absent, the Captain of Voyager herself.
The wait proved to be
well worth it.
At exactly 20:00
hours, the entire hall went silent as the doors opened to admit Admiral Janeway
and her entourage. Seven’s arm was
tucked gracefully into hers and her mother and sister walked proudly behind
them. The silence continued for a few moments longer as all those present took
in the sight of the four gorgeous women winding their way to the center of the
room. As they reached the table of
honor, however, it was shattered by a loud chorus of clapping, shouting and
cheering.
Admiral Janeway
stopped and raised her hands, her trademark lopsided grin on her face as she
called out, “As you were… before you sprain something!” She glanced across their table to wink at
Harry Kim who had a huge smile plastered on his face.
“Ready, love?” She whispered to Seven. “Because here we go.”
They were immediately
beset upon by well-wishers, many of whom wanted holo-images taken and some who
even wanted autographs. The Borg smiled
and stepped back slightly to stand beside Phoebe and watch the Admiral work her
magic. She was all charm and grace,
paying attention to anyone and everyone who stepped up to her until, finally,
the crowds realized it was enough and they settled back to allow the four to
sit and catch their breath.
Kathryn pulled out a
chair for her mother, and then for Seven, smirking at Phoebe as she left her to
fend for herself. She nodded around the
table at the beloved faces of the people who she would always consider her
crew. Tom and B’Elanna sat side by side,
with Miral on her daddy’s lap. Next to
them, Harry Kim, then Tuvok and his wife T’Pel, then the Doctor, followed by
Ensign Wildman and Naomi, who looked overwhelmed to be sitting at the Admiral’s
Table. There was an empty chair
immediately to her left, presumably for her First Officer, but Chakotay was
nowhere to be seen. She found that she
wasn’t overly disappointed by his absence.
“So, Admiral,”
B’Elanna grinned at her. “Looks like
you’re a living legend.”
Janeway rolled her
eyes slightly. “Until the next great
thing comes along.”
“Looks like the next
great thing came right along with you.”
Tom smirked at the throngs of men and women who milled about their
table, all of them casting quick glances towards Seven. “I think the only thing keeping them at bay
is the fact that she walked in on your arm.”
“And that is where I
shall remain.” The Borg smiled
pleasantly; unaware of the hearts that broke all around her as she did so.
As the lights went
down, those left standing scurried for their seats as the tribute began. The Doctor was in his element, pointing out
every holo-image of his that was included in the slide show being displayed on
the large view screen overhead. The crew
of Voyager laughed, groaned and was
moved to tears depending on the scenes being shown. It was seven years of their lives, condensed
into a forty-five minute presentation.
And it was a
spectacle that none of them would ever forget.
When the lights came
back up, Admiral Paris stood beneath the view screen. He smiled at the crowd as his voice boomed
out across the ballroom. “Seven and a
half years ago, we thought we had lost Voyager. We mourned her and her crew, never knowing
that they were alive and struggling to get back home. We should have known better. We should have been aware that with Captain
Kathryn Janeway on the bridge, we would see our family and friends again.” The crowd began to cheer and he raised his
hands, motioning them to quiet down. “It
is my great honor to officially welcome Voyager
and her crew home, and to announce her commemoration as a
Everyone at the
Admiral’s table raised their glasses and the rest of those in attendance
followed suit.
“Now,”
Gretchen looked at
her daughter. “How did you get out of
speaking?”
Kathryn smiled. “It’s a reception, not a ceremony. I think they considered themselves lucky I
spoke when we landlocked the ship.” She
sighed. “They gave out the medals and
the commendations months ago. Tonight is
about showing the new face of Starfleet; all we have to do is sit here and look
pretty.” She smiled softly at her fiancé. “Something you do remarkably well.”
She flushed when she
realized she had said that in front of the entire table but aside from a few
well-intentioned snickers, her crew had the good grace to simply smile and
carry on with their conversations.
Dinner consisted of
filet mignon and lobster tails, the latter of which Seven refused to even touch
and their glasses were kept full of champagne with harder beverages being
served from the open bar at one end of the room. When the music began, Phoebe was quick to
point out that everyone seemed to be waiting for something.
With a deep sigh,
Kathryn stood and extended a hand gallantly to Seven. “May I have this dance?”
The younger woman
smiled and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor where they waltzed
together with such looks of devotion on their faces that it left no doubt in
anyone’s mind as to who exactly belonged to whom. They remained until the floor filled up with
other couples and then quietly moved back towards their own table. Halfway there, Seven excused herself and
Janeway continued back alone.
“Where’d Seven
go?” Phoebe asked.
“I’m not sure. She said she wanted to say hello to
someone. Ahh, here she comes now.” The Admiral placed her hand over her mouth to
hide her smile when she saw the person that Annika was leading towards
them.
“Gretchen, Phoebe, I
would like to introduce you to Tal Celes. Celes assisted me in the Astrometrics
lab. Celes this is the Admiral’s mother
and her sister.”
Gretchen rose
gracefully to shake hands with the young Bajoran, who then turned to face
Phoebe, who had also risen. Celes looked up at the taller woman, taking in the
flowing red hair and the soft grey eyes before blurting out, “Prophets! You’re Seven and Janeway combined!” It took her a moment to realize that she had
said it out loud. She blushed bright red
and excused herself, quickly heading to the bar where she ordered a shot of
anything strong enough to knock some sense back into her.
The Admiral broke
into laughter at her younger sister’s look of bemusement.
Seven ignored her,
leaning in close to Phoebe to state quite clearly, “I believe she considers you
to be a ‘betty’.”
Phoebe groaned. “I need a drink. C’mon, Katie.
Keep me company.”
Kathryn squeezed
Seven’s hand quickly and then fell into step with her sister. “So what do you want to know?” She asked with a smirk.
“What makes you think
I want to know anything?”
“Because I recognize
that look in your eyes.”
“Alright, let’s just
say I’m curious. What made Seven pick
her?”
“She’s a lovely
girl?” Janeway shrugged. “Grade three
senior analyst on Voyager, has since
received a promotion to Ensign planet side.
She has a good heart, she’s very loyal… why are we talking about this?” Kathryn gave her sister a pointed look. “Curiosity killed the cat you know.”
The Admiral’s voice
trailed off as her attention was drawn to the bar. At the end of the long table she saw her
former First Officer watching Seven intently.
The Borg did not seem to notice but Kathryn felt her anger rising at the
possessive look in his eyes. She started
when she felt a hand on her arm.
Glancing over, she saw her sister smiling at her gently.
“Don’t worry about
him, Katie. Seven is with you, remember?”
Janeway nodded
slowly, trying to reign in her ire. “I
know. I just can’t believe the
unmitigated gall of the man. To stand
there and stare at her like a petulant child who’s had a toy taken away from
him before he was done playing with it.
After what he did to her…”
Phoebe took her hand
and pulled her into a quiet corner. “Ok,
Mom’s not around and Seven is busy talking to Harry Kim. Why don’t you tell me what really happened
between them?”
Kathryn sighed. “He hit her, Pheebs.”
“What?” The younger woman’s eyes went wide. “When?”
“When she told him
she was leaving him to be with me. That
was why she left for Earth so suddenly.
That was why she was out there all alone when The Mark took her.” She noticed Admiral Paris motioning her over
to a group across from them. “I need to
go rub elbows. I’ll be back. Do not
tell Mom, Phoebe.”
Her sister nodded
absently. She watched Chakotay as he
noticed Kathryn move away. Squaring his
shoulders, he headed in Seven’s direction.
Moving quickly, she placed herself in his path, bumping into him
forcefully. She raised her hand as
though to wave it in apology and managed to catch the bottom of his glass,
upending it into his chest. The red
punch spilled down the front of his dress whites, causing a very noticeable
stain across both of his lapels.
Phoebe turned cold
eyes on the man, but her voice was light and friendly. “I’m so sorry, Commander. People really should watch where they put
their hands.”
The comment hit its
mark, causing him to grit his teeth in anger as he flushed bright red. Mumbling a response, he headed for the
exit. She watched him go, a small smirk
on her face.
“That
looked…satisfying.”
Phoebe turned around
quickly, her face reddening when she saw Tal Celes standing behind her. “Oh… yeah, uh… we had a little accident.”
“Accident?” The Bajoran smiled shyly, the ridges on her
nose crinkling in the most adorable way.
“All right.” Phoebe smiled sheepishly. “Maybe it wasn’t totally an accident. But it
did have the desired effect. Promise not
to tell the Admiral?”
“It would be against
Starfleet Regulations to withhold information from a superior officer.” Celes teased.
“But… I guess I don’t have to offer any information that isn’t specifically
asked for.”
The tall redhead
laughed, surprised at the Bajoran’s playfulness. It was very subtle, but it was there. She took in the deep chocolate colored eyes,
the cute little upturned nose and the long reddish auburn hair that fell around
the smaller woman’s delicate features. Damn, she thought, three cheers for the Borg’s taste in women. Smiling, she took
Celes lightly by the arm. “How about you
let me buy you a drink?”
The Bajoran allowed
herself to be led to the bar where she ordered a glass of merlot. Phoebe got herself a scotch and soda and then
smiled. “So I hear congratulations are
in order, Ensign.”
Celes blushed. “Yeah, I’m sure your sister had a good deal
to do with it, but at least they’ve stationed me planet side, permanent
assignment to admin at Fleet Headquarters.”
“Oh?” Phoebe looked surprised. “No wander lust for you?”
“Oh no.” The smaller woman laughed. “I’ve done my ship duty. I’m content to stay right here on Earth.”
“A woman after my own
heart.” She smiled at the light flush
that crept into the smaller woman’s cheeks.
“So what do you do?”
“I’m an artist. I have an exhibit going on right now at the
Brisbois Gallery in
“Wow.” Celes looked at her in admiration. “I’d love to see your work sometime.”
Phoebe choked
slightly, a horrible pick up line flitting through her thoughts. “I’m sure that can be arranged.” She saw Kathryn waving at them. “C’mon, I think we’re being summoned.”
She placed her hand
in the small of the Bajoran’s back as they headed to the Admiral’s table,
steering her into Chakotay’s empty chair as she took her own.
Kathryn looked over
at Seven and took her hand. “We wanted
to invite all of you to a dinner party at my mother’s house tomorrow
night. Let’s say 19:00 hours? It will be casual so no uniforms.”
“What can we bring?” B’Elanna smiled knowingly at the two women,
but kept her thoughts to herself.
“Just yourselves, and
bring Miral. I’m sure she’d love the
snow.”
Gretchen leaned
across the table to place her hand on Celes’ arm. “You must come as well, dear.”
The Bajoran smiled
shyly but nodded. “I’d be honored.”
Phoebe felt a moments
panic and then flushed when Kathryn threw her a roguish wink. She glared at her big sister silently,
ignoring the soft chuckle she earned in response.
Everyone around the
table gave their assurances that they would be in attendance and, as the party
wound down, they began to take their leave.
Kathryn offered Seven
her arm to escort her out. “We’re going
to stay here in town tonight, Mom. We’ll
be out at the farm in the morning. I’ll
get you and Pheebs an escort back to the transport station.”
“Thank you,
Kathryn.” Her mother stood. “Can we offer you a ride to the station,
Celes?”
“That would be
wonderful, thank you Mrs. Janeway.”
“You can just call me
Gretchen, dear.” She took the Bajoran by
the arm and led her away, chatting with her as they went. Phoebe sighed and shook her head as she
hurried to catch up with them.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Kathryn and Seven
were both quiet during the ride home, each lost in their own thoughts, small,
matching smiles on their faces. When
they were safely locked behind the door of their home, the Admiral turned into
the welcoming arms of her lover with a sigh.
“Kathryn,” Seven ran
her hands down the back of the immaculate uniform. “Everything will be fine.”
Janeway smiled into
the long elegant neck. “You’re here with
me; we’re engaged, soon to be married.
What more could I want?”
“A vessel.” The Borg replied calmly. “You will acquire one.”
“Mmm.” The Admiral’s lips found the pulse beating in
her throat.
Seven smiled. “Should I speculate as to the purpose behind
our remaining in the city this evening?”
“I have had to sit
next to you, looking like this, all night.
There is no way I could be expected to be quiet. All I’ve been able to think about is what you
have on under this dress.”
Smiling, the blonde
took her hand and led her up the stairs.
Closing the bedroom door behind them, she stood, trembling, as Kathryn
ran small, loving hands across her shoulders and down her arms. Sliding a hand behind the Borg’s neck, she
pulled gently, bringing the full lips down to catch them in a powerful kiss,
her tongue sliding between them to taste the champagne flavored recesses of her
mouth. Dropping her fingers, she found
the zipper hidden in the back of the gown and pulled it down, slipping her
hands inside to peel the garment off the voluptuous curves of her partner.
The dress fell away,
leaving six feet of perfect pale skin shimmering in the moonlight streaming in
from the window.
“Nothing…” Kathryn
breathed with a smile.
“There was no space
for anything other than myself.” Seven
stepped out of her sandals as her fingers opened the Admiral’s jacket, her
fingertips grazing over the already erect nipples as she pushed it off the
smaller woman’s shoulders and onto the floor.
She had to focus on her breathing as Kathryn’s hands roamed across her
hips to cup her buttocks. “Let me…
finish.” She panted as she felt the
small quick fingers slide down the crease to brush over her puckered
orifice.
“I can’t wait that
long.” Janeway turned her and pushed her back onto the bed. Wearing her dress shirt and slacks, she
climbed on top of the younger woman, pressing her back into the bed as her lips
traveled down her chest to take one swollen nipple between her teeth. “I need to taste you…now.” She growled.
Seven gasped, her
thighs falling open as Kathryn kissed her way down the Borg’s stomach, stopping
only to lick lightly between the bands of her implants before nuzzling her face
in the blonde thatch of hair between her legs.
Seven was already wet, her scent pervasive, and Kathryn lost herself in
it. For a moment, she merely lay with
her cheek against the Borg’s thigh, breathing in deeply. Then she lifted the glorious weight of those
long, slender legs over her shoulders and buried her face between them. Grabbing onto Seven’s hips, she pulled
forward roughly, holding them firmly as her tongue and teeth found the swollen
ridge of her desire. Drawing it into her
mouth, she swirled her tongue around it, sucking on it hard as Seven shivered
above her. Bringing her hand up, she
played in the wetness surrounding the blonde’s opening, teasing her mercilessly
by only inserting the tip of her fingers before pulling them back out to play outside
yet again.
“Kathryn…” Seven begged.
“Please….”
“Talk to me.” Janeway commanded. “Tell me what you want me to do to you.”
“I want you to touch
me…”
“How do you want me
to touch you?”
“I want….” She could hear Seven swallow. “I want you inside me. I want…”
“You want…” Her tongue never stopped moving, never
stopped teasing.
“I want you to take
me… hard. Now… please, Kathryn… please…”
Smiling wickedly, she
slid two fingers deep inside the wet channel, moaning when muscles clutched at them
with smooth velvet strength. She thrust
slowly at first, reveling in the small whimpers from the woman she adored. Then she quickened her pace, keeping time
with the wildly undulating hips as her tongue danced over the engorged bundle
of nerves she held firmly between her lips.
“How does that
feel?” She bent her fingers deep inside
as she trilled her tongue across the little bud.”
“It feels….so
good….” The Borg’s hands wrapped into
her hair pulling Kathryn’s head more tightly against her.
“More…” Janeway whispered. “I want to hear more…”
“Faster…” The blonde whimpered. “Harder…”
Kathryn shifted
slightly, angling her body to put more force behind her thrusting fingers. “Like this?”
“Yesssss….”
“Say my name…”
“Kath… ryn…”
“Again…” She suckled
harder, reaching deep inside to find the elusive spot that drove Seven crazy.
“Kathryn…oh…Kathryn….OH…”
“You know what I want
to hear…” She growled.
“CAPTAIN!” Seven cried out, her back arching off the bed
as her lover thrust into her with abandon.
“Oh, Captain… oh… My…CAPTAIN!”
The Borg began to
shake wildly, her voice lost in the small grunts coming from both of them as
Janeway drove her over the edge. She
closed her eyes tightly, seeing only swirling light behind her eyelids as she
came, hard. As the waves washed over
her, she felt Kathryn pull out her fingers to catch the nectar with her tongue
as it flowed out of her. Falling back,
she pulled the smaller woman up to her, catching her lips in a kiss flavored
with her own essence. A growl escaped
her own throat as she raised one knee and slid it between the Admiral’s
thighs. Fumbling at her waist, she undid
the buttons on her slacks and slid her fingers inside to find her lover
completely drenched. Without hesitating,
she slid three fingers deeply inside, watching as Kathryn threw her head back
and groaned.
Using the muscles of
her thigh, she increased the force of her thrusts, her other hand tangling in
the fabric of the slacks to gain a better hold.
Pulling roughly, she brought her thumb up to run along the swollen ridge
on the outside as her fingers curled deep inside.
“Oh, An…nika….” Janeway moaned, her back arching almost
painfully as the pleasure started to build within her. She gripped pale thighs between her hands as
she rubbed against her, grinding into her wildly, pushing herself towards her
release.
Seven’s fingers found
the spot they were looking for deep inside and rubbed against it
mercilessly. She ground her own teeth
together as Kathryn’s body began to shake.
Finally the small hands fell away as the Admiral threw her head back
again and cried out her passion before slumping forward to rest heavily against
the softly heaving breasts.
Seven withdrew her
fingers from the shivering woman and pulled the blanket over them both, holding
her close as the passion subsided. With
a small smile, she listened as her lover’s breathing evened out.
Closing her eyes, she
fell asleep, holding her heart within her arms.
Chapter Two – The Most Important Meal of the Day
Kathryn cracked one
eye open, sighing happily as she stretched against the warm form beneath
her. Looking down, she saw clear blue
eyes full of love and humor looking back at her. “Good morning, love.” She kissed Seven softly.
“I concur.” The Borg tightened her arms around the
smaller woman.
It took a moment for
Janeway to realize she was still mostly clothed and being held tightly against
the entirely nude form of her lover. “I
guess I was a little anxious last night.”
“Perhaps a little.”
“Is that a complaint?”
“No, Captain.” Seven whispered, loving the light flush that
crept into Kathryn’s cheeks. “I have
often considered the image of you achieving orgasm while still attired in your uniform. It is one I have always found most
gratifying.”
“Really?” Janeway smiled. “I must admit the thought had entered my mind
too.”
“But did your
thoughts include the utilization of your ready room desk?”
“The desk, the couch,
against the railing…”
Seven’s eyebrows shot
up. “Elaborate.”
Kathryn blushed to
the roots of her hair. “Another
time. Right now I could use a shower and
some breakfast.” She climbed out of bed,
pulling the younger woman up with her.
“So long as the
events do not occur in that order.” At
the Admiral’s questioning glance Seven wrapped her arms around her and nuzzled
her cheek. “I enjoy the way I smell on
your skin.”
“Oh.” Janeway swallowed, feeling her heart rate
increase. “Well, then… shower later.”
The Borg smiled as
she pulled on a light robe and watched her lover take off her dress whites and
slip into her own robe. Taking her by
the hand, she led her down to the kitchen to press her firmly into a chair
before making her a cup of coffee. “What
would you like to eat this morning, Kathryn?”
The smaller woman sat
her coffee cup down and proceeded to stretch, raising her arms over her head
and groaning in pleasure as she felt her muscles loosen. “Whatever you want is fine with me.”
Seven watched the
spectacle before her, noting the way the robe pulled up to show off a firm
expanse of thigh. Stepping away from the
replicator, she picked up the Admiral’s coffee mug and set it down on the
counter, out of arms reach.
“Annika?”
The Borg did not
respond as she grabbed the front of Kathryn’s robe and pulled her out of the
chair to press her backwards against the kitchen table. “Whatever I want?” She repeated.
The Admiral nodded,
losing her voice in the look of desire leveled at her from her lover’s steady
blue eyes.
“I want what I was
denied last night.” She brought her lips
down to press against Janeway’s, her mouth opening to taste the lips beneath
hers. She continued to press backwards
until the smaller woman was forced to slide onto the table top. The Borg reached out and pulled the robe from
the slender shoulders she loved so much before pushing her back into a
reclining position. She pulled a chair
over and sat at the table as though she were about to have breakfast and
Janeway stifled a small snicker at the image.
But Seven wasn’t
laughing. Her eyes had taken on a
slightly dazed expression as she reached out with both hands and covered the
smaller woman’s breasts, her palms brushing lightly across the nipples before
catching them between her fingers.
Kathryn whimpered and
laid her head against the table, her back arching into the touch as the Borg’s
fingers began to fondle her more firmly.
Lowering her head, Seven kissed the inside of her knee, biting lightly
as she made her way up one smooth thigh before switching to the other side to offer
the same treatment. The scent of musk
was strong, heady, as much from the previous nights exertions as this mornings
and the younger woman felt herself getting lost in it.
When her nose finally
nuzzled into the curly auburn hair between her lover’s legs, she felt slightly
light headed, her blood pounding so hard in her veins that she could feel it
throb under her skin. “My Kathryn…” She whispered as her lips parted and her
tongue trailed across the swollen ridge of Janeway’s sex. She played her lips around it, humming softly
to herself as her chin became wet against the hot opening further down.
Janeway tried to
breathe as the vibrations from the Borg’s vocal cords traveled down her tongue
and onto the swollen bundle of nerves she was sucking steadily. As much as she loved to tease Seven about her
musical proclivities while they made love, the sensations it evoked were unlike
any other she had ever experienced. When
the younger woman pulled one hand from her breasts to slide three fingers inside
of her, the pleasure was so intense she cried out loudly, her words no more
than guttural utterances lost in the sounds of her lover’s moistly moving mouth
and tongue. The fingers curved deep
inside and she raised herself on her elbows, using the leverage to push back
against the thrusting hand, grinding herself into the lips that were driving
her out of control.
Shaking, Kathryn felt
herself beginning to peak and her hands tangled into the golden blonde mane
between her legs, holding Seven’s head firmly against her as she began to
shudder violently. “Oh dear sweet
Jesus….Annika!” She couldn’t hear her
own voice as her climax exploded, the blood rushing through her veins drowning
out the sounds of pleasure coming from the Borg as she lapped at the juices
flowing through her fingers. “Yes…YES!”
She collapsed back
onto the table, breathing heavily as she fought to stay conscious, fully aware
that, while Seven had removed her fingers, she remained where she was, drinking
every last drop of the essence from between her legs before she sat up and
smiled. Kathryn watched breathlessly as
the younger woman wiped her fingers across her chin and then slid them into her
mouth.
“Oh dear God.” She
croaked. “You will be the death of me.”
“On the contrary,”
Seven smirked, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “My research has
shown that making love is an excellent form of exercise and I intend to see
that you stay physically fit, Kathryn.”
“I think that is one
exercise regimen we don’t need to clear with the Doctor.” Janeway said dryly. “Now that I’ve fed you, are you going to feed
me?”
“Yes.” The blonde
rose and went back to the replicator, programming in a western omelet for
Kathryn and a small stack of pancakes for herself. When she brought them back to the table the
older woman quirked one eyebrow at her choice of food.
“Carbohydrates.” Seven flushed a lovely shade of pink. “I have found that where you are concerned,
it is prudent to ‘keep my strength up’.”
They ate breakfast
together holding hands, talking about the announcement they had in store for
their friends that evening. When the
meal was done and the dishes cleared away, Seven finally allowed Kathryn to
take a shower, after one last deeply inhaled breath against her cheek.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Mom! We’re here!”
Kathryn called out as they walked into the farmhouse. She took Seven’s jacket and hung it next to
hers on the coat rack. Looking back at
her lover, she couldn’t help but smile.
The younger woman had
stood for several minutes letting the snow fall onto her upturned face. Now the flakes had melted in the warmth of
the house and her cheeks were bright red, covered with a light sheen of
water. She took the beloved face between
her palms and used her thumbs to wipe away the moisture before pulling her head
down for a gentle kiss.
“Well,” Gretchen
laughed softly. “I see the cold hasn’t
done much to dampen your ardor, Kathryn.”
The Admiral blushed
and released Seven, walking over to her mother to wrap her up in a hug. “Hi Mom.”
Gretchen returned the
hug and then offered the same to Seven, who complied with a soft smile. “Hello… Mom.”
“Come on into the
kitchen you two. We have some food to
prepare.”
They followed
Gretchen into the brightly lit kitchen, both of them stopping short when they
realized the room was already occupied.
“Tal Celes.” Seven raised one eyebrow. “You have arrived
ahead of schedule.”
The Bajoran smiled,
setting down the knife she was using to peel potatoes to stand at attention in
front of the Admiral.
“At ease,
Celes.” Kathryn smiled. “At least for tonight.”
The eldest Janeway
smiled. “Celes was nice enough to come
early and offer to help with dinner. Did
you know she could cook, Kathryn?”
The last remark was
made rather pointedly and the Admiral was hard pressed not to roll her eyes. “Where’s Phoebe?”
“She’s in the
den.” Celes piped in then blushed
slightly. “She got a call from her
gallery in
“Ahh.” Kathryn tried to hide her smile. “What’s going on with the showing?”
“I’m not sure,”
Gretchen checked a pot on the stove.
“But she’s been yelling for the last twenty minutes.”
“I wasn’t
yelling!” Phoebe strode into the
kitchen, her color high. “I was speaking
emphatically.”
“Of course
dear.” Her mother patted her gently on
the shoulder. “Why don’t you help Celes
with the potatoes?”
“Fine.” Phoebe picked up a knife and began to
vigorously strip the vegetable of its outer skin.
Celes laughed and
gently grabbed her wrist. “You’re losing
more potato than you’re keeping, Phoebe.”
She turned the knife and showed her how to slide it across the spud,
taking off only the thin outer layer, not noticing the redhead’s flustered
expression at her touch. “There, you
just need to be gentler with your hand movements.”
“Yeah, Pheebs,”
Kathryn turned away slightly to hide her amused expression. “Gentle hands are important.”
Seven snorted softly,
causing a slight flush to creep into the Admiral’s cheeks. “How may I assist in the food preparation?”
“Well, the turkey is
already in the oven so you can make the salad.”
Gretchen pointed to a pile of vegetables draining in the sink. “Then you can help me with the chocolate
fudge torts we’re having for desert.”
Kathryn dipped her
finger into the bowl of fudge batter, closing her eyes in appreciation as she
slipped it into her mouth. “What can I
do?”
All four of the woman
looked at her and said in unison, “You can set the table.”
“I see you have
informed Celes of Kathryn’s culinary expertise.” Seven’s lips curled into a faint smile.
The Admiral grumbled
her way into the other room, ignoring the laughter emanating from the kitchen
as she pulled her mother’s best china from its cabinet. She spent an hour making sure every place
setting was just right, only looking up when Seven entered the room to hand her
a vase of water and a bouquet of flowers.
“Your mother has
requested that you arrange this dying vegetation in an appealing manner at the
center of the table.” She set the items
down, only to have Kathryn grab her hand and pull her into an embrace. “I have much work to do.”
“Too much to offer me
a kiss? Don’t I get a reward for setting
such a beautiful table?”
“I was unaware you
required my feedback on your place setting skills.” The Borg smirked but dropped her head to kiss
the eager lips softly. When they broke
apart, she rested her forehead against Kathryn’s. “What is your opinion of the current
situation between your sister and Tal Celes?”
Kathryn grinned. “I think Phoebe looks like she’s about to
climb out of her skin.”
“An interesting
allegory. It is my opinion that Phoebe
finds covert moments to glance at her the way you did with me my first year
aboard Voyager.”
“What are you talking
about?” Janeway straightened. “I looked at you as I did any other member of
my crew.”
Seven quirked one
eyebrow. “If that statement were true, I
do believe you would have had more pressing problems than returning your ship
to the Alpha Quadrant.”
The Admiral poked her
in the ribs playfully. “Don’t you have
some cooking to do?”
“Yes, Kathryn.” Seven kissed her one last time and then left
her to her floral arrangements.
Dinner preparations
progressed nicely and at 18:00 hours most of the food was prepared and sitting
under stasis dishes, all except the torts, which were waiting to be placed in
the oven. The five women gathered around
the kitchen table to share a cup of coffee before heading upstairs to change.
“So,” Kathryn looked
at her little sister. “What’s the
problem with your showing?”
Phoebe sighed before
taking a long drink of coffee. “It’s not
so much a problem as it is a headache.
Four of the focal pieces have sold.
The showing is going so well that my manager Marie wants me to replace
them so we can have a second opening at the end of next month.”
“That’s wonderful,
honey!” Gretchen leaned over and kissed
her on the forehead.
“Yeah, I would think
you would be elated.” Celes smiled at
her brightly. “Why is there a headache?”
“Because that leaves
me six weeks to come up with a new focus for the second showing, in addition to
at least four new pieces all while we’re trying to get these two kids
married.” She grumbled. “I’m not super human you know.”
“I’m sure you can do
it.” Celes enthused. “If there is anything I can do to help, just
let me know.”
Kathryn snickered and
Seven kicked her lightly under the table.
“I am sure you will succeed, Phoebe.
What direction were you considering for the new showing?”
“I need something
different. Something that hasn’t been
done to death.”
The Borg leaned her
head to one side. “I have scans of
numerous stellar anomalies that were acquired while Voyager was in the Delta Quadrant.
I believe that you might find them inspirational.”
Phoebe’s eyes
brightened. “Do you think Starfleet
would let me have a look at them?”
“They are not
classified.” Seven assured her. “When I return to Starfleet headquarters to
regenerate the day after tomorrow I will download them for you and bring them
with me when I return.”
“That’s great,
Seven! It could be just what I’m looking
for!”
Kathryn smiled gently
at the Borg, reaching out to take her hand across the top of the counter.
“Uhm…” Celes interjected. “Did someone say ‘married’?”
Gretchen
laughed. “Leave it to Phoebe to blurt
out a surprise.” She placed a hand on
the Bajoran’s shoulder. “I trust you can
keep it a secret until the happy couple has made their announcement?”
“Of course!” She looked at the Admiral and Seven with
bright eyes. “I think it’s
fantastic! You two are so perfect for
each other.”
“I agree.” Kathryn
kissed the hand she held in her own before standing. “I believe we should get changed. I said no uniforms tonight, Celes, so I hope
you brought something else to wear.”
“I did.” Celes nodded.
“I just need somewhere to change.”
“You can use my
room.” Phoebe chimed in, only to glare
at Kathryn’s look of amusement. “Top of
the stairs, first door on the right.”
Chapter Three – Together Again
At 18:45 hours,
Kathryn was dressed and waiting patiently for Seven in the living room. She wore a pair of crisply tailored black
slacks and an oversized blue silk blouse tied from behind at the waist that
showed off her figure nicely. She
glanced up in amusement when Phoebe entered.
“So… How does it feel having a naked woman in your childhood bedroom?”
Her sister paled
slightly but managed to shoot back, “Seems to be a pattern among the Janeway
children doesn’t it?”
“Oooo… You sound a
little flustered, sis. What ever could
be the problem?”
“Kathryn, do not
tease your sister.”
The Admiral looked
over as Seven entered and felt her heart swell.
The Borg was wearing a slinky black dress that showed off her shoulders
and the long expanse of her legs from beneath a short hem. Her hair was down and fell softly around her
features, making her look very young and yet very elegant at the same
time. “You look beautiful, Annika.”
“I believe your
opinion to be biased, but thank you.”
She sat down next to Kathryn.
“You look lovely as well.”
The warm looks that
passed between them were not lost on Phoebe.
“Jeez, you two, could you not undress each other with your eyes when I’m
sitting right here?”
“Would you rather we
do it with our hands?” Seven asked
reasonably.
“Oh for the love
of…” Phoebe threw her hands up, trying
to will the image from her mind. “I need
a glass of wine.”
They followed her as
she headed towards the kitchen, only to run into her back as she stood, rooted
firmly in place at the bottom of the stairs.
Kathryn and Seven both looked up, following Phoebe’s line of sight to
see Celes standing on the upper landing.
The Bajoran was radiant. Her long hair was brushed to a brightly
shimmering red and left to hang free across her bare shoulders. Her dress was a deep emerald green strapless
affair that clung to all the curves her Starfleet uniform hid from view. The black velvet high heeled sandals she wore
were tied up the calf and Phoebe found herself following the line of her legs
up to the hem of her dress which left off two inches above the knee.
“Oh.” Was all the youngest Janeway could manage to
say.
“Nice, Phoebe.” Kathryn couldn’t resist. “You really know how to sweet talk a
woman.”
Seven took the
snickering Admiral by the arm and led her away as Celes came down the stairs to
stand in front of the tall redhead. She
raked her up and down with a long considering gaze, taking in the white button
down shirt and tight black leather pants tucked neatly into black square heeled
boots. “You look pretty ‘oh’
yourself.” With a smile, she took Phoebe
by the hand and pulled her towards the kitchen.
When they entered,
Gretchen took one look at the expression on her youngest daughters face and
pressed a glass of wine into her hand, whispering quietly into her ear,
“Breathe, Phoebe.”
Phoebe took a long
breath and brought the glass to her lips, downing half of it in one gulp. Once the warmth of the liquid got her heart
beating again she smiled at her mother’s choice of attire. “Blue jeans, Ma?”
“Well, Kathryn did
say casual. Besides, all you can see at
the table is my shirt anyway.”
“You look very nice,
Gretchen.” Seven smiled. “The cream color of the silk is very
appealing.”
“Thank you Annika.”
They were interrupted
by the sound of the door chime.
“Looks like it’s time
to welcome our guests.” Kathryn set her
wine glass aside and took Seven’s hand, leading her out to the foyer. Celes followed them and Phoebe brought up the
rear after taking a moment to drain the rest of her glass.
Tom and B’Elanna were
the first to arrive, with little Miral in tow.
The child was laughing as she pulled snowflakes from her mother’s hair.
The Doctor showed up
next, pressing a bottle of Antirian whiskey into the Admiral’s hands before he
wandered off to the kitchen to give his regards to Gretchen, then Tuvok and
Harry arrived together, having taken the same hover-car from the transport station. The last to arrive were Samantha and Naomi
Wildman. The young Katarian girl
squealed in delight and threw herself into Seven’s arms.
“Naomi Wildman.” The Borg hugged the girl gently. “I am pleased that you and your mother could
attend.”
“It’s so good to see
you, Seven.” She grinned in joy. “I’ve really missed you.”
“I have missed your
presence as well. You have grown
much.” Seven untangled herself and led
everyone into the living room.
“Would anyone like a
glass of wine before dinner?” Kathryn
offered.
“I’ll take some of
that whiskey the Doc brought.” Tom
grinned. He accepted his glass with a
smile as everyone else took up the offer of merlot.
“So,” B’Elanna
bounced Miral on her knee. “What’s with
the big dinner?”
Kathryn smiled at the
half Klingon woman. “Time for that
later. What have you been up to?”
“I’m working at
Utopia Planetia while Tom plays helmboy with some of the small battle
ships.” She sat her little girl on the
floor where she rolled onto her back with a giggle. “I think they’re trying to keep us busy until
they figure out what to do with us.
There’s some major project going on there at the moment. Very hush hush. One whole hangar has been completely enclosed
and as hard as I try they won’t let me in.”
“Interesting.” The Admiral pursed her lips. “Sounds like
something I might try to get a look at.”
“I figured you’d say
that.” She smirked.
“How have they been
keeping you occupied?” Seven asked the
Doctor.
“Oh, you know
Starfleet, still going through debriefings and meetings regarding the state of
my being. Thanks to the Admiral, I seem
to be out of the woods. At the moment
they are considering my petition to become a commissioned officer.”
“I’ll check into the
progress on that for you.” Janeway
nodded in his direction. “I’m sure
Admiral Paris and Admiral Neyechev have the information sitting on their desks
by now.”
“I’d appreciate that,
Kathryn. Thank you.”
“What about you,
Harry?”
The newly promoted
Lieutenant beamed at her. “I’ve been
assigned to the Hood as Communications officer.
We’ll be heading out to patrol the border zones the day after tomorrow.”
“The Hood?” Janeway’s eyebrows rose in respect. “That’s impressive. I heard the Hood performed admirably during
Operation: Return. Congratulations,
Harry. You deserve it.” She turned to Tuvok. “And you my old friend?”
“I have taken a
sabbatical.” The Vulcan’s face was
impassive. “I will be spending the next
year with my family.”
“I’m sure they’re
thrilled.” The Admiral smiled. She was going to miss his presence but she
certainly couldn’t blame the man. “What
about you, Sam? I heard about your
husband, Greskrendtregk. I am so sorry
for his loss, but from what I understand he was truly an asset to DS9 during
the war.”
The blonde woman looked
down at her daughter, swallowing her sorrow before she replied. “Yes, they awarded him the Commendation of
Valor posthumously. He was a good man I
just wish Naomi had had the opportunity to know him.”
Kathryn felt the
sadness in the Ensign’s words keenly, even as she knew they were not directed
at her.
Sam took a deep
breath and smiled tremulously. “At the
moment, I’m between assignments. I’m on
leave until Naomi and I decide what we want to do next.”
Seven reached out and
brushed Naomi’s bangs out of her eyes.
“I am certain you will find a posting that will benefit from your
experience.”
The Ensign smiled at
her. She had been frightened by the
tall, intimidating woman when she first arrived on Voyager. But after seeing
the interaction between her daughter and the Borg, she knew in her heart that
Seven was a good person. “Thank you.”
“What about you
Celes?” Harry had been staring at the
Bajoran in frank appreciation. “What do
they have you doing at Headquarters?”
“Administration.” She returned his smile with slightly less
enthusiasm. “As much as I appreciate the journey and the time we all spent
together, my feet are happy right here on the ground.”
“I heard they
promoted you as well. Congratulations!”
The Bajoran
nodded. “Thank you.”
Gretchen appeared in
the doorway to smile at the small crowd.
“Well, if I can get some help to bring everything to table, dinner is
ready.”
“We’ll help.” Phoebe stood up quickly, gratified when Celes
followed suit. She had been watching
Lieutenant Kim attempt to flirt with the lovely redhead and found herself
uncomfortable with the situation. Why
she felt that way was something she wasn’t quite ready to examine, however.
As the rest of the
party began to drift into the dining room, Tom grabbed Harry by the arm. “Stop before you even start.” The helmsman snickered.
“What are you talking
about?”
“You really need to
look at the whole situation before you pick a woman to flirt with, Harry.” Tom patted him on the back. “I believe the score is now Janeway – two,
Kim – zero.”
Harry’s eyes widened
and then he hung his head good-naturedly as he followed his friend to the
table. The Admiral seated them as
Gretchen, Phoebe and Celes brought platters of food in from the kitchen. He rolled his eyes at Tom’s knowing look when
Phoebe and Celes took their own chairs, side by side.
“I just can’t win.”
He mumbled under his breath.
“This looks
incredible, Mrs. Janeway.” B’Elanna’s mouth began to water as she looked from
the huge stuffed turkey to the mounds of mashed potatoes and green beans.
“Well, don’t wait on
manners. Dig in while it’s hot!” Gretchen watched with the satisfaction only a
mother can feel as her food was quickly scooped onto plates and the party began
to eat in earnest.
Conversation was light
while they consumed the delectable meal, with the Doctor doing most of the
talking as his mouth was not otherwise engaged.
Soon the group was pleasantly stuffed to the point where they all
groaned when the chocolate fudge torts were brought in steaming from the
oven. No one declined however, choosing
instead to casually consume the sweets while sipping mugs of coffee and tea.
Finally, the moment
arrived and Kathryn stood, picking up her half filled glass of wine and looking
around the table fondly. “To our
family.” The rest of the party raised
their glasses and drank with her. When
she did not sit back down, the group looked at her expectantly, B’Elanna with a
knowing smirk on her face. “As you all
know, in six weeks we will mark the six month anniversary of Voyager’s return to the Alpha
Quadrant. Annika and I have decided that
that would be a very appropriate time for a celebration of another sort as
well.” She reached down and took her lover’s hand. “On that day, we will be solidifying our relationship
with a formal marriage ceremony. We
would be greatly honored if you could all be in attendance.”
The party erupted as
everyone stood and hugged the two women, laughing and smiling their joy for the
happy couple. As the furor died down and
everyone took their seats, Kathryn addressed Tom and Tuvok. “I would be very grateful if the two of you
would stand with me and, seeing as how Tuvok hates these kinds of emotional
events, if you could give the Best Man’s speech Tom, that would please me greatly.”
“Try and stop me,
Admiral.” Tom raised his glass as Tuvok
nodded his acceptance.
Seven stood to place
an arm around Kathryn’s waist.
“B’Elanna, Celes, I would be gratified if you would act as my
‘bridesmaids’.”
“You got it.” The Klingon grinned and downed the rest of
her wine as Celes nodded shyly.
“Phoebe,” The Borg
looked down at the youngest Janeway. “I
would be very pleased if you would act as my Maid of Honor.”
Phoebe’s smile was
bright and her eyes moist as she raised her glass. “Nothing would make me happier.” She took a drink. “Wait, that doesn’t mean I have to wear some
god-awful dress does it?”
“I’m sure we’ll find
something tasteful, Pheebs.” Kathryn
assured her.
Seven turned to
Naomi, who had been sitting quietly, a small pout on her face. “Naomi Wildman. You were my first friend on Voyager, aside from the Captain. It would please me greatly if you would
agree to be the ring bearer for the ceremony.”
The small girl’s eyes
lit up. “The ring bearer?”
“Yes. It is the most important function.” The Borg gave her a very serious look. “You will be responsible for carrying the
symbols of our union to the altar where we will exchange them, sealing our vows
for eternity.”
“Gosh,” Naomi
swallowed. “That is big. You can count on me,
Seven!”
“I never had any
doubt.” Seven assured her. Finally, the Borg faced the other end of the
table, her expression softening slightly.
“Doctor?”
“Yes, Seven?”
“I would be honored
if you would be willing to ‘give me away’.”
Kathryn wished she
had a holo-imager at that moment, because the look on the EMH’s face was all it
would ever take to prove the man was sentient.
“Well,” He coughed
slightly, which Seven thought was an interesting affectation. “I would also be very honored to do so.”
“Then it’s all
settled.” Kathryn grinned. “You all have six weeks to figure out the
perfect wedding gift for a Borg and her Admiral.”
The party continued
for another hour or so and then began to break up as people headed home. Celes volunteered to stay and help clean up
and between the five women the work went very quickly.
They all gathered
around the fire place for a last glass of the vibrant purple whiskey before
calling it a night.
“I need to go back to
Headquarters in the morning.” Kathryn
sighed, taking a small sip of the strong liquor, allowing it to roll around in
her mouth before swallowing it.
“Me too.” Celes tried not to choke on her own drink,
earning a teasing smile from Phoebe.
“I need to get
started on some new sketches.” Phoebe hung
her head in mock defeat. “You know this
whole artist thing is starting to feel like a job.”
Gretchen laughed at
her youngest child. “I’m sure you’ll
survive.” She turned to Seven. “So I guess it’s you and me tomorrow Annika. I’d like to show you the church where Edward
and I were married. I think it would be
fitting if you two were wed there as well.
I also have a friend who runs a wonderful little catering company. We can stop by her office and go over some
menus.”
“That would be most
agreeable, Mom.” She glanced at her
fiancé. “But would you not prefer to have input on these decisions as well
Kathryn?”
“Hmm?” The Admiral had only been half listening, her
thoughts on other things as she watched the firelight dance in Seven’s
eyes. “I’m sure whatever the two of you
decide will be perfect.” She smiled
reassuringly. “I have a lot of loose
ends to tie up at Fleet headquarters before I can take another month of leave. In fact, if you will excuse me, I noticed a
message that came through earlier from Admiral Paris. I should go and check it. I’ll see you upstairs, Annika. Goodnight, everyone.”
Gretchen watched her
go, a slightly amused look on her face.
“She brings it on herself.” She
said softly, confusing Seven.
“Well,” Celes
stood. “It’s getting late. I should get going.”
Phoebe jumped
up. “I’ll take you back to the transport
station.”
The Bajoran
smiled. “Thanks. Let me just go grab my bag.” When she came back down, they headed out the
door with Phoebe ignoring the knowing looks on the other women’s faces.
They settled into the
hover-car, both of them riding in silence as Phoebe searched for something to
say.
“So,” She began. “What part of Fleet headquarters do you work
in?”
“The main
offices. I’m assigned to Admiral Stewart
in Logistics.”
“Do you ever get days
off?”
Celes smiled at the
slight flush that crept into Phoebe’s cheeks.
“Two a week. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Do you work out of
your mother’s house?”
The redhead
nodded. “I have a small studio set up
there. It’s where I’ll be doing most of
my work for now, especially with the wedding coming up. Why?”
“Just curious.” The Bajoran gave her a playful grin.
The ride was over all
too quickly and Phoebe watched as the lithe young woman slid out the door of
the small craft. Celes stuck her head
back in for a moment to flash a brilliant smile at the flustered redhead.
“I had a wonderful
time, Phoebe.”
And then she was
gone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Seven was tucked into
bed when Kathryn finally joined her some time later. She stripped out of her clothes and slid
between the sheets to be welcomed into strong loving arms.
“What did Admiral
Paris wish to speak with you about?”
“I’m still not
exactly sure.” Kathryn frowned.
“It was a lengthy
communication for you to come away from with no definitive information.”
“I agree.”
“So it is
classified.” Seven tightened her arms,
drawing the smaller woman closer, reveling in the warmth of her body.
“Apparently so.” Janeway sighed and closed her eyes, the
excitement from the day finally catching up with her.
“Sleep now. I am sure all things will be made clear
tomorrow.” The Borg waited until
Kathryn’s breathing evened out and then closed her own eyes, content with the
world as it was for that moment.
Chapter Four – Hyperion
Seven of Nine, still
damp from the shower, stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror thinking
that her lips looked slightly swollen.
She brought her fingers up to touch them, enjoying the slight ache that
Kathryn had left in the wake of her lengthy goodbye that morning.
The Admiral had woken
her slightly before dawn and they had spent over an hour lying in bed, their
lips locked together in a series of searing kisses that had left her
breathless. She hadn’t wanted it to stop
and it had taken all of her resolve to say goodbye when it was time for her
lover to head off to the transport station.
She leaned her head
to one side, scrutinizing the ocular implant that made up part of her left eye,
before trailing her fingertips down her cheek to touch the silver starburst
embedded below her right ear.
It was a wonder to
her that Kathryn could love her, despite her imperfections. The fact that the incredibly strong and
beautiful woman also wanted to marry her, that was something that was beyond
even her formidable comprehension.
With a sigh, she
slipped into her robe and went back to the bedroom where she pulled out what
Kathryn referred to as ‘comfort clothes’.
They consisted of a pair of well washed blue jeans and a soft white,
button down shirt. She didn’t bother to
put anything on her feet before she headed down to the kitchen.
Gretchen’s smile of
greeting faded when she took in the look on Seven’s face. “What’s wrong,
sweetie?” She placed a comforting arm
across the Borg’s shoulders and led her over to a stool before pouring her a
cup of tea.
“I am unsure what has
affected my mood.” Seven shrugged
helplessly. “I feel…”
“Lost?” Gretchen smiled at her gently. “Restless? Worried?”
“Yes!” The Borg looked surprised. “Why would I be feeling such things? I am very pleased with my current situation.”
“It’s normal
honey. Things are changing so fast and
no matter how intelligent you are, the heart bypasses the brain every
time. It just means your human, like the
rest of us.”
“Not quite like the
rest of you.” Seven turned her face away
to hide the tears in her eyes.
“Is that what this is
about?” Gretchen grabbed her shoulders
and turned her so she could look into her eyes.
“You stop that right now. You are
a beautiful young woman. None of this
metal and mesh can change that. Besides,
it’s not what’s on the outside that matters.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts.
And you have a beautiful heart, Annika Hansen. I knew that from the first moment Kathryn
brought you home.”
Seven surprised
herself by sliding her arms around the older woman’s waist and hugging her
tightly. She wondered vaguely if there
was something inherently therapeutic about the Janeway women that she always
felt so much better in their arms.
“Hey,” Phoebe stopped
in the doorway, waiting until her mother nodded at her before she entered. She poured herself a cup of coffee and joined
them at the counter. “Everything all
right?”
“Annika’s just
feeling a little of the bridal blues.”
“Ahh.” Phoebe sipped her coffee quietly as she
studied Seven’s face. “You know, this
might not be the best time to ask but, the way you look right now… I’d really
love to do a sketch of you. Do you think
you might be up for that?”
The Borg looked
slightly intrigued. “Perhaps. But I have made prior arrangements to spend
the day with your mother to prepare for the wedding.”
“Don’t worry about
me.” Gretchen smiled. “We can go later
today. The church isn’t going anywhere.”
“Very well then. What does this endeavor entail? Do I need to change my attire?”
“No. You look perfect. My studio is out in the barn loft though, so
you might want to throw on some shoes and a jacket until we get there. Don’t worry, it’s heated.”
Seven nodded and went
to collect the suggested items while Phoebe stared down into her coffee,
“What do you have
going on in that devious little mind of yours?”
Gretchen dropped a kiss on her youngest child’s forehead.
“I’m thinking it’s
time the rest of the world knows just how human she really is.”
* * * * * * * * * *
“Good morning, Eva.”
Janeway’s assistant
looked up in surprise, a genuine smile gracing her normally placid
features. “Admiral! It’s good to have you back. I have your messages.”
Kathryn took the PADD
the young woman offered her and grimaced as she noted the number of missives on
it. “I spoke too soon.”
“I’m sorry,
Admiral. You were gone for several
weeks.”
“Yes, I know.” She flashed her a brilliant smile. “There’s no way I’m going to have time to
look through all of these. Let’s do
this, go through the list and delete anything with the words ‘Chakotay’ or
‘Mark Johnson’ anywhere in them. Then
bring me the rest along with a pot of really strong coffee.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
Kathryn stepped into
her office and groaned. The top of her
desk was literally covered with stacks of PADDs and Owen Paris was scheduled to
join her in less than two hours.
There were some
mornings when she truly hated being an Admiral.
With a sigh, she sat
down and began sorting through them, stopping only long enough to pour herself
a cup of joe when Eva brought it quietly into the room. When she was done, she had sorted the PADDs
into four main groups: Priority,
Moderately Imperative, Baseless Communications and Downright Idiotic. The last two she sent out to Eva to handle
while she sorted through the various demands presented by the others.
When her assistant
knocked quietly two hours later, she stretched in relief and stood, smiling
genuinely as Admiral Paris came to stand before her desk. “Owen.”
“Kathryn.” They nodded at each other and took their
seats. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Well, I’m glad one
of us thinks so. You couldn’t have
someone cover the reports while I was gone, huh?” She poured him a cup of coffee.
Janeway thought about
that for a moment. “Parts of it were
quite memorable. You should know,
however, that I will be submitting my request to you for four additional weeks
of leave at the end of next month.”
“So soon? Your timing could be better, Kathryn.”
“Well, my apologies
but this is one leave I can’t reschedule.
I’m getting married.”
“Quite.”
“Well then,” He came
around the desk and hugged her briefly.
“Congratulations. I’ll make sure
I expedite the request when it hits my desk.
Who’s the lucky fellow?”
She knew there was no
point in dissembling. “Annika Hansen.”
“Annika Hans-“ He blinked
several times. “The Borg…?”
“The lovely young
woman that returned from the Delta Quadrant with us, yes Owen.”
“Of course.” She picked up her own mug and took a long
drink. “So what about my timing is off?”
With a small smile he
set another PADD on her desk.
Janeway picked it up,
noting that it required her personal security code to access it. “Operation Hyperion?”
“It’s eyes only at
this point, Kathryn. At least until you
hear my proposal.”
She read through the
information quickly. “These are specs
from the Theoretical Propulsion Group for an experimental drive and nav
system?”
“Yes. That’s only an outline. I’ll have the full specs sent over later
today, but we thought it would be something that could use your expertise.”
“My expertise?” Janeway said dryly.
“Well, maybe not just
your expertise…”
“Ahh.” Kathryn smirked. “You want Seven.”
“We want both of you
on this project. The specs are sound as
far as the TPG can take them. They were
based largely on information you brought back with you on Voyager. Since Seven of Nine
played a major role in compiling and implementing much of that information, we
naturally think the project would benefit from her input.”
“What exactly are we
talking about here?”
“This is high level,
Kathryn. This information would only be
available to you and the staff working on the project. Starfleet would, of course, be much more
comfortable with the situation if she was amenable to accepting a commission
before working with you on this.”
“And if she
isn’t? Starfleet wasn’t exactly friendly
towards her when we first arrived.”
“I am aware that she
may be reluctant to take a full commission.
If that is the case then we are prepared to work around that.”
“How?”
“Civilian Attache to
Starfleet Operations. It would carry a
civilian rank equal to that of a Lieutenant Commander however she would not be
in a position of authority over any Starfleet personnel not directly assigned
to her department.”
Janeway leaned back
in her chair. “You must want her awfully
badly.”
“I believe I can
speak for Starfleet when I say that we are well aware that the two of you work
best as a team. Your experience with
utilizing experimental drives and her experience with building them are
invaluable to this project.”
“How soon do you need
an answer?”
“Yesterday.”
“Of course.” She
picked up the PADD. “Can I share this
with her?”
“Yes. However the full specs will remain for your
eyes only until we have an answer from her in regards to her involvement. I trust that is agreeable?”
“I’ll discuss it with
her tonight.”
“Very good. If you can get her to agree, send me a
communiqué immediately and I will have the proper papers drawn up and waiting
on your desk tomorrow morning.”
“What’s the
rush? How soon are we talking about
implementation?”
“If everything works out,
we’re hoping to have the systems up and doing live test runs within two
months.”
She leaned
forward. “On what ship?”
Admiral Paris grinned
at her. “Talk to Seven. I’ll be waiting for your response.”
Kathryn watched him
go before picking the PADD up to run through the specs again.
Things were getting
very interesting.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Why may I not see
it?” Seven stared at the artist
obstinately.
“Because,” Phoebe
smiled and draped a thin sheet over the easel holding her first outline of the
Borg. “It’s considered bad luck.”
“I fail to see how
allowing the object of your artistic rendering to view the unfinished project
is related to creating an unfortunate situation.”
The redhead blinked
and then laughed. “Give me a minute to
translate that statement and I’ll give you an answer.”
Seven sighed. “I see you share Kathryn’s stubbornness.”
“Did you expect
anything less?”
“In truth… no. When will I be allowed to see your creation?”
“When it’s done.”
Phoebe handed the Borg her jacket and her shoes. “Now you better get back down to the
house. I’m sure Mom is chomping at the
bit to take you to see the church.”
“Will you require me
to sit for you again?”
“Maybe.” Phoebe shrugged. “I have a really good start here. If I do, trust me, I’ll ask.”
“Very well.” She hesitated for a moment after pulling on
her garments, making the redhead laugh.
“Go on!” She pushed her towards the stairs leading
down from the loft to the lower level of the barn. “I’m not going to show you!”
With a sigh, the Borg
made her way out of the warmth of the tall building, enjoying the coldness of
the snow as she waded through it to the back door of the farm house. Gretchen was sitting at the counter, drinking
a cup of tea and flipping through one of a tall stack of wedding magazines.
“Well,” The older
woman smiled at her as she stepped inside and shook the snowflakes off her
face. “It looks like you survived.”
“Yes, but it was a
dangerous mission.” Seven returned the
smile. “Phoebe can be very
demanding. And she would not allow me to
see what she has completed thus far.”
“I think that’s an
artist thing dear. She would never allow
any of us to see anything she was working on until it was done.” Gretchen set the magazine back on the stack. “Are you ready to go and see the church?”
“Yes, please.”
The trip was a short
one and as the church came into view, Seven drew in a breath. It was a one room building, whitewashed, with
a steeple that rose up into the softly falling snow. Behind it was the flat, shimmering surface of
a frozen over lake surrounded on all sides by trees.
“It is
beautiful.” Seven breathed as she
climbed out of the hover-car.
“Wait until you see
the inside.” Gretchen smiled at her and
took her hand, drawing her through the double doors.
The inside of the
church was warm and brightly lit. The
pews were all hardwood, smooth to the touch and polished to a bright
luster. The center aisle led to a
similarly cared for altar backed by long, crimson drapes surrounding a wide bay
window. The color immediately reminded
Seven of Kathryn’s uniform and the view of the lake beyond was breathtaking.
The church was
non-denominational so there were no overtly religious themes something she knew
would appeal to Kathryn as well.
“So what do you think?” Gretchen asked.
“I find it more than
acceptable. Do you believe Kathryn will
as well?”
“Oh, I think so.”
Seven nodded. “Then I believe it to be the right choice.”
“Good. Now let’s go see my friend about a feast.”
Three hours later,
pleasantly stuffed full of the tasty tidbits and tea the caterer had pressed
upon them followed by several different samples of wedding cake, Gretchen and
Seven dragged themselves into the farm house and fell heavily onto the couch.
“I do not believe I
will eat again for the foreseeable future.”
“Yes, but Meg can
cook can’t she?” Gretchen laughed. “Just think, we need to start dinner soon.”
“No.” Seven groaned. “We should allow Kathryn to fend for
herself.”
The older woman
smiled at her gently. “You aren’t happy
with her willingness to let us make all of the choices are you?”
The Borg
flushed. “Kathryn is very busy.”
“Maybe, but I think
she could handle a few of the decisions.
She just needs to be reminded that she is supposed to be an active
participant in this event.”
“How should I go
about reminding her?”
Gretchen smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Kathryn stepped
inside the house, shaking the snow off her jacket before hanging it on the coat
rack. “I’m home.”
“In the kitchen
dear.” Gretchen called back.
She set her PADDs on
the dining room table and walked into the kitchen to accept a mug of coffee
from her mother. “What’s for dinner?”
“Annika and I have
eaten and your sister won’t be home until late.
I can make you up a sandwich and some soup if you like.”
“That would be great,
Mom thanks.” She set her mug down. “Where’s Annika?”
“She’s upstairs in
the bedroom.”
“I need to talk to
her. I’ll be down in a little while.”
“Alright, sweetie.”
She climbed the
stairs and swung the bedroom door open, her eyes going wide when she saw Seven
standing in front of the full-length mirror on her closet door.
“Oh my god.” She whispered her heart thudding painfully as
she realized that the Borg was wearing full Starfleet dress whites. Her hair was down, framing her face, creating
a softness that made the uniform look all the more appealing. “It’s a damn good thing I never got you to
wear a uniform while we were on Voyager.”
Seven looked at her,
raising one eyebrow quizzically.
“Kathryn?”
“I would have torn it
off of you the moment I saw you in it.”
“That would have been
interesting had I been on the bridge at the time.”
“Love you never would
have made it out of the
“I was made to
understand that a bride should wear white on her wedding day.” Seven replied.
Janeway’s mouth
dropped open. “You don’t mean… you’re
going to wear that?”
“Why would I
not?” She glanced in the mirror
again. “I believe I look quite handsome
in it.”
“Oh, you do.” Janeway came up behind her and ran her hands
down the back of the jacket. “But don’t
you think it will look a little odd if we’re both dressed this way?”
“We will not both be
dressed in this manner.”
“What do you
mean?” She asked suspiciously.
Seven pulled out a
‘Modern Bride’ magazine. “Your mother
and I have gone through and marked several pages that depict gowns we believe
would be quite attractive on you. The
one on page ninety eight is my favorite.
I believe it would highlight the delicateness of your features.”
Kathryn’s jaw
dropped. “You cannot be serious! You want to wear the suit and you want me to wear the dress?”
“Is there a problem,
Kathryn?”
“Yes!” She dropped the magazine on the bed. “I should wear the suit.”
“Why?”
“Because… because…”
Kathryn stammered. “Because I’m the
Captain!”
“Not any longer, you
were promoted remember?” She kissed her
softly on the nose.
“Then because I’m the
Admiral! You’re not even in Starfleet!”
“I am taller… and I
will just refrain from wearing an insignia.
I was crew on Voyager after
all.” Seven countered, she turned to
look at her lover pointedly. “Kathryn, I do believe your exact words were ‘I am
sure whatever the two of you decide will be perfect.’ You can hardly complain about it now.”
Janeway took a deep
breath and was about to retort when she saw the glint of humor in Seven’s
eyes. “This was Mom’s way of telling me
I need to help out isn’t it?”
The younger woman
wrapped her arms around her and kissed her thoroughly. “We both felt that you could use a reminder
that you are expected to be an active participant.”
Janeway grinned. “Ok, I deserved that. I’m sorry, Annika. What can I do to help?”
“It will be your
responsibility to choose the tokens we are to exchange during the
ceremony. In addition to that I would be
pleased if you would plan where we are to go on our honeymoon.”
“I can do that.” She kissed the Borg tenderly. “So I get to wear the dress whites?”
“Of course.” Seven released her. “Although I would prefer if they were at
least partially red. Red has always been
your color.”
“You’ve mentioned
that once or twice.”
“It is also
regrettable that I will not be wearing these.
They are striking.” She began to
take them off.
“Uhm..Seven?”
“Yes, Kathryn?”
The older woman
stepped closer, running her hands down the jacket lapels and over her breasts
as she looked up at the Borg with heavily lidded eyes “Don’t recycle it.”
“Yes, Captain.” Seven smirked.
Kathryn kissed the
adorably quirked lips. “Get changed and
then come downstairs. There’s something
I need to talk to you about.
* * * * * * * * * *
Seven looked up from
the pad as Gretchen brought in a sandwich and coffee for Kathryn and a cup of
tea for her. “Thank you.” She smiled at the Janeway matriarch before
turning to her fiancé. “These specs are
very unusual, Kathryn.”
“In what way?” The Admiral talked around a mouthful of
turkey and provolone.
“The amount of energy
required for this experimental drive would call for three separate warp cores
to be present to facilitate the funneling of the hyper accelerated
dilithium. I am unaware of any ship
currently outfitted with such an engine configuration that is large enough to
handle the power surge.”
“I know.” Kathryn smiled. “Owen wouldn’t tell me anything about the
ship. I think it was intentional.”
“I must admit, this
is an ambitious design.” The Borg scanned the information again eagerly. “The TPG must have been working on it for
quite some time.”
“Since we returned
from the Delta Quadrant apparently.”
“And why did
Starfleet not bring it to your attention sooner?”
“I’m beginning to
think that this is the reason they decommissioned Voyager. That this drive is
going to be the new standard. To be
honest, I’m more interested in the ship it’s being made for.”
Seven smiled at her
knowingly. “Admiral Paris tempted you
with a small amount of information in the hopes that you would in turn tempt me
with the possibility of undertaking an altogether new propulsion design.”
“Is it working?”
“I admit I am
intrigued. I have been considering the
possible avenues available to me for future employment. Aside from providing an intellectual
challenge, this project would also allow us to work closely together.”
“That was my thought
too.” Kathryn ate the last bite of her
sandwich and washed it down with a healthy swig of coffee. “I wasn’t sure how you would react to
becoming a commissioned officer, however.”
The Borg sat the pad
down and regarded her lover seriously.
“I am still uncertain that I wish to accept a rank from Starfleet. However, I would be amenable to the civilian
position he has offered, at least until the project is finished. At that time I can always reassess the
situation.”
“So you’re accepting
Owens offer?”
“Yes, so long as it
does not compromise our wedding plans.”
“He has assured me
that it won’t.”
“Very well
then.” She smiled when Kathryn leaned
over and kissed her. “However, I must
insist that I be allowed at least two days a week to assist Gretchen with the
wedding plans and whatever additional time Phoebe might require to finish the artwork we began this morning.”
Janeway looked at her
blankly. “You’re working with Phoebe?”
“I posed for her this
morning. She is unsure whether she will
require me to sit for her again but I wish to be available should she need me
to do so.”
“I see.” Kathryn pursed her lips. “Well, I need to go and send a communiqué to
Owen so the papers will be ready for your signature tomorrow morning before you
go to regenerate. Why don’t you keep
going over the specs? I’ll be back in a
little while.”
“Very well.”
Seven immersed
herself in the data that was available, committing it to her eidetic memory
while making internal notes in regards to questions and suggestions that had
already occurred to her. She was so
engrossed by the project that it was with surprise when she looked up an hour
later, realizing that Kathryn still had not returned.
She checked the den,
where the vid comm was located to find it unoccupied. In the kitchen, she found Gretchen still
going through wedding magazines. The
older woman smiled at her when she entered.
“Do you know where
Kathryn is?” She asked.
Gretchen smiled. “I believe she’s out in the barn.”
“The barn?” Seven sighed.
Curiosity was not something her lover handled well. “I will go and collect her.”
The short walk
through the snow was pleasant. The air
was clean and sharp and the sky was clear.
When she entered the barn, the warmth hit her like a wave and she
unbuttoned her jacket before heading towards the stairs. “Kathryn?”
She called out.
“Yes!” The Admiral appeared, peering down over the
railing from the loft above, a guilty look on her face. “I’m here.”
“What are you doing
in Phoebe’s studio, Kathryn?”
“I was
just…uhm…looking around.”
“You were looking for
the sketch of me she began this morning.
I do not believe that Phoebe would be pleased if you were to view it
before it was completed.”
The Admiral had the
good grace to blush. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I thought I would just sneak a
peak. But I can’t find it.” Shrugging, she started down the stairs.
Halfway down, she
lost her footing on a loose board and ended up falling forward into Seven’s
arms, bearing them both backwards into a pile of sweet smelling hay.
Laughing at her own
clumsiness, she brushed the straw from the Borg’s features before kissing her
thoroughly. “Are you all right?”
“I am
uninjured.” Seven smirked. “However, there are easier methods of getting
me to ‘roll in the hay’ with you.”
“Maybe, but at least
this way I ended up on top.”
“And you believe this
positioning to be advantageous in regards to achieving a specific goal?”
Kathryn broke into a
wide grin, laughing in delight.
Normally, she didn’t care to be teased, but when Seven did it, she just
couldn’t seem to get enough for some reason.
She slid her hands inside the Borg’s jacket, smoothing her palms over
the curves of her breasts. “Well, it
does give me the ‘upper’ hand.”
Seven groaned. “Please assure me that the phrasing of that
statement was not intentional.”
“Oh, pretty much
everything I do is intentional where you are concerned.”
The Borg raised one
eyebrow. “So your clumsiness was
planned? Elaborate.”
Kathryn began to work
open the buttons on Seven’s shirt very slowly, stopping to play her fingers
over the skin beneath each time. “It put
you right where I wanted you.” She
dropped her lips to the Borg’s long, elegant neck, nuzzling the pulse point
softly before nipping at it with her teeth.
Seven nestled back
into the hay, enjoying the feel of her lover’s fingers against her chest and
the light suckling that she knew would leave red marks on the skin of her
throat. When Kathryn spread her legs and
straddled her hips, she smiled knowingly.
This would be one more location she could cross off her list of
potential places to make love.
Growling low in her
chest, Kathryn pulled the now completely open shirt from where it was tucked
into her lover’s tight blue jeans. With
expert fingers, she popped the button at the top of the dungarees and then the
five buttons below it one at a time, punctuating each opening with light nibble
on the skin beneath her lips. When she
reached one rosy nipple and slid her tongue around it, Seven was already
writhing beneath her.
The Borg brought her
hand up and wrapped it around the back of Kathryn’s neck, pulling the older
woman tightly against her. When she felt
teeth graze across the pebbled bud, she bit her lower lip, a small sigh of happiness
escaping her throat.
“You like that do
you?” Kathryn smiled against her
breast. “What about this?” She brought her other hand up and began to
twist the other nipple gently. When she
received a moan in response, she shifted, sliding one knee up to fit snugly
between Seven’s thighs. “And that?”
“Yes…” Seven pushed her away just long enough to
pull the jacket and sweater from her body then pulled her close again. She snaked one hand between them and unzipped
the black slacks that Kathryn was wearing before sliding both her hands inside,
gliding around the swell of hips to cup the older woman’s smooth buttocks. Finding her access still too limited, she sat
up, staring into Kathryn’s eyes with a smoldering look, her breath heavy. “Remove the rest of your clothing.”
The Admiral
laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” Leaning to the side, she pulled off her
boots, followed by her pants and briefs, then did the same for Seven, who had
already tugged off her own jacket and shirt, tossing them aside.
When their bodies met
again, the feeling of warm, smooth flesh colliding together pulled gasps from
them both as they wiggled deeper into the hay, the soft stalks tickling their
skin slightly as they embraced.
Kathryn kissed her
slowly, using her tongue to run across the sweet flesh of her lips before
dipping inside to tangle wetly with Seven’s tongue. She adored the feel of the younger woman’s
hands as they played across her back and when she trailed her mouth down the
Borg’s chest to capture a nipple between her teeth again, she felt a flush of
moisture bathe the skin of her thigh.
“Ahh, that’s my girl.” She whispered as she pressed harder with her
knee. “I want you so wet when I get down
there that I’ll feel it dripping down my chin.”
Seven moaned, her
hips surging upwards as she raised her own leg, reveling in the damp hair and
flesh the pressed against her skin.
Kathryn slid lower,
replacing her lips with her fingers as she kissed her way down the Borg’s
abdomen. Her tongue ran lovingly between
the bands of metal across her midsection before sliding down into the pale
thatch of fragrant blonde hair. Unable
to wait any longer, she parted Seven’s folds with her nose, breathing her scent
in deeply as her tongue found the small bundle of nerves that was already swollen
with need. She closed her lips on it,
sucking it into her mouth as her fingers quickened their movements on the
Borg’s nipples.
“More…” Seven
whimpered, her hands tangled in Kathryn’s hair.
“I need…”
“I know what you
need.” The Admiral whispered, smiling as
she pulled her hand down to enter Seven with two fingers, her hand thrusting
gently against the hips pushing up into her.
She was so wet. Her essence was
everywhere, bathing her face and the smooth thighs on either side of her and
what she couldn’t catch with her lips dripped down into the hay beneath them,
mingling with its sweet scent to create a heady mixture that began to pervade
the entire barn.
The experience was
intoxicating and Kathryn felt her own need rising like hot liquid within
her. She thrust into Seven twice more
and then sat up, positioning their bodies so that the over heated flesh between
their legs pressed tightly together.
Then she began to move, slowly at first, the friction exquisite as the
sensitive flesh met and parted, only to be pulled together again, the hard
bundles of nerves dragging across each other, making them both cry out as their
bodies became slick with sweat and their combined moisture. Reaching out, she clasped both of Seven’s
hands within her own, using them to pull their bodies more firmly together as
she gazed into eyes filled with love and desire.
It was heaven, it was
bliss, it was torture of the sweetest kind as they both tried to hold back the
climaxes building within them, neither of them wanting to let go of the primal
connection created by where their bodies joined together.
It was Seven that
went over first. Her head slammed back
into the hay as her eyes closed and a low cry began in the back of her
throat. Kathryn could feel the flesh against
her own sex begin to flutter and she whimpered as her body responded wildly,
her thighs tightening convulsively as her own orgasm tore through her, shaking
her body as she threw her head back to howl into the rafters.
Then she collapsed
forward, her head resting heavily against Seven’s heaving chest. Languidly, she slid down and began to lick
the essence from the Borg’s sensitive flesh, smiling as the younger woman
quivered under her tongue’s caress. When
she had drunk her fill, she climbed back up, kissing the blonde hard, sharing
the taste of their combined passion with her tongue and lips.
When they finally
broke apart, Kathryn lay on top of Seven quietly, her fingers playing idly with
the long locks of pale hair that fanned out across the hay like silk.
Seven merely lay on
her back, her eyes staring blankly at the roof of the barn as she tried to get
her breathing under control. “That was,”
She finally whispered. “Quite exceptional.”
“I agree.” The older woman nuzzled her neck, her
interest renewed as the strength returned to her limbs.
“WHOA! I thought the only full moon was the one
outside!”
Kathryn squeaked in
horror at the sound of Phoebe’s voice, her arms flailing wildly as she tried to
bury herself in the hay piled up around them.
Seven merely sat up and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You had to mess
around out here? What, your room wasn’t
good enough?” Phoebe teased. “How am I supposed to get any work done now?”
“We were unaware that
you would be returning this evening.” The
Borg said calmly. “At least we refrained
from ‘messing around’ in your loft.”
The younger Janeway
rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she shifted the stack of sketchbooks she was
carrying to her other arm. “I guess I
should count myself lucky. What were you
doing out here anyway? Besides the
obvious?”
Kathryn stuck her
head up. “Nothing! We were just getting
some air!”
Seven raised one
eyebrow at the lie, making Phoebe start to laugh all over again.
“I took it with me,
Katie.” She smirked. “I know you too well. Now if you two degenerates don’t mind, I have
some work to do. Once I open a window
that is.” She made her way up the stairs,
calling back over her shoulder, “Oh and by the way, get some sun would ya,
Sis?”
When she was out of
sight, Kathryn jumped up and pulled her clothing on quickly, refusing to look
at Seven whom she knew was enjoying the whole situation way too much.
The cold air outside
was refreshing after the heat of the barn and they made their way back to the
house slowly, hands entwined. As they
reached the porch, Kathryn wrapped her arms around Seven and whispered, “Have I
told you recently how very much I adore you?”
“Not in the last
seven point three hours.”
“Well I do.” She kissed her softly. “I love you with parts of me I didn’t even
know I had.”
Seven kissed her
back. “And I, in turn, love every one of
your parts.”
The kitchen was warm
when they entered to find steaming hot mugs of cocoa waiting for them. Kathryn picked hers up and took a long drink,
before smiling at her mother. “You
always knew just the right time for hot chocolate.”
Gretchen gave the two
of them a long look. “Make sure you
shower before you go to bed.”
Kathryn’s eyebrows
furrowed.
Smiling, her mother
reached out and pulled several stalks of hay from beneath the collar of her
shirt. “That’ll chafe something fierce
if you don’t.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Seven handed the last
PADD back to Admiral Paris and accepted a small insignia designating her
civilian rank. She looked at it blankly
for a few moments until Kathryn finally took it and affixed it to the top of
her biosuit, near her collar.
“Well,”
“You may call me
Seven of Nine.”
“Very well.” He handed them each several PADDs. “These
contain the entire set of specs for the new Mercury Propulsion and Navigational
system. Where did you want to get
started?”
“Tell us about the
ship.” Kathryn interjected, her eyes
glittering.
Admiral Paris laughed. “I thought that might be your preferred
jumping off point.” He straightened his
uniform jacket. “Well, I can tell you…
or I can show you.”
Janeway’s smile was
quick and broad. “You’ve built her
already.”
“Of course, it would
be difficult to begin live testing of an experimental engine in two months
without the ship that went along with it.”
He turned to Seven. “I know you
were scheduled to regenerate this morning, but can that be postponed for a few
hours while we take a brief detour out to Utopia Planetia?”
“That would be
acceptable.” The Borg nodded.
The shuttle flight to
the shipyards surrounding Mars was uneventful.
The three of them passed the time with light conversation about the
origins of the new Mercury drive, which had apparently been derived from the
backwards engineering of Voyager’s
own engines and the implementation of much of the data they had collected in
the Delta Quadrant. None of them delved
deeper into the design, wanting to see the configuration of the vessel it was engineered
for before speculating on possible avenues of deployment.
Throughout the short
journey, Seven found herself smiling fondly at her partner. Kathryn was sitting on the edge of her seat,
her entire body vibrating with a kind of expectant energy, very much like that
displayed by Naomi Wildman when her birthday celebration drew near.
When the shuttle came into sight of the shipyards, Kathryn let out a long
breath. B’Elanna had not been
exaggerating. Utopia Planetia was the main shipyard for Starfleet, boasting the
best personnel and the largest facilities. The biggest of these had been
completely enclosed, creating a massive pod-like structure that completely hid
the interior from view. She looked over
at Admiral Paris, who only returned her questioning glance with a grin.
They docked at an
auxiliary port that had been added for just that purpose and proceeded to wind
their way through several checkpoints.
At the last of them, Admiral Paris handed them each a badge to affix to
their uniforms. “These will grant you
access to the site at any time, day or night.”
He explained.
“Already had these
waiting for us, hmm?” Janeway
laughed. “You must have been very sure
we would accept.”
“How could you
resist?” He waved them into a turbo-lift
and they began their ascent towards the pod above. When they reached their destination, it was
to step out into a low lit room. Windows
lined the entire front side but the blast shielding was up, blocking the view
completely.
As the blast shield
slid down, Janeway and Seven stepped closer to the window. The older woman’s hand went out automatically,
as though she could somehow caress the vessel through the transparent aluminum.
It was massive.
The ‘saucer’ was
shaped like an arrowhead, only slightly more bowed out on the sides. It was also thicker from the top to the
bottom than any other ship she had ever seen with wide viewports along the
bottom of the arrowhead’s tip. She
assumed that was where the bridge was located, although why they would place it
there was something she couldn’t fathom at the moment. Further down the vessel towards the rear was
what appeared to be the slightly distended ‘belly’ section of the ship around
which six nacelles were clustered; the two at the top and bottom jutting out at
forty five degree angles up and down while the two in the middle stuck straight
out from the sides. The ship’s call
letters proudly announced its status as the first of its class: NX61930. Altogether, it was very sleek looking for a
ship its size.
“Titan is the merging
of the Galaxy and Prometheus Classes.
The Cathain is the first of
the flagship line. Twenty eight decks,
all of them equipped with holo-emitters, ten holodecks, three shuttle bays with
a complement of eight runabouts, two sick bays, three gravitational gyms,
“My god.” Janeway breathed. “What about weapons and armaments?”
“She’s got advanced
phaser arrays, state of the art deflector and sensor arrays, quantum torpedoes,
regenerative shielding and ablative armor.
Not to mention one little surprise up her sleeve,”
As Janeway and Seven
watched, the ship began to separate.
First the belly fell away, taking along the bottom two nacelles. Then the much longer mid section dropped
down. This section took a quarter of the
saucers thickness and the two middle nacelles with it. Finally, what was left was the main saucer
section, floating elegantly above the other two, its own nacelles glowing
brightly in the darkness.
“Bid Goddess rise
from mists of memory, rise the Fair Cathain,
in battle the equal of every man, and every love disdained…” Janeway recited under her breath, causing
Seven to look at her curiously.
Admiral Paris didn’t
seem to notice. “Each section has its
own warp core and engines. The
Generational Section holds the crew quarters, main engineering, science labs
and Astrometrics. It will be where all
non-Starfleet personnel will be located and can operate completely
independently of the other two sections, maintaining a speed of warp 9.2
indefinitely. It, like the other two
sections, is outfitted with its own weapons and armaments and it will also be
where the
“That’s
amazing.” Janeway shook her head in
disbelief. She now understood why the
bridge was located where it was. When
the ship was separated, it became the front most section of the Main Bridge
Assembly.
“Wait until you see
what the
“Who’s her
captain?” Janeway blurted out.
Seven glanced at
Kathryn from the corner of her eye and saw the older woman’s jaw tighten. This new information was definitely going to
become a bone of contention sometime very soon.
“Let’s take a look
inside shall we?” Admiral Paris led the
way through the corridors and into the Cathain. The walking tour began in Main Engineering,
which was a marvel that Janeway was going to do whatever she could to get
B’Elanna’s expert hands on. They then
continued through the state of the art sick bays, complete with the new EMH
Mark VI, who was a woman this time around, Janeway noted with interest.
Astrometrics was a
spectacle that almost succeeded in taking Seven’s breath away. Almost.
It did manage to raise both her eyebrows however, which Admiral Paris
took to mean that she was impressed. It
was nearly twice the size of the lab on Voyager,
with four times the data storage capabilities and three times the power
allocation. Seven immediately accessed
the board and began putting the computer through its paces. Kathryn had to pull her away to allow the
tour to continue.
They did a brief
circuit of the crew quarters, the shuttle and cargo bays and the holodecks
before heading to the place Janeway was most interested in seeing.
When they stepped off
the turbo-lift and onto the bridge, she took a long, deep breath, remembering
back to when she did the same thing as she stepped onto Voyager’s bridge for the first time. The scent was the same; new metal and resin,
the leather of the command chairs, the fibers of the carpet, the slightly
ionized smell of the newly installed view screens. It was comforting as she looked around an
environment so different than what she was used to.
It was larger, for
one thing, almost doubly so, and made to feel even bigger by the light pewter
color of the carpet and command seats.
The railing behind the command center and around the front of the helm
gleamed onyx under the bright overhead lights that were up full while the ship
was still at dock. There were fours
steps that led down to the command center and another three on either side that
led to separate doorways. One, she knew was the Captain’s ready room and the
other she assumed was the conference room.
Some standards on starships never changed.
The entire outer ring
of the bridge was filled with science, tactical, engineering, logistics,
communications and security stations.
The entire ship could be run from right here on the bridge if need be.
Janeway stood in
front of the captain’s chair for several long seconds before finally turning
away to examine the helm control. The
desire to slide into the command chair was almost overwhelming, but that was
something that you just did not do. It
was not a written rule, but one of courtesy and respect, that the first
backside to grace that chair belong to the captain that commanded the ship.
After drinking in her
fill of the bridge, she headed into the ready room with Seven following behind
her. The sanctuary was about one and a
half times the size of the one she spent seven years in on Voyager. The desk was large
and boasted an integrated transparent data screen that popped up at the touch
of a finger. When one was seated, the
main computer database was on the left and on the right…
Kathryn bent down,
trying to figure out what exactly was on the right side of the desk.
“Coffee, black,
hot.” Admiral Paris said with amusement.
To her delight, the
requested beverage appeared right there, right on her desk! “Well, that’s convenient.”
“Believe it or not,
it wasn’t created for caffeine addicts such as yourself.” He said dryly. “During negotiation simulations with members
of various species, one of the irritating minutiae they all kept coming back to
was the necessity for the Captain of the ship to break eye contact to retrieve
an offered refreshment. Many of the
studies went so far as to claim that this misconstrued gesture was enough to
cease negotiations altogether, hence the change in location of the replicator.”
Janeway grinned. “Still, it’s convenient.” Her expression grew thoughtful. “Admiral, I have a question. When you first unveiled the Cathain, you stated that she was to be
the first battle ready generational ship.
From everything that I have seen of her so far, that is certainly
true. But I can’t believe that Starfleet
intends to send ships with such a large civilian complement into war zones.”
“We certainly do
not.”
Janeway nodded,
relieved by the explanation. She had
never wanted the responsibilities that came along with a Generational ship, but
the Cathain was starting to make her
change her mind, as long as she wasn’t going to be deployed as a warship. Exploration was where her heart would always
lie.
“Well,”
“She’s a little
rough, but I’m sure she’ll polish up nice.”
Kathryn teased back. “I did want
to ask you about personnel for the
He held up his hand.
“We thought you might. You can have anyone you want, so long as they pass a
level one security check. Once they
have, just submit their names to me and I’ll get their clearance and badges set
up. I’ll start with Torres now since I
assume she will be on the top of your list and I know she’s already
cleared.” He flushed, realizing he had
maybe said more than he should have.
“You performed a
security clearance check on your daughter in law?” Janeway laughed. “Does she know?”
“No!”
“I fail to see why
B’Elanna would be angered by your actions.”
Seven interjected. “You are a
high ranking member of Starfleet and she is engaged in a close, private
relationship with your son. Logic
dictates that you would take precautions to safeguard against the loss of any
Federation Intelligence. She was at one
time a member of the Maquis.”
He looked at her like
a parent would look at a small child.
“You obviously have never been related to a Klingon.”
“You are correct, I
have not.”
“Then let me tell
you, logic has very little to do with it.
Now, I must excuse myself to go and inform the Admiral’s council of your
decision to head this project. The
shuttle is at your disposal as I know you need to return to the Venture to
regenerate. When were you planning on
moving the alcove anyway?”
“Tom offered us the
use of the Venture for our honeymoon.”
Kathryn tried to keep a purely professional look on her face but love
softened the edges of it somewhat. “I
figured we would get it installed in my townhouse after we got back.”
“Sounds good. No hurry though, I was just curious. I’ll get started on B’Elanna’s clearance and
let you get to work.”
Once he had gone,
Janeway and Seven made their way back to the bridge where the older woman
proceeded to walk slowly about the room, her hands lingering lovingly over the
surfaces they came in contact with.
Seven just smiled at
her knowingly. She recognized that look.
Her Captain was in
love.
Chapter Five – Curiosity Killed the Cat
Phoebe stepped
through the double wide doors slowly, swinging her head from side to side to
make sure there was no one there to see her.
She didn’t know why, but every time she came here she felt like an alien
intruder that was about to be hunted down and eliminated.
It wasn’t as though
the place was unfamiliar. Oh sure, they
had rebuilt it since its almost total destruction during the war, but it still
had the same feel, the same antiseptic whiteness, the same mind numbing
blandness.
This was Starfleet
Headquarters, the holy land for her sister and the tens of thousands like her
that served the Federation.
Damn, some days it
felt really good to be an artist.
She ventured further
inside, looking for a sign, an arrow, anything to point her in the direction
she needed to go. It was so quiet she
almost jumped out of her skin when a voice broke the silence.
“Can I help you
ma’am?”
She turned to see an
Andorian male wearing the uniform and insignia of an Ensign manning a desk to
the left of her. He was so short she had
thought the desk was empty.
“Uhm…yeah.” She
strolled to the counter, attempting to look casual. “I’m trying to find Logistics? Admiral Stewart’s office in particular.”
“Please state your
name and the nature of your business here today?”
“My name is Phoebe
Janeway and I’m looking for someone.”
“Janeway?” The Ensign seemed to suddenly animate, his
spine becoming rigid and his eyes sharp.
“As in Admiral Janeway?”
“She’s my sister.”
“I see.” He seemed so flustered she almost took pity
on him. “I’m so sorry ma’am, but
Logistics is off limits to non-personnel but I can get an assistant down here to
help you, would that suffice?”
“Yes it would, as
long as it’s Ensign Tal Celes.”
“Yes ma’am. Just give me a few moments.”
Phoebe stepped over
to a large star chart that adorned one wall, studying the constellations as she
tried not to laugh at the Andorian. She
was not mean spirited by nature but he had been so pretentious before he found
out her name. Guess old Katie’s
reputation was good for something after all.
She hadn’t seen much
of her sister for the past four weeks, or of Seven either for that matter. They were either working like crazy on
whatever top secret project Starfleet had them concentrating on, coming home to
just pass out and then get up the next morning and do it all over again, or
they were neck deep in plans for the wedding.
She didn’t mind much. It left her
free to work on their wedding present without them snooping around.
“Phoebe?”
She jumped slightly,
startled by the voice that came from right behind her. When she turned to look into the soft
chocolate brown eyes, she felt her heart begin to beat double time. Celes’ hair was pulled back in a neat
ponytail and her curves were all but hidden by her Starfleet uniform but Phoebe
still thought she looked adorable. “Uh…
oh… hi.” She sounded a little breathless
and she took a moment, trying to will herself to calm down.
“Are you
alright?” The Bajoran placed a warm hand
on her arm and looked at her in concern.
“Yes, uhm… I’m
fine.” She blushed. “I was just thinking and you caught me by
surprise.”
“I see. What are you doing here?” Celes grinned at her and Phoebe found her
eyes drawn to the tiny little dimple that appeared in her cheek. “You lost?”
“No. I came to see you.” She shifted uncomfortably, trying to remember
the invitation she had practiced on her way there. “I was just wondering if you
would care to join me for dinner.”
“Dinner.” The grin
became an all out smile. “I’d love
to. When?”
“Tonight?”
“Sure, I’m free. I have about an hour left of my duty shift,
would you like to come in and wait in the lounge?”
“Oh, uh… No, that’s
ok. I wouldn’t want your boss to think I
was disrupting your work. I saw a bench
out front with a lovely view and I brought my sketchbook.” She held up the large, spiral bound pad she
was holding. “I can just sit out there
and wait.”
“Sure, ok. I’ll come meet you as soon as I’m through.”
“Great!” Phoebe watched her until she disappeared back
into the offices and then let out the breath she had been holding. That hadn’t been so bad. At least she hadn’t started stammering.
There was something
about the Bajoran that had a profound effect on her. Whenever they were together in a public
venue, Celes was shy, while Phoebe was her normal confident self. But put them in a private situation and the
roles were promptly reversed. No matter
how much time she spent thinking about the cute little red head, and she had
spent plenty, she couldn’t seem to figure out what caused it. It wasn’t unpleasant, just perplexing.
The air outside was
cool and crisp and the winds had blown away most of the clouds, leaving a clear
late afternoon for her to study the landscape.
The view was spectacular, but she had to admit the mental image of the
woman she had just invited to dinner was much more fascinating. Opening her sketchbook, she began to draw,
becoming completely immersed in the activity.
She was so captivated
by what she was working on that when someone began calling her name some time
later she was oblivious to it until she glanced up to find herself looking into
the amused eyes of her sister and Seven.
“Oh, hi.” She closed the book quickly and stood up.
“What are you doing
here?” Kathryn quirked one eyebrow at
her. “Are you looking for us?”
“Uhm… not exactly.”
“Ready to go,
Phoebe?”
All three of them
turned to see Tal Celes walking towards them.
The Ensign came to attention immediately when she saw the Admiral.
“At ease,
Ensign.” Kathryn smothered a small
smile. “So where are you two off to?”
“Phoebe invited me to
dinner.” Celes informed them with a
bright smile.
“Oh she did?” She looked pointedly at her sibling. “Where are you planning on taking her
Phoebe?”
“Well, uhm,” She
blushed. “We hadn’t actually gotten that
far yet.”
“Ahh. If you would allow me to make a suggestion,
Café Pernod is a wonderful little French-Italian place. They’re pretty packed this time of day but if
you tell them you’re my sister you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a
table. They usually keep one on standby
for me. It’s just up the street from my
townhouse.”
“Wow that sounds
great!” Celes reached out and took
Phoebe’s hand. “What do you think?”
“Yeah, that’s…uhm…
great. Yeah.”
Kathryn bit the
inside of her cheek. “Ok, well you two
have a nice dinner. We’ll see you later,
Pheebs.”
Seven took the
Admiral by the arm and pulled her away.
“That was very nice of you.”
“You think?” Kathryn gave her a sly look. “Just wait until she gets home tonight!”
Phoebe and Celes
opted to walk the short distance to the transport station with the artist very
aware that the Bajoran had never released her hand. She worried idly if her palms were damp.
“So,” Celes took a
deep breath of the evening air, unbuttoning her jacket before stretching her
shoulders slightly. “Tell me about you.”
Phoebe blinked, her
mind still focused on the lithe display of muscle and skin that played along
the shorter woman’s neck. “Not much to
tell really; daughter of a famous Starfleet Admiral and a traditionalist
mother, sister to an even more famous Starfleet Admiral, rebel child who
refused to go into the family business and instead became a beatnik artist.”
“I know there’s more
to it than that.” The Bajoran smiled.
“Don’t get me wrong,
I respect what Dad did and what Katie does.
They truly want to make the universe a better place for everyone. I just don’t think things have to be quite so
regimented to do it. Too many rules and regulations stifle the imagination… the
creativity that makes us different from one another.”
“You would be amazed
at how creative your sister was out in the Delta.”
“I probably would. She doesn’t talk about it much. I don’t think she wants to put us through
being horrified for her now that she’s home and safe.”
“Probably so.”
“What about
you?”
Celes shrugged. “I
was born right here one Earth. Mama and
Papa made it off Bajor during the occupation and found work here. Papa was a maintenance engineer at Starfleet
Headquarters and he used to come home every night with fantastic stories of
Federation heroes and battles. I think
he would have joined Starfleet if he hadn’t been past the age limit. Anyway, when I was old enough I signed
up. I wanted to make them both proud,
and Starfleet was very welcoming of any and all Bajorans that wanted to join
its ranks. I don’t think I was a very
good fit, but my instructors did a lot to help me along and I pulled a lot of
all-nighters to get through my courses.
Still, if we hadn’t gotten stuck out in the Delta, I doubt I would have
had more than a year of space duty. As
it is now, I am right where I belong, with my feet on the ground and my head in
the stars. Mama and Papa are still
proud, especially when I made Ensign, which I know your sister had a hand in,
but I think if I tried to thank her she would deny it.”
“Yeah, that’s Katie
for you. She likes everyone to think
she’s as tough as nails but you’ve seen her around Seven. Of course, it took six feet of tall blonde
Borg to pull out the softer side.”
The transport beam
deposited them right outside of the restaurant which had a long line of people
waiting for a table. Slightly embarrassed,
the two women made their way inside to stand before the maitre de’s
podium. He eyed them curiously until
Phoebe spoke the magic word: Janeway.
Within five minute
they where ensconced in a lovely little alcove by the front window, looking out
over the bay as they ordered drinks and appetizers.
“Wow,” Celes took off
her jacket and hung it over the back of her chair, leaving only her gray
turtleneck to accentuate the lovely curves of her upper body. “The Admiral wasn’t kidding.”
“She rarely
does.” Phoebe said dryly trying not to
stare as the Bajoran released her hair, fluffing it with her fingers as she
sighed in satisfaction.
“You have no idea how
good that feels after having it up all day.”
“I can imagine
though.”
Celes blushed lightly
and Phoebe realized her comment had been taken exactly as she intended. “So how is your artwork for the show coming
along?”
“It’s going
well. I think I have a good grasp on the
focal piece and the four others are forming nicely. They’re based on stellar phenomena from the
Delta Quadrant, with my own flavor added in of course.”
“Of course.” Celes offered her a sweet smile and Phoebe
felt a spark of electricity travel from the roots of her hair down to her toes.
What the hell was it
about this woman? She was so flustered
she missed the Bajoran’s next question.
“Excuse me?”
“I asked what the
show is called.”
“Oh. Duality.”
Phoebe mumbled something else under her breath.
“I’m sorry, I missed
that.”
She made a face. “Duality: Beauty in Borg Space.”
Celes bit her lower
lip. “I take it that was not your idea.”
Phoebe sighed. “Marie, my manager, took one look at the
draft for the focal, coupled it with the fact that most of my inspiration came
from a quadrant that few have seen and even fewer have survived without being
assimilated by the Collective, and immediately decided that it would increase
public interest in the showing.”
“I didn’t think
interest was a problem. Your last
showing went so well…”
“Yeah, but Marie is a
true businesswoman. Never take ninety
nine percent when you can get one hundred.”
“Ahh.” Celes sipped
at her white wine. “So what is the focal
piece?”
“Oh no!” Phoebe smiled playfully. “You’re going to have to wait for the
unveiling just like everyone else.”
“And when might that
be?”
“Well, the private
showing is at the end of the month. It
might be the only time the focal piece will be available for viewing as I’m
giving it to Kathryn and Seven at the bridal shower later that evening. I’m hoping they leave it in the gallery until
they get back from the honeymoon, though.
It would really add to the show.”
She took a long drink of her whiskey and soda. “Listen, I was wondering if you would like to
accompany me, to my opening as well as to the bridal shower. You’ll get to see the piece before
Katie. That’ll drive her crazy!”
“I don’t know that it
would be a good career move to make your sister crazy.” Celes laughed. “But I would love to be your date to both.
You know, I just realized I’ve never seen any of your work. Let me see.”
The Bajoran picked up
the sketchbook that was lying on the table between them and began flipping
through the pages, ignoring Phoebe’s protests in the process.
“They aren’t that
good!” The artist blurted. “I can show you some others later! Really… stop!”
Celes went still and Phoebe knew it was too late. A soft look came over the Bajoran’s face as she studied the drawing before her. Shyly, she glanced up from the sketch. “It’s me.”
“Uhm, yeah.” Phoebe ran her fingers through her hair,
trying to hide the fact that her hand was shaking. “It isn’t done yet. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“I should have asked
permission…”
“Phoebe, I think it’s
wonderful.” She traced the line of her
own jaw with a delicate finger, taking in the image of herself with her hair
down, her head cocked slightly to one side.
She smiled in delight. “You even caught the one nose ridge that’s a
little crooked.”
“Where?” Phoebe looked from the drawing to Celes’
face. “You don’t have a crooked nose ridge.
They’re perfect.”
“No, they’re not.
Here, feel.” She took Phoebe’s hand,
placing her fingertips against the bridge of her nose. “See what I mean?”
“No.” The artist felt like she was falling into the
soft brown eyes. Without realizing what
she was doing, she trailed her fingertips down her cheek and across her
lips. “Perfect.” She whispered.
Celes swallowed. “You drew this from memory?”
“Yes.”
“Do you do that
often?”
“No.”
She smiled. “You gonna help me out here at all?”
Phoebe looked at her,
her confusion plain on her face. “Celes,
I have no idea what this is. I’ve… never
been with a woman. I’ve thought about it
a few times but it just never happened.
I don’t know what it is about you, but I think about you
constantly. I sit down to draw a
landscape, and I think about you, I look at a model, and I think about you, I
pretend I’m listening to Marie, but I’m thinking about you. It isn’t any wonder I can draw you from
memory, you’re all that occupies mine right now.”
“And that’s a bad
thing?”
“No!” Phoebe assured her. “Not at all.
I just… I just don’t know how to
process it. It’s been quite a while
since I’ve been in any relationship at all and to find myself feeling as I do
about a woman…well, it’s a little disconcerting.”
“I can understand that.” She leaned forward and covered Phoebe’s hands
with her own. “I had a first time once
too you know.”
Phoebe smiled. “Yeah?
How’d that go?”
Celes dropped her
gaze for a moment and then looked up at the artist through heavily lidded eyes,
her mouth pouting slightly. “Let’s just
say… I promise to do my best to make yours better…”
* * * * * * * * * *
Phoebe smiled up at
the quarter moon, the night air pleasant on her face as she and Celes strolled
leisurely back to her apartment on base.
The rest of dinner had been comfortable and sweet, the conversation
light, little anecdotes of their lives shared back and forth as they tried each
other on for size.
That, coupled with
the current comfortable silence between them, was an indication to Phoebe that
they were a pretty good fit. She felt
Celes shiver slightly beside her and did not hesitate to slip her arm around
her shoulders, drawing the smaller woman against her side to share her body
heat. When she felt an arm slip around
her waist, she couldn’t help but grin, thinking life was pretty damn good at
that moment.
All too soon they
reached Celes’ door and the Bajoran stepped away, thumbing the key pad silently
before turning to look into Phoebe’s eyes.
“I’m really glad you asked me out tonight. This way I didn’t have to think up a reason
to be calling at the Admiral’s farm.”
Phoebe laughed. “You can call me there anytime. In fact, how would you feel about coming out
to the farm this weekend?” She blushed
slightly when she realized how that sounded.
“We have a spare room. It’s just
that I promised Katie that I would go with her to pick out rings and figure out
the honeymoon and she always gets manic whenever she has to deal with anything
involving Seven. It would be a lot more
fun if I had someone to talk to while she was tearing out her hair. Besides, I’m sure Seven and Mom want you to
model your dress whites for the wedding anyway.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good, me too.”
The silence stretched
out between them as they stood looking at each other. Finally, Celes stepped forward and placed her
hand on Phoebe’s shoulder, looking up at the taller woman with gentle
expectation.
Phoebe leaned down
and pressed her mouth against the Bajoran’s.
The kiss was soft, a lingering meeting of lips that parted to allow the
tentative tasting of each others tongues.
My god…she
tastes so sweet… Phoebe closed
her eyes as her arms circled Celes’ back, drawing her in closer. The smaller woman did not protest, instead
she folded herself into the embrace, fitting her body snugly against the curves
awaiting her.
When the kiss finally
ended, Celes looked up at her for a long moment. “You had better go.” She whispered. “I don’t want to break the first promise I
ever made to you.”
Phoebe laughed and
gave her one last quick kiss. “I’ll pick
you up at the transport station Saturday morning at 9 am ok? That’s 09:00 hours for you military types.”
“I know!” Celes swatted her gently on the arm. “Goodnight, Phoebe Janeway.”
“Goodnight, Tal
Celes.”
* * * * * * * * * *
“Goddamn it you Borg
bitch! Would you listen to me for once!”
Admiral Janeway’s
eyebrows rose as she entered engineering on the Cathain. She would recognize
B’Elanna’s colorful language anywhere, but she was not prepared for what she
heard next.
“No, you will listen
to me you Klingon Ha'DIbaH, or are your ears so full of gagh that they have
begun to digest your cerebral tissue?”
“Seven! B’Elanna!”
She came to stand between the two women, surprised to see smiles on both
their faces. “What is going on here?”
“B’Elanna is
instructing me on how to speak like a true engineer.” The Borg said brightly.
“I see.” Janeway scowled at the recalcitrant
Klingon. “Must you do it so loudly?”
Seven looked
confused. “It was my understanding that
increased volume lends itself to the vehemence of the statement.”
“While that is
probably true on a Klingon vessel, I doubt the rest of the crew here needs to
listen to you two tear into each other.”
“Naw, it’s good for
them, Admiral.” B’Elanna threw her a
cheeky smile. “Keeps them on their toes
if they think we’re gonna start brawling any second.”
“And what are you two
about to start brawling over?”
“We’re just having a
difference of opinion on the power allocation during the
“So what’s the
disagreement?”
“I do not believe it
is prudent to travel with weapons offline.”
Seven interjected. “The
“Pardon my choice of
words,” B’Elanna threw her hands up.
“But that’s irrelevant. It isn’t
something that we can work around. This
ship has an enormous power supply but this drive takes up every ounce of
it. It just isn’t possible to bleed
enough off to fly with weapons operational.
Besides, at the speed she would be traveling, firing on an enemy would
be like spitting at a car from an airplane.”
The Borg looked at
her blankly.
“Damn it! I really need to stop watching television
with Tom.” B’Elanna sighed. “It would be
like shooting at a hover-car from a spaceship.
She’d be long gone before we ever locked on target!”
“Then we must build a
better targeting system.” Seven
responded calmly.
“Augh! Is your translator broken? Can you understand the words that are coming
out of my mouth you bionic blonde bimbo?”
“I understand your
words perfectly, it is the lack of intellect behind them that concerns me you
ridiculously ridged rectilian vulture.” Seven punctuated each of her words by tapping
B’Elanna on the forehead, causing the Klingon’s face to flush bright red.
“All right, that’s
enough!” Janeway stepped between the two
before a brawl really could start. “It
would seem that we need to compromise here.”
“Admiral, there isn’t
any way to compromise.” B’Elanna took several deep breaths in an
attempt to calm herself. “There just
isn’t enough power available.”
“I understand that,
but what if we built in a failsafe?”
Seven looked at
her. “Elaborate.”
“Set the system up so
that as soon as Cathain drops out of
MercWarp the weapon arrays come back online automatically. As B’Elanna has stated, there’s no need for
them when the drive is activated so this would solve the problem.”
“Hu’tegh.” Seven mumbled thoughtfully.
B’Elanna
grinned. “Indeed.”
Janeway patted Seven
on the arm. “All right, I’ll leave you
two to your work. Try not to permanently
damage each other, ok? It looks bad on
the official reports.”
She glanced back on
her way out of engineering to see the two of them with their heads already bent
over their workstation, talking together as though the exchange had never
happened.
Three years ago
nothing would have convinced her that the two would ever be able to share a
friendship. Of course, three years ago,
nothing could have ever convinced her that she would eventually become engaged
to Seven either.
Laughing at the way
life turned out sometimes, she headed back to the bridge to check on the rest
of the work crews.
* * * * * * * * * *
Phoebe eased quietly
through the front door, pushing it softly shut behind her. She hung her coat on its peg and moved
silently towards the stairs.
“Don’t think you’re
going to get off that easily.”
The voice came out of
the darkness, pulling a startled gasp from her as she turned to see her sister
and Seven sitting next to the dying fire in the living room. “Jesus!
You scared the crap out of me!”
She complained. “What are you
doing? Waiting up for me?”
Kathryn grinned. “You don’t think I’d let you go to bed
without finding out how your big date went did you?”
Phoebe sighed. “I guess that would be too much to ask for.”
“Tal Celes is a good
person, Phoebe.” Seven said gently. “State your intentions towards her.”
“And what if I
honestly don’t know what my intentions are?”
She slumped onto the sofa next to them.
“You must have some
idea how you feel about her.” Kathryn
pressed. “You braved the halls of
Starfleet Headquarters to ask her out after all. You don’t even go there to see me.”
“I don’t know what it
is.” Phoebe’s face took on a dreamlike
quality. “There’s just something about
her. She has these incredible eyes, a
wonderful smile, a beautiful voice…”
“Not to mention all
four of those nose ridges.” Kathryn
winked at her little sister, making her blush bright red.
Seven looked at the
two women in confusion. “Is there a
correlation between the number of nose ridges and sexual satisfaction?”
“Jeez, you guys have
sex on the brain!”
“Like you
don’t….” The admiral looked at her
pointedly.
Phoebe shrugged. “Ok, maybe I do. But I really like her. She has this incredibly playful side and a
very dry sense of humor when you get past her shyness.”
“Sounds like you’re a
little bit smitten.” Kathryn squeezed
her arm. “There’s nothing wrong with
that you know.”
“Did you tell
yourself that? When you knew you were
falling for Seven?”
The Admiral flushed,
looking back and forth between the two women who were now watching her
intently. “That was a different
situation.”
“Maybe the location
was different, and the circumstances, but attraction is attraction, no matter
where it happens. How did you come to
terms with it?”
“Obviously she did
not.” Seven raised one eyebrow. “Not until I forced the issue.”
“You?” Kathryn smirked. “I believe I was the first one to show up
wearing lingerie.”
“Perhaps, however it
was I that first broached the subject of things not said between us.” Her smile was wicked and all for the
Admiral. “And my nightgown was much more
revealing.”
“For which I will
always be eternally grateful.” Kathryn
looked at the Borg adoringly before bestowing a gentle kiss on her lips.
“Hello?” Phoebe waved at them. “Discussing me here, remember?”
“Right.” Kathryn took a deep breath, refocusing on her
sister. “So it’s obvious that you like
her, what’s the problem?”
“What isn’t?” Phoebe ran her fingers through her hair. “She’s female, for one. She’s a different race, for another. At least you were both human. How am I even supposed to know how to…”
“Research.”
Both of the Janeway
women turned to look at Seven.
The Borg lifted her
chin. “I had no prior knowledge as to
how to please your sister. I have found
that researching a situation can often curtail any problems before they may
arise.”
“So I’m supposed to
look up the mating habits of female Bajorans?” Phoebe blushed bright red. “Oh dear lord, just kill me now.”
Kathryn placed an arm
around her sister in support. “Look,
Pheebs, research may teach you everything you need to know about how to please
Celes; but whether or not you can love her… that’s something you’re going to
have to figure out all on your own.”
“She’s coming out to
the farm this weekend.”
The Admiral’s eyes
widened. “Then I suggest you figure it
out fast.” She patted her on the
arm. “The best advice I can give you is
to really look at all the reasons you have for not getting involved with her. If they outweigh how she makes you feel when
you’re with her, then you have your answer.
If they don’t…” She looked over
at Seven lovingly. “Then stop making
things hard for yourself. The heart
knows. I’m not sure how, but it always
knows. Goodnight.”
Phoebe watched them
as they walked up the stairs, their arms wrapped lovingly around each other. When they were near the landing, she heard
Kathryn whisper, “So tell me more about this research…”
Groaning loudly, she
closed the damper on the fireplace and dragged herself to bed.
Chapter Six – Better Late Than Never
Phoebe leaned back in
her chair at the dining room table and sipped her coffee quietly. She had been watching her sister run madly
through the house for the last twenty minutes.
“Seven!” Kathryn shouted up the stairs. “Have you seen my insignia?”
“Where did you last
have it, Kathryn?” The Borg called back.
“If I knew that I
wouldn’t be looking for it!” The older
woman grumbled under her breath as she searched the cushions on the living room
couch.
“Did you look in the
barn?” Phoebe snickered, and then
studied her coffee cup intently when she was hit with a level ten glare. “What do you need it for anyway? And why are
you wearing your uniform?”
“Trust me, where
we’re going, it’s more than necessary that I be flying my colors.”
“Whatever.” She set her coffee mug down and watched as
her sister dumped out the contents of the end table drawers. “You know, maybe if you hadn’t waited until a
week before the wedding to go pick out the bands, you wouldn’t be quite so
stressed out.”
Kathryn stopped and
took a deep breath. “You have no idea
the schedule Seven and I have been keeping at the base to finish up this
project before I go on leave. It’s not
like I can just stop whatever I’m doing in the middle of the day and go running
off to a jewelry store. Some of us have
deadlines.”
Phoebe snorted. “Whatever, Captain Procrastination.”
“I AM AN
ADMIRAL!” Kathryn snapped.
“Maybe,” Phoebe
shrugged. “But it doesn’t sound as funny.”
The older woman
closed her eyes and counted to ten, trying not to think of all the ways she
knew how to dispose of a body.
“Kathryn?” Seven walked down the stairs and smiled at
her gently as she held out the insignia in her palm. “I found it caught within the zipper on a
pair of my jeans.”
Phoebe coughed loudly
as her coffee went down the wrong way.
With a strangled laughed she excused herself to go and find a towel.
Seven moved closer to
Kathryn, quickly fastening the insignia onto her collar before smoothing her
hands down the front of the jacket.
Wordlessly, she leaned in and kissed her passionately, her hands
wrapping around her back before sliding up to tangle in her hair.
When she released her
several moments later, Kathryn whispered breathlessly, “What was that for?”
Seven raised one
eyebrow. “Because I can.”
Kathryn smiled at the
wicked look on the younger woman’s face.
My, my, my…
God, how I love this woman! “We’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“Acceptable.”
“Come on,
Phoebe! We don’t want to keep your woman
waiting!”
Seven walked them
both to the door and watched as they climbed into the hover-car and drove
away. She closed the door slowly and
leaned against it for a moment before squaring her shoulders and striding
purposefully into the kitchen.
Gretchen was
finishing a cup of tea as she entered and smiled up at her as she came to stand
before her. “Everything all right
Annika?”
“Yes.” Seven sat down
across from her and looked directly into her eyes. “There is something that I wish to do for
Kathryn and I believe that I will require your assistance to complete the task
before the wedding.”
“Of course,
sweetheart.” Gretchen squeezed her
hand. “Anything you need, you know
that. What can I do to help?”
Seven took a deep
breath. “First, I require your
permission…”
* * * * * * * * * *
Phoebe fidgeted
nervously with the buttons on her coat, causing Kathryn to laugh.
“Afraid she won’t
show or afraid she might?” The older
woman snickered.
“Who said I was
afraid of anything?”
“Well, you better
decide quickly because here she comes.”
Phoebe turned in the
direction Kathryn was facing and felt her heart jump up into her throat. Tal Celes walked towards them wearing a pair
of tight fitting black jeans that clung wickedly to her hips and a wool lined
denim jacket. She had a knit scarf
wrapped around her neck and her cheeks were rosy from the cold mid morning air.
When she reached
them, she raised herself up on her tip toes and planted a brief kiss on
Phoebe’s cheek. “Hello you!” She smiled.
“Hello, Admiral.”
“It’s Kathryn when
we’re nowhere near the base, Celes.”
Kathryn smiled and took the small overnight bag from the Bajoran,
handing it to one of the transport attendants who would stow it until they
returned later in the day.
“So where are we
going?” Celes asked brightly.
“
Phoebe and Celes both
looked at her in surprise. “
“Yep. Glad you wore a warm coat!” She hustled them both onto the transporter
pad and they were whisked away to their destination. When they arrived, they found a Starfleet
hover-car waiting for them.
Phoebe sat back in
her seat and watched the Bajoran with a smile on her face. “Never been here before?”
“Never had a
reason.” Celes grinned before turning
her attention back to the scenery outside the hover-car windows.
After a short ride,
they pulled up in front of an extremely old looking building. When they stepped outside into the cold air,
Celes cuddled against Phoebe’s side as she read the name carved into the marble
above the huge entryway. “Asprey
Holdings LTD.” Her jaw went slack as she
looked at the Admiral. “You don’t fool
around do you?”
“What do you
mean?” Phoebe slid her arm around the
smaller woman when she felt her shiver.
“Asprey has done
jewelry for royalty and diplomats for centuries.” Kathryn smiled.
They stepped inside
the grand doorway to be greeted by an almost reverent silence. The interior of the building looked like a
church with its stained glass windows and tall columns extending up to hundred
foot ceilings. They waited quietly in
the foyer for a few moments until a well manicured older gentleman dressed in a
tailcoat approached them.
“Welcome to Asprey
Holdings Limited.” He said in clipped
English tones. “May I have your title
and name please?”
“Admiral Kathryn
Janeway.”
The man pulled a
small device from the interior of his jacket and input the name. After a moment, he tucked the device away and
bowed slightly. “Come this way please.”
They followed him
quietly through the beautiful building, all of them admiring the artwork around
them until they were led through a series of doorways into a large room with a
number of antique tables inside of it.
Several similarly dressed individuals were working around them.
Their escort cleared
his throat. “Announcing Admiral Kathryn
Janeway and entourage.”
Phoebe laughed
softly. “I guess we’re the
entourage.” She whispered to Celes.
An elegantly dressed
gentleman approached them and held his hand out to Kathryn. “Admiral Janeway, what a pleasure it is to
meet you. I am Sebastian Moore. I will be your attendant today. Please, have a seat at this station.” When they had settled themselves around an
exquisitely carved mahogany table, he sat across from them and smiled. “I should tell you that we do not normally indulge
inquiries from anyone at Starfleet with less than a Fleet Admiral rank, but
you, of course, are a very special case.”
Kathryn returned the
smile easily. “Well, I appreciate your
assistance in this endeavor.”
Sebastian
nodded. “When you contacted me and told
me of your upcoming nuptials and the particulars of the situation, I
investigated our inventory thoroughly and I believe I have found something that
will be perfect for you.”
“Really?” She leaned forward. “I would love to see what you would
recommend.”
“I will return
shortly.” He stood and bowed.
Phoebe watched him
walk away and then turned to her sister.
“Damn, you get more play on our family name than Daddy did. All because you got lost in space?”
“I think it’s more
that she brought her people home, Phoebe.”
Celes smiled. “Hero’s deserve
this kind of attention.”
Kathryn shifted
uncomfortably under Celes’ obvious adoration.
“Well, whatever the reason, they let us in and that makes me happy.”
Sebastian returned
with a small velvet covered tray, roughly the size of a data PADD. He set it down carefully and then took his
place across from them. “Starfleet is an
interesting career choice.” He said
easily. “However, it does make for a
challenge when it comes to choosing appropriate matrimonial bands. These are quite exceptional.” He pulled the cover away to reveal four
incredibly beautiful rings that were shaped in an oddly curving pattern. Two
were brushed gold and the other two were obviously brushed platinum. Each was encrusted with a series of sparkling
diamonds. “This is called the Eternium
Band.”
Kathryn studied them
closely, thinking them gorgeous, but not really understanding why there were
four of them. “Can you explain their
origin and meaning?”
“Certainly.” He smiled.
“This band was originally produced by a now extinct race known as the
Xirin. The Xirin believed that each
person had a true ‘kenn’, what we would call a soul mate. The gold would represent one half of the
couple and the platinum the other. When
the nuptials occurred, a band of each color would be taken and
‘completed’.” He picked up one of the
gold rings and one of the platinum rings and held them against each other at a
slight angle. Gently he pressed them
together and there was a soft click as the two bands connected, making a seamless
single band of entwined colors. Even the
diamonds joined perfectly, creating a stunning setting of crisscrossing gems
that sparkled in the lights from overhead.
“The Xirin were also a space faring race. Often, one of the couple was required to
leave on a mission. When that occurred,
they would separate their own ring and add the other half of their own band to
that of the person being left at home.”
He picked up the other platinum band and gently connected it to the
first two.
“That’s
incredible.” Kathryn breathed as the
rings went together seamlessly once again, creating an even more intricately
entwined band.
“When the explorer
returned, the bands were again separated to create the original two rings. And,” Sebastian smiled softly. “When the years had passed, and one of the
married couple had passed on, the last band was joined to the others to create
the Eternium Band.” He held them close
together but did not snap them in place.
“You must be careful to never place the last band until that event
occurs however, for once all four bands are connected they form a permanent
bond, one that can never be broken.”
He separated the band
back into the four original rings and laid them out on the tray. “Each of the rings is of the purest gold and
platinum and each has a total weight of one carat in diamonds making the total
diamond weight for the Eternium Band four carats.”
Phoebe whistled
softly under her breath and Kathryn nudged her with her foot.
“Each set of two
comes in their own silk presentation box and Asprey Holdings will provide a
specially crafted ring pillow for the day of the nuptials. I believe this to be the set best suited to
your needs, however if you are not pleased with it, I can show you others.”
“No need.” Kathryn smiled softly, her eyes moist. “I think Annika is definitely the platinum
don’t you?”
Both Phoebe and Celes
nodded silently.
“The price for this
set-“ Sebastian began.
“Is irrelevant.” Kathryn smiled. “I’ll take them.”
“Very good. I will go and complete the documents for the
sale.”
When he had gone,
Kathryn turned to find Phoebe looking at her thoughtfully.
“What?”
Her sister
grinned. “There’s hope for you yet,
sis.”
* * * * * * * * * *
With the rings chosen
and paid for, they found a quaint old pub up the street from the Asprey
building to have lunch while they waited for the packaging to be
completed. Kathryn, looking very pleased
with herself, sat back in the booth and took a healthy swig of her ale as she
watched the other two woman who sat across from her. She noticed that Celes looked completely at
ease while her sister looked like she might jump and run at any moment. Interesting.
“So,” Phoebe tapped
the table with her fingertips, surreptitiously watching Celes out of the corner
of her eye as she spoke to her sister.
“Where are you planning on taking your betty for the honeymoon?”
Kathryn smiled. “Someplace exotic…”
“Risa?”
The Admiral
frowned. “No, I don’t think so. Seven has seen a lot of the galaxy, but what
she hasn’t seen a lot of is right here one Earth.”
“What are you thinking?” Celes asked.
“Someplace warm, wet,
and very, very… sexy…” A silly smile
covered her face for a moment and then she blushed. Standing up she nodded slightly. “Excuse me for a moment.”
They both watched her
walk away before Celes turned a questioning glance at Phoebe.
“She’s going to call
Seven.” Phoebe smirked. “She can’t go for more than a couple of hours
without hearing the woman’s voice.”
The Bajoran laughed
softly. “You sound wistful.” She took a sip of her merlot. “Or is it jealous?”
“Honestly? Maybe a little of both. I’ve had relationships, but nothing like what
they have. I honestly think that Katie
would give up Starfleet for Seven if she had to. I’ve never fallen for anyone that hard in my
life.”
One eyebrow rose as
Celes looked at her evenly. “Not yet.”
Phoebe swallowed and
pulled idly at her collar. “What about
you? Any red hot romances in your past?”
“I’ve had my share of
good ones, and more than my share of bad ones.
But if you're asking if I’ve ever had anything like what I see between the Admiral and Seven? Then my answer is
the same as yours. Not yet.”
“What about men? Any of them in your past?”
“Nope, not a one.”
Phoebe’s eyebrows
furrowed in confusion. “Then… how do you
know…?”
Celes laughed out
loud at the look on her face. “Sometimes
you just know, Phoebe.” She set her wine
glass down and leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper so that the other
woman had to lean in to hear her. “When
I was in my teens, all my girlfriends talked about was the jocks on the sports
teams, how big their muscles were, how strong their hands were… and all I could
think was how much I wanted to feel smooth curves under my fingertips. How much I wanted soft skin and gentle hands
and long, slow, deep kisses that went on for days. I would lie in my bed at night for hours
fantasizing about what it would be like to take a woman in my arms, to taste
her on my lips. I was sixteen when I
finally did and I can tell you… there was never
any question for me.”
Phoebe stared at the
Bajoran, her mouth dry and her pulse racing.
It took her several moments to realize she wasn’t breathing and that her
heart was about to hammer its way out of her chest. She drew in a long shuddering breath and
followed it with a swig of her ale, refusing to meet the smile in Celes’ eyes.
Kathryn chose that
moment to return to the table, a slight frown on her face.
“Couldn’t reach her?”
Phoebe was glad for the distraction.
“No. Couldn’t get Mom on the comm system
either. They must be out doing something.”
Phoebe laughed. “It just drives you crazy doesn’t it? Not knowing what they’re up to.”
Kathryn smiled. “Well, when Seven keeps a secret it usually
hits me right between the eyes.”
“Are you sure that’s
where it hits you?” Phoebe snickered.
The older woman’s
eyebrows rose, daring her sister to continue teasing her. The implied threat worked, Phoebe subsided
instantly.
“So where to
now?” Celes asked, completely unaware of
the small battle that had just been fought.
“I need to pick up the
package from Asprey and then we need to find a travel agent. I think we can do that back in
“Well, we wouldn’t
want to be late then.” Phoebe said
innocently.
They collected their
purchase and called for the hover-car to take them back to the transport
station. Within the hour they were
sitting in the very nice office of a local travel agent in
Kathryn found one
that interested her greatly. Shoving the
others aside, she opened it up fully on the table. “This is the one, what do you think?”
“Oh, wow.” Celes smiled.
“That looks like heaven.” She
glanced outside at the snow lined sidewalk. “Especially from where we’re
sitting.”
Phoebe nodded at her
choice. “Looks perfect to me, unless…”
“Unless what?” Kathryn looked at her in confusion.
“Can a Borg float?”
* * * * * * * * * *
A fire was crackling
merrily in the hearth when the three frost-covered shoppers returned to the
farm. They stood in the foyer, stamping
the snow off their boots as Kathryn called out, “Annika? Mom?
We’re home!”
“In the kitchen,
dear.” Her mother’s voice came back.”
“I swear that’s their
favorite room in the house.” Kathryn
smiled.
Hot cups of coffee
and tea were pressed into their hands as they entered and after bestowing a
quick kiss on Seven’s lips, Kathryn slid onto a stool. “What did you two get up to today?”
“What do you
mean?” Gretchen asked innocently.
“I called earlier and
no one answered.”
“Oh.” Her mother smiled at Seven. “We just had some errands to run.”
When it was obvious
no further information was forthcoming, Kathryn sighed and settled for studying
her bride-to-be carefully. Seven’s color
was high, her cheeks pink and rosy. The
two of them must have gotten home just a few minutes before they did.
“So what’s for
dinner?” Phoebe asked, climbing onto her
own stool.
“Pot roast.” Her mother smiled. “It’s been simmering all afternoon and should
be ready in a few minutes. Hello,
Celes.” She greeted the Bajoran
warmly. “Did you enjoy your day out with
my girls?”
“Yes, I did
Gretchen. They certainly know how to
show a girl a good time.”
Seven’s eyebrow
rose. “Indeed.”
Kathryn reached out
and took Seven’s hand, squeezing it gently as she whispered, “I missed you
today.”
The Borg smiled
softly, leaning in close to rest her face briefly against the Admiral’s
throat. “I missed you as well.”
Celes watched the
exchange with a small smile on her face.
She noticed Phoebe looking at her and whispered, “I never, ever thought I would say this but, Seven
and the Admiral are just so… cute.”
Phoebe rolled her
eyes. “I know, sickening isn’t it?”
The Bajoran swatted
her playfully on the arm.
“Can I interrupt you
two long enough to ask you to set the table?”
Gretchen interjected.
Phoebe slid off her
stool. “Sure thing, Mom. C’mon Cel.”
Dinner was casual and
over very quickly as both Kathryn and Seven pleaded tiredness and retired
early, ignoring Phoebe’s snickers with good natured grace.
Gretchen made up a
pot of tea and then took a cup to her own bedroom with a book she was reading,
leaving Phoebe and Celes alone in the kitchen.
Celes smiled. “Did I see a swing on the back porch
earlier?”
Phoebe’s eyes
widened. “Are you serious? It’s freezing out there!”
“I love the cold
air. Bring a blanket. We can keep each other warm and you can tell
me tales of the farm.”
“All right, but if
you get frost bite don’t go blaming me.”
A deliciously wicked
smirk played at the Bajoran’s lips. “Is frost the only thing that bites around
here?”
The comment sent
chills running down Phoebe’s spine, rooting her to the spot while her heart
raced wildly. When she was finally able
to bring it under control, she ran to the living room and grabbed a quilt off
the couch, returning to the porch she found Celes standing at the rail, waiting
for her.
“You’re taller.” The Bajoran pointed to the swing.
Phoebe sat at one
end, laying her left leg and arm along the back of the seat. Celes quickly joined her, snuggling her back
tightly against the taller woman’s chest before covering them both with the
blanket, tucking it in around them.
They both sat quietly
for a few moments as their body heat merged and filled the little cocoon, then
Celes sighed in satisfaction and laid her head back against Phoebe’s shoulder.
The silence was
comfortable and the warmth filled them both with a pleasant lassitude. Phoebe felt her eyelids just beginning to
drop when another soft sigh came from the woman in front of her. “Penny for them.” She whispered quietly.
The Bajoran sighed
again. “I wish I had had the opportunity
to get to know Seven when we were on Voyager. She is so different than how I perceived her
then; than how we all perceived her. It
just seemed like she was so aloof, like she didn’t need or want to know any of
us. Now I see that wasn’t true. It must have been so hard for her.”
Phoebe nodded. “I know.
It frustrates me the way people see her either as an ice maiden, a Borg
menace or a sex object. I mean, it
wasn’t her fault she was born looking like a pin up, or that she was taken by
the Borg at such a young age. She truly
was a product of her environment. It’s
unfortunate that more people don’t take the time to see who she truly is inside
the gorgeous exterior. She has such a
wonderful sense of humor and a truly kind heart.” She felt Celes stiffen slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“It sounds like you
might have a little bit of a crush going on there.”
Phoebe laughed. “Hardly!
Seven is great and I do adore her.
I love that she’s going to be my sister, but tall blondes are definitely
not my type.” She felt the body resting
against hers relax slowly.
“So what is your
type?”
She leaned forward
slightly, catching the light, sweet scent of the smaller woman. She nuzzled her face into the delicate hair
at the nape of her neck as she whispered, “Oh, I don’t know. Sweet, gentle redheads with chocolate brown
eyes, cute little noses and black velvet voices…”
“Meet many men that
fit that bill?”
Phoebe blinked,
startled. Shaking her head she laughed
softly under her breath. “Why do I feel
like I just got ambushed?”
Celes turned so that
she could look into her eyes. “I wasn’t
trying to ambush you. I just wanted to
make a point. Desire is fluid, Phoebe. Just like love.” She slowly moved closer, giving Phoebe time
to pull away. When she didn’t, Celes
pressed their mouths together softly, her tongue playing gently across Phoebe’s
lower lip.
The kiss was brief
but powerful. Afterwards she turned away
and nestled back into the taller woman’s arms, pulling the blanket tighter
around them both. Her right hand fell
casually against Phoebe’s leg where her fingers stroked softly against her
thigh right above her knee.
Phoebe focused on her
breathing, willing herself not to start shaking. After a while she lost herself in the feel of
the heart beating steadily in the body pressed tightly against her own.
Slowly, Phoebe let
her hands drop to the Bajoran’s waist.
For a few moments, she just let them rest there; then she began lightly
stroking along the edge of Celes’ sweater.
Finally, she held her breath as she curled her fingers under the edge
and ran her knuckles over smooth, warm skin.
The feel of it was
incredible. Soft like silk, but firm
with the lean muscles just beneath the surface.
Stretching out her fingers, she slid both her hands around the Bajoran’s
stomach until they met and splayed across her abdomen. She was so entranced with the texture beneath
her swirling fingertips that she didn’t realize Celes was smiling up at her.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Phoebe blushed to the
roots of her hair, stilling her hands immediately. “I’m sorry!”
She stammered.
Celes covered
Phoebe’s hands with her own, preventing her from pulling them away. “Don’t be.
I’m not.” She leaned back and
placed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth.
“You have wonderful hands.”
“Oh… uh…thank you?”
The Bajoran began to
trace across the back of Phoebe’s fingers, making the hair on the back of her
neck stand on end. She swallowed hard,
leaning back as the sensation sent chills down her spine that settled quite
firmly between her legs. She had never
responded so strongly to simply being touched before, not somewhere as
innocuous as the back of her hand! What the hell is happening
to me? She thought wildly. And whatever it is, please Lord do not let it stop.
Closing her eyes,
Phoebe brought one hand to Celes’ face, following the line of her jaw with a
feather light touch before sliding over her cheek to trace her brow, down the
bridge of her nose and across her lips, where the Bajoran kissed her fingertip.
“Why do I get the
feeling you’re painting me right now?” Celes asked softly.
“Because I am.” Phoebe breathed. “You have the most exquisite features. Delicate… soft…” She put one finger under the Bajoran’s chin
and used it to turn her head so she could capture her lips with her own. The kiss was gentle at first, then the
sweetness turned to passion as a fire began in her belly. Wrapping her fingers in Celes’ hair, she
pulled the smaller body against hers roughly, her tongue sliding inside to play
wetly in the recesses of her mouth.
With a small sound of
frustration, Celes pulled away. Sitting
up, she moved to the edge of the swing. “It’s late.” Her eyes were slightly glossy and her breath
was coming in small gasps. “I think we
better turn in.”
Phoebe nodded
slowly. They both rose and went
inside. Phoebe took her hand and walked
with her upstairs, leading her to the guest room. They stood outside the door for several long
moments as Celes studied her face intently.
Finally, she smiled and nodded.
“Goodnight, Phoebe.” She kissed
her briefly and went inside, shutting the door behind her.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Seven opened her eyes
as the soft rays of dawn began to stream in through the window. Sighing happily, she turned to look at the
sleeping face of the woman she adored more than any other person in
existence.
Kathryn was sleeping
on her back, her left hand possessively snuggled in between Seven’s
thighs.
Rolling onto her
side, the Borg began to circle one of the older woman’s nipples softly with her
fingertips, watching in delight as it pebbled beneath her ministrations. Unable to stop herself, she leaned forward
and took the hardened nub between her lips, tasting it with her tongue as
Kathryn moaned quietly in her sleep.
Moving slowly so as
not to wake her, Seven slid down the much loved body until her cheek rested
against the fragrant patch of hair between Kathryn’s thighs. Parting her legs, she began to nuzzle into
the cleft, her tongue seeking out the soft ridge of flesh that she knew would
harden immediately beneath her touch.
Light moisture bathed her chin as she found it and began to stroke it
evenly; her hands wandering up to gently pull on the now completely stiffened
nipples. She felt the body beneath her
begin to writhe as soft sounds of pleasure floated down to her.
“Annika…?”
The sound of her name
set her on fire and her tongue quickened, pressing harder as her lover fully
awoke to wrap fingers wildly in her hair.
Kathryn brought her legs up to settle them on her shoulders as her hips
began to undulate against her.
“Oh..” The older woman cried out, not even trying to
be quiet. “Oh god yes!”
Seven pulled her hand down and slid two fingers deeply inside of Kathryn, re