Lay It Down
 

It was late.  She should have gone to bed a long time ago but the electricity cousing through her brian made her stay awake.  She was now seated in the mess hall, drinking coffee and staring without really seeing at the pad in front of her.  This wasn't what she was really thinking about, what was keeping her animated, although the coffee was doing a fine job of that. Captain Janeway put the pad down and settled back in her seat as once again the tide of fear lapped at the doorstep of her consciousness. Why was she afraid?  Because like it or not her life had changed, and would never be the same again.

 
The night before Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of the Unimatrix 01 had told her she loved her.   She had whispered it in her ear after a rather explosive and heated sexual encounter.  Who would have known that the cool logical Borg would have been such a passionate lover?  It was a contradiction that the Captain rather enjoyed, especially  since it was knowledge only she was privy to.  Together they could shake mountains, move planets. She could still feel Seven's cool breath tickle her ear as she said those three simple words.

That evening Janeway had professed her love for the young woman, something that had been no easy task.  In fact, it had required gut wrenching soul searching and quite a few kicks in the head from those close to her who could see the situation for what it was. But to have the Borg return the sentiment with no obvious ponderance shook her even more.  Did Seven truly understand what she was saying? Did she understand what it meant to love someone like that or was she just saying what she thought Janeway wanted to hear?
 

No, Seven wasn't one to lie, perhaps she was making this more complicated than it had to be. So much baggage, the failed relationships.  Just lay it down.  The old wounds, the old scars, the walls built with blood and tears.

Just lay it down.
 

The neccesity.  Being in command of a lost vessel.  Starfleet, the Borg.  Don't get close to me, you don't want to go there.  Her fingers had been gripped around that old sword for so long the idea of letting it go brought pain, the pain of an old burden carried too long, so long it had become a part of her and it hurt to tear it out out, hurt to loosen that white knuckled grip.
 

Lay it down.
 

The old sword clattered on the floor, hands aching but free at last.    No expectations, no wants, no fears, just love.
 

"I love you, Seven."
 

"I know."
 

Kathryn spit her coffee onto the window she had been loooking out of, full spray.  She could see Seven's reflection behind her quirk an eyebrow.
 

"You scared the hell out of me."  She turned to look at the statuesque blonde who regarded her cooly.
 

"Do you often talk to yourself?  Or did you know I was here?"
 

"You caught me, I was talking to myself, and to you in a way.  I was just thinking."
 

Seven began to step forward and then stopped, hesitating for a moment like a car not slipping into gear.  This was new for her and she had to learn to follow her instincts.  Emotion won and she stepped forward to give Kathryn a light kiss on the lips. The Captain closed her eyes and inhaled Seven's scent deeply.  Seven pulled back with some difficulty. 

"Captain, I require you in Astrometrics."
 

"So this was business not pleasure?  Okay then."  Taking a deep breath she noticed a difference, a lightness in her very being.  Just be, Kathryn, take it as it comes.
 

"Let's go."

The End