Disclaimers

Lucky Ones

Every day I look out the window, and every day I keep hoping it was a dream. But it was not.

It has been five years now, but if someone would tell me we came back yesterday I would believe it to.

Voyager is no longer in space, she has become an item of study?and actually I do not care.

Starfleet offered me a deskjob right after we got home, Admiral Janeway!

I said no, I don't want to be part of that anymore. And I am not the only one.

B'Elanna and Tom, they quit to, they live nearby now, and have a beautiful babygirl.

I think Tom is gonna have one hell of a time if she is going to be anything like her mother.

Then we have Harry, he never spoke a word when we came home. He did not show up on the celebration, and he did not accept his promotion as first officer. I know he feels guilty too. And I know it is eating him alive, just as it did with Tom and B'Elanna, though they accept it and go on.

But I don't, I will never accept it, I was the captain and I should never have let this happen. It was foolish of me and if I had the power to change it I would, but I cannot. And it hurts so much.

"What are you thinking about Kathryn?"

I look away from the window and stare at the woman in front of me. I met her a few weeks ago. She came by to learn more about her cousin and me. Her name is Jennifer. Jennifer Hanson. I smile thinking about that name.

"Just about Voyager." I can hear the funny sound of my voice, it is so much higher then it should be, and I know that the girl in front of me is worried because of it.

"You can't always pretend to be in the Delta quadrant Kathryn, you have to start living! HERE! This is where you are now, this is where everybody of Voyager is now?. Home."

She gives me a stubborn look and strokes some of her blonde hair out of her face. She looks so much like Seven it is almost scary. But on the other hand, she looks nothing like my Seven at all.

"This is not my home anymore Jen, I don't think it ever has."

I hear her sigh and walk over to my desk.

"This was taken when?" I hear her ask in a low tone.

"During the celebration, just a few days before we came home." I turn around and look at her. She has the picture in her hand and I feel a lump appear in my throat. Why, why does it still hurt so much? It is useless, I will never find the answer to that question and I know it.

"She looks beautiful, and so do you."

"Thank you, you know what the silly thing is?" I walk to her and we both look at the holo-image. "I never even knew that the doctor took that picture. He gave it to me when we arrived on earth."

She smiles at me, and it makes me feel a whole lot better. I don't understand why, but it just happens every time she smiles. It's like nothing matters anymore, where I am or what happened. It's just her and me?

"Can I play it?"

I nod, I just don't seem able to form words anymore and she knows it, she understands.

"You look very pleasing in that outfit Kath...Captain."

"Thank you Seven, but I do not look nearly as beautiful as you."

"Thank you, I thought you would appreciate my choice of garment."

"Hmm you just know me too well."

I can't help but smile every time I watch it. Seven was so beautiful. I know I looked so stupid. Hanging on Chakotay while he is just smiling so silly.

I miss those days.

"Will you come with me?" I look at her, again I was in thoughts and didn't listen.

"What did you say?" I ask shyly. I look in her blue eyes and there is that broad smile again. I can't help but smile too.

"I want to look her up, and I asked if you wanted to come too!"

"I am not sure?" I try. I don't want to, I really don't.

"Please Kathryn, come with me I would like it if you would accompany me." I can see in her eyes she is really disappointed and I can't say no. Perhaps, I should come with her perhaps it would do me some good as well.

"Alright, I'll go."

I look at the picture again and sigh. Why Seven why?

Janeway stepped over into the messhall looking at the crowd in front of her. Every one of her officers was present, even Tuvok, from whom she knew did not see a purpose in parties. All but one though she thought. The one person missing, was her lover. The person she shared quarters, thoughts and love with.

Kathryn knew Seven would show up sooner or later. She knew the young woman had some unfinished business that had to be done before the final test of the slipstream drive. She saw Chakotay walking over to her and give her a wink.

"Happy?" The former Maquis asked.

"I am not sure Chakotay, I mean this is the second time we are celebrating the slipstream drive, but you know how it ended last time." Kathryn gave him a look, then sighed.

"I remember very well, but we found a solution to the problem remember, Seven gave us a way home. And I'll tell you Kathryn, I have a good feeling about this." Chakotay gave her a broad smile, trying to alleviate her growing discomfort. He knew far to well how much she worried, keeping everything inside her.

"Thank you Chakotay, let's just hope for the best." She patted him on the shoulder and gave him a smile. Then she saw his eyes drifting to the door and he turned her 90 degrees around, facing the door of the messhall.

In front of the door was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her entire life.

Seven was standing in the opening wearing a blue silk dress, falling perfect around her features, showing every curve of her body. Her hair was out of its usual bun and fell loosely around her face, making her face and implants look softer. Even the starburst on her right arm did not make the young woman look Borg-like, it was totally Seven in the most human way possible. Janeway could clearly feel her heart skip a beat when the young woman moved elegantly closer to her. Without knowing when it happened she noticed she was heavily leaning on her commander.

"Well I think I leave you two alone for a sec, see ya later." Chakotay laughed, then broke free from the death-grip on his arm and disappeared in the crowd.

Seven stopped only inches away from her captain and took in the sight of the older woman.

"You look very pleasing Kath...captain." She said as her eyes roamed up and down Kathryn's body. Taking in the sight of the older woman, the black dress Kathryn was wearing was simple but revealing. The captain wore a white blouse over it, but you could clearly see through it, revealing the low back of the dress. Seven utterly adored it.

Janeway smiled at the comment, feeling her cheeks glow slightly red, but keeping her posture.

"Thank you Seven, but I do not look nearly as beautiful as you." Kathryn knew beautiful was not covering the look of her lover, Seven was so much more then that. And when she saw that rare smile of her partner, she felt more then blessed. She wondered how those simple words could make Seven so happy.

"Thank you, I thought you would appreciate my choice of garment. "The words came as a whisper from the young woman's lips.

"Hmm you just know me too well." Kathryn grinned and linked her arm in Seven's.

"How about mingling with some people." Kathryn gave Seven a daring look, knowing that the woman did not like crowds and was only here because her beloved was.

"I think that would be a good idea." Seven said plainly, not wanting to make a point out of her disliking parties.

"You do uh, so you think it would be a great idea to have more parties when we get home?"

"I did not say that, and I do not think that would be a good idea." Seven said with disgust in her voice.

Janeway saw her lover lift one eyebrow and felt a bubble of laughter come up. Kathryn knew Seven did not like it when she laughed about these things, especially when she meant what she said. Though she couldn't help but burst out in laughter.

Seven thought that this was a good moment to walk in a faster pace into the crowd, distracting Janeway from the comment and find someone to talk too. She noticed B'Elanna standing in the crowd and figured it was a good idea to have 'a chat' with her. Since they had worked together on the slipstream project the two stubborn women had gotten closer. For some reason over time they had come to appreciate each other more. Even though they often had discussions about their work, mostly because Seven found that B'Elanna had an inefficient way of working, they had created a bond. When exactly that had happened was still unclear for Seven but she found it nice to talk to the Klingon-Human hybrid.

"B'Elanna, how are you doing?" Seven tried in her most human voice.

"Fine Seven. Especially the time off is great. And it is nice to know we are actually going home now is it?"

The Klingon gave her a big grin.

"I am still unsure what to think of going home, but the working slipstream drive is a great accomplishment."

"Yeah, well I am glad it is finally online, it was driving me crazy. I thought we would never get it to work."

"Well we did..."Seven started.

"And Voyager is finally going back to where she belongs, in the Alpha Quadrant." Janeway broke in to the conversation of the two women."

The two officers gave Janeway a look, and she knew it was better to get something to drink and leave the two alone.

"Well, I am going to get something to drink. You ladies want me to bring something?"

No thank you captain, we're fine." B'Elanna answered for the both of them. She knew on instinct that Seven did not want something to drink and she already had too much, so it was perhaps a good thing to give her body a break.

"Have fun you two." The captain gave them a smile and drifted of in to the crowd.

"So are you going to stay long?" B'Elanna asked curiously.

"No. I want to be at peak efficiency when we do the final test-runs tomorrow." Seven regarded her with a smile, one B'Elanna rarely saw.

"Well I am not staying here all night as well. By the way Seven, you look stunning. Where did you get that outfit?"

"I replicated it for the party. Though I prefer my biosuits, I thought it wouldn't be appropriate for the occasion." the young woman noted.

"Well that makes sense, and if you would wear it more often you would make the ensigns hormones go warp..."

"And my biosuit does not do that?" Seven broke in. She had noticed all the stares of the crewmembers over the years and she knew it was partly to blame on the much revealing biosuit.

"Got me there." B'Elanna grinned. Knowing very well what the ex-Borg meant.

"Ladies, sorry to interrupt but I am going to my quarters it has been a long day." Janeway was standing next to the two women with half a flute of champagne in her hand.

"I will accompany you, it has been a long day for me as well." Seven said. "B'Elanna, I will see tomorrow morning 0800 hours?" It was a question, as she knew very well, B'Elanna most likely would have a hangover from all the alcoholic drinks she had consumed.

"Yeah don't worry Seven I'll be right on time." the Klingon got a raised eyebrow in response, knowing immediately that Seven did not really believe it.

Janeway took Seven's arm and nodded to B'Elanna before they left. Heading towards the exit, they left a snickering B'Elanna behind.

"So, you still have doubts about going back to earth don't you?" Janeway asked her when they entered their quarters.

Seven turned and looked straight in the older woman's eyes. She did not know how to answer the question properly but Kathryn was right. She was not looking forward to their arrival on the blue green globe, humans called home.

"No, I do not, but since I do not want to go back to the collective either, I think it is better to get used to this earth." Seven's blue eyes looked straight at her partner. She knew that deep inside, her words hurt Kathryn but she couldn't lie to this woman.

"I understand Seven, I call it home, but you, you have never even been there." Kathryn said in a soft husky tone. To prove her point she put her arms around Seven's slender waist and hugged her fiercely. Seven gradually took the invitation and they stood there in the middle of the room for what seemed an eternity.

"How about some dinner" The captain looked up at the taller woman, with a smile.

"At this time?"

"Why not, I am hungry. I think I could use a nice hot cup of coffee as well." Kathryn joked.

Seven rolled her eyes in amusement hearing the coffee part, knowing very well how addicted her soulmate was to coffee.

"You can have coffee after dinner. I will get us something, you set the table." Seven reluctantly broke out of the embrace and walked over to the replicator. Pushing some buttons she soon had two light meals.

They sat together eating their dinner in silence. Seven looked at her plate the entire time and wondered how she was going to get all this in her stomach. She did not like to eat this time at night but she did not like to see Kathryn eating alone as well so she always gave in to her lover's strange eating habits.

After dinner the two cleaned the table and went to the couch, Janeway snuggling up to Seven with a hot cup of coffee.

They lay in silence for some time, both enjoying the sensation of their warm bodies touching.

"I would like to see mother and Phoebe again" Kathryn suddenly said braking the silence.

"You have not seen them in seven years, it has been a long time." Seven noted softly.

"It has. I just wonder so much, what they look like right now. I think about how it would be to hold them, to talk to them."

Seven did not know how to answer that and stayed quite, just listening to her lover.

"I think they are going to like you a lot."

"Indeed?" Seven turned her head slightly looking questioning at Kathryn.

"Mother will just love you, and Phoebe will think you are the most sarcastic woman she met, even worse then herself. She will finally have met her match." Janeway snickered at the thought of the two women arguing.

"We will see." Seven said, resting her head on Kathryn's.

"Tell me honestly, what do you see as home...?"

Seven sighed, then closed her eyes, her head still resting on Janeway's. "When I am with you, I am home. I do not care where you are. As long as I am with you. If that is in the Alpha Quadrant or in the Delta Quadrant... "

"Thank you Seven." Janeway broke in. She did not want Seven to continue her speech, thinking she might cry if Seven did. She already felt a lump appear in her throat. "I feel the same way."

"You do?"

Kathryn moved away from Seven's body, just far enough to look her partner in the eye. "Never, ever doubt that Seven. I would travel light-years to follow you. I won't make the same mistake my father did. I want to be with you, forever. Do you understand?

Seven swallowed hard then dropped her head. Regretting she had asked the question. She knew very well that Janeway loved her very much. She had proved that more than once over the years. "Yes I do. I am sorry Kathryn."

"It's ok. Just never forget, I may not say it enough and I am sorry for that, but I do mean it."

Seven nodded, and Kathryn could see the regret in the young woman's eyes. Slowly she leaned over and kissed the blonde gently on her lips, proving her point. Seven felt the meaning of the kiss and how powerful it was. They deepened it and there was passion, love and devotion. Seven knew Kathryn had never kissed her like this, and knew in her heart that she would never forget this moment.

***

Seven stood on the Holodeck looking at some consoles on the bridge, it was 9:00 hours and B'Elanna was not with her yet. They had planned the simulation at 8:30 so it meant the Klingon was already half an hour late. Nor was Tom on the holodeck yet, though she expected them to enter the holodeck together. Seven sighed and looked at Ensign Kim, who was busy on another console.

Then the door hissed open and B'Elanna and Tom Paris entered the Holodeck.

Seven looked up and gave them a frustrated look but she did not say anything. She knew very well that her gaze said more then enough.

B'Elanna looked at the ex-Borg's stare and raised her hands in defense. "Sorry Seven, it got later then we expected." B'Elanna really didn't want a discussion with the ex-Borg so she moved over to her consoles as fast as she could. She could still feel a throbbing headache and already regretted her decision to listen to her partner, who was now sitting at the helm, to stay longer at the party.

"Is everyone ready" Kim said looking up from his workstation.

"We are at peak efficiency." Seven noted, while tapping some instructions into her console.

"Engines are looking good." B'Elanna said.

"Ok, I am going to impulse" The blond man said. Looking at his consoles. The rest of the group watched the screen and saw the starship starting to move.

"We are at full impulse." Tom said, now also looking at the view of the passing stars in front of him.

"Engines at full capacity. Looking good." The Klingon noted.

"Shields are up and holding." Seven said.

The group was waiting for Ensign Kim's response, knowing that, even though this was not reality, if these tests were going to be disastrous they where not going home after all. Still after this test they had another 19 to go so they could work all problems out... if there would be any.

"Bringing the quantum slipstream drive online" Kim said.

Voyager started to shake a bit, but the four crewmembers stayed put, knowing that this was just normal.

Kim looked at his consoles tapping in more commands "Engaging slipstream in four, three, two, one..."

"We are at slipstream velocity." Tom looked behind him to see the faces of his friends. They all looked relieved when Voyager started to shake less and the green walls of the slipstream hole appeared on the screen.

Seven let out a breath she had been holding for some time. Even though they had tested the drive before, she was still anxious. Wondering time and again if her work would pay of, and luckily it did. "Shields are down to 87 percent."

"Engines looking good..." B'Elanna was more then happy that her engines did the job, and she didn't feel her headache anymore as she was tapping in commands furiously to keep the engines online. "Hold on, I have something here."

Tom Paris looked up and gazed at his partner. "What is it Lanna?"

A power-conduit just blew." Kim answered for her. Looking distressed at the others.

Seven walked to another workstation to be sure if they where right. Suddenly the Voyager started to shake heavily again and they all had to hold onto their workstations to keep from getting smacked all over the bridge. "We have a plasma-fire in the Jefferies tube deck ten, section 4"

"The slipstream drive is collapsing!" Tom screamed from the helm

"Bringing the slipstream drive offline." Harry Kim yelled. He had such high hopes this would finally work.

"Damn." B'Elanna muttered under her breath. "How the hell did that happen."

"From what I can tell from here, there are several power-conduits in that section that are not able to function properly with this speed." Seven said with a disturbing voice.

"Any suggestion about solving this. I don't want to be stopped by a broken conduit." B'Elanna looked at the other three with an angry look. She knew something was bound to happen though she wondered why it hadn't happened with the other test. Though for once in her life she was grateful that the captain had ordered them to do some final test just to be on the safe side. That was totally unlike Janeway but perhaps her relationship with the ex-Borg had something to do with it.

"I think I understand how this happened." Kim suddenly said, looking up at the others. "We have never been this long in the slipstream. We where in it for at least ten minutes. With the last runs we only stayed in for five. So we never had a power overload."

"I think I know a way to solve this problem." Seven said. This was going to be risky she thought, though she was confident it would work and probably be the only way to stay at slipstream velocity for this long.

"Ensign Kim, how long do we exactly need to be in the slipstream to make it back to earth?"

"At least 13.6 minutes Seven, why? What's the plan?"

Seven looked up and walked down to the screen. The three where looking at her with curiosity. Seven took another breath trying to get the nervousness away then she started on her possible solution.

***

"Are you sure this is not dangerous?" Janeway stared at the four members of her crew in astonishment. She just couldn't believe it. "I am not going to sacrifice crewmembers to get home" She stood up from behind her desk and walked to the center of the readyroom, being fully aware of the four musketeers staring at her.

"I assure you captain, it is not that risky." B'Elanna noted, her eyes following her captain.

Seven gave B'Elanna a frustrated look, since the comment wasn't very comforting. She desperately wanted Janeway to feel good about the solution, now being their only way home. She knew in her heart that it meant so much for Kathryn to finally go back home. With this solution she could help her lover.

"Not that risky?" Came the dangerous voice of Janeway. She stared at her Engineering officer.

Seven listened to the voice of the captain and knew she had to act now before the captain would order to get the slipstream drive offline. "Captain, if I may add. This is not risky, as Lieutenant Torres puts it, at all. I will show you the precautions we have taken, and perhaps you should see our simulations. It will provide you with enough information to make a choice." She looked straight in the eyes of her partner, who was clearly deep in thoughts now. "I assure you, I will not get hurt. We ran the program with the failure 20 times and it worked every time."

"Tom, make sure the Holodeck is available tomorrow morning, 8:00 hours."

"Aye captain." Tom said.

"See you all tomorrow then, dismissed." Janeway said in a plain voice and turned back towards her desk while the four where walking out.

"Seven not you." Janeway whispered her back towards the door. She leaned heavily on the table. Trying to shake her thoughts away.

Seven turned back and walked over towards her partner.

"Kathryn...?" Gently she put her mesh-covered hand on Janeway's shoulder.

"Why you?" Janeway never looked at her partner.

"You know why, I am the only one who can do this. Only my hand can take the heat of the plasmafire."

Janeway swallowed hard. "I don't want you to be in that Jefferies tube trying to prevent those fires, you'll be alone out there. What if something goes wrong?"

"It will not, I will wear protective clothing. Only I am fast enough to re-route the power, get the power-conduit out and prevent an explosion Kathryn." Another hand joined Kathryn's shoulder, now gently massaging them.

Kathryn nodded. "Promise me you'll be most efficient..."

Seven rolled her eyes in amusement. Slowly she put her arms around Janeway's waist. The smaller woman leaned back into her. Then she whispered in Janeway's ear "I will be thinking of you... and be efficient."

***

"Status?"

"We are at full impulse."

Janeway nodded to her pilot Tom Paris at the helm. She sighed. This was the moment of truth.

"Seven what's your status?"

"I am in the Jefferies tube, and ready captain."

"Good, Ensign Kim, B'Elanna, ready?"

"Yes ma'am." They said in unison.

"Well then, let's bring the slipstream drive online." It didn't sound captain like, but it wasn't even real so she didn't worry too much about it.

"Bringing slipstream drive online."

"Slip steam tunnel is opening." Kim said.

The Voyager simulation started to shake and Janeway held on to her chair tightly as they crossed the boundary into the green coloured tunnel.

"We are at slipstream velocity." Tom turned to look at his captain.

"Seven what is your status."

"There are some fluctuations in the conduits, the conduits are still functioning however." Came the voice of Seven over the bridge.

"How long till we reach the Alpha Quadrant Mr. Kim?"

"9 minutes 46 seconds captain."

"Ok, I want you to look at all the systems of the Jefferies tube, if you see anything out of the ordinary, tell me." Janeway stared at the screen in front of her. Silently she prayed that it would all work out fine. Still she had learned after seven years in the Delta-Quadrant that she was running out of luck.

"5 minutes?" Kim said from his station.

"Engines at maximum." B'Elanna noted.

"Captain I have a problem"

"Seven?" Janeway's voice croaked.

"Mr. Kim abort the quantum slipstream drive."

Kim looked up from his workstation about to answer, or argue his captain's decision, when a light flashed up from his console.

"Seven re-routed all power to the other conduits, there are no plasmafires, the conduit is taken offline. Captain?"

Janeway leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She knew she should let the drive online but her heart said different. This was the moment she knew, she had to choose, captain or Kathryn?

"Keep the slipstream drive online, how long before we reach the Alfa-Quadrant Mr. Kim?" Janeway turned to look at the dark haired ensign.

"2 minutes ma'am."

"Keep her steady Tom!" Janeway barked. She did not want anything to go wrong again.

"Seven what is your status?"

"I have detected an other conduit that will probably blow anytime soon, I am getting over there now."

"Is there enough time Seven?"

"I will make this work captain, do not worry." Seven's voice was calm and steady and it eased Janeway's mind a little. She nodded, even though Seven could not see her, and tried to focus on her job again.

"Ten seconds?" Kim said.

"I located the conduit?"

"Eight seconds."

"Seven do you think you can do this?" Janeway barked

"Re-routing all available power?"

"Six seconds?"

An explosion was heard over open comsignal and the four looked up from their stations.

"SEVEN" Janeway barked!

"The conduit exploded, I have the fire under control, power has been re-routed."

"TWO, ONE, We have reached the Alpha-Quadrant." Ensign Kim yelled.

"Take us out of the slipstream Tom."

"Aye aye ma'am!" Tom said, shaking his head a little making him look even more boyish.

Janeway looked at the screen and saw the green tunnel end, bringing back the familiar sight. An endless amount of stars and right in the middle of the screen earth. She swallowed hard. They made it.

***

Janeway looked up from her spot on the couch to her lover. Seven was sitting in a chair, deep in thoughts. "How long are you gonna keep working on that?"

"I am almost done." Seven looked up and gave Janeway a long look. It was perhaps a little too long because when she looked back at the PADD she lacked the interest to keep on reading.

"Come over here." Kathryn sat up a bit, patting the spot next to her on the couch.

"Very well..."

"Why are you still working on that anyway, it's our day off remember."

"I want everything to be perfect when we are doing this for real, I do not wish to be...surprised by anything." Seven walked over to Kathryn and sat down in the corner of the couch.

Kathryn gave Seven a soft smile and placed herself against the warm body of her lover. For a long moment that seemed to be forever, they did not speak, just enjoying the sensation of their bodies touching.

"Talk to me." Kathryn broke the silence. She turned her head to look in the eyes of her partner.

Seven dropped her head trying to avoid Kathryn's glare and let out a long sigh. "I wish for you to be happy."

Slowly Kathryn turned over, sitting on Seven's lap and cupped the blonde's head gently lifting it so their eyes locked.

"I am happy when I am with you. That's all that matters to me Seven."

Seven stared at the auburn-haired unable to speak.

"We got a message from Starfleet yesterday." Kathryn continued. "There came a message from mother and Phoebe with it."

"You never told me?" Seven started. She was slightly surprised about this, since Kathryn was always very enthusiastic when it came to messages and stories about her family.

"I know, and I am sorry for that. We haven't had the ability to talk much lately and, well it slipped my mind. Not that it is an excuse, but I think I just forgot."

"Well, since you are very good at forgetting, I forgive you." Seven gave Kathryn a warm smile, one Kathryn hardly saw and she couldn't help but laugh at the joke.

"Well thank you, I love you too!"

"I know that, do you wish to tell me what was in the transmission." Seven tried to maintain a steady natural voice, though she was very exited, and wanted to know what they wrote. For some reason it made the coming home part a little easier. And Janeway's stories where very funny so most of the time she forgot all about her own problems when she listened to the voice of Kathryn.

"I could do that, but what is in it for me?" Kathryn said in a husky voice.

"You want me to tell you now, or show you later?" Seven noted dryly

"I could go for showing me later." Janeway noted, and gave Seven a wicked grin. "Mom wrote that she looked forward to see you. I wrote her that we had a relationship for more then a year now, and she and Phoebe wrote back that they thought it was about time I found someone."

"They said that?" Seven's heart started beating way faster then normal and she tried heavily to keep calm. She had never imagined that Kathryn's family would like to see her, but then she hadn't given it to much thought. This made her very nervous. "Do you think they will like me?" She added

"Oh, definitely! They already like you after what I have written to them. But I have told you this many times before remember?" Janeway said, never braking the gaze.

"I know, but since they didn't know you where involved with anyone with me, I was unsure what to think." Seven said shyly.

"Mom told me, she was looking forward to meet you, and that we had to stay at the house for at least a few days." Janeway continued. The thought of going home and spending some quality time with Seven was very pleasing to her, and in her mind she was already picturing it.

"That is very generous of her." Seven looked at her partner. "I feel better now."

"Good, I want you to feel comfortable. Just don't stop talking to me okay? I need to know what is going on in your mind, or else I won't be able to help you."

They stared at each other and after some time Janeway dropped her head. "Seven are you sure it is not dangerous to be in that tube? Even in the simulation it was a close call."

"Do not worry, I have calculated it many times, and I am positive it will work." Seven said, though her voice was unsteady. For moments Seven just looked at her captain before continuing. "Just remember that, IF anything goes wrong, you are in my heart Kathryn, always."

"Thank you, and you are in mine, always just promise me tell me you will always be here with me."

"I promise."

"Good, I needed to hear that." Kathryn swallowed her lump in her throat away, and thought back about the comment Seven made earlier. "Now what where you going to show me again?"

Seven leaned forward and in one swift move she stood and pulled Kathryn from the couch taking her in her arms and carrying her to the bedroom. "I believe I should show you in the bedroom."

Slowly she walked to the bed and carefully dropped Kathryn down. For moments long she stared at the older woman absorbing the view of her in the soft illumination. "This will be our last night in the Delta-Quadrant together." Seven said in a low voice as she slowly leaned forward, hovering over the older woman. Slowly moving inch by inch she closed the distance between them stopping just a breath away from her partner's lips. "I love you." Seven whispered.

Gently she kissed Kathryn, just their lips touching neither of them bothering to deepen the kiss.

For moments that seemed to last forever they placed butterfly kisses on each others mouth and chin, then gently Seven tugged on Kathryn's shirt, to indicate that it had to go.

Making every moment last forever the two slowly undressed each other, stealing more sensual kisses along the way. Every inch of revealed flesh was rewarded with gentle caresses that made their bodies ache for more, before finally they ended up naked on the bed, their clothes scattered all over the floor.

Kathryn sat up and looked down at her partner lying casually on the bed. Slowly the older woman crawled catlike to Seven and straddled her hips, bringing forth a deep moan from Seven. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" Kathryn whispered. To prove her point she leaned over to kiss Seven's jaw and down to the pulsepoint in her neck.

Seven let out a long sigh feeling immensely aroused from all the gentle touches and kisses. "You tell me that often Kathryn...Ooooooh" The young blond was once more unable to speak when Kathryn kissed her on the swell of her breasts.

The older woman smiled in amusement when she saw her lover so helpless, surrendering to Janeway's touch. Kathryn knew all the right spots that would get Seven more and more aroused and she took every opportunity to kiss and lick them all. She wondered time and again how she got so lucky to share her soul and love with this gorgeous woman. And made a quick prayer to who ever was listening that this would last forever. Never had Kathryn taken so much time to be with her beloved, but tonight it wasn't about rough and passionate love, just about enjoying each other for as long as possible in the most loving and intimate way.

Kathryn lay down on Seven, knowing that the ex-Borg could easily take the weight of her smaller body, and kissed Seven gently on the lips. She heard Seven groan, trying to deepen the kiss needing the contact but Kathryn pulled away, teasing her aroused partner even more.

"Kathryn please..."

"What do you want my dearest, tell me?"

"I need..." Seven tried.

Kathryn laughed at the plead from Seven. The always-perfect woman seemed lost in words and the captain just loved it.

"Do you want this?" Kathryn said, moving down to kiss Seven's breasts with utter devotion. She could feel Seven's nipples harden under her hand and knew that it was time to move up to a faster pace. She kissed Seven's nipple, sucking and licking it, making the young woman ache for more. Then slowly she moved downward kissing the young woman's belly, stroking and licking the implants imbedded there.

"Kathryn, use your...hands please, I need...to see your...face." Seven moaned. She wanted to see the beautiful face of her captain, her lover, and her soulmate, more then ever. Perhaps because this was their last night in the Delta Quadrant together and because she knew that it could go wrong in the Jefferies tubes tomorrow, even though she would be most efficient. She could see her lover crawl back up and her warm body sink into hers as if they did not exist apart anymore. Melted into one body one soul.

Her mind was unable to think anymore and all she could feel was Kathryn's warm hand inside her and the jolts of sheer pleasure flowing through her body. She knew then for sure that it didn't matter where she was, as long as she was with her Captain.

***

It was a Monday, when my lover told me,

"Never pay the reaper with love only.

What could I say to you, except, "I love you"

And "I'd give my life for yours"?

I know we are...we are the lucky ones

I know we are...we are the lucky ones, dear

Remember the time we made love in the roses?

(And you took my picture in all sorts of poses!)

How could I ever get over you, when I'd give my life for yours

I know we are...we are the lucky ones

I know we are...we are the lucky ones, dear

My dear,

It's time to say I thank God for you.

I thank God for you in each and every single way. And, I know... I know... I know... I know... it's time

To let you know. Time to let you know. Time to let you know.

Time to sit here and say:

I know we are...we are the lucky ones

I know we are?we are the lucky ones, dear

We are the lucky ones, dear...

Bif Naked- Lucky

***

"Talk to me B'Elanna?" Tom Paris tried again. He looked at the Klingon who was pacing through the room.

"Why didn't I think of this earlier...?" B'Elanna said in a harsh voice. "Damnit, what am I going to do now?"

"I don't understand, want to explain?"

B'Elanna threw her hands in the air and let out a groan. She really wondered if he was just dumb or stupid, and for a short moment wondered why she even got involved with him in the first place. It took her only a moment to gather her thoughts and tell the man.

"It's Seven."

"Okay, what about her?" Tom said, then he got the message and knew what his partner was talking about. "This is about the slipstream drive isn't it?"

"Well THAT took some time!" B'Elanna sighed, this was not good at all, and she didn't want to throw her frustration out on him, but she just had to do something.

"What is wrong with it 'Lanna, Seven did alright didn't she?"

"This time yeah! Just think for a second Tom, what if we have to be in the slipstream lets say one minute longer?" she looked at him and could see him think. He always had a funny way of looking when he was deep in thoughts B'Elanna noted, and normally she kind of liked it, but now it only frustrated her more.

"There would be more power conduits overloading?" Tom tried.

"Well yeah, and?"

"And?" Tom still wasn't sure about what she tried to say and felt very awkward. He sometimes wished he understood B'Elanna better, making it far easier for him to be able to support her.

"Ever heard of the word chain reaction?" She said moving closer to him. "Every time a conduit blows?"

"The other conduits have more power on them, so they start exploding faster, and faster?" Tom finished for her. This was really simple he thought and it was stupid the three of them hadn't noted that earlier. "So Seven set everything up?"

"No, as long as we stay within in the time limit we did the simulation she will be ok, but a few seconds more Tom, and BOOM."

Tom swallow hard, he tried not to think about what the Klingon just told him but for some reason he couldn't clear his mind anymore. "So we tell the captain about this?"

"I don't know Tom"

"I can do it." Tom said, and sat down on the couch, making a suggestion for B'Elanna to sit down as well.

"Do what?"

"Fly us home within the 13,6 minutes. I can do it. That way Janeway doesn't have to know and we don't have to cancel tomorrows flight."

''You're crazy! We have to tell Janeway, it's Seven, you know the girl she is involved with, in that Jefferies tube!" B'Elanna sat down now and looked at him in astonishment.

"Seven would have told her if she believed it would truly be dangerous. We just have to talk to Harry, and make sure that tomorrow we will do more then our best to help Seven, and we'll be home again think about that 'Lanna. Home." He sighed, for some reason he had preferred his life in the delta quadrant but since he was in a relationship, he just wanted to go home and start a family of his own.

B'Elanna looked at him for another moment, to let everything sink in, then nodded. Perhaps he was right. She wanted to go home as well, and this would be their last chance on the Quantum slipstream drive.

"Alright, let's talk to Harry and make sure that Seven gets as much of help as possible."

The two stood and walked out of the room on their way to meet Harry and make sure that everything would be all right.

***

Janeway sank down in her chair and looked at the anxious faces of the bridge crew. Everybody was waiting for their captain to give them the signal and Janeway could see some muscles flinch when she got up again.

In a slow pace she walked to Ensign Kim and nodded to him. He gave a weak smile then turned back to his station and started to work again. Janeway saw he was monitoring Seven's status and for a second she felt her stomach drop.

Right next to him was Tuvok, he gave her a look and Kathryn smiled back at him. She knew that even though he had no emotion on his face, he was not himself today.

"You ready for this, old friend?"

"Yes captain." Came the short response from the Vulcan.

Then she walked to Tom at the helm and patted him on his shoulder. Kathryn could clearly feel the tense muscles and knew he was very nervous.

"Are you okay Tom?" The captain asked in a low voice only Tom could here.

"Yes ma'am!"

Again she nodded and walked back to her chair. But before sitting down she looked at the empty spot right behind the captain's chair. Seven's workstation was empty and she swallowed hard, trying not to think about where her lover was now.

"She'll do fine Kathryn!"

Janeway looked down at her commander and sat down in her chair next to him.

"I know Chakotay, but I still don't like it."

Chakotay looked in her eyes and took her hand squeezing it for a second then released and stared at the screen.

"Chakotay to Torres."

"Torres here!"

"Are you ready B'Elanna!"

"We are ready to go Chakotay!"

"Good, Chakotay out."

Chakotay looked at Janeway and could see her hands shaking. She nodded vaguely at him.

"Seven, what's your status?" Kathryn's voice was low and filled with concern.

"I am ready captain!"

"Stand by!"

Janeway closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she didn't want to say it, but it was now or never.

Slowly she stood and took another deep breath.

"Tom take us into slipstream velocity on my mark!"

She could see the stars pass bye on the screen and knew everybody was holding their breath.

"Three, two, one, engage!"

With that the ship started to shake and within seconds the greenish wall appeared around it.

"Shields are down to 90 percent." Tuvok said from his station looking at his captain.

"So far so good." Chakotay said and gave Janeway a warm smile.

"Let's just hope it stays that way Chakotay."

The commander didn't answer, because he knew he couldn't guarantee it. And even if he could, he knew Janeway would always have doubts. It was just her nature he thought.

"Seven what is your status?"

"One power conduit is overloading, I am rerouting power now."

"Let us know when anything goes wrong Seven." Chakotay said.

"Nothing will go wrong."

Everybody on the bridge smiled at that comment, they all expected her to say it and of course as always, she did. Even Kathryn smiled. And for just a second she forgot she was captain and thought about their time together.

"Eight minutes." Kim said.

Janeway was shaken out of her thoughts by his comment and concentrated on the screen again, then suddenly the starship jolted.

"What the hell was that!"

"A part of the tunnel collapsed behind us!" Tuvok said.

"We are of course by 0.12 degrees." Tom yelled. He didn't like this, didn't like it at all. "Damn, don't do this to me, not now?" He muttered under his breath. He tapped his consoles and turned the ship a bit so that they would head for Earth again.

"New course laid in. we have a new course to the Alpha Quadrant. Tom said he could clearly feel the pearls of sweat on his forehead and he didn't have to look behind him to see if harry felt the same, he just knew he did.

"We now have eight minutes and sixteen seconds to go before we reach the Alpha Quadrant. Ma'am.?" Ensign Kim asked. He wondered if she knew this was too long for Seven to be safe in the Jefferies tubes, but he trusted on his friend Tom Paris and Seven's skills.

"Keep her steady!" Janeway barked. "Seven what is your status?"

"I have taken the first conduit out captain, and have rerouted all available power? Was there a problem?"

"A part of the slipstream collapsed behind us, and we where thrown of course. We now need at least 20 seconds more to reach earth, can you do that Seven?"

For a moment Janeway did not get a respond and started worrying. She wondered if Seven was calculating everything, and that was not good. Why did I let her do this? She is not going to make it. Janeway thought. "Seven?"

"Yes, I can do it captain."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Tom flinched when he heard Seven say it and stared at his consoles, desperately thinking of ways to make the trip last 20 seconds shorter. But it wasn't possible and that made him even more worried. He looked behind him to see the face of the captain and wondered briefly if he should tell her. She looked so worried. Then he closed his eyes and focused on his job again. Seven could make this work, he was sure of it. She always made it work, so she had to make this work now.

"Six minutes!"

"Shields down to 74 percent." Tuvok noted. He had seen the look on Tom's face when he turned briefly and wondered why the pilot looked so scared. He made a mental note to ask him later since he had more pressing things to worry about now.

"Seven what is your status Chakotay asked again."

"I have taken out another conduit, no plasma fires so far, I am now heading for the next section, another conduit is about to blow." Seven's voice was cool as if there was no sign of trouble, what made Chakotay's believes of success even greater. He had doubt about this woman in the past, but now he totally trusted her. Seven could do this. They would finally go back where they belonged.

"Four minutes." Kim said, never looking up from his consoles. He could see Seven was still far away from the position where she should be, and he could already see another another conduit overloading. Silently he pushed some buttons and send Seven the information.

Suddenly from out of nowhere they heard a cracking noise over the comsignal, followed by the sound of an explosion.

"SEVEN!!!!" Janeway yelled, jumping out of her chair. She walked over to harry Kim to see what happened, while she waited impatiently for an answer from her partner.

"I am alright captain, the was a plasmafire, I have it under control. Rerouting power now.

"How about you, are you alright?"

"I have not severely damaged myself, but if I do not continue I will not make it to the next section within time."

"Understood." Janeway said with fear in her voice. She did want to sit down anymore and stayed for a bit longer standing next to Ensign Kim, until he gave her a frustrated look. She swallowed hard. This was the point where she just had to accept that she was a captain and this was not her responsibility at the moment. She had to sit in that chair and give the commands. But she desperately felt the need to do something. Reluctantly she walked back to her seat and sat down again.

"Don't worry captain, she is a remarkable woman! She will make this work."

"Thank you Chakotay." Janeway smiled at him but her eyes looked sad worried.

"One minute!"

No one said a word. And when another explosion was heard over the comsignal a few ensigns actually jumped back scared.

"Seven?" this time it was Chakotay because his captain was so pale that he thought she was gonna pas out any time soon.

"I am still functioning commander, please do not bring the slipstream drive offline."

"Harry?" Chakotay looked at the ensign who was now looking astonished at his consoles, and several lights started to flash.

"Harry what is going on?"

"Five conduits are about to blow, Seven may be wearing protective clothing, but I am not sure if it will take the heat if they are gonna blow, when she is rerouting power."

"Seven did you hear that?" Chakotay asked, he could see from the corner of his eyes that Janeway was holding the chair so tight that her knuckles where white. He could see her shake in her chair and quickly he prayed to his ancestral spirits that Seven would be all right.

"I heard it, but I can do this, my nanoprobes will protect me, I am sure."

"Seven...listen to me...you don't have to do this." It was the first thing Janeway said for some moments but she just didn't want to hear this anymore.

"It will be alright Kathr..."

Before Seven could finish her sentence several more explosion where heard over the comsignal and suddenly Janeway knew. Oh my god, why didn't I think of this earlier... chain reaction. She can't do this.

"10 seconds, captain Seven is rerouting power, but we lost communication with her."

"Lock on to Seven and beam her directly to sickbay!" Janeway yelled.

"I can't captain, she is blocking us!"

"Six seconds! Trying to get a lock?"

"We have reached the Alpha Quadrant?."Tom said from his place on the helm. Immediately they dropped out of slipstream velocity.

Janeway closed her eyes, not listening to the sounds around her anymore. She took deep breaths and tried to gather her thoughts.

"I've got a lock transporting her to sickbay now."

"Keep her at impulse Tom." Chakotay said in a low voice. He stared at

Kathryn and took her hand. "Kathryn?" there was no response. She just sat there, her eyes closed. He felt so sorry for her and he hoped Seven was okay." Go see her Kathryn, we'll manage here."

Slowly the captain nodded and rose. She felt so dizzy and sick. In a blur she could see her old friend Tuvok move over to her, for support. Kathryn knew everybody was staring at her but she took the offered support gradually and let herself guided to the turbolift.

"Do not worry captain, Seven is a strong woman." It was the last thing the crewmembers heard before the door of the turbo lift shut.

***

"Doctor?"

The doctor wandered over to Janeway who was standing in the sickbay.

"I repaired all the external damage captain but?" the EMH wondered how he was going to explain this to the captain. He knew she loved the young blonde with every beat of her heart and he knew it would kill her.

"But what?" Kathryn spoke in a low dangerous voice.

"But I can't stop the internal bleedings captain. There is nothing more I can do?" he swallowed hard. Even though he was a hologram and this should not be so hard it was still very painful.

"No?"

"I am sorry captain?"

"How long?"

"Half an hour an hour at most. I know this might not be the moment to say it captain? but Seven was very brave. She gave her life for that of the crew."

"I know." Janeway said. She knew Seven had done this because all the crewmembers wanted to go home so badly and because Janeway wanted to reach home so desperately. But this just wasn't right? She would rather have spend her entire life with Seven in the Delta Quadrant the without Seven in the Alpha Quadrant."

She walked over to the biobed Seven was on and swallowed hard.

Taking another deep breath she looked down at the still form of her lover. This just couldn't be true, deep inside she hoped that it was all a bad dream but in her heart she knew it was not.

"Do you want me to wake her now captain?" The voice of the doctor was gentle, and full of grief. He knew that he was going to lose a dear friend, his pupil, and it hurt him beyond words. Just for a moment he wished that his program had not advanced, that he would not have to experience this pain, ever.

"Yes... please." Kathryn's voice croaked. She swallowed hard, trying to get the lump out of her throat.

The hiss of the hypospray seemed louder then usual and it hurt her ears. She knew this was the moment of truth the last time she would be able to spend with her lover...only half an hour.

Seven's eyes fluttered and opened. The young woman took a deep ragged breath and swallowed hard, she could clearly feel the pain in her body, and that her nanoprobes weren't healing her. She knew she was going to die.

She looked up and could see the features of her lover's face. The soft smile and the body-heat of her partner radiating through the sheets. Her eyes looked sad though, which confirmed Seven's thoughts. She was going to die.

"Kathryn..."

"Shhh, don't talk. You had an accident." Janeway stroked some of Seven's hair out of her face before she continued in a low voice. "There was a plasma-fire in the Jefferies tube, you got hurt, but you will be ok, we made it to the Alpha quadrant." Kathryn took a deep breath holding back the tears staining in the back of her eyes. Why did this had to be so painful, why did the only person she had truly loved in her entire life had to die.

"I...am dying." Seven whispered and she tried to take Janeway's hand in her hers. There was no strength in her arm left however and her effort failed.

Kathryn looked at the young woman struggling. Gently she put Seven's hand in her hers, and gently squeezed it.

"I am sorry...I would have liked to meet your mother...and sister." Seven whispered.

"Don't..." Kathryn looked in her eyes, and took a deep breath, the tears started to roll down her face. No longer could she prevent them from falling, as her pain was too much to hold back. "Don't please, I love you so much. If you hadn't done that we would all be dead, because of you we are here."

"Your survival...is important to me my Kathryn." Seven swallowed hard. "You have to...promise me, you go on. Do what you do best...Kath...ryn, I will always be with you."

The tears ran down Kathryn's face freely, never in her life had she been in so much pain as now. "Seven don't..."

"Please..." The plea was whispered from Seven's lips.

"I promise..." Kathryn whispered. She felt the cold hand of her lover give her a soft squeeze, to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. But for Kathryn it was never going to be all right. Everything seemed to be a nightmare, as if it was not really happening, that she could wake up from it any second now. But deep inside, in her heart she knew that this was reality.

"And, never...blame yourself for this. This was not your fault. I choose to do this. Kathryn...you are the most...important thing in the world for me, I lo..."

Before Seven could Finnish her sentence Chakotay's voice filled the sickbay.

"Captain, Earth is now on view, I thought you and Seven would like to see it. She is beautiful."

"Thank you Chakotay." Janeway responded. Then she looked back at Seven.

"Would you like to see Earth Seven." Janeway asked in a husky voice.

"Yes...please, with you." Seven's said between ragged breaths

Janeway looked at the doctor who was standing in a corner of the sickbay watching his consoles. He looked up and nodded at her. There was nothing he could do for Seven anymore, so he could not deny Seven her last wish.

"Computer, two to beam up directly to my quarters." With that Seven and Kathryn disappeared in a sparkling light, leaving the EMH alone in sickbay with his thoughts.

Seven lay on the couch in Janeway's arms, they both stared out of the window looking at the blue green globe. She couldn't feel the pain anymore, and she knew that it was only a matter of moments before she would die.

"Kathryn, I am home now." Seven whispered.

"I know, this is our home. Not on earth, but here in our quarters, with you." Kathryn whispered in a low voice.

Seven took another deep breath as she listened to her lovers soothing words. Her vision was becoming blurry and she had trouble concentrating, she could hardly feel Kathryn's hand in her own anymore and she tried to concentrate at the warmth of it. She did not want to die and it was hurting her beyond words to feel her strength slowly trickle out of her body. So much she had wanted to spend the rest of her life with Kathryn. So much did she want children with her. To see them grow up, to give them all the love she never had. But now all she knew was that it was never going to be more then a beautiful dream. Seven stared out of the window at the globe and saw a bright light appear around it and she knew that this was the time to say goodbye.

"I will always love you Kathryn, you...are in my heart." Seven said, then she closed her eyes letting the sleepy feeling take over her and as she took her last breath she heard her lover whisper in her ear. "As you are in mine, my dearest Annika." then... for Seven, all the pain was gone.

Kathryn felt Seven's grip of her hand end, and knew that the only person she had truly loved most in her entire life was gone.

***

"Always in my heart. Love Kathryn." "Kathryn said the words out loud. She kneeled down next to the grave and touched the letters carved in the stone.

"She must have been an extraordinary person Kathryn." Jen looked down at Kathryn then decided to kneel down next to her.

"Oh she was." Kathryn turned to look in the blue eyes of the Hanson girl and smiled.

"But you can't keep living in the past Kathryn. She will be in your heart and memories and you will see each other again. You have to go on." Jen looked at Kathryn and her heart skipped a beat.

When she had seen Kathryn for the first time she just fell head over heels in love with her. But she knew this captain deeply loved Seven and she respected it. Still deep in her heart that Kathryn was able to move on. But never would she push this woman.

"I promised her." Kathryn said and took a deep breath.

"What?"

"I promised her to go on. She is right. I have to go on. I can't keep living in the past." Kathryn's voice was husky and low.

"You will be together again one day." Jen swallowed and took Kathryn's hand in hers while they both stared at the grave.

"I like you a lot Kathryn, perhaps to much and I don't want to push you or anything but?"

"Shhh, I know." Janeway put a finger on Jennifer's lips and smiled. "Before I met you, I didn't want to go on but I want to now Jen." Kathryn stood and pulled Jennifer Hanson up too.

"You do?" Jennifer looked astonished at the older woman.

"I can't promise you anything just yet but I want to keep seeing you, I?"

"Don't say it Kathryn not yet." The blonde smiled at Kathryn and entwined her long fingers with Kathryn's. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, let's go home?" Kathryn turned one more time to look at the final rest place of her soulmate. 'I promised you Seven. I love you we'll be together again one day.' Then the two women walked away. The sun shining down on them. Holding each others hands. Moving on, to see what the future would hold for them.

End

Authors note: the title may be perceptive, it is based on the song Lucky-Bif Naked, so please don't kill me for not warning you about this.

Special thanks to: Jacqueline and J who keep supporting me. I owe you so, so much.