Darkness 02

<"But Now...."> Janeway thought.

Two voices responded and then were gone "Yyyyeessss"

Janeway looked over at Seven, taking in her face and hair, which was lying over her shoulders.

"You should wear your hair down more often, Seven."

"I...I...should?" stuttered Seven.

Smiling, "Yes you should," said Janeway softly.

" I will try to remember that Captain," responded Seven, suddenly feeling quite shy.

"Call me Kathryn, Seven at least here, or when I'm off duty."

"Kathryn," Seven said more to herself than to Janeway.

Hearing Seven say her name for the first time sent a warm glow though out Janeways body.

"Kathryn, should we continue walking?"

Janeway laughed. "Yes it does seem we must."

"Shall we?"

Moving forward, they walked through the warm flames, each lost in their own thoughts of what the mysterious voices had said to them.

"Captain... Kathryn... are you..."

Kathryn glanced at Seven and asked, " Am I what Seven?"

"Are you lonely Kathryn?" Seven asked in a whispered voice.

Janeway stopped walking and turned to face Seven. She looked straight into Seven's eyes.

"Is that what the voice told you, Seven?" asked Janeway.

"No, Kathryn, the voice simply made me realizes that I am lonely. I was wondering if you were too?" replied Seven, wondering if she had said something wrong.

"I see."

Time to be honest Kathryn. You both deserve the truth.

Janeway smiled. "Am I Lonely?"

"Yes?" inquired Seven with a look of interest on her face.

Janeway then did something that the star ship Captain had never dared to do before. She reached out and softly ran her hand along Seven's cheek. Taking in the softness and running a finger over Sevens Borg eyepiece, to return to a warm cheek.

Seven remained still for a moment and then rubbed her cheek into Kathryn's hand, closing her eyes at all the new emotions that were making themselves known for the first time in her life.

"Seven, we have been lost for some time, alone and separated from all we have known. In a way, it's like your separation from the Collective. For a while, I had the knowledge that someone was waiting for me, but after finding a 'Dear John' letter, I realized that it is more than possible we will not reach home in my lifetime. I have found myself torn between my duty to Starfleet, and my need for companionship," replied Janeway, still stroking a soft cheek and thrilled that Seven was enjoying the contact between them.

Seven slowly opened her eyes. "I don't understand, Kathryn. Surely Starfleet Command wants its crew members to be happy and content?"

Janeway laughed. "Yes they do, however they do no t like it when a Star ship Captain becomes attached to a crew member on board their ship."

Seven looked thoughtful for a moment. "How will they know?"

Janeway thought for a moment <"How indeed?"> She shook her head to clear that thought.

Seven reached up and removed Janeways hand, softly stroking her thumb along Janeways palm. "You are lonely?" Asked Seven again, now knowing the answer but wanting Kathryn to say the words.

Janeway slowly nodded while watching Sevens thumb caress her hand.

Seven swallowed. "I feel emotions for you that I have for no one else. I am happy when I am in your presence; you are strong and wise, gentle and understanding. You are beautiful to me. You would not be alone anymore."

Janeway smiled a full smile "No, I am sure I would not be lonely Seven, but do you understand what you are asking?"

"Yes," Seven nodded once.

Janeway slowly withdrew her hand and stepped closer to Seven, never taking her eyes off Seven's face, in case Seven suddenly changed her mind. Moving her hand up into Seven's long silky hair, and placing her other hand on a shapely hip, she drew Seven towards her.

Seven placed her hand on Janeways arm and slowly moved forward to meet her.

Their lips met for the first time. A soft kiss was exchanged, and they drew back. Janeway found herself drowning in Seven's eyes. She watched the look of wonder in them be replaced with the warm glow of love, as Seven bent down to return the kiss.

Lips caressed each other in wonder, as hands slowly moved. Janeway pressed in a little closer and deepened the kiss to find Seven more then willing to follow wherever she was led. Feeling Seven's other arm snake around her waist, Janeway slowly let herself relax. For the first time Janeway could remember, she felt loved and protected. Thoughts of her ship and crew were put aside, and her own wants and needs were finally having their say.

Janeway let her tongue slowly lick a soft pink lip, and heard a soft groan in return, as Seven's hold on her became stronger. Feeling Seven slowly open her mouth to let the soft muscle in, their tongues finally got to say hello.

Time stood still, and all they had was each other. Nothing else mattered as long buried emotions came alive.

Drawing back with a gasp, Captain Janeway released Sevens lips, trying to restore the air that had suddenly become very thick around them.

Seven's hands fell away, and one reached up first to touch Janeways lips and then her own. She gazed at Janeway in wonder, and then a very rare smile made its way across a very beautiful face.

Janeway for her part wasn't too sure if she should be apologizing, or making a run for it, but one look at Sevens beaming face, was all the answer she needed.

"Well, I guess that answers that question."

"What question would that be Kathryn?" asked Seven.

"If you knew how to kiss," said Janeway with a happy laugh.

"The Borg have assimilated many species over hundreds of thousands of years, many peaceful races, who had outgrown the need to fight, where love and harmony were the rule. I may not have the experience, but I have the knowledge." A wicked little grin appeared, and then was gone. "I just require practice"

<"Oh Boy">, thought Janeway. She licked her lips, which had suddenly gone very dry, and was trying to think of a reply when she noticed something over Seven's shoulder.

"What is that?" said Janeway, pointing over Seven's shoulder.

Seven turned and looked in the direction where Janeway was pointing, but even with her advance senses, she could only see a shadow.

"I do not know, Kathryn."

"Come on." Taking Seven's hand, Janeway led them onward.

**********************************

After a few minutes of walking, Captain Janeway keeping her eyes on the shadows, and Seven keeping hers on Janeway, they made their way over to find another barrier. Slowly reaching her free hand in front of her, Janeway ran it over the new surface.

"Well its cool at least" Pulling Seven to stand at her side. "What do you think?"

Seven reached out and after a bit of resistance, her hand penetrated the barrier. Janeway quickly reached out and drew her arm back. Seven's arm was unharmed much to Janeways relief.

"There appears to be an opening on the other side," said Seven.

Looking at each other, and then at the barrier, they step though the opening to find themselves in yet another room. This room was very different from the first two. Yet, it was still warm, and it seemed as if they were standing in mid air as cloud-like shapes floated by, and a slight breeze could be felt on their skins.

"Whoa," said Janeway grabbing onto Seven's arm as all her senses went haywire. Janeway started taking deep breaths, trying to get her stomach to behave.

Seven reach out to steady Kathryn. As a Borg, this kind of environment was not unusual. After all, Borg drones could survive in a zero gravity or open space for quite a while with no ill effects.

"Thanks," said a breathless Captain. Looking around her, Captain Kathryn Janeway, Starship Captain and explorer nearly collapsed when not too far in front of them, appeared to be floating, one Queen size bed. There was a bucket with ice and a bottle, settled beside the bed. Lying on each pillow, were two roses... one red, the other yellow.

Seven, after taking in the bed, was watching a wide-eyed Janeway with interest, and with a lot of humour. It was not that often one got to se e Janeway speechless.

Janeway gave a nervous laugh, looking over to see Seven watching her intently.

"It would seem, Kathryn, that this is indeed your dream," Seven said in a teasing voice watching her usually cool and calm Captain turn an interesting shade of red. " I do not drink champagne"

"Ha ha," was Janeways reply.

"Shall we Kathryn?" said Seven pulling on her hand she led Janeway over to the bed.

Janeway felt like she was floating on air as they slowly moved to stand beside the bed. Seven reached out and picked up one of the roses, then looked at Kathryn.

"They're roses Seven: a yellow one for friendship, a red one for love," said Janeway, answering Seven's silent question. "They normally smell quiet nice too."

Seven draw the rose up to her nose and sniffed. She offered the rose to Janeway.

"Mmmmm," Janeway sighed.

"Yes, they are very delicate," said Seven.

"So are you Seven, delicate, beautiful, soft, yet strong," said Janeway, watching Seven take the yellow rose and repeat the action of smelling its scent.

Seven placed both roses down, and drew Janeway towards her, love and passion appearing in her eyes, as together they sank down on the silk bedding.

Lips and hands began to move. Their shoes were soon removed, and they moved together to the centre of the bed, neither one losing contact with the other.

Seven ran her hand down Janeways neck and started to remove her jacket, which was thrown beside the bed. Not long after, the rest of Janeways clothes followed, leaving Janeway naked before her Love.

"My turn," purred a silky voice. Soon they were both naked and inter-twined as hands mapped smooth skin.

Janeway ran her hand along Seven's strong back, and Seven kissed her way along her neck, reaching an ear and softly blowing into it, rising up to look at Kathryn. Janeway smiled, and with a show of strength rolled them both over, watching Seven's eyes take in all that was happening between them.

Placing her lips against Seven's ear, Janeway softly spoke, "I love you so very much, my love." She kissed her ear tenderly, and drew back, to see one single tear track down Sevens cheek.

"Hey, don't cry," Janeway, said just above a whisper, moving her thumb to brush the tear away.

Seven gave a shaky smile, which Janeway returned with a kiss. "Are you al l right? Do you want to stop?"

"No," came the firm reply. Janeway gave a small laugh.

Running he r hand along one long thigh, Janeway started to map her destiny. Fears disappeared as she opened her heart, and saw the stars.

Cries rang out and passion burned as two souls returned to their soulmate. Bodies became one, and love was shared. So later was the champagne. And much later, they both drifted off to sleep to awaken on board the star ship Voyager, to find the roses at their sides.

****************************************

Two shadows stood watching from within the flames, each lost in their memories.

"We have come full circle my Love," said Janeway, as Seven rapped her arms around her form behind, and rested her head on her shoulder watching the couple in front of them proclaim their love for each other.

"I remember this night all too well," whispered Seven into a nearby ear, "When all our dreams, became our lives."

"Me too my love, it's just a s I remember it." Turning into her wife's arms they both faded into the flames.

The End