Part 37 - 40

BLONDES/REDHEADS

The young woman stretched out on the bed, every inch of her long lean body mapped by a besotted starship captain. Inhaling Seven's unique scent, Kathryn stroked that intricate blend of Borg technology and human flesh...very human...so human. A sweet joy filled her as she brought Seven slowly toward her sexual peak.

Her joining with the Collective two decades ago had been forged with pain and annihilation. Her joining with Voyager three years ago had been done under a storm of angry protest. Her joining now with Kathryn was **bliss.** **Perfection.**

Seven's legs tingled and her arms quivered as the captain taught her yet another lesson in humanity.

Writhing under Janeway's delicious explorations, Seven felt her cortical node bombarded with sensation...the smell of the smaller glistening body, the taste of a warm tongue dancing against hers, the reverberations of a throaty growl as a slender finger sank between the blonde's tender flesh.

Seven gasped out her lover's name.

Kathryn replied, her own voice husky with passion.

"I've got you, my darling. Let go. I'll catch you...."

"Kathryn!"

And she did...let go...coming apart in the captain's hands...all of Seven shattering in a million pieces ...and then somehow put back together the way she was always meant to be.

"Are you all right?" Janeway asked, smoothing the sweat-slicked hair from the blonde's high forehead. She planted soothing kisses against the slender throat, feeling the pulse fluttering wildly under her lips. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"I am undamaged..." Seven replied. There had been no damage just acceptance and welcome.

Still, she felt confusion. All her research on sexuality seemed inadequate. Surely she had been taken apart and then restored within a nanosecond. How was this possible? Her azure eyes already darkened sought an answer, focusing on the woman who gazed lovingly back at her. The blonde's chest tightened as emotions filled her. She had never imagined such tenderness. Kathryn had been an amazing guide, initiating her into the ways of love, holding her own raging desire in check to tend to her younger partner's needs. But no longer.

With one swift move, Seven pressed Kathryn down onto the bed. It was time to put her lessons into action. She kissed her, long and hard, tasting fully the passion that had been growing while the captain had pleased Seven. Now it fanned quickly into a white hot flame. Groaning against the soft lips pressed against hers, Janeway arched against the firm body lying on top of her, the hard weight of the abdominal implant digging into her hip as she rocked back and forth.

"Seven..." she said, unaware that her voice held that plaintive note that Seven had heard last night and found so arousing.

"I am here, Kathryn..." The blonde assured her.

Slowly the Borg stroked and caressed the small hills and peaks spread before her, marveling to herself about the soft crevices and valleys to probe and streams of wetness to explore. Her fingers glided up the smooth expanse of leg, causing a cry to erupt from the captain's throat.

Kathryn was soaring, sweet pleasure building higher and higher as Seven brought all of her perfectionist tendencies to the fore and led her up one ragged peak and yet another until finally she collapsed in the blonde's strong arms, limp, unable to speak, much less bark an order. Clinging to Seven, she closed her eyes.

Seven tightened her hold on the smaller woman, kissing the damp auburn hair, murmuring incoherent words of love. This was a privilege few had known...to hold Kathryn in their arms...to experience her soft sighs of pleasures and moans of release...to have her command mask off and be exposed completely.

The blonde touched Kathryn's eyelids hesitantly.

"Have I damaged you, Kathryn?" she asked softly.

"No." Kathryn's eyes flew open to see the other blue pair intently peering at her. "Why did you ask?"

"You are crying. Are you sad?"

"No, darling. Sometimes humans just cry when they are happy." Or overwhelmed.

Seven realized her own eyes had filled with moisture. "I am crying too."

"Yes."

These tears were different than the ones she had shed last night or in the shower.

Remembering the shower, Seven directed another question to the woman lying against the rumpled sheets.

"Are you sufficiently warmed now?" she inquired.

Kathryn chuckled, her fingers caressing the Borg's narrow face. "Yes, my darling. Thanks to you, I am sufficiently warmed."

"And in no danger of overheating?"

Blue eyes twinkled.

"Just the way I like to be overheated." She threaded her fingers through the golden hair. "Seven, you are an astonishing lover." She had expected hesitancy but had found only eagerness.

Seven beamed with pride. "I am happy you find me so. I had an excellent teacher and strive to follow her lead." She nipped at Kathryn's earlobe with her teeth.

"Really?" Kathryn's voice lowered an octave, sending a resonant pulse skittering up Seven's spinal cord.

Unable to resist the invitation, Seven pulled the captain over her larger frame, settling the redhead's legs on either side of her torso. "Shall we make love again, Kathryn?"

Janeway ran her fingers over Seven's abdominal implant. "Practice makes perfect. Isn't that what the Borg say?"

"That is a human saying, I believe," Seven pointed out.

"And one worth following?"

"Indeed."


 

The warm jets of the Jacuzzi felt like heaven against her hip. Warm bubbles sent up a white froth as Kerry felt her leg being gently massaged by Kim's long supple fingers. Sighing, she settled back in the warm water.

Her crutch was propped against the chair next to the tub. Two white embroidered terry cloth robes were draped over the chair. Under it was the bucket of Moet & Chandon White Star champagne and two glasses. This hotel bathroom was really something else. A gal could get used to it.


"How's that feel?" Kim asked, leaning over, her wet hair spilling over her voluptuous breasts. Her hands continued to knead Kerry's leg muscles.

"Perfect."

Kim smirked. "Shampoo, blow dry, lap dance, shower, massage. We're covering all the highlights this afternoon, Weaver."

"And we have evening to come."

Kim grabbed the foot that had been tracing a pattern on her stomach. "I think we came already, Kerry."

"Kim!"

"More than once as a matter of fact. Shall I count them on your toes?" Her index finger skimmed the arch of Kerry's foot. "This little piggy came in the bathroom. This little piggy came in the bed. This little piggy..."

Weaver squirmed. "Cut that out!"

"The tickling or the teasing."

"The tickling."

Laughing, the blonde let go of the foot, trailing her fingers up the calf and thigh.

"We might run out of toes before we leave the hotel."

"You think you're that good, Legaspi?"

The psychiatrist lifted an eyebrow. "I don't hear you complaining."

"I'm not crazy."

"You think we need a nap to keep up with all this activity?"

Kerry shook her head. "Didn't we nap after the shower?"

"You call that napping?" Kim feigned shock. "Unless you dozed off on me when I wasn't looking?"

"No chance of that, babe." Kerry picked up Kim's hand and dabbed at the bubbles in the water with it. "You didn't get much sleep last night."

"Whose fault was that?"

"And you got up early this morning and jogged for two hours."

"Whose fault was that?" Kim repeated patiently.

"So do you need a nap?"

Kim was touched at the concerned expression in her lover's green eyes. "All I need is you, babe. What about you? I know you get cranky without enough sleep."

"Get cranky without nookie too."

"Kerry Weaver!" Laughter gurgled out of Kim. Kerry looked so damn delectable, sitting there with her red hair plastered against her head, the bubbles not quite hiding her small breasts and her legs stretched firmly out on either side of Kim. She bent down and kissed a knee cap. "So...you wanna?"

"Yeah...I wanna..." Kerry reached her arm over the side of the tub. "First let's have some of this champagne before it gets warm." She had opened the bottle in the other room while Kim had drawn the bath, and now handed one of the flutes to Kim. She picked up the other.

"Champagne in the afternoon. That's practically decadent, Dr. Weaver."

"To us, Kim..."

"To us, Ker..."

They sipped the champagne, the bubbles teasing their noses, their eyes smiling at each other over the rim of the glasses...Then Kim felt something hit her tooth. She lowered the glass and fished out a metal object from the champagne. Was it part of the foil? No, it was too hard. She picked the object up between two fingers.

"Kerry..."

"It was my mother's wedding ring..." the redhead explained, eyes shining like emeralds. "If you don't like it I can get you another one or we can get another band to go with it..."

Kim held the gold band up to the light. "It's beautiful."

"Will you marry me, Kim?" Kerry asked. "Be with me. Grow old with me."

Gazing into Kerry's eyes, Kim felt her heart swell. Carefully, she put down her champagne glass and took Kerry's away from her and placed it on the bathroom floor.

She held the ring out to Kerry. "Put it on for me?"

**Don't drop the ring,** Weaver told herself. Shakily she tried to slide it on the blonde's ring finger...but Kim's finger was too big.

"The pinkie will do for now..." Kim said. It was a perfect fit there.

"Jewelers can stretch those things..."

Kim reached over and cupped her face. Sweetly and slowly she kissed her. "Kerry Weaver, I love you."

"So does this mean you accept my proposal?"

"Oh God, yes. I will marry you. Yes, I will be with you. Yes, I will grow old with you."




Seven picked up the T-shirts that had been scattered on the floor during the haste of making love with Kathryn. Meticulously she folded them and placed the stack on the bureau. On the bed, Kathryn dozed. She had been asleep for 34 minutes, snoring for the last 14 minutes. Perhaps this was a trait of redheads. Kerry snored too.

Returning to the bed, Seven draped the coverlet over her lover who nestled against her shoulder automatically.

Kerry had been right. Research while important was not crucial to the experience of making love. Seven and Kathryn had found their way. The journey had been a pleasing one and the Borg was confident that this lesson in humanity would always be her favorite.

She felt Kathryn stir against her and soon the redhead was yawning and stretching.

"I'm so sorry, Seven. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"Do not be sorry. Your body needed to sleep. I welcomed the time to be with my thoughts."

"And what were you thinking of while I slept?" Janeway clasped Seven's hand tight against her breast.

"Of many things. Of how my body felt with you. And how yours felt with mine."

"Good thoughts and feelings, I hope?"

"Pleasurable. Good. Loving," Seven catalogued.

Kathryn reached up and pulled her close for another kiss. "I'm so glad." And relieved that Seven's first time had gone well. "That's how it's supposed to feel."

"Are you thirsty, Kathryn? I can get you some water."

"That would be lovely, darling."

Nude, Seven rose, and without a trace of self-consciousness left the room. Enjoying the view, Kathryn lay back, fingers laced behind her head. **Kathryn Janeway, you're one lucky woman.**

Seven returned from the bathroom with a glass of water.

"You must not spill it on yourself as you did earlier," she warned.

"That was an accident." Kathryn said, sitting up. "Besides I'm not wearing a T-shirt at the moment."

"I see that," Seven said, sending an appreciative glance at the captain's rosy nipples. "So when you spilled the water, it was not a romantic ploy to draw my attention to your breasts?"

Kathryn shook her head and swallowed some water to ease her parched throat. "No. I was just clumsy." She frowned. "Who told you about such ploys?"

"Kerry mentioned that spilling water on myself was something to do in case you did not respond to my finger licking."

"Oh, she did, did she?" Kathryn chuckled. "So all this has been a plot of the good Drs. Weaver and Legaspi?"

"Do not be angry, Kathryn. I needed help. I am inexperienced in such matters, and you were very difficult to seduce."

"Oh, darling, I was certainly a stubborn idiot who didn't know a good thing when I first saw her. But no longer. I am putty in your hands." She put the water glass down on the night stand. Seven was watching her, staring at her as though she were the most amazing thing in the universe.

"Darling, you're ogling."

"I must. You are perfection."

Kathryn opened her arms and Seven snuggled closer. "I'm glad you think that." Had any of her previous lovers made her feel this cherished, she wondered. Certainly none of them had taken her to that level of passion. It wasn't just because Seven was a woman, it was because she was Seven.

"Did you doubt I would find you aesthetically pleasing?" the blonde asked, curious.

"Well, I am older than you."

"Age is irrelevant." Seven turned her face until Kathryn's was mere inches away. "If you were a hundred years old I would still love you."

Kathryn knew the Borg was not indulging in hyperbole. "Thank you, Seven.

Feeling better now that age issue was resolved, Seven tightened her arms around Kathryn.

"Once we get back to Voyager will things change between us?"

"I suppose." Kathryn kissed her softly, moaning when Seven deepened the kiss. "But this won't. You and I. I promise."

"I know one change that may be necessary."

"What's that?"

"I require quarters on board the ship. Cargo Bay 2 is not a real home. It is merely the place I regenerate."

Surprised by the request, the captain realized Seven was absolutely right. "I will look into it immediately when we return. You require privacy, of course."

Seven nodded. "Right now in Cargo Bay 2 anyone can step in while I'm regenerating."

"I will have privacy seals put in place," Kathryn said, aware that she had been the chief transgressor. "I know that the crew quarters are fairly full up. We must keep visitor's quarters vacant in case we have dignitaries that come aboard."

"Is there no chance of acquiring private quarters to myself?"

"You may need to bunk in with someone."

The blonde furrowed her brow. "Explain."

"You may need to share quarters. Get a roommate."

"I had anticipated having my own quarters."

"Voyager is a scout ship, Seven. We all have to make sacrifices. You might even enjoy sharing your quarters."

"I find that doubtful."

"You sound very sure of yourself."

"I find most humans are careless and disorganized. I do not look forward to cohabitating with one."

"That's a pity."

"Clarify."

The captain hesitated for a moment, feeling suddenly shy. "I thought you could share my quarters."

Seven looked astonished at the suggestion. "You would allow it?"

Kathryn stroked the silver implant on Seven's biceps. "I would welcome it. I plan to be paying visits to you and it would be better that the crew not see me trekking nightly to your quarters."

"Nightly, Kathryn?"

The redhead blushed. "Depending on our duty shifts, of course."

A half smile lit up Seven's face.

"I must warn you that I make a bad roommate."

"You are a bed hog..." Seven remembered Kathryn's earlier warning.

"And that's not all."

"Your snoring could be troublesome."

"I do not snore!" Kathryn exclaimed. "Do I, really?"

She looked dismayed that Seven corrected herself. "No...your breathing just gets heavy when you are tired." She recalled Kerry's explanation of her snoring.

"Thank you, darling. However, I am messy and careless in my private quarters. I seldom put things back where they belong."

"I will adapt. You will adapt."

The captain wasn't sure she liked the sound of the last sentence but Seven began kissing her and she couldn't hear much of anything except the rapid drumming of her heart and the whisper soft breath of Seven against her ear.

"This has been my favorite lesson in humanity," Seven murmured.

Janeway grinned. "It's not over, darling."

"Indeed? Is there more I must learn?" the blonde asked. Her optical implant brushed Kathryn's forehead.

The redhead chuckled. "Darling, I couldn't possibly teach you everything in one session." Her tone was low and husky and teasing.

"There is more...?"

"Much more..."

"It is fortunate I have Borg enhancements."

BLONDES/REDHEADS

Sunlight streamed through the curtained window. Kathryn's eyes fluttered open as she found herself lying on top of Seven, her head tucked under the blonde's chin. The sight of her lover dozing in her cow pajamas brought a smile to Janeway's face. Seven looked so adorable. Sometime after the early hours of the morning when Kathryn had drifted off, the young woman must've followed suit.

Usually Seven did not sleep, she regenerated. Was it possible that the act of making love had caused her to embrace another human activity, sleeping instead of regenerating? If so, chalk up another human activity to Seven's growing list.

Unable to resist, Kathryn pressed her thumb against the blonde's lips, tracing the lower one for a moment before she bent her head and kissed her softly. Seven stirred, her blue eyes focusing immediately on the woman lying in her arms.

"Kathryn." The timbre in her voice caused the captain's own voice to deepen as she answered, "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

"Good morning." A frown. "Who is Sleeping Beauty?"

**You are, darling.** "A character in a children's fairy tale."

"I am not a child."

"No, you are not..." Thank God. "How did you sleep?"

"I am uncertain." Seven said truthfully. Usually when she finished regenerating she felt energetic and instantly aware. However when she awakened just now she felt a strange lassitude, not wishing to rise from the bed. Was this due to her companion?

"Falling asleep is another first for you."

"I enjoy firsts. And seconds and thirds..."

Kathryn blushed. She knew exactly what seconds and thirds the young woman was alluding to.

Keeping an eye lock on the captain, Seven lifted her night shirt and ran a hand possessively up her torso. Janeway inhaled sharply as Seven's hand continued to explore. Suddenly, Seven leaned forward, inspecting the compact body more closely. She remembered from their previous encounters that Kathryn's skin was cream-colored with a light dusting of gold specks called freckles, but she did not recall these purplish marks marring its perfection.

"You are damaged..."

"What?" Kathryn glanced down. "No...that's nothing, just love marks caused during love making."

"I caused the bruises?" The blonde exclaimed.

"Yes, but I left my mark on you as well." Janeway pointed to a love bite on Seven's neck and another on the side of her breast.

"I shall get a dermal regenerator," Seven said, starting to get out of bed.

"Not on my account," Kathryn replied. "I want to keep mine."

"Explain."

"When I look at them they remind me of you."

"Indeed?" Seven was beginning to understand Kerry's comment about the dermal regenerator.

"Are you in such a hurry to get up, darling?" Kathryn asked, blue eyes glinting. Seven knew that Look. It meant that Kathryn was feeling amorous and wanted a kiss. Immediately she complied. The two women were still kissing when the doorbell sounded ten minutes later.

"Someone is at the door." Seven pulled back, tilting her head.

"They'll go away." Kathryn pulled the blonde head back to her.

"Perhaps it is important? We've been expecting a delivery."

"Damn!" Kathryn had forgotten about that Fed Ex package from California.

Scrambling, she threw a robe over her night shirt and padded down the stairs. Still dressed in her pajamas, Seven followed.

Kathryn opened the front door to find a man, carrying a package under his arm and a clipboard in his hands.

"Dr. Kerry Weaver?" He took a pen from the clipboard.

"Uhm. Yes."

"Sign here, please."

The redhead scrawled Kerry's name and took the package inside. As soon as she closed the door the blonde next to her looked questioningly.

"You are not Kerry."

"No, but it's the phaser from California. I need a knife or scissors to open the box."

"I will open it." Seven changed her Borg hand into a cutting implement and sliced through the tape of the box with one smooth move.

"Is that sufficient?"

"You **are** a handy person to have around."

"Thank you." Seven accepted the compliment with aplomb.

The phaser seemed in working order. The power cell was still almost fully charged. Kathryn had only used it twice. Once in that alley fight and once on Kim.

"We can get started on the modifications after breakfast."

"I shall make breakfast. Kerry has taught me to make omelets."

"Great. I'll get the coffee started."

The two women bustled about in the kitchen, and Kathryn felt a little nostalgic for her own mother's Traditionalist kitchen in Indiana. As Seven expertly cracked the eggs and poured them into the omelet pan, Kathryn remembered her dream the other night. Maybe it was possible for dreams to come true.

They ate the omelet, sitting on the kitchen stools. Seven's omelet was nearly as good as Kerry's.

"But we won't tell her that," Kathryn said, with a smile. She poured herself another cup of coffee, watching the Borg push the eggs around on her plate with a fork.

"You are very quiet," she said. Seven was not a chatterbox, and that was a good thing particularly at breakfast but Kathryn sensed something was on the young woman's mind.

"What's bothering you, Seven?"

The blonde lifted her head. "How did you know that I was bothered?"

"Intuition. Humans have it, particularly towards someone they love. Is there a problem I can help you with?"

"Now that the phaser has arrived we will be returning to Voyager."

"Yes. If your idea works, and if Voyager has positioned the Delta Flyer at the right coordinates. Temporal mechanics is always a tricky thing."

"I am confident that our attempt will succeed."

Kathryn picked up her coffee cup and flashed her a quick smile. "That's one of the things I adore about you, Seven. Your confidence. Are you thinking again that you will miss Kerry?"

"No. I shall miss her...but I was thinking that I shall miss making love to you."

Kathryn spluttered her coffee out onto the counter.

"Why would we stop making love?" She wiped up the spill with a napkin, then gazed over at the woman next to her. Was this just a fling to Seven? "I don't want us to stop making love, Seven. Do you?" she asked in as calm a voice as she could muster.

"No!" Seven said so swiftly that Kathryn couldn't help a sigh of relief. She had nearly allowed her own insecurities to get the better of her.

"You and I will be together on Voyager. I promise."

Seven did not look as reassured by Kathryn's words as she had hoped.

"What is troubling you, darling?"

The use of the now familiar endearment caused Seven's lower lip to tremble. She pushed her plate away and blinked twice. "In some instances involving temporal disturbances the travelers do not remember what happened once they returned to their correct time period."

"Oh."

"It is possible that when we return to Voyager you will not remember that you fell in love with me here. I will remember because of my eidetic memory. I find that causes me considerable pain."

Kathryn's heart lurched at the expression on Seven's face. "Darling, I didn't just fall in love with you here in the 21st century," she exclaimed. "I only acted on my feelings yesterday and last night. Believe me, I have loved you for a long time."

She placed her arm around Seven's shoulder then turned her face, leaning in for a passionate kiss that did much to restore the other woman's spirits.

"What if you **do** forget what has happened between us, Kathryn?" Seven asked.

"Then you must make me remember. That finger licking trick would certainly get my attention."

Seven gave her that half smile. "I believe it would."

"You seduced me once. I am confident that you would again."

"As long as you did not resist for long. I do not think I could wait to make love again for weeks or months."

"Try waiting years," Kathryn said dryly. She patted Seven's hand. "Don't worry. The fact that we have accounts of temporal incursions means that someone somewhere remembered them."

"That is true," Seven said, much relieved. "However, even if you do remember we shall not be able to make love for 48 hours after returning to Voyager."

"Because you will need to regenerate in your alcove," Kathryn agreed. "However once you have fully regenerated we will be together again."

She turned Seven's Borg hand over on the counter and stroked the mesh, causing the young woman to feel the familiar tingle of desire.

"Perhaps we should make love again since we shall not be able to do so when we reach Voyager," Seven suggested, her azure eyes darkening.

"Won't Kim and Kerry be returning home soon?" Kathryn asked, feeling her body respond immediately to the look. Having a Borg lover might require **her** to sleep when Seven was in her alcove if only to keep up with her when the blonde was fully functional.

"They will return in an hour. Is that not sufficient time to make love, Kathryn?" Seven's lips descended on Kathryn's in a kiss so searing that Janeway forgot all about the time constraints.

"We must lock the guest room door," she said huskily. She wasn't about to be discovered in **flagrante delicto** by Kim or Kerry.

"Whatever you wish." Seven pulled the captain to her feet then swept her up in her arms.

"Oh my!" the redhead exclaimed as Seven lifted her easily and carried her out of the kitchen.

"Do you like this, Kathryn?" Seven asked, mounting the stairs with the captain nestled against her throat.

"I adore it."

Seven kicked the guest room door closed and locked it.

"Is there anything else you wish?" She inquired, placing Kathryn down on the bed.

"Why don't we start with you taking off those pajamas?"


 

"That was some honeymoon you gave me, Ker," Kim said as the Saturn left the hotel parking lot. Kerry was at the wheel again and the psychiatrist was content to sit back and admire her lovely redheaded fiancee. The gold band on her left hand glinted in the morning light.

"Now we have to plan the wedding."

"You thinking Vermont?"

"Definitely Vermont." Weaver reached over and linked her fingers with Kim's. The ring on the blonde's pinkie finger pressed lightly against Kerry's skin.

"You have a lot of people to invite?"

"Not really. You?"

"Nope. It's too bad..." Kim started to say then bit her lip.

"What?" Kerry took her eyes off the Michigan Avenue traffic momentarily.

"I was just thinking that it's too bad Seven and Kathryn have to get back
to their ship. It would be nice if they could stick around for the wedding."

"Seven's only going to last for three more days," Kerry told her. "They have to get back so she can get the proper care. But you're right. It would have been great to have them with us. It's thanks to them that we got back together."

"Never have done it without them," Kim agreed. "So what do you think? Did they do the deed back at your house?"

"Kim!"

"Well, that was the point to this little getaway wasn't it?"

"No. The point was to get **you** alone to myself so you could ravish me repeatedly. Which you have..." Kerry said, grinning. "I just left the two of them back there to fend for themselves."

"Kathryn's scrappy. She'd be good at fending for herself."

"I put my money on Seven. I gave her a few tips."

Kim couldn't help laughing.

"What?"

"I suggested a few things to Kathryn."

"Let's just hope some of it took."

"It better. I don't plan to go running with her again."

The Saturn cut through the Monday morning traffic, and Kim fell silent as she thought of Kathryn and Seven. And Kerry.

"You're going to miss Seven."

"You're going to miss Kathryn."

"Yeah...but you and Seven have something special going."

Kerry glanced at her quickly. "What makes you say that?"

Kim shrugged. "I just see it. Kathryn sees it too."

"It doesn't mean anything. I love you, and Seven is crazy about Kathryn."

Kim glanced down at the gold band around her pinkie. She had to get Kerry a ring too. "We know. We don't mind." She paused then asked, "Think we should call the house and tell them we're on our way home?"

"They had all day and all night, for heaven's sake. They can't still be in bed."

"All the same, why don't you drive a little slower."


 

The phone rang, and Seven lifted her head from its position on the pillow. With her enhanced hearing she could hear the answering machine downstairs pick up.

"Who is it, darling?" Kathryn asked, sprawled comfortably at her side, a light sheen of sweat covering them both.

"The Lakeside Fertility Clinic," Seven said, listening intently. "Kerry has an appointment there this week."

"Fertility?" Kathryn's eyes widened.

"They have left a number and have asked her to call back."

"Remind her about it when they get home. And now where were we, my darling?"

"I was here, and you were resting on me," Seven said, rearranging Kathryn on top of her.

"You must tell me if my mass ever gets too much for you to bear."

"My abdominal implant can take weight considerably larger than yours."

"It better not." She didn't want anyone else lying on Seven.

Seven's fingers made soft circles on Janeway's back. "Kathryn, I must call you Captain when we are back on Voyager, mustn't I?"

"When we are on duty, yes. But in private I want you to call me Kathryn."

"I would like you to call me Annika when we are alone."

Kathryn lifted her head and gazed into the Seven's eyes, surprised by her request. "Really?"

Seven nodded. "It is my human designation and when I am with you alone like this, I feel most human."

"Darling Annika..." Kathryn said. They kissed lightly and then more deeply. Seven began to press upward against the redhead in the most tantalizing fashion. "We can't. They will be home soon."

"In approximately twelve minutes if Kerry is punctual," Seven said, consulting her inner chronometer.

"Why do I get the impression that she is always punctual?" Kathryn grumbled. She rolled off Seven. "We'd better clean up in the shower."

"You may go first."

"Don't you want to shower with me? I may need help washing my back," Janeway teased.

"If I wash your back we shall become distracted," Seven pointed out.

"You're probably right." A huge grin lit up her face and very nearly caused the blonde to reconsider her decision. However, she was Borg and had to be strong in the face of such temptation.

While Kathryn showered, Seven stripped the bed of the linens and put them in the washing machine in the basement along with the cow pajamas and Kathryn's night shirt.

"A recycler would be more efficient," she informed the captain when she came out of the bathroom.

"This is the 21st century, Annika. At least they had washing machines. In some centuries they were obliged to wash clothing by hand."

Seven glanced down at her two appendages. "Which one?"

Kathryn chuckled as she pulled her turtleneck over her damp hair. "Both."

Ten minutes later Seven was clean and dressed in her brown biometric suit and annoyed that Kim and Kerry were late.

"We could definitely have made love again," she declared in the dining room where she and Kathryn were working on the necessary modifications to the phaser and the tricorder.

"We don't need to make love to make love," Kathryn said, smiling over at her.

"Explain."

"Just being with you, working on this device...it makes me feel good," the redhead said.

"I understand," Seven said, turning to kiss her. "Does that make you feel good too?"

"Oh my yes, it certainly does..."

Seven cocked her head. "They have arrived."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Kerry and Kim burst through the front door, making as much noise as they dared. Kerry even banged her crutch against the closet door.

"Hey, look who's up!" she said, spotting Kathryn and Seven standing by the dining table.

"And out of bed," Kim chortled, wheeling the weekender out of the way.

"We have been up since 0900 hours," Seven replied, looking affronted.

"How nice to see you back," Kathryn chimed in quickly before the Borg could announce how long it had been since they were out of bed. Some things she didn't plan to share with the other couple.

"How was your getaway?" Seven asked, shutting the tricorder.

"Great!" Kim exclaimed, eyeing Kerry with a grin.

"How was your hideaway?" Kerry asked the other couple.

"Very acceptable," Seven replied.

"Seven means it was great," Kathryn interpreted. "I believe I have you to thank for much of its success, Kerry."

"Just doing my part in keeping Seven happy," Kerry replied. She hugged the tall blonde.

Kim cleared her throat. "We have some news."

"We're getting married!" Kerry blurted out, unable to restrain herself.

"That is very acceptable!" Seven said. "I mean, it's great!"

"It is great!"

Laughing, the four women took turns hugging one another.

"If you were on board Voyager Kathryn could perform the wedding ceremony," Seven said. "She is captain of a ship."

"That would be nice," Kerry agreed. "But I think you're going some place we can't follow."

"That is correct."

"I need a drink. Any strawberries and whipped cream left in the frig or did you and Kathryn use them all?"

"We have some left..." the Borg started to say then realized that Kerry was being facetious. "Perhaps I should re-organize your cabinets again before I leave," she said good-humoredly.

"No, don't do that. I'll behave," Kerry said in mock horror. "Shall we whip up some smoothies for Kim and Kathryn?"

"I will be happy to assist," Seven said, trailing Kerry into the kitchen.

"So, did everything go well?" the redhead asked as soon as the two of them were alone. "With Kathryn, I mean?"

"Yes. Kathryn was wonderful," Seven said, her eyes shining. "I have never known such bliss."

"Good." Maybe Kim's pointers had paid off. Kerry found the bowl of strawberries in the refrigerator and began putting them one by one in the blender.

"Would you like to know how we made love?" the blonde inquired.

"No. I think I have the general idea. The main thing is Kathryn told you and showed you she loved you."

"She did. Many times. The first time we were in the shower together. The second time we were..."

Kerry pushed the button on the blender.

In the dining room Kim was showing the gold ring to Kathryn. "It was Kerry's mother's."

"It's beautiful. Were you surprised to get the proposal?"

"Hell, yeah. I mean, one minute I'm just playing footsies with her in the bath tub and the next I'm getting a ring put on my finger. I'm so happy I could cry."

"I know the feeling."

Kim smiled. "What about you and Seven? Things go okay?"

Kathryn nodded. "It was all I hoped it would be. Seven is just astonishing."

"Are you all set to go back? Did the phaser thingie arrive?"

"This morning."

"Did you modify it?"

"It is almost finished," Seven said, overhearing the question as she returned with Kerry, carrying a tray of smoothies.

"Celebrate first. Work later," Kerry said, handing out the drinks.

"My crew on Voyager would love that concept," Kathryn said. She lifted her glass. "To Kerry and Kim, may you have happiness and love in your marriage."

"Thank you, Kathryn." Kerry smiled as they all sipped their drinks.

"And to you and Seven," Kim toasted, holding up her smoothie. "May your journey back be a safe one."

The four women drank again.

"Actually we owe all our happiness to you two..." Kim said.

"That's right," Kerry agreed, dabbing the pink mustache off her upper lip with a napkin.

"Clarify."

"If not for you guys I'd still be in San Francisco brooding over Kerry but too chicken to do anything about it," Kim said.

"Too chicken?" Seven's brow wrinkled in a frown. Why would Kim compare herself to a domesticated fowl?

"Too scared," Kerry translated. "We owe you and Kathryn a debt of gratitude."

"You have done much more for us," Seven said. "Finding my way in Chicago would have been considerable more difficult without you, Kerry. And Kathryn would have had more trouble finding me without Kim's help. We are actually in your debt. Isn't that right, Kathryn?"

When no reply seemed forthcoming from the captain, Seven turned. "Kathryn?"

"Yes," Janeway said, forcing a smile to her lips. "You are right. I don't know how we could pay you back."

"I'd say we're even," Kerry declared.

Kathryn finished her drink, unable to get Kim's words out of her head. **If not for them Kerry and Kim would not be together.** Thanks to the temporal displacement the two ex-lovers had reconciled. **But what if they weren't supposed to be together?**

Her arrival with Seven in the 21st century had contaminated the timeline. It could be even more contaminated with Kim and Kerry's reconciliation. But how could Kathryn undo that damage so generations would not be affected without breaking the hearts of the two women standing in front of her.

Three, if she counted her own lovely Annika beaming at Kerry and Kim.

 

BLONDES/REDHEADS

Kathryn Janeway had a love hate relationship going with the Federation's Prime Directive. The most important rule in Starfleet, she had broken it before, the first time when she destroyed the Caretaker's array, thereby stranding her ship in the Delta Quadrant, and three years later when she helped the Borg with their war against Species 8472. That last decision had brought Seven of Nine into her life and she didn't regret it for a moment. All the same Janeway wasn't eager to break the edict again.

While Seven worked on the modifications of the phaser and tricorder and Kim and Kerry freshened up upstairs, Kathryn plotted the course she must take. Like it or not,--and she definitely hated it,--she needed to restore the timeline. Untold millions of lives would be affected. Kim and Kerry were supposed to follow the paths they'd been on before meeting Seven and Kathryn. **Separate paths.**

"Kathryn?" She came out of her reverie to find Seven in front of her with the tricorder. "I have completed the modifications."

"Good." She checked the changes. As always Seven's work was exemplary. "And the phaser?"

"That is completed too." The young woman handed her the weapon.

"Good work, Seven."

"Kathryn, are you all right?" The captain had been conspicuously silent ever since they had begun the modifications.

"I'm fine." The redhead brushed aside her question. "So we can rendezvous with Voyager at 1400 hours?"

"Yes, I believe it would be prudent to bring the devices on line with Professor Nielsen's help. He had indicated earlier he would make himself available at his campus in Evanston."

Kathryn chewed over that suggestion for a moment. Would this pollute the timeline even more? "Just how much does Harry Nielsen know about us, Seven?"

The Borg quirked her ocular implant. "Presumably enough to keep him occupied in his research for his lifetime and to spark the following generations in his family. His descendent is a leader in temporal mechanics in our 24th century."

"In other words we should trust the grandfather. Very well. How do we contact Professor Nielsen?"

"I have his phone number in my eidetic memory. I can access it and call him."

"Do it."

Seven's gaze sharpened when the captain uttered those two words in her best command tone. Kathryn had not used that particular tone much since her arrival in the 21st century. On board Voyager Seven had often chafed at hearing it directed toward herself. She found it even more annoying now.

"Are you unwell, Kathryn?"

"No," came the dismissive reply.

The Captain was back in full force. Seven could see the command mask that Kathryn now wore. But why? She had no need to resort to it until they reached Voyager. Something must be troubling her.

"What is troubling you?" she asked bluntly.

Blue gray eyes stared at her, showing considerably more gray in them than blue.

"What makes you think I am troubled?" There was a brittle edge to the coolly uttered words.

"I believe you called it intuition over breakfast. I love you and you appear upset."

Seven placed her hands on Kathryn's arms and turned the smaller woman toward her. "Let me assist you."

Faced with such love, Kathryn's defensive walls crumpled. "Oh, darling. There is nothing you can do," she said, leaning against the larger woman. Seven felt so solid and strong. How she longed to confide in her lover, but if she told Seven she needed to break up Kim and Kerry's romance the young woman would protest. Quite possibly she would never forgive Janeway if she went ahead with it. And just how would Kathryn accomplish the break up anyway? Fight with Kerry? Flirt with Kim? Seven would be liable to pick **her** up and shake sense into her with one hand.

"Tell me," Seven repeated.

Kathryn traced the strong jaw line with her finger tip.

"Annika, do you love me truly?"

Seven blinked. "How can you ask that, Kathryn? You know I do." She was getting alarmed. This uncertainty was most unlike the captain.

"Will you continue to love me, no matter what?"

"Yes," she vowed.

"No matter what I have to do? No matter what orders I must give. Even if what I do you consider wrong?"

"You and I have clashed before," Seven reminded her. "You have made decisions before that I considered wrong. I promise I will not stop loving you, Kathryn. No matter what you do."

"Thank you, darling." She relaxed for a moment in the blonde's arms. "Please, remember that."

Not knowing what to do, Seven kissed Kathryn soothingly, surprised when her lover turned the kiss into something more than comfort, as though desperate for a connection.

"Don't tell me you two are still at it?" Kerry asked, crutching into the dining room with a grin. "You have a bedroom upstairs."

"We didn't mean to interrupt," Kim smirked.

"We were about to call Professor Nielsen," Kathryn said, breaking away from Seven who kept her arm slung around the captain's shoulders.

"There's a phone's in the study."

"You have a message on your machine, Kerry," Seven said, remembering the earlier phone call that morning.

Weaver threw her a wary look. "Is it the ER?"

"No. A fertility clinic."

"Really?" Kerry exclaimed as she hurried into the study. She found the red message button blinking on the answering machine and pushed it, eager to hear the message from Lakeside. Kim followed, a puzzled expression in her cornflower blue eyes.

"Dr. Weaver, this is Lakeside Fertility Clinic. We've had a cancellation, so we'll be able to take you on Thursday at three p.m. if you're available. Give us a call to confirm please," the voice on the answering machine requested.

"Yes!" Kerry clapped her hands then reached out to hug Kim. "I got it! An early appointment at Lakeside."

Kerry was nearly bouncing with joy in Kim's arms. "Lakeside Fertility?" the blonde asked.

"Yeah. You know how hard it is to get an appointment there. They'll see me Thursday instead of two months from now."

"Are you having problems, Ker?" Kim asked, concerned.

"Just the usual problems of a woman over forty trying to get pregnant."

"What?!"

"I gotta call them back. Oh, wait. Seven wanted to call the professor. I'll just use my cell phone. Where's my purse? In the bedroom..." Babbling happily, she headed out of the study. "You can use the telephone to call Harry," she told Seven.

Kathryn drew the young woman into the study. "If you tell me the professor's number I will make the call to him," she said, going over to the desk.

Seven recited the number quickly, but her mind was not focused on the phone call to Evanston. She was concentrating instead on the continuing conversation between Kim and Kerry as they headed up the stairs and into their bedroom.

**Kerry wished to have a baby.** Seven had overheard that much of the conversation between the two women earlier. Although she knew Kathryn's dislike of eavesdropping, Seven could not help listening, eager to learn more about Kerry's baby. Kerry would make an excellent mother.

"I'd better call them before someone else grabs the appointment time," Kerry was saying in the bedroom. She found her purse and dumped its contents on the bed, pouncing finally on the cell phone.

"Wait a sec, Kerry. Let's talk about this," Kim said, closing the bedroom door.

"About what?" Weaver thumbed through her address book and began to jot down the number on a piece of scratch paper.

"For starters, what's my part in all this?"

The redhead laughed.

"Oh, you get to have all the fun stuff...finding whatever I crave in the middle of the night, massaging my feet and telling me it's going to be all right when I'm in labor screaming away. There will be lots for you to do, babe."

Kim gazed into the smiling face and felt her heart skip a beat. She loved that spunky redhead so much. But a baby?

"Lakeside Clinic? This is Dr. Kerry Weaver. I'll take that Thursday appointment. Yes. I understand. Thank you so much." Kerry clicked off her phone. "We're going to have a baby!!"

In the study, Seven felt a warm glow at Kerry's excitement and sat down in the LA-Z-Boy rocker.

"Ker, hang on a minute." Kim sounded far less happy.

"Oh, I know it's just the first step. I'm not pregnant yet. It's too bad we don't have any more champagne. I am just so happy."

"Why didn't you mention this to me?" Kim sat down on the bed next to Kerry.

"I don't know. I guess it slipped my mind. We've sure been busy with other things, haven't we?" Kerry chortled and nudged Kim in the ribs with her elbow.

The corners of Seven's lips lifted in an understanding smile.

"Ker, have you thought this through?" Kim again, sharper than before.

"Are you kidding? Of course I have. Lakeside Fertility has the best success rate in the country. I have been dying to get my foot in that door."

"And what about me?"

"You want to have a baby too? That's great, Kim. But I've been looking forward to having one first. Maybe the second one we have could be your turn."

"Kerry, you're not listening. I don't want to have a baby. And I'm not sure about your having one right now."

"What do you mean?" Kerry asked.

"I mean that having a baby is something a couple should talk about, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but you weren't around. This is a decision I made a while ago."

"Yesterday you asked me to marry you. We agreed to share our lives. I think a baby is part of the sharing process. You might have mentioned it to me."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I had put in my request to Lakeshore a while back and I guess it wasn't on the front burner. I was more absorbed in being with you again. I would have told you eventually."

"Not told me...asked...discussed." This was important. "Ker, there's so much going on right now. I'm not sure where a baby would fit in."

Kerry laid a hand on Kim's knee. "She'd fit in right here with us. Kim, are you telling me you don't want me to have a baby?"

Seven held her breath, awaiting Kim's answer that did not come for several moments.

"I can't tell you what to do," she said finally.

"But you can tell me that if I go ahead and get pregnant you won't be much help."

"I'm not sure if I would even be around to help if you went ahead with this."

"You can't mean that." Kerry's voice shook. "You are surprised, that's all."

"I'm surprised all right, but I don't want a baby just yet."

"I have been planning for this child for a long time, Kim. I'm 42 and my biological clock is ticking away. I'm not even sure if I can conceive, but if I do...I want the baby." She paused. "I also want you. I love you, Kim."

Kim covered Kerry's hand with hers. "And I love you, Kerry. But I don't want a baby, not yet. And I won't be forced into having one..."

"Forced?" Weaver asked stiffly.

"You're saying it's something you want done and you're doing it."

"And you're saying that you are walking out on me if I conceive."

"Obviously, we have a lot of things to talk about."

"No. This is non-negotiable." Kerry slid her hand out from under Kim's. "I want this child. I am taking that appointment and if they accept me I am going through with the hormone treatments to get my body ready to conceive..." Kerry raised her voice.

"Kerry, you may be ready for motherhood, but I'm not!" Kim's voice was just as loud.

Alarmed by what she was hearing, Seven glanced over at Kathryn still on the phone with Professor Nielsen. Could Kathryn not hear the arguing going on upstairs?

"Does it have to be right now?" Kim continued. "My life is so unsettled. I still have commitments in California."

"You said you would be with me, share my life. But now if I go ahead with the pregnancy, suddenly you're ready to ditch me."

"Ker, come on. You're not pregnant yet."

"I hope to be soon and I need to know. Will you be with me on this?"

"Yes."

Seven let out a breath of relief. But there was more Kim was saying. Her voice was low now, barely a whisper, and Seven had to strain to hear.

"Some day. In a couple of years maybe?"

"I don't have a couple of years! In case you haven't noticed I have a disability. My leg is not going to get better. If I get to run around after a kid, I'd like it to be sooner rather than later."

"That's another thing to consider," Kim said. "Your hip. A pregnancy could put you at risk."

Seven frowned. Did Kerry's damaged leg make the pregnancy more difficult?

"It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"**Your** risk. **Your** decision. It's all about you, isn't it?"

"Kim, how can you say that?" Kerry's voice sounded close to breaking. "It's about the two of us and a child, a family."

"I'm not ready for a family, Kerry. You weren't expecting the appointment until two months from now. Why don't you just go then?"

"Because there is an opening this week," Kerry said slowly. "Besides, I don't think you'll change your mind in two months."

"Probably not."

"I don't know what else there is to say."

"Me either. Except my heart is breaking."

"So is mine."

Seven's felt heavy as well.

"Professor Nielsen can see us at 1330 hours. That should give us enough time to brief him before the rendezvous at 1400 hours," Kathryn said, putting down the phone. Getting no response to her words, she glanced over at Seven who was seated in the LA-Z- Boy rocker, staring down at the carpet. "Annika, what's wrong?" Had the nanoprobes started failing again?

Seven lifted her head, her pale eyes shimmering. All the joy that had been in the house earlier seemed to have dissolved with the argument she had just heard.

"Kerry and Kim are arguing about the baby."

"What baby?" Janeway asked, baffled.

"The one she wishes to have but Kim does not."

Clearly the blonde's eavesdropping had left her unhappy. Kathryn wedged herself next to Seven in the chair and took the Borg's hand in hers.

"Is that what her appointment at the Fertility Clinic was about, darling?"

"Yes. Kim does not wish her to have the child."

"Oh my." Kathryn stared at the Kenyan weaving on the wall. Kim's reaction would be devastating to Kerry.

"Kerry would make an excellent mother," Seven declared.

The captain turned her attention back to her young lover. "Yes, I'm sure she would," she agreed. She stroked the blonde hair gently. "Darling, you see why it's best not to eavesdrop."

"Yes." Seven touched her forehead to Kathryn's. "However it is difficult sometimes not to listen."

Kathryn kissed her on the starburst implant. They were silent for several moments.

"Would you like a child?" Seven asked curiously.

Janeway snuggled closer and smiled as the arms around her tightened possessively. "Yes, I would. I have thought often about having a family one day."

"I would like a child with you as well."

The captain's thoughts drifted, imagining a small blonde girl and perhaps a red headed boy. 24th century technology was a marvelous thing.

"Why doesn't Kim wish Kerry to have a child?" Seven asked, switching Kathryn's attention back to the present.

"I don't know, Annika. Having children is a very personal decision. Perhaps Kim doesn't feel the time is right."

"That is what she told Kerry. I do not know why everyone is so concerned about time," Seven said dismissively.

Kathryn swallowed hard, wondering if Seven were aware of the captain's own preoccupation with the timeline. It was probably best to remain silent about that.

"They are so unhappy now. They were so happy earlier when they returned from their getaway. Perhaps if we reminded them of their happiness..."

"No, we must let them settle this themselves. You and I must not interfere." They had contaminated the timeline enough. If Kim and Kerry separated because of the issue of children it would be a sign that they were not meant to be together.

"Let's go outside and hail Voyager and confirm our arrangements."

"Very well, Kathryn."


 

Kim glanced down at the gold ring on her baby finger. She'd been wearing it for less than a day and she didn't want to take it off. But it had to be done. She couldn't walk out of the house with the ring on her finger. And she needed to walk out for everyone's sake.

She tugged at the gold band. It had gone on so easily but now she was having trouble getting it off. That fact that she was crying didn't help matters, and she couldn't ask Kerry to help yank it off. Finally one last tug, and the ring came loose. She looked over at Kerry. Biting her lip, Weaver turned away, her own eyes filling with tears. Kim laid the ring on the bureau.

"I'll get my stuff and get out of your way."

She pulled her small suitcase out of the closet and began tossing her clothes in, not bothering to fold anything. She threw in the black silk nightgown from Victoria Secrets that she hadn't even worn yet. Kerry had packed it for their getaway but she had never got to wear it. She hadn't seen Ker in the green tank top either.

Zipping up the case, she ran her fingers through her hair, not sure where she was headed. Maybe over to Christy's? Even though her old college pal was out of town, Kim knew where she hid her key. She needed a place to crash before she could think about getting a flight out.

Kerry was huddled on the bed, her back to Kim. Every instinct the blonde possessed told her to take the smaller woman in her arms. But she resisted. No sense dragging out this farewell scene.

"Good-bye, Kerry."

Instead of a reply there was a whimper. Quickly Kim left the room before she burst into tears. She steeled herself for a run in with Kathryn and Seven, but luckily found the downstairs empty. Not wanting to waste any time, she called for a taxi. She had just finished giving the address to the dispatcher when Kathryn and Seven returned. Both women deduced immediately what had happened.

"Where is Kerry?" Seven demanded. Her narrow face was tight with anger.

"She's upstairs...I gotta go. My cab's on its way. Bye..." Kim hugged Kathryn quickly. She knew better than to try and hug Seven.

"Kim, wait," Kathryn called out as the psychiatrist opened the front door. "I need to talk to you for a few moments." To thank her properly for all that she had done for them.

"Okay. I'll be outside. It'll take at least fifteen minutes for the cab to get here."

"All right." As soon as the other woman closed the door, Kathryn turned to find Seven halfway up the stairs. "Annika!" she called.

The blonde halted and turned. Her eyes were stormy, reminding Kathryn of how stubborn the young woman could get. "I must go to Kerry."

Janeway reached the step just below Seven's and laid a hand on the banister. "Annika, sometimes it's best not to interfere."

"Your reasoning is insufficient."

"Perhaps, but it's no less true," Kathryn said calmly. She touched the mesh on Seven's left hand lightly.

"Kerry will be sad again without Kim, the way she was when I first met her."

"Yes, that's very likely, darling." That was what the timeline demanded. Kathryn felt her own heart grow weary. Damn. She hated temporal mechanics.

"She is probably crying. When I cried the other night Kerry comforted me. I must do the same for her, Kathryn."

The captain could not argue with Seven's need to be with her friend. "Go to her."

Swiftly Seven climbed the remaining stairs and knocked on Kerry's bedroom door. The ER chief opened it quickly, her expression changing when she saw it was Seven not Kim.

"What has happened, Kerry?" the blonde asked.

"Kim's going back to California." She looked past Seven, but there was no sign of anyone else in the hallway. She let Seven in and closed the door.

"Kim's leaving is not acceptable."

Weaver shrugged. "It's just one of those things."

"One of what things? I do not understand."

"Neither do I. Let me try and explain it to you."


Out on the sidewalk, Kathryn watched the lanky psychiatrist pace back and forth.

"Cab should be here soon," Kim said, glancing at her wristwatch.

"Where will you go?"

The blonde shrugged. "I don't know. I have friends in the city I can stay with until I get a flight out. It's sure not how I imagined I would spend this afternoon."

"I'm sorry, Kim. I wish things could be different." This was the truth. Janeway did wish with all her heart that things could be different.

"Me too. I really love Kerry. But she's so stubborn and wants this baby now and I can't manage one now. I can barely take care of myself." Kim sniffed and blew her nose on a crumpled tissue. "Typical Kerry Weaver, drop a bombshell and expect everything to be okay. Well, it isn't okay."

Kathryn squeezed her arm. "Is a compromise possible?"

"Not with that woman. Can you imagine springing this on me? Talk about a shotgun wedding. A baby just isn't in my plans right now. You can understand that, can't you?"

"Yes."

"It's too much too soon. Who would take care of it? Kerry works crazy hours and so do I."

"Motherhood is time consuming," Kathryn agreed, thinking of Samantha Wildman. Since Naomi was the only child on board Voyager there were always people eager to play with her and baby-sit. Kim and Kerry would not have that luxury.

"Have you gotten a hold of Professor Nielsen?" Kim asked, thinking that enough time had been spent discussing her situation.

The captain nodded. "We'll meet him in Evanston and try to get back to our ship."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. Seven will probably want to speak to you and say good-bye."

"I doubt that that's what she'll want to say to me," Kim replied with a shaky laugh. "She's more likely to slug me for walking out on Kerry."

"I'll explain things to her. Good-bye, Kim. Thank you for everything."

"Good-bye, Kathryn. It's been a pleasure knowing you."

The two women hugged for a long moment then Kathryn crossed the street to the house. She didn't want to leave Seven alone with Kerry for too long. The breakup between Kim and Kerry would restore the timeline. If only it hadn't come at the price of their broken hearts.

From the top of the stairs Seven could see Kathryn entering the house.

"Where is Kim?" she asked.

"Outside waiting for her cab."

"I will speak to her." Seven descended the stairs.

"You probably won't change her mind," Kathryn warned.

"Nonetheless I will speak to her. Alone. I will point out the flaw in her reasoning."

"I'm not sure Kim would appreciate that," the captain said dryly. Her crew on board Voyager certainly didn't.

"Her appreciation is irrelevant."

Kathryn couldn't let Seven resort to Borgisms with Kim. "Don't hurt her, Annika. She's hurting enough."

"I shall not," Seven said quickly. "I shall simply remind her of her promise."

"What promise?"

"She told me once that she would never leave Kerry no matter what."

As she passed by Kathryn, the captain realized that Seven was carrying her rugby shirt.

"What are you doing with that?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

The blonde regarded her, a serious expression in her blue eyes. "Do you wish to take the garment back with us?"

"No."

"I shall dispose of it then for you."

So saying, Seven flung open the front door and crossed the street, leaving Kathryn standing on the front steps, even more bewildered. What in the world was Seven going to do with her shirt? She watched anxiously as the two blondes confronted each other. Against her better judgment Janeway moved closer and soon was definitely eavesdropping.

"Seven," Kim said cautiously as the other blonde stopped in front of her on the sidewalk.

The Borg raked Kim over with a stern gaze.

"Kerry informed me what has happened."

Kim held up her hand. "I don't want to talk about it, Seven."

"As you wish." Seven held out the rugby shirt. "This is for you."

The psychiatrist recognized it immediately. "That's Kathryn's."

"The captain has no further need of it. You however do."

What was Seven talking about? Kim glanced down at the shirt that was much too small for her to wear then over at the house where Kathryn was lurking.

"I don't understand," she admitted.

"The captain and you have indicated previously that her purchasing this shirt was a bad decision," Seven said, tilting her head as she fixed her penetrating gaze on Kim again.

"Yes?"

"Take it as a reminder of your own bad decision to leave Kerry again."

"I don't need a reminder, Seven. Thanks all the same."

"Take it." The Borg's jaw tightened as she thrust the shirt at Kim.

**Damn, Seven was strong.** Kim finally took the stupid shirt.

"I'm sorry this had to happen. It's nobody's fault."

"Your reasoning is in error. The fault lies with you. Kerry wishes to have a child. You should support her in this desire."

Kim wondered how much of this she was going to have to take from Seven.

"I have a right to my life too," she said sharply.

"Kerry will be very sad without you."

**Oh hell.** Kim tried unsuccessfully to banish the image of a tearful Weaver from her mind. "Me too."

"You must resolve this quarrel with her," Seven insisted.

"It's more than a quarrel. I don't think Kerry wants to see me again."

"Would you wish to see her again?"

"I always want to see her," Kim said softly.

"If she came to your city you would see her?"

Kim shrugged. "Maybe. But after today she probably wouldn't want anything more to do with me."

"If she did?" The Borg persisted.

"I guess I would see her then. Not that it would do much good. She will still want a baby. And I will still be against it."

"No one can predict the future," Seven said seriously. "You may change your mind. Kerry may change hers."

"I think I see my cab," Kim said, relieved as the yellow taxi turned the corner. She couldn't take much more of this tête a tête with Seven.

She flagged the driver down and grabbed the handle of the suitcase.

Seven stepped closer. Kim held her ground as the cab driver opened the door for her.

"Thank you for helping Kathryn find me."

"You're welcome. I'm glad things worked out all right with the two of you."

Kim touched Seven on the hand then climbed into the back seat of the cab. This was probably one of the hardest things she had to do in her life. She didn't dare look back at the forlorn face or Kerry's house. Instead she stared down at the stupid rugby shirt in her lap.
 

 

BLONDE/REDHEADS

Kerry emerged from her bedroom to find Seven lingering in the hallway, a backpack slung over her shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" Seven asked hesitantly, hoping that was the proper expression to convey concern.

"I've had better days," Weaver replied, trying to be nonchalant. "Kim's gone?"

"Yes."

The sympathy in the blue eyes was nearly Kerry's undoing. So much for nonchalance. If she wasn't careful she'd break down. At the foot of the stairs Kathryn waited. She had a vest on over the black turtleneck and looked prepared to go back to captaining her ship.

"Kathryn and I must leave soon, Kerry," Seven murmured.

"Of course."

"I wish I could remain."

"You need to get back. I'm fine." The words sounded hollow even to Kerry's ears.

The two women descended the stairs, the ER chief in the lead.

Kathryn approached the other redhead. "I'm sorry to leave right now, Kerry, but Seven and I need to get to Evanston," she explained. "Professor Nielsen is waiting for us."

"No problem, I'll drive you," Weaver volunteered.

"We can just call a cab. We've already intruded on your hospitality so much."

"No, it's okay. The drive will do me good. Keep me from thinking too much." Kerry had no desire to stay in the house right now. There had been so much company underfoot in the past two days, she had nearly forgotten what it was like to be alone.

Kathryn read the unspoken appeal in the green eyes.

"All right, thank you." She glanced over at Seven. "Do you have everything?"

"Yes, Kathryn. We'll need to load the polaric device into Kerry's car."

Weaver reached into her hall closet and took the blue baseball cap from the hook where Seven had hung it up neatly and jammed it onto her head. "Okay, let me just find my keys and get you both to Evanston."

The three women were quiet in the car, no one in the mood to talk, a far cry from the other day when they had driven to the Naval Training Academy. Seven sat in the front passenger seat. Every now and then as Weaver drove she could see the blonde hair out of the corner of her eye and almost imagine it was Kim sitting there. Back where she belonged. With her. Kerry's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. How was it that only in a matter of days that woman had managed to ensnare her heart again.

"Would you get the music going, Seven?" she asked, not wanting to think of Kim.

"Do you have a preference?" the Borg asked, her long fingers hovering at the CD buttons.

"It doesn't matter. You choose."

The blonde knew better than to play that song from the Miserables again. She didn't want Kerry to start missing Kim. Perhaps Mozart or the Irish music that they had listened to earlier.

Kathryn was of Irish extraction, Seven remembered from a story Mr. Neelix had related about a patron saint named Patrick. Quickly she keyed in the tracks and the lively music filled the Saturn.

That task completed, Seven consulted her internal chronometer. Just another hour until they reached Evanston. She felt a lump in her throat as she gazed out at the passing landscape, wishing she didn't have to leave Earth right now. And yet she had to. Her continued functioning depended on returning to Voyager.

Listening to the Irish fiddlers, Kathryn found herself wishing the exact opposite of her lover. She wanted this trip to the 21st century over and done with. Most of all she wanted Seven back on Voyager, regenerating in her Borg alcove.

The trip had given Janeway a taste of the Alpha Quadrant and made her more determined to get her crew back so everyone could enjoy it.

In the front seat, Seven ignored the music, turning her formidable mind instead to assisting Kim and Kerry. Somehow the two women must reconcile. But how? She let her eidetic memory play back her first morning at Kerry's when she had accessed and reorganized Kerry's computer files. There was something in one of the files about San Francisco.

At last Kerry drove onto the Northwestern campus. She turned up Maple Street and spotted Harry Nielsen waving them to a parking space by his office building. Minutes later he was helping them unload the polaric device from the trunk.

"I hope you brought everything you need," Harry said.

"We have the necessary equipment," the captain said, glancing around. No one seemed to think it at all unusual for Harry to be carrying the electronic equipment.

"Where's Kim?" Harry asked, realizing that the usual gang of four was now reduced to three

"Her presence here was irrelevant," Seven replied. The blue eyes turned icy. "Do not speak of her again."

"I won't....sorry." There was a story behind Kim's absence, he was sure. But now was not the time to pursue it.

Janeway turned to Kerry. The blue baseball cap was pulled down over her forehead and she was leaning on her crutch, looking small and forlorn. A wave of sympathy flooded Kathryn and impulsively she reached for the other redhead and embraced her.

"Good-bye, Kerry," she said huskily. "Thank you so much for all your help."

"You take care of Seven," Weaver said fiercely as she returned the hug. "Or I'll beat you senseless with this crutch."

Kathryn laughed. "Understood. I will take care of Seven. I promise." She drew away and glanced at the blonde who was looking very sad at the impending farewell. She held out her hand to Annika who took it, looking puzzled. "I'll brief Harry about the procedure while you say goodbye to Kerry," she said softly, placing Seven's hand in Kerry's. "Take your time."

"This way, Captain," Harry said, leading Kathryn into the building.

Seven turned to Kerry. "What will you do now?"

Weaver shrugged. "Just wait for Harry to come out and tell me the procedure went okay, I guess."

"And after that?"

"Drive back to Chicago. I'm working a shift in the ER tonight. It'll keep me busy."

"It is good to be busy," Seven said, recalling her first days on board Voyager when the hours passed so slowly for her. Having her duties in astrometrics had been welcome.

Kerry took off her baseball cap and tilted her face up at Seven who studied the face of the woman who had befriended her.

"I am feeling conflicting emotions. I wish to return to the ship and be with Kathryn. And yet I do not wish to leave you alone."

Kerry squeezed her hand. "I'll be okay, Seven. You must return. You can't function here beyond two more days, remember?"

Seven refrained from pointing out that she possessed an eidetic memory and thus knew exactly how long she could function without regeneration.

Weaver stretched her arm up and placed the Cubs cap on Seven's head. "Keep this as a momento."

Momento. Something to remember someone by. "I will. I have left a momento for you as well in the guest room."

"Really?" Kerry smiled. "Thanks. Now you'd better go."

"Not yet. I must ask a favor of you."

"Sure, anything." What was on Seven's mind?

"In perusing your laptop the other day I accessed different files. One included your calendar. You had a trip planned to San Francisco in September."

"There was a mental health conference I was thinking of attending." Weaver grimaced. "I'm not sure I'll be going now."

"At one time you intended to go there?" Seven asked.

"Well, a couple of months ago it seemed like a good idea. I thought I might get a chance to see Kim again. That was before our big fight today."

A tingle of excitement coursed through the Borg's veins. "If you planned this trip it is important that you go ahead with it."

Kerry frowned. "Even if I see Kim at the conference it doesn't mean we'll get back together. She probably won't change her mind about the baby."

"Nevertheless, you must promise me you will visit her," Seven said urgently.

"I don't know," Kerry continued to waver.

"Please, Kerry."

The expression on Seven's face was almost heart-breaking. The young woman evidently wanted so much for them to reconcile. Kerry wished she could explain things to her about relationships but there was no time. The redhead touched the starburst implant gently for one last time. "All right. If it means so much to you, I promise."

Seven nodded. "That is acceptable." She knew Kerry would not break her promise. "And now I must go."

Kerry felt the blonde's arms wrap around her and lift her up slightly as they hugged. Tears sprang into her eyes. She really was going to miss the young woman.

"Good-bye, Kerry." Seven wiped her own eyes of moisture.

"Good-bye, sweetie. And good luck."

Seven turned and went into the office building.

Harry had been waiting for her and without speaking led her down the hall into his office, where they had cleared room for the polaric device on a table. Kathryn had briefed him on what to do.

"Are you all right, Seven?" the captain asked.

"Yes, Kathryn." Now that she had extracted Kerry's promise to see Kim in San Francisco, she felt much better.

Janeway turned her attention back to the professor. "After we switch on all the devices, there may be a delay before the rift will form. Do not turn the devices off."

"What if they burn out or overload?" he asked.

"They will not," Seven answered. "I am confident that the procedure will work. The rift will form. Kathryn and I will step into it. Once we have dematerialized you may shut the devices off."

Harry rubbed his double chin. "Okay. And what do you want me to do with the devices?"

Seven frowned. She had not considered that question before. But the captain evidently had.

"You will dismantle them," she ordered. "It's vitally important that you do not talk about them to anyone else."

"I understand." Harry let out a breath. "How much time until the ship is at the right coordinates?"

"Ten minutes," Seven replied, consulting her internal chronometer.

"We have enough time for a cup of coffee. Anyone interested?"

Kathryn glanced over at the coffee maker on the counter. It was probably not as good as Starbucks, but it probably beat the replicator coffee and it could be her last taste of real coffee for some time.

"I'd love a cup, thanks."

"Seven?"

"No, thank you."

While Harry got the coffee for the captain, Kathryn turned to Seven. "Are you really all right, Annika?"

"Yes, Kathryn. I am just feeling sad to leave Earth."

"Me too. It's a special place." She smiled at the cap perched on the blonde's head. "Is Kerry letting you keep the hat?"

"She called it a momento. Can I bring it with us?"

"Yes. It will be a reminder of a good friend of ours."

Harry was back with the coffee. "Here you go, black, right?" He handed Kathryn the cup.

She smiled over at the rotund professor. He too had been a good friend to them. The rich aroma filled her nostrils as she took a sip. While not as good as Starbucks it was far better than what Neelix brewed in the Delta Quadrant.

"Thank you, Harry. Not just for the coffee either. Seven and I appreciate all your assistance."

"You're welcome." His ruddy face gleamed with honest pleasure. "I should thank you too. I have learned exactly what I want to research."

"Time travel?" Seven inquired.

He nodded. "I will be thought a crackpot, but I don't care."

"Crackpot?" The Borg looked puzzled. "Why would anyone think you a damaged cooking vessel?"

"Eccentric, out of the ordinary," Harry explained. "Time travel is a little out there, you know?"

"Indeed, we know," Seven said.

At precisely 1359 hours Seven turned on the polaric device. Kathryn had aligned the tricorder and phaser and turned them on. The intersecting beams began to hum lightly.

An intent Harry Nielsen could see the molecules in the air begin to vibrate and then distort.

"It's happening," he said. He had known the theory behind the event, had tried to comprehend Seven's algorithms and yet, to see it actually happening in front of him was mind blowing.

Kathryn held her hand out to Seven. "Good-bye, Harry."

"Good-bye, Professor," Seven said, stepping closer to Kathryn as the two women went into the rift.