HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Neelix was positively ecstatic. He rushed from the Captain's ready room, where she had just given her permission for him to plan a celebratory party for Valentine's Day. He clapped his hands together with glee as he waited for the turbo lift to arrive. The doors swooshed open and Seven of Nine stepped out. "Mr. Neelix." She stated, as she passed him.

"Seven! How wonderful to see you." Neelix enthused.

Seven turned to look at him and raised her ocular implant in acknowledgment of his greeting.

"Seven do you have your report?" Commander Chakotay asked, seeing her standing behind his chair.

"Yes Commander." Seven replied, looking over the railing at him.

"I will pass it on to the Captain." He said, holding out his hand for the padd.

"Thank you, but I have to talk to the Captain, I will give her my report personally." Seven said, her heart was pounding and she felt flushed.

Chakotay dropped his hand to his side. It frustrated the hell out of him the way that Seven had become so close to Kathryn. She was monopolizing the older woman's time, and it grated on his nerves. "Whatever you want." He said, and turned away from her.

Seven ignored his rebuff and stepped down towards the ready room.

The door chimed and Kathryn looked up from the padd that she was reading. "Enter." She called.

Seven of Nine stepped into the room, and Kathryn smiled in welcome. She stood up and gestured to the sofa. "Seven, come in, sit down." She said cheerfully.

Seven looked at her. "I prefer to stand." She stated, and the doors swooshed closed behind her.

"I keep forgetting." Kathryn said, and sat back down again behind her desk.

"My report Captain." Seven said, handing her padd across the desk.

Kathryn reached for it, and her fingers gently brushed against Seven's as she grasped the cool metal padd. Seven blushed slightly and stepped back quickly. "Thank you." Kathryn said, and smiled again.

Seven looked distinctly uncomfortable and Kathryn frowned. "Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" She asked.

Seven looked down at the carpet. "I wondered whether you would like to play velocity this evening." She asked, not daring to look up.

Kathryn considered the request for a few moments. It had been several weeks since they had played velocity, and she knew that if she was to maintain her position as a worthy opponent of the younger woman she had to keep in practice. "Not this evening Seven, but perhaps later in the week." She said, dropping the padd on her desk and resting her chin on one hand.

Seven looked up but didn't speak. "Neelix is organizing a Saint Valentine's celebration this evening." Kathryn said, smiling up at the svelte woman standing before her.

"Saint Valentine?" Seven asked, looking confused.

"Yes, it is a celebration of love and romance, an ancient earth tradition." Kathryn said, leaning back in her chair.

Seven noticed that she had loosened the neck of her jacket and more of the soft pink flesh of her neck was revealed. Seven's heart sped up and she inhaled deeply. "Do you know the tradition Seven?" Kathryn asked, wondering if Seven was feeling quite well that afternoon.

Seven thought for a few moments. "According to legend Valentine was not a Saint but a priest who served during third century Rome. The Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. So he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death. It is thought that Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, possibly his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today." She stated.

Kathryn smiled. "Yes I see that you do." She said.

"But Captain, it seems that Valentine's is a celebration for lovers." Seven said, still not quite understanding why the crew of the Voyager would want to celebrate such an event.

"Normally yes. But it is also an excuse for a party, and you know how Neelix loves to party." Kathryn said, leaning forward again.

"So you don't need to be lovers to be someone's valentine?" Seven asked, her brow was furrowed in confusion.

Kathryn smiled. "No Seven, you don't." She said.

Seven nodded. She wasn't sure whether she really understood, and resolved to read some more background material relating to this strange tradition. "Be my Valentine?" Kathryn asked.

"Captain?" Seven asked, not sure that she had heard correctly.

"I said, will you be my Valentine? For the party this evening?" Kathryn asked, standing up and moving around the desk.

Seven's heart was beating so fast that her blood was thundering in her ears. She was unsure how to react to the question. She knew that the Captain was simply asking her to go to the party with her, but the thought that to be someone's Valentine meant something more was making her feel faint. Seven had long harbored romantic thoughts about the older woman. She had read about love, and she knew that there were things that she wanted to do with the Captain that she didn't want to do with anyone else she had ever known. Things like kissing her, holding her close, and being naked with her. "Seven?" Kathryn asked when Seven didn't reply.

"Captain?" Seven said, her voice was rough and she cleared her throat.

"Would you like to go to the celebration this evening with me?" Kathryn asked, looking slightly worried.

It wasn't like Seven to behave so strangely. "Yes, I think I would like that Captain." Seven said finally, not daring to look at the smaller woman who stood before her.

"Great, I will call for you at 19.00 hours then." Kathryn said, and turned away again.

She was bemused at Seven's reaction to her question. She hadn't meant to put the younger woman on the spot and now she wondered whether she had made Seven feel uncomfortable. She resolved to explain that they wouldn't be real valentines, but would just go to the party together. Her body was reacting strangely, in a way that she recognized as sexual arousal, and she struggled to push the feelings back down where they belonged. "I will see you later then." Seven stated, and left the room.

Kathryn sat at her desk and watched the younger woman leave the room. She was baffled by her reaction to Seven. 'Kathryn you should know better than to allow yourself to become sexually attracted to her.' She said to herself.

It wouldn't be the first time that Kathryn had been attracted to another woman. When she was 19 years old she had been strongly attracted to the woman who had taught astrophysics at the Academy, and although Kathryn had never allowed herself to develop those feelings, she had known that the attraction was purely physical. Her reaction to Seven wasn't only physical, it was also mental. She found the former Borg fascinating, and she wanted to spend more time with her than their schedules allowed.

She sighed and sat back in her chair. Then she stood up and walked out of the room fastening her jacket collar as she went. "I am going to my quarters." She said to Chakotay, knowing that it was only 13 minutes before Gamma Shift came on, and Harry Kim would take over the conn.

Chakotay nodded. He had noticed the flush on Seven's face as she had left the Captain's ready room, and he noticed the flush on the Captain's face now that she had reappeared. He looked away and swallowed his irritation. It would just about be his luck if the only two women on the ship that he would die for, turned out to be a couple. Kathryn left the bridge without waiting for his reply.

She walked quickly along the corridor to her quarters. Once inside she pulled off her jacket, and unfastened her pants. She sat down on a chair and pulled off her boots. Wriggling her toes in relief she wondered whether she should see the Doctor about the pain that she had been experiencing in her feet the last few days. She leaned back in the chair and thought about Seven of Nine.

Then she sat back up again. "Damn." She said aloud and stood up.

She crossed the room and went into her bathroom. After stripping off, she stepped into the sonic shower and quickly washed the day's grime from her body. Then she stepped across the room to turn on the faucets of her tub. A nice bubble bath would relax her and take her mind of her inappropriate thoughts. As the tub filled Kathryn walked back into the main room of her living quarters. She hadn't bothered to cover her nakedness, feeling as comfortable in her own skin as she did fully clothed. "Coffee, black." She sated and the replicator presented her with a large cup of her favorite beverage.

She sipped the hot liquid and closed her eyes in contentment as the restorative power of the coffee flooded her veins. The door chimed. "Come in." She called, forgetting that she was naked.

The doors swooshed open and Seven looked into the room. Her eyes bulged as she saw her Captain standing inside the room completely naked. Kathryn suddenly realized her mistake and dropped to the ground, hiding behind the chair that blocked Seven's view of her. 'Oh my god.' She said, her coffee spilling across the pale gray carpet.

Seven was unable to speak, she stepped backwards, away from the doorway, and it automatically swooshed closed again. Kathryn crawled rapidly into the bathroom and grabbed a robe. She stopped to turn the bath faucets off, and then wrapped the robe around herself as she hurriedly crossed the room. The doors swooshed open and she stood looking out at Seven of Nine. Seven was leaning against the wall opposite, her hand over her heart and a stunned look on her face. "Seven." Kathryn said, reaching out one hand.

She didn't want to step out into the corridor as the doors may close behind her and she wasn't wearing her badge to easily gain re-entrance. Seven looked down at her. Now that she had removed her boots, Kathryn was 5 inches shorted than the younger woman, and she felt at a great disadvantage. "Seven, please come in." Kathryn hissed.

Seven finally managed to push herself away from the wall and stepped into the room behind her Captain. "I am sorry I disturbed you." She managed to stammer.

Kathryn turned to face her. "No it is me who should apologize, Seven I had forgotten that I was undressed." She said, her face was still flaming with embarrassment.

"No Captain." Seven began, but Kathryn silenced her with a raised hand.

"What did you want?" She asked, thinking that if they changed the subject it would ease the awkwardness of the situation.

"I wanted to know what I should wear this evening." Seven said, picking up on the Captain's intention.

"Something comfortable." Kathryn began, and then realized the irony of her words.

She suppressed a grin, but wasn't able to control her laughter, and she giggled. She turned away from Seven and put one hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter, but it escaped in a rush and she sat down and laughed aloud. "I am sorry." She managed to stammer.

Seven smiled down at her. "Laughter is often used to release the tension that is created by a shock." She said, as Kathryn dissolved in a fit of giggles.

She had never seen the Captain laugh so much before. Tears were rolling down the older woman's face, and her laughter was infectious. Seven suppressed her own laughter, and then gave in to the urge and laughed along with the Captain. They laughed for several minutes before Kathryn was able to control herself again. "I am sorry Seven, but that was rather ridiculous. I am sorry that you had to see me naked too." She said, sitting up again in the chair.

Seven watched as the soft satin of the Captain's robe shifted across her body. The peaks of the Captain's breasts were visible through the thin material, and her breath caught in her throat. She knew that she had never seen anyone as sexually attractive as the older woman looked at that moment, and she wondered whether it was appropriate to comment on her feelings. "You have a wonderful body." She said, before she could stop herself.

Kathryn looked up at her in surprise. "Oh please, I do not." She said coyly.

Her heart was racing and she was certain that she had seen desire reflected in Seven's eyes. "Captain, I believe you are... 'hot'." Seven said, her piercing stare capturing the Captain's and locking her in a gaze for several minutes.

Kathryn felt her heart climbing up her throat, and she flushed. She placed one hand on her throat, trying to prevent her heart from rising even higher. Her blood was roaring in her ears and her body was reacting to the powerful sexual presence of the younger woman. "Your presence is requested for a date." Seven whispered, wishing that she knew the correct phrasing to express her desire to be romantic with the older woman.

"Seven?" Kathryn asked, not sure that she had correctly understood the intention of the former Borg.

"Captain, I would like to be romantic with you." Seven said, still standing, and looking down at the women on the chair in front of her.

Kathryn's breath caught in her throat. "Seven." She began, wanting to say that she couldn't be romantic with anyone on her ship. She was the Captain, there were rules, and there were conventions that had to be taken into consideration.

"Tonight can be our first date." Seven said, hopefully.

She could see the uncertainty in the Captain's eyes, but she could also feel the strength of the sexual attraction between them. She was well aware that there was very little covering the body of the older woman, and that she could easily overpower her, brushing away any hesitation and use her body to convince the Captain that they were made to be together.

"Seven." Kathryn said, standing up and inhaling deeply.

She knew that she had to make Seven leave her quarters, because if she stayed much longer Kathryn wouldn't be able to control herself. "Do you know what it means to be romantic with someone?" She asked, her voice was low and husky with desire.

Seven nodded. "Oh yes, I have read extensively." She began.

Kathryn stepped forward. "I know it isn't fair, but I can't be romantic with you Seven." She said.

Seven frowned. "Why not?" She asked.

"Because there are conventions." Kathryn began, her voice was quiet, and she was breathing rapidly.

Seven looked at her without speaking, waiting for Kathryn to explain to her why they couldn't be together romantically. "Damn it. I want you, Seven, and I'm going to damn well have you!" Kathryn said finally, and stepped forward closing the space between them.

She placed on hand on Seven's cheek and smiled up at her. "Would you mind if we stayed in tonight instead of going to the Valentine's party?" She asked quietly.

Seven shook her head, and then stifled any further words with her lips, as she bent to kiss the Captain's upturned mouth.