Scene IV

"Thanks for coming with me, Seven."  Kathryn opened her door, the lights automatically rising to her preferred level.

"You are... welcome, Captain."  Seven stepped inside slowly, eyes looking for any changes since the philosophical discussion the night before.  "What did you wish to speak with me about?"

"Well, about tonight, I guess.  You didn't look too happy at the party." /Admit it, you love the way Seven looks in that outfit and you want her all to yourself./  Kathryn ignored her inner voice and went to the replicator. "Do you want anything? she asked as she keyed in coffee.

"No, thank you, Captain."  Seven slowly moved further inside.  It was rare that she was in Kathryn's quarters, the older woman preferring to have the majority of their recreational time spent in the Holodeck or the Messhall.  /Had she somehow known what I was thinking?/

"Please, call me 'Kathryn,' Seven.  We're both off duty."  Kathryn sat down on the long sofa, motioning to one side for Seven to sit.

"Very well.. Kathryn."  Seven rolled the taste of that name around in her mouth as she sat down where Kathryn had indicated, a cushion separating them. "What about tonight do you wish to speak about?  Was there something wrong?"

"No, nothing was wrong, Seven.  Your talent show segment was definitely inspired.  I don't think *anyone* was expecting it."  Kathryn leaned her head back, closing her eyes.

"They could not expect it, Kathryn.  I told no one of my plans."  Seven looked at Kathryn carefully, unsure what she should do.

Kathryn laughed softly.  "That might have something to do with it.  What made you decide to do Frank-N-Furter's 'Sweet Transvestite'?"

"I didn't have anything else to do.  I would have preferred the song 'Don't Dream It, Be It,' but that selection would require more than one singer.  I did not want to program the computer to do much of the song; if I did, it would not be my talent."  Seven's shoulders untensed, getting used to sitting on the couch next to Kathryn.

Kathryn stifled a yawn, wanting to stay and talk with Seven.  "True.  How did you come across Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards, and Crystal Balls?"

"During my research, Kathryn.""  /Didn't I say that earlier?/

Kathryn sighed.  "I know that much, Seven.  But what were you researching that came up with those topics?"

"I researched a variety of things, Kathryn.  I found the 20th century 'party games' while researching the way Halloween was celebrated during that time."

"What else did you research, Seven?  Anything that would interest me?" /It feels so nice to lay here like this with her./

Seven felt a flush heat her cheeks.  "There probably are some aspects to my research that would interest you, Kathryn."

Kathryn smiled again.  "Why don't you tell me a little about them?"

Seven opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it again.  /What is it the Doctor once said to me?  'Sometimes actions are more important and more understood than words.'  Is this one of those times?/  Taking a breath, Seven decided to try it.  "It would be easier to show you rather than tell you, Kathryn."

Kathryn slowly opened her eyes.  "Give me a minute to get up, okay, Seven?"

"You do not have to get up, Kathryn."  Seven closed her eyes, quickly reviewing everything her research had said.

"I don't?"  Kathryn raised one eyebrow, much like Seven does.

"No.  I can show you while you remain in that position.  It will be easier if you remain in that position."  Seven took another deep breath and slid closer to Kathryn.

Kathryn froze in the middle of a breath, suddenly aware of Seven's body heat closer to her.  /What is she doing?/  Kathryn tried to keep her eyes open, but they fell closed, lulled by how relaxed she felt.  Kathryn's other senses were immediately magnified.  She had just remember to breath again when she felt Seven's feather light touch stroke the base of her neck. Trying not to concentrate on Seven's touch as she strangled out a question. "What are you doing?"

Seven continued stroking Kathryn's throat, her fingers widening as she slowly moved up to her chin and back down.  "I'm showing you what I researched, Kathryn."

Kathryn's eyes opened wide as she struggled to strangle out "Oh."  She stayed still a minute, concentrating on Seven's touch.  Sitting up, Kathryn caught her breath, fighting a moan as the movement made her come into full contact with Seven's fingers.  "Seven, we can't do this."

Seven continued to run her fingers over Kathryn's skin, though she did sit back a little.  "Why not?"  She raised her metallic implant.  "Are you cold, Kathryn?

"Cold? No, not at all."  Kathryn straightened herself, pulling her body further away from the trailing heat.  Unconsciously she shivered again at the cool air invading where Seven's body had been.  "Seven, this is wrong.  I think you should go."

"I will not."  Seven's hands fell into her lap as she regarded the auburn haired woman before her.

"I beg your pardon?"  Kathryn mimicked Seven, raising  one eyebrow in question.

"I will not go, Kathryn."  Seven sat perfectly still, her pale eyes watching Kathryn's face for the slightest hint of her feelings.

"Why not, Seven?"  Kathryn sat up completely, running a hand through her hair.

"Because it is not wrong." Seven said simply, knowing there would be more discussion to follow her statement, though none was truly required.

"It's not?"  Kathryn tried to sound outraged, though she didn't succeed.

"No.  I have found many texts regarding homosexual tendencies in Humans in Voyager's database, both fiction and non fiction.  While for most of the 20th century and the early part of the 21st century it was considered immoral and wrong, it was, in fact, accepted by 93.8% of the population later and apparent in approximately 10% of the population then. The statistics rose as tolerance became more widespread and people came 'out of the closet' to approximately 20%."  Seven stopped talking, waiting for Kathryn to respond to her argument.

"Oh."  The strangled word, half a sigh, sounded weak, even to Kathryn's ears.

Seven waited a minute for Kathryn to continue talking, when she didn't, Seven did.  "There are the followers of particularly strict religion based on the ancient teachings of various Christian religions that does still follow the 'true message of Christ,'  though everyone has interpreted that message in their own way."  Seven paused, looking at Kathryn closely.  "Do you follow that religion, Kathryn?"

Kathryn's eyes were semi glazed, trying to take in what Seven as saying. At the question, she snapped out of it.  "What? No, no.  I did live with my parents did live in a traditional agricultural park, but they never tried to push ideas on us.  We were allowed to believe what we wanted."

"Then why do you say it is wrong, Kathryn?"  Seven's eyes seemed to glow from an inner fire.

"Well, I..."  Kathryn's voice trailed off as she considered Seven's question.  "I don't know.   I guess because I never really considered having an intimate relationship with another woman."

Seven leaned forward slightly, breaking her perfect posture.  "If you do not know, Kathryn, how can you say it is wrong?"

Kathryn leaned back, unconsciously letting Seven move closer.  "I guess I can't, Seven."  She raised her eyes, looking into Seven's, searching for something.

"Do you feel it is, Kathryn?"  Seven let her guard down, showing Kathryn the emotions she normally kept hidden and didn't completely understand.

"I - No, I don't."  Kathryn said abruptly, surprising herself.  /Why did I say that?/  Still looking into Seven's eyes, she immediately knew why. Seven made her feel protective, protected, and needed.  "What about you, Seven? How do you feel?"

Seven blinked her eyes, obviously not expecting the question.  "I have no basis to form a positive or a negative answer, Kathryn.  I have researched Human sexual practices and relationships, and know that, by Human standards, I am too old to be a 'virgin.'"

"So you decided to copulate with someone just to get rid of your virginity?" Kathryn stressed Seven's own term when she used it.

"No, Kathryn."  Seven paused, trying to think of how best to answer Kathryn's question, knowing she had upset her, but not exactly knowing how. "Do you remember when I was in your ready room after collecting 30,000 gigaquads of information on human mating behavior?"

Kathryn barely restrained herself from chuckling at the memory of Tom trying to calm down an enraged B'Elanna.  Sometimes Kathryn didn't know if B'Elanna's feisty nature was part of her Klingon heritage, her human heritage, or just her personality.  Clearing her throat, she nodded.  "Yes, I remember that."  /How could I forget that day?/

Seven took a deep breath, a knot in her stomach forming as she considered how to tell Kathryn she had lied to her.  Her cool, articulate voice came out in a rush, her mind knowing that this was an instance where she would give all or nothing.  "When I told you that I did not require a romantic relationship in your Ready Room that day, I was untruthful.  I had begun to feel something, when I looked at crewmembers who were coupled and happy, that I did not know how to deal with.  I told the computer my symptoms, and it informed me that I felt the need to have a romantic relationship.  Since I did not know how to act in a romantic manner, and I did not want to ask the Doctor, I decided that I would go through it scientifically."  Seven took a deep breath, preparing herself.  "I lied, Kathryn, because I didn't want to face the possibility of rejection.  I was scared.  Of you."  Seven's voice was strangled on the last part, her head lowered, unwilling or unable to look Kathryn in the eye.

Kathryn felt her heart constrict as she thought of how much this first, important lie had cost Seven.  /I never meant you to be afraid of me!/ sounded in her head, mingling with the beats of her own heart and Seven's. She reached out, placing her fingers on the silky skin under Seven's chin and gently pressed upwards, raising Seven's head to meet her eyes.  When Seven's head was raised, she cupped her face in her palm, her thumb gently stroking Seven's cheek as she gazed at the Borg.  "Seven, you never had to be afraid of me.  You're one of the most beautiful, intelligent woman I know."  Kathryn looked into Seven's eyes, seeing that Seven didn't believe her.  Slowly, so as not to startle Seven, she leaned closer and pressed her lips to Seven's full ones.

Seven's eyes widened, watching Kathryn with a look of disbelief as Kathryn drew away, ending the feather light caress.  Her eyes closed briefly, a smile forming on her lips as she realized just what that kiss meant.  She moved closer, assuming her original position next to Kathryn as her right hand tangled itself in the older woman's hair, pulling her head closer and holding it there.  She touched her lips to Kathryn's, light at first, then with demanding insistence.  Her tongue moved along Kathryn's lips, tracing their outline before dipping inside to taste coffee and chocolate mingled with a taste that was uniquely Kathryn.

Still kissing, Seven opened her eyes and began running her hands down the length of Kathryn's body, feeling the warm skin through the blue and white checked dress.  Her hands unerringly found the two fastens between Kathryn's collar bone and breasts, the buttons slipping easily through the holes. Next, her fingers found the top button to Kathryn's white shirt and they quickly moved down, undoing all of them.  She ran her fingers over the redhead's breasts, half smiling as the other woman shivered in response to the cool metal encasing her fingertips.  Slowly she undid the front clasp to Kathryn's bra, lifting her a bit in order to take it out from under her. Kathryn's nipples jutted out, pebbled from the onslaught of Seven's hands and the cool air temperature.  Seven laid it across Kathryn's stomach as she moved her hands down lower, tracing her navel before touching the band of her the standard issue underwear and pulling it down the slim, lightly tanned legs, her fingers purposely brushing over the now revealed mound, causing Kathryn to cry out.

Seven broke the kiss, standing up to begin undressing herself.  Her eyes watched Kathryn sit up as her fingers untied the leather bow at her neck and began loosening the laces of her corset, eager to get out of what she wore and back onto the sofa.  One of the laces caught in the hole, causing Seven to look down to work it through.  Pale hands covered her own, stopping their movement, as a throaty voice sounded next to her ear.  "I want to undress you myself, Seven."  Seven nodded slightly, understanding this need as she had undressed Kathryn.  She allowed herself to be led to the side of a chair, one hand placed on the back to steady herself.  She watched Kathryn through hooded eyes, taking in the form revealed by the white unbuttoned shirt.  As Kathryn moved, it swayed from side to side, alternately hiding and revealing the tight dusky nipples that tipped high breasts.

Kathryn stood still a moment, letting Seven watch her for a minute or so before she moved close and began working on the lacings she had stopped Seven from doing.  Her short fingernails grazed over the globes as she completely undid the top two lacings before she traced the blue network or veins under the pale skin.  Seven cried out, her head falling back as she gripped the back of the chair.  Kathryn abandoned the corset when the entire lace was out, smiling at the sight of Seven's full breasts straining against the black leather.  She set the lace aside, in a place she could easily get to it later, if she wanted to, before she knelt in front of Seven and ran her hands up one of Seven's legs, feeling the muscles tense under her leather boots. Kathryn found the tab to the zipper and slowly pulled it down with one hand, her face close enough to Seven's leg for the trail to first feel the cool air and then Kathryn's hot breath.  Kathryn continued until the end, where she leaned back a fraction of an inch and lifted one hand to Seven's derriere to help steady the younger woman as her other hand lifted her foot by the heel to remove the boot.  She performed the same ritual with the other boot before running her fingers over the black silk stockings that encased the shapely legs in front of her.

Kathryn raised her hands, her own breasts flattening against her chest as she encircled Seven's waist.  The pressure caused Seven to look down, and Kathryn took quick advantage of it by standing quickly and giving her a hard kiss.  She immediately dropped again, her hands trailing over the expanse of bare flesh cut only by black garters before undoing the clips one by one, dropping a kiss and trailing her tongue over the newly freed flesh of each section.  When the last garter on each leg was unhooked, Kathryn slowly ran her hands down Seven's legs, taking the black stockings with her until both were small puddles at Seven's feet.

Standing, Kathryn slid her fingers between the leather corset and the skin on Seven's breasts before pulling it down, baring Seven's body in all it's glory.  Her fingers gently traced over the remaining Borg implants on Seven's body before trailing up to tangle in Seven's hair and pull her face down.  They kissed, tongues mingling as raw sounds of pleasure were torn from their throats by exploring hands.  Pulling away, Kathryn sat down heavily on the couch as breathed deeply and looked up at Seven.

"I think we should take this to the bedroom, don't you?"

Seven nodded, both of her hands grasping Kathryn's as she pulled the younger woman up.  Once Kathryn was standing, Seven linked hands with her as they walked the short distance to the bedroom.  Pausing at the door, Seven looked back at the couch, the floor surrounding it littered with clothing. "I have to admit, Kathryn, that I won't look at your couch the same way again."

"Our couch, Seven."  Kathryn smiled slightly, unsure of Seven's acceptance.

Seven looked at Kathryn, eyes wide.  "Our couch?"

"If you want it."

Seven paused, obviously torturing Kathryn a little bit, before nodding. "Our couch."  Without a delay, Seven reached down and listed Kathryn up, giving her a hard kiss before cradling her in her arms.  "Shall we go to our bed now?"

Kathryn, surprised at being lifted but feeling safe in Seven's arms, laughed, a sound of happiness.  "I'm more than ready!"

"You dare laugh at me?!?"  Seven asked in mock outrage before carrying Kathryn into her bedroom, placing her on the bed, and beginning the onslaught from where it had stopped.

(finis)

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