“Touched By Love.”

“You requested my presence Captain?” Seven of Nine asked.

“Yes, have a seat. I’d like to talk with you,” Kathryn Janeway answered.

“Is there something wrong?” Seven asked after sitting down.

“No… there’s nothing’s wrong. I… ah… um, I wanted to know how you’re doing?” Janeway replied.

“I am functioning within normal parameters,” Seven answered.

“Good… good.”

“Captain?”

“Yes Seven.”

“Do you regret your answer to my question in the holodeck?”

Janeway looked away, it was a question she had asked herself countless times. “Yes… and no,” she replied.

“Explain.”

“There’s a part of me that wishes I’d answered differently, but there’s another part of me that knows I did the right thing,” she said.

A moment of silence filled the room.

“I am not sure how to respond Captain,” Seven said.

“I’m sorry, but, I hope this will clarify matters,” Janeway said handing Seven a data padd.

“Do you wish me to read this now?”

“No… there’s no time. Seven, when you do finish it, I’d like to speak with you again.”

“Even if it is late?” she asked.

“Even if I’m sleeping,” Janeway responded.

“Very well Captain, if you have nothing further?”

“No, you’re dismissed.”

Janeway watched as Seven left her ready room, with the data padd in hand. Sighing, she ran her fingers through her auburn hair, and resumed going over the monthly reports.

Seven completed her shift in Astrometrics.

She had decided that she would read the data padd in the holodeck, she knew she would not be interrupted. “Computer, run Seven–Beta–One,” she said.

“Acknowledged,” came the reply.

When the holodeck door opened, she walked in and found herself surrounded by trees. She knew she only had to walk a few feet and the lake would come into view.

She had taken to running the program and visiting the fictional location ever since that fateful morning. She had added a bench next to the lake, where she could come and read the stories whenever she wanted.

Some how she knew that the data padd she held in her hands would change her life forever.

For better or worse.

Kathryn woke up, the sun filtering through the tree tops, splashing her haphazardly with light.

After swimming in the refreshing water, they had decided to spend the night next to the lake.

They sat together talking quietly, whispering things they would never have told anyone else.

Their hopes and fears.

Their dreams for the future…

Hands slowly entwining.

The connection real…

Tangible.

Soon hands were caressing faces. The kiss started on its own, neither of them aware of who had made the first move. Slowly as if for the first time, both hesitant, trying to control their emotions that seemed to demand more than the slight kisses that began than broke off.

They made love slowly, passionately, each of them wanting the other to experience the absolute joy of being together. They drifted off to sleep, murmuring endearments, finding shelter in each others arms.

“Good morning Kathryn. Did you sleep well?” she was asked.

“Oh… yes,” she replied smiling. “And you?”

“I find that I sleep soundly in your presence,” she heard before being thoroughly kissed.

“You know… I could get used to this,” Kathryn said slightly out of breath.

“Then you should look forward to this for many years to come.”

“Oh… I plan on it.”

They spent the next hour waking each other properly.

“I do not wish to leave this place,” Kathryn heard once they finished their brief swim.

“We can always come back,” she replied.

“I would like that.”

“Time to go,” Kathryn said, looking around to make sure they hadn’t left anything behind.

“Kathryn?”

“Yes?” she said turning around to face her companion.

“I love you.”

Kathryn placed the items she had in her hands down and walked the few feet that separated them. Embracing her companion tightly, she whispered:

“I love you too… Annika.”

Seven’s eyebrows rose as she re–read the last line over again.

“Annika?”

The Captain had used her human designation in the story. Standing up with the data padd in hand, she said:

“Computer, end program Seven–Beta–One.” Soon the black and yellow grid lines replaced the trees and the lake. “Computer, locate Captain Janeway.”

“Captain Janeway is in her quarters.”

Seven left the holodeck.

Janeway sat on her couch reading a book of poetry, she knew that Seven was in holodeck two, having asked the computer for Seven’s location earlier.

After a few hours had passed, she decided to turn in, if Seven wanted to speak with her tonight, she would most likely need as much sleep as she could get.

Janeway woke up, drifting to alertness and wondering what had woken her. She listened, hearing silence, she shook her head and let it drop back on her pillows, and closed her eyes.

She heard the noise again…

It was her door chime.

Pushing the blankets off her, she grabbed her robe, putting it on and cinched the belt. Running her fingers quickly through her hair, she went to the door. “Yes?”

“Captain, may I come in?”

The doors slid open.

“Come in Seven,” she said, moving aside.

“Thank you,” Seven answered.

“I… I take it you’ve finished the story?” Janeway asked, walking towards her couch. “Please, sit down.”

“Yes I have,” Seven replied after sitting down.

“And?” Janeway asked.

“I wish to ask you the same question.”

“I don’t think I understand?” Janeway replied.

Seven stood up and walked over to where Janeway was sitting, and held her hand out.

Janeway took hold of the out–stretched hand and was pulled to her feet.

Seven felt the smoothness of the Captain’s face for yet the second time in days. She still marveled at the sensation, and wondered briefly to herself why she had backed down earlier. She knew she could not do so again. “May I kiss you?” she asked quietly.

Janeway dropped her gaze and closed her eyes, unable to look into Seven’s face. Unable to lock onto those eyes that were filled with love… for her.

Seven slowly lifted Janeway’s face.

“May I kiss you?” she asked once more, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the answer.

Janeway found that she could only answer the question one way:

“Yes.”

The smile that graced Seven’s face was one of pure joy. It’s sheer beauty was unlike anything Janeway had ever seen before.

Seven moved slowly, unconsciously moistening her lips.

Their first kiss was brief.

Janeway would have been hard pressed to say if it even happened. She had no doubts in her mind the second time around. She heard a whimper, but wasn’t sure if it had come either Seven or herself. Soon, she stopped wondering all together.

When the kiss broke off, Janeway opened her eyes. She found that Seven was still cradling her face.

“May I hug you?” Seven asked shyly.

“Yes… but only if I can do the same.”

“Acceptable,” Seven replied, slowly releasing her hold of the Captain’s face. Seven had seen other people hug and tried to approximate the procedure.

“Seven?”

“Yes Captain?”

Janeway rolled her eyes, they would have to have a talk about what to call each other in private, right now, there were more pressing matters at hand. “Relax…” she told her, feeling the tight hug loosen.

“Is this better?” she asked, feeling the warmth of the Captain’s body next to hers and finding that she liked it.

“Yes, much better,” Janeway replied.

They held on to each other.

Seven found that she needed for some reason beyond her comprehension to run her right hand slowly up and down the Captain’s back. “I am enjoying this,” Seven said.

“So am I,” Janeway replied, soothed by Seven’s touch.

Her warmth…

Her love.

“I love you Kathryn,” Seven whispered into Janeway’s ear.

“I love you too Seven,” she paused, “Annika.”

The End.