Stanzas

Kathryn was stretched out on the couch going over ship reports and happily rubbing her toes against the thigh of her partner, Seven, who sat at the opposite end.

Recently, Kathryn had introduced Seven to the realm of poetry. Hefted in the young woman's hand now was a worn text of poems Kathryn had carried with her for years.

Without shifting her eyes from the page, Seven asked, "Kathryn, why is it necessary to compare people to markers of time or atmospheric conditions?"

Kathryn shook her head slightly to adjust from the dry content of the nacelle maintenance logs to this discussion of vast possibilities. Placing the padd on the coffee table, she rubbed her face briskly and sat up.

She really wanted Seven to grasp the art of poetry. Secretly, she wanted to be able to share with Seven some of her heart-felt thoughts, but felt that poetry would be the only way to properly convey them. Therefore, she believed it was essential that her wife understand the facets of the medium. Besides, Kathryn loved poetry and wanted to be able to share it with Seven.

"Come again, darling?"

Seven cocked her head toward the red head. "Why '…should one compare thee to a summer's day'?"

Kathryn fought her frustration. She understood that it might not be in Seven's makeup to appreciate the art form, but she was determined to give it one last shot. Thinking of the clearest way to convey her point, she began.

"Well, Seven, I believe that it is a way to paint a picture, if you will." She paused.

"Elements and time conjure people's feelings and other sensations…memories and such as that. If the associations are generally perceived as pleasant or provocative, then a poet uses them to elicit those same reactions in conjunction with the object of their poem."

Seven appeared to be considering this.

"Kathryn, I believe I understand. Thank you."

With that, Seven went back to her reading and Kathryn was left feeling a little more hopeful.

When Kathryn awoke the next morning her arms were empty. She reached out taking hold of Seven's pillow and a padd slipped down onto the bed.

She cleared her eyes to look at the message on the small screen.

Succinctly it read, Read before you rise.

Kathryn cued the message.

You are the hum of the core of my heart

You are the vastness of space in my humanity

You are the Omega of my soul.

Seven

Kathryn's emotions swept through her drowsy defenses and she wept unashamedly. It was not the best poem she had ever read, but it was evocative and from Seven's sensibilities it was the ex-Borg's love measured against what she was familiar with. Kathryn now understood why Seven was absent from their quarters.

How vulnerable she must feel, Kathryn thought. Her heart stretched with the deepening of her love for the young woman and she determined to speak of her love in a similar fashion.

Now it was up to Kathryn to respond.

Late in the shift, Seven was completing a course correction for Voyager when she received a private communiqué from Kathryn.

The young woman had been wrestling with doubt and fear during most of the shift. Earlier that morning she had left her first poem for Kathryn. For reasons of apprehension over its quality and its raw conveyance of her emotion, she was agitated Kathryn had yet to respond.

The incoming message cued one very strong sensation within her. She recognized it as fear. Her stomach clenched and her brow suddenly felt moist.

Determined not to give in to the feeling, she defiantly she tapped in the requisite clearance codes. The message was in text format only. Tentatively she opened the file, experiencing a rush of relief as she read the greeting.

My dearest Seven,

To say I was moved would be insufficiently convey the depths to which I was touched. My darling, I hope the following clearly shows my heart to you as you have so beautifully shown me yours.

Yours,

Kathryn

Feeling quite off balance by her quick-changing emotions, Seven made an effort to tamp down what she now identified as exhilaration so she could focus on the remaining message.

It was futile, really.

As though I was a ship Adrift in space

An invisible wave rushed over me And through me Unsettling all that I was.

Buffeted by a force I'd never known I succumbed to the pull And entered the eye.

Standing in its midst were you Offering safe harbor and peace.

I looked back into the wave And saw all that I was Was no longer.

For here was the peace Here was your love And here I'll stay.

Kathryn of Seven

Seven felt she now understood the word 'ineffable'. She was simply overcome. Her feelings so vast, she knew identification would lessen them. Her throat, swollen with emotion, struggled against the request she uttered.

"Computer, locate Captain Janeway."

"Captain Janeway is the ready room."

A second question came easier.

"Computer, are other crewmembers with her?"

"Negative."

Emboldened by this information, Seven ordered a site to site transport to the captain's coordinates.

Shimmering into the ready room, her eyes dark and determined, she decidedly moved to Kathryn's side sweeping the surprised captain into her arms, quickly ordering another transport, this time to their quarters.

Kathryn was only just aware of this when they reappeared in the bedroom. Any comments on the inappropriateness of this action were quickly lost when she looked into her love's eyes.

Brimming over with tears revealing all she was experiencing, Seven closed the distance remaining between them by placing her lips upon those of Kathryn.

The kiss was vulnerably open, sharing thoughts and feelings where words would have failed. It palpably connected their hearts, melding them into a single unit.

It was not of lust, but it was passionate.

It was not about desire, but it was physical.

It was not about need, but it was about release, creating a space within to be filled by the other.

And so they remained for moments uncounted, lost to the experience, but found within.

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