August 3379

The leaves on the high mountain trees were glowing a bright green in the early afternoon sunlight. The path to the summit had been recently swept by the hired groundskeeper, and it was hard to tell that there'd been a fire here about ninety years previous. This was a small pocket of privately owned land in the vast stretch of a Federation Park. And the only reason that it was still even private was because the owner's relatives were high ranking Federation dignitaries. Or had been. The owner didn't know anymore.

"Come now, it can't be that bad," Kathryn Janeway muttered as she paged through the information on a data padd as she came to the stairway that led up to the main path. "Boy, I'm glad I don't read the news more often." She cleared the screen and tucked the padd into her bag. A few minutes more walking brought her to the empty building that had been home to the Doctor for many years, until he died in a program fritz in 2982. Kathryn sighed and shook her head sadly. She opened her bag and pulled out a small blue disk, and then pushed the disk into a projection outlet. A bouquet of yellow roses appeared. Kathryn nodded and continued up to the gate. She hit in the entrance code, and then pulled the gate open. It creaked slightly.

The mansion looked greatly the same as it had for the past 800 years. If Pheonise Janeway, the great leader of the Federation for the last twenty years of her life, were alive today she would likely still recognize the place.

"Home sweet home," Kathryn said softly as she entered the codes to the entrance lock. "But then, haven't been gone too long..."

Kathryn went inside, and smiled at the sound of clamboring footsteps. The three sets of four feet belonged to three stocky Burmese cats that were the permanent residents of the Janeway stronghold. True, they were only holograms, but what wasn't in this place? It cut down on some of the hassles at least.

"Rosa, Petey, Jinx, didja miss Momma?" Kathryn crooned as she scooped up the closest cat after dropping her bag. Petey and Jinx yowled and bounded off down the hall. Kathryn gave Rosa a pat and set her down. The third feline followed her brothers with another yowl.

"What are you up to?" Kathryn laughed, following them. The bells on their collars jingled as they trampled up the stairs. "Hey, you're not supposed to run on the stairs!" She followed the cats up into the sitting room, where they all sat and gazed intently at the door to the balcony.

"You can't go out there, you'll fall again," Kathryn scolded the cats. "Now shoo, go downstairs and I'll see to it that you get fed." The cats stared up at her and blinked, being stubborn. "Fine, starve. But you're not going out there."

The cats seemed to consider this, because Jinx yowled and Rosa stopped rubbing her cheeks on the glass. After another minute they sulked out of the sitting room. Kathryn shook her head, hand on the handle to the doors. She wondered what the cats had wanted. Kathryn turned the handle, and pulled back the door. She went out onto the balcony. There was nothing there. Maybe the cats had wanted a better view of the garden. That was how they'd found the bird's nest several years before, and then spent several days afterward trying to get out of the big tree in the middle of the garden.

Kathryn smiled softly at the memory, and leaned over the side to look. The smile quickly faded, and her mouth fell open. A surprised gasp escaped as she took in what was below. Or who was below, as was the real case.

Kathryn stared down at her, hands clamping over her mouth in utter surprise. She squinted at the form, hoping that it would change. But it didn't. Kathryn shook her head, sinking down behind the balcony as her knees went slightly weak. She couldn't explain why she felt so out of breath; couldn't explain the strange rush that seeing her again brought. She'd been without her for so long... she'd gotten used to it.

She got to her knees and looked carefully over the balcony, not wanting the visitor to know that she'd been spotted. Kathryn looked with a critical eye. The visitor was seated, long legs crossed. Her hair was long and tied up, and there were pearl earrings in her delicate ears. Her eyes were closed... and that was what made Kathryn notice it. Her face.. the whole line of her face was changed from her memories. The lines had become smooth and mirrorlike, the gleaming surface gone.

Kathryn was down the stairs so quickly that it sent the cats running. She reached the patio door and stopped, catching her breath. She nervously ran a hand over her hair, a nervous lump seated in her stomach. The cats looked at her and then the patio door curiously. She shooed them away.

The patio door swung open noiselessly under Kathryn's hand. The afternoon heat shifted for a moment, and then Kathryn took a slow step out into the garden. Halfway across the garden she turned her head slightly and stood. Kathryn paused, the door swinging itself shut.

"What are you doing here?"

Seven Janeway turned to face Kathryn, her face even.

"I've come to bring you back."

Kathryn laughed shortly, not stepping closer. "Bring me back? When did I leave?"

"You know what I mean, Kathryn."

"It's Miss Janeway to you."

"Same to you," Seven said, crossing her arms. Kathryn sighed, smiling wistfully.

"Kept the name?"

"By now it's just as much mine as yours," Seven replied. Kathryn looked at her critically.

"So what happened to your face?" she said bluntly.

"Nothing 'happened'," Seven said.

"Well you certainly look different."

"It helps with what I do."

Kathryn took a cautious step forward, continuing to study Seven's appearance. "And what do you do?"

"I'm a representative for Starfleet in the United Federation of Planets."

"Oh, what a nice title.." Kathryn said. She started suddenly, pointing at Seven. "You're in uniform, aren't you?"

"It took you long enough to notice," Seven said dryly.

"Although it isn't much of a uniform."

"It's a travel issue," Seven said.

"Oh." Kathryn dropped her hand to her side, looking thoughtful. "So what's this all about?"

"The Federation wants you in attendance at a ceremony."

"That's all?" she said in surprise.

"It is an.. important ceremony, and my presence alone isn't good enough. They want you."

"After all this time, I'm really wanted," Kathryn sighed. "Do I have much of a choice?"

"No," Seven admitted. "If I hadn't come, someone else would've, and made you."

"I see..." Kathryn drummed her fingers on her hip. "No packing to do, I suppose."

"You're a hologram," Seven sighed vaguely. "No need to pack."

"Then let's get this over with."

Kathryn and Seven went down the mountain to the transporter station in the town that lay at the mountain's foot, and beamed to the local transport station. A short time later they were seated on a escort vessel headed towards the Federation base in New Francisco. The base was situated only a few dozen kilometers from Starfleet headquarters, and had been built several centuries before. In the escort Kathryn sat, arms crossed as she silently gazed out the window. Seven sat across from her, pouring over information on a data padd.

"You just couldn't keep yourself away?" Kathryn said after awhile. Seven didn't glance up.

"Believe me, it was not my choice to retrieve you," she said.

"Couldn't stay away forever," Kathryn continued evenly.

"I would have easily tried," Seven replied. Kathryn arched a brow and turned away from the window slightly.

"I'm sure you would have."

Seven stopped, looked up from the padd sharply. "Kathryn, this is neither the time or the place."

"Then I suggest you leave it at that, Miss Janeway."

"Same to you."

They fell silent, and after regaining her concentration Seven returned to the padd. Kathryn watched her as she reading, noting the movements of her eyes.

"Are you going to stare like that?" came the query after several more minutes.

"I didn't realize that I was staring," Kathryn said in retort. Seven made a quiet snorting noise. "They got the color of your eyes wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"When they fiddled with your program. Or at least I assume it was a 'they'."

"It was," Seven said. "But it isn't important."

"Not to you, at least," Kathryn said. "Not anymore?" She leaned forward, elbows going to her knees. "When did it matter?"

Seven pressed her lips together tightly as she maintained her steady glare at the padd. "I had to adapt."

It was Kathryn's turn to snort. "Adapt? I never knew you to be vain, Seven."

"Perhaps you didn't know me as well as you thought."

Kathryn leaned back and against the window. She turned her head away, muttering: "I suppose 900 years wasn't enough."

"I suppose not."

A pause. "So what made you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Get the implants taken out of your program," Kathryn said bluntly. Seven blinked.

"I'm a representative of Starfleet. And with my implants... it tended to make people nervous around me. It hindered my ability to do my job."

"Made you less efficient," Kathryn said lowly.

"Yes, it did. So I agreed, after someone's suggestion, to have the alterations made." Seven paused, and then added: "it is only a subroutine... not permanent."

"Oh," Kathryn said, arching a brow. "So what's this all about, anyways?"

"You mean you going to the Federation Sub-base?"

"What else would I mean?"

Seven looked at her for a moment. "A very important world is being entered into the Federation, and part of that world's agreement was that the oldest member of the Federation be present. It's part of their culture or something."

"What's so important about them?"

"Their location in the galaxy gives the Federation a secure stronghold in the Demaris sector."

"I didn't know there was conflict out there."

"It's been brewing... and with the K'Mi'dins as allies the Federation will be able to keep better security if things get worse."

"I see. But how does this involve me."

"You're the oldest member of the Federation, Kathryn," Seven said evenly.

"Oh. But wouldn't they want a living member?"

"You're living enough..."

Kathryn murmured in agreement, and they again fell silent. She looked out at the landscape zipping past below, and her thoughts began to drift in long unexplored tangents...

*"I just can't believe you sometimes."

"That makes two of us," Kathryn said, glaring at Seven. She crosses her arms and glared.

"That's what, the third or fourth time this year?"

"I didn't lie to you!" Kathryn shouted.

"Then what was he doing here?"

"He's the maintenance boy, for crying out loud! I'm 900 years old than him!" Kathryn glared at Seven, following her down the hall.

"Well why's he the only maintenance person that comes around here?" Seven shot back.

"He's the only one who gets it right!"

"Then why does he come here so much?"

"He's only been here five times in the last three years!"

"Six times," Seven said. Kathryn stopped as Seven crossed into the bedroom and stood at the door.

"You are so... so... jealous, Seven," Kathryn said.

"I think I have plenty of reason to be!" shouted Seven as she went through a dresser drawer. Kathryn balled a fist on her hip.

"You know, I'm really getting tired of this."

"So am I," Seven muttered.

"Then why don't you just leave? Find someone else to bitch at!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Fine!"

"I should've done this a couple hundred years ago!" cried Seven, throwing open another drawer. Kathryn watched her with arched brows.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving," Seven snapped, finding a bag. Kathryn hesitated.

"Good. Go ahead and leave."

"Watch me," Seven said evenly as she filled the bag. Kathryn was silent as Seven finished filling the bag and closed it. Seven shot her a heated look and pushed past her out the door. After a moment she followed again.

"Don't expect me to let you back any time soon."

"Don't expect me back any time soon!"

"I won't!" Kathryn shouted. Seven clomped down the stairs, and Kathryn passed through a room and leaned out the small balcony. "Don't let the gate zap your ass on the way out!"

Seven gestured and shouted something, but was too far off by then for Kathryn to understand its meaning. She squinted and sighed, and turned from the window.*

Kathryn sighed. That had been a hundred years before. The maintenance boy had been gone for a long time now, and Kathryn had remained relatively alone since then. Seven hadn't returned to the Janeway mansion until today. Her return shook Kathryn a bit more than she'd dare to show. In her toiled a quiet yearning, and a quite loud and vocal protest to that yearning.

She shook her head and leaned closer to the window as the Federation complex came into view in the distance. The small and careful buildings quickly grew in size, and Kathryn noted a strange collection of trees near the center of the base. Bits of metal glinted from within the trees. Kathryn looked to Seven, who had put her things away and was looking out the windows as well.

"That's the base," Seven stated needlessly. Kathryn gave a half nod. Seven motioned to a tall spire of a building. "That's Peace Point."

"Peace Point?" she echoed.

"Yes. It was built in 3100 to commemorate 500 years of peace among planets in the Federation."

"Wow," Kathryn said, looking closer at the glowing blue of the building. "500 years is a long time to go without any fighting. Especially in the Federation."

"Well they're up to 779 years now," Seven noted. "And that's what makes the inclusion of the K'Mi'dins to the Federation so important."

"They'll help maintain that peace."

"Yes," Seven nodded. Kathryn sighed softly as the escort vessel swooped past Peace Point. "The peace has been maintained by loosely following the doctrines set forth by the Federation President when the time of peace began."

"Interesting," Kathryn murmured as the vessel came lower to the ground.

"Interesting and important."

The escort ship touched down on a pad in the southern side of the complex. After a moment there was a chime, and the doors slid open noiselessly. Seven motioned for Kathryn to follow her out into the sunlight. They left the ship, Seven nodding in return to the guard who admitted them into a reception hall. A small group of people in Federation and Starfleet uniforms were already present in the room.

"Ah, Miss Janeway, Representative Janeway, it is good to have you here finally," an elegant looking woman in a Starfleet uniform said in greeting to them. She had dark eyes and dark hair, and a remarkably strong jaw-line.

"I hope we're in time," Seven said to the greeter. Kathryn looked at the women curiously, noting the admiral's markings on her collar. "Admiral Pierce, this is Kathryn Janeway."

"Good to meet you," Pierce said, shaking Kathryn's hand. She nodded vaguely, returning the smile. There was something oddly familiar about her. "Representative Janeway has told us so much about you."

"Has she?" Kathryn said, glancing at Seven.

"The Admiral exaggerates," Seven said mildly. Pierce chuckled.

"Say what you will, what we have found out from her has been quite helpful."

"Mm, I'm starting to wonder what she told you," Kathryn said dryly. The others present chuckled. Kathryn licked her lips.

"Actually, you've arrived a bit early," Pierce said. "The committee that will be informing you on everything that will be going on isn't quite ready yet."

"And?"

"And... you'll have to wait an hour or two," Pierce said slowly.

"An hour or two?" Kathryn said in surprise. "You dragged me all the way out here just to make me wait?"

"Miss Janeway, it won't be too long, honestly," Pierce protested. "I'm sure than there are plenty of things for you to do to fill the time."

"I suppose," Kathryn said slowly. She jerked her chin at Seven. "Did Miss Representative here tell you that I'm short tempered too?"

Pierce smiled thinly. "Yes, she did."

So to pass the time Seven suggested a walk through the Park. There really wasn't much in the way of plants in the Park, the things there came more in the way of metal. This was the odd collection of trees and alloy that Kathryn had seen on the flight in. It was something of a resting home for old, retired starships. The ships had been gutted, and some were only in their remaining portions, but all were in grand display. Kathryn and Seven walked down one of the long pathways that wove its way between massive forms.

"And that's the last remaining type 12-alpha shuttlecraft in existence."

"Mm hmm."

"Most of the rest were refitted into the beta style," Seven added, trying to keep Kathryn's attention. She nodded absently, looking down at the carefully laid out cobblestones on the path. "Kathryn, is something wrong?"

"Who said anything was wrong?" Kathryn asked, looking up briefly.

"I didn't think that you'd be more interested in the ground than in the ships," Seven said.

"It isn't the ships' fault," came the reply. "Maybe just the company."

"I didn't ask to take you here," Seven shot back.

"It was your suggestion though, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but I didn't think that the admiral would think it a marvelous idea for me to be the one to take you out here!"

"Then why didn't you just decline?" Kathryn asked.

"I don't know," Seven said. She crossed her arms and looked down the path. "Shall we continue?"

"What, fighting or walking?"

Seven gave a slight laugh and shook her head. "Walking, Miss Janeway."

"As you wish, Miss Janeway," Kathryn sighed. They continued down the ship-lined path, Seven remaining silent. Kathryn kept her eyes down as they continued to the end of the path and rounded a corner. She barely even noticed when Seven paused in walking. Kathryn did stop after another beat though.

"What?"

Seven just shrugged, and Kathryn looked up slowly. A soft gasp filled the air, and her feet lead her forward.

"It's Voyager!" Kathryn cried softly.

"Yes, it is."

"Why didn't you tell me it was here?"

"You never asked me," Seven said.

"I never thought to ask," Kathryn admitted, moving into the shadow of the ship. "But how did it get here?"

"By accident," Seven told her, "Crews were looking for a type 11 shuttlecraft for the Park while it was under construction. They came up several large crates in the back of a shipyard storage facility. The crews believed they had found the shuttles, but much to their surprise they found the remains of Voyager."

"This was when?"

"The Park was constructed in 3200," Seven said. "Voyager was reconstructed, and the inside of the ship was emptied. Whatever was taken from the inside was sent to the Federation Historical Museum."

"Like what?"

"Remember that weird sculpture you had in the ready room?"

"The one that looked like an egg?" Kathryn looked puzzled.

"Yes, that one. Marija never took it from there, and when the ship was taken out the skies and retired and... dismantled, the sculpture was left behind."

"Odd. I always wondered what happened to it." Kathryn paced closer, looking at a sign fixed to the massive decorative post that supported the ship. "Myth?"

"Voyager's existence was speculated," Seven said. "Some historians believed that Voyager's story was completely made up. They were, of course, proved wrong."

"Yes, they were," Kathryn smiled. She read the plaque. "U.S.S. Voyager, Intrepid Class Vessel...Here stands a ship that took the longest of journeys, finding her way home from the depths of the Delta Quadrant. She rises from myth into fact, and takes her rightful place in history. The U.S.S. Voyager is a reminder to all that hard work and determination, and above all love, can overcome the greatest of obstacles. The Voyager station, originally the Delta 25 station, in the Delta quadrant is named for this ship, as its completion coincided with the re-discovery of this important piece of history." She looked at the last words on the plaque. "First Captain: Kathryn Janeway, 2371-2381. Final Captain: Jason Janeway, 2450-2471. Retired in 2473." Kathryn frowned slightly.

"Kathryn, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Just wondering why only the first and last captains were important enough to be mentioned."

"I'm sure Chakotay and Marija are also listed in the history books."

"Mm, yes I guess so." Kathryn craned her neck to look up at Voyager. "It's been a long time. I'd almost forgotten what she looked like."

"Surely you're exaggerating."

Kathryn squinted and smiled, "A little." She laughed. "She's a bit bigger than I remember though. And cleaner."

"There's a crew that makes weekly cleanings of all the ships in the Park," Seven said.

"How nice of them," Kathryn laughed again.

"Representative, Miss Janeway," a voice sounded behind them. Kathryn's head snapped down quickly in surprise, and Seven jerked a little. They turned.

"Oh, Admiral Pierce, I'm sorry," Seven said. "We didn't hear you coming."

"It's alright." Pierce looked at Voyager for a moment. "Nice ship."

"My ship," Kathryn said softly, a bit of longing in her voice. Pierce smiled in a consoling way.

"I know, ma'am." Pierce waited a moment. "If you're ready, the committee is ready to see you now."

"Yes, of course," Kathryn nodded and followed Pierce back out of the Park, with Seven trailing quietly behind.

"And President D'buhari, this is Representative Seven Janeway."

"Very pleased to meet you," the K'Mi'din president smiled at Seven. The K'Mi'dins had long gray snakelike bodies that were slightly segmented, with two sets of supporting legs, and a set of 'arms'. Their heads were also snakelike in shape, but the eyes were much larger, and minus the forked tongue. Kathryn found that they had very pleasant smiles.

President D'buhari turned to Admiral Pierce. "Now, Admiral... who will be your representative for our ceremony?" His clear green eyes shifted to look around the room.

Pierce smiled, "Ah, yes, let me introduce you." D'buhari nodded, shifting on his feet a bit. Pierce beckoned to Kathryn, who stepped forward. She pulled her dark grey and silver robe (fashioned as per the K'Mi'din's requests) tighter around herself and stepped up next to Pierce.

"President D'buhari, may I introduce you to Kathryn Janeway. She is the oldest existing member of the Federation."

D'buhari looked at Kathryn critically. "Admiral, I suggest that you do not play games with matters like this."

Pierce had been expecting this, but she gave the alien a look that was just as offended as the one he had given her. "President, please believe me that the Federation takes the customs of your culture into highest regards."

D'buhari made a noise of disbelief, but looked at Kathryn again. "She barely looks old enough to be your own mother, Admiral." Seven coughed, but the alien ignored it. "I assume you can speak for yourself, Miss Janeway?"

"Yes, I can," Kathryn replied evenly.

"And how old are you?"

"Too old to be your mother," Kathryn said demurely. D'buhari gave a pleased smile.

"And just how old is that, in your years?" From the look she could tell that he thought he had her trapped in a lie.

"One thousand, thirty nine years old, this past May." The President looked rather surprised again.

"I was under the impression that your species didn't live more than 150 years," he said.

"I am an.. exemplary example of my species," Kathryn smiled. D'buhari paused to think.

"I'll admit that you are several centuries older than my mother," he said after the pause. There was light laughter from the room, and he smiled again. "I believe you, Miss Janeway, because you do not strike me as someone to lie about her age."

Seven muffled a laugh from across the room. "Not in this millennium at least."

Kathryn continued looking at the alien President, but shot her comment at Seven. "I never lied in the last one either."

"Good, then you are quite honorable," D'buhari chuckled. Kathryn gave a pleasant nod in return. D'buhari looked at Admiral Pierce. "I believe the ceremony will go well, especially with such a distinguished representative from your side."

"Thank you, President," Pierce replied.

"What exactly does this ceremony require from me?"

"Oh, nothing you can't handle," Pierce said.

"You simply stand as a watch-over while we sign the treaties and papers and such," D'buhari added. "Basically just stand there and look good, which I'm sure you should have no problem with."

"I'll do my best."

"I'm sure you will," Pierce said loudly. "Now, I've just been notified that President Danaid has arrived, so we'll be ready to begin soon."

"Excellent," D'buhari said in a happy tone. "If you don't mind, I'd like to return to my ship to get my representative party..."

"Of course," Pierce nodded. "You know your way to the transport station by now, I'd assume...?" The K'Mi'din President nodded and was followed out by a security guard. He said in passing to Kathryn, "it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Janeway. I'm quite sorry about the earlier misunderstanding."

"Quite alright," Kathryn smiled and nodded. Pierce excused herself, along with a few other Federation dignitaries, to prepare for the ceremonies.

"Gods, Kathryn, now you've even got the ugly aliens hitting on you," Seven commented as the room emptied out.

"Oh, really," Kathryn said slowly. "I thought he was quite nice."

"You've been alone on that mountain for too long."

"I have the cats."

"Until they get a fully functioning vocabulary and a high school diploma, they don't count as friends," Seven sighed. Kathryn shrugged. "Come on, we'll take a tram to where the ceremony is being held."

"Why not just transport?" Kathryn asked as she followed Seven down a hall.

"When foreign dignitaries are on the premises, site to site transports aren't allowed."

"Some things never change," Kathryn muttered. They stepped onto a tram, which started up noiselessly after a few more people entered.

"The only reason we aren't walking is because the assembly hall for the ceremony is on the other side of the complex."

"I see. And why don't you just get someone else to take me there?"

Seven looked at Kathryn from the side of her face. "It isn't what you think. I was assigned to you, that's all."

"Mm hmm." Kathryn looked out the small windows, shifting from one foot to another. "And what's going on between you and Admiral Pierce?"

"What do you mean by that?" Seven said, bristling.

"You seem to get uncomfortable around her."

"I do not," Seven retorted. "I just know who she is, that's all."

"And who is she?"

Seven hit the wall of the tram with her hand, catching glances from others on the tram. "You really have kept yourself walled up, Kathryn."

"What do you mean?"

"Admiral Pierce is a direct descendent of Pheonise Janeway," Seven told her.

"Oh. Oh!" Kathryn continued in a hurried whispered. "You mean she's our..."

"Yes, a great granddaughter to a varying degree."

"And she knows that?"

"Of course she does," Seven nodded. "Her name is Mera Janeway Pierce, so what do you think?"

"I see," Kathryn said slowly. "And did you get your position through her, or the other way around?"

"Neither," Seven said. "We never even met until last month when this whole business with the K'mi'din's began."

"Oh." Kathryn smiled after a moment. "I remember Pheonise. She was a Federation President, wasn't she?"

"She was the Federation President," Seven said. "She was the one who began the period of peace among the Federation."

"That little spitfire..." Kathryn chuckled as the tram came to a stop. She followed Seven out, down another long hall. The more distance they covered, the noisier the area around them got, even though there weren't any visible people around.

"This is a big event," Seven said as she coded something into a door panel. "People have come from all around the Federation just to see it."

"I didn't realize that peace what so important," Kathryn replied.

"Well, for some it's a spectator sport-coming to see all the new worlds being admitted. For some peace is a very important thing. And some even came to see you."

"Me?"

"Mmhmm. It's hard to pass up the chance to see a living piece of history."

"Would they have come to see you?"

Seven glanced at her as they went inside. "Maybe."

The induction ceremony was underway less than an hour later. Seven stood near the midpoint of an arc that formed itself around a small table. Every person in the arc held a candle, representing a peaceful section of the Federation. There were, notably, no people in the arc not holding a candle. Two more candles, one large and the other small, stood on the table. The smaller candle was unlit. The table was triangular in shape. Kathryn Janeway stood on one side, the Federation President on another, and the K'Mi'din President on the last side.

The Presidents were exchanging words for the audience at the moment, and so Seven wasn't paying much attention. She had seen enough of these ceremonies to know what was going on. Seven looked out at the audience. Present were members of countless species-probably more than Seven had ever encountered while being with the Borg. She squinted and looked back to the table. Kathryn stood there with a smile, but the expression was dead.

Seven sighed. It had been almost a hundred years. Kathryn looked around-no it had been 98 years. She turned her head slightly to look at the Federation President-98 years, four months... three days... nine hours... Seven sighed again, looking down at the candle.

It was late in the afternoon, just a little while after Kathryn had returned from her venture out to Federation headquarters. The sun was dipping out of the mountains range of day, and the sky out Kathryn's bedroom window was bruised in color. Rosa, Petey, and Jinx were curled at the end of the bed, near Kathryn's feet. She lay sprawled on the reddish hued bedspread, staring up at the ceiling. The light had just begun to gray when all three cats sat up suddenly and sprung from the bed.

"Oh, what now," Kathryn moaned at the cats, not moving from her spot. The cats pulled the balcony door open, and darted outside. "Stay off the steps."

A soft dusk breeze held the door open a few more inches. Kathryn waited for the cats to get bored with chasing shadows and return. They didn't, and after a few minutes she sat up slowly on the bed. Kathryn stifled a yawn as she drug herself off the comfort of the bed.

"You stupid cats," she muttered, and then stopped as she reached the door. There was noise below, but it wasn't the cats.... Kathryn held onto the door and stood quietly. And then from the darkness below came a voice, singing in mellow tones:

"Got your tape and it changed my mind

Heard your voice in between the lines

Come around from another time

Where nobody ever goes

All alone on the overpass

Wired and phoned to a heart of glass

Now I'm falling in love too fast

With you or the songs you chose"

Kathryn gripped the balcony rail and leaned over slightly. A figure moved slightly in the shadows below, the last bits of day glinting faintly.. on a metal bedaubed face. Kathryn smiled, leaning further, straining to hear better.

"And all the stars

Play for me

Say the promise you long to keep

I can hear you sing it to me in my sleep

I can hear you sing it to me in my sleep"

She remembered the song well, but to hear it again nearly broke Kathryn's heart. It was a song she and Seven had played and sang together many years before. The woman in the garden titled her face up, and it was suddenly illuminated by the balcony light from above. She reached a hand up toward the parapet, and Kathryn found herself barely able to keep her own hands still.

"I've been living in your cassette

It's the modern equivalent

Singing up to a Capulet

On a balcony in your mind

In the City the lion sleeps

Pray to Sony my soul to keep

Were you ever so bright and sweet

Did you ever look so nice"

 She could not possibly resist. It had been too long. Kathryn's feet brought her to the steps that curled down from the side of the balcony. She took the stairs two at a time, bringing her to the ground as Seven sang out the final words of the song:

 "And all the sounds

Dream for me

Dive me down in a soul so deep

I can hear you sing it to me in my sleep

I can hear you sing it to me in my sleep"

 "I can hear you," Kathryn echoed, coming to within a few feet of Seven. The younger woman clasped her hands behind her back, and looked at Kathryn intently.

"Kathryn," she whispered. Kathryn squinted.

"Your implants..." she said softly. "You didn't have to. Not for me."

"Then don't think I did it for you," Seven said pleadingly, even though the debate hadn't had the chance to begin. "I only did it for you if you want it that way."

"Seven..." Kathryn found herself at a lack for words. Seven's brows ducked together as she drew her hands up to her chest.

"Please Kathryn," she pleaded, her eyes wide. Kathryn looked down at her own hands.

"You left me, Seven," she replied. "Why come back now?"

"I need you," Seven whispered in earnest. "I thought that I had gotten over you, Kathryn. But that's impossible. The past two days proved it to me." Kathryn's response was silence. "I was wrong to leave you. I shouldn't have done it, no matter how angry I was. Or how jealous."

"A hundred years is a long time to think."

"But it doesn't have to be for us," Seven said. "Jealousy drove me away, but I was only jealous because I love you, Kathryn."

"You loved me enough to leave me?" Kathryn said quietly, looking perplexed. There was a pause.

"Yes."

Kathryn bit her lip. "I have missed you a great deal, Seven. Too much perhaps. I want to take you back so badly, but..."

Seven's eyes were glistening as she took Kathryn's hand between her own and drew it up to her trembling lips. She whispered into Kathryn's palm. "I want forever back."

Kathryn gazed back with equal intensity. "There's no way..." Seven's eyes closed, and she felt her exhale sharply. Kathryn felt her heart leap painfully. "There's no way I could ever let you leave again, Seven."

Seven's cry was of anguished joy, as her eyes flew open and she released Kathryn's hand.

"Oh, Kathryn," Seven whispered. Her hands flew up to the back of Kathryn's head, pulling lightly on the her hair. Their faces came together--not in a kiss--it was merely the action of them holding their cheeks against each other's. Kathryn felt the sting of Seven's tears spilling against her own, and she laughed with silent joy. Their faces turned, and their lips pressed together. Kathryn felt--well, that night she felt 98 and a million years younger. Happier. Completed.

They held each other in a long hug, and after awhile Kathryn feared that Seven had fallen asleep on her shoulder. But then a soft old melody came to her ears, and she joined in.

"You will return to me,

You will return to destiny.

And if our hearts are true

Then I'll return to you.

No matter the trials or the tears

We will remain for all the years.

Leave me now but return again

May that I weep but now and then

I will hear the song of history

And I will come running back to thee.

Notes of a passion true and long

Knowing that here is where I belong.

You will return to me,

And return to destiny.

And as our hearts are true

There'll be no need to ever leave you."