Several hours later, Seven's commbadge chirped. She set down her scissors.

"Captain Janeway to Seven of Nine."

"Yes, Captain."

"Will you be regenerating this evening?"

"No, I will be regenerating tomorrow night."

"Will you be able to join me for dinner tonight, say 1900 hours?"

She looked at Naomi, who nodded, before replying. "I will be available then, Captain."

"Good. See you then. Janeway out."

Naomi began to pick up her art supplies.

"You spend a lot of time with the Captain," she said innocently.

"Captain Janeway is... very special to me," Seven answered.

"You should make her a valentine."

"Why would I do that? Explain."

"Valentines aren't just for hanging up. You can give them to people you care about. I'm making one for my mother."

"Why would you make one when the computer can replicate one for you?"

"It means more when they're homemade," Naomi explained as she continued to pick up. "I know my mom would rather get something I took the time to make, then something I replicated."

"I will... consider your suggestion."

"Can we meet again tomorrow, Seven? We need to finish decorating the valentines."

"Yes. Meet me here at 1600 hours, after you have completed your lessons for the day."

* * * * * * * * * *

Three days later

While she poured herself a cup of coffee, Captain Janeway surveyed the mess hall. She spotted several open chairs at a table where Tom sat with Neelix. She crossed the room with several quick strides.

"Do you mind if I join you, gentlemen?" she asked.

"No, not at all, Captain," Tom said pleasantly.

"Can I get you some dinner, Captain?" Neelix asked, beginning to rise from his chair.

"No, no, sit, Neelix. I'm just waiting for Seven. I must be a little early." She smiled. "I doubt she'd be late for anything."

"Join the club," Tom commiserated. "I'm waiting for B'Elanna."

"How are your preparations for the party progressing, Neelix?" she asked, sitting down beside Tom.

"Very well, Captain. I've got the menu planned, and Naomi and Seven have been considerable help in making the decorations."

"And I've given him a few tips on food," Tom added. "Not the meal itself, but some of the snack food."

Trust Tom to get himself involved with another party, Janeway thought.

"So, what do you have planned for Sweetheart's Day, Captain?" Tom asked.

"Oh, we'll probably just stop by the mess hall, and check out the party," she replied a bit distractedly as she watched the door for Seven.

"All due respect, Captain, but that doesn't sound very romantic," he said.

Janeway knew that had it been anyone else but Tom, she would've found the comment impertinent. Somehow, she found herself once again indulging Tom.

Her eyebrow quirked upward. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice low.

"I have to agree, Captain," Neelix added.

"Tradition dictates that you spend a romantic evening with that special someone," Tom continued.

"And Ro'El is celebrated the same way," Neelix said.

Janeway decided that she would be amused with her two officers instead of annoyed. "And what are you doing, Tom?"

"To start with, a big valentine for B'Elanna, a dozen red roses, a box of chocolates, dinner here with everyone else, then... " He blushed.

"That won't work with Seven," the Captain interjected. "She doesn't know what valentines are, she'd want to know why I gave her dead plants, she doesn't care for most foods and it's hard enough getting her to meet me for dinner in the mess hall, let alone go to a party here."

"Oh, I don't know about that, Captain," Tom hinted.

"Would you like to elaborate on that, Tom?" she asked, her voice suggesting it was not a request, but rather an order.

"Seven has been making valentines with Naomi," Neelix said. "I'm quite certain she knows the significance of what valentines are."

"And apparently she's been doing a little research of her own," Tom said with a smile. "She's asked a few crew members about Valentine's Day and romance."

"Anyone in particular, Tom?" the Captain asked pointedly.

"Well, she's been spending time with B'Elanna down in engineering," he answered.

Hmmm. I wonder what B'Elanna will pick out for Seven this time, Janeway thought, her face growing warm as she recalled the dress Seven wore on New Year's Eve.

"I have to say I'm a bit surprised - even disappointed - with you, Captain," Tom said.

"Why?"

"I find it hard to believe that Seven - an ex-Borg - could be more romantic than you." There was a trace of a dare in his voice.

"Well, gentlemen, I'm open to suggestions," she said wryly.

Before they could answer, Seven and B'Elanna entered the mess hall and headed toward them.

"Captain?" Tom asked.

"Just in case I can't come up with something on my own," she said, not a little bit sarcastically.

"Aye, Captain."

"I'd best get back to my kitchen," Neelix said, getting up from the table as Seven and B'Elanna approached the table.

* * * * * * * * * *

Captain Janeway strolled through the corridor, Seven next to her. She didn't seem to be in any particular hurry to arrive at the party. Her pace was slow and Seven was forced to shorten her stride in order to remain beside the smaller woman.

"I missed you last night," she said quietly to Seven as she nodded to a passing ensign.

"My body required regeneration. Although I could have delayed it one more day, I do not believe you would have wanted to see me last night, and not tonight."

"You're absolutely right, Seven."

As they neared the mess hall, Janeway laced her fingers with Seven's. Even though they were off-duty, Seven was still somewhat surprised by the Captain's actions. She had not held Seven's hand in public since their walk back to the Captain's quarters after the New Year's Eve party.

Seven stopped just as they were about to enter the mess hall. "Kathryn, must we stay long tonight?"

Janeway smiled. "Only if you want to, darling."

"I do not," she said rather emphatically.

"Good. I wasn't planning on staying very long - just long enough to make an appearance, have a drink and a quick bite to eat."

"That would be acceptable to me."

"Besides, Seven," she continued, her voice lowering to a tone that sent shivers down Seven's spine. "I've got other plans for tonight - plans that I'm sure you'll find more than 'acceptable'."

Janeway felt Seven's grip on her hand tighten involuntarily, and she looked up at her, an almost smug smile on her face.

Before either of then could say another word, Neelix was greeting them at the door, ushering them in to the mess hall. The Captain looked up at the red, pink and white paper streamers that were stretched from each corner of the ceiling. Paper hearts in various colors and sizes plastered the walls.

"Seven!" Naomi threaded her way through the crowd to see her friend.

Seizing the opportunity as Seven focused her attentions on Naomi, Janeway leaned toward Neelix.

"Everything all set?" she whispered out of the side of her mouth.

"Just give me the word, and I'll have everything for you in a matter of minutes."

"Thank you. I'll let you know."

Neelix turned to greet the next crewmembers who came through the door. Janeway looked down at Naomi, who was chattering away with Seven.

"Are you responsible for these decorations, Naomi?" the Captain asked when Naomi stopped speaking.

"Yes. Seven and I made them and hung them up. And I helped Neelix make the cookies this afternoon."

"Very nice job, Naomi." The young girl beamed. "Perhaps I should find more projects for you."

"Really?" Naomi's eyes widened.

"Understanding, of course, that your school work comes first."

"Always," Naomi agreed, nodding her head.

"I'll speak with Neelix and Seven, and see what we can come up with."

"Thank you, Captain."

Even Seven had to smile at Naomi's excitement.

"I'm going to get a drink. Do you want something, Seven?" Janeway asked after Naomi had left them.

"I do not - " Seven stopped herself. "No, thank you, Kathryn."

Janeway favored Seven with a warm smile, pleased that Seven was making an attempt to speak less like a Borg. And she's only doing it for me, because of me, she thought. She gave Seven's hand a quick squeeze. "I'll be right back."

Tom and B'Elanna, arms linked, walked over to Seven.

"Everything ready?" B'Elanna asked Seven, her voice both friendly and conspiratorial.

"Yes... I believe everything will be... 'ready' if I have sufficient time alone in the Captain's quarters."

"What do you two have planned?" Tom asked.

"Nothing that you need to know about," B'Elanna said, winking at Seven.

"I'm just curious," Tom said. "How does one romance a Star Fleet captain?"

"I would think that you would be more interested in your own plans for the evening, Mr. Paris," Seven said, "than in the Captain's."

"I quite agree," said a familiar husky voice from behind him.

Tom groaned inwardly. Quit while you're behind, he told himself.

The Captain stepped out from behind him, her arm slipping around Seven's waist.

"Tom, did you show everyone your contribution to the party?" B'Elanna asked, saving him from further embarrassment.

"No. No, I didn't," he said, flashing B'Elanna a grateful smile. "Let me go get a dish for you," he offered, relieved to have an excuse to leave the group of women.

"What has Tom found now?" Janeway asked B'Elanna.

"You know how he's such an afficionado of the twentieth century." Janeway nodded as she sipped from her drink. "He spent some time researching Valentine's Day back then to find the perfect party snack."

"Now I'm curious," Janeway said, her smile matching her curiosity.

Tom returned, holding a small dish containing tiny candy hearts. "These are authentic candy hearts from the twentieth century," he explained.

The Captain plucked one from the bowl. Seven repeated her actions.

"What does yours say, Seven?" Tom asked.

"Explain."

"Your candy. Each one is imprinted with a saying, just like the originals."

Seven looked at her candy heart and read aloud, "'Kiss Me'."

"Is that a request or an order?" Janeway teased.

"Neither." A small smile appeared on the full lips. "Perhaps it is a wish."

The older woman surprised her friends, and her lover, when she leaned over and kissed Seven affectionately on her cheek.

"And yours, Captain? What does your candy have written on it?" B'Elanna asked.

She looked at the candy heart and blushed. "It says 'Hot Stuff'."

Tom and B'Elanna snickered. "Is that true, Seven?"

"I do not think the Captain's internal temperature varies much from normal, unless she is... running a fever. Are you well, Kathryn?"

"Yes, Seven, I am feeling very well, thank you."

"Since the Captain is not ill, then I would say, no, she is not 'Hot Stuff'." Seven tilted her head to one side. "Unless you are referring to her... sexual prowess."

Tom and B'Elanna were both embarrassed, thinking that they were hearing a bit more than they really wanted to know. B'Elanna watched the Captain's face turn a shade of red she'd never seen before. Kahless, I'm glad I'm not in the Captain's shoes right now, she thought.

"If that is the case, then, yes. I believe her to indeed be... 'Hot Stuff'."

Oh, my, Janeway thought, now thoroughly embarrassed, but also a feeling a bit proud of herself. 'Hot Stuff', indeed. We'll just see about that tonight.

* * * * * * * * * *

Kathryn Janeway was pleased, though somewhat suspicious, when Seven asked if she could return to the Captain's quarters alone. With Seven gone, I can take care of my own plans without her knowing, she thought as she tracked down Neelix.

"Neelix," she called out to him, a raucous crowd of partygoers between them.

"I'll have it for you momentarily, Captain," he answered back.

She maneuvered her way closer to Neelix's kitchen. She made conversation with every crewmember who jostled by her on their way to the punch. She was amused with the crew's behavior. It didn't matter that most of them weren't couples or even looking for romance. The reason for the party seemed to be unimportant. Nothing stops my crew from having a good time, she thought. Any excuse will do.

"Captain," Neelix interrupted her thoughts.

"Thank you, Neelix," she said appreciatively, taking a small covered platter from him.

"Can you handle it all?" he asked, handing her a bottle of champagne.

"I think I can manage," she replied with a smile.

"Do you need glasses?"

"I've got a set, thanks."

"Well, then, have a pleasant evening."

"I intend to."

Her quarters were fairly dark, illuminated by several flickering candles. She set the platter and the bottle down on the table. She heard, rather she sensed, movement and she immediately looked toward the bedroom.

"Oh," she gasped when she saw Seven.

"Kathryn?"

Seven stood in the doorway to the bedroom. She was dressed in a long, red nightgown that in the darkness looked blood red. The nightgown had thin straps and a plunging neckline and it clung to every curve on Seven's body. She had let her hair down, and it curled about her neck and shoulders.

Without knowing it, the older woman licked her lips once, then again.

"That's... uh... some outfit," she finally said, her voice hoarse.

"Do you like it?" Seven sounded surprisingly nervous.

"It's beautiful... you're beautiful."

She couldn't be sure in the darkened room, but Janeway thought she saw Seven's cheeks turn a faint pink color. And just as quickly, it faded.

"I will put the champagne on ice," Seven said, reverting momentarily to an efficient Borg.

As she crossed the room, Janeway thought Seven was a walking contradiction. She was looking every bit a breathtakingly beautiful woman, yet she walked like a Borg drone. She must be nervous, Janeway thought. The more nervous she gets, the more Borg she acts.

She gently grasped Seven's arm as the younger woman reached for the bottle. The skin beneath her fingers was soft and warm. She briefly caressed it with her fingertips before letting go.

"Seven, you look lovely."

"Thank you, Kathryn," she said. "I am glad you like my... nightgown."

Seven replicated a bucket of ice, then firmly placed the bottle inside.

"B'Elanna Torres said that I would look and feel... 'sexy' in it."

"And do you?" Janeway asked, taking off her uniform tunic, suddenly feeling rather warm.

"I do not know if I look... 'sexy'. That would be a judgement only you could make."

"I think you do," Janeway said, her voice low and throaty. "Very much." She moved closer to Seven, placing her hand on the satin covered hip. "How do you feel?" she whispered against the long neck.

"If enjoying the sensation of the material against my skin... or enjoying your reaction to it is 'feeling sexy'... then I do." Seven turned her head, her lips brushing against her lover's ear, her body lightly pressing into the smaller body. "I feel... very sexy."

Her voice was husky, and she knew the precise effect it would have on the older woman.

"Do you know what you're doing to me?" Janeway moaned softly, her hand flexing, then squeezing Seven's hip.

"I am always aware of my actions, and your reactions to them," Seven said with typical Borg smugness.

Her forehead resting against Seven's chin, Janeway slipped her hands up Seven's slender, yet strong arms, across her shoulders, then down her chest. She stopped when her hands reached the tops of the barely covered breasts.

"I think I need to get out of this uniform," Janeway said.

"And into something more comfortable?" Seven said with a hopeful smile as she untucked the gray shirt from the Captain's trousers.

"Or maybe into nothing at all," Janeway coyly replied as she extricated herself from Seven's wandering hands.

"That would be... acceptable." A faint smirk appeared on Seven's face. "Do you require assistance in the removal of your clothing, Kathryn?"

"Is that an offer?"

"Yes."

"The I find your offer... most acceptable, darling," Janeway said with a smirk of her own.

Seven followed the Captain into the bedroom. The short woman stopped next to the bed and began to take her pips off.

"Let me, Kathryn."

"By all means," Janeway agreed, her arms dropping to her sides.

Seven slowly removed each pip, and one by one, set them on the nightstand. She recalled a time when Kathryn - the Captain - had asked her to affix a pip to her dress uniform.

"What are you thinking about, Seven?" Janeway asked, noticing the smile on Seven's face, the almost distant look in her eyes.

"Do you remember the first time you asked me to put your pip on?"

"Just before my trip to meet with the Kadi," Janeway said promptly.

Janeway remembered it very clearly. For all the times that she'd touched Seven, it had been the first time Seven had ever touched her, however indirectly. She also remembered how she'd felt having Seven standing so close to her, the topic of their conversation - dating - and how she'd felt for days after the incident. Yes, she remembered it, and she smiled.

"I often found myself... thinking of that moment... " Seven said, reaching down to pull off the Captain's gray turtleneck shirt.

"What about it?"

"I thought about the many ways that it could have been... different." She tugged the shirt up and off in one quick motion. She unceremoniously tossed it aside.

"You 'fantasized' about that day?" Janeway was surprised and intrigued.

"Yes."

Janeway's regulation bra was treated with a similar lack of respect for Star Fleet issued clothing as it was flung to the floor.

"You have... very nice breasts, Kathryn. I wanted to touch them that day."

"How?" Janeway's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Perhaps I should show you."

Janeway gasped aloud at the first faint touch of Seven's fingertips skittering across her breasts, then to her nipples.

"If you'd shown that kind of initiative then," Janeway said, struggling mightily to control the feelings that ran through her body. "We might have been able to avoid that whole disastrous dating scene for you."

"And you might not have ever visited with the Kadi," Seven replied, her fingers now gently tweaking each nipple.

"I think... had I been given the choice... I would've skipped the visit..." Janeway panted, her control rapidly fading.

"And I would have preferred to have... skipped my date," Seven said, then she lowered her head, kissing one hard nipple, then the other.

"Seven..."

Janeway's body stiffened and she clutched the blonde head to her chest. She found her legs weakening and she fell back on the bed, pulling Seven down with her. Seven was careful not to let her denser, Borg-enhanced body land fully atop Kathryn's.

Small, almost delicate hands, lifted an implant adorned face from a breast.

"I love you, Seven," she said, then she drew the face close for a kiss.

A gentle touch of a tongue to lips, and the kiss suddenly deepened. One hand slowly crept up a bare thigh, lifting red satin on its journey.

"I think it's time for you to lose the nightgown, Seven," Janeway said as she kissed Seven's neck and shoulders.

"Explain," Seven said, but her voice trembled as she felt lips push aside her nightgown and seize a nipple.

"Take it off," Janeway growled around a plump, erect nipple.

Following what sounded like an order, Seven reluctantly sat back and lifted off her nightgown in one graceful movement. Janeway sat up and once again eagerly attached her mouth to Seven's breast. Seven firmly pushed her away.

"Kathryn... you must finish undressing... "

Janeway groaned, then sighed. Parting for only a brief moment, she hastily shed the rest of her clothes. She immediately returned to Seven's arms, burying her face between the soft breasts.

Seven shifted her body, a long thigh slipping between Kathryn's legs. She thrust it upward, pressing it repeatedly against the sensitive, and now very wet, area. She gently grasped the narrow hips above, trying to urge them up her body.

"Kathryn..."

"Yes, darling?" Janeway looked down at the blue eyes full of desire.

"I wish to taste you..."

The Captain groaned, and Seven felt her response bathe her thigh. She slowly slid her body down the length of the Captain's kissing and nibbling at each and every part she could easily reach with her mouth. When she parted her lover's lips with her tongue, she heard a muffled whimper above and was rewarded with a fresh surge of moisture.

She recalled the first time, and every time, she had explored the Captain's body so intimately and she was reminded of how much she enjoyed it, how much she enjoyed making the captain cry out. She focused her attention on the small, hard and very sensitive little ridge. She reached up and firmly plunged two long, slender fingers deep inside. The hips above jerked wildly and she held on tightly with her free hand.

Janeway not only cried out into her pillow, she nearly screamed. A few violent, uncontrolled thrusts of her hips, then her whole body stiffened. Seven continued her actions, guiding her through another climax. She would've persisted on bringing Janeway to another peak had the older woman not rolled off, gasping for breath.

Seven gracefully crawled back up the bed beside her beloved. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman in a loving embrace.

"I love you," she said, kissing her gently, tenderly.

"And I love you," Janeway replied, kissing her back. She smiled, her hands caressing Seven's cheeks. "You are something else, Seven of Nine."

"I do not understand, Kathryn. How can I be something other than myself?"

Janeway laughed joyously and hugged Seven. "It's a figure of speech, darling." She rolled them over, her body once more sprawled across the splendid body she couldn't seem to get enough of. "As good as you just made me feel, I can think of something that will make me feel even better."

"What?"

"Making love to you," she responded, her teeth lightly clamping down on Seven's throat.

"That would be... acceptable..." Seven croaked, a wealth of desire lacing the single word.

Janeway smiled and released Seven's throat. Knowing how very much Seven adored having her breasts lavished with attention, she resumed her earlier actions.

"Kathryn..."

"Mmmmm," she answered, her mouth full of Seven's breast.

"I find that... what you are doing... it is very pleasurable..."

Janeway didn't reply, but continued with her kisses, nips and suckling of the ample breasts. She trailed her fingers down the length of Seven's body, her touches both light and firm. When her hand finally stopped its travels, it rested between Seven's legs. She lovingly and deliberately fondled Seven, her fingers sliding easily in the copious amounts of moisture.

"Kathryn... please..."

Seven pushed up against the teasing fingers. She moaned loudly when the motion of the fingers on the overloaded tiny bundle of nerves began to match the flickering motion of a tongue on her nipple.

Her hips twitched with each touch until she felt the warm fingers penetrate her. She bucked once, then began to rock her hips in a steady rhythm that countered the thrusts of Janeway's fingers.

"Kathryn... oh, Kathryn..." she cried out.

Janeway silently urged Seven on, as her mouth was otherwise occupied. She curled her fingers and stroked the smooth walls inside of Seven. One final, stiff jolt from Seven's body accompanied an incoherent shout, and then she was collapsing back on the bed.

Janeway held Seven close, cradling the shuddering body until it stilled. She shifted her body and then began to shower Seven with soft kisses, her lips on her forehead, her cheeks, her eyelids, and her implants.

"I love you, Seven. You are my heart."

"And you are my love, Kathryn."

Janeway looked down at Seven and smiled. "Will you be mine, Seven of Nine?"

"Be mine?"

"Be my valentine, Seven of Nine," she repeated, finding the rhyme silly.

"If you will be mine," Seven replied.

A warm hug and a kiss upon her forehead was her answer.

After laying quietly together for several minutes, Seven lifted her body up. "I will retrieve the champagne and food," she offered, rising from the bed.

Janeway sat up and was rewarded with a gloriously spectacular view of a very naked Seven leaving and returning to the room.

Somehow Seven managed to balance the platter, the champagne and two long-stemmed glasses. She set the ice bucket on the floor beside the bed, and then handed the glasses to Janeway.

"Are you going to join me in a glass?" she asked Seven.

"I could be... persuaded to have a small amount."

She set the covered platter down on the bed between them. Once she was back on the bed, Seven reached for the champagne. She opened it with minimal fuss. While the Captain held the glasses, Seven poured them each a glass, one considerably less full than the other.

"To Sweethearts' Day," Janeway said, gently tapping her glass against Seven's.

"To Sweethearts' Day," Seven agreed.

"I have a little present for you, Seven," Janeway said, sipping from her glass.

"A present?"

"Nothing you can open," she continued. "I've just arranged the duty rosters so that we both have tomorrow off."

"Indeed."

"Yes, so you've got my undivided attention for the next -" She glanced at the small clock. ""The next thirty-four hours. The only possible interruption allowed is a red alert."

"And what will we do?"

"Whatever you want," Janeway said with a lopsided leer.

"I will give this offer... considerable thought," Seven smiled back.

"In the meantime, how about a little snack?" Janeway asked, removing the cover from the platter.

An assortment of fruit was artfully arranged on the plate, surrounding a small dish containing a dark sauce.

"What is this?"

"I know that you find some of these foods palatable," Janeway said, picking up what looked like the Talaxian equivalent of a strawberry. "You should try it with some of this dip Neelix made."

She dipped the berry, then held it up for Seven. The sauce was deep, rich and chocolate flavored. Seven took a bite out of the fruit, the juice trickling down her chin and onto Janeway's fingers. She slowly licked each drop of juice from the older woman's fingertips.

"It is... very sweet," Seven said.

"A little too sweet?" Janeway's voice contained a bit of disappointment.

"I believe the fruit alone will be sufficient."

"Too bad," Janeway said, popping another dip-covered berry into her own mouth. Her eyebrow quirked up and her smile was full of mischief.

"I can think of a way for us both to enjoy the dip, Seven."

"Indeed."

"Yes. We don't have to dip just the fruit you know," she said, her voice low.

Seven shivered, her mind instantly conjuring up dozens of possibilities. "What would you... dip?"

Janeway kept her eyes zeroed in on Seven's as she dipped her fingers into the sauce. After sucking the chocolate off each fingertip, she repeated her actions, but this time, she smeared the sauce across Seven's nipples.

"This way I can indulge my sweet tooth, and you can enjoy my... indulgences..." she whispered before lowering her head.

"I believe I now understand the purpose of this holiday," Seven said with a smile and then she gasped, holding the auburn haired head against her chest.

The End