Coffee

"Coffee, black." Janeway watched with impatience as her drink was assembled from the surrounding atoms. She picked it up, not even taking the extra seconds to enjoy the aroma before taking a gulp of the hot beverage. "Aaah. I needed that."

She settled onto her couch to gaze at the stars for a moment and collect her thoughts. It had been an eventful day. They were currently in orbit around Conebulus, an unusual planet that was inhabited by a friendly trading race. They had been able to take on some much-needed supplies, which should cover them for the next several months. Their visit had also afforded the crew opportunities for shore leave. This was something always appreciated when you lived on board a starship. Janeway herself was due to beam down to the temperate planet the following day. She had plans to take a hike through the mineral desert with Seven of Nine and the doctor. She and Seven had been having an interesting discussion about old Earth religions earlier and Janeway was keen to continue this with her. The opinion of the gorgeous blonde was always refreshingly different and she could be counted on to back her arguments with reason and solid fact. The woman could out-logic a Vulcan, but Janeway knew a very human heart beat beneath the cool Borg exterior. How she wished it beat for her.

Doubtless the Doctor would make his presence felt tomorrow though. Pity Seven had invited him along. Jane way bit back the uncharitable thought as she sculled back the rest of her coffee and returned to her desk to finish signing off the supply reports from Voyagers department heads.

---

Seven was in the cargo bay next morning trying to decide what to wear. She was looking forward to spending time with the captain today; she usually found enjoyment in the older woman's company. But when Janeway had first asked her to join her she had felt anxious for some reason and had asked if she could invite the doctor along. She could come up with no explanation for her decision as she and the captain had spent many hours alone together in the past, but lately, Seven had been starting to feel different whenever the captain was present. Her normally calm demeanour and self-confidence seemed to desert her and she would feel shy and worry about how she would appear to the older woman. *I will adapt* she thought to herself.

Based on advice from the computer, she eventually selected some sand coloured cargo pants, snug but containing handy pockets which she used to store a first aid kit, some sample tubes in case they came across any interesting specimens, and a water pouch. She chose sturdy walking boots and a blue sleeveless top. She had no need for sun block or sunglasses as her automated nanoprobes and Borg implants would take care of her. Finally dressed she headed off to the mess hall to pickup their picnic lunch before meeting the captain and the doctor in the transporter room, once again feeling a shiver of nervousness. and anticipation about the day ahead.

"Good morning all!" The captain breezily entered the transporter room where Seven and the doctor had just arrived. Janeway had chosen to wear khaki Capri pants, sandals, and a thin white shirt open over a fitting white cotton tank top and topped off by a wide brimmed straw hat. Even the doctor, in the spirit of shore leave, had elected to adjust his matrix so he appeared to be wearing a green v necked t-shirt and pale blue pants.

"Good morning Captain." Seven and the doctor greeted captain Janeway and they stepped up onto the transporter pad.

"I see we're all ready to go, beam us down crewman." Janeway gestured to the yellow shirted crewperson on transporter control and the three of them dissolved into the matterstream.

---

The mineral desert was quite beautiful. Many coloured stones lay everywhere like scattered gems. They walked alongside an aqua coloured river for a while enjoying each other's company. The water felt lovely and cool through their fingers but, the doctor cautioned, was not safe to drink. They saw several small lizard-like creatures scurrying about. They were very odd creatures indeed to be living in such an environment. The doctor saw one up close and reported it to have a purplish hide, shimmering like the mineral stones, and strange silver vertically slit eyes.

About midday they came to a cataract of the aqua water, which pooled into a small, but fairly deep pond with a squat group of trees. The trees had a silvery bark and leaves like a dark, clumpy moss. They chose the tallest of these to sit under to eat their lunch. Seven spread the large blue rug that Janeway had brought with her. The rug was wonderfully soft to sit on as it had built in air cushions and anti-grav units but it packed up no bigger than a tricorder.

Neelix had actually done a pretty good job with the picnic. There wasn't any leeola root in sight. Suddenly, the doctor's com-badge beeped.

"Kim to doctor, medical emergency, you're needed in sick bay."

"Understood," He turned to Seven and the captain "Sorry ladies, I had a lovely time but duty calls." He tapped his com-badge. "Energize."

---

Seven glanced at the captain. She had elected to take a nap after their meal and was now comfortably dozing in the shade. Seven felt her eyes drawn to Janeway's bare shoulder where her shirt had slipped. She followed the neckline of her tank top to the curve of her breasts and was momentarily captivated by their rise and fall. She had been increasingly drawn to Janeway over the past several months; she had first noticed it after their encounter with Alturis. When they had been in the brig together, Janeway's hand brushing her cheek as she had worked on Seven's optical implant had definitely stirred something in Seven. Her studies of human relationships made her aware of what she was feeling. She was attracted to Janeway. She wanted her. The captain had not just awoken the human in the Borg; she had woken her heart.

But she knew now why she had invited the doctor to come along. She had subconsciously wanted a buffer between her and the captain. Her newfound feelings were a cause of some anxiety. She was a novice when it came to matters of a romantic nature and might stumble. She was aware too, that Janeway had chosen not to take a mate out of some sense of captainly duty. Several member of the male crew, including Chakotay, had already approached her but their advances had been delicately turned down. Seven wondered how best to approach the situation.

---

Janeway took her time waking from her doze. It was a luxury she appreciated, having lived to Starfleet time for most of her life. Through half-closed eyes she saw Seven sitting not too far from her, apparently deep in thought and took a moment to gaze at her cool, brilliant astrometrics officer. She wondered if, when Seven had chosen her outfit, she had realised how stunning it would look on her. Then she chuckled to herself, *of course*, she thought, *beauty is irrelevant.* Seven had noticed her stirrings.

"Captain, you are awake. Would you like some liquid refreshment? There is some mango juice left over from the picnic."

"Thank you Seven, that would be lovely."

The captain sipped the delicious mango juice and took the time to stretch her muscles after her nap. As she strolled around their picnic spot, she noticed that Seven was watching her every move. Curious. The Borg was not normally this attentive to her. But then of course, Janeway had neglected her for the past hour whilst she dozed. Seven was probably bored. She headed back to the spot where her young officer sat.

"Thank you Seven for letting me rest. Obviously this business with the Coneblulans had tired me out more than I thought. But to make up for it I am going to teach you how to swim. The doctor said we couldn't drink the water, but it's perfectly fine for swimming."

"But captain, I didn't bring the appropriate attire for swimming."

"Don't worry, I brought a swim suit for you. And I think you should call me Kathryn until we get back to the ship."

---

As it turned out, Seven was a good student. Janeway was impressed. Obviously, she had the knowledge of the Borg, but this was still a new experience for the young woman. Janeway wondered though if it had been entirely a wise idea. The sight of Seven in a swim suit had been more than she had been prepared for. And spending the afternoon with their bodies constantly touching in the water as Janeway taught her strokes had driven her to distraction in a manner she had almost forgotten was possible. She tried to master her will to conquer her emotions as surely Seven would register her physiological changes and realise what they meant.

What Janeway didn't realise was that Seven was so distracted by her own emotions that she could register no such thing. The swimming lesson had been a very strange experience for her. She was not used to the feelings of desire coursing through her body. She felt as if she was red-hot everywhere Janeway had touched her. She offered silent thanks to the Borg for her automated systems. Her biological ones couldn't be trusted currently. She felt a mixture of relief and bittersweet sadness when the lesson ended.

They had changed and were headed back to the transport site. Each woman walked in silence, wrapped up in her own thoughts. It was Seven who spoke first.

"Kathryn, it has been a most enjoyable day. Thank you for inviting me to share it with you."

"I was glad to have you along Seven. You know how I value your company. It 's nice to be able to spend some time together off the ship and in a less formal environment don't you think? It's hard to ever relax properly within a command structure."

"And as captain you feel that more than the rest of the crew," the young woman added thoughtfully, "I would like to ask you a question Kathryn, if it is not too personal, I feel it would help me to understand the nature of duty as humans perceive it."

"You should know you can ask me anything Seven, as long as it doesn't violate any Starfleet security protocols of course." Janeway hoped the humour would help lighten the mood. She had a feeling that this might be a delicate matter. Seven didn't normally bother to ask if it was too personal. Janeway tried to prepare herself mentally.

"Kathryn," said Seven slowly, "the journey back to Earth is likely to take another fifty years, yet you have resisted seeking a mate amongst the crew of Voyager. You seem to be willing to forgo the opportunity to find love and have children; two things that I understand humans value above all others. From what I understand of Starfleet protocols, they would not be opposed to you being in a relationship aboard the ship, particularly in our unique situation."

*Well,* the captain thought *it could have been worse. But it certainly could have been better.* If only Seven had picked something the captain wasn't currently struggling with. Janeway collected her thoughts.

"Fifty years is a long time, and of course I do want those things. Love and a family. But we are stranded in the Delta quadrant and my choices are limited. I would find it difficult to be in a relationship with a Starfleet crewmember who was my subordinate and, though I appreciate it may be well worth the difficulties that must be overcome, the fact remains that there is no one on Voyager for whom I have those feelings that returns them."

"But there is someone who does not return those feelings?" Seven read between the lines. Her stomach dropped. Kathryn loved someone else.

"Oh Seven." Janeway halted her walk. She took her companion's hand and squeezed her fingers gently. "When you fall in love you will find that it is never easy. Sometimes the person you love will not love you back, no matter how much you wish they might."

She had said too much. She could feel her mask cracking. A single tear slid down her cheek. Seven gently wiped the tear away with her thumb, placed her hand on Janeway's chin and tilted her head so she was looking her in the eye.

"One day Kathryn you will find happiness. I suggest you do not waste your time on this individual who does not return you affections. Obviously their judgement is impaired. Captain Kathryn Janeway does not need to bother with such matters."

Kathryn felt a smile come to her lips at those words but she couldn't help but wonder what Seven's reaction would be if she knew that it was she who was the object of the captain's affections. She sighed as they approached the transporter coordinates. Soon this day would be over and it would be back to life as normal on Voyager. In the few moments before they dematerialised she leaned over and kissed Seven on the cheek.

"Thank you." Janeway tapped her com-badge. "Energize."

---

"Regeneration cycle is complete."

Seven's eyes opened and she stepped out of her regeneration unit unaware that her repose had again had an audience that night, that in fact, there had been many nights when she had had company in the cargo bay. Had she known this it would have only added to the turmoil of her thoughts. Nothing in her studies of human relationships had prepared her for this. She went over in her mind yesterday's conversation with the captain, her eidetic memory played it back to her like a holo-recording. There was an anomalous element in the puzzle. The kiss. What did the kiss mean? In one context it changed everything that came before. Or did it? She resolved to find out.

Captain Janeway was in her quarters and about to replicate breakfast. She was still in her green satin nightdress as she was having a slow morning due to spending too much of the night in the cargo bay. She hadn't been able to sleep and had thought that seeing the Borg might have settled her thoughts. Of course, she had been wrong. The door to her quarters chimed.

"Come."

"Good morning Captain."

"Good morning Seven, how lovely to see you. Excuse my attire; I haven't managed to drag myself under the sonic shower yet. I was just about to replicate some breakfast, are you hungry?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes captain, I do require nutritional supplements." Seven was momentarily distracted by Janeway's clinging satin nightie.

"Was there something in particular you wanted to discuss with me?" Janeway asked as they sat down to eat. Seven took a breath.

"I have been thinking about our discussion yesterday, about your prospects for finding someone in the Delta quadrant, and considering my own situation. As you said, you could not be with one of your Starfleet crew. Neelix or myself are the only non-Starfleet members on the ship. Neelix is an unappealing option and you have shown no preference for same sex relationships. You may find love with a passing alien or you may decide to choose a member of your crew anyway but I find that I am even more limited.

"The Borg are hated throughout the galaxy and doubtless people will fear me or hate me as one of them. I have seen it on many faces. Who will I find that will be able to understand that I am no longer of the collective? Where will I find a home? And where will I find an equal? The Borg have given me the gift of superior intelligence and there are few that can really challenge me as you can.

"I know the doctor is in love with me but I cannot bring myself to feel the same. He is intelligent and kind and caring and I value my friendship with him, but he is not flesh and blood. I cannot love him.

"It would seem captain that you and I are both destined to be alone on this journey."

Janeway's heart almost broke at the look on Seven's face. How she wanted to kiss those full lips. She reached an arm around her slim body and pulled her officer in for a tight embrace.

"Oh Seven, I don't know what to tell you. But as long as you are with me I won't feel alone."

She offered Seven a grim smile; they separated from their embrace and resumed their breakfast. Seven headed off for her shift in astrometrics and Janeway showered and changed into her uniform before heading to the bridge.

---

Janeway was in her ready room. She had work to do but she was too distracted to concentrate on anything for more than a few seconds. Seven's earlier revelation had startled the captain a little. She had been caught up in her fantasy of Seven and had almost forgotten for a moment that there was a very real woman there with very real feelings. Janeway found it interesting to note that Seven was aware of same sex relationships. In fact, she had nearly, but not quite, raised the possibility of Janeway and herself in such a relationship. *I'm reading too much into this.* Seven, having no real frame of reference, tended to embrace all ideas openly, without understanding their full impact within a human society.

She was struggling with her thoughts when the door chimed.

"Come."

"May I join you captain?"

Tuvok entered the room, she gestured that he should take a seat on the couch and ceased her pacing to go over and sit facing him.

"To be honest Tuvok, I could really use someone to talk to right now."

---

Janeway hadn't realized she had been feeling guilty about her feelings for Seven until Tuvok had told her she didn't have to. He had urged her to tell Seven about her feelings, he said he believed his young student would handle the situation well. Janeway could not deny that Seven had matured into a magnificent young woman. Her experience of adjusting to an individual existence as opposed to being one mind among billions, and of learning to make conscience based decisions instead of being ruthlessly used as a tool of the collective, had left her profoundly changed. In some aspects she still presented herself as Borg, in her bluntness of speech and her constant search for order and perfection but she was undeniably becoming more and more human. And she captivated Janeway.

"Janeway to Seven of Nine."

"Seven here captain."

"Seven I would like you to come to my quarters at nineteen hundred hours for dinner, formal dress, no rank. Do you accept?"

"Certainly captain."

"Excellent, I'll see you tonight then."

---

The door chimed.

"Come in." Janeway called, placing the last dish on the table. Everything was perfect. The table was adorned with white roses, which would turn out to be a theme for the night. Janeway had another of the flowers pinned in her hair; she was wearing an ankle length, shimmering green halter-dress with a v neckline that went down past her navel but was belted with a tight gold cord so the material was held firmly in place over her ample bosom.

The door opened and Seven entered the room. Janeway's breath caught in her throat. Seven had elected to wear her hair down for the evening. She had hidden tiny silver clips in amongst the strands and these were sparkling in the dim lighting. She was wearing a blue velvet gown with dramatic slits up either leg revealing her nicely toned limbs when she moved, it was sleeveless and she wore matching long velvet gloves. She carried a bottle of Bajoran spring wine, which she presented to the captain.

"For the meal. I had my nanoprobes adjusted to assimilate synthenol for the evening. I understand the twenty-three oh nine is a very good year."

"Thank you Seven. You look lovely, come let us sit and eat. The replicator was unusually well behaved tonight so you can trust the food."

The meal was good. Janeway had prepared a light salad with crumbed and seasoned chicken breast and baked potatoes. Twenty-three on nine was indeed a good year and when the bottle was empty, Janeway replicated another. They were both feeling the effects of the synthenol, which acted just like alcohol really, but was kinder to the body. When they had finished the main course, they moved over to the couch and Janeway brought out cheesecake flavoured with orange liqueur. Seven had never tasted anything like it and Janeway enjoyed watching the Borg enthusiastically consume the sweet desert. Seven caught her gaze and grinned at her.

"You know Seven, there is one thing that has made Voyager's trip to the Delta quadrant worthwhile."

"Starfleet will find the data you have collected invaluable Kathryn."

"I meant you Seven. If we had never come to the Delta quadrant, I would never have found you. And now I have found you. I find you invaluable Seven."

There. She had said it. She leaned back from Seven and tried to gauge her reaction, half afraid to see what might be written in those clear blue eyes. Seven was still for a moment, then suddenly moved in close, put her hand behind Kathryn's head, pulled her in tight and promptly kissed her. Then she kissed her again, quite thoroughly. Janeway was stunned. It was a good feeling.

"I'm glad you feel that way." Seven said, a broad smile lighting up her lovely face.

"There's something I want to show you Seven. Let's go to the holodeck."

"Agreed captain, I think a site to site transport would be advisable however."

"Good idea."

---

"Computer, initiate programme Janeway: Indiana," she turned to her gorgeous companion, "this is my home on Earth Seven, this is where I grew up." Janeway led the slim blonde into the holo deck. They were in the cornfields near Janeway's childhood home, a track led through the mature crops to the boundary of the family property and Kathryn started along it. Seven stumbled in the soft dirt as she was wearing high-heeled shoes, not really appropriate for walking through the fields.

"You might want to take those off until we get to the house. It's been a while since I've walked barefoot through the fields, so I think I might do the same." The two women bent down and removed their footwear. They set off again, but this time Kathryn took Seven's hand. Now she wouldn't stumble.

The feel of the earth between her toes was unfamiliar to Seven and she wasn't really sure how she felt about it. It was a curious sensation, not something one encountered aboard a starship. Knowing this was merely holographic soil and didn't have the bacterial content of real dirt reassured her somewhat.

She had been surprised but very pleased at the evening's turn of events. Janeway's confession to her had been out of character for the normally controlled captain. Knowing Janeway as she did, she suspected it hadn't come easily for the woman, she knew that she had believed that the captain having a relationship on board Voyager would somehow have a negative effect on the crew. She was very pleased at how things had turned out. She smiled to think that she was now holding hands with Kathryn, a woman she loved and respected. and desired.

They came to the stile of the fence on the border of the Janeway' property they helped one another over the obstacle and then they were on the path leading to the front porch of the homestead. White roses grew all over the trellis on the porch and there was a comfortable looking swing. Janeway pointed out the various landmarks of her childhood; where she had broken her arm when she was nine, the barn where her dogs had had all their puppies, and the tree where she and her sister had climbed to spy on the birds. Seven felt that Janeway was opening up to her. Showing her where she had come from was showing Seven a whole new side to her; softer and more vulnerable than the command persona she normally wore on board Voyager.

Finally they came to the house and Janeway led her inside, and gave her the tour. When they had finished and were sitting curled up together on the porch swing, the holographic sunset made the white roses that grew all over the porch look golden. Seven realised she hadn't been shown Kathryn's bedroom and said so.

"I thought I might save that for later." She replied with a smile, kissing Seven on the nose.

"I'd like to see it now." Seven returned, biting Kathryn's lip and nuzzling her neck.

"Resistance is futile, I will comply." Kathryn took her hand and led her upstairs.

---

There were more white roses scattered on the bed. It was an oak four-poster in the centre of the room, made up with white linen. The furniture was in the same old-fashioned style as the rest of the homestead but the Janeway's had certainly not settled for anything less than quality and comfort.

Janeway guided Seven to the bed with a hand in the small of her back, but Seven didn't really need telling. The evening spent in the captains close company had been driving her wild with surging emotion. She could hardly wait for what lay ahead of them. Seven sat on the edge of the bed and turned to face the woman who was about to become her lover. She undid the clasp of Kathryn's gold belt and slipped it from her waist. Then she pushed the shimmering material back off Janeway's breasts. She traced the outline of the captains erect nipples with her velvet-covered fingers. Janeway groaned in appreciation.

"Oh god Seven, don't tell me the Borg taught you this."

"Of course they did captain, the Borg assimilated the mating habits of many species; something I'm sure you will come to appreciate." She said licking Janeway's nipples.

"Thank god for the Borg then." But the captain decided to take action; she wanted to be taking control of this moment. This would be the first time for Seven, no matter what she knew from the Borg, and Janeway wanted to make it very special for her. She started to slide the soft velvet material off the shoulders of the lithe younger woman revealing her lovely breasts, Janeway had spent may hours imagining what they would look like in the flesh. "Lie back on the bed Seven, I want this to be about you to begin with."

"I will comply." Seven replied almost eagerly letting herself fall gently back onto the covers. Janeway leant over her and started attending to Seven 's own nipples. Flicking them with her tongue, then swirling it around them in circles and adding occasional nips with her teeth. Seven's breath became short and she could feel a throbbing between her legs. Janeway slid the blue dress down further, revealing a smooth white stomach down which she trailed butterfly kisses. As she tugged the dress off Seven's hips and down her long slender legs she kissed or licked every inch of skin along the way until Seven was inflamed with passion and was almost orgasmic just from her touch. Janeway had to admit she felt pretty much the same herself.

Seven was wearing a tiny pair of white lace panties. Janeway elected to remove the lovely underwear with her teeth. It was a slow process, as Kathryn wanted to be very thorough with the gorgeous Borg. She wanted to give her perfection. Finally Seven was completely naked in the hot room and shivering all over giving out small moans of pleasure.

Janeway bent her head down to the very wet spot between Sevens legs and started licking in long slow strokes. Gradually, in response to the increase in Seven's breathing rate, she started to lick and suck faster and faster. When the Borg started to scream Kathryn's name she plunged two fingers into Seven's sex, pumping them in and out of her in time to Seven's own urgent thrusting. Finally Seven came, the explosion in her loins making her cry out in ecstasy and collapse into her lover's arms.

They lay together, just holding each other for some time. Seven felt very safe there in Janeway's bed, in her arms. The occasionally whispered endearments to each other, but mostly just lay there listening to each other 's hearts beating.

When Seven had recovered her energy she took Kathryn's hand and led her downstairs to the garden, both women completely naked. When they got outside Seven instructed Kathryn to lean back on the porch swing whilst she knelt down before her captain. She kissed Kathryn passionately then started trailing her tongue up and down the captain's naked body, sucking and nipping at her lovely flesh as she moved. Janeway had lost all control of her responses and was moaning at Seven's every touch. Seven was methodical in her approach to loving Janeway, just as the captain had been with her. Just when Kathryn thought she could stand no more, Seven bent down and proceeded to suck on her clitoris and slipped two fingers inside of Janeway' s opening at the same time, sliding the digits up and down inside of her lover as she sucked at her highly sensitive flesh. Janeway's orgasm hit her with full force about three seconds later. Seven slipped her fingers inside her own opening and joined her in orgasmic bliss.

They made love again and again that night until they were both exhausted. They had grabbed a duvet from Kathryn's bed and dragged it out onto the lawn where they lay naked, holding each other and gazing at the holographic stars. Both women could hardly believe their luck.

Eventually they had to leave the holodeck. Although neither of them started their shifts until late afternoon, it was clear that Seven would need to regenerate and Janeway to sleep before they started work. Neither woman wanted to go, having finally found what they had been wanting but they knew they had no choice. Besides, it was a long way back to the alpha quadrant. Janeway imagined many nights like this to come. Eventually they would have to advise the crew of their relationship and that may be difficult, but Janeway considered it would be well worth any price to be with Seven and would not have considered any alternative. After one last passionate kiss, Janeway initiated a site-to-site transport to send her back to her quarters and Seven to her cargo bay.

Before she went to sleep she sent a note to Tuvok to thank him for his advice.

---

END