Beverly squints as she steps off the transporter pad. Gretchen Janeway was not the person she was hoping or expecting to meet. She gives Gretchen a big smile and a hug anyway.

"Oh it's so good to see you!" Gretchen gushes as she pulls Beverly into her arms. She's been loudly advocating for Beverly's relationship with her daughter. "I'm so glad you were able to sneak away for a few days."

Beverly hands over one of her bags and takes Gretchen's other hand. I want to tell you how much I appreciate you letting me stay with you. It means a lot to me."

Gretchen gives her a look from the side. "I told you that you are always welcome and I mean that. There is no need to thank me. You're good for Kathryn and I like having you around."

Beverly gives her hand a squeeze. "Well, I do appreciate it and you're just going to have to get used to me appreciating it. Speaking of Kathryn though, where is she? I thought she would be here to meet me. Not that I'm not delighted to see you too but…"

Gretchen interrupts her, "but I don't kiss like she does. I get it. I did once you know."

"I'm sure you kiss just fine," Beverly tells her with a laugh.

"Kathryn has been down in her laboratory (she draws the word out to sound like 'la-bore-a-tory'." Some big project she wants to show you. Must be something important. She's been down there day and night since you said you were coming to visit.

"Hmmm…" Beverly muses. "I wonder what she's up to."

Kathryn has the good sense to meet the women as they come onto the porch. Gretchen silently takes Beverly's other bag from her shoulder and disappears into the house. Kathryn and Beverly stand and stare at each other for a few seconds. Kathryn speaks first.

"You look amazing."

Beverly's cheeks color and she looks away. When she looks back, Kathryn is several steps closer, close enough to touch. Beverly reaches her hand. Her fingertips brush Kathryn's cheek and Kathryn moves into her. She turns her face up as she wraps her arms around Beverly's waist and pulls her close. Done waiting, Beverly leans into her and kisses Kathryn. The kiss is intense and both women quickly become heated. Beverly breaks it to catch her breath.

"God Katie. I've missed you."

"That's because you work too much."

"We need to talk about that," Beverly says as she leans in for another kiss.

"Later. I have something I want to show you. In a minute." Her last words are muffled as she presses her lips back to Beverly's.

A woman's voice sounds from the open door. "You two should bring it inside before the neighbors start talking."

Kathryn smiles. "There are no neighbors, Mom. At least not that can see us."

"Well then go ahead, do your business right there. I'll just be sitting here, eating my pie."

"There went the mood," Kathryn mumbles.

Beverly laughs. "Pie does sound good. I'm starving.

Kathryn sighs and follows her girlfriend into her mother's house. "Just like in high school, it's always the pie over me." She hears Beverly laugh softly and knows she heard but is still intent on food before sex.

Beverly and Gretchen linger over pie and coffee, talking about Beverly's life, her work, and squash flowers of all things, while Kathryn squirms and plays with her coffee cup. By the time the conversation turns to the various uses of Andorian cucumber, Kathryn has had enough. "Mother, didn't you have something you were planning for this afternoon?"

Gretchen glances at the ancient Grandfather Clock standing vigil in the corner. "Oh. You're right. I do have a date. How did you know about that?"

Kathryn grins. "I didn't. Until now. I figured that's why you've been sneaking out at all hours."

Gretchen's eyes narrow playfully. "Hmm, are you checking up on me? Never mind. I'm leaving. The last thing I want to do is spend my afternoon listening to you two get reacquainted."

Deep red colors Kathryn's cheeks while Beverly laughs softly. "Do you need some pointers?" she asks Gretchen, referring to their earlier conversation about kissing.

Gretchen turns to her with a grin. "No, that's all right dear, but if you ever need any help, let me know. I've been practicing for years." Beverly laughs deeply while Kathryn drops her head and covers her eyes. "Just go. Please?" She gets a pat on the shoulder from her mother and suddenly they're alone.

Beverly turns to Kathryn, her humor gone, her ice blue eyes burning in intensity. "Now what?" she asks, her voice low.

Kathryn swallows hard. "I was wanting to show you my experiments, get your opinion on them but now I'm thinking about tackling you to the floor and having my way with you."

"As tempting as that sounds," Beverly says dryly, "I think I'll wait for something a bit more comfortable. Besides, you've got me insanely curious to know what you're working on."

Kathryn smiles as she pulls Beverly to her feet and gives her a quick kiss. "I hope you're going to like it." Beverly nods that she will but she has absolutely no idea what her friend has planned or how much she will enjoy this experiment.

Kathryn flips on the light in her mother's basement and Beverly gets a look around. The lab is exactly how she remembered it. Immaculate. Every piece of equipment clean and in its place, a neat stack of PADDs on the counter by the main workstation. Kathryn is bouncing on the balls of her feet, waiting for Beverly to say something. Beverly briefly considers teasing her, making her wait a bit longer, but Kathryn is being so cute and her face so expectant that she can't make her wait any longer.

"So where is this amazing discovery you've been dying to show me?"

"Well, it's actually like an experiment, not a discovery. Just playing around with mixing organics, trying to find the optimum combinations."

"And you need my help?"

"Absolutely! This is the kind of experiment that needs to be conducted by two people."

"Blind, double blind?"

"No, I don't think that will be necessary," Kathryn says as she opens up a cabinet and pulls out a tray with three vials on it. "I think full disclosure is probably necessary."

"Why?" Beverly gives her a sly look, suspecting where this experiment may be going based on the look on Kathryn's face.

"Because they're aphrodesiacs."

Beverly laughs even as she feels a rush between her legs. "They are, are they? You've been working on this for a while?"

"Months," Kathryn replies, her voice as serious as she can make it.

"I suppose you should tell me about the project, seeing as how I am to be an active participant."

"From the beginning?"

"No. No. I don't think that will be necessary. Just give me the important details so we can get started as soon as possible. With the experiment, I mean."

"Of course," Kathryn smiles, she's feeling the same pressure between her own legs. She shifts, squeezing her legs together. She's not quite as subtle as she thinks she is as she catches Beverly watching. She picks up the largest jar up off the tray. She unscrews the lid and holds it out for Beverly to see. "This one, I call my Terran blend. It's composed only of organics found here on Earth. Niacin, nitro glycerin, both vasodilators, some L-arginine and Evening Primrose to increase sensation, cannabis for relaxation and just a touch of testosterone, all in a coconut oil base."

"Why does it smell like mint?"

"It gives it a warm tingle when applied."

Beverly swallows hard. Kathryn pretends she doesn't notice and takes her time putting the tray and jars away, except for the Terran mix which she tucks into her pocket. She turns to Beverly, concern in her eyes.

"Are you OK?"

"No. Not really."

You want to go upstairs?"

"Very much so."

"Should I bring a PADD so we can take notes?"

"I think you should. We want to report the detail as accurately as possible."

Kathryn nods and moves close to kiss Beverly. Instead, she leans close and breathes into Beverly's ear. "After you."