A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get this going. I needed a little break. Hope you enjoy it.

Summary: "Time Enough" sequel. Janeway finds a divided, mutinous crew on a ship with strained resources. Bizarre aliens—unlike any ever encountered—harass them. Seven grows fractious with their closeted relationship. Voyager's children are morphing. Can they ever hope to get home? Lesbian. AO. AU.

Quantum of Chaos
Chapter 1: Systematic Bedlam

Captain Kathryn Janeway watched dismally as the chronometer ticked to ten hundred hours. Her secret rendezvous with Seven of Nine was only an hour away but it may as well be tomorrow, with the way time was crawling.

This was a totally new experience. Janeway had always been able to immerse herself in the moment, whether she was taking piano lessons as a child or cataloging gaseous anomalies as a cadet. Time was an ally that carried her along its wild rapids.

Since she, Seven of Nine and Dani had returned to Voyager, the routine that had once brought the Captain solace and even satisfaction was now a choking hand at her throat. The ship's systems, its very rhythms had always been a source of strength. Now Janeway's duties and responsibilities kept her from her loved ones in a painful echo of her father. But she was determined to solve the new puzzle, as much as she was frustrated by its paradoxical complexity.

Janeway turned her attention to the repair report. She'd read the first sentence four times already and she still couldn't comprehend it. Flashes of the planet Gweelee, whose orbit Voyager had left only five days ago, still loomed large in her mind. The sweet communion she'd experienced with Seven and her daughter had awakened a need that she had long suppressed.

Now Captain Janeway had to treat her lover like just member of her crew. The feelings it churned were strong: it was like drinking boiling plasma. But she knew she had no one to blame but herself. Wasn't a crewmember deserving of a personal life? Wasn't the Captain a crewmember? Ergo....

And yet, the Captain stayed her announcement about her relationship to Seven of Nine. One reason was Chakotay, Seven's ex-lover, seemed particularly unstable. Until she understood him or he became himself, Janeway would not risk endangering her family.

So, here she sat watching the chronometer change its red numbers, one by one, until finally it read eleven hundred.

Captain Janeway slammed her station monitor closed and grabbed her coffee mug. Then she bounded for the door, skipping once for good measure.

Hot damn, Janeway thought.

The thought of a naked Borg in bed sent shivers down her spine. Since their return, Kathryn had only managed half a tryst with Seven. It was like getting a sip of coffee when you were accustomed to the entire damned carafe. But this wasn't forever, she told herself.

Just as the Ready Room door slid open, Janeway nearly fell headlong into the hulking wall of her First Officer. "Chakotay!" she said, stepping back.

"Captain, I was just coming to see you."

A small gurgle of protest rumbled in her throat.

"You have time for your First Officer, don't you?"

Her brows angled together. She felt a match of anger ignite in her belly. Even after Captain Janeway tamped it out, the smoke tried to choke out her common sense. Since returning to Voyager she'd had a hard time dealing with her own emotional flares. She thought it was just the pregnancy, but since not everyone could be pregnant on board, especially the men, she was starting to wonder if they were not all being manipulated by outside forces that had yet to be identified.

"Yes, of course." She was amazed she could keep her voice sounding so cool when her insides were so hot.

He tipped his head to one side. "Can I come in then?"

"I do however, have an important appointment," she said, stepping aside. She did not bother to follow him to the couches in her usual manner, instead remaining by the exit.

Chakotay raised an eyebrow and a look of annoyance flashed quickly in his eyes, as he stepped back down the stairs to stand near her. "I'll make this quick so you can get to...."

She gave him a scolding expression. The Captain wanted her good relationship with her First Officer to continue on its firm footing as before, yet she felt a resistance from him. This in turn gave her pause.

Chakotay was sufficiently respectful of her authority and her privacy, but there was this small space between them into which fell their mutual distrust and leery banter. The gap seemed to grow with each passing day.

"How can I help you, Commander?"

Chakotay handed her a padd, which she quickly scrolled through.

Twin lines etched themselves between her brows. "This is disturbing," she said, reluctantly walking back to lean against her desk. "Starfleet officers are brawling on board a ship."

"During their rotation, no less."

"Do you know why?"

"Of the five fights, two were related to simple disagreements about procedures. Two others were related to matters that were deeply personal."

"And the last?"

"Whether Voyager should settle in the Delta Quadrant or resume its course."

Janeway's bouncing knee bumped the padd as she considered the situation. "This doesn't sound like the crew."

"When Voyager was a floating paperweight in space, ship's supplies were low—The last six months weren't a vacation for some of us."

Janeway accepted the rebuke graciously, knowing that there could be many crewmembers who had adopted this view. It was another very good reason to keep her love affair with Seven under wraps.

"Tempers flared as we worked double and triple shifts. But now? I can't really explain it."

"Well, something's not right." She straightened herself. "I think we should begin our journey again by reaffirming our commitment to Starfleet standards and disciplines."

"You want to set an example?"

"Don't you think we should?"

She didn't trust his smirk, but he agreed. "I'll take care of it myself."

Captain Janeway marched to the door and was surprised to find that Chakotay hadn't followed. "Commander?"

"I have one more thing, Captain. I was just wondering if Seven had mentioned me at all to you."

Ho boy! Captain Janeway stared at Chakotay for a moment. She'd had this same conversation with him every day for the past five days.

"Have you talked to Seven of Nine, Commander?"

"I've tried," he said. "But she just tells me our relationship was terminated and then she offers to explain what that means."

She dropped her head to quickly scratch over her eye. On the other hand, his prowling after Seven was the very good reason to announce they were lovers. The thought of Seven with anyone, man, woman or Ferengi was nearly too much to even contemplate.

But Janeway summed up impossible human strength and sounded nonchalant. "That sounds pretty clear to me."

She turned to go and the First Officer wrapped his large hand around her bicep. The Captain looked down at the restraining hand and then up at Chakotay. "Commander?"

"I didn't ask you if I understood her. I asked if she'd talked about me."

Captain Janeway lifted her chin a millimeter. Her negative reply was an exaggerated enunciation of two letters and she found it surprisingly difficult to divorce it from a flaunting smirk. "Perhaps you should ask some of her friends."

Chakotay's eyes went cold. "I did," he said. "They said the same thing. She's out of my life for good."

"There's your answer then."

"But I don't think she meant it," he said.

Captain Janeway took on the steely edge that was her trademark. "Well, I think we're done here."

His mind seemed to wander, even as his grip tightened.

"Commander? Release. Me."

"Oh, yes. Apologies, Captain."

=/\=

Kathryn Janeway pulled down her tunic as she entered Seven's quarters, across from her own. The main living area was dark and empty.

"Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is in her quarters."

A lascivious grin curled Kathryn's lips as she hurried to the bedroom. The room was vacant, as was the connected ensuite.

She tossed her tunic on the couch and set her coffee mug on a table as she strode across the living area to find the smaller room that belonged to Dani. Seven was kneeling in the middle of the room. One arm was bearing stuffed animals, while the other was scooping up more including the beloved black cat "Silly Willy." Black padds lay strewn on the floor, along with dirty socks and shirts.

"Seven," Kathryn whispered. "What are you doing in here?"

Seven stood up, tossing the stuffed animals on an unmade twin bed. "You were overdue," she stated matter-of-factly. "It was more efficient to restore order to your daughter's bedroom than idle."

Kathryn reached out to take Seven's hand. She pulled her close, kissing the backs of her fingers. "I'm sorry, darling. But I'd rather have you wait in your bed." She pitched her voice lower, hands clasped behind the woman's neck. "Naked and ready for me."

Seven's arms remained at her side. "The last time I was ready for you, I was recumbent in bed for nearly an hour. You did not keep your appointment."

Kathryn pursed her lips, her eyes softening in regret. "I'm sorry," she whispered again. "I just don't want to—I don't want even a moment together to be wasted, darling. Can you forgive me?"

Seven kissed Kathryn's lips lightly. "Yes," she said, taking Kathryn's hand at her neck and tugging the Captain through the door, across the living area and into to her bedroom. She spun Kathryn around, her back to the bed.

Seven's mouth descended on Kathryn's, as she held the woman's face between her hands. Her hands began to roam over the Captain's body, brushing the backs of her fingers over sensitive nipples. Soft sighs became throaty moans as Seven's hand reached the top of her lover's pants.

When she slipped her fingers inside the waistband of Kathryn's Starfleet issue panties, the woman groaned loudly. "Oh, that's it, baby! A little further now...."

Seven's other arm was wrapped around the woman's waist, as Kathryn lifted a foot onto the bed for easier access. She hugged Seven's descending hand, trying to shove it down further. "The bed, Seven," she whispered.

Seven nuzzled Kathryn's ear, flicking her tongue over it. "Very well," Seven said coolly, as if the passion weren't bubbling out of her. Without removing her hand from between Kathryn's legs, she gently pushed the woman back and then down on her bed.

"Take my pants off," Kathryn said.

Seven lifted her head enough to whisper. "That would be inefficient," she mumbled before settling down beside the woman. Her fingers nestled inside the honey depths, flexing and sparking rising moans in Kathryn.

The older woman's hips were thrusting upward and her head was shaking side to side with her eyes cinched tight. Her arms curled around Seven's back, with her fisted hands resting on her shoulder blades.

Seven deepened the kiss with Kathryn, timing the thrusts of her tongue to the strokes of her fingers. "You arrived prepared," Seven said softly, swirling her fingers inside the soaked woman.

"I'm so damn—Oh! That's it, darling. Right there—"

Seven rubbed the distended ridge of flesh that rippled with pleasure. She felt the woman beside her shudder in anticipation. "I do not wish this to end," Seven whispered, nearly smiling when she heard a moan from Kathryn.

"I've missed you," she whispered, rubbing Seven's back.

"And I you," Seven replied, teasing her lips close to Kathryn's. When the redhead would surge upward to try to capture them, Seven pulled back. "But I will require a demonstration of how much."

Kathryn threw her head back and moaned low and long. The veins along her neck corded from the cry. "I'm trying, darling!"

When she raised her gray eyes to regard Seven, the blonde kissed her lips lightly. "Attempt it with vigor," she ordered. "With as much effort as you exert to keep from regarding me during Senior Staff meetings."

Kathryn stopped rocking herself to find, for the first time, the bruises in the reflected in the Borg's eyes. "Oh, darling," she whispered. Kathryn tried to draw the woman closer. "I'm so sorry."

Seven allowed herself to be pulled closer to the woman, hiding her face in her neck. But she kept her fingers inside of Kathryn, pushing them in and out to remind her lover of the business at hand.

"Oh, Seven," she whispered into the woman's ear, gently. "I am so in love with you. I'm just—Oh, baby!"

A cry of release tore from her throat. It was joined a second later by a chirp and the ship's intercom announcing Janeway's name. "Your presence needed on the bridge."

Janeway's moans of release became sobs of frustration. "Dammit!" she wailed, wrapping an arm around Seven's neck. "Not again."

The Captain felt a tender kiss at her neck. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Seven lifted herself up, her hand slipping out of her lover. "You have apologized on three separate occasions in a span of a mere fifteen point two minutes."

Before their usual fight could start, Janeway jumped off the bed to catch the taller woman before she retreated to the ensuite. She kissed the woman tenderly and then whispered against her lips. "I'll see you at lunch?"

Seven patted the woman's ass, answering Janeway's unspoken emotion. "We will adapt, Pips."

=/\=

The lift doors slid open to reveal a deathly quiet bridge. A red-faced Neelix stood beside the command chair, holding the sharp tip of a tritanium meat cleaver to Chakotay's neck. "Stay where you are, Captain!"

"Neelix!" the Captain said, stepping onto upper level. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I said stop!" he said. "On second thought, go stand next to the helm where I can see you."

Janeway was close enough to see the sweat pouring down his spotted head. Chakotay seemed calm, which would not be unexpected. His life had been threatened incalculable times on away missions.

The Captain glanced around quickly, assessing the rest of the crew. Lt. Harry Kim was scowling at the little Talaxian. If the taut lines around his eyes and his fists were any indicator, he was about to cast his lot with his former Captain.

Lt. Enrique Ayala was at the helm, as a replacement for the ailing Tom Paris. He was a stocky male with dark hair and eyes, who could probably pass for Chakotay's kin. He was a Maquis and Captain Janeway had no doubt that he would have thrown her in the brig if Chakotay had not voluntarily stepped down as acting Captain of the U.S.S. Voyager. Ayala glanced once at Harry.

Lt. Commander Tuvok was at his security station, hacking up and coughing. Every time she saw the Vulcan, she was always shocked at the white curls sprouting out like wildfire on his head. His eyes appeared rheumy and hollow. Yet the Captain saw his trembling hand holding a phaser and knew he expected the worst. She nodded to him once before speaking.

"Computer, transfer all command functions to Main Engineering," Janeway ordered. "My authorization...Janeway Gamma Rho Lamda Seven." She stared right at Harry. "Misters Kim and Ayala. Please attend your duties in Engineering."

The angry match the Captain thought she smothered earlier re-ignited with a flinty spark when the two men regarded each other rather than obey. She could almost see the thoughts of mutiny cross their faces. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chakotay tip his head slightly before being nicked by the cleaver. The two men walked slowly off the bridge.

Captain Janeway turned icy eyes on Neelix. "Mister Neelix," she said calmly. "Why are you doing this?"

His bushy eyebrows rose and his beady eyes sparkled. "Why don't you ask Commander Chakotay?"

Janeway was disarmed briefly by the sneer. She had never encountered such a cynical tone from the lone Talaxian on board. It was the very anti-thesis of Talaxian culture.

"All right." Captain Janeway took a second forward. "Commander? Do you know why Mister Neelix is so clearly agitated?"

She watched the Commander closely. He was like a study in multiple personalities and this event was no exception. Janeway identified casual indifference, as if the little Talaxian was no threat. "Neelix believes I have...taken advantage of Ensign Wildman."

Janeway's suspicions were raised by his careful use of words. From his eyes darting left, rather right, and his lip-licking, Janeway's behavioral training said Commander Chakotay was lying. "Mister Neelix, is that a fair summary?"

"No," he replied curtly. "I don't believe that. I know it!" He jabbed the cleaver tip into the commander's muscled neck. "Why don't you tell her the news, Commander?"

Janeway turned her attention from the shaking spotted hand to the Mayan. His features were contorted now by pain into a semblance of unmitigated fury. "What news?"

"Samantha is pregnant," he said through tight lips pulled painfully across his teeth.

Janeway allowed this startling revelation to wash over her. Ensign Wildman was the mother of one already, by her Ktarian husband, who remained in the Alpha Quadrant. Naomi, her daughter, was born during Voyager's first year of exile.

There was no way to soften the implications of the next question. No matter how she asked it, the woman would be perceived in a bad light. It was the cultural underpinnings of Janeway's own Terran heritage where the mere implication of asking who the father was implied the woman was a whore. Again, Janeway felt her anger flare at the injustice of language. Men could not defined as whores, nymphomaniacs or spinsters.

Janeway cleared her throat, wondering briefly why she couldn't control her thoughts lately. "I did not know that," she said quietly. "But I'm a little confused about—"

Neelix needled Chakotay again with the cleaver. "Tell her all of it, Commander." He spat the last word like it was a Haakonian poison.

Chakotay cleared his throat. "Mister Neelix," he said. "Don't you think you should leave Sam the dignity of making her own—?" Chakotay moaned slightly. A rivulet of red blood scurried down his neck to stain his Starfleet undershirt. "Easy, Neelix."

"Easy? How dare you! How dare you say that to me when you've just damaged Samantha's future with your thoughtless, careless screws!"

"Mister Neelix," the Captain chided. "Please. Let us not forget our decorum!"

"Oh, that's right," he sneered again. "Let's all turn a blind eye to the entire crew's mindless fucking. If we call it something less offensive—like 'little indiscretions'—then they don't really count as obscene, do they?"

Janeway had heard the rumors, of course. Harry Kim was rumored to be bedding not one, but both Delaney sisters. Ric Ayala was bedding Crewman Dorado and Jarvis. As she quickly considered the rumors in context, she realized that the wider implications would have to be managed sooner rather than later. Then she wondered if that was the reason the Doctor had summoned her again to sick bay.

She shoved these disconcerting thoughts behind her. "Mister Neelix," she said quietly again. Janeway took one more step closer. "I know how fond you are of Samantha Wildman."

"Fond?" Neelix twisted his lips. "I love her, Captain! But she chooses him? And what has he done? She's pregnant with his child. Just like Ensign Gilmore and Lieutenant Fernandez. And those are the ones I know about."

The Captain turned wide eyes on the Commander. He'd always been an honorable man, taking great pride in the Mayan traditions of family. But this was a disgusting display of Cro-Magnon macho bullshit. And when she thought of Chakotay chasing Seven, Janeway thought she would spontaneously combust from the sheer fury. And the jealousy!

The Captain knew she had failed to hide the fury when—despite the point in his neck—he turned a fraction to wonder at her reaction.

With consummate poise, Captain Janeway tugged her tunic down. "Neelix," she said, tipping her head. "Hurting Commander Chakotay will not bring you what you want."

Neelix laughed scornfully. It was such a shockingly uncharacteristic sound for the gentle Talaxian it made Janeway's stomach lurch.

"What do you know about what I want?"

She smiled sadly. "Because you want what we all want. You want to love someone. To be loved in return. But hurting Chakotay will only alienate Sam from your affections, Neelix."

The mention of the blonde beauty nearly melted Neelix on the spot. His hand began to shake violently and he dropped the cleaver. In that instant, Chakotay bolted upright. His meaty fist pounded Neelix's cheek, sending the little alien across the bridge to land on the floor with a whirling twist.

"Stand down, Commander!" the Captain ordered.

Before Chakotay could follow through on a kick of the Talaxian, Commander Tuvok's phaser stabbed his back. "That is inadvisable, Commander Chakotay."

Chakotay shook his right hand out. "He's probably had enough," he growled.

Janeway stepped up to him, blasting him with an angry glare. "You are relieved, Commander!"

"I'm not relieved," he replied. "But Neelix should be." The man then tipped the Talaxian with the point of his boot.

"One more move and I will throw you in the brig myself, mister!" Janeway hissed.

He smirked at her. It was one she'd never seen, not until a few days ago. Now it was a customary mask for him. "Permission to retire to my quarters?"

"Get out!" she said with a sharp edge. "But this isn't over for you."

He rolled his head and cracked his shoulders as he strolled leisurely off the bridge.

Janeway touched her combadge. "Janeway to sick bay!"

"Doctors here!" The words were spoken in stereo by the two competing holograms.

"Doctor, Mister Neelix needs medical attention. I'm enabling a site-to-site emergency transport. Prepare for him."

"Aye, Captain," came the stereo reply.

=/\=

Kathryn glanced at the chronometer as she walked into sickbay. Her stomach growled and she took a long sip of coffee. It was nearly time for a planned "accidental" lunch with Seven in the Mess hall. But she'd wanted to check on Neelix.

Sickbay was already close to being fully operational. All of the biobeds had been restored, even after the increase in patients spiked over the last week. The black streaks of phaser fire were scrubbed clean and the wires were all safely stashed behind washed bulkheads and replaced panels. It was almost pristine, except for the small scratches, the occasional dings and the discoloration that comes with age.

Neelix was lying on a biobed at the far end. The two holographic doctors loomed over the quiet Talaxian.

"How are you feeling, Mister Neelix?" the Captain asked, sidling up to the one she thought of as her Doctor.

The Talaxian looked up forlornly and sighed. "You should have let him kill me, Captain."

"Gentlemen," she said, trying to get the Doctors attention. "May I have a word privately with Neelix?"

When they were alone, Janeway placed her hand on Neelix' shoulder, leaning into it. She knew Talaxians could display extreme emotions, but she'd never seen it in Neelix. "How did you find out about Sam and Chakotay?"

The man blinked his wet eyes furiously, as he stared up at the ceiling. "I walked in on them this morning, Captain," he whispered. "I knew Sam wasn't feeling well so I decided to bring her breakfast, after Naomi was off at school. I let myself in...." Neelix looked at the Captain abruptly. "I've never taken advantage of Samantha. I would never presume...." His eyes tore back upward. "But that doesn't mean I hadn't thought about...making love to her. She's such a sweet, sweet soul."

Janeway squeezed his shoulder. "So you saw the two—?"

"Oh, yes," he said. "Naked as two Talaxian Fritter monkeys. That's when I started to add things up. She'd asked me to watch Naomi a lot more than usual...which I didn't mind! She was vomiting at all hours and she was...giddy...when the Commander was even in the same room." Neelix shrugged, as he started to rub the backs of his hairy hands. "Kes was my life. When she left, I thought I would vanish into nothingness. But Samantha was just so easy to be around. She was my new best friend."

"Oh, Neelix, I'm sorry this has all happened."

"I know why she didn't tell me," he said pensively.

"Why?"

"Because everyone knows about the string of women he keeps. The man's a—"

"Neelix, I know it's hard to imagine, but you'll survive this, too." She needed her mind clear of gossip so she could get down to the facts.

"I don't want to survive, Captain."

"Do you know how disheartening it is to hear that the ship's Morale Officer has lost his own morale?" She gave a patented crooked Janeway grin, one he found hard to resist, though Neelix tried.

"That would be bad, wouldn't it?"

"Like a chef without taste buds."

"Or a Talaxian without hope."

Janeway smiled faintly. "Just remember, Neelix, that we do not stand alone. We are in the arms of family." Even as the words left her lips, she could almost feel Seven's arms around her waist, Seven's lips on hers. She could feel Dani's arms around her neck, her loud laughter in her ear. Suddenly a need so primal gripped her and she had to see Seven of Nine and their child.

"The traditional Prixin greeting," Neelix said. "My favorite holiday to celebrate family. Thank you, Captain."

"Even the Morale Officer needs a morale boost once in a while." She patted his arm. "You'll take care of yourself then?"

"How can I not? I forgot I have more than 500 family members aboard."

"That's the spirit!" she said, patting his shoulder.

Captain Janeway strode past the two doctors conversing. She noted quickly their discussion displayed a semblance of civility that was lacking in most other interactions on board lately. As she swooshed by, the Captain heard one of the Doctors call to her.

Without turning, she waved over her shoulder. "I'll be by later. We can talk then."

"But Captain!" came the reply. "I have some disturbing results."

Janeway pivoted at the door, watching one of the identical EMH's urgently waving a padd at her. "One more hour won't make any meaningful difference, Doctor."

Despite the indignant arch of four identical brows, she marched to the exit. "I need some with you, as well. But later."

"What choice do we have?"

=/\=

Chief Engineer B'Elanna Torres shoveled another spoonful of potato salad while she used a chicken drumstick to point at Captain Janeway who just stepped into the Mess Hall.

"There she is," she said, around a mouthful. "Look at her, Tom."

Her husband, Lt. Tom Paris looked up from his chicken noodle soup to eye her. "Yeah, so?"

"So? Can't you see it?"

They both watched as Janeway methodically searched the room, beginning with the line of people waiting for the food replicators that had gone online unexpectedly because Neelix was in sickbay.

"She's looking for someone."

"Of course, she is. Who wants to sit alone?"

B'Elanna shook her head. "That's not what I mean." She took another bit of the chicken, slowly chewing it while she watched Captain Janeway walk casually over to the table occupied by Seven of Nine.

Tom looked up, the spoon poised to his mouth. "She was looking for her daughter."

"Does the Captain look like she's gained weight?"

Tom gave her a reproving look. "You don't think I'm really that stupid, do you?"

B'Elanna glanced back at him, the drumstick slipping down. "Her cheeks are...puffy, as is her middle. But that's the thing. She never eats. She just drinks coffee."

"You know, now that you mention it, the Captain looks...exactly as she always did. That's my official opinion as a man and I'm sticking to it. So help me God."

B'Elanna frowned, as if that were a minor point. "But it's more than that...." She spoke louder, trying to drown out her husband's unwanted commentary. "I don't think I've ever seen her look happy. I mean, really, truly happy."

"It's the tan," he said with a mouthful of soup.

"Another thing, have you ever noticed that she and Seven never speak to each other?"

"Sure they do," he said, glancing down at a crossword puzzle he was working on. "In senior staff meetings all the time."

"No, I don't mean that. I mean, when they're out and about."

Tom looked up with a pained expression. "Didn't you just comment about how odd it is for the Captain to sit with Seven?"

"Yes, but—"

"I think you are reading too much into things."

"Like Chakotay?"

"Oh, no. He's definitely up to something." Tom took his wife's hand, kissing her knuckles. "But he'll have to get through me before he even thinks about hurting you."

"Hmm," she said quietly. She leaned over and kissed his lips. "I think your color looks better today."

"You're just saying that because you want to get laid."

"Maybe."

=/\=

Seven of Nine waited quietly in the corner. They had only been aboard Voyager for nearly a week and she was beginning to feel the same stirrings of loneliness she felt when she was first severed from the Borg. Like the myriad of voices in her head, Seven had grown accustomed to Kathryn's nearness, not just physical but emotional. To make matters worse, the loneliness was interfering with her efficiency in her ship duties. That was intolerable.

Seven felt her heart flutter when she saw Captain Janeway sweep into the room. It was a disconcerting sensation because she knew empirically that her heart rate remained unchanged. From her vast research—more than fifty gigaquads of data—culled from twenty- and twenty-first century romance novels, Seven identified her feelings as love and desire. What confused her was the swirling tinge of lust accompanying each and every casual encounter with Kathryn during their duty shifts. Was lust not a masculine trait? Was it a prelude to jealousy? Could lust and love coexist?

The questions vanished as she watched Kathryn wave to a few crewmembers on her way to the table. The Captain looked tired, Seven noted, as the woman sat down across from her, setting her mug down purposefully.

"Hello, Seven." Her tone was professional, but Seven caught the gleam in her eye that belied more. "Where is our firstborn?"

Seven nodded in the direction of the replicator. "Eridani retrieves dessert."

Janeway shook her head, as she laughed softly. "I should have known!" She looked down at the plate before her. "Thank you for taking care of me—"

"Thanks are not required," Seven replied. "I am rewarded in other ways."

Janeway offered Seven a rakish grin. Seven felt herself blanch.

"I believe I have misspoken, Captain."

"Just watch it, Seven of Nine." Kathryn leaned forward, pointing a fork at her lover. "I don't want to have to debrief you over the entire matter."

Seven looked around and then back. "I will not resist your authority."

"I'll bet," she whispered.

Seven saw the light drain from the Captain's eyes. "Are you damaged?"

She looked down and cut herself a piece of meat. Without looking up, she answered Seven in a quiet voice. "I just witnessed Tom take B'Elanna's hand and kiss her." She took a deep breath. "Right here in the crowded Mess hall."

Seven shifted in her chair. "This disturbs you because it is a violation of Starfleet regulations."

Janeway looked up, her fork poised mid-air. "If it is, then I want to violate some regulations also."

"May I assume you would flagrantly disobey regulations for—?"

"For you, Andy." Janeway's whisper was audible only to Seven's Borg-enhanced hearing.

"That could be easily remedied, Captain. Shall I sit in your lap?"

Janeway slowly raised her eyes. Seven noted they were stony. She felt irritated at the situation as well, especially since it could be so easily rectified. "You may announce our—"

"Don't say it! Please...!" Janeway closed her eyes. "I don't want to fight. Not after what we just did an hour ago. Not when we have so little time together." Janeway looked at her lover. "You promised me you'd be patient."

Seven knew this disagreement to be a large black hole and she felt powerless. Janeway loved Voyager more than anything and no amount of data would alter that. "You are correct," Seven finally conceded flatly.

"I am?"

Seven lifted her chin a millimeter. "The practice of patience will serve me well."

Janeway couldn't suppress a crooked grin, though Seven could tell she tried. "I'm just a little surprised you would comply so easily. The Borg are not usually known for their patience."

"In normal circumstances, the Borg take what they want. I now have what I want." She wanted to say more, so much more but this was not the correct time index for such indulgences. Before Janeway could respond, Seven added: "Your daughter approaches."

Dani set down a plate covered in chocolate and sweets.

"Hi Cap!" Dani didn't bother to pull out her chair. Instead she wedged herself in, one leg halfway off the side. She made short order of cutting a piece of chocolate cake that she now held centimeters from her mouth.

"Did you leave any sweets for anyone else?"

"I love replicators." Dani's mouthful of chocolate was evident. "But don't tell you Geegee."

"I believe," Seven said. "Your Grandmother Gretchen would be alarmed not only by this admission but your appalling table manners."

"Huh?"

"Eridani." Seven sighed, as if summoning a well of patience. "Please do not speak when you are masticating biomatter."

Janeway hid her grin behind her cup when Dani sighed heavily in return. "So, Dani, what did you do this morning?"

Dani held up her hand as she took a long pull of milk before taking another bite of food. "We went to the zoo," she said without any enthusiasm.

"The zoo?" Janeway's face lit up, looking to Andy for elaboration.

"Ensign Zayra Cabot arranged to take the children to the zoo, a program written by Lt. Paris."

"Ensign Cabot?"

"Yes, she is currently assigned to the Operations Division as a technician. But I am uncertain why she volunteered as an instructor today when Ensign Wildman would have been a more suitable choice as an xenobiologist."

"Perhaps Ensign Cabot needed a break from ablative hull repairs." Janeway watched Dani polish off the rest of her dessert. "Did you enjoy your day, sweetheart?"

Dani swallowed hard and looked at Kathryn. "The holodeck isn't real, Cappie."

"C'mon on!" Janeway swung an arm to pat her daughter's shoulder. "Wasn't there just one thing you liked?"

Dani smiled at her mother's expectant grin. "Mezoti fell into the gorilla pit."

"What?!" cried both mothers. They both sat rigid in their chairs as if hearing their own personal red alert.

"Were the safety protocols engaged?" Cappie asked.

"Um, Mezoti can take care of herself, Cap." Seven heard the unspoken censure, namely that Captain Janeway and her Borg mother—of all others—should understand what a Borg child is capable of.

"How did she do that, exactly?" Janeway asked.

Dani stared at Janeway's uneaten lunch. "Hey Cap? Can I have the rest of your meatloaf?"

Both mothers blinked at her empty plate.

"Well? Can I?"

Janeway pushed her half eaten lunch toward her daughter, carefully avoiding Seven's disapproving look.

"You must have had quite a day to be so hungry."

Dani used her fork to cut the meat.

"Do continue about Mezoti."

Dani halted her hand in mid-cut and sniffed at Janeway. Seven recognized the pattern between the two, but Janeway always seemed to get caught off guard by it.

Dani resumed cutting her meat as she spoke. "She changed her arm into a buzz saw. It was really cool."

"She didn't...she didn't kill it?" Janeway asked with a hard swallow. "Did she?"

Dani frowned. "No, Ensign Cabot deleted the gorilla."

"Good thinking." Janeway finally sat back against the chair.

Dani shrugged as she smothered a piece of meat with mashed potatoes. A faint smile touched her lips as she stuffed it into her mouth.

Seven tapped the table. "Did you assimilate any knowledge, Eridani?"

Dani nodded. "I think I'm going to miss Spiro way-lots more than I thought."

"Why is that?"

"Because he always had a good idea."

Janeway laughed softly. "Yes, I remember his good ideas. I don't believe dropping ice chips on people from the roof was fun for anyone." Janeway leaned across the table to tap Dani's arm lightheartedly. "Least of all you."

"Whoever did that never got caught because the evidence melted." Dani narrowed her eyes at Janeway in challenge.

Seven watched as Kathryn studied the girl for a moment before finally smiling. She was relieved that her lover would not pursue a confrontation today.

Kathryn took a swallow of coffee. "You're absolutely right, Dani. I'm sorry I suggested you and Spiro were behind it."

Dani relaxed and smiled again at Cappie. "Anyway, that's what I learned. That I'll miss my best-est friend ever."

"Have you made friends among the other Borg children or Naomi?"

The smile vanished as quickly as it came. "They don't like me." The whisper was so small, her parents had to lean in to hear it.

"What is your hypothesis based on?" her Borg mother asked.

Dani shrugged. "They don't ever want to do the same things I do."

Before her mothers could continue the interrogation, a girl with long sandy brown hair and spikes along the center of her forehead came to stand next to their table. She looked at each of them in turn.

Seven offered her customary greeting of saying the girl's full name.

"Hi Seven. Captain Janeway."

"Good afternoon, Miss Wildman."

Seven pulled out a chair beside her. "Would you care to join us?"

Naomi nodded once and sat down across from Dani. "I ate already, but yes, I'd like that." She tipped her head and looked straight at Dani. "Hello, Eridani."

The corners of Dani's mouth pulled back in a pained smile. "Hi." Her answer was Borg-like in her lack of emotions. Dani took another bite of meatloaf.

Janeway leaned back, took a gulp of coffee and then grimaced. She lifted her eyes to see an amused Seven quirking a brow. "My coffee's cold now."

"Indeed," Seven said. "Has the Doctor recommended a reduction in your intake of caffeine?"

Janeway opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Naomi filled the gap. "My mom had to stop drinking coffee when she was having me. My heart had eight chambers and the caffeine made it beat too fast." Then she looked at the Captain. "But she won't have to with the new baby because he's more human than Ktarian."

Dani perked up. "Why isn't he half Ktarian like you?"

"My mom said genetics are just probabilities really."

Dani stared at the girl for a moment, her brows knitted together. "I thought your dad wasn't on Voyager."

"Oh, he's not. I've never met him."

Dani closed an eye, as she regarded the girl from the sideways in an expression of growing confusion. "So then how—?"

"Oh," Naomi said with a matter-of-fact wave of the hand. "Mom said she banked my father's sperm—"

"Stop!" Janeway said, ducking her head at her own volume. Then she whispered: "I think this discussion is a little out of bounds, girls."

"Why?" Naomi asked.

Janeway blinked for a second. Involuntarily, her eyes skidded over to Seven's. Seven noticed Janeway usually had difficulty balancing being the Captain with being a parent. It had not been a problem on Gweelee when she did not have to choose roles.

Seven leaned forward to speak to the girls. "Because sexual reproduction is a personal matter."

"Yes, exactly," Janeway agreed. "A very personal matter."

"Is that why I can't tell anyone about—?"

"Yes!" Janeway hissed. "That's exactly why."

"You have promised, Eridani," Seven said with a raise of a human brow and a Borg implant.

Dani scowled and sat back away from the table.

"Naomi," Janeway said, leaning back again after giving Dani a reprimanding look. "I understand you had quite the excursion at the zoo."

"It was okay," she agreed. "But Eridani is correct."

"Can you call me Dani?" the strawberry blonde asked with frown.

"Seven calls you Eridani."

"Seven's my mother. You're not."

"Dani sounds like a boy's name."

Dani's mouth drew into a line. "Well, Naomi sounds like a...a...a pus hog's name!"

"Dani!" both her mothers shrieked.

Naomi opened her mouth and her eyes became watery. "I think I should go." She wiped both eyes with the back of her hand as she darted away.

"Eridani." Seven's voice was deep. "That was inappropriate and hurtful."

Seven did not understand how Dani's mouth could part as if in open shock about the deserved censure.

"And rude," Janeway added.

Dani gestured with an open hand to the empty seat. "But...but...she started it! You heard her!"

"Regardless," Janeway added, shaking her head. "Tonight you will offer her an apology."

"Why isn't saying my name belongs to boy's rude and hurtful, too?"

"Your remark was malicious," Seven explained.

Dani sunk into her chair, crossed her arms and glowered at both mothers. "So was hers," she muttered, using her thumb to push the plate away. "I'm done."

Janeway put a warm hand on her daughter's arm. "Hold on, Dani," she said. "I think we need to talk about something else."

"Now what?"

"I am ordering you not to talk about the baby."

Dani's face contorted to rage, taking the Captain by surprise. "I will comply, Captain Janeway." She stood up so fast the chair almost tipped back, but she caught it with her fingertips. "May I be excused?"

Seven tipped her entire body slightly to look at the chair. "It is customary to ask permission before one rises from the table, not after."

Dani lets out an exasperated huff and threw herself into the chair. "May I please be excused now?"

Seven nods once, a satisfied expression on her face. "Very well," she said. "After you have kissed us, you may leave."

Dani pinched her face. "I don't...." The words evaporated from her lips, as she saw her Borg mother raise her ocular implant a millimeter in disapproval. She stood up. "Okay." She offered Seven the customary kiss on the lips and then hesitated with Captain Janeway.

The Captain curled an arm around the girl's waist. "What's the matter? Getting too big to kiss your Cappie?"

Dani leaned down and pecked her mother's lips as quickly as she could. But Janeway didn't release her. Instead, she took her daughter's hand and raised it to her lips. After she kissed it, Kathryn said: "I love you, Dani."

The Captain smiled crookedly when Dani's face softened.

"Me, too," she mumbled.

As the couple watched their daughter exit hastily from the Mess, Kathryn switches seats to come along side Seven. "Sometimes I don't understand her reactions."

"She is quite illogical," Seven replied. "Both the Doctor and Tuvok have indicated that is the customary state of eight-year-old females."

"I think there's an insult for every women in that comment."

"Yet it is accurate. But I do not believe it is the sole reason for Eridani's petulance." She hoped that Janeway would inquiry of her own free will about their daughter's mood swings.

Seven hid her disappointment when Janeway stood up. "I'm going to get more coffee. Would you like something else?"

"What I would like and what I may have are differential, Captain Janeway."

It damaged Seven to see the pain flare in her lover's eyes. Unfortunately, that was the only stimulus that some had time to answer.

"Look, Seven," Janeway whispered. "There's a lot going on right now. But I shouldn't have to tell you this."

"Eridani is experiencing a great deal of difficulty in her transition on the ship. I should not be required to inform you of this."

Janeway looked up, turning after Seven stood to meet her. "I know that, Seven. I really do. I'm doing the best I can to juggle it all right now."

"I am able to assist you. But you must accept it."

Janeway's gaze softened. "I know." She took a half step, but stopped. Without turning back, Janeway added: "It always comes back to our first and only argument. Doesn't it?"

"I am now aware that I will require more than patience during our transition." When Janeway glanced back, Seven added: "Serenity and compassion."

"What about trust?"

"That is implicit."

Janeway lowered her head and breathed in deeply. "Thank you, Seven. I'll see you later."