Seven picked at the food in front of her. She was reluctant to try anything new as so far, she had more failures than successes as far as finding anything both edible and tasty was concerned. B'Elanna had offered to pick something out for her and then diligently enquired what she had already eaten and liked. Seven had expected B'Elanna to select a dish that she was already comfortable with, but instead, B'Elanna had requested something she had never heard of. Seven did not want to try the dish, not because she didn't trust B'Elanna, but she did not want to disappoint her by not liking it.
"Oh suck it up, Seven. If you don't like it, I'll get you a supplement," B'Elanna offered good-naturedly as she ravenously tucked into her own meal.
Seven wondered momentarily if B'Elanna had suddenly developed some telepathic ability, but she resolutely speared a portion of the dinner onto her fork and popped it into her mouth. She hesitantly rolled the morsel round her mouth for a second before beginning to chew. Relief flooded her features as she found that she actually liked what she was eating and she quickly targeted another piece.
"See, food isn't always unpalatable," her dining companion commented sagely.
"This is accept..." Seven stopped herself from using her usual expressions. "This is delicious, Lieutenant. Thank you."
B'Elanna smiled before concentrating on her food again. "You're welcome." They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes before the brunette spoke again. "I didn't realise I was so hungry," she remarked as she surveyed her empty plate.
"Would you like more? I have several hundred rations available," Seven offered instantly.
"No, I'm good. But thanks for that. I may have to con some rations out of you another time," B'Elanna replied, amazing herself with the ease in which they were having a conversation. She looked round the Mess Hall as she waited for Seven to finish eating. The lighting had been muted slightly to indicate the lateness of the hour, and the only other occupant was busily tidying away pots and pans and preparing utensils for breakfast in the morning. "You want to talk about what happened now?" she probed softly.
"I have already told you what happened, Lieutenant," Seven pointed out reasonably.
"Well you've told me the clinical and logical version. How about the bit where you're upset or bemused or even just plain annoyed that what you wanted to happen didn't happen? Or even the bit where you doubt your research? Maybe you might want to talk about how you're thinking maybe the research was right and perhaps it has something to do with you?"
B'Elanna talked softly and without any accusatory tone and Seven was simply astounded by her insight. She concentrated on one of the things the engineer had said. "It must be my fault. My research was not flawed. Commander Chakotay has had several relationships. It is only logical that the problem lies with me."
B'Elanna was amazed at just how insecure the former Borg was. She always carried an air of superiority about her along with a bearing of supreme confidence. But the younger woman's answer did not surprise her. It was typical of Seven to analyse problems clinically and easy for her to take the blame as she had still not escaped her past. B'Elanna was well aware that she was guilty of frequently reminding Seven of that past, probably more than most of the rest of the crew. But she had come to terms with Seven's presence eventually and begun to appreciate the difficulties the ex-drone was dealing with.
It had been when Seven was dying due to her malfunctioning cortical node that B'Elanna truly changed her opinion of the Astrometrics officer. Seven had gone to Engineering and asked B'Elanna to hide her, and the Klingon had done just that. Initially, B'Elanna was surprised that Seven trusted her that much, but during the lengthy conversation they shared, she realised that Seven considered her to be one of the few people on board who treated her as an equal, even when she herself sometimes did not. They had each bared parts of their souls that day, and the result had been a less argumentative workplace. B'Elanna had even found herself spending time with Seven off duty when Tom was busy with his holodeck programs, but that had all changed when she became pregnant.
"It may have something to do with you," B'Elanna stated candidly. "But I think it might have more to do with who you were kissing."
"There is nothing wrong with Commander Chakotay," Seven protested.
"That's a totally different discussion," B'Elanna replied dryly before continuing. "What I meant was, there was no spark' because you weren't kissing the right person."
Seven was intrigued. The concept that she had made a mistake in selection had not occurred to her. "Commander Chakotay met all the parameters I specified when looking for a companion," she protested.
"What?" B'Elanna deliberately kept the frown on her face in an attempt not to laugh. She knew that Seven was feeling sensitive at the moment. It would not be fair to mock her approach. "Seven, I don't know who you've been talking to, or where you've been doing your research, but you can't just enter in a set of requirements and expect to come out with the perfect relationship."
"The Doctor went through the process with me some time ago. I resurrected the programming algorithm he utilised and adjusted it," Seven informed her.
"That would be the one and only date with Lieutenant Chapman?" B'Elanna couldn't help but point out.
"I am well aware of the failure of that attempt. That is why I altered some of the aspects of the program."
"Did it not occur to you that perhaps it was just the wrong way to do this?" B'Elanna's eyebrows rose slightly when she saw the usually composed blonde flush slightly. "What?"
"I find it difficult to socialise with this crew at the best of times, Lieutenant. The only way I could prepare myself to do something like this was to research it fully and then impart my reasons to the intended recipient."
"Well I have to differ with you on the first count, Seven. We're socialising right now, and other than the fact that you keep referring to me as Lieutenant, despite the fact we're both off-duty, you're doing fine."
"That is your designation," Seven pointed out.
"No, it's my rank. My name is B'Elanna, and you're welcome to use it, if you want to."
Seven stared at the chief engineer. The woman had managed to surprise her again this evening. She had fully intended not to talk about what had happened earlier in the evening, but had accompanied B'Elanna to the Mess Hall so that she could eat. Seven did not want her to neglect her health, particularly now she was so well advanced in her pregnancy. The Klingon hybrid had then ordered something edible for her to eat, and teased her into tasting it. Now, without even trying, she had managed to coax her into conversation. Seven was startled when B'Elanna pointed out that she was indeed socialising. She hadn't even recognized that she was doing it. Now, B'Elanna had told her to use her name and not her rank when they were off duty. Given the volatile start to their relationship, Seven realised that they had come a long way. She hid her shock with another question. "What about the second part of my statement?"
B'Elanna returned Seven's gaze. "Well, that's a bit more problematic. I'm also probably not the person to ask."
"You are the only person I am able to socialise with in a relaxed manner, with the possible exception of Naomi Wildman. While she is a child of considerable talent, I do not think that she can provide assistance in this matter. I have no one else to ask," Seven stated matter-of-factly.
"I know that. But I don't exactly have a brilliant track record with relationships either. I've split from my husband, despite carrying his child, and before Voyager," B'Elanna hesitated a fraction. "You don't want to know what happened before Voyager. Let's just say I'm not the poster-girl for long term commitment."
"I thought Klingons mated for life," Seven replied, a small frown creasing her forehead.
"Are you telling me I should still be with Tom?" B'Elanna retorted, suddenly angry.
"No. I was simply pursuing something I read during my research," Seven tried to reassure the older woman.
B'Elanna forced herself to calm down, knowing that Seven was simply making an enquiry. "In general, Klingons do mate for life. They're too proud to admit making a mistake and divorce would be a public declaration of that. But I'm half-Klingon, and more to the point, it would not have been fair on Tom to insist on staying married, especially when I couldn't stand to be around him."
"So your emotions have changed from love to hate," Seven theorised. "This is why I find it so difficult to rationalise relationships," she remarked.
"I don't hate Tom," B'Elanna corrected. "I will always love him too."
Seven raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
B'Elanna laughed slightly; glad to feel the tension seep away from her shoulders. She had not wanted to talk to Seven about this, but for some reason did not feel a fool for speaking with her. "I love Tom but I'm not in love with him. I don't think I ever was. He's a lovely guy when you get to know him. He's loyal and funny and he defended me against a lot of people when I first came on board here. He also wouldn't take no for an answer, and eventually I succumbed to all the flattery."
"Why did you marry him?" Seven asked, genuinely curious. She had yet to see Tom in any other light than an over-confident pilot and reluctant assistant to the EMH, though in fairness, he had offered to be a friend for her when she first came aboard Voyager.
"I thought I was losing him. He spent more time with his personal projects than he did with me, so I became his co-pilot for that stupid race and we got caught up in the moment. I was trying to come up with a way to dissolve the marriage when I fell pregnant, and then my Klingon hormones took over and pretty much aborted the marriage by themselves." B'Elanna grimaced slightly, once again recalling the last argument she and Tom had.
"I do not understand," Seven interrupted the engineer's train of thought. "You state that you love Tom but you are not in love' with him. What is the difference?"
B'Elanna was pleased for the distraction and she grinned evilly. "No spark." She was gratified to see Seven's eyes widen slightly.
"I see. Perhaps I should introduce you to the program I am using. You may be more successful than me." The corners of Seven's mouth twitched very slightly.
"Seven, did you just tease me?" B'Elanna asked incredulously.
"I was merely making a suggestion," the tall blonde replied enigmatically.
"Well, to be honest, it can't be much worse than my way," the raven- haired woman grumbled amiably.
"You have not actually explained your method," Seven pointed out.
"Oh, you know. Talking to people and spending time with them. Finding out how comfortable you feel round them and then spending more time with them. You know; socialising. That thing you're really bad at. That thing that we've just spent the last hour and a half doing," B'Elanna explained.
Seven stared at her plate for a moment before looking back at the engineer. "B'Elanna, would you give me assistance?" she asked hesitantly.
"Assistance? What do you mean?" B'Elanna probed, even as she smiled; it was good to hear the blonde woman actually use her name.
"As you are now fully aware, I find it difficult to be relaxed around other people. But I do not have that problem with you. Would you help me interact with the crew in a social setting?"
"What, act as a go between or tell you what to say, something like that?" B'Elanna asked, trying to clarify the request.
"No, that would not be a true reflection of my personality. Perhaps if other crewmembers saw how we interact together, they might not think I am awkward or unapproachable, and if I know that you are present, I will know that I will have at least one person to have a frank discussion with and not feel so isolated." Seven felt incredibly exposed by revealing her short-comings, but was certain that B'Elanna would not use the knowledge against her.
B'Elanna sat back slightly. "So you want us to go out together so that other members of the crew can get to know you," she surmised, blushing slightly at her choice of words. She looked anxiously at Seven to see if she'd picked up on what she had said, and for some inexplicable reason, the engineer felt a small thrill at the thought of going out with Seven.
"Not exactly. But close enough. Would that be acceptable B'Elanna?" Seven probed. Now that B'Elanna had mentioned going out together, Seven was warming to the idea. She wanted to spend more time with the engineer. She liked this relaxed sensation she was feeling and she was enjoying B'Elanna's company. She wanted those feelings to continue.
"That would be great," B'Elanna grinned. She was delighted to see a genuine smile light Seven's features in response to her answer.