"Kathryn? What are you doing here?" Chakotay asked in surprise as he registered his former commanding officer standing in his doorway, looking pale faced and anxious. He couldn't help but share a brief questioning glance with Seven as his own apprehensions began to take root, but quickly felt bad about their unwelcoming stance, "Not that we're not glad to see you…"

Janeway gave him a wan but understanding smile in response. "I know, don't worry about it." She gulped hard in an attempt to swallow her guilt as she looked at the couple, they looked so happy. The vacation in the sun and fresh air, something Seven, who'd spent the vast majority of her life in the artificial environments indicative of space travel, had never experienced had left them both with a healthy glow, although Janeway wasn't sure how much of that could be attributed to climate and how much to love and happiness. She suspected the latter, standing there in front of her with their hands comfortably laced, they were more secure and content than she had ever witnessed either to be. She released a pained, heavy, sigh. She felt like a cat Starfleet was throwing at a pair of nesting lovebirds. "It's complicated, can we talk?"

"Of course." Seven agreed firmly, hurriedly moving to the door to dial in the access code and politely motioning for the Admiral to go in first as she helped Chakotay with their suitcases.

"Thanks." Janeway replied warmly, grateful for Seven's careful manners, she wasn't prepared for a barrage of questions quite yet. "How was your honeymoon?" she asked to fill the silence as they finally all stood in the open plan kitchen and living room. She could still see their wedding presents, piled neatly in a corner when they'd run out of space in the bedroom; after all, all of their Voyager crewmates had felt obliged to treat them. "As good as the wedding I hope?"

Chakotay smiled involuntarily at the memory despite the somewhat sombre atmosphere and shot his new wife an indulgent look, "It was perfect."

The laugh that left Janeway's lips when she saw Seven blush in response to that acted as a much needed release value on her tension. "He took the words right out of your mouth, didn't he Seven?" she remarked knowingly.

Seven's lips twisted upwards wryly, "Yes indeed." She admitted before heading for the kitchen. "Coffee I presume Admiral?"

Janeway just smirked at her in reply and Chakotay took the chance to gently probe her, "So, what brings you here? It can't be just to ask us about our honeymoon…" He teased good-naturedly.

"Well…" Janeway began slowly, taking the comm. badge pinned to her crumpled uniform in one hand and toying with it nervously until it was nearly pulled free from the fabric, "I've never been to Puerto Rico and I'm thinking of travelling around this beautiful planet of ours after taking so long to get back to it…"

Chakotay recognised her nervous tic instantly, he'd seen it leading up to every decision and argument with her over seven years, and felt a familiar irritation flood him as he set his jaw in preparation to draw whatever it was out of her. "Kathryn…"

Seven was characteristically blunt as her husband's gradual approach didn't work. "What's wrong Admiral?" she asked exasperatedly.

"It's not "wrong" exactly…" The Admiral started, pausing to sigh tiredly which Seven took as a signal to press the hot mug of coffee into her hands. Janeway accepted gratefully, cradling the mug close and taking a long, fortifying sip of the strong, tart liquid before meeting her friends' worried eyes. "Starfleet has offered you an off-world post Chakotay."

"An...An off-world post?" Chakotay echoed, trying to restrain his disbelief as he saw Seven pale beside him. Kathryn nodded sombrely in confirmation, something that made his suspicions spark. All of the Maquis, heck, all of San Francisco, knew the famous Admiral Janeway had been trying to rehabilitate her crewmembers as Starfleet officers. She should be delighted! "Why exactly are they offering me this now? I've been here for six months…"

The Admiral heaved a sigh, able to hear the frustration building in her friend's voice. "The post just came up; it's described as a "delicate" situation by those who debriefed me…" She stopped as she saw Chakotay's face darken, "Look, to be honest with you I argued about you even being offered this, it's not just "delicate", it will not doubt be volatile and difficult, maybe even impossible…"

"Where is the posting exactly Admiral?" Seven asked quietly, her tone deceptively level but her blue eyes troubled.

Janeway's teeth gritted together as she came to the crux of the matter. "The Demeter system. The base is on Demeter IV but you'd be the Federation consul for that entire system."

Chakotay stared at her blankly, "The Demeter system? I don't know it…"

Seven spoke before the Admiral could open her mouth to explain, her gaze taking on a focused glaze as she sifted through the vast supply of Borg data stored in her brain for relevant information. "Sector 45678.9, Demeter System. 8 planetoids, 7 M Class and 1 L class. Formerly part of the Heraian Empire…"

Chakotay snapped his fingers in realisations. "The Heraians! I remember now, their treaty with the Federation is studied at the Academy as an example of diplomacy."

Seven's brows furrowed curiously, "Oh? I am unaware f that, the Borg only monitored the rise and collapse of their empire, internal politics were deemed irrelevant."

Janeway ran a hand through her auburn hair, "Well, they won't be irrelevant if you take this post, in fact your understanding of them will be pivotal."

Chakotay frowned thoughtfully, "Your contacts…"

Janeway shook her head vigorously, "Oh no, this goes above my meddling. The Humanitarian Council chose you for this."

Chakotay couldn't help but feel flattered by that, but wasn't ready to let his guard down quite yet. "Anyway, you've made them aware that Seven would come with me. That's non-negotiable." He told the Admiral, utterly implacable. A guilt stricken expression shot across Seven's face but Chakotay noticed and squeezed her hand in reassurance.

Janeway smiled at Seven kindly, "Don't worry, I made that very clear on your joint behalf."

Seven's relief was such that she no longer tried to disguise it, her posture visibly relaxing on the sofa beside Chakotay. "I…We appreciate that Admiral." She murmured before her tone became distinctly more businesslike, "If we are to make an informed decision, I think you had better brief us on the situation we'd be entering."

Janeway felt herself relax a little at Seven's wording. It was almost as if they were on Voyager again, preparing for an away mission. "The Demeter System lies between three current borders, those of the Tzenkethi, the Romulans and the Federation." She began to explain, waiting until they nodded before continuing, "But that's only been the case for the past 75 years or so. The Heraian Empire used to cover most of Tzenkethi space as well as the Demeter system…"

"Which was so remote at that time that the Heraians offered a large part of it to Federation citizens to colonise." Chakotay filled in what he knew from his history studies, earning a nod of confirmation from the Admiral.

"Such an arrangement seems to resemble what you told me of 19th Century America when the government requested...pioneers to settle on the under populated prairies." Seven pondered thoughtfully. "Of course, it isn't too close, that migration displaced Native Americans like your people Chakotay, from what I understand the agreement was mutual in the Demeter System."

Janeway saw Chakotay smile proudly at his new wife after this speech and shared the feeling wholeheartedly. When they'd free Seven, she hadn't thought the day would come when Seven would acknowledge history, let alone make such an insightful comment. "Oh no Seven, your comparison is dead on, for the present situation anyway. The colonists came and put down roots and the Heraians were happy too, preparing for Federation membership, but only five years after the treaty the Tzenkethi invaded and practically wiped out the Heraians. Any that are left on the main worlds are practically enslaved to the Tzenkethi or refugees in the Demeter System under the protection of the Federation."

Chakotay snorted, "Pretty flimsy protection no doubt. I remember now that the Federation colonists there, and the Heraians too, wanted to join the Maquis to keep the Tzenkethi out of the Demeter system." His throat clenched as he sighed regretfully, "We ignored them, we were focused on the Cardassians, and the colonies we were worried about, our homes. So much for rebel solidarity…"

"Chakotay…" Seven murmured softly, gently stroking his arm to comfort him as much as she could, "It was, and still remains, a complex and confused situation. You should not blame yourself for that."

Chakotay allowed himself to exhale a breath he'd hadn't been aware of holding. "I know." He assured her, lifting the hand he still clasped in his to his lips briefly in gratitude.

"Seven's right Chakotay, it's not so black and white as the inhabitants being abandoned by either the Maquis or the Federation." The Admiral told him firmly, "Now there are such huge influxes of Heraians to the system, fleeing the Tzenkethi, that racial tensions between them and the colonists are at boiling point. The colonists believe the land granted to their forefathers long ago is being overrun, while the Heraians believe the system is still wholly theirs, especially now that the rest of their space is lost to them."

"So Starfleet is asking us not only to keep the peace with the Tzenkethi but to placate both the colonists and the Heraian refugees." Chakotay concluded seriously, peering at the Admiral intently, "Why did they choose me of all people for this? Surely they realise that I'm not exactly unbiased on colonist issues?"

The Admiral stood up, meeting his gaze honestly. "I think that conflict is precisely why they chose you Chakotay, and why they'd respect your desire to join him Seven. Those people have had enough of Starfleet officers who just repeat the party line so to speak, they need someone who can understand what they're going through." She squeezed Chakotay's shoulder supportively, "I for one think you'd rise to the challenge." She smiled at Seven, "Both of you."

Seven, realising Chakotay was too deep in thought to reply, leaned into him comfortingly as she replied for them, "We'll think it over Admiral."

Janeway nodded in quiet understanding, "That's all anyone can ask of you."

A/n: PLEASE REVIEW! :D This chapter was really hard to write, I hope its okay.