They walked alongside the river together, since it was the easiest path to take.
"Was there anything in particular you wanted to talk about, Kathryn?" Seven asked as they walked.
"Not really. I just wanted to walk."
Seven nodded and they continued in silence for a while. For the first time Kathryn noticed the Borg implant on Seven's left ankle. She had been so distracted by how amazing the former drone looked she hadn't noticed how many implants she had that were not usually visible. Now she was curious.
"I'm curious, Seven, if you don't mind me asking..."
"You may ask me anything, Cap-Kathryn," she said, glancing at the shorter woman.
"How many Borg implants do you have left?"
"The two on my face, my shoulder, my hand, the abdominal implant which circles around to one on my lower back, my hip, and my ankle. Those are the only visible implants. My body still contains a significant amount of Borg hardware that can in all probability never be removed. Why?"
"I was just curious. I'm seeing...more of you than I'm used to seeing and I was wondering if there were any I hadn't seen," she replied, blushing. "It was inappropriate, Seven, I'm sorry."
"I did not find your question inappropriate, Kathryn. May I ask you one?"
"Of course, Seven."
"How many freckles do you have?"
The question came as such a surprise that Kathryn laughed.
"Alot I suppose," she answered. "I've never counted them."
"You have 36 freckles on your face," Seven informed her.
"You've counted my freckles?"she asked, cocking her head slightly.
"I possess an eidetic memory," Seven replied, a faint blush coming to her face. "And I...like your freckles."
"Oh no, they're awful," Kathryn said, laughing. "Every time I'm out in the sun I get new ones. They're hideous."
"On the contrary. I think they make you even more beautiful," Seven said, then quickly looked away from her.
"...Thank you, Seven," Kathryn said, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. Seven looked at her and they shared a silent smile. This time she did not let go and they continued walking.
Seven let go of her hand unexpectedly and stopped to pick a red flower. Kathryn was treated to the sight of the pink panties again as the Borg leaned over and the shirt rode up.
How can pink cotton panties look so sexy? Kathryn wondered. It's not as if it's a lace thong...or a g-string!
She was imagining Seven in a g-string when the blonde stood and approached her. Kathryn's breath caught as Seven touched her face gently, placing the flower in Kathryn's damp hair, then gazed
at her intently.
"It is not good for you to stop breathing, Kathryn," Seven murmured, not moving her hand from the captain's face.
Kathryn inhaled. Seven was so close she could smell her clean, slightly metallic scent. She exhaled.
"Did you stop breathing because you thought I might kiss you?" Seven asked softly, stroking Kathryn's cheek with her thumb.
"Y-yes," she admitted, face burning beneath her touch.
"Did you want me to kiss you?"
Kathryn did not answer. She just stared into those sapphire eyes, heart pounding in her chest, trying to remember to breathe.
"I was counting your freckles; you now have 42 freckles on your face, Kathryn," Seven stated, then she kissed her.
It was a searing kiss that sent fire through her veins. It took everything she had not to push her to the ground and ravish her. When Seven pulled away, Kathryn felt dizzy. She had never been so turned on from one kiss before.
"You ceased breathing again," Seven stated.
"Oh," was all Kathryn could say.
Then Seven kissed her again and she couldn't form a coherent thought as she felt the blonde pressing her back against a tree. When she felt Seven's hands beneath her tank top she knew she needed to stop things.
"S-Seven stop," she gasped, catching the blonde's wrists. "I have...to think...and I can't think while you kiss me."
"If you think about it you will tell me to stop, Kathryn, and I do not wish to stop," she replied softly, her blue eyes pleading.
"I don't want you to stop either, Seven...I ache to have you touch me but there are so many reasons-"
"It is not against Starfleet regulations, Kathryn. I have checked. Thoroughly."
"Not officially, no, but-"
"And you have broken several regulations in the past when there was a good reason to do so. Am I not a good enough reason, Kathryn? Is...is love not a good enough reason?"
"Oh Seven," Kathryn whispered, feeling tears threaten. "You can't be sure that you love me. You're so young, inexperienced-"
"I understand the difference between love and a crush, Kathryn. What I had with Axum was a crush. What I feel for you is," Seven paused a moment and inhaled. "Very different and sort of terrifying. So many emotions...and I think of you constantly. When I regenerate, I close my eyes and focus on the sound of your heartbeat, wherever you are on Voyager. I find it soothing. And I am aware that you visit me during my regeneration cycle because your heart beats faster when you visit me. At first, I thought you were afraid of me. But you are not afraid of me, are you?"
"No," Kathryn whispered back. "I'm not afraid of you... I love you. I have loved you for a long time now. Seven."
"Is love not a good enough reason, Kathryn?"
"It is the best reason," she said, kissing the blonde.
She heard Seven make a pleased sound and moan but Kathryn kept the kiss from becoming too heavy.
"Not here, okay?" Kathryn said. "Let's go back to camp. We should talk and eat something."
"I do not wish to talk. If we talk about it you will say we cannot be together."
"I am not saying no, Seven," she said, smiling and giving her a quick kiss. Then she took the blonde's hand and led her back to their camp.