They heard a soft "plop" when the golf ball hit the water surface and vanished inside the lake. The Doctor shook his head. "It seems I am out of luck."
"Ha! Now you know how it feels to be a puny human!" Irina laughed.
"It's very strenuous. You can't believe how thankful I am to be a hologram."
He put the golf club aside and sighed, looking around on the golf course. "I think we should call it a day."
"Whatever you say, Doc. I have something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh, really? What is it?"
Irina did not answer but instead took his hand. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"
He nodded and followed her, slowly becoming nervous about what it was that she wanted to talk about. After a while, when they had reached the light forest surrounding the golf course, Irina started to speak again:
"Yesterday, when you were with me in my quarters..."
"Yes?" He gulped.
"I think... I think it was good you were there. Maybe this sounds weird but it felt like home to me."
"You don't consider Voyager your home, do you?"
"I did not. Until yesterday. But having you with me reminded me of home so much. Although I am thousands of light years away from earth, for a moment it felt like here was the place belonged. I wish you could be there more often."
"I am sure we can arrange that. I can visit you anytime, as long as there is not too much work to do in sickbay."
"I know, but that's not what I mean. I mean... It would be wonderful if I... if I had someone to come home to."
"You mean..." he began but didn't finish his sentence.
"When I come from work I'd love to find you there... in my quarters." She avoided his gaze as if she was too afraid of his reaction. "I've got a lot of saved replicator rations because I usually eat Neelix' food. I could ask the Captain if she would allow me to install holoemitters in my quarters. Then you could, of course only if you wanted to, join me there anytime."
He stopped and looked at her. "You mean no mobile emitter, no long corridor walks, no gossip about why people saw me walk in and out of your quarters?"
"Exactly."
"You would do that for me? Are you sure? I could show up in your quarters anytime, what about your privacy?"
"I think you have already seen everything of me that could be seen. There's nothing for me to worry about."
The Doctor remained silent for a while, still trying to grasp what Irina had just offered him. He had always dreamed of having his own quarters. Like a real person. Like a full member of the crew. Of course, sharing a quarter with Irina did not mean they were his own. But it was as close as it could get. Not that he minded sharing quarters with her. If he actually had his own, sooner or later this would have been the case anyways. But he would finally have privacy. A place to relax. A place where he was not just the ship's Doctor but a independent individual. He could do whatever he wanted to. Well, almost.
"Are you sure?" he asked again.
"Yes! Why do you keep asking? Do you want me to change my mind?"
"No! Of course not! It's just that... you will share your whole life with me from then on. That will mean a significant change for you. I've told you before how much I wanted my own quarters. But I don't want you to feel obliged to do that."
Irina turned to him and took his hands. "I don't offer you this because I feel obliged. I offer it because I want to. Of course I cannot guarantee that the captain will agree. But I think it's worth trying."
The Doctor studied her for a moment.
"Why are you doing all of this for me?" he whispered.
"Because I love you, is that so hard to believe?"
"I don't know. A few years before I was just some piece of technology and that was how the crew treated me. And today there is someone... you... asking me if I want to share quarters with her. Things have changed so much since I met you."
"I am sorry, I didn't want to rush you."
"No, you didn't rush me. You can't believe how thankful I am for your offer. This is what I've been dreaming of for a long time. I am just not used to this situation."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed and looked at Irina, suddenly way less self-confident than he usually was. "I've never had any long-term relationship. I don't actually know how that works. Or what it means."
"Oh, I see. But I am sure you will learn it quickly." She smiled and took his hands, squeezing them. "And if there is something left unclear, I am glad to be your teacher. I think it will be fun to switch roles for once."
He nodded and just wanted to answer something, when suddenly they heard the doorbell ring through the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling.
"Yes, come in!" Irina shouted.
"Hey you two lovebirds! I'm sorry to interrupt you but your time's up," B'Elanna chuckled as she entered the holodeck wearing a Klingon fighting outfit and carrying a Bat'leth.
Irina let go of the Doctor's hands and smiled. "Don't worry, B'Elanna. We've got an important appointment with the captain anyways."
And with these words the Doctor and Irina left the holodeck, leaving behind a somewhat confused B'Elanna who kept wondering what on earth that appointment might be.
