Chapter 2

Seven was able to function naturally as she leaned into her ability to keep things professional. Kathryn was impressively smart and not to Sevens surprise had already studied ahead of where her class was currently. For due diligence, she gave Kathryn the most recent test that only half of her class did well on. After 20 minutes she handed it back with a perfect score.

"You'd be confident taking the midterms with the knowledge you have acquired." It wasn't a question.

A light blush hit her cheeks, she was pleased at the Profs confidence in her. "It is possible that I'd do well, yes."

Seven has only made the unshakable Captain blush one other time in her life. She found it interesting how much easier it was to do now with a simple truth.

There was a pause. Kathryn wanted to spend more time with this beautiful woman, and she had an idea. "Do you need a TA for any of your other classes?"

"No, I don't believe so."

"Oh, that's unfortunate." Kathryn looked off to the side and bit her bottom lip thoughtfully. "You know," she said looking back at Seven with full eyes, "this is one of the last few courses I need to graduate Command school. It would really help me out if I could add being a TA to my 'repertoire' if you will."

"This would help you?" Seven was unsure how.

"Yes of course, I plan on being a Captain one day. Anything extra I could do to prove my leadership abilities would be helpful."

Seven smiled softly, "Being Captain would suit you."

"Thank you," Kathryn smiled back blushing again, "between you and my father that makes two people who think so."

"Your mother doesn't approve?" Seven already knew the answer, but it was wonderful to be talking with Kathryn again.

"No. She can hardly stand it when my father goes off on missions. She worries the whole time. She says I have some nerve testing her mortality with now having two people to worry for." Kathryn chuckled in disbelief, "And that I'll put her into an early grave."

Seven grimaced slightly looking off to the side. Turns out Kathryn's mother wasn't exactly wrong about that.

"Its alright though," she reached out a put a hand on sevens forearm, "she's an actor you know. Drama has always been her thing. That's where my younger sister Phoebe get it's from too."

"Well, I suppose I could find a TA helpful with Introduction to Charting"

"Oh the freshman class, excellent!"

"I'll talk to the Dean about setting you up as a TA."

"Thank you Professor." Kathryn moved her hand down her arm to gently squeeze her hand before letting go. Was Kathryn always this open to touching people? It seemed more frequent somehow.

Until Seven met the young Janeway she wasn't fully aware of the loneliness that was currently consuming her, but now it left something like an ache in her chest. Seven knew she had to keep her guard up around the young Kathryn. They were more than good friends before the time jump. Nothing was defined. It simply was and at the time it worked for them.

Later that evening Seven sighed and finished the last of her wine. Leaning against the kitchen island wondering when Tark was going to calm down.

"-an unnecessary risk and I don't approve!" The comm crackled with his disgruntled voice, "I'm worried you'll struggle to maintain indifference while working that closely! Do not blur the lines between her reality and ours, Seven. It could change the future irrefutably!"

"Tark, nothing was compromised. Look, I know I wasn't your first choice for this, but neither of us really had much of a choice, did we? Now please try and have some faith in my process."

"All right, I might have been overreacting, but this is our last chance at getting this right! We can't afford any mistakes. You wouldn't survive another time jump."

"Actually we could afford 87 different mistakes in this timeline that would be forgivable with the ID dampeners."

"Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

"I find knowing the numbers to be comforting."

Tark sighed, "Do you have any updates in regards to the mission?"

"Yes I have a lead, but you're not going to like it. Admiral Janeway is currently here on a secret mission. And anywhere secret Starfleet missions happen, Mathias is close behind it. Which means..."

"Which means you're going to have to get closer to Kathryn... " Tark sighed.

"Yes.."

"Well, alright then...was it good to see her? I miss her too you know."

"I know and yes it was." Seven smiled

"How was she?"

"Happy and hopeful."

It had been two weeks of having Kathryn as a TA. Between all her classes having exams around the same time, she was glad to have the extra help for her freshmans. It was getting into the evening and they were both sitting in her office. Seven was marking padds and Kathryn was writing notes for improvement.

Kathryn had been watching Seven in her peripherals while making notes and noticed her stillness. Looking up she found the blonde lost in the view outside. Snow was coming down in beautiful large flakes reflecting the streetlights as they contrasted the dark December sky. She seemed far away.

~~

"It's your first winter on Earth, Seven! I insist!"

"Tom informs me that this is the behavior of children. When B'Elanna insisted he do it he refused and carried her inside to watch a holo instead."

"Tom didn't want to get his clothes wet. I swear that man was a cat in a past life." She smirked, "Now, come on Seven. It's all a part of the experience. Do it for me?"

Kathryn grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the snow bank as much as Seven would allow.

"Alright." She conceded. "How exactly does one make a 'snow man'?"

After a brief explanation they got to work each building their own as Seven insisted.

After some time passed Kathryn finished what was a decent looking snowman complete with a hat, carrot nose, eyes and sticks for arms.

"Ta da!" She said as she spun around.

Seven was smiling sitting next to her creation. "It looks great, if your intent was an abstract art style."

"I'll have you know that's how a classic snowman should look... unlike yours.." she was stunned, "Seven what on earth..."

"It's you, do you like it? I preferred to make something more realistic."

"Like it? Its amazing!" She smirked at her teasingly, "Almost perfect."

"Almost?" Seven lightly shoved her back into the snow. She went down laughing.

Seven flopped on her back next to her. "What's not perfect about it?"

Kathryn looked over, "the lips are a bit... poofy." She chuckled, "But other than that its perfection."

"Poofy, huh? Well if I had more time to study them maybe I wouldn't have erred so terribly."

"You can study them now if you'd like..." it was said so quietly for a moment Kathryn wasn't sure Seven heard her. The silence seemed to hang heavy between them. Seconds passed but it felt like hours. She wished she hadn't said it as regret started to grip her, maybe this thing between them wasn't as mutual as she hoped.

Seven stared at her for a couple beats taking in what she understood as the Captain's subtle way of flirting. She knew this was the closest the Captain would come to making a move. Seven thought she was often still too careful with her. She was concerned with her doing something out request or obligation instead of want.

She sat up and swung her leg over her hips effectively straddling her. Kathryn's hands instinctively found her waist inside her open jacket. Matching her smile Seven leaned in closer on one hand while she softly traced a thumb over her bottom lip with the other. Kathryn's intake of breath at her touch made the air feel thick around them. She looked into wanting eyes then closed the distance, kissing her for the first time. Whatever was left of restraint between them fell away. Duty, rank, obligations, and priorities that were implemented on Voyager were no longer a factor. Seven was beginning to understand this feeling of 'home'.

~~

Seven jumped at the touch on her shoulder.

"I'm Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Kathryn pulled back her hand, "I was wondering if you'd like to get out of here? There's an adorable dessert bar across the street."

She was decidedly done with having to grade anything else for the night so she agreed. "Yes, why not? That sounds lovely."

"Oh good!" Kathryn was sure the Professor would refuse.

They made their way across the snow covered street and sat at a booth with menus.

Snow flakes were still resting on Kathryn's eyelashes when she asked. "Would you like to share what's got you so distracted? I'm a great listener. Also your poor lip has been chewed on all night. I'm sure it could use a break." She reached out across the table, resting a hand on Sevens wrist with a disarming smile.

"I suppose I was just remembering an old friend." She smiled back taking note that the younger version of Kathryn was much bolder in her moves than the Kathryn that she knew. Perhaps experience can make one shy away from efforts previously made.

"The holidays are coming up. Do you have any plans?"

"Nothing currently outside of a good book and some wine." Seven knew she had to make herself available for invites as she needed to get closer to the Admiral. Her instinct proved correct.

"Oh, that won't do at all. Tell you what, why don't you come stay with my family and I over Christmas? We are heading back to the farm in Indiana. It'll be a lot of fun"

"What will your parents think of having one of your Professors crash your family holiday?"

"They would be delighted, honestly." Kathryn smiled, "Besides with the amount of my father's colleagues that he invites at Christmas time, your presence would be a delightful change to the stiff collars and dower expressions that usually find their way around our table."

"Well alright, but on one condition. Call me Annabelle out side of the classroom. 'Professor' is too formal between friends."

"Consider it done, Annabelle." Kathryn smiled. She couldn't believe her luck. Getting to spend the holiday with the blonde was going to be one of the highlights of her year.

"Great its settled then. Should I bring your mother some wine for Christmas?"

"Oh, she'd love you for it."

Somewhere in the distance Seven could hear the sound of a holo imager, but she couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Against the bar in a dark corner the bartender noticed a young man in a lowered hat re-set his hollow imager. Singing softly Under his breath

"…trouble is gonna come to you

one of these days and it won't be long

you'll look for me but baby I'll be gone

this is all I gotta say to you woman:

your time is gonna come…"

Authors Note:

I find italicized words hard to read so, my flash backs will start and end with ~~. I hope you are enjoying this as it's my first story I've done.