For the Love of a Child

Part Seven

Things had been going well for Seven over the past week. She did not have anymore encounters with Paris and was feeling more comfortable with spending time with B'Elanna. Her pregnancy was also progressing rapidly. The baby would be born within the next week. The only thing stopping the morning sickness that Seven should have been feeling was her nanoprobes.

"When are you going to see the doctor?" B'Elanna asked as she and Seven ate their breakfast.

"I will visit the doctor after breakfast." Seven answered. "He will also be able to take a picture of the baby." Seven said happily. "Will you accompany me?"

"Sure, I don't have to start my shift for another couple of hours anyway." B'Elanna said as she finished her breakfast.

The pair walked down to sick bay, B'Elanna talking about what she had to do during her shift, and Seven listening intently. This was due mostly to the fact that Seven could not return to duty until after the pregnancy.

"Right on time," the doctor said as Seven walked into sickbay. "You know, I think you and Naiomi are the only ones that actually show up for their appointments."

"When I was informed that I would be able to see a picture of the baby I made it a priority." Seven said with a small smile.

"Wonderful." The doctor said. "Why don't you lie down on the bio-bed while I make a scan of the baby?" The doctor asked as he helped Seven to lie down.

"She's perfectly healthy." The Doctor said with a smile as he used the medical scanner to take a picture.

When the image was created the doctor handed one copy to Seven, and the other he kept for the baby's medical files.

B'Elanna peered over Seven's shoulder to look at the baby as well and let out a small gasp. "What's that on her forehead?" she asked.

"Those would be her cranial ridges." The Doctor said.

"But she's only one fourth Klingon. I thought that she wouldn't have any." B'Elanna said.

"Actually your Klingon DNA will always be a dominant feature in any offspring you have. It will be at least eighth generation before it disappears completely." The doctor explained.

"Is there anyway to remove the Klingon DNA?" B'Elanna asked.

"Why would you wish to do that?" Seven asked curiously. "It would change who the baby is?"

"I know what it's like to grow up like that." B'Elanna said with a sigh. "When I was little I never quite fitted in with the Klingon's or the humans. They made fun of me a lot. I just don't want the baby to go through that as well." She explained.

"That will not happen." Seven said adamantly.

"You can't stop it from happening. Children will always make fun of things that are different from them." B'Elanna said as she remembered some of the cruel names she was called growing up.

"It is different on Voyager, no one will 'make fun' of the baby." Seven said.

"I hope you're right Seven." B'Elanna said, still not completely believing Seven.

"Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?" B'Elanna asked. "I was hoping that we could go and get some lunch."

"I would like that." Seven said as the pair made their way to the mess hall.

"Here she comes." Harry thought as he watched Seven walk into the room. "Hey guys, do you want to join me for lunch?" Harry asked as he motioned to his table.

"Sure Harry." B'Elanna said as she led Seven to the table. "Have a seat Seven. I'll go replicate us something." B'Elanna said as she walked to the replicator, leaving Seven alone with Harry for a while.

"So Seven how are you feeling?" Harry asked, trying to get Seven's attention.

"I am well." Seven said as she watched B'Elanna replicate their lunch.

"Do you need any help with the baby?" He asked. "You shouldn't have to do it all by yourself."

"I am not doing it by myself." Seven said. "B'Elanna helps me when ever it is possible."

"Are you doing anything tonight?" Harry asked, remembering that Seven liked it more when people were direct with her.

"I have not made any specific plans." Seven said, not catching on to where Harry was going.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Harry asked hopefully.

"I do not wish to start any kind of personal relationship at this time." Seven said choosing her words carefully. "My main concern is with my child now, everything else is secondary."

"Here you go Seven." B'Elanna said interrupting what Harry was going to say as she put down Seven's tray beside her.

"Thank you B'Elanna." Seven said with a slight smile.

After B'Elanna sat down beside Seven Tom walked into the mess hall with Meagan on his arm.

Tom then walked past B'Elanna hoping that she would notice him with Meagan. After a few minutes B'Elanna still hadn't noticed him so he decided to be a little more direct about it.

Tom purposely bumped into the back of B'Elanna's chair, and when she turned around he pretended to be surprised.

"Oh, B'Elanna I didn't see you there. Well this is kind of awkward isn't it?" He asked as he held onto Meagan's arm.

"What's kind of awkward?" B'Elanna asked, remembering that Meagan had already told her about Tom.

"Well, me getting together with Meagan." Tom said barley able to cover his shock.

"It doesn't bother me Tom. Things just weren't working out between us. I'm glad that you found someone that makes you happy." B'Elanna said eyeing the two of them oddly.

"Well we don't want to keep you from your date." Harry said, trying to get Tom and Meagan to leave.

Harry had accepted the fact that for now he had to deal with B'Elanna being around all the time but if Tom and Meagan sat down as well it would make things a lot harder.

"Yeah, we should get going." Tom said getting the hint.

"I'll see you later." Meagan said as she patted B'Elanna on the back.

"I had always believed that Meagan Delaney was interested in you B'Elanna." Seven said as she took a bite of her lunch.

"What makes you think that Seven?" B'Elanna asked.

"Her pupils dilate and her heart beat increase anytime that she's around you." Seven explained.

"You were able to pick that up just by sitting next to her for a few minutes?" B'Elanna asked impressed.

"It was part of the doctor's lessons on humanity." Seven explained.

"Seven I promise that I won't put any pressure on you." Harry said still not wishing to give up.

"What are you talking about?" B'Elanna asked curiously. "What pressure?"

"Harry Kim has invited me to dinner tonight." Seven stated.

"We can figure out where we stand after the baby is born." Harry coaxed Seven." Think of it as expanding your humanity." He offered.

"I am unsure." Seven said reluctantly. "I do not wish to damage our friendship."

"It's only one date Seven. If things don't work out I promise we'll still be friends."

B'Elanna didn't know why, but at the time she was angry. Harry was asking Seven out right in front of her and it bothered her. The more logical part of her mind pointed out the fact that she had no claim on Seven's personal life and that this was none of her business.

"Then I will accept." Seven decided.

"Great," Harry said enthusiastically. "How about in my quarters at 1900 hours?"

"That will be acceptable." Seven said a little nervously. She hoped that this would go better than her first date.

For the rest of lunch B'Elanna didn't say much of anything and quickly excused herself after she was finished.

"Well I better get back to work as well." Harry said a few moments after B'Elanna had left. "See you tonight." He said as he left the mess hall as well.

After Seven finished her lunch she also left the mess hall and headed for B'Elanna's quarters. She was taking naps even more frequently than before. The baby was going to be born within a week and was taking up most of her spare energy.

B'Elanna was fuming as she began her shift. 'How dare Harry just ask out Seven and right in front of me as well?'

The rest of the staff had been working with B'Elanna long enough to know when she was in one of her moods. For most of the shift they tried to stay out of B'Elanna's way, all except one person.

"Hey B'Elanna what's bothering you?" Meagan asked as she walked over.

"What makes you think anything is bothering me?" B'Elanna snapped.

"Well, how about the fact that you've been yelling and snapping at everyone that's tried to talk to you for the entire shift?" Meagan asked in amusement.

"It's just something that Harry did earlier today." B'Elanna said with a sigh.

"What did he do? It couldn't have been that bad." Meagan coaxed.

"He asked Seven out, and right in front of me too." B'Elanna said in irritation.

"So? It isn't like you're going out with her. She's just living with you for a while." Meagan said feeling a little confused.

"I know it's just that I don't like the idea of Seven going out. I'd feel a lot better if she would just stay home."

"Well if she's going out why don't you do the same?" Meagan questioned. "We can go grab a drink, just us girls. Our shift is done in a couple of minutes anyway." She suggested.

"Thanks Meagan, but I think that I'll just go talk to Seven. If I can't talk her out of going, I'm at least going to make sure she doesn't stay out too late." B'Elanna said as she left engineering.

'I was so close.' Meagan thought to herself. 'If I could just get B'Elanna to stop thinking about Seven I know that she'd go out with me.'

When B'Elanna walked into her quarters she expected to find Seven getting herself ready, but it didn't seem like anyone was even there. With a sigh B'Elanna walked over to the couch and was about to sit down when she noticed that Seven was fast asleep on it.

B'Elanna deciding not to wake Seven up, carefully lifted Seven's head up and sat down before moving Seven's head into her lap.

'I wish we could always get a long this well.' B'Elanna thought to herself as she started to run her fingers through Seven's hair lightly with one hand and looked over a report with the other.

After almost half an hour of this Seven finally began to stir. With her eyes still closed she wondered what that pleasant feeling was on her head. She cracked open an eye to see B'Elanna slowly running her fingers through her hair.

"How long have you been doing that?" Seven asked as she started to lift herself up curiously.

"Probably about a half hour," B'Elanna said without looking up from her pad and using her hand in Seven's hair to gently lower Seven's head back into her lap.

Seven let B'Elanna push her head back down as turned so she was laying on her back and looking up at B'Elanna. "Why did you not speak during lunch?" Seven said, asking the question that had been bothering her.

"What do you mean?" B'Elanna asked playing dumb. "We talked."

"No." Seven disagreed. "When you returned with my lunch you barely spoke. Did I do something to upset you?"

"You didn't do anything wrong." B'Elanna said with a sigh. "It just bothered me when Harry asked you out." B'Elanna confessed.

"Why does it bother you?" Seven asked in genuine confusion.

"I don't know why. It just does. I like it a lot more when you're at home." B'Elanna said almost childishly.

"If this bothers you I will not go." Seven offered.

"Do you really mean it?" B'Elanna asked enthusiastically. She knew that if Seven offered to do it she would.

"Yes." Seven said simply as she closed her eyes again and turned her head to the side.

"Well you better do it now. You said you would meet Harry for dinner in an hour and a half." B'Elanna said completely forgetting about the data pad she was reading.

"May I use your comm. badge?" Seven asked. "I removed mine when I took a nap." She explained.

"Sure Seven." B'Elanna said as she tapped her comm. badge.

"Seven of nine to Harry Kim."

"Kim here," Harry answered.

"Harry I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend dinner with you."

"Well what about tomorrow night?" Harry asked.

"I will not be able to attend dinner any night." Seven stated bluntly.

"Can I ask why? You seemed interested at lunch." Harry asked.

"B'Elanna wants me to stay at home." Seven answered.

"Oh, well if you change your mind my offer is still open." Harry said as he closed the link.

"So what do you want to do tonight?" B'Elanna asked as she began to stroke Seven's hair again.

'I can't believe her.' Harry thought to himself as he walked into the mess hall. 'This was my big chance to go out with Seven, and B'Elanna just had to ruin it.'

"What's the matter with you?" Tom asked as Harry sat down across from him.

"B'Elanna just cancelled my date with Seven." Harry said still fuming.

"What are you talking about? How can B'Elanna do that?" Tom asked.

"You know you were wrong about Seven Tom. B'Elanna's the one that has Seven wrapped around her little finger. Any time that B'Elanna wants Seven to do something she does it, no questions asked."

"That's why they shouldn't be together." Tom said. "All they're doing is using each other. They need us to have a real relationship." Tom said pompously.

"I think you're right but how are we going to get those two to realize that?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. My plan to make B'Elanna jealous didn't seem to work at all. She was too busy talking to Seven to even notice." Tom said in annoyance.

"Maybe you should tell Meagan that it's over then. B'Elanna probably isn't doing anything because she knows that the two of you are together now."

"You're probably right. The next time I see Megan I'll tell her it's over." Tom said.

Just as Tom finished speaking he noticed B'Elanna walk into the mess hall and talk to Neelix.

"Hey look its B'Elanna." Tom said pointing. "I thought you said that she would be with Seven."

Harry didn't have time to respond because he was already on his feet and making his way towards B'Elanna.

"Why did you mess up my date with Seven?" Harry asked in annoyance.

"I don't really want to talk about it." B'Elanna said as she turned to Neelix again.

"Well I do." Harry said. "This was my big chance with Seven and you ruined it. I want to know why."

"I don't want Seven going out with anyone." B'Elanna said getting angry. "She belongs at home with me."

"Well it isn't up to you. Seven should be making her own decisions." Harry declared.

"Neelix, Seven wanted some fresh fruit." B'Elanna said ignoring Harry. "What do you have?"

"Well you could give her this." Neelix suggested as he put a bowl filled with strawberries, cherries, bananas, and mangos on the table.

"Thanks Neelix." B'Elanna said as she took the bowl and left the mess hall.

"What was all that about?" Tom asked.

"B'Elanna thinks she can make Seven do anything she wants." Harry said fuming.

"We need to separate those too before they start turning on each other." Tom agreed.

To be continued…