Paha Toh: Well I can at least help with the last part
Lalene Brooks: Thanks, I mostly get flamed from people talk about how far away from Cannon I get.
Dark Borg Drone: Sorry to disappoint but this fic won't contain too much violence.
Anime-freak-4life: I guess I should clarify for you and everyone one else that reads this. I'm getting a lot of reviews that say KILL PARIS. It was never really my intention for people to see it that way. I just wanted him to come off as a little careless and childish, but I guess what ever works since I got a lot of reviews for this chapter.
Crashcart9: Wow, (shifts nervously) you may not like the way this chapter goes.
Anjanee: Thanks, all the review you've given me have really helped to get this chapter out faster.
Trekkie101: thanks, most people that don't like star trek slash pretty much hate my guts.
And on with the story
For The Love of a Child
Part Ten
"When can Seven come home?" B'Elanna asked the doctor.
"She can leave now if she's ready." The doctor said as they both watched Seven feeding baby Kaia. "Motherhood really does suit her doesn't it?" The doctor asked with a smile.
"If you had told me that a month ago I probably wouldn't have believed you, but now it just seems so obvious." B'Elanna agreed before she and the doctor joined Seven and Kaia in the sickbay.
"Well Seven everything seems to be in order." The doctor said just as she finished feeding the baby. "You can spend the rest of your recovery time at home."
"Thank you Doctor." Seven said as she stood up with a now sleeping Kaia in her arms. "How long will I have to spend recovering?"
"Honestly, you could go back to work tomorrow if you wanted to. Your nanoprobes are working overtime repairing your body. When you wake up in the morning your body will be back to the way it was before you had the baby."
"You don't have to rush anything Seven." B'Elanna said. "I think that the Captain will understand if you take some time off to adjust."
"It will not be a large adjustment. I had planned on bringing Kaia to work with me. Astrometrics is a relatively quiet environment, and there is a low probability of something dangerous happening there." Seven explained.
"You're right Seven." B'Elanna said feeling a little annoyed with herself for not realizing it first. "We could set up Kaia's play pen there. Structurally it's also one of the strongest points on the ship, and one of the least likely places to be attacked if we were boarded."
"Seven come back with Kaia at the end of Alpha shift tomorrow." The Doctor said. "I still need to run a few more tests on you and the baby."
"Yes doctor," Seven agreed as she, Kaia, and B'Elanna left sickbay.
Seven was surprised when she got home. She expected everything to be as they had left it when they went to dinner with Harry and Tom, but instead everything was fixed and all of the thing that they had gotten for their quarters to make it baby safe was installed.
"When did you find the time to do all of this?" Seven asked in surprise.
"While you and Kaia were sleeping I decided that Kaia shouldn't see her first home only half done." B'Elanna said with a smile.
"Thank you." Seven said as she kissed B'Elanna's cheek lightly.
"You're welcome." B'Elanna said with a slight blush. "Come on, we can put Kaia in her crib." B'Elanna said as the two walked into the bedroom.
"It is perfect." Seven said as she looked at the crib. It was made of replicated pine, and the inside had a soft mattress with plush toys on all sides and a baby blanket in the center.
She set Kaia down in the crib carefully and pulled the blanket over her. They both stood there for some time looking at their baby before reluctantly going into the living room.
"The Captain is going to discipline Tom for what he did at the morning meeting." B'Elanna said as she sat down beside Seven.
"What will the Captain do?" Seven asked.
"He'll probably spend some time in the brig and be demoted unless the doctor can find anything else in the tests that he did." B'Elanna explained. The very thought of what Tom did still angered her.
"I do not believe that he did it on purpose." Seven said after a long moment of silence.
"Sometimes you're just too nice for your own good Seven." B'Elanna said a little shocked that Seven could forgive so easily.
"He acted impulsively. This was not the first time he has done something without considering the consequences. I doubt very much that he planned it."
"Why don't we talk about it in the morning Seven? The more you rest the easier it will be on your nanoprobes." B'Elanna said, deciding that this was probably not the best time to get into an argument over it.
"Perhaps you are right." Seven agreed. "I am feeling tired." She said with a yawn.
"Go to sleep, I'll be there in a few minutes." B'Elanna said as Seven went into the bedroom.
'I never would have guessed that you could make my life feel so complete Seven.' B'Elanna thought to herself. 'I don't know when but somewhere along the line you became the most important person in my life.'
B'Elanna quietly made her way to the bedroom and fell asleep beside Seven.
B'Elanna woke up the next morning to find that Seven was already out of bed and Kaia was most likely with her.
When she walked into the living room she found Seven feeding Kaia as she sat on the sofa.
"I am sorry B'Elanna. I did not have time to make breakfast." Seven said as she stood up.
"The doctor wasn't kidding when he said that you would be back to normal so soon." B'Elanna said in wonder. "And don't worry about breakfast. We can grab something in the mess hall."
B'Elanna looked down at the smiling face of baby Kaia and couldn't help but smile back herself. Kaia was absolutely perfect. She had Seven's hair and eyes, but her cranial ridges and skin tone were distinctly B'Elanna's. In a few more months Kaia's features would be a little more defined and they would be able to notice a few more things.
"I would like that." Seven said B'Elanna picked up the baby bag and they went to the mess hall.
When they reached the mess hall everyone's eyes were glued to baby Kaia.
"Is that baby Kaia I see?" Neelix said with a smile as he scurried over. "She's absolutely perfect. Do you think I could hold her?" He asked hopefully.
"You may." Seven said a little reluctantly as she transferred the baby to Neelix's waiting arms.
Almost as soon as Kaia left Seven arms she began to wail. After a few moments of trying to calm her down B'Elanna decided to step in, "Give her to me Neelix." B'Elanna said kindly. "I guess she just isn't used to you yet."
Kaia had immediately stopped crying but she was still sniffling as a few stray tears still ran down her cheeks. "It's okay Kaia." B'Elanna said soothingly as she rocked the baby back and forth.
"Let me try." Seven said as she took Kaia back into her arms. As soon as Kaia recognized who was holding her she began to smile again.
"It looks like someone just missed her mommy." Neelix said with a smile. "My niece was the same way when she was born. For the first few weeks she could only stand to be held by her mother. She'll probably feel more comfortable around you B'Elanna in the next couple of days."
"I suppose you're right. I did spend a lot of time getting our quarters ready when Seven and Kaia were sleeping." B'Elanna agreed.
"Why don't you and Kaia have a seat?" Neelix asked Seven. "B'Elanna and I will get you your breakfast."
"Thank you Mr. Neelix." Seven said as sat down at one of the tables near the view port.
When Seven was out of hearing range Neelix began to speak to B'Elanna again. "The doctor is going to tell us what happened when Tom pushed Seven at the morning meeting. Between you and me, the way that Seven fell, the birth shouldn't have gone as smoothly as it did."
"I've been trying not to think about it." B'Elanna admitted. "If something had happened to Kaia Seven would have been crushed."
"This is not going to be an easy day." Janeway said as she sat with Chakotay in the ready room.
"I just hope for everyone's sakes that it wasn't as bad as it looked. Seven would probably be a lot happier knowing that her baby wasn't in any real danger." Chakotay agreed.
Just as Chakotay finished speaking Harry and Tom walked in.
"Is this really something we should do in front of the senior staff?" Tom asked as he took his seat.
"This goes far beyond the level of your normal irrational behavior Mr. Paris." Janeway said coldly. "Your actions have affected the majority of the senior staff, perhaps this experience will act as a deterrent in the future."
"Yes, Captain." Tom said, unable to meet Janeway's eyes. After hearing Harry scream at him for a solid hour it finally got through to him how much of a huge mistake that he had made.
The rest of the senior staff entered a few moments later, most stopping to take a look at the new baby.
"Everyone please take your seats." Janeway said a few moments later when she realized that none of the staff would be returning to their seats anytime soon. "Doctor I believe that you have a report to give."
"Yes Captain." The doctor said reluctantly. "Seven perhaps you and Kaia should not be here for this." He said hoping that Seven would take him up on his offer.
"No. I wish to stay." Seven said after a long pause.
"Very well," the doctor said with a sigh. "First I would like to say that Kaia is completely healthy. She has no injuries from the fall and will not suffer any ill effect later on."
"You're stalling doctor." Chakotay interrupted, everyone already knows that.
"This is not easy for me to say." The doctor explained. "The way that Seven fell, the force of the landing, and the angle that she hit the floor at were potentially deadly. "If not for Seven's nanoprobes Kaia would have died, and Seven would have probably died shortly after."
"No." Seven whispered as she held Kaia a little closer. Even though she whispered it, in the long silence after the doctor had told everyone his findings everyone heard.
"It's okay Seven." B'Elanna said soothingly as she rubbed the younger woman's arm. "Kaia is fine, the nanoprobes saved her."
This only caused Seven to begin crying softly, which in turn effected Kaia's mood as well. Kaia also began to whimper as she watched her mother cry, and her own tears joined her mothers.
Tom could only just sit there, staring at Seven. His face had lost all of its color as he fully realized what he could have done to Seven.
"I know that Kaia is fine, but it is all that I can think about." Seven said sadly. "It does not make sense, it is illogical yet the feeling will not go away."
"Just give it time." B'Elanna said as she pulled Seven to her feet and gave her and Kaia a hug. "Why don't you go down to Astrometrics? I'll be there as soon as the meeting is over."
"I will comply." Seven said as she picked up the baby bag.
"Nothing bad will ever happen to Kaia as long as I'm around." B'Elanna promised as she kissed Seven's forehead, then Kaia's.
When Seven left the ready room B'Elanna sat down in her chair heavily with a sigh. 'Seven never goes back to borg speech unless she's really upset.' B'Elanna thought.
"Mr. Paris you have no idea how lucky you are that Seven's baby is healthy." Janeway said angrily. "This very well could have been a trial for murder. Do you have anything to say for yourself before I tell you what your punishment is?"
"Captain it was just a mistake." Tom pleaded. "I never wanted to hurt Seven or her baby. I just wanted to talk to B'Elanna and Seven was just standing in the way…"
"I have heard enough Mr. Paris. You will spend one month in the brig, you will be reduced to the rank of Ensign, and your replicator ration are suspended for the three months after you serve your time in the brig." Janeway said coldly.
"Yes Captain," Tom said, unable to meet anyone's eyes as Tuvok escorted him to the bridge.
"Captain are we finished here?" B'Elanna said anxiously.
"Yes B'Elanna, go ahead and check on Seven." Janeway said as she dismissed everyone.
"Thank you Captain." B'Elanna said as she quickly left the bridge.
Seven smiled as Kaia giggled from her play pen. Kaia lay on her stomach holding a stuffed monkey and staring curiously at what her mother was doing.
"Would you like to see what I am doing?" Seven asked as she walked over and picked up Kaia.
Kaia only smiled and touched the implant under Seven's ear.
Seven took it as a yes and showed Kaia the area of space that they were traveling through. "We are going to the Alpha quadrant Kaia, even though it is still a long way from here. Everyone wants to go to a small planet called Earth." Seven said as she brought up a picture of Earth.
"When we get there I'll show you both around." B'Elanna said as she walked in.
"B'Elanna." Seven said as she turned around.
"Tom is going to be in the brig for a month. he's down to ensign and won't have any replicator rations for a month after he gets out of the brig." B'Elanna informed Seven.
"I am sorry for becoming emotional B'Elanna. I did not think that the situation would affect me the way that it did." Seven admitted.
"No one blames you for the way you acted." B'Elanna said reassuringly. "This was all Tom's fault."
"Do you believe that Voyager will be able return to the Alpha Quadrant?" Seven asked, changing the subject.
"I think that if anyone has a chance to make this journey it's us." B'Elanna said thoughtfully.
"What will you do when we return?" Seven asked curiously.
"Well I guess the first thing would be to visit my mother. She's probably going to want to meet baby Kaia." B'Elanna said with a rye smile. "What about you Seven? Who are you going to see when we get back?"
"There is no one. All of the important people in my life are here on Voyager." Seven said truthfully.
"Do you mean that there is no one waiting for you back home?" B'Elanna asked a little shocked.
"Neither one of my parents have any surviving family." Seven said a little sadly.
"So what do you do when we all get our ten minutes at the end of the month to talk to our families on earth?" B'Elanna asked curiously.
"I usually give it to a crew member that wishes to a family member that is ill, or will not survive long enough until our next communication with the federation." Seven answered.
"Why don't we use it this time to talk to my mother? She's probably going to want to talk to both you and Kaia. It isn't everyday that she becomes a grandmother." B'Elanna said.
"I would like that." Seven said with a smile. "The next time we will be able to communicate is at the end of the week."
"Let's talk more about it tonight." B'Elanna said as she kissed Seven and Kaia's foreheads again before she left.
B'Elanna had returned to work with a smile. For some reason that she couldn't understand right away it was very important that Seven and Kaia were introduced to her mother.
"What are you thinking about?" Meagan asked curiously as she walked up to B'Elanna.
"Oh, it nothing really I'm just going to introduce Seven and Kaia to my mother." B'Elanna said as she looked up from her work.
"B'Elanna may I speak to you privately?" Meagan asked with a sigh.
"Sure Megan we can use my office." B'Elanna said as they walked in and closed the door.
"I don't think that it's any real secret that I'm interested in you B'Elanna." Meagan said.
"I'm sorry Meagan-" B'Elanna started to say.
"I know. You don't feel that way about me." Meagan interrupted. "I talked to the Captain a little while ago and some of what she said finally sunk in. If we can't be together I still want you to be happy."
"Thanks Meagan." B'Elanna said a little awkwardly.
Meagan looked at the way B'Elanna was acting and realized that she still didn't get it. "I can't believe you could be so thick." She said with a sigh.
"What are you talking about?" B'Elanna asked in confusion.
"I'm talking about the fact that you're in love with Seven! And the fact that she loves you too."
"I'm not in love with Seven." B'Elanna denied. "She is just my friend."
"Oh really, how many other friends do you have that you live with? That you're nervous about introducing your mother to? That you spend night and day worrying about?" Meagan asked.
"I love her." B'Elanna said with a smile on her face.
"She's a lucky woman." Meagan said. "How are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know. How do you know that she even thinks about me like that?" B'Elanna asked a little worried that Seven didn't feel the same way.
"Sometimes I wonder why everyone thinks that you two are the smartest people on Voyager." Meagan joked. "She loves you too. She probably just doesn't realize it yet."
"I guess I have a lot to talk about with Seven tonight. And Meagan thanks, you really are a good friend." B'Elanna said as she left the office.
"Anytime," Meagan said as she called out after her.
To Be Continued…