I know I don't say it often enough but thank you all very much for reviewing. I feel that with all the constructive reviews on the last few chapters it's really helped me to improve as a writer. I'd like to think that my style has improved somewhat because of it. Instead of reviews like 'nice chapter' or in the case of a flame 'I hate your story' these reviews have told me specifically what I did wrong and how to improve on the next chapter, or what I did right, and what I should revisit on later chapters. Don't get me wrong though, reviews like good chapter, nice work, and update soon are nice as well. They do show that you like my writing.

Thanks fore reviewing: Anime-freak-for-life, jim hawking jr, shawn, Dreamer20715, Just a fan

SavageLove: Cliff hangar just make it soo much more interesting though. It's pretty much my calling card.

Carshcart9: Miral's character is going to be a challenge. I have a number of options for her personality and please review wherever you feel comfortable.

3rd of 5ive: What can I say? You have to always leave them wanting more.

Goddess Anjanee: Thanks, I am really happy about the way part 14 turned out.

Kelani2539: Well you only get part of the explanation on this part but I hope it answers some of your questions

Rune: Thanks, it may be an unconventional relationship but I feel that it just has more impact with two women, instead of a man and a woman.

For the Love of a Child

Part Fifteen

"What does it say?" Seven asked. She was curious to know what the man who had abandoned B'Elanna as a child could have to say now.

"He says he just found out that I was on Voyager." B'Elanna said as she scanned the letter. "He wants to get to know me again."

"Are you ready for this?" Seven asked. She didn't want B'Elanna to be hurt again.

"What would you do?" B'Elanna asked curiously. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to respond to the letter.

"I do not believe that I am the best person to speak about parents." Seven said tactfully. "Even if it were possible to have any kind of relationship with my parents it would be strained at best."

"I'm sorry Seven I wasn't thinking." B'Elanna said quickly. "The way you are with Kaia, sometimes I forget." She explained.

"I wish that I could advise you on what to do B'Elanna, but I honestly do not know." Seven sighed. "But I will support you in any decision you wish to make."

"Thanks Seven." B'Elanna smiled as she hugged her. "Maybe I can make it work with my dad this time. Kaia should know both her grand parents."

"I wish that I could forgive my parents as you have." Seven said, but every time she thought about it all she could remember were their foolish mistakes. They were doomed to be assimilated from the very beginning.

"I'd like to think you would, if you ever saw them again." B'Elanna kissed her.

"What will you do about your father?" Seven questioned. "Do you wish to use our allotted time next month to speak to him?"

"Well, I guess I still have a couple of days to think about it and send him a message." B'Elanna said thoughtfully. It had hurt a lot when her father left. B'Elanna wondered if she really wanted to open the door to that again.

Seven put Kaia back in her crib and started to make breakfast while B'Elanna read over the letter more thoroughly. She had only skimmed it earlier and hoped to find the reason why her father had decided to speak to her after all this time.

"B'Elanna breakfast is ready." Seven said as she placed two plates on the table filled with bacon and eggs.

"It turns out my dad owns a transport business." B'Elanna said after finishing the letter. "He also got re-married and has a twelve year old son Lucas."

"How did your father know to find you on Voyager?" Seven asked curiously. It had been bothering her since B'Elanna received the letter. Logically he should not have known anything about her.

"Everyone back on Earth everyone is talking about us." B'Elanna explained. "One ship trapped and alone in the Delta quadrant, surrounded by hostile species at every turn, it's the stuff legends are made of." B'Elanna smirked, after all it was one of the few times she knew something Seven didn't.

"They find our journey entertaining?" Seven asked in confusion.

Voyager hadn't run into a hostile species in over a month. It had quite frankly gotten a little boring. It was almost like traveling through the void again, a place where there were no stars, planets, or anything. If the native species to the void hadn't shown them a short cut out of that place they would probably still be there.

"How could they not?" B'Elanna asked. "A brave and courageous chief engineer miraculously repairing Voyager when all hope seemed to be lost. Even with domineering former drone breathing down her neck." B'Elanna teased, before breaking out into laughter.

"Brave and courageous?" Seven asked with a smirk. "When we return to Earth I must present a more accurate depiction of events."

"Oh really?" B'Elanna asked, still smiling. "I think it was fairly accurate." B'Elanna said as she moved closer to Seven.

Without warning B'Elanna latched onto Seven and began to tickle her. "Say it," B'Elanna said in between Seven's laughs. "Say I'm brave and courageous."

"What kind of example would I be setting for Kaia?" Seven asked as she tried to break B'Elanna's grip between laughs. "Especially such a bold faced lie," Seven smiled broadly

"Oh, that's it." B'Elanna laughed as she picked up Seven and dropped her on the couch before climbing on top of her.

Before Seven had time to react B'Elanna was on top of her and had her arms pinned above her head. Seven knew she could easily break B'Elanna's grip with her artificial hand but she was having too much fun.

"I know all your ticklish spots." B'Elanna warned, as her lips were only an inch away from Seven's. "Come on you know it's true." She cajoled.

"You are the bravest and most courageous person I know." Seven said with all seriousness as she tilted her head up and kissed B'Elanna's lips softly.

"I love you." B'Elanna said as Seven broke the kiss.

"I love you too." Seven said as she kissed B'Elanna again.

Seven finally knew, this was what love was, and she never wanted the feeling to go away.

"You said it." B'Elanna smiled. She knew that Seven would eventually say it, but she never knew that it would be so soon, that it would end up meaning so much.

"I did." Seven smiled at B'Elanna. "You mean so much to me."

"When did you know?" B'Elanna asked.

"Last night, when I told you that I considered… killing myself," Seven said.

Even now Seven could see the hurt in B'Elanna's eyes when she said those words. It seemed like so long ago that she had considered it.

"The pain you felt because of it, that you still feel when I say it now. I never wish for you to feel like that and I do not want to leave you B'Elanna. I am yours forever." Seven promised.

"When…, I mean, how could …" B'Elanna couldn't bring herself to say the words. The very idea of Seven taking her own life was so painful she could feel the tears forming in her eyes.

"I felt so alone before you came into my life. It felt as if I would always be an outsider, that I could see you all together, happy, but never a part of it." Seven admitted as tears began to form in her eyes as well. Thinking about it now brought back the feelings of isolation, a feeling that nearly crippled her with sorrow.

"I want you to promise me something." B'Elanna said as she finally let go of Seven's hands and cupped her face. "Promise me that if something ever happens to me and the baby you'll keep going, that you'll keep living."

"Please do not ask that of me B'Elanna. I am not as strong as you are. The two of you are my reason for living, without you I am nothing." Seven said as her tears finally began to fall.

B'Elanna couldn't take it anymore. She sat up and pulled Seven into her lap and held her tightly. "I love you more than anything Seven. It hurts so much to think that I could loose you, especially like that." B'Elanna cried.

"I do not know how to fix it." Seven sobbed. "I wish that I had never felt like that, but I did. I still do."

"You mean too much to me. It feels like if I let you go for even a second something could happen, someone could say something or do something. I wouldn't even get to say goodbye, you would just be gone. I can't loose you Seven."

Seven wished there was something she could say, something she could do, but there was nothing. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she lost her family she would be lost as well.

Tom Paris woke up early that morning. Without anything to do except think about what he had done, why he was in the brig, he had very little else to do.

'I've lost B'Elanna, I've nearly killed a pregnant Seven, and I ruined almost every friendship I made on Voyager.' Tom thought to himself sadly for the hundredth time.

He had never meant to hurt Seven. He just wanted to get B'Elanna back in his life. It was all just a huge mistake. Why couldn't anyone else see that? Seven had even forgiven him.

'But you don't deserve to be forgiven,' said a tiny voice in the back of Tom's head. 'Why do you always seem to ruin all the good things in your life? Could dad have been right? Will you ever be able to do anything right?'

'I'm trying' Tom thought. 'God help me, I'm trying. Why can't my best ever be good enough? It wasn't enough to get the girl, it wasn't enough. It was never enough.'

Tom was n turmoil. He had thought that he had figured things out. He was going to apologize to Seven as soon as he got out of the brig, try to make up for what he had done. And maybe, just maybe B'Elanna would forgive him, would take him back. He knew it wouldn't really be a conventional relationship. He would have to share her with Seven and the baby, but he was willing to do it.

When Harry told him B'Elanna was in love with Seven it floored him, and when he said that Seven was in love with her it destroyed everything.

He had tried so hard to hate Seven for it. To blame her for taking B'Elanna away from him, but he couldn't. Not after what Harry had said. Seven deserved a family, more than any of them.

She needed people to stand behind her, to defend her, because after all her time on Voyager, how long it took her to win over even a fraction of the crew over. It simply wasn't enough.

Tom knew for a fact that back on Earth they would be judging her, waiting for her to make a mistake. They might look for anything to condemn her. One unfavorable remark from just a single member of the crew would be enough.

He could not be that person. He would not be that person. He could never live with himself after something like that.

'There must be a way.' He thought. 'How can I have what I want without destroying Seven?'

When Janeway began the morning meeting she couldn't help but notice the fact that B'Elanna was holding onto Seven's hand. That in itself was not the strange part though. Whenever the two were together B'Elanna's hand seemed to be glued around Seven's waist.

It was the way B'Elanna was looking at Seven and Kaia. It almost seemed like she was afraid to let them go. The smile that was usually on B'Elanna's face was replaced by a look of deep worry, and Seven looked at B'Elanna like she was helpless to fix it.

Tearing her gaze away from Seven and B'Elanna Janeway began the morning meeting. "How is everything going with the data stream? Have there been any complications?"

"No Captain." Seven answered. "Everything is proceeding according to schedule, and there have been no distortions or degradation in the data stream."

"Moral has really gone up since we got real time communication with Starfleet." Neelix put in happily.

"We could certainly use it after everything that's happened." Chakotay said as he looked at Seven and Kaia, feeling a little guilty about his own feelings toward Seven in the beginning.

"Keep up the good work." Janeway said to everyone as she ended the meeting.

There was no point in keeping everyone around when they clearly didn't have much to discuss. It must have been a record this past month, not a single conflict with an alien species. The universe must have decided that there was enough conflict inside the ship, and cut them a break on what was going on outside.

"Seven could you stay for a few more minutes?" Janeway asked. She was worried about what was going on with her.

"I'd like to stay too Captain." B'Elanna said, not letting go of Seven's hand.

"I'm sure Seven will be fine." Janeway said, not understanding B'Elanna's attitude. She still cared about Seven but she didn't think B'Elanna still considered her a threat.

"Please Captain?" Seven asked. "I think B'Elanna would feel better if you allowed it."

"Is everything alright?" Janeway asked in concern. "You both seemed fine the other night at dinner."

"It's kind of private." B'Elanna said not feeling comfortable discussing it. She really didn't want to start crying again.

"I really don't want to pry you two but if it affects your jobs I don't have much choice." Janeway sighed.

"How is it affecting our jobs?" B'Elanna asked. She had hoped that it wasn't so obvious.

"B'Elanna you haven't let go of Seven's hands from the moment you walked in here. I don't think I've ever seen you so worried." Janeway said full of concern.

"We just had a private discussion that I wasn't expecting." B'Elanna said evasively. There was still a lot more to talk about with Seven, and she wouldn't even consider to talking to anyone else about it until she was ready.

"It has nothing to do with the safety of Voyager." Seven reassured the Captain. "It is as B'Elanna said, private."

"Alright," Janeway relented. "I'll stay out of it for now." She said as she looked between the two. She did not like what was going on. Seven had always come to her with her problems. This was the first time that she didn't want to discuss it with her.

"Thank you Captain." Seven said as she, Kaia, and B'Elanna left the ready room.

"I'll pick you up for lunch." B'Elanna promised as she kissed Seven then Kaia. "If anything happens call me, and I will be there as soon as I can."

"There is no need to worry." Seven reassured her. "Kaia and I will be fine."

"Yes there is Seven." B'Elanna disagreed. "We haven't finished talking about this by a long shot. We'll pick it up again after dinner." She said as she gave Seven a final kiss as she left for engineering.

B'Elanna walked into Engineering to pick up Seven for lunch. She was about a little early, but for most of the morning she could barley concentrate on her work. She thought that if she gave it some time it wouldn't bother her as much.

Unfortunately the exact opposite happened, the more she waited, the more it bothered her.

"Hello B'Elanna." Seven turned around to face her. "You are early."

"I just wanted to see you." B'Elanna said as she kissed Seven. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes." Seven agreed as she tapped a few more keys. "Computer, save document."

"How has Kaia been?" B'Elanna asked.

"She has just had her lunch and is taking her nap." Seven said as she picked Kaia up, careful not to wake her up.

Seven and B'Elanna quietly made their way to the mess hall. The rest of the crew had learned of Kaia's sleep schedule and were more than happy to keep the noise level down around them.

"Hi guys." Harry said as he quietly waved to them as they entered the mess hall. He had learned his lesson from last time. The last thing he wanted was another death glare from B'Elanna.

Seven and B'Elanna both exchanged greetings with Harry as they sat down after getting their lunch.

"I've been wondering something Seven." Harry said curiously. "Do your arms ever get tired from holding Kaia? It seems like you're holding her almost every time I see you."

"Kaia spends a good portion of my duty shift in her play pen, and my artificial arm is more than capable of holding her for extended periods of time." Seven answered. Seven had never questioned it before, it just felt more natural to her to hold Kaia most of the time.

"There was also something else." Harry said feeling a little uncomfortable about talking about it, but he felt he had to. "I visited Tom in the brig yesterday."

"Why would you do that?" B'Elanna asked. Even though Seven had forgiven him, she was still upset.

"He had to be told about you two." Harry defended himself. "It's going to be a lot easier for him to accept it he can deal with it before seeing you together.

The last thing that Harry wanted to do was end up in another fight with B'Elanna. They had only recently patched up their friendship. Another fight so soon to their last one could break it permanently.

"You are correct Harry." Seven agreed with a sigh. "Mr. Paris needs time to adjust."

"How did he take the news?" B'Elanna asked. She wanted to know if she had to take any extra steps to keep him away from Seven.

"As well as can be expected," Harry said. "He is sorry about what he did to you and Kaia Seven. In fact it was one of the first things he said when I talked to him."

"He does not accept our relationship." Seven stated more than she asked.

"I wouldn't say that." Harry disagreed. "He was upset that he didn't have a chance with B'Elanna after he got out of the brig, but I don't think he'd even consider hurting you again Seven."

"I guess we'll have to wait and see." B'Elanna said, not completely believing that Tom was a changed man.

"We better get back to work." Harry said as he checked the time. "By the way Seven, I was wondering do you think that we could all have that breakfast together soon? Dinner the other night was great." Harry complimented.

"Perhaps at the end of the week," Seven agreed. "I believe that the Captain can be persuaded to start the morning meeting later than normal."

"That would be perfect." Harry agreed happily.

"See you at home Seven." B'Elanna said as she kissed Seven, and Kaia who had just recently begun to stir.

Seven had just finished her shift in Astrometrics. She had not finished everything that she had wanted today though. Kaia did not seem to want to go back to sleep for the rest of the day.

After two lullabies Seven had given up on getting her back to sleep and simply held her as she worked.

Kaia for her part enjoyed it thoroughly. She gurgled happily as the star charts changed and played with the implant behind Seven's ear. Over the past couple of days it had become her favorite as she marked it with baby kisses, and whatever food she had snuck off Seven's plate and rubbed on her face when she was imitating her two mothers.

Seven walked into the quarters she shared with B'Elanna with a little trepidation. She knew that what she was going to discuss with B'Elanna would be difficult. She would have felt the same way if B'Elanna was the one to consider suicide at some point in her life.

A bigger part of her felt that B'Elanna was being unreasonable though. Seven wondered what B'Elanna would do if something happened to her and Kaia instead. Would B'Elanna be able to keep going, as she asked Seven to do?

To Be Continued…

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