Disclaimer: Only the story is mine. Everything else belongs to Paramount. As much as I'd like to say Seven and B'Elanna are mine, 'twould be a falsehood. (sigh) This story contains femslash (yup, women love women here, get used to it) so if that offends you, then read something else. Although if you've read Ghosts, the story before this one, then you're probably not offended by it if you're still reading. And if you haven't read Ghosts—go read it!
Author Notes: Sequel to Ghosts.
Code: T7
Rating: R
Genre: Romance/Drama
Original post date: Feb, 2001
PLEASE REVIEW!
Family, Chapter 11
Mezoti woke up to see her mother standing watch over her. Seven smiled at her and she tried to smile back, so happy just to be able to see again. When she had last regained consciousness and the world was dark, she had been more frightened than she had ever been, even more so than when she had been assimilated or held captive by the Ssckerellon.
"Mama?" She asked with a hiccup.
"I am here."
"I'm sorry." She felt her mother's arms enfold her as the tears began to fall. "I'm sorry that I caused so much trouble. I'm sorry I stole the ship. I'm sorry—"
"Shh..." Seven whispered and stroked Mezoti's hair reassuringly. Mezoti laid back in the bed and finally managed to smile. They sat that way for a while, then Seven decided to break the silence. "B'Elanna and I have decided to postpone the engagement."
"For how long?"
"Eight years. The amount of time it will take you to reach adulthood. We do not wish to be married if you are uncomfortable with it. I do not wish to make your life unhappy. I love you too much." Mezoti suddenly felt overwhelmed by her own selfishness.
"I hate myself."
"What?" Seven asked, alarmed at Mezoti's shifting moods.
"I am selfish. I do not wish for you and Lieutenant Torres to postpone your engagement. You're already married by Klingon tradition."
"We decided to talk to you before we did, but we were planning on enacting a divorce ritual."
"No! Don't, please. I love you, mother, and I love Lieutenant Torres. I am not opposed to your union any more. I was just..." She rolled her head to the side, not able to meet her mother's eyes. Seven gently reached out and turned her head back.
"You were just what?"
"I don't know. Jealous, I suppose. I was afraid that you were tired of me and that you were getting married because you were bored."
"I am not getting married because I am bored. I am getting married because I love B'Elanna with all my heart and I thought that she would be a good parent for you. Perhaps even a balance for my inadequacies." Mezoti's eyes widened.
"You feel inadequate, as well?" Seven smiled a little.
"Yes." Mezoti squeezed her mother's hand.
"Then you still love me? Do you need me?" Mezoti almost frowned. She had not planned to ask that.
"Yes and yes. Of course I do, Mezoti."
"Then can I be your maid of honor?" Seven laughed and hugged Mezoti.
The wedding was postponed for two months. When the happy day finally arrived, all the guests seated in the holodeck could hardly wait. Seven and B'Elanna had programmed the wedding program to be held outside under a blue sky in the middle of a small field surrounded by trees. All the guests sat in white folding chairs with intricate designs carved into the backs. A long, red carpet led up to the altar under an arched trellis with roses growing over it. Captain Janeway smiled from behind that altar.
Neelix was almost hopping out of his seat, much to the annoyance of Vorik, who had the unfortunate luck to be sitting next to him. Across from them, Harry sat with his arm around Aryn, who purred contentedly against his shoulder. Vorik had arrived late and didn't have any other choices available to him. Many more people were dispersed throughout and all of the seats, excluding those of the wedding party, were now filled.
Finally, the music began and the first member of the wedding party emerged from the holodeck entrance. Kalila was wearing a ruffled blue dress and flinging flower petals everywhere from her forever refilling flower basket and beaming with exuberance. She all but skipped, nearly upsetting the delicately placed wreath of white and pink flowers in her raven hair. She was still excited from her first birthday party the day before and a second party was almost more than her six-year aged self could handle. She plopped into her parents' laps as she reached the end and everyone's attention moved down to the bridesmaids.
Mezoti began, as the maid of honor, wearing a pink dress that matched the one that Naomi, the sole bridesmaid, wore. They walked side by side down the aisle, followed by B'Elanna on Chakotay's arm. He walked her to the altar, then stepped back, preparing himself for the duty and honor of giving B'Elanna away. B'Elanna was wearing a flowing red gown and veil, in honor of her Klingon heritage, though the gown was of a Human style.
Finally, Seven emerged on Tuvok's arm. She looked beautiful with her long, blonde hair styled in ringlets from on top of her head and falling down in back, under the veil. Her dress was snow white and looked dreamlike and made her appear to be walking inside an iridescent cloud. Tuvok walked her halfway, then took a seat, allowing her to walk the rest of the way by herself.
It was obvious to all assembled that B'Elanna and Seven had eyes for none but each other. They took hands at the altar and looked through their veils into each other's eyes. The didn't really hear the captain speak of days gone by, of captain's duty, but both looked at her when she mentioned the time-honored tradition of giving the brides away. Both she and Chakotay performed their duties with smiles and a few words of love.
Kathryn continued until she reached the Vows. Then she read both the human version and a translated Klingon version. Afterwards, she asked the women if they had anything to add. Both shook their heads, unable to express their love in words, for none were adequate enough. But their eyes spoke volumes from behind their veils.
The next thing that Janeway moved to was the rings. Each slipped the specially replicated rings on the other's finger with the words: "With this ring, I thee wed." No one but the two speaking those words knew how hard it had been for them to decide on the old promise. Finally, the captain asked if anyone held any objections. Briefly, B'Elanna's gaze flitted to Tom, but he just smiled at her. Tears of joy glistened in her eyes as she looked back at Seven and the next thing they knew, the captain made the final declaration.
"With the power vested in me, as a captain of Starfleet in the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you married. You may now kiss the bride." Seven and B'Elanna reached out simultaneously to remove the other's veil and locked gazes as they sealed the bond with their first public kiss.
Seven carried B'Elanna across the threshold of their new quarters. B'Elanna laughed joyously and Seven felt euphoric. B'Elanna tried to escape to look around, but Seven would have none of it. She carried B'Elanna al the way into the master bedroom and plopped her down on their new bed. It was Seven's first bed on Voyager, and the first bed, for both of them, to be shared in marriage.
B'Elanna crawled to the head of it and turned around, challenging Seven playfully. Seven grinned and gave chase. B'Elanna darted away, but was caught, much to her delight and enveloped in Seven's strong arms. She snuggled against Seven's chest and sighed happily. Then she sat up and glared down at Seven's dress.
"That's gotta go." She began attacking the fastenings, with Seven batting away her hands, trying to save the beautiful dress. Seven hopped off the bed and stripped quickly while B'Elanna watched in amusement, her head propped up on her hand as she lay in the bed on her side. Seven hung the dress carefully in their new closet, the first garment to be hung there. She stopped and smiled, wearing nothing but her white, silk slip. B'Elanna noticed her caught in the moment, just standing there and she stalked her from behind.
Seven stood innocently, not noticing B'Elanna's movements until she was grabbed up from behind and flung carefully onto the bed. She laughed as B'Elanna pinned her and gave the happily growling Klingon a kiss on her perfect nose. B'Elanna wiggled her nose in response and Seven laughed again, almost giddy with delight.
"What about your dress?" Seven asked. B'Elanna looked down and shrugged.
"We can work around it," she joked. Seven raised and eyebrow and B'Elanna saw what was coming in the mischievous glint of her love's eyes. She shot off the bed to undress before Seven ripped her dress off. Seven pouted, sticking out her full bottom lip and widening her eyes. B'Elanna froze, captured by the cuteness of it and unable to move. Seven grinned and was standing beside B'Elanna within the second.
The dress somehow managed to survive to be tossed onto a hanger in the closet along with Seven's. B'Elanna stood in her red, satin slip and danced playfully for Seven's benefit. Seven walked over to B'Elanna and looked at their contrasts. She stopped B'Elanna to admire the way their skin seemed to glow against each other, B'Elanna's the color of the softest caramel and Seven's, fresh milk. She closed her eyes for a moment, burning the image in her mind, though she would never forget it anyway.
B'Elanna reached up to Seven's face, cupping her jaw in her hands and smiled. Seven opened her eyes and returned the smile. Then she took one of B'Elanna's hands in her own and wrapped her other arm around B'Elanna's waist. They danced in each other's arms, hearing the music in their minds and just enjoying the moment, locking it forever into their memories.
The dance eventually led them to the bed, where B'Elanna dipped her taller partner onto the soft blanket. Seven scooted up as B'Elanna crawled onto the bed after her. They finally relaxed once Seven's head hit the pillow and B'Elanna finished stretching out between her legs. B'Elanna lay there, her head on Seven's chest, listening to her heart beat and feeling her own hearts take up the rhythm. They pounded in unison for a moment, then went their separate ways, as B'Elanna's beat faster naturally.
Seven watched the beauty on her chest and felt her entire body react, her heart speeding up, her blood coursing fast and hot through her body and the throb that began to welcome the hip that rested between her legs, pressed against her most sensitive area. B'Elanna looked up, love and lust burning in her dark eyes and Seven pulled her up into a kiss. Their lips were parted by searching tongues and quick, needy breaths. Hands began exploring each other's bodies and within minutes, both had shed their slips and panties.
B'Elanna started moving down Seven's body, placing kisses wherever she could. The hollow of her neck, her chest, each nipple (this she paid a little more time to), Seven's various implants, her belly button, and each hip, finally resting in one of those smooth hollows, running her fingers through Seven's silky fluff.
Seven looked down at B'Elanna, wondering what she was up to. She watched as B'Elanna skipped down to kiss her inner thighs and as her body felt like it burst into flames, she still managed to continue watching, curiously. B'Elanna paused with her mouth perilously close to Seven's throbbing nub and inhaled, looking lost in a moment of joy. Then her tongue flicked out and Seven was unable to hold herself up any more. Her back arched and she felt a desperate joy at the softness of B'Elanna's tongue.
B'Elanna shot her tongue out, starting with quick short flicks and working into long, sure strokes. She was rewarded with Seven's moans and delighted that Seven was so vocal about what she was feeling. Seven called out her name and she moved her tongue in circles, relishing the taste and scent of Seven's skin and juices. She found ways to move her tongue that finally drove Seven over the edge and she reveled in the orgasm, moving up to hold Seven once it was over.
She watched as Seven experienced shudders of pleasure once it was over and she hugged the beautiful blonde tightly. B'Elanna stroked Seven's hair, running her fingers through the soft, damp curls lovingly. Seven lay there, recovering for minutes and B'Elanna enjoyed every second of it. When Seven finally came around, she found B'Elanna smiling at her.
"I love you," she whispered. B'Elanna whispered it back and hugged Seven ferociously. Seven hugged back, just as hard and then she looked into B'Elanna's eyes. "Why do you always get to go first?" she asked.
"Because this is so new for you. I want to make it last as long as I can."
"Well, then, I guess it's my turn." B'Elanna grinned.
"Oh, is it?" Seven frowned at B'Elanna's teasing. B'Elanna suddenly stood and grinned, wiggling her butt at Seven. Seven assumed mock outrage and reached for that lovely rear end. B'Elanna danced away, beckoning Seven with her fingers. B'Elanna made a lewd gesture and Seven made a sound of protest and pounced. B'Elanna shrieked and ran off, beginning a game that could only have a happy ending. For both parties.
Naomi laughed at the frosting that Mezoti had somehow managed to get on her nose. They were eating the leftover wedding cake that Seven and B'Elanna had granted them. Though there had only been about five pieces left of the seven tiered cake, Samantha had protested, reminding the couple that she had offered to let Mezoti sleep over and pointing out that they would never sleep if they had that much sugar in their systems. The couple waved her off, saying that they were kids and should have fun.
It was oh-three-hundred hours and the girls were wide awake. The had stretched the chocolate layer leftovers this long and were finally enjoying them. Mezoti had eaten a piece with a pink rose on it and now that rose was on her nose. Naomi fell out of bed, laughing.
"What is so funny?" Mezoti asked.
"There's a rose on your nose!" Naomi exclaimed, stressing the rhyme. Mezoti giggled, then amused them both by trying to reach it with her tongue. Samantha knocked and told them to go to sleep for the umpteenth time, but they just giggled some more. Sam walked away, muttering that she would probably be stuck with them the next couple days, too, while Seven and B'Elanna enjoyed their honeymoon. She was almost tempted not to help them reset their schedules after this, so the new couple could have that job, but decided that she could handle a couple of cranky girls tomorrow if it meant that Mezoti would finally have the two loving parents that she deserved.
That was something she hoped to some day give to Naomi. Naomi only knew her father through stories, holos and the letters he sent them from the alpha quadrant, where he eagerly awaited their return.
Naomi and Mezoti lay back down, trying to get to sleep, but they were still too hyper. Naomi rolled over and poked Mezoti, asking if she was awake. Mezoti nodded.
"Do you think that they're gonna try to have a baby?" Naomi asked Mezoti.
"I don't know. I had not considered that possibility."
"But that would be great if they did, wouldn't it? I mean, you'd have your own little brother or sister to look up to you."
"Sister," Mezoti corrected. "Unless they involve someone else, they could only conceive a girl child."
"Still, wouldn't that be great? She'd look up to you and stuff. You'd be a big sister."
"I already have one sister," Mezoti said, taking Naomi's hand. Naomi grinned.
"Yeah, but then you'd have a real one."
"I am not sure I would like that."
"Don't worry," Naomi said reassuringly. "If you ever feel overwhelmed, I'll help you. And if you're worrying that your parents won't love you as much, don't. They were willing to get a divorce because they love you, and a baby wouldn't change that."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I expect that Mom and Dad will try to make another baby when we get back to the Alpha quadrant and my mom already talked to me about it."
"Is that how you knew that I was worried?"
"Partly that. Partly, 'cause I just know you that well. You're my best friend and sister." She squeezed Mezoti's hand. Mezoti fell asleep a few hours later, feeling happy and worry-free.
To be continued...
