Author's Note: I'm sorry about this people! I really meant to update sooner. I just kinda forgot that I had to actually post the chapters. Anyway, this is a short chapter, but here you go. Tell me what you think. It'll be a few days before I put up another chapter.
by the way, totally off topic, but does ANYONE know how to spell the game Seven and Naomi play? Cause I can't find it! It would be appreciated if someone could tell me.
Anyway, enjoy!
Something was wrong. It was obviously not a planned pregnancy, but I didn't think that B'Elanna was against having children. I stepped closer to her and stood tall, settling into my customary position.
"It is customary to offer congratulations to the future mother. My congratulations." She remained unfocused. I unclasped my hands and gently rested my hand on her shoulder. "Do not forget to tell Lt Paris. He will wish to know. I will be in my quarters. The doors will be set to allow you in." She seemed to snap out of it at that, but I was already out the door.
"Thank you." I heard her say just as the doors slid all the way shut. A warmth settled over me, though my abdomen was curling into a knot.
My quarters were different from the others I had seen. I programmed it so that it was continually in fifty percent light and it threw the room into a different contrast. With the lights fully on, it looked virtually unchanged, but when dimmed… it was different.
Shadows were thrown onto the walls from the carefully placed objects. Though everything had its place, there were several storage cabinets that held the garments the captain insisted I replicate and the some of the things I did enjoy, such as a katoscat board.
I went over to where the small replicator was and flicked through a bunch of selections, eventually settling on a nutritional drink. Though the doctor urged me to eat substantial food, it was rather difficult to change the habit of having very little to eat.
I had settled into one corner of the couch and was drifting off to sleep when I heard someone pause outside my doors. It brought me back from the brink of sleep and I commanded the computer to open my doors.
It revealed a surprised B'Elanna on the other side. She was hesitant to enter the room.
"Computer lights full illumination." Instantly the room was flooded with light. She took a quick glance around before stepping into the room. None of her usual confidence surrounded her. I indicated the rest of the seats in the room with a sweep of my hand.
"Please, accommodate yourself." Not exactly smooth, but effective in bringing a weak chuckle from her.
"I think you mean make yourself comfortable." She perched on the armchair.
"Are you requiring assistance?" I hoped she didn't hear my concern in the words.
"I just don't know how to tell him." B'Elanna murmured. "We talked about it before, but he doesn't want to have children. He'll think I did it on purpose to get around him." She was crestfallen. I stood up and replicated two hot teas. I handed her one and she took an automatic sip. She grimaced at the taste.
"It will help you calm down." She took another sip and made another face. "If Lt. Paris does not understand that he helped in the impregnation that occurred and is therefore just as much at fault, then he does not deserve you." B'Elanna had to take a minute to decipher what I said. When she did, she burst out laughing.
"I never thought of that. Just don't say that to Tom, he'll be confused for a month." B'Elanna looked at the tea, and then downed it in one gulp. "Gods this stuff is awful." She seemed to let out all the tension in her body. "Do you know what? I feel like dancing. Tom will be at Sardine's, so will you join me? I hate dancing alone."
"I do not know how to dance." I replied. There was a questionable fluttering in my abdominal cavity.
"I insist." B'Elanna said. She grabbed one of my hands and pulled me to my feet. "Trust me, you'll have fun." I was pulled out of my quarters before I even had a chance to complain.
She took me to one of the small holodecks. She flicked through a few programs before turning to me.
"Nightclub or ballroom?" she asked me. I was helpless, I had no idea which to chose.
"Lt., I"
"B'Elanna." She corrected firmly.
"B'Elanna." I repeated compliantly. "I comprehend very little of the more physical activities of human society." It nearly killed me to admit it, but I had never had anyone to try it with, except for the captain, who was usually busy, though she tried her hardest to be there for me.
"Nightclubbing it is then." She tapped on one of the two programs and went in. The darkened room with flashing lights overhead and throbbing music left me rooted to where I was. Bodies were everywhere, moving rhythmically to the sounds. B'Elanna reappeared and grabbed my hand. "Come on Seven!" I was pulled into the throng. The doors disappeared behind me.
She led me deep into the room. When she stopped, she began mimicking the style of dancing around her. I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. I observed the holocharacters around me.
"Dance Seven!" B'Elanna roared over the music. She turned her back to me and ran her hands over my shoulders and down my sides. I knew I was flawed, but I tried my best to follow her lead, carefully watching the other pairs dancing. Soon I adopted one of the styles I saw and concentrated on that.
The throbbing of the music in my head, coupled with the distraction of the woman dancing with me, forced me to drop my guards. I let myself go and was swept away by the forces around me.
I didn't notice the other dancers give us room only that B'Elanna began a more complex puzzle of a dance. I matched her, stride for stride, with complementary movements. Only when the music changed did I notice anything at all.
"I thought you said you never danced before." B'Elanna said between breaths. I nodded in confirmation, my own breaths long and drawn out. "I wish I had your talent for picking things up." She gave me a wink and held out a hand to me. "Care for a dance?"
I spared a quick glance around. The music was softer and the people who had danced in pairs were closer, their bodies pressed against each other.
"I believed this is termed as a slow dance." I said as I stepped towards the fiery klingon. She laughed.
"Yes it is Seven." She slid her hands behind my neck and linked them together. Remember vaguely having seen this once, I placed my hands on the small of her back. From the chest down, our bodies touched. I had to force myself to keep breathing.
"I think this is the most relaxed I've ever seen you." B'Elanna murmured. She tucked a stray hair behind my ear. A stream of heat went from my ear down. I swallowed.
"This is one of the few times I have seen you calm and smiling." I replied. She sighed at that.
"Hey Seven, I'm sorry, I know you're not a bad person, the way you acted just…" She couldn't find the words. I knew exactly what she was looking for.
"Irritating, annoying, and disrespectful." I supplied for her. Her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, I would say that." She commented.
"It was never meant to be disrespectful. I hold you in the utmost regard." I breathed. She stopped moving entirely, forcing me to still.
"You did it on purpose?" I could hear her temper rising. She pulled away, her hands balling into fists.
"Yes." My answer was blunt, but honest. Her eyes flashed and I knew she was mad.
"Why the hell would you do that?" she snarled. She glared at me.
"Because you could express what I could not even feel. In your passion, you display a unique beauty." I turned my head to the side. "I apologize. I must be leaving Lt." I headed towards where I knew the doors would be.
I had almost reached the doorway when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked to see B'Elanna standing there with a soft look in her eyes. "It's done and in the past. Come." She pulled me to her and wrapped her arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and rested my head on her shoulder. She leaned her cheek on my forehead. We stayed like that, even when the music changed and began to throb. We stayed like that until we forced to leave when our hologrid time was up.