She did not know how to properly deal with the emotions, but she did not know of anyone she felt comfortable sharing her feelings with. Usually she would have talked with Captain Janeway or Chakotay, but as they were involved in generating the emotions that did not seem appropriate. Nor did she want to discuss them with the Doctor, whose own recent revelation of his romantic interest in her made Seven decide not to ask his advice.

Eventually she decided on a course of action and made her way to crew quarters. Most of the crew was packing their belongings, and she hoped that the person whose opinion she sought would be among them.

"Come in," was the muffled response to the door chime. Seven stepped into the nearly-empty quarters, which at this point contained mostly storage boxes. After a moment Tom Paris, well-known for his knowledge of rumors, stepped out from the bedroom. "Hi, Seven."

The Doctor had challenged her several weeks prior to being using greetings more often. As Voyager was now in Earth orbit, it seemed like a wise suggestion, and Tom Paris would be an ideal person to begin with. "Hi," she ventured, and then progressed to a more comfortable use of words. "How is your packing progressing?"

"The hardest part has been keeping B'Elanna away from it!" he responded. "I told her that I'd take care of it, but she doesn't think she needs to rest any more than I do."

Seven raised her optical implant. "I assume that Miral is keeping you awake at night."

He nodded. "We only get to sleep about three hours at a time. Miral is doing great, though. B'Elanna just took her for a checkup with the Doctor while I finish packing. Between you and me, I think he schedules these checkups just to see her more," he chuckled.

"I would not rule out the possibility."

"When are you taking apart your alcove?" he asked, leaning against the bare wall.

"Ensign Kim and I are scheduled to begin deconstruction at 1600 hours. Starfleet has agreed that it may be installed in my assigned quarters while we debrief."

"Starfleet temporary housing, also known as cages."

"Are you and Lieutenant Torres relocating to a 'cage?'"

He smiled. "Actually, we're not. We're going to stay with my parents. Not for long – just until we can get settled and get our own place. My mom is going to help out with Miral while we debrief."

"You plan to stay on Earth, then."

He shrugged. "It's important to us that Miral have a good childhood. We decided that we'll take planetside assignments, if Starfleet keeps us. Settling on the moon isn't out of the question, though."

"Starfleet would be foolish if they do not authorize your commissions."

"At least the worst they'll do is decide not to reinstate us."

"I do not think that Captain Janeway would have agreed to leave Voyager if Starfleet failed to pardon former Maquis members."

He laughed. "Probably not."

She found that learning about her crewmates' plans was a desirable goal. Perhaps there was more to "small talk" than she had assumed. This would require further consideration.

"How about you, Seven? What are your plans?"

"I have agreed to a rigorous debriefing," she said. "The captain said that they were asking too much, but I disagree. The information I will provide could save millions of lives."

"How rigorous?"

"I estimate that the process will take six months."

He whistled. "Whoa! You're not joking!"

"No."

"How about after that?"

Here she was uncertain. Seven did not like uncertainty. "I have not made definite plans," she confessed. "I believe that I would prefer to work as a civilian scientist, as Starfleet's regulations are constricting. There are many research groups that study astrometric phenomena."

"Sounds like a good fit for you."

The conversation stopped, and she found that it was time to bring up the topic which had compelled her visit. "You are undoubtedly aware of the rumors that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were romantically attracted to each other." He was also undoubtedly aware that she and Chakotay were at least reported to be romantically involved, but she did not mention that.

He had the tact not to mention it either, but shifted his gaze slightly away from her. "I think everyone has, Seven."

"Could you please enumerate?"

"What?"

"Could you please enumerate?"

He looked at her disbelievingly. "You want me to retell old gossip?"

"Yes."

"I don't suppose I get to know why."

"I would prefer to keep my reasons to myself," she answered. Of course, the question would suggest certain things to him, but that could not be helped.

"Oh boy," he muttered. "A lot of it centered around New Earth. You know about that, right?" She nodded, and he continued. "Well, they were down there alone, and thought they'd be there the rest of their lives. So, for a lot of people, the natural conclusion is that they started a relationship. Or at least that they were moving towards one."

"And after New Earth?"

"They never gave any signs of being more than friends. I think that some people mistook friendship for something else. The captain probably felt like he was one of the few people she could let her guard down with. Especially by the time you came on board. In the beginning, she was more open. Chakotay is a good man, and he didn't want her to shoulder the burden alone. They work well together, they're friends – but of course there are always people who will think more is going on."

"Were you among them?"

Once again he looked at her incredulously. "You do know what you're asking, right?"

She answered quickly and evenly, "I'm asking you whether you were among those who speculated on the possibility of a romantic relationship between Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay."

"Yep, you know what you're asking." He shook his head. "Where is all this coming from?"

She lifted her ocular implant again. "I suspect that you already know."

He didn't seem to know how to respond. "Oh."

She lowered the tone of her voice. "Were you among them?"

He looked sideways to see Earth below them. Currently the horn of Africa was visible from the windows. "I was, once," he said after a long moment of silence.

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded. "That's what friends are for."

"I should return to the cargo bay. Ensign Kim will be arriving soon, although he cautioned that he may be late due to his mother's unwillingness to let him out of her sight."

"I met her yesterday, and I don't doubt that!"

"I would appreciate it if you and Lieutenant Torres kept this conversation to yourselves," she said. The least desirable position would involve public knowledge of her questions.

"We will," he replied, then did what she knew to be considered a 'double take.' "Wait, we?"

"I have no intentions of asking you to keep a secret from your wife. Would that not be considered rude?"

He smiled and laughed in a manner that Seven had come to realize was approving. "You've come a long way, Seven."