Prompt 59: "Wow." (C/7 Family)

Episode: Post-"Endgame"

Author's Note: This chapter is a direct sequel to "You can tell me anything."

/

As they headed back to Sekaya's house, this time it was Seven and Irene who walked ahead. Sekaya hung back and Chakotay kept pace with her, sensing that she had another bone to pick with him and preferring that their guests didn't overhear. He did not have long to wait.

"Be honest with me. How serious are you about that girl?"

It was a question he'd asked himself more than once. He hadn't been serious about a woman in a long time, mostly because of his terrible track record, but Seven was different. Before Voyager crossed the transwarp hub, he had promised her that wherever they went next, it would be in transporter range of each other, and he meant it (although he'd found out since then that transporter range wasn't nearly close enough).

"I'm serious. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not in the way you're thinking, so don't growl," Sekaya retorted. "She seems like a decent person, and when you say her Borg implants aren't a threat, I believe you - "

"You should."

" – And I'm not even getting into the fact that she's half your age - "

"She has an old soul. We of all people should understand that."

" – But can she fit in here? That's the question."

Chakotay thought, reluctantly, of the unexpected challenges that had come with accommodating Seven over the past few days: how the portable regeneration unit she'd brought with her had caused a village-wide blackout before they could reroute the power; how she'd stood in a corner at her own welcome party while everyone gossiped or told stories; how she'd wrinkled her nose at the smell of the neighbors' farm animals. She reminded him of himself as a teenager.

"I don't suppose," he said, "You've ever wondered whether I fit in here."

She shot him a look that could have scorched duranium. "You literally just apologized to me for being away so long."

"I have no intention of abandoning you, or this place. I plan to come back as often as I can. But the old ways don't suit me, they never did. That's not going to change."

"You're still one of us."

"And she's an offworlder, is that it? Can you even hear yourself?"

Sekaya flinched at the sharpness of his voice as if he'd struck her, but he didn't take it back. Judging by her reaction, she must have realized he had a point.

"It can't have been easy, I know," he added. "Fighting to preserve our culture during enemy occupation. I can only imagine what you must have been through. But if we're going to keep the old ways alive, we shouldn't do it by excluding people. If we do that, how are we any better than all the people who've excluded us?"

It was the same argument he must have had with his father hundreds of times. Sekaya took after him in stubbornness, although to be fair, so did he. This time, however, she didn't argue back right away, but kept silent as she walked beside him, her gaze thoughtful. He hoped this meant she was at least considering his words. He couldn't force her to accept Seven as a potential sister-in-law, but it would mean the world to him if she did.

Children's shouts and laughter startled him out of his thoughts. The four of them were at the edge of the village, where – despite everything – the old soccer field he used to play on still stood, although the goalposts were rusty and the lawn somewhat muddy, since it must have rained the night before. A casual game was going on, children and teenagers of different ages running around after the ball as friends and family cheered from the sidelines.

"Seven - Commander - " A lanky, mud-spattered, tousle-haired figure came running up to them, smiling and breathing hard, a soccer ball tucked under one arm. It took a moment to recognize him as Icheb. "I stopped three goals as goalkeeper. This game is almost identical to the one I played on Brunal."

"Congratulations," said Chakotay, smiling.

"He's not bad for a beginner, Uncle." Sekaya's son Nahuel joined them, clapping Icheb on the shoulder. "Once you get him to stop overthinking."

"Icheb, you are filthy," exclaimed Seven. "There are no sonic showers here. How do you expect to get clean again?"

This drained the smiles out of everybody's faces, including her ward's. Chakotay could guess what she was thinking – dirt was a brand-new aspect of parenting for her; even pottery lessons in Voyager's mess hall had been tidier than this – but to Sekaya and Nahuel, it must have sounded like an insult to their entire way of life.

Mercifully, Icheb was still on an endorphin high from his soccer game; either that, or he simply knew Seven better than any of them. "With soap and water, like everyone else," he retorted. "Join us."

"Join you?"

"It's a fascinating exercise in spatial geometry." He grinned. "Can you hit the ball past me? I bet you can't."

That did it. Seven had a fierce competitive streak when it came to sports, as Kathryn and Tom had learned to their peril. She pulled her sun hat down over her eyes, rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, and said: "Give me the ball."

Nahuel whooped. Icheb tossed the ball. Seven tore away with it, kicking up mud and not caring an iota, running until she became a white-gold blur of strength, focus and motion. Within moments, she had launched the ball into the air with one glorious kick. It went sailing clear across the field and through the goalposts in spite of Icheb diving after it, landing all the way in a clump of bushes.

"Wow," Chakotay breathed, the sound tearing out of his throat in pure awe.

"Go, darling, go!" Irene took off her hat and waved it in the air, beaming with pride.

The children burst into cheers, even Icheb the thwarted goalie. They swarmed around Seven like a flock of birds, demanding to know how she'd done that and whether she could show them. Her hat fell off, dangling by its strings around her neck, tendrils of blond hair escaping in all directions. Chakotay couldn't hear what she was saying, but he knew by the angle of her head and the set of her shoulders that she was happy.

"I'll say this for your Seven of Nine, brother," said Sekaya, smiling reluctantly. "I do believe her heart is in the right place."

Chakotay nodded.

It wasn't an unqualified acceptance; that would take time. For now, though, it was enough.