Seven was still sitting, hands curled around her mug of tea, so the night was already a success.

The fact that she currently seemed somewhat lost in thought, formulating an idea, a means of expression, was even better, at least, so Kathryn thought as she took another sip of wine. It meant that she looked like a young woman. One suited for Kathryn's holonovels, with corsets and society restricting her expression, maybe - but still, a young woman, grappling with her thoughts and her emotions.

It was lovely.

Well, if she were honest with herself, Seven had a habit of being lovely, no matter her circumstances. But this growth, this expansion towards humanity, was always the goal. Particularly tonight.

After Seven had lied to her, Kathryn had come to a sort of determination. Seven's lying meant she was continuing to pick up her humanity. Her lying to Kathryn meant that Kathryn hadn't succeeded in offering herself as the kind of friend she hoped to be to Seven.

Kathryn thought that she had opened the door for Seven to come to her about anything. And at first, that seemed to be the case. At least as she figured it. Philosophical discussions about humanity and the universe at one in the morning were exactly the kind of thing she had loved about her first adult friendships, her friends at the Academy. Exactly the kind of bonding she wanted and expected. So she didn't quite put together that while Seven might have valued her responses over most people on the ship, those topics weren't necessarily the ones she found most... vulnerable.

Then, Seven didn't stop by her quarters as often. Then, Seven lied. And then, finally, Kathryn figured it out. They needed to expand their territory. Be friends. Real friends. At least as much as she could as the captain, and as much as Seven could while still finding herself - or even wanted to.

So Kathryn asked if Seven would like to join her for dinner. Seven offering to cook was a wonderful secondary benefit. Especially when Seven agreed that she would like to continue having dinner. A scheduled dinner, once a week barring unforeseen disaster. And so it went. Mostly smoothly.

There were setbacks. Reverting to debates. Kathryn pushing too hard. Kathryn not wanting to open herself up to those same lines of inquiry. Seven prodding at those insecurities, those inconsistencies. Seven unwilling to just sit and chat after their meal and their discussions had ended. But that wasn't really the heart of it. Most of all, they had talked. They had begun to grow into something new.

And tonight, without Kathryn even pressing, Seven had finally disclosed the truth behind her lies all those weeks ago - that she had gotten lost in getting to be fully human.

It was early in their meal, and as Seven recounted her holodeck experience of B'Elanna's baby shower, Kathryn was at once heartbroken and struggling to repress a smile.

Managing her captain's facade, she waited until Seven had come to her natural conclusion, and then expressed that she thought Seven had done brilliantly in her simulation - and that she would have done just the same in the real event. Barreling through before Seven could offer a rebuttal, Kathryn said that the Seven in the holodeck was the same woman she was sitting with right then. Her implants didn't change her quick wit, nor her ability to identify with those holographic shipmates. Yes, they were certainly less intimidating than the real thing, but Kathryn had no doubt Seven programmed all of them to be as close to their reality as possible. And Seven hadn't needed any practice. Or do-overs. She had managed the event perfectly. Seven, yes, part-Borg Seven, could have done just the same.

Seven had taken that in like it was the most complex calculation she had ever heard.

But after a moment of deliberation, she seemed to settle into it, accepting Kathryn's premise with words, if not with her heart. The conversation changed and continued, but every once in a while, Kathryn could spot these tiny moments of understanding sparking in Seven's mind. Or at least she thought she could.

And then, after they finished yet another immaculate creation of Seven's, for the first time in all their dinners, Seven agreed to stay and sit and chat.

Seven had accepted a tea, Kathryn had poured herself another glass of wine, and they talked about the small things that matter. What Seven had heard from Naomi during their latest game of Kadis Kot. What Kathryn had sculpted in her last holodeck session. Easy back and forth, just like Kathryn knew Seven was capable of. Just like she had told her. And then Seven had quieted, settling into considering something bigger.

Kathryn sat back, and didn't press. Seven would tell her once she knew how. They were friends. The silence was easy, too.

So there they were.

Then, Seven came to her decision, and Kathryn, reading the shift, leaned in incrementally to hear.

"I would like to ask Commander Chakotay on a date."

Kathryn was very glad she had not taken a sip of wine just then.

"Oh?" Kathryn managed, emphasizing her curiosity.

Seven looked to her, head tilted slightly, as if she had not expected surprise at all.

So perhaps Seven wasn't fully as capable at relating to her peers as Kathryn might have thought. But then, Kathryn had to remember that Seven hadn't been around for the beginning. On the basis of only their recent interactions, there was some level of distance between the Captain and the Commander. Their... connection was at its weakest, and likely imperceptible to someone entirely new to romance. To someone who not only didn't know their history but what subtleties there were sometimes in human behavior to pick up on.

Then, of course, there was the all too prominent truth that Kathryn and Chakotay had never actually had anything.

To explain all of that - it wouldn't help either of them. There were plenty of other reasonable explanations for her reaction at Kathryn's disposal.

"I'm sorry, Seven, I just wouldn't have guessed you were interested in the Commander."

"Why?"

Always the hardest question. Kathryn took a sip of her wine. Best to go honest - as honest as possible.

"My own biases about relationships," Kathryn explained. "Harry is closer to you in age, Fiona in Xenobiology has your passion for scientific discovery..." Seven was beginning to look more confused, and Kathryn knew she had to suck it up. "But ignore me. Chakotay is a wonderful choice. I am sure he will accept if you ask."

Kathryn couldn't revel in her selflessness because Seven was still considering her with those piercing eyes. And Kathryn couldn't think of anything else to offer up. Luckily, Seven didn't leave her waiting long.

"Ensign Gwaith?"

Kathryn resisted a chuckle, but at least Seven didn't seem offended.

"I suppose you haven't had much reason to interact with her," Kathryn qualified her choice. "But if you get the chance, I do think you would at least make good friends. She's smart," Kathryn considered Fiona's potential drawbacks. "A little too smart, but I think you understand that better than most."

Still Seven scrutinized her, like everything was foggier now than it was before. And like she still expected Kathryn to lead her through it. But Kathryn was starting to get lost herself.

Seven spoke up first. "She is a woman."

Well, that didn't help Kathryn much.

"Yes," Kathryn replied, waiting for the back half, but none was forthcoming. Seven had retreated back into her earlier pensiveness, considering what to say. This time, Kathryn wasn't content to watch the process, feeling a little unsettled, she joked, half-heartedly, "Do you have problem with us gals?"

"I may date a woman?"

Of all the things Kathryn expected to hear in the 24th century, and in Seven's soft voice... She didn't hesitate.

"Of course you can, Seven. Of course. Who -" Kathryn set her wine down as she suddenly remembered the Doctor's role in Seven's growth and cursed herself for not instituting these dinners earlier. "Zimmerman - that ancient - Excellent programmer, horrible almost everything else."

Seven's raised eyebrow seemed to take some delight in Kathryn's flustered state, and it was enough to get her to settle some. She took a deep breath and left her chair to take a seat next to Seven on the couch.

"Seven. You may be interested in whomever you are interested in. And you can ask anyone on a date, man, woman, human, alien - anyone - as long as they are capable of consent."

"That is... enlightening," Seven replied, with what appeared to be relief and something she still needed to puzzle out.

Kathryn couldn't resist taking her hand. "I'm sorry. I should have asked you how you felt about all of this before. And I shouldn't have left so much to the Doctor. Hopefully he was just being oblivious."

Kathryn determined that she and the Doctor were going to have a talk about this anyway. Especially now that she realized so many of her assumptions were just that, and she didn't know where Seven stood on romance other than what she must have picked up from her "research" on Tom and B'Elanna. Which didn't necessarily bode well.

"Seven, if you have any questions, about dating or romance," She was digging herself into a hole here, "Or sex, or anything else of the like, ask them and I will do my best to answer them as a fellow human woman of the current century."

Seven seemed to consider her offer seriously but pronounced, "I believe the Doctor's instruction was primarily lacking for its focus on heterosexual pairings."

"I'm sure that's the case," Kathryn reassured, knowing there would be a host of gendered specificity to weed out, but a date in it's purest form hadn't changed much over the past couple hundred years. Relationships... well. The heart of them, pun intended, stayed the same. But those discussions could come later, when Seven found someone. Kathryn ignored the momentary pulse of hazy dissatisfaction at the thought of that. "Pairings", on the other hand, she should address.

"Ah, you don't just have to pick one person to date, either. Both before you and your partner decide to be exclusive, or after, if you are not. And there are many people who engage in a relationship with more than one partner at the same time," Kathryn tried to explain, feeling like she was heading straight for the deep end, and realizing Seven couldn't be feeling much better. "But you don't have to think about any of that right now. It's more than fine to go one date at a time."

Seven remained quiet for a moment, processing again, but then she asked, "Have you engaged in a polyamorous relationship?"

Kathryn knew she brought this on herself, but there was still something so uncomfortable about acknowledging her romantic life at all after all these years.

"No," she replied. "I have always been a one-person kinda girl. But there are crewmembers who I'm sure would talk to you if you'd like to know more."

Seven shook her head. "That won't be necessary. I believe that I will also be a 'one-person kind of girl'."

Kathryn smiled. "All right. But if you ever change your mind - about that or anything else - that's okay, too."

She sighed as her own experiences ran unprompted through her mind. "All of this," she gestured broadly, "is overwhelming even to those of us who were born and raised in it. Most of human adolescence and young adulthood is a mess of feeling new things and trying to figure out what to do with them in the pursuit of happiness. That you have been thrown into it all at once with only a holographic doctor and an old captain for guidance certainly does not make it easier."

That was enough to get Seven to smirk. "You are not old."

"Old enough," Kathryn huffed, certainly feeling it in this conversation.

Seven settled back into her consideration, though it was comfortable once again, and Kathryn was content to watch her log the new information. Especially since Kathryn could only imagine the mess she would have been in Seven's shoes.

Seven took a sip of her tea, and Kathryn grabbed her wine, but stayed with Seven on the couch. Maybe the rest of this conversation could just be broad concepts of dating and relationships - and they could put off any discussion of Kathryn's own experiences - or Chakotay - at least until their next meal.

"I believe I have been remiss," Seven started when she had thought it all through. "I have assimilated information on thousands of mating behaviors of thousands of species but failed to make the connection for humanity or my own possibilities."

Kathryn smiled softly. "It's different when it's your life, Seven. Your emotions. It's easy to get caught up in it. Trying to figure out what the rules are, what's expected, all while you're also more vulnerable. It's easy to focus on the tree right in front of you and not see the forest. And your outside guidance didn't compensate."

Seven acknowledged the truth in her points with a nod. "Indeed."

After another comfortable moment, Seven continued, "Dating is the action of engaging in activities with a partner of potential romantic interest to determine whether they will make a satisfactory companion."

There wasn't a question there, but Kathryn knew Seven was looking to confirm what she thought she knew, what the Doctor had taught her.

"Pretty spot on."

"I may ask anyone I am interested in on a date."

"You certainly may," Kathryn confirmed. "And while it's tough if they're not interested back, it's still good practice to be brave and ask and know for sure."

Seven frowned a little, with new perspective. "What occurs if the person I ask does not want to accompany me on a date?"

"Well," Kathryn began, unable to keep her own memories of past rejections back, "First, you accept their answer. Then, you don't blame them for your disappointment. That part's harder. But people can't control who they're interested in, and it's not a reflection on you." She took the time to consider Seven a moment. "In fact, if we weren't on this ship, I guarantee you'd be an expert on turning down dates. You're what we'd call a "catch", Seven."

At Seven's raised eyebrow, Kathryn knew immediately she should course correct back to her original answer.

"But if you're lucky, and understanding about the rejection, you might go on to make a friend. Or keep a good one."

Seven smirked a little. "I have had such an experience. With Ensign Kim."

Kathryn remembered Harry's crush but not any particular details, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know more. But the important piece was still there, rejection had turned into friendship, Seven had context.

"There you go."

Seeing that Seven had caught that certain glint of determination around her eyes, Kathryn couldn't help but be curious where this left her plans for a date. She tried to resist, knowing no good would come of the answer for her, but beneath her hesitation, she found she was excited for Seven. Excited for the vicarious thrill of romance.

"So," she held off just long enough to swallow the last of her wine, "Are you still willing to give it a try?"

Seven didn't hesitate.

"Yes. I will 'be brave'," she teased, throwing Kathryn's words back.

Kathryn was overcome by a wave of fondness. "You always are." She pulled herself back lest she be washed away entirely. "Chakotay is a very lucky man."

"I do not wish to ask Commander Chakotay now," Seven announced, clearly following some pre-determined path and waiting for Kathryn to catch up.

"Oh?" Kathryn wasn't about to guess. "Then who's the lucky person?"

"You."

Seven said it just as she would report on a particularly clear spacial phenomenon, remarkably assured considering, but vibrating with something underneath, excitement or maybe worry.

But Kathryn couldn't process any of that. Couldn't dissect the tiny movements and expressions she had learned for meaning, at least not past the broadest level of was this actually happening? Was Seven asking her on a date her current reality?

She didn't truly know.

"What?" Kathryn managed.

Seven didn't answer, not directly, apparently just as adept at reading Kathryn.

"While he is an attractive man, and a viable romantic candidate on this ship, I had decided on Commander Chakotay primarily because of his proximity to you. Now that I know I may engage in a relationship with anyone, " Seven continued, her voice growing softer as she turned from logic into the wilds of barely understood emotions, "I understand that many of the feelings I have in your company are romantic in nature. I wish to explore those feelings, Captain. I wish to go on a date with you."

Kathryn had faced down any number of major quandaries, right down to life or death, but apparently all it took to short circuit her brain was Seven simply placing her hand on top of hers.

She wanted to grab that hand and hold it tight. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to stare into Seven's eyes as she came to terms with everything this woman had given her.

What she accomplished was a scratchy, "Seven, I..."

Seven removed her hand and Kathryn's thoughts became clearer but only on the subject of how this was all going to go horribly wrong, how she had already managed to hurt both of them.

"Do you not return my interest?" Seven asked with a steady tone, which did not manage to hide the modicum of hurt or the greater portion of confusion.

Kathryn's mind latched onto the last of it, knowing that in all her thoughts of her relationship with Chakotay she had never stopped to consider how her relationship with Seven might be read. How her insistence on touch, on proximity, suggested something that in Seven's case, she would not deny the truth of.

But making the distinction for Seven just brought it all crashing down around her.

"It's more complicated than that," she whispered, wishing for all the universe a wormhole would open up right in front of them.

Seven softened at her admission. "Why?"

Kathryn sensed Seven already knew the answer but needed her to say it. They both needed her to say it.

She didn't want to say it.

"I am the captain. I have to be the captain."

They had had a version of this conversation. About how being the captain meant that Kathryn couldn't always be Seven's friend. It was hard enough to explain the subtleties then. Now, it felt insurmountable, overwhelming in the face of how much Kathryn wished it weren't the case.

Seven took pity on her. "You cannot engage in a romantic relationship with someone under your command."

Seven taking over shored Kathryn up some. She cleared her mind of wishes and focused on the reality, on what would get them all home.

"Yes. You may not be Starfleet, but it's not just about protocol. Your life is in my hands just the same as everyone else on this ship."

Seven's head tilted. "Are your feelings for me the same as those for everyone else on this ship?"

Kathryn felt the Captain slip away from her again.

"No, Seven," she answered, "They're not."

Kathryn didn't know why she didn't try to continue, why she didn't say she considered Seven a dear friend, and that's why her feelings were different and all the more reason she didn't want them jeopardized. All of that was true - but it wasn't the truth that mattered. And while Seven wasn't exactly backing down with her rejection, she also wasn't exactly pushing. She was just looking for the truth.

So when she finally asked, "Do you return my feelings?"

Kathryn just sighed. "Yes. At least, I could."

"If we were to date. But we cannot while you are captain," Seven clarified.

Kathryn wanted to take her hand again, but shook her head instead.

"I'm so sorry, Seven."

Seven considered her with her measured gaze.

"It is not your fault, Captain." Then she added in a pronouncement soft with longing, "I will wait."

Kathryn did grab her hand then.

"No, Seven," she pleaded. "I can't take this part of your life away from you. You shouldn't wait for something that might never happen, might not even work out if it did," Kathryn ignored the way that somehow rang false to push on. "There's so much you haven't experienced - haven't gotten to experience. And you still can, even while we're out here. You could find love. Please tell me you won't give that up, at least not yet."

Kathryn prayed that the intensity of her entreaty would manage to push Seven from her determination. Their mutual stubbornness led to most of their troubles, and she couldn't stand if that were the case here.

The alternative though, with Seven looking down at their still joined hands, uncertain, was not feeling much better. Kathryn let go.

"Very well," Seven allowed after a long moment, looking up. "I will not wait."

Kathryn was utterly relieved and utterly devastated.

"Thank you, Seven. I know it hurts now," That was entirely too true and Kathryn plastered on a smile. "But you've got a lot of fun ahead of you."

"Yes," Seven was not certain. "I must retire to regenerate now."

Kathryn didn't know why she was surprised. Obviously Seven wouldn't want to stick around. She couldn't imagine Seven would want to discuss her romantic life with her anymore, either.

"Of course."

Seven stood, leaving her mug when Kathryn waved it down, and walked toward the door.

Kathryn considered stopping her - asking her if they were still on for the next week, if she would see her for velocity - and realized she couldn't.

But then, right before she was to leave, Seven stopped and turned once more to face her.

"You will bring Voyager back to Earth. When you have succeeded, and you are no longer my captain, will you accept my invitation of a date?"

Seven was so sure. It made Kathryn feel like Earth was a billion light years away. Still, the wish grew in her chest.

"If you still want it, if I can."

That wasn't enough for Seven. She asked again. All the strength of her usual pronouncements returned. "Will you?"

Kathryn returned her gaze, feeling everything she had lost in the Delta Quadrant welling up inside her.

"Yes."

Seven smiled briefly. "Acceptable. Goodnight, Captain."

The doors chirped as Seven walked away.

Kathryn didn't move, just whispered as she stared at the closed doors.

"Goodnight."