Part 9

"So, what brings you to this part of space, Captain?" Picard narrowed in on her. "It is Captain, right?"

"Yeah. You have to know I was always destined to be up here, not confined to a boring office."

"Yes," he nodded. "Actually, I knew it was just a matter of time."

Janeway smirked. "Maybe you knew before I did," she sighed.

"So," he began, getting right to the point. "I take it you're here because you heard about our little situation?"

Janeway internally cringed, knowing full well that was not the reason for this visit. "Well, to be honest," she swallowed, then paused as she contemplated how to explain.

He quirked an eyebrow and offered a smile, and it was one that the redhead was certain she had never seen before. "I see," he interrupted. "Well, you're here now, and we really could use your assistance."

"Then I am happy to help."

"So, tell me Kathryn, do I need let Starfleet know that you are here?"

Janeway scratched at her ear. "I guess that is totally up to you," she answered, discomfort in her tone.

"So, this must be urgent? Vital part of your mission?" Picard teased.

Janeway was in unchartered territory. She had never gone rogue before; she was always strictly by the book. In fact, this was so foreign to her, and she was so out of sorts that she wasn't entirely sure what to say to that. "Yes," she finally blurted, somewhat breathlessly.

"Oh?" he looked at her lazily then turned to his desk and looked down at a PADD.

"I think you know, or not. I don't know, I just had to. I'll probably getting reprimanded. But I just have this feeling in me that this needs to be done." She blinked at what she said, unsure if she was even making sense.

He lowered his head and sighed, even if his lips held a comical smile. "Well you'll have to wait."

"Wait?" Janeway blinked, her face clueless as her heart pounded in her chest.

Picard couldn't contain his soft chuckle. "We are talking about the same thing here, are we not?"

All this small talk and going around in circles was driving Kathryn crazy. She just didn't care anymore, protocols be damned. "I'm here to see Seven," she finally stated, her eyes firm and there was nothing short about the command tone that was evident in her voice.

Picard now grinned inwardly. "Yes, that's exactly why I said you'd have to wait," he bantered.

Janeway wasn't having any of it. "I know she is part of your crew. This is very important. Please, I'm just asking for a few minutes of her time."

Picard moved around his desk and leaned back on it, crossing his arms. "I can see that. But you do realize she is not just a member of this crew, but an essential part of it. She is my first officer, my new number one in fact."

Somehow that hit Janeway harder than she expected. "I …" she swallowed. "I understand. I just need like ten minutes with her…tops."

His eyes squinted for a moment, then he grinned again. "You can have longer, but like I said, you'll have to wait. You see, she is on the surface and isn't back aboard yet."

Janeway wanted to growl from being teased like this. All he needed to say was she isn't on the ship right now. "I see." She now couldn't hide her own smile. "You were toying with me."

"I was just being honest, Captain," he breathed. "If you don't mind, I have a few things I need to go over, and now that you are here, we will be needing that assistance from you."

"Understood."

"In the meantime why don't you go spend time in our new conservatory. The kids on the ship love it," he winked.

She gave him an odd look. "Um… okay."

"I am sure Seven will be back here in an hour or two." He grabbed the PADD he was looking at earlier. "Go get a bite to eat, have a few minutes to relax."

"All right, I'll take you up on that," she said, then turned to leave but swayed back. "Thank you."

"Kathryn, it is not a problem. Just make sure that I get an invite," he smiled broadly and then winked again.

She gave him an odd look before she headed out. She was on her way to the nearest lounge, but something in the way Picard looked at her made her turn and take the lift that brought her to the conservatory.

She stepped out and was in total awe as she absorbed the area. All sort of plant life was growing, and in its midst was a small playground and some tables. Off to the right she saw a few kids who looked like they were playing the old game of kick ball. She smiled as she took a spot on the nearest picnic table.

It wasn't long before an automated server swung around to her. "What will it be, ma'am?"

"Coffee black."

"Right away," the computer chirped.

As soon as her lips touch the hot liquid, she was interrupted. "Hello."

Blinking, she looked across the table into beautiful blue eyes….eyes that reminded her of someone….followed by the cutest smile. "Well hello to you."

The small child crossed her arms and narrowed in sharply at her. "I don't recall seeing you here before." Her gaze now landed on the insignia on her uniform and those blue eyes went wide. "You…" she studied again before finishing. "You are a captain?"

"Very perceptive," Janeway said, sporting a sly grin. "Do you always talk to strangers?" she asked, looking around for her parent.

"You are aboard our ship, sporting a captain's uniform. How can that be? There is only one captain aboard this vessel, and you are not Jon Luc," she interrogated.

Kathryn eyed the little girl for a moment, wondering how it was that this girl was on a first name basis with the captain, and how inquisitive she was for how young she looked. "Oh?"

The girl's eyes sharpened, and something about them haunted Janeway. In fact, she had this sinking feeling that she shouldn't tease her, that she should just be honest. "You are right, I'm from another vessel. I am just visiting."

That seemed to appease the girl. "Oh well, then I should welcome you. Hi, welcome to the Starship Enterprise."

This made Janeway smile as she took a sip of her coffee. "Well thank you. And you are?"

"I am Selene, and I am here with my school." The girl offered her hand after she pointed in the direction of what looked like a small group of children.

"Well," Kathryn now stretched her hand out and gently shook the little girl's. "It's nice to meet you. I am Kathryn."

Selene rocked back. "Really?" Her eyes went wide again.

"Yes," Janeway drawled.

Selene hesitated as a huge smile split her lips. "I am Kathryn too, well my middle name is."

Janeway was enthralled with this child, and couldn't contain her soft chuckle. "It is a good name." She now observed the other kids that were clearly in Selene's class and then looked at the girl across from her, narrowing in on her. "Hey, aren't you a little young to be in school? Or am I seeing this wrong?" She slightly laughed. "I am getting older and I could be just needing glasses."

That made Selene giggle. "You are correct, I am a lot younger. I am just really advanced for my age and I hated being in the preschool. It's so for babies."

"I can see that." Kathryn took another swig of her drink. "So, is your mom or dad here with you?"

Right away Selene looked sad, and she puffed out a long breath. "No," she sighed.

"Oh why not?" Kathryn didn't want to overstep, but she also didn't want a parent getting upset that their daughter went off by herself talking to a complete stranger. So she looked over her shoulder just in case.

Selene watched her and her forehead furrowed somewhat. "She's actually on assignment."

"Ah," Janeway breathed.

"Been gone for a few days now. I really miss her."

"So your mother is on assignment," Kathryn guessed then wondered even further. "And your father?"

"I don't have a father." The girl shrugged. "I have some cool uncles, but no father."

That tore at Kathryn's heart, and she had no idea why. She also had no clue why she was sitting here talking to her. Maybe because she had a few hours to kill. "I'm sorry."

Selene shrugged again. "It's okay." She then watched as Janeway took another sip of her drink. "Is that coffee?"

Captain Janeway eyed her drink, then Selene. "It is, why?"

"May I have a little?"

Kathryn scrunched up her nose. "I don't think you'd like it."

"Actually I have it all the time. It's just that this teacher thinks I should only drink what is provided today."

"Your mother lets you have coffee?"

"Of course, it keeps you sharp," the girl lied, as she smiled sassily.

That forced Kathryn to jerk back, and that simple phrase seemed to taunt at her. She knew that Selene was lying to her, but she was so damn cute she felt powerless to resist. All she could do was slide her mug slowly across the table. "Just a little."

Selene moaned into the liquid, as if she had been in a desert and this was her first sip of water. She took one more swallow before she slid it back to her. "Thank you so much," she said dramatically.

"You're welcome."

"I like you, Captain Kathryn."

"I like you too, Selene." Janeway said. "And thank you for keeping me company while I wait for my friend."

"Who you waiting for?"

"An old friend. Captain Picard said she is on the surface, but she is due back any minute."

"What's her name?"

Janeway didn't think anything of it and just shrugged. "Well, her name is Seven, she's your sh….."

"Mom!" Selene jumped up as soon as she heard the conservatory doors open and saw her mother appear, a look of shock and apprehension on her face.

Kathryn blinked, and understood she was referring to her actual mother as she watched her dart around her to the other side of the room.

Janeway could hear the girl's happy squeal of laughter as she took another sip of her coffee, then a familiar voice telling Selene she missed her so much. It made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck slightly raise. She had this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had to gather a breath before she could turn to see who Selene's mother was, but somehow deep inside she already knew.

Now it seemed Kathryn couldn't even catch her breath as she drew in the sight of mother and daughter in a tight embrace. "No," she whispered somewhat choked up, not sure she was seeing it all clearly. "How…did she say…" she trailed off as she now found herself standing as she continued to stare.

It was such a beautiful sight seeing them embracing and smiling at one another. She felt like a voyeur and thought about turning away, yet she found herself frozen. She was finally here, and the reason she was on this ship was now standing a few feet away. What's it been Kathryn a few months since you saw her last? And she still takes your breath away.

Then as if a bolt of lightning hit her she snapped out of her love sick coma and finally realized that Seven has a daughter. SEVEN HAS A DAUGHTER! How could it be?

Anger boiled up through her veins as she watched her interact with Selene and it was clear as the day was long, that this beautiful girl was Seven's biological child. How did I miss that?

Her eyes sharpened on them as she drank them in. Chakotay! She thought, bile rising up in her throat. He must be the father. Even thinking it, she still questioned it. Selene said she didn't have a father. If not Chakotay, then who damn it?! She thought as she ground her teeth together. She now noticed them in conversation and a glance in her direction seemed to simmer her down some. Besides, what right did she have to be angry about this? Seven had her own life after Voyager, and why shouldn't she? After all, Kathryn was the one who pushed her away. She tried to reason with herself, but felt the flutter in her chest at the annoyance that she hadn't even bothered to tell her about Selene.

All this was going through her head as she now saw Seven really looking her over. That same electric smolder that would do her in all those years ago still had that same effect on her now. Seven's face was a mixture of surprise and something else that she couldn't quite name. She could swear she could see a shimmering of tears as the ex-Borg sauntered closer.

"Admiral," she greeted as coolly and calmly as she could, but in the back of her mind kept wondering what Admiral Janeway was doing on the Starship Enterprise. At the same time, she was actually glad to see her this time. The weight of the secret had been gnawing at her, and she knew it was time. The blonde's heart was bursting with the knowledge that Janeway had finally seen her own child…their child. She couldn't hide the tears in her eyes even if she had wanted to. She wasn't sure what Kathryn knew, or how… all she knew was that this time had finally come. It is now or never. Seven thought. She needs to know.

Janeway cleared her throat as she stared at Seven. "It's Captain now," she told her directly, a hint of resentment laced in her tone.

Seven glanced at her insignia then back into her eyes. "My apologies, Captain."

They were at a stand still, both unsure how to proceed, but then Selene did it for them. "That's my new friend. She even has my name," she said softly yanking on her mother's hand.

Seven felt that like a knife to her chest and wanted to cringe, but stood tall and never let on. "What are you doing here?" she asked instead.

Kathryn gazed at Seven noticing how different she looked now. She was still beautiful as ever, but now she held a confidence that was even more striking. It appeared that motherhood agreed with Seven. It made her something entirely new, making her seem even more irresistible to Kathryn. Not just to her, but she knew that everyone that would even look her way would find her absolutely stunning.

She just couldn't get over it, as she stared at Seven's and Selene's connected hands. She drew in a breath, and then another. "Why didn't you tell me?" she finally spat, louder than she wanted.

Seven calmly inhaled. "Maybe we should go somewhere else to talk about this," she said as she surveyed the area once a few heads popped up and looked their way with Kathryn's outburst.

Janeway's nostrils flared. "You bet we will," she stated firmly. "Lead the way," she grated.

Seven turned, still holding Selene's hand. "This way." They quietly walked out of the conservatory and onto the lift. Once Seven told which deck, the lift began to move, and Selene cautiously looked up at the adults, then leaned into her mother.

"Why is she mad at you, Mommy?" she whispered with worried eyes.

Kathryn wanted to roll her eyes at herself for making this sweet innocent girl so uncomfortable. She knew it wasn't her fault and she wanted clear the air, so she bent down so she was eye level with Selene. "I'm not mad, honey. I am just sad that your mother didn't trust me enough to tell me about you. I thought we were friends."

It took all of Seven's training not to turn on her former Captain for blaming this all on her, and to her daughter even! Instead she took a settling breath. "We were friends, Captain. Were is the operative word here," she fired calmly. "As in past tense." She leveled a pointed look at the other woman, then dropped her gaze down to Selene and back to Kathryn. Seeing them together, this close, she saw even more similarities between the two, and it hit her, making her go quiet.

"I'm sorry, Selene. I'm not mad. I just need to talk to your mother," Kathryn smiled at her, then stood back up and straightened her uniform. Soon as the lift opened they walked quietly as they rounded the corner, then entered a room and right away she knew it was Seven's and Selene's quarters. It was very neat, except for a few toys scattered on the floor. Seven quickly bent over and held them out for the little girl. "What did I tell you about leaving your toys out?"

"Not to. Sorry Mommy," she said, and took them from her mother's hands than ran off toward her room.

"What did I tell you about running in our quarters?"

"Not to," Selene yelled, and Janeway didn't miss the way Seven looked to the ceiling, before shaking her head.

"And yelling," she exhaled softly before turning back to Kathryn. "Would you care for something to drink?"

Kathryn's heart felt like it was going to burst at the scene in front of her. It took everything in her not let it get to her, after all, she was still angry here. "No," Janeway snarled. She wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "How?" she fired first, her breath coming out raggedly. "And how did I not know this?" She ran a hand through her hair. "You were my friend, part of my crew…." She trailed off as the emotions were getting to her. Tears filled her eyes and she heatedly pushed them back. "We were more," she vaguely said then closed her eyes and shook her head. She was determined to not go there, not now. "And why isn't Chakotay part of her life?"

Seven paused and gathered some short breaths as she examined her former Captain, her confidant, mentor and yes, her friend. She was more than that at one time, hell if she was honest she knew she would always be more.

"Well," she began. "One, after I examined all the evidence it came down to the water, but mostly it was the planet we were on. Two, you said it was a mistake, and she will never be a mistake. Not to me, not ever," she told her shaking her head. "She is everything. Yes we were friends, but then you distanced yourself and told me to move on." She ignored the more part, because that was just giving her mixed signals. "And lastly he is part of her life."

That wasn't at all what Kathryn expected and she wasn't sure if she had even heard any of it right. She gritted her teeth, and growled. "God damn it Seven tell me the truth."

"Fine," Seven inhaled, her eyes softening as she stepped closer to the smaller woman. "Kathryn, Selene, that little girl in there….she is your daughter."