Part 17

Phoebe quietly watched her big sister playing with her daughter, and as she studied Kathryn she noticed that her eyes shimmered with such happiness, one in which she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she had never witnessed.

"I hate to interrupt." She disrupted with a slight cringe. "I just need like two minutes with my big sis."

Kathryn narrowed in on Phoebe, puzzlement etched her forehead. "What's this about? And can't it wait?"

"Like I said I'll be brief." Phoebe's eyes soft.

Kathryn hesitated then turned to her daughter, holding up a hand then folded in a few fingers leaving two up so Selene saw it. "I'll be back in two minutes." She then shuffled out of the room, and quietly closed the door. She huffed as she turned and gave her a sister a face saying she needed to speed this along.

"I'm only going to say this once, and I sure hope you actually take it, and understand it, and keep your mouth shut while I do."

Kathryn blinked. "Excuse m….."

"I mean it." Phoebe said forcefully.

Kathryn clamped her mouth shut, but she folded her arms and stared at her with an annoyed expression. "You, big sis are the happiest I have ever seen you. Nothing should be more important than that in there." She pointed toward the bedroom. "And that woman, that moments ago looked so devastated." Phoebe exhaled. "You moped around here for over 4 god damn years, and now …you're what?" She paused, then gave her a look that made Kathryn do a double take. "You're going to once again let her walk away from you, because of fucking Starfleet."

Kathryn was stunned, shocked even, that her mouth slightly fell open, but only momentarily. Phoebe was right, what was she doing? She would not allow this, Selene and Seven were way too important.

"You think I don't know that." She said proudly. Even if it took her little sister to put things in perspective, she was still the older sister after all, and she didn't need to let her know that.

A slow smile creased the younger Janeway's lips. "As long as you do. I will not let your stupidity get in the way this time." She winked, and then maneuvered around Kathryn. "Now I want to go spend time with my niece." She went to go walk into the room when she swiveled her head back to her. "And you should go find Seven."

Kathryn sighed deeply, then stood up straight, and actually felt more determined than ever.

She was just about to step aboard the shuttle, when Seven was starting down the ramp her eyes blinked in surprise at seeing her there. "Kathryn?"

"Seven," Kathryn exhaled. "We need to talk."

"I agree."

"But first, tell me how long I have?"

Seven hesitated, blinked, then sighed. "I need to be there now, but I told them I need at least 15 minutes. They gave me 10." Even though they both knew it would take a lot longer to get there.

Kathryn blew a breath out in agitation. "Understood." She said quietly. "What about Selene?"

An eyebrow raised slightly on the former Borg. "She will come with me."

Kathryn knew this, but she didn't like it. "How long will you be…" she trailed off suddenly feeling her throat squeeze, and pivoted away from the blonde.

Silence stretched out between them, and finally Seven took a few steps closer to the older woman. "I don't want to take her from you, it's just….well, I am all she's known."

Kathryn spun back and pinned her with a hurt look. "And whose fault is that?" She fired without thinking. She growled at hearing it, shaking her head she held a hand up. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She breathed, tears now in her eyes, and it took her another few seconds before she could even speak. "I don't want to lose you again….I can't." she choked, feeling her throat squeeze.

Seven inched even closer, dipping her head. "I am torn as well Kathryn, you and Selene are my world." She was feeling weak, and so out of place for the first time since she was informed she was now a singular unit. She reached out and squeezed Kathryn's hand. "I don't want to go, but if I don't…"

"Then you will be where I am." Kathryn finished.

"That's not so bad." Seven said her voice clouded with her own emotions.

"No, I will not allow that. You have exceeded, and excelled beyond anything I could have ever imagined. And you are too good for this old ex admiral… demoted captain." She saw a few tears trickling down Seven's cheeks, and it tore at her heart. She gave her a soft smile before she pulled her into her arms. "But I do love you." She whispered hugging her tightly. "Go." She vaguely husked against the shell of her ear.

Seven shook her head, and Kathryn felt it. "I can't leave you….I can't."

Kathryn drew back only so she could lean in and gently kiss Seven's lips. "Then don't." She said evenly as a slow grinned appeared. Seven blinked, she was now confused. "Because I think I shall go with you, at least to San Francisco." She rasped. "And work on getting clearance to the Star Port."

Seven's heart beamed, and now she couldn't contain her tears as they turned happy. Grasping Kathryn's cheeks tenderly she pulled her in for another kiss. They continued exchanging kisses until the smaller woman pulled back. "We are so going to be late."

"I'm already 28.6 hours late." Seven argued softly keeping her arms well around the smaller woman. "What are a few more minutes?"

Kathryn kissed her and smiled. "I like how you think."

….

"This is your place?" Kathryn asked, even though Seven did tell her that just a few minutes before they entered the apartment.

"You do not approve?"

Selene darted around her mothers, and rushed up to her room. "Selene," Seven hollered after her. "Please don't run."

Kathryn was overcome with how great this place was. "I didn't say I don't approve, it's just….. well….it's more than I expected, how's that?"

"Did you believe less or?" Seven trailed off feeling really confused by Kathryn's comment.

"Oh no, I'm sorry." She squeezed Seven's hand gently. "This is really a nice place. How long have you had it?"

"Not long, we required it before I left on the Enterprise." Seven relayed, then winked. "I should show you the bedroom."

Kathryn blushed somewhat, and cleared her throat. "Yeah, but then you'd really be late."

Seven sighed. "Will you be okay here?" She turned around the small counter that broke way to the kitchen area.

"Yes, Selene and I will be fine." Kathryn slowly nodded, following the blonde somewhat. She knew Seven had to go, even if they were trying to belay it.

"I do not wish to go, especially without Selene." Seven knew she was in good hands. The thing was this was the first time she was going without her.

Kathryn knew this was going to be hard on Seven, and came to her quickly holding her hands. "I will make sure we are in the area, in case you need to get in touch with us." She reassured. "Also you have no idea how much this means to me that you are letting me be here with her."

"I should be back late tonight, like really late."

"That is if you hurry and get there." Kathryn kissed her, then playfully swatted Seven on her backside. "Go get ready for work."

Seven was resistant, but finally went upstairs to get ready. Soon she was back downstairs slipping on her pip for commander. As soon as the former Borg drew her head up she saw Kathryn watching her with a perplexed expression. "What is it?"

"You look really good Seven."

Seven dipped her head. "And what did I look like before?" she teased.

"Darling, you looked good before…I mean really good, but seeing you in that command color, and seeing the confidence roll off of you, is something else entirely." Kathryn growled, holding out a hand for Seven to take. Once there fingers interlocked, Kathryn swept her up in a fierce kiss. "Hurry back to me….to us." She whispered against Seven's mouth.

"I will." Seven whispered against Kathryn's lips trying to ignore the pang of leaving them behind echo across her heart.

…..

Seven hated the look on her superior once she walked out on the space station. He growled with a shake of his head. "You do know how important this is right?"

"I do," she concurred nonchalantly.

"So why haven't you been here?" He snarled. "You should have been here hours ago, and I do mean hours ago."

"Like I told you I had some personal things I needed to take care of." She relayed as they walked down the corridor that held the glass pane so she could finally see the ship that was holding her slip stream device.

Seven raised a brow. "I thought it would be bigger."

Admiral Scott smirked as he crossed his arms. "You're just used of the Enterprise."

"I suppose." Seven acknowledge, and then gathered a breath. "I shall get to work."

He nodded, but before she could slip away he cleared his throat. "You do know we have made a decision."

That halted Seven, but she paused before she turned back to him. "And?" she swallowed.

"All in good time." He grinned. "Meet me in my office at 0600." He commanded, then his tone lightened. "Oh and one more thing, I have a surprise for you, so don't be late." He then turned on his heel and left.

Seven pulled in a breath and went to board the ship, so she could run test after test.

…..

Kathryn and Selene enjoyed the rest of the morning, when Kathryn got a call from Starfleet ordering her to come to headquarters. She was excited to finally hear from them, but also annoyed it had to be now.

"Selene honey, how about we run into town, and grab a bite to eat?"

"Oh okay." Selene agreed. "Where we going?"

"Actually I need to run to headquarters."

Selene's face fell. "Oh you have to work."

Kathryn slightly cringed. "I'm sorry honey, hour tops I swear."

Selene blew out a breath. "I guess," she shrugged, turning away half shaking her head. She loved this alone time she had with her new mother, and she just didn't want this day to end.

Kathryn quickly picked up on it. "Hey Selene."

Selene turned back to her. "Yes?"

"I know I promised you the entire day, and I know this just came up, but I just really need to go in. I also promise you it will not exceed an hour. Then we will have the rest of the day. In fact how about after I take you to the park?"

Selene's facial features quickly changed. "Really?" She smiled. "I love the park."

Kathryn grinned. "So that's settled, now you just need to decide on what you want to eat."

"I can have anything I want?" Her eyes went wide.

Kathryn playfully crossed her arms. "Well anything in reason."

"I know just the place." Selene said factually.

"Well how about we change, and get to Starfleet."

"I'll race you." Selene taunted and began to run up the stairs.

Kathryn knew she needed to tell her to not run in the house, and knew that Seven wouldn't approve, but she decided she would let it slide for now.

….

"Okay Selene you need to sit out here with this nice cadet, while I'm inside there." Kathryn pointed to the Admiral's door. "Hopefully I will be done in less than an hour."

"Okay I got my school work. I will get it done as I wait." She told her plopping down in one of the waiting room chairs.

Kathryn now looked to the cadet. "I owe you for doing this."

"I have to be here anyways, and it's not a big deal."

"Still," Kathryn sighed. "Promise me you will not let her out of your sight."

"Calm down, I got this." the young cadet said. "I babysat for my sister all the time."

Kathryn turned back to her daughter, and then knelled before her. "I will hurry, and once again I am so happy you are now part of my life." She added and then proceeded to kiss her forehead.

Selene just smiled, and continued to read through her assignment.

Kathryn pulled down her uniform, and marched into the room. Right away she was told to take a seat. "I have news," the admiral said her tone was stern.

Kathryn's heart leapt up in anticipation. "Go on."

"Well it seems we have all came to a conclusion." She grinned, and Kathryn knew it looked forced which made her now swallow with doubt.

Admiral Chugunkin now took a seat to the right of Janeway, as he now joined in with the conversation. "You were outstanding as an Admiral, especially when you went on that teaching assignment. We had word with Admiral Shanthi, and nothing but high merits there."

This was so not the conversation Kathryn thought she was going to have. "Um thanks I think. I mean, I thought this might be about Peregrine." She asked her voice rough as her brow hung heavy in confusion.

She heard both Admiral Chugunkin and Admiral Hayes sigh. Oh great. Captain Janeway thought. "Yeah about that," he began. "Well, and to be honest we went over all that with a fine tooth comb. It was really a hard decision for us to make." Chugunkin said firmly.

Janeway stayed quiet, prepared for the news she knew she was getting. "You see you weren't the only one up for that ship. I mean so many were considered. But the needs of that ship outweighed so many others in Starfleet. In fact we never told you, but we are equipping her with a new slip stream device." Kathryn knew this, well now recently knew this.

"Oaky," Captain Janeway drawled, trying to stay tight lipped when she just wanted them to just get on with it, instead of beating around the damn bush.

"Anyways," Hayes began. "We discussed this ship at length, and all though we received your request, and by the way we did give it serious thought. Since you were deemed a hero after all."

Kathryn's heart fell she could read between the lines, and that hero bullshit was really starting to get to her. "Get on with it." she finally snapped, and then recoiled at her slight outburst.

They both raised their eyebrows. "I'm sorry, it's just I have someone waiting on me."

They paused glanced at each other then Admiral Hayes titled his head. "You have more pressing matters than Starfleet…. Captain?"

"I didn't say that, I just said….actually I apologize for my outburst. It seems I can read what is happening here, so I would rather you just rip the band aid off ….so to speak." She exhaled, and then swallowed.

"Actually we rather think it is great news." He glanced over at Chugunkin. Then she pulled out a PADD. "Here look through this, and see for yourself."

Oh Great! Kathryn thought as she began to look through the Starfleet files.

Selene was getting inpatient as she rocked her legs back and forth on the chair. In no time she had all her studies complete. Then she grew bored, and began to watch the cadet that was theoretically to be watching her, flirt with this other cadet. She thought it was hilarious how her voice got all squeaky, and she fawned over this male individual. Then after 5 minutes of watching them she once again grew bored.

So she decided to wander out into the hallway so she could see if she could see something that was worthwhile for her to see or do. She knew that her mother would not approve, and would be seriously furious with her for wandering off. But as she saw it, her mother, well that mother was in space, and very far away right now.

She grinned as she began to walk further down the corridor, well away from where she actually should have been. On her journey she saw a few other Starfleet officers and she just smiled at them, and acted like she knew what she was doing. Then out of the corner of her eye she recognized someone. Someone she hadn't seen in a really long time. Her heart soared, and she couldn't but help run toward them, and she forgot all about how she was suppose to stay right there and wait for her other mother to return.