Part 20

The hum of the ship's warp drive sounded all around her, as she once again did something she had sworn never to do. She felt disgusted with herself, and had been preparing for what was to come and what she needed to say.

Blowing out a nervous breath, she adjusted her shirt just before the doors to the bridge opened with a whoosh.

She stood tall as she strutted through the room. "Captain on the bridge," she heard called out. Grimacing, she shot a hard glare at the crewman who had made the announcement.

Right away he realized his mistake. "Sorry, Capt….Sorry ma'am."

She waved him off. "It's okay, but you better not let that happen again." She leveled him with another hard look as she hid her grin.

Unable to stop herself, her eyes lingered on the captain's chair, but only for a second. She turned her gaze to the first officer. "I need to speak with the Captain," she rasped.

He grinned. "She's waiting on you."

"I'll just," she responded, pointing to the captain's ready room. She now stood outside and chimed the door.

"Come," she heard right away, and stepped inside.

Janeway narrowed in on her spouse. Her eyes were down and she was working very hard on something, so much so that she didn't even look up to acknowledge the older woman. Clearing her throat, she waited. Even though it had been months since they departed, it still felt a little odd being on this side of things.

Finally Seven lifted her head, and her gaze was blank. "Ah, there you are." She now tilted back in her chair and proceeded to wait.

Kathryn thought she looked sexy as hell giving her that look, but she knew that Seven was on duty, and even though she wanted to throw her on top of her desk and have her way with her, she also knew that this was hardly the time. "So, I am guessing you heard about my little situation?"

Seven tilted her head and narrowed in on her wife. Her heart rate accelerated at watching her try to come up with the reason she had lost their daughter yet again. She looked absolutely adorable, and for some reason she couldn't stay mad at her. In fact, right now she wanted to do things to her, things that even though they were married, would seriously violate several Starfleet protocols. "I have, and I am curious to know how exactly that happened," she said, keeping her desire in check.

Kathryn moved further into the room. "Well, you see, I was helping Icheb with this new find and well…." She trailed off. She knew it was a lame excuse, but it was all she had.

Seven couldn't contain the seriousness in her face, let alone in her voice as she shook her head and stood up, coming around to stand in front of her. "You do know that isn't your job?"

"I know, but he asked, and I didn't think it was a big deal."

Seven smiled and unable to keep at arm's length any longer, finally slipped her arms around her partner and brought her close. "Not a big deal at all. Good thing there isn't a lot of places where a little girl can hide on this ship."

Kathryn ran her hand up Seven's back. Although she loved how she looked in her new uniform, she would much rather have her out of it. "I swear she was with me, and then…..poof…gone."

Seven sighed. "Well, you know she gets when she is with Tristan."

"That boy is a thorn in my side," Kathryn grated through a tight lip.

"Yeah, well this ship has a few families on it, not just us," Seven reminded her.

Kathryn nodded. Unable to wait a second longer, she covered Seven's mouth with her own, slipping her tongue through her lips with a tender intensity and touching it against her wife's.

"God," Seven breathed, tearing her mouth away. "We need to halt this or ….maybe I better just seal the door," she panted.

Kathryn kissed the side of her jaw. "No, you are needed here, so we can continue this later."

Seven reluctantly pulled away. "We better."

"Yes we better," Janeway relayed. "You do know how long it's been."

"81.6 hours to be precise."

Kathryn chuckled. "Huh, I could have sworn it was longer." She reached back out and grasped Seven's hand. "You do know we are still considered to be in that phase?"

The twinkle in Seven's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Kathryn, and the Captain whisked her back into her arms. "Yes I do know, and I promise I will make it up to you."

Janeway reached up and fingered the pips on Seven's collar. "Oh," she nonchalantly voiced. "I do have a few scenarios in mind."

Seven dipped her head down as she looked into Kathryn's eyes. "Really," she drawled. "Do tell."

Kathryn arched her head back and traced her fingers over Seven's brow, then down her cheek. She continued to trace them over her lips, before her own lips moved once again over her wife's. "Oh I don't know, maybe where this Captain has to throw this certain someone into the brig, because she is being impossible and maybe they have this moment," she shrugged.

Seven's ocular implant rose. She knew of a moment just like that, and she grinned. "Oh I think we can handle that. But who will be the one that gets thrown into the brig?" She glared in a very confident manner. "Because I am a certified Starfleet captain."

Kathryn laughed at that. "Oh yes you are, Dear."

The computer chirped, requesting Seven's presence in engineering. Kathryn groaned, and finally relented. "Go on," she exhaled.

Seven nodded, but pulled her close and kissed her before she drew back. "Oh," Kathryn began, catching Seven before she left. "I do have another fantasy."

That halted Seven and she spun back to her. "Oh really?"

"Hmmm, well it involves a certain blonde astronomics officer and a certain lost captain," she said saucily, her lips curved in a sultry smile.

Seven had that very fantasy, but she wasn't going to let on. "Hmmm that sounds interesting, you'll have to tell me more about it someday." She gazed softly at her spouse for another second. "I'll see you at 1800." She then turned on her heel and left.

Kathryn walked to the viewport in the room and watched the distorted stars fly by. She had been here before, but things were definitely different now. She rubbed the ring that was on her finger and smiled down at it. They had married in haste. In fact, only the three of them were there, but she wouldn't change it for anything. She was also well aware that her mother was planning a big wedding for them when they returned, pulling out all the stops. When she was engaged to Mark, she kept postponing and avoiding all things related to their wedding that never was. But this time, she was not annoyed at all, in fact she actually welcomed it.

She wanted the entire universe to know she was Seven's wife and Selene's mother. She wasn't a captain in Starfleet, shoot she wasn't even an officer aboard this ship. No, she was plain old Kathryn Janeway, Seven's wife and Selene's mother, and nothing mattered more than that.

The computer chirped on Seven's desk, alerting that some diagnostics had been completed. She knew she probably shouldn't look, but old habits die hard. Curious, she shrugged, thinking how bad could it be, so she snuck a glimpse at what Seven had been working on. I am the Captain's wife after all.

Plopping down into her wife's chair, she brought up the information, and right away noticed it was a star chart. Not just any star chart, but a really familiar one, with a certain planet located just ahead of the ship's trajectory. Her eyes widened as she took it all in, and her heart twisted in her chest. "Why didn't you tell me, Seven?" she said to herself as she stood up, her mind racing with what this could mean for them.

Kathryn needed to decide what she wanted, not just for herself, but for Seven. They hadn't talked about it, but then again, when would they ever get another chance like this?

Janeway was a ball of nerves waiting on Seven to return to their quarters. "I really need to cut back on my coffee intake," she muttered to her shaky hands, and then plopped down on the sofa and reclined back in thought. This is big, I mean huge …I have to factor in that we are very far from home again, and what if something happens and we are stuck out here? Not only that, but Seven is a Starfleet captain now. Ughhhh!

Just when she wanted to pull her hair out, she heard the hiss from the door to their quarters. Eager to talk to her spouse, Kathryn flew up from the couch. "You are early," she greeted, and right away noticed how tired Seven looked.

"Yes, I needed to just get away from there." She ventured into the kitchen area. "Uttaberry wine," she ordered from the replicator.

It was rare to see Seven drink, so Kathryn knew it must have been a crappy day. She decided that maybe she would wait to tell her wife about what she found in her ready room earlier.

Kathryn watched her take a few sips from her glass. "You really picked up a lot of Betazed culture," she said, pointing to her glass.

"I like it, it's very pleasing to my palate." A tiny smile filled her full lips as she shook her head.

Bemused by Seven's reaction, Kathryn was intrigued. "What's so funny?"

"I said that before," Seven relayed with a tired sigh.

Confused, Kathryn's forehead creased. "You did? To me?"

Seven shook her head once more. "No, to Chakotay," she said off handedly, then noticed Kathryn's slight eye roll. "What?"

"Nothing," Kathryn waved it off. "I just have to remind myself you had this entire life without me, and I'm the one to blame.

Seven noticed her wife's forlorn expression and slightly smirked as she sat her glass down. She moved within Kathryn's space and wrapped her arms around her, her smile soft as she bent her head and captured her lips in a fierce kiss. "You do not need to do this; it is all in the past," she murmured.

"I know, but that's not all that's weighing on me," she sighed, her lips thinning into a slight frown.

"Oh?"

Kathryn reluctantly twisted out of her spouse's arms. "I need to tell you something, and I really regret that I did this," she admitted with a huge breath, then looked away.

A troublesome pang filled Seven's chest. "What did you do?" she asked, her voice flat.

Kathryn quietly bit the inside of her lip as she inhaled another breath. "I was in your ready room, and after you left I caught myself staring out of the viewport there."

That crumpled Seven's brow with confusion. "Um, that isn't a big deal…I don't thi…."

"No Seven," Kathryn interrupted. "It's what I did after."

Seven eyed her drink and then went to it and sloshed more of it down her throat. "I think I might need this," she told her. "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Kathryn rubbed a hand over her face and groaned, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Like I said, I shouldn't have, but I heard the indication and it got my curiosity up." She now turned and looked directly at Seven. "I saw it."

It took longer than Seven would have liked for her to catch on to what her wife was trying to tell her. She closed her eyes and now gathered her own breath. "I was going to tell you."

"When?" Kathryn asked, trying to keep the tone in voice neutral.

Seven sat her glass back down and reached out to take Kathryn's hand. "Honestly tonight, well after we went to bed ….and well, after I did that thing that you like," she smirked. When she didn't get the reaction she was hoping for, she sighed heavily and just pulled on the hand she was holding, making Kathryn fall right back into her arms. "I promise I was…it just isn't something that is easy to bring up. But to be honest, I have thought about it. The thing is have you…I mean, I'm wondering have you ever….I mean even considered it?"

Kathryn blinked as she thought on it, and all she could do was shrug. "I know I have so many regrets when comes to Selene, but that's it. I would never do anything to replace her," she quipped, trying to make Seven understand that. "But I have wondered if maybe one day we could…god I don't know," she voiced raggedly, pulling yet again out of Seven's arms and running her hand through her hair. "This is just…. you know…. sudden."

Seven nodded, her eyes slightly dismayed. "I know, but the thing is….well…." she trailed off and let the air fill her lungs before she let it out slow. "Well, we just don't know if we will get another chance to be here."

The expression on her face tugged at Kathryn's heart and she quickly went to her and flung her arms around her, pulling her into a close hug. "Oh Seven," her voice quivered. "Is this really what you want?"

Seven drew back just enough so she could gaze down into her spouse's eyes. "The gift I got is so precious, and to be honest she is all I need, but I would do this for you if that is what you want. I think about seeing you holding the newest member of our family in your arms and it brings me such joy, the same joy I had holding Selene, which you missed out on"

They stayed together for a moment, enjoying the warmth of one another, when the hiss of the doors interrupted.

"Moms!" Selene rushed in. "Guess what?" she exclaimed.

Kathryn and Seven turned and greeted their daughter. "What?" Kathryn asked, moving away from Seven to pick the bouncing girl up into her arms.

Seven's eyes twinkled with delight watching the two of them. She finished her drink and then went to join them where they had moved to the couch. Selene continued to go on about her day, and Seven allowed it.

Then as her story began to wind down, Seven cleared her throat. "So young lady, why is it I had to be called away from work today because a certain someone wandered off from where she was supposed to be?" Her eyes glared at her softly.

Selene gulped and she even looked to her other mother as if to help, but Kathryn shook her head. "Hey don't look at me; I am not happy about this either."

"Tristan said it would be okay and you wouldn't mind."

Seven groaned and gave Kathryn a pointed look, then sharpened her gaze at her daughter. "Just because Tristan said it, that doesn't make it right…do you hear me?" Right now she really wanted to reprimand his mother over this. Her nostrils flared and suddenly Kathryn's fingers slid in between her own.

"Relax," she softly whispered.

Seven gritted her teeth and drew in a breath. "I am trying."

"Sweetie, could you please talk to me before you go doing that again, even if he said it will be okay? I assure you he doesn't have all the facts, and even though Tristan believes he knows everything, he's not as smart as he thinks he is."

"You're right," Selene pouted.

"You could have gotten seriously hurt," Kathryn continued.

Seven nodded. "Yes, and remember we are a long way from home."

"I know, but but but…"

"No buts," Seven grounded out.

"Okay," Selene agreed and swallowed.

"Okay," Kathryn said as well, then smiled at her daughter who was still on her lap. "There is something else we want to discuss with you."

Seven shot her a look, as if she didn't have to do this yet, but Kathryn just gave her a hopeful smile and squeezed her hand. "It's okay," she said throatily.

Seven agreed with a nod and waited for Kathryn. "You see, we wanted to ask you about your thoughts."

Selene stuck her lip out and her eyes narrowed. "My thoughts?"

"Yeah," Kathryn drawled, shooting a quick glimpse at her wife. "You see, we were thinking, and well we need your thoughts on it too."

"On what?" Selene fidgeted on her lap.

Seven's nose twisted as she knew her daughter's attention span was collapsing. She inwardly smiled, knowing it wouldn't be long before she was off Kathryn's lap and running towards her room. "Selene," she interjected, her voice hard, but it brought the girl's attention back to her other mother.

Kathryn once again squeezed Seven's fingers. She knew she was on edge from whatever occurred earlier today, and she knew that she needed to chill out a little. "Hey, it's okay."

Seven kinked her neck and even slouched back against the cushions, then Kathryn leaned into her partner. "So Selene, as we were saying," she began. "We were wondering how you'd feel about having a sibling?"

"A sibling?" Selene questioned, not sure on the wording, then her eyes brightened. "Oh like…." she grinned. "A brother?" she quipped with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, maybe, or a sister," Kathryn told her.

Seven shook her head and cleared her throat, causing them both to look at her. 'What?" Kathryn asked.

"Um, it's more likely it will be another girl," she informed her.

Kathryn squinted, as if questioning what Seven was telling her. "Really?"

"Yeah I calculated a probability of 98%, allowing for a 2% margin of error. The laws of science are pretty clear, however, there are enough variable factors to indicate that perhaps there is some other unknown entity at work." She looked at Kathryn's perplexed expression and continued. "Um no Y chromosome is presented here Kathryn, unless there is something you want to tell me?"

Snapping out of her thoughts and hearing what Seven was suggesting, she snickered and shook her head. "Nope, nothing …all woman here."

Seven quietly growled as her lips got closer to her ear. "Yes you are," she whispered heatedly.

Kathryn felt that flow through her veins, and she had to ignore the fire that erupted in her belly before it spread further south. Seven caught on and grinned. "Hey Selene, why don't you go and wash up so we can get dinner prepared?"

"Okay," she began to bounce to her room, when she stopped. "So, when will I get my baby sister?"

Both Sevena and Kathryn grimaced. "Well, honestly, your mother and I still need to talk about that," Seven told her.

Selene eyed her for a moment as if trying to understand what more they needed to talk about. "But you two are married, so isn't that what usually comes next," she said nonchalantly as she skipped off to her room.

"She does have a point," Kathryn teased.

"She does," Seven agreed saucily. "As do I."

"Oh? What would that be?"

"This," Seven stated, then swept over to embrace her, kissing her passionately as they sunk into the couch.

Janeway nuzzled Seven's ear. "My my ….are you suggesting what I think you are?" she asked in a very provocative tone.

Seven's eyes grew lidded. "Maybe," she husked. "Yes," she now concluded. "But do you?"

Kathryn hesitated only for a moment as her heart flipped in her chest. She knew what she wanted, and somehow it just felt right. Her smile was soft as she drew her wife down the remaining distance and pressed their lips together. The contact was very gentle, yet implicit in its promise, and both women took their time to relish the kiss and how they seemed to melt together.

Janeway, feeling the fire burn through her, reached up, and found the edge of Seven's uniform, un-tucking it so she could slip her hand underneath and feel her soft skin. "God, I wish I could undress you right now," she hissed against the younger woman's lips.

Seven lifted a brow and then looked toward Selene's room. "And I would definitely let you."

Kathryn couldn't help it, she bucked up against her and growled as she began to suck on the side of her wife's neck, causing Seven's eyes roll back into her head for a split second before lowering her mouth and devouring Kathryn's.

"Yay, I am going to have a baby sister soon."

Both women snapped apart. "Whaa…." Seven managed to gasp.

"What makes you say that?" Kathryn finally asked, sitting back up.

"Tristan said that's how babies are made, when two people kiss."

Seven shot her wife a look of shock, plus amusement. "Um," Seven tried, but stopped. She squirmed in her seat for a moment then sighed. "I think we need to have a talk."

Kathryn giggled and then shook her head. "Yeah, like in another five or six years, at least."

Seven released her breath as relief filled her face. "Oh thank goodness."

Kathryn chuckled lightly, and pulled Seven and Selene close. "I love you two more than anything, and I'm so grateful for you both. I can't imagine my life without either of you."

"We love you too, Mommy," Selene said. She hugged her, then drifted to Seven. "Don't we?"

"Very much." Seven leaned in close, so only Kathryn could hear. "And who knows where we will be in about nine months from now," she winked.

Kathryn smirked. "Home, because if not, my mother will have both of our asses."

`~.FIN`~`

Epilogue to come