Off in the distance the haunting darkness of the Borg sphere loomed like a broken sentinel. Captain Janeway stood by the large window in her ready room, staring at the sphere, and trying in vain to wrap her head around the idea of something so deadly being used to care for an innocent child. Her innocent child no less. That thought still sent a tidal wave of emotion through her. She was elated at having a child of her own. Overjoyed that the child was also Seven's. Scared out of her mind because she didn't know one thing about being a mother. Scared because she was once again reminded that there were children on this journey, and now one of those children was her own flesh and blood. She was angry as hell that she'd been violated in a way. How did the Borg even create this child and why? She was also in awe because from the moment she realized what the Doctor said was true, she loved that little girl with all her heart. And she was thankful because she wasn't sure she'd have ever been able to take such a step on her own.
The door chime to her ready room brought Janeway out of her thoughts and she quickly made her way down to her desk. She used the few extra moments it took her to refocus her thoughts, and settle back into the safe and comforting cloak of command. "Come."
There was a warm smile on Chakotay's face as he walked in and over to the desk. He'd noticed the way Janeway had looked when she'd stepped off the turbolift and he knew that there was something bothering her. He'd waited a little while, giving the overly private woman her space, but when he felt she'd had enough time to brood he decided it was time to make her talk. "Wanna talk about it?" He asked as he sat in the chair across from her.
"Talk about what?" Janeway asked as she looked at Chakotay. She sat back in her chair, crossed her legs, picked up her coffee mug and prepared herself for what she knew was coming. She and Chakotay had been friends long enough for her to know when he felt the need to 'assist' her, and to be truthful she could use someone to talk to at the moment.
"What ever it is that's caused this mood of yours." Chakotay replied as he reached out and picked up the ceramic four leaf clover paperweight Naomi had made for Janeway as a birthday gift last year. He knew she was about to ask what mood and it made him smile. "We've worked and lived so closely Kathryn, that I'd like to think I know you well enough to tell when something's bothering you. Granted I'm not Seven or Tuvok but I'd like to think we're close enough friends for you to talk to me when you need someone to talk to."
Janeway sipped from her mug as she collected her thoughts. Chakotay knew that she cared for him as a close friend. If she didn't she wouldn't have allowed him to help her work out her feelings for Seven. She sighed softly and then looked at her friend. "I guess it wouldn't do any good to tell you it's this whole situation?"
"We've dealt with worse and you've never looked so..." The tall, boarded shouldered man paused to think of the right word.
"Confused?" Janeway offered.
Chakotay nodded. "What's happened, Kathryn?"
Taking another drink from her cup, Janeway thought about telling her friend about what she'd just found out. She knew that she'd have to tell her people sooner or later, most likely sooner since they'd have to deal with the sphere's computer core at the meeting. They also had a right to know what they were about to face, because she had no doubt that the Borg would come for the baby. But she and Seven hadn't had a real change to talk about this. She'd run from sickbay like a horse out of a burning barn. Janeway sighed again. She hoped she hadn't hurt Seven by running out like that. Finally after a few more moments of thought, Janeway lowered her cup to the desk and looked her friend in the eyes, searching for the warmth she so often seen there. "According to the Doctor the baby's biologically mine and Seven's."
The shock registered in Chakotay's eyes just as she'd known it would. He was quite for a moment, but then asked. "How can that be possible?"
"We're not sure." Janeway answered. "Medically it's possible. But as far as how, when, and why the Borg decided to create a child using mine and Seven's DNA we've no clue. Seven's trying to find out if there's anything in the core we downloaded."
Chakotay looked at the auburn haired woman sitting across from him for a few moments. He could understand her mood now and why she'd looked so lost. "You've got a daughter, Kathryn." That sounded weird even to him so he knew it must sound weird and little frightening for her to hear. "Despite the circumstances that's got to be an amazing feeling."
"I'm not sure what I'm feeling, Chakotay." She admitted to him. "Everything is one mind numbing mess." Janeway raised her hands to temples and messaged. "I mean this morning when I woke up I was the captain of this ship, a friend, a lover which I'm still getting use too by the way, and now I'm the mother of a very sweet little girl with Seven's eyes."
"You noticed she had Seven's eyes?" Her first officer asked with a big bright smile on his permanently tan face and a knowing twinkle in his dark eyes.
Janeway smiled shyly. "It was the first thing I noticed. I just thought I was being overly romantic or something."
Chakotay smiled brightly as he read the softening of his friend's face. "Your in love with her already."
Janeway's smile brightened and there was a new light in her eyes that seemed to light the whole room. "I fell in love with her the moment I saw her in Seven's arms the day we beamed her over. It almost felt as if…"
"You knew she was yours." Chakotay cut in.
Janeway nodded. "I know that sounds ridiculous, but it was just one of those moments where you feel something but you don't realize it until you can fully understand the subtext."
"You're being given another change at having a happy life outside that uniform, Kathryn." He told her firmly. They had gone round and round about her right to a life when she was struggling over her feelings for Seven. "I know you must be feeling a dozen different emotions but don't let your anger, hurt, and fear over shadow the gift you've been given."
Taking his words to heart, Janeway nodded as she looked down at the Doctor's padd. Her emotions were still in a jumble, but as she sat there thinking about the small child in the cargo bay with her other mother, Kathryn couldn't help but feel something strong surge through her. There was a slight twitch to her eyes when she realized she'd just thought of herself and Seven as the baby's mothers so easily.
He saw the flicker in her eyes and smiled. "Now that's the Kathryn I've come to know. You're going to be a great mom, Kathryn."
Seven of Nine had spent the time she had before the senior staff meeting trying to find anything on the child that would explain the Doctor's discovery. She found the semantics for what was essentially an artificial womb, she found the stardate in which the viable embryo was placed in the womb, she even found details on the procedure used to create the embryo, but nothing about why it was created and nothing pertaining to her or Kathryn.
It all felt so madding to Seven as she walked down the corridor towards sickbay carrying the transport device that B'Elanna had replicated for the child. Her mind was trying to wrap it's self around so many questions and just as many possible answers, but for now Seven's questions would have to wait. She needed to find Neelix and join the others at the meeting. When Seven walked into sickbay she saw both Neelix and the Doctor hovering over the replicator.
"You're sure this won't be to heavy?" Neelix asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "Of course I'm sure. The diets tailor made specifically for her. If you use these ingredients you'll be able to make a fine mush, but it won't be needed for several more weeks. She's to young for anything more then formula."
Neelix was beaming. There hadn't been a baby on board since Naomi and they hadn't been expecting a new one until B'Elanna and Tom's child arrived. The arrival of this new little life was a gift. "This is such an exciting development, to have a new precious little person on board."
Seven stepped closer to the two men and titled her head to the side. "Am I interrupting?"
Both men spun around quickly and they each had bright smiles on their faces. Seven had to admit that the look on the Doctor's face now was an improvement over the distress he projected an hour ago. Seeing the two men being so at ease regarding the child's presence helped Seven to feel more at ease herself. She actually felt pride that they were so concerned with her child. That was such a strange thought to Seven, her child, that it sent a bolt of shock through her system every time.
"Ahh Seven, we were just working on more nutritional supplements for the baby." The Doctor said as he came closer and peered down into the carrier. "I hope she suffered no ill effects from having her blood sampled."
"She is functioning within normal perimeters." Seven replied as she placed the carrier on a near by bio bed. "She is however in need of a..." She paused to think of the correct term. "Babysitter."
Neelix beamed when he noted that Seven was looking at him. "I would love to Seven, but will she allow you to leave her? She hasn't had the best reactions to people other then you and the Captain."
Seven looked down at the infant who was had a look on her face that Seven thought looked like concentration as she flexed her fingers and hands. "She will comply."
Neelix laughed soft so he wouldn't startle the baby. "Infants don't normally comply so easily, Seven."
"Of course not, but I believe that Lieutenant Torres and I have come up with a way to keep her feel more secure." The tall blonde ex-Borg looked down at the baby while she stood there with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Seven." The Doctor interjected as he lifted the child from the carrier and fingered the material she was wrapped in. "Is this?"
"One of my bodysuits. Yes." Seven answered with the faintest of smiles on her lips.
Neelix laughed again. "A security blanket. Very clever, Seven."
Seven nodded her thanks at the compliment and watched as Neelix approached the Doctor and the baby. She'd noticed that the baby did not cry when the Doctor picked her up and she hoped that she would also remain claim when Neelix took her.
Neelix just looked down at the baby as the Doctor held her and smiled. She was so alert for one so young, and she clearly looked more at ease with her surroundings now. "You know this is your home now and that your safe with us don't you..." Neelix stopped mid-sentence and looked up at Seven. "Does she have a name yet, Seven?"
"A name?" Seven repeated as she looked at them oddly. With everything else, it hadn't dawned on her that the child would require a designation.
"She needs a name, Seven. We just can't keep calling her 'the baby' forever." The Doctor began. "A name is a special thing. It's a part of a person's individually, and as her parents naming her is your responsibility."
Neelix's face lit up at the Doctor's words. "Seven! Are you and the Captain keeping the baby?"
Seven looked over at the Doctor who looked rather sheepish. This was getting out faster then she'd thought it would. What was it Naomi said when this happened? News travels fast on a starship ship. Turning to look at Neelix, who had been overjoyed to find out about her and Kathryn, Seven explained. "It would seem that the child is biologically our daughter."
"Yours and the Captain's?" Neelix asked as he looked at the baby for a long moment. "I didn't know human females could reproduce without a male."
"Yes." Seven answered when he asked if she'd meant her and the Captain. "Then she explained. "There are many medical procedures that will allow same sex partners reproduce."
The Doctor felt the need to elaborate until Seven cut him off.
"Congratulations Seven!" Neelix said with the biggest smile anyone had ever seen on the Talaxian's face just before he suddenly hugged Seven.
"What about the name, Seven?" The Doctor pressed, and then went right into his 'perfect name' monolog. "It should be a strong name. A name with meaning and something she can be proud of. Some parents pick names from literature, myths, or through traditions. Some pick the names of deities who are then said to watch over the child. Some name them after people they know like friends or family."
Seven listened to the Doctor while thinking about what he was saying. She took into account the way she felt about her own designations, and how Kathryn reacted and felt about hers. She ran through a quick list of names she felt she and Kathryn would agree on and then suddenly said, "Gretchen."
"Gretchen?" Both the Doctor and Neelix asked in unison.
Seven nodded. "You said the name should have meaning and give her a strong sense of self. I believe that name will accomplish that."
All three of them looked down at the baby who was squinting back up at them. The Doctor nodded after a moment. "Gretchen it is then." He looked up at Seven and the two shared a knowing, understanding, look. "Shall I make it official?"
"I must speak with the Captain first." Seven replied.
The Doctor nodded. "Of course."
"Well, well, Gretchen are you ready to spend a little quality time with your Uncle Neelix? The Doctor and your Mommy are going to be late for their meeting with your other Mommy if we don't let them go." He smiled and gave her a finger to grab as he added. "And we don't want to make Captain Mommy angry, no we don't, because that wouldn't be a very smart thing to do."
The Doctor frowned as he handed Gretchen to Neelix. He was enjoying holding her in her newly settled state of mind. He picked up his padds and headed for the door and then stopped when he noticed Seven's hesitation at leaving the child. "We'll be late, Seven."
"We're going to be just fine, Seven. You go on. We'll be waiting for you down in the mess hall." Neelix reassured the new mother.
Seven inched towards the door. "There is a padd on the side of the carrier with her schedule. The Doctor added her formula to the replicator and there are supplies in the bag."
Neelix couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Thank you Seven. Now go. Gretchen and I will be fine."
"Of course." Seven nodded at Neelix and then turned and walked out of sickbay with the Doctor. The two of them headed for the conference room in silence until they reached the turbolift.
The Doctor smiled as the doors closed in front of them. "I think the Captain will be quite touched by the name you chose, Seven."
Seven lifted her brow but then relaxed. "I hope you are right, Doctor."