Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, I'm just having some fun. Rating: 'M' for later chapters and also cuz I want to be on the safe side.
Pairing: B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine (of course)
Feedback: Yes Plz, I need it.
AN: The Quote that I have used in this chapter is known as, "The Song of Songs" or "The Songs of Solomon" and to be specific its 8:6. Its has many versions and interpretations, this is one of them. It is not my purpose to offend anybody so please don't take it in that context.
Chapter 6:-
After checking on Naomi who had taken to spending Seven's regeneration nights in the Captain's quarters, Seven powered down her console and headed towards the messhall for breakfast. It was strange and yet... comforting to walk down those oh-so-well-known corridors of her first true home. Unbeknownst to Seven, the corners of her lips had curled upwards, a hint of happiness gracing her proud Nordic features with a smile. Were anyone to witness this moment, they would have attested that the statuesque blonde had Mona Lisa's smile. The one that held untold secrets within the shadow of the dimples of her smile.
She walked at a slow, almost lethargic pace, simply taking in the ghosts of the scents of the people who had walked the same path. She listened to the ever-present hum of the Warpcore and traced the sleek and efficient design of Voyager's interiors. It was then that the reality of it all finally sunk in... She, at long last, had finally come home.
And just liked that, her smile grew.
As it was only a little past 0600 hours, Seven did not meet anyone
along the way towards the messhall. Despite her happiness to be home once again, this was one thing that the ex-Borg was immensely grateful for. Seven knew that she would not only be seeing the younger versions of people that she had for years now, considered friends and family but also those friends and family that had died through the passing years who she had mourned for. She tried to prepare herself for the emotional upheaval that was to come with seeing about a hundred people walk about living their lives, when she in actuality had seen their deaths.
But emotions were always a touchy subject for her no matter that after all these years, she openly expressed them and a small part of her knew that this always would be so. After all, she thought bitterly, where did being emotional lead them to last time. Janeway's death for an emotional cause, Suki Kim, Gretchen Janeway, Miral Torres and so many others had walked down a path where they choose to care and didn't hesitate to show it. They wore their hearts on the sleeve and died for it. Yet another, and a larger part of Seven thought of the rewards the young had reaped by the sacrifice of their elders. At the end, when all had been said and done, the Federation celebrated the gifts of fruition, except...
Except for Voyager and what was left of her once proud and unceasingly committed crew, now left broken... hurting... incomplete... forever. No matter how perseveringly and valorously they seeked it, the Voyager family never really got their '… happily ever after…' that they so deserved.
Seven remembered the words in the final speech that Gretchen Janeway had delivered at the Resistance meeting, five days before she was assassinated. She whispered it to herself as she continued walking and remembered all the nuances of humanity that her mother had practically pounded into her duranium-enforced skull.
"... Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for
Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its flashes
are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love, all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned..."
Shaking loose the cobwebs of her depressing thoughts and bittersweet memories Seven strode into the messhall and suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. The sight she was met with was alarming and yet just the slightest bit amusing as well.
Neelix was running around the ship's galley howling up a storm. The reason being that his bushy eyebrows were on fire.
After gaping for half a second, Seven jumped into action, grabbing the dishcloth laying on the kitchen counter and rushed to the poor man's side. She tried her best to put out the tiny flames but the Talaxian's squirming and hopping from one place to the next was not helping the matter in the slightest.
With an annoyed growl she pushed her furry friend to the ground,
effortlessly holding him in place with her Borg enhanced hand and
ignored his futile struggle. With her other hand Seven firmly rubbed the cloth on Neelix's face to put out the flames.
The following scenario that unfolded was such that any person walking into the messhall at that moment would come to an erroneous and disastrous conclusion that the statuesque Seven of Nine was indeed attacking the much beloved Delta Quadrant native and was just about to kill him.
Unfortunately for the young ex-Borg that is exactly what happened.
Acknowledgements to all who read/reviewed/added to their list:
Dragonkeywee,
nightreader56 (thanx for your idea, it really helped *smile*),
cellen8,
spiffy,
goldenruhl,
GoddessAnjanee,
manticore-gurl071134,
Swishla,
Guyana Rose,
WEclipse,
Underthelivingmoon,
JediMasterMiraxHorn,
RogueWolf69,
Critter-21,
LowFlyer1080,
Emerald Demona,
And there was 1 reviewer that didn't leave a name so I find it difficult to thank him/her, but I most definitely do thank this person.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback and please keep them coming. If I have forgotten to mention anybody here then I'm sorry for my error.
Also if I am making mistakes or if you have any ideas to share then you are most welcome to do so. This is the first story I'm writing and its not beta read so I would be happily accept any words of advice from the more seasoned, not to mention utterly brilliant writers here.