Seven awoke several hours later, at 0218. Her bed felt clammy, her limbs warm. The rain was still pounding away at the cottage, unrelenting—if anything, more ferocious. Frequent bouts of lightning lit up the interior of her bedroom and booming thunder refused to let her sleep again.

Placing her bare feet against the cold floor, she padded softly into the small kitchen area that overlooked the common room. Janeway was still asleep on the couch, position unchanged from hours before. Seven thought briefly about rearranging the older woman's body into a more pleasant position but decided against it. Visions of the Admiral potentially waking up as she did so both alarmed and excited her.

This confusing emotional mix was common when one was attracted to another person. Fear, anticipation, and desire were part of the experience. She knew this firsthand; she had once experienced these frequently with Chakotay—

The thought was unwelcome and she doused it in reality to ward it off. It had been a very long time since she felt such emotions in Chakotay's presence. He was not the same person she had thought he was, and had his own 'demons' to sort through.

Without a sound, she pulled a chair from the table and sat, folding her arms across the surface while gazing out the window. The smell in the room had morphed into the moist, heavy scent of rain. It was faintly sweet and soothing.

A crack of thunder startled the young woman. In the flash of lightning following the sound, her eyes widened at the picture outside: sheets of rain were being dumped on the sand and ocean, sporadic gusts of wind lashing water against the walls of her cottage. It reminded her of the storm that had appeared her very first day while arriving on Fero.

"Quite a storm," a low voice commented from behind. Seven was startled for the second time.

"Yes," she answered uneasily, recognizing the rough sound of Janeway's voice.

Through the dim light, Seven watched Janeway pull out the chair across from her and sit, glancing at the blonde. "Can't sleep?"

"The thunder is too loud."

Janeway wished her reason was as good. True, she had awoken because of the thunder, but that had not been what kept her restless. Her nerves burned with repressed desire, refusing to allow her escape through sleep.

And now the object of that desire was sitting across from her.

There were enough complications as it was—Seven's extremely recent severance from Chakotay, Janeway's age, their status within Starfleet, the attention they would draw from the media, the reactions of everyone else they knew, especially the Voyager crew—there was a lot to consider.

But, her inner voice interrupted, when does love ever arise in perfect circumstances? Let these things work themselves out in their own time. One foot in front of the other, Kathryn.

One foot in front of the other.

Her eyes found Seven's.

Seven stared back at her silently. She studied the Admiral's face…the arch of her brow, the thinness of her lips, the gray in her eyes, the beautiful mane of auburn hair…she had seen these features thousands of times before, but they seemed more elegant, more perfect now.

And suddenly she felt faintly intimidated by the woman in front of her. All that she was capable of, all that she had accomplished, all that she would still continue to do—Admiral Janeway's list of exploits was long and her intellect renowned. The older woman was highly sought-after.

Seven realized how fortunate she would be if Janeway ever indicated interest.

If Janeway ever indicated interest…

There were many roles she had fulfilled in Seven's life—mentor, superior officer, friend, counselor, colleague—and now Seven's curiosity flared.

What would it be like to add lover to that list?

Janeway gathered her wits about her and spoke first.

"Seven," she began, not at all certain that she knew how to say it, "I need to tell you something."

"Of course," the other woman easily replied, masking her turbulent emotions beneath a casual veneer. "What would you like to discuss?"

Janeway sat still for a few moments, studying Seven's face for some unknown indication. She got up and moved to the window, trying to think of the best way to reveal how she felt. But the words stayed glued to her throat.

Seven picked up on the fact that the Admiral was struggling and followed her to the window. Perhaps she could return the kindness she'd received from the other woman by helping solve whatever dilemma she faced.

"How can I say this?" Janeway looked down, rubbing her temples slowly. The lightning outside continued steadily, sending flickers of light across the room as she spoke again. "I'm having trouble sleeping…but it's not because of the storm."

Her inquisitive mind wanted to inquire about the reason for Janeway's inability to sleep, but she sensed that silence was a wiser course of action.

The Admiral continued, shaking off the rust she'd accumulated from years of lacking intimacy. "I'm having trouble sleeping because something important occurred to me several days ago," she explained, selecting the words carefully, "and it has taken me some time to process it." A rap of thunder pierced the silence. She finally glanced up at Seven, eyes searching for feeling in the other woman's but finding them hard to read. "I hope you'll understand…"

Seven kept her face neutral despite the tingling of her human intuition.

Janeway took her silence as a signal to press on, and kept her eyes linked to Seven's as the rain continued to patter on the roof. Her tone softened.

"I have known you for years…as one of my closest friends, one of my best officers…and I suppose it's funny that it's only now that I…"

Her heart skipped several beats; her voice caught as she felt the blood in her hands. I have to do this. I need to be honest and stop making excuses.

Janeway stepped directly into Seven's personal space and gently laid a hand on the younger woman's cheek, preparing herself.

"It's funny that it's only now that I realize I love you, Seven."

The ex-Borg let out a silent breath, absorbing the enormity of the words as they resonated within her. She did not understand how, but the emotion intensified inside of her, solid and overwhelming. To hear it reflected back to her by another was deeply satisfying; it longed for reciprocal expression.

"I…feel the same, Admiral," she responded quietly.

Janeway visibly relaxed, relieved that she hadn't just launched a proton torpedo at the relationship.

"But," Seven smiled slightly, "I will need to collect on several old bets." She quirked an eyebrow as she looked at Janeway. "I believe Tom Paris is very much in my debt."

Janeway smiled crookedly.

"Mr. Paris can wait," she whispered, her gaze hot enough to melt Voyager's hull. "I want you."

Seven couldn't help feeling turned on and moved to kiss the other woman, placing a hand behind Janeway's head. She leaned and stopped centimeters from the Admiral's lips, eyes shut as she reveled in the closeness, the wave of desire that washed through every part of her anatomy. She smiled in anticipation.

"I didn't know you were such a tease, Seven," Janeway murmured, determined to hold back until the younger woman came to her.

The hunger of the moment became unbearable and Seven allowed her lips to graze Janeway's ready mouth. The older woman pressed back, harder, driven. The rough contact by such soft lips—so different from a man's—sent chills rushing down Seven's spine.

Janeway dropped her hand from the blonde's cheek, trailing it down her neck while she continued to kiss the beautiful woman in front of her. Instinct guided her mouth to the flushed, sensitive skin of Seven's neck.

"I've wanted," she nearly growled, licking along the tight tendons, "to do this since the day you came out of the fitting room."

Seven arched her head back, savoring the wet feel of the Admiral's tongue. "I think I have always wanted you to do this," she confessed softly.

Janeway grinned wickedly against Seven's neck.

Aggressively pushing the ex-Borg back into the wall, Janeway pressed her full weight against the other woman—hard. Then she ran her tongue along the inside of Seven's ear, warm breath drifting over her moist skin.

Seven shivered and fought back the urge to whimper.

As the Admiral continued, she could hear the younger woman breathing heavily beneath her, distracting her. Seven suddenly struggled out of Janeway's hold but stayed firmly in her space, locking eyes tightly.

"I understand that you prefer to be in positions of power, Admiral, but I will be giving the orders now," she murmured, flipping them around and assertively shoving Janeway into the wall. "Comply."

Although surprised, Janeway still recovered quickly, matching the steel in Seven's eyes.

"Yes, ma'am," was all she could get out before Seven advanced, trapping her hands against the wall and kissing her ardently. The wall dug into Janeway's back as Seven forced her arms high above her head. She pressed her body forcefully into the Admiral's to pin her down.

The ex-Borg was determined to gain more complete submission from her superior.

As Janeway slid her tongue into Seven's mouth, the feel of the blonde's breasts on her body set off an explosion of carnal hunger in the older woman. God, yes. More.

Seven pulled back and bit lightly at the Admiral's neck, fully intent on hearing surrender. Janeway's throaty groan nearly caused her knees to buckle.

"Remove my shirt," Seven commanded. "Now."

Janeway grabbed the material with both hands and ripped it in half, buttons and all.

Seven paused, raising an eyebrow. "Efficient."

"I knew you would approve."

"I do not recall ordering you to talk," Seven reprimanded her.

Janeway quieted, but smirked back defiantly, her eyes ablaze.

The younger woman regarded her coolly, with a calm dare. "Put your hands on me. Let them wander."

Here again, Seven was amazed at the skill in Janeway's touch. The movement of her hands was foreign, the pressure of her fingertips erotic as she swept them down the blonde's exposed stomach. She halted at Seven's pants, sticking her thumbs just inside and stroking her lower abdomen, teasing the other woman.

Seven wet her lips in anticipation, then inhaled sharply as Janeway suddenly moved to her breasts. The Admiral let her tongue roam over the smooth skin while she continued to slowly move her fingers farther south.

A small and attractively strangled cry left Seven's lips. She pulled Janeway's head closer, ready for harder strokes.

Janeway stopped for a moment and chuckled softly. "You like this?"

"Yes," Seven breathed, silent again as Janeway licked across the hardness of her nipples.

The older woman allowed lust to guide her completely. She didn't know the correct way to fuck women, but it didn't matter. She could feel the rightness of her movements. Her fingers crept downwards as she sensed Seven's willingness to submit.

"I think you will really like this," she whispered as she rose to kiss the blonde. She ran a finger over Seven's clit, thoroughly enjoying the moan it elicited and the slickness of her hand as she began to slide her finger back and forth.

She broke her kiss only to witness the pleasure on Seven's face.

"What do you want?" Janeway's husky voice sounded in her ear.

"Harder…"

The older woman did as she was told, causing Seven to strain against her. She could feel Seven's hips smoothly grind into her rhythm as she held onto Janeway's body.

Had it really been so long? The Admiral was surprised at her own fluid movements and the intense feeling burning in her chest—something she hadn't expected. The nervousness, yes, a little…this was Seven, after all. Not only was she notoriously hard to please, but this was Janeway's first experience with a woman.

At the moment it didn't matter.

Seven craned her neck against the wall as Janeway licked there once more, hands pulling at the older woman's back. She was reeling from the controlled work of Janeway's fingers and unable to keep herself from silently thinking fuck me, Admiral, fuck me.

Janeway felt Seven's breathing become heavier, which only increased her arousal. She redoubled her efforts, arm in pain and yet body feeling pleasure. Seven's short little gasps sent chills down her back.

Harder. Faster. Longer. The blonde was dripping wet.

Seven finally came, head back and mouth open.

As she watched the expression of Seven's face, Janeway realized that this was the way it should have been all along.

Old bets and gossip be damned.

You had your heart in the shadows / So afraid to open up to anyone

I can feel a faded halo / And I can make it burn again like the sun

Just stay for a while / Let me hold you tonight

Just open your eyes / You will see the light shine

You don't have to be frozen

You don't have to be broken

Tonight

A/N: Whew, finally done—thank you for all of the reviews/story alerts/favorites! They helped me finish this last scene; I've never written an explicit sex scene and even this one isn't too detailed. Hopefully it was okay. I sure enjoyed writing it…Seven and Janeway have to be one of the sexiest couples I can think of. Such fire in both women.

I really wanted to keep this somewhat realistic and not have the romance develop too obviously or quickly. There was always an unrecognized chemistry between Janeway and Seven, so I felt that giving them an extended period of time alone together would help them realize how far their relationship could actually go. Still, that realization can be gradual, especially between friends.

Anyways, hope you liked it. We'll see what idea strikes me next.