Seven stood expressionless at her Astrometrics console, having finally managed to pull herself from the position on the floor where she had laid sobbing as her heart broke further with every fresh thought, she had numbly attended every one of the Captain's subsequent meetings, remaining mute, not revealing her inner turmoil. By now her emotions had withdrawn inside her and the only exterior sign of the wound her soul had suffered were her dull red rimmed eyes and shaking hands as she ran the scans following the Admiral's shuttle which would seal her fate. His voice, normally a soothing balm to any mental scars, now stabbed her internally as it entered her ears. "Any word from the Admiral?"

Seven gripped the edge of her console until her knuckles turned white before forcing herself to reply. "We lost contact as soon as she entered the hub."

"Did the Borg give her any trouble?"

"The vessel was scanned by several vessels but none approached her, sir." Self hatred began its malignant flow in her veins again as soon as she voiced that one formal word.

Chakotay in an attempt to get his former responses, said in a playful yet gentle tone which hit her hard "Are we being professional again today?"

"Yes, Commander."

Her tone was so lifeless and abnormal that it concerned him. This isn't funny. "You're not joking are you?"

"No." Seven responded, moving to another console and fixing her gaze on it to avoid him.

Fear was beginning to replace concern. "What's wrong?" He followed her steps until he was once again beside her, but she still wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Nothing. I'm just…" she tried to think of an excuse that would explain this behaviour but couldn't. "…busy."

"I think I've gotten to know you a little better than that!" he snapped, reaching to grasp her arm to make her look at him. She flinched at his touch as if it burned her.

"I'd…prefer it if you didn't address me as if we were on intimate terms." She tried to ignore his hurt and disbelieving gaze.

"We are on intimate terms!" Chakotay almost growled at her in disbelief.

"Not anymore!" Seven managed to gasp out, her voice rising as she began to lose control of her feelings.

"What the hell is going on?" Confusion and disbelief was rapidly turning to anger.

"I've decided to alter the parameters of our relationship."

That wasn't very enlightening. "You mind telling me why?"

Seven paused, her emotions paralysing her mouth for a moment. "We both have dangerous occupations, it's possible one of us could be seriously injured or…worse. It's better not to form emotional attachments."

That was a cop out if he'd ever heard one. Passionate anger flared within, he was going to get the real reason. "Maybe you can just flip some Borg switch and shut down your emotions, but I can't!"

Seven felt her legs weaken below her, if any remark could have reduced her to tears it was that one. I did have a switch and I removed it for you! Her anguished heart wailed. "I suggest that you try. I will make things less difficult, for you, if any harm should come to me."

She was repeating that again. What does she mean? Maybe it wasn't such a cop out after all. These thoughts culminated in his next question. "Why are you suddenly so concerned about that?"

Seven fought back a sob, resulting in her leaning heavily on the console with a strained sigh. You shouldn't tell him, said the rational voice in her head, but the look he was giving her, his eyes boring into her, made her ignore it. "The Admiral suggested…that your feelings for me will cause you pain…in the future." She turned away from him, "I cannot allow that to happen!" she cried on the brink of hysteria, a strangled sob escaping from her throat.

Understanding dawned on him, one look at her grief stricken face told him all he needed to know. He grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him, tightening his grip when she tried to back away. "Seven, all relationships involve risk. No one can guarantee what's going to happen tomorrow, not even an Admiral from the future!" He looked directly into her face, clasping her hands in his. "The only certainty is how we feel about each other right now and if you think I'm going to let you go based on what might happen, then you need to get to know me a little better!" He pulled her against him and she sagged into him with a shuddering sigh.

Seven now felt her legs give way beneath her completely and her body begin to shake uncontrollably as it gave into shock. Chakotay had to strengthen his grip on her until he was basically holding her up. She gave into her feelings for him entirely now and buried her head in his shoulder, before trying to explain her actions. "When…the Admiral told me…it hurt so much. She said I was being selfish by putting the destruction of the hub and the alleviation of my guilt as a drone over your grief when I died, I…was trying to spare you that…"

"Look at me." When she did, with gleaming eyes and tear stained cheeks, he continued. "You are the least selfish person I've ever met, ever likely to meet, so don't beat yourself up over dying for God's sake." He looked at her lovingly, every sob she uttered wrenching his heart. Just then the Captain called them to the Bridge using the comm. system. "Interrupted again." He said with a sad smile, lifting her hands to his lips and kissing them.

Seven returned the smile through her tears, a new thought had just occurred to her. "You always stop me doing the wrong thing."

Chakotay looked at her, intrigued. "Like what?"

"When you stopped me from assimilating Voyager and freed me from the Collective."

"I've never thought of it like that, sweetheart." Another comm. signal stopped him from going any further. "We'd better go, before they get anymore impatient."

Seven nodded in agreement, wiping her eyes hastily, before glancing at his uniform. "I have damaged your uniform."

Chakotay glanced down to where her tears had soaked through. "It doesn't matter. Come with me?"

"Of course."

A/n: Well what do you think? I maybe went a bit too much to the soppy side, but once I started I couldn't stop. Please review! I'll update soon!