When Seven and Chakotay entered the small dimly lit restaurant, they were immediately accosted by a short and rotund man who smiled at them genially, not seeming to register the significance of her facial implants.

"What can I do for you both this lovely evening? Wait…is that Chakotay?"

Chakotay smiled in pleasure at having been remembered. "So you're still here then Carlo?"

"Oh yes, they're not rid of me yet! I knew it was you, I never forget a face." Carlo looked appreciatively over at Seven. "I can see you haven't forgotten your taste in women! Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Of course, this is Seven, Seven this is Carlo, the manager."

Carlo beamed at her. "Welcome back to Earth, senorina!"

"Good evening. It is a pleasure to meet you." Seven could say that sincerely, something in the man's manner reminded her of Neelix. "This is my first day on Earth."

"Your first day! Well, you came to the right place for your first Earth meal; you'll never want to eat that replicated trash again!"

Carlo guided them to a table in a quiet corner talking all the way. "So how's Starfleet treating you?"

"As well as can be expected." Seven replied in a guarded tone.

"Ah well, they wouldn't know a good thing if it kicked them in the teeth. So much bureaucracy! You know that Voyager was supposed to be landing tonight in a sea of fireworks and street party celebrations were being organised, I was fully booked! Then they cancelled it and there's going to be a more "muted tasteful welcome" their words not mine. They said they had to check for bio security threats before the ship could land." Seven and Chakotay exchanged an apprehensive glance, they knew it wasn't biological threats Starfleet were worried about.

Carlo took their orders and parted with "I'm sure it'll get sorted out soon enough, at least you get an evening to yourselves out of it."

"I couldn't agree more." Said Chakotay, speaking to Carlo but looking at Seven's pale pensive face.

They ate in companionable silence, neither wishing to bring up difficult topics, they were almost finished their main meal when Seven brought up a new topic of conversation. "My father's sister contacted me."

"Your aunt? When?"

"While we were still on Voyager. She wants to meet me."

"That's understandable. Did you make plans?"

"No. I have yet to contact her again. I spoke to her by comm. while in the Delta Quadrant but…"

"But you don't feel comfortable actually seeing her in the flesh." Chakotay finished for her.

"No."

"I don't think you can avoid her forever."

"I won't! That would be unnecessarily cruel."

"Look, I'm sure she's just as nervous at the prospect of seeing you. If you're worried about hurting her feelings you should just get that awkward first meeting over with and then things will settle down."

"What if she dislikes what I have become?"

"No!" He took her hand and stroked it, gazing at her intently. "She loves you already; you're her brother's only child. I'm sure she'll admire how well you've coped with all this."

Seven felt her initial resistance collapsing around her under the influence of his rational words and intense dark eyes. "I hope you're right. I will go and see her in Stockholm as soon as possible."

"Good." He said in relief, squeezing her hand. He turned away when a waiter asked them for dessert orders. "Two strawberry ice creams please."

Seven felt embarrassed at him putting her preference above his own. "You are overindulging me."

"I like it too. It has good memories."

While they were eating the ice cream, Chakotay brought up a new thread of conversation. "Seven do you know why I have that Borg transceiver?"

"Your spinal neuro transceiver? You were captured by a group of freed drones who healed your injuries using synaptic impulses created by the mind link."

"Yes. You were told what happened to them weren't you?"

"Yes. You entered into a relationship with one of them…"

Chakotay flushed. "Who told you that?"

"The Doctor, he was informing me about the social habits of the crew."

"I always knew he was a gossip."

"Yes, it has been proven to one of his flaws. Anyway, the drones used you to reconnect all of the former drones on the planet before freeing you and leaving under the provision of a new Collective."

"That's right. Now here comes my question, what do you think happened to them? They called themselves the Cooperative."

"The name means nothing; it is still a Collective, although separate from the original."

"Their principles would have disappeared quite quickly then?"

"Perhaps not." Seven gave a sigh, "Any comment I made would be pure speculation…"

"I want to know what you believe."

"I cannot be certain, but drawing from my own knowledge it is only a matter of time before any group linked as they were become like the Collective."

Chakotay was intrigued. "What knowledge?"

"The history of the Collective."

"The Collective knows its own history? Wouldn't that be considered irrelevant?"

"It is, but we all have fragments of memories from the original drones. Species One was torn apart by civil strife and disease, the cybernetics were conceived to halt the illness and to promote resistance against weaponry. The mental link came when the planet was almost totally obliterated and some scientists unified the remaining population by connecting their thoughts."

"What went wrong with their plan?"

"They did not consider the desire for fresh input by way of new members and the ruthlessness of a group cut off from individual emotions."

"You should tell Starfleet this! They would love this sort of information."

"I do not trust them with it. I realise that trust goes both ways but I do not trust Starfleet to use my knowledge properly as I did yourself and the Captain."

Chakotay didn't know what to say, he couldn't tell her not to worry, he didn't trust Starfleet either. "Trust comes gradually. They'll just have to accept that for the time being." Music came on in the background and Chakotay had an idea to lift the mood. "Dance with me."

Seven felt mortified and blushed furiously. "No!" She noticed his hurt look and guilt stabbed her. "I…I cannot dance."

"Everyone can dance, you just haven't tried before." Seeing that she still looked reluctant, he continued. "You don't have to be perfect…"

"I'll hurt you!"

"Why would you hurt me?"

I did when I last danced with a human; I dislocated Lieutenant Chapman's shoulder."

Chakotay felt an irrational jealousy surge through him. "When did you dance with Lieutenant Chapman?"

"Three years ago." She picked up on his jealousy. "The Doctor arranged it, it meant nothing."

Chakotay visibly relaxed, ashamed of his jealousy. "I promise you that you won't dislocate my shoulder, I'll lead."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure." He extended her hand to her which she gingerly took, before leading her to the tiny dance floor.

What they did next could hardly be called dancing in the classical sense, more akin to an embrace while swaying slightly to the music, but it had desired effect and when they left the restaurant they were more contented and at peace in each other's company than ever.

A/n: I know it's another soppy filler but I wanted to get all my fluffy ideas out of my brain before I settled down to the more serious scenes coming up. Please review! I'll try to update as soon as possible but my broadband isn't being very cooperative so bear with me.