With the news that they were expecting a boy and a girl came shopping. Cots, changing tables, toys and clothes were all rapidly accumulated, although Seven insisted that all the furniture was neutral for she was becoming sick of baby blue and baby pink. The room did get painted before the furniture was put in but in a clean apple green after Seven made the point that they wouldn't grow out of it as quickly. All these decisions were made mutually and relatively easily but there was one purchase which constantly caused discord. "Seven, I'm telling you that it would be sensible to get a car…" Chakotay started the conversation once again at breakfast at the start of Seven's nineteenth week.
"Why? A car is an inefficient and antiquated form of transportation which we have not needed so far." Their house was relatively close to the centre of Flagstaff and despite being pregnant Seven continued to walk everywhere only getting on a bus or tram if somewhere was inaccessible by foot or if she was really tired.
"Well, our car wouldn't be antiquated." Chakotay replied in exasperation. Seeing that her face remained set in a stubborn line, he continued, "Do you really want to pushing our newborn babies through the streets in the depth of winter or dragging that bulky stroller off a bus?"
Seven couldn't help the vision of their new twin sized stroller getting trapped in the doors of the bus from entering her mind and Chakotay saw her expression waver. "Great! We'll go and buy one today!"
"I have not yet learned how to drive." Seven pointed out, not totally willing to admit that she'd given in.
Chakotay flashed her his most charming smile. "If I know you, you'll pick it up pretty easily."
They did purchase a car that day and it was far from antiquated, the salesman described it as nearly new and family sized. Seven had to admit that Chakotay had probably been right as she rested her tired swollen feet on the drive home.
As her nineteenth week merged into her twentieth Seven was still working at the Lowell Observatory and although she was only supposed to work her normal hours, tonight Seven was working late. The day had been very interesting, the Observatory's telescope had found what she knew as a Spatial Singularity 8932 around fifteen light years from Earth and she had spent most of the day explaining to her less informed colleagues what this was, before she'd even got a chance to study it herself. Her internal clock now told her that it was 1918 hours, her stomach gurgled hungrily at the knowledge and she decided it was probably time to go home. Packing up her belongings she wondered whether to call Chakotay to pick her up in the car but decided to walk since it was a clear night and outside had lost most of its mid August heat, it was only a fourteen minute walk home anyway.
Seven walked into the house and sat down the heavy bag she was carrying only to be confronted by a livid looking Chakotay. "Do you know what time it is? Where were you?"
"It is 1933 hours. I was at the Observatory."
"You're twenty weeks pregnant, you're not allowed to do overtime!" he told her angrily.
"I fell behind today…"
"That's no excuse, you'll make yourself ill! I don't want you walking home either…"
Seven felt anger rising within her, "Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I've lost my good judgement!" she snapped hotly.
"I didn't say that…" he retorted, angry at her having misunderstood him.
Seven turned away from him in frustration and the house remained silent for the rest of the night with no conversation between the couple, Seven going into her alcove without so much as a kiss and Chakotay alone in bed.
Seven stepped out of her alcove, her eyes seeking out Chakotay to comfort her after another nightmare but then she remembered their argument of the night before and she hated herself for allowing it to fester overnight without being resolved. Apprehensively she sat on the edge of the bed and touched his arm; his sleep must not have been deep for he woke almost immediately. She spoke before he could say anything. "I apologise for staying late at work last night and for not resolving our argument as soon as it occurred."
He sat up and wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a moment before saying anything, he had missed her presence badly. "I'm sorry too…we should have made up quicker. I trust your judgement more than anyone's; I suppose I'm easily worried right now…"
"I am also easily agitated." She admitted, "I will not worry you in that manner again."
"Thank you my love." He murmured, kissing her softly.
That day at work was much harder than the day before in fact Seven looked so tired that her boss sent her home an hour early and she didn't even complain, taking the tram almost to her doorstep. She planned to go straight to bed or to her alcove but she noticed their phone was flashing that someone had left a message. Sitting down she activated the message and saw a smart looking older man on the screen before her. "Hello Mrs Kotay I'm Mr Fredricksen from the law firm Fredricksen, Bengtsson and Wallander. I was your parents' lawyer; I'm calling to inform you about your rights concerning your parents wills, you are the sole beneficiary for both. I know this is perhaps a sensitive subject but it is your legal right to unfreeze their assets and inherit, although to do that they would both have to be declared legally dead. I'm sorry, but it's the way the legal system works. Please feel free to make an appointment to discuss this, my number is…" Seven switched the phone off, unable to bear anymore. Legally dead? But my parents aren't dead, how could he speak of such a thing! Her heart screamed. They are Borg, which is like death in most ways. They will never return, said the horribly detached logical voice in her brain but physically she felt as if she'd been kicked and tears burned at the edges of her eyes, longing to be allowed to fall. She stood up abruptly wanting these grief stricken angered thoughts to leave her alone.
She ascended the stairs quickly, ignoring the headache and dizziness which suddenly came upon her and sat down on the bed in her room, opening her bedside table and pulling out three photographs her Aunt Irene had given her. The first was a photograph of her parents' wedding as she looked at it she thought how happy and carefree they looked, how similar it suddenly seemed to her own wedding photographs. The second was of her father sitting beside her heavily pregnant mother, pregnant with her. She felt one of the twins kick her at that moment and a sob escaped through her lips. She barely glanced at the one which showed her as a baby, her father teaching her how to walk. Why do I have to feel like this now? She shouted internally. Leave me alone! The pain in her head got worse and she staggered to the bathroom, taking one look at her face in the mirror she knew something was very wrong and unconsciously reached for the comm. badge that wasn't there. That was last thing she was aware of before she felt herself falling and then there was nothing.
A/n: Bet you hate me right now, a shorter chapter than normal and a cliff-hanger, but don't worry I'll probably have free time for writing tomorrow. Please review!