A/n: Thanks to lisac1965 for updating "The Little Girl" last night, xXTheGothicBumbleBeeXx for updating "The Borg With Butterfly Wings" on Friday and Strat99 for giving me ideas for this chapter!

Seven and Chakotay both tried their best to put the unresolved issue of Chakotay's job offer aside for the duration of the twins' birthday party, and in some ways they succeeded, the children all having a glorious time oblivious to their parents' turmoil, but the few guests who did come could sense the strained atmosphere in the normally peaceful, happy home and left much quicker than they usually would have done. Seven knew all this as she sat down heavily at the kitchen table, holding her aching head in her hands with a sigh. Why was she torturing herself about this? She understood why Chakotay had to go; she hadn't been lying the day before, so why did she have to feel so irrationally fearful and uptight?

"Annika honey?" Seven's head snapped upright and twisted around to follow the voice, only to see Irene standing next to her, her careworn face creased in gentle concern.

Seven felt herself began to blush for ignoring a visitor, even one so regular as her aunt. "Oh, I apologise Aunt Irene, I didn't realise you were still here…"

Irene waved her apology away, "You don't have to stand on ceremony with me Annika, and you should know that." She admonished her gently before taking the free chair next to her at the table and peering intently into her face. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong sweetheart?" she asked softly, sighing as Seven remained silent and averted her glassy eyes. "Is there something wrong with the baby?" She questioned in a near whisper, scanning Seven's abdomen anxiously.

Seven's throat tightened in guilt, she really had nothing to worry about! Shyly, she smiled weakly at Irene, "No, she's fine, perfect or so the Doctor says…" She murmured in relief, unconsciously wrapping her arm protectively around her bump as she did so.

Irene breathed a deep sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair before curiously studying Seven's face once again, "But there is something up?" She pressed carefully.

Seven sighed again and stared at the table for a few uneasy seconds before finally meeting her aunt's kindly eyes, "Starfleet offered Chakotay a temporary post in San Francisco…" She mumbled, surprised by how shaky her own voice sounded.

Irene leaned over and held her hand understandingly. "It's to do with the war, I assume?" When Seven nodded in confirmation her voice took on a soothing tone, "I know that moving house would harass you, with the kiddies being so young, but you say yourself that its only a temporary posting and you have plenty of friends in that city don't you?"

Seven bit her lip, feeling unexpected tears well up in her eyes, "I would happily move permanently if he asked me to, but he wants us to stay here!" She burst out suddenly.

Irene gave her hand another squeeze, sensing a marital misunderstanding. "Have you told him that dear?"

Seven looked slightly startled, then sheepish. "Well no, not yet…"

Irene laughed softly. "Annika, he's a man, not a mind reader!" When met by Seven's blank look, she explained, "I highly doubt he wants to live away from you and the children if he could avoid it, he probably just thought you wouldn't want to leave, especially considering your condition…"

Seven stiffened. "My pregnancy should be irrelevant to this situation." She told her aunt bluntly.

"It's always going to be relevant Annika, you know how we all worry and Chakotay especially, it's never been easy for you…"

Her sentiment sobered Seven considerably and she thought for several minutes before speaking again, "Even if we could stay together, I am still not entirely comfortable with him working for Starfleet at all…" She admitted quietly. When Irene looked at her enquiringly, she elaborated, "If he becomes involved with them now, and they are certain to value his contributions…" Irene smiled at the hint of pride in Seven's voice as she said this, "They'll want him to deepen his involvement when the war worsens, command a starship or…" Her voice trailed off, a lump of anxiety blocking her throat.

Irene frowned at her incredulously, "Now Annika, I think you're selling that lovely husband of yours a little short, do you really believe he'd go off anywhere without consulting you? You know he's perfectly capable of saying no to Starfleet, he was a Maquis after all."

Seven laughed a little at that, smiling gratefully at her aunt. "Thank you Aunt Irene. My fear may have been obscuring my sense of perspective."

Irene smiled fondly at her unusual phrasing, "You're welcome dear, it happens to us all sometimes. Why don't I watch the children while you go and have a nap? You look knocked out for six."

Seven would have normally refused outright, but at that moment she was feeling truly drained, both physically and emotionally and so rose slowly up from the table, "I think I will Aunt Irene if that is convenient."

Chakotay walked into their bedroom an hour later, immediately seeing from her posture lying stiffly on her side on the bed that she was not asleep but asking politely anyway, "Are you asleep honey?"

Seven breathed a laugh into her pillow, "You know I'm not or else you wouldn't have risked waking me to ask." She commented as she sat up to look at him.

Chakotay grinned, "You're right." He admitted with a laugh. "Is that baby girl of mine giving you trouble love?"

"None more so than usual." She replied, giving her protruding stomach an affectionate pat before eyeing his nervous face suspiciously. "Is there something wrong?"

"No…" He muttered, "I've had an idea, I'd really like you and the kids to just come with me to San Francisco, only if you wanted to of course, I'll work around you…"

Seven's face fell as understanding dawned, "My aunt talked to you." She stated it as a fact.

"A little." He admitted sheepishly. "It wasn't that I wanted to leave you here Seven, I just didn't want you to be stressed…"

"I know." Seven replied with a sigh. "But I would find living apart from you for any significant period much more stressful my love…"

"Okay!" Chakotay announced with a look of relief. "That's what we'll do then."

"Where will we live?" Seven asked, her practical mind already desperate to organise.

"We'll rent an apartment for a month or so I suppose and shut this place up. It'll be a lot smaller than what we're used to here though…"

"We'll adapt." Seven replied confidently, "But I'd like to return here for Christmas."

Chakotay nodded vigorously, "Oh, I doubt we'll be there that long, but if we are we'll definitely come back home for Christmas." He frowned as he saw Seven's face brighten. "What?"

"Perhaps Starfleet would take me on as a civilian consultant. I have more experience of the Notsinians than anyone else in the Alpha Quadrant…"

Chakotay blanched. "I'm sure they'd love to have you honey but…" He swallowed and looked at her seriously, "You've just gone on maternity leave from your job here, the workload would be far too much to be safe for you and the baby…"

Despite his words, Seven's face was set. "You just said it would probably be over before Christmas, I'm not even twenty three weeks along, I have time…" Seeing that he was beginning to look exasperated, she changed tack, "The Doctor would step in if my health was comprised Chakotay. You said that you feel you need to do everything in your power to help, well so do I."

Chakotay was struck speechless by that and it was a few minutes before he put a warm arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "We'll ask them, alright? I can't promise anything." He said seriously, feeling her nod against his chest before lightening his tone, "Well, I suppose this means Starfleet will get to know the genius in this marriage and just get rid of me!" He joked, making Seven giggle in relief before giving him a passionate kiss.

A/n: PLEASE REVIEW! :D