A/n: This chapter is for xXBrightsidebumblebeeXx as a thank you for re-publishing her C/7 fic "The Borg With Butterfly Wings". It's now even better than it was before and I can't recommend it highly enough! :D
"Okay, which story do you want? You're only having one tonight remember." Chakotay told his three elder children with a patient sigh as they struggled against his and Seven's efforts to tuck them in. Even after more than three years of parenthood he was still astounded by his children's shared ability to go from seemingly deep sleep to wide-eyed, ready to be entertained alertness! He glanced over at Seven's exasperated and exhausted face and knew the same thought was running through her mind as the twins started to negotiate.
"Papa and Mama both wead one stowy!" Michael exclaimed, a coaxing glint in his hazel eyes.
"Yeah!" Aylen agreed in delight, pulling off a large book with a glossy pink cover from her bedside table and pushing it across her bedcover towards her mother, who was sitting on the edge of her bed, Taya still in her arms as she tried to rest her aching body. "Pwincess and the Pea pwease Mama." Aylen requested softly, peering curiously at her baby sister, who was starting to whimper and wriggle against her blankets.
Michael's nose scrunched up in disgust, "No! No pwincesses Aylen! Spidewman!" he shouted argumentatively, overwrought tiredness returning to his eyes.
"Don't shout Michael…" Seven began to reprimand sharply but she was too late, Taya woke up properly and started to cry loudly.
"You hurt baby's ears Michael!" Aylen told her brother accusingly, glaring at him.
"Did not!" Michael flung back hotly as he clamped his hands over his ears.
"Stop it both of you, you're hurting my ears." Chakotay intervened firmly as Aylen opened her mouth to retort. Both children fell quiet, but not before Michael gave his sister a sneaky pinch. "Now Taya's hungry so I'm going to read you all one story while Mama feeds her, okay?" Chakotay continued with a disapproving frown in their direction.
"Okay Papa." The twins replied in contrite unison, thankfully well aware of when to toe the line.
Max meanwhile was watching Seven get up to leave, a still crying Taya over her shoulder, with a confused expression on his face. "Why she hungwy? Not bwekfast…"
Seven couldn't help but smile at that, "No darling, it's not breakfast time yet, but little babies like Taya need more meals."
"Why?" Max asked again as his two older siblings now began to look interested.
"Because her tummy is so small and because she needs to grow quickly." Seven explained as simply as she could, "Say goodnight to your sister."
"G'night sista." Max said immediately, waving enthusiastically at the baby and earning a chuckle from the rest of his family.
Seven smiled warmly as she listened to all their "goodnights" in turn, then as she saw Chakotay pick up a book and spread it across his lap for the children to see, she whispered to him as she quietened Taya, "I'm sorry to leave you but…"
"Hey, I'm the one who woke them up, so I deal with the fallout." He whispered back good-naturedly as she gave him a peck on the cheek and left him to his story telling duties.
Chakotay walked into the master bedroom some time later to see Seven on their bed, lying on her side as she settled Taya into her bassinet beside the bed. She smiled sleepily at the sight of him, "How many stories did you have to read to bring about sleep this time?" she asked teasingly.
"Just the one, "Little Red Riding Hood". It seemed a decent compromise between princesses and superheroes." He answered with a soft laugh as he undressed and joined her in bed, wrapping an arm gently around her, well aware that she was still very sore from childbirth. "Did you enjoy your welcoming party?"
"Oh yes, it was very good to see everyone, but the best thing was coming back here." Seven replied, "It's strange to miss a house but…"
"Not really, this is home after all." He reminded her as she moved her head to his chest with a heavy sigh, "I know you found the move to San Francisco, this whole experience, stressful honey and I know now that I should never have put you or the kids through it, I'm sorry."
"I'm not. It was necessary, your command skills and Icheb's and I's shields helped protect Earth." Seven said resolutely before turning her face up to look at his directly, "It was very difficult though, I…appreciate your acknowledgement." She admitted in a murmur as she kissed his warm throat softly.
Chakotay smiled at her lovingly as he tilted her head to kiss her lips. "I'm glad to give it sweetheart, don't worry."
Seven stroked his face thoughtfully in response, running a finger over the intricate tattoo on his temple. "You are worried about the Admiral and her Romulan." She stated matter-of-factly.
"You know me too well." He admitted, "It's just that Romulans always want something, and the Admiral still has a great deal of pull with Starfleet, it may lead to grief."
Seven sighed heavily in agreement but said after a pause, "Many people said that about us, remember?"
"I don't want to remember." He muttered passionately, pulling her close as if he feared she'd be snatched from him. "They actually seem well suited, if you put aside the possible consequences…"
Seven, as was generally the case, read his train of thought, "Even if the Romulans do take advantage of the Federation and Starfleet after the Notsinians are gone completely, does it matter?" she asked thickly, "I don't want to get involved again Chakotay…" she choked out past the sudden lump of anxiety in her throat.
"Hey, hey, shh…" Chakotay soothed, hugging her close and rubbing circles in her back as she buried her head into his shoulder. "I promised you I was done with Starfleet didn't I?" he reminded her as she pulled back, looking tearful. "Any promises I give to you my love are a hundred times more important than anything else, trust me, I won't leave you again."
"Thank you…" Seven whispered brokenly against his lips as she kissed him deeply in relief.
"Ugh…" Seven groaned as she felt something brush against her face. Instinctively her ears tuned in for Taya's cries, but upon not hearing anything she buried her head back into the pillow, willing sleep to return. It had been a trying night to say the least, Taya, probably unsettled by all the activity of leaving the hospital, had vomited twice during the night as well as wanting fed every hour or so and although Chakotay had taken his full share of diaper changes and clean ups to let her regenerate enough to be able to function, she was still beyond exhaustion.
"Mama!" The whine which pierced her ears was accompanied by a sharp tug on her loose hair that made her gasp in pain.
"Max!" she exclaimed angrily as she freed her hair from his grip, taking a deep breath to calm herself as she saw his face, level with hers as he'd managed to climb up onto the bed with her, pulling off most of the duvet in the process. "How did you get in here baby?" she asked in a gentler tone as he clung to her.
He pointed to the open door, "Open." He said, stating the obvious as he pulled at her arms. "Git up Mama, it mawning."
Seven sighed impatiently, "Max, didn't Papa explain to you that I am very tired this morning? Go downstairs and see if Papa will make breakfast for you and I'll be down to see you soon."
Max's normally cheery and docile dark eyes flared with temper. "No, now Mama!" he demanded.
Seven cringed as Taya began to whimper into wakefulness, thinking of the hour it had taken her to lull her into sleep. Frowning at her younger son, she disentangled him from her arms and set him firmly on the floor, "Stop shouting or you're going in time out."
Max looked startled for a moment by her tone, but as he watched Seven reach over to comfort the baby a jealous pout formed on his face and he kicked the bassinet with a growl of temper."Never lash out at your sister again, do you understand?" Seven snapped angrily, before shock filled her at expressing a flash of temper to her child as his face crumpled in shock. She felt like crying with him as she followed through with her threat, "Go and sit in time out, now." She ordered quietly.
As she watched him trot out wordlessly and sit in the corner which was the designated time out spot for upstairs, Chakotay rushed in. "What happened?" he asked her gently as he saw her shaking like a leaf.
"He…he kicked Taya's bassinet and I lost my temper with him…" Seven answered shakily.
Chakotay shut the door and headed towards her, "Well he's in time out now, he won't do it again, you were right." Seven gave a reluctant nod in response and he squeezed her hand, "He's just a little jealous, you've been home with Taya for less than a day, remember."
"We haven't spoiled him or the twins have we?" Seven asked, horrified tears sliding uncontrollably down her pale cheeks.
"No, all children misbehave sometimes honey, the twins were jealous of him for a few days at first and they got over it, you've just forgotten what it was like."
"Yes…" Seven admitted, gulping as she rubbed her temples. "It would be reasonable to assume I'd know what to expect as to the after-effects of pregnancy by now but this time I'm excessively emotional, I'm losing my temper or crying over insignificant things…" She looked apologetically over at him, calming down as quickly as she had become upset.
Chakotay sat down beside her and put a reassuring arm around her shoulders, "That's why it's called the "baby blues", don't bottle it up and it'll go away, probably when you've had more sleep."
"Most likely." Seven agreed, "I apologise for any emotional volatility in advance." He smiled and squeezed her hand in reply as she stood up, handing him the baby. "I'd better go and get Max to apologise." She said with a wan smile as she glanced affectionately down at Taya, "They will adapt to her presence, won't they?"
"Of course they will." Chakotay replied as he kissed her, before adding teasingly, "They're related to you after all, and you adapt to anything."
A/n: PLEASE REVIEW! :D I hope you liked this, I can't believe I've reached 75 chapters, thanks for the support so far everyone! This isn't going to end anytime soon! :D