Kathryn was restlessly reading when Seven entered her cabin. Kathryn looked into her eyes to check her mood and saw she was despondent. She laid down her book and asked her to come in. Seven entered and seeing she was nervous, Kathryn waved her nearer. Seven walked to her and looked at the floor.

After a pause the Captain asked her in a gentle tone if she needed a hug. She nodded and her arms shot out preciously. Kathryn stepped against her and wrapped both arms around the younger woman. She hugged Seven like it was her sole mission in life, then rubbing her back told her, "Your hugability is through the roof," in a gently complimentary tone.

Seven squeezed the older woman to her and closed her eyes as she rested her head against her. She breathed Kathryn's scent and let herself calm.

"Thank you."

"I promised I would always be here for this. And I wasn't lying, you're very hugable."

Seven didn't let go.

"Will you hold me, Captain?"

Kathryn's breath hitched. "What's up?"

"I dreamed of something sad."

Kathryn squeezed her. "I'm sorry, Seven. It was just a dream."

She felt Seven's hands clutch her shirt.

"Will you hold me and tell me about the earth?"

There was nothing she could deny Seven, especially when she was being good.

"Sure," she told her as she led her to the couch. She sat and Seven sat down against her and leaned against her chest. Kathryn looped her arms around her. Seven laid her head against her.

"The best thing about the Earth is the Sun," she began in a calm tone. "I can't wait for you to see it again, Seven. I can't wait to see it shining on your golden hair."

Seven smiled.

"Do you remember it?"

She thought and finally recalled something. "It was very bright, I think."

Kathryn smiled. "Almost as bright you. The best thing about the Sun is, it's pure love. When you see it on the plants and animals of the Earth, you can feel how much it loves them. It's the closest thing to God's presence. I know you'll be happy, and safe, and warm, once I take you back to it."

Seven slid her arms around Kathryn and squeezed her. Kathryn had a way of touching her that felt purely Platonic, but she hadn't mastered the same touch. She was always thinking of her desire for Kathryn's body when embracing her. Kathryn had forbid her to seriously flirt so it always ruined the moment.

"Is it very hot?"

"In the Summer it can be. In Winter the heat abides until we crave it again by the Spring."

"I don't like being cold," Seven said. Kathryn wished she could keep her warm forever.

"You won't be. When we get home the Sun will shine for you every day."

"Do you think the Sun believes I am dead?"

"Of course not. You're made of the Sun, and animated by the Sun. The Sun made your heart beat in utero, and it has kept it beating all this time. The Sun probably thinks of you every single day, awaiting the time when it can bring you back home again."

She stroked Seven's hair adoringly.

"How do you know?"

"I can tell. Just look at you. You're golden."

Seven hid her blushing face against Kathryn's shoulder.

"You don't believe that."

"Yes, I do. Since the first time I saw you, I got the strangest feeling you're an Angel."

"Do Angels come from the Sun?"

"Yes, that's where Heaven is. That's how I could tell, you're so sunny and golden."

Seven reached for one of Janeway's hand to play with. Kathryn allowed it and watched her anxious hands running all over Kathryn's, dragging her fingertips along in her characteristic way.

"You don't mind this?" Seven asked her in a small voice.

Kathryn thought before finally shrugging. "It seems like it helps your nerves. It's better than you biting your fingernails."

Seven shot her a smile and resumed watching their hands.

"Do you really think that about me?"

"I shouldn't have told you, but yeah I always thought that about you. I never knew a person could be as special as you."

Seven couldn't control her desire to playfully press. "Is that why you never get mad at me when I'm bad?"

Kathryn laughed. "I lose my patience with you sometimes. I've snapped at you."

"Only for endangering myself. It seemed like I scared you."

Kathryn inhaled and waited before replying, "It all happened fast, honestly. I saw a very dangerous person with you, I didn't like how he was acting toward you, I saw something in your eyes, and I reacted. Honestly that has never happened to me before. But it still scares me to recall that dangerous person anywhere near you. The thought of someone hurting you really messes with my head."

"Why?"

She cradled Seven's head to her shoulder and squeezed her like it would stop anything from ever hurting her.

"I don't know. I really don't. I think you're stronger and braver than me. And anyway, you were taken by the Borg at such a young age. I've heard your stories, and I know I can't go back in time and protect you. But God when I think of anything hurting you, even in the past, it just tears me up inside. It's like it's happening ..." she stopped and shook her head.

"To your child?" Seven asked knowingly.

Kathryn grimaced. "Yes. That surprised me when I felt it. But it felt like you were my daughter. I would have killed him, you know."

"I know. I could see that in your eyes."

"If he put his hands on you, I would have just murdered and disposed of him."

Seven's hands clutched her shirt. "That was written on your face."

Kathryn shook off the fear and refocused.

"Then why did you think I was mad at you? I've never been mad at you. You just scared me. Because I thought something could have happened to you."

Seven pulled at her shirt. "I'm sorry."

"Well, what happened wasn't your fault. I didn't blame you. It just scared me. And I need you to know when people are scary like that, when they say that kind of thing to you, you cannot let them be inappropriate with you. I know you're young, but some people are really dangerous, kid."

She breathed. "I know. I'm sorry."

"I know you're strong and you're violent as hell, but Seven, you're still in danger from human beings. They can be very smart when they're trying to prey upon one another. And that's the only reason I got harsh with you. I just want you to understand the gravity of the situation. Also you scared the hell out of me but mostly, I wanted you to know ... it's not a joke, baby."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you were flirting with those dangerous aliens to upset me, but it scared me because you were playing with some very dangerous people. And they were seeing you, seeing exactly what you were doing, and wanting to take advantage of your state of mind. You wanted to make me jealous, but you scared the hell out of me. I snapped at you because it was scary. I saw the look in your eyes. You lost control of the situation and got scared. That's why I dealt with him."

Seven breathed. "I know."

"Then please don't accuse me of jealousy or of getting mad at you. You know what happened."

Seven looped her fingers through Janeways and looked in her eyes.

"Why aren't you jealous?"

Kathryn gulped. Those eyes.

"Because I can't give you the life you deserve, and I have accepted that. Do you realize how much older I am than you? You're going to get married and have children."

"I can do that with you," she tried.

Kathryn broke eye contact. "It's not that I don't want to, but I'm too old now. You need someone younger."

"So that's what this is really about? Your age? Shouldn't I decide if it bothers me?"

"It bothers me. Seven, what if I died?"

Seven buried her face in Kathryn's neck and squeezed her.

"Shut up. You won't."

She hugged her back gently.

"You shouldn't worry anyway, little one. Soon we will get back to Earth. And then you can have the life you deserve."

"Kathryn, what if I'm never going to get that life anyway, and you're my special gift from God?"

She gulped and kissed her forehead.

"That's so sweet, but I'm not. God's got so many things planned for you, Seven. I can feel that. You're somebody really special."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

They sat in silence for long moments breathing. When Kathryn was no longer crying she tucked Seven's hair behind her ear and said, "You were right about why I took you from the Borg. From the first second I saw you, I just wanted you so bad. I couldn't let you go."

Seven smiled. Kathryn's hugs made her feel so safe.

"I love you, Kathryn."

She knew she shouldn't say it but she couldn't stop herself.

"I love you, too, Annika. I never believed I was capable of caring about someone so deeply. God, it's like you turned on the sun in my heart again, after I believed it would never happen to me. And it rescued me, body and soul. I had given up in my heart, but when I met you everything came alive again. It was a miracle. It was also really scary. Knowing I could never have a relationship with you and would ultimately let you go."

Seven winced.

"You did all this believing it would only hurt you?"

"I did all this ... for you. Because you deserve it."

Afterward Kathryn Janeway kept all her promises, and did everything Seven had asked her to do. And she was entirely grateful for the Angel while she knew her.