Another night and Janeway couldn’t sleep. Racing around her head were thoughts of Seven and why this woman so fascinated her.

It wasn’t just her body, which was after all truly breathtaking, but the way she made Janeway feel everytime they talked. Warmness spread through her, a tingling in all the right places, and yet they were only words.

Yet every exchange seemed to carry a hidden meaning, a question bubbling under the surface, waiting to be answered. And who would answer that question first? Who would take the chance and say what was in their heart?

If only Janeway had the words. What words did she need to describe this feeling running through her, always present? Longing, curiosity, awe, appreciation, lust of course, and most suprisingly perhaps shock. Shock that on this seemingly never ending voyage, which just recently had taken some dark turns, something special had arrived out of nowhere.

Something so unexpected and oh so unique. Not something, but someone. Someone who made Janeway feel things she hadn’t truly felt for years, if ever, truth be told. A wonderful soft shoulder to lean on and share her doubts. A smile, a word, a touch, which made things seem wonderful instead of dark. Which gave Janeway thoughts of a future rather than a past.

Janeway remembered their first kiss.

"touch me Kathrine"

"Seven please"

"think of it as an experiment – touch me, now"

As if in slow motion – as if I didn’t have control over my own hand – I reached across and stroked her cheek – so soft – so inviting. Gently my fingers passed over her face trying to trace every feature and burn it into memory. Trying to remember every pore, every hair, every bump.

"oh captain" moans Seven.

stroking her neck with the tips of my fingers – gentle like spreading petals in the air. Smelling the scent of her running through my lungs. Wanting to see this face forever. Wanting to see this face.

that look – how can I resist – can’t kiss her – mustn’t – but oh such soft lips – all I could think about was tasting those lips – exploring

"I am satisfactory for your needs captain?"

"shut up and kiss me now"

And she did – oh what bliss beyond imagining – gentle at first but then oh so demanding – exploring – poking and prodding with a need to possess – each wanting the others all. Licking and biting, tasting and sucking. A moment to last forever, a sweetness to blind all others. An emptiness finally to be filled. A longing inside that has no boundaries.

Thank God thought Katherine that this woman came on board. Thank God that our paths crossed and our souls brushed before I had the chance to flee.

Early days she knows. Katherine must hide her need from others, must not scare her away with her longing, her desire, her joy that this has happened.

But most of all Katherine must thank the stars and planets above for this creation. This mystery, this puzzle, this woman.