STAR TREK: VOYAGER

Disclaimers

This story is an original work of fiction set in the pre-existing universe of Star Trek: Voyager.  As such, many of the characters and references used within belong solely to Paramount Pictures.  No gain, monetary or otherwise, is expected from their use and no copyright infringement is intended or should be inferred.

This story is dedicated to ruffian because she is the woman I will never tire of having dinner with.

All original characters and storylines contained herein belong to the author. 

Guess who’s coming to dinner

Part Two

The ending of part one:

The doors slid apart and each woman looked at the other and smiled and ran their eyes up and down each others bodies.

Seven was framed by the light in the doorway which was shining into the darker room.   Her blonde hair was loose and shiny, falling gently over her almost bare shoulders.  Her long legs tapered down to black open toed stilettos, making her even taller.

But it was the dress which stopped Kathryn’s heart beating for just a second and forced the breath from her lungs.

Seven was wearing a simple black dress.  There was not a single adornment except for her silver ocular implant which glinted in the light.

"Do I look all right?"

"Yes, you look wonderful tonight."

 Janeway stood up and approached her guest, smiling at the rose held uncomfortably by Seven.

“This is for you Captain.”

“Thank you Seven, and please call me Kathryn tonight.”

Janeway took the rose and replicated a simple glass vase, placing it on the table.

Seven walked to the sofa and sat down, still unsure of how she should act this evening. She sat straight and looked almost as if she had been called into the headmistress’ office. Which, in a way she had perhaps. But no this was Kathryn’s own private space, not the ready room. But it still held precious few touches of anything other than Starfleet.

“So can I get you something to drink?”

“Thank you Ca .. Kathryn. I would like some wine please.”

Janeway poured two glasses of wine and bought them with her to sit on the sofa next to Seven.

Now what the hell do we talk about? The weather rarely changes, the view is mostly the same and the people are the same. Hell what is small talk when you all live together in one enclosed space? Why didn’t I put some topics of conversation down on my PADD instead of worrying about the ambiance?

She leaned back and rested her head against the rug. Seven took a sip of her wine and turned to smile at her companion, noticing the rug for the first time.

“I have not seen this blanket before Kathryn. Where did it originate?”

“It is one of the few things I bought with me from home Seven, a reminder of my mother and the farm. I always travelled with it.”

“Why have I not seen it before?”

Janeway closed her eyes for a minute, trying to keep the memories from flooding back. She opened them again to see Seven staring at her with a hint of concern on her face.

“It just has so many memories attached to it Seven that I was afraid they would overwhelm me. So I have kept it hidden in the bottom of my cupboard.”

“Why did you bring it out this evening?”

Janeway smiled at the blond woman. “Tonight I wanted to be Kathryn Janeway from Indiana. Not Captain Janeway of Voyager. I wanted there to be something of me in the room, to share with you Seven.”

“Kathryn your presence would have been sufficient.”

Janeway could feel the blood rushing to her face as she smiled at the beautiful blond woman.

"What a nice thing to say Seven, thank you."

"If I am to call you Kathryn tonight maybe you could call me Annika?" 

"Annika"  Janeway rolled the  word  around her mouth as she said it."

"Yes Kathryn" laughed Seven.

Janeway looked at Seven and laughed.

"So Annika are you hungry?"

"Well it depends on where you obtained the food from"

"I promise Neelix had nothing to do with dinner tonight" laughed Janeway as she got up from the sofa and moved to the replicator and commanded it to make Udon soup with won tons for two.

"What is this Kathryn, I mean it is soup but what is Udon ?"

"It is a noodle served in a wonderfully refreshing light soup flavored with whatever you like. I like won tons because they are crispy." said Janeway as she handed the steaming bowl to Seven.

 Seven watched as Janeway lifted the bowl to her lips and gently sipped the hot broth.  She followed suit and felt the warmth flow through her body. The taste was indeed refreshing and the noodles seemed to melt as she bit into them. The crunch of the won tons was a nice sensation against the softness of the noodles.

They finished eating and Janeway placed the bowls back in the replicator.  On her way back she stopped and smelt the rose.  The scent filled her senses taking her back to her mother's rose garden. 

"This rose is lovely Annika.  I love roses but I am surprised you brought it for me."

"If I had known your fondness for this type of vegetation I would have brought you more.  B'elanna just gave me one to bring."

Janeway looked up sharply. "What does B'elanna have to do with this?"

"She helped me to prepare for dinner with you."

"Oh my God Seven, what did you tell her? Why did you need her help?" 

Janeway placed her hands on her hips and glared down at the beautiful young woman on the sofa.

"I was unsure how to prepare for such a dinner.  The EMH told me that dinner tonight was a date."

"Fucking hell Seven, how many more people have you told about tonight.  Why not make a ship wide announcement next time."

Janeway began to pace trying to deal with the anger that was bubbling up within her.

"I don't know about you Seven but I do not want to become the subject of gossip on this ship. I have to lead these people back home and I cannot do that if they are gossiping about my private life.  Private life, that is a joke. Nothing is private on this ship it seems.  Stupid of me to think I could have one part of me that was private, that was not part of Voyager and its crew."

The beautiful borg stood up startled by the vehemence in the Captain's tone.

"I should go now Captain.  My actions have not pleased you" 

Seven could not understand why but tears were beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. She did not understand the anger that was being directed at her. 

Janeway looked at Seven and was taken aback by the hurt and shame that was emanating from every pore. This was not what she had been hoping for tonight. 

"Sev ... Annika please do not go. I am sorry for my outburst." said Janeway as she moved closer to her beautiful guest.  Seven just stood there and looked at the Captain, not understanding what had upset the small woman so much.

Janeway reached out and brushed the tears that had begun to fall from Seven's face.

"Forgive me Annika, please. The last thing I wanted for tonight was for you to be upset or unhappy.  Damn my Irish temper." 

"How long ago did your family leave Ireland Kathryn?" laughed Seven, "Amazing what genes manage to pass down through the generations."

Janeway laughed, relieved that the hurt and shame had left those amazing features.  She continued to gently stroke the soft cheek although the tears no longer flowed.  Seven looked deeply into the Captain's eyes and was surprised by the desire bursting from them.  She stepped back, unsure what to do with all the feelings that were racing through her body, making it difficult for her to breathe. Janeway seemed to realise what she had revealed to the younger woman and she began to blush. 

"Kathryn can you please explain to me what upset you so much?  I do not want to do anything inappropriate."

Janeway moved to the sofa and sat down. She patted the cushion next to her, "Come sit with me and I will explain Annika."

The tall blond smiled and moved to the sofa sitting where Janeway's hand had been. She turned and looked at Kathryn wanting to understand what had caused her anger. Janeway looked back at Seven and took a deep breath, trying not to be distracted by the desire that still burned within her.

"Annika, this is no normal voyage and I am more than a Captain to this crew.  They are my family and I will not rest until I bring each and every one of them home.  I was the one who chose this course and they have followed me with loyalty and courage. They deserve all my attention Annika, and I cannot afford for them to see me as anything other than what I have been for six years. Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager.  There is no room for Kathryn Janeway from Indianna."

"What has that to do with me talking to the EMH or B'elanna? What made you so angry with me?"

Janeway began to raise her body from the sofa, feeling the need to pace, but was stopped by the soft hand placed on her leg. "Please Kathryn, no more pacing.  Sit next to me and talk to me."

Janeway looked down at the hand that was still resting on her leg, sending electric charges through her body. She slowly reached out and placed her own hand over the other woman's squeezing it gently.  "Yes Annika I will happily sit here and not pace." The smile she received made her never want to leave the sofa again.

"In case you haven't realised I like to be in control of a situation, to know the risks and all the variables."

"I have observed that many times Kathryn." laughed Seven.

"Yes well be that as it may, I have never had a relationship with a crew member Annika, even when I was an ensign I did not mix business and pleasure."

"You and Commander Chokatay are rumored to have had a relationship Kathryn, are you saying that this did not occur?"

Janeway leaned back into the sofa and laughed from a place deep inside.  "Oh Annika, that is hilarious.  I may be a single woman in the Delta Quadrant, 10,000 light years from home, but please believe me when I say that it would take more than that for me to have a relationship with tattoo boy. I preferred a hologram to the Commander, the hologram had more depth, but even he was not able to engage me for long."

"For most of this voyage I have been able to shut down the woman inside me and her needs and desires. It was not difficult at first because there was so much to learn in this new quadrant, but as time has gone on the crew and I have learnt a lot, especially about the strength of this ship. Still there was not room for that woman in my life as it was. And then you joined the crew Annika and threw my world upside down all over again. You have fought me so many times and questioned my decisions and yet I know you would do anything to save this ship and her crew. You began to invade my thoughts more and more ... I ..."  

Janeway stopped suddenly, realising that she was saying so much more than she wanted to. "Hey time for a drink don't you think?"   

"I do not require refreshment at this time Kathryn."

"Well I do Annika and maybe you should join me, it is a date after all." said Janeway, deciding it was time to try and lighten the mood.

Seven stood up and moved to where Janeway was standing.  "I have joined you Kathryn, what is our next action?"

Janeway stifled a laugh and realised how careful she would have to be with her suggestions. She did not want to cause her lovely companion any more distress so she took a deep breath and said "Computer play Janeway selection number 12."  The petite woman turned and looked at the beautiful woman standing before her, so innocent and trusting. 

 "We dance Annika, would you like that?"

Again she was greeted with the warm smile which made her heart skip a beat.

"Yes Kathryn. May I suggest that you lead?"

Janeway smiled and wrapped her arm around the tiny waist feeling the muscles ripple beneath the thin fabric of her dress.  She felt the borg hand slide around her own waist and shivered with delight as the implants pressed into her skin.  With her other hand she clasped the offered hand and pulled Seven close to her, enfolding her hand within her own.  She leaned into Seven and began to loose herself in the music barely knowing whether they were moving or just standing there holding each other.  Seven leaned into the smaller woman and marveled at the strength she felt in the tiny frame. She also stopped thinking and lost herself in the feel and smell of her amazing companion, feeling safe and at peace.  

How long they had been standing there or when the music had stopped neither woman knew.  The only sound to fill their ears was the beating of the other womans heart.  Janeway had never felt so at peace before in her life.  These arms were where she belonged.  She raised her head wanting to look into those beautiful blue eyes.  Seven felt the movement and pulled her head back so that she could also look at her companion.  Their eyes met and held seeming to share a lifetime in moment. Janeway felt her desire mounting as she became more and more aware of the amazing body pressing into hers. She wanted this woman, oh how she wanted her.  

But ... not tonight, not yet.  She wasn't ready for that and neither was her dance partner.  Using all the strength she possessed she pulled her body away but she could not let go of the hand she clasped so tightly.

"What a wonderful way to end the evening Annika."

Seven looked at her trying to understand what had just happened.  She could still see the desire burning in Kathryn's eyes. So why was this the end?  Janeway could see the puzzled expression on Seven's face but knew she was doing the right thing for both of them.  She raised her partners hand to her lips and gently kissed the palm. 

"All in good time Annika.  I am not as brave as you so have patience with me please."

Seven felt the soft lips on her palm and knew that she could not wait for long to feel those lips on her body.  However she was also overwhelmed by all the sensations running through her body, so new and unexpected. 

"Resistance is futile Kathryn, however I will wait for as long as you require." said Seven with a mischevious twinkle in her eyes.

"Thank you Annika, and thank you for staying after my outburst."

"That is a conversation you did not complete Kathryn, I have not forgotten.  I am pleased I stayed because dancing with you was a most pleasurable experience."

Janeway finally let Seven's hand drop and walked with her to the door.

"Good night Annika."

Seven leaned down and kissed Janeway softly on the cheek.

"Good night Kathryn." whispered Seven into Janeway's ear.

And with that she was gone, just as Kathryn's will power was about to crumble.

                                                                To be continued.