Star Trek Voyager: The Loving Game

Star Trek Voyager: The Loving Game (Chapter 82)

Seven smiled to herself as she watched Celeste’s eyelids, heavy with drowsiness, droop closed for the third time in as many minutes but, thankfully, on this occasion they stayed shut and her small body subconsciously cuddled tighter into her mother’s lap as sleep began to claim her. Breathing a small, tired sigh of her own, Seven cautiously pushed aside the picture book which had serenaded her daughter to sleep, its pages may have been ripped at the edges, its covered warped by several spilled drinks, all a legacy of Celeste’s enthusiasm, but it never failed as a final bedtime story. Sighing again as she stood up with Celeste in her arms, trying her best to prevent the toddler from leaning on her implants which were still tender from the nanoprobe transfusion earlier in the day, she moved quietly to Celeste’s cot and expertly laid her down, feeling relief flood her when the little girl settled down without bewailing her father’s absence. Seven herself wasn’t sure what had delayed him, but traditionally nothing went wrong on a Bridge shift until it was almost time to go off-duty. As she looked around their quarters, unable to decide whether to try to make a meal for them both or just wait, she was guiltily aware that she wasn’t anticipating his return as much as usual, now that a conversation she’d feared for days was inevitable…

She’d just perched tensely on the edge of the sofa facing the door when Chakotay walked through it, his expression mildly exasperated as he smiled at warmly in greeting. “Sorry I’m late…” He began apologetically, “I was…”

Seven’s sensitive ears heard wakeful whimpers emanating from Celeste’s cot and she raised her eyebrows at him teasingly as she pressed a finger to her lips and glanced over at the cot. There was a long-standing agreement between them that whoever woke their child had the responsibility of coaxing her back to sleep. A dry chuckle rumbled from Chakotay’s throat as he understood. Silent now, a couple of his long, easy strides closed the gap between them and he gave her a quick kiss on the lips as well as a wry wink before heading over to the cot himself. Leaning carefully over the frame, he murmured a gentle goodnight to his daughter, who stirred just enough to ask for a hug, which he gave, before dozing back off. Seven couldn’t help but feel her apprehensions slacken inside her as she watched the sweet scene and spoke to him as he turned back to her, “What were you going to say? Did something occur on the Bridge?” she asked anxiously, still mindful of her sleeping child and keeping her voice to a murmur.

Chakotay ran a hand through his hair, laughing softly. “No, nothing like that.” He reassured her with a smile, “Tom and Harry just delayed me by trying to convince me to visit the “new and improved” Fair Haven.”

Seven’s brows furrowed thoughtfully, “Yes, B’Elanna informed me that the Captain had given them permission to run the programme 24 hours a day.” She recalled. She’d never understood the fascination the crew seemed to almost unanimously share for the holographic Irish village Lieutenant Paris had created, but it did seem to verge on the all-consuming, even the Captain frequented it. She eyed her husband intently, trying to remember if he’d ever expressed a wish to join in, she didn’t want to hold him back. “You can certainly go if you wish Chakotay, I don’t mind…”

Chakotay again smiled at her reassuringly, as if he’d seen the path her thoughts were taking. “I know you wouldn’t mind honey, but it’s really not my thing.” He sat down beside her, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders to pull her in for a kiss. “It’s more fun here by far.” He murmured huskily, his warm breath caressing her skin, as they broke apart. Seven felt her cheeks turn pink despite herself, but as she tried to relax into him, as she longed to do, her worries reasserted themselves all the more fiercely. “What’s wrong?” Chakotay asked seriously as he felt her tense in his arms.

Seven sighed bitterly, feeling exasperated with herself. “I am concerned about what the Captain wants to discuss with us tomorrow.” She admitted ruefully.