*

Kathryn B’Elanna.

No. Go away. I don’t want to hear you.

Kathryn B’Elanna.

I’m not listening to you. You’ll get me into more trouble. Everybody’s already mad at me.

Kathryn B’Elanna.

NO!

The Sage listened. Her bead bowed, her eyes closed. Then, she raised her head and sighed. As hard as it was to act, sometimes it was more difficult not to act. The bigger challenge often was to stand back, to allow someone to walk their own path, despite what could happen along the way.

Sometimes, questions had to find answers.

The Doctor pulled the sheet back to cover his wife’s shoulder. Even as he did it, he realized it was almost a protective move. He gave her a worried look.

"It must be replaced."

The Doctor bit the corner of his lip and turned to Axum. "I thought you said it would be fine."

"It should have been. The fact that it is not means it is defective. It must be replaced."

Seven’s eyes moved between the two men, one standing on either side of her. "Can it be removed?"

"You will not have the function of that arm if you do. It must be replaced." Axum’s voice was mechanical, unemotional. "If you will accompany me to my ship, I will do it now. It will not take long."

The Doctor spoke up quickly. "I’ll go with you, Seven."

"No."

The Doctor looked up at Axum. "No? Why not?"

"It will be more efficient for me to replace it without interference."

The Doctor’s face immediately clouded. He could feel his anger start to rise. He opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped by Seven’s hand on his arm.

"I will go alone." She sat up, her hand leaving his arm to catch the sheet that slipped off her shoulder.

He reached quickly to pull the sheet back up on her body, his eyes giving Axum a warning look. He saw the immediate confusion in the Borg’s eye, then understanding. Axum turned around.

"Seven, I think I should go with you."

"I would rather you stay on Voyager with Kathryn B’Elanna. I do not want her upset that I am…on the other ship."

He wanted to argue with her, but she was right. Things were too uncertain with their daughter for them both to be on the Borg vessel. Grinding his teeth, he nodded, helping his wife pull her clothes back on and slide off of the biobed.

"We will return shortly." She glanced at Axum. "Perhaps it would be better if you did not tell Kathryn B’Elanna where I have gone."

The Doctor nodded again but did not speak.

Axum stepped toward the doors. "I will be efficient, Doctor."

He swallowed. "I know you will. Please, call me if you need me."

Seven said, "We will not nee…." She stopped quickly. "We will."

Without saying another word, they turned and left. The Doctor balled up his fist, desperately wanting to hit something. Finally, he simply dropped his hands by his side and tried to fight down his fear.

The voice was getting louder. It would not leave her alone. She looked up, suddenly realizing she was not walking towards her living quarters. Disoriented, she looked around, realizing with a start that she was near cargo bay two.

No.

Kathryn B’Elanna.

She backed up quickly, stumbled and fell, hitting her head on the wall. Slightly dazed, she got unsteadily to her feet.

Kathryn B’Elanna. Come to us.

No. Go away.

Kathryn B’Elanna. You must comply.

She sobbed.

They entered the assimilation chamber.

"You should lie on the table."

She looked around the room. "There is nothing for me to use."

"To use?"

"To…cover myself."

He frowned, then his face cleared in understanding. "Oh." He looked around, confused. "I do not think we have anything."

She turned, frustrated. "Do you have a replicator?"

"Yes."

"May I use it?"

He nodded, leading her out of the chamber and to a replicator. She studied the controls, then typed in a series of commands. An object appeared on the replicator tray. Picking it up, she indicated she was ready, and they returned to the chamber. Axum stood, waiting on her.

"Would you…please?"

"What?"

"Turn around."

Again, she had to wait for understanding to dawn on him. As soon as he turned around, she disrobed, covered herself with the sheet and stretched out. Axum prepared a hypospray and held it up to her.

"This is for pain." He lifted it to her neck. "I have adjusted the dose."

She turned her head slightly, feeling as the medication flowed through her body, feeling how it made her muscles relax. She exhaled deeply.

Axum picked up a tool and approached her. Leaning over her, he said, "This will not take long."

His eye focused on her face. She found she could not look away. Axum finally moved his eye from her face to her shoulder and started to replace the implant.

She knew it now. She had to go back into the alcove. She knew that was wrong. Daddy had told her she would have to make up her own mind. He did not tell her not to do it. But everyone was already mad at her. If she did it again, they would be even madder.

Ask first.

She had promised Aunt B’Elanna she would ask first. If she did though, Aunt B’Elanna would not let her go into the alcove. Aunt B’Elanna would not understand. And she had to do it. The voice wouldn’t leave her alone. She knew that.

Ask first.

Lifting her head, she concentrated.

Axum focused on his work. Seven was aware of everything he was doing. His work was meticulous. She could feel the gentleness of his hand and the way he used the tool.

"Thank you." Her words were lightly slurred.

Axum did not look up from his work. "You’re welcome, Annika."

"I prefer Seven."

This time he stopped. "I only know you as Annika." When she did not respond, he spoke again, "But I will call you Seven if you prefer." He continued to work. This must have been painful to you."

"I have adapted."

"You should not have to adapt to pain. It would have been easy enough to replace."

"On a Borg vessel maybe, but not on Voyager."

Axum straightened. "It is replaced. You should move your arm."

She gingerly lifted her arm and flexed it. Rotating her shoulder, she nodded at him. "There is no pain."

He placed the tool he was using down and picked up another. "While you are here, I should check your other implants."

"The Doctor checks me."

"But he is not Borg."

The corner of her mouth went up as she tightened the muscles in her face. "Proceed."

He lowered a new tool to her body. "A number of your implants require attention."

Seven was slightly drifting. She had to force herself to pay attention to Axum. She felt his hand as he moved it over her body. He was doing a good job; she could tell. His touch was tender. He put the palm of his hand on her upper hip, warm flesh touching warm flesh. She concentrated on it, assessing her emotional reaction to his touch, trying to remember how it felt to be touched by him in Unimatrix Zero. He slid his hand up her side, tracing a pattern of implants; she focused on the feel of his fingertips.

Nothing. She realized she felt nothing for him. His touch meant nothing more to her than the care he was providing.

"If you were on a Borg vessel, you could be properly attended."

"If I was on a Borg vessel, I would be Borg again."

"Not necessarily. You could be on this vessel." Her eyes drifted toward him, and he stopped working on her. "You should be with us. You belong with us. You belong with me."

"I am married."

"To a hologram."

"That is irrelevant to me."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes, I do."

Axum straightened, examined her face with his eye and took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was tinged with sadness. "I had hoped you did not."

"I would not be with him if I did not love him."

He lifted the tool he was using. "I have finished my work. You are repaired."

She pulled the sheet around her and sat up. "Thank you."

He turned his back on her. "You may dress." After she pulled on her clothes, he turned around. "Korok wanted me to talk you into joining us." He watched her face. Finally, he said, "Tell him I argued hard."

She nodded. "I will."

He stepped aside to allow her to pass. She started to walk by him, then stopped and listened.

Mommy!

"Kathryn B’Elanna?" She put her hand to her head and staggered slightly.

Axum reached out for her. "Seven?"

She shook herself slightly, then stiffened. "My daughter. I must go to her."

He saw the look on her face. "Come." He lifted his head and they dematerialized.

They solidified in the cargo bay. Seven saw her daughter in the shadow of the alcove.

"Kathryn B’Elanna!" Seven ran to her, wrapping her in her arms.

"Mommy, the voice is calling me. It wants me." Kathryn B’Elanna was whispering, her face was both full of fear and of longing. "It won’t go away, Mommy."

Before she could do anything, the cargo bay doors opened, and the Doctor ran in, yelling for his daughter. "Kathryn B’Elanna! Daddy’s here. Daddy’s…." He stopped surprised to see Seven and Axum. "What?"

"She contacted me, also. We transported here."

The Doctor sat on the floor next to them, taking both of them in his arms. "Tell me what is happening, sweetheart."

Kathryn B’Elanna was staring at the alcove. "The voice is calling me, Daddy. It wants me to come. It’s telling me I must comply." Her arm snaked around his neck.

"Kathryn B’Elanna," his voice was calm and soothing, "what do you want to do?" When her head turned shakily in his direction, he said, "It is up to you, sweetheart. I can’t tell you what you should do about the voice. You will have to decide that."

Seven’s eyes widened at his words, her breath catching in her throat. She tightened her lips. When Kathryn B’Elanna turned to her, she spoke, her voice trembling slightly, "Daddy’s right, Kathryn B’Elanna. What you do is your decision."

Kathryn B’Elanna was panting, her body shaking. "What do you think I should do?"

Seven and The Doctor stared at each other. Seven searched his eyes, then gave him a nod. The Doctor gave himself a moment before responding to his daughter. "I’m sorry, sweetheart, I can only tell you what I want you to do, but that isn’t good enough. I can’t hear the voice. You’re the only one who can hear the voice. Do you want to go to the voice?"

She nodded her head, a tear starting to slide down her cheek.

"Well," the Doctor hesitated a moment, reaching to grab his wife’s hand for support, "do you think you should do it then?" For the first time, Kathryn B’Elanna looked away from the alcove and into her father’s face, her forehead wrinkling. "Is it a good voice, Kathryn B’Elanna?"

She listened for a moment, then shook her head. "No, Daddy."

"Do you think you should go to it?"

She turned her head toward the alcove, her eyes running over it. Then, the anxiety in her face started to clear and determination started to set in. "No, Daddy."

The Doctor started to smile at her. "Kathryn B’Elanna, do you know how to stop the voice? Can you figure out how the voice is here and stop it from coming?"

Her face took on a puzzled look, and she cocked her head to the right. She thought for a moment, listening as she did. Then, her eyes started to move in quick, jerky motions and a smile slowly started to spread across her face. Her voice held her surprise when she answered. "Yes, Daddy. I know how to stop it."

"Do you want to stop it?"

His question stopped her. She continued to listen as she looked into his face, then her mother’s and finally at the alcove. They watched her as she processed his question. Seven knew. Seven knew how torn she felt. Seven understood how confused she was. She lived with that pull, that confusion everyday. It was the question she constantly had to ask and answer and live with. Every day. Every minute. She understood how hard it was to say no. She held her breath knowing it was her daughter’s question to answer now.

Finally, Kathryn B’Elanna spoke, her voice confidant. "Yes, Daddy."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Then do it, sweetheart."

She moved forward, stopped and reached back to grab her mother’s hand. "Come with me, Mommy." Seven stood and walked to the alcove with her daughter, hands held tightly. "Turn it on, Mommy."

Seven looked back at her husband, taking comfort in his support. "You know how to do it, Kathryn B’Elanna." Her daughter looked up at her, surprised. Seven loosened her handhold. "Go ahead."

Kathryn B’Elanna hesitantly let go of her mother’s hand and reached out to the alcove’s controls. Touching them, she looked back at her mother and her father before closing her eyes in concentration. As soon as the alcove powered up to maximum, she lowered her hands and reached for her mother’s hand again. She stepped up on the alcove platform and pulled her mother up with her. She raised her head and closed her eyes. Seven did the same.

They felt it at the same time. Their skin started to tingle and the power of the alcove poured through them. Seven felt as her daughter reached out and surrounded her, feeling into the power of the alcove, following the energy flow back into its internal workings. She felt as her daughter traveled the circuits, realigning and adjusting the alcove, resetting its frequency, working efficiently, doing her job perfectly. She felt her daughter holding on to her, using their bond to center herself, to stay connected. She heard the voice calling, heard the urgency of it, felt herself pulled toward it. Then, she felt its power over her diminish, fade and finally die. As soon as it did, she felt her daughter start to pull herself back.

The alcove powered down. Seven opened her eyes, feeling her daughter’s grip go slack and her hand start to slide out of Seven’s grasp. She reached down, grabbing her daughter, pulling her into a tight embrace. The Doctor was with them immediately, his arms pulling both of them to him.

"Kathryn B’Elanna?" He was using his eyes to check her. "Kathryn B’Elanna, talk to Daddy. Are you okay?"

She opened her eyes, looking at her father but not able to focus on him. "I’m tired, Daddy."

He picked her up, cuddling her close to him. "That’s all right, sweetheart. You did a good job. You can sleep now."

Seven put her hand on her daughter’s head. "When you wake up, it will be time for your birthday breakfast."

"Pancakes?"

Seven laughed. "Yes, pancakes."

She tried to respond, but could not. Her head rolled into her father’s neck as she fell asleep.

"Happy birthday, Kathryn B’Elanna. Happy birthday to you."

She took a deep breath and blew out her candles to the cheers of everyone in the mess hall. As they clapped, she looked up, smiling quietly at her mother and father.

The Doctor looked down into his daughter’s face, seeing the dark circles under her eyes, seeing how pale she still was. She was weak and exhausted. What had happened yesterday had sapped her strength. Her birthday breakfast had turned out to be a birthday lunch. Even then, she had barely been able to eat. But she would recover.

What she had done was almost too much for a child to do. She had asked and answered questions that most adults would not have been able to deal with. He was so proud of her. He moved to sit next to her, lifting her into his lap. Kathryn B’Elanna leaned back against his shoulder and reached with her hand to rest her palm against the side of his face, pulling his head down so she could kiss his cheek.

Seven watched her daughter and her husband, seeing how the light played with the shadows between them, falling on their eyes, emphasizing their brightness. How could she have ever considered leaving them, even for a moment? Taking everything Borg away from Kathryn B’Elanna would have been exactly the wrong thing to do. Taking it away would have only made it more enticing. The Doctor had known. He had understood, even more than she. He had given their daughter the right to decide for herself; the responsibility of making her own decision. She suddenly realized it was a gift that she herself had never been given. She looked to the cake, seeing the blackened tips of the candles, seven candles, plus one to grow on, seeing in the burnt tips the promise of another year, of seven years leading into eight and beyond. Her life had stopped with that seventh candle, with so many decisions made for her from that point on. Her gift from her parents was so unlike the gift the Doctor had given their child.

And to her. She looked into his face as he hugged their daughter. His was the gift of the freedom to decide. With all of his love and support, he still gave her freedom. Everyday of her life with him was another burnt candle holding the promise for the next day. She lifted her eyes, scanning the room to see Axum staring at her, watching her carefully. For a brief moment, there was no one else around them as their eyes met. She remembered, completely for the first time, their love for each other in Unimatrix Zero. She remembered his touch on her skin and the feel of his lips on hers. She remembered.

He knew. He saw. He started to step forward then saw her eyes change. He stayed still and his single eye blinked.

I will always remember, Annika.

Her head did not move, but she acknowledged and turned from him. He watched as she sat next to her husband, saw the hologram lift an arm to embraced her, sitting with her on one side and their daughter in his lap.

"She made a good decision."

He looked up at Korok. "Yes, she did."

The Klingon-Borg slammed his hand down on Axum’s shoulder. "You will live to fight another day."

"Yes," Axum looked up at him, "but today would be a good day to die."

Korok started to laugh but did not. He simply tightened his grip and stayed silent.

The presents were unwrapped and the party was growing quieter. B’Elanna slipped up behind Kathryn B’Elanna as she stood at the table, cutting herself another small piece of cake. Mommy was letting her eat all of it she wanted tonight. She was going to have another piece, but she realized she did not want a lot. It was more because she could have it.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Her head swiveled, and she reached out to hug B’Elanna. B’Elanna was taken aback at the quiet, almost desperate hug, but she understood.

"I’m really proud of you, KB."

KB’s head jerked back "Really?"

B’Elanna nodded at her. "You did the right thing."

KB pressed herself into B’Elanna’s body. "I remembered what you said. I asked first."

"I know you did. And that was exactly what you should have done."

"Aunt B’Elanna?"

"What, sweetheart."

"I really wanted to go."

B’Elanna swallowed hard. "I know you did, KB."

"But it would have been bad."

"You’re right."

Kathryn B’Elanna looked deeply into B’Elanna’s eyes, then sighed. "I’m glad I didn’t go."

B’Elanna laughed. "Me, too, KB. Me, too."

Suddenly, their attention was drawn as the room fell silent. They turned to see the figure move slowly to the center of the room. Kathryn B’Elanna immediately pulled away from B’Elanna and moved toward the visitor.

Happy birthday, Kathryn B’Elanna. The thoughts of The Sage entered everyone’s mind.

"Thank you." Kathryn B’Elanna was beaming. Suddenly, she remembered and added, "Ma’am."

The adults around her laughed. The Sage waited for the room to fall quiet and lowered herself to the floor before she spoke again. I have come to offer you my best wishes on this special day. You are seven today, are you not?

"Yes, ma’am."

You are now, what I think is called in your culture, a young lady.

"Yes, ma’am."

The Sage looked at the faces of the people around them. Kathryn B’Elanna, today I remind you that you are loved by the people in this room and by others around you. You should always remember that. No matter what happens in your life, you do not stand alone.

May the love that surrounds you make you strong. Be centered by that love. The long fingers reached out to gently touch Kathryn B’Elanna’s cheek. Enjoy being a child, Kathryn B’Elanna. The gift of childhood is as precious as the gift of growing up. Do not waste either. The Sage lowered her head to touch the child’s and spoke only to her. You made an important decision. Are you comfortable with what you decided?

Kathryn B’Elanna shut her eyes tightly. I think so.

But, you are not certain?

She hesitated, then answered. No, ma’am.

Does that upset you?

Yes, ma’am.

It should not. The Sage felt her surprise. You will often find that you wonder about the decisions you make. Many time, you will look back and ask what would have happened if you had made another decision. That is normal, Kathryn B’Elanna. But know that the decision you made yesterday saved not only your life, but also your mother’s.

Kathryn B’Elanna wanted to open her eyes, but she did not. She stayed still and listened.

You are Borg and that will always be strong in you. But you are also human and Batair. You should learn from Ketaria what it means to be Batair. You will have to help your mother understand what it means to be fully human. You will, one day, learn what it means to be Borg. It will be important that you understand the strengths and weaknesses of all three. You cannot be one more than another, Kathryn B’Elanna. You must learn to be all in one. But you must be strong in yourself before you face the Borg in you again. That day will come. Do not be afraid of it, Kathryn B’Elanna. That day is not near. Now is for learning about the human and the Batair.

Everyone on this ship will help you. Learn from all of them. They each have a gift to share with you. Accept it and give them your love in return.

Kathryn B’Elanna nodded, her eyes still tightly closed. The Sage pulled her head away and opened her eyes. As Kathryn B’Elanna did the same, The Sage made her thoughts known to everyone again.

As your birthday present, I offer you my guidance, Kathryn B’Elanna, if you would accept it.

Ketaria drew a quick breath, her hands quickly crossing across her chest. Eyes bright with excitement, she looked to Seven.

Seven hesitated, then looked to the Doctor. "Did you…?"

He nodded, surprised. "Yes, I…somehow heard. I don’t know…." He stopped and looked at his daughter, a smile coming over his face. "Kathryn B’Elanna, did you do that?"

She nodded at him. "Yes, Daddy." She quickly turned her head back to look at The Sage.

Your answer?

Kathryn B’Elanna swallowed. Even she understood what she was being offered. Even at seven she understood. And even at seven she knew she wanted this. She started to answer, then stopped. Looking at Aunt B’Elanna, she clasped her hands together. She knew what she had to do.

Turning, she said, "Mommy? Daddy?"

The Doctor and Seven stood just feet away from their daughter, their hands held tightly. They did not look at each other. They felt for their answer through their touch, her left hand in his right. Seven suddenly realized it was how they always held hands. She wondered why she had never thought about it before. There were so many things she just took for granted, never stopped to think about, never realized the importance of. She often dismissed things as being irrelevant. Now, she realized she was wrong to do so. She looked at her daughter, suddenly knowing that there was little in life that was irrelevant. She moved closer to the Doctor, touching his shoulder with hers. She squeezed his hand, giving him her answer.

He spoke for both of them. "Kathryn B’Elanna, it’s your decision. Your mother and I trust you to make the right one."

Tears started to trickle down her face. She saw her parents in a glittery light that blocked out everyone else around them. She was seven now. She was the age of her mother’s name. She was a young lady. It was her decision. Daddy and Mommy had said so.

Suddenly, she smiled and her nose wrinkled with her delight. "Yes."

Daddy spoke immediately. "Yes, what?"

She cut her eyes to her father, then said quickly, "Yes, ma’am."

The room erupted in laughter. Once it fell silent again, The Sage spoke. I am honored you have accepted my offered gift. We will begin tomorrow. Your mother and father and I will discuss arrangements. She turned her head toward Ketaria. I would appreciate your presence, Gentle One.

I would be honored. Ketaria could not keep her happiness from her face.

It is decided. The Sage stood. I will go now. She reached to touch the child’s face again, then turned and walked slowly toward the doors of the mess hall. Ketaria fell into step with her, offering her hand in assistance. The Sage took it, and they left.

Kathryn B’Elanna stood in the center of the room. Her eyes focused on the floor as she thought about everything that had happened. Then, she raised her head and ran for her parents. The Doctor swept her off her feet and into a bear hug. Seven hugged them both.

The Doctor entered their bedroom, finding his wife already in their bed, reading a PADD. She looked up at him. "Finally in the bed?"

"Yes. I think she was almost too tired to go to sleep."

"It was a big day for her." He changed into his pajamas, thinking about what he was doing. He used to order the computer to change his clothes. Sometimes, he still did, but now, he found he preferred to do it himself. He found there were many things he preferred to do rather than ordering the computer to adjust his program.

He realized he lived more and more as a living being than as a computer program. He thought about it and decided he was happy with that. He accepted that he was a hologram, but it did not mean it was how he had to live his life. He could make his own decisions about how to live. He smiled to himself. He had learned his own lesson.

Looking over at his wife, he noticed she was fingering the PADD she held in her hand. "What are you reading?"

Her eyes moved up to him. "It is a message from Axum."

"Oh?" He frowned slightly, his body going a little stiff. He tried to ask his question nonchalantly, "Anything special?"

She heard it in his voice immediately. Acting as if she did not notice, she asked, "Why would you ask?"

He shrugged, "Just curious."

She deactivated the PADD and put it on the table next to her. Crossing her arms across her chest, she said, "You are jealous."

"No, I’m not!"

A smile started to appear on her face. "Yes, you are."

He blustered, trying to form a response. "Why…no…I just…."

She laughed and reached out to grab his pajama top, pulling him to her. "You, Doctor, are jealous. Admit it."

He huffed loudly, seeing the glint in her eye. Finally, he said, "Yes. I admit it. I’m jealous."

She pulled him closer to her, looking deeply into his eyes. "You have nothing to be jealous about."

The corners of his mouth moved. "No?"

Her response was soft, husky. "No."

He raised an eyebrow. "Prove it."

She reached her free hand up, placing it on the back of his head. He allowed her to pull him forward. She hungrily kissed him, then leaned back, pulling him down on top of her. He shifted his body, reaching for her, pulling her so she was lying flat in the bed. He stretched out on top of her, pressing his body into hers, his mouth demanding hers, feeling his passion for her build. He reached up to touch her check, his fingers softly stroking her face, then her neck. As his hand worked its way down to the top button of her pajamas, his mouth left her lips and kissed her chin, then under her neck. His mouth started to follow his hands as he unbuttoned one button, then two, then.... He felt the tap on his shoulder, then her voice.

"Uh, Doctor."

He continued to kiss her and to work the third button. Then, he felt and heard her again.

"Doctor."

He stopped. Raising his head he looked into her face. Wrinkling his nose, he said, "Don’t tell me?" She nodded at him, and he slowly turned his head to the left, working to keep his voice even. "Hello, Kathryn B’Elanna."

"I can’t sleep, Daddy."

He gave his wife a sick, disappointed look. She shrugged. He surreptitiously rebuttoned her third button, then moved to the second as he spoke to his daughter. "Want to sleep with us?"

"Yes, Daddy."

He gave his wife a begging look, and she slid out from under him toward her daughter, allowing him to move behind her. Seven reached out to her daughter as Kathryn B’Elanna crawled into their bed. The Doctor pushed his head off the bed with his hand, his weight resting on his elbow. "To much sugar?"

His daughter sighed, "Yes, Daddy."

He laughed. "Well, it was your birthday."

"Yes, Daddy." She looked up at the ceiling. "Why is good bad for you?

They laughed, and Seven brushed her hair back. "Not everything good is bad for you, Kathryn B’Elanna. Sometimes, it’s just that too much of a good thing is bad."

"That’s confusing."

They laughed again. The Doctor reached to rest his hand on his daughter’s stomach, aware that his arm rested on his wife’s body. "You’re absolutely right, little girl."

"Young lady."

"I stand corrected," the Doctor said, humor in his voice, "young lady."

She stayed quiet, then said, "Daddy?"

"What, sweetheart?"

"Can it still be little girl?"

"Absolutely."

She thought about it. "Good. I think I like that."

The Doctor looked at his daughter. "So do I, Kathryn B’Elanna."

Kathryn B’Elanna looked to her parents. "Can I sleep between you?"

Seven’s eyes quickly went to the Doctor’s and he nodded, grinning. "Yes." Seven moved as Kathryn B’Elanna crawled over her body, and they settled themselves.

"That’s better. I think I can go to sleep now."

The Doctor looked into his wife’s eyes. "I guess we can all go to sleep now."

She wanted to laugh, but she did not. She leaned down to kiss her daughter, then leaned over to kiss her husband. "Tonight, we sleep."

He heard her message and winked at her.

"Mommy?"

"What?"

"Can I have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow?"

"May I." She corrected, then said, "Yes."

"Okay fine." Her voice drifted off.

The Doctor reached his arm across both of them in a protective, loving embrace. Blowing his wife a kiss, he closed his eyes and gave himself over to sleep.

Seven fought going to sleep as she looked at her husband and their child. She thought about the gift of The Sage, grateful that her child had been given her childhood back. How different it could have turned out. How grateful she was for the life she had been given, for the love of this man, for their child. For the first time in her life, the Borg seemed far removed from her. She could not hear the call, could not feel the pull. She was content where she was. She closed her eyes.

Kathryn B’Elanna dreamed. Surrounded by the warmth and the love of her parents, she dreamed of birthday cake, of birthday candles and of pancakes for breakfast.