"Prototype Unit Zero-Zero-Zero-One is ready to accept programming," said the pristine robot again, lifting its torso from the table and turning its face to its creator. B'Elanna stepped back off the dais, staring at Unit 3947's impassive features in horror. "Oh My God!" she gasped, "what've I done?!" This was the greatest scientific achievement of her life, but her initial elation at its completion had totally vanished, to be replaced by utter disgust. Effectively, she had just provided the Pralor with the means to destroy their ancient enemies, the enemies of their now non-existent creators. She had become a pawn in a war between two long-reconciled, long-extinct species. The injector seemed to leap into her hand of its own accord, telling her what she must do. She turned and plunged it into the chest of her creation, watching as the robot twitched and jittered on the table, blue lightening skittering over its body and electronic gurggles looping in its throat.

"NOOOOO!" she screamed, as she sat bolt upright in the damp bed, gasping for breath. Kathryn was at her side in a moment, pulling her close and holding her tightly. "It's alright, my love, it was just a dream" she crooned softly, holding her wife until the trembling and sobbing abated.

"Darling, I wish you'd go and see the doctor about these nightmares" urged Kathryn as she slid into bed beside her mate.
"What's the point?" asked B'Elanna wearily, "their cause isn't exactly a mystery and I doubt there's anything he can do to stop them, anyway."
"But you never know, he may be able to help in some way. It's worth a try isn't it?"
B'Elanna sprang out of bed with an angry snarl, turning on Kathryn. "If my nightmares disturb you so much maybe you'd prefer it if I moved back to my old quarters" she suggested, her voice angry and accusing, as she began stalking about the room. Kathryn took a deep breath and willed herself to stay calm and patient. "Bang'wI, that's not what I meant and you know it" she said softly, rising to kneel on the bed her spouse had just vacated. B'Elanna was pacing the room in frustration, refusing to look at her wife. "B'Elanna," Kathryn coaxed, "darling, come on, come back here." The Klingon stopped pacing and eyed her sullenly but made no move toward the outstretched hand, so Janeway rose and went to her, standing close enough to enfold her in loving arms but holding off until her lover was ready. "Oh B'Elanna," she sighed, "of course your nightmares disturb me, because they disturb you. You can't expect me to be happy and relaxed when you're so troubled."

Soothed by Kathryn's voice and words B'Elanna relented and moved into her lover's embrace. "I'm sorry," she said, "I don't mean to take it out on you, I'm just on edge."
"I know, darling. It's alright."
"I'll go and see the doc if you think it's worth it."
Kathryn smiled and kissed her wife tenderly. "What harm can it do? At the very least he could give you something to help you relax." B'Elanna smiled and leant in for another kiss.
"I can think of more enjoyable ways to achieve that!" she whispered seductively.

* * * * * *

Torres sat staring out of the messhall window at the passing stars. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the action she had taken on the Pralor ship, destroying her own creation: it had been like plunging a knife into her own child. The confusion and pain grabbed at her chest, until a warm hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her reverie and she found herself staring up into the comforting eyes of her wife and captain. "B'Elanna?" the captain's voice washed over her, clensing some of the pain from her heart, "are you okay?"
"Kathryn! What time is it?"
A look of tenderness settled on the captain's face as she answered, "21.00" she informed B'Elanna quietly.
B'Elanna's face fell as she realised she had missed dinner with her spouse and she shook her head sadly, "Oh Kathryn, I'm sorry...I guess I forgot the time," but she knew Janeway was not berrating her.
"It's okay," she assured gently as she sat down, never removing the warmth of her touch from B'Elanna's drooping shoulder, "I was just worried about you, that's all. Have you been sitting here since the end of your duty shift?"
B'Elanna really had lost all track of time and answered with a shrug and a tired sigh "I guess so."

Kathryn knew how much her lover was hurting and felt helpless and useless that she could do nothing to stop that pain. Usually the couple didn't overtly display their love in public, confining themselves to looks and the occassional innocent touch, but B'Elanna so clearly felt alone and insecure that Janeway instinctively reached out and gathered the young woman into her arms. She held her in silence for a while, stroking her raven hair, and then she said "you know you did the right thing."
B'Elanna nodded into Kathryn's shoulder "I know," she said sadly,"but somehow that doesn't make it any easier."
"Oh, my darling," the captain crooned, "I wish I could do something to help."
B'Elanna pulled slightly away and looked up into blue-grey eyes filled with love and tenderness, "you do," she said with a little smile.
"I can't pretend to know what you're going through," Janeway said, her voice low and husky, "but I'm here for you if you need to talk. Please don't think you have to deal with this alone, B'Elanna. You know how much I love you, don't you?"
B'Elanna winced at the intensity of softness in Janeway's voice, "I know, and you have no idea how grateful I am for your patience." She pulled reluctantly out of her wife's warm arms and sat up, gathering herself together once more but, unwilling to break contact with the comfort that was Kathryn, she raised a hand to caress the captain's cheek and gazed into her eyes as she asked "how do you put up with me?"
A mischievious grin flitted over Janeway's lips, "I have no idea," she said before becoming serious again, "I guess I must love you, huh?"
"Oh is that what it is?" B'Elanna asked, feigning sudden understanding, and then more quietly she added "I don't deserve you."
"No you don't," came the gentlly teasing reply, "but you've got me anyway, and you're stuck with me."
After a short exaggerated pause to consider the options B'Elanna concluded with a shrug "I guess I can handle that."

Their first public kiss came then without warning, seeming to sneek up on them. It was tender and sweet, and did not escalate into anything that might have become inappropriate, merely a mutual confirmation of their deep love. When they pulled apart B'Elanna asked "Do you have plans for this evening, Captain?"
"Well," the captain responded in mock irritation, "I was going to spend it with my wife but it seems she's stood me up."
"In that case, perhaps you'd like to join me at Sandrine's. I thought I might get you drunk and take advantage of you."
A radiant smile lit up the captain's features and she giggled "that sounds like a plan.....but I'm not sure my wife would approve."
"Oh forget her, she's an idiot. Isn't she the one who's been sitting staring out at space and feeling sorry for herself for the last two hours when everything she loves and needs was right at home waiting for her?"
"That's a good point" agreed the captain with another grin, "very well, Lieutenant, you've got a date."

* * * * * *

Sandrine's was fairly full that evening but they managed to find a table in a quiet corner, nodding their acknowledgement to various friends and colleagues as they passed. Amongst the few people who hadn't noticed their arrival, were Tom and Harry, who were deep in intimate conversation on the other side of the bar, unusually well away from the crowd. "Well," smirked Kathryn, looking at her young wife knowingly, "those two certainly seem to have a lot to talk about."
B'Elanna smiled, "hadn't you heard?" she asked in a slightly surprised tone "they finally got it together."
Janeway let out a contented sigh, "Oh, thank God!" she said as she leaned forward, "It's about time. When did this happen?"
"Oh I think it's only been a few days, but you know good news travels fast on Voyager. I'm surprised you hadn't heard."
"Oh, darling, you know I rely on you for all my ship's gossip," she leant across the table and stroked B'Elanna's cheek softly, adding "you haven't been very talkative for the last week or so."
The Klingon sighed and nodded slowly, "I know. I'm sorry, Kathryn."
"It doesn't matter, I just can't bear to see you so unhappy and not be able to help."
"I told you," B'Elanna repeated as she took Kathryn's hand and turned her face to kiss its palm, "you do help...just by being there."
"I'll always be there, darling. Remember that, okay?"
"Okay" agreed the younger woman, with a beautiful smile.
Janeway sat back and, looking deeply into her wife's troubled eyes, invited "why don't you come and sit here, so I can hold you?"
B'Elanna met the gaze with a little gasp, "are you sure?" she asked, knowing how Kathryn had always preferred to keep physical contact between them to a minimum in public.
Janeway flushed a little but replied softly and smilingly, "Yes, I think it's time we let the world, or at least Voyager, see how much we love eachother."
"I think they know that."
"Probably, but what could it hurt for them to see that I'm human after all? Darling, I'm so tired of having to keep a reign on my feelings for you in our freetime just because I'm the captain. I'm a woman too, a woman in love, and right now the person I love needs to feel that."

B'Elanna sat between her wife's denim-clad legs and leant back into her embrace, feeling warm arms encircling her and a soft kiss in her hair. She sighed contentedly as a familiar feeling of comfort washed through her and she closed her eyes, leaning her head back against Kathryn's shoulder as she put her feet up on the armrest. "Comfortable?" asked Janeway, the smile evident in her voice.
"mmhhmm" came the languid reply. They sat like that for a while, sipping their drinks occassionally and sharing jokes and chitchat, Janeway stroking and kissing B'Elanna's hair while her other arm was wrapped around her abdomen. B'Elanna caressed Kathryn's knees and shins, playing idly with the seam of her Twentieth-Century-Style jeans. "You don't do things by halves, do you?" said B'Elanna after a few moments of blissful silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Well this is a rather suggestive position."
Janeway giggled and kissed her spouse's hair again, "are you complaining?" she asked.
"No, no, not at all, but we are getting some looks. Don't you mind?"
"Not if you don't, besides they're just jealous that I'm married to the most beautiful woman on Voyager."
"So..." began B'Elanna tentitively, "would you mind if the most beautiful woman on Voyager kissed you, right now?"
"No, I'd love it."

B'Elanna sat up and turned to face Janeway, her eyes shining brightly. She took Kathryn's face in her hand and leant in to kiss her, very softly at first, letting her hand move to the back of Kathryn's head to tangle in her hair. The Klingon pulled her wife closer to her and deepened their kiss, wrapping her arms around the captain's small, wiry frame and holding her tightly. Kathryn parted her lips and B'Elanna accepted the invitation with alacrity, smiling as Kathryn whimpered at the touch of her lover's tongue. Soon they were both smiling as they kissed and pecked at eachother's lips, teasing eachother gently before they pulled apart with a mutual grin. Janeway fell into Torres' arms and buried her face in the woman's neck, kissing the soft skin beneath her lips. She slid one hand around the Klingon's back and the other up to lie on her chest. "Oh darling," she sighed quietly, "I love you so much."

B'Elanna stood, reached under Kathryn's legs and lifted her gently, reseating herself so that she could lower Janeway onto her lap. At any moment she thought Kathryn would stop her, tell her it was too undignified for the captain of Voyager to be seen in public, sitting in her lover's lap, kissing and cuddling like a couple of teenagers, but the reproach never came. B'Elanna was gratified but also slightly mystified. "What's got into you tonight?" asked the Klingon, as she nuzzled at Kathryn's neck, but Janeway merely smiled, her eyes fluttering with pleasure and replied "I don't know, but I was hoping you might."
B'Elanna snorted and lifted her head in surprise, "Captain, really!" she exclaimed, flushing at the thought, "In front of all these people? When did you become such a little exhibitionist."
Kathryn giggled in her unique, gravelly way and answered "No, silly....I meant later," then, as if it was an afterthought she lowered her voice to exactly the pitch that she knew B'Elanna found sexiest and with her lips brushing the Klingon's and her eyes smouldering, added in a husky drawl "but now that you mention it, I do feel a little...."
"Ahem!" came a voice beside them and they both turned to see Tom and Harry, hand in hand, standing at the side of their table, their faces flushing visibly. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Captain," said Tom, not sounding at all sorry.
"I did tell him to wait," explained Harry, "until you were.....free."
"Yeah, he did," agreed Tom excitedly, "but I couldn't. I had to ask you right now, and seeing you two together like this, so happy, made me sure you'd understand, so I..."
"Tom!" interrupted Kathryn, with a smile and a raised hand, "calm down and have a seat."

When the couple were sitting opposite, Janeway climbed off her wife's lap and settled at her side, her hand lying absently on the Klingon's thigh. She reached out for her drink. "Now, what is it you want?" she asked as she took a mouthful of her whiskey.
Tom leaned across the table and asked in a very sincere voice, "Captain, will you marry me?" Kathryn spluttered in surprise, loosing some of her drink down the front of her shirt.
"I beg your pardon!" she enquired when she had caught her breath.
"Tom!!" reproached Harry, in a mortified tone, then turning to Kathryn explained "I'm sorry, Captain, he promised he wouldn't do that. What he's trying to say is, would you please marry us to eachother? Please.....before he explodes."

* * * * * *

Seven of Nine regarded the scene from the other side of the room, and felt an inexplicable spasm in her chest, gasping at the suddeness of it. "Seven," asked Neelix, who was sitting opposite her, concern lacing his voice, "are you all right?"
"Yes," she replied hurriedly, "thank you, Mr Neelix, I am a functioning normally."

The ex-drone had been watching Torres and Janeway's unusually amarous interaction with fascination and when B'Elanna had pulled Kathryn onto her lap, and begun caressing the captain all over, the young Borg had experienced unusual sensations in her lower regions, sensations she had never felt before. Neelix followed her line of sight and saw the loving couple wrapped in eachother's arms, a look of soft appreciation settling on his fuzzy face. "Well now," he admired, "isn't that the most perfect, beautiful sight? Doesn't it just make you all warm and gooey to see two people so much in love?"
Seven merely raised an eyebrow and replied "indeed."

When Harry and Tom arrived and began talking to Janeway, Seven noticed how, even though the captain seemed to give the young men her full attention, her hand remained on her wife's thigh, the thumb slowly moving backwards and forwards, apparantly without the captain's knowledge. She suddenly became aware of her own hand resting on her thigh and felt its warmth radiating through the thin fabric of her suit. Experimentally, she moved her hand slowy in an imitation of the captain's movement, trying to process the sensations produced, but her concentration was abruptly broken by the captain's raised voice.

"Attention, everyone!" she called out as she stood and moved to the centre of the room. When the chattering had ceased she announced "I have a wonderful announcement to make. Lieutenant Tom Paris and Esign Harry Kim have just asked me for permission to marry and I am overjoyed to grant their request."
The room errupted in cheers and applause, and exclamations of "finally!" and "what took you so long?!"
"Well" tittered Neelix, the widest grin Seven had ever seen on his face, "love must be in the air tonight," but as the crowd surged forward to congratulate the happy couple, Seven could not feel love in the air, in fact she felt lonlier than ever.

* * * * * *

Seven moaned as B'Elanna's hot mouth closed over her nipple and began to suckle her, as the Klingon's knee pressed harder into her groin. her arms encircled B'Elanna's strong body, feeling the muscles rippling beneath the fine skin as the shoulders flexed in her grasp. Torres licked and sucked at her lover's breast before moving to the other, revelling in the fierce tingling of her own body. Seven's Borg hand ran up her back, the warm metal sending little shocks down her spine. She shuddered as Seven's human hand worked itself between them and found the engorged Klingon clit, rubbing and circling it with abandon. "Oh gods!" B'Elanna cried out as the tension became unbearable, "SEVEN!"

B'Elanna woke with a start, her thighs spasming, her whole body tingling, sweat shimmering on her naked skin. "B'Elanna?" asked Kathryn as she reached out to touch her trembling wife, "you alright, darling?"
"yeah" came the breathless reply, as B'Elanna turned onto her back and covered her eyes with her forearm. Kathryn raised herself up onto her elbow and looked down at her panting partner.
"That was no nightmare!" she asserted, the slightest hint of laughter in her voice. The Klingon wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand and tried to slow her panting breaths.
"I'm sorry" she appologized raspily.
Janeway gazed down at her wife's flushed face, reaching out to caress her glowing cheek. A soft smile came to her lips and eyes as she observed "that wasn't about me, was it?"
"What?"
"You said 'Seven', in fact you screamed it."

B'Elanna's eyes closed and she covered her face with a still trembling hand. She knew she had to look at Kathryn, face her pain and disappointment and try to explain, but when she finally turned her face to look into Janeway's all she saw was love and amusement. Kathryn couldn't prevent the little giggle and she leant down to kiss the confused ridged brow and reassured "It's alright, my darling. I've dreampt about her too."
B'Elanna's eyes widened "You have?!"
"Of course, I don't suppose there're many on this ship who haven't, she's a dammed sexy woman."
Gentle laughter overtook B'Elanna then as she affirmed, "yes, she is!"
"Of course," added the captain as she settled down in her spouse's arms, "my dreams weren't quite as...'energetic'... as yours obviously were, but then I don't have any Klingon blood in my veins."
B'Elanna laughed and looked down at her smiling wife, "are you complaining about my Klingon 'energy'?" But Kathryn only grinned and kissed her deeply, asking "well what do you think?"

B'Elanna caressed Janeway's back lazily as they held eachother, luxuriating in the closeness. "Why didn't you tell me you fancy Seven?" she asked and Kathryn snorted softly into her chest answering
"Because I'm not crazy.....I thought you'd be jealous."
"I would've been too" B'Elanna admitted with a huff, trying to sound serious but utterly failing.
"And now?"
"I'm not if you're not."

* * * * * *

Seven awoke with a satartled gasp, her heart pounding in her chest. She stepped out from her alcove and sank to the floor, her hand instinctively moving to her damp crotch to try and satisfy her burning need, but once it arrived there she realized she had no idea what to do with it and she began crying with frustration. She tried to stand but her knees were like jelly and she had to hold onto the side of the alcove to avoid falling. Her head was spinning as it refilled with the images she had just seen in her dream, images of the two women she loved and admired most, writhing and tossing in the grip of a burning passion, a passion that scared her. As the scene played out in her head she felt a change somewhere deep inside her and gasped again catching her breath as her eyes grew wide in surprise. The sensation moved down until it came to rest in her groin and then it began to grow more intense. Her heart thumped in panic and confusion as her whole body started to tremble uncontrollably and her fingers gripped the panel of her alcove. Carefully she moved forward on trembling legs and eased herself down onto the step. She knew there must be something desperately wrong with her and that she needed the doctor, but she seemed to be unable to find the breath to call him, her respiration becoming more and more shallow. The muscles of her vagina and her abdomen began contracting, adding to her confusion, and she was sure she would pass out any minute if this did not stop. Then, quite suddenly, her mind went blank, her back arched and somewhere at her very core there was an explosion of sensation.

Seven lay quietly on the cold step of her alcove, listening to her rapidly calming breath. Her whole body felt relaxed and heavy and there was a smile on her face that she could not explain. Without warning, laughter bubbled up inside her and she gave it full reign, unsure why she suddenly felt so euphoric but not able to be frightened any longer. After a few seconds the laughter became sobs, but she was at a loss to understand why she cried at that momment, only that her body seemed to need it. She realised with amazement that, even though she was clearly malfunctioning, the 'attack' she had just experienced had been somehow satisfying, even pleasurable, and she was half hoping that it would happen again but, realizing how illogical that was, she lazily raised her hand to tap her commbadge. "Seven to the doctor" she said, her speach a little slurred.
"Doctor here," came the reply.
"Doctor," she began, noticing for the first time how dry her throat had become, "would you please .....come to Cargo Bay 2?"
"Of course. Are you alright, Seven? Your voice sounds strange."
Seven took a deep breath and tried to raise herself but she was completely drained, "I believe I am malfunctioning," she confirmed, "I have just experienced an attack of some kind."
"Alright Seven, don't try to move, I'm on my way."

"Seven, that wasn't an attack," announced the doctor after examining the Borg and listening to her description.
"It was not?"
"No, it was an orgasm."
Seven was taken aback and needed confirmation, "a sexual climax?"
"Exactly. Your first, I take it?"
"yes," she affirmed as she sat up, "but I was not copulating."
"Well, what were you doing?"
"Regenerating."
The doctor sat down beside her and asked "and while you were regenerating, did you dream?"
The Borg looked a little embarassed but answered "yes."
"An erotic dream, perhaps?"
Though Seven was unable to bring herself to answer him, the hologram could see he was right from the look of accute embarassment on her young face. "Well then, that explains it."
"Clarify."
The doc turned to face his student and warmed to his subject. "It's perfectly possible to have an orgasm in response to an intensely erotic dream or fantasy, Seven. You see, it's not just a physiological phenomenon, it's a mental and emotional one as well."
"Yes," confirmed the Borg, "I did feel unusually emotional afterwards."
"That's quite natural," the doctor reassured her, "and how do you feel now?"
Seven searched her vocabulary for a word that would adequately describe her present mood, but the best she could come up with was "energized."

As the doctor was preparing to leave, Seven tentitively enquired "Will this happen again?"
"would you like it to?" he asked before giving her an answer.
"Now that I understand what it is and will not be afraid....yes, I believe I would like it very much."
"Well then, with the right techniques you can make it happen whenever you want."
Seven liked the idea of being able to make her body climax and asked "how would I acquire these techniques?"
"I'm afraid I can't help you there," admitted the hologram with an affected sigh, "but there is an extensive library of materials on the subject in the database. I suggest you do some research and then just.....experiment. It will take you a while to learn what your body responds to, it will take trial and error, and practise, but I'm sure you'll work it out, Seven. Are there any female members of the crew that you would be comfortable discussing this with? Perhaps they might be able to advise you."
Seven wasn't sure if she could discuss this with the captain, her usual advisor on humanity, so she merely answered "I will give it some thought. Thank you, doctor."

PART TWO

"Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One, is ready to accept programming" said the gorgeous woman again, lifting her torso from the table and turning her face to her creator. B'Elanna stepped back off the dais, staring at the captain's impassive features in amazement, trying to explain but unable to find her voice. The Borg sat up and swung her legs gracefully off the table, standing tall and moving fluidly towards B'Elanna, who instinctively tried to retreat. But Seven of Nine stretched out her Borg-implanted hand and caught the engineer's arm with a vice-like grip, her blue eyes smouldering with passion and desire as they burnt into the Klingon's. "Programme me, B'Elanna," she requested, her voice tremulous with need, "make me your creature."

B'Elanna's eyes snapped open and she looked up at her mate, on whose lap her head had rested as she slept. Kathryn looked down at her but said nothing, the only acknowledgement of B'Elanna's dream a knowing, amused smile and a raised eyebrow. The young Klingon flushed and shifted her weight nervously.

* * * * * *

"....and so, by the power vested in me by the United Federation of Planets," said the captain, resplendant in her dress uniform, "I now pronounce you officially and legally married." Tom and Harry beamed widely at eachother and moved slightly closer but, as the captain did not continue, they stalled within an inch of eachother's lips and turned to look at her questioningly. "Was there something else, gentlemen?" she teased, a look of wicked amusement on her face as she raised one eyebrow, but seeing the absolute desperation on the couple's faces she laughed softly and, leaning forward to place one arm around each of their shoulders, whispered loudly enough for the whole messhall to hear, "You may kiss."

The young men's first kiss as a married couple elicited cheers and applause from those gathered in the messhall. This event had been so long coming, with the two young 'friends' always somehow managing to skirt around the admission of how they really felt about eachother. A broad grin settled on the captain's lips as she looked over at her own spouse, who was acting as Harry's supporter, and remembered how their own courtship had followed a similar path of denial, silent frustration and secret worship.

The newlyweds had, naturally enough, chosen Sandrine's for their reception and now the crowd began to file out of the messhall and head in the direction of the holodecks. Janeway found her wife waiting for her just outside the doors, favouring her with a soft kiss as they embraced. "That was mean, Captain!" said B'Elanna with a smirk. "I know" replied Janeway with a gravelly giggle, "but I couldn't resist. Besides," she added as she glanced at Tom and Harry kissing in the middle of Sandrine's, "I think they got over it!"

Seven of Nine tried to dawdle on her way to the holodeck but Neelix and the doctor were too elated to allow it, sweeping her along with them. She cast a look at Tuvok, who was strolling calmly beside them and recieved a mirror of her own raised eyebrow. She managed to get beside the Vulcan and asked him seriously "What is the significance of this 'reception' ritual, Mr Tuvok? I would think that a newly married couple would naturally be inclined to be alone together."
Tuvok looked at her askance and replied "Indeed, but I understand that this is the tradition that is more readily accepted than all the others relating to marriage. My analysis is that there is something in humans which needs the acknowledgement, approval and acceptance of others. Humans do seem to have a need to show how they feel about something or someone and, in the most extreme cases, denying that need can even lead to psychological problems. The wedding reception may be seen as mild exhibitionism, but it is also a way of including one's friends in one's rlationship, of saying to the world, or at least your own part of it, 'this is the person I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with. I hope you approve.' In any case, the need to have society, and particularly one's own part of it, acknowledge and accept one's choices would seem to be an important aspect of humanity."
Seven considered his words but announced "It would seem I have no such need to be approved of."
Tuvok gave her a startled look, or as startled as a Vulcan could manage, and questioned "really? I was under the impression that you very much wanted to be accepted and approved of by your society, especially by the captain."
"Yes, I do want that, of course, but I do not believe I need it as such. I'm sure I would survive without it."
"Survive, yes of course, but I do not believe you would be happy."
"Happiness is irrelevant."
Tuvok regarded his companion and observed softly "perhaps," the corners of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

* * * * * *

"Why don't you ask her to dance?" came a soft voice in Janeway's ear, startling her out of her avid concentration on a certain young blonde.
Janeway leant back against her lover's strong body and gave a little sigh. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, B'Elanna," she admitted, clearing her throat anxiously.
The Klingon laughed and hugged Janeway to her, "probably no worse an idea than you standing here staring at her as you have been all night."
She felt Kathryn's body tense as the expected reflex answer "I have not!" exploded from her mouth. The captain lifted her eyes to her wife's and asked uncertainly, "have I?" but was answered only by a cocked head and furrowed brow, "Alright, I know I have" she acquiesed quietly, "but that new suit does kind of show off her..........eyes."
They both laughed quietly, B'Elanna tightening her arms around Janeway's waist and feeling the captain's hands clasping them. "Oh god, Kathryn!" she exclaimed when their tension-breaking laughter was over, "are we in trouble?"
Janeway sighed and tightened her grip on B'Elanna's arms, "I don't know, baby," she admitted, "quite possibly," and she twisted in Torres' arms, reaching up to pull her into a deep kiss. "Why don't you ask her to dance?" she suggested, "I really should mingle a little."
"Chicken" accused the engineer as she rubbed her nose softly against Kathryn's.
"Well, yeah, but you know the last person she danced with ended up in sickbay."

B'Elanna approached the wallflower Borg smoothly and greeted, "Hello, Seven, enjoying yourself?"
"Not really," came the cool reply, "I am not yet accustomed to these social functions. I feel ....out of place."
B'Elanna put down her drink on a nearby table and explained, "that's probably because you haven't had a dance yet. Want to give it a try?"
The Borg seemed a little taken aback but maintained her mask as she asked "with you?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Perhaps you are not aware of the way my last attempt at dancing turned out. I doubt the captain would thank me for putting her wife in sickbay."
B'Elanna laughed and pointed out, "don't worry, Seven, I'm a lot stronger than Chapman. Besides, if you let me lead I'm sure there won't be any problem. Just, don't try to improvise, okay?"
Seven was clearly not convinced but the colour and sparkle of B'Elanna's eyes and the fact she looked so damm good in a dress uniform was sapping her will and so she agreed. "Very well, but do not blame me if something goes wrong."
"I promise," said the Klingon, holding out her hand, "come on."

As B'Elanna's hand rested on the Borg's slim waist, she could feel the tension in the young woman's stiff body. "Relax, Seven" she urged.
"I am sorry," came the curt reply, "I will try."
B'Elanna laughed gently and shook her head, "you know your problem, Seven? In situations like this you try too hard. Just go with the flow, let me do all the work, okay?"
"Very well." After a few minutes of gentle coaxing, B'Elanna felt Seven begin to relax in her arms and moved a little closer. The Borg looked at her and said in a slightly warmer tone, "you are good at this, Lieutenant, much better than Lieutenant Chapman."
"Thanks, I get a lot of practice. Kathryn loves to dance" came the amuzed reply.
"Yes, so I see," Seven observed, eyeing the captain dancing gracefully with Harry Kim, "she seems to be very good too." She watched the scene for a moment and then seemed to remember herself and turned her face back to her partner, flushing a little, "of course, I am no expert."
"Oh, you're doing fine, Seven. See, it's not so difficult is it?"
"I must admit, it is a lot easier with you," agreed the young woman, her voice unusually low.

As Kathryn moved on to Tom for the next dance, she noticed that her wife was still dancing with Seven and a wry smile flittered across her lips. The two of them looked good together, she observed, 'good enough to......Kathryn!'
After a short silence Seven admitted, "I am enjoying this, Lieutenant."
'No kidding' thought B'Elanna, as she felt a tingling deep inside her, but she merely said, "I'm glad, so am I" and then, more for something to say than out of genuine interest, she asked "so what do you think went wrong with Chapman?"
"I am not sure, I was quite anxious and perhaps, as you say, I tried too hard."
"Well, that's understandable, it being a first date and everything."
"The lieutenant was very charming," continued Seven, "but I do not believe he was enjoying himself even before I injured him."
B'Elanna sniggered and looked up at her companion, "Chapman's a great guy," she said, "but he is a little....nervous."
"Indeed, I believe I made him more so," said Seven, the hint of a smile around her lips, and then asked in a voice B'Elanna could have sworn was intended to seduce, "am I making you nervous, B'Elanna?"
Inside her head B'Elanna screamed 'YES!' but she managed not to sound startled as she replied "no, of course not, Seven. Why do you ask?"
"Your heartbeat has increased, your pupils are dilated and you are perspiring."
"Really? I...I guess it must be the excersise" replied the Klingon, who in truth was getting more nervous as she was getting more and more turned on.
"I do not believe that is likely. You are extremely fit and healthy, this level of excersise is not sufficient to tire you. Perhaps these symptoms are caused by something else."
"Like what?"
Instinctively Seven lowered her voice as she answered, "sexual arousal." B'Elanna's instinct to deny this was somewhat tempered by the fact that she couldn't speak, or even breathe, so she merely stared at Seven, her mouth slightly open. "Perhaps you have noticed, B'Elanna, that though I do not perspire, I too am experiencing a similar physiological reaction to your proximity," said the Borg, moving her hand around the back of the engineer's neck and into her hair.
"Seven," croaked B'Elanna, "are you flirting with me?"
The Borg seemed appreciative that her technique had obviously got the message across and answered "yes, I have been researching the subject. Am I doing it correctly?"
B'Elanna laughed and replied "well there is no 'correct' way as such, Seven, but I'd say you're doing pretty well. Like everything else about you, your way of flirting is....unique." She moved her hand further up the Borg's long back and admitted quietly "I think I like it."
Seven smiled down at her, her whole face lighting up with happiness, "I am glad," she acknowledged, "I like it too, though I am not sure the captain would approve."
"Oh I think you'd be surprised." As if on cue, the captain appeared at their side. "Speak of the devil," B'Elanna said.

"Mind if I cut in, Lieutenant?" asked Janeway, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
B'Elanna stepped away from Seven and replied graciously, "Not at all, Captain. If that's alright with Seven."
The young Borg was confused as two pairs of sparkling eyes regarded her questioningly. "I don't understand," she admitted.
B'Elanna leant in conspiritorially and explained, "she wants me to get lost so she can flirt... ..I mean, dance with you. If that's okay."
"I see," said the Borg, gratified by the idea, "that would be acceptable."
"The flirting or the dancing?" asked the captain in her graveliest tone.
Seven was initially confused and feared that the captain was angry with both her and B'Elanna but, seeing the look of amuzement and love that passed between them she suddenly seemed to understand and replied "I believe I would enjoy both, Captain."

* * * * * *

"Well, that was quite an experience!" said Kathryn, as she lay her hand on her wife's shoulder and allowed herself to be led around the dance floor. "I've never been flirted with by a Borg before, I feel quite drained." B'Elanna laughed into her partner's firey hair and held her closer, "and what else do you feel, bang'wI'?" Janeway blushed and hid her face in her wife's chest before raising her head to look into the clear Klingon eyes. "If you're asking me whether it was a turn on, I must admit I am a little...worked up, as I suspect you are, my darling!"
B'Elanna's smile was all the admission Kathryn needed as she acknowledged, "she is a fast learner, isn't she?"

They danced in silence for a while, holding eachother tightly. Kathryn's right hand was clasped to B'Elanna's chest, though occassionally the Klingon would raise it to her lips and kiss the knuckles or the fingertips tenderly. Since the evening of Tom and Harry's announcement, they had become a lot more relaxed about demonstrating their love in public and now, at least when off duty, they could often be seen strolling around the decks hand in hand, snuggling in a quiet corner of Sandrine's or caressing eachother's faces across a table in the messhall. Far from decreasing the crew's respect for Janeway, as had been her fear, it had seemed to create a new understanding and mutual appreciation between captain and crew. Kathryn's left hand moved in languid circles around the base of B'Elanna's spine, occassionally changing direction to stroke slowly up and down the engineer's finely muscled back. B'Elanna raised her own hand from her mate's waist to tangle in the auburn hair and gently tugged the captain's head backwards so that they could gaze deeply into eachother's eyes. She kissed Janeway's lips gently but lingeringly, the tip of her tongue caressing Kathryn's lips and teeth, tasting the whiskey she had consumed. Her kisses moved to Kathryn's neck, nipping softly at the pliant flesh and turning to smiles as the captain caught her breath and whimpered low in her throat.

"Kathryn?" said the young woman, as her head raised and her eyes locked with her wife's once again, "do you think we should invite....."
Janeway smiled at the hesitation and finished her lover's sentence for her, "...invite Seven to our quarters?" B'Elanna nodded. "Believe me, darling, I've been thinking about that, but do you think she's really ready?" asked the captain, "I mean, does she realise the implications, the possible reprecussions of her newfound talent for flirting. Just because she has learnt an effective seduction technique doesn't mean she's prepared for the consequences."
"That's true, and if she'd been trying her 'effective seduction technique' on anyone else I agree she could've been in big trouble by now, but she chose us, Kathryn, because she trusts us. I mean, we'd help her, wouldn't we? We'd teach her, guide her, explain everything. We wouldn't just fuck her and then leave her to deal with it by herself, right?"
Janeway giggled, "well, I wouldn't have put it quite like that, but yes, absolutely."
"Well then," concluded the young Klingon, not in the least abashed by her choice of words, "we could make sure she was prepared, before anything happens. Maybe we should talk about it with her, find out how much she understands."
Janeway nodded in agreement as her fingers played idly with B'Elanna's frizzy locks. "Yes, you're right, of course. She certainly can't be fobbed off with platitudes." She kissed her wife deeply and added "she's been dreaming about us too, you know?"
B'Elanna looked at her mate with a mixture of astonishment a satisfaction. "Really? I suppose she told you that when you were....dancing?"
"Yes. She told me that the first dream produced an 'extreme and intense physiological and emotional reaction' wich caused her to 'exit her regeneration cycle prematurely' I think she meant she woke up in the middle of an orgasm."
B'Elanna was stunned. "Kahless!" she exclaimed, "this is serious, isn't it!"
"It would seem so. I think she's as besotted with both of us as we appear to be with her."
They thought about that for a while, continuing their dance silently until B'Elanna suggested, "I think, at the very least, we have to talk to her, Kathryn."
The captain smiled and answered "I agree.....do you think we need to talk to eachother as well?"
"That would probably be a good idea, I mean we never have discussed it as a serious issue, have we?"

They found a quiet corner and sat snuggled together, their positioning making it clear to the assembled gathering that they were in deep discussion and not to be disturbed. Janeway began softly, "B'Elanna, my darling, you do know how much I adore you, don't you?"
"Yes, of course," came the loving reply, "it's alright, parmaqwI', I know that however you may feel about Seven, you could never love me any less. I hope you understand that it's the same for me. Nothing and no one could ever change the way I feel about you Kathryn."
"I know, my darling, I do know that, for sure. It's one of the few certainties in my life. I just want to make sure that, if we did persue a relationship with Seven, it wouldn't affect us. I mean, of course it would affect us, it's bound to, but I don't want to even contemplate it if there's a possibility it could damage what we have, I don't think I could survive that."
B'Elanna took Kathryn in her arms and kissed her temple, her nose and then her mouth, "I don't think I could either," she said, "but I don't believe that would happen. What we have is so strong, baby, stronger than anything. You're right that very little is certain in life, particularly in ours, but there's one thing I know for sure, I could never stop loving you, Kathryn, and I could never leave you, not even if I died."

Tears spilled out of the captain's eyes and she didn't try to stop them. "Oh B'Elanna!" she whispered, "I love you so much" and she buried her face in her wife's neck until she could pull herself together. Several kisses later the captain enquired "how do you feel about Seven?"
"Well, it's no secret I hated her at first, I guess part of that was jealousy, because she was so involved with you, but against all the odds we've become good friends. Kahless alone knows how it happened but, beside you, she's become my best friend on the ship. I feel very comfortable with her now, I think we understand eachother. I certainly love her as a friend and I've always been attracted to her but I don't know how much further it goes than that at the moment. I think I could quite easily fall in love with her though, if the situation were right... ....what about you?"
"I guess my feelings for her are pretty similar to yours, except that I've always liked her, maybe even loved her. When she first came to Voyager she was so fragile despite her emotional exoskeleton. I was her teacher and mentor but she taught me a lot too. I am so proud of her for how far she's come from that lonely, angry drone. She deserves love and there's no one on the ship I would trust more than us to give it to her and help her accept it. I do love her, I have from the first, maybe....maybe I'm even a little in love with her already."
The captain lowered her eyes on the last sentence, but B'Elanna smiled and hooked a finger under her chin to raise her face once more. She gazed into Kathryn's eyes and said "then I think we should do it. It's clearly something we both want.....and before you ask," she added forestalling the captain's aborted question, "yes, I'm sure."
Kathryn laughed at her own predictability and observed "she could really be hurt by this."
"Yes, that's always a risk," agreed the Klingon, "but she's not a child, Kathryn. Why don't we talk to her and make sure she understands the emotional reprecussions, then she can make up her own mind. It would have to be her desicion." And so it was that Seven found herself with an invitation to diner in the captain and chief engineer's quarters the very next evening.

PART THREE

Seven sat primly in the armchair opposite Kathryn and B'Elanna and sipped at her after diner coffee. She was dressed in loose trousers and a blouse, her wavy hair down, falling gently against her shoulders. The couple had asked her to wear something comfortable, something different from her usual tight biosuits, and they had both been extremely appreciative of her choice. Janeway admired her for a while longer and then began "Seven, do you know why we asked you here tonight?"
The Borg looked up from her contemplation of her coffee cup and replied "not exactly, but you said you wanted to discuss something with me."
"Yes," replied the captain, shifting so that she could lean against B'Elanna, "we would like to ask you something, but there's certain things we have to be sure of first."
Seven put down her coffee and gave the captain her full attention, "proceed," she said.

The captain turned to B'Elanna, who took her cue and asked "Seven, this flirting thing..... have you tried it on anyone else?"
"No" came the uninflected reply. Both Janeway and Torres seemed to breathe a little easier then as the Klingon continued, "good, I suggest you don't. You know you could get yourself into serious trouble, giving someone the wrong impression of your intentions. There are those, even on Voyager, that would take advantage of it and of you."
"I am aware of that, B'Elanna," acknowledged the young blonde, and then something occured to her that made her smile. "Have you two been worrying about me?" she asked quietly, smiling even more widely at the flush that came to both their faces, "that is gratifying, but there is no need. I believe you are the only members of Voyager's crew that I would wish to flirt with."
Janeway laughed deep in her chest and enquired "you do know, don't you, that although flirting can be extremely satisfying in its own right it is usually considered as the prelude to a much more intimate interraction?"
"I am aware of that also, Kathryn. It is employed as a subtle way of letting someone know that you wish to engage in sexual activity with them, is that what you mean?"
"Yes, exactly."
Seven smiled again and then announced "you are both being very 'tactfull', but I believe I know what it is you are trying to ask me."
The couple looked surprised and B'Elanna urged "go on, Seven.....what is it we want to know?"
"I believe you wish to ascertain whether my flirtation with the two of you was merely a game, an experiment of sorts, or whether I meant it as a way of indicating that I wish to have a more intimate relationship with you. Is that right?"
Janeway sighed and flopped back against B'Elanna, soft giggles shaking her chest. "As usual, Seven," she said plaintively, "you've come straight to the point and hit the nail well and truly on the head. Well, I guess there's no point in further prevarication, so tell us....was it a game?"

Seven looked from one of her friends to the other and smiled warmly. She stood and walked over to them, crouching down in front of them and, in a most uncharcteristic gesture she draped one forearm across each of their knees, looking up firmly into their eyes. "I know you are both worried about me, about how much I understand of this situation. I confess, I do not understand everything I am feeling, but I do understand that you two are the most important people in my life. I love both of you very much, more than anyone I have ever known. I know I am new to love but I am convinced that that is what I feel for you. The flirting was fun, but it had a more serious intent behind it. I wished to let you know how I feel, to let you know that I am honoured to be a part of your lives and that if you ever chose to let me be a greater part of your lives I would be doubly honoured. I am not asking for or expecting anything from you, I merely wish you to know how I feel."

Janeway was speechless, and it was all she could do to stare inanely at the Borg and stop herself from crying. B'Elanna was equally astounded, her breathing a little short, she reached down to stroke Seven's cheek wonderingly, loving the silken softness of the skin. "I....I'm so sorry, Seven, I've underestimated you. I thought you didn't understand."
"I know you did," Seven acknowledged, "it's alright, it was a fair assumption, bearing in mind my lack of experience with humanity."
Janeway joined in with "you may not have any experience, Seven, but it seems you have instinct and intuition. So many people lose those qualities when they gain experience....promise me you'll never do that."
"I will....try."
Kathryn took Seven's hand in her own and stroked gently along the soft metallic implants that snaked up the long fingers. "Seven," she asked eventually, "do you realise how badly you could get hurt if this goes wrong?"
"I believe so," she replied thoughtfully, "I have tried to imagine losing either or both of you and found that I could not bear even the thought of it. I used to think that the potential pain involved in loving someone made love inadvisable, and that anyone smart would stay well away from it, but now I see that the happiness and fulfillment love awards makes it worth the risk. You two have taught me that and I am grateful for the lesson. Only yesterday I told Tuvok that happiness was irrelevent, but I did not really believe it. I believe being a part of your love would make me happier than I could ever have hoped to be, but I also know that the bond you share is special and may not allow room for me. I have no wish to harm you or your relationship in any way. If you decide you cannot love me as I love you I will understand and I will be content to continue as your friend."

B'Elanna and Kathryn looked at eachother. It seemed they had both made up their own minds and only needed to look into eachother's eyes and acknowledge the almost imperceptible nod they gave eachother, in order to seal the decision. "Perhaps I should leave you alone to discuss it and make a decision" offered Seven as she rose to her feet.
"No, Seven, that's not necessary," said Janeway, "I believe we've made a decision."
They rose together a stood facing the Borg as B'Elanna explained "we do love you like that, Seven, both of us do, and we very much want to show you how much you mean to us." Seven found herself faltering, unable to breathe properly. She had hardly dared to hope that they would feel the same way and she couldn't quite believe it, even as she saw the truth of it shining in their eyes.
"You do?!" she said tremulously, sounding for the first time that evening like the innocent she was, "you really do?"
Janeway giggled and affirmed "yes, my darling, we really do.......come here!" she reached out her arms and instintively Seven moved into them, hugging the captain tightly. B'Elanna reached around her wife with one arm and snaked the other around Seven's waist, the Borg and the captain pulled slightly apart to allow B'Elanna into the embrace and there they stood, the three of them entwined in eachother's arms, breathing in eachother's love, for the next two blissful minutes.

* * * * * *

All fears allayed, they took a hand each and led her into the bedroom. B'Elanna reached up and buried her hands the blonde hair, marvelling at its fineness, combing out the golden strands with her fingers. "I've been wanting to do that for so long" she admitted with a smile, which was immediately mirrored by the Borg.
"Do you know what you want to do, Seven?" asked Janeway softly, her fingers tracing the veins on the back of Seven's human hand.
"I have no experience in this field with which to judge," came the logical reply, "I will do whatever you two wish."
"No, Seven," Janeway objected patiently, "this evening is for you, right Lanna?"
"Right," agreed the Klingon readily, "we want to give you pleasure, Seven. What do you think you would enjoy?"

Seven's mind flashed back to the dream which had set her on this track and she replied "I have done extensive research and I believe there are many things I would like to try at some point, but the thing I would most like to do right now is just to watch you cop....I mean, making love to eachother. It would provide an excellent opportunity for me to observe and learn and I know it would give me great pleasure." Kathryn and B'Elanna looked at eachother and grinned, "I think that can be arranged," said B'Elanna seductively, "but wouldn't you like us to undress you first? That way, if you feel like joining in you'll be ready."
"I am capable of undressing myself, B'Elanna" said the Borg indulgently.
"I know that, Seven, but it's much more fun to have someone else do it for you."

Seven considered the matter and came to the conclusion that her friend was right, but then she remembered and her face clouded over. "I have many Borg implants in and on my body," she said, flushing and averting her eyes from thier faces, "and many scars where others have been removed. I am afraid that, when you have seen them, you may find me ugly."
Kathryn reached out and pulled Seven's face around to look at her. She could see the shame and embarassement on Seven's face and her heart ached for the young woman. "Seven," she said, trying to catch hold of the clear blue eyes that were now shadowed with shame, "Seven, look at me.....please." When she finally had the Borg's gaze she returned it with understanding and said with great sincerity "I can't speak for B'Elanna, but you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever known. There is nothing that could ever make me find you ugly, Seven, nothing."
B'Elanna stroked the yong woman's face, drawing her attention and confirmed "she's right, Seven. All these implants are a part of you and as such are necessarily as beautiful as you are."
Seven's shame evaporated with her next breath and she reached out one hand to each of their cheeks, stroking softly, "thank you," she said, looking from one to the other with total love and devotion, "in that case, you may proceed." Laughing softly they slowly lovingly, undressed her, discarding one garment after another onto the floor of the bedroom until she was standing before them in all her naked glory, tall and proud, revelling in their appreciative gazes.
"My gods, Seven," said B'Elanna a little breathlessly, "you're gorgeous....how could you ever doubt it?"

Seven sat in a chair to the side of the bed and watched as Kathryn and B'Elanna slowly undressed eachother, lingering over buttons and zips, kissing tenderly each newly-bared bit of skin. They had told her she should join in whenever she felt like it, but for now she was more than content to watch, still not quite able to believe she was actully here. When they were finally naked they heard her gasp and turned to find her eyes smouldering. "Do you like what you see, Seven?" asked the captain, her hands sailing idly over B'Elanna's skin.
"I find you both extremely..... stimulating" she admitted, her eyes travelling down to her glistening crotch.
B'Elanna laughed gently and offered "don't forget, Seven, you can join us whenever you want to."
"I will not forget," she said.

The Borg watched from her chair as the couple fell onto the bed entwined in eachother's arms. They had been standing before her, kissing and caressing eachother slowly for some time and now neither of them could remain standing any longer. B'Elanna rolled them over so that she was on top of the captain and kissed her deeply, her hand cupping the swelling breast beneath her. Janeway moaned as the Klingon's teeth sank into her left nipple and her hands snaked around B'Elanna's muscled back to hold her closer, stroking the smoothe silken skin. "Oh Baby....you ...taste...so good!" moaned B'Elanna between mad bouts of kissing and biting and sucking all over Janeway's torso and abdomen. The treatment continued until Kathryn was squirming and struggling beneath her spouse. Even though she knew she couldn't match B'Elanna's surperior strength, she struggled to free her wrists from the warrior's grip, knowing how much her partner loved her to 'fight'. The engineer had allowed her Klingon side to come to the fore more and more of late, realising that her strength and agression were a powerful aphrodisiac for Kathryn, but she was reluctant to let go of her human control completely, afraid of damaging her fully human lover. However, B'Elanna was human too and sometimes she loved the comparative gentleness of the human way of making love, thrilling to Kathryn's patient and tender touch.

"Aahhh, B'Elanaaa!" wimpered the captain as her spouse's kisses descended, but wanting to prolong this paradise, she called up all her strength and, taking B'Elanna by surprise, managed to flip her onto her back. Of course the Klingon could have retaliated and subdued her partner but, as she had only admitted to herself since she'd been with Kathryn, she enjoyed being taken as much as she enjoyed taking, and so she allowed Kathryn to give her a taste of her own medicine. Kathryn was mad with passion and desire. The feeling of being watched turned her on more than she had ever realised it would. Without much preamble she thrust two fingers into B'Elanna, her own body reacting intensely to the yell of appreciation that her action had ripped from B'Elanna's chest. "Oh sweet Kahless!....K..Kathryn...aaagghh!" stammered Torres as she ignited under her wife's hot caresses. When B'Elanna had got over the initial surprise of her mate's agression, she reached down between Janeway's legs and collected some of the abundant lubrication on her fingers before plunging them into Kathryn's core. "Aaagh..huh!oh god!" gasped Janeway as she was pumped mercilessly. It didn't take long before they were both teetering on the edge of release, thrusting against eachother, rolling over and over on the crumpled sweat-soaked sheets, groaning and gasping and screaming eachother's names. They came together, loudly and luxuriously, every muscle in their bodies contracting to a painful tension before their final release.

As they lay in a chaos of arms and legs, panting into the air, they heard a tearing, crushing sound and jerked up their heads in surprise towards the face of their voyeur. Seven had been mezmerised by the 'show', even though she knew that by half way through they had probably been oblivious to her presence. She had found it difficult to breathe as she watched their passion and now she was lightheaded from lack of oxygen, the fire in her loins threatening to overwhelm her. Even though Borgs didn't perspire, there was sweat pouring down between her breasts and shimmering on her trembling thighs. Her hands gripped the rests of her chair so hard her knuckles were white and when B'Elanna and Kathryn came her Borg-enhanced hand ripped through the metal armrest, leaving it completely mangled. "My gods...Seven!" panted B'Elanna "look at you!"
They both leaped up and went to the shaking Borg, Janeway asking "why didn't you join us?"
"I...I wanted to watch," came the stilting reply, "I thought it....would be...more enjoyable... if I waited," she explained breathily, her sweaty chest heaving with supressed passion.
"You've been teasing yourself, Seven?" asked B'Elanna as she knelt before the blonde and ran her hands over the slick spasming thighs, "well it's true that can be very exciting, but I don't think you're ready for it yet." She rubbed her hands up and down Seven's long thighs, gently urging them apart as she bent to kiss the Borg's belly softly. Seven bucked at the contact of B'Elanna's lips on her skin and threw her head back to see Kathryn was behind her, leaning forward to caress her breasts.
"Let us take care of you, Seven" she offered as she captured the young woman's lips with her own, tugging gently at the lush lower lip with her teeth. A groan of encouragement escaped her and she gripped the armrests even tighter as she felt B'Elanna's mouth on her other lips.
"Y..yes...please!" she whispered raggedly. They took her right there, knowing she would never make it to the bed. Together they showed her what her body needed, their only intention for now to realse her from the torment she had inflicted on herself. Within five minutes she was screaming and jerking in the chair, her pleasure plunging over the precipice as her Borg hand twisted the metal beneath it even more cruelly. Her screamed exclamation of surprise and fulfillment was completely incoherent so that even she couldn't have said what language it was intended to be. There was no language that could describe the way she felt at that moment, and as she collapsed into the mangled chair afterwards she could not have spoken even if there had been.

* * * * * *

"Now come and lie down so we can make love to you, Seven" requested Janeway.
Seven was confused, "I thought that's what you just did" she said, still a little breathless.
B'Elanna chuckled "No, Seven, that wasn't making love, that was purely functional, to get rid of all that tension. Making love is much better."
Seven was astonished, "better than that?! I don't think I could stand better than that!"
"I'm sure you could get used to it" said the captain seductively as she tugged gently at Seven's hand.
The Borg's mouth twitched at the corners as she replied cooly "no doubt" her tone indicating that she had noticed the challenge in Janeway's voice.

They lay her on her back and began gently caressing her all over, one on each side. Instinctively her hands came up around their backs to caress the smooth skin. Her left hand, enhanced with Borg technology, stroked up and down B'Elanna's spine, the surprisingly warm metal implants making the Klingon shiver and gasp. "Ah, Gods!" gulped the dark woman as an electric tingle licked up her back, "Seven, how are you doing that?"
"doing what?" asked the blonde lazily.
B'Elanna shuddered as a new bout of tingling began under Seven's fingers, surging down her spine and into her loins, "Aagh....that!" she gasped as she let her head drop to Seven's neck.
"I am merely stroking your back. May I take it you approve?"
"Oh yeah! you definitely may!" came the panted reply. The engineer forced herself to concentrate and requested "let me see your hand."

B'Elanna examined the wiry metal adorning Seven's hand and forearm but could find no reason for the unusual sensations it had caused. "Kathryn," she declared, calling her wife from her own exploration of Seven's body, "you have to feel this. Seven, touch her with this hand, like you touched me." The Borg obliged, rolling onto her side so she could reach over to Kathryn's back, which she began to caress slowly, lazily, moaning contentedly as B'Elanna licked and kissed her neck from behind. The captain's moaning was louder, however, as the Borg touch seemed to make her spine quiver, "Wha.....? What is that, Seven?" she gasped.
Seven was puzzled, "I do not understand" she admitted.
"There's some kind of......aaaagh god!" Janeway couldn't finish, so B'Elanna explained
"there's some kind of energy coming from your Borg hand, Seven. It's extremely stimulating."
Seven thought about it and raised her hand from Kathryn's skin to examine it. "Nanetic energy," she concluded quickly.
"Nanetic?" asked the recovered captain, "I've never heard of that."
"It is unique to the Borg," clarified the blonde, "it is produced when nanites are stimulated but not expelled. I did not realise that nanites could be activated by sexual stimulation, but you need not worry, it isn't dangerous."
Janeway laughed. "I don't know about that, Seven" she said enigmatically.

They made love to Seven thoroughly, tenderly, lovingly, teaching her the difference between what she had previously experienced and real lovemaking. She learned the lesson willingly as they caressed and kissed her all over, holding off on anything more intimate until she was aroused to distraction, and then they entered her together, with one finger each, their thumbs taking it in turns to rub her clit as one hot mouth played with each of her nipples. She felt the contractions beginning deep inside her and gasped as the mnistration ceased just long enough for the sensations to abate before resuming. Despite the distracting nanetic energy that made them tingle whenever they came into contact with an implant, B'Elanna and Kathryn ignored their own mounting need and concentrated on satisfying their willing pupil.

Kathryn's lips left her swollen nipple and moved up to her mouth to engage her in a a biting kiss that made her choke with delight. Seven's hands clasped the women's heads to her as her pleasure grew in intensity and she returned the captain's kiss with a passion she never knew she possessed. They brought her to the brink of ecstasy and then gently pushed her over the edge. Time stood still as she jerked up and shuddered violently in mid air in a moment of enlightenment that she later thought was akin to looking into the perfection of the Omega molecule. She was suspended for what seemed like an eternity and when she finally collapsed back onto the bed, its coverings shredded under her Borg-enhanced grip, there were tears streaming down her cheek and incoherent sobbing sounds streaming from her heart via her mouth.

They held her until she was calm, gently reassuring her that it was perfectly natural to cry after such intense lovemaking. When she found her voice she asked "Was that teasing?"
B'Elanna laughed, answering "not exactly, though I guess we did tease you a tiny bit." The Klingon shifted, a wicked look coming into her eyes, "you want to know about teasing, Seven?" she asked, her hand drawing meandering circles on the Borg's flushed skin.
"Yes" replied Seven eagerly, "I want to know about everything. I believe I would like to start with teasing."
B'Elanna's eyes lit up, "Alright," she agreed, as her wife loked warily over at her, "it just so happens that Kathryn loves to be teased. Would you like me to show you...on her? Teach you?"
"Yes...please," she replied ardently, "if she would like it."
Kathryn giggled in her gravelly tones, "oh, she'd definitely like it, Seven!"

* * * * * *

"Kathryn!" said Seven, concern lacing her voice and, turning to B'Elanna, she asked worriedly "is she alright?!"
"She's fine, Seven," replied the engineer with a smile on her lips.
"But....but what have I done?.....she's unconscious!"
"Seven, calm down," soothed B'Elanna, laying her hand on the blonde's shoulder, "she's fine. She's not unconscious, not quite. Just give her minute, okay? That was pretty intense."
"I didn't hurt her?" asked the Borg tentatively.
"No, of course not, you just overwhelmed her a little, she'll be alright in a moment." Seven relaxed a little but still eyed the insensible captain with trepidation.

A little while later, Kathryn's eyes fluttered open and she took a deep breath, letting out a little groan of delight. B'Elanna looked down at her wife with a wide smile and greeted softly, "hey you, welcome back."
Kathryn returned the smile warmly and whispered, her voice a little croaky, "am I still in one piece?"
The young woman laughed throatily and brushed a soggy hair from her partner's cheek, "you seem to be," she reassured, "how do you feel?"
"Wonderful" came the drowsy reply, "drained....but wonderful. Where's Seven?"
"She's just cleaning herself up, she'll be out in a minute." She sat back against the bedhead and took the captain in her arms, nuzzling into her hair, "she really is a fast learner, isn't she?" the Klingon giggled.
Janeway looked up into her mate's dark eyes and agreed "oh yeah! but she did have a damn good teacher."
B'Elanna sniggered and hugged her wife closer, "I think I've created a monster" she laughed.
"A beautiful and extremely talented monster" agreed the captain.

As they snuggled they became aware of Seven standing sheepishly in the bathroom doorway and Janeway smiled delightedly at her. "What are you doing over there, Seven?" she asked lazily, reaching out her hand to the young woman, "get over here."
Seven walked to the outstretched hand and took it, kneeling down by the bed and leaning her elbows on it, "are you alright?" she asked warily.
"Oh I'm more than alright, Seven. That was incredible."
Relief flooded through the young woman and she visibly relaxed, "I thought I'd damaged you somehow," she admitted, "when you lost consciousness I was worried but B'Elanna said you had been overwhelmed by the experience."
Janeway let out a husky giggle, "I'll say!" she agreed, "You know, Seven, there's only so much pleasure a human body can take."

The three of them lay in eachother's arms, caressing, kissing, exploring eachother's bodies until Seven asked, "what's next?"
"Next?" enquired Janeway with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I mean the subject of my next lesson."
B'Elanna and Kathryn exchanged an amused glance and laughed gently. "I think we should take one skill at a time, Seven," explained the engineer, "you seem to have got the hang of the teasing thing, but what about being teased, that's quite a skill too, you know? Now, personally I don't enjoy it, I'm too impatient I guess.....but I think it's something you would enjoy."
Seven seemed to think it over for a few seconds and then she agreed, "very well" and, settling down on her back with her arms stretched out to the sides, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and allowed "you may proceed."

The End

SW
21/03/01