“Yes I do, but I
also wish to sit down,” Seven said in clear dismay.
“This is very…non-Borg.”
Relief made
Janeway chuckle. “I know how you detest sitting.
Still, what we’re feeling tend to make a human
grow weak in the knees.”
“Really?”
“Really. Why don’t
we sit on the couch?”
Nodding in
agreement, Seven
ushered them both toward the couch beneath the view
port. She didn’t let go of Janeway and tugged at
her, as she obviously wanted to remain in close
proximity while ‘sitting down.’
“And while we’re
setting things straight,” Janeway managed, “I have a
small request.”
“Proceed.”
“While we’re in
here, in private, please don’t call me ‘Captain’.
I’m just Kathryn.”
Seven seemed to
consider this, tipping her head slightly as if she
tried the name out in her mind. “Kathryn,” she
repeated. “Very well, Kathryn. I will use your given
designation from now on. It is unfamiliar to me, so
I hope you will forgive me if I momentarily forget.”
“Forget? You?
Something wrong with your eidetic memory, Seven?”
Janeway joked.
“Not at all. It is
functioning at peak performance, but I wish to keep
it focused on what is transpiring between us, so
minor facts might not register.”
“Asking us to be
on a first name basis is a ‘minor fact?’
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Well,
that took care of that. “Speaking of names, which do you
prefer? Seven or Annika?”
“Seven. Annika is
who I used to be, and has little to do with who I am
at this point.”
Janeway disagreed, but did not want to go into that
now. Instead she nodded and reached up to cup
Seven’s face in her hands. “So, Seven, it is. It is
who you are to me, what I call you inside my mind
when I lie awake in the night, thinking of you.”
It’s what I call you, when
I talk with you while you regenerate. It’s also what
I groan out loud when I touch myself and pretend
it’s you.
~
