Title; Beautiful Stranger                              
     Author; Lucy Kenward.
     Rating; PG.
     Series; Unexpected Arrivals
     E-mail address; Maquis_47@yahoo.co.uk (I LOVE FEEDBACK!!)
     Disclaimer; We all know the drill by now and I'm getting fed up of
writing it, but oh well. Mr and Mrs Paramount I am *not* making any
cash out of this story what so ever and I am merely borrowing your toys
and freeing them from the anti-relationshipper world that is season
five. The story is mine..(insert maniacal laughter here..) The title is
taken from Madonna's song 'Beautiful Stranger' she owns that....
     You may archive this if you wish but please mail me before you do
(it's always nice to know the whereabouts of your stuff) anyone wishing
to change or alter either the story or disclaimer will be met by a
simulation of my own feeble attempt at impersonating an angry
Klingon..*please* don't go away after reading this threat...at least
read the story...who knows? You may not find it an irrelevant piece of
fluff....But even if you do I'd still like to know..FEEDBACK IS
WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS!!!! I love anyone who gives me any kind of
feedback....(this is more commonly know as a HINT.)
     Summary; Oops. I've kind of pinched ideas from 'Deadlock.' Sorry
Paramount. Although I do try and add a K/S twist ( with a hint of
K/K..!) to the story...P/T and J/C are respectfully included (as they
should be..) There is no resurrection of Seska, Kazon or Viidans in my
story... (Sorry) I got caught up in those beautiful season two
memories.... :) 
     Dedication; I'm still new at this strange world of fanfic but a huge
thanks to Star Trek Voyager for inspiring me and to great fanfic
authors like Lesa  (who has been a huge help)  Jan Monroe and Annette
Welsh-Shinya- all whose work has made me green with envy (why can't we
all write like that??) 
Author's Note; This takes place somewhere in Season five, after
'Disease' but before 'Equinox' I also use references to the pocket book
novel 'Seven of Nine' by Christine Golden.
     

                    Beautiful Stranger

     The soothing sound of throbbing machinery drilled the into the back of
his mind. He could vaguely make out the sound and slight inflections of
a human voice. Pulling his mind from the subconscious and into reality
he became familiar again with his surroundings. The flashing lights of
nearby consoles, and the huge projection of star systems all equally
unfamiliar and thousands of light years away from his home. Drawing all
his attention to focusing his mind back to the task in hand he deftly
drew up different information on his console. Scanning the page he
realised that he was getting absolutely no where fast. His brain ached
from the fatigue of the mere task of concentrating and every nerve in
his body cried out for a break. 
     Sighing, he realised that working with a Borg, no matter how
stunningly attractive, most definitely had it's downside. They had
barely spoken. She just gave him this *look* every time he opened his
mouth. This *look* was very similar to the much widely imitated look
that the Captain gave to anyone who stepped out of line, mainly Tom
Paris. With a wide grin plastered all over his face he recalled an
excellent imitation of the Captain that Ensign Parsons was doing a
couple of nights ago in Sandrines. *Too bad* he thought that Commander
Chakotay had walked in to find this merry scene going on. The Indian
had hit the roof and the party mood quickly subsided leaving a
near-empty Sandrines and a very red faced Parsons. *Poor Parsons* he
reflected. Todd was now working for two weeks, in his spare time for
his favourite person, mainly Neelix in the mess hall, his main chore
was preparation of the all important leola root. Todd, who now stank of
the offending root, had figured that it only made it more blatantly
obvious that the Commander and the Captain had a 'thing' going on. The
betting pools were going wild. 
     *So was the rumour mill* he thought ruefully. It was quite shocking
that the Doctor, the biggest damn gossip on the whole ship had seen him
leaving Jennifer Delany's room at a time when they both should have
been sleeping. Now it was all over the ship and most of the crew had
been giving him these sly looks for days now. It wasn't like he didn't
find her attractive, which male on board wouldn't? But it was all so
totally innocent, *for the time being* he added, they had just been
talking and it had gotten late. But the whole ship had been talking
about it for days now and he was so fed up.
The rumours as with most suspected onboard romances ranged from they
were dating to sex in the mess hall at midnight on lucky table five.
These rumours didn't naturally discount the illustrious Captain and
Commander's potential relationship from any of the exciting, if not
sordid possibilities.
     *Damn it!* He'd drifted off again and Seven was looking at him with
this disconcerting scowl plastered across her features. He flushed
bright red and cursed himself for having such easily embarrassed skin.
Glancing back at his console he become suddenly aware of two things.
The first was that his console was beeping quite loudly which probably
explain the strange looks he was getting from Seven. The second was
that he didn't really care because checking the chronometer he realised
he didn't care his shift was over, if his replacement was on time in
five......four...three....two....one.....
     The door to Astrometrics swished open to reveal Seven of Nine wearing
a scowl that Harry had come to recognise as the look of irritation
caused by a lack of inefficiency. He turned to look over at her
co-worker. Ensign White who looked like he was about to wilt from
exhaustion. He grinned smugly at the young Ensign who looked more than
pleased to see Harry. Seven, he noted didn't bother to look up.*Great*
thought Harry, James White has put her in a foul mood which I will no
doubt pay for in a drive for total efficiency. He dismissed White who
looked overjoyed to be leaving and stepped into the room.
     *Thank God for Harry Kim* he thought leaving the tension-filled room.
He, like many others hadn't failed to notice the potential relationship
in them. Unlike others he'd also noticed the change in it too. Harry no
longer blushed and stammered at Seven like an overly embarrassed
teenager. In fact, he contemplated, heading straight for the mess hall
to try and find Jenny or maybe tease Todd a little, it seemed like the
attraction between them that was so blatantly clear had died out
completely. *Shame* he figured heading into the empty turbolift, she
could do a hell of a lot worse. *Like the Doctor* he silently added. 
     Harry stood quietly waiting for Seven to assign him to some kind of
task and wondering exactly what is was to put her in this kind of mood.
Actually, he reflected, if he didn't know better he say she was having
serious mood swings. He cleared his throat audibly to provoke a
response. He failed to get one. Seven was quietly tapping away at a
console in her usual efficient manner. It was infuriating. He realised
that over the past year there had been a significant change in their
working relationship. He had changed and so had she. But he had
considered themselves more like friends than co-workers. After all they
helped each other out and he was able to talk and joke with her without
himself feeling like a total blundering fool. He smiled in reflection
at his past behaviour towards her. He had been really intimidated by
her, on the other hand she'd really done a good job of intimidating
him. He almost laughed out loud at a younger Seven's proposition of
'copulation in order to explore her humanity' it still made him blush
as he could feel his face turn ever so slightly flushed. He summoned
all the confidence he could muster and tried the direct approach.
     "Seven have I done something to offend you?"
     Seven of Nine's head turned at the irrationality of this statement.
She looked at Ensign Harry Kim and shook her head. She felt
bewilderment and confusion all her concentration from the task in hand
now shattered.
     "Well,"
Ensign Kim paused obviously he was waiting for a response. Seven felt
she could not give a suitable truthful one without provoking further
questioning, however, she would adapt.
     "I am.."
She sought for the doctors teachings in a subject he called 'Etiquette'
one which never particularly seemed relevant to herself.
     "Sorry Ensign Kim I was concentrating to gain maximum efficiency in
the plasma conduits."
She paused to read Ensign Kim's facial expression. In her short time on
Voyager she had learned that a persons facial expression often gave
away or concealed their emotions. She had found it to be an important
lesson to be able to read them, allowing her to more easily understand
someone. Ensign Kim was *predictable* she inwardly smiled as she
remembered a conversation after she'd left Voyager shortly when the
Borg contacted her onboard the Raven. He'd read her logs when they'd
tried to discover her location. She remembered Ensign Kim telling her
uncomfortably he'd found out she called him 'predictable' his facial
expressions at the time were those of extreme embarrassment and
discomfort so she had reassured him, in her own way and he had smiled
and made a joke and generally became very nervous around her.  
     That particular lesson had always been useful when dealing with Ensign
Kim. She could see now by his facial expression that he was believing
her falsehood. Then his face changed suddenly and he raised an eyebrow
at her previous statement.
     "Why would you be checking an engineering problem in the Astrometrics
lab?"
Harry stared at Seven and tried to figure out why she would lie. Did
Seven lie? He couldn't remember a time when she had, possibly when the
Borg Queen had tried to 'recruit' her back to the Borg, but never any
other time. Seven was now looking flustered. Her cheeks were bright
red. She was blushing. The thought occurred to him. She was blushing, a
sign of her emerging humanity. That looked hopeful for her future. He
decided not to make her feel any worse, he could remember just how
uncomfortable it was blushing in front of her and feeling like an idiot
so he smiled at her instead.
     "It doesn't matter, I sure you have your reasons."
Her face seemed to ease in relief at this statement. His smile widened.
the tension eariler seemed to have lifted. The room suddenly felt
lighter.
     "Umm, so give me a task to do then Seven, I'll help you if you like.."
She felt relieved that Harry had not pursued her falsehood and reminded
herself not ever to try and create falsehoods unless it was relevant,
it was far too unnerving.
     " Help me to run a diagnostic on these star charts that the Captain
recently purchased. We will proceed from this workstation." She
gestured to the large workstation in the corner and they began their
work.

     Harry felt his stomach rumble and turned to see if Seven had heard it
too. He really hoped she'd heard it and maybe she'd take a hint that
they needed a break. Working for five hours straight running
diagnostics even with the odd conversation, no matter who it was with
was certainly not his idea of fun on night shift. Out of the corner of
his eye he caught sight of a blonde figure standing by the doors,
looking back at his console he cleared his throat and spoke,
     "Seven do you want to take a break now? I really need to get some food
from the mess hall and I know you don't really agree with Neelix's food
but I've run out of credits and I'm really starving. We could use a
little break and it might actually raise our efficiency levels"
Silence greeted him.
     "Okay then maybe not, but it would shut me up."
Silence again. Seven really was in a strange mood tonight he decided.
He turned slowly to face her.
     "Seve-"
He stopped dead. Still. The room could have erupted into flames and
clouds of billowing smoke and he'd still be standing there staring at
her. That was definitely not Seven of Nine. She was probably Seven's
complete opposite. Her slight figure lacked Seven's curves but it was
still beautiful. Her soft blond hair that fell in waves framing her
soft gentle features. Her elfin face and that beautiful smile that it
always wore.
     "Kes.."
The emotion in his voice in the words made him sound strangled. He
stepped out slowly towards her, wanting to reach out and touch her arm
to check she was real. Then the scientific segment of his mind kicked
in. *This isn't real.* You're dreaming again Harry. Like so many dreams
he'd had before he dutifully reminded himself. But Seven. The slight
furtive shuffling of feet behind him made him realise she was still
there. Refusing to turn his eyes away at the sight before him he called
out for her.
     "Seven.."
She replied with a panic in her voice that he instantly recognised. His
spirit lifted in hope. She could see this vision of Kes too.
     "Harry there appears to be a crew member who is no longer abroad
Voyager standing by the exit."
He shook his head nervously in recognition.
     "I see Kes, or what appears to be her, Seven."
     The figure moved forwards and he could see she that the intensity of
her smile had increased. 
     "Harry I am Kes, but a Kes in another alternate lifetime. One
different to yours Harry. We have experienced phenomena similar to this
before Harry, please, do not fear me, but listen to me I do not have
much time here. Please."
Her eyes had this begging quality to them. There were endless
possibilities for why she was here and why this could be some
technology or hallucination. However her eyes, that look in her eyes
that Kes would sometimes have, this intensely pleading look that begged
you to listen to her. He became spellbound, and it appeared from the
lack of questioning on Seven's part that she too was similarly
affected.
     "Harry, Seven, on our Voyager there has been a terrible incident, the
information is all here in this pad for the Captain to read. But it was
the last wish of two crew members aboard our Voyager that we give you a
member of our crew. She is the only child on Voyager and she needs a
second chance to live."
     She stepped forward to Harry and he could almost taste her scent, that
wonderful combination of mingled flower scents from the hydroponics
bay. His heart was convinced as he saw the tears in her eyes, she
handed a pad to Seven and then handed the bundle in her arms to Harry.
He had now become acutely aware that this bundle was a small infant who
looked humanoid and cannot have been over a month in age. It was
sleeping contentedly. The exchange of the infant shed more tears for
Kes and Harry felt his own eyes glisten as the reality of Kes hit him.
She was here, in the flesh, and yet in a matter of minutes she would be
gone for eternity. 
     He looked at her and reached out his hand to touch her face. He had
never believed that after her departure those secret feelings he'd held
for her would ever resurface. He had mourned her death quietly,
privately not wanting to upset anyone by showing his true feelings
towards her. The husky sound of her voice brought him back from his
quiet reverie.
     "Her name is Linnis, Harry.."
She leaned in so close that he felt her sweet breath on his cheek. She
whispered gently into his ear,
     "Love her for me Harry."
She placed a light kiss on his lips that only seemed to brush his
senses. He shut his eyes, and a tingling sensation grew around him. His
eyelids slowly lifted leaving him to face the harsh reality of her
arrival and swift departure. He glanced down at Linnis, the small
infant in his arms and wondered who her parents were. she had this
strange familiar mixture of facial features. He looked up at Seven who
had this interesting combination of shock and bewilderment playing
across her features.
     "Ensign Kim, I can offer absolutely no explanation for the events that
have just occurred. I will inform the Captain and give her this padd.
You will take the infant to sick bay."
She rushed out of the room leaving Harry holding the baby.

               *    *    *    *    *    *
     
     Sickbay duty was always dull and today was no exception. Tom Paris
scanned his bored blue eyes frustratedly over yet another page of text
describing yet another dull fact about regeneration of tissue and bone.
Sighing he prayed for some kind of medical emergency, not to serious,
but anything to keep the doctor from sick bay for five minutes so he
could sleep. His intense fatigue and need to see B'Elanna Torres was
not helped by the Doctor who seemed to do everything in his power to
keep him bored therefore keeping his mind firmly on his fatigue and the
body of B'Elanna. His medical study didn't get a look in.
     It had been a week and a half since he had enjoyed company with
B'Elanna *there's a unique way of putting it Tommy boy* he thought to
himself. The total anguish of not being to spend five minutes alone
with her had led to extreme frustration and then fatigue. The Doctor
had been his usual pleasant self. Whoever programmed him should be shot
or at least court-martialled. It wasn't his 'gritty' *a polite way of
describing his character* bedside manner that got him. He liked the
Doctors often blunt but always sarcastic nature, he could remember how
the Doctor before the EMH had treated him *along with half the crew*
and so he could always appreciate the Doc that extra bit more. But it
was this slave driver, take no prisoners attitude to Tom's duties that
really bugged him. The Doc failed to understand that Tom Paris was a
PILOT not a nurse or medical assistant. Piloting was enjoyable to him.
Treating other people's injuries was not. He didn't mind the people, in
fact he liked comforting people, chatting, joking, reassuring them, it
was the whole not piloting the ship part that he didn't enjoy. 
     The doctor was humming his favourite opera tune whilst checking his
medical files on a terminal when the doors to sickbay swooshed open.
Ensign Harry Kim stood in the door carrying a small infant, no older
than a month by his initial diagnosis. He looked extremely concerned
and was cradling the baby gently.
     Tom Paris had looked up from his studies as soon as he heard the doors
open. He'd got out of his chair and approached the door when he saw a
white, panicked Harry Kim holding a small child. He immediately rushed
to his friends side. It looked like sickbay had got a hell of a lot
more interesting, for the time being at least.

               *    *    *    *    *    *     
     
     Kathryn Janeway sat slouched in her comfortable chair inhaling the
delicious aroma emanating from her favourite cup of coffee. Wrapping
her fingers round the cup she took a small sip allowing the flavour to
envelop her taste buds. She smiled as she looked out of the view port
to the rushing stars. The ship hummed quietly with activity and healthy
systems. *Always a good sign.* She thought happily. It had been a quiet
morning and she was relaxing in her ready room letting Chakotay handle
things quietly on the bridge. She thanked which ever Gods were looking
out for them in the Delta Quadrant and most certainly they had
something keeping them alive in the unfamiliar territory which they
dived headfirst into every day. She tried to picture what the last five
years would have been like if they'd captured the Maquis from the
Badlands. The first time she'd thought about this she'd stopped. It was
too painful trying to imagine herself back in Indiana, amongst those
sunny, humid summers. Back in the fields where she spent a happy
childhood playing. With Bear her dog and it's pups. Her mothers smiling
face, warm embrace and caramel brownies and Phoebe that whirlwind of
energy she'd come to love. And Mark, they'd be married by now. That
thought always disturbed her, at first because she knew exactly how
impossibly far away from him she was, but now, because he was married
to someone else? Or maybe because she didn't love him anymore. That
chain of thought always led her to the impossible situation she was in
again. The possibility of falling in love with a man who might as well
be thousands of light years away from her, but who she saw every day
knowing all that time that she could never allow herself to love him.
She sighed, that miserable chain of thought had left her with lukewarm
coffee and a heavy heart. She swallowed remembering not to lose her
composure and became unpleasantly aware that someone had now entered
her ready room. She looked up and saw Seven of Nine staring at her
gripping a padd in her Borg enhanced hand. 
     "Sit down Seven."
She said with some unconcealed irritation at Seven's sudden entrance.
As the woman sat down Kathryn couldn't help but notice that Seven
looked very pale with a large frown placed firmly on her features. Her
original irritation melted into compassion for the woman, emotions were
still quite knew to her and it looked like she'd been experiencing
several.
     "Captain,"
     "Seven what is it?"
Seven took a large breath, her composure faltered slightly.
     "Myself and Ensign Kim were working in the Astrometrics lab on some
diagnostics when at approximately fifteen minutes ago a manifestation
of some kind appeared by the exit to Astrometrics."
     " Manifestation?"
     " At first the image was hazy, but as it became more focused the image
formed into the person I immediately recognised as the Ocampon female
who departed the ship a year ago, Kes."
     The Captain visibly paled and took a sharp intake of breath. Seven
paused as she drifted into her own thought for a minute or two she
remembered the look on Ensign Kim's face when Kes appeared and the look
of delight when Kes kissed him. She now wished that she could not so
easily understand the Ensign's emotions through his facial expressions.
The Captain also appeared to drift off into her own thoughts of Kes.
Seven waited quietly and as the Captain nodded she began again, 
     " She told us that she was onboard a Voyager in an alternate timeline
where they were experiencing some kind of problem. She implied that the
whole crew was dying. She handed me this Padd of information and
informed me that this was to go directly to the Captain. She gave
Ensign Kim a small humanoid infant whose designation is 'Linnis' she
then hugged Ensign Kim and disappeared. She had stated that the child
was the only one onboard their Voyager and that the parents were
concerned that it should live in whatever way was possible. Kes
appeared extremely distressed in having to explain this situation to
us."
As a afterthought she added in as neutral voice as she could manage,
     "Ensign Kim also appeared extremely distressed at her appearance."
The Captain picked up the data padd and stared at it's blank screen for
several long seconds.
     "Thank you Seven."
She said somewhat uncertainly. Her mind felt bogged down with too much
information and emotion. She lightly touched Sevens hand as a form of
comfort to the woman.
     "Seven, why don't you go down to sick bay and inform the Doctor that
I'll be down right away."
Seven looked extremely puzzled by this request to spend her time at
such an inefficient request. However she concurred with the Captain and
quickly left the quiet room.
     Kathryn sighed there was no such thing as a relaxing morning or a
quiet day onboard Voyager and it now looked like it was going to be a
very busy week. She slouched even further into her chair and switched
on the data padd.
               *    *    *    *    *    *     
     Harry stepped back with a wide grin on his face to observe the scene.
Tom Paris and the Doctor were have one of their usual arguments, they
had been exchanging smart remarks for about two minutes now and for
once they weren't arguing about Tom's duty shifts or his lack of
enthusiasm. 
     "Mr Paris kindly allow me to hold the infant while you scan her."
     "No way Doc you can scan her and I'll hold her, she's sleeping
anyway."
Tom's smile intensified at he looked over the sleeping figure. The
Doctor rolled his eyes and let out an overly dramatic sigh.
     "Fine then Mr Paris. Just remember when it comes to cleaning up any
kind of mess she makes in sick bay I'll know who to find to clear it
up. Now keep her still for a minute."
Tom accompanied this with an equally dramatic groan of his own. The
Doctor began patiently scanning the delicate child. Tom turned his
attention away from the child and back to his friend Harry.
     "So who do you think the parents are then Harry?"
Tom studied his friends face very carefully and looked back down at
Linnis. He sighed quietly, the kid was beautiful. A heart shaped
delicate face with these huge hazel eyes shaped like large almonds that
were currently obsurced by her pink eyelids. She had very pale skin
with just a in it and very rosy cheeks. Her hair was just a slight
blond fluff tinted with a soft mousy brown. He'd always liked kids,
Naomi Wildman was one of his favourite people on Voyager and he'd
always hoped one day he'd have kids of his own, maybe with B'Elanna
*but for now he was quite content with the practice in making them*
that sent a large grin to his face as he could imagine B'Elanna's
reaction to that. *Paris you pig* she'd come out with something like
that accompanied by this wonderful hungry grin she'd give him and this
sparkle in her eyes...
     "Tom, are you listening?"
     "Huh? Oh sorry Harry I was a million miles away."
Tom had now turned bright pink. Harry could only guess at what he'd
been thinking about.
     "Let me guess."
He paused and watched his friend go pinker by the nano second. Grinning
smugly he stated.
     "B'Elanna."
Tom nodded and swiftly changed the conversation,
     "So how quickly do you reckon the rumour mill will discover our latest
crewmember?"
     "About as soon as the Doc finds out who the parents are. Good news
always travels slower than juicy gossip."
     The Doctor was busy inspecting a console tapping away. Harry spoke in
a slightly hushed voice,
     "When do you reckon the Doc will find out who Linnis' parents are?"
     "About as soon as I've done a complete DNA match for every male and
female humanoid crew member onboard, and that will go much faster
without the chatter Ensign."
     The sickbay doors opened and a rush of air escaped Seven of Nine stood
hesitantly in the doorway. Tom noticed she was looking very pale and
slightly guarded. She approached the Doctor and they began talking
while he scanned her. Tom turned to speak to Harry but as he did he
noted Harry was watching the Doctor and Seven very carefully, he then
exited sickbay discreetly. Tom figured calling him or arranging to meet
in the mess hall with Harry right now wasn't a good idea. He's probably
got a lot to think about. So Tom left him to go and brood, which was
undoubtedly what the young Ensign would be doing right now. *Poor Harry
he never did quite get over Seven.* 
     But the thought occurred to Tom as he placed little Linnis in her cot
was how familar her small sleeping form looked especially the peacefull
look she bore on her face while in deep slumber, if he wasn't mistaken
then that faint suggestive tug at his mind could be correct, that
little Linnis'daddy was his friend Harry. Smiling and whistling a tune
that his mother used to sing to him, he tucked the soft blankets over
the child's tiny body, smoothing the fuzzy hair back from her eyelids.
               *    *    *    *    *    *
     A brisk figure rushed down the corridors with one destination and more
specifically one person on her mind. Destination: Sick Bay. Intention:
Tom Paris. B'Elanna was nursing one hell of a headache, every muscle in
her body was tense from fatigue and her stomachs growled more
ferociously than an entrapped Targ. But she ignored the complaints and
continued on her destination when she felt ready to drop. The sickbay
doors shuffled open and B'Elanna stood open mouthed as the usually
quiet sickbay was filled with the sounds of a distressed screaming. Her
eyes darted round the round to see where the sound was emanating from.
Curiosity got the better of her and she ventured towards the Doctor's
office. The yelling got louder as she reached the room and peeking
inside confirmed her suspicions. She winced at the intensity of the
noise and secretly smiled as she watched an intensely occupied Tom
Paris. He was holding the infant carefully in his arms and humming a
soft melody to her, it seemed to be working as the child's original
piercing wail had been reduced to small snuffling noises. Then it hit
her. *Where the hell did this month old baby spring from???* Ignoring
this question for the time being anyway, she softly crept up to Tom and
as he placed the baby back in the cot with a small sigh, she wrapped
her arms gently round his and purred gently in his ear.
     Tom Paris sighed in relief. He'd know who that purr belonged to any
time and he slowly turned to face B'Elanna smiling with all the
intensity he could muster in his fatigued state. He moved his hands to
stroke her hair. Leaning in he savoured her scent, this strange
combination of the engine room and this really soft gentle fragrance
that reminded him of rose petals. He leaned in and kissed her lips so
softly that he heard her sigh with pleasure. The kiss grew in intensity
and B'Elanna's arms were firmly wrapped around his waist while his
traced her slightly protruding spine. He became aware amongst all the
intensity of the passion he felt from their kiss that someone was
tapping him on the shoulder. He broke off the kiss slowly and felt the
blood rush to his face as the Doctor was stood to their left with a
medical scanner, he was examining the tricorder with an intensely smug
looked pasted onto his holographic features.
     "Glad to have you amongst the living Ensign, Lieutenant. Although it's
nice to see you are paying particular attention to the practical
aspects of your study into interspecies reproductive systems."
At this remark he could feel B'Elanna tense up and practically jump
away from him, he turned to look at the Doctor whose smug look had now
turned into a fully developed smirk. 
     " It's always nice to see you speechless Mr Paris. May I suggest you
clean Linnis up and head off for a break this evening. The Captain
needs to come down to sickbay so make it quick."
Paris quickly headed over to Linnis' cot and began placing sheets,
medical equipment and clothes in a small bag. B'Elanna was dying to
know where this mysterious baby had sprung from but she knew Tom
wouldn't tell her until they were somewhere private. So she stood in
the Doctors office trying very hard not to feel too stupid and failing.
Then Tom looked up at her with a relieved smile indicating they could
leave the place that they both knew made B'Elanna's skin itch. 
     "I'll see you soon Doc, I'm off now."
     "Certainly Mr.Paris but remember in here at the start of Delta shift,
sharp. Have a nice night Ensign, Lieutenant."
He smiled again as they left arm in arm about as close to each other as
they could be without sharing uniforms. He flicked on the terminal in
his screen and stared at the data results in amazement. He sat
contemplating the problems this would cause and awaited the arrival of
the Captain.
               *    *    *    *    *    *
     "So Kes just appeared? Out of thin air? With a child?"
     "B'Elanna keep your voice down, no one knows so we wouldn't want the
rumour mill to get hold of something like that would we?"
     "Sorry Tom, so what happened? I mean with Kes and Harry.."
She'd leaned in now and as alluring as a simple act like that was to
Tom he knew that until he told B'Elanna what was going on she wouldn't
think or talk about anything else.
     "Well Harry didn't say much. He just stood in sick bay for a while and
left when Seven came in. Seven, however, gave a more accurate recount.
She said that they talked, Kes gave the baby to Harry and told him to
'love her for me' she stated the child's designation was 'Linnis'
and.."
B'Elanna looked infuriated.
     "And..?"
She prompted.
     "They kissed."
     "They kissed????"
     "Uh-huh."
     "Tom!"
     "What?"
     "Harry and -her- kissed?!"
     "Yes."
     "Well.."
     "Well what?"
     "Was it...passionate..?"
Tom shrugged. B'Elanna sighed, a small growl almost escaped her lips.
Containing her anger she prompted him again.
     "Well, Seven didn't specify she probably figured it was
'irrelevant'.."
     "I can't believe it. I didn't realise."
     "Realise what?"
     "That he liked her. I thought they were friends."
     "I guess we didn't realise. I was too busy to notice."
     "Why?"
     "Ummm I was too busy trying to figure you out."
     "Me?"
Her tone of voice had reached it's silky seductive tones, she gazed at
him while he tried to respond.
     "Tom?"
     "Yes.."
     "Your ears are going pink.."
     "Uh huh.."
     "Will you tell me later what exactly it was you were figuring out?"
     "Sure B'Elanna, shall we go now?"
B'Elanna smiled like a wolf eyeing up it's prey.
     *Damn Tom Paris.* He is one hell of a lucky man. Todd Parsons pulled
his attention back to James and his outrageous flirtations with the
Delany sisters. That interesting piece of gossip he'd just overheard
Tom and B'Elanna discussing would prove very handy as an ice breaker
with Meghan Delany. He leaned forward towards her and she leaned in as
he mentioned some gossip he'd overheard this morning.
     "Harry Kim kissed Seven of Nine!" 
Exclaimed Megan aghast. Todd looked smug.
     "That's exactly what Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres said."
Todd cast a glance over at Jenny. She was staring moodily at her tray
and her full lips were pouted slightly. He wondered what possible
connection Jenny and Harry had. *The mind boggles at the infinite
possibilites.* 
     "Where was it?"
Todd hadn't got a clue, but Meghan had never been this interested in
anything he'd ever said before so he figured a little white lie or
embellishment of the story wouldn't hurt. He looked at her face,
intense with anticipation and wondered if a women more beautiful than
her actually existed. He figured probably not and so he took a chance.
     "....ah I think it was holodeck two."
Meghan then proceeded to question him for half an hour. He wondered how
she could come up with so many questions for just one statement.
Sighing he wondered what Lieutenant Torres would do to him if she ever
found out he'd been listening to her private conversations with Paris.
He remember the 'mess hall incident' with Seven of Nine when she
discovered Seven had been charting their 'intimate relations sessions'
he shuddered to think just how much pain Carey had been in when
B'Elanna broke his nose all those years ago. He grimaced, *Not a
pleasant thought Todd.*
     
               *    *    *    *    *    *
     Kathryn Janeway's headache and intense urge for caffeine had not been
help by seeing Voyager's newest crew member and it's pain had doubled
when she'd discover little Linnis' parentage. She looked over to
Chakotay his dark features held a frown. So far the walk from the Sick
bay to the bridge, or more specifically her ready room had been made in
silence. She looked over at him hoping he knew her well enough to
understand her 'I need a coffee and a meal before we can talk' look. It
seemed to have worked because he let out a throaty chuckle,
     "Okay, I give in Kathryn, don't give me that look, we can go to my
quarters for some food and then talk about the latest incident on
Voyager."
His grin matched hers and she replied,
     "Now tell me Chakotay how did you guess? Was it really the 'look' or
was it the sound of my grumbling stomach all the way through that
meeting"
     "Ahhh well that would be revealing my secrets."
She smiled again and they headed for his quarters.

               *    *    *    *    *    *    

Series: Unexpected Arrivals

Author: Lucy Kenward

Email me @; madness@easynet or Maquis_47@yahoo.co.uk

Part: 2/? (For part 1/? see Beautiful Stranger..)

Codes; A whole lotta K/S, P/T and hints of J/C...It is PG-13 for
references to sexual acts/ relationships between characters..(no smut
though..)

Disclaimer; I don't own the characters I am merely placing them in a
relationship-friendly situation (something Paramount don't seem to have
considered to do..) I own the story and the latest 'addition' to the
150 (ish) crew members of the Starship Voyager...If anyone wishes to
archive this story then feel free but just let me know first!!Thanks.
FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS WELCOMED!!!! Flames or praise ...whatever. 

Author's Note; This takes place somewhere in Season five, after
'Disease' but before 'Equinox' I also use references to the pocket book
novel 'Seven of Nine' by Christine Golden.

                    'Situations'
               
               #    ~    *    ~    #    ~    *
     
     Kathryn Janeway stretched out her tired limbs and allowed herself to
relax. Despite the great evening that she'd had with Chakotay enjoying
each others company and laughing together for what seemed like the
first time in quite a while, not to mention the fully replicated meal
of a chicken pasta dish and her favourite desert coffee ice cream. Her
head still throbbed with the underlying pressure of the decision that
still had to be made and even with a full happy stomach she still felt
uncertain about what she would do. They hadn't spoke throughout the
meal about the new situation that they were faced with but Kathryn knew
that the in0evitable confrontation and clash of ideals would occur. She
felt that the situation was mounting and so decided to confront it.
Taking a deep, cleansing breath she spoke,
     "Chakotay" 
He became intensely aware that those clear blue eyes were filed with
uncertainty and that they were intensely gazing at him to try and gauge
his reaction. He knew what would follow and nodded his head slightly.
     "I need your advice. You know that as first officer I respect and
admire you and your principals."
He cut her off mid-sentence he knew exactly what Kathryn Janeway would
say next and exactly where this conversation was heading.
     "You want to know what you should do about Linnis."
Kathryn could barely suppress a smile. The faintest tinge of a grin
graced her features. She'd come to expect so much of Chakotay after
five strong years of relying on him and trusting him but for him to
read her mind, well that was a little much. *Am I really that
predictable?* She made a strained effort to focus her concentration on
the task in hand.
     "Chakotay what should I do? Allow Linnis to be with her natural
parents both whom are very young, not in a steady relationship, totally
inexperienced and in the potential mother's case a possible risk to the
child? What are the other options? Allow her to be adopted by a couple
onboard?"
     Kathryn paused and looked thoughtfully at her plate. Chakotay cleared
his throat, it wouldn't be easy trying to convey his idea on this
situation across to Kathryn especially because they didn't always see
eye to eye on certain things. *Like the Borg.* He grinned ruefully but
never kept his mind too focused on their past conflicts of ideals.
     "Well, Kathryn I personally feel that Seven and Harry should be told
and allowed to make their own decisions. After all Linnis is their
child whether she was born and conceived on this Voyager or an parallel
one. The point is that it's their child and they should be involved in
her future."
He braved a glance at Kathryn and noticed her eyes were clouded with
worry and that her shoulders were tense she was unusually quiet and
seemed to be quietly urging him to continue.
     "I also feel that they should be informed discreetly and possibly
allowed to care for the child for a certain period of time to see if
they can cope with the responsibility of raising another living thing,
if it doesn't work out then we figure out what to do next. I think the
crew doesn't need to be informed until Harry and Seven have reached a
decision we should keep crew gossip to a minimum."
Kathryn smiled grimly at the last comment,
     "Yeah, the rumour mill would have a field day with that kind of
scenario, no matter how innocent, it would end up turning into
something quite ridiculous."
*Like some of the stuff I've heard about 'our' relationship.* She
silently added.
     "I agree, but when do you want to inform them? Tomorrow?"
Kathryn inhaled slowly.
     "Chakotay to be perfectly honest with you I am deeply concerned, Seven
is so emotionally young still. How can we expect her to raise a child
and be a mother when she has so little experience around children? And
Harry? He may be an adult but he's still so young he'd have to cope
raising a child practically on his own.."
Kathryn stopped after she noticed a large frown forming on the
Commander's dark features distorting his tattoo.
     "Kathryn, I'd expect you to be a little more confident of your pupils
abilities.."
     "You think Seven could cope with being a mother to a very young
infant??"
     "Well she obviously figured she could on the other Voyager.."
     She spoke in a slightly scolding tone.
     "Chakotay, that is a totally different ship we know none of their
circumstances."
Chakotay looked at her. Her auburn hair glowed slightly even in the
dim, relaxing level of the lights. Her features were formed in an
expression that was so familiar to him. She was stubborn. Her face told
him so. But he knew he had to try at least, for that small child's sake
the one that was currently alone and parent less. This wouldn't be
easy, but surely it wasn't impossible.
     " Don't you think that Harry and Seven at least deserve a chance to
see what kind of parents they are. Or at least to know that they are
parents. Kathryn,"
He looked into the depths of her intelligent sparking eyes, they had
softened slightly at his words, he continued, hopeful.
     "Please. Give them a chance. Linnis deserves that at least. Allow
Harry and Seven to see if they can cope before you judge them and take
away their rights as parents to be involved in making decisions that
effect their own child's future."
He paused watching the Captain drink in his words, her features
softened as her face broke into a light smile. He sighed with relief.
Linnis would have a future with the parents she deserved.
     "Chakotay you are right although you cannot erase my concerns about
the situation Harry and Seven deserve a chance, and Linnis deserves to
know her parents. I guess I should try and think up of likely
candidates for foster parents- just in case."
The last statement got a sharp look from her Commander. Her curiosity
had been piqued.
     "Chakotay may I ask why the sudden defence of an ex-Borg?"
Chakotay's features hardened somewhat at the enquiry. 
     "To be perfectly honest with you Kathryn I'd be saying the same things
if it was any member onboard Voyager in the same situation the rights
of a child and parent are something that is held as an utmost honour in
my tribe. To conceive and bring a new life into this world means that
for our people the parents have brought a new gift into this world and
one that is made from part of them. The bonds between parents and
children are very sacred and so must be treated with respect. But..."
He sighed and gave away to a light grin of acceptance.
     "Seven's improvements with the crew are very impressive despite the
occasional hitches. Harry of course is, as ever impressive."
He looked like he wanted to continue, but didn't.
     "And??" 
Kathryn prompted.
     "And...They haven't seemed to have experienced any more serious
'communication' problems."
Kathryn's smile broadened a small chuckle escaped her lips.
     "Like the misunderstanding in the mess hall all that time ago?"
Chakotay's smile matched the intensity of Kathryn's and he replied in a
mocking scold,
     "Captain! I am shocked that you would joke about another crew member's
discomfort in an embarrassing situation.."
She gave him a small warning glare for his efforts. He cast his eyes to
the floor looking like a naughty school boy. He let out a small giggle
and soon they were laughing together.

     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    
     His mind felt numb. As he slowly eased himself from the dreamy realm
of his subconscious to the shrill reality of his quarters he
concentrated on figuring out what the shrill beeping was, his mind
cursed it having abruptly snatched his dreams away from him. He opened
his eyes slowly and felt the fuzzy brightness of his quarters slowly
shifting into recognisable shapes and structures. *His quarters.* The
same as they'd ever been. He sighed and pulled himself away from the
depression that he'd sunk to months before. *Optimism.* Well....? His
mind slowly found alternative situations that could be worse than
waking up from a good nights sleep and a pleasant dream. *Like not
waking up at all.* His mind had tactfully reminded him of the magical
dreams that had accompanied those days of dreams. Just like the most
recent dream that he'd been so uncomfortably torn from they all had a
common factor.*Seven of Nine.* To be more precise Seven of Nine and
himself in varing intimate and compromising situations. The raw passion
that they'd both displayed in these dreams was, well, pleasant to say
the least. He'd always found it hard to awake from dreams like those to
the cold harsh reality of waking next to emptiness. He glanced at the
chronometer and realised he had approximately 4 minutes and 22 seconds
to appear on the bridge for his duty in a mildly presentable state. He
made a brief concentrated effort to push the powerful erotic images
from his dreams involving a certain ex drone away from his thoughts so
he could concentrate on remembering to dress, wash, breathe all the
important functions he needed to do in order to survive, before he ran
to the bridge in a futile attempt to somehow not to be late for his
duty shift.
     He sighed, eternal optimism may not help him survive today with that
kind of wake-up call.
     *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    

     Seven of Nine disconnected herself from her regeneration cycle at 6000
as she had done every day without fail since she had arrived on
Voyager. Only that particular regeneration cycle had been unlike any
other she'd had before. She had experienced.... Seven realised she
didn't understand what she had experienced. The images, sounds, smells
that had surrounded her unconscious thoughts as she regenerated
were....for want of a stronger word....powerful. They had started as
Seven had drifted off into the usual state that accompanied Seven
whilst she regenerated instead of the calming state of peace she
usually found her mind was still active, restless and it filled Seven
with disturbing, but pleasing images. The images were often disjointed
and confused her greatly. Some were past events that she had
experienced whilst onboard Voyager. Some involved previous distorted
and frightening images she had experienced, specifically that of a
Raven. That image only occurred once but it's distant shriek echoed and
accompanied the images. She shuddered as she contemplated the dark
menacing beady depths of the birds eyes. She hurried to her workstation
in a secluded corner of Cargo Bay two and began her personal log.
     "......Seven of Nine, personal log, stardate ---------(?) I have
experienced a series of disjointed strange images during my
regeneration cycle, they were accompanied by sounds and at some points
in the visual stimuli, smells also. I am extremely concerned about
these images and although some were..pleasant, others
were....disturbing.."
       Frowning at her inability to complete a sentence because of a
constriction in her throat she hastily ordered the computer to delete
the incomplete log and headed for sickbay.

     *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *

     Captain Janeway was huddled up in her favourite chair for 'slouching'
in. She sighed impatiently and waited for Seven of Nine and Ensign Kim
to appear. It was typical, the two most efficient crew members onboard,
excepting Tuvok, and they were late. She looked over at the Commander
who looked away quickly concealing his features from her. *What was
that about?* Her mind inquired. She sighed, the last thing she needed
was to sit here and remind herself of New Earth and all the complicated
but impossible emotions surrounding it. *Still it can't hurt to indulge
yourself secretly Kathryn...* And with that her mind filled with the
sensuous memory of a particularly erotic massage administered to her by
the man sat across the desk who looked like he was trying very hard not
to think about her. She suppressed a groan of sexual frustration. This
was *not* a good way to start a stressful day...
     #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #

     Harry Kim raced to his station a full ten minutes late. He noted, with
praise to the Delta Quadrant Gods that neither the Commander or the
Captain were on the bridge. His mind cheered and his optimism
reasserted itself. Then he looked up realising Tuvok was observing him
with his typical raised eyebrow and an intent stare. He tried very hard
to keep himself from blushing but the Vulcan's calm voice broke his
concentration,
     "Ensign Kim, I believe the Captain and Commander wish to see you in
the Captain's ready room- immediately."
Harry took a large intake of air and steadied himself as the eyes of
the bridge crew were upon him and watched him disappear into the ready
room.

     ~    *    ~    *    ~    *    ~    *    ~    *    ~

     A visibly pale Ensign Kim paled even further as he approached the
Captain, who looked notably irritable and seemed to be hot, as a wide
blush spread across her face. The Commander looked distant and he also
sported a red hue to his normal skin tones. The Captain forced a smile
and approached him,
     "Ensign Kim, please sit down we are just waiting for Seven of Nine who
is coming from sickbay."
Harry's mind boggled. *What??* His face registered confusion on every
feature, he was expecting to be called onto the carpet and chewed out
thoroughly and instead the Captain and Commander were looking very
serious but each had a hint of understanding and they were waiting for
Seven? Who was coming from sickbay? This felt suspiciously like a very
weird dream. His mind flicked back to Seven, *is she hurt?* He began to
panic then his logic set it, if she was really that unwell then she
wouldn't be walking from sickbay to the ready room. He calmed a little,
but he was still flicking over every conceivable possibility for this
'meeting.'
     "Harry, relax, you'll find out what it is as soon as Seven arrives."
Harry looked up at the distraction from his thoughts and met the
Captain's warmest smile. It was comforting, a least, he presumed it was
good news the Captain's tone suggested that and she'd hardly smile at
him like that if something really bad. His reverie was broken again by
the faintest gush of air breathing animation into the room and the soft
'whoosh' as the door opened.
     Seven of Nine preferred to stand, and despite the irrelevance of
comfort she found she became more efficient when standing. The Captain
had insisted she sit and Seven had begrudgingly complied. Seven
observed the facial expression and posture of Ensign Kim, from her
observations she could conclude that he was extremely agitated and
concerned. Seven could, in her limited way, understand this having come
from sickbay where she had been told by the Doctor that she had merely
been 'dreaming' and that she was not malfunctioning. Her instant relief
had caused her to feel much less anxious, the pressure she had felt on
her temples and stomach had vanished, it had returned when the Doctor
stated that she would soon be 'sleeping' and thus would no longer need
her regeneration alcove. This had increased the tension in her stomach,
temples and now throat. Seven felt extreme dislike at having to give up
her regeneration alcove in favour for inefficient sleep. The Doctor had
smiled when he'd told her that she would soon take a large and
significant step forward to becoming a human. The pain had increased.
The Doctor had failed to understand her concerns. He was delighted with
her progress and she agreed to allow him to inform the Captain and as
he had done so the Captain told him she wished to speak with Seven
immediately. Seven early complied in the hope that it would distract
her from these upsetting but irrelevant thoughts. 
     And now she was sat, feeling extremely uncomfortable with the
Captain's eyes on her, the Commander was looking at Ensign Kim with
concern. Seven concentrated more than ever before as the Captain
explained exactly what was required of herself and Ensign Kim. She felt
the pain double with this extra amount of extremely relevant
information.
     
     "C-can I see her?"
Ensign Harry Kim stuttered trying desperately to make his brain work
properly, he couldn't even utter a single coherent sentence. He had
quickly moved his focus to watching Seven of Nine. He couldn't put his
finger on it but she looked really bothered about something, she had
before the Captain had told them, he wondered if they had some kind of
psychic connection. *Enough of the jokes Harry.* At least his mind was
beginning to work again even if it was criticising his thoughts. Seven,
he'd quickly learned, had a very subtle range of facial expression
which would give a basic clue to how she was feeling. Seven looked;
downright miserable. Her clear blue eyes, as blue as the sky on earth,
were clouded over, like an overcast day before a storm, her lips were
ever so slightly downcast but so subtly did her pink full lips cast
downwards that you'd have to have studied her for a long time in many
of her different moods before you'd even notice.*And you sure have been
through a hell of a lot of those mood swings..* But as downcast and
anxious as her features were she would occasionally, whilst the Captain
or Commander were speaking, look happy, well for Seven anyway. The
frown that marred that perfect face would dissolve, her lips would
curve ever so slightly upwards and those eyes, that held Seven's
intellect, her soul would spark with.....well he wasn't sure, it looked
like....*passion?* That sounded odd, *even coming from my mind..* but
he was sure, well his dreams certainly were that Seven was passionate,
she just wasn't sure what passion was quite yet...*or how to use it...*
This train of thought brought him straight back to *those* dreams,
something he wasn't ready to react to in front of the Captain,
Commander and the lady in question.
     "Harry.......?"
The soft, deep tones and inflections of the Commander's voice brought
Harry back to reality. He felt the familiar hotness swell as a blush
escaped and betrayed him.
     "Uh, I guess I just slipped off..sorry.."
Two pairs of eyes met his each filled with understanding.
     "That's fine Harry, I imagine you have a lot on your mind right now."
The Captain said punctuating her words with a smile.
     "Well we were just saying about maybe going down to sickbay and having
the Doctor and Tom show you basic child care skills and then maybe you
could..ah...take Linnis home?"
The Captain sounded hopeful. Harry noticed Seven was getting more
worried by the minute. The Captain also saw this and she'd moved over
and placed a reassuring hand on the woman's arm.
     "Home?" 
He echoed, slightly confused. The Commander and Captain exchanged
looks, the Commander spoke,
     "Well we figured that your quarters may be more suitable for raising a
baby than the Cargo Bay Two, however we could maybe give Seven her own
quarters or give you joint quarters so you can care for
Linnis..ahh..together..?"
Harry tried as hard as he could not to look as uncomfortable as he
felt. *Joint quarters*- a double bed? Harry mentally chastised himself,
he was developing a downright sleazy mind. He shuddered and hastily
distracted himself from those kind of thoughts. Harry looked over at
Seven, after all they'd have to start making decisions together, they
were responsible for a child. Seven also looked embarrassed, in fact
she was blushing. Her pale skin had become tinted a bright shade of red
mainly concentrated on her cheeks. He decided they'd better talk about
this one,
     "Seven?"
He said questioningly, she seemed somewhat distracted, he felt totally
sympathy for Seven, after all she was still learning about humanity so
how could she teach another what she didn't know? She was probably as
scared as him, if not more so.
     "Ah....Seven?"
She seemed jump as he placed a hand on her arm she looked startled but
quickly drew up that puzzling mask of the 'emotionless' ex drone.
     "I believe that it will be satisfactory to use your quarters Ensign
Kim."
     "Uh huh at least for the time being."
Seven tilted her head ever so slightly as she tried to comprehend what
he meant in his expression 'for the time being.' *Damn it Harry!* Why
did you say that? He controlled himself, he simply refused to blush and
stammer around her. It worked. He exhaled. Seven looked even more
confused.
     Kathryn Janeway didn't need to exchange looks with her Commander to
know what he was thinking. It was highly probable that it was the same
thing going on in her head. *What the hell was going on here?* Harry
and Seven were acting very strangely around each other, although, she
admitted it was totally understandable. But they kept exchanging these
odd little looks when the other wasn't watching. They wouldn't speak
about the news they'd received, at least not in front of their superior
officers but yet she knew they both were desperate to know what the
other thought of being a parent. She smiled internally. They did show
promise, Chakotay may have been right on this one, although Kathryn
wasn't totally sure she wanted to give him the satisfaction of telling
him so. She decided to break the little 'show' in front oŽ>#yr because
she really needed to inform her senior staff of the situation because
she was sure rumours would be starting up already and she needed people
to keep an eye for gossip and stop it.
     "Seven? Harry? Perhaps you'd like to visit sickbay and take a closer
look at Linnis?"
They both looked so eager that her spirits lifted, *although will they
be able to scope with the reality of parenthood?* She dismissed the
pessimistic side of her mind, for the time being anyway. With that the
party headed for sickbay.

     #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #

Series: Unexpected Arrivals

Author: Lucy Kenward

Email me @; madness@easynet or Maquis_47@yahoo.co.uk

Part: 3/? (For part 1/? see 'Beautiful Stranger' and for part 2/? see
'Situations')

Codes; A whole lotta K/S, P/T and hints of J/C...It is PG-13 for
references to sexual acts/ relationships between characters..(no smut
though..this may change....you've had your warning..!)

Disclaimer; I don't own the charactors I am merely placing them in a
relationship-friendly situation (something Paramount don't seem to have
considered to do..) I own the story and the lastest 'addition' to the
150 (ish) crewmembers of the Starship Voyager...If anyone wishes to
archive this story then feel free but just let me know first!!Thanks.
FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS WELCOMED!!!! Flames or praise...whatever. 

Author's Note; This takes place somewhere in Season five, after
'Disease' but before 'Equinox' I also use references to the pocket book
novel 'Seven of Nine' by Christine Golden.

Summary; My advice is please read parts 1 and 2 because as anyone who
has read the other stuff knows I cannot summarise. *You have been
warned.* Okay, well here goes;
On an alternate Voyager Harry and Seven have a child, unfortunately Kes
appears on 'our' Voyager and hands the child over to 'our' Harry
telling him that a tragedy prevents her Voyager from caring for it.
However Harry and Seven have just found out they are Linnis' (the baby)
parents and so the story picks up from where we left off in part 2 with
Harry and Seven venturing to sickbay to find *their* baby........the
story continues.......
          
               'Fairy Tales and Teddy Bears'

     For the first time in his entire medical career Tom Paris had woken up
looking forward to his early morning shift in sickbay, in fact, he
reminded himself, he woken up early to get to sickbay on time. The
Doctor had been impressed at his sudden punctuality. B'Elanna Torres
had not. She'd been accidentally woken up when he'd crashed into the
coffee table in an effort to put on his left shoe as quickly as
possible. She been quietly sleeping as peaceful as the small sleeping
baby before him and then as the loud crash occurred the peace in her
sleeping form had erupted into the Klingon temper that he'd got to know
very well..*and love.* He grinned with a twinkle in his eye as he
remembered the enfolding events the night before that had led to the
half Klingon curled up next to him when he awoke this morning.
     He quickly turned his attention from the pleasurable thoughts that
B'Elanna Torres always seemed to cause to the screaming infant in front
of him, who, just like the lovely B'Elanna had woken up from a
beautiful sleep to an angry awakening. He grinned ruefully as he
carefully scooped up the small infant and as the screams decreased he
smiled lovingly at the child and wondered if she actually had Klingon
blood somewhere in her...
     The Doctor smiled as he observed the scene in front of him. His
surprise was great this morning when he'd found Tom Paris his
'assistant' arriving in sickbay a full ten minutes before his shift
started. He'd scratched his head and looked at Paris with amazement,
then he'd inquired if they had passed a blue moon recently, Tom had
then grinned and had in return questioned if the Doctor had been
looking in the 'Tom Paris witty remarks' section of the computer
database. The Doctor had replied there was no such section, the only
one he'd found was the 'Tom Paris smart ass remarks to infuriate your
superiors' section and was that the one he'd been referring to.......
The Doctors grin had widened as Tom and himself had both burst into
laughter after that unable to resume the banter with a straight face.
He was content with Tom improving skills as a competent medic but also
his improvement in attitude to his sickbay duties. This, of course, was
probably due to sickbay's newest and youngest patient and not his
re-evaluation of his medical studies. *Well, it was pleasant while it
lasted.*
     His thoughts were distracted by a beeping from his communications
channel. He tapped the console to reveal a message from the Captain. He
glanced over at his assistant and decided now would be as good a time
as any to inform him of the unfolding events.

     #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #

     They approached the entrance to sickbay cautiously, side by side. The
doors to sickbay whisked open and they stepped towards their future.
     Tom Paris looked up at the couples in front of him. Each respective
pair held the same emotions on their faces. The Captain and the
Commander bold looked hopefully at the pair to their right, each face
contained the kind of confidence in their crew members abilities, the
Commander looked more relaxed and his face held the grin that Paris had
always considered as smug and therefore annoying. He ground his teeth
and forced himself to at least try and politely think about the
Commander. The Captain, however, had a hesitant clouding her eyes and
her smile. He sighed, he had to go with the Captain on this particular
topic. *Harry and Seven...parents?* He remembered Harry telling him
something the Captain had told him 'we're Starfleet, weird is part of
the job.' That particular motto certainly became relevant when an ex
Borg drone with no social skills who was really still about eight years
old and a nice, but still young and slightly inexperienced Ensign could
become parents without ever being intimate. He could feel a huge
headache developing trying to figure this one out...
     He looked over at his best friend, Harry looked maybe a little peaky,
which was hardly surprising since he'd just been informed that he was a
'daddy'. *How odd does that sound Tommy-boy?* Harry, younger than
himself whom he'd saved five years ago on a space station from the
greed of a Ferengi barkeep and now this man who had less than a hour to
prepare himself was going to totally responsible for an infant. *Well
not totally responsible..* He curtly reminded himself...There was
Seven. Seven of Nine-a mother? But much like Harry her face was a
little clouded with concern but she appeared to have this new depth to
those large questioning eyes, much like Harry, they both appeared
highly excited to see *their* child. He smiled and reached into the
small medical crib scooping up the tiny wriggling contents, he
carefully deposited the child in the arms of Seven of Nine and
patiently held his breath as everyone else in the room appeared to do.
     Harry hovered uncertainly by her side, he placed her arms gently in
the correct position to hold an infant, or at least what he hoped was
correct, child care was *not* a course available at the Academy, unless
you were a medic student and he'd had no younger brothers or sisters to
care for. He smiled at Seven in a hope to calm her a little. Her back
was rigid and ramrod straight she looked at the infant with a touch of
affection in those clear, innocent eyes and Harry felt so proud at that
moment to have had a child with her, even if it had been on another
Voyager. He carefully adjusted her arms a little so she had a less
tense grip on their child. *Their child.* That still felt strange even
thinking it and he'd yet to say it out loud, no doubt he'd have a lot
of explaining to do once the rumour mill got hold of that information.
Seven was holding the child in a more relaxed manner now and he noticed
the Captain eyes appeared to be glistening with unshed tears. His hands
were itching to hold his child but he knew that Seven really needed to
get used to holding Linnis and so he was more than happy to watch her.
     Seven of Nine observed the infant carefully, her Borg enhanced eye
allowed her to see it with perfect vision. Seven of Nine began to feel
that beauty was not irrelevant, this child was certainly what humans
would class as beautiful. The fluffy light blond hair similar to her
own shone with a hue of a light brown when it met a concentrated light
source, the eyes she observed were a soft hazel but they were formed in
a shape similar to Ensign Harry Kim's own pleasing eye formation. The
child's small delicate round face and tiny features were all perfectly
formed and extremely visually pleasing. She remembered the child's
chosen designation; Linnis. The designation was appropriate. She felt,
she was unsure but this feeling was not new to her, she'd felt it
before but in different scenarios. The texts had described it as
'pride' and never before had Seven gained any pride from any human (or
her own) physical appearance. She had gained pride from completed work
on the now highly efficient Astrometrics lab, or whenever Captain
Janeway praised her or whenever she gained maximum efficiency for
completing a mentally challenging task. She was puzzled and was unable
to surmise why she feel pride for her offspring's appearance. She
observed Ensign Harry Kim, he appeared to be studying her. This was not
an unusual occurrence, she had often spied the Ensign staring at her
with dilated pupils, this time she had observed his pupils were not
dilated and he seemed to be looking at her with 'pride' also. She
believed this to be the correct conclusion but she was unsure why he
would be proud of her. The Captain too showed a similar emotion. Her
eyes appeared to be on the verge of leaking, she remembered the Doctor
had told her that the liquid substance were 'tears' and it was an
emotional response in human known as 'crying.' Her brow furrowed at why
the Captain would be crying, she appeared to be proud of Seven, which
appeared to be her natural response to most changes towards humanity
that Seven made, however small. She would question Ensign Kim about
these responses at a more suitable moment. 
     Linnis began to squirm around and Seven adjusted her arms accordingly,
but then the infant let out a loud high pitched scream. Seven panicked
and Ensign Kim kindly removed the small infant from her arms he smiled
at her in a effort to comfort her.
     Kathryn Janeway became all to aware that Harry and Seven really needed
to be alone with the child. She could sense they both really wanted to
talk about this, particularly Seven who looked like she had about
twenty questions formed on the tip of her tongue. This was despite the
fact she still remained nervous about the parent's ability to cope. She
decided to break the silence and spoke,
     "Perhaps you and Harry would like to take the child to somewhere a
little more peaceful?"
She addressed Seven who appeared to be intently studying Harry. She
noted Seven's brow furrowed at her question.
     "I am unsure. Ensign Kim, do you wish to remove the infant from
sickbay?"
Harry looked up at this question and nodded his head in response.
Kathryn was pleased at this, Seven was asking Harry what he wished to
do showing consideration, despite the still formal address in calling
him by his Starfleet title.
     "Ah I guess so, that is if that's okay with the rest of you?"
The Doctor chipped in now unable to control his silence any longer.
     "Medically speaking it would be best for Linnis to familiarise herself
with her new surroundings, you'll both also need to learn to
adapt...and..."
He also added with a grin,
     "You are currently cluttering up my sickbay."
Kathryn exchanged a look with Chakotay that Tom Paris didn't fail to
notice.
     "Tom, perhaps you'd help carry the babies things to Harry's quarters
and assist them in setting up?"
     "Yes M'mam."
Came the reply spiced with the usual cheek on the line of
insubordination that she'd come to expect from Tom Paris. She simply
grinned back at him,
     "Certainly Mr Paris and could you also be so kind as to show them the
various different methods of cleaning up after the child?"
Paris groaned dramatically,
     "Anything for my medical studies Captain."
She glared at him and he quickly began picking bags and various objects
and handing them to Seven who looked extremely bewildered at the
various baby care items.
     She stood and watched the happy couple, plus a bag laden Tom Paris in
tow, exit sickbay with a smile.
     "Well Doctor we'll be in our way if you have any problems at all don't
hesitate to inform me."
     "Certainly Captain."
She left with Chakotay matching her strides, they reached a turbolift
and she ordered to be taken to the briefing room she glanced our at her
Commander and said,
     "Well all we have to do now is keep the gossip quashed."
He said somewhat grimly
     "Good Luck because you're aiming for the impossible."
She couldn't hide her surprise at this grim statement that she'd hoped
would provoke a light-hearted response and lighten the familiar tension
she could feel flowing between them. She looked at his face hoping for
some kind of clue, but his handsome, dark features were blank hiding
his emotions. This only  managed to concern her more. She wondered what
seemed to be bothering the Commander. 

     *    /    *    /    *    /    *    /    *    /    *

     He couldn't have been happier. No, not even if they'd actually reached
home tomorrow. Here he was on his way to his quarters with possible one
of the most beautiful women on the ship standing right next to him,
smiling at him with that beautiful warm, bright smile that made a
neutron star look dull and drab. The best part about the whole scenario
was that after months of desperately trying to capture her interest and
plucking up the courage to ask her out she'd finally agreed to go on a
date with him, well, more technically she'd agreed to try water-skiing
in the tropical setting of a sunny Jamaican island on the holodeck.
Admittedly her sister, Jenny, and two of her closest friends plus about
five other guys from shuttle maintenance and his best friend Todd
Parsons had all agreed to go, but still, they had ended up together.
The island was huge and he and Todd had spent months carefully
programming from research in the computer database. After all, it was
the result of months of hard work during those lonely boring times
during the ship's journey through the 'void.'
*And how it had paid off.* He shivered remembering the beautiful, quiet
lagoon that he and Meghan had 'found' by accident when they went off to
collect firewood for the cooking fire. His heart beat faster as he
recalled the passionate kiss they'd shared under the cool green foliage
with the clear water and sunlight engulfing them. He couldn't honestly
remember a time when he'd enjoyed himself more. He smiled at his
companion and gently squeezed her hand. They approached his quarters
and he instinctively drew in closer in Meghan. The sparkle of
passionate playfulness in her eyes told him all he needed to know. He
moved in closer and their hot lips met for a kiss of exploration and
discovery. 
     They quickly broke apart at the sound of footsteps down the corridor.
And whilst he programmed in his code to enter his quarters he wondered
who would not be working or sleeping this late in the morning. The look
of surprise on his face matched that of Meghan's as they watched the
parade through the corridors.
     Tom Paris led the way, smiling with that smirk that most people either
found highly amusing or highly frustrating. The odd thing about Paris'
appearance was that he was laden with various assorted pastel coloured
baby items. Behind him was a smitten looking Harry Kim who was walking
*and standing very close* to Seven who was staring at the bundle in the
Ensign's arms with the ghost of a stunning smile draped across that
cold stoic face. As the bundle began to cry quietly and whimper James
White concluded that the bundle held a baby. Meghan Delany had also
figured this out as she was staring just watching the weird scene in
front of her. The bundle was then passed from the arms of Harry Kim to
the *gentle?* Borg enhanced arms of Seven of Nine. They approached
Harry's quarters which were only two doors away from his own and
entered them. 
     The sliding noise of the door to his quarters broke the stunned
silence. They both entered a little more than dazed by the strange
event.
     #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    *    #    

Well? Is it improving with length or am I wasting my time? Either way
I'd appreciate anything you have to say about it- thanks, and hey,
after all the hours of inner turmoil it took to write this thing the
least you-(the reader) could do is let me know what you thought....
Maquis_47@yahoo.co.uk -Lucy loves all feedback!! 

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