Heart Shapes II 
 By Lesa L.
 Dedicated to Summer
 and all the members of Resistance is Futile
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 "YES!"  The silence of the bridge was jolted.  The crew turned as one to see a
jubilant Harry Kim standing with a fist held triumphantly in the air.  
 
 "Ensign?" the Captain asked, her lips curved into a half smile.
 
 He felt a full body blush begin as he lowered his arm.  It started at his toes,
racing up his body, as the icy fingers of total embarrassment seemed to encase his
in a strangling grip.  "Captain?" he inquired, forcing himself to focus solely on his
commanding officer.  Forcibly avoiding the wide-eyed merriment of his best
friend at the helm at his position directly behind her.
 
 She shared a merry glance with her First Officer, before trying again, "Do you
want to explain your enthusiasm?"
 
 Stricken, he replied, "No ma'am."
 
 Chakotay took a turn, "That must be the most exciting sensor sweep we've ever
run.  Care to share it with the rest of us?"
 
 Still frozen with embarrassment, Harry shook his head once, his brown eyes
beseeching the CO to not press the matter further, "I'd rather not Commander."
 
 Tuvok spoke, "Ensign, am I correct in assuming that your outburst was not
related to ship wide functions but to a personal matter?"
 
 He had no out, shamefaced he nodded.  He had wondered earlier if it was
possible to die from embarrassment.  He was wondering again.  Half of his body
was still frozen with embarrassment, the other half so hotly flushed that he was
sure the bridge officers could feel the heat radiating off his body in waves.
 
 Finally the Captain appeared to take pity on him.  "We'll let this go this time
Harry.  But see that it doesn't happen again."
 
 "I will Captain.  Thank you," he responded sincerely.
 
 She smiled slightly then turned to face the viewscreen again.  Everyone on the
bridge took the hint and returned to their duties.  Occasionally tossing
surreptitious at the mortified Chief of Operations.
 
            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 Harry was returning to his quarters to change before attending the evening's
festivities.  Mentally reliving what would definitely make his top ten list of most
embarrassing moments.  He chuckled, shaking his head slightly as he walked
through his doors.
 
 "What are you finding to be humorous?"
 
 He looked up at the lovely blonde and smiled, he was home.  Taking in her robe
and slightly damp hair he knew she had just gotten out of the shower.   Moving
toward her he admitted, "I was just thinking about what happened last year on
Valentine's Day when you sent me the message."
 
 A warm smile lit her face, as her arms encircled him in a welcome embrace. 
"Yes.  I remember, Tom referred to it as the 'shout heard round the bridge'.  I am
pleased you can laugh at it now."
 
 Returning her hug, he held her tightly for a moment before releasing her.  Seven
took his hand.  " I have replicated a gift for you.  It is on the table."
 
 Harry looked over.  Smiling at the tableau she had arranged on the table.  The
baby roses he had given her that morning were arranged in a brandy snifter.  Next
to it, the card and long stemmed red rose he had given her last year.  Wishing to
keep the first gift that Harry had ever given her, she had treated the rose with a
preservative agent to keep it in pristine condition for eternity.  A white box lay on
the table, topped with a red bow.  He reached out, meaning to open the card that
came with the gift first.  Her hand closed over his. "Perhaps, you should save the
card until the party."  She smiled enigmatically, "I wish you to open the present
here, however."
 
 "Goody," he grinned like a child, which evoked a similar smile with his
companion.  He opened the package to find a soft sweater, in a deep crimson,
black threads interwoven in the design creating a subtle pattern.  "Seven, this is
great."  Holding it up to his shoulders he looked at her and nodded.  "I like it."
 
 Smoothing it over his chest, she informed him, "It is Andorian cashmere."  Her
eyes met his, observing with satisfaction, "The color suits you.  You must shower
and change now, while I dress."
 
 "Yes ma'am," he acknowledged, leaning in for a quick peck to her lips.  "Thank
you for the sweater."  Deciding that the gift and the woman deserved another
kiss he pressed his lips against hers, lingering this time as her arms encircled his
neck.
 
 Reluctantly she pulled away.  "Shower now!" 
 
 "Aye, aye," he nodded turning to follow her instructions.  He grinned as she
delivered a firm pat to his rear.
 
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 A few minutes later he opened the door of the bathroom.  Wearing only his
slacks he watched her unobserved for a few moments as she fixed her hair.  It
had grown in the past year, reaching just below her shoulders.  She still preferred
it off her face, securing it back with silver combs, but allowing the rest of it to fall
naturally.  His fingers almost itched to run themselves through the golden
softness.
 
 It had been a hell of a year.   Their first date to Neelix's Valentine's Party had
been memorable.  Seven had insisted on showing the rose and card he had given
her to the Captain and other members of the bridge crew.  The understanding
expressions of his earlier actions had been almost comical.  
 
 Seven had studied the other couples at the party and copied their actions.  He
had explained that she shouldn't simply mimic other people.  That she should only
do things she wanted to do.  Her acknowledgment of his statement stunned him. 
Placing her hands on his neck she had pulled him towards her and kissed him.  
 
 That night they had made love for the first time.  Two weeks later she had
moved into her own quarters.  Six months ago Seven had informed him that
having separate quarters was an 'inefficient' use of energy since they spent all
their off-duty time together anyway.  He had to agree, so they had moved into
larger shared quarters as soon as possible.  It had been a hell of a year, he smiled
to himself, a hell of a great year.
 
 He watched her slip off her robe, and begin dressing.  The ivory bra and panties
she wore complimented her creamy skin.  'Wow,' he mouthed.  Sometimes he still
felt like he should pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.  She drew up a
pair of red velour leggings and picked up the matching tunic, pulling it over her
head.  She looked into the mirror, as she reached back to pull up the zipper. 
"Please assist me with the fastener," letting him know that she had been aware of
his watchful presence and didn't mind a bit.
 
 Obediently he left the doorway and moved to stand behind her.  Playfully he
eased the zipper down, letting his fingers trail along the soft skin on her back.  
 
 "That was not the assistance that I requested," she pointed out.
 
 Talking to her reflection he observed, "We could be fashionably late you know."
 
 "We could," she conceded, with a smile.  "But we will not.  Neelix wanted you
to go over his music selections for the party.  He wants them programmed into
the computer before the Doctor tries to add some opera, 'for our listening
pleasure,' as he did last year."
 
 Harry grinned at her reflection and closed the zipper.  "Hey, if it hadn't been for
the Doctor's music driving us out of the party we might not have ended up in my
quarters that night."
 
 Seven considered his remark, "That is true.  And if we hadn't ended up in your
quarters we might not have continued our discussion about "Valentine's Day." 
She leaned back against his bare chest and his arms closed around her.  His hands
roamed gently over the soft velvety fabric of her tunic.  Hugging Seven from the
back was just as much fun as hugging her from the front.
 
 "And if we hadn't continued our discussion," he continued.  "I might not have
given you some chocolate kisses."
 
 Her eyes closed lazily, remembering her first taste of milk chocolate.  "Hmmm,"
she sighed.  "If you hadn't given me chocolate kisses, I might not have decided to
compare them to real kisses to see which I liked better."
 
 He chuckled slightly, "Actually, I think that it was after your first snifter of
synthetic brandy that you decided to compare kisses."
 
 Their eyes met in the mirror before them, the memory of that night sent a warm
wave of remembrance over both of them.
 
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 Neelix had decided to go with a snowy mountain chalet as the site of this year's
Valentine's Day party.  Deciding that snow outside and a blazing fire would be a
nice romantic change for the crew.  They seemed agree with his assessment,
judging by all the couples 'snuggling' together.
 
 "Here you go Seven," Harry said, handing her the mug of hot chocolate she had
requested instead of the mulled wine most of the guests were drinking.  The party
was in full swing.  Tom and B'Elanna had joined them by a picture window,
admiring the holographic view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe
that Tom had programmed.
 
 "Thank you," she smiled, sipping the sweet beverage with relish.  She held up
the card she had made for him, "Perhaps now you should open this."  
 
 She explained to their friends, her eyes still on her partner, "Last year Harry gave
me a card with a picture of a real heart on it.  I was touched by it and his efforts
to make his feelings known in a way that I would understand.  This year I
decided to make a card for him."
 
 "REALLY?" Harry's voice rang out.  All noise stopped as the partygoers turned
as one towards the Chief of Operations.
 
 Tom and B'Elanna looked at the card Harry was holding.  They saw the
traditional shape of a heart in it were written the words:
 
 Happy Father's Day
 
  "Um, wrong holiday Seven," Tom pointed out.
 
 "No, it is not," she assured him serenely.  She looked into Harry's eyes and
nodded, "The Doctor confirmed it."  Harry sprang forward enveloping her in a
hug.  As understanding finally dawned on the people around them, everyone
surged forward to congratulate the newly expectant couple.
 
 The End - Happy Valentine's Day