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Revised 1/23/99
                          
SANDCASTLES
                               
by Lesa L.

Set between "One" and "Hope and Fear."
    
 
B'Elanna stood in front of her mirror, studying her
reflection critically.  She was always unsure of what
to wear for one of Tom's romps through history.  He
had said sportswear of the late 20th Century.  More
than a little vague.  He finally recommended some
magazines of the era from the database that had proved
helpful.  Even though their sportswear usually for
some unknown reason seemed to always include high
heels.  
    
She smiled remembering Tom's remarks.  "Much as I like
the idea of those beautiful legs in shorts and spike
heels, you should probably wear athletic shoes, we
will be doing a little walking and I wouldn't want you
to get hurt.  We'll save that for later."  With a
quick kiss to her brow ridges, he went to shower and
dress while she studied the databases a few minutes
longer.
    
She turned to see a different angle. *Not bad,* she
thought.  She had chosen white shorts that contrasted
nicely with her dark legs. A snug white knit camisole,
and over it an open sheer, short sleeved shirt, in a
deep blue.  She bent down to tie the laces on her
white 'Keds', sockless, as the magazine picture had
shown.  Straightening again she studied the picture, 
*Not bad at all,* she thought smiling, *Only Tom Paris
could get me in an outfit like this, or out of it for
that matter.* 

She still wasn't sure about the idea of sharing their
date with Harry and Seven of Nine.  But at least she
knew she looked all right.  And it was about time that
they got to see what the Camaro could do.  *Not,* she
thought smiling wickedly to herself, *That they didn't
get a lot done with it parked.*  The door chime
startled her out of her reverie.
    
"Enter."
    
The doors to B'Elanna's quarters swished opened and
Seven of Nine strode in, "Lieutenant Torres, I require
your assistance."

"Is there a problem in Engineering?"
    
"There is not." Seven's eyes dropped and she studied
B'Elanna's costume closely.  "This is the clothing you
have chosen for the holoprogram this afternoon?"
    
"Yes," B'Elanna looked back at the mirror, suddenly
self-conscious. "Is there something wrong with it?"
    
Seven's expression softened, "I lack sufficient
information to critique your attire.  That is the
reason I am here.  As I stated, I require your
assistance."
    
"With what?"
    
"Lieutenant Paris informed me that it was not
necessary for me to change my daily apparel.  I
suspect he said that to allay any objections I had to
utilizing this program.  However, he also stated that
he would be wearing appropriate clothing.  I have also
been given to understand by Ensign Kim that the
Lieutenant takes his holodeck adventures very
seriously."
    
"That's an understatement.  Tom lives for his holodeck
adventures.  And he is very proud of this new
program."
    
"Exactly.  I would like to request your assistance in
procuring the appropriate attire for our excursion." 
Raising one eyebrow, she remembered, "Please."
    
B'Elanna was taken aback.  Seven really was asking her
for help!  "I'll do what I can, I have to admit that
I'm not to familiar with Earth's 20th Century.  Tom's
the expert on that."
    
As if on cue they heard his voice, "B'Elanna, have you
seen my 'Big Daddy-O' shirt?"  Tom walked into the
living area dressed in blue denim shorts and a white
tank top.  His hair combed but still damp from the
shower.  He looked at B'Elanna, a wide smile of
appreciation on his face.  He whistled, "You look
perfect.  Hi Seven," he said turning toward her, "Your
not here to back out of our little trip this afternoon
are you?"
    
"I am not.  I came to request Lieutenant Torres
assistance in acquiring the proper attire."
    
The famous Paris grin flashed. "That's great Seven,
I'm glad your getting into the spirit of this."  Tom
turned to look at B'Elanna.  "Do you know where my Big
Daddy O shirt is?"
    
Smiling wickedly, B'Elanna answered, "I used it to
wipe up a burst gel pak.  You'll have to wear
something else."
    
"Very funny," he said.  "Now where is it?"
    
"Hanging in the closet, the back of the closet.  Tom,
why that shirt?  Couldn't you pick out something that
doesn't resemble a plasma explosion?  You could
recycle it for a new one, a plain blue one would be
nice," she added in a hopeful tone.
    
"I'm so hurt," he said walking to the closet.  Pulling
the shirt out he shook it carefully and pulled it on,
leaving the front unbuttoned.  "Seven, what do you
think of this shirt?"
    
Seven had been observing the minor squabble intently. 
If she had overheard this conversation when she first
arrived on Voyager she would have assumed immediately
that the Lieutenants were displeased with one another. 
Time had taught her to listen for the undercurrents in
a conversation.  Even though Lieutenant Torres seemed
displeased with his choice of apparel and Lieutenant
Paris had expressed his damaged feelings she knew that
he was not really upset.  And she knew of their
underlying depth of feeling for one another.  She
examined the shirt closely, "It is colorful," she
announced.

"It is that," B'Elanna said dryly.  "But, do you like
it?"  
    
Seven appeared to be considering her answer.  "The
Doctor has been instructing me about the use of tact,
his exact words were *if you can't say something nice,
say nothing at all,* I will say nothing."
    
B'Elanna laughed, realizing for the first time that
Harry and Tom were right, Seven did have a sense of
humor, subtle as it was.
    
Tom grinned back, it had been a delicate operation to
get Seven to experience a Holodeck program with them. 
Her recent time spent alone while Voyager traveled
through the nebula made her aware of the need for
companionship, which had lead to her agreeing to take
a trip to the holodeck with them.
    
He walked towards the door. "I'll leave you two ladies
to your databases.  I need to go pick up our dinner
from Neelix, and check on a few last minute details." 
    
Seven inquired, "You are allowing Neelix to procure
the sustenance for our excursion?"
    
Tom nodded, "We have to, I've left him instructions on
the food preparation, but it would have required more
replicator credits than we had to replicate a full
meal."
   
Seven cocked her head slightly.  "Lieutenant Paris, I
wish this experience to be as authentic as possible,
use your judgment in replicating any foodstuffs you
may require to ensure this.  Charge them all to my
account."
    
Tom was thrown for a moment.  "Seven are you sure,
about this?"
    
"Why would I make a statement I was not sure of?  I
assure you I have sufficient replicator credits to
cover this meal."
    
"That's very generous of you Seven," Tom said.
    
"Yes, thank you Seven," B'Elanna remembered to add.
    
"You are welcome," she responded.
    
"Well, great, I'll go take care of things and meet you
both at Holodeck two in 45 minutes." Just before he
left, he turned, "Seven if you really want to get more
enjoyment out of this trip, you might think about
letting your hair down just for today."  And he was
gone.
    
They both watched the door glide shut and looked at
one another.  "I fail to understand why Lieutenant
Paris believes that releasing my hair from its
pinnings would enhance my enjoyment of this
holoprogram?"
    
"Seven, just call him Tom, at least while we're off
duty.  You can call me B'Elanna and I'm sure Ensign
Kim wouldn't be too put out if you would call him
Harry.  And about your hair, I think Tom meant that
figuratively as well as literally."
    
"Explain," and as an afterthought she added again,
"Please."
    
"Letting down your hair is an old Earth expression,
Tom's full of them, he's full of a lot of things, but
that's beside the point.  It means to relax, just flow
with what happens.  This program isn't meant as a
learning exercise, you won't have to write a report
about it.  It's just a way for people to spend time
away from their usual duties and enjoy themselves." 
She held up her hand before Seven could respond. 
"Your learning now that enjoyment is not irrelevant. 
At least not to most people, you'll have to realize
that if you want to fit in better with the crew."
    
"I will remember that."  Her eyes danced, "I would not
want the crew to think I was rude.  Perhaps we should
go to your work area and study the databases."
    
"That's a good idea."  Within a few minutes Seven had
made all her decisions.  B'Elanna gave her credit, the
Borg upbringing didn't allow for vacillation.  All
she'd really had to really help her with was lingerie. 
Seven had pointed out the undergarments she currently
wore.  B'Elanna privately thought a few choice Klingon
curses towards the Doctor who had designed Seven's
outer and inner garments.  She selected a matching
brassiere and panty set, to replace the torture
devices the Doctor had deemed appropriate.  
    
Seven worked the control panel of the replicator. 
Picking up each garment, she examined it sternly. "The
Doctor has given me to understand that most species
share an inherent modesty, will retire into the
facilities to change my clothing." Just before she
closed the door she turned, "Thank you for your
assistance, B'Elanna."
    
"Your welcome, Seven."  B'Elanna leaned back into the
couch, pulling her hands gently through her hair.  She
smiled, remembering the conversation she and Tom had
last night after a very satisfying evenings frolic. 
She had pulled the covers up and turned away from him. 
"I still don't see why you had to invite Seven, Harry
would have been all right, but why her?  All she'll do
is criticize the program, and tell us how irrelevant
it all is."
    
Tom had stretched himself along her length, wrapping
his arm around her waist.  "B'Elanna, Harry isn't our
dog, we can't just expect him to be happy to tag along
with us, wagging his tail behind him.  It'll be nice
to have him there, we really haven't had holodeck time
together for ages. Besides, since that solo trip
through the nebula Seven appreciates companionship a
lot more."
    
"I don't know, I'm still not sure that we should
encourage Harry's infatuation."
    
Tom stroked her gently, waiting until he heard the
Klingon equivalent of a purr.  "Who are we to tell
Harry not to get involved with someone?  I know that I
warned him a while ago, but it seems pretty
hypocritical to me now.  He stood by us when everyone
on the ship was betting we couldn't get through a date
without killing each other.  And, its gone way beyond
infatuation, Harry really cares for Seven, no man acts
that goofy around a woman, unless he's really serious
about her."
    
"You should know," B'Elanna said, turning toward him
grinning, and moving his hand to a more sensitive
area, "Do you remember when you told me 'a beautiful
woman should never eat alone?'  That was one of the
worst lines I've ever heard."
    
"Stop, I still cringe thinking of it.  I swear, in my
head it sounded so good, but looking at you I just
fell apart."
    
"It was sweet in a strange way.  Silver tongued Tom
Paris who could charm the pants off any girl on board,
literally not being able to utter a coherent sentence. 
Watching you tongue tied like that made me realize
that you didn't think of me like any other woman on
board." 
    
"That's right," he said snuggling even closer to her,
"But you know something?"  
    
"Hmm. . . ."
    
"I'm not tongue tied around you anymore, what me to
prove it?"  
    
"Umm humm."
    
"This clothing is acceptable," Seven said, startling
B'Elanna back to the present.
    
"What?  Oh, that's good Seven.  They seem to fit
well."  That was an understatement.  Seven had chosen
snug denim shorts, and a matching short-sleeve cotton
knit *twin set* in red from the database, red deck
shoes completed her ensemble.  "Sit down here by the
mirror and I'll get you a brush."
    
"I am not sure that removing my hair from its pinnings
will enhance my enjoyment of this holo-program.  It is
more conceivable that allowing my hair to move freely
will prove to be a distraction."
    
"I'm sure that it will be a definite distraction to
Harry, I just hope he won't need oxygen."
    
"Lieutenant...B'Elanna.  You appear to be under a
misconception about the nature of the affiliation
between Ensign Kim and myself.  Ensign Kim is not
interested in the kind of relationship with me that
you share with...Tom."
    
B'Elanna almost dropped the brush she was handing to
Seven.  "What?  Seven, I've known Harry or a long time
and he is definitely interested in a romantic
relationship with you."
    
"If that is so, why did he reject my offer to copulate
with him?"
    
B'Elanna took a deep breath, steadying herself.  *This
was more that she wanted to know, wasn't it?*  She
watched Seven in the mirror, this wasn't the usual
cold, impassive ex-Borg she was used  to dealing with,
she seemed puzzled, almost hurt?  "Seven, maybe you
should tell me what happened, I mean if you want to,
you don't have to."
    
"I have no reason not to relate the sequence of events
that lead up to his rejection of me."  Seven lay down
the brush and began removing the pins that held her
hair up.  "The incident occurred during our initial
work in setting up the Astrometrics Laboratory, when
you and the Doctor were on the away mission attempting
to assist the Isomorphic Projection.  Do you remember
that assignment?"
    
"As if I could forget," B'Elanna said softly.
    
"Ensign Kim and I had worked closely together.  We
work very well together, his thoughts are clear and
precise.  He is very predictable,"  Seven said, her
expression lightening as she brushed out her hair.
B'Elanna rolled her eyes, only Seven could consider
calling someone 'predictable' a compliment.   
    
"That evening Ensing him called me into the mess hall. 
He said he had a midnight breakthrough,  and wanted to
discuss it with me.  When I arrived in the mess hall,
the lights were darkened and music was playing softly.
We discussed his idea and then he invited me to visit
the holodeck with him, to experience a Ktarian
Moonrise.  You are familiar with that program?"
    
"Oh yeah," B'Elanna breathed, it was a notorious
*make-out* program.  The lovely blue moon, the soft,
crystal like sand, the warm lapping waves, and the
music of the reeds rustling together produced quite a
stimulating reaction.  *You should be ashamed of
yourself, Harry,* she thought.
    
"I assumed that Ensign Kim wished to change the nature
of our affiliation.  I observed the dilation of his
pupils and his increased respiration.  I informed him
that I had studied the databases and was interested in
exploring my humanity. I then offered to copulate with
him."
    
"Right there, in the mess hall?"  Seven looked
quizzically at her. "Never mind, what happened next?"
    
"Ensign Kim, apologized to me, informed me that I
misunderstood, then he gathered his belongings and
left.  I told him I understood and instructed him to
call me if he wished to resume our work."  Seven
turned from the mirror and faced B'Elanna, her eyes
shadowed.  "Do you understand now that Ensign Kim is
not interested in an affiliation of that kind?"
    
B'Elanna rubbed her eyes.  *Where do I begin?,*  "I do
understand Seven.  But you don't.  Do you realize how
lucky you are?"
    
"Luck is a superstition, I do not believe in luck."
    
"Well, someone was watching over you that evening. 
Most men would have jumped on you and ripped off your
clothes, before you could say *resistance is futile.* 
Then they would have left you there as soon as they
finished to go brag to all of their friends." B'Elanna
stood up and began pacing behind Seven's chair. 
"Harry is a good guy Seven he knew that despite your
offer you weren't ready to experience sex yet."
    
"As I said, I am thoroughly knowledgeable, I have
studied all the databases."
    
"No, Seven, listen, I hacked into all the sexual
databases when I was 13.  I thought I knew everything
also.  That doesn't mean that I was emotionally ready
to experience lovemaking."  In softer tones she added,
"The first time you experience sex, especially for a
woman is very important."
    
"I am curious as to why most cultures place such an
emphasis on the simple act of procreation."
    
"This has nothing to do with procreation!  Good God
Seven, if all the people on this ship that are
engaging in sexual activities were actually doing it
to procreate we'd have babies bouncing off the walls."
Quickly raising her hand, B'Elanna added, "That's a
figure of speech."
    
"I see, thank you for the clarification, the mental
images were alarming."

"I can imagine.  Look what you have to understand is
that people engage in sexual activity because they
care about one another and because it...feels good." 
B'Elanna stopped her pacing and smiled, "Actually with
the right person, it feels great." 
    
Raising her brow, Seven asked "You are recommending
copulation as a form of recreational activity?"
    
"No!  That's not where I wanted to go with this. 
First, that Messhall incident happened months ago,
feelings change, or grow or mature, at least they
understand them more."  She paused, "Second, take it
from personal experience, men no matter how much they
say they like it are totally intimidated when a women
tries to force the first encounter on them.  Third,
what I'm mainly trying to say is that if you want a
relationship with Harry, sexual or otherwise, you
should get to know each other.  Spend time together,
take things slowly.  Am I getting through to you?"
    
"I believe so," Her eyes became unfocused, and she
stated in a softer voice than usual, "You spend time
together, you laugh, you talk, it makes it easier to
get closer."
    
"That sounds right, did that come from a database."
    
"It did not, it was a phrase Ensign Kim used in a
dream I had recently."
    
"Really, I didn't realize that you, um dreamt."
    
"I have only begun experiencing dreams in the last few
weeks, the Doctor believes they are another
manifestation of my humanity asserting itself."  Her
expression softened, "They have proven to be quite
interesting." 
    
"Really?"  B'Elanna looked at Seven, a wicked smile on
her face.  
    
"You are smiling, I have said something to amuse you?"
    
"Kind of, you dreamt about Harry, and I know that
Harry dreams about you.  Not to sound like Tuvok, but
I find that fascinating."
    
Seven looked at B'Elanna, a moment of mutual
understanding passed between them. Seven nodded
slightly and handed the brush back to her. "If we wish
to reach the holodeck by 1600 hours we should leave
immediately."
    
"Your right, lets go.  The only thing Tom Paris is
ever on time for are his holodeck programs."

The holodeck doors swished open.  Harry was in what he
knew from Tom's description was a late 20th century
garage.  Music was resonating from a rectangular box
on a counter. In the center was a black automobile
with the hood raised.  Tom was placing something in
the trunk and smiled at his arrival.
    
"Hey buddy, prompt as always."
    
"Thanks.  So this is what occupied you for all that
time?"
    
Tom walked to the front, stopping by the raised hood.
"This is it.  Joe and Freddie might stop by to check
her out, their playing Hoverball next door.  Joe's a
real car buff, I told him if he approves he might want
to take Samantha Wildman out driving sometime."
    
Harry approached the car, standing on the opposite
side of the hood.  "That's big of you to offer the
program to Joe, I know how much it means to you."
    
Tom regarded his friend, "Something wrong, Har?"
    
"No, nothings wrong."  Harry looked down into the
interior.
    
Tom grinned at his friend he said, "Hey, didn't you
have another one of your musical appreciation classes
with Seven last night?"  Tom leaned against the roof
of the car, waiting for an answer.
    
Harry crossed his arms and rested against the roof
also, "Actually, I did."
    
"Great, how did it go?"
    
Harry looked around the room, "Fine, it went fine."
    
Tom looked squarely at his friend, "You want to tell
Uncle Tom about it?"
    
"Yes, no, I don't know," Harry placed his hands on his
head and grimaced.  "Last nights was different."
    
Tom smiled wickedly, "Really?"
    
"Not like that," Harry put in quickly.  "I mean, I've
taught her a lot about music and she seemed to be more
comfortable with me, we even had a bite to eat when we
were finished."
    
"A little caviar and champagne," Tom said
suggestively, "Maybe a fondue, dippings always fun,
especially when you drip."
    
"Would you stop it!" Harry said with disgust, "I knew
I shouldn't have said anything."
    
"I'm sorry buddy, go on."
    
"Fine.  For your information we had grilled cheese
sandwiches and chocolate milk."
    
"Whew, your a real wild man.  What did you have for
dessert?  Animal crackers."  Tom leaned against the
car, laughing helplessly at his own joke.
    
"We we're discussing the concept of comfort food. 
Just forget it." Harry said coldly.
    
Taking a deep breath, Tom said, "Sorry, I won't make
anymore jokes.  It sounds like the evening went well,
what's the problem?"
    
Harry looked Tom in the eye, "Well, when I turned
around to get the tray, she looked up at me."
    
"Yeah...?"
    
"So, she wasn't looking at my eyes when I turned, she
was looking at...down, farther.  Never mind, you don't
understand."
    
"Wait a minute, you caught Seven checking out your
assets.  I understand that, what I don't understand is
why that bothered you."
    
"This is Seven of Nine we're talking about, she
doesn't understand about things like that."
    
"Are you sure about that?  Admittedly, she doesn't
have practical experience but when the Doctor restored
her humanity, she became in effect a full grown woman. 
With all the feelings an adult body possesses, she
just doesn't understand them yet."  Tom paused, "You
know that could explain a lot of things."
    
"Like what?" Harry said leaning forward anxiously.
    
"Harry, I know that you had the greatest relationship
in the galaxy with your parents, but was there ever a
time that you really butted heads?"
    
He nodded, "Yeah, we went through a few rough patches,
when we didn't see things eye to eye."
    
"About how old were you?"
    
"Twelve or thirteen, fourteen maybe, right around the
time that I..."  His eyes widened.  "Oh my God, do you
think?"
    
"Its possible." Tom said.  "I mean look at it from her
perspective, most of her life she was a perfectly
efficient body, no problems, or at least the problems
are easily repairable.  Then one day she has a
different body, one that isn't nearly as efficient,
one that causes her to feel things she's not
comfortable with.  Wouldn't that make you feel a
little cranky?"
    
Harry nodded, following Tom's train of thought. 
"Wouldn't it make you hostile to the people around
you, especially towards the person you feel is
responsible for your situation.  I remember, I said
some things to my parents back then that I still feel
sorry about.  The way she's been towards the Captain
lately, questioning everything, arguing.  So what do
I we do?"
    
Tom smiled at his friends slip of the tongue, "I don't
know that there's anything we can do.  Don't try to
explain to her that she's going through a normal stage
in development.  That's the last thing she wants to
hear."

They were interrupted by the sound of the door
swishing open.  Looking up they saw Joe Carey and
Freddie Bristow entering the holodeck, still dressed
in their exercise clothes.
    
"Mercy," Joe said circling the car, "Tom, this is a
beautiful piece of machinery."
    
"Thanks, it was a lot of work to get it in working
condition," Tom said proudly.  
    
Freddie smothered a smile at Harry's attire. "Nice
outfit very um beachy."
    
"Thanks," he said dryly, leaning over to join Tom and
Joe's examination.  Tom had made suggestions for his
outfit, a short sleeve sportshirt, with vertical
stripes in blue and white. *Beach Boy* style he had
called it, matching blue shorts and leather
*Topsiders* completed his outfit.
    
Harry listened as Tom regaled them with his repair
stories, making appropriate responses when needed. 
All he saw were archaic parts that looked like they
needed a good cleaning.  *Nice music,* he thought
absently, his musicians ear quickly cataloging the
style.  Beach music of the late 1960s to early 70s. 
Some of the first using the electronic synthesizer.  
    
Harry drifted back to all that had happened in the
last two weeks.  He recalled the day that Seven had
joined the three of them at lunch a few days after
they were taken out of stasis.  When  she had said
that she needed companionship.  And the moment when
she had looked up and said *Perhaps you do not like
being alone.*  He remembered the piercing jab to the
heart that he felt that day looking into her clear
blue eyes.  
    
Seven had addressed him, "Ensign, Commander Tuvok has
indicated that the study of music is fundamental to
the understanding of most cultures, he also said that
you are the most experienced musician on Voyager,
would you be willing to instruct me?"
    
"What?  Oh, sure Seven, I'd be glad to teach you about
music.  When do you want to start?"
    
"Would this evening be acceptable?"
 
He hadn't bothered to look over at Tom and B'Elanna he
could sense Tom grinning at him, and knew there would
be a look of disapproval from B'Elanna.
    
"Chief, Seven," he heard Joe Carey say.
    
Harry turned and straightened quickly, banging his
head sharply on the hood. "Owww!"  In that brief
moment he had seen B'Elanna and Seven standing in the
holodeck. Seven!  What had she...?
    
She strode toward him.  "Ensign Kim, you are damaged,
do you require medical attention?"
    
"Injured," he grunted automatically.  Closing his
eyes, he rubbed his head slightly. "No.  I'll be all
right."  Suddenly he felt Seven's hands grasping his
head, and pulling down firmly.  She parted his hair
with a finger and, more gently than Harry imagined she
could, examined his injury.
    
"You appear to have suffered a minor haematoma."
    
Harry was actually suffering from something like
vertigo, it had nothing to do with height he knew,
more likely length, like the length of her legs.  He'd
never actually imagined seeing her legs, which,
considering some of the things he'd dreamed of doing
with her was rather odd.  His eyes traveled up,
resting for a lingering moment on the place where her
sweater didn't quite meet her denim shorts.  He felt a
wave of dizziness and decided to take a few deep
breaths before standing up.
    
While Seven still examined his wound.  He heard Tom's
voice, "Aww, its not that bad, just kiss it and make
it better Seven, so we can get on the road."
    
Harry then heard Seven, "How would pressing my lips
against the injury facilitate the healing process?"
    
Tom chipped in "You never know, it couldn't hurOOOFF!"
Cut off in mid-word by a half Klingon elbow to the
ribs.
    
Seven gripped Harry's head, tilting it up to meet her
eyes.  "Ensign Kim, do you wish me to implement this
course of treatment?"
    
"What?  No!"  Pulling himself together, he stood back
from her, he glanced quickly at the people standing
there.  Tom, his face flushed from trying to control
his laughter, still holding his side.  B'Elanna for
the first time, not looking at them in disdain.  Joe
watching him with the mixture of envy and pity he'd
seem on most of the crew in the last few months.  And
Freddie, no forget Freddie, Harry's head could have
been severed from his body and he wouldn't have
noticed, he was staring at Seven in a lust induced
daze.  He hoped Bristow would remember to breath soon,
because if Seven offom h to give him CPR, he'd have to
kill him.  
    
Finally, back to Seven.  Which unnerved him again, for
the first time since he'd known her she didn't stand
level to him.  He looked down quickly into her eyes. 
He saw something there that surprised him, had he hurt
her feelings?  
    
"I'm okay. Really Seven," looking at Tom & B'Elanna he
said,  "Lets just get going."
    
"We better go too," Joe put in quickly, "I need to
take a shower and be in Engineering to cover for our
Chief Engineer who had the audacity to want the day
off.  Come on Freddie, Freddie?"  Lieutenant Carey
resorted to pulling him by the arm to get his
attention.
    
"Okay kids let head on out of here."  Tom said first
closing the hood and then opening the car door. 
Seven, ladies first."  Motioning her into the
backseat.
    
Harry came closer to the car, freezing at the rear
view of Seven entering the back seat.  Coming back to
his senses only after a nudge by Tom.  "You planning
on getting in sometime today buddy?"  He fell into the
seat and breathed a sigh of relief.
    
Seven turned to him, "Harry are you certain that you
do not wish to go to sickbay?"  
    
He nodded at her in astonishment.  "Yes, I mean no, I
don't need to go to sickbay.  Thank you."
    
Seven nodded, "You are welcome.  Lieutenant Torres,
B'Elanna informed me that it was permitted to call you
by your first name while off duty.  Is this
acceptable?"
    
He swallowed and nodded at her.
    
B'Elanna turned to Tom as he sat down.  "Here hotshot,
I think you forgot something."  Handing him his
combadge.  "Of course with all the confusion on that
shirt, who would notice you were missing your
combadge."
    
Tom's eyes widened, grinning he said, "Combadges, we
don't need no stinkin' combadges."
    
"Tom, your taking this 20th Century stuff way to
seriously."
    
 "I second that," Harry put in.
    
"Enough already!  Computer, freeze Paris Grease Monkey
program. "Computer, initiate Pacific Coast Highway
program, Paris, alpha Highway 101.  Computer, open
garage doors."  As the door slid up, they saw a
driveway with a lined road crossing it.  Beyond it
they looked down on a stunning view of the ocean, the
waves breaking against the rocks far below. 
    
"Tom," B'Elanna breathed.  "Its beautiful."
    
"Paris, you've outdone yourself.  This is real
Reginald Barclay quality."
    
"It is impressive," Seven said softly.
    
"Thank you, thank you." Tom started up the car and for
a while they rode, the only sound the car radio.  As
they drove they passed various automobiles from the
era.
    
"Wait," Tom said. "This isn't right, B'Elanna reach in
the glove compartment and hand me my sunglasses
please."
    
B'Elana rolled her eyes, but did as he asked.
    
"Ahh, the final touch." Pulling the glasses on, he
looked at himself in the rearview mirror.
    
"Why do you require protective eyewear?" Seven asked.
    
"Eyeglasses were invented to protect the delicate
tissue of the eye from ultraviolet rays of the sun."
    
"This is a holographic sun, therefore you would not
require protection."
    
B'Elanna put in, "Forget what Tom said, he wears them
because he thinks they make him look cool."
    
"Why is it important for you to appear frigid?"
    
Over the snickers of B'Elanna and Harry, Tom attempted
to change the subject. "So, Seven what do you think of
your first experience in an automobile?"
    
"I am finding it to be interesting.  I researched the
era and the history of automobiles on the database
earlier today."
    
"I'm sure you did", Tom said.  "It was a fascinating
period in Earth's history.  What did you learn?"
    
"The history of the internal combustion engine, the
evolution of automotive design, the search for
alternative fuels--"
    
"We get the picture, thanks Seven."
    
"There were some interesting subsections regarding the
psychology of the automobile and its significance as a
phallic symbol.  Do you find it to be so in your
case?"
    
Tom sat up straight, his pale features flushing,
ignoring B'Elannas laughter.  Harry looked narrowly at
Seven, her features placid as usual, but the twinkling
of her eyes betrayed her.  He smiled broadly at her in
encouragement.  Leaning forward he asked, "Well, do
you find to be so Tom?"
    
"Not in my case, no.  I just like cars okay?  We're
passing a really scenic area, maybe we should just
enjoy the scenery for a while."
    
They rode on, past the spectacular Northern California
coastline.  B'Elanna smiled at the look of pleasure on
Tom's face as he drove, one hand on the steering
wheel, the other draped loosely over the back of her
seat.  
    
Seven leaned farther over to observe the seascape more
thoroughly.  Harry tried to ignore the feel of her
bare legs pressed against his, and the closeness of
her face to his.  He heard Tom, "Enjoying the scenery,
buddy?"  He refused to look into the rearview mirror,
he could imagine the smirk on his friends face.
    
"Lieutenant...Tom, what classification of vehicle is
approaching to port?"  Seven, said pointing at a red
car that had pulled along side theirs.
    
Tom turned, "Good eye, Seven."  He said approvingly,
"That is a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible."  
    
The young, long haired blond woman in the car noticed
their attention and smiled at them.
    
He grinned, "What a beauty!  And the cars pretty nice
too."
    
The young driver then waggled her fingers in a
coquettish wave.  Tom obligingly waved back.
    
B'Elanna's back straightened, she looked at Tom with
fire blazing in her eyes.  "You programmed that!"
    
"No, well not exactly. I programmed in friendly local
folk.  But I didn't really set parameters."
    
To their astonishment the driver then proceeded to
blow kisses to both Tom and Harry.  Tom pasted a
sickly smile on his face and Harry raised his left
hand to his hair, looking down he attempted to make
himself as unobtrusive as possible.  
    
B'Elanna couldn't contain herself, through gritted
teeth she hissed, "How friendly is friendly?"
    
Tom, at this point eager to avoid a fight stated the
obvious.  "B'Elanna its just a hologram.  Ignore
her...it."
    
"How do I ignore an almost naked holographic women
blowing kisses at my boyfriend!"
    
"She's not almost naked," Harry added helpfully,
"She's wearing the top part of a bikini."  Sitting up
straighter, he looked carefully at her. "She's wearing
denim 'cut off's' down below."
    
Seven turned coldly to Harry. "When I requested your
assistance with my attire last night, you implied that
it was not a subject you had a great deal of
experience with."  B'Elanna and Seven exchanged a look
of mutual disgust.
    
Harry blinked helplessly.  He couldn't tell her that
the process of helping her pick out clothing would
have sent his new found self confidence out the
nearest airlock.
    
"Computer," Tom called out, "Delete 1965 Ford Mustang
from program."  Instantly the car and its occupant
winked out of existence.  "There, are you happy now?"
    
"Lieutenant Torres," Seven said.
    
"In a minute Seven, I'm not finished with Tom, yet!" 
Taking a deep breath B'Elanna began again.  "Wipe that
smirk off your face Helmboy, or I'll wipe it off for
you!"
    
Seven tried again, "B'Elanna."
    
"What is it Seven?" she snapped.
    
"I was attempting to draw your attention to the fact
that the young, human males in the vehicle to
starboard appear to be trying to attract our
attention." 
    
B'Elanna turned back to look out her window, "You know
I think your right."  Smiling sweetly she asked, "Tom,
what kind of vehicle is that?"
    
Tom glanced over at the truck with two eager young men
in it.  "I'm not sure, some kind of truck."  Pointing
towards the ocean, he announced, "We're coming up on
some really beautiful parts of the coast if you want
to take a look over here."
    
B'Elanna waved her hand dismissively at him, examining
the men.  Smiling seductively, she waved at them. 
"Aren't they striking specimens of humanity Seven?" 
Seven noted B'Elanna's conspiratorial look.  It took
her a moment to process what it implied, glancing
coolly at Harry, she looked back out the window. 
"Their physiques are impressive, the driver
particularly has well developed pectorals and his
biceps and triceps are clearly defined."  Nodding
slightly at B'Elanna, she continued. "The effect is no
doubt enhanced by the fact that the shirt he is
wearing was obviously intended for a man of much less
stature."
    
B'Elanna nodded vigorously, "Good eye Seven, that
shirt is really tight on him.  A plain blue shirt, how
nice."
    
"Computer," Tom began, "delete--"
    
"Don't you dare!"  B'Elanna said, "You started this,
we're going to finish it."  She turned and smiled at
the car and it occupants again. 

The driver called out over the sound of the radio. 
"Why don't you babes ditch those losers and go
partying with us?"
    
B'Elanna appeared to be considering the question. 
Seven turned to Harry and inquired, "Explain the
parameters involved in going partying?"
    
Harry leaned forward and hissed into Tom's ear, "Get
us the hell out of here!"
    
"B'Elanna," Tom hissed.  "Don't encourage them."  

She looked at him, a small smile playing across her
features.  "We're here to have fun aren't we?"  She
turned and leaned her head slightly out the window. 
"We'll go party with you, if you can catch us." 
B'Elanna turned back to Tom, "You better be ready to
play flyboy."  
    
Tom flashed an electric grin at her, as the Camaro
began to accelerate.  The truck lost distance, but
quickly began to gain.  "Computer," he called out,
"Eliminate all other traffic, except for this car, and
adjacent vehicle.  
    
Pulling his arm away from the back of her seat, he
then threw his sunglasses onto the dashboard. With
both hands on the steering wheel he maneuvered the car
on the road, on one side the cliff, on the other the
truck, pushing to keep pace.  Harry's eyes widened as
the speed of the car pressed him back against the
seat.  He looked at Seven expecting her to express
concern.  To his surprise he saw her eyes sparkling
with excitement.  "Are you all right Seven?"
    
She nodded, "The lack of inertial dampers make the
experience quite..."
    
"Exhilarating?" Harry offered helpfully.  She nodded
in agreement.
    
Tom was focused on the race, he could have been
piloting Voyager through a battle so intent was he on
his mission.  A muscle twitched in his cheek. 
B'Elanna placed her hand on his thigh, at this moment
it was just Tom and the car, and she didn't care, her
heart was pumping so strongly she thought she could
hear it over the roar of the engine as she fought down
the urge to scream out a Klingon battle cry.  He
flashed a grin at her then looked back to gauge
distance, and brought the Camaro in front of the
truck.  The trucks driver was forced to take the
cliffside lane.  B'Elanna stroked Tom's thigh in
encouragement.
    
Seven and Harry were watching the truck through the
rear window as it tried again to overtake the Camaro. 
Seven looked forward to observe the Lieutenants, then
placed her hand squarely on Harry's thigh.  He was
startled but made no comment.  
    
The other driver angered at being outmaneuvered
brought his truck dangerously close to their car just
as they encountered a curvy stretch of road.  Harry
watched the other vehicle while trying to balance
himself against the buffeting they were encountering
from the speed of the car.  

Suddenly he groaned, too late he realized his
companion in her excitement had forgotten the added
strength in her Borg enhanced arm.  "Seven," he
gasped, grabbing her hand.  
    
She looked at him with startled eyes, seemingly at a
loss for words.
    
"I'm okay" he said trying to catch his breath.  He
turned to look back out the window. "Tom,"  Harry
cautioned him loudly.
    
"I see him buddy, hold on to your hats."  The roar of
the engine seemed to block out all other sounds.  As
their speed increased the other driver finally
acknowledged defeat with an angry gesture directed at
Tom.  Tom gestured back to the driver, a triumphant
smirk on his face.
    
"Tom," Seven said, "My studies of the databases
included a section on rules of the road that
demonstrated driving signals, they included the signal
for stop and left and right turns.  I do not recall
that signal in the text."
    
Tom relaxed back into the seat, "You see Seven, the
other driver was signaling to me to take the middle
lane, and I was offering to let him have it."
    
Seven opened her mouth to speak again, but stopped
when Harry touched her arm and shook his head
slightly. 
    
B'Elanna laughed with relief, trying to bring her
breathing back to normal.  "Well that was fun." She
looked at Tom, "Don't you think so?"
    
He looked back at her, capturing her chin in his hand
he suddenly leaned over and pressed a quick, forceful
kiss on her lips.  "Yes, it was.  Thank you."  He
looked back at their other two passengers. "I think we
all need a break after our little drag race.  Our
beach is just up ahead."

In a few minutes they had parked and were soon
trudging down a steep path toward a secluded section
of the beach.  Tom and Harry balanced a container
between them, behind B'Elanna and Seven, each carrying
a bag. 
    
"Tom," B'Elanna called out over her shoulder, "You did
a great programming job.  What a view."
    
"Thanks," he said.  He was enjoying his view also of a
white fabric covered, tightly curved derriere and two
slim, dark legs.  Without averting his gaze, he
observed sotto voice to his friend. "What a view,
huh?"
    
Harry nodded, absorbed in his view of a denim covered,
perfectly rounded bottom and two long pale legs. 
    
"Listen Harry," Tom began quietly, "I know you
probably want a little time alone with Seven, so
B'Elanna and I will cut out for a while after we get
settled."
    
Harry looked narrowly at his friend. "Just stop it. 
If you want to take off for a wbega with B'Elanna, go
ahead, but don't act like your doing it for my
benefit."
    
Tom had the grace to hang his head and act
embarrassed.  "I'm sorry."
    
"That's fine, I just have to figure out what I'm going
to do with Seven while you and B'Elanna are off..."
    
"Communing with nature?"  Tom suggested helpfully.
    
"Is that what your calling it?"
    
"Well, Harry you can do what I do with Naomi Wildman
when we go to the beach, build a sandcastle."
    
"Actually, that's not a bad idea."    
    
The trail lead to a sheltered cove surrounded on three
sides by the rock walls.  It was secluded but Tom had
programmed in the sounds of people coming from the
other side of the cliffs.
    
They set up camp by a fire pit, with two driftwood
logs on either side, obviously intended for seating. 
Within a few minutes, B'Elanna and Tom had excused
themselves to go, "commune with nature."
    
Seven stood near the waters edge surveying the area
with interest.  Harry scurried about setting out some
of the provisions, trying to give her a little time to
take in the new surroundings.
    
"Would you like something to drink Seven?" he asked.
    
"I do not require any liquids at this time.  Thank
you," she added.
    
"Your welcome," Harry said.  "Would you like to take a
walk along the beach, or maybe by the cliffs?"
    
"I do not wish to walk anywhere, some of the native
materials have gained access to my footwear hindering
movement."
    
He had to smile at her announcement, "Seven you have
sand in your shoes, just take them off and shake it
out.  Like this," he said removing his shoes and
demonstrating.  He didn't bother to replace the shoes,
leaving them by his bag he walked toward her.
    
Concern clearly showing on features Seven said, "Stop! 
You could damage yourself, you must replace your
footwear."
    
"Seven nothings going to happen, this is the holodeck,
the safeties are on.  In some ways its better than a
real beach because you don't have to worry about nasty
things in the sand."
    
Tentatively she took off her one shoe.  Harry noting
she was slightly unbalanced, reached out and placed
her hand on his shoulder.  He took the shoe from her
other hand and shook out the sand, then reached out
for the second.  "Seven, you don't have to put them
back on, its okay to be barefoot, it feels good,
really.  Come on, walk with me a little," he urged. 
Walking backward he took her hands in his and gently
pulled her along with him.  He was reminded of a
parent urging a baby to take his first steps.
    
Seven walked tentatively along with beach with him,
her face a mixture of surprise and disgust.  Harry was
literally biting his tongue to keep from laughing, he
knew that this was the first  time since she was a
child to be barefoot and tried to sympathize, but the
expression on her usually stoic features tickled him
immensely.  
    
"Perhaps, we should return to our section of the
beach?" Seven suggested after a few moments.
    
Knowing that it was a new experience for her Harry
agreed, "You can put your shoes on when we get back if
you want."
    
"That will not be necessary, I am becoming accustomed
to the sensations."
    
"That's good to hear," he said, reaching down to scoop
up her shoes.  "No laces, very efficient." 
    
"I had planned on simply duplicating Lieutenant
B'Elanna's footwear, but she said she really was not
*in the mood* to teach me how to tie the laces."

"Yeah, well B'Elanna can be a little touchy at times,"
Harry said.  "I'm just glad she agreed to help you
with the rest of the clothing."
    
"She was most agreeable, and even replicated new
undergarments after I pointed out the ones I currently
wore."
    
Harry swallowed, this was one of the reasons he had
not wanted to help her choose clothes.  He had learned
from prior experiences with Seven that there were
things that he had to simply *not* think about if he
was going to spend time with her without turning into
a babbling idiot.  "That was very nice of her," he
offered.
    
Seven nodded, "Yes, while comfort is unimportant, I
have found that I am less conscious of these
undergarments than the previous ones.  I believe
B'Elanna referred to them as lingerie.  She chose a
*lacy* style?"  Seven looked up at him quizzically to
see if she had used the word correctly.
    
He nodded, he knew he had to change the subject
unfortunately his nimble mind had already conjured up
images of lace bras and panties.
    
Unexpectedly Seven observed, "Red is my favorite
color."
    
Delighted at the change of topic, Harry said eagerly,
"I can see that, your shirt and the shoes all red. 
Red is a nice color."
    
"I agree," Seven said, "That is why I choose red for
my undergarments also."
    
"Really?" Harry managed to choke out, as his minds eye
immediately produced a likeness of Seven modeling red
lingerie.  His body began reacting to the image before
he could turn on his mental defenses.
    
"Harry?" Seven said, puzzled by his sudden change in
posture.
    
"I think its time for you to get your feet wet." 
Harry virtually pulled her along with him as he made
for the water.  The shock of the cold water around his
ankles was a welcome distraction to his system.  
    
Seven's lips parted in surprise as she entered the
water, "Is the ocean usually this frigid?" she asked. 
    
"It depends, Tom likes his holosettings to be
authentic and around this area in Northern California
the water is pretty cool.  Feels great doesn't it?" he
said, a smile of relief on his features.
    
"I would not characterize it as great, it is bracing,"
she said hesitantly.  "Perhaps we can return to our
area now."
    
"Good idea," he said, moving out of the water, "Now we
can move on to another popular beach activity. 
Building a sandcastle."  
    
Seven joined him as they returned to their campsite,
"A castle is an ancient form of architecture.  I do
not believe that we have sufficient materials or time
to attempt an undert theg of such scope."
    
"I said a sandcastle Seven," Harry said.  "A model of
an ancient castle, maybe a meter or so in size.  And
if you like, I'll tell you some stories that I know
about people who lived in castles."
    
"That would be agreeable, I have enjoyed the stories
you have told to me in the past."
    
"Thank you," Harry said.  "Computer, access replicator
files, earth.  I would like a beach bag, filled with
sand pails and scoops in various sizes."
    
:::State size parameters:::
    
Harry thought for a moment, "Three pails, one 2 liter
size, one 1 liter size and one half liter size. 
Primary colors with coordinating scoops."
    
:::Request accepted:::
    
They heard a hum and in front of them appeared the bag
that Harry requested.
    
Seven opened the bag, a small smile crossing her
features as she removed the contents.
    
Harry watched her for a few moments then began the
instructions.  After a few minutes of building he
began his story, "Actually, as far as castles are
concerned, you've come to the right person.  My father
was a Camelot nut, and he loved to tell stories."
    
"Your father was a nut?" she asked in bewilderment.
    
Harry explained laughing, "Nut, is another word for an
enthusiast."
    
"I see, so Tom would be a 20th Century nut.  And you
would be a music nut, and B'Elanna would be a..." Her
voice trailed off and she looked at him in confusion.
    
"Well, I guess you could say that she's a nut in
training."
    
"Explain."
    
"Sure,  B'Elanna didn't have a lot of fun growing up,
and Tom knows how to have fun, I think that is one of
the things that she likes about him."
    
"I thought she liked him because of the intense nature
of their sexual relationship."
    
The handful of wet sand he was holding plopped down on
his foot before Harry could reply, "I'm sure that's
part of it, but he is also teaching her how to have
fun."
    
"In the same way that you are instructing me."
    
"I'd like to think so, Seven."  He sat back on his
haunches for a moment, "Okay, before I start these
stories, I have some ground rules.  The stories are
fictional, they were passed down through many
centuries, evolved and became more magical with each
retelling.   So, I don't want you to contradict me, or
tell that something could not possibly have happened,
because it's just a story, something meant for
pleasure nothing more.  Do you understand?"
   
Seven appeared to be considering his words.  This was
a major conflict for her, Harry realized, she was not
comfortable with the idea that something had to be
taken at face value, with no analysis.  "I
understand," she said gravely.
    
"Great," Harry said.  And began to speak, he told of
the infant Arthur, Merlin the Wizard, the sword in the
stone, Guinevere, Lancelot, the Round Table and on and
on.  Harry was gratified to see that during several of
the more exciting scenes, Seven stopped her work on
the sandcastle to focus completely on his words.  He
decided to stop before he came to the betrayal of
Arthur by his wife and best friend.  *Maybe another
time,* he thought as they put the finishing touches on
the sandcastle.  Seven had questioned his judgement at
placing the castle so close to the water line, and he
had assured her there was a reason.  "Trust me," he
had told her and she had nodded almost imperceptibly.
    
Harry stood, straightening his back, tight from
bending for so long.  He gathered all their sand
implements, and smiled at her.  "I think we're just
about ready now."
    
"The rising water will destroy all our work," she
observed, not able to keep a note of distress out of
her voice.
    
"Sandcastles are transitory, that's part of their
charm, but we can always build another one.  Wait just
a second and you'll see why we built it here." 
    
Another wave came in, falling just short of their
castle, and another that filled their moat.  The smile
of pleasure that lit her face as she understood his
motives sent a warm rush through Harry's body.
    
They stood shoulder to shoulder for a few minutes
watching the water drain down into the moat and
enjoying the moment.
 
~~~~
    
Two heads with disheveled hair peered over the edge of
the cliff.
    
B'Elanna squirmed, "That last little maneuver of yours
left sand in some pretty uncomfortable places."
    
Tom grinned at her, "Hey I didn't hear you yelling at
me to stop."  He wagged his finger at her, "Wait a
minute, you were yelling something, but I don't think
it was stop."
    
"Your such a pig,"  B'Elanna said, grabbing his finger
and pretending to bite it.  She softened her grip, and
moved to intertwine his fingers with hers.
    
"Yeah, but now you love that about me, you know you
do.  Everything looks all clear, I guess we can go
back and start up the grill for dinner," Tom said.  He
pulled her closer as they walked down the path.
    
"What did you think we were going to see?"  B'Elanna
asked sarcastically, "Harry and Seven rolling around
on the beach?"

"Would that be so strange?"
    
B'Elanna cocked her head, "Actually no, she's
definitely curious about relationships."
    
Grinning at her, Tom asked, "You two talked about more
than just clothes didn't you?"

"Yeah we did," she answered slowly.  "It was strange,
I haven't had anything close to resembling *girl talk*
for a long time."
    
Tom nodded, B'Elanna didn't have any close female
friends, Seska's betrayal several years earlier had
hurt her more than she would admit.  Her position as
Chief Engineer as well as her famous temper also
precluded her from getting close to her crew.  He knew
that she considered the Captain a friend, but that
friendship also carried limitations.  Kes had been the
closest female to her, but she had shied away from the
petite Ocampan, he suspected although he never had the
nerve to ask her, that her inbred Klingon sense of
territoriality kept her from reaching out to a person
her intended mate had been interested in.  No matter
how short lived or misguided his crush had been.
    
As strange as it was, Seven of Nine might be the one
person strong enough to be friends with B'Elanna. 
*Who would have ever thought of that,* he wondered to
himself.  *But then most of the crew would never have
believed that Harry and I would be friends either.* 
As they cleared the path they saw Harry and Seven
looking decidedly contented at their finished project. 
"Nice sandcastle," Tom called out.
    
Harry  turned and grinned at his friends disheveled
appearance, "Thanks, it turned out very well for a
first attempt.  Did you two work up an appetite for
Neelix's dinner?" he couldn't resist adding.
    
"You could say that," B'Elanna responded coolly.
    
Tom had already opened the large container taking out
several sealed boxes.  "I forgot to tell you Harry,
Seven graciously offered me the credits to replicate
us a 'real' twentieth century meal."
    
"Really?" he said, turning to the women next to him. 
"That was very nice of you Seven."
    
"Thank you."
    
"Computer," Tom called out, "Initiate a fire in the
fire pit."  Immediately a cheerful blaze began. 
    
"That's cheating," Harry said grinning, "You have to
use a bow and kindling."
    
"Yeah," B'Elanna chimed in, "Then when everything else
fails you need to cut a piece of our hair to use as
tinder."
    
The three crewmembers laughed together, recalling
Chakotay's ill-fated attempts two years earlier to
light a fire when most of the crew was stranded on a
planet.
    
"Hey," Tom protested.  "I never said I was an Indian
scout."

"I believe Commander Chakotay is the only person on
the ship that has made that claim," Seven observed,
unknowingly joining in the joke.  "Tom," she asked,
"Could you explain the items you replicated for our
meal?"
    
"I'd be glad to tell you what you ordered," he said
smiling.  "I kept it pretty simple, lemonade to drink. 
B'Elanna could you start pouring out the drinks?" he
asked.  "Some potato chips and dip, a very popular
late twentieth century appetizer to snack on while our
meal cooks, Harry if you wouldn't mind?  Our meal will
consist of marinated grilled chicken and vegetable
kebabs, simple, easy and no need to use knives."  He
opened the largest container and began to set the food
covered skewers on the grill.  
    
Tom and B'Elanna faced Harry and Seven across the fire
as they crunched on their chips and dip, the scent of
the grilling food, wetting all their appetites. The
food on the grill flared up suddenly and attracted
their attention for a few minutes.  As they ate they
were treated to the sight of the sun setting over the
Pacific Ocean and the moon and stars beginning their
nighttime reign.  Halfway through dinner Seven excused
herself and stood for the remainder of the meal.  They
understand that her action was not prompted by
rudeness, but because her physiology made sitting for
extended periods of time uncomfortable.
    
"I decided to go easy on the dessert," Tom said later. 
"Even though you were nice enough to offer your
credits Seven, I didn't want to take advantage of you. 
So, we're just going to have some fresh fruit."
    
"You did not have to worry about taking advantage of
my offer," Seven said.  "I have ample credits to cover
any meal."  She then added hesitantly, "I do however,
appreciate your thoughtfulness."
    
The other three were almost startled at her
graciousness.
    
"I am curious," Seven added, "What would you have
replicated if you wanted to include a typical dessert
of the era?"
    
Tom looked across at Harry for confirmation,
"S'mores?" 
    
"Definitely," Harry nodded enthusiastically.
    
"S'mores?" Seven said puzzled, looking at B'Elanna,
"Is that a Klingon dish?"
    
Tom and Harry chuckled, "Knock it off you two,"
B'Elanna said with a hint of a growl in her voice,
"You better explain it to me also, remember the only
time I spent on earth was my short lived stint at the
academy and I didn't get invited to a lot of
cookouts."
    
"Harry?" Tom said.  "A description of S'mores,
please."
    
"All right," Harry said thoughtfully.  "They are a
treat consisting of two halves of a graham cracker
with a half a chocolate bar and a whole roasted
marshmallow in the center.  Like a sandwich," he added
helpfully.
    
"They sound really sweet," B'Elanna said cautiously.
    
"Yes they do," Seven said, a note of interest in her
voice.  "I would like to sample them sometime in the
future."
    
"You've got yourself a deal," Tom said with a grin. 
Then turning to them all he said, "I should warn you
that Neelix was a little disappointed that he couldn't
regale us with his specially prepared *picnic* menu."
    
"I can just imagine what he cooked up," B'Elanna
muttered, "What was it, purple and green sandwiches or
something?"
    
Tom affected a serious tone, "Well, for starters how
does leola rootbeer sound?"
    
Harry and B'Elanna groaned in unison.

"He has been doing a lot better lately," Tom said,
"Some of his things have been really edible.  It's
only when he tries something new or tries to improve
something that he gets into trouble.  And to be fair,
its still a color thing with most of us, its still
hard for us to accept some of the wild colors his food
comes in."
    
Seven observed, "What matters is the nutritional
content of the food.  The color of something is irre--
" she stopped in the middle of her favorite word, and
seemed to sigh.
    
Harry looked anxiously at her, "Is something wrong?"
    
"No, I am fine," she answered.  "The Doctor said I was
not to use that word."
    
"Irrelevant?" Harry said
    
"Yes," she nodded.  "While preparing me for our outing
today, the Doctor told me that if I used that word I
would have to schedule an extra *conversational
skills* class with him during the week.
    
The thought of using one of the Doctor's classes as a
threat made the others smile. 

"Well your conversational skills are definitely
getting a workout today," Harry observed to her.

"They are," Seven agreed.  "I am finding that
conversation is less difficult when you are actually
interested in the subjects being discussed."

After serving them all sliced melon for dessert Tom
tentatively broached the subject again.  "I've been
wondering Seven, what made the Doctor decide to start
these classes with you?"
    
"I know," B'Elanna said with a smile, "Of all the
people to try to teach *conversational skills*. "
    
"That is curious," Seven began, "Because the Doctor
said something similar regarding you."
    
"What did the Doctor say about me?" B'Elanna demanded.
    
Seven finished the mouthful of melon she was chewing
and replied, "I related the conversation that you and
I had following discovery of the Hirogen array.  You
had told me that I was rude."
    
Unable to help himself Tom said with a grin, "You told
her she was rude?"
    
"Well, she had been rude to a lot of people," B'Elanna
replied.
    
"Yeah, but the thought that you of all people told her
that," Tom began, a warning look from B'Elanna stopped
him.
    
"The Doctor made a reference to the color of pots and
kettles, which I did not understand at the time,"
Seven added, a hint of amusement in her voice.
    
Harry managed to change a chuckle into a cough and
decided to change the subject.  He reminisced about
some of the other parties and outings they had enjoyed
in the past.
    
Tom joined in, as usual thinking of other holoprograms
they could invent to amuse the crew.
    
B'Elanna said thoughtfully, "Sometimes smaller groups
are nicer, I wish that the Captain and Chakotay could
join us for an adventure."
    
"Yeah, like that's going to happen," Tom said.
    
"Why would the Captain not wish to accompany the
Commander to the holodeck?" Seven asked curiously. 
"She has impressed upon me that the holodecks are an
excellent place to explore your imagination."
    
"I think she would feel that it would be to much like
a date," Harry explained.
    
"Why would that be unacceptable?" Seven inquired.
    
"Personally, I think it would be great," B'Elanna
said.  "Unfortunately, the Captain refuses to allow
anything beyond a working relationship with Chakotay."
    
"Why would the Captain forego a relationship with the
Commander when they obviously share strong feelings
for one another?" Seven asked in puzzlement.
    
"What makes you think they have strong feelings for
each other?" Harry asked curiously.
    
"I have noticed on many occasions looks pass between
them, similar to the looks that pass between Tom and
B'Elanna.  I have often seen you glance at me in that
way," she said to Harry.
    
Tom grinned, "Seven, are you sure that those looks
aren't just lust?  Ow!" Tom grunted in response to a
jab in the ribs.
    
"I am sure."  Seven answered coldly, "I have observed
enough lustful looks from crew members to understand
the difference.  Admittedly I have observed those also
pass between the Captain and the Commander, between
you and B'Elanna and from Ensign Kim.  The looks
exchanged between the Captain and Chakotay are caring,
they seem to understand the others needs.  When they
are together, they are content," she stated firmly.
     
"Out of the mouths of Borg," Tom said softly.
    
"I wish it were that simple," B'Elanna said.  "We all
know that they care for each other.  There are rules
in Starfleet against fraternization and unfortunately
the Captain seems to want to adhere to them."
    
"Does that mean that you and Tom are breaking the
rules?" Seven asked.
    
"It wouldn't be the first time," Tom said grimly, then
added, "Those rules Seven were made by people who had
no idea what it would be like to be 60,000 light years
away from Starfleet.  They were make to function in an
organization that wanted no complications.  And for
the most part when two people become a couple it does
get complicated.  But especially out here people need
to be together, to deny those feelings would be
useless."
    
Harry looked up, "I don't know if its just Starfleet
regulations keeping them apart," he shook his head.
    
"Explain," Seven said.
    
"Go ahead buddy," Tom said encouragingly.
    
Hesitantly Harry began, "Sometimes I think that that
the Captain doesn't believe she deserves to be happy
until she can get us all home.  That its a kind of
penance.  Maybe she thinks that if she takes time for
a personal life it looks like she's not being as
fervent in her efforts to get back.  I don't know if
that makes sense or not, its just something that I've
thought about."
    
"No," B'Elanna said, "It does make sense.  Its still
sad that they're wasting so much precious time.  Look
at how the Captain reacted when Riley Frazier came on
board.  You could just tell by the way she carried
herself that Chakotay had hurt her."
    
Harry turned to Seven, "You know about her?"
    
"Yes," she nodded. "I read the reports of the severed
group of Borg with great interest.  The Doctor also
used some of the medical information they provided him
with when the Captain severed me from the Collective. 
I fail to understand why the Captain would be upset
with her."
    
B'Elanna said cautiously, "It might have something to
do with Chakotay's relationship with her."
    
Seven replied, "The report stated that the efforts of
Riley Frazier and the other former Borg saved the
Commander from death.  Voyager had already lost one
crewmember."
    
"I think the Captain was a little put off by Riley's
'personal' assimilation of Chakotay," Tom said with a
smirk.
    
"If I understand your innuendo correctly," Seven
began, "You are implying that the Commander and Riley
Frazier had an intimate relationship.  However, I read
no references in the databases that would substantiate
your assumption."
    
Tom wrinkled his brow, "Seven there is an old saying
on Earth, if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck
and looks like a duck, its usually a duck."
    
"You are saying that all indications lead you to
believe that the Commander and Riley Frazier
copulated?" she said with interest.
    
"No, I'm saying that if it looks..Ow!" Tom winced,
turning to B'Elanna.  "Would you stop poking me, if I
have to go to the Doctor to get my ribs mended, I want
to have a damn good reason for it."
    
"I'll stop poking at you, if you would start acting
like a mature adult.  Seven doesn't need to know about
all the crews escapades."
    
Harry watched his friends bickering playfully with one
another.  It had taken a long time and they had gone
through so much, he was happy to see them so content
together.  There had been times after the alien had
changed bodies with Tom when he had wondered if their
relationship was over.
    
"Paris to Kim."
    
Absently Harry touched his combadge, wincing at his
mistake, triggering a peal of laughter from Tom. 
B'Elanna chuckled, even Seven looked amused at his
error.
    
"Hey buddy, you were a million miles away.  What were
you thinking about?"
    
Harry smiled, "I was thinking how nice it is to see
you two so happy together.  And that it wasn't so long
ago that B'Elanna asked me if I thought she was
*hostile,* because some pilot had accused her of it." 
Tom and B'Elanna grinned sheepishly at one another,
then Harry added playfully, "I remembered standing
there facing an angry half Klingon wondering if
*discretion* really was the *better part of valor.*  I
was so scared that Kes said that I was the only one to
arrive at the Nurian habitat, that actually looked
relieved," he said referring to an experience Voyager
had had a year earlier, when a group of aliens had
transported the entire crew one by one into a
captivity habitat.
    
B'Elanna shook her head, "Poor Harry, Tom and I really
put you through hell didn't we?"  She turned to look
at Tom, "I was so angry at you.  And the tone in your
voice later when you came to check on the Doctor and
my progress."  She mimicked his voice, "The Captain
*ordered* me," she repeated.
    
"Yeah," Tom agreed, "It was a pretty touchy
situation."
    
"That is not correct," Seven said. 
    
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
    
"The sequence of events did not occur in the manner
that B'Elanna related," Seven answered.
    
"Are you calling me a liar?" B'Elanna demanded.
    
"I am not.  I have studied all the Voyager logs and
reports which included those submitted during the
crews detention on the Nurian ship habitat."
    
"Um, Seven," Tom began holding up his hand, "You know
all that stuff happened in the past.  We really don't
need to talk about it."
    
"Shut up Tom, I want to know what Seven's implying,"
B'Elanna added coldly.
    
"I am not implying anything.  I was simply going to
state, that the Captain did not order Tom to check on
you, she asked for a volunteer and he did."
    
"Is that true?" B'Elanna asked Tom, a smile spreading
across her face.  
    
The flames of the campfire couldn't hide the flush on
his face, as he nodded shamefacedly. Harry watched his
friends discomfiture with delight.  It wasn't often
Tom was the one embarrassed.  
    
"I was worried about you," Tom began haltingly.  "You
hadn't spoken to me all day, and I just wanted to see
how you were doing."  He looked up at the stars and
smiled, "Of course we just ended up getting in another
argument, if you remember."
    
"That doesn't matter," B'Elanna said stroking his
cheek, she moved closer to him kissing him gently. 
Their kiss deepened as Seven watched them with great
interest.
    
Harry cleared his throat, "Why don't you two go
commune with nature for a while?"
    
"That's a great idea," B'Elanna said, rising she
pulled Tom up with one fluid motion and they walked
down the beach.

Seven resumed her position next to Harry to his
delight.  For a few minutes, they sat in silence
watching the motion of the waves,  Harry studied her
for a moment, "A penny for your thoughts."
    
"A penny is an old earth designation for a defunct
monetary unit.  Why would my thoughts be worth
currency?"
    
He smiled at her, "It simply means that I would be
interested in hearing what you were thinking so deeply
about."
    
"I see," she said.  "I was thinking that up to this
point, any observations or corrections I have made
have resulted in either anger or silence.  They have
never, to my knowledge incited passion."
    
"It wasn't just that you corrected Tom, it was what
the correction meant," Harry said, noting her look of
bewilderment, he tried to explain.  "You see back when
that event happened, Tom and B'Elanna had not begun
their romantic relationship.  They had strong feelings
for each other, but they weren't sure of the others
feelings.  What you did was show B'Elanna that even
though she and Tom had argued, his feelings were
strong enough for her that he wanted to see her again
even though, she might still be angry with him.  To
put it simply, it touched her."
    
"And they interpreted all that from a simple
correction?" she said, her eyebrow quirking in
disbelief.
    
Harry looked out at the ocean.  "Seven what you have
to understand, is that reading all the logs is one
thing, but that they are not the whole story."
    
"I understood that the purpose of a report was to
record everything that occurred during a said event."
    
"That's true," Harry nodded, "But reports don't tell
what motivates a person do something, or how they felt
when something happened.  As you mentioned earlier,
Chakotay's relationship with Riley Frazier was not
noted on any official reports."
    
"Have you purposely withheld information on your
reports?", she asked.
    
"Kind of, but nothing that would change the nature of
the report, there are just certain things that I felt
didn't need to be written down."

"Such as?"
    
He grinned at her, "You really want to know?"
    
"I would not have asked if I did not."
    
"Let me think, there was the Hirogen report.  No,
that's not a good example."
    
"Why?"
    
"Because it could be a little embarrassing."
    
"I assure you, I will not be embarrassed."
    
"It's not you who's going to be embarrassed."  Harry
took a deep breath, "Okay, the section where I wrote
about receiving your signal from the Holodeck.  I
wrote that once I received it, I could begin
preparations.  But what I didn't write down was how
relieved I was when your signal came through."
    
"Relief, because you knew we would defeat the
Hirogen?"
    
He smiled, "Partly, but mainly because your signal
told me that *you* were still alive."  Unable to meet
her eyes for a moment, he picked up a small stick and
tossed it into the fire.  Seven watched him
transfixed, trying to understand the flow of emotions
that his 'simple' statement had produced in her.  She
turned her head and saw the Lieutenants standing at
the waters edge.  Unaware of the lovely picture they
made in each others arms silhouetted by the moon. 
Absently, she again tried to push her hair back, away
from her face.  Harry turned to her and using both
hands smoothed her hair gently behind her ears.  Seven
studiously watched his motions.  "I had not considered
using my ears as a form of restraint.  Thank you."
    
"Your welcome," Harry said.  He noticed a few grains
of sand at her temple and gently brushed them off her
face.  Savoring the feel of her smooth skin and the
underlying warmth.  He looked into her eyes, those
eyes that seemed to draw him in so deeply, and felt
himself move closer. 

Seven returned his gaze, her expression softening, her
lips parted, "Harry?"
    
Harry pulled back his hand.  "I'm sorry Seven, I
didn't mean to..."
    
"What were you attempting to accomplish?"
    
"I was going to kiss you. I'm sorry."
    
"I do not understand your regret."
    
"I didn't mean to do something that you wouldn't want
me to do."
    
"Why would you believe that I would not wish you to
implement this course of action?"  Harry's eyes
widened in surprise, Seven nodded gently, a small
smile crossing her features.
    
Harry looked cautiously at her, "Seven, do you want me
to kiss you because you see Tom and B'Elanna kissing?"
    
"No," she said softly, "I want you to kiss me because
I wish to feel your lips on mine."
    
"That works for me," Harry said with a grin,
cautiously placing his hands on her shoulders he
touched her lush lips with his own. Closing his eyes
he explored the soft fullness.  Sensing something he
pulled away and opened his eyes to find two blue eyes
staring intently at him.  He sighed and said, "Seven,
its customary to close your eyes when you kiss."
    
One brow raised quizzically, her expression still soft
and expectant. "Explain," she breathed.
    
He knew better than to try and explain something so
static to her.  Instead he said "Its just something
that people do.  Using the first kiss as a basis for
comparison, try it with me now with your eyes closed."
    
"Very well."  She reached out and pulled him down to
her, closing her eyes and pressing her lips to his. 
Harry moved his hands down to her waist, moaning
softly at the almost overwhelming feeling.  Seven
mimicked his earlier actions, and also gently explored
his neck and shoulders with her hands.  Suddenly she
drew back, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I
understand the reasoning now.  Eliminating all
external visual stimuli, allow you to more fully
experience the sensations produced by--"
    
"Be quiet."  His hands molded her body against his. 
And Harry finally allowed himself to kiss her the way
he had dreamed of so often.  He savored the taste of
her mouth, the small of her back and the scent of her
hair.

~~~~
    
B'Elanna ran her hands over the smooth muscles of
Tom's back, reveling in the feel of his lips on her
neck.  A stray wave lapped over their feet startling
them both.
    
"Tides coming in," Tom observed.  "We better head
back, and get ready to leave."
    
"I wish we didn't have to go, I like this beach,"
B'Elanna said pulling back reluctantly.  
    
"We'll come back, I promise," he said, giving her a
quick hug.  They turned and then stopped in their
tracks.
    
"Oh my," B'Elanna said.
    
Tom placed his hand on his chest proudly, "That is so
cute."
    
"Maybe we should hang back for a minute, we don't want
to interrupt them."
    
"We don't?" Tom said, as a wicked grin spread across
his face.
    
"Tommm, I know that look.  What are you going to do?"
    
"I was just thinking of all the times that Harry has
interrupted us in the last few months."  He raised his
eyebrows and glared at her.
    
Her wicked grin matched his, "Okay, what are *we*
going to do?"
    
"I think the simple approach is best, don't you?" he
said, beginning to move closer to the couple who were
too intent on their passion to notice.   B'Elanna
nodded in agreement trying to keep from laughing at
the ridiculousness of the situation.
    
In his best Starfleet voice Tom roared, "Ensign Kim!"
    
Shocked, Harry jumped back, he would have fallen off
of the log, had Seven not been clutching him tightly. 
As Harry fought to catch his breath, Seven turned to
them and inquired, "Did you enjoy your romantic
interlude?"
    
Tom replied graciously, "We could ask you the same
thing?"
    
Seven replied calmly, "Yes, it was pleasurable."
    
Harry stood up shakily, glaring at Tom and B'Elanna he
said, "Its late, I think we should get ready to leave,
we only have the holodeck reserved for another hour."
    
In a few minutes they had piled back into the Camaro
and were headed back.  This ride was if possible even
more lovely than their original trip.  Tom set the
radio to play soft music.  They drove leisurely, all
enjoying the sight of the full moon and the view of
the waves lapping softly along the beach below them.
    
Tom drove one handed, with his other arm over
B'Elannas shoulder's.  They smiled at each other
lazily, anticipating the return to his quarters.  He
thought about how lucky he was that they were still
together.  His actions weeks earlier had jeopardized
their relationship.  He regretted the pain he had
caused her, that and the misdeeds of the alien had
almost ended everything. 
    
He would be lost without her he knew.  He had never
had a relationship last this long, fear had crept in
so slowly that he hadn't questioned it.  He had been
frightened, he was afraid that soon she would see the
*real* Tom Paris, and would regret giving him her
heart.  He was afraid that he would one day see a look
of regret on her face and he couldn't bear it.  So he
had determined to push her away first.  *He* was an
idiot, he thought grinning to himself.  He felt her
head on her shoulder, and felt that surge of warmth
that he felt with her, beyond lust and passion,
although they were a part of it.  It was the feeling
of knowing that this amazing woman next to him, knew
*him* and loved him despite of it.
    
Harry sat smiling to himself.  It had been a long day,
but what a day.  He wasn't embarrassed this time to
feel Seven's leg pressed against his, he could enjoy
it now.  He had wanted a relationship with her for so
long, but he had also been ashamed that he was
thinking and wishing for something that she was too
ingenuous to share with him.  Their kiss had shown him
that for all her naivete she did have a woman's
feelings, it would take time, he knew and patience. 
But he was a very patient man.  Suddenly he felt her
hand creep into his, for the first time in longer than
he cared to remember Harry Kim felt joy.  Her head
came to rest on his shoulder, mimicking B'Elanna's
actions he thought, until he heard her slow steady
breathing, and realized to his surprise that she was
asleep. His smile deepened and he closed his eyes
happily. 
    
In a short while the Camaro entered the garage, Tom
called for the grid and abruptly brought them all back
to reality.  Seven sat up quickly, taking in her
surroundings.  B'Elanna stretched languorously and
smiled at the backseat passengers.  
    
"Thank you for allowing me to experience the holodeck
with you, Lieutenants, Ensign Kim."
    
"Your welcome Seven," Tom said, surprised at the
return of her usual formal manner.
    
"Seven," Harry said quickly, "Let me walk you back to
your the Cargo Bay."
    
"That will not be necessary Ensign.  I am going to
Astrometrics to check on the work of Ensign Delaney in
my absence."
    
 "But, its late," Harry said, "You should rest."
    
"My brief period of sombulence proved to be quite
regenerative.  I do not require the same amount of
rest as you do." Turning she addressed them all in a
rehearsed voice, "We should do this again sometime." 
Seven then strode out of the Holodeck.  Harry tried to
follow her, but was stopped by B'Elanna's hand on his
arm.
    
"Let her go, Harry," she said gently.
    
"But I need to " he began.
    
"Do what, kiss her goodnight?  Seven doesn't know
about all the rituals involved in dating.  She needs
to be alone."
    
"You don't understand," Harry said.
    
"I do understand," B'Elanna said.  "More than you
know.  Listen to me Starfleet," she said using her
nickname for him to cool the situation.  "When Tom and
I started spending time together, it was confusing, I
was experiencing so many things that I didn't
understand.  Sometimes I would go back to Engineering
afterwards to check on things.  It was something I
*knew*, it was soothing to be around things I was
familiar with, since I was dealing with so many new
feelings.  I think that's what Seven is doing."
    
"B'Elanna might be right Harry," Tom said, "Seven
needs to take this all in.  You should go get a good
nights sleep.  Listen Harry, I know you, don't dwell
on what didn't happen.  Think about the amazing things
that did.  Do you understand?"
    
"Okay," Harry sighed, "Thanks for everything, I'll see
you in the morning."
    
They watched the Holodeck doors swish closed behind
him.  Tom turned to B'Elanna, "Did I really scare you
that much?"
    
She nodded smiling, "Yeah.  And believe me, its hard
for a Klingon to admcarrhat they're afraid of
anything.  I was afraid that despite what you said
about wanting to see my *big, scary Klingon side,* if
I let you see the *real* me, you wouldn't want to be
with me anymore."
    
Tom pulled her to him, touching her chin he looked
into her eyes.  "B'Elanna, you know I love you, don't
you?"
    
"Of course I do," B'Elanna said smiling.  "But its
always good to hear it again."
    
    
THE END