The water was a crystal blue while below, the bottom was vibrant with a multitude of colors and textures. Janeway swam lithly through the blood warm sea, breathing easily through the respirator as she passed over the reef below. To her right, Seven's slim form knifed silver through the water, pacing her as they slipped through the gold and red fish schooling about them. 
Janeway knew that they could easily do this without the diving equipment since the holodeck would not let them drown, but the real key to enjoying this honeymoon was for them to accept it totally, believing as hard as they could that they were actually spending a week in the Caribbean islands. To that end, the crew had made the simulation as realistic as possible. There had even been a rude waiter the previous evening in the local nightclub located about a kilometer down the beach from their cottage. Seven had been appalled but Janeway accepted it for the clever bit of programming it was and merely laughed it off.
The captain was truly enjoying herself. A discrete and very brief call to Chakotay every morning while Seven was otherwise occupied assured Janeway that her ship was functioning perfectly. That allowed her to concentrate completely on being with her spouse the rest of the time as they swam and played in the warm sea, took long walks on the beach, and sunned themselves on the spacious deck. Evenings found them enjoying a variety of dinner experiences at the nightclub that never seemed to serve the same type of food twice. Janeway did not think she would ever get over the sight of Seven attempting to eat lobster from the shell.
And of course, they made love. A lot.
A shadow darkened the water suddenly and Janeway looked up, startled as the deadly, torpedo shape of a tiger shark went over them. She hesitated, floating as the predator circled back, easing lazily around them before it abruptly turned and rushed toward her. Paralyzed, her eyes wide behind the mask, she could only stare helplessly as its rounded head with its huge mouth gaped open, the rows of razor teeth ready to slash at her.
Then Seven was in front of her, slamming her mesh covered left hand down across its skull. Dazed, it drifted to the bottom before shaking itself briefly and swimming hurriedly away.
Janeway was amazed to find she was chilled and trembling. When Seven motioned with her thumb, jerking it upward to indicate they should surface, the captain was hard pressed to ascend in a collected manner rather than the panicked thrashing she wanted to do.
She spat out her mouthpiece and gulped in lungfuls of the salt sweet air, blinking as Seven treaded water a few feet away, observing her curiously.
"What the hell was that?" the captain yelped.
Seven raised an eyebrow. "A tiger shark. Undoubtedly B'Elanna's contribution. I believe she feels that R&R without a certain amount of risk is not worth the effort." She drifted closer. "It would not really have hurt you, you know."
Janeway felt her heart finally slow its rapid thumping. "I know," she said, embarrassed. She had actually managed to forget it was a simulation for those few terrified moments. "I just ... I was diving off Australia's Barrier Reef one summer during my Academy days and had a similar experience with a great white. If I hadn't been in a cage ... well, let's just say it was very real, and very frightening. This suddenly took me back."
"I do not believe it was B'Elanna's intention to frighten you. It was intended to enhance the program."
Janeway shot a look at her. "I'm sure it was. Remind me to 'enhance' her duty shift once we're finished our honeymoon."
Seven eyed her briefly, apparently decided she was being facetious and smiled faintly. "Do you wish to resume our dive?"
"No, I've had enough excitement for one day. Let's go in."
They swam toward the beach, allowing the waves to carry them onto the shore where they removed their equipment. Carrying their flippers and respirators, they crossed the expanse of white sand and emerald lawn to the cottage, entering through the glass doors off the deck.
"I'm going to take a shower," Janeway said over her shoulder as she dumped her diving equipment on a chair and headed for the ensuite.
She stood for a long time under the warm spray, getting rid of the accumulation of salt and sand, though a quick request to the computer would have accomplished the same thing in a fraction of the time. When she came out, toweling her hair dry, Seven had built a fire in the stone hearth and the sun was setting magnificently over the ocean, the last rays illuminating the gleams in the oak stained wooden floor.
"Shall we stay in this evening?" Janeway asked as she settled onto the thick, bearskin rug beside Seven, accepting the glass of Chardonnay the Borg offered.
"I would like that," Seven responded, favoring her with an approving glance. "I'm sure we can replicate something."
The young woman had changed out of her swimsuit and was now garbed in a short black robe, her blond hair spilling over her shoulders as she reclined against several throw pillows propped up against the bear's head. The fire crackled cozily, casting flickering shadows over the long lean legs that were golden in the flame's glow. Janeway felt her heart start to pound again, this time for a much more pleasant reason, and wondered if it were permissible for a Starfleet captain to be this happy. Somehow, she thought, someone must have written a regulation against running a ship from the holodeck while in the company of an exquisitely gorgeous woman.
Seven seemed lost in thought, her pale eyes reflecting the fire as she stared into it. The full lips were far too inviting for Janeway and the captain leaned over, pulling Seven's face to her, kissing her spouse gently.
"A penny," she murmured.
"Kathryn?"
Janeway smiled. "A penny for your thoughts," she clarified. "What were you thinking just now?"
Seven turned the rest of her body so that she was angled more to her partner, raising a hand to gently stroke Janeway's cheek. "Many things," she admitted as her pale eyes searched Janeway's face. "How wonderful it is to be here with you. How much I enjoyed being with you today. I think that if I could spend the rest of my life just existing in your presence, I would never need for anything else."
Janeway put her glass of wine down and bent closer, leaning against the Borg as she looked deep into the young woman's gaze.
"Annika, you say the most wonderful things to me, and what's even more incredible is that you mean every single word."
Seven blinked, confusion shading her eyes. "Of course I mean every word. Why else would I say them?"
Janeway shook her head, smiling ruefully. "I hope you never find out." She kissed her, slowly, lingering over the lips with a complete and utter pleasure.
Seven made a soft sound in her throat and Janeway felt the strong arms encircle her, drawing her down until they were both stretched out on the rug, the captain resting on top of the lanky blond. Gentle hands began to caress Janeway through her robe, and they kissed again. Janeway thought there could be no better sensation than this, the warmth of this body against her, the love and caring that surrounded her palpably, the perfect taste of her partner's mouth on her own, the sense of sweet desire and slowly rising anticipation.
She opened her eyes, drawing back for a moment so she could look at the beloved features that regarded her with devotion and a quiet longing. Then, from the corner of her eye, the captain glimpsed a box sitting innocuously on the coffee table a few feet away.
"Oh dear," Janeway murmured, smiling. "Is tonight the night?"
Seven followed her gaze and blushed faintly. "If you would like," she responded in such a completely noncommital voice that Janeway was forced to grin, feeling a playful wickedness dance up her spine.
"Well, why not?" She stretched out her arm, reaching over to the table, barely able to get her fingertips on the plain wooden box. She inched it toward her, finally able to grasp it firmly and bring it over to her. She placed it on the floor and used her fingernail to undo the clasp, lifting up the cover.
Inside lay the Wonder Wand 9000™.
 
Nestled in a bed of midnight blue velvet, the adult toy displayed its full length of thirty inches, looking far more formidable than it actually was, shaded a flat metallic grey and resembling humanoid male genitalia, devoid of any particular species characteristic or trait. The devices were constructed by the Ferengi's novelty manufacturing sector as an all purpose sexual aid, purchased by Starfleet to stock on their ships as part of the continuing effort to keep their officers content and happy on those long, deep space journeys. It boasted a variety of features and abilities intended to make anyone who selected it from the recreational data bank acceptably satisfied with its performance. 
Janeway felt a snicker rise in her throat and she clamped down on it, having promised herself she wouldn't laugh. Not with her partner so close by, observing her with a vaguely wary expression.
"You will note that I had all of Jake's teeth marks removed," Seven offered helpfully.
The laughter exploded out of Janeway and she collapsed on top of her partner helplessly. She heard Seven sigh gustily which only increased the captain's consuming mirth until finally, weakly, Janeway subsided.
"Are you quite finished?" Seven remarked. 
"I think so," Janeway said, before muffling another round of chuckles into the Borg's chest.
Seven stared at her, then shook her head briefly as if filing this away as just another idiosyncrasy of her partner's personality. She rose to her elbow, looking into the box with interest.
"Is there a particular method by which you would like to attempt this?"
Janeway shook her head. "I think we'll just have to wing it." She eyed the simulated phallus judiciously and then glanced at Seven. "Let's get undressed and you can try it on first." She hesitated. "For size." Then snickered audibly.
Seven pointedly ignored her and sat up, shrugging out of her robe as Janeway followed suit. Nude, the captain sat cross-legged and watched as Seven removed the artificial penis from the box and placed the larger end of the device against herself. Janeway knew there was an orifice that would surround the young woman's clitoris, the sensors transmitting sensation to the little bundle of nerves, allowing the wearer to experience the impression that she had been ... extended considerably. Tendrils erupted from the base, encircling Seven's hips and connecting to the construct beneath. Once secured, the device could not be removed other than by a command from the external transmitter.
Janeway fished that out from the box, the remote control fitting neatly into the palm of her hand. She looked at the huge phallus towering over Seven's groin, caught between another bout of laughter and being impressed in spite of herself.
"First thing's first," she said, swallowing her grin. "Let's adjust this to something that won't give me nightmares."
Seven raised an eyebrow, reclining against the pillows as she split her attention between her partner and the artificial penis which was now attached to her. Janeway examined the controls, noting that the species setting was currently set on Horath mode, the hulking aliens from the high gravity planet that lay not too far from the Romulan Neutral zone. She knew they were big but she hadn't realized just how 'big' the males truly were.  So the rumors shared after hours in the Starfleet Academy dorms had been accurate after all.  She keyed in the Human option, the phallus immediately reducing in size by almost two and a half feet. A selection of parameters within the Human mode appeared in the tiny viewscreen, allowing the device to be further altered in order that a perfect fit could be achieved. She amused herself for several minutes increasing and decreasing the length and thickness with keen precision.
"Will this take much longer?" Seven offered finally with forced patience, having been forced to lay there as the phallus expanded and contracted with what appeared to be random intent.
"Sorry," Janeway mumbled and hastily made her final adjustment so that the fleshy cylinder was now approximately six inches long and about an inch and a quarter in diameter.
Seven regarded it contemplatively.
"Is that large enough?" she asked doubtfully.
"You've been listening too much to B'Elanna," Janeway said dryly. "Believe me, it'll do for starters. It's been a while." She examined the controls again, looking at the other features. "Now I have to set the color."
"I really like blue," Seven said hopefully.
Janeway eyed her briefly. "I think not."
The captain altered the shade by minuscule degrees until she had achieved a Caucasian flesh tone approximating Seven's skin color. Janeway glanced at it, and then was forced to stare, startled by how that simple adjustment abruptly made everything seem very accurate in its appearance. The captain felt a shiver of desire ripple through her, a fine sheen of perspiration breaking out over her entire body as her nipples hardened in the air that seemed far too warm all of a sudden.
As amusing as all this was, it was also serving to excite her. There was something wantonly appealing about Seven lying there with what appeared to be quite natural, fully aroused male genitalia sprouting from the thatch of fine blond hair that made up her very feminine triangle. Not to mention the incongruity of the firm, shapely breasts rising so proudly from her chest.
No one can say that human sexuality doesn't take one into some odd situations, Janeway thought wryly as she regarded her partner.
"How does that feel?" Unaware that her voice had just dropped into a husky trill.
Seven blinked. "I don't know." She tentatively reached out and touched the tip of it, jerking a little. "Oh!"
Intrigued, Janeway also reached out and wrapped her fingers around the head. It felt quite warm and very real ... if her memories of previous lovers served her correctly ... and she could swear she could almost feel the throb of pulse within.
"I ... that feels very good," Seven said in an odd tone. "More than good."
"Does it?" Janeway said idly, running her fingertips down the length, tracing the ragged line beneath the penis to the soft sac of simulated testicles, prodding them carefully. It was, she noted, very well constructed and extremely realistic.
"Oh, Kathryn."
Janeway glanced at her, raising an eyebrow as she saw how much Seven's respiration had increased, the full breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The Borg was in a full state of arousal, very close to an actual orgasm if Janeway could read the signs correctly. Bemused, she eyed the controls again.
"Ah," she said with sudden understanding, "there's a way to moderate the sensitivity. Right now it's at the highest setting." She grinned at Seven. "I don't believe you'd be paying much attention to me at that level."
"Indeed," Seven remarked, swallowing hard.
Janeway adjusted the setting, testing each level by fondling the firm, fleshy rod. Seven climaxed three times before the captain finally found one that she thought would be suitable.
"Are you ready?" Janeway asked, tilting her head as she looked at Seven who was sprawled on her back, limp and sated even as the phallus stood firm.
"I am finished," Seven noted weakly.
"Oh darling," Janeway protested. "Not yet."
She lay down next to her, wrapping her arms around the lanky torso and kissing the young woman passionately. Seven perked up almost immediately and returned the kisses with steadily increasing interest. Janeway shivered as she felt the warm length of Seven press against her, the sensation of the phallus trapped between their bodies, prodding her in the navel, sending chills of anticipation through her even as the sensation felt very odd in this most familiar of embraces.
Loving hands moved over her skin with accomplished skill and when Seven bent her head to mouth the captain's breasts, licking and sucking on the nipples tenderly, Janeway responded with a cry and a sudden flood of moisture between her legs. Seven pulled her closer and began to roll them over.
"Uh, no, sweetheart," Janeway said, pushing Seven back. "Not like that. Not yet, anyway."
Obligingly, Seven settled onto her back once more, propping herself upright on her elbows.
"Stay still," the captain ordered in a low voice as she threw her leg over the Borg, straddling the young woman's hips as she rested her weight on her knees.
Janeway reached down between them and found the warm, simulated flesh, guiding it to the opening between her legs. She gasped as she felt the mushroom top press against her wetness, and she dipped the tip into that pool of moisture before sliding it up to rub against her sensitive ridge of flesh, moving it back and forth, swirling around her nub with delicious pressure.
"Oh, Kathryn," Seven moaned. She shuddered and Janeway knew her partner had just climaxed once more. The captain laughed huskily, feeling the undeniable need ripple through her.
"Darling, if you were male, you'd be completely useless to me by now."
Seven didn't answer. She just looked up at her lover with eyes full of desire and eager anticipation for the next new sensation.
Janeway returned the head of the phallus back to her opening, anointing it with her moisture, glad that lubrication did not seem to be a problem. She eased down onto it, gasping as it pressed against her and she wondered if she had made it too big after all. She quivered when it abruptly penetrated past the first restrictive band of muscle, pushing smoothly into her, filling her with its hardness.
"Don't move," she muttered, feeling Seven stir beneath her. "Not yet."
Seven went completely rigid, every muscle tense. "It is difficult to obey," she replied, her voice strained. "I want to ... I want to push upward. It feels so good."
"You'll get your chance," Janeway promised, biting her lip as she sank downward until the full length of it was finally inside. Her head had fallen back and she swallowed, opening her eyes to look down at Seven who was shivering. She smiled sensually, breathing hard. "You like that?"
"It feels like I am inside you, Kathryn," Seven said, trying to explain. "As if your vagina is surrounding my clitoris."
Janeway laughed again. "Damn, these things are always built for the male perspective, aren't they?" She began to ascend slowly. "Don't move," she reminded in a throaty voice. "Not until I tell you."
"I will comply."
Janeway rose until just the tip remained inside her before lowering herself once more. Gradually she increased the motion, rocking on Seven as she got used to the feel of it, adjusting her angle until she found one that suited her. She groaned deeply when Seven slid her hand down to where they were joined, her fingertips seeking out Janeway's little nubbin of flesh, rubbing it back and forth.
"Oh god, yes, Annika," she moaned. "Now you can move."
She felt Seven's hips began to push against her, the narrow loins lifting her before they managed to find a complimentary rhythm, Seven drawing back as Janeway rose, then thrusting upward as the captain settled down. Janeway panted, letting out a little cry every time Seven's groin met hers, the sensation of their copulation becoming extremely real, as if it were indeed her partner inside as opposed to some replication. She rested her hands on Seven's chest, over the Borg's generous breasts, her palms unable to cover them completely, the combined feel of the feminine and masculine attributes wildly confusing but incredibly erotic and intense. She felt her heart pound as Seven's fingers steadily increased their rapid fondling, swirling around her nub with delicate precision. Janeway felt the desire build and build, sweeping her up, the experience overwhelming her with the sheer physicality of it all. 
Then Seven was rolling them over and this time Janeway did not protest. She spread her legs wide around Seven's driving hips and felt the center of herself open to the remarkably controlled and even motion. And it was no longer a matter of male or female, it was just Annika, the person she utterly adored, making love to her with passion and joy, the body covering her, hot and slick from Janeway's sweat. Seven grunted softly as she thrust, seeming to reach a little deeper inside with every stroke as Janeway encouraged her, the words spilling from her lips, guttural and unquestionably profane, urging her lover on harder and faster until abruptly, Janeway was there, her orgasm catching her like a wave. She dug her nails into the sinuous back without restraint, clawing at Seven as she spasmed and cried out.
And she came again as Seven continued to thrust into her until finally, the young woman climaxed one final time, this one leaving her slumped bonelessly on Kathryn who fought to catch her own breath.
Cradling her lover in her arms.
 
"Darling, it's perfectly all right," Kathryn murmured, her body pressed against Seven's as she rested on her, her tousled auburn hair falling over her forehead into her eyes. "It's not for everyone." 
Seven swallowed hard, feeling confused and disheveled. The firelight sent odd shadows across the ceiling and she watched them chase each other through the heavy wooden beams.
"But ..." Seven hesitated, and took a breath. "You have been with men and enjoyed it. B'Elanna boasts of how good it feels to have a large erection inside her. What is wrong with me?"
"There is nothing wrong with you, darling," Janeway insisted. "And I can assure you that while I enjoyed being with men and B'Elanna may brag about size, we both had to ... adjust to being penetrated. Obviously when you care about the man, and he cares about you, you learn to enjoy it a lot quicker but it still takes time and patience." She bent her head closer for emphasis, resting her forehead on Seven's. "In any event, Annika, I'm not a man."
Seven was silent. "I would still love you," she offered finally. "If you were, I mean."
Janeway smiled. "I'm glad. I know I would love you too." She paused, thinking hard. "Darling, we're all individuals, and we all like different things. It can be fun to try new sensations but nowhere does it say we have to enjoy everything we attempt."
"If you were a man..." Seven began.
"If I were a man, I doubt very much we'd be having this conversation," Kathryn interjected smoothly. "There would be a certain motivation for you to adjust because male/female lovemaking generally includes penile penetration on a regular basis. That's not the issue here. Regardless of whether or not you use the device on me in the future, clearly you don't enjoy being penetrated in the same way. I do know that you are remarkably ... tight. Two fingers are usually all I can get in you, so it's not surprising you wouldn't want anything larger than that. Unfortunately, the device simply cannot be made that narrow and while I know we could replicate a more specialized device, or that through time and patience, you could adapt and be able to accept penetration without pain using this one, there's no reason for you to make that effort with me. It's simply not necessary."
"But if you enjoy using the device, then I should learn how to accept it," Seven said slowly.
"No," Kathryn said firmly in a voice that did not invite debate. She frowned and paused, searching for the proper words. "Darling, if you're not experiencing pleasure, then neither am I. Forget the device for a moment. Do you honestly think I would enjoy you making love to me if I thought you disliked the sensation? Or conversely, would you want me to make love to you if you thought I hated how it felt?"
Seven thought about that. "I cannot even imagine that."
"Exactly. Darling, I enjoyed this experience, not only because the sensation of being penetrated feels good to me but also because I knew you were feeling a great deal of pleasure as well. When we reversed position, I was curious as to how it would feel to be inside you, especially after having witnessed your responses, but darling, only because I thought you would like it. As soon as I saw you turn your head away while I was trying to enter you, all the pleasure I was experiencing immediately stopped."
"I thought I could ... adapt," Seven admitted quietly. "But it was very uncomfortable."
"I could tell. That's why I asked you what was wrong." Janeway put her fingers under Seven's chin and lifted her face until their eyes met. "Darling, I shouldn't have had to ask you. The second you find you're not enjoying something, you have to tell me. I need to know."
Seven hugged her and rested her cheek against Kathryn's, closing her eyes. "Until tonight, nothing we did while making love ever made me uncomfortable, but I promise to be more forthcoming in the future."
"Please," Kathryn whispered into her ear. "I only want you to have pleasure, Annika. Never pain. Never."
She kissed her gently and Seven accepted the caring and concern from her partner through that most loving of connections.
"What do you want to do now?" Seven asked softly, after they had parted.
"First, I'm going to take this thing off," Janeway said and Seven smiled faintly, feeling the device prodding into her side as the captain shifted uncomfortably. "Then we're going to take a long, lovely bath together before we scrounge up dinner. After that, I'm going to take you to bed and absolutely feast on you, my darling. I want to wake up in the morning with your taste in my mouth, with it painted across my lips, with your flavor residing on my tongue like a kiss."
Seven raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes you say the most wonderful things to me as well."
Janeway laughed. "I try."
She eased away from Seven's embrace and sat up, settling cross-legged on the rug as the phallus jutted up from between her legs. Her body was glistening red and gold in the firelight, slickly silken with bodily fluids. Seven thought that only Kathryn could look so completely composed and elegant while sitting naked in such a fashion. The Borg felt desire stir within her again.
"Will you let me sit on your face?" Seven asked hopefully.
Janeway glanced up, making a small twitch of distaste with her mouth. "Darling, please don't say it like that."
Seven blinked. "But..." she began.
"I know it shouldn't matter," Janeway went on in a lecturing tone, "but there are more ... romantic ways to talk about sexual positions. Saying it like that gives it a crassness and that detracts from the experience."
"But..." Seven tried again.
"Honestly," Janeway added, her eyes roving over the floor as she looked around. "I think sometimes you pick up too many expressions from B'Elanna."
"I did not adapt that expression from B'Elanna."
Janeway raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"No, you used it with me during the night you were intoxicated."
Janeway stared at her. "Oh." She resumed her visual scan of the floor, obviously not wanting to pursue that particular line of conversation. She abruptly changed the subject. "Where the hell is it?"
Seven sat up. "What are you looking for?"
"The remote. This thing won't come off without it."
Seven considered that for a moment. She wondered if this was a situation where she was required to share amusement with Kathryn. But Janeway did not seem particularly amused, and Seven decided that perhaps she should not be either.
"This could prove ... awkward," she offered finally.
At this point, Janeway was up on her hands and knees, crawling about the floor as she looked for the elusive control. The phallus dangled ludicrously from her groin, waving back and forth like some form of sensing probe.
Seven bit her bottom lip. Suddenly she understood a little of the captain's mirthful attitude toward the device.
"Where the hell did it get to?" Janeway snapped with a touch of annoyance, looking under the sofa.
"Where did you last have it?" Seven asked as she also rose to her hands and knees, hoping that joining in the search would keep her from saying something that would reveal her amusement at the captain's predicament. She had to keep swallowing the snicker that insisted on rising in her throat, suspecting that Janeway would not appreciate it.
"If I knew that," Janeway noted, a trifle acerbic, "I would know where to look now. I know I had it just after I put this thing on. After all, I had to adjust it to your liking." She glanced down at herself, assuming an expression of disgust. "I really wish you hadn't insisted on the tiger-striped pattern."
"I thought it would make it more ... attractive," Seven protested mildly.  "You would not let me make it the blue that glows in the dark."
"It would have looked like I had a nuclear cooling rod attached to myself," Janeway said grouchily.
They searched for a few more minutes as Janeway grew increasingly more agitated, and finally, Seven sent a mental signal to her cranial implant, adjusting her ocular orb to scan for transmitters emitting a certain frequency. She found the small device under the rug and handed it to Janeway who hastily removed the Wonder Wand 9000™ with a heartfelt sigh of relief.
"Annika, I don't think we'll be using this too often," the captain noted as she carried it along with its case to the ensuite. "It's just too inconvenient."
Seven followed her. "Perhaps we could attach a chain to the remote which would bind it to the accessory. That way, it would never become lost."
She did not understand why Janeway thought that was an unreasonable suggestion.
 
The sun through the french doors woke Janeway as it tumbled across her eyelids and she sighed quietly, turning her face away from the intrusive light. She debated commanding the computer to turn the simulation back to night again, but they had made it this long without altering anything in the program and she hated to change that on their last day. 
She opened her eyes as that thought sank in and she found herself staring forlornly at the ocean outside their cottage. It had been such a wonderful honeymoon, relaxing, loving, and best of all, totally uninterrupted. She wondered what time they were expected to 'check out' of the holodeck and how long she could delay the inevitable. 
Seven stirred beside her and Janeway felt the tender arms encircle her, pulling her close.
"We must return to our quarters today," the Borg murmured against the captain's hair.
"I was just thinking that," Janeway responded softly, snuggling against her. "I could easily take another week of this ... or another year."
Seven hesitated as if about to argue, then she must have realized that her partner was not being serious and kissed her forehead instead. "I too, could remain here for another year."
Janeway smiled and closed her eyes, nuzzling her face into the warm hollow of Seven's neck and shoulder. She could feel the younger woman's pulse flutter beneath her cheek, steady and strong and she kissed it as Seven's hands started to move over her, stroking her with gentle passion. They began each day now with long, leisurely lovemaking and the captain hoped it was a tradition that would continue.
The sudden jolt sent the bed skidding across the room to slam into the wall and the couple instinctively flattened against the mattress.  The force of the collision sent Seven tumbling into the bulkhead with a muted thud and an expulsion of breath as the captain tumbled into her. Dazedly, Janeway struggled to free herself from the bedding even as Seven tried to do the same. There was another lurch as they stumbled out of bed and the captain was hard pressed not to fall, saved only by the strong hand that snaked out and grabbed her elbow.
"What is happening?" Seven asked as they ran for the ensuite where the closet held all their garments.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
The simulation suddenly ended, flickering at first before disappearing to leave Janeway and Seven standing naked in the stark holo-grid. Fortunately, most of what they had worn the past week was real, brought in from their own wardrobes, and they scrambled to gather up some clothes from the piles of bathing suits, burmuda shorts and short sleeved shirts that were scattered over the deck.
"Damn," Janeway muttered, grabbing some underwear and the only uniform she had brought ... the full dress whites she had been married in. "So much for the honeymoon."
"At least the crisis waited until it was almost over."
Janeway was astonished and somewhat chagrined to see that her partner had already pulled on her brown mesh bodysuit and was now doing up her hair. The captain hastily pulled on her trousers and threw on the uniform jacket over the snowy under tunic. Her boots took a little longer and by the time she was done, Seven was already at the door that was stubbornly refusing to open.
Seven quickly pried off the panel and looked at the circuitry. "There appears to be a short." She started to work.
Janeway waited impatiently, curbing the urge to push her partner aside and tackle the job herself, well aware that the Borg was quicker and more adept at this sort of thing. Seven cross-linked some power relays and with grudging reluctance, the large doors parted enough for them to get through.
The corridor was awash with the sickly gold of a yellow alert status, crewmembers scurrying for their stations. Janeway wondered why Chakotay had not contacted her. Firming her jaw, she strode briskly down the hall, heading for the turbolift.
"Do you want me in Astrometrics?" Seven asked, flanking her right.
"No, you're with me," Janeway barked as they plunged into the lift. "Bridge." She tapped her comm badge. "Captain to the bridge. Report."
"Captain, we're under attack," Tuvok's voice came over the communicator. "Commander Chakotay and Lt. Paris were out in the Delta Flyer when they ran into an ambush. When we attempted a rescue, the alien vessels turned on us."
Janeway frowned, annoyed that the security chief hadn't thought to call her at the first encounter, especially with the first officer off the ship.
"Perhaps communications could not get through to the holodeck," Seven said then, as if reading her mind. "The short that froze the doors appeared to have occurred with the initial attack. The power couplings involved also control the comm system."
"That may be the only thing that keeps me from yelling at someone," Janeway muttered. She was glad when Seven did not point out that Tuvok would be totally impervious to the captain's ire in any event.  Yelling at Vulcans was a very good way to look idiotic.
The captain tried not to fidget as the lift seemed to take forever to ascend. The doors finally opened, and they both plunged onto the bridge. On the viewscreen at the front of the command center, a star-dusted backdrop highlighted several small, maneuverable vessels that darted and flew at the Federation starship, green bursts of light shooting from them to impact on Voyager's screens with minor results. Seven immediately took up a position aft of the command chairs, accessing the auxiliary tactical/operations station. The captain remained standing, frowning as she looked at Tuvok who was replacing an ensign at his customary tactical post.
"Why didn't you contact me?"
Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "The level of the alien technology poses no real danger. It was entirely unnecessary to 'interrupt' you."
"I'll be the judge of that, Tuvok. Besides, when the bed starts flying across the room and slamming into walls, the honeymoon is definitely over."
"Funny, I thought that meant it was just beginning," Harry mumbled at his post at Ops, and quailed immediately as the Captain turned and favored him with a look that registered at the medium heat level on the Janeway intensity scale. "Sorry," he said quickly, his face reddening.
Janeway turned her back to him before allowing the grin to ghost across her lips. She didn't have to look back to know Seven was regarding her with an indulgently tolerant expression. She didn't mean to pick on Harry, really she didn't, but the young lieutenant just made it too easy sometimes.
"Have you tried hailing them?" she asked, even as she knew it was unnecessary. Her crew was good, they wouldn't overlook something so basic.
"No response," Harry said crisply.
"Where's the Delta Flyer now?"
"It is standing by, ready to return to the hanger bay at the first opportunity," Tuvok responded promptly. "Voyager is maintaining a position that keeps us between the shuttle and the aliens. Although their weapons can do no more than cause minor interruptions in the ship's integrity field, we are unable to lower our shields in order to facilitate docking."
"Why were Chakotay and Tom out there?"
There was a hesitation and she had to look over at him before he answered.
"Apparently, there was disagreement on the respective piloting abilities of the two men."
She considered that and stifled the urge to roll her eyes. "Are we invading someone else's territory?" she said, almost to herself. She lifted her head. "Seven, do you recognize any of those vessels?"
"Negative, Captain. They are not anything the Borg have encountered before.  The profiles of the ships appear to be a combination of several different technologies."
"A joining of cultures?" Janeway said thoughtfully. "So it's unlikely they couldn't translate our messages. Why shoot first then?"
"Perhaps it is not a matter of having inadvertently invaded their space," Tuvok speculated. "Perhaps they are conducting an ... illegal foray."
Janeway looked intrigued. "Pirates?"
"Possibly, Captain. If that is the case, then they received more than they bargained for when they attacked the Delta Flyer, though there would be no way for them to understand that it was merely a shuttle from a larger ship rather than an independent vessel."
"You haven't fired back yet?"
"We were preparing to when you arrived. We have exhausted all attempts at a peaceful solution to this."
"Ah, well, then by all means," she allowed, waving her hand. "Target their engines, Tuvok. Let them know that we'll put up with this foolishness for only so long."
The security chief moved his hands lightly over his board and on the viewscreen, Janeway saw the red phaser fire erupt from her ship, intercepting one of the swiftly moving vessels. It impacted hard, a spout of gases and flame spouting from the side of the targeted vessel as it was sent tumbling end over end. A second shot took out another of the small ships and suddenly, the rest of the pack seemed to find themselves late for other appointments, scattering in different directions as they fled the scene even as the two damaged ships limped away at a much reduced pace.
"Lower the aft shields," Janeway said. "Bring the Delta Flyer home."
"Delta Flyer is now docking," Harry said, studying his board. "Shuttle has landed, hanger bay is secured."
"Resume course for the Alpha Quadrant, ensign," Janeway said to the dark haired helmswoman who had been covering Paris's station. "Warp six."
"Aye captain."
Janeway turned to Tuvok. "You have the bridge. I'm returning to my quarters to change. In the meantime, inform Mr. Paris and Mr. Chakotay that I wish to see them in my ready room at 1100 hours."
"Understood." He seemed to have no opinion on what that portended, though Janeway thought she saw Harry wince a bit from the corner of her eye.
She smiled faintly and headed for the turbolift. Seven was already there and the captain waited until the doors were sealed and the lift was descending before eyeing her curiously, nudging her slightly with her shoulder.
"Are you upset that we cut short our final day?"
Seven shook her head. "It was time." She raised an eyebrow. "But it would be prudent for us to return to the holodeck to retrieve our belongings."
Janeway took a breath. "Good god, you're right. We certainly don't need someone to go in there and start picking up our clothes. They might find that box and open it."
"I can't imagine what would happen if I let the Wonder Wand 9000™ fall into the wrong hands."
 
Epilogue

Their quarters looked exactly the same as the last time they had been in them, but for some reason, Seven felt oddly different upon entering. She did not think that just being married would make such a change, but she could think of nothing else that would cause this alteration of her perceptions. She carried the suitcases into the bedroom and placed them on the bed as Kathryn disappeared into the ensuite. Seven unpacked the two containers, placing their worn clothing into the recycler to be cleaned, before placing the plain wooden box into a drawer in the night stand. 
She dealt with the wedding dress last, holding it up before her as she stared at it. Memories of the ceremony, of how she had felt, of how Kathryn had been so nervous, crossed her mind and she was unaware that a fond smile had curved her lips. She smoothed her fingertips over the lace, tracing the bodice and her eyes grew distant.
The captain exited from the ensuite, having replaced the dress uniform with her tradition red and black outfit. Seven discovered she was there only when Janeway slipped her arms about her waist from behind and hugged her.
"Remembering?" Janeway asked softly.
Seven inhaled slowly. "This shall always be associated with such good memories for me. The tradition is that I am not supposed to wear it ever again.  I find I am ... disappointed by that.  I felt so happy when I wore it."
"Well, you might get another chance. I was thinking that when we return to the Alpha Quadrant, I would like for us to renew our vows ... in front of mother and Phoebe at the actual church. How would you feel about that?"
"I would like it," Seven said, enchanted by the idea. "Is it permissible?"
"Oh yes," Janeway said with a gentle laugh. "And I think in this case, practically required. How can I deny Phoebe the chance to see how terrified I become at the altar?"
Seven put down the dress and turned, taking the captain into her arms. "Hopefully, you will not become so nervous the second time," she murmured, resting her chin on top of the auburn hair.
Janeway sighed. "I'm pretty sure I'll be just as frightened." She drew back a little and favored Seven with a soft, shy look. "But I know you'll get me through it, just as you did this time."
Seven kissed her forehead. "I would." She hesitated. "Do you feel differently?"
"How so?" Janeway asked, tilting her head as she gazed up into the taller woman's features.
"It is just ... I feel differently than I did before." Seven struggled to find words to describe her feelings. "That I am no longer the same as before we were married."
"Ah," Janeway said, understanding dawning in her blue-grey gaze. She mulled it over. "I think I do as well. I didn't think it would make such a difference, but you're right, it has.  It's as if our relationship has achieved a more solid foundation somehow, yet still remains very precious, very delicate. We must take care to remember this feeling, Annika. To know that our love and our life together is never something we can take for granted, that we must always cherish and nurture it."
"I agree," Seven said, pleased that Janeway had understood her so well. Perhaps that was a side effect of the vows they had shared. Somehow, the captain knew her even better now as she knew Janeway better, though how the understanding had come to them was still a mystery.
She closed her eyes and hugged her spouse tightly, secure in the knowledge that whatever lay ahead, this bond they had fashioned between them could not be broken.
Not by anything.

The End

On to JB15