Because Neelix was Voyager’s moral officer and everyone needed a moral boost right every now and then, he arranged a series of cooking classes and small parties over the next few weeks to host the goodies his students prepared. The idea was that everyone who participated in preparing a food item would attend the party and sample each other’s creative works. Not only did it provide an opportunity for another social gathering, but it allowed people to show off their culinary talents as well.
This morning he had Tom and B’Elanna paired up together cooking appetizers while Harry and Naomi Wildman made desserts. Now came the difficult part of the teaching- the main course. His original plan was to have Commander Chakotay team up with Captain Janeway to prepare a gondar roast, a complex yet highly tasty Talaxian dish, but since Chakotay was a vegetarian and Captain Janeway was late for class, he assigned the commander to assist in side-dish preparations with Tuvok while Seven handled the main course herself.
He took his time walking between them, adding his guidance only when he thought they needed it. Each had a recipe card before them that was easy enough to follow, but he enjoyed the opportunity to delegate the senior staff for a change.
“Easy on the salt, Mr. Vulcan. Less is more,” he explained, patting the commander on the shoulder in support. He knew Tuvok wasn’t enjoying this one bit and suspected that he was ordered to attend both the cooking class and the festivities after. He then glanced at Chakotay’s dish and grimaced at the clumpy mess. “You have to stir vigorously to get the lumps out, Commander.”
“Thanks for the tip, Neelix,” Chakotay said, trying not to sound too sarcastic since he already knew how to make mashed potatoes.
Just as Neelix was making his approach towards Seven to check up on her, the messhall doors opened and Captain Janeway rushed through them hastily.
“Sorry I’m late,” she offered with raised hands. “There was a personal crisis I had to take care of.” She was referring to a few newly grey hairs she discovered by her temple that needed her immediate attention, but they didn’t need to know that.
“I’m glad you could join us, Captain. I was afraid you would have missed all the fun.”
“Never.”
“Well, it appears Seven needs a partner…if you’re willing to assist in the main dish.” He leaned in to whisper so only she could hear, “Commander Chakotay was horror-stricken at the idea of cooking an animal.”
“Yes, well, you know how sacred he hold animals.”
Neelix nodded in agreement and ushered her towards Seven’s location. “I’ve decided to forgo the stew I originally planned and settled on a roast instead. Gondar roast. It’s a delicious Talaxian dish I’m sure everyone will love!”
“I’m sure,” Janeway added, bemused by his admiration of Talaxian dishes that only he found enjoyable to the palate. “Hello, Seven,” she added to the woman who was heavily involved in making sense of the recipe card before her. “It looks like we’re cooking partners today.”
“Indeed,” Seven said, sounding confused but unwilling to convey as much in front of Neelix out of fear he would rattle on about the ‘importance of following recipes to the T.’ When he left them alone to continue, she expressed her dislike for such activities.
“Captain, I am unsure why it is necessary to prepare this food in such an antiquated manner. We have replicators that can do this with a single command. Surely our time can be put to better use.” She took a few seconds away from removing the animal’s thick shell to flick away some exoskeleton that got stuck to the implants on her Borg hand.
Janeway thought Seven looked absolutely adorable just then and smiled in recognition. “Maybe so, but consider this a learning experience.” Trying to keep focused on the task at hand, she sneered at the beast on the counter, its shell and organs oozing a green puss-like substance, and concluded “I certainly won’t forget this experience anytime soon.” She was talking about being with Seven now, together, doing domestic work like a couple would, but that wasn’t clear from her words. Only from the way her own heart felt.
Over the course of the class time, with Neelix’s guidance, they finished removing the exoskeleton from the animal and used one of Tuvok’s dishes to stuff the beast with a tasty dressing. Twice their fingers touched accidentally inside the dish and both times Janeway quickly pulled her hand away. When it happened a third time, Seven felt obligated to discuss it.
“Why must you pull your hand away? I will not hurt you.”
“I know,” Janeway offered weakly. “You just startled me when your hand brushed against mine.” It was a lie but the only excuse she could come up with.
For quite some time, both women were experiencing amorous feelings toward each other but tried to hide them out of respect for the other. Seven was no expert at being in love, far from it in fact, but she was just as capable as the next person at recognizing the signs she observed from her cooking partner; Janeway’s embarrassed reaction to their hands touching in the bowl only pushed them closer to confronting their feelings.
“Captain, may I be candid with you?” She wiped her hands off and turned to face the smaller woman who was still stuffing the animal.
“Of course.”
Seven turned to make sure Neelix was still with Chakotay and Tuvok before she spoke again. “It is my observation that you are experiencing emotions similar to my own.” Janeway flashed a puzzled look her way, no doubt trying to throw her off by claiming ignorance. “I am aware of your physiological responses when you’re in my presence. Your pupils dilate, your respiration increases, and your speech sometimes becomes flustered when you become excited. Are you in love with me?”
Janeway’s mouth dropped. A million emotions flooded her system right now, and she experienced everything from anger at Seven’s straightforwardness, embarrassment at her own transparency, and relief that she didn’t have to hide her feelings any longer. She felt happy, scared, curious and desperate all at once.
“Seven…” she couldn’t find the words she wanted to say. She could only shake her head in search of the words that never came. Without warning, Seven grabbed her shoulders and forcibly pulled their bodies together before giving her a long, deep kiss that she hadn’t felt in years. Perhaps never this deep. Seven’s lips parted hers and sought out her tongue, and for the first time she tasted the sweet wholeness that was Seven of Nine, giving no resistance to the woman in return.
The background chatter in the messhall stopped, and when Seven released her assault on Janeway’s lips, both women were too wrapped up in each other to notice Neelix was smiling, Tuvok was standing by with a cocked brow, and Chakotay had turned about five shades of red.
“Why did you do that?” Janeway asked.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t,” Seven offered, returning her attention to the final dinner preparations and giving the illusion that nothing unusual had happened. But she knew otherwise. She knew she finally found the key to Kathryn Janeway’s heart after a long search. What she didn’t realize though, was that she held a place there already. Their kiss opened the door to a whole new relationship between them.
“Mr. Neelix, this carcass is prepared according to the specifications indicated on this card,” Seven called out. Janeway still stood beside her grinning like a Ferengi who just found a treasure chest filled with latinum.
“Uh, great work you two.” He took the platter away and popped it in the cooker. Tuvok and Chakotay had already finished their dishes and were standing idly by waiting to be dismissed. “The festivities start at 1800 hours. Don’t be late now.” Chakotay abruptly left ahead of the others, leaving everyone to wonder what the rush was about.
1830 hours
Most of the senior staff was in the messhall making small talk with each other while enjoying Tom and B’Elanna’s quickly dwindling appetizers. Neelix toddled about the room with trays of food, delaying serving up the main course until everyone was here. Finally, after thirty minutes of stalling, he took it upon himself to hail the missing members and find out how much longer they would be.
“Neelix to Janeway.”
“Captain Janeway’s badge is set to privacy lockout, emergency override only,” the computer told him.
Hmm... “Neelix to Seven.”
“Seven of Nine’s badge is set to privacy lockout, emergency override only,” the computer told him again.
“Computer, locate Captain Janeway.”
“Captain Janeway is in her quarters.”
Hmm... “Computer, locate Seven of Nine.”
“Seven of Nine is in Captain Janeway’s quarters.”
Without hesitation, he put down the appetizers and clapped his hands vigorously. “Come now everyone. Dinner is being served.” He looked over at Chakotay before heading into the galley to begin bringing out the main course and saw the man turn a brighter shade of red than he had earlier, no doubt realizing Janeway and Seven wouldn’t be joining them this evening. Neelix wasn’t too bothered, though, by Janeway and Seven’s no-show tonight. After all, he had a pretty good idea what was going on, but without speculating too much, he knew whatever they were doing in the captain’s quarters with privacy lockouts on their comm. badges had to be better than dinner in the messhall with a room full of people they saw all the time.
As they sat down to eat, he silently toasted the happy couple and wished them well. He also made a mental note to leave a dish of goodies aside for them in case they raided the kitchen in the middle of the night... like I used to do after wild sex.
The End