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“Captain?” Seven repeated, with tears in her eyes.
“Yes. You have been promoted to the rank of captain and given command of the Titan and all of her crew. It has taken you a great many years to get to this point. Far longer than I would have anticipated, but you are exactly where you are meant to be, Captain.” Tuvok gave Seven a rare smile. “You will, of course, be granted the opportunity to choose your first officer.”
Seven didn’t hesitate. “Commander Raffi Musiker.”
Tuvok raised an eyebrow. “An fascinating choice. Neither of you have a reputation for following the rules. You would make an…interesting pair. You are aware, however, that a captain cannot engage in a romantic relationship with their first officer.”
Seven knew this, of course. It made sense. Such an attachment between a captain and any of her crew could create a conflict of interest. Could compromise her decision-making abilities in times of crisis. But she could not imagine standing on the bridge of her ship without Raffi by her side. They had gone through too much, grown so much. Seven loved her ship and her crew, but she would not leave Raffi behind.
“Yes. I am aware of the regulations. Commander Musiker and I are close, but will maintain a professional relationship.”
Tuvok remained skeptical. “That could prove difficult.”
“We’ll make it work,” Seven replied.
“Then I will put in for Commander Musiker’s transfer.” Tuvok stood and walked to the door, before turning to face Seven again. “You will make a fine captain, Seven of Nine, and I am proud to still call you a friend.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Seven could barely speak. “As am I. Thank you, Admiral.”
*******
Seven materialized in the middle of the desert, Raffi’s trailer set among the rocks just a few paces in front of her. She climbed the steps to the porch, the wind chimes barely making a sound in the still air. Raffi had started caring for a few new plants, but her long absence had taken most of the spark out of the space. Seven opened the door to find Raffi staring at the view screen on the desk.
“What is this?” Raffi asked, without glancing at Seven. “They want to transfer me to the Titan.”
“I believe the ship’s captain asked for you specifically,” Seven replied with a hint of a smile.
Raffi looked up. “Captain? I thought you were quitting.”
“My request was denied.”
“Captain?” Raffi smiled, wide-eyed. It was Seven’s favorite smile. The one that completely transformed Raffi’s face.
Seven nodded, her own smile growing.
“I knew you could do it!” Raffi exclaimed, throwing herself into Seven’s arms and giving her a kiss. “I knew this was what you were meant for.”
“Thank you for believing in me. And maybe even being a little pushy about it.”
Raffi backed away. “Wait. If I’m on the Titan, that means…”
“I know.”
“But…”
“Raf, I don’t want to do this without you. Not again. We can make this work.”
“Make this work how? Like, work together and maintain a professional relationship? I don’t know if I can do that.”
Seven collapsed onto the couch. “I know. I don’t think I can either. But I want you with me. You’re the only one I want sitting next to me on that ship. My Number One,” she said with a warm smile. “We just have to be discreet.”
Raffi lowered herself to sit next to Seven. “Discreet means risking your career. If we get caught, you could lose everything.”
“Not everything,” Seven replied, taking Raffi’s hand.
“But you’ve worked so hard and come so far. I don’t want to be the reason…”
Seven silenced Raffi with a kiss. “Raffi, you are my reason. I wouldn’t be here without you. And we’re going to try to have it all. But if we can’t. If that’s not possible. Raf, at this point in my life, I’m going to choose you. I love you and I am not leaving you behind.”
Raffi’s eyes glistened and a lone tear fell slowly along the lines of her cheek. Seven swiped it away with her thumb.
“You were right,” Seven continued. “As much as I hate to admit it, you were right when you said we both needed to grow. To become better versions of ourselves. And we’re here now. I’m not making the choice between you and Starfleet. But if I had to, I would choose you.”
“But Starfleet is where you’ve always wanted to be. It’s where you belong.”
“Do you remember when I told you that one-on-one relationships were always too much and not enough at the same time?”
Raffi nodded.
“I never thought that one person could fill the void left by the collective. That kind of connection didn’t seem possible. And yet, a connection like that also felt so intense. So personal. So overwhelming. Over and over, I pulled away because I didn’t think I could ever have what I needed. But you showed me that I was wrong. You made me believe that I could be loved completely. You made me stop running. And when I allowed myself to feel our connection completely, when I opened myself up to that intensity, I found I no longer missed the collective at all. You filled that emptiness.”
“But you have a collective on that ship, too.”
“Yes. And for the first time in so long, it feels like home. It feels like I belong somewhere. But you gave me that feeling first. And I won’t give up one home for another. I won’t lose you again.”
Raffi leaned her head against Seven’s shoulder. “So we make it work?”
“We make it work.” Seven kissed Raffi’s forehead.
“You know,” Raffi said, shifting to face Seven, “I haven’t accepted the commission yet. Technically, you’re not my captain, so…”
Seven smiled, moving her lips to brush Raffi’s as she spoke. “So, there’s no need for discretion.”
“No need,” Raffi breathed.
**********
The captain’s quarters were bigger than Seven was used to. It didn’t take her long to move her few belongings into the space and install her regeneration unit. Looking around, she realized she would have to find a way to personalize the rooms. Her mind drifted back to the holodeck on Voyager. To Neelix giving her design advice. Knick-knacks, photos and curtains. She would have to replicate a few things. She had no doubt that Raffi’s quarters already bore her unique signature. But Seven had never had much cause to decorate, nor much opportunity to accumulate possessions. As a Ranger, she had traveled light. Standing in the middle of her bare living room, she realized that the spaces people cultivate say a lot about them. And right now, her quarters said absolutely nothing about her. She would have to change that.
The bell chimed.
“Come in.”
The door slid open to reveal Raffi standing on the other side. She took a tentative step inside, her eyes scanning the room.
“Nice digs,” Raffi said with a smile. “Much more impressive than the first officer’s quarters.”
“You want to switch? I don’t know what to do with this much space.”
“Nope. You’ve earned it. And you’ll figure it out. It’s all part of the process.”
“What process?”
“Figuring out who you are. Now. In this moment.”
Seven crossed the room to stand in front of Raffi, placing her hands on Raffi’s hips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too…Captain.”
Seven sighed. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”
“What is?”
“Keeping our relationship a secret. Acting professional. It sounded easy down there.” Seven pointed out the window. “But up here, it feels different.”
“It’ll be a challenge, but we’ve been through a lot to get to where we are now. I think we can handle it.”
“There’s a reason this is against regulations.”
“Yeah. I mean, you’re right,” Raffi said, with a hint of a laugh. “And you’re always one to follow regulations.”
“Raffi.” Exasperated, Seven dropped her hands from Raffi’s side and paced to the window.
“Okay, yes,” Raffi said. “There is a reason it’s against regulations. It’s a conflict of interest. And it’s going to be hard. But just because something is difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Seven stared out the window, recalling a conversation from her past. She had told Captain Janeway once that she felt humans used the word impossible too often. That it limited their ability to move forward. To believe that difficult situations could be changed. Solved.
“You’re right,” Seven replied, turning around with a slight quirk to her lips. “Nothing is impossible.”
At that moment, the bell chimed again. Seven and Raffi’s eyes both shot up.
“Should I be here?” Raffi whispered.
“You’re my first officer. You’re allowed to be in my quarters.”
“Yeah, but do we want the rumors starting already?” Raffi said, backing her way towards the bedroom.
“Raf, there are already rumors.” Seven watched Raffi disappear into the other room. She rolled her eyes. “Come in.”
Seven saw Admiral Janeway, lost in thought, her gaze focused somewhere down the hallway. At the sound of the door, she turned, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Seven.
“Admiral. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“A good surprise, I hope.” Janeway entered the room with a smile on her face and moved immediately to envelop Seven in a hug as the door shut behind her.
“Always,” Seven replied as she pulled back from the embrace.
“Your first voyage as Captain. I wanted to see you off. I’ll admit, it took longer for you to get here than I expected. Not your fault, of course. I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Admiral.” Seven couldn’t help but smile to hear those words.
“Is everything set for your departure,” Janeway asked as she sat down in a nearby chair, making herself at home.
“We’re awaiting a final supply shipment and the arrival of several crew members. I believe we’ll be set to depart by tomorrow.”
“Wonderful. And your first officer? Is she here?”
“Yes. Commander Musiker is aboard and settling in.”
Janeway’s face bore a smirk. “Commander Musiker, you are more than welcome to join us.”
Seven raised her ocular implant as Raffi appeared in the door with a sheepish expression on her face.
“Admiral Janeway. It’s an honor to have you aboard.”
Janeway waved at Raffi to come all the way into the room. “The honor is mine, Commander. You’ve got a beautiful ship.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me give you two a piece of advice. If the wrong people know about the nature of your relationship, you could both lose your careers.”
“Admiral…” Seven began.
Janeway raised her hand. “There is a reason the rules and regulations exist. But that is one rule I wish I had never followed. You’ve spent enough of your life alone, Seven. Hold onto this one, and let the regulations be damned. But be careful.”
Raffi’s surprise lit up her face. She beamed at Seven, whose expression remained pensive as she stared into the eyes of her longtime mentor and friend. It was as though they were having a conversation that Raffi couldn’t hear. Seven gave Janeway a very subtle nod.
“Now,” Janeway said, clapping her hands together. “What does an admiral have to do to get a dinner invitation on this ship?”
Seven smiled. “All you have to do is ask. Of course, Admiral, you are more than welcome to join us.”
“Do you still cook?”
Seven glanced around at her quarters. She had plenty of space to entertain, but no kitchen.
“Oh, she cooks,” Raffi said with a smile. “Puts the replicator to shame. It’s the main reason I took this post. Didn’t want to go months in between home-cooked meals.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed one of your meals, Seven.”
Seven stood under the hopeful gaze of both Admiral Janeway and Raffi. She had no choice but to give in.
“I’m sure I can whip something up. As long as the crew in the kitchen don’t mind. Give me an hour or two.”
“We’ll come with you.” Janeway sprung from her chair, grabbing Raffi by the arm. “You’re good for her,” she whispered into Raffi’s ear. “She needed someone like you in her life.”
“I can hear you.”
“I know.”
************
“I don’t understand why we needed this much food.”
“We’re hungry.”
Seven walked down the hall, her arms laden with stacked plates. Trailing behind her, Raffi and Janeway both had their arms full. They walked side by side, whispering together like old friends. Seven couldn’t help but smile at the way Raffi had instantly won over her old captain.
“It might be a long time until I get to taste your culinary delights again, Seven,” Janeway said. “I appreciate the indulgence.”
Balancing the food on one hand, Seven reached out to access her quarters. As she stepped through the door, she nearly dropped everything to the floor. Standing in her living space, staring at her with wide eyes and wider smiles, were her old friends. Tom and B’Elanna stood in the corner, each holding a wine glass, wearing more wrinkles than they had the last time she had seen them, but otherwise looking the same as ever. Harry sat on the couch next to the Doctor, Tuvok occupying the chair opposite them.
“Surprise,” Harry said, holding his glass in the air and beaming at her.
“What? What are you all doing here?” Seven stammered, unusually flustered. “How did you get in?”
“I let them in,” Raffi’s voice spoke from behind Seven’s back. She turned to see Raffi and Janeway both looking at her rather triumphantly.
“You knew about this?”
“I mean, no. Not until the Admiral told me down in the kitchen.”
B’Elanna walked over and grabbed Seven by the hand, giving it a squeeze. “Congratulations, Captain.”
“Thank you,” Seven managed. She felt overcome with emotion, looking around the room at her friends. They had come here for her. To support her. Despite the distance she had created between them over the years.
The Doctor stood and approached Seven. “We thought you could use a good sending off party. Perhaps a last physical by your trusty Doctor. And maybe a little help decorating your new quarters. We were not wrong about that part.” The Doctor chuckled.
“No, you were not,” Raffi agreed.
Seven glanced around the room. There were pictures on the wall and knick-knacks on the table. Her eyes landed on a kadis-kot board sitting on a shelf under the window.
“A gift from Naomi,” Harry said, tracking Seven’s eyes. “She sends her love.”
Seven walked around the room, taking in all the details that had arrived with her friends. Tuvok had brought her a game of kal-toh. It sat waiting for players on the table by the couch. A vase of fresh flowers graced her dining table. On the wall, she found a collage of pictures, mostly taken by the Doctor when everyone in this room was younger and far from home. There was a picture of Seven and the Doctor standing in sick bay, Seven looking somewhat uncomfortable while the Doctor beamed with pride. There was one of Seven and Naomi playing kadis-kot and one of Seven and Harry repairing a conduit. Seven remembered the group photo that was taken on Voyager’s ‘Family Day’ and the one of herself standing next to the Captain in her ready room. She held a hand up to touch the framed photo of Icheb standing next to her in the cargo bay, overwhelmed with emotion. Next to the old photos were some more recent additions. A lovely picture of the newly christened Enterprise-G and one of Seven and Raffi laughing in front of Raffi’s trailer in the desert. Seven raised an eyebrow.
“Who took this photo?”
“Elnor,” Raffi answered, walking up next to Seven. “You don’t remember that?”
Seven shook her head. “No.”
“It wasn’t long after we first met. Elnor found a holo-imager on La Sirena and he was going around taking pictures of everyone and everything.”
“What were we laughing at?” Seven asked, unable to tear her eyes from the picture. She had rarely seen herself reflecting such genuine joy.
“I don’t remember. But it looks good on you.”
Seven turned to Raffi and smiled before scanning the rest of the room. She stopped. Her eyes grew wide as she moved across the room to run her hands over the smooth lines of the bat’leth hanging on the wall.
“It was one of my mother’s,” B’Elanna said. “She had quite the collection. I’m expecting you to use it. It’s not just decoration. Practice. And the next time I see you, we’ll spar. It’s been a long time since we faced off with a bat’leth.”
“It’s beautiful,” Raffi breathed. She turned to Seven. “If you don’t use it, I absolutely will.”
“What’s mine is yours, Raf.”
“You’ve trained with a bat’leth?” B’Elanna asked, turning to Raffi in surprise.
“Oh, you know, just a little bit. I was trained by a good friend.”
“She was trained by Worf,” Seven interjected.
“Worf?” B’Elanna raised her eyebrows in surprise. She turned back to Seven. “Well, then I’d say you’ll be well matched and I’ll have some stiff competition. I’ll have to get Tom to train with me again.”
“Oh no,” Tom said with a laugh. “I learned a long time ago never to pick up a bat’leth around you. Find someone else.”
Seven spied two more details, framed drawings flanking either side of the bedroom door.
“Is this…”
“Miral’s. I saved all of her drawings,” Tom said with a broad smile. “Couldn’t bring myself to get rid of any of them. Pretty good likeness of you, I think. She had to have been about five or six years old. Missing her Auntie Seven.”
“And this,” Seven said, glancing at the other drawing. She remembered it well. “Where did you find this?”
“You left two boxes of your things at the farm house all those years ago,” Janeway said, moving to Seven’s side. “Kept them in the basement all this time. I went through them just a couple of weeks ago. I thought you might like this back.”
Seven ran her fingers over the drawing of Voyager, lovingly crafted by a young Naomi Wildman. Memories of her time on Voyager flooded through her mind as she struggled to hold back tears. She turned to face the room, smiling at her friends. She had let years pass without keeping up their connection, but they cared for her just as much now as they had all those years ago. And, she realized, she cared just as much about them.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Oh, there’s one more thing,” Tom piped up. From his pocket, he pulled out a handful of holodeck programs. “All of the classic Captain Proton holonovels for you to explore. They should still work. Thought you might need a little old-school entertainment.”
Seven let out a laugh as he let the programs fall onto the dining table.
“I am truly so grateful for all of you. And I’m sorry that I haven’t kept in better contact.”
“Family doesn’t need to talk often to stay connected,” Janeway spoke, raising a glass to the group. “And that’s what we are. Family. Now, let’s eat.”
*********
The food was delicious, as Raffi knew it would be. She had finished every morsel on her plate and leaned back contentedly in her chair, just listening to the conversation. The reminiscences of times past. She had always had a hard time imagining a different version of Seven. Newly released from the collective. Unsure of herself in many ways, yet confident. Arrogant, B’Elanna may have said. But she loved the stories. Hearing of their adventures. Getting a better understanding of what it must have been like to live on a ship for so many years with no guarantee of ever returning home. Of how those people knit together to form a family, bonds closer than most people would ever know. The type that aren’t easily broken.
Seven had told her stories of Voyager, of course. She had told her about each of the people sitting, talking and laughing around this table. But to see them together, she understood, better than ever, the impact that they had on Seven’s life. And she could feel the strength Seven was gaining just being in their company. As if she were regenerating, Raffi could feel the palpable energy in the room coursing through Seven. She knew that Seven would come out of this more alive, more ready than ever to take on this job, this ship, this crew. She smiled to herself. All this time, Seven had felt quite alone, searching for a collective. She hadn’t realized that she had never lost her family. They had been here, waiting for her to be ready to find them again.
“We should probably get going. Leave you two. It’s getting quite late.” Harry put down his glass, looking to the others for confirmation.
B’Elanna leaned forward on her elbows, her eyes fixed on Raffi and Seven. “So, I know I probably shouldn’t ask this. But are you two flouting the regs here? Or is your relationship strictly professional?”
Seven caught Tuvok’s serious gaze. “Strictly professional,” she replied. Seven could almost feel Raffi stiffen next to her.
“Really?” B’Elanna sounded disappointed. “Tom said you would never, but I thought for sure. Especially after seeing you together. You just seem so comfortable around each other. Happy. It’s honestly something I thought I might never see.”
“You are not wrong, B’Elanna,” Tuvok said. “It is obvious that they are still engaged in a romantic relationship.”
“I knew it!” B’Elanna gave Tom a smack on the arm.
“But everyone in this room can be trusted with that information.” Admiral Janeway gave Tuvok a meaningful look.
Tuvok tilted his head. “While I hardly think it’s wise, I knew from the moment you chose Commander Musiker as your first officer, that your relationship would continue. I have said nothing. And I will remain silent. Officially, I had to caution you against it. Unofficially, and as your friend, I am very happy for you both.”
“Here, here!” The Doctor raised his glass toward Seven and Raffi. “All the best to you both. It appears as though my lessons paid off. It only took twenty years.”
Seven grabbed Raffi’s hand beneath the table. “I don’t know what this next chapter of our lives is going to bring, but I do know that when it’s over, I fully intend to convince Raffi to marry me.”
Raffi’s head shot up, her mouth agape as she turned to face Seven. All eyes at the table watched them as Seven continued to speak.
“And we’ll sit on park benches, tripping teenagers with our canes.”
“You’re better than me,” Raffi said softly, lost in Seven’s gaze.
“Of course,” Seven replied. For a moment, they felt like the only two people in the room.
“Raffi’s good for her, don’t you think?” Janeway said to no one in particular.
“I’ll drink to that.” Tom raised his glass to his lips and downed what remained of his drink.
“Guess we’d better start planning a wedding,” Harry remarked.
**********
Seven and Raffi sat curled up together on the couch. Seven’s fingers ran idly through Raffi’s hair.
“It looks nice in here. They did a good job,” Raffi said as she scanned the previously bare room that now brimmed with history and personality.
“You don’t think it’s too much?”
“No. Do you?”
“I suppose not. I’m just used to having…less.”
Raffi turned to face Seven. “You’re used to living in the moment. Being disconnected from your past. But your past is part of you. These people are a part of you.”
“They are.”
Raffi nodded her head, satisfied, before returning to her previous position.
“What did you think of them?” Seven asked, her voice tentative, as if worried that her past and her present would not fit together. Raffi was right. She often preferred to live only in the present.
“I loved them. You’re a funny group, but somehow you all really fit together.”
“I didn’t realize how much I missed them.”
“You didn’t let yourself miss them.” Raffi turned to face Seven again. “So…did you mean what you said? About us getting married?”
“I always say what I mean. I started thinking about it over a year ago. Before you left.”
“You started thinking about marriage before you even told me you loved me?”
“Raf…”
“No, that tracks. That tracks. Well, it wasn’t much of a proposal, but I accept.”
Seven leaned back, looking down into Raffi’s face. “That was not a proposal. When I propose to you, Raffaela Musiker, you’ll know it. And so will everyone else.”
“So, not while we’re serving on this ship?”
Seven nodded.
“Well, I accept anyway. In advance.”
“I take it back.”
“Nope. You can’t take it back. You’re stuck with me.”