A/N: Ok! Back to my main feature. So, this story is kind of like my 'writing experiment' story and as such, I shall be using chapters as a way of playing around with writing styles. This one is an experiment for an ambitious chapter I want to undertake for R&D: Family later on. This one is un-Beta'd though as I just wanted to get it out there and see what everyone thought. There is some medical mumbo-jumbo in here so be prepared. Oh and I rant about ME3. Sorry, it's a sore spot for me.

Chapter 24- 2100

~2052 Hours~

'Perhaps I should have postponed this dinner to 2130. I now understand the Captain's frustrations with the replicator…'

Seven had only prepared a meal once before and that was for the senior staff. This was different. It was certainly more important to her. It was for B'Elanna. The Borg did not have their own language, so Seven did not have a 'native' word to describe what B'Elanna meant to her. She knew several languages and none of them seemed at first to have the right word. Then it hit her; it was so simple and somewhat ironic. The Borg would never understand because they had defined the word so precisely, they would forever be ignorant of its true meaning. Perfection- B'Elanna was her perfection.

She was currently considering extending her assimilation tubes into the replicator, however she felt the need to not rely on her Borg enhancements like a crutch- never mind the earful she'd receive from the Captain or more likely Tuvok regarding Starfleet regulations on technology manipulation- regulations which, of course, were again contradictory to every day life on Voyager. Complex social structure was just that: complex- yet at the same time incredibly rewarding- it was a paradox of sorts. Working furiously in her kitchenette, Seven began monitoring the stir-fry on her small burner while trying to have everything else she would need replicated in time for B'Elanna's arrival.

Despite experiencing once again the phenomenon of 'nerves', Seven was determined for things this evening to be perfect. After the wonderful day she had had from her early morning gifts and 'claiming' B'Elanna in the mess hall to their work in the R&D lab, Seven wanted to end the day on a high note. Idly she noted that so long as she and her Engineer were together, the day was a success regardless.

~2044 Hours~

'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, what am I going to wear? I shouldn't have gotten my hair cut…'

B'Elanna Torres tore through her closet to find something she could wear for her date with Seven. Gold-trimmed uniforms and clothing of all shapes and colours flew on to her bed. She was showered, (shaved… probably more than what was necessary…) and had gotten her hair cut and styled for the first time in what seemed like years. All in less than 40 minutes. It was crazy, but B'Elanna was crazy about Seven and had already decided that she always wanted to look good for her Borg beauty when she could.

~1833 Hours~

'Ok Kathy, you need to get something to eat already. Sara is probably still down with B'Elanna and Seven anyway… I wonder if I could make an excuse to go down there… wait, this is my ship, I don't need an excuse, I can just go-'

The chime to her ready room broke Captain Kathryn Janeway from her inner dialogue that was simultaneously playing on her face: a tired expression changed to eyebrows that had scrunched, then realization dawned and determination had finally settled on her features. She admitted her guest who- much to her delight- was none other than the woman she'd been thinking about for the last hour while trying to finish some reports.

Taking a moment to absorb the sight of the tall redhead before her in casual clothing, jeans and a black t-shirt that said… Space Magic Sucks- the first word in blue lettering, the second in green and the third in red. Shaking brief confusion, she also noticed the tray in her hand with two stasis dishes on it.

"I see you've done your homework on Hoosiers and how to get into their good graces."

Myles walked over to the Captain's desk and set the tray of food down on a quickly cleared spot before sitting. "Well, I had all kinds of official excuses lined up- something about training schedules, or a report on the trouble Torres and Seven are getting up to- but I figured bringing food was good enough to get me in the door and as a bonus I could wear something comfortable at the same time." She was going for nonchalant, but the smirk on her face gave her away.

Janeway chuckled as she took the top off the dish in front of her. "Very well, but you'll have to tell me about that shirt though…" It was so easy with Myles.

~1949 Hours~

'Kahless… The Doctor. Will. Not. Stop. Talking. I've got no time. No time at all to clean up and find something to wear to dinner tonight. Shit! Should I get my hair cut?'

B'Elanna kept nodding and smiling hoping that the Doctor would stop soon. Sure, his idea for a possible solution was good- brilliant even- the Doc had been studying the biotech of Species 8472 off and on for a while and thought their unique interfaces with their bioships was the key. Instead of trying to make things more complicated, he suggested they go for something far simpler. Since the bioships were essentially biological organisms, they used an impulse-sensitive control interface that interpreted the unconscious thoughts of the pilot through a tactile interface. He pointed out that instead of using a computer to program and control the pico-bots or some cerebral interface that required conscious thought, he could create a small biological, transparent 'skin' tab inspired by Species 8472 biotech that could be attached to the brain stem like a sticker which could interpret the directives of the brain stem and send instructions to the pico-bots. He was fully confident that the biological tab 'relay' and the brain stem would find an autonomic equilibrium and the pico-bots would essentially become part of the regulating processes of the body controlled by the brain stem.

It would require a unique session of genetic therapy, but his understanding of the human brain and the humanoid brains of Voyager's crew suggested that it would work. He explained it akin to the brain's ability to calculate complex physics without conscious thought in sports, for example. Seven and B'Elanna were impressed and Seven even suggested that they think about a link at the back of the neck in their hard suit helmets touching the skin that would allow them to use their on-board hard suit cpu's to instruct the pico-bots to perform more complex tasks such as repairing immediate physical damage, etc. B'Elanna loved the idea.

But they weren't going to get it finished tonight and B'Elanna had made a deal internally not to overwork any more than necessary these days. There was more to life than her engines and the R&D lab- namely six feet of enrapturing ex-Borg that now owned her hearts.

"Doctor, if we may resume this research tomorrow, I would be grateful. This evening B'Elanna and I have plans and," with a quick look to frustrated brown eyes that told her all she needed to know, "we would like to get to them."

The Doctor's gossip algorithms seemingly leeched extra power from the warp core and his eyes widened in glee. One could almost see the lights dim ever so slightly. "Oh? Hot date? Don't let me keep you. I can continue this-"

"Sorry Doc," B'Elanna cut him off, "we're securing all data and locking down the lab every evening, new protocol- but here," B'Elanna grabbed a PADD and quickly connected to the main computer and entered some commands "a couple hours on the holodeck, go work on your short game. My treat, you've certainly earned it if this all works like we think it will." His work had really been brilliant- but B'Elanna had things to do.

~1901 Hours~

"That's literary suicide!" Janeway took another gulp of her current coffee number- unknown- for the day. It didn't quite contribute as much to her current feeling of contentment as it used to though…

"No kidding, it was supposed to be that generation's Star Wars- which while blamed for a lot of the problems leading to the Eugenics Wars, was considered a sci-fi masterpiece. After the Eugenics Wars, people turned to entertainment to escape the reality of a crumbling economy and devastated world. For a while after, whenever a movie or interactive game lost narrative coherence at the end of the last act, people referred to it as having been 'Mass Effected'. The 21st century… crazy right? I mean, children were still starving in a good portion of the planet and then the great idea of 'Sanctuary Districts' was created and we know how that turned out- priorities took so long for us humans to get straight."

Janeway straightened out her features to hide her growing smirk and set down her cup before responding. "Sara, do I really have two officers on this ship obsessed with the 20th century? I don't want to have to make up some regulation preventing the two of you from spending your free time together…" She'd considered backing up her statement with a Force Two Glare to add to her fun but knew she'd never be able to hold it when sceptical green eyes bored into her with purpose before brightening considerably.

"Well, technically, my interest lies within the first decade-and-a-half of the 21st Century when the creative and dramatic works in television and gaming were so affected by the Eugenics Wars. I learned a lot about people from the works of that time. Mr. Paris just sort of enjoys the oddball quirkiness of the early 20th Century and the resulting sillyness. He's very much a," she tapped her chin briefly in profile before levelling the Captain with a deadpan stare, "child."

Janeway burst out laughing and Myles found herself joining her. Gathering up a spot of composure, Janeway felt a bit officially obligated to offer at least a very minimal defense of her Helmsman's character. "Well, he did save us that one time-" she began as Sara's eyes lit up with an idea. "Hang on a second Kathryn." She hopped up and practically ran to the replicator, returning with a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses. "Care to make it interesting? I'll drink for every time Mr. Paris has helped Voyager, you drink for every time he's put us in danger- I'll even let you go first."

Janeway just leaned back and crossed her arms, a very satisfied yet dangerous smile playing on her lips. "You're looking at a woman who completed the century club each year at the academy and has drunk with Admirals, 'son'. You think you're ready for this?" She opened her arms in that universal manner that said 'bring it on'.

Instead of answering, Myles filled up her shot glass and downed it in one gulp, setting it down with enough force for her response to be clear: challenge accepted.

~2100 Hours~

B'Elanna had finally decided on something casual yet sexy. She'd really wanted to wear her brown leather jacket she had worn to Sandrines the previous week but thought it a bit too casual. She wanted to be 'stylin. Pressing the chime to Seven's quarters, her senses already assaulted by the smells and sounds she could pick up from inside, she tried not to fidget.

B'Elanna was wearing a white form-fitting tee with plunging neckline that showed a nice bit of cleavage and glowing skin underneath a new hot red leather jacket with five large black buttons securing it together like a present waiting to be unwrapped. There were four pockets on the front and one on the left bicep adding a bit of style and complexity to the top. She wore black jeans and black pumps. She had her own style and she liked it. She'd wear a dress when necessary, but on any given day, give her a leather jacket and jeans and she'd be happy as Tribble in heat.

Seven couldn't help the smile when she heard the chime at exactly 2100 hours. Perhaps she was… "rubbing off" on B'Elanna?

'That expression has a number of 'innocent Borg' uses that could cause B'Elanna to blush. I must explore this in a more public setting- for now, dinner.'

Seven took a moment to whip off her apron, throwing it haphazardly (yet precisely) over the back of the nearest dining chair, straighten to her full height, breathe in and exhale a calming and composing breath before walking to the door to let her date in. She was, undoubtedly, conclusively, excited.

The swoosh of the door triggered a reflexive response from B'Elanna's brown eyes, drawing them up to where she knew the blue pools of her sanctuary lay. What she did not expect was the flowing deep blue dress hanging off one shoulder and golden tresses curled and freed from their usual confines with an elegant grace one would think Aphrodite herself would have been jealous of.

'…ga…'

A very distinct set of electrical impulses engulfed the entirety of B'Elanna Torres' central nervous system at the sight before her. Somewhere, deep in her mind, where thoughts were still, yet somewhat slowly, being formed, she idly wondered if the Borg couldn't have conquered the whole galaxy by now if they just used Seven in a recruitment drive dressed like this.

Fortunately for her, Seven was having her own problems as the two women stood a foot apart on either side of the threshold to Seven's quarters simply staring at each other in awe. B'Elanna's appearance certainly touched something deep and feral within Seven of Nine, so much so that her hunger for food was snuffed out like Chakotay's dream of he and Seven living happily in the woods somewhere.

"Kahless I hope this never gets old." B'Elanna was the first to speak as her smile reached her eyes which seemed to sparkle even in the soft light of the corridor.

"I shall consult whichever deities necessary to ensure the truth of that statement." Seven said, the very personal smile she held only for B'Elanna shining brightly. "I will require a kiss before I allow entry. The food will be ready in exactly 2.3 minutes."

A small growl to escaped B'Elanna as she stepped towards Seven, who was stepping towards her, their bodies moulding together so naturally that neither had to think about it. Starting at Seven's pulse point, B'Elanna gave her a little nip and then pulled back, keeping skin contact with Seven before touching foreheads briefly and finally kissing. It was another perfect moment.

It was another perfect moment interrupted. The turbolift at the end of the hall opened to admit noises and smells that both Seven and B'Elanna recognized, but that B'Elanna's brain could put together first simply by benefit of previous life experience and she immediately froze.

There, stumbling out of the turbolift, clutching, grabbing, giggling, burping and most of all, kissing- were Lieutenant Sara Myles and Captain Kathryn Janeway, so engrossed with each other that they certainly did not notice the two women in an embrace at Seven's door both turning their heads at the same time, lips peeling apart involuntarily as wide eyed shock overcame their features.

The Captain seemed to be feeling her way along the wall as Myles pushed her against it, hands in her hair, lips devouring the smaller woman. An 'oh god' escaped her lips as Janeway had her other hand busy underneath the t-shirt Myles was wearing while trying to guide them to where her muscle memory said her quarters should be. Slamming a palm on her door release, Janeway finally pulled the tall redhead into her room with another bout of laughter as the two women fell to the floor, the door closing behind them.

Still frozen in place and staring dumbly in the general direction of the scene that had just played out before them, Seven and B'Elanna slowly gathered their wits and turned their heads back to each other, noses merely millimetres apart, shock apparently still the theme of the moment.

Seven spoke first.

"The food will be ready in 37 seconds, would you like a sparkling wine or something else with your dinner?"

End Chapter 24

A/N: Yeah, so when I was writing it, I came to the realization that I had no idea how one might get their hair cut on Voyager. It's not like they had a designated barber. I wonder if they just used the holodeck or something. Anyway, I didn't address the how. If you don't know the fiasco surrounding the ending to Mass Effect 3, you probably won't get the joke about Myles' shirt, it's ok. It also occurred to me that the history of Earth in the Star Trek universe is vastly different with regards to the 1980's through 2020's which is something that I didn't really account for previously but did a little retconning here.