DISCLAIMER: It's Paramount's galaxy.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: C/7. Icheb and Jaxa seek advice from Seven and Chakotay. Set in the universe described in "That Good Night". Contains five short chapters and an author's postscript in the last chapter.

#

Beginnings

Stardate 58415.8

# Chapter 1 – Sand Castles

Seven paused to consider her response. One-year old Ixchell was playing in a nearby sand box and Seven sat with Starfleet Academy Cadet Ralin Jaxa on a bench that offered a good view of the whole park. Jaxa's classes at StarfleetAcademy allowed her free time every other afternoon, and Seven was on leave from her assignment as Science Officer aboard the Sacagawea for a short time while the ship was being retrofitted with a new armor defense system recently developed by Starfleet research. It was a beautiful spring afternoon in San Francisco, and the three of them were taking advantage of it.

"I would say," Seven finally said, "I was first attracted to Chakotay when he came to the holodeck on Voyager to speak with me after the incident with the Borg homing beacon. I had been on Voyager a few months already." Seven paused to consider further. "Actually, before that, we were discussing laughter on our way to the aeroponics bay. I also remember feeling an attraction towards him at that time as well."

Jaxa looked surprised. "That was so soon after you were disconnected from the Collective." she said.

"The first instance took place eleven days after I was disconnected," Seven stated matter-of-factly.

"I didn't know you were romantically involved for so long."

Seven turned to look at Jaxa. "You did not specify a romantic affiliation. You simply asked me when I was first attracted to Chakotay."

Jaxa shifted uncomfortably under Seven's glare. No matter how hard she tried not to be, she was still a little frightened by this ex-Borg drone. In all honesty, it was only on this current extended visit of the Sacagawea in system that Jaxa had been spending time with Seven without Icheb or Chakotay with them as well. "Oh. I'm sorry Commander. I was actually wondering when you two first became involved romantically."

Seven nodded and stood to move to Ixchell in order to place a shovel closer to the toddler's outstretched hands that had been accidentally kicked away. Ixchell looked up with a big smile and grabbed the shovel. "Very well," Seven said, sitting back down. "Soon after I ended my experiments in socialization on the holodeck, I became aware that Chakotay was attracted to me as well. This was about three and a half years after my arrival on Voyager and four months before we returned to the alpha quadrant."

"What sort of socialization experiments?"

Now it was Seven's turn to shift uncomfortably. "The parameters of the experiments are unimportant. What is important is that I started noticing instances where Chakotay went out of his way to be with me. Desiring to attend Neelix's cooking classes in my company, for example."

"The ambassador from New Talaxia? He cooks?"

"Oh yes. His choices are often times not to my taste, but he is quite accomplished."

Jaxa was impressed. Such a compliment coming from Seven was rare.

"I think, however," Seven continued, "it was clear we had feelings for one another after our shared adventure with the Ventu."

"Ah yes. Captain Chakotay has spoken to me about the Ventu. Actually, not too long ago on one of our hikes together. We were in a rain forest, in Belize I believe, and he remarked how much the landscape reminded him of their planet."

"Indeed. It was soon after that, just outside the mess hall after breakfast, that he asked me on our first date."

Jaxa waited for more, but Seven had returned her gaze to watch Ixchell and appeared to be finished. Now Ixchell was reaching for a bucket, and seemed unwilling to crawl to it. Seven stood again and placed the bucket closer, but just a little out of reach so Ixchell would have to still work to get it. They both watched as Ixchell finally grabbed it, filled it part way with sand, and then turned it over. She squealed upon seeing her creation, but in her excitement, accidently knocked the nascent sand castle over.

Jaxa thought of similar sand castles she built in her youth by the river on Bajor. Elaborate creations, but fleeting and not built to last. As she reflected further, it occurred to her that all creations in life are like that sand castle. Beautiful, but fragile. Care and attention must be spent in not only building the castle but in maintaining it.

"So, did you know from the start that Captain Chakotay was the one?" Jaxa eventually asked haltingly.

Seven returned to look at Jaxa. She liked Jaxa. Chakotay had taken her under his wing during the past three years. He had become a father figure of sorts in her life, this daughter of his fallen Maquis comrades. Indeed, at her upcoming commissioning ceremony, she had chosen Chakotay to administer the oath of office. Icheb and Jaxa had also become good friends and remained close. Although Jaxa still seemed intimidated by Seven, she and Seven had also developed a bond of sorts. "What is the reason for this line of questioning Jaxa?"

Jaxa blushed a little and lowered her face. "Oh, I'm just curious."

Seven narrowed her eyes. "You graduate, get commissioned, and go to your first Starfleet assignment within the next month. Are you concerned about these changes coming up in your life?"

Jaxa shrugged and looked away, not wanting to meet Seven's gaze.

"Are you wondering about your future, and your relationship with Icheb?" Seven asked.

Now Jaxa's face blushed further to a rosy glow. Of course she was, Seven concluded. Their first assignments were still unknown, traditionally announced the week before graduation and receiving their commission in Starfleet, but the most likely case would be aboard two different vessels in the fleet.

"Have you spoken to Icheb about this?" Seven asked.

Jaxa shrugged again. "Not yet, but… I don't know." She looked to the ground as if to find the answer there. "He seems convinced that we'll be assigned the same ship."

"And you're not so sure?"

"I've been talking to a lot of cadets. Some do think that those in the top of the class get their first choice. But many think the dream sheet is all for show."

"What does Icheb say about that?"

"I don't know. We get along so well together, and we have fun. I don't want to ruin it all if he's not thinking like that. We're still young, and…" There now. She had finally said it. Well, most of it anyway. Jaxa looked at Seven to measure her reaction.

Seven seemed to be thinking something over in her head as she looked in the direction of the playground where Ixchell played. Then she turned to Jaxa and looked her in the eyes. "I know Icheb cares a great deal for you," she said soothingly. "You are both young, but it is good to talk these things through. My suggestion is to be honest with him and tell him how you feel. The truth is always the best."

"But we're so different. How do you know when it will work?" Jaxa blurted out. She was surprised at herself, but happy to be talking to someone about these thoughts. Everything was happening so fast. In a month, she would be a Starfleet officer, assigned to who knows where. Icheb might be sectors away.

"Differences are irrelevant. Look at Chakotay and myself."

"You seem so compatible."

"Yes, of course. Compatibility is completely separate from similarity. Chakotay and I share common interests, but in many ways, Chakotay and I are very different. Consider our spiritual beliefs. As you know, spirituality is very important to Chakotay. It is at the core of who he is. For me, I am uncertain, and my Borg physiology prevents me from participating in the vision quests he deems so important."

"You seem so supportive. And Icheb has Borg technology within him and still seeks guidance from his animal guide."

"Icheb has far less Borg technology inside him than I. The point is, though, I respect Chakotay's beliefs. In fact, I treasure them. And Chakotay respects my beliefs. Despite my Borg past, he accepts me for who I am. We accept the other, and marvel in both the similarities and the differences. If you love each other for whom each of you are, and not who you want the other to be, then it will work, regardless of the differences."

Seven glanced at Ixchell, and then moved off the bench to take the toddler's sandy hand out of her mouth. The baby cooed, and Seven swooped her up in her arms. She lovingly hugged her daughter and smiled. Ixchell seemed to glow in her attention.

"Come," Seven said to Jaxa. "Let us go get a quick meal before I have to take you back to the Academy."

Jaxa nodded and stood to join Seven. Ixchell was lucky to have Commander Hansen as her mother, she thought to herself. It was so nice having Seven and Chakotay back in system for this time before graduation. Messaging over sub-space was simply not enough.

She fell into step behind Seven who proceeded down the sidewalk at a brisk pace, Ixchell held in one arm on her hip. Jaxa admired Seven immensely, and a corner of Jaxa's mind whispered to her that she was lucky to have Commander Hansen as well.

Next chapter - Bridges