In Cargo Bay 2 there were four children standing against sparking green and black backdrops, their eyes closed. Seven took one look back at the sleeping Borg children. They'd had a long and eventful day. It was time for her to regenerate as well. She had been using a portable regeneration unit in Sickbay since they'd come on board. It was a strange transition from being alone. But it wasn't a bad change. She discovered that she liked being there with the Doctor with his being the last face she saw before she regenerated and the first when the cycle ended.

She headed to Sickbay. It was 0200hrs and she had a shift in the morning. She soon reached the door. Upon entering, she found the lights dimmed. Seven was about to call out for the Doctor when she heard a quiet sound. Peeking around the corner she found the Doctor gently rocking the infant Borg and humming softly. She stopped and leaned against the divider. For an instant she felt something deep within her she'd never felt before. It was something pleasant.

He cradled the tiny infant in his arms. His large hands gently stroked her cheek as she lay sleeping. The Doctor held her like she was the most delicate flower. The child just lay there contently. Seven thought she'd never seen anything so beautiful in all her life. She just stood there watching and drinking in the serene scene.

Then he noticed her. A broad infectious smile came over his face. He used his free hand to gesture to Seven to come over.

She crept quietly as not to disturb the infant. She knelt down in front of them and reached out gingerly to touch the back of the little one's hand. The skin was so soft, like velvet. Seven looked up to see the Doctor smiling at her with an odd look in his eyes.

"Would you like to hold her?" he whispered.

Her eyes went wide. The child was sleeping and she had no wish to disturb her.

"Go on." he said lifting his arm and cradling her small head. As Seven held her hands out he slowly gave the baby to her. He moved her arms so that she had the child snuggly against her bosom and with nary a sound it went back to sleep. For a moment or two he just watched her and continued humming.

Seven stood up carefully and held her for a moment before giving the Doctor a look that let him know she was ready to put her down. He nodded and with his hand on the small of her back led her over to the bed in the rear. Being laid down, the infant never stirred except a little stretch and a yawn.

The Doctor sighed and walked to the front of Sickbay so they could talk without risk of waking the little one. He spoke in a muted tone just in case.

"I've never had to care for an infant full time before. I have my program on sound detector so if she cries I'm activated. It's a little rough." he grinned somberly.

"You seem to be taking good care of her, Doctor," Seven commented. She brushed a loose strand out of her face and acknowledged her own fatigue. "The children are trying to conform to being less...chaotic, but they do require much direction and supervision."

He cocked his head to the side as if a thought had just occurred to him; "Do you think about having children of your own, Seven?"

"Not at this time. The ones we have are enough to keep me distracted," she said.

The Doctor smiled to himself. She didn't know the dual meaning her words could have. What she said could be misconstrued to sound like they were raising the children together. He supposed in a way they were. Raising a family with Seven of Nine, he mused to himself.

"I don't believe I would make a good parent to children of my own." she had said, as he was thinking.

That sparked him back into the present. "Why not? You're doing well with the children."

"I don't believe that I would be better than my own parents. They made ludicrous mistakes. I may have maternal instincts, but I cannot see how I could raise a child from infancy and expect better results. My child wouldn't have the same attention that--" she turned to face him, "that *your* child would, for example."

"Seven, what do you mean?" he said in puzzlement.

"I, I'm not certain." she dug the heel of her hand into her forehead and sat down on a biobed.

"You're not making sense. You're just tired," he reached out and cupped her cheek, "and you'd make a wonderful mother." He gave her a disarming look, eyebrows crooked on one side.

"Perhaps, I am overreacting." she leaned her cheek into the warm palm and raised her hand to cover his. He was always such a comfort to her. When they were together she felt more things that she did outside. When she was around others or by herself she would find a way of chewing off the pain and hiding it away. He made every feeling magnified.

When she thought about procreation, having a real family of her own, she thought about the person she was supposed to share that with. More and more she thought about it and at the same time she found herself comparing all potential partners with a template. It was something her mind had carved out for itself as her ideal mate.

But she didn't do that with the Doctor. She felt comfortable with him. She had no need to fit him to the template. With a final realization, she saw something new in him. He was the template. In all of her potential candidates she'd compared them all to him. And here he stood holding her cheek staring down at her with something in his eyes she hadn't noticed before.

"Doctor?"

Instinctively he took his hand away. He hadn't noticed how long he'd left it there. She looked lovely in the dim light. Her hair was slightly askew with a few strands framing her face. Her eyes gleamed with the shadows playing off of her face. She'd said something. He'd taken a step to the side and sat down on an opposite bed.

"Doctor? Would you concede to a favor?" she said her eyes heavy lidded.

"What? Yes, of course, Seven." he waited for her request.

"Would you kiss me?" she said a tone lower.

"Wha, um..now? Are you asking me--" he stuttered and fumbled over his words.

"Correct. I am asking you...to kiss me now." she leaned in.

He took a step off the bed and his hand claimed her jaw. He lowered his own lips to her full, perfect ones. Barely a touch seeped into a full-bodied kiss as she returned his pressure.

"Janeway to Seven of Nine." a harsh voice interrupted. They broke the exquisite contact in dismay.

She tapped her commbadge, "Yes, Captain?"

"Report to Astrometrics, we need your opinion on this new tactical information."

"Acknowledged." And so the voice disappeared as suddenly as it came.

The bags under her eyes seemed to increase in weight. She smiled and said, "I will return and we'll...continue our...discussion."

Hurrying out the door she breathed out the breath she'd been holding. Perhaps, she'd explore a common crewmember past time, being late for a morning shift.