Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and all who sail in her belong to Paramount/Viacom and no infringement of copyright/trade marks is intended. This story includes same sex relationships between women. If you are offended by this or it is illegal where you live or you are underage then please read no further.
Code: T/7.
Rating: PG
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Summary: B'Elanna and Seven enjoy the sweetness of victory. Sequel to "The Winner Takes It All..." Snow Sequel Challenge.
"You look wonderful tonight."
14 June 2002
Seven took B'Elanna's hands and pulled the shorter woman upright. A roar of laughter from behind caused B'Elanna to spin around, wrapping Seven's arms around her waist.
"What a fantastic race!" The laugh belonged to Karnic, who had skied down the easier slope carrying B'Elanna's jacket and pack. "Perfect run B'Elanna." Karnic handed B'Elanna her jacket.
"Get inside you two and get something warm to drink. I don't want my clients to get hypothermia from lying down in the snow. Besides, I want a word with Toni." He nodded towards the other guide.
"Acceptable," answered Seven as B'Elanna removed her skis. The two women stepped inside and Karnic pulled the other guide closer.
"Toni, you made a promise about dinner up on the ridge...remember?" Karnic whispered.
"Yes," answered Toni, "and I'm going to honor it. Your client rode a tactical race. She is a worthy winner."
"May I suggest a traditional evening at your brother's place? We can split the charge..."
"No," protested Toni. "I will pay for it. The prize was my idea; however, my brother's place is an excellent idea. Besides, my brother owns me one. Furthermore, my clients have told me they've had enough skiing for one day, so I'm free to go and prepare everything. I will contact you when everything is ready."
"Excellent," smiled Karnic. "I'll inform our guests."
Toni walked over to Tom and Harry. Toni said something to Harry who activated his combadge. The three vanished in a flicker of blue light.
Karnic removed his skis and stepped inside the cabin. There he found B'Elanna and Seven sitting at the table drinking hot chocolate. Karnic allowed himself a slight smile as Seven smacked her chocolate-covered lips loudly to clear them.
"Toni and I have made some arrangements for the evening," Karnic began. "You will be having dinner at a nice little restaurant run by Toni's brother. There you will be served a variety of local dishes as part of a three course meal. Afterwards, there will be opportunities for dancing." The two women at the table just nodded.
"You may want to change your attire," added Karnic. A raised implant from Seven prompted him to continue.
"Although several of my earlier clients have enjoyed both partying and dancing in ski boots, I have something different in mind for you two tonight."
"We should change into something more appropriate?" Seven asked.
"If you want to," answered Toni.
"I've not brought any suitable dinner wear," Seven confessed. "When I asked B'Elanna what to bring she clearly stated that we were going skiing and that I should pack light." B'Elanna gave a confirming nod.
"The same goes for me," added B'Elanna. "I didn't pack for this occasion either."
"I think we can remedy this," offered Karnic after a bit of thought. "I suggest we all head back down to the village now. There you two can freshen up a bit at my sister's house. As for dinner wear, you can either borrow something or request it from your starship. I'm sure my sister won't mind helping out."
Seven gave B'Elanna a questioning look. B'Elanna just shrugged her shoulders.
"Sounds good to me. Let's go!"
Karnic smiled warmly.
"It's settled then. Just give me a moment to warn my sister of your arrival."
~~~
Later, in the guest-room of Karnic's sister's house, B'Elanna paced back and forth. She had just had an old-fashioned water shower and wore nothing besides a towel and water drops. She nearly fell over her ski boots lying on the floor. Her mind was racing. She was going on a date--with Seven of Nine! 'Don't kid yourself,' thought B'Elanna. 'It's just dinner... Okay then, why am I so nervous?'
The dark-haired woman sighed and picked out her outfit for the evening.
~~~
Five minutes ahead of time B'Elanna arrived outside the restaurant. Karnic greeted her with a smile and gestured that she should step inside. An alien male dressed in a white apron showed her to the table. The restaurant had two floors with a bar and a small dance floor along with the kitchen on the bottom floor, and a dinner area on the upper floor. B'Elanna was shown to a table for two in a corner by a large window.
B'Elanna had chosen to wear a simple maroon tunic with a standing collar along with wide black pants and low black boots. She wore her curly raven hair in her usual page.
Just as B'Elanna had seated herself, Seven arrived from the stairway. B'Elanna's jaw dropped at the sight of the former drone and she stood up to avoid falling from her chair.
Seven wore a flowing long-sleeved dress in cerulean blue with silvery-white embroideries on the shoulders and chest. As Seven moved closer B'Elanna could see that the embroideries looked like snow-crystals. Seven had let her golden tresses fall freely over her shoulders instead of capturing them in her usual tight bun. Low-heeled white shoes completed the outfit.
"S-Seven... You look wonderful tonight." B'Elanna finally managed to say.
"You are beautiful as well, B'Elanna," answered Seven while giving B'Elanna an admiring gaze head-to-toe.
They sat down opposite one another and the waiter, Heini, appeared and began serving them some bread and salad. At the same time he described for them the upcoming meal.
"The main course will be sliced meat which you will grill yourself on this heated stone slab. With this you will have fried potatoes and a variety of different sauces. You are welcome to start with the bread and salad while the stone heats up. For dessert you will have a nice sorbet with wild berries. I recommend a local red wine to drink. Or water, of course."
"We'll have the wine," ordered B'Elanna. "Would you kindly reduce the alcoholic content by 65 percent before serving it?"
"Certainly," answered Heini as he left to fill their order.
"You remembered..." mumbled Seven, poking her salad.
"Yes. I did," answered B'Elanna. "I want to have a good time with you Seven, not drink you under the table."
"I believe you have been successful so far," added Seven with a slight smile.
The main dish arrived. B'Elanna sprinkled some salt on the hot stone before putting some slices of white meat on it. Seven observed her actions with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion painted on her face. B'Elanna smiled at the look on Seven's face.
"Relax Seven. It's not like we're having qagh or anything..."
"No," answered Seven. "Serpent worms are best served alive. However, I find the experience of you preparing food for me entertaining."
"Really? So tell me what you think." B'Elanna picked up a slice from the stone with her fork and offered it to Seven.
Seven accepted the offered meat, chewed carefully and swallowed.
"It is sufficiently cooked. Now, I will feed you!" With these words Seven picked up a slice of meat from the hot slab with her Borg-enhanced hand and put it in B'Elanna's mouth.
B'Elanna opened her mouth momentarily in surprise before closing it and accepting the food.
The main course went on in that manner with them both alternating in putting more meat to grill on the hot slab.
At desert the discussion turned to their past skiing experiences. Seven voiced her opinion first.
"I'm happy to have spent my shore leave skiing with you B'Elanna."
"So am I Seven, and shore leave doesn't end until 0800 hours tomorrow." A slight smile covered Seven's lips at B'Elanna's statement.
"Is that an offer?" Seven queried.
"I believe I'm entitled to at least one dance..." answered B'Elanna with a wicked smile. A sudden change in Seven's expression caught B'Elanna's attention.
"What is it Seven?" Seven looked out the window. "Don't you want to dance?"
"I do B'Elanna. However, I would like to show you something outside first."
They finished dessert and stepped downstairs.
"Dinner was great, thanks!" B'Elanna said to Heini as she followed Seven outside.
Seven led B'Elanna to a nearby field and pointed upwards.
"Observe."
The night sky was ablaze with colors. Green rays, red flares and yellow curtains appeared and vanished.
"It's beautiful! What is it Seven?" B'Elanna asked, looking up.
"It's a simple astronomical phenomenon. Charged particles interact with the magnetic field of this planet. We observe the colors when these particles collide with the upper atmosphere, and yes, the display is visually pleasing. That's why I thought you should see it."
A few minutes later Seven saw that B'Elanna had begun to shiver.
"B'Elanna, you are experiencing discomfort due to the cold. I will warm you."
With these words Seven pulled B'Elanna into a warm embrace.
"Seven..." whispered B'Elanna. Her voice was low, almost a growl.
"I believe you should kiss me," prompted Seven. B'Elanna didn't need to be asked twice. The kiss was soft, yet demanding. B'Elanna felt her hidden emotions for this beautiful woman flood to the surface as Seven returned the kiss with equal intensity.
When they finally broke the kiss a single star suddenly lit up and shone so brightly it illuminated the entire sky.
"A supernova," mused Seven. "The last cry of a dying star. Interesting coincidence."
"How's that Seven?"
"The end of one thing marks the beginning of another. You promised me a dance?"
The two women went back inside the restaurant together.
The End (and the beginning...)