Part 9 added on 31 May 2001
Disclaimers are in part 1.
Rating: PG
"Cappa?" B'Elanna asked, walking up behind Janeway in their living room. Kathryn looked up and smiled.
"Yes, Lanna?" Kathryn could tell the Klingon girl was nervous.
"I... I, um, need someone to talk to." B'Elanna looked at the floor, the walls, her fingers, everywhere but the eyes of the woman in front of her.
"I'm here, B'Elanna." The girl's head shot up and she looked at Kathryn gratefully. The short sentence spoke volumes of their relationship and calmed her immediately.
"I think, that is, I'm pretty sure..." B'Elanna stammered at first and Kathryn waited, silently thinking how she had always thought that that part of the half-Klingon's personality was cute and was glad that she retained it. "I'm in love," she shot out, catching Kathryn by surprise.
"In love?" the captain repeated.
"Yeah, I think so. Um, is... is that possible? Being in love at my age?" Janeway slowly smiled and nodded.
"It's around your age when first love usually strikes," she answered the nervous teenager.
"First love? Does that mean is isn't going to last?" Kathryn thought for a moment, considering the question carefully.
"To tell the truth, I've only seen it last a couple of times in my life." B'Elanna's face fell. "But the point is, that it happens and there's no reason that I know of that yours can't be one of those rare occasions." B'Elanna's face broke into a huge smile and she hugged the woman who had raised her in a firm embrace.
"Cappa, I don't know what it's like to have a mother, but I can't imagine it's much different than having you. Thank you for raising me, especially since you didn't have to. I love you and you've been the best mother I could have hoped for." Kathryn felt tears roll down her cheeks as the Klingon girl spoke and she hugged her as tightly as she could, hating to let go.
"If I'd had a daughter, B'Elanna, I could only have hoped for her to be as intelligent, sincere and beautiful as you." B'Elanna blushed and grinned briefly before scowling.
"Ah, now you've gone all soft and mushy on me. I feel the need for some roughhousing in the holodeck, if you don't mind," she growled, shooting Kathryn a wink.
"Ow!" B'Elanna yelled as the mallet swung against her leg instead of the ball it was aimed at. She glared at her holographic opponent and smashed the ball into the goal just as the timer sounded. Seven threw down her mallet and yelled.
"You always beat me! Isn't there a game you're not any good at?" Annika wailed morosely.
"Give me a break. You always beat me at Intelligent Cube, Three-D Chess and I can't even begin to figure out that Vulcan game."
"That is true," Seven said, brightening. "You simply excel at sports. I'm the brains and you're the brawn." B'Elanna growled and tossed down her mallet. Seven squeaked and began running, knowing what was coming. What was coming was a roaring teenage Klingon.
B'Elanna didn't have far to run before she tackled Seven and began tickling her ferociously. Between bouts of uncontrollable laughter, Annika poked fun at B'Elanna until, unable to withstand the torture anymore, she relented and apologized.
"You wimp. You'd spill under just a few seconds of torture," B'Elanna teased, poking Annika's hip for good measure. The blonde giggled and shook her head.
"That is not a logical assessment. You are merely attempting to extract an apology from me, not sensitive data. Also, my tormentors are not likely to know my special tickle spot," she added with a laugh, then turned the tables on her playmate, catching B'Elanna in her ribs. B'Elanna fell into a giggling heap. "You, on the other hand, are ticklish everywhere and are much more likely to bend under pressure." B'Elanna held up her hands pleadingly, to make Seven stop. She complied and they lay there on the Parises Squares court, catching their breath.
"Have you worked things out with Sam yet?" B'Elanna asked.
"There is nothing to work out."
"She was just trying to protect you," B'Elanna argued.
"Despite her motives, which I maintain to be nefarious," B'Elanna giggled at the word and Annika frowned. "I do not believe that she had my best interests in mind, but rather her own selfish reasons."
"Maybe it's because I'm older, but I don't agree with you." She held up her hands as Seven began to retort. "Just because I don't agree with you doesn't make it my place to interfere. It's your life. I just don't like to see you suffering." Annika rolled over and looked up at B'Elanna.
"If I'm as pompous as you when I turn eighteen, please slap me," Annika said, making B'Elanna laugh.
"I'll slap you now for that," the Klingon joked. Seven leaned in close to B'Elanna's face.
"I would rather you kissed me," she whispered. B'Elanna closed her eyes and leaned in to capture Seven's lips with her own.
"Allotted holodeck time expired." The scenery around them vanished at the computer's announcement and they stood. The doors to the holodeck hissed open and Tom and Harry walked into the room, laughing. Tom's laughter died when he spotted B'Elanna and the young woman sighed.
"May I have a moment, Annika?" Seven nodded and left the holodeck, looking over her shoulder only once. "Ensign Kim, may I please talk to Tom in private?" Tom looked suspicious, but Harry nodded.
"I'll be right outside if you need me, Tom," Harry said, patting his friend on the shoulder. B'Elanna stared at the ground until Harry left.
"I wanted to apologize. What I did was unacceptable and I'm sorry that I put you in such an uncomfortable situation," B'Elanna said as quickly as she could, before she lost her nerve. Then she looked up into the helmsman's surprised face.
"Thank you, B'Elanna. I know how hard it is for you to apologize," Tom said and B'Elanna nodded curtly, then headed for the holodeck doors. "B'Elanna," Tom called and the half-Human girl paused. "Maybe, when you grow up a bit..." B'Elanna turned around.
"Sorry, flyboy. Not a chance. You're not really my type." With that, B'Elanna spun on her heel and left.
To be continued....