The song 'Written In The Stars' is copyrighted by Michael W. Smith.

Seven looked at the captain.  "Something troubles me, Captain.  It is my relationship with the Doctor."

Janeway took a bite of the unknown substance Neelix had provided.  "What is it, Seven?"

"You two look deep in conversation," B'Elanna Torres said, standing beside the table with her tray.  "Is  this a private conversation or can I join?"

 Janeway looked to Seven.  Seven looked up.  "You may join us.  I may require your advice as well."

Torres sat.  "So, what's up?"

Seven sighed.  "It is the Doctor.  In my studies of human behavior I have learned that sexuality is a part of romantic relationships, however the Doctor does not wish to pursue this.  He says that he wants to make sure I am ready.  I believe that I am ready, and yet when I ask if he wishes to engage in sex, he refuses.  This behavior is puzzling to me."

Torres and Janeway exchanges glances.  "Seven," Janeway said.  "I've noticed that he is very protective over you.  Perhaps over-protective.  Are you certain this is what you want from him?"

Seven nodded.  "I believe so.  I am...distracted.  I find myself engaging in day dreams."

Torres smirked.  "Yeah, I think she's ready," she said to Janeway who was smiling.  "Maybe all he needs is a little convincing."

Seven pursed her lips.  "Elaborate."

Janeway had a small grin on her face.  "I think what B'Elanna means is a good old fashioned seduction."

Torres nodded.  "I think I've got an idea, Captain, and with your permission we might just be able to pull it off."

Janeway leaned forward.  "I'm listening," she said, interested.

The Doctor stood at a counter in sickbay, scanning some tissue samples.  He was distracted.  He hadn't seen Seven all day and when he tried to contact her over the comm she had refused to really talk, giving him short answers to his questions and then telling him that she needed to finish her work, before answering as to whether or not she would stop by sickbay tonight.  But he couldn't imagine what he could've done to make her angry or uncomfortable.  As far as he knew everything was running smoothly.  They had had dinner last night, danced and sang, kissed and said goodnight.  Everything was fine until today.  He sighed, deciding that it was late enough to shut down.  "Computer, deactivate EMH," he said sadly.

"That is an invalid command," was the computer's response.

He stood there, mouth hanging open.  "Computer, shut down EMH?" he tried.

"That is an invalid command."

The Doctor hit his comm badge.  "Sickbay to Torres."  No response.  "Sickbay to Torres, please respond."  Nothing.  "What the hell?" he muttered, walking to the sickbay doors.  They wouldn't open. Paris, if this is some sort of prank...he thought, walking back towards the counter he'd been working at.  "Sickbay to anyone, respond."  Still nothing.  The Doctor chewed the inside of his cheek, pondering what to do about this situation he was caught in.  Suddenly the lights in sickbay decreased to twenty percent illumination.  "Great," he muttered.  Then, to his relief, the doors opened.  Seven stood there, a serious look on her face.  "Seven?" he said.

"Resistance is futile," was all she said as she entered the room, walking to him.

"Seven?" he repeated as she pressed herself against him.

"Talk is irrelevant.  You will not resist," she said, kissing him.  "Remove your garments."

He gaped as she continued kissing him and caressing his shoulders.  "I.." was all he could say when she stood back, waiting.

She turned from him and pointed to her zipper.  "Assist me."

"What is this all about?" he asked, still surprised.

She turned her head and eyed him.  "You do not know?  I thought you had a previous sexual experience."

He smiled.  "I meant, why?"

She turned back to him.  "Because you have been driving me to distraction for a time now and I find it tiresome.  You will terminate this conversation and assist me."

He laughed lightly.  "All right," he said.  "As long as you're sure you want this."  For that he was awarded a flat stare.  He smiled and went to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her.  "I won't resist you any longer," he whispered, gently touching her pale hair.  "I love you."

She nuzzled his neck and said in a throaty voice laced with desire, "And I love you."  She looked into his eyes.  "That will never terminate," she said with a voice thick with emotion, a voice that she usually only used with him.  She hugged into him.  For a moment they stood there, holding each other, basking in emotions they only shared with each other.  Then, with a smile, Seven kissed him, beginning a storm of passion that they had both needed and wanted for a time now.

Seven stood there in sickbay, tears flooding her cheeks.  She needed to see him, be held by him, the only person on Voyager she would ever show her tears to.  It had happened in the mess hall.  She had been there eating her lunch while the group beside her gossiped.  Suddenly, one of the group looked at her and asked, "Are you and the Doc really seeing each other?"

"That is affirmative," she had answered shortly.  She was very agitated today.  All day things had been going wrong and what was worst was earlier, when she had gone to sickbay for her check-up, the Doctor had seemed upset, but she didn't press him for what was wrong.  Finally, he had quietly said he wanted to talk to her about their relationship.  He had expressed to her that he wondered if they still had a relationship.  She hadn't been to see him in days, at least not for romantic reasons, and she assured him that they still, indeed, had a relationship.  He then inquired as to why she hadn't come to him, if he had done something wrong.  No, he hadn't, she had told him.  He seemed puzzled still, and still a little upset.  When she asked why he was upset still, he said nothing was wrong.  She refused to believe him, knowing by the expression on his face that he was still upset, so she pressed him for it.  Finally he had answered that it had kind of hurt him that she didn't want to see him.  Of course that hadn't been the reason why she hadn't come to him.  She simply hadn't thought of it.  That had made him more upset, and she couldn't understand why.  He had actually asked if she still loved him.  After that her voice had taken an edge, as did his and the whole thing ended terribly.  Throughout the day she found herself thinking of different things that she could have said or done that could have headed off this terrible unrest between her and the Doctor.  Grudgingly she had admitted to herself that she didn't show him enough just what a precious thing he was to her.  He was the best part of her life and now that could be over.

Ensign Jackson smiled and shook her head.  "I thought love would be irrelevant to you," she commented.

Seven felt her whole body tense.  "It is relevant," she stated.  Regardless of what anyone thought she did happen to have feelings inside her, even if she wouldn't always share them.  The whole group had laughed, in good humor and happy for their comrades, but Seven took it the wrong way.  Without saying a word or picking up her tray she left the mess hall and went to the only place she knew to go when she needed to vent her feelings.  He was the only one who truly knew what was inside her, that she was just as fragile inside as any of the crew.  Now she stood there in sickbay, wondering if she should activate him.  What would be do?  Would he push her away?  She had to find out.  "Computer, activate EMH."

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," he said into the quiet of sickbay.  He turned.  "Seven?" he said, seeing her tears and immediately concerned.  "What's wrong?"  He went to her right away and took her hand.

"Doctor," she said, wiping her eyes.  "I know we had a disagreement earlier and I apologize for taking you for granted, but I need you.  I do love you.  Please, don't cease to return that."  She was tired and her emotions were raw.

"Seven," he said softly.  "I can't just stop loving you like that.  I know you are still learning.  I shouldn't have let it get to me.  I'm sorry if I pushed you.  I need you, Seven, always.   I love you."  He hugged her and she let herself go, crying and holding him.  "Shhh," he said.  "It's going to be all right.  You've just had a bad day, haven't you?"

"It was awful," she said softly.  "I wish I knew more about how to interact with Voyager.  I wish they could understand me."

The Doctor wiped her cheeks and looked into her eyes.  "You've come a long way, Seven.  We're all still learning about each other.  Just never doubt that you are a part of this family, Seven.  We all love you.  I love you."

She smiled and wiped the remainder of her tears away and kissed him.

The Doctor smile as he thought back to the night they spent after that.  Never had they been that close to one another.  He could have relived that night forever, but the better nights, he hoped, were ahead.  He took a breath and looked at Tom again.  Tom grinned.  "Don't be so nervous.  Just breathe."

The Doctor fiddled with the sleeve of his black shirt.  "What if she says it's irrelevant or something?"

Tom smiled.  "She knows what relationships entail.  She loves you, right?"

The Doctor nodded, still nervous.  "She does."

"Well, then what are you worried about?  She isn't going to hurt you."  Tom smiled.  "Go.  Take her to dinner.  Let me know how it turns out afterwards, ok?"

The Doctor straightened his shirt for the seventh time since he had put it on.  He didn't think he could be more nervous.  "I'll let you know.  Want me to contact you over the comm?"  He pet his pocket for the eleventh time.

Tom smiled.  "Sure.  Now would you just go?"  He laughed, pushing the Doctor out of sickbay.

The Doctor sighed as Tom went back into sickbay for whatever reason.  But he didn't have time to wonder.  He wanted to see Seven, who was waiting for him on the holodeck.  He didn't even realize that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going, that he instinctively knew the way.  Before he could enter he had to compose himself.  How can a hologram be so nervous?  He thought to himself as he entered the holodeck.  It was a nice night, starry and warm.  Seven was sitting on a park bench, waiting.  She was so beautiful that night.  "Seven," he said softly.  "You look wonderful."

She smiled and stood.  "Thank you, Doctor," she said.  Her eyes were so gentle and caring.  Suddenly the nervousness went away.  "Shall we go in?" she said, motioning to Sandrine's.

He smiled.  "Actually, I thought we could take a walk first.  I had Tom program a lake just ahead and I was hoping you would walk with me on the beach.  This is our one year anniversary and I don't want to rush the night."

She nodded.  "That would be enjoyable."  She smiled as she took out his arm that he had held out for her.  The night was very calm and a gentle breeze caressed them as they walked silently.  At the beach Seven removed her shoes and walked bare footed onto the warm sand.  Smoothing the front of her blue skirt, she smiled and motioned for him to join her.

For a while they just walked in the sand, Seven occasionally walking into the water, despite the irrelevance of it.  He just wasn't sure about this, but then he turned and looked at her.  The moon was shining down on her beautifully as she smiled at him, a smile she gave only him.  It was then he knew it was right.  "Seven," he said.  "Would you like me to sing you a song?"

She nodded.  "I would enjoy that."

He smiled and sat down in the sand, holding his hand out.  She took it and sat down with him, situating herself back against him.  "You know I love you?" he asked very softly.

She rubbed his holographic arm absently as she stared over the lake.  "I do know, Doctor.  I return that love."

He kissed her cheek.  "Okay."  Softly he began to sing, and with the first few verses her lips formed a smile and in her eyes were tears.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the sun does not appear, I will be here
If in the dark we lose sight of love hold my hand and have no fear, cause I will be here
I will be here when you feel like being quiet, when you need to speak your mind I will listen
And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying, through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together, cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future is unclear, I will be here
As sure as seasons are made for change, our lifetimes are made for years, so I will be here
I will be here, and you can cry on my shoulder, when the mirror tells us we're older I will hold you
And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty and tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here
I will be true to the promise I have made to you and to the one who gave you to me...
I will be here

"Seven?" he said softly when he finished.

She turned and pushed him back into the sand, kissing him.  "I love you," she whispered, laying against him.

He smiled and gazed up at the holostars.  "Well, you see, Sev.  I love you too.  And I wanted to ask you something."

She leaned up on her hands and looked into his dark brown eyes.  "Yes?" she whispered, softly touching his face.

"Seven," he began.  "We've been through a lot together in the past year.  We're grown so close and I don't know if it's mentally possible for me to fall in love with you any more than I already do.  I meant every word I sang to you just now, Sev.  I want to be there for you forever, as we grow older.  I would like for you to be my wife if you wish it."  He stopped to catalogue her reaction.

For a moment she only stared into his eyes.  Then she pressed her lips into his a few tears falling from her cheeks to his.  "I am honored and touched that you hold me so dear," she said.  "And I hold you that dear to my heart.  I accept."

The Doctor smiled, staring into her eyes, holographic tears forming in his soulful eyes.  "I love you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you," she answered, kissing him.
 

When he got back to sickbay he stood there, looking around.  He'd come so very far since Voyager began it's journey home.  Voyager had come very far, not only in distance, but in personal growth.  The universe seemed right tonight.  He tapped his comm badge.  "Sickbay to Paris."

"Paris here.  Hey, Doc.  How'd it go?"  the sleepy young man said tiredly.

The Doctor smiled.  "I would like to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"Would you be my best man?"

Tom laughed gleefully into the comm.  "Of course!  See, I knew she'd say yes.  You just gotta trust me, Doc.  Always."

The Doctor nodded despite Tom's inability to see him.  "Always," he agreed.

"What are you thinking, Sev?" the Doctor asked softly as they lay there in bed.

She sighed.  "I'm thinking that I wish I didn't have to regenerate.  I would like to stay here with you."  She turned to face him.
"I am also wondering if there is any way we could increase our collective's number."

He smiled.  "Are you talking about Voyager or us?"  He touched a lock of her hair.

She kissed at his fingers.  "I am referring to us."

He leaned on his elbow and looked into her eyes.  "Is my Seven thinking about children?" he said, touching her lips.

She nodded.  "The idea does appeal to me.  We've been married for three years now.  I think a child might bring us closer together."

He kissed her.  "I don't think we could be closer," he commented.  "But the idea appeals to me as well."

She rubbed his shoulder.  "I wish the child could contain both our DNA," she said, kissing his neck.

He smiled.  "I might be able to give that to you."

She stopped kissing and looked at him.  "How could that be?" she asked.

"I've been toying around with an idea," he answered.  "It all started with a fantasy I had a long time ago about having a child with you.  If I could get you pregnant, I believe I could inject the fetus with some re-programmed nanoprobes that could serve as internal holo-emitters.  What do you think?"

She smiled.  "I would like to try this."  She then kissed his jawline.  "Right now," she said, grinning and pushing him back.

He smiled and pulled her down to him.
 

It took a lot of work, but after 17 long months of hard work and failure, they got their wish and they named her Anna.

The Doctor held his little girl's hand as they stood there, watching Seven sleep.  "Give me a moment," he said gently, stepping from his sixteen year old daughter and to his wife.  Anna nodded and leaned against the wall.  The Doctor went to Seven and touched her forehead.  "Hey," he said gently as her eyes fluttered open.

She smiled softly and whispered, "Hey."

The Doctor kissed her forehead.  "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm okay," she answered, and he almost broke into tears, knowing she was in pain.  The accident in the shuttle had been rough and would prove fatal for her within the hour.

I," he said, faltering as tears cascaded down his cheeks.

She shook her head and reached up, touching the holographic tears on his cheeks.  "No," she whispered.  "Don't cry.  I will wait for you on the other side," she whispered, shocking him with the spiritual suggestion she was making.  She only smiled gently.  "Yes," she said.  "I believe there is another side."  She winced in pain.  "I believe it because I know that this love I have for you is too strong to be cut short by something as small as death.  And I know you have a soul and will join me there.  Thank you, Doctor."  She winced again.  Tears were flowing from his cheeks to her hand with more frequency.  She began to cry herself.  "Thank you for helping me grow, for giving me your love.  That debt I could never repay.  I love you immesurably."  She gazed into his eyes, then her eyes slid to her daughter.  "And I love you.  You have also helped me grow into the person I've become.  I could never have become this person without you two."

Anna wiped her now wetting cheeks.  "I love you, Momma," she whispered.

Seven smiled at her daughter then looked back to her husband.  "My love, my Doctor, my everything.  Kiss me one last time."

As he bent down to kiss her his tears fell onto her cheeks.  His lips softly went over hers and he kissed her not only with his lips and his passion, but with his soul, with everything in him.  He gazed into her eyes and with his own he could have shouted "I love you," a hundred times just within that moment.  She had given him everything, happiness, love and his very soul.  "I love you" just couldn't do it justice.  She was a part of him, forever and no one would ever take that precious place in his heart and as her eyes fluttered shut he continued his kiss, loving her with everything in him.  And as she passed on to the other side he realized that she was meant to be a part of him forever..that she had been given to him not only for the short time they had existed together, but for his lifetime.  I love you...

Begin log -

It was something we knew would happen someday, whether she was taken from me by a phaser, an accident or if she grew old.  I miss her so much.  Back when I first thought I loved her I never dreamed anything so astoundly wonderful like our time together could happen.  I never thought that one person could inspire me so, could make me into what I am.  The ending of my technological existance and the beginning of my soul were both wrapped together in her eyes and I will forever thank her for that.  I look at the incarnation of our love, our daughter, and I see so much of Seven in her.  Sometimes Anna will smile just right and I will see her mother in her eyes and for a moment I am taken back to when Seven was here with me.  I never thought someone could make me believe in myself like Seven did, or that someone could believe in me like that.  I'm a hologram, after all.  But something in her saw past that.  Oh Seven, I love to touch you again, to hold you and tell you that I love you.  I miss you so much.  But I will see you on the other side.  There is something so sweet and powerful and yet quiet and gentle in loving someone as deeply as I love her.  There is no death in love.  It was written in the stars, and forever will be.

-End log