"Lady and the Tramp," said B'Elanna to Tom, "What is that? A biography?" she asked snidely. "No, it's an animated movie from the twentieth century created by a man named Mickey," he replied calmly refusing to be pulled into an argument with his ex-wife. "So," he said looking around with exaggerated movements, "Where's your date," he asked rubbing his hands together, but before B'Elanna could answer him with what would have been a great comeback to the difficult question, Seven of Nine joined them and said, "I apologize for being late, Lieutenant...for our date." Both Lieutenants jaws hit the ground at the statement as they turned to look at the gorgeous blond. Having been struck momentarily speechless, they continued staring until Captain Janeway came along and brought them back. "What have I missed," she asked looking at her three crewmembers and wondering if she really wanted to know the answer. "The same thing I've been missing all these years, I guess," said Tom feeling out of sorts. Kathryn glanced around the small group again and then said, "Oh there's the commander. I'm supposed to meet him. Would you excuse me," she commented, as she practically ran for a remote section of the holographic movie theater. Tom watched the Captain beat a hasty retreat and made one himself, after a quick glance at both women. As he headed for the front row and what looked like a brunette, B'Elanna turned to Seven and said, "Why'd ya say that?" Seven linked her hands behind her back, a habit born of nervousness and replied, "I was trying to assist you," she murmured. "Let me get this straight," B'Elanna replied, "You came to my rescue?" "That is correct," Seven stated in typical Borg fashion. "Ah, thanks...I guess," said B'Elanna, "Come on, let's grab a seat."
Taking seats on the left side of the theater, away from most of the other people, B'Elanna and Seven sat next to one another quietly. "Have I caused a problem by saying that I was your date," Seven asked just above a whisper. "Well," B'Elanna began, "Now Tom thinks I swing both ways." "Swing both ways? Explain," Seven stated. "It means, that I date and have relationships with people of both sexes," explained B'Elanna feeling her face turn red. 'Thank Kahless for dim lighting,' she thought to herself. "So, it is alright for people of the same sex to have sexual intercourse?" asked Seven, "How is it done between people of the same sex?" B'Elanna scrunched down in her seat and tried to will herself invisible. "Can we talk about this later, Seven," B'Elanna asked practically whining. Seven stared at the embarrassed Chief Engineer and then nodded once. "Acceptable." The man in front of them, obviously a holographic movie goer, turned around and glared at the two women before saying, "Thank God! For a moment there, I thought you two were going to discuss your sex life throughout the entire movie!" As B'Elanna growled and thought of ways to dismember the annoying hologram, Seven grabbed her hand and pulled her back. "He is only a hologram made by Mr. Paris," she told the angry half-Klingon. "Yeah, well," muttered B'Elanna as she attempted to loosen Seven's handhold. "I'm okay now, Seven. You can let go," she told the ex-Borg as she used her other hand to push at Seven's. "I am only trying to assist," Seven stated as she continued to hold B'Elanna's hand. "Yes, well I'm okay now. Let me go," B'Elanna repeated growing alarmed, and feeling dismayed that she was actually enjoying the feel of Seven holding her hand. "Be quiet, Lieutenant, the movie has begun," Seven told her. As B'Elanna blushed and secretly relished having her hand held, she also hoped no one else sat near them.
Before the movie got started however, Harry plopped down next to Seven and said hello to both her and B'Elanna before he saw them holding hands. "Uh�am I interrupting," he inquired haltingly. "Not a word, Star Fleet," growled B'Elanna who had now turned a deeper shade of red. After seeing the expression on B'Elanna's face, he grinned in his boyish manner and then sat back. "Tonight is shaping up rather interestingly, don't ya think," he asked of no one in particular. Just then, the obnoxious movie hologram turned his head to face the group again and said, "Great. Now you're a threesome. Congratulations. Now shut the hell up or I'll call the manager over," he hissed at the friends. As B'Elanna growled and Harry grinned manically at the hologram, Seven sat forward, grabbed the man's head and twisted it sharply to the right causing it to snap. Sitting back as the moviegoer's body slid to the floor, she turned to B'Elanna and said, "I do not believe he will be bothering you again this evening." B'Elanna grinned for the first time since this whole mess had started, but crossed her arms so that Seven couldn't hold her hand anymore. Harry laughed and said, "I love a woman who takes control." Seven smirked.
The three friends settled in and watched the movie, mildly entertained by the antics of the animals, but as Tony sang the love song to Lady and Tramp, B'Elanna felt an arm snake across her shoulders. 'Oh Kahless! This is just like my first date,' B'Elanna thought as Seven's hand draped over her far shoulder and came dangerously close to "copping a feel". Grabbing the roaming appendage, B'Elanna pulled Seven's arm off of her and then placed it back in Seven's lap, freeing herself up. When Seven attempted to place her arm back around B'Elanna's shoulders, B'Elanna hissed loudly, "Will you stop that!" At this point, Seven and B'Elanna's little drama drew the attention of bored audience members. Harry looked over at the women and practically fell to the floor laughing when he overheard B'Elanna's comment, so he decided to play along. Leaning over he whispered to Seven, "You're not giving up, are you?" Seven turned her head toward Harry and whispered back, "What do you suggest?" Harry grinned as he watched B'Elanna struggling with the new turn of events and said, "She may not want people to see your arm around her, so try putting your hand on her thigh. It's more intimate and less obvious." He saw her nod once, after some consideration, and then plant her hand right on B'Elanna's thigh. Holding his sides, he laughed silently. Using all of his control, he managed not to stomp his feet in amusement when he saw the expression on B'Elanna's face. Her hand, traveling at Warp Ten, stole over Seven's and held it in place before a look of terror filled her features. As she flung Seven's hand away from her, Seven attempted to place her hand on B'Elanna's leg again, but this time her aim was slightly higher; higher than she had intended. Right as Seven reached, B'Elanna decided to turn in her seat and address Seven. When Seven's hand landed between B'Elanna's legs and squarely on her crouch, B'Elanna gasped. Realized her mistake, Seven tried to correct it by yanking her hand back, but as she pulled, B'Elanna grabbed her wrist. By grabbing Seven's wrist instead of letting it go, B'Elanna brought Seven's hand back onto her crotch. When that happened, B'Elanna jumped up, pulling Seven with her, and threw them both off balance, landing them in Harry's lap. Now the entire theater turned toward the three friends. Out of embarrassment, the three decided they'd had enough movie and left in a hurry.
Out in the hall, an angry B'Elanna faced both of them and demanded, "You have ten seconds to explain what all that was about before I kill you!" As her hands became fists at her sides, Seven began to apologize for her actions; she'd only been following advice. Harry squirmed and tried to explain his involvement at the same time. As the two spoke in length simultaneously, B'Elanna finally calmed down and stopped them in mid-explanation. "Oh, forget it. I hate these movie nights anyway. Let's go to Sandrine's where I can get drunk while I listen to you two." Both Seven and Harry let out a collective sigh and quickly chased down B'Elanna who had a healthy lead on them. Once all three had their drinks, they sat at their usual table. "So, Seven," B'Elanna began after taking a long pull from her ale, "Were you trying to tell me something tonight?" Before Seven could answer though, Harry excused himself and headed for a pool table. Seven stood and moved to the seat next to B'Elanna before answering. "I was attempting to woo you," she stated. "Woo me? Where the hell did you hear that expression," Torres asked feeling both amused and annoyed. "As you know, I have been researching dating rituals. I have spoken to several people about this and decided to follow Lieutenant Paris's advice because he had succeeded in his quest for you," Seven explained. B'Elanna sat back and tried not to yell at the innocent. "Apparently Tom didn't realize who you were going to woo, did he?" she asked finally. "That is correct. I saw no reason to include that information in our discussions," the ex-Borg told her, "I see now that I need to further research this subject." "Uh huh," said Torres, "Well, let me know when you've completed your research," she told the younger woman, "So I can prepare myself." Though she was only half kidding, B'Elanna decided that maybe tonight's performance would be the end of it. After all, Seven hated to look awkward or inexperienced, so Torres decided to chalk this whole night up to an experiment on Seven's part.
The next few days were uneventful, so B'Elanna began to relax and let down her guard. That was a mistake. No sooner had she finished her shift than Seven appeared spouting Klingon poetry in front of her and her engineering crew. "What the hell are you doing," she snarled at the woman before her. "I am beginning a Klingon mating ritual," Seven said as she continued her recitation. B'Elanna couldn't explain it, but the urge to start throwing things at Seven was very powerful. "Stop it right now," she growled at Seven. Since Seven knew that threats and flying objects was part of the ritual, she continued her performance. B'Elanna knew she had to shut the woman up, so she kept walking toward her, which caused Seven to back up to keep in front of her. Finally they reached the turbolift in this manner and Torres yanked Seven inside quickly. "Stop, please," B'Elanna said feeling suddenly very tired. Seven stopped in mid-sentence and looked at B'Elanna. "We will mate now," she told her, pulling the smaller woman into her arms. "Stop that," Torres hissed as she attempted to pull away from Seven. When the turbolift stopped, on the wrong floor and Chakotay walked in, both women looked at him, but Seven didn't let B'Elanna go. "Am I interrupting?" he said with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Yes, Commander, you are. I am initiating a mating ritual with Lieutenant Torres," she explained. B'Elanna, who couldn't escape, blushed several shades of red and thought of ways she could harm Seven for placing her in this position. "Perhaps you should initiate it somewhere more private then. It doesn't set a good example if the senior officers are "mating" in the turbolift," he told them using his authoritative voice. "Yes Commander," was Seven's reply as the lift stopped on deck eight and the women exited.
In anger, B'Elanna gave one mighty push against Seven and broke her hold. "Damn it Seven! What the hell were you thinking," she demanded as she headed for her quarters. "Mr. Neelix informed me that this behavior was expected when mating with a Klingon female. Since he had experience in this area, I decided to follow his example," she told Torres. Sighing, B'Elanna invited Seven in and told her to have a seat on the couch. "And don't tell me you prefer to stand," she ordered. Bringing them both a drink, B'Elanna sat in a chair opposite of Seven and said, "What's going on, Seven?" Seven sat ramrod straight on the couch and said, "I am trying to date you, but apparently I am not succeeding in my effort." B'Elanna studied Seven and realized just how emotionally young she was. Taking her hand, B'Elanna said, "I'm flattered Seven, but why me? Did I come up on a list of possible mates for you or something?" "No, Lieutenant. I have found that I am attracted to you�that I wish to be with you, but I am unfamiliar with dating practices," she explained as she blushed. Torres couldn't help it. She thought that the blushing blond was the cutest thing she'd seen in a long time. "Had you considered just telling me?" B'Elanna asked smiling. "Initially I was going to tell you, but everyone I spoke with informed me that I could not approach you with the truth," she told Torres. Torres sighed and said, "I wish you'd quit listening to everybody. Their advice just makes things more difficult." Seven nodded and then asked if B'Elanna would mate with her now. "Don't you think you should find out if I even date women?" B'Elanna asked. Seven's face fell as she considered the implications of B'Elanna's statement. "It had not occurred to me that you would not find women attractive.Seven of Nine Since I had these feelings, I assumed that everyone did," she stated, "Do you copulate with women?" B'Elanna smiled and wondered if Seven knew the power she held over her. "I have in the past, Seven, but not since being onboard Voyager." "Do you consider me an acceptable mate?" Seven asked searching B'Elanna's eyes. "Of course, Seven. I'd say that most everyone on this ship would consider you acceptable, in fact," she overstated. "Then you consider me to be the same as everyone else onboard?" Seven asked pointedly. "No, no...look, Seven, I misspoke. I consider you special...special to me. I'm just not sure how good we'd be together, because of our past relationship," Torres explained. "Why would our past relationship have any baring on our present one?" Seven asked feeling confused. B'Elanna smiled sadly and then whispered, "Because I was such a bitch to you. How can you forget all of that?" "It is as you said, it is the past. Our relationship is no longer like that. Why keep bringing it up?" Seven asked her. B'Elanna searched Seven's face and then took it in her hands as she delivered a kiss to Seven's waiting lips. "I'll never speak of it again," she murmured to Seven, "Now, did you have something in mind for me?" Seven's face lit up as a smirk came to her lips. "Let me guess," said B'Elanna, "You've been researching that too?" A nod was all the answer she received before being pulled out of her chair.