Chapter 4
They kept her corset intact, only loosening it slightly so she could breathe.
Jeri's sparkly, mauve biosuit hung limply over her hips, her long arms and neck exposed, and Kate's hand tucked snugly beneath the fabric over her crotch.
It wasn't a perfect arrangement and movement was restricted, but the older woman's slim fingers managed still to delve in places Jeri would still dream of, and their gentle rhythm was tender, and constant.
It was a long and slow ascension to orgasm for Jeri that afternoon, and their sweating and heavy breathing did not do wonders for their hair and make-up.
Fortunately there was a sympathetic make-up artist.
The young woman who managed Ethan Phillips' prosthetics, upon happening one earlier afternoon on the post-coital actresses looking slightly worse for wear and only minutes away from being due on set, supplied the women with miniature make-up kits, tailor-made for their characters, for use in preparation for such circumstance happening again.
Having an older sister who was a lesbian in the American military, Rochelle Abrams understood the insult and occasional torment caused by institutionalised homophobia.
Her sister had seen her opportunities for promotion curbed with her superiors citing her homosexuality as inconducive to positions of power within the military command structure.
"How can your subordinates take you seriously when they know that you sleep with other women? You're a joke"
Private Shauna Abrams almost wept as hard that day as she did when she had witnessed her best friend and comrade in arms, Becky "Birdie" Sanderson, blown up by a landmine.
Shauna had felt utterly humiliated, and devastated.
Rochelle had received the letters her sister had sent from her army base and had been similarly distressed and indignant on behalf of her sister for the insult and discrimination she had suffered.
Following Kate and Jeri's cruel betrayal to the media, neither woman would so readily trust an offer of safety or sanctuary again. But when Rochelle introduced herself to Kate as the sister of a lesbian who had suffered similar degradation, and offered the two women make-up sets which would ensure they were able to fix their make-up before returning to set, an act which would require thieving high-quality studio make-up and thus risk gambling her career as a make-up artist to television stars, both actresses acknowledged that her concern was genuine.
"And there are better places to go than those old restrooms," began the long, black haired make-up artist furtively at Kate as each woman passed slowly by the water-cooler, handing her an inconspicuous-looking Walmart shopping carrier containing the illegal make-up, "My ex-boyfriend and I used to pay visits to the darker end of one of the large, store wardrobes. I mean, you may find another couple at it in there, but they will want their privacy as much as you, and there are plenty of places to hide in there…"
Glancing playfully with her large, golden brown eyes into the actress' grateful face, Rochelle added, "Having sex at work can be a pain in the ass, can't it?"
Worrying briefly Rochelle's story still might be part of an act, Kate considered the possibility the makeup in question could be laced with an irritant or with poison.
The idea seemed so preposterous that Kate was ashamed of herself. She always knew the younger woman had a sister in the military. And she had heard rumours that the wardrobes were used as secret hook-up places, simply because they were such a maze to navigate, and parts of them were long since neglected.
Four hours later, Kate and Jeri found themselves in the deepest, muskiest part of Wardrobe 4, in a small, artificially lit corner behind a long rail of old, extravagant costumes, possibly made to fit pirates, kings, queens and aliens, and next to a large pile of discarded bits of material.
Kate's bare foot was resting on a large, prop treasure chest, her naked leg bent as Jeri knelt below her, her forearms wrapped around her thighs and soft hands grasping her hips from beneath Janeway's grey shirt.
Her corset now hung so loosely over her waist that her breasts were overflowing and the pink of her nipples were visible beneath the hem of the aggressive looking black garment.
Kate was naked from the waist down and her red-tipped command jacket was similarly discarded.
They had been in the wardrobe now for about twenty minutes. They would be missed. But work was at the back of their mind's…
The swipes and waves of the younger woman's hot tongue sent pulses of ecstasy through Kate's sex and into her chest and limbs. One hand next to her mouth as she attempted to weakly stifle her own moans, Kate's other hand ran ravishly through Jeri's loose, golden hair, her long fingers curling in the warm strands with each, rapid surge of exhilaration.
The women both knew they had maybe been foolish in getting so carried away whilst at work. And neither knew how on earth they were supposed to fix Jeri's hair back into Seven of Nine's conservative clip. But they were each feeling reckless, and resentful.
Fifteen minutes after Kate had peaked, and after a quick attempt at re-insertingJeri into her corset, and after reapplication of mainly lipstick and foundation, the actresses reappeared on set and no questions were asked.
The media storm around news of their relationship had caused viewing figures for Star Trek Voyager to skyrocket. And whether or not that was caused by lesbian controversy, extramarital affairs or child custody battles, Paramount Pictures bosses had dropped the legal action they had threatened against the two leading ladies.
The evidence seemed to show that having a lesbian couple starring in their flagship television series did not harm viewing figures in the slightest.
In one week, Star Trek Voyager had become the most successful of all the Star Trek franchises. And in a month Kate Mulgrew, whether through fame or infamy, had become the sex symbol she had always avoided.
Her relationship with the younger actress had provoked a tsunami of criticism and condemnation, but it had also sealed her status as both a tremendously popular starship captain, and a middle-aged woman owning her sexuality for all the world to see.
For many, Jeri Ryan's angelic looks were unrivalled, but the elegant Irish beauty of her older partner was by many more considered even more attractive.
Voyager's episode slot had not been removed or adjusted by UPN. And just as homophobic fans and families tuned off, vowing never to watch the female captain flying her ship of sodomy anywhere ever again, multiple more fans were made as the country and the world took interest in the story of the gay captain and her lover.
There were even television programmes being made focusing solely upon "Rick Berman, boldly going where no man can ever go again" in regard to the assertion that he alone would be the last man who could influence either Kate and Jeri.
Such programs would conclude, whether warningly or humorously, that once lesbianism is tolerated, it is a force unstoppable.
And through this newfound popularity, Kate and Jeri could arrive on set after sex and be late, and that would be okay because the two actresses were now the studio's biggest money spinners.
Respectful of their friends and colleagues however, arriving to set late was not something they were to make a habit of. Nor was sex in the wardrobe department.
Berman, and the remaining producers and executives left the women alone, and everything was almost back to normal.
But the media coverage was heavy and relentless. And Kate was reminded uncomfortably of the former Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer, who had been killed as she was pursued dangerously by photographers who had caused the fatal car crash which had killed her and her lover.
Jeri was being pursued aggressively by reporters and paparazzi determined to get information regarding the custody battle between her and Jack Ryan over their four-year-old son, Alex.
Apparently, the story of whether an adulterous lesbian wife could win custody of her young son over the child's innocent, heterosexual father was one of national interest.
News outlets would follow her in her car with their own broadcasting vehicles, reporters would shout personal questions out to her through the gates of the car park, the gates of the studios, and by the gates of Kate's own house where the younger actress had relocated.
But the most difficult of all were the photographers who, in pursuit of an umflattering photograph which may display her as a woman unhinged, would insult her with words such as "bad wife", "whore" and "bad mother" for the sole purpose of provoking an angry response.
During these times, Jeri would maintain a stalwart attitude and face. She was already growing numb against this particularly cruel and cowardly form of bullying, and as much as photographers and reporters tried, they could get no information nor display of anger from the young actress.
Kate, on the other hand, was making some progress in so far as her own children were concerned.
Her ex-husband Robert Egan had accompanied their teenage sons, Ian and Alex, to dinner at her home.
Tempering his own frustration at the situation as best as he could, he sat patiently and in silence as the two boys shared with their mother their anger and concerns.
Kate spoke patiently with her son's, who were indeed more frustrated at how the news of their mother's relationship had reached them, rather than the news itself. Although they were deeply embarrassed that she was photographed making love to Jeri on the beach.
Kate acknowledged that this was poor judgement on her and Jeri's behalf, and she apologised to her son's for embarrassing them in this way.
Once the boys had accepted her apology, she asked them if she could introduce Jeri to them and after a few moments hesitation, they both agreed.
The evening continued with the beautiful young actress Jeri Ryan, who was first and foremost a regular woman, and a mother, meeting the children of her beloved partner, and not being able to introduce her own son in return.
Jeri was calm and gentle and the boys took to her almost immediately. But when the evening was over and the two boys were leaving to go back to their father's house, Alex, Kate's younger son who shared a name with Jeri's only child, asked anxiously of his mother, "Will Jeri not be allowed to see her son anymore now?"
The question had plagued Kate constantly over the past few weeks.
Jeri's love was passionate but increasingly it had been tempered by deep, deep sadness.
She had never wavered in her affection towards Kate or in her desire to be close to her older partner. But Kate knew that she was in a relationship with a partner whose heart was breaking.
The devastation she felt at having her son potentially moved to another state was killing her, and yet, she remained capable of working and of loving.
When the LesbianGay Alliance invited the couple and their guests to an event being held near Venice Beach, Jeri agreed without hesitation, but Kate was reluctant.
Their relationship had been making news for over a month now and the LGA was hosting a large dinner and fundraiser for LGBT families and their friends and guests who had supported them.
Kate thought it was rather tactless of the organisation to invite the two actresses when they knew that Jeri was at the start of what was sure to be a long and very painful child custody battle with her estranged husband. But Jeri saw it differently.
"They're inviting us because although our... joint family is broken, we are still both mothers, and they reckon we should meet other families like our own…"
Reclining by the modest swimming pool atop of Kate's large, fruit-tree filled garden, the two women rested in the warm night breeze.
Having taken a late-night swim, Kate lay in her swimming costume and wrapped in a large towel on one cushioned chaise lounge, a small glass of red wine on the table by her side.
Her mouth was open to speak but for several moments she could not think what to say.
To her embarrassment she hadn't given much thought to Jeri and herself forming a family. But of course, if their relationship continued, and Kate wished very much it would continue until the end of her days, and if Jeri continued to live at her home, then that would make Jeri a form of the stepmother to her two boys.
When she remained silent for a while, sinking deeper into contemplation, Jeri turned to look her.
"… I would like to go and meet these families, Kate…"
Kate looked into the steady eyes of her partner and understood.
Shifting herself into a more upright position, she took her wine glass and continued to gaze at the blonde haired beauty who wore only her pyjamas and a small smile.
"… Shall we invite the boys to join us?" Asked Kate.
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On a warm evening in California, on Venice Beach and by the breeze of the pacific and the smoke of bonfires, revellers, reporters, drag acts and doomsday protesters sang, danced, declared and conjectured to the news of the imminent arrival of the lesbian celebrity couple.
To Kate, the reception was shocking and overwhelming. But Jeri seemed unfazed, as if her mind was elsewhere.
The two teenage boys who arrived with their mother and her girlfriend in the private car saw the crowds and heard the yells and were nervous.
"They never told us this was going to be some sort of party…" Began Kate irritably, unwittingly making her teenage sons more anxious.
"… Well let's just have fun," said Jeri warmly, smiling at the two boys and then back at Kate, "The food is bound to be good at least..."
Jeri's voice tailed away to make room for a new sound.
Cheering. Whistling, hooting. Applauding. Some jeering. Drums beating. Cars beeping. A dog barking.
Kate squirmed and looked more annoyed, "I wish they wouldn't…"
Ian turned to his mother, "… It's okay, mom...", his dark eyes stared with understanding at hers, "They're proud of you…"
Immediately Kate's eyes began to burn and she turned away from her son.
Ian looked briefly up at Jeri before refocusing on the large-looking venue ahead of them.
Kate's younger son Alex turned to Jeri and inquired, "I'd like to meet your son Alex…"
The statement was so unexpected that Jeri took a short moment to register it.
But before the young mother could respond, and before Kate could form an explanation or apology for her son's mind's wonderings, the slowly moving car had stopped, and to Kate and Jeri's utter astonishment, a welcoming party including fellow Star Trek actors Patrick Stewart, Nichelle Nichols and Majel Roddenberry, had exited the rainbow-spangled entrance to greet them.
"Welcome, welcome!" Greeted Nichelle, as Jeri pushed open the door onto the sidewalk and stepped out before the open arms of the original series actress. "Welcome, thank you so much for coming…" added Majel, as the two, beautifully dressed actresses moved to embrace both Kate and Jeri each in a hug.
Handsomely dressed and with a warm and welcoming smile, Patrick inclined his head kindly towards Kate's sons, "Good evening boys..."
Introducing them to another gentleman, "This is my close friend Ian. He is a fellow Shakespearean actor from England. In fact he has just been cast as Magneto in the new X-Men live-action movie. Filming starts in a few weeks…"
"… I like X-Men…" Piped up Alex, "And his name is Ian as well…" he added, jerking his head towards his silent older brother.
"… I like X-Files…" Shared Ian, warming to the presence of the Star Trek veterans and the warm reception of the crowds who stood behind two short lines of security guards, "But I like X-Men as well…"
The evening passed pleasantly, they were introduced to other families, children and a smattering of celebrities, and on arriving home at just past 1 o'clock in the morning, none of them had a significant word of complaint.
The boys went to bed full of good food and good memories. Ian McKellen hadn't been the first new celebrity whose acquaintance they had made. Others including X-Files star Gillian Anderson had attended to show support to the many LGBT parents and families of whom nothing less than a banquet had been prepared, courtesy of donors.
Celebrations, scattered protests and media coverage outside the venue continued throughout the night.
By the morning, multiple arrests of protesters and revellers who had come to blows had been made. And an exhausted Jeri who had lain awake all night, meditating upon this new reality and the price she had paid for it, waited anxiously for Kate to wake up before sharing a decision she now felt obliged to make.
"I have to leave the show. If Jack is going to take Alex out of state, then I have to be where my baby is."
True to her word that following Monday morning, Jeri and her lawyers arranged to meet with Jack and his.
Kate sat alone in her trailer.
How could she stop this from happening, how could she ensure Jeri was not separated from her son? These and many more questions she asked herself as in sadness she prepared for a new weeks filming without her partner.