XX Doubt Thou The Stars Are Fire XX
It had taken so long to find his heart. And then . . .
OOOOO
It would have been quite easy to be angry with Jonathan Archer.
The admiral had insisted that Hoshi and he serve once a fortnight – separate shifts – disrupting their lives aboard the Enterprise. As the senior officer of the two (indeed as captain of the ship, though admittedly still under the command of a mercurial admiral), Malcolm was given 'carte blanche' to pick how he wanted to do this. He didn't hesitate, and became the one inconvenienced by taking an earlier shift.
(Hoshi immediately objected. A lieutenant commander herself (as well as having a couple master degrees and a doctorate), she knew that in the 'power structure', her rank was minor compared to his. Yet her loving husband was willing to do this for her, so she was determined to make the best of it because Archer was childish enough to demand it.)
Thus he received a boon, that of observing his beautiful wife sleep whilst he himself rose and prepared for his shift. Hoshi's hair was often feathered across her face, spread as a result of her movement during rest. And Malcolm in particular loved it when her locks were arrayed against the silk pillows that they both favored.
(Both normally precise in nature, this small evidence of entropy was a thrill, that made him smile, never mentioning it to Hoshi. When she slept, upon wakening Hoshi would immediately enter their quarter's lavatory to shower and arrange her hair so that it was properly fixed for the upcoming shift.
Preparing himself for the day's shift, the Enterprise's captain rarely disturbed her routine as he, himself was occupied often in thought of what was expected that day aboard ship. It was only at 'night' when they could decompress from either the sameness of life aboard ship or the excitement of adventure, did they lovingly embrace.)
OOOOO
A.N. This a tease – and will be continued upon my arrival (and restarting of my internet) where I am moving to .. .