A/N: I've decided to try and make more time for writing as it's been way too long since I posted on here. Anyways, hope you enjoy this :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The Blue Thing

Hoshi had a way with languages, but she did not have a way with words.

A fact that had become clear to Trip very early on in their relationship and was being proved once again as he watched her search through their quarters for "the thing."

When he'd asked what "the thing" was he'd been informed it was the "blue thing with the thing" and had given up on any further attempts to help.

He hid an amused smile as she stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, glaring at their shared living space in frustration.

"So, no luck then?" he asked after a moment, she pulled a face at him and he grinned. "Perhaps if you could be a bit more descriptive I could help," he suggested, setting his schematics aside and coming to join her.

Hoshi sighed, "I can't find the thing."

"Yes, the blue thing," he teased and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Very funny."

"That's what you said," he reminded her.

Hoshi huffed in annoyance as she continued to survey the room, "I know but I can't think of the right word." She sat down with a sigh, "Some linguistics expert I am," she observed with a self-deprecating smile.

Trip shook his head with a smile and came over to join her. "You've always had a way with languages," he told her, giving her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

"It's just words that occasionally give you trouble," he added with a grin and earning a playful punch in the arm from Hoshi.

But he'd made her laugh which was what he was hoping for.

"Seriously, darlin', just take a moment and think of what it is you're looking for," he counselled, looking around the room in a vain attempt to find the something blue she was searching for.

Hoshi closed her eyes, visualising what it was she was looking for and trying to think of the correct word.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open and she leapt to her feet, startling Trip as she rushed passed him into the bathroom.

"I found it!" she cried out in triumph, coming back and holding the object in question aloft.

Trip couldn't help it, at the sight of what she'd been looking for he doubled over in laughter.

"What is so funny?" Hoshi demanded, trying to sound stern but in reality trying to ward off her own laughter.

"You couldn't think of the word 'hairbrush'?" Trip gasped out incredulously, still laughing, "and it's…it's not even blue!" he added, still laughing as he collapsed into a chair.

Hoshi pouted in mock hurt as Trip's laughter died away, "I'm sorry," he said after a moment, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"No you're not," Hoshi retorted, "not yet," she added with a mischievous grin as she pounced on him and began tickling him mercilessly.

Trip's attempts to evade her attack resulted in him lying on the floor, completely at her mercy and Hoshi took full advantage of his recumbent position; secure in the knowledge that – no matter how much he struggled – he would never hurt her. Eventually her attack subsided and they both took a moment to catch their breath.

"You're a cruel woman," Trip commented as she flopped down beside him.

Hoshi smiled at him as she shifted so that her head was resting on his chest, "But you love me."

Trip gave a small nod, "Very much," he agreed, slipping his arm around her waist. "Even if you're colour blind," he added with a smirk.

Hoshi rolled her eyes, hiding a smile, "I'm a linguist, not an artist," she retorted, losing the battle against her smile as she felt his rumble of laughter against her cheek.

Still chuckling, Trip hugged Hoshi closer to him and the pair stayed cuddled up on the floor for a few minutes longer enjoying the closeness.

A few feet away, also on the floor, Hoshi's (green) hairbrush lay momentarily forgotten.