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To Hear Your Heartbeat

By Manda (Mizuno Ami)

         It was a sound she'd never really thought about- never in life, never when she'd been warm beneath the covers, head resting against Mark's strong chest. His arms around her…so protective, so meaningful to her. The love had never been lost, not once…and she was always aware of why she loved him so much. What had made her go to him, fall in love with him after years of thinking she never liked him in any manner…. She'd never thought it would matter whether she heard it or not, just as long as they were in love, and made it clearer every day.

         It was more sensual than she had ever imagined. No memory of the heartbeat echoing through the womb…knowing that the sound must be soothing to a baby, but to hear it was to be at a loss for words. She pressed her ear to his chest, the warmth of his skin, the blood in his veins throbbing in such a way- hands grazing the hairless expanse with gentle caress. Through layers of muscle and sinew she could hear it so clearly. Breathing, snoring, whispers of love in her ear…beneath it all, his heartbeat was loud.  Comforting, because it served to remind her how solid he was, and why he was there for her, now. He had always been…but the heartbeat was realistic. The heartbeat was his power.

         "What are you doing?" A hand brushed the curls of golden-brown; a sleepy voice questioned the presence of her ear on his chest, and her husky voice responded; her slender fingers pressed against him as she moved her mouth to his right ear and breathed,

         "I'm listening to your heartbeat, Chakotay."

         Who knew if a heartbeat was significant to his culture- she could never recall if he had ever told her anything about it. But what she did know, and what she trusted, was that to hear his heartbeat was to know nothing would happen as long as she listened. In a heartbeat she heard promise, promise that Chakotay would be there beside her tomorrow, and tomorrow night. Although it said nothing of how long, said no more of anything she could understand…she only wanted the confidence. And she heard it in her own thoughts.

         Pressing her head against his chest once again, she allowed her eyes to droop, hand clasping around his as the two drifted off…unconciousness sweeping in with aid of two heartbeats, in perfect concert.

-Fin

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