Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Many Thanks to Misplaced for wielding the red pen


The warm night air was perfumed with the sweat of hundreds of beings crowded onto a hardwood floor, all with the same purpose. In the center of the massive, heaving throng, Hoshi danced with wild abandon. She knew she should be concerned about what she was doing, about what was happening, but she couldn't work up the emotion to care.

She had her arms in the air, swaying in time to the music. He was behind her, hands on her hips, pulling her into him as moved with her. The lights were pulsing, and her heart was pounding. They shouldn't be doing this—any of this. Not the intimate dinner, not the wine they shared, and certainly not the dancing. Hmmm…she thought, smiling as she felt his hands tighten around her and a smile spread across her lips… I still don't care.

He couldn't believe what he was doing. It wasn't entirely inappropriate for them to have dinner alone while on leave, but the wine, and now dancing with her—like this… He could feel his control slipping. He couldn't afford to let it slip, but he was past the point of caring. Running his hands up her sides, he pulled her back into him. He lowered his head to her neck, and started kissing his way from her ear to her collarbone. He felt her tense for a moment and then relax, melting into his hands.

What is he doing? What am I doing? Do I want this to happen? Is this just the alcohol? Do I care? Realizing that she didn't care, she just let it happen.

She was tired of always keeping herself composed while on board the Enterprise. She was tired of never letting on how much he affected her. Or how long she had wanted him, desired him, and loved him. Coming to a decision, she spun around, and buried her face in his neck for a moment before pulling him off the dance floor.

My room is closer, she thought, ignoring the repercussions of what she was about to do.

Stumbling to her room, she keyed open the entry with her palm print. She backed into the room, her hand still holding onto his.

He paused at the threshold, his frame blocking the light from the outside. He pulled her back toward him. "Are you sure you want me to come in?" he whispered. "If I come in, this won't stop."

She hesitated and swallowed. "I… I don't want it to stop. We only have tonight."

She pulled him into the room.

The door swung shut, plunging them into darkness.

She awoke hours later, with the sun streaming in through the open window. Slowly, she opened her eyes gazed at the spot next to her. It was empty. She was alone. Lying back with a sigh, she closed her eyes again. Tears seeped out from underneath her closed lids.

Back onboard the Enterprise, life went on as if nothing had happened. Nothing had changed between them. Not his demeanor towards her, not her performance of duties. Nothing. She became resigned spending the rest of her tour with her eyes focused on the communications panel, her mind on her translations. Once, she had thought about renewing her commission, but not any longer. If she was going to be miserable, she was going to do it on solid ground—not in a flying tin can. She would go back to Brazil.

Opening up her calendar, she counted out how many more months she had left. Sighing, she sat down at her computer and started to type. She figured she might as well get a head start on her letter of resignation.

He could see her closing herself off. She still had the same bubbling personality on the outside, but he saw the subtle shift on the inside. She grew more distant with each passing day. He felt helpless to stop the change.

Two months later

"Ensign, you're late."

Hoshi gave Captain Archer a weary nod as she crossed the bridge to her station. Settling in, she noticed Captain Archer walking over to her station.

She avoided his eyes as he leaned over and spoke softly to her. "What's going on, Hoshi? This is the third day in a row this week, and we won't even talk about last week."

She sighed and looked up "I've just been under the weather, sir. It'll pass."

"Go see Phlox after your shift is over, this isn't passing soon enough." He turned back toward his chair. Hoshi nodded to his retreating back, and then turned her attention back to her console with an inaudible sigh.

This can't end soon enough.

Sitting on the edge of the biobed, Hoshi saw Phlox coming toward her with her test results. She became concerned when she saw him key the door for privacy. He never locked the door. Phlox smiled his too-wide smile as he set the padd down, and sat on a stool near the bed.

"What's wrong?" she demanded.

Phlox's smile grew even wider. "Don't worry, Ensign. You're not dying, you're pregnant!"