Captain Janeway sat on the couch in her ready room holding a glass of wine and staring out the window. She absentmindedly twirled a diamond ring in her free hand. She hadn't worn her engagement ring for several months because it's not exactly practical with a Starfleet uniform. She slipped it on and regarded her left hand wistfully. Somewhere, halfway across the galaxy, sat Mark, the man she had planned on spending the rest of her life with.

A single tear trickled down her face, and she wiped it away before it could be joined by any of its companions. The door chime sounded. She set the glass of wine down and said, "Enter."

Tuvok walked in, and Janeway said, "Hi, Tuvok. What can I do for you?"

Tuvok responded, "You have been in here alone for four hours. I came to see if you require assistance."

Tuvok looked around and saw the glass of wine. He noticed that Janeway was wearing her engagement ring, which he hadn't seen her wear since they became stranded in the Delta Quadrant. He surmised that since humans often mark important anniversaries with relevant material objects which hold a special significance, this must be a special day.

Janeway said, "I don't think there's anything you can do."

Tuvok said, "I have noticed today that there have been many reports in the mess hall of intoxication, but only among human members of the crew. Neelix reports that morale is at an all time low today, also with the worst cases among the humans. You appear to be suffering from the same low morale."

Janeway gave Tuvok a death glare. Tuvok was undeterred and continued, "I checked the Earth calendar. The date is February 14. I must admit, I am unfamiliar with the significance of the day."

"It's Valentine's Day. I'm sure it started out as some sort of religious holiday, but it has become a celebration of romantic love. It's tradition to spend it with your significant other, exchanging gifts such as flowers or candy or jewelry, and generally engaged in romantic activities."

"And so, today, you feel the absence of your loved ones more keenly than is usual?"

"Yes. And don't tell me that it's illogical."

"I had not intended to. In fact, I can see a certain logic to the use of anniversaries as a tool of remembrance," Tuvok said.

Janeway paused and then said, "Oh, Tuvok, I'm sorry. Here I am sitting here with a little black rain cloud over my head like I'm the only person who left someone behind. It must be difficult for you to be separated from T'Pel."

"Indeed."

"I would ask you to tell me how you met, but I'm guessing it's the same standard Vulcan tale of an arranged marriage based upon a betrothal as children."

"You would be incorrect," Tuvok said.

"Oh, really?"

"I was betrothed as a child, as was T'Pel. However, we were not betrothed to one another. The man T'Pel was to marry passed away when he was a teenager. I was to marry a woman by the name of Valeris. We were close friends growing up, and we even attended Starfleet Academy together. She was posted to the Enterprise and I was posted to the Excelsior."

Janeway interrupted him, "Wait...the Enterprise. You don't mean that Valeris, do you?"

"Yes. After she was convicted and incarcerated for her part in the plot to sabotage the Khitomer Conference, I thought it was prudent to cancel the betrothal. My parents disagreed and believed that I was disgracing the family. After my tour on the Excelsior was completed, I returned to Vulcan, where I met T'Pel. After becoming acquainted with one another, we decided that it was logical to marry. Neither of our families agreed with our decision, and they would not bless our union. We traveled to Earth and visited Valeris in prison, bringing a priestess to formally sever the betrothal bond. Then T'Pel and I went to a place called Nevada to legalize our marriage."

Janeway tried to suppress a chuckle, "Of all the people to elope to Las Vegas, you would have been the person I would have picked as least likely."

Tuvok merely nodded.