Just want to thank 0afan0, thyme2read, BewilderedFemale, Tribal Graces, code, and JustaCrazy-Man for your reviews! I know I always say this, but they are truly encouraging and mean a lot to me!

It was now the hottest time of the season that Anne had dubbed "Dante's Inferno." This was also the period during which the favored fruit of the inhabitants of Carraya IV was ready to harvest. It was named the "osol fruit," after the Romulan dessert called an osol twist, because of its tartness if picked earlier in the season. This late in the summer, however, it was the perfect balance of tart and sweetness. The osol fruit had been harvested every year since the establishment of the community. It had long ago become a practice in which all participated.

This was Anne and Dhaval's first year, and they were both curious and eager to know more about it. It was a welcome change to the monotony of the dog days. There was going to be enough to preserve this year, and everyone was delighted that they would be eating it until the next harvest. With replicators, this was all unnecessary, of course. But, as this fruit did not grow anywhere else in the galaxy, Tokath and the members of his colony felt particularly fortunate to have it.

Anne had never left the compound before now, as she was still frightened of the arboreal needle snakes, and more recently, large spiders. "Don't worry," Ba'el assured her, "They'll run away since there's such a large group of people. And the big ones don't like the fruit." Anne wrinkled her nose in response. "So, how far have you gotten in Hornblower?" she asked, knowing it would take her friend's mind off of crawling creatures.

"Ugh!" exclaimed Anne, "Don't talk to me about Horatio Hornblower! I'm not in love with him anymore!"

"I told you that you weren't going to like it." Ba'el had finished the next to last book in the series first, but had not told Anne what had happened in the story.

"Ok, his unfaithfulness to Maria was bad enough." Anne snatched the fruit and threw it into her basket. "But to Lady Barbara, too? And what about Marie? How could he do that to her?" She huffed and sat down on a log. "If any man treated me like that, I'd kill him!"

"Exactly as you should, for he would deserve it if he behaved so foolishly," Gi'ral said with a smile from the other side of the tree. Beside her, Tokath also smiled slightly, but he had nothing to add to his wife's statement.

Dhaval was at the top of a ladder listening intently to the conversation. He was apparently pleased with what he was hearing. "He went back to France, didn't he?" he said with a smirk. "I told you he would."

"You're as bad as Toq!" Ba'el scolded. As bad as Toq? Yes, he was just like Toq, it suddenly occurred to her. It all made sense now. That was why he was always pestering Anne. He wanted her attention.

Ba'el carried her full basket to the cart. Despite his protests, she was convinced that Dhaval's "handshake" with Anne was more than just another prank to him. Anne had also dismissed it completely, genuinely convinced that he was merely behaving as his usual juvenile self. Ba'el was not so sure.

She looked over to see Anne trying to reach for a piece of fruit. She cringed in disgust when a bug landed on it. Dhaval noticed and immediately slid down the ladder. He brushed the insect off and attentively handed the fruit to her. Anne added it to her crate and went over to the cart. Ba'el saw him stare longingly at Anne as she walked away.

So he really is in love with her, then, she realized with a smile. By now, it was obvious to everyone that Dhaval was sweet on Anne. The other guards, who were constantly on the lookout for anything new to torment him with, were having a field day. Even her father took part in poking fun at the youngest guard's expense.

L'Kor handed Dhaval an empty basket from the bottom of the ladder. "When are you going to stop reading and make her your woman, eh?" she heard L'Kor say. Without even waiting for an answer, he burst into laugher and went off to pick more fruit. A group of Klingons, who were harvesting in the next tree over, likewise began to belly laugh.

Just then, Anne returned with her empty container, and stared quizzically at the tree filled with roaring Klingons. She looked up at Dhaval for an answer, but he instantly turned away. The Klingons nearly fell out of the tree in response. Ba'el giggled herself. Yes, for once she actually felt sorry for him. But only a little.

He tried his best to ignore them, but he started to blush again when they brought it to his attention that the osol fruit was blue, his "favorite" color. At last, he angrily climbed back down the ladder and marched off by himself into the jungle. Anne shrugged and got back to work. By now, she was accustomed to them picking on Dhaval for everything, so she no longer asked the reasons.

Ba'el was naturally happy for her friends. When they both grew up and admitted to their feelings for each other, they would make a good couple. But it brought her down, too. She was no longer in love with Worf. Nevertheless, the scar on her heart had not healed. And seeing her friends falling in love re-opened the wound. She felt it acutely that she would end up an old maid by herself, and not with Anne as she had originally thought.

But she would not be all alone, she reminded herself. Anne and Dhaval would still be her friends. It was not as if they were going away. They would inevitably be absorbed in each other for a while. But things would eventually cool down, and everybody would go back to normal. Except Ba'el would be single, and they would be married.

She bravely resigned herself to her fate, however. She was not a coward. She would dauntlessly face whatever future awaited her, laughing in the face of fate all the while. That was a trait she had inherited from both of her parents. Her friends would be happy together, and she, as their true friend, would be happy for them. She would be content. Almost.


After about an hour of tramping out his frustration, Dhaval returned. The first person to notice him was Tokath. His commander smiled astutely at him, but thankfully let him be. Ba'el, on the other hand, giggled again when she saw him approach. She knew all about the "handshake" episode. Everyone knew about it. She was not joking when she told him that there were no secrets in this community. It was as though they all knew about his feelings almost before he knew about them himself.

Anne walked past him on the way to empty her basket. She smiled when she saw him, and continued along towards the cart. Her skin had tanned a little since she had first arrived, and she had gotten more freckles as a result. His heart immediately melted. She was so beautiful… The Klingons in the tree were snickering again.

He hastily grabbed a nearby basket and started filling it. He looked down at the fruit in his hands. Of course, it would have to be blue. There was no denying it; he was madly in love with her. Dhaval had never felt this way for anyone before, so he was not certain what he should do about it.

When are you going to stop reading and make her your woman, eh? L'Kor was right. He had to make a move. But what if she rejected him? On the other hand, why should she? He was the only man who was near to her age. What's more, he was the only man who was attracted to her. There was no other option. Unless she was not interested in getting married? He froze.

Nonsense! Of course she wanted a husband. Why else did she obsess over fictional characters? Why else was she always reading romantic poems and stories? Dhaval carelessly dropped the produce into the container at his feet. As ridiculous as it was, he was jealous of those make-believe swashbucklers.

He was not a knight or a sea captain. He was a prison guard, in a place that was not exactly a prison. His current position was due to the fact that his career had been cut short as a result of his family's disgrace. He was not dashing or ingenious. He was just an average fellow, barely out of adolescence.

And then it occurred to him that Anne's most idolized sea captain had grievously disappointed her. Dhaval smirked to himself. He had never been impressed with that Horatio Hornblower. The man was too insecure and predictably self-destructive. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.

He glanced over at Anne again. As usual, she was whispering with Ba'el about he knew not what. Actually, he had some ideas. She started laughing, and the sunlight shimmered in her copper tresses as she leaned back. She really was a pretty female.

By evening, the carts were full, and everyone was ready to go back home. Some of the osol fruit would have to be left out overnight. The next day would be devoted to preserving a large portion of it. A smaller amount was reserved for consumption over the next couple of weeks. Two containers were set aside for use in cooking.

Dhaval could see that Anne was fatigued, so he carried the crates of fruit into the kitchen for her. He set them down where she directed. His heart leaped when she flashed that grateful smile at him again. He decided that he should start doing more things for her. It would send more of those appreciative smiles in his direction.

"Not all men are like that, you know," he said, all joking aside.

Anne tilted her head inquisitively. "Like what?"

"Like Hornblower," he specified.

"Really?" she said, wrinkling her forehead. "According to you, I wouldn't know about such things."

"In all honesty," he admitted humbly, "neither do I." He chuckled. "I've been picking this stuff all day," he said, indicating the fruit, "and I haven't even tasted it yet."

"Neither have I," she realized. "Let's try a piece now."

Dhaval handed one to her. As she took it, their fingers brushed. Anne stopped and blinked. Then she lowered her eyes and shied away. She turned to leave, but he prevented her.

"Please don't go, Anne," he said gently, pulling her close.

"Why not?" She was trembling slightly. He caressed her cheek, and she did not indicate that she wanted him to stop. Now was his chance. He held her closer and awkwardly pressed his lips to hers. He felt her body tense. The kiss felt just as strange as he had imagined it would. But he hoped she at least would get something out of it.

Her eyes were wide as he slowly drew away. "Why did you do that?" she asked in surprise.

"It sounds dreadfully dull," he replied with a smitten grin, "but I've been wondering if I'd like it."

"And do you?" Her captivating eyes were peering curiously into his.

The truth was that kissing did not impress him. But he knew if he said no, it would disappoint her. He had sabotaged himself enough times already. He was not going to ruin his chances now that he was so close. "I haven't decided yet," he told her instead.

He made another attempt at it. This time, she relaxed and kissed him back. Dhaval felt his knees weaken, and his skin began to tingle. His heart raced. He was breathless by the time she was finished with him.

"Well?" she whispered as she stroked his ear.

"It's better when you help," he said, in a futile attempt not to sound as utterly disarmed as he felt. He discovered that he did in fact enjoy this human kissing after all, and he wanted more. She beckoned for a third round, and he ardently obliged her. He would show her the Romulan way another time. This would more than suffice for the time being.