T'Pol took a deep breath as the door of the Captain's Mess opened ahead of them. They would have to pass through the main Mess Hall to reach the corridor, and she knew that many of the senior crew would still be there. They had decided to continue their conversation in less formal surroundings, and it was also time for Porthos' evening walk, so they were heading back to their quarters.

Archer stepped out into the Mess Hall and waited for T'Pol to join him, then they walked side by side past the tables towards the exit. Archer saw Trip, Hoshi and Malcolm all seated at a table near the windows, and smiled as he briefly raised a hand in greeting.

Hoshi watched her two superiors carefully as they left the room. T'Pol had glanced briefly over as the Captain had waved to their table, and it seemed almost like she had a momentary look of self-consciousness on her face.

Interesting, Hoshi thought. It was just this morning she seemed jealous about that woman on the planet flirting with the Captain.

She frowned. T'Pol and the Captain had just had a private dinner together, but that wasn't too unusual. It was probably just a coincidence. But still, she felt there was something more going on.

But how do you ask your superior officer, who's a Vulcan, what's going on with her and your Captain?

There didn't seem to be any way to bring that topic up, at least not without risking disciplinary action. Hoshi sighed aloud, still staring over at the door which lead out into the hallway.

"Hosh?"

She turned her attention back to the others at the table when she heard Trip's voice speak her name, giving a small smile by way of response.

"You alright there, Ensign?" he asked, with a bemused grin, "You kinda drifted off for a minute."

She knew he was only using her rank playfully.

"I'm fine, Commander," she replied, coyly tilting her head to one side as she spoke. "Just staring into space."

"Now that is something we got plenty of," he replied, and his eyes lit up as she laughed.

The small beagle was already standing in the middle of the floor, wagging his tail energetically, when the door to Archer's quarters slid open.

"He seems to know what time it is," T'Pol remarked, and Archer grinned, stepping into the room with her following close behind.

"When he's got something to gain from it, he sure does," he replied.

Porthos ran over to his master and glanced up briefly, and then decided instead to focus his attention on T'Pol. He padded over to her feet, tail still wagging, and looked up at her expectantly.

She raised an eyebrow at the small creature, and then after a moment's thought she crouched down and ran her hand over his head. Porthos leaned into her touch in bliss.

Archer felt another burst of affection for her, and smiled widely. After a moment, she stood up and looked over at him.

"You don't usually pet him," he said, and she inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement.

"He is important to you," she replied gently. "Thus he is important to me."

He saw and also somehow felt the simple, powerful truth of her statement, and for a moment he could find no words to respond.

I'm in love with this woman, he realised. The fact of it brought no trepidation, nor even very much surprise.

"T'Pol, I..." he began, but he knew it wasn't the time to finish that particular sentence. "What do you say we take him for that walk?" he said instead.

She nodded, and again there was the flicker of a smile on her lips for just a moment. She had felt the surge of emotion from him, and its warmth was still with her.

I do not know the name of this feeling, she thought, but it is one which we share.

He pressed the panel and the door slid open once more, and she felt the brief reassuring touch of his hand on her back as the three of them set out along the corridor.