He-he! Ok, y'all, that last chapter really was supposed to be the end. But since then, thank the muse, I thought up some more ideas. Guess I just didn't want the story to end. ;-)

Anne moaned and pulled the blanket over her shoulder. The days were getting shorter, but she never got up this early. Then she realized that it wasn't morning yet. It was so cold. "Winter" would only last about two or three weeks, Ba'el had told her. Since Anne had gotten used to the tropical heat, she surmised that it wasn't really as chilly as it felt. The humidity probably made it seem cooler as well.

Rolling over to cuddle up to her "hot water bottle," as she liked to call her husband, she discovered that Dhaval was not in the bed with her. He was still in the room, however. She could just barely make out his form getting dressing in the darkness.

Dhaval smiled tenderly when he saw that she was stirring. "Go back to sleep, osol eyes," he told her softly as he buckled his belt.

"Where are you going?" she asked, not yet fully awake. "You're not on patrol yet…"

"Valdus called me," he answered, "He and Tokath want to go investigate something."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Apparently, it can't wait," he said, getting out his disruptor.

Anne fully opened her eyes now. "You're going out into the jungle," she realized. "Oh, be careful, my love. Promise me you'll come back."

It had fast become a ritual for them to exchange the same promises any time he left the compound. "I promise to be careful, and to come back to you, my Anne," he recited faithfully. "Now yours," he prompted.

"I promise to always love you, and to be here eagerly waiting for you to return, my Dhaval," she replied, holding two fingers out into the frosty, damp darkness toward him. She felt his hot, rough fingers meet hers.

"It shouldn't take long," he said hopefully.

"Then I'll stay up and wait for you," she responded in an enticing tone.

"I love you," he said longingly, obviously trying not to think too much about what she had just suggested to him. And then he hastily left.

When Dhaval got to the gate, Tokath and Centurion Valdus were already there. Toq had also been roused and wanted to join them.

"So sorry to rip you away from the silky soft arms of your lovely wife," the centurion smirked. His breath was a foggy cloud in front of him. Now that Dhaval was married, he and the others regarded him as an adult peer. As a result, the teasing had tapered off considerably. But it had not entirely ceased all together. "I hope she wasn't too disappointed? She is a bit overly affectionate," his superior commented.

"That's your opinion," Dhaval told him firmly, "sir." He liked the fact that Anne was emotionally dependent on him. It made him feel powerful. Oddly enough, however, it made him weak at the same time, because he was equally as attached to her.

Tokath, uncharacteristically, was not in the mood for the subject, as his mind was engaged with a more serious matter. "Let's go," he commanded.

The four men trekked out through the gate and into the wild night. The air was cold and wet. Droplets were beginning to form in Dhaval's hair as he marched along through the underbrush. Despite the thick material of his uniform (which he had often cursed up until only a month earlier), the chilly mist seemed to penetrate all the way to his bones. He tensed his muscles to keep from shivering, and pushed away the thoughts of Anne ardently expecting him in their warm and cozy bed.

"What are we looking for, Tokath?" Toq ventured.

The commander didn't answer. Instead he voiced an observation. "The animals are quieter."

"It's winter," the young Klingon explained.

"It's near the end of winter," Tokath corrected. There was apprehension in his voice.

"Normally," Valdus chimed in, "I would say that we were in for a longer winter, except that I noticed the flowers are already budding."

"My thoughts exactly," said Tokath, holding the night binoculars to his eyes to peer at the mountains off in the distance.

Valdus raised an eyebrow at his commander. "You aren't thinking…" he trailed off. Dhaval knew not to interrupt his superiors, though the conversation he was hearing didn't bode well.

"I am not certain," Tokath cut him off quickly, holding up his hand, "and we shouldn't jump to conclusions." He gave the binoculars to the centurion.

Valdus shook his head. "I don't see any of the signs," he lowered the device and met Tokath's gaze. "But perhaps we should start watching for them." His commander nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Dhaval looked at Toq, silently asking him about what the two older men were speaking. His companion shrugged. Toq vocalized their question to Tokath. The older Romulan once again did not answer. Instead, he ordered them not to speak of this matter for the time being. "Not even to your wives," he added to Valdus and Dhaval.

"Yes, Commander," Dhaval echoed the centurion and Toq.

"We'll go back now," Tokath commanded. "And watch out for the serpents," he warned Dhaval, "Their prey is scarcer when it's cold. They're likely to be more desperate." As they started to walk back, he put a hand on the Klingon's shoulder. "So," he said, changing the subject, "you intend to take my daughter away from me, Toq?"

"I came back to stay," Toq insisted. "Otherwise, I would not have set the auto destruct in the shuttle I came in."

"How do you plan to satisfy your 'warrior's urgings'?" Tokath asked skeptically.

Toq suddenly threw his knife in the air. When it came back down, it was stuck into a needle snake. Dhaval started, as he had not been aware of its presence.

"That's what hunting is for," said Toq with a fierce smile as he retrieved his weapon.

Ba'el's father considered the young man's words carefully. Then he nodded, "Alright, Toq," he said cautiously, "You have my blessing. If she will have you, that is. But I warn you," he stopped marching, "my daughter has been hurt once before. If it happens again…" he held up a clenched fist.

"You have known me my entire life, Tokath," he said. "You know I would never do that to Ba'el."

"See that you don't," the Romulan said. He was smiling, but there was also an exhortation in his tone.

It was mid-morning when Ba'el emerged from her slumber. She always slept late when it was cold like this. Spring wouldn't arrive soon enough. She entered the small dining area, which she and her parents only used for breakfast.

Gi'ral was there already. Her food was sitting in front of her, untouched.

"Mother?" "Ba'el asked. "What's wrong? You look worried."

The Klingon woman looked up at her daughter and smiled reassuringly. "Oh, it's nothing, I'm sure," she answered. "You know I always worry about your father when he's gone."

Ba'el knew she meant he had left the camp. "What's he doing?"

"He's out hunting with Toq," she said. There was something that didn't seem right about her mother's inflection, but Ba'el didn't dare to disrespect her by questioning her explanation. "No doubt he's asking your father for his blessing."

"Will he give it?" she asked gingerly.

Gi'ral smiled at her daughter. "I think so," she said. "We want you to be happy. Do you love Toq?"

Ba'el blushed and looked at her feet. "Yes," she answered shyly. "I didn't realize it until he came back, but I've loved him all along."

Her mother stood up and hugged her. "Good," she said happily. She didn't say so, but Ba'el knew she was thinking, He's better than that petaQ, Worf.

As if on cue, Tokath walked in the door. The two women rushed over to greet him. Husband and wife exchanged glances, but said nothing. What is all of this about? their daughter wondered.

Then Tokath turned his face to Ba'el. "Toq asked for my blessing to marry you," he said. After a pause, he continued. "I gave it, on the condition that it is what you really want, my child."

He doesn't want to let me go, she understood. "It is, father," she said. Tokath smiled back at her. She could tell that he was trying to hide the sadness in his eyes.