A/N: Thank you for the kind words last week. They really helped.


An Unexpected Outing

Starfleet Training Facility Outside Soledad, California, 2289.209, 1755 hours. Selas slipped a clean uniform top over his head before his comm went off on the bureau. He made a grab for it and flicked it open on his way out the door. "Hello?"

"Hey."

He smiled at the sound of her voice. "Good evening, Rebecca. How are you?"

"I'm good. A little tired; I put in a long day at the lab."

More cadets filled the hall as he made his way down, no doubt headed to the Mess same as he. "I have no doubt that your work is very much appreciated."

She scoffed. "Oh yeah. Watching bacteria grow and sterilizing petri dishes—I'm the linchpin of the whole operation."

"The tasks you perform may seem menial but your contribution to your parents' work is quite substantial."

"Aww shucks, you sure do know how to sweet talk a girl, don'tcha?" she replied in a grossly over-exaggerated drawl. After she stopped laughing at herself she asked what he was up to.

"I am currently headed to the Mess for the evening meal."

"I see."

As he reached the front entrance a strange echo emanated from his comm. Pulling it away from his ear he shook the device to try and resolve the issue. A nearby cadet held the door for him and he thanked him before stepping out into the cool night air. "What are your plans for this evening?"

"Just meeting up with an old friend for a late dinner."

He cocked his head to the side. Was it his imagination or did her voice seem louder? Ignoring the issue he inquired as to whether it was their mutual friend from the Enterprise, Riley, who was paying her a visit.

"No Silly," she said. Suddenly the realization dawned on him that she was standing nearby. "I'm having dinner with you." Rebecca hung up the line and slipped her arm through his. "Surprised?"

"Incredibly so." He stopped and fumbled with his comm before placing it safely in his pocket.

She leaned in close. "Pleasantly surprised?"

Selas turned to face her properly. "Do you even have to ask?" It was his first time being in her vicinity since they both left the Academy and her proximity made him indescribably happy.

"Guess not," she replied with a pat on his arm. "So, shall we head to the Mess?"

He allowed himself to be led several meters in that direction before deciding that the situation called for a finer meal than the Mess Hall had to offer. "Would a change of venue be acceptable to you?"

Rebecca turned quizzical. "What'd you have in mind?"

"A Mexican restaurant in town that I occasionally frequent with my co-workers. I am certain that you will enjoy the ambience as much as the meal."

"Why not? It sounds good."

"Alright then," he said before steering toward town.


The hostess seated them at a booth near the front window, away from the dozen other or so patrons visiting the restaurant that Wednesday night, making their evening outing feel even more intimate. Muted trumpet music played from the speakers overhead and the inviting scent of fresh baked tortillas filled the air.

Though they wrote one another often and spoke to each other every other week the conversation throughout the meal was free-flowing and easy. Rebecca's insight and banter surprised and delighted him, and no more so than when they were enjoying dessert discussing places they would like to visit.

"You would travel to New Vulcan again?" he repeated, shocked, as their plate of flan was placed on the table.

"Of course." Rebecca retrieved her fork. "Why wouldn't I? I hardly got to see it on my last trip." She took a bite and moaned in delight. "Oh my G-d, you have to try this." Before he could reply she plunged the fork into his mouth, forcing him to quickly chew and swallow.

"The flan is very agreeable; but back to the subject of New Vulcan…"

"Yes?"

"I did not think you would wish to return after the incident."

Rebecca set the fork down on the plate. "The incident?" she asked quizzically. "What are you talking about? You mean that guy that insulted us while we were shopping?"

He instantly wished he had left the topic well enough alone but it was too late now. "Yes."

"Selas, if I let stuff like that get to me I'd hardly be fit to serve in Starfleet, don't you think?" She reached out and tenderly patted him on the arm. "Besides, you never did tell me exactly what he said, remember?"

"I remember." He remembered well the rage he felt listening to Stivlen speak in the square and his powerlessness to stop him.

"Hey, forget about him," Rebecca urged. "I already have and thinking about him now just gives him all the power." Her wisdom, spouted so casually, was profound and his eyebrow rose steeply; that she was also so in tune with his current mindset was equally surprising. She changed the subject accordingly. "So where would you go right now if you could?"

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere. Time and credits are no object."

"In that case I would visit New Vulcan," Selas evenly replied.

"Really?" she asked all astonishment, "Why?"

"I would go to New Vulcan because that is where you would be."

She said nothing to that but placed a soft kiss on his cheek.


2034 hours. The check arrived shortly after dessert was cleared and Selas insisted on paying outright. At that time of night the city of Soledad was relatively quiet and he escorted her back to the transport station, their arms linked together the way they had always been ever since they were children.

"You know," she said, head tilted up to admire the night sky, "This kind of turned into a date."

Outwardly Selas remained calm but inwardly his heart was racing. All his plans were for naught. Their initial date was supposed to be an extraordinary experience, one that signaled the beginning of a new stage in their relationship, and it did not include a run-of-the-mill dinner at La Cantina Rosa. Selas wanted to woo her, he wanted to…

"Didn't you have a good time?" Rebecca sounded hurt.

"I had a very nice time."

"But?"

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I do not know what you mean."

She scrutinized his features and almost instantly divined the source of his distress. "Oh I see: you're over thinking things. You probably had some grand plan to sweep me off my feet but it's ok, really. I mean this way there was no real pressure for this to be a 'date' date; we just kind of fell into it…and honestly I think it worked out better this way."

"You do?"

Rebecca squeezed his arm. "Yeah, I do. We just got to go out and have a nice time and be us."

That she knew him so well and tried to put him at ease spoke volumes about her character and his fascination only increased even after all these years. Seeing as how this was now a date he removed his arm from hers and threaded their fingers together so they were holding hands the way a couple would. A low electric current pulsed pleasantly between them and Rebecca sighed happily and placed her head upon his shoulder.

"I bet you had something really special planned for our first night out too, didn't you?"

She was trying to tease the information out of him, he could tell. Well he would show her. "Perhaps," he replied with a rather aloof air.

Rebecca leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "Someplace with soft candlelight and music…"

"There were to be elephants, actually, and possibly some acrobats." It took every ounce of control he had not to breakdown laughing.

"Elephants?"

"There was also the strong possibility of acrobats—do not forget that."

"You're joking," she scoffed. "You were going to take me to the circus on our first date?!"

"We were going to be active participants. Our clown outfits were already purchased."

This time Selas could not keep the grin off his face and one look told her the truth. "You're pulling my leg!"

"I am doing no such thing, Rebecca, I am holding your hand."

She laughed. "You know what I mean, you…" Selas could not help himself; rather than listen to her teasingly berate him he pulled her in for a kiss, the first proper one they had ever shared. It was sweet and perfect and he could not help but hold her tighter.

"Mmmm," Rebecca dreamily murmured once they parted.

"I concur with your assessment."

She giggled and twined her arms around his neck. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you to kiss me like that." She kissed him again and never in his life had Selas felt anything so exquisite as her lips against his. His heart thrummed in his side so fast he thought it might burst out from under his skin. "I have to go," she breathlessly interjected, breaking the spell. "I don't want to but my transport…"

"I understand. Travel safe."

"Thanks." Rebecca took 2 steps toward the platform, leaving him bereft, before dashing back and kissing him quickly once more. "Night!"

"Good night."

He was, without a doubt, the luckiest creature in the entire galaxy.