I STILL do not own Star Trek. (I STILL wish I did, though.)

Picard's POV

I woke the next morning wondering why my alarm hadn't gone off. I opened my eyes and realized this was not my room at all. It was black and silver everywhere. The ceiling looked like a window out into space, only with a lot more stars. There were images and statues of birds or other creatures with feathery wings everywhere, some of which appeared to rise out of flames. Everything was lit by a soft, warm, soothing red-orange glow, like the embers in a fire. On one wall was a large black banner with the silvery emblem of a phoenix on it.

And then there was what I immediately recognized as a Borg alcove structure, though this one seemed to have been turned on its side.

What the hell? I thought, Where am I? I had seen the symbol on the banner before and knew it had something to do with Borg. Not the Collective, their symbol was an Egyptian style hand. It had to be the Cooperative. I relaxed a little. I could handle them. Was I on a Cooperative ship, maybe? But why? It was then I noticed something warm against me, in my arms. I looked down and almost screamed. It was a Borg! A small one, but still a Borg. What was it doning here? And why was it wearing a Starfleet uniform?

Wait a minute.

Last night came back in a rush. I was on the Enterprise still. This was Hugh's room. The little Borg was Hugh. I had come here because he'd had a nightmare and asked to sleep with me in case he had another, and I suggested going to his quarters so he could regenerate. I did this because I loved him.

I loved him. And he loved me.

I couldn't help the rush I felt at knowing it was all real. Somehow, waking up the next day and finding that it really did happen cemented the whole thing in reality. What would the crew think?

Suddenly, I was wide awake. So much so that when I bolted from the alcove, I knocked poor Hugh onto the floor.

"Ow! Hey!"

"Sorry!" I cried as I hastily rushed to help him up.

"It was an accident. Don't worry about it," Hugh said, "Computer. Tea, Earl Grey, Hot." The replicator came to life as it processed his request. He walked over and handed me the steaming cup.

"Thank you." I said, still a bit humiliated from throwing him out of bed.

"Of course." he said, "Don't worry about explaining, I'll just say I didn't feel good and you were keeping an eye on me. Though if you hurry, you can get back to your quarters before shift change and no one will know a thing." He hadn even finished before I was out the door. Only when I was safely back in my room did I realize what I'd done. Probably the rudest possible thing I could do. I immediately commed him.

"Hugh, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have run out on you like that. Please don't take it personally. I'm very sorry. I-"

"Jean-Luc, it's fine. It's just me, not anyone important."

"Wrong." I said softly, "You are important. Especially to me." I could just imagine the little smile on his face.

"I love you, too." he said, "See you on the bridge."

"I can't wait." And we clicked off at the same time.

We kept our relationship very low profile, but it was aggravating. We barely got any time together, and it was taking a toll on me. Hugh knew this, and so he commed me every night, which helped, but didn't totally alleviate the problem. Especially since some of the more observant crew members were starting to notice. I was nearing a breaking point.

"I need to see you. Be with you, outside of work." I said to him one night. "Where are you now?"

"Going to Ten Forward. Why?"

"I'll meet you there." I shut off the comm without waiting for a response, then headed for the bar. I was about turn the corner to the turbolift when I caught the sound of Riker's and Troi's voices.

"I can't put a finger on it," Troi was saying, "but I do sense something strange from him lately."

"What do you mean?" Riker asked.

"Well, I started to pick up on it after you mentioned how...jittery, I think you said...he's become as of late. You know, jumping or flinching whenever someone tries to talk to him." Good Lord, was I really that obvious?

"And he wouldn't tell you anything? That's odd, he normally tells you anything." Riker said.

"I know.I can't even sense whatever it is from him, other than a very strong need for something."

"There's only one person he doesn't act like that with." Riker said, "Hugh. Maybe you should talk to him."

"I'll do that. Good idea, Will."

I was going to need a very strong drink now.

Hugh's POV

For a moment, I just stood there after Jean-Luc cut off. It was unlike him to just shut me off like that. But then, he had sounded desperate the entire time, and I knew he wasn't "faking it" as humans would say. I couldn't blame him, I had the same need. I could barely remember the last time he'd held me in his arms. Not because he didn't want to, but because something always got in the way when we wanted to be together. I commed him every night, but I knew that wouldn't solve anything, at least not for long. And his voice on the commlink just now confirmed it. I switched off the comm and left for Ten Forward. I didn't get very far before my audial implants picked up the voices of Geordi and Worf.

"Is it just me, or is Hugh acting kinda strange lately?" Geordi asked.

"I don't know," Worf said, "but I stopped him to give him a report for the captain and he looked like he thought I was going to shoot him. Even though I've stated his honor many times."

"Well, you ARE pretty intimidating, especially to a little guy like Hugh." Geordi laughed.

"Hmph."

"But you might be onto something there, Worf. A lot of people are still angry that there's a Borg on the ship. Maybe he's nervous."

"Nervous?" Worf questioned.

"Yeah. Maybe someone's threatened him or something. We should keep an eye on him, you know? Make sure he doesn't get hurt."

"Good idea." Worf agreed, "He's in his quarters right now, I think."

"Good. Let's go get a drink, then." And with that they were gone. But so was I.

Picard's POV

"Guinan, I need something strong" She nodded and quickly got me a drink.

"So. Did you ever tell him?"

"Who?" I asked, "Tell them what?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Captain, you know exactly who and what I'm talking about." The bartender folded her arms.

"Okay, okay, yes I told him and he feels the same way. Don't you dare say 'I told you so'. Don't you DARE." She just grinned.

"People are talking about you, sir." She looked over my shoulder, "And you." I turned around to find Hugh climbing onto a barstool beside me.

"I know." he said, "I just heard Geordi and Worf in the hallway."

"I heard Riker and Troi" I said.

"What's the big secret?" Guinan asked, "Why hide it? It's not going to go away, and I can tell by the way you two have been acting that keeping the secret isn't doing you any favors."

"But what will telling people do for us?" Hugh asked.

"Well, for starters, you'd probably get more time together, instead of having to sneak in time whenever work allows it."

"Wh-What if...p-people don't like that we're together? I don't want anyone to get hurt." Hugh said.

"And I wouldn't want you to get hurt." I said, "But there's no one like that-"

"THERE IT IS!" shouted a bar patron. Suddenly, Hugh was on the floor, pinned under the mountain of a man. I was frozen in fear, even as I saw a huge fist collide with a small white cheek. I was shoved outside a forming circle of large men, but I could hear Hugh's cried of pain from within.

"Airlock it!" someone yelled.

"Shoot it, shoot it!" another said. But my heart actually stopped when I heard a third voice's words.

"KILL IT! KILL IT NOW!" I saw a small white hand reach out of the circle. There was blood on it as it flopped onto the floor.

"No!" I yelled "Leave him alone!" I heard a loud bellow from behind me and barely had time to move as Worf barreled past me, charging into the fray. I saw Geordi in the corner shouting something into a comm, while Guinan ducked behind the bar. A second later, Riker burst in with a security team. Then everyone froze as a loud gunshot was heard. I turned to see Guinan with her shotgun smoking. She must've fired a blank.

"Enough." she growled sternly, "Commander Riker, Worf, Mr. LaForge, please escort these drunkards out of my establishment." Riker nodded, and the security squads moved in and removed the fighters. I pushed my wau through and dropped to my knees as I carefully pulled the shaking, whimpering Hugh into my arms. His face was bloody, mainly from his nose. I could tell he was going to have a black eye from this. He coughed into my shirt and I saw one tooth come out covered in blood.

"J-Jean-L-L-Luc" he croaked out.

"Shhhh, yes, it's me," I whispered, "I've got you now, you'll be alright." I could feel my eyes stinging. This was my fault. I never should have agreed to meet him here. I should've suggested somewhere else. Then he wouldn't have been hurt. Gently as I could, I lifted him up and headed for Sickbay.

"You can see him now." the nurse told me. I walked over to the only occupied bed there. Hugh lay on it, the organic side of his face almost completely covered in bandages. He gave a pained smile when he saw me.

"I'm so sorry." I said, "I should've saved you."

"It's okay, Jean-Luc. I know you tried." He reached over and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I don't blame you. Besides." He looked down at his organic hand, which I now saw was also bandaged, "I got him right back." I shook my head and hugged him, thankful he was okay.

"What are you two, in love or something?" I turned around to find Riker, Worf and Geordi staring at us. I recalled Guinan's words just before the fight started. I remembered Hugh mentioning that people wouldn't like it. But these three obviously weren't fazed by the idea. I looked at Hugh, who nodded, before answering.

"Yes, Commander Riker. Yes we are in love. And there's not a damn thing that'll ever change that." And right there in front of them, I kissed Hugh's other cheek.