Disclaimer : Star Trek is owned by Paramount. Please do not sue!!
Hoshi's face was sore from smiling. She could feel Jon's hand at the small of her back, but it was annoying, not comforting.
Starfleet personnel, and ambassadors from around the world surrounded them. Starfleet was throwing this gala in honor of the newest starship to leave Earth's dock. She would rather be at home reading, but Jon had insisted that it would be fuel for gossip if his wife did not attend. She glanced back at her husband.
He was smiling and laughing at something an ambassador had said. All Hoshi could think was how much she wished she had an air freshener to shove down the obnoxious man's throat.
Suddenly the ambassador turned to her. "Mrs. Archer, you are a lucky woman. Most women do not have the honor of mating with the first Captain of a fleet from their own planet."
Jon smiled down at Hoshi.
"Yes, Ambassador. I thank my lucky stars everyday."
Jon was sitting in the den watching a water polo match. Porthos was barking at his feet.
"Hoshi, I think Porthos needs to be walked." He continued watching the match.
"Yes, he probably does," Hoshi said, not removing her eyes from the book she was reading.
"Thanks hon." Jon reached over and absently patted her knee.
Hoshi rolled her eyes and went to get the leash.
Jon smiled at the ambassador while giving Hoshi a warning with his eyes. Luckily, the man seemed to have missed her sarcastic tone.
As they moved through the crowd, Admiral Nichols stopped them.
"Evening, Jon. Mrs. Archer. You folks enjoying the event?"
Hoshi smiled again, thinking her face would split open if she had to do it much longer. "I didn't actually change my name. It's still Sato, sir," she said in a clipped tone.
Jon frowned at her and said, "Yes, very much so. Hoshi couldn't wait to come this evening." He smiled again in Hoshi's direction.
"Yes. I couldn't wait." My face is going to be stuck this way.
Jon pulled her against his side, squishing her.
"It's nice to know two people so in love. Hoshi, do you know how lucky you are to have landed this guy? Why, I remember back at the academy how many girls..."
Hoshi walked in the back door, throwing her bags on the kitchen counter.
Jon rushed through the kitchen door, sweeping her into a hug. "I missed you so much." He continued hugging her.
"I missed you too, but I can't breathe." She mumbled into his neck.
"Oh, sorry." He set her back on her feet.
She started to walk toward the fridge but was stopped by Jon stepping in front of her. She sniffed the air.
"What is that smell?"
"I don't smell anything." He sniffed the air dramatically
"You can't smell that? Oh my god, it's worse than that Klingon ship." She moved past him toward where she thought it was coming from.
Jon jumped in front of her again. "I can't imagine what you're smelling, honey. It must be your imagination." He smiled.
She looked at him and then at the fridge.
"Did you work on the refrigerator because of the noise you heard," she asked.
She walked toward the fridge and reached for the handle. The door promptly came off in her hand. There were hundreds of little parts scattered inside, and all the food had rotted.
She dropped the door and stalked toward him. Jon backed up slowly, watching his wife.
"Hoshi, I'm sorry, I meant to have it fixed before you got back." He started to pick up his pace as he headed toward the living room, backing up as he went.
"This is the third appliance you've decided to fix this month, Jonathan."
She started running after him. Jon dove for the front door. As he opened it, the screen door was thrown back by a burst of wind.
SMACK.
He was holding his lip when she got to him.
"Oh, honey. Phlox left some salve with me for your lip. For when you hit it again."
Jon sighed and walked with her to the bathroom.
Hoshi walked towards the bar, asking for a glass of champagne. As she lifted the glass toward her mouth, she turned back toward the crowd.
"Hoshi, be careful. I think you've had plenty tonight." Jon reached over, taking the glass and setting it back on the bar top.
Hoshi glared and picked up the glass again.
"I'm fine. This is only my third." She brought it up to her lips, tossing it down.
Jon grinned and said teasingly, "I know how you get when you've had a few too many, Hoshi."
Commander Tucker appeared at their side.
"Hey, Cap'n. I don't know about you but I hate wearin' these damned dress uniforms." He pulled at his collar.
He turned to Hoshi, saying, "Hoshi, how did you get out of wearing your uniform? You don't know how lucky you are…"
Hoshi sat at the dinner table across from Jon.
"I thought you were going to mow the lawn today?"
"Hey, Jonny's in trouble from the little woman." Trip laughed heartily.
He was over for dinner, unannounced, AGAIN.
"I was going to sweetie. But Trip brought this remodifier over that does the most amazing thing..."
Hoshi sighed and said, "You know that we could just hire someone to mow the lawn. It's not that expensive…"
Jon shook his head while taking another bite of food. "No way are we spending money on something like that."
"OK. Then Green Peace will probably be by tomorrow to declare our yard a rainforest," Hoshi said through clenched teeth. She rose to take her plate to the kitchen.
Trip began to laugh again. "You guys are great entertainment. Hoshi, this iced tea is amazin'. Could I get a refill?" He picked up his glass and shook it.
"Yeah, me too, honey." Jon shoved his glass across the table, smiling at her. The clinking of the ice was particularly loud.
Hoshi gasped and sat up in her cot. A guard walked by, his shoes making a clinking sound. Looking around, she remembered where she was. She slumped back on the bed. Rolling over, she chanced a look at the Captain. He was snoring; sound asleep without a care in the world. Hoshi shuddered and rolled back over, looking at the wall. She closed her eyes and drifted off again.