Trip Tucker was a happy man. Sure, he missed his old life—Jon, the Enterprise and her crew, his family. But in this new world, he had friends, a home, work that engaged his hands and his mind—and Hoshi.
Sitting outside his home-tree on a bench of roots, Trip tinkered with a replacement mechanism for the crop irrigation system. It was mid-summer now. He and Hoshi had been living on Massum for just under two years. They had made good friends with most of the village, and they both were respected for their contributions to the society. Trip's irrigation system alone had almost doubled the food that the Jafari were able to put away for winter.
Everyday, he and Hoshi separated to perform their daily chores—him to the fields and her to the village center, where she and Mila led a school for the children. But they were always together for their meals. Trip smiled, thinking of how much he and Tiron enjoyed teasing Hoshi and Mila. Mila usually blushed and demurred, but he and Hoshi had some real sparring matches. He liked how she looked with a little fire in her eyes, so he tried to put it there as often as possible.
Afterwards, they would come back to their home-tree, to be alone. Their passion for each other never waned—if possible, they needed each other more every day. Some days they didn't bother going outside at all.
Trip grinned, remembering the last time they did that—two weeks ago. 'Might be due for another day off, come to think of it.' With that delightful thought, he reached for a rag and began cleaning the mechanism in his hands.
"What are you doing?!" Trip looked up. Hoshi was standing a few feet away, hands on her hips. And she looked mad. He stared at her blankly.
She stomped forward and snatched the rag out of his hand.
"What?! I'm just sittin' here mindin' my own business."
"You were cleaning that filthy…thing with my newest weaving." Trip looked at the muck-stained material in her hand. Sure enough, it was the piece of material she had been struggling with for several days. Hoshi was rather sensitive about her inability to master the village weaving technique. Trip made an 'oops' face. 'Better think fast, Tucker.'
"Now, darlin'…"
"Don't sweet talk me, Trip. It took me FIVE DAYS to get it to turn out this well. I was going to make a dress!"
Trip eyed the scarf-sized rag doubtfully. "Outta that material?" he asked dryly.
"You have to be the most insensitive person I have ever met. Ever!" Hoshi pushed past him into the home-tree. From outside, he heard her yell, "What did you do in here?"
Trip stuck his head in. "Easy now; I was gonna clean it up. Just got sidetracked. And as for the material, I'm sorry." She relaxed her shoulder some. "It's not like you don't already have six dresses; whatta you need with another one anyway?"
Her back stiffened again. 'Hmm, misfire, Trip. Better change tactics.'
"Hosh, the material was beautiful. And I am really, really sorry." No response.
"Ya know, you're leavin' me with only one option here." Her head swung around and she pinned him with a death stare.
"DON'T. I have NOT forgiven you yet." He moved toward her. "Stop, Trip!" she yelled, but he saw the smile forming before she turned her face away.
Grabbing her, he swooped her down into a dip and smothered her face and neck with kisses, all while using one hand to tickle her. Hoshi tried to protest, but wound up laughing instead, swatting frantically at his hand. Finally, he showed mercy and stopped the tickling, still holding her in the dip.
"Forgiven?" he asked gruffly.
Breathless, Hoshi smiled up at him. "Forgiven."
He bent down and kissed her, slipping her down onto their bed. His hands traveled all up and down, until she wasn't smiling, but vibrating with anticipation. Frustrated with his slowness, she rolled them over until she lay on top of him. Looking down at him she suddenly said, "I love you, Trip."
"I know. I love you, too." He grinned at her. She kissed him. As her lips trailed downward, the smile faded from his face, replaced by desire. His mind was lost in a well of sensation. Once again, there was only Hoshi.
**
That night, Trip and Hoshi sat on a blanket by the cooking fire outside their home-tree. Mila, Tiron, and the baby Volus had joined them for dinner. They sat talking quietly after dinner for a long time, until the baby began to fuss. Now only Hoshi and Trip remained outside. She sat between his legs, head resting back against his shoulder.
Both of them stared contentedly into the fire. Hoshi sighed and Trip kissed the side of her face in response, brushing her hair back with his fingers.
"Everythin' ok?"
"Mmm-hmm." She closed her eyes. He smiled against her hair. An ember broke off and his eyes followed it from the fire, up into the darkened treetops. He watched it as far as it would go, and then turned his head back to the fire.
Where his gaze settled on Jon Archer's ecstatic face.
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