Chapter 11- A New Day





The sun peeked up over the horizon, making sure everyone was still asleep. Yawning, it slowly rose higher up into the sky, illuminating the landscape around it, making the dew shimmer on the blades of grass.



A lone figure rose from the ground where she had been sleeping. She stretched and walked a little ways from her sleeping partner.



The sun brightened up her naked form, as she sat down a few meters from the makeshift bed.



Her short hair, lightly mussed from sleeping, shivered slightly as a breeze went by.



Bringing her legs up to her, she closed her eyes. She was meditating.









Hoshi yawned and opened her eyes, only to shut them immediately as the bright sun gleamed down on her. Taking another chance, she opened them once more, letting her pupils adjust to the harsh reality of daylight.



The sun seemed so much brighter here than on Earth. Of course that could be because she hadn't camped out and awoken to the bright sun in quite a while. Her eyes weren't used to it.



Raising up a little, she leaned up on her elbows. She looked over at the man sleeping beside her.

Trip lay with his mouth hanging wide open, so wide, in fact, that Hoshi would worry that flies would fly in, if there were such things on this planet, which she wasn't sure of. She hadn't seen any flying insects yet.



She chuckled as a little dollop of drool made its way out of his mouth, only to land on his arm. Any other man, she would have found that less than amusing, but it was different with Trip. She found it endearing, sweet.



Shaking her head at that thought she stood up, stretching her arms above her head to work out the kinks in her back. No matter how much she enjoyed sleeping in Trips arms last night, she was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed tonight. The hard earth below her was just not her friend.



Rolling her neck from side to side, she walked over to a small log. She sat down on it and watched the sun continue to rise before her. The magnificent sky was on fire with pinks, blues and golds.



It was times like these, in the quiet moments just before life woke up, that she remembered just how little she was. Not so much in stature, but the fact that everything else was so big. Yet life, no matter how fragile it was thought to be, was able to burgeon and sustain itself. It truly was a miracle.



She remembered back on her early childhood, and how she and her father would go out to the field behind their house every morning, before anyone woke up, and just watch the sun in silence. Then, the two would pray for life to continue on, and if there were any new beginnings or endings in their future, they would pray for the strength to prevail.



Letting her eyes slip shut, Hoshi sent up a short prayer for her future, and also Trip's.



Opening her eyes, she watched once more, the sunrise.









Archer came awake with a start. He was cold, much colder than he had been the night before. Opening his eyes, he recognized the

source of his coldness. T'Pol was gone, no longer in his arms.



Sitting up quickly, he let the blanket fall around his waist, revealing his upper torso. His eyes looked around, searching for her. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze fell upon the object of his hunt.



Her back was to him, the sun shining upon it, making the bronze of her skin stand out, stark against the green background of the forest and mountains.



He noted that she seemed to be sitting, meditating.



Rising from his seat, he pulled on his boxers. Even though he could tell she was unabashedly naked, he still felt the need to clothe himself. Human instinct he guessed.



Silently he walked over to her, sitting behind her. Moving his legs so they were positioned on each side of her, he drew her back into his arms against his chest.



She moved easily in his grasp, and her eyes opened momentarily to let him know she registered his presence.



He kissed the tip of her ear, then closed his eyes. Sighing, he let her calm wash over him, letting the world around them fade as it became just the two of them.



He felt her stir a few minutes later and opened his eyes, gasping as they met hers. She looked at him, and he felt his whole soul shudder.



He pulled her closer to him, engulfing her in a hug.



How had he made it this far in his life without her by his side?



Kissing her ear again, he sighed loudly.



Today, they would have to leave this haven they had found, and go back home…to Enterprise.



Continued in Chapter 12