Author's note: Just so everyone knows, the ensign in the last chapter wasn't anyone special, but during the first season there was a girl ensign working in the transporter room. At least she was there during Caretaker! I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story. I wasn't that big of a fan of it, actually I didn't want to post it, but I just want to thank all my reviewers for their kind words of encouragement! Thanks everyone! Just thought I'd say I have about eight more chapters in mind, it may end up being more, but if you keep reviewing I'll keep writing! Check out my other stuff too! Thanks to all my faithful reviewers especially: Celine Janeway, Katie Janeway and Iamari! Thanks. Now on with the story!
The kitchen smelled wonderful as he stood by the pot of Talaxian porridge, inhaling the infectious aroma. He wondered why the crew always made such as silly face when he served them. The raised eyebrows and wrinkled nose must be a human custom, he thought as he bustled to refill the pot. There would be a new wave of crew members arriving soon, and he wanted to be ready for them, after all he was the cook! Suddenly he heard a very unfamiliar sound. It was laughter, a sound he had not heard in weeks since they had embarked on the journey.
When he walked out from behind the kitchen counter, as he often did to inspect just how well his meal was being liked by the crew, he was astonished by what he saw. There at a small table in the corner he saw the Captain and Commander, together! Normally the Commander ate with Lieutenants Paris, Torres and even the Ensign Harry Kim. But not today, and come to think of it, he had been absent from their table for a few days. Had he been with the Captain that whole time? Is that what Kes had been looking at last night? Had he been so unobservant? Apparently he had, because by the looks of it, the pair looked rather happy in each others company. They were even laughing, the Captain was laughing! It was something he believed he had never seen before. Her smile gleamed as the Commander flashed her equally brilliant smile. Neelix stood still in the middle of the room as he observed the exchange between the two. It really was wonderful to see the Captain laugh.
As they got up to leave for duty, Neelix could hear the faint whisper of the Captain's voice. He noticed she was thanking the Commander for something. He desired more than anything to find out just what had been going on out here while he was toiling away in the kitchen. As he walked back to slave over his hot pot of porridge, he heard an outraged cry from Lieutenant Torres. "I hate her! She stole him!" He saw her run out of the mess hall with tears running down her cheeks, and a concerned looking Tom Paris right behind her. Ensign Kim sat perplexed, looking down at his breakfast, embarrassed as all the crew members looked in the direction of the outcry. Neelix hustled back behind the counter and decided he would be better off there, serving porridge. Where it was safe. Only he couldn't help but wonder what went on outside of the mess hall. But for now, he would remain behind the counter, safe and sound. At least until curiosity got the best of him.