Day 155 - [Five months]
"No!"
"Aw, come on Hoshi. Just for a few minutes."
"No. Doctors orders."
"Um, you're not a doctor Hosh."
"I am after treating those wounds. And before you ask again, no you cannot get up. You need to recover a bit more first."
Silence.
"Don't pout Malcolm. That worked the first time, it won't work again."
"If I can't get up, can I at least try to fix my phase pistol?"
"No! No work!! Relax."
"But I'm so bored!!"
"I offered to teach you to speak some different languages. The offer still stands."
Silence.
"Maybe I'll go for a sleep."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're impossible?"
"On many, many occasions."
"Stop grinning and go to sleep."
---------------------
Day 165
A faint light illuminated Malcolm's room as he worked on increasing the capability of the scanner that they were going to use as an early warning system. He had to be quiet so Hoshi would not wake up and give him hell again for not letting himself heal properly. Malcolm had discovered in the month since the attack that Hoshi could be as ruthless and bossy as Phlox when it came to a patient. But, her caring just made Malcolm love her even more.
He sighed and moved his leg to a more comfortable position. He loved her, and he had for a long time. When he had woken up after the attack, Hoshi had said that she loved him. She probably meant that she loved him as a friend, and he, in his half asleep and love-starved state had jumped at the words and told her how he felt.
Things had been different since then. She still took excellent care of him, and they still had the friendly banter, but now Hoshi seemed uncomfortable around him. Neither had mentioned what they had said, but Malcolm noticed that she would blush hotly every now and then when she thought he wasn't looking.
So lost was he in his contemplations that he didn't notice that he was no longer alone until Hoshi spoke from the doorway.
"And just what do you think you're doing Mr. Reed?"
He looked up guiltily as she came into the room, but all coherent thought went out the window when he saw what she was wearing... Not much. Apparently, her sleeping gear consisted of a shirt that barely came to the tops of her thighs and was held up by these little strappy things on her bare shoulders. Malcolm felt his mouth go dry, and he could only squeak at the sight.
Hoshi didn't hear the squeak as she strode across the room and took the scanner out of his now limp hands.
"I thought I told you no work until you were better" she admonished. Malcolm finally found his voice.
"It was just a little exercising of the mind..." he trailed off. Hoshi began to get worried and reached out to touch his forehead to feel for a fever, unwittingly giving her patient even more of an eyeful. She checked his pulse. It was a little fast.
"Are you ok? You seem a little... flushed?"
"I'm fine. It's just... God Hoshi you are so beautiful!"
Whatever Hoshi was expecting him to say, it wasn't that. Of course, she had longed to hear him say it ever since she told him how much she loved him when he woke up. But, he hadn't mentioned it again and probably didn't even remember hearing her say it. She had been reaching for a scanner when he drifted back to sleep, and he whispered something, but she hadn't caught it. Ever since, she had felt embarrassment that her feelings weren't reciprocated and blushed half the time when he wasn't looking.
Now... if he was only saying he loved her because he was sick...
"Are you sure you feel alright Malcolm?" she asked him.
Malcolm looked into her eyes. He saw many things there, fear for him, compassion, guilt and... was that love? Biting the bullet, Malcolm decided that he could no longer live with not knowing.
"I'm fine, I swear. I'm just thinking about how much I love you." Hoshi looked surprised.
"You love me?" she whispered.
"I do. I love you Hoshi Sato and I will forever." Hoshi just stared at him in shock. Damn! Now she was uncomfortable. "I know that you don't feel the same way..."
"How do you feel?"
"What?? I..."
"Just tell me, are you sick?"
"No! I'm fine"
"So you're not saying this because you have a fever or virus or something?"
"No. Hoshi, just listen to me. I know you don't feel the same way, but in time..."
He got no further. His speech was interrupted by Hoshi moving forward and pressing her lips to his. The kiss went on and on. No other parts of their bodies were touching, only their lips. But still, it was the most explosive kiss that either one could remember experiencing.
Hoshi broke the kiss briefly. "I love you" she murmured and kissed him again. This time, Malcolm ran his hands up her arms and down her back, pulling her closer to him. He lay back, bringing her with him, only to hiss in pain at the extra weight and pressure on his still raw wounds. Hoshi pulled back, but not too far.
"Still hurt?"
"A little" Malcolm admitted. Hoshi knew how much that admission had cost him, and figured (correctly) that the hurt a lot more than he let on.
"Don't go" he pleaded as she moved away from him.
"I'm not going anywhere" she assured him as she lifted the bedclothes and slipped under them. "I'm just getting comfortable." Malcolm looked at her in confusion.
"We have years to make love" she told him. "And I'd prefer our first time not to be punctuated with hisses of pain from you... unless it's the good kind of pain" Malcolm grinned at the glint in her eyes, and moved his arm so she was curled up on his good side. Soon, they were fast asleep, safe in each others embrace.
---------------
Day 166
Malcolm groaned and stretched as he woke up. He hadn't slept that well in literally years. And he had a feeling that it had a lot to do with the woman currently rubbing sleep out of her eyes next to him.
He tried to remember how many times he had fantasized about that over the years, but soon gave up. It just happened too damn much! The sight before him was one that dreams were made of. Hoshi's hair was spread over his pillow, and her skin gleamed in the early morning sun. She opened her eyes, and Malcolm saw the happiness in them. She leaned up and kissed him fiercely. At his look of confusion, she simply said
"Just making sure last night wasn't a dream" Malcolm grinned. He had been thinking along the same lines also.
The sun shone brightly outside, and the air was clean and crisp.
A new day fro a new beginning
------------------
Day 171
Malcolm moved with some trepidation towards the edge of the bed. Hoshi had kept him in bed until now. Unfortunately there was nothing sexual in it. She had claimed that he still wasn't recovered enough to try walking on his leg.
His leg was a problem. Though Hoshi had done her best, it had been badly damaged in the attack by the creatures. It still hurt a lot, was very stiff and Malcolm knew it wouldn't support his weight unaided. He had nearly wept with relief when Hoshi had produced a wooden walking stick for him. She had smoothed and polished it herself. It had taken her two days and it was a surprise for him.
In the few days since they had declared their love for each other, they had both tired to show it in small ways. A word here, a touch there. Hoshi had moved into Malcolm's room, and they had slept together every night. Last night, they had slept together, in the biblical sense. After the most explosive sex that Malcolm could remember, a breathless and panting Hoshi declared that if he could that then he was well enough to try walking.
Hence, the current situation.
Malcolm felt scared. It was ridiculous, he knew. He had been walking since he was twelve months old, now he was scared to try? Hoshi stood next to the bed, walking stick in hand, ready to help him up. His legs felt like jelly (or jello if you are in America [ No offence intended] ) from misuse, and the unusual pressure on his feet when he put them on solid ground sent tingles through his body.
He took Hoshi proffered arm in one hand, and steadied himself on the wall with the other. Slowly he pushed himself up... and up... but his injured leg gave way underneath him, and he collapsed. Hoshi was instantly at his side, and Malcolm fought to stop the tears threatening to fall.
"It's ok" Hoshi whispered. "You can't expect them to be perfect after two months of non-use. Here, let me help you up."
Malcolm sighed.
There was a long way to go.
---------------------------
Day 212 – [ Seven Months ]
The day had started out sunny, but clouds were beginning to form on the horizon. Malcolm sat on a blanket in the garden, his cane at his side. He was watching Hoshi work in the garden and trying to fix his phase pistol at the same time. He was having little luck with the weapon, mostly because his attention was often distracted by the sight of Hoshi Sato's curved behind as she knelt to weed the garden.
His leg gave a sudden twinge of pain, and he shifted into a more comfortable position. Most of the wounds he had sustained in the attack had healed. The cuts on his face and body had mostly faded into silvery lines, but some were noticeable. His chiseled features were marred by two deep scars down one cheek. But he didn't care. He was just happy to be alive.
Once, Hoshi had caught him examining the scars in a mirror, and had apologized profusely for not doing a better job. Malcolm was quick to assure her that he honestly didn't care much, and that his only concern was for her having to look at them. She had kissed him sweetly, and told him that she didn't only love him for his looks... that his accent had something to do with it too.
His leg was still giving him trouble though. He leaned heavily on his cane and on furniture he passed. The physiotherapy programme which he and Hoshi had devised helped, but Malcolm knew it wouldn't be the same again for a long time... if ever. He would walk with a limp, though he was determined to walk without the stick someday.
Hoshi stood and wandered over to where he was sitting. She gladly reached for the glass of water that Malcolm handed her. She was glad that he was doing better, and that he was out of the house. He wasn't as pale as he was before, and his voice was much cheerier.
She settled back on the blanket next to him. Malcolm lay down beside her, and she curled herself around him. They lay peacefully for a while, staring at the sky.
"Marry me?" he asked her.
"What!?! Honey, last time I checked, there were no priests on Terra"
"I know that. Someday, we might get off this planet. And if we do, I want you to marry me. Please?"
"Of course I'll marry you!" Hoshi exclaimed, kissing him. "I love you so much!!"
"I love you too."
"Do you? Sometimes I wonder if you only think you love me because we are the only ones here." Hoshi wouldn't meet Malcolm's eyes, and studied the pattern on the blanket.
"Hoshi, look at me" Malcolm demanded, tilting her chin so she'd look at him. "I love you" he assured her. "I have for a long time. In fact, I think I started loving you when you asked Captain Archer to recommend seatbelts on the chairs on the bridge."
"You did?" Hoshi asked incredulously. "But, that was on our first mission! Almost four years ago!"
(A/N Four years including their seven months on Terra)
"I know" he grinned. "I'm constant in my affections."
Hoshi leaned up on one elbow so she was looking down at him. "All I can say is 'What took you so long?'" They both laughed as they kissed. "So, Lieutenant Reed, as soon as we get off this rock, we'll head for the nearest chapel and become one under the eyes of God and the law"
"Very old-fashioned, but I like it. I love you Hosh."
"I love you too, and now, that I know you really love me too, I don't feel bad saying this."
"Saying what?"
"I'm pregnant."
Malcolm went very still. "What? How?" he whispered.
"How?" Hoshi grinned. "Well Malcolm, when a man and a woman..." she got no further before Malcolm pinned her to the blanket, and kissed her breathless. She marveled at his agility despite the leg, but soon forgot about it as she was lost in the pleasure of the kiss.
Malcolm finally broke the kiss, and looked deeply into her eyes. "Are you telling me that you, Hoshi Sato, the woman I love more than anything in this cosmos, are carrying my child?"
"Yep. You happy?"
Malcolm spent the rest of the day showing her just how happy he was.
--------------------------
Day 225
Malcolm leaned heavily on his cane as he battled his way up the steep hill that their home was situated on. He was proud of himself for managing to make it down the hill and back up on his own, with no help from Hoshi.
When she had told him the wonderful news that he was about to be a father, Malcolm made a promise to himself to be the best father and fiancé possible. And that meant getting his leg in working order. So, he pushed himself hard, and the results were good so far. The hill had been the real test though.
He walked into the house, intending to make a joyous announcement, but was kept silent by the sound of Hoshi weeping. He followed the sound to their room, where he found Hoshi crying on the bed, holding something in her cupped hands. Fear ran through him. Was something wrong with the baby?
"Hoshi? What's wrong love?" he asked, limping over to the bed to sit beside her. She opened her hands, and Malcolm saw what she had been crying about.
It was the Enterprise patch that had been attached to her uniform.
"I'm sorry" she sobbed. "It just hit me all of a sudden. They're gone, and we won't ever see them again. And I miss them. They were like family." Fresh torrents of tears came, and Malcolm just held her as she cried her eyes dry.
"I'm sorry" she sniffled, once the tears had stopped. "Hormones"
"Hey, there is nothing to be sorry about, or ashamed of. I thing about them too, and I cry. They were my family, and I miss them. You're human Hoshi. It's ok to feel." He settled them to a more comfortable position, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"As hard as it is to believe, I miss Trip's teasing" Malcolm confided in her. "I miss him telling me to 'Keep your shirt on Loo-tenant'"
"I know. I miss everyone. I miss sharing dinner with Captain Archer, and I miss Travis's jokes. Hell, I even miss T'Pol telling me that something was not logical." Malcolm grinned at that one. "I miss all my friends. I miss my languages."
"I know. I miss the armoury and blowing things up."
"I'm afraid I'll forget everything I know about languages if I don't practice."
"Tell you what, you can teach me"
"Really?" she asked in surprise. "You always gave me the impression that you equated learning a language with getting a broken bone set without anesthetic!"
"No greater love hath a man for his fiancée than to learn to speak gibberish. But, on one condition."
"And what's that?"
"I need to keep my skills sharp too. I want to teach you about weapons and tactics, so we could have a proper technical discussion. That's one part I really miss, the thinking behind my job."
"Weapons?"
"Yes. That's my offer. Take it or leave it."
"We, no greater love hath a woman for her fiancé than to learn to speak techno-babble. Deal."
"Good. Now, get some sleep. It's good for the baby."
"Nag. Nag. Nag."
"Yep. Don't pretend you don't love it."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
-----------------------------
I know it's sappy, but what can you do? I'm a hopeless romantic.
You know what to do...
The purple button is calling to you...
LL
