"Why is this happening to us, if the only thing we know about it is a Vulcan legend!" He had come to know her schedule, though she was light years away. He knew when she would be meditating, when he could reach her, and he had not been wrong.

"I imagine you did some research into the Vulcan cultural database."

She was sitting as usual, he was standing, but their faces may have well had been as close together as possible. "You imagine! You imagine! Since when do Vulcans imagine? You didn't finish your little legend; your little legend says that your ancestors lost their own personalities as they merged into one!"

"They did not control their bond. They did not respect logic, and instead gave into passions."

"Humans are passionate beings, T'Pol! How do you expect me to embrace logic all the time?"

"I do not know," she admitted. "I am surprised you are able to keep this meditative state when you are so agitated."

Trip ran his hand through his hair and looked over his shoulder away from her. "I don't know either. I guess it's just force of will and needing to talk to you." He lifted his chin into the air, defying her.

"I do not wish to speak with you about these intimate things when you are not ready."

"Intimate? Oh, hell, T'Pol. Tell me what's going on."

"We are bonded. We share our thoughts and experiences, if we wish. That we are able to communicate over such vast distances, it suggests that this bond is permanent."

"Permanent? You and I barely can stay in the same room together!"

"We seem to have no problem sharing my meditation space."

"That's because we have to!"

"We do not have to," T'Pol stated, and Trip imagined he could hear a bit of sadness in her voice. "You could cut off your end of the bond, ignore it, let it grow cold, but it will always be with you."

"Are you saying you want this bond?"

T'Pol said nothing.

"Your silences are what drove me to the Columbia!" Trip raged. He stopped and went pale.

"I always thought that you left because of me."

"Yeah, well, I did." His hand went through his hair and T'Pol couldn't help but wonder if his real hair was ruffled too.

"I would like you to come back."

"You really think I can? It's not that easy. This bond thing isn't that easy. Do you think being on the same ship would be easy?"

"No harder than what we are doing now, no more difficult than our relationship was before."

"Our relationship went sour when you got married to another man when I still loved you. And then again when you decided to dedicate your life to the pursuit of enlightenment!"

"The Kir'Shara has been most helpful in the description of these bonds."

Trip stepped back and put one finger over his mouth. He narrowed his eyes. "How long have you known what was going on?"

"Since the first time we touched."

And Trip could not speak.

"We are bonded, Trip. If we did not care for one another, this would not have happened. I am beginning to believe that this is not outside of Surak's teachings."

"Sure, your prophet deems it all right, so suddenly we can be together," Trip said bitterly.

"I believe a common idea amongst humans is that relationships take work. The Kir'Shara suggests the same."

"I can't just forgive you for closing me off."

"I am open to you now," said T'Pol. "And now you know this is not just a dream."

"Being with you always seemed like a dream." Trip said quietly. He didn't look into her eyes.

"I assure you, this is not a dream." T'Pol stood, for the first time since these visions had begun occurring. She extended her right index and middle fingers in an odd handshake. Trip looked at her extended hand.

"Is that the Vulcan version of kiss-and-make-up?"

"Not in so crude terms, but a Vulcan kiss an acceptable description."

Trip extended his own right hand in the same manner and touched his beloved. They stared into her eyes, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into a human kiss – and then they both believed everything may be all right.

fin

A/N: Sorry that this was ill planned… I tried to keep it in character, but I don't know where that got me. I hope you enjoyed… I apologize for mistakes; I just wrote and posted without anyone but me and the spell check looking at it. Any con-crit that goes beyond "Hey, your spelling and grammar sucks. And you know nothing about Canon." is absolutely welcome. Thanks for reading!