Chapter Thirty: Lost Love
She had been roaming the corridors, not knowing where to go. Trip was alive. But he was married. The thoughts played over and over in her mind. She didn't know which hurt the most; when Trip was dead or alive.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Hoshi looked up. "Hoshi, what's wrong?" Travis asked.
"Trip…he's alive."
"What!"
"He was in my quarters."
"That's wonderful. But…how?"
"I…don't know." She shook her head. "All I know is that he's married. He's married."
"Come on," Travis said, putting his arm around her. "I'm listening."
-----
"So," Travis began. He took a bite of his cheesecake. "What are you doing to do?"
Hoshi stared at her own piece. "I really don't know."
They were in Travis' quarters; eating the cheesecake he snuck out of the mess hall, last night.
"Well, do you still love him?"
"It's complicated. When I saw him…I couldn't believe it. All these emotions rushed back to me. But…things are different, now that he's back."
"Want some advice?" Travis asked.
"What?"
"Move. On." Travis punctuated both words.
"How? I mean, I never really fell out of love with him."
Travis shrugged. "It's up to you. I mean, you actually did move on when we all thought he was dead."
Hoshi thought for a moment.
"If you don't, Trip's 'welcome back' present from me will be his ass whuppin'."
Hoshi laughed. "Okay, Travis. I get the picture."
"Are you going to eat the rest of that cheesecake?"
"No." She pushed her slice to him. "You can have it. I should get going…I have something to take care of." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, Travi."
Travis rolled his eyes at the affectionate nickname. "Uhmm."
-----
"Hoshi," Malcolm said, surprised. He stood at his doorway, shirtless. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?"
Hoshi smiled. "I'm fine, Malcolm." She crossed her arms. "I hope you didn't forget our date, tonight. The movie should be starting in fifteen minutes."
Malcolm slapped his forehead. "I'm sorry…I thought you wouldn't…"
"Hold on a minute," Hoshi interrupted. "We had a date, and I'm ready for it. Are you standing me up?"
Malcolm was taken aback. "No, I'm not. Hold on." He quickly grabbed a t-shirt and put it on.
-----
Hoshi struggled to hold up a very sickly-looking Malcolm, as they exited the mess.
"Next time," Malcolm gasped, "remind me to know exactly what movie will be showing."
"What was wrong with Jaws?"
"Uh…you see…I have this fear…big fear…of water," he confessed.
"I thought your biggest fear was hurting me." She jokingly put a hand on her hip.
Malcolm gulped.
"That's okay." Hoshi grinned, wickedly. "I'll make sure you don't go off the deep end. In fact, when I'm through with you, you'll make a splashing recovery."
Malcolm groaned. "Please, no puns."
Hoshi laughed. "Just…couldn't…help myself."
They arrived at Hoshi's quarters. She punched in her code and the door swiftly opened. She grabbed Malcolm by the collar and kissed him. They stumbled into her room and she broke away for a second. "Make love to me, Malcolm," she said, against his mouth.
Malcolm lifted her and carried her to her bed.
-----
"Hey, Hoshi."
She didn't want to turn around, to acknowledge him. She just wanted some time to herself. But she should have known that he'd find her in the mess; he did before. "I thought I told you to stay away from me."
It had been a week since Trip's return. Captain Archer had announced to the crew the situation. Trip and his wife, Nevilka, had been given jobs; his, back in engineering, hers, in the armory. Hoshi had seen Nevilka on some occasions, but she had no intention of getting to know her. Although, she thought she was quite beautiful; she had long silvery-white hair, light-gray eyes, dark skin, and two short horns protruding from her forehead.
"I could never do that," he said.
She turned around and glared at him. "But you did!"
He jumped from her outburst.
"I thought you were dead. So many nights I'd come here…wishing and hoping…believing…that you would be here. I lived in a fantasy world. Then I stopped. I knew I had to move on. And I did."
He silently looked at her.
"I…I moved on because I had to. You…moved on because you wanted to."
"Hoshi," he began, slowly shaking his head.
"You got yourself a good one; Nevilka's beautiful. What was it about her that you found so attractive? Her body? Eyes? Or maybe it was her horns…you always wanted a—"
"Leave her outta this," Trip cut in.
Hoshi ignored him. "What was it?"
"Her spirit."
"Spirit?"
"She always had…has…your spirit, your spunk. All that time I was gone, she reminded me, everyday, of you."
Hoshi suddenly looked away, uncomfortable. "It's late. I should get to bed."
"But I thought we could talk."
"Why?"
"I've missed you; everything about you."
"I've missed you, too."
"Friends?" Trip asked, timidly.
"Always," Hoshi replied.
He opened his arms and Hoshi went to him. They hugged each other. Hoshi listened to his heartbeat. Trip listened to her steady breathing. For old time's sake.