"I dreamt about you last night." (Tuvok/T'Pel)

Author's Note: This story takes place during the episode "Body and Soul". Rated M for Tuvok's thoughts during pon farr.

The quote at the end is part of a traditional Vulcan wedding ceremony from the TOS episode "Amok Time".

/

"Computer, address the following message to T'Pel's private channel. Deliver upon reaching communications range of Vulcan. Begin recording."

[AFFIRMATIVE]

"Stardate 54238.3. As you are surely aware, this marks the seventh year since we were last together as bondmates. I can feel my Time approaching, and no doubt, so do you. I intend to spend the day in deep meditation until it passes. The symptoms are manageable so far, and as I have taken the day off, I trust I shall not be interrupted. I hope you and the family are well, and that you in particular are taking care of yourself today. You have my consent to choose whatever solution you see fit … although to be honest, I would rather not even think of you with another - "

[DELETE]

"T'Pel, I do not regret my choice to rejoin Starfleet, but sixty thousand lightyears are a considerable distance to be away from you. As I sit and meditate in front of the lamp you bought for me at Temple Street Market, instead of the white heart of the flame, I see your hands as they hold the delicate object out to me, and your dark eyes as they reflect the light. Do you still find beauty to contemplate in every walk around the neighborhood? I know you do … but who walks beside you now when I cannot? Whose fingers reach for yours when the streets are quiet? In whom do you confide when the children and grandchildren worry you? Are you lonely, T'Pel? I could not bear it if you were, and yet - and yet I could strangle with my bare hands any man who dared to - "

[DELETE]

"Beloved, I dreamt of you last night. It was the cave at the Temple of T'Paneth, where we first sealed our bond, do you remember? I was so clumsy with the tie of your gown. You smiled - O my love, how I treasure that smile! - and dropped it in a puddle of silver silk on the floor. So many candles shining on all your golden skin, and I … I had never imagined anything so glorious. I woke up hard as a stone pillar, and it has not stopped … Ah, T'Pel, I need you! I need to bury my face in your neck and breathe in the scent of you. I need our hands to intertwine until I forget where your spirit ends and mine begins. I need to feel you cry out and shudder when you come, because I love your tranquility, but … ah, I love it even more when you lose it in my arms … "

[DELETE]

"Stardate 54238.4. My wife, I hope this message finds you and the family well. I was gratified to hear that Elieth and Ione are expecting, and also to receive Varith and Lyn's holoimage of T'Meni solving the pleenok. Our grandchild is as bright and determined as her father was at that age. As for Sek, please tell him that any choice of career is a worthy one, as long as one commits to it. It is fitting that he grew up to be a musician, as he used to fall asleep to my lute playing every night when he was small. If you see Asil, tell her … I suppose a Kohlinahru has no need to hear family news, but please give her my blessing."

[PAUSE]

"You may be interested to hear that Mr. Neelix has finally learned to make proper plomeek soup. I was … indisposed … yesterday, and in no condition to enjoy it, but today it made a nourishing morning meal."

[PAUSE]

"Given the stardate, you surely know the nature of my indisposition. I hope it has passed for you without undue incident. As for me, I have discovered that, while it is possible to resolve within the mind, sensory aids in holographic form are of invaluable assistance. Please forgive me for asking a colleague to design the program, as I do not have his skill - even if he did make your ears too long. I promise you, he is entirely discreet."

[PAUSE]

"What I learned from this experience is that, though our bond may have frayed to the thinnest of threads, it remains unbroken. I have no evidence of this, but what my human shipmates would call intuition tells me you were with me last night. "Parted from me and never parted, never and always touching and touched … " That still holds true, my wife. More than ever."

[DELETE]

[PAUSE]

"Computer, display deleted messages from Stardates 54238.3 and 54238.4 in the recycling bin."

[AFFIRMATIVE]

"Computer, restore … and save."

[AFFIRMATIVE]