Chapter 2: Towards the Sunset

Summary: Trip's thoughts during North Star as he approaches T'Pol

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Star Trek

Story Note: Every other chapter I'll alternate between the time from Earth to the Delphic Expanse and the time from entering the Expanse up till North Star. Just as a few notes, I'll try to stick to canon timeline as much as possible but sorry for all mistakes, I'm taking some creative license! And the Xindi in this story will be quite different from the canon Xindi (no time traveling, no body discovered on Earth, nada), so apologies for anything that violates canon in that regard, but I'll try to address as many things as possible since I'll still be using the first few episodes for season 3. Thanks!

A/N: Thank you to all that read and reviewed. I appreciated all your comments and kind words, any and all comments are very much appreciated.


November 8, 2153

I can see her from here, silhouetted against the husky orange of the sky under the arms of a tree, a bandanna covering the tips of her ears, her white top hugging her frame and a dark skirt blending into the hues of the sunset. God she's beautiful. I can still feel her hands from where she held on as we rode the horse, but for some reason it was exhilarating, comforting. Though she's touched me plenty durin' neuropressure.

When did she become the only one I can think about? When did she steal that place in my heart that was left empty all those months before? When did she become the person not that I wanted, not that I desired, but I needed.

As I walk towards her, I know I gotta say it. The three words that we both understand yet we refuse to say. I can't help feel what I feel. She's perfect for me, the only one I'm ever gonna love.

As a dry breeze flows across the sand, I see her short hair flutter ever so slightly and her skirt sway into the sky. For some reason I can't remember how to breathe. I can't believe how lucky I am to have gotten to know such a beautiful soul. How did I ever live without her in my life? When did it all change?

And I'm back at that bench, eight months ago when she draped her jacket on my shoulders and placed her warm hand on my shoulder and in a single moment became my breath, my heartbeat, my life. This is more than just friendship. We both know it.

I come around behind her, placing my hand on her shoulder, just as she did on mine that one night, and I whisper a soft, "T'Pol," and then God, she turns around and I see those gorgeous eyes…