Chapter 4

They sat holding each other as the rain came down, neither caring how soaked they were getting. "I'm sorry Trip." Jon finally said.

"Sorry for what? It's not your fault that your father scared you into a closet. You're out now, don't ever be sorry for that."

Jon shook his head. "No, not that. I'm sorry I puked when you kissed me. I guess...I don't know, I guess I got myself so nervous and worked up, it was like a million butterflies in my stomach all wanting out at once."

"Oh, I see." Trip released Jon and sat back, putting on a disappointing scowl. "I worked hard on that meal you know, and you went and gave it to the fish. You owe me dinner."

Jon looked at him sheepishly. "I do breakfast better than dinners."

Trip tried his best to keep up his pretend disapproval. "I don't know...breakfast isn't really anything spectacular. I still think I deserve dinner."

Jon caught the little smirk that escaped from Trip, and put on his own mock argument. "Well, that's just because you never had my Belgian waffles, and with that attitude, you might never get the chance to have them."

They looked at each other and busted out laughing before Jon reached over to take Trip's hand. With a serious and determined look, he leaned towards Trip, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

Trip didn't try to stop him or pull away, he knew Jon's purpose and allowed the man to test the waters with himself. Before he knew it, he was being pushed back onto the bench seating, the weight of Jon on top of him as hungry hands started to unbutton his shirt.

Trip broke the kiss, breathless he whispered out. "Watch your depth gauge, Jonny."

Jon gave him a quizzical look before the understanding hit. "You think I'm going too fast?"

Trip nodded. "Just a little. You need time to get accustomed to the depths. Don't worry, darlin', I'm right here, I'll always be here, there's no rush."

Jon nodded as a smile came to him. Sitting up, pulling Trip with him, he turned, pressing his back into Trip's front, wrapping the man's arms around him. "You're the best instructor a person could ask for."

Trip grinned, shifting himself to get more comfortable. "Well...not everyone gets the deluxe training like you." He gave a kiss to the top of Jon's head.

The pair sat up the rest of the night talking as the rain stopped at some point. Wrapped together in a blanket and each other's arms, they watched the sun slowly rise over the horizon. By the time their vacation was over and the boat returned to its designated slip, they were officially a couple.

=Present=

"So, that's how it happened. We never really had a first date." Jon said as he gave Trip's hand a light squeeze.

Malcolm smirked. "Did you ever get those Belgian waffles?"

Trip nodded. "Yep, and oh my god are they freaking great! In fact...Jon?"

Jon chuckled. "I'll make waffles in the morning only if you make clam linguine tonight."

"Deal!" Trip grinned.

Travis blinked at them. "So, the commander is the first man you were ever with?"

"First and only, for the rest of my life." Jon smirked.

Hoshi gave them both a smile as if she was the only one who knew what the joke was. "You two are wrong."

Jon's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about? Wrong about what?"

Hoshi's mouth dropped open as none of them could see how obvious it was. "Don't you get it? Spending the day diving? Dinner? Trip helping you work through your emotions? Spending the night talking and watching the sunrise? That was your first date!"

Jon and Trip looked at each other in awe. In all these years it never once occurred to them that the transition from friends to lovers could be considered as a date. "Whoa. I...guess it was a date. Wow." Trip said dumbfounded.

Jon chuckled. "Guess it was, glad it worked out. Ok Travis, we all told you our stories, what happened last night?"

Travis moaned. He knew eventually they would all hear about it from other people, so might as well get it over with now. "Well...I decided to cook dinner last night for Hanna. I never made shrimp scampi before, but it seemed easy enough. The shrimp smelled a little funny, but I thought it was supposed to smell that way."

Trip let out a groan. "Don't tell me! The shrimp was spoiled, wasn't it?"

Travis quietly replied. "Yeah. We both spent the night in sickbay with food poisoning. She's never going to speak to me again!"

"Oh, I don't know about that." Jon pointed behind Travis to where Hanna Trudeau was walking towards him.

As she got to the table, she smiled at Travis. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Um...better, thanks. What about you?" Travis asked with regret that he was the cause of her illness.

"Better. Look um-"

Travis cut her off. "I'm really sorry about that, I guess I just wanted to impress you, but I'm not a very good cook. I'm sorry I didn't know the shrimp was spoiled. I hope you can forgive me."

She gave him a smile. "Actually, that's why I came over. If you're feeling up to it, maybe we can try for another date tonight? Um...just let chef do the cooking though."

Travis chuckled. "No argument from me. I can pick you up from your quarters at 1830?"

"Sounds like a plan." Hanna said with a bright smile before walking away.

Travis had his own bright smile that lit up his eyes as he turned to his friends. "She's giving me another chance! This is so great!"

Malcolm let out a small laugh. "See mate, not as bad as you imagined after all."

Trip chuckled. "Yeah. Just do yourself a favor and let me give you some cooking lessons before you try that again. Ok?"

Hoshi patted Travis on the shoulder. "And don't screw up your second chance. Impress her by keeping it simple, take her for a walk in the arboretum. Uh, just check with her about any flowers she might be allergic to first."

"And whatever you do, just be yourself, not the expectations of what others assume of you." Jon added.

"You do know where her quarters are, right? Might not be a bad idea to confirm the time with her as well, to avoid any miscommunication." Malcolm cautioned.

Travis smiled at them all, thankful to have great friends to give him the advice and support he needed to lift his spirits.

End