Chapter Twenty-seven

Deep Space Nine loomed onto the view screen, a welcome sight to all aboard the Defiant. Well, perhaps not to Reetan Gentanar. He sat under close watch on the bridge, his mind powers blocked by the little silver hair clip medically taped to his temple, his hands locked in cuffs.

Sisko glanced back at the man, smiling grimly. Here was a very important prisoner to the Federation.

"He's not going anywhere, sir," said Kira from nearby.

"I know." The captain turned to face her. "I just don't trust him."

"No one should," Kira said acidly.

Further back in the ship sat Marina and Julian, hands clasped, heads together.

"We made it," Julian whispered to her. "We're home."

"Yes." Marina smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Together, we are home."

Julian grinned lopsidedly. "That's not what I meant, but I'll take that, too." He kissed her hand, suddenly serious, his eyes locked with hers. "Lt. Richardson, I would follow you to the ends of the world, and even that would be home."

"How original," Marina teased.

He gave her an exasperated look.

"But sweet," she added quickly, kissing his lips softly.

He couldn't be annoyed with her after that.

(LINE)

"Where's Marina?" asked Julian as he rushed to the usual table in Quark's bar.

Dax, Whorf, and Miles all looked up at him.

"Well?"

"I think she's in the holo-suite, Julian," Miles said. "But I don't know if--"

"Thank-you," Julian called, rushing off. "I'm going in there, Quark," he added as he passed the Ferengi.

Quark shook his head. "I hope he doesn't intend to use that teddy bear as a weapon," he muttered. "Marina's battle simulators are brutal."

(LINE)

The sky was so beautiful. The clouds were that dark bluish-gray that made the green of leaves stand out so well. There was a low rumble of thunder from somewhere far away. And the wind--it was light, but she could feel it.

Marina closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. It had been a full day since she and her friends had returned to the space station, she was now Julian's fiancée, and Gentanar had been turned over to the proper authorities.

Marina let out her breath. Everything had happened so fast, and now it was over…

"Marina?" called a familiar voice.

She opened her eyes. He was standing over her, looking concerned. "I'm fine, Julian," she said quietly. She started to sit up from the grass.

"No. Stay there." He smoothly lowered himself to the ground and laid next to her, looking up at the clouds. "What are you thinking?"

That question always made her nervous. She was never quite sure how to answer it. "Just… thinking…" Instead of explaining, she sent him her thoughts mind to mind, turning her head to look at him.

He met her eyes, absorbing her thoughts. His lips curved in a gentle smile. "Ah. So that's what you're thinking."

"Yes," she whispered.

For a moment, they laid there on the grass, simply looking at each other.

Then Julian said, "You're not avoiding me, are you?"

"No," she replied.

"If you want to be alone, I'll leave you," he said.

"No," she replied.

"All right." He turned his head to look up at the cloudy sky. "It's beautiful. I can tell you made it."

Marina still had her eyes on him. "Thank-you," she said quietly.

Julian rolled over onto his stomach, sitting up on his elbows, looking at his fiancée. "Marina, I love you…" He reached out to touch her hair, which was spread out about her, long and golden and silky. "So very, very much. And I can't--I can't bear to see you with that sad look on your face. What's the matter?"

"You remember when Gentanar first brought me into his castle? When that crowd was screaming my name?"

"Yes."

"I almost gave in." She looked away from him. "I almost… gave in. I nearly gave you up--you and all the others--for fame and glory and all that."

"I know."

She turned back to him, dark eyebrows raised. "And you still tried to save me. You did… save me. If you hadn't shot Gentanar when you did…"

"Of course I still tried to save you," Julian replied. "I love you. And you saved my life." He scooted closer to her, leaning over her, his eyes wandering over her face, then returning to her eyes. "You don't need to feel guilty. You didn't give in, now, did you? You were only tempted to. And being tempted isn't a sin."

She finally smiled at him. "You're right. If being tempted was a sin, everyone would be sinning all the time."

He gave her a roguish smile. "Yes. I know I would. You're such an natural, involuntary temptress."

Marina laughed and threw her arms around his neck. "I just love you, Julian Bashir!"

"Good--because you're going to marry me," he said, then he kissed her.

"I do believe I am," she agreed.

Julian reached behind him. "Here. I brought you something."

"Nupenberry!" Marina exclaimed, grabbing the bear and rolling onto her side. "He's got arms!"

"You have to promise me you won't tear those off," Julian reprimanded with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I was asleep when I did it!" Marina exclaimed in mock hurt. "I cannot be held responsible!"

Julian bit his lip and looked down, then looked back up at her. "Well, now I'll be with you when you sleep. I'll make sure you don't rip his arms off again."

Marina took his face between her hands and kissed his lips. "Mmmmm. I'm glad I'm marrying you." She slid close to him, pressing her back against his chest, resting her head under his chin. "See how well you cheer me up when I'm depressed?"

He was quiet, then, just holding her in his arms.

Suddenly, music began to play. They both sat up, Marina with a frown on her face.

"I didn't put music in this program!" she exclaimed.

Julian stood, then reached to help her stand beside him. "It's nice music," he remarked.

"Yes. It is." Marina's frown faded.

Julian held out his hand, smiling crookedly. "Would you like to dance?"

"Yes. I would." Marina took his hand, and they began to dance to the lovely music.

On the other side of the holo-suite, Dax and Kira laughed quietly.

"Great idea, Kira! I wouldn't have thought you had it in you!" Dax whispered.

Kira raised an eyebrow. "Didn't think I was a romantic, you mean."

"That's not what I meant!" Dax protested. She grinned mischievously. "I mean, you and Odo--"

"Stop it!" Kira swatted at her friend. "Come on. Let's leave them alone to dance."

(LINE)

Julian walked Marina back to her room, feeling like the most fortunate man in the world (blessed, his fiancée would say). "Good-night, my love," he said, bending to kiss her cheek.

"Good-night, Julian," she replied. There was a bright sparkle in her eye. "If you see Kira and Dax before I do, thank them for the music."

"So it was them, was it?"

"Yes. I sensed them in the holo-suite."

"Rather nice of them to do that."

"Yes. Don't forget that you're meeting my parents tomorrow."

"Of course I wont forget."

"Good." Marina stood there in her doorway, looking up at him, as if waiting for something.

Julian crossed his arms and tilted his head to one side. "Are you waiting for another kiss?"

Marina blushed. "Yes."

"Here, then." He gently lifted her chin and kissed her lips softly. Soon, the kiss had evolved, and he was standing with his arms wrapped tightly around her, hers around his neck, and they were kissing passionately.

"I wish we were married now," she whispered in his ear as his lips caressed her throat.

"Mmm. Me, too." He pulled back slowly from her, taking her hands and kissing each one. "Good-night, Marina."

"Good-night." She squeezed his hands, then gently let them go, her eyes following his slender form until he could be seen no longer.

(LINE)

Julian liked Marina's parents immediately. Her half-Vulcan father was a rather dignified man, but a friendly one. He had black hair, shot with silver at the temples, and blue eyes, and his ears were slightly pointed like his daughter's. Julian also noticed that they had the same nose. Her mother was a warm, sweet woman with flaming red hair and her daughter's green eyes. Both of them seemed very close to their daughter, and very protective as well.

"So you're a doctor, are you?" Varak Richardson asked Julian as they all entered Marina's quarters.

"Yes. I am," said Julian. "I love my work."

The two men started a rather technical conversation, leaving Marina to talk to her mother, Brianne, alone.

"Isn't he wonderful?" Marina whispered as she led Brianne to the replicator.

"He is rather nice." Brianne smiled at her daughter. "I can tell that he loves you."

"Do you sense it, too?"

Brianne laughed. "I don't have to. The way he looks at you tells me enough." She leaned to whisper in Marina's ear. "And he's very handsome, too."

(LINE)

Marina looked around the table, smiling contentedly. Julian was beside her, talking with Miles. Kira, across from her, was talking to Odo. Dax was giving Jake advice on his story. Worf was watching his wife with the Klingon version of a smile…

Everything was right.

And she had a place where she belonged.

Julian turned to her, smiling. "You look happy," he whispered.

"I am," she replied. "Everything's right now."

He kissed her cheek. "I don't know about everything, but there's one thing that I'm sure is right." He linked his fingers with hers and whispered, "Us."

He was right, of course, as usual, as always. Marina grinned at him, relishing in the feel of his love, in the flow of his thoughts with hers. They had been through so much, and yet here they were, alive and in love.

They had come through the fire together, and it had made them stronger.

THE END

(A/N: And that, my friends, is the end! But don't worry, there will be a sequel! Keep your eyes opened for it! Marina and Julian's adventures are not over yet!)