Author's Note: Well, you gotta love the fact that the writers give us the canon story of how they got together, airing days after I finish my fanfic! Sorry, I guess I have to consider this an AU now or something akin to the TNG episode "Parallels". (And the canon version is lovely).

Chapter Three

Tatsuko's people on board the Yamato weren't sure. But apparently Hugh and his ex been spotted together in public twice in the past two days. Fortunately they hadn't gone back to sharing a room but for all Tatsuko and Paul knew, it could simply be that they hadn't yet put in a request to room together again. Paul hadn't heard from Hugh for four days, but that was typical as they didn't communicate much more often than that.

"What the fuck am I doing?" Paul asked himself out loud. (Paying no heed to the fact that he was not alone. One roommate and his girlfriend were sitting together inside their bunk, but they ignored Paul as he always ignored them.) "I'm hurdling through space and uprooting my life and work, I've pissed off the best research partner ever and now it might be for nothing. And I was an idiot to not see that they might get back together. That's what a lot of couples do after they break up, they get back together – maybe if I'd ever been in a relationship that lasted longer than two weeks, I'd have known that!"

"Amen," his roommate's girlfriend muttered.

"He'll be gone soon, hon," the roommate said to his girl.

Paul sat in the mess hall on Starbase 7 and watched the Yamato approach the station. He drank his coffee and looked at the ship, impressive viewed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. After spending days in a state of anger and chagrin (directed at himself, no use blaming Tatsuko), he had been trying to view his predicament with an attitude of acceptance. So he had made a mistake. The Yamato was a prestigious ship, and his new role would advance his career. His old boss had been terrible, and now he was away from her. He would miss Straal but maybe an even more brilliant research partner awaited him. And perhaps Paul would become great friends with Hugh and Phineas. Maybe there was another guy as wonderful as Hugh Culber out there somewhere; just because Paul had never met someone else like him didn't mean that he didn't exist.

Maybe he'd be able to keep himself from burning with envy when he passed Hugh's boyfriend in the corridors.

But probably not. What was the crew complement on this ship again and how often would he be forced to see him?

Since Hugh and Phineas had gotten back together, Paul had received one message from Hugh. It had been innocuous and pleasant, and Paul had spent far too much time revising his reply. He finally came up with something and had sent it off yesterday.

"Yes, damnit, I do want to hear all about those paintings of yours even though I'm no artist. I'll board the Yamato tomorrow– are we still on for that drink sometime? You have a boyfriend, right? Will he be ok with it, or does he want to join us?"

He hated the message, hated all the question marks. 'This is another reason why you're single, Paul,' he'd told himself. 'Putting yourself out there and sounding ridiculous is a truly horrible experience.'

Hugh hadn't replied yet, but that was typical of their communications. Like all Starfleet officers (except Tatsuko), they did have more pressing matters than personal correspondence.

The ship continued its approach and Paul's device beeped with a reminder. It was time to do one final inspection of his temporary quarters on the station and prepare to embark on the Yamato.

Paul embarked and jumped into his work with both feet. For his first 72 hours, he spent every waking hour in Engineering. Food replicators inside crew members' quarters ensured that he didn't even need to visit the mess hall. He placed his personal communications device inside a drawer and didn't open it. He had set his brain to "work hard, please the boss, forget everything else" and Paul prided himself on being able to do exactly what he required of himself.

On the morning of the fourth day, Paul rose with his alarm, showered, dressed, and ordered black coffee and a bagel from the food replicator. He was about to drink his first drop of the bitter liquid when his room's doorbell sounded. A few thoughts flashed through his mind during the next second: 'That's odd, my roommate's not here, I don't know anyone – Could it be? Could it be him?'

"Come!" he called.

The door opened, and Doctor Hugh Culber stepped through.

Paul's heart skipped a beat or two. Although he'd seen recent pictures of Hugh, he was taken aback by the other man's sheer beauty. How was he even more handsome than he had been at the academy? And now he stood right before Paul.

"Hi," Hugh said. "Hope I'm not interrupting you or making you late for your shift."

"No, not at all!" Paul replied, forcing himself to steady his voice and hope it came out sounding confident. When his brain could get passed Hugh's looks, it also made some observations. Hugh's voice had almost seemed to shake a bit, the tone was tentative. Was it the look in Hugh's eyes or the way one of his hands was clasping the other that made it appear that Hugh was a bit nervous? When Hugh had first stepped inside the room, he'd looked for a second like he was moving to give Paul a hug, but the coffee mug and bagel Paul held would've made that difficult, so the men did not embrace.

"I just wanted to welcome you to the Yamato! I, uh, got the idea you've been really busy since you got here. I mean, it's always hard when you're on a new assignment. But I just wanted to come by and say hi. It's nice to see someone I went to the academy with."

Paul ensured he smiled but not too broadly. The way Hugh's words had tumbled forth confirmed the notion that the doctor was in fact nervous.

"Thanks. And yeah, you're right – I haven't done anything since I got here other than work and sleep." Paul looked down at the coffee cup and the bagel. "And eat - sometimes."

"Well, hey, speaking of eating….if you ever do want to grab a bite to eat or a drink, just let me know when you're free," Hugh said.

Was that perspiration on Hugh's forehead? Was Paul dreaming or did the look in Hugh's eyes suggest something akin to what Paul had dreamed about?

Maybe this was the time to ask the question. It had to be asked sooner or later, and he felt now was as good a time as any. Paul took a sip of his coffee, hoping to appear nonchalant, and began, "Since I have been so busy, I haven't even looked at my personal messages. You're still with Phineas, right?" He tried to force a joke, "I don't want to end up on the receiving end of someone's fist if I'm spotted having a drink with a married man!"

Hugh awkwardly returned the laugh and took a second before replying. "It's complicated, but we're actually over now. We were together for more than four years – these things just aren't easy. Breakups, I mean. But he and I are over for good now. In fact, his paperwork just came through to transfer him off this ship. That will be good for both of us."

A few things happened during the next split second. Paul lost control and broke out into a wide smile. He then fought to regain control but realized from the glint in Hugh's eyes that he'd been too slow that time.

"I – uh – I know breakups are hard," Paul managed, remembering that the information Hugh had just shared merited a proper reply. "I mean, people tell me they are. How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing okay." Hugh took a breath. "The last year or so's been rough but the breakup is definitely for the best. I'm ready to turn that page and begin a new chapter in my life."

The two men made plans to have a drink that evening, and Paul reiterated his joke about being relieved that he didn't have to fear being on the receiving end of Phineas' fist if they were spotted together.

Ten hours later, Paul found himself on the receiving end of Phineas' fist.

Up until that point, their dinner had been like a dream. They sat and they talked, neither man ate much, both men listened. Paul simultaneously wanted to hear everything Hugh had to say and to tell Hugh everything about his life. They leaned into each other as they spoke. Hugh was making bedroom eyes at him, even when Paul went on too much about mushrooms. Ten minutes into the dinner, Paul had dropped the bullshit, decided to stop pretending to be in charge and stop planning his next move. He gave in to his heart, which beat more rapidly than was comfortable.

Hugh apparently had decided the same.

"You know, I hope you don't find this too forward," Hugh said. His cheeks looked mildly flushed and his voice was using a tone that could only be described as adoration. "But I always liked you when we were at the academy. I always was so interested in you. But I was already with Phineas and I don't know….I just didn't know how you felt about me. I couldn't tell if I should rock the boat with Phinny so…."

Paul metaphorically laid his cards on the table. "I always wanted you. I transferred to the Yamato to be with you."

Hugh's mouth dropped open and stayed open for a few beats. Paul gently laid his hands on the sides of Hugh's face and pulled him in. They kissed. They kissed and kissed, and didn't stop. Paul felt like star systems were exploding, like he and Hugh were the only two humans ever, like his ears were ringing, like he needed to devour those delicious lips and the perfect man to whom they belonged.

And then seconds later, he felt himself being grabbed by the arm, brought to his feet, and punched in the face.

"Phinny!" Hugh screamed.

"You son of a bitch Paul Stamets!" Phineas muttered through clenched teeth, balling his fists and preparing to strike another blow. "You slimy –"

Before Phineas could say or do more, two members of Security who had been dining at the next table apprehended him and removed him from the mess hall. Hugh had already rushed to Paul's side. "Let's get you to sick bay!"

"I'm fine," Paul said.

"You're bleeding. Let's go."

"Okay. But kiss me first."

Hugh complied. A few onlookers watched and applauded or hooted.

Back in the present day, Paul sat next to Sylvia Tilly. Weeks had gone by since the day she'd asked the harmless question, asked how he and Hugh had first met. He liked Tilly now. Hugh had always taught him to open his heart and keep it open "no matter how much it might go against your crotchety instincts," as Hugh had put it. Besides, Hugh loved Tilly so that was another point in the cadet's favor as far as Paul was concerned.

"Wow!" Tilly said. "Thank you for telling me all of that."

"It was kind of fun to relive it," Paul shrugged.

"And so that was it? You've been together since that day?"

"Since that punch in the face from good old Phineas, eighteen years ago. Hugh took me to sick bay, and we haven't been apart since."

"I, um, I hope someday I find love like that. I think it's rare what you two have."

Paul smiled, took another sip of his drink, and turned towards Tilly. "Well, when you do find that person, I recommend you do what I did. Go for it and take a few risks. I shudder to think what would've happened if I hadn't transferred to the Yamato."

The door to Paul and Hugh's quarters opened, and Hugh walked through. "Am I late?" the doctor asked, laying eyes on Tilly. "I thought we have a bit of time before game night."

"You're fine," Paul said, getting up and planting a quick kiss on his mouth. "The others aren't here yet. I was just telling Tilly the story of how we got together."

"You mean how we first met at the academy?" Hugh asked, his brow furrowing.

Paul laughed. "No!" He turned towards Tilly. "See, that part, we don't agree on. We know we met each other at the academy, we know we hung out in the same circles – but neither of us agrees on what was the very first time we saw each other."

Hugh rolled his eyes. "My memory is fine." He also turned to Tilly. "It was at this big party that our mutual friend Tatsuko threw."

Tilly smiled. "I know all about Tatsuko."

Paul shook his head. "No, no, no – we had already met by then. The first time we saw each other was at a lecture by a visiting expert on – what else? – astromycology. We sat near each other and talked a bit afterwards."

"I have zero memory of the lecture or us meeting there. I'm positive that Tatsuko's party was the first time we ever spoke!" Hugh insisted.

Both men smiled and Hugh turned towards Tilly. "This will happen to you when you have a couple more decades on you."

"Memory loss or silly disagreements with my husband?" Tilly asked.

"Both!" Paul and Hugh said in unison.

THE END – For now. A romantic addendum will be coming soon.