I tell myself that I, self that I, I can do
Do with the space between, the space between me to you
And I'm just a drink away from honesty so who knows what's true
But I'm wondering, wondering, if maybe you
You don't miss me too…
I'm just a drink away from honesty so who knows what's true
But I'm wondering, wondering, if maybe you, you don't miss me too
-Marianas Trench "Don't Miss Me?"

Billy Telfer didn't have many friends on Voyager. Not that he had a bunch of enemies but he just wasn't one of those people that others naturally gravitated to. It had always been that way. He'd always had a few close friends and that was it.

He was okay with that, especially as one of his friends on Voyager was Tal.

Tal got him. Even if she found his health worries annoying she was too kind of a person to show it. She listened patiently to his concerns and tried to reassure him. It didn't matter what time of day or night it was.

Yes, Tal was his best friend but he secretly wished that she was more. When they said goodnight, he didn't want to leave her but spend the night by her side. Know that she was near him even while he slept.

He just didn't know if she felt the same way.

As he sipped on his drink, some concoction that Neelix had mixed up using real alcohol, Billy contemplated finding out how she felt about him. Even as he watched her try to teach Gerron to dance, the Bajoran couldn't even slow dance, Billy imagined that it was him out on the dance floor with her. Imagined that he had his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. Imagined that he could feel her breath on his and that for once he didn't care about what germs he might be catching.

At least he told himself he wouldn't let that bother him if Tal was in his arms.

Any other night, and he knew he wouldn't be able to go through with it. However, Neelix's cocktail was making him feel pretty good and he thought, maybe after this song, he would go cut in. Giving Gerron's expression, he didn't think the Bajoran would mind him doing so. Gerron might even thank him.

Maybe tonight was the night he finally spoke his heart.