The Enterprise Spring Vacation

By Anna Yolei

The Beginning

Well, here it is, folks—the end, the big finale, the home stretch, the last inning, the final quarter, the big payoff, the last act…um, you get it. It's the end :( This chapter feels more like an epilogue.

And…the beginning :)

I don't really need a disclaimer, do I?

"It sure feels good to be back here," Malcolm said to Hoshi as the walked out the shuttlepod.

"It does. I have to say I miss Earth cuisine quite a bit."

Malcolm's mind went to a conversation from nearly to years ago.

"do you still that hot plate in your quarters?"

"Hot plate? How do you…? Ohhh…I'd almost forgotten about that!" She let out a laugh. "2000 hours, then?"

Malcolm gave her hand a slight squeeze. "It's a date."

2300 hours, later that night…

Jonathon Archer returned to his quarters after checking on each and every part of the ship. He was first greeted to Porthos jumping up on him, hoping he'd have a piece of cheese for him.

"Get down, boy," he laughed as he pet the beagle on the head and walked a bit deeper into the room. He was greeted by the sight of T'Pol rearranging a few things on the shelf that hung over his bed, adding a few artifacts of her own to his collection.

"Redecorating already?" he asked jokingly.

"I won't move all my belongings from my quarters," she assured him. "I simply wanted to put a few items in here that will help me meditate."

Jonathon picked up a green jade figurine of hers. He remembered seeing one just like it when he, T'Pol and Trip went to visit the P'Jem sanctuary. "Is this Surek?"

"Yes," she answered and quickly put it back up on the shelf. "I'd prefer for it not to be disturbed. It's very fragile."

"The desk might be a safer place to put it. The walls can be a little shaky when we've under attack."

"Very well," and T'Pol moved it to Jonathon's desk. By now, he had striped down to just his boxers and considered himself ready for bed. It would be the first of many nights he'd share the bed with T'Pol and he was certainly looking forward to waking up next to her tomorrow. He slipped into the right side of the bed.

"Are you coming soon?" he asked T'Pol.

"In a minute…I'd like to slip into something that is less restraining."

She went into his bathroom to change out of her blue form-fitting catsuit. Two minutes later, she walked out in a purple silk robe that went down to her calves. Jonathon sat up as she came near him.

"Wow…" was all he could say as T'Pol sat down on the bed. She began to massage his shoulders and run her hands on his torso. "It's too bad shore leave had to end today."

"It isn't the end," she said, "but more like a beginning. Today we start our new life with each other." T'Pol let that sink end before adding, "I'm not wearing anything under this garment."

Jonathon scanned her slim body with a wicked grin. T'Pol arched up her eyebrow and two seconds later, they wrapped their hands around one another and began to share their passion for one another.

And thus the last day of shore leave came to a close; but for the two newly- united couples, this was far from…

I'd like to take this time to thank the following people:

-Dennisub, for his encouragement throughout the past few years, and for the suggestion he made in one review that helped to change the direction of the story.

-Karen Hubbard, who I haven't spoken with for some time, but was a tremendous help with cleaning up sentences, pointing out awkward sentences (Which even now, I sometimes have a problem with). If you are still keeping track of this, thank you very much.

-Everyone who beta'ed this story. I'm sorry I haven't kept track of who all of you were since it's been a looooong time, but you have all helped to make me a better writer. This fic was definitely a huge turning point from the stories I used to write up to this point, and much of what I've learned I've carried over to the stories I write now.

-The reviewers. Particularly one named Catherine for being brave enough to point out this story had some things that should be looked over, and the point went well over my head at the time. I'd also like to apologize to the "My God" reviewer for that rather...er, embarrassing attack. ; Your comment was pretty blunt, but I pretty much over-reacted to something that was essentially right.

And last, but certainly not least…

-The readers. There are so many people who have asked me over the years when I intended to complete this, particularly at the Logical Choice board and if it weren't for them, I'd probably never would have gotten off my lazy ass to revise what I had and complete it.

Thank you, everyone.