Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)
by Terranfem
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September 26,1998

Intro: First of, this story features a character death so be warned. When I first heard this song, I cried because I thought of Harry and Tom saying their good-byes to each other.

Copyright:All Star Trek characters belong to Paramount. I make no claim to them. The song "Con Te Partiro" also belongs to the record company. I just borrowed it for this song.

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"Dad?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"It's Papa. . . he's asking for you."

Tom Paris nodded and urged his 10 year old grandson to go to his mother. Tom stood there for a few minutes staring at the tow-headed youngster. Finally, Tom took a deep breath and met his daughter's eyes. "Did you say…?"

"Yes, Dad. We said our good-byes." Two pairs of identical blue eyes locked.

Tom's brow creased as he saw her lips tremble and the tears fell down her cheeks. He held out his arms to her and she collapsed, weeping hard, into his arms.

"Oh, Dad! I'm going to miss him so much," she lamented, soaking his shirt.

Tom embraced her tightly and lay his cheek on her head as he tried to sooth her. "I know it's hard to say good-bye but it's what he wants." He did his best to comfort his daughter, to be strong for her, knowing that she needed him to be strong during this grievous moment. Inwardly, though, his heart was breaking at the reality that in the next room his husband lay dying and that they would soon be parted.

"Mommy, please don't cry," the little boy pleaded.

Tom leaned back to look at his daughter, keeping his arms around her waist. He wiped away the tears from her cheeks. "Your son needs you. I'll be with your Papa if you need me." He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

She reached for her son's hand while still holding on to Tom. "I'll be right here. . ."

Tom squeezed her hand. "I know. Now go on." He watched her lead her son to the living room where their friends were waiting. After a heartbeat, he slowly turned and walked into the bedroom. He paused in the doorway and gazed tenderly at the man resting on their bed. Their bed where they had first made love. And it was also the same bed where they had joyously consummated their marriage.

The man on the bed, Harry Kim, felt Tom's warm gaze and smiled, dark eyes meeting tender blue ones.

"Hey there, handsome," Harry greeted his husband, raising a hand towards Tom.

Tom laughed. "Hardly handsome. Wrinkled and bald would be more like it." He walked towards the bed and carefully sat down on the bed. He enveloped Harry's hand with his own.

"You'll always be handsome to me, Tom."

"And you'll always be beautiful to me." He leaned in to kiss his husband, his hand tight around Harry's. "How are you feeling? Are you comfortable? Do you need another pillow?"

"Tom, I don't need anything. I just need you here with me."

"I'm right here, Harry. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," Harry smiled but this was quickly replaced by a slight frown as he looked at Tom. "What is it, Tom?"

For a moment, Tom hesitated, as if unwilling to spill his thoughts. Harry squeezed his hand encouragingly and it finally came out in a burst. "What will I do without you, Harry? We've spent so much of our lives together, I don't know anymore what it's like not to have your arms hold me close at night. To feel you next to me. Loving me. We had a beautiful life together, haden't we?"

"Yes, we did."

"We didn't have a lot of fights, did we?"

"No, we didn't. Come to think of it, you probably started some of our fights just so we could make up."

Tom chuckled guiltily. "You caught me! The making up part was so much more fun."

"I think we made up even when we didn't fight."

They both laughed.

"You made me so very happy, Tom."

"Not as happy as you've made me. I was the luckiest guy on the ship when you agreed to marry me."

"Uh-uh. No way. I was the lucky one."

"Let's just say we both got lucky," Tom smiled slyly at the double entendre and was rewarded by a smile from Harry.

"Do me a favor, Tom?"

"Anything, my love."

"Lay down beside me. I want to feel you beside me."

They both sighed contentedly as Tom carefully wrapped his arms around Harry so Harry could rest his head on Tom's shoulder.

"Tom. . ."

"My Harry…"

"I always was, wasn't I? I was meant to be your Harry. Nobody else's. Just as you were meant to be my Tom. I love you…"

"I love you too, Harry. Forever and forever." Of that there was no doubt.

Harry smiled beatifically and tightened his fingers with Tom's.

With his free hand, Tom gently stroked Harry's cheek.

Harry sighed happily at the intimate touch. "Tom?"

"I'm right here, Harry."

"Do you remember our wedding?"

A smile crossed Tom's face as he flashbacked to that time. "How could I forget? B'Elanna forgot the rings in her quarters and we had to wait for 10 minutes while she rushed to get them before the Captain could finish the ceremony."

Harry smiled at the memory. "Remember our closing vow?"

"I remember..."

Harry lifted Tom's hand to his lips and kissed it. "I am to my beloved. . ." he repeated the vow from their wedding all those years ago. Renewing their vows. A single tear fell down his cheek as he looked at Tom then his eyelids fluttered close for the last time. Never to hear Tom finish the vows.

Tears welled up in blue eyes and overflowed on his cheeks. Tom tightened his fingers around Harry's now-limp hand and kissed it. With his free hand, he tenderly brushed back the greyed hair. "I am to my beloved. . ." his voice broke as he leaned to kiss those lips that still held some warmth. Harry's cheeks grew wet with Tom's tears and he gently stroked the salty liquid away. Gazing down at him, Tom smiled softly as he finished their vows. "I am to my beloved. . . as my beloved. . . is. . . to. . . me."

"Good-bye, my Harry."

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End