by Elizabeth Davis
---
Disclaimers: Paramount owns all, this is strictly for fun, no money
changed hands.
If you are under 18 years old, please do not read.
This is my first story, so please be kind.
---
Tom Paris woke up when his door beeped. He looked at his clock and saw it
was two o'clock in the morning. He groaned and said,
"Who's there?"
When Harry Kim answered, his first thought was how embarrassing it was to
be awoken by your best friend out of a wet dream, who was also the object
of that dream.
"Come in", called out Tom.
As Harry came in the room Tom couldn't help think how much he loved
him. Three years. . . Three long years, I've loved him and it looks
like I will never be anything more than just a friend to him. I should
just give up and just settle for someone.
However, the one time he tried that with B'Elanna he couldn't stop
thinking about Harry and had almost destroyed their friendship.
No. . . I'll just have to accept that it's Harry or no one, and it
looks like it will have to be no one as I would rather die than risk what
little I do have.
"Tom", Harry said with determination. "I have to talk to
you about something."
"Ok, Harry. What's so important that you'd wake me up in
the middle of the night?"
Harry looked a little nervous, then said, "I couldn't sleep so I
decided to get a little work done. The Captain told me just before I got
off shift that something was wrong with the Holodeck, so I decided to see
what I could do. . . Tom, I found some files I didn't recognize and I
wanted to know what they were so I opened them up. . ."
Oh, god! Tom thought. He couldn't have found the files Tom had been
making every time he thought he might not be around the next day. The ones
that were almost completely filled with confessions of love for Harry.
Even if he had, he couldn't possibly get around all the security
measures Tom had put in them to make sure Harry would never find out how
he felt about him, at least as long as he was alive. There were supposed
to be sent by the computer to Harry only in the event of Tom's death.
A last ditch attempt at honesty. No, the files Harry found must be
something else.
Tom tried to look casual and asked "What files?"
"You know what files, Tom. The ones where you confess how much you
love me. Is it true? Are you in love with me?" asked Harry.
Tom looked into that sweet face and found himself unable to lie anymore.
He confessed and then assured Harry that he would try not to make Harry
feel uncomfortable. That if Harry wanted, Tom would spend the entire trip
home, all 70 years of it, avoiding him but that he hoped that they could
still be friends. Tom talked so fast that Harry couldn't get in a word
edgewise. Finally, extremely frustrated, Harry launched himself at Tom.
Tom first thought was that Harry was trying to kill him. That thought
lasted until Harry lips latched on to his and started to give him the kind
of kiss that asked the question 'Where's the nearest bed?'
Suddenly, Harry pulled away and took Tom's head in his hands and said,
"I love you, too. You idiot. The only reason I didn't say
something was you were always involved or interested in someone
else."
Tom looked down and admitted that the others were merely camouflage. That
he was sure that Harry would figure out how he felt about him if he
didn't date.
"Well, that's over. From now on it's just you and me,"
said Harry, just before going back to kissing Tom.
Yes, it is thought Tom as he eagerly returned Harry's kisses.
---
When Tom awoke that morning he found an arm wrapped around him. A
man's arm. The last time he'd found a man in his bed was years
ago, before prison. At first he couldn't remember how a man got into
his bed. Suddenly, he remembered. Quickly, he turned over and saw Harry.
My, God. . . It hadn't been a dream. It'd really happened. Harry
had come to his room after finding some files in which Tom confessed his
love for him, and after confronting him declared his own love.
Just as Tom was going to shake Harry awake to make sure this wasn't
some wonderful dream, Harry awoke to see Tom staring at him. He looked
like he couldn't believe that Harry was there. Harry smiled and sat
up. He then leaned over and kissed Tom. Tom quickly recovered and started
to kiss him back. Just as Tom was about to forget everything but the feel
of Harry in his arms the computer interrupted and announced the time.
Harry suddenly pulled away and said, "I have to get to my quarters
and dress." He then got out of bed and got back into his uniform.
Tom watched and in a timid voice asked, "Do you want to meet in the
mess hall?"
Harry looked at Tom seeing for the first time how nervously Tom was
staring at him. "Of course. We always meet in the mess hall for
breakfast. Why would you think otherwise?" said Harry.
Tom looked away.
"Tom, do you regret what happened last night?" asked Harry.
Tom looked up quickly and blurted out, "No! I just wasn't sure
you didn't regret it. After all, you haven't really had a lot of
time to think about this."
Harry smiled and then laughed, "Tom, you've got to be kidding!
I've been thinking about this for the last two years. Even before I
began to accept that I would probably never see Libby again. It took me a
long time to get over the guilt I felt whenever I found myself thinking
about you. Finally, when I realized that even if we made it back today,
I'd still choose you over Libby, I knew that I was completely and
totally in love. So, don't ever think that I regret being here with
you. Now I've got to go get changed, I'll meet you in the mess
hall for breakfast in twenty minutes. Hurry up, or we won't have time
to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving. Must be all the
exercise last night."
Tom watched as Harry winked and then left his quarters.
Harry, loves me! I can't believe it, he really loves me and
doesn't regret it. I must be very careful not to blow this. . . Tom
thought as he got up to shower anddress.
---
As Tom entered the mess hall that morning he couldn't help but wonder
if anyone could tell by the big smile on his face, that Harry and he had
become lovers last night. Looking around he saw that no one was paying him
the least bit of attention. He didn't know if he was happy about that
or not. He wanted to announce it to the whole universe that Harry loved
him, but wasn't sure that Harry was ready to tell the crew about their
new relationship. As he thought about whether or not Harry would want to
put off telling people, Tom got his breakfast and sat down.
Just then Harry came in. Tom's eyes met his and for a moment the love
in the look he shot him was there for all to see. Then, suddenly, it was
if a shield had come down and you couldn't see any expression in
Harry's face.
So, Harry doesn't want to tell people yet. Ok, I can be discreet,
thought Tom as he watched Harry get his meal and sit down across from the
table.
As they ate they talked about work and it seemed as if nothing had
happened last night. After a while Tom began to wonder if it had all been
a dream, until Harry winked at him from an angle where no one else in the
room could see him. Tom shot him a smile which quickly disappeared as
B'Elanna came into the room. B'Elanna and he had managed to
stay friends since their breakup. However, Tom wasn't too sure that she
wouldn't be upset to find out that Tom had gotten involved again so
soon afterwards. Maybe, they could keep it from her, but Tom didn't
think so. She knew them both a little too well for that.
When Tom's smile disappeared. Harry turned around to see what
caused it to vanished so suddenly. When Harry saw B'Elanna, he knew
what Tom was thinking and decided that the best thing to do was confront
the issue head on. So, Harry waved at B'Elanna to join them.
Tom realized what Harry had in mind and he couldn't believe it. Did
Harry really want to try and deal with an angry half Klingon? Was he nuts?
When B'Elanna joined them Harry said, "B'Elanna, I have
something to tell you and I hope you won't be too mad. However, I have
to be honest and tell you the truth."
He then began to tell her about what had happened last night, and that Tom
and he were going to be together from then on. As Tom was watching her
face to tell when he should just grab Harry and haul him to safety, he was
surprised by the lack of surprise in her reaction. Then B'Elanna told
them that she had figured out how they felt about the other, and that it
was one of the major reasons she didn't get more upset about her break
up with Tom.
"It was obvious after a while that Tom's heart would always
belong to you," said B'Elanna to Harry. She next congratulated
them on finally getting together. Then she got up and left.
Tom turned to Harry and said, "I can't believe you told her, I
thought you didn't want people to know about us yet." Harry was
surprised and asked Tom why he would think that. When Tom said that he
hadn't been acting as if anything had changed, Harry wanted to know
how he should act. Tom thought about it and could think of only one way
that wouldn't break the regulation against Public Displays of
Affection. He then asked Harry if it would be OK to hold his hand. Harry
reached over and grabbed Tom hand. He then proceeded to hold it all
through breakfast.
---
Epilogue:
Six months later Harry in a major public display of affection took Tom as
his husband. As B'Elanna watched the ceremony she smiled and
thought to herself, Boy, I'm glad I found those files. . . and made sure
Harry did too!
---
End
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