the BLTS Archive- When Goodbye Was A Word (Other People Said) by Joanne Collins (luchenbackoutlaw@gmail.com) --- Disclaimer: Everything Trek belongs to Paramount/Viacom. When Goodbye Was A Word was written by Gene and Paul Nelson and is sung by Trisha Yearwood on her album Hearts In Armour Please do not distribute, archive, etc, without my permission. May be archived on the ASC archive, the CPSG archive and R'Rain's Slash Archive only. Posting to BLTS, CPSG, ASC/EM only. Anything else, please ask first. I will probably say yes, but I'd prefer to know about it. This story is *not* part of my Highlander crossover universe. It is a standalone, and it is a story involving the aftermath of death. Dedicated to the CPSG, and, as always, my inspiration, with love. I'd also like to dedicate this story to the people on ASCEM(L) who do such wonderful work, and in celebration of ASCEM(L)'s anniversary as well. --- Stars would shine on stormy nights... Flowers grew in wintertime... Everything seemed possible... When we were in love... --- I never believed in perfect happiness until I found it. I always thought it was something that was meant for other people, not me. I suppose we never forget the lessons learned at our parents' knee, do we? But when I found you, after so much anger and pain, it was like I was reborn into who I was meant to be, all my life. Oh, Kathryn was responsible for the beginning, and I'll never say that she wasn't, but you...you were the one who saw behind the exterior I adopted. I don't think I ever did fool you. You knew B'Elanna was a diversion, and that I could never be more than friends with Harry, even though I tried. You knew that it was to be us, for as long of forever as we were granted. It wasn't enough of it, though. Eternity wouldn't be enough... The timing, though...gods....the universe can be so unkind. I should have remembered that, but you made me believe that it wasn't always. And I suppose it isn't, but...I'd find it easier to believe if it hadn't taken you so soon. I thought we'd have forever, Chakotay... --- When forever was what other people lost... This lonesome valley was what other people crossed... No I couldn't taste the tears other people shed... When goodbye was a word other people said... --- There have been other losses, of course. So many of us lost everything when we were tossed out here, families, children...Ayala, Carey, Wildman...I felt for them, and tried to help them through their losses, and they let me, unlike many people on this ship, but I can honestly say that I regret ever telling them that I knew how they felt. Because I didn't. I didn't know what it was like to have something one moment, and the next to have it taken from me forever. Not something like this. The closest I ever came was Kes...and you were there to help me through that. We helped each other through that. Not to mention Neelix...he still isn't over her, and I doubt he ever will be. Like me. I think the thing I miss most is our own world. The one our love created... --- Rivers flowed, a bridge would burn... The nights would end, the earth still turned... Yesterday was just a song to sing... In the world we knew... --- I don't think I've slept more than the bare minimum of hours that I *have* to in the last year. What would the point be? I haven't got you to hold, to snuggle with, to wake up with kisses...and more.... If I didn't have flying...I'd have joined you the next day. I *swear* I would have. It's truly what saved my life...again. Gods, I miss you , love. More than ever... --- When forever was what other people lost... This lonesome valley was what other people crossed... No I couldn't taste the tears other people shed... When goodbye was a word other people said... --- I thought it would be me first. I know, like I know my own name, that it's going to happen flying. I don't know how I know, but I do. And I thought it had happened...once. And I always thought that I'd be the one to leave you first... I wish I had been. May the gods forgive me, if I could change things, take your place, I would. Because then I wouldn't be here, now, thinking about what we had, and regretting your loss. But I can also say that I would not change anything that we had. Because you made me able to go on without you. And that may be the most wonderful gift that you ever gave me. --- The End