Disclaimers-The characters in this story and the ship Voyager are all owned by Paramount . But the story is mine ! and they can’t take that away from me . (he he he!)
This story takes place after Day Of Honour about two to three weeks afterwards
ENJOY
 

Love so Tender
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   B’Elanna Torres was very confused . Ever since Day of Honour when she told Tom Paris she was in love with him when they were hanging in space dying because of lack of oxygen . She had not spoke to him or seen him , she felt empty without his company . Her mind flashed back to the time when she went through the Ponn Far how she felt when she had kissed him in the caves . She felt warm and full as though Tom had filled a space inside of her . But after that she buried and locked away her feelings and pushed him away at every available chance . She felt if she let him near she might get hurt and end up alone . She pondered the thought for a while , dismissed it and went back to her work .
    Tom Paris set off towards engineering he knew she had to be there . Tom hadn’t seen B’Elanna for the best part of two weeks . He hadn’t even seen her in engineering when he had gone down there with reports . But he knew this time she had to be there , he had been assigned to work with her on a mission they were going to do next week . As he walked along his mind went back to Day of Honour when he and her were flouting in space he thought of how he felt when she told him she loved him . How when they got back she said she needed time to think . He wondered whether she had thought things through , he himself had tried but could make no sense of it . His mind was a mixture of thoughts and emotions which he couldn’t get into a logical order . He walked into engineering , he spotted B’Elanna standing at a console . She appeared to be staring into space . He approached her and stood behind her waiting for her to turn around .
   B’Elanna sensed someone behind her , she turned around to find herself looking into the face of Tom Paris , her heart skipped a beat . He handed her a padd
“Here’s the report you asked for” he said
“Thanks” she said taking it from him
“B’Elanna” he said while leaning on her console . She looked up her gaze settling on his face .
“Yes Tom” she said
“Well urmmm I think we need to talk” he said softly
Her gaze softened
“Yeah I know but not right now I’m busy” she said while running around with a hyper spanner
“Okay then when?” he asked while running after her . She stopped and thought for a moment then turned around to face him ,
“How about later I’m really busy right now” she said softly
“Okay I’ll see you later” Tom whispered in her ear . This gave B’Elanna a small tingle inside of her . He walked out of engineering with a look of satisfaction on his face . B’Elanna looked at him as he walked out then while no one was looking a tiny smile appeared on her face .
     Later that day Tom was in his quarters reading , he put the book down and started thinking . He wondered whether she would come , normally something always came up , something always went wrong . He carried on thinking about this for a few minuets then went back to his book .
    It was a few hours later that evening when she came , B’Elanna stood outside his quarters for a few minuets and then plucked up the courage to ring the bell so to speak .
    The door chime rung it made Tom jump ,
“Come” he shouted , the door opened to reveal B’Elanna she walked in slowly . *Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all* she thought to herself . Tom stood up
“Hi” he said nervously
“Hi” she said back her voice was barely a whisper , but in the silence of Toms quarters it seemed like a shout . There was a deafening pause . She looked into Toms eyes looking for some hint of emotion that would tell her what he was feeling . He started talking
“B’Elanna you know what’s been said , you can’t change that . You know I love you but ........ I don’t know the way your feeling” B’Elanna looked into his eyes now they were giving out emotion , he was confused and she knew it , carried on talking “I need to know  , we can sort this out” Tom then started stuttering , looking for words which would tell what he was feeling . He gave up not knowing what to say or do he turned around and looked out of the window at the passing stars he whispered
“I’m so confused” his voice could hardly be heard by B’Elanna but she knew what he was saying . She looked down at the floor and then started to talk
“Don’t you think its confusing to me” her voice started out low and soft “I’m not even sure what to feel” by this time it had started to rise “I don’t even know what to do!”
With this Tom turned around to face her , he could see hints of tears in her eyes
“I don’t even know how to act around you any more” she started to back up towards the door , she stopped for a few seconds and stared into Tom’s eyes . Then she turned and ran out of his quarters . Tom started after her .
      B’Elanna reached her quarters she slumped down onto the floor and started to cry . She couldn’t say it to him , she just couldn’t . She could just about admit it to herself . She loved him , GOD! why couldn’t she tell him . She carried on crying .
     Tom raced after her , he now knew how confused she was . He reached her quarters and knocked on the door .
       B’Elanna didn’t here the knock at the door nor did she here the footsteps coming towards her . But she heard the soft thump as someone sat down beside her . She knew who it was she didn’t look up . *what was the point* she thought to herself . Suddenly she felt Tom wrap his arms around her and pull her close he started whispering in a calm , soothing voice
“B’Elanna shhh come on”  he held her tightly even more so than before “Come on calm down” he said softly . B’Elanna buried her face into his chest and breathed his slightly musky scent in deeply . He kept on repeating the same words while gently rocking her back and fourth . This gave her a sense of security and great comfort . She grasped the front of his uniform with both hands tightly . Tom felt his uniform tugging at the neck . He ignored it and continued rocking and talking to B’Elanna gently till she calmed down . When she finally did , Tom didn’t stop rocking instead he just held her there for a long time . B’Elanna lifted her head and looked into his cerulean eyes . They were so full of love and feeling , she had never seen so much emotion which had been directed at her in her whole life . She couldn’t hold it back any longer , she whispered to him softly ,
“I love you Tom , I love you so much” Tom looked back into her eyes and saw she was telling the truth . He lent down and whispered in her ear ,
“I love you too” he then leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips . B’Elanna felt a tingle run down the length of her body as his lips touched hers . When he broke off the kiss he looked into her eyes they were full of love and it all was directed towards him .
    B’Elanna reached up and gently pulled Tom’s face nearer to hers . The kiss that resulted was not a light one . It was one full of tenderness , love and promise . B’Elanna didn’t want it to end . A few minuets later Tom broke off for air and looked down into her chocolate brown eyes . B’Elanna looked into his ,
“I love you so much” she breathed . A tender smile broke out on his face as she pulled him tighter and kissed him again .
 

                                    By
             Claire-Marie Preston.
&;                    mattclaire@.email.msn.com