A Kiss From a Rose
Aurora Khan (Ltrotsky17@hotmail.com)
Series: Star Trek: Voyager
Code: Paris/Torres
Rating: G

Disclaimer—

All characters are Paramount's.

Archiving: Please don’t archive anywhere. Linking is allowed, as long as you e-mail me and let me know first.

Author's Notes---

The title was taken respectively from Seal's "A Kiss From a Rose" (I
don't whether or not that's the official title) song, from the movie
"Batman Forever". Thank you very much, Seal, for inspiring me to write
this coda to "Random Thoughts."

This story is schmaltzy, sentimental, romantic...a slight departure from
the angst-fest story I'm currently writing. So forgive me if I go a bit
overboard.

All comments and criticisms welcome at ltrotsky17@hotmail.com Feel free to drop
by my web site,
http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Set/8770/khan.html

And as always, this story is dedicated to my two dedicated beta readers,
Kat and Torra. {{{{{{{Both of You}}}}}}


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"Tom, I didn't expect to see you for another half hour," B'Elanna
Torres said in surprise as the doors to her cabin slid open, admitting
Voyager's pilot. She smoothed down the front of her burgundy blouse and
matching slacks, put down the comb she was running through her hair, and
went to meet her unexpected visitor.
Tom was already seated on the couch, looking slightly awkward,
while holding a fairly large package on his lap. It was strange to see
him looking so out of place, B'Elanna noted. He always seemed
comfortable in her quarters. But then again, it wasn't all the time he
came bearing gifts. At least, she assumed it was a gift.
"I know I should have called," Tom apologized, his fingers running
across the surface of his present in random patterns. "But I wanted to
give you this…and the mess hall didn't seem like the place to do it." He
moved B'Elanna's red exercise tunic from its place of honor on the
couch, and patted the now empty space.
B'Elanna sat down, wishing Tom didn't look so nervous, because now
she was too. "A present, Tom? It's not my birthday or anything. Is it
some kind of special day I forgot about? The anniversary of the last
time I called you a pig?" *Did that sound as dumb as I thought it did?
No, it probably came out a lot worse.*
"As much as I treasured that day, no, as far as I can tell, it
isn't," Tom cracked a grin, and B'Elanna felt a bit reassured. "I bought
this for you down on Mari a couple days ago…before the whole hostile
memory engram incident. If you don't want any memories of that place, I
understand---"
"As long as it doesn't have "Come and visit Mari again" written
on it, I think it would be okay," B'Elanna reassured, feeling much more
light hearted. All he was worried about was whether or not she wanted a
reminder of Mari!
Despite her light hearted remark, Tom's gazed turned serious, and
he put down the package. Looking at her with those beautiful blue eyes,
he said quietly," When I found out that they were going to perform a
lobotomy on you, you have no idea how much that scared me. I was afraid
that you would come back different. That you would suddenly realize that
I wasn't good enough for you. I don't think I really acknowledged how
much you're a part of me, how much I love you until I thought I could
lose you. There's a line from an old song that describes what I feel
about you more than anything I could come up with. 'My power, my
pleasure, my pain'." Tom gently traced the contours of her face with his
index finger. "When I'm with you, I feel so much more…energized,
confident, happier. But when something happens to you---nothing could
ever hurt me more." He let out a low, forced sounding chuckle. "I
suppose that sounds pretty stupid."
"No," B'Elanna replied softly, placing her fingers on his hand,
keeping it pressed to her cheek. "I don't think it's stupid at all."
Brown eyes met blue, sharing more emotion than any words could
ever convey. Finally, Tom reached down and retrieved the package.
"Here," he handed it over to her," open it."
B'Elanna carefully opened the lid, pushing away layers of tissue
paper to reveal a glass rose, it's blood red petals in the process of
opening to reveal the beauty nature had bestowed upon it. It was set on
a mirrored, circular base, giving it the ability to be placed on a table
or shelf for all to see. The engineer lifted it out of the box, cradling
it softly in her hands. "Tom, it's exquisite," she breathed. Lifting the
glass flower up to her nose, she could swear it smelled like a true rose
from Earth.
"There's something more with it," Tom told her, a smile of pride
decorating his visage.
"More?" B'Elanna peered into the box once more to unearth a tiny
silver jewel box. Opening it, she found what looked like more rose
petals, just like the ones on the rose she was holding. "I don't
understand---more petals? So I can replace them if it breaks?"
"The rose," Tom explained, "represents our relationship. It's in
it's blooming stage, ready to unfurl it's petals—but only if done right.
And if it is nurtured and properly cared for," Tom removed one of the
glass pieces from the silver box and affixed it to the rose," the rose
will continue to bloom."
"So you do see a future in this relationship?"
This time there was no smart aleck reply or witty retort. Just the
whole, honest truth. "Yes."
"Good," B'Elanna answered simply. She placed the rose on the table
in front of her, and surveyed it with a critical eye. "I think it's
going to look a lot better with more petals."
"So do I," agreed Tom. He grasped B'Elanna's hand with his,
intertwining their fingers. "B'Elanna…I love you."
Those words, which had once before taken a near death experience
to bring forth now slipped easily from her lips. "I love you too, Tom."
And the couple sat on the couch, staring at the rose for some
time, envisioning it as it would be full of petals. And although neither
would ever say it, that was a time they were both looking forward to.

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Acknowledgments:

The line, "my pleasure, my pain…" is from Seal's "A Kiss From a Rose."


© December 15, 1997.

Last updated July 19, 2001

Aurora Khan (ltrotsky17@hotmail.com)

http://www.oocities.org/auspicious17