Disclaimer: Paramount is the true owner and guardian of all that is Star Trek. I am but a mere follower. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Rating: G

He was still sitting in the shade of the huge tree when the dusk began to take shape all around him. The gentle scent of the evening was crawling around and even with his dark eyes closed he knew that the planet was drawing its cloak of darkness around its dirt shoulders.

Each day brought no relief from the horrid heat of the summer but it was his home and in some ways, it fit his heart lately. He had been alone for too many days now and the sometimes dry land merely reflected his thoughts in many ways.

His son had long gone to live on another side of the neighboring moon where the crops could live better and the breeze was cooler. His two daughters had taken residence in separate, more populated sections of the same planet as him and tried to visit as often as was possible, but they had their own children to raise and life was complex in the way it always is. All three did call him every two days, a loving trait their Mother had instilled them.

With one wrinkled hand he caressed the stiff bark of the tree and patted it once before heading back to his home. The whisper of a smile barely lifted his cheek as he sent along a prayer to whichever spirits would listen. *Keep her safe for me* he thought as he began the slow paced walk back.

On his ring finger of the left hand still sat the golden band she had given to him so many decades ago. As the steps brought him to the entrance of the house he brought his hands together and caressed it again and again as if in some way that motion would transfer over to her.

She had left him not too long ago and all he could hold onto now was the past they had. But today's vision had enlightened him and his heart was happy once more.

The front door was unlocked, he had no fear of his distant neighbors, and he was much too old to care if anything besides his wedding ring were missing. All that was precious to him now was his family and his memories. They had come to live here not too long ago, his wife had wanted nothing more than to sit with him outside beneath that huge shady tree and look at the sky and recall their adventures. Several of their friends had passed on by now and she had gone on ahead, no fear in those still beautiful eyes when death had claimed her.

Besides, he was looking forward to what he knew was near, feeling it since a few days ago and now it was getting stronger. His beloved siren was calling to him.

And there was no way he would refuse her.

Closing the door behind him, he tiredly made his way to the padd that was sitting atop the kitchen table. Picked it up and quickly writing out his instructions to their children, telling them of his love and how he was so proud to have been chosen by destiny to be their Father. Telling his son of the happiness he felt that he had so followed in the ancient traditions and blessing his daughters for becoming women equally beautiful, strong willed and as intelligent as their Mother.

He wished them all the happiness and love that his heart could send and he told them he would never be as far as the dreams they had.

After making sure each message was sent off, he walked into the sonic shower and washed off the dirt of the day while he sang an old lullaby his bride had taught him when their first child had been born. Having heard her singing it each night had prompted him to learn it and it had become a favorite thing between them.

But today he sang it to her, knowing that today she was closer than ever.

Once he was clean and dried off, he dressed in a soft cotton pair of pants and matching shirt and walked over to the rocking chair that stood near the window overlooking the mountains and the now midnight sky. The shades were up and he sat there, gazing upon the very stars and planets they had traveled amongst so many years ago.

It had been hard, but the trip had finally been completed and once she had brought her people home they had worked on their relationship. Many happy years had followed, with the sounds of an ever-content household filled with their children.

With a gentle swing of his legs he set the rocking chair, the very one he had built for her, in motion and he closed his eyes, waiting for what he knew headed his way. He held no fears. She had made the trip before him and now this voyage would be theirs once more.

With his thoughts adrift he felt her presence draw near until she was before him, radiant and as lovely as the day they had first met. Upon her lips was that mischievous smile she would reserve just for him and her eyes were as blue as they had been, her reddish brown hair was down and flowing around her shoulders in the way he loved to see her.

"Welcome home, my warrior," she whispered as her hands were beseeching him forward and he went to her. Feeling light, he finally knew his old body was no longer an anchor to the world of the living and he was free to with her. In her gaze he saw the younger man he had been and would now eternally be.

Kathryn his heart beat out one last time before they both left the earthly boundaries behind forever.

The end.