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Disclaimer time once again!   Eighty-third verse same as the 
first . . everybody *sing*:

I don't own these characters, (chorus) Paramount does!
I don't own this venue, (chorus) Paramount does!
I am making no money off of this, (chorus) Paramount does 
not either!

This story will eventually involve love and sex and affection 
between two men, aka: slash.  If that is *not* your cup of 
tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) 
Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always 
answered.  Flames will be passed around to friends and 
chuckled over.  :)

Thirtieth story in the Stage Direction series.  Sequel to 'Ssst', 
'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 
'Whisper', 'Groan', 'Hover', 'Waffle', 'Comfort', 'Fidget', 
'Grimace', 'Sizzle', 'Glare', 'Shrug', 'Doze', 'Snort', 'Whack', 
'Stretch', 'Snicker', 'Pace', 'Hug', 'Clink', 'Wonder', 'Kiss', and 
'Doubt'.

'Surprise' by Amirin <groh@iquest.net>


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The way Tom ended our evening together shouldn't have 
surprised me in the least.  But, then, he always manages to 
surprise me.  <grin>

He tends to jump into things head first, sometimes heart 
first, damn the consequences, warp speed ahead . . . 
Speaking of which, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, here . . .

It broke my heart to hear him doubt himself.  It really did. 
How he could think he doesn't deserve to be happy is 
*beyond* me. But, we talked and I held him and he held me 
and that voice in his head that making such a nuisance of 
itself finally hushed.  I honestly didn't want to let him go.  

<sigh> 

I knew it was getting late and we had to be up early, to get 
breakfast on.  He just felt so good in my arms.  I could have 
happily spent the night there on the veranda, listening to the 
music from inside, hearing the insects and birds outside. 
For a while, I'd thought he'd fallen asleep, head on my 
shoulder, feet propped up on the sofa across from us, 
crossed at the ankles. I heard him sigh quietly and he 
looked up at me and smiled.  Sweet, so very sweet.  I kissed 
his nose and he chuckled and it sounded just wonderful and 
then he moved upward slightly and kissed me back.

<soft, happy smile>

The man is gifted.  Ardent, gentle, intoxicating.  Strength 
and tenderness in equal measures.  An odd bird began 
chirping and he grumbled and buried his face in my chest as 
I wove my fingers through his hair.

"What's wrong, Tom?"

"That's the signal for our time running out, Neelix."  <chuckle 
mixed with groan>  "And I don't want to leave."

<warm chuckle>  "I don't, either.  But, there will be other 
nights."

<contented sigh>  "You'd better believe it."  <grin>  "Come 
on."  <quick kiss>  "I'll walk you back to your quarters."

<frown> "Shouldn't I take you back to yours?  Will you be all 
right?"

<shake head> <tender smile>  "I'll be fine, Neelix.  Promise." 
<longer kiss>  

Tom took my hand and helped me to my feet and yawned 
and stretched and kissed me again just before we exited into 
the corridor.  I was glad he hadn't ended the program while 
we were inside.  It's just so . . . abrupt, I guess, that way. 
And I was quite pleased that he seemed to be thinking along 
the same lines I was.

We were walking slowly, not really talking, just enjoying the 
quiet.  He was looking slightly rumpled and drowsy and I 
couldn't take my eyes off of him. Or the smile lighting his 
face.

<sigh>

He kept my hand in his until we reached my quarters and 
stepped inside just far enough to call the lights up a bit 
brighter, then he took my face in his hands and kissed me 
again.  I was stunned, I can tell you.  The door was still 
open, people were walking by just feet away from us and he 
acted like it was all perfectly natural.  He slowly pulled away 
with a sigh and stroked my whiskers with a fingertip and 
kissed me on the forehead and whispered a good-night.  I 
have no idea what I murmured back to him. For all I know, I 
might have given him the recipe for my oglobosh.

<shake head> 

He just grinned and said he would see me tomorrow and headed 
off down the corridor and it was one of the hardest things 
I've ever had to do, letting him go and not calling him back 
to stay with me for the night.

The door closed and I don't know how long I stood there, like 
a fool, but eventually, I changed into sleep clothes and 
made my way to bed.  I was thinking the oddest things and 
feeling pleasantly ridiculous about it.  Like how his quarters 
were on the same side of the ship as mine, so we might 
have been staring out at the same view, each of us lost in 
thoughts of the other.  Like how much I wanted to comm him 
and wish him good-night again just to hear the sound of his 
voice.  Or leave him a message to find in the morning, telling 
him how hard it was to let him go.  Or get dressed again and 
go to his quarters, because I didn't want to be without him. 

<smile>

And then my door chimed.  I thought it might be one of the 
crew, indulging their curiosity about what they'd seen earlier, 
but when it slid open, there was Tom.

"If I don't leave, the evening doesn't really have to end. 
Does it, Neelix?"

And now I'm holding him, just holding him, enjoying the 
warmth and closeness of the man and smiling into the 
darkness at how the evening *hasn't* ended.  Such a nice 
surprise.  

<pleased smile>

But, as I said, he always manages to surprise me. 

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