"The Reluctant Vacation"by JulianaTom stood on the transporter platform wondering what was keepingBe'lanna . He'd seen how much stress she was under and knew sheneeded a vacation. The ship was orbiting a particularly lovely planettaking on supplies, and he knew this might be their last stop for along while. He'd nervously approached the captain asking for a night's shore leave for the both of them. He had expected some protest, butthe captain had smiled saying Be'lanna needed some recreation as she'd done double shifts for a week. Tom sighed with relief.  When he'd broken the news to Be'lanna she'd fumed silently for awhile then  launched into all the reasons why she couldn't be spared. He'dcharmed, cajoled, and as much as he hated to admit it, begged her to goand she'd relented somewhat reluctantly. He stood clutching his bagsannoyed that she'd be late and wondering if she'd changed her mind. She entered the transporter room clutching her bags and scowled at him."tom, I know I said I'd go, but there's so much to do and I need to behere."  Come on, Torres. It'll be a blast!" Tom Paris set his bag down on thetransporter platform and sighed. He'd known Be'lanna would be stubborn,but to resist even now at the very moment they were about to beam off theship was a source of great frustration. Be'lanna thought no one could carefor her engines as well as she could. It wasn't really a matter of ego tomknew, but a labor of love. He'd often joked with her that if it came downto a choice between the engines and himself he'd worry. He wondered now ifit was funny anymore. Be'lanna's jaw was set and a frown was on herbeautiful face making it appear darker than usual. She took a tentativestep forward. "you know, Tom, there was the minor fluctuation in the..." He held up ahand to forestall the onslaught of technical jargon that always seemed togive him a headache. "I know Lanna, but Joe Carrey can handle anything that might come up." Sheglared at him and he cleared his throat. "not as well as you of course,but well enough." He held out his hand and she took it stepping upreluctantly beside him slamming her bag down beside her and right on hisfoot. "Ouch. what's in there anyway?" The first ginuine smile he'd seen on herface since they  entered the transporter room lit her features. He sighed."i have to suffer bodily injury before you smile?" "what can I say paris; I'm klingon." "it's a good thing you aren't full klingon torres. I don't know if I couldstand it." She leaned over and whispered softly just before the transporter beamdematerilized them, "you may not be able to as it is." He shivered. The island was beautiful. Flowers were in bloom everywhere giving theplace a magnificent smell of spring. The colors were remarkable even moreso after being cooped up in Voyager for so long. Tom loved the escape ofholodecks and tried to write programs that were realistic, but none couldcompare to the real thing. He breathed in deeply. "smell those flowers,Lanna." "I hope I'm not allergic," Be'lanna grumbled setting her bags down. Tommade sure to be out of her way as she unpacked. They set up the sheltersilently and put their things inside. Tom hoped Be'lanna's mood wouldimprove. "how about a swim, Lanna?" She searched through her bag until she  foundher swimsuit; a modest one-piece of a lavender almost matching the flowersthat dotted the terrain. Tom found his own swimwear and they dressed. Tomsmiled. "you look great, Lanna" She looked him over slowly eyes appreciating theview. "you don't look so bad yourself, flyboy."He ran to the water wading in up to his chin before turning back to shore."is it cold?" Be'lanna stood dipping a toe in experimentally. "oh come on. Don't tell me you're afraid of a little water, Torres!" Shegrowled in frustration and waded in after him splashing him playfully asshe advanced on him."I'm not afraid of anything, Tom Paris." He smiled knowing her mood wasgetting better. He could tell her muscles were relaxing and a slight smiletugged at the corners of her mouth. He took her in his arms kissing herdeeply tasting her lips, sweet and sensual beneath his. He slipped histongue into her mouth exploring even more of her mouth. She returned thekiss wrapping her arms around him. She reached down stroking him through his shorts feeling his desiregrowing. He groaned through the kiss and she tore her mouth from hisnibbling and kissing down his neck and chest. She shivered slightly fromdesire and the cold water. He saw her nipples erect and straining throughthe fabric of her swimsuit and pulled down one of the straps exposing abreast. He took the nipple in his mouth suckling it gently then with moreforce as she arched against him moaning softly. She continued to stroke him first through the shorts then putting her handunder the waistband to touch him in a way that was madening. He let out asmall gasp as she stroked him. He tugged her suit down and she helped himpull it off. He shed his shorts as well and they pressed together feelingeach other's desire building. He scooped her into his arms carrying her to shore and putting her downgently on a towel that lay on the beach. Sometimes their lovemaking was frenzied and wild; Be'lanna would oftendraw blood with her sharp teeth, but other times it became slow, languidas now. He kissed her warm inviting mouth lingering there for what seemedan eternity. He kissed down to her breasts giving them equal attention asshe stroked his erection slowly making him moan. Just as he thought hecouldn't hold back his orgasm any longer she stopped stroking him andflipped him onto his back straddling him and parting her labia to slidehim into her. She moved slowly at first then gaining speed as she felt the beginnings ofher orgasm. She leaned in to give him a lingering kiss feeling her worldshattering around her into pleasure that made her call his name over andover. Her muscles tightened and spasmed madeningly around him driving himcloser to his climax.His world exploded in pleasure as he felt her wet,tight channel constrict around him and he moaned wordlessly his love forher. She collapsed on his chest panting softly. "so, are you sorry you are here now, Lanna?" She smiled at him as she bentto kiss him softly. "no tom. Let the damned engines disintegrate." Both of them knew shedidn't mean it and would be worried about them again by the time the hourwas up, but until then, Tom Paris held his lover close feeling her heartbeating with his; their bodies joined as one; their hearts belongingsolely to one another. This was perfection and he knew whatever happenedhe was the luckiest man alive.  They lay exhaustedly in the shelter some hours later having made lovethrough the warm tropical night. Tom was tired, but unable to sleep sooverwhelmed was he by Be'lanna's beauty, and the love he felt for her.  Be'lanna stirred  slightly and he pulled her closer to him, and pushed alock of hair off her forehead; a forehead she'd been ashamed of most ofher life. Tom understood what being different felt like, and how it couldaffect a person. He'd certainly lived with it during his childhood. Sure,he'd been the genius pilot even then able to master the controls of anyship, but he wasn't cut out for starfleet socializing even though he'dbeen trained well to adapt to any social setting. He'd always felt setapart, and awkward. His father hadn't wanted to hear any of it molding himinto the perfect admiral's son. He knew what it was like to not fit inwith the crowd, but his differences had been internal. Be'lanna had been different physically, and taunted for it by everyone shemet. Tom had secret fantasies of meeting those people someday and showingthem just how stupid they'd been to torment her. He loved her completelyjust as she was. He watched her sleeping for a long time before drifting off himself. The next morning was brilliant. The sun warmed them as they ate theirbreakfast sitting on the beach. "I guess it's time we started back," Tomsaid sighing. "I hate to go, Lanna." He stood gathering the breakfastdishes. "I had a wonderful time tom. Even though I was irritated at first. I'mglad I was able to have this time with you." He smiled and theyreluctantly packed up their belongings. The messhall was crowded that night as Harry, Tom, Be'lanna, and Seven sattalking about the trip. "so, did you have a pleasant interlude?" Sevenlooked curiously at Tom, and Be'lanna. "the vacation was great, Seven. You ought to try it sometime." Tom grinnedat Harry, and Harry blushed. "I am not in need of rest or recreation, Lieutenant Paris. If I am tiredI will simply regenerate, or if I am in need of recreation which I seelittle point in, I can go to the holodeck." "sometimes nothing can take the place of a real shore leave, seven,"Be'lanna replied squeezing  Tom's hand tightly. "so it was enjoyable for you as well?" "yes. I had a great time, Seven." Tom smiled softly knowing Be'lanna toohad enjoyed their time together. A beep startled him and Be'lanna slappedher comm badge. "torres here." "There's a slight fluctuation in the..." came  the voice from the otherendof the commlink. Be'lanna didn't even wait for the rest of the sentence.  "I'll be right there." Be'lanna stood quickly murmuring her apologies tothe group. Some things would never change tom thought as Be'lanna headedfor the door at warp speed. "that slight fluctuation in the... is giving me a pain in the..." Tomsighed resigned to the fact that he'd be sleeping alone that night, but hetreasured the time they'd had together. He stood saying his good nightsand strode from the room. Harry smiled after him thinking he might have to show Seven just howpleasurable a shore leave could be. The End