The reception was going well. Enterprise had stopped to trade with the residents of the planet Grimora and for once everything had gone smoothly. The governors had insisted on throwing a party to celebrate the success of the trade mission. The crew were relaxing, eating and drinking. It was a nice change after some of their recent missions.

Commander 'Trip' Tucker stood to one side watching his lover talking to one of the Grimorians. It was obvious that she was flirting with him, and who could blame her. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was incredibly sexy, and the accent caused him to melt every time. Trip desperately wanted to go over and stake his claim, but he couldn't. They had been together for two months now, but nobody knew about them. Trip wanted to announce it to the universe, but Malcolm didn't want anyone to know. It had caused some fights between them, but because he loved Malcolm more than anything, he let it go for now. Hopefully Malcolm would come around soon and he could show everyone just what a sexy man he had.

While he continued to watch, he took another drink from one of the passing servers. The drink was sky-blue in colour and tasted almost like mint. It was very refreshing and he finished it quickly. As he continued to watch Malcolm, he slowly forgot the reasons why he should not go over and claim his man. All he knew was that he needed to be with Malcolm.

Malcolm was chatting pleasantly with a young lady from the planet when he felt familiar, strong arms wrap around his waist. Before he could protest, he felt Trip nibbling on his ear.
"Trip... what are you doing?" Malcolm tried to wriggle away from the engineer, but Trip wouldn't let him go.
"I just want to be with my man," Trip complained.
"I'm not your man... let me go."
"Don't you love me any more Malcolm?" Trip asked pathetically.
"I have never loved you... just let me go."
"That's not what you said last night," Trip countered.
Malcolm opened his mouth to protest, but Trip stopped any comment by kissing him firmly on the mouth. At first Malcolm responded enthusiastically, but then he remembered that they were in public. He had never wanted anyone to know that he had succumbed to the southern charm so that when Trip moved on, as anyone he loved always did, people wouldn't look at him with pity. He knew it would only be a matter of time before this happened. Malcolm had stupidly fallen in love with him and knew that his heart would break when that day came.

Malcolm pushed Trip violently away from him, and was shocked when Trip staggered and then collapsed on the floor. He seemed to be having a seizure, and Dr Phlox immediately ran to his side. As he examined Trip, his face grew very serious.
"We need to get the Commander back to Enterprise quickly," Phlox stated urgently. The rest of the crew sprang into action and carried Trip back to the shuttle.

As soon as the shuttle had lifted off, Hoshi turned to Malcolm.
"So... How long have you two been together?"
"We are not together... I have much better taste than that," Malcolm said feigning distaste while trying to hide the truth. Hoshi didn't look like she believed him, but they were distracted when Trip started seizing again.

The shuttle docked with Enterprise in record time and Trip was transferred to sickbay. Malcolm and the others followed to see if their friend would be all right. As they waited, the Captain asked Malcolm the same question as Hoshi had earlier.
"So Malcolm, when were you two going to tell us, and how long has it been going on?"
"There is nothing to tell. I have not been with the Commander and never will be." Malcolm sounded almost convincing to his own ears, but it hurt to say the words.
Trip started seizing again on the bio-bed, causing Phlox to frown before turning to the people waiting.
"Lieutenant... I am going to have to ask you to leave. For some reason your voice is triggering the seizures, I need you to leave sickbay until I can find out why."
Malcolm just nodded and turned to leave. He could feel the others staring at him as he left, but he just squared his shoulders and marched out.

Once he had reached the safety of his quarters, he was able to relax his guard. It hurt like hell denying his love for Trip, but it was for the best. He had known right from the start that it was only temporary. Trip had a reputation for loving and leaving, but Malcolm hadn't been able to help himself. It was better to end it now. With that thought, he set about collecting the few things Trip had left in his quarters. He set the box of belongings beside the door, and then changed his lock codes. Once he had finished, he sank onto his bunk and put his head in his heads. He could feel tears threatening, but he ruthlessly held them back. //A Reed doesn't cry over a love affair... even *if* his heart is breaking.//
To distract himself, Malcolm picked up the latest issue of a security publication he subscribed to and started reading. He needed to get his mind off Trip, and this would be just the thing... he hoped.

Trip had finally been let out of sickbay. Phlox had explained that he had placed some sort of block in his brain so that he wouldn't react to Malcolm's voice, and had let him go with orders to rest. He needed to see Malcolm though. He was scared that he had ruined everything... especially after hearing the way Malcolm's voice had sounded when he denied that they had a relationship. Even though he had been in pain, he clearly heard every word people said around him. When Malcolm had denied their relationship, horrific pain had ripped through his body, both physical and emotional. He was just hoping that he could salvage something.

At Malcolm's door, Trip entered the code and was shocked when it didn't work. He tried again, but still nothing. //Malcolm must have changed the lock code since last night.// Trip could feel pain radiating through him at that thought. //I have to talk to him... I love him too much.// He was just raising his hand to the door chime when the door slid open. Malcolm stood there with a box in his hands. He didn't say anything as he handed the box to Trip. When Trip went to ask what was going on, Malcolm closed the door. A quick glance into the box revealed that it was full of his things. That was when it hit him... Malcolm had definitely ended the relationship. He obviously didn't want anything more to do with him. That thought caused Trip unbearable pain. He felt as if his heart had shattered into a million pieces, and he barely made it back to his own quarters before the pain overwhelmed him. Just before losing consciousness he managed to activate the comm panel and call for help.

When help arrived, they found the Commander unconscious on the floor of his quarters. His breathing was shallow and his face showed the pain he was in. Phlox still had no idea what had caused it, so was unable to treat it. He was going to have to speak to the Grimorians and see if they had any idea what was causing Trip's symptoms. He also wondered why Trip had reacted to Lieutenant Reed the way he had. No other staff member had triggered seizures by talking. What was the connection? What was he missing? Feeling more confused than ever, he stabilized Trip and then opened communication to the planet below.

Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was sitting in his quarters feeling sorry for himself when he was paged.
"Bridge to Reed."
"Reed here... go ahead."
"Could you report to the Captain's Ready Room immediately."
"On my way."
//What do they want... I am off duty.// Malcolm quickly pulled himself together and pasted on his usual emotionless mask before making his way to the ready room.

When he entered the Ready Room, he found the Captain, Dr Phlox, and one of the Governors from Grimora.
"You wished to see me Captain?"
"Yes Lieutenant. Please take a seat. There is something we need to discuss with you... about Commander Tucker."
Malcolm's heart sank to his stomach as he imagined the worst.
"What about the Commander, Sir?"
"It is the reason for the seizures that we need to discuss with you. Governor Tallon, would you please explain to the Lieutenant exactly what happened to Commander Tucker at the reception."
"After speaking with the servers at the reception, we discovered that Commander Tucker had sampled a beverage we call Tallora. This drink is used by the people of our world to find 'The One'," Tallon explained.
"What do you mean by 'The One'?" Malcolm immediately questioned.
"The person who is meant to be their life partner."
"What does this have to do with me?" Malcolm asked curiously.
"When the Commander approached you at the reception, it was after he drank the Tallora. When he kissed you, a bond started to form."
"What sort of bond?"
"The bond that forms between life partners." Tallon stated matter-of-factly.
"But Commander Tucker and I are not 'life partners'," Malcolm started to protest.
"The Tallora says differently. The bond was formed, but when you denied him, the bond started fraying. This is what is causing the seizures." Tallon informed Malcolm.
"What can be done to help him?" Malcolm asked, feeling a sense of dread.
"The only thing that can stop the decline is to complete the bond," Tallon stated calmly.
"What do you mean by decline? He'll get better... won't he?" Malcolm could hear the desperation in his voice.
"No. When a person is rejected by 'The One', the only outcome is death. If no bond had formed, he would not have been affected at all when you pushed him away, but because it did, he is going to die."
Malcolm felt devastated by the news, but he still had some questions.
"How is the bond formed?"
"We don't know the scientific basis for the bond, but we do know that it can only form between two people who love each other with everything that they are."
"So if the feelings are one-sided...?"
"Then a bond will not form at all. As I said before, it can only be formed by two people who are totally in love."
As the implications hit Malcolm, he almost fell to the floor. He had hurt himself and was killing Trip for no reason. He let out a groan and buried his head in his hands.
"Oh god... What have I done...?" Malcolm asked out loud.
"Lieutenant... Malcolm... What's wrong?" The Captain asked gently.
Malcolm lifted his head up and faced the Captain. Jonathan was stunned at the misery and guilt on his armoury officer's face.
"It's all my fault... I never believed that Trip was serious. We had been together for two months, but I kept expecting him to get tired of me and move on. I wouldn't let him tell anyone that we were together so that when he did move on, the rest of the crew wouldn't know that I had fallen for him."
"Does this mean that you *do* love him?" Captain Archer asked gently. He was still shocked at the amount of emotion Malcolm was showing.
"Yes... More than anything..." Malcolm answered so quietly that Jonathan had to strain to hear his reply.
"If that is the case, then the bond should be completed. That would save your Commander," Tallon suggested.
"There is one problem..." Malcolm trailed off.
"What would that be?" the Captain asked.
"I don't think Trip will believe me after the way I have treated him. He will presume I am 'sacrificing' myself to save his life... That I don't really want this."
"Yeah you could be right there. Is there anything you can think of that may convince him?"
Malcolm thought hard, but was having difficulty coming up with a solution.
"Captain if I may suggest something that could work?" Dr Phlox interrupted Malcolm's thoughts.
"Go ahead... we could use a suggestion."
"It seems that one of the problems is that no-one knew of the relationship. If Lieutenant Reed were to express his feelings in front of an audience, that may help to convince him."
Malcolm could see where this idea was going and jumped in again.
"That could work Captain. Trip knows I would never let anyone else know what I was feeling unless I really meant it. For me to open up in front of others would be the only way to convince him. It can't be just a few though, it would have to be a large number of people."
"Would a ship-wide announcement be good enough?" The Captain countered.
"I think that would probably be the only way he'll believe me. I'll try first without it, but if he doesn't believe me, I'll open a ship-wide comm channel."
"Governor Tallon, How can the bond be completed?" Captain Archer turned to the Governor.
"The two men should drink the Tallora, which I have with me, and then they need to join physically... to make love," Tallon answered.
Malcolm blushed, but he knew he wanted this.
"Will there be any side-effects from the bonding?" Phlox asked.
"After the bond has been completed, they should have a sense of awareness of each other. They will know where the other is, and also be able to tell what mood the other is in," Tallon explained.
"You mean a sort of telepathic bond?" Malcolm enquired further.
"No. You will not be able to speak to each other through the bond... it is just a heightened 'awareness' of each other. There are no other side-effects of the bond."
"Well I suggest we not waste any more time and go and see Trip right now," the Captain said before standing and making his way to the door.

When the party arrived in sickbay, Trip was conscious again, but it was obvious that he was in a lot of pain. Malcolm could feel the guilt of what he had done start to overwhelm him. The only thing that kept him going was the fact Trip needed him to survive. He couldn't let him die!

Malcolm stepped forward and moved to the edge of the Bio-bed. He felt guilt once again when he saw Trip flinch away from him. He persevered though and picked up one of Trip's hands. Trip tried to pull it away, but Malcolm refused to let go.
"What are you doing?" Trip asked weakly.
"I am here to apologise to you about the way I have treated you over the last two months and to beg you to give me another chance with you," Malcolm answered quietly.
"Why? Why should I let you hurt me again?"
"Oh god Trip... I never meant to hurt you at all. I was so stupid and refused to see that you were serious. I love you so much, but was unable to see what was right in front of my face."
"Do you mean that you didn't believe me when I told you that I loved you?"
"I couldn't let myself believe... I mean why would someone as wonderful as you want someone like me? It seemed too good to be true..." Malcolm trailed off.
"Why didn't you let me tell anyone?" Trip questioned.
"Because I couldn't believe that you were serious about me. You never seemed to stay with anyone for very long and I didn't want anyone to know that I had fallen for you so that they wouldn't pity me when you left me."
"You had that little faith in me?" Trip asked in shock.
"No, it was me I had no faith in. I couldn't really believe that you really wanted me so I kept pushing you away."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Trip asked suspiciously.
"Because it is my fault that you are here in sickbay."
"What do you mean it's your fault?"
"When you kissed me on Grimora, a bond was started between the two of us. I caused the bond to fray when I pushed you away. That is why you are in so much pain."
"Will I recover if we don't get back together?" Trip was very suspicious now.
"No..." Malcolm whispered sadly.
"So you are only doin' this to save me? You are going to 'sacrifice' yourself even though it isn't what you want?" Trip was upset at the idea.
"No... I mean of course I want to save you, but I love you... I need you," Malcolm pleaded.
"I'm sorry Malcolm... I don't believe you," Trip whispered.
Malcolm could feel his heart breaking. He had one last chance.
"Trip... You know how much I don't like letting anyone know what I'm feeling?"
"Yeah...?"
"Well what if I were to announce to everyone exactly how I feel about you? Would that convince you?" Malcolm's voice was very soft, but Trip could hear the sincerity in it.
"I might..." Trip trailed off. He didn't really believe that Malcolm would do it.
"Captain with your permission..." He looked at the Captain, who nodded. They had known that it would come to this. Malcolm pushed the comm panel and set it to a ship-wide announcement.

"Attention all crew. This is Lieutenant Malcolm Reed broadcasting with the permission of Captain Archer. What I am going to say now is very difficult for me, but it is the only way to convince Commander Tucker that I mean everything that I have told him so far. Unknown to the rest of the crew, Trip and I have been in a relationship for the last two months. I wouldn't let Trip tell anyone because I was afraid that he would leave me and I didn't want you all to know that I had fallen in love with him. And I do love him with all of my heart. He means everything to me, but because of my stupidity, I tried to push him away which caused him great pain... physical and emotional."
Malcolm walked back over to Trip and held his hand.
"I love you so much Trip. I don't want to live without you in my life. I want to spend the rest of my life by your side in everything. If you were to leave me now, I don't know how I could survive."
Trip was openly crying now with happiness as he was finally convinced that Malcolm did love him. Malcolm didn't like telling anyone about his feelings, so to actually be this open in front of the whole crew meant that this was *very* important to Malcolm.
Still holding Trip's hand, Malcolm surprised everyone in the room by going down on one knee.
"Charles Tucker III, I love you so much and would be honoured if you would agree to spend the rest of your life with me... Will you marry me Trip?"
Malcolm held his breath waiting for Trip's answer. Trip appeared to be shocked speechless, and it took him several attempts before he was able to get his voice to work.
"Oh god yes Malcolm..." Trip finally managed to answer. He then pulled Malcolm up so that they could seal their promise in the traditional way. While they kissed, Captain Archer moved to the Comm panel.
"For any of the crew that may have missed the answer, Trip has agreed to marry Malcolm. This is the end of the transmission... Archer out."
Captain Archer rejoined the group at the end of the bio-bed and watched as the two men clung together tightly. He had known Trip for a long time and had never seen his friend so happy. It was enough that he instantly forgave Malcolm for hurting his friend.
"Now that we have that sorted out, I think it is time for you two to complete the bond," Dr Phlox interrupted.
"What is involved anyway?" Trip asked, then turned bright red as Malcolm whispered the answer in his ear.
"Please say that we can go somewhere more private," Trip pleaded, causing everyone to laugh.
"Yes I am releasing you to your quarters, where I expect you to stay until twelve hundred hours when you are to report back to sickbay. Of course if the Commander experiences any more pain or seizures you are to contact me immediately. Have I made myself clear gentlemen?" Phlox asked the two men.
"Abundantly..." Malcolm answered before helping his love from the bio-bed. They didn't need to be told twice, and left sickbay hand in hand.

The door to Trip's quarters slid shut and both men leaned against it and sighed. The journey between Sickbay and Trip's quarters had been full of well-meaning crew members who wanted to congratulate the two men on their engagement. The two men had just wanted to get to Trip's quarters and enjoy being together again. Malcolm could see that Trip was already tiring but they needed to complete the bond before Trip fell asleep. The first time would have to be fairly quick, but they still had the rest of the night and all morning before they had to face the world again.
"Come on Trip love, I think a shower is what we both need... I'll wash your back for you." He herded the tired man into the small bathroom and quickly stripped him out of his clothes. When the water was the right temperature, he guided his love into the stall. At first they just enjoyed the water cascading over them, but soon their hands started wandering. They soaped each other, arousing slowly, letting the fire climb higher.

The water was turned off and Malcolm dried them both off quickly before leading Trip to the bed. He poured them both a glass of the Tallora and handed one to Trip.
"To us Trip... I love you." Malcolm raised his glass.
"I love you too... to us." Trip tapped his glass against Malcolm's and they both drank from the glasses. The drink was just as he remembered. The minty taste was refreshing, and Trip could feel the tiredness draining out of him as all thoughts but Malcolm disappeared.

As one they put down their glasses and reached for each other. Their lips met gently at first, before becoming fiercer as their lust took over. Malcolm pushed Trip backwards onto the bed and started exploring the feast laid out before him. By the time Malcolm reached the already hard nipples with his mouth, Trip was writhing on the bed. He made his way further south, but before he could reach his goal, strong hands pulled him back up. Their mouths fused together again until breathing became essential.
"I want you in me Malcolm... Can't wait any longer... need you..." Trip begged.
Malcolm didn't need asking twice and reached for the lube in the nightstand. He quickly lubed his fingers and gently teased the entrance to Trip's body. Trip tried to impale himself on the fingers, and groaned when one finger was slipped inside. Malcolm gently stretched the muscle until he could fit a second finger inside. The two fingers scissored and stretched the muscle until Malcolm decided Trip was ready.

Trip's moan of loss as Malcolm's fingers left his ass was soon replaced with a sigh as Malcolm's hard cock slowly breeched his body. When they were fully joined, both men savoured the feeling before the need to move overwhelmed them. Trip wrapped his legs around Malcolm's waist as they moved in an age-old rhythm. Both men had lost the capability of speech and coherent thought as they moved faster towards their goal. Malcolm changed angle slightly and the scream from Trip indicated that he had found the right spot. The rhythm became faster and more disjointed as they neared release. Malcolm reached between them to stroke Trip in time with his thrusts, and that was all it took before Trip screamed out Malcolm's name and came. The muscles tightening around his hard cock caused Malcolm to follow. He emptied himself into the man he loved in a powerful climax before the world went black.

Malcolm surfaced slowly from a contented sleep to find himself alone in bed. He knew without thinking that Trip was in the bathroom. The awareness that Tallon spoke of was there. The feeling of love and contentedness was almost overwhelming, but at the same time it felt natural and right. They had made love again during the night, and again while eating their breakfast... Peanut Butter Trip was delicious! It was almost time to report to Phlox, but Malcolm was too sated to move. He thought that he had loved Trip before, but what he was feeling now was beyond even that. His thoughts were so sappy he was starting to sicken himself! He couldn't help it though... Trip was just so sexy and wonderful. He was one hell of a lucky man.

At that moment, Trip came back into the room and kissed Malcolm gently.
"Mornin' love... Time to get ready if you're comin' to see Phlox with me."
"I don't think I can move... Every bone in my body has melted," Malcolm answered.
"Well get up anyway sexy. If I have to be poked and prodded by Phlox, I want you there to hold my hand."
"Well if you put it that way..." He pulled Trip in for another kiss before reluctantly leaving the bed and heading towards the bathroom.

Dr Phlox had finally finished his 'poking and prodding' and he was now smiling as he looked over the results. Trip and Malcolm were sitting side by side in the bio-bed, holding hands and whispering to each other while waiting. Finally Phlox looked up at them.
"Well I can find nothing wrong now Mr Tucker. You are both in good shape and hopefully will stay that way. I hope I don't see either of you in here any time soon... You are free to go."
The two men didn't need any more prompting and quickly fled sickbay. They headed towards the Mess Hall *together*... The same way that they would face life from now on.