Chakotay sighed and looked at his lover curled up on the couch, wrapped in a throw, reading a book. "What are you reading?"
Sniff. "Nothing." Sniff!
Sighing again Chakotay got up and sat next to Tom on the couch. "You're reading that book again aren't you?"
"No." Tom said defensively clutching a tattered book to his chest.
Chakotay reached over and grabbed the book. A short tug of war commenced until Tom relented and handed Chakotay the coveted item. Flipping the book over Chakotay read the title. "Tom, how many times do I have to tell you not to read this."
"I can't help it," he sobbed as he flung himself into Chakotay's embrace.
Holding the sobbing man Chakotay tried to understand his lover's attachment to this piece of literature. Waiting until the sobbing subsided Chakotay asked, "Tom darling, why do you torture yourself like this?"
"I..I can't help it. The book is so relevant to us, to our relationship."
"How the hell is �Romeo and Juliet' relevant to us? Are you planning to kill me or something?"
"They don't murder each other silly, they both kill themselves for true love."
"I'm sorry Tom, but I don't have any plans to kill myself."
"I don't want you to kill yourself Cha." Tom said to Chakotay's great relief. "Everything but the death part is relevant. I mean think of it. Two star crossed lovers from two different houses."
"I don't get it."
Snuggling deeper in to Chakotay's chest Tom sighed. "Hello, the Maquis and Federation, two bitter enemies. And me the child of a powerful house in the Federation"
Rubbing his cheek on Tom's hair Chakotay said, "Tom, darling, I love you more than anything, but what the hell are you talking about?"
"Come on Chakotay think about it. We're destined to be together."
"Ok, now you've lost me."
SIGH! "When was the first time we met Chakotay?"
"At a federation function the day before I joined the Maquis."
"Exactly, the Capulet party."
"What?!?"
Tom turned in Chakotay's embrace to look up at him, "You had already resigned from the Federation, you were at that party to stir up trouble, admit it."
"I was not there to stir up trouble, I was there to tell the Federation elite what a bunch of fools they were. But I got distracted by a blue eyed, blond haired man," Chakotay said looking fondly at the man he was holding.
"And lucky for you too, they would have had your as arrested if I hadn't distracted you. As it was daddy dearest wasn't to pleased to find me alone on the balcony with you."
"Yeah he was pretty pissed off wasn't he."
"I thought he going to have a coronary." Tom smiled at the memory, his old man was such a jerk. "I remember you getting out of there pretty damn quick. And my dad calling you Maquis scum. You were the enemy from the enemy's house."
"I still don't see how this relates to Romeo and Juliet."
"Do you remember what happened after you left?"
"Yeah I snuck back and saw you standing on the balcony.......OH I get it now."
Tom smiled his mega-watt Paris smile at him, "You get it now eh?" Tom said leaning up for a quick kiss.
"Yes I do, I remember climbing the balcony for a kiss. That was the greatest thing I've ever done. The best kiss too."
"It was, wasn't it. But then you had to leave, you were in exile." Tom frowned at the memory.
Stroking Tom's cheek gently Chakotay said, "But the best was yet to come, the reunion."
"So do you finally understand why I love that book?" Tom asked hopefully.
Leaning down for a quick kiss Chakotay replied, "I do now love, but you're still not allowed to read this book. It always depresses you.
Tom ripped the book away from Chakotay and jumped up from the couch. "To bad, I'm never going to give this book up, never." he cried defiantly as he raced into the bedroom to hide his book.
Chakotay sighed once again. Getting up he followed Tom into the bedroom, "Does this mean I get to call you Juliet." Chakotay said ducking the pillow came flying at his head. "Guess not." he said smiling as he went to join his lover.