Trip blinked, sighed.  These damned sedatives.  Hammered you into unconsciousness.  He'd protested, but Phlox had been unyielding.  "You've had quite enough excitement for one day, Commander."  And bang!  That was it.  The last thing he remembered was the now all-too familiar hiss of the hypospray, and he had been out like a light.

He heard a rustle, looked beside him.  Archer was stretched out beside him, reading.  Aware that Trip had awoken, he put his book down and gave the engineer a long, measuring look.

"Well," the Captain said, "now you've done it."

Trip yawned, stretched.  "Yep."

"Really put your foot in it."

"The fat's in the fire now for sure," Trip agreed.

"And speaking like that to Ambassador Soval."

"I know.  I don't know what it is about that guy, but I always have this uncontrollable urge to lip off to him."

"No kidding," Archer said dryly.  "Lucky you're on sick leave.  Otherwise Forrest would have probably busted your ass.  Just on general principles."

"Lucky that," Trip said blandly.

"And lying to the Admiral.  Really, Trip."

Trip gave him a long look.  "I wasn't lying."  He added, significantly, "Jon."

Archer looked back at him, astonishment write large all over his face.  "What?"

"You heard me.  I wasn't lying."

"You lead Forrest to believe that you and I – "

" – Aren't we?"

Archer was silent.

"I don't know about you," Trip continued, "but I sure have come to realize something over the past little while.  Haven't you?"

For the first time in all the years he'd known him, Archer was at a loss for words.  "Well?" Trip repeated.  "Haven't you?"

He turned on his side, so that his face was only inches away from Archer's.  "Or am I wrong about all of this?  I don't think so, but if I am, let me know."

"No," Archer finally said quietly.  "You're not wrong.  But, Trip – are you sure?"

"Why?  Aren't you?"

"I'm sure."

"Well," Trip replied, "So am I.  So there we are."

"Looks that way," Archer agreed.

"Mind you," Trip said thoughtfully, "You're not who I would have thought I'd end up with."

"You're not the only one."

Trip smiled slightly.  "I've never thought I was gay.  But," and he shrugged.

"I don't think you are," Archer told him.  "I don't think I am, either.  Not really."

Trip arched a brow at him.  "Oh, really?  Then how'd we end up like this, pray tell?"

Archer smiled.  "It's not the outside body that's the main factor here.  It's who's inside.  The fact that you happen to be a man is, well secondary to the fact that it's you.  Trip Tucker.  That's who I want to be with."

Trip nodded.  "Right.  I get you."  He looked at Archer impudently.  "Still, it would have been one hell of a lot easier if one of us had been born a woman.  Jane Archer, maybe?"

"Or Charlene Tucker?"  Archer smiled, shook his head.  "Life isn't about what's easy, Trip.  It's about what is."

"'It's about what is'," Trip quoted.  "The wit and wisdom of Jonathon Archer."

"You like?"

"Don't quit your day job, that's all I can say."

Archer laughed, put his arms around him.  "Thanks for the advice.  What would I do without you?"

Trip smiled in return, then sobered.  "There's just one thing," he said hesitantly. 

"What is it?"

"Well, I mean ... " He floundered about, trying to find the right words.  "After everything that happened to me on Tasumi ... I mean, I'll try, I really will.  But I don't know ..."

"Don't," Archer interrupted.  "Don't worry about it."

"It's just that –"

"Trip," said Archer very seriously.  "I can wait.  Really.  Until you're ready.  I'm going to let you make the first move."

"Cap – Jon," Trip said worriedly.  "I can't give you any guarantees.  I mean, it may take me a long time, you know."

"I know.  And I can wait.  For however long it takes you."

"Are you sure?"

"Let me tell you something," Archer said, drawing him even closer.  "Something my father told me."  He stroked Trip's back.  "I didn't understand what he meant at the time.  In fact, I thought he was full of it.  But now I do understand.  And he was right."

"About what?"

"He told me that sex is like dessert.  It's nice, tasty, sweet and lots of fun.  But he said you don't need dessert.  Especially if you've had a good dinner.  And a strong, loving relationship is that good dinner.  If you want dessert – great.  If not, well, you've still had that dinner.  And the other thing he said was that living on desserts alone was a bad idea."

He smiled.  "Mind you, I was a horny 16-year old when he told me that, and I thought he was out of his mind.  Now – I understand."

Trip nodded.  "I do, too."  He looked at Archer, smiled slightly.  "I used to have a hell of a sweet tooth, though.  I wouldn't mind getting it back."

Archer laughed, kissed him on the forehead.  "Just the fact that you said that shows how far you've come."

Trip slipped his arms around him, settled into a comfortable embrace.  "Still, this is nice, too."

"It is indeed."

He looked at Archer, who bent his head slightly and gave the younger man a soft, gentle kiss.

Trip sighed, snuggled closer. "Well," he told the Captain, "now you've done it."

"Yep."

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