AimeeDevin I hope you don't hate me but I had to change some of it. It was turning a bit too dark soooo I tweaked it. I hope you don't mind!

BUT THAT PICTURE THO!!! What a little squish squish ;) 

It was on days like today that you just couldn't wait to get to your room and lay down. Your boyfriend, Jim, was planning on having a late dinner with you tonight after his meetings. You knew exactly what you were going to cook him and your mouth watered just thinking about it.

Your spirits were lifted as you thought about tonight. You figured you might as well go get some ingredients now since you were passing the cafeteria/kitchens anyways. You smiled to the officers you recognized and made your way to the stored real foods. You weren't alone as you searched, voices in one of the side storage rooms suddenly becoming loud. But you did your best to ignore it, not wanting to get into someone's business considering all the gossip and drama that goes along with a largely manned ship.

You had filled a small box with what you needed and was about to leave when one of the voices suddenly sounded familiar. You shook your head and took a step when you heard your name.

"Oh goodness, how embarrassing. (Y/n), we didn't know you were in here."

You turned to face Melony, the woman who made every possible move on Jim but couldn't take no for an answer. Or take the hint that her reassignment to the kitchens was to keep her at a distance. You were about to tell here to shove off when you laid eyes on the man next to her. You dropped the box of food.

Jim?

His face was red, his hair was tousled, his clothes were wrinkled and he seemed to have a growing red mark of a hand print on the side of his face. You didn't want to think about what may have happened, but your mind went there anyways. He looked like he was at a loss of words, but at the moment you didn't care, you just wanted to leave.

Melanie smirked at you as she grabbed for Jim's hand, wrapping her other arm around his arm like a snake claiming it's pray. "We wanted to tell you sooner but I guess fate wanted us to be known." Her little giggle at the end made your skin crawl.

"Keep your mouth shut." You looked to Jim for some kind of support, but he looked away, almost like he was ashamed. Ashamed for getting caught or ashamed for cheating on you, you knew not. You shook your head. "I guess old habits do die hard."

At that Jim looked at you quickly, even reached out as you turned to leave, forgetting about the fallen food. But Melanie squeezed his hand so hard her nails drew blood, making any words he was about to say die on his lips.

You wiped falling tears as you held back your sobs until you were in your room. You locked our door and flopped on the bed not even bothering to change out of your uniform. You replayed the moment back in your mind over and over again, searching for some kind of explanation as to why you found your boyfriend of two years alone with a known scamp in the kitchen storage room.

There had to be a reason. Jim had changed, you knew that the moment you both happened to fall asleep together while watching the stars and you woke to him still there. And that was a year ago. He would always leave before you woke up, just so you wouldn't get caught with the captain let alone the playboy of Starfleet. But his tune changed. You never doubted him for a second.

Until now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jim blinked as he held his head. He knew asking Melanie for help was idiotic but she was the only one who knew anything about your home planet. You, Melanie and three others were from a planet where each person is given a type of skill. You were exceptionally good with all things music. But he didn't know that before he decided to pursue you.

Melanie can manipulate, but only when she has physical contact with the person she wants to manipulate. It took a while for Jim to get distance himself from her so she couldn't use her powers on him, but he needed to talk to her. Being that she is the only one other than you from your home planet he had to turn to her to ask about courting customs.

There was only so much a computer could teach him about what to do. He had to see in person and be taught that way. Unfortunately.

First of all, Jim never thought he would ever wonder how to court someone let alone seek help with it. But there he was, wincing as Melonie greeted him in the kitchens. He visited her four weeks for small lessons on how to properly court you in the ways of your culture. He always made sure to keep his distance and remind himself that he was going through all this for you. To make you happy.

But what he didn't expect was for her to practically ambush him into the storage room. He was about finished with his lessons and she knew it. So she made sure to corner him and use her powers on him. And no matter what he did or said, she was in control.

Jim had made a personal, silent promise that he would never disrespect a woman again and that included Melonie; despite how annoying she was. So when he found himself locked in a storage room with her on the day he decided to put his new dating skills to use, he all but yelled at her to let him out.

But he forced herself on him. Nothing too far, but enough to make him uncomfortable even under her spell. He tried to push her away, thoughts and images of you and your smiling face filling him with strength. But she wasn't happy. She slapped him then smiled.

"I know, I know. I'm not her. But now that I know that you are the perfect man for me I need just never let you leave my side," she whispered in his ear. She then opened the door, smirking at your back as you were leaving the kitchen.

Jim couldn't call out to you. He couldn't tell you that is wasn't as it seemed. But the look on your face and the unshed tears brimmed in your eyes would have made it hard for him to speak even if he wasn't under Melonie's spell.

Now Jim sat in his room, shaking his head to get Melonie's words out of his head. He knew you were a sensible woman, someone who would check the facts despite having a tendency to jump to conclusions. But that didn't make the decision to come see you any easier. He knew he hurt you and he knew he could have avoided all this. But he just wanted to find a way to make you happy.

Unfortunately, Kirk was called by Spock about some planet they have come across. Seeing as it was inhabited and can hold human lifeforms he suggested taking down an away team. Kirk met with everyone on the bridge, calling you up to join.

You sniffed as you turned off your communicator. Jim called you to the Bridge in his captain voice. Perhaps he knew what he did. You shook your head. He was a captain of a ship and needed to act accordingly. Even if he was caught with another woman by his girlfriend.

You made your way to the Bridge and made sure to keep your distance from Jim as Spock relayed the facts of the new planet that was shown on the screen before you. He called for an away team to scout the area and possibly take samples of their soil and plant life. And possibly meet the locals.

You raised your hand, drawing attention to yourself. You looked between Spock and the front screen only, feeling Jim's stare as you spoke. "I volunteer to join the team. My small team and I have a few new things we have been wanting to test out."

Spock looked between you and where you assumed was Jim but nodded. "Thank you, officer (L/n). Report to the transporter room in fifteen minutes."

You nodded and with a swell of pride you left the room to ready your team without looking back at Jim. Maybe going on this away mission will help clear your head so you can come back ready to talk to Jim without wanting to stick a fork in his hand.

Jim watched you leave. He yearned to run after you but the touch of Melonie still lingered as well as the look on your face. But Jim just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You stood on the sandy planet, shielding your face agianst the hot wind as you brought a cloth up to your mouth. There may be no need for the sample containers, you were gathering enough sand in your lungs to create a small beach. You turned to look at your crew and signaled them to follow you as you lead them to a small cavern a few meters away.

Glad to be out from under the sun and the on slot of sand, everyone got to work grabbing what samples they could from around them. But you spaced out. You thought back to all your dates with Jim. All the nights you both stayed up late talking. All those times he surprised you with a gift, a sweet gesture or a kind kiss on the cheek.

You knew without a doubt that Jim had changed from a man every woman knew personally to the man he was now. A man who made you feel like a young teenager again. A man who made you feel like you were the center of his world and the light of his life.

Then you thought to Melonie. You knew her powers were strong but you didn't take her to be as conniving as to manipulate the Captain. You blinked and shook your head. But it looked as though their meeting was planned, or else Jim would have said something, or at least looked at you. Maybe you were too ordinary for him. Perhaps he finally did lose interest.

You were brought out of your mind by a young officer asking a question. You lost yourself in your work, therefore missing the blatant signs of life forms making their way closer to you and your crew. It all happened so fast. Shots were fired, screaming voices filled the air, light flashed and you felt yourself fall to the ground it pain. You let out a gasping breath as darkness closed in around you. 

Perhaps this was best. Perhaps Jim will be happier this way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You woke to the most horrid humming you have ever heard. You groaned as you sat up and looked around. There beside you sat Jim, his eyes closed as he leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. His hair was a mess and his face sported a good five o'clock shadow. He hummed one of your favorite songs, purposefully screwing it up.

You let out a sigh, leaning your head back. "Jim, if I have to tell you one more time that it goes down after the arpeggio I'm going to dump your a-"

Your words were silenced by his lips pressing fervently against yours. All thoughts of doubt that ever passed through your mind vanished as you fell deeper in love with him. His kiss alone spoke volumes. He was sorry. He was conflicted. He loved you.

He pulled away, trying to catch his breath as he rambled about why he was seeing Melonie, how he got cornered and how he wished he could take it all back. But you held up your hand, pulling him over to hug him.

"I believe you. But let's talk about this later. I'm tired and I just want to be held," you whispered as your eyes started to droop.

Jim smiled, kissing your cheek as he sat next to you, holding you to his chest as his hand made lazy circles on your arm and back. You took a deep breath and sighed.

"Just promise me, as a wedding gift, you'll reassign Melonie to another ship."

Jim smiled wide as he chuckled, placing a kiss on the top of your head. "Way ahead of you, dear."

MY BEAUTIFUL READERS SPARE ME! I totally deserve some angry faces and pouts from you guys. I am so so sorry for being such a slacker. But life happens. I'll make it up to you I promise. I LOVE YOU!!!!