[posted 8/20/97]

Dreams
By April  (VGRFAN@prodigy.net)

B'Elanna Torres, Tom Paris, and Voyager are all trademarks of Paramount.  
I have merely borrowed them. 




                                Dreams



        The golden sun was setting in the west, half hidden by the deep, 
blue ocean  The water was a dance of light with a soothing rhythmic sound.  
The sky was many shades of vibrant violet and purple.  The sand glistened, 
like a sea of diamonds, to the horizon.  It was the most breath-taking 
sunset that she had ever seen.  And yet, she could not enjoy it's 
loveliness.

        B'Elanna Torres stood up from the beach blanket that she had been 
sitting on, and began to walk towards the shore line.  She stopped at the 
waters edge and looked longingly out over the ocean, as the tide came in 
and nipped at her feet.  She had waited on that beach all day for him but 
he had not come. *Did he forget?  Does he not want to see me again?  How 
could he not?  After all we went through together.*  She did not know what 
to think.  She stood there thinking about all the possibilities.  What ever 
the case, B'Elanna felt almost betrayed.

        It was five years ago that Voyager had gotten home much earlier 
than expected. They had made a promise to each other to meet on this beach 
on this day.

        Tom Paris sat in his transport anxiously awaiting his arrival at 
the beach.  He was sure that he had missed her but he had to go anyway.  
*I can't let her down.  She means too much to me.  She's not going to be 
there.*  He let his head fall back against the seat.  *I can't believe 
this.  I've waited five years for this and everything has happened to keep 
me from her.*  

	The transport finally arrived at the beach.  He got out of the 
transport and ran onto the beach.  He couldn't believe his eyes.  She was 
there. Her hair was blowing in the gentle breeze and her tanned skin seemed 
to have gentle radiance in the reminisce of the light.  She was the most 
beautiful creature that he had ever seen.

        "B'Elanna!"  Tom shouted.

        She turned her head in the direction of his voice in total 
disbelief.  When she realized it was truly him, her heart swelled with 
joy.  Tom looked perfect.  His sandy blond hair was almost glowing in the 
violet hues of light.  He was gorgeous.  

        "Tom?"  She said, barely audible.

        He began to walk quickly towards her.

        "Tom!"  She called out as she began to run towards him. 

        Tom began to run as well.  When they came close to each other, Tom 
grabbed B'Elanna, picked her up and turned a circle with her in the air.  
He was so excited.  He had imagined this moment for the last five years.  
He slowly put her down.

        B'Elanna looked up into his loving, crystal, blue eyes, "Tom, I 
didn't..."

        Tom stopped her words with a kiss.  It was the longest and most 
passionate kiss that either of them had ever experienced  Her heart was 
pounding like never before.

        "I love you!"  B'Elanna finally let the words escape from her lips 
after many years of wanting to say them.

        Tom softly caressed her face.

        "B'Elanna, I have always loved you."

        As she heard the words that she had longed to hear, she put her 
arms around Tom's neck and gave him a hug to express her happiness.  Tom 
bent over, scooped B'Elanna up and carried her to the blanket.  He lowered 
her onto the blanket.  They kissed lovingly.

        B'Elanna woke up with a start.  She was in her bed, in her 
quarters, on Voyager still lost in the Delta Quadrant.  And she had to be 
on duty in a few hours.  Her heart felt heavy.  It was only a dream.  She 
sat on the edge of her bed and ran her fingers through her hair.  *A 
dream...that's all it could ever be.*