"Melting Point" by Pam

The fir trees sway slightly as the gentle breeze caresses their snow-dusted boughs. A sudden movement further down slope startles a curious robin, who flies swiftly towards the sublime peak. Moments later, two figures enter the snowy clearing, their shadows making strange shapes on the undisturbed slopes.

"This is your idea of fun, Paris?" demanded B'Elanna, turning to face him. He shrugged and blew on his hands.

"Seemed like a good idea at the time." His voice suggested he knew better now. He took off his backpack and placed it on the ground, then faced back the way they'd came. "Wow, sure is a long way," he remarked, then grinned when he heard B'Elanna muttering under her breath, "Never again."

"Aw, come on B'Elanna! Don't you find this even a little stimulating?" he asked.

"Stimulating? Paris, I can't feel my hands or feet-I'm freezing to death, and you think this is stimulating?" she retorted. He tried another approach.

"Okay, so maybe it is a little cold...but what about that view?" he said, indicating their majestic scenery. She opened her mouth to reply, but instead screamed as a huge animal trotted out of the trees. It was half again her size, with shaggy fur and big horns on it's head.

"Relax, B'Elanna! It's only a moose," Paris reassured her. They watched the animal until it disappeared back into the trees, and B'Elanna let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. 

"Are you ok, B'Elanna?" asked Paris. 

"Yeah, Tom, I'm fine! We've only been hiking up this mountain for he last *five* hours in the freezing cold...I'm just peachy-keen!" She was getting irritated. She never should've let him talk her into this.

"We can leave, if you want," he said, knowing that persuading her would be impossible. She noticed the genuine concern in his eyes and her tone softened.

"No, it's okay...I'm sorry Tom. It's just...this week's been really haywire, what with the warp manifolds malfunctioning again...I'm a bit tired."

 "I understand." He gave her a dazzling smile and put an arm around her. She noticed his other hand was behind his back, and grinned.

"What do you have?"

"Nothing...except this," he pulled out a red rose, just one, but it was enough to broaden her smile.

"Oh Tom...thank you," she whispered.

The sun sets on the valley, and a hushed silence descends. Snowflakes sprinkle all around, and the temperature falls. This fails to effect the lovers, however, because they are filled with their own inner warmth...their heartbeats echo love and purity.

THE END