A/N: At the request and suggestion of several readers, I have decided to start a sequel. Heaven help me! LOL. So, the epilogue is short and sweet. Thank you, thank you, to everyone who read my first complete story ( I have another i have got to get finished). The reviews were great.

It will be a few days before the next one will be posted. It is Fair Week. I'm taking vacation from one job to 'volunteer' for the other (Fair is always busy for the Fire Department and EMS here -- I'm an adrenaline junkie -- what can I say!)

ENJOY.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue

Rebecca opened her eyes slowly. A small smile came to her lips as she snuggled in closer to the sleeping man next to her. She felt contented…..safe. It had been a week now, since Jim Kirk had locked her and Leo in the lounge together. In that week not a single nightmare had interrupted her sleep.

She raised up on her elbow so she could watch him as he slept. His breathing was slow and even. His face was calm and relaxed, without a hint of the frown that was present more often than not when he was awake. She marveled at how beautiful this man truly was. How, when watching him like this in the morning, she forgot about the years that they had spent apart.

Rebecca reached up and softly caressed his lips with her fingertips. She loved those lips. They were so warm, soft and inviting. It was impossible to resist the urge. She leaned forward and brushed a light kiss on his lips.

Leonard caught her as she started to pull away. "What a way to wake up" he said with a sleepy grin.

"How long have you been awake?" Rebecca questioned suspiciously.

"Long enough to now you were going to kiss me." His smile widened.

"That sure of yourself, huh?" She teased.

The expression on Leo's face became thoughtful. "No. Only of how much I love you." He caressed he cheek with his hand as he pulled her toward him for a more earnest kiss.

"I love you, too." She glanced at the time display on the table beside the bed. She let out an involuntary groan. "I better get going. I need to get back to my quarters and get ready for my shift."

"Why don't you just move some of your stuff here?" He asked.

"Are you nuts!" Rebecca pulled away from his embrace to look down at him. "That would be crazy. We can't let anyone know about our relationship. You know that."

He let out an exasperated sigh. "Well, I think it's ridiculous for us to have to sneak around! The regulations are archaic." The afore mentioned frown appeared.

"You, of all people, know we need to be careful. I don't want you to lose your rank or be reprimanded for "consorting" with a lowly ensign." She tried to reason with him.

"I know." Leo grumbled unhappily. "I just want to wake up with you here every morning." He pulled her close again.

"Have you ever broken the rules?" she asked with a grin. He was so straight-laced.

"Yeah, a couple of times." He admitted begrudgingly.

"I'm surprised."

"Me too."

"I really need to go." Leo gave her a pouty look as she pulled away and crawled out of bed, searching for her clothes around the room. "We have the rest of our lives, don't we? Besides, I plan on moving up the ranks. When I'm an officer it won't be a big deal." Rebecca gave him a smile.

"I'll talk to Jim about that. See if he can promote you today!" He smiled back, only half joking about it.

Leo got out of bed and pulled on a bathrobe. He stopped Rebecca before she opened the door to leave. "I love you, sweetheart." He kissed and hugged her tightly before opening the door. Rebecca stood out of sight of the corridor until he gave the all clear for her to sneak out unobserved.

Rebecca entered her quarters to find a roommate already awake and having a cup of tea. She raised her eyebrow questioningly at Rebecca as she walked by. All she could do was shrug and grin sheepishly.

She went into her bedroom to grab fresh clothes before heading into the shower. Rebecca looked over at the silver metal-framed picture on her bedside table. The laughing couple smiled back at her. For the first time in five years she felt hope……and love.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you again for reading. Reb & Leo will be back. I guarantee their relationship will not be a bed of roses. Stay tuned. ~J~