STANDARD DISCLAIMER:  PARAMOUNT IS ALL POWERFUL...I 
GROVEL AT THEIR FEET...I BORROW THEIR TOYS, BUT I PUT THEM BACK 
WHERE I FIND THEM.

 I write this to answer the P/T Challenge.  I hope you guys like my 
interpretation as to what's in the box!
 
 I want to thank Gil for being my beta reader, and Janet, for getting 
my creative juices flowing!
 
 
I Believe
 

      She saw him standing at the end of the corridor and smiled 
sweetly.  Tuvok saw where B'Elanna's attention had suddenly been 
averted, and he made an attempt to avail himself of his companion.  
"I will speak with you later, Lt. Torres.  Have a pleasant evening."
      "Thanks, Tuvok, for everything."  She clasped him on the shoulder 
and turned to meet Tom's gaze.  She only wanted to be alone with her 
handsome friend.  He echoed her unspoken sentiment when he laced 
his long arms around her thin waist.
      "I was so worried..."  Tom whispered in her ear.
      "Please, Tom.  I really need to forget about what happened down 
there."  She didn't want to tell him how frightened she had been.  She 
didn't need to be reminded that the Mari's banishment of violent 
thought had been what had landed her in that
 predicament in the first place.  B'Elanna's Klingon-half had never 
gotten her in so much trouble before.  She had learned long ago to 
think before she spoke.  However, after recent events she wasn't 
sure that was the best way to go either.
      "I missed you, Tom."  For once, B'Elanna didn't care who was 
watching as she kissed him squarely on the lips.
      "I missed you, too," Tom said as he pulled her closer to him, and 
led them down the corridor to his quarters.  When they reached his 
door, he keyed the lock and admitted them both inside.  As he had 
hoped, B'Elanna's eyes fell on the box wrapped in thin brown paper 
that sat on the coffee table in the center of the room.
      Tom walked to the table and handed the gift to B'Elanna.  "I got 
this for you on the planet.  I hope you like it."
      She accepted the gift, and they both retreated to the couch.  She 
carefully undid the wrapping and opened the box to reveal the 
brightly colored stain glass frame that lay inside.  "Tom!  It's 
beautiful!"
      "Read what it says."  Tom was positively beaming at this point.    
      B'Elanna read out loud the poem that Tom had handwritten on 
crisp white paper at the center of the frame.
 
 
                                                        I believe 
in true love.
                                                 I believe in dancing in the rain.
                                         I believe in holding hands by a warm fire.
                                            I believe in the power of a good book.
                                                     I believe in your spirit.
                                                   I believe in your beauty.
                                                       I believe in angels.
                                                        I believe in you. 
 

      She could feel the tears starting to stain her cheeks.  Tom 
reached out and wiped a stray tear away.  "Tom, I love you.  I don't 
know what else to say, except, thank you."  She smiled at him and 
saw her smile reflected in his eyes.
      "You don't have to say anything.  Just, please, be here with me 
tonight."  He wrapped both of his arms around her and pulled her 
closer to him.  "I love you."
      "What did you say?"  B'Elanna turned to him with a look of utter 
surprise on her face.
      "I said, 'I love you'.  Is that so hard to believe?"  Tom kissed her 
soft hair and entwined the fingers of his left hand with the fingers 
of her right.
      "It's just that you never said that to me before."  She nestled her 
head underneath his chin.
      "Well, I promise to say it more often.  I love you, B'Elanna Torres.  
Now, tomorrow, forever."
      She laughed out loud which was pure music to Tom.  A melody 
that didn't get played often enough.  "Forever, Tom."
      He made a vow that night to always make her laugh.  He would 
work hard to keep that smile on her face, and he would be worthy of 
her love.  He meant every word he said to her.  He was in love with 
this beautiful woman now sleeping in his arms.  He would always be 
in love with her.  He kissed her softly on the head and whispered, 
"Always."
 
 
 
 I wrote the poem "I Believe" July 19, 1997 for my best friend's wife 
on their wedding day.  So, this is dedicated to them.  Tim, Brenna, I 
love you.