She crossed it similarly to how she navigates challenging approaches, with precision and with no hesitation, without enlarging upon it beyond necessity, and placed her hand on his chest as if it had naturally formed itself in the meditative mat imagery of late-night practices when her thoughts aligned with the contents of the drawer and whatever resided in it regardless, and she looked up at him using her brown eyes; he regarded her and the space separating them ceased becoming a navigation issue.

He kissed her; she returned his kiss; his hand delved into her hair; her hand rested on his chest, continuing to experience the heat emanating from him through the dark material; and New Ferenginar continued revolving in its slow orbit below as the Dutchman sustained its station above New Ferenginar and the evening evolved into precisely what it had been striving to evolve into since the Rusty Lobe Cantina.

Subsequently, they occupied the low-leather sofa beneath the viewport; he had wrapped an arm about her shoulders and drawn her feet onto the cushion; her cream-colored clothing was smooth against his dark-colored shirt; and the flame on the candle on the table cast shadows smaller than previously on the floor. Her forehead rested against his shoulder; his fingers continued through her hair absent-mindedly as if he had ceased pondering whether to put his hands there; and the room retained a sense of warmth associated with a space that had existed in one form and now existed in another form and would never again exist in its previous configuration.

Both individuals had engaged in lengthy conversations, in a manner akin to how she envisioned conversing with him on those nights when she was candid with herself concerning what she desired, free from any professional constraints surrounding their relationship, two individuals within a warm environment having access to nothing but their conversation and the galaxy visible through the viewport. He revealed aspects to her that she had anticipated he would reveal and she confided in him items she did not intend to discuss; consequently, both individuals lost track of time.

At this juncture, their conversation naturally concluded; silence descended upon the room in a positive manner; the flame from the candle produced a gentle, warm illumination throughout the dark space; New Ferenginar spun outside; she experienced significant weight from the nature of the evening, but this heaviness was pleasant; this weight felt entirely acceptable.

She inclined her face ever-so-slightly toward his shoulder; his arm encircled her even tighter; she detected the rhythmic cadence of his breath slowing and stabilizing; the ship vibrated through walls encompassing them; she contemplated that this was what she stored in drawers for ten days, and that it was worthwhile storing there carefully for ten days as this was worthy of caution regarding.

Her eyelids were lowering.

"Zedd," she whispered softly, though not quite asleep.

"Hmm," he murmured into her tresses.

"Please bring me to bed," she whispered softly. "I wish to fall asleep while you hold me."

A slight pause occurred before he shifted under her, rising calmly and effortlessly, lifting her off of the leather sofa as if he were lifting an unweighted object, one arm positioned underneath her legs, one at her back; she permitted herself to be carried without utilizing any of her typical composure, her head against his shoulder and her hair hanging freely across his arm as her cream-colored clothing draped loosely against his dark-shirted torso.

He transported her through the room in soft warm candlelight, passing by where the flame from the candle illuminated them momentarily, as New Ferenginar spun outside; she realized that she had solved numerous matters during her career and that none of them necessitated less energy than this.

He laid her down in the center of his large king-sized bed with an ease that did not demand additional explanation, creating an impression that placing her on this bed provided ample space specifically designed for her placement, and lying down beside her drawing her close with his arms around her body as requested; his arm enveloped hers in an identical manner as which she initially requested. Space between them closed completely. The ship thrummed around them in darkness.

Prior to finishing contemplating how correct this felt, she fell asleep.

Below, New Ferenginar persisted spinning at its regular pace, displaying hues of green and gold against the darkness; Dutchman continued holding position above New Ferenginar; nighttime cycles operated undisturbed; and outside Captain Zedd's quarters on Deck 2 candles continued burning downward; stars shone brightly through the viewport; two people who had been directed at each other since Day Two ultimately ceased navigating, arriving at their destination instead.