I know I've told you (probably many times) how much I love this story, but I'm saying it again here. This is the best treatment I've read anywhere of the post-Affliction/Divergence situation between Jon and Malcolm. There are few fics that have them finding their way to each other  AFTER that, and this works beautifully. The descriptions and images are lovely, the tension between them is palpable, and when they get together it feels inevitable (and erotic as hell).

What a wonderful celebration!  I love the way everyone just started contributing to the decoration of Jonathan's door with their cards and gifts (not forgetting Porthos!).  I think that would mean a lot to him.

I loved reading this; it's so beautiful. I love watching Malcolm allowing Jon a glimpse into his inner self, and it makes so much sense to me that Malcolm would be a musician. It's captures so well the way he was so transformed in making the music.

And his choice of instrument (though not his first) suits him well. Malcolm is so sensual, and an instrument that allows body contact, that lets him literally feel the music would contribute to the feeling of freedom and release he finds when he plays, especially since he has so few other outlets.

And I really like the give and take between the two of them at this early stage of what Jon clearly hopes will become more than friendship. Getting Malcolm to call him Jon is a huge step; I hope their breakfast goes well for them both.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

This was fun!  I really liked Phlox watching the credits. He definitely would do that!

I really enjoyed this. It seems very much like Jonathan to want to look back on all of those times, good and bad. And it definitely seems like something Travis would have enjoyed doing.

This is a great look at what I always suspected was a developing friendship between Forrest and Soval. The chess game is both a natural way for them to connect, and a wonderful metaphor for much else about their relationship.

This is beautiful. I love the quiet way she finds to remember and honor her father... it seems this is a connection she will be able to touch for the rest of her life. Thank you for sharing it.

I'd never seen the show Chef! until after I read this. After I watched the clips of it, and then reread this, I couldn't stop laughing. You captured him (and the pie!) perfectly. 

This is a wonderful glimpse into a very believeable triggering point for Malcolm’s aquaphobia – and into his (and his parents') reactions to it.

It’s interesting (and telling, I think, about his relationship with his father) that he seems much more open, and even demonstrative, with his Uncle Archie than he is with his father. That seems very much Malcolm to me, in that we do see him in canon as opening up on several occasions to people he trusts.

That he seems to be able to confide in his mother and trusts her to keep his secret is also a lovely glimpse into his psyche and again, is very consistent with the Malcolm we see serving on Enterprise. I get the idea that this might not be the first secret kept between Malcolm and his mum – which makes a lot of sense to me, maybe it's a result of both Stuart’s rigid attitudes and his probable absence on duty for significant portions of Malcolm’s childhood.

He obviously cares about his father’s opinion of him, but not to the extent that it prevents him from choosing his own path – both at the fishing boat and in his career choice. They are both stubborn men.

I loved Malcolm’s comparison of his father to the riptide. Very astute. There is a lot of depth to Malcolm, even as a child, and I do think he has thought a lot about this.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

This is wonderful! The form serves the content well. Jon’s thoughts feel like impressions – albeit deep impressions – from the interview with Malcolm as he tries to sort out what just happened. 

I especially like the parallel sets of observations for – ‘who you are’ and ‘who I am’. It’s such an accurate picture of Malcolm, shields again in place after what must have been a shared moment of what-ifs. And the whole impact on Jon is captured as ‘who I am  remains, undone.’

Thank you so much for reminding me of this!  I love the descriptions of the pyrotechnics (of all sorts) and this contains one of my favorite lines ever from Jon to Malcolm - "You... are always the main event."

This is such beautifully drawn world! The Feyr are an unusual and fascinating people who make me want to know more and more about them and their culture. Their food sounds delicious!

I love the scene between Jonathan and Malcolm after they've met with Unya, where Jon is dealing with his guilt for earlier events and Malcolm offers him the insight he needs to come to terms with it: "That, in the deep of space, getting misrepresented and misinterpreted all the time... our very humanness saved a Feyr life?" This line just hits home perfectly, and that it is Malcolm reminding Jonathan of it seems both appropriate and indicative of the depth and quality of their relationship as it has developed over time, hastened by their experience on this world.

I see the pollen here as a catalyst for a latent relationship – each man had acknowledged the attraction to himself, but neither had made the first move toward acting on it.

Throughout the whole experience they're being open and honest with one another, and I love the small moments and touches and silent communication between them.