He settled down nearby her, following her gaze into the waning night, and they lapsed out of language. Then, for a while, it was just the two of them; two breathing bodies, two beating hearts, basking in the slow, unsteady glimmer of the faraway stars.


Good ending, an whatever they may become, thereyago, they will always have a "star to steer by"...

And have you ever read Diane Duane's The Wounded Sky---been decades since I have, but something about this story reminded me of it, from nearly the beginning, it kinda whispered memories of that ST:OS novel ( published 1983) and honestly, it might be out of print.

Great story, and glad you finished and stayed with it.