Accustomed to Her Face

Accustomed to Her Face

By Amok2

RATING: G, PG
GENRE: Romance, T/T
DISCLAIMER: I have no rights to any of these characters. I can only hope Paramount and UPN are as kind to them as I hope I am. They own all of them and I am not making any money from this and any other story I may write. SPOILERS: This takes place in season 4, so be warned there are spoilers I’ve incorporated for what the third episode of the season holds.

NOTE: This is my first fanfic. The first I’ve ever decided to submit to any archive. I’ve been lurking for awhile, but finally decided to release what my imagination’s been churning...

Since I’m new at this, I welcome any comments.

And off we go...

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Chapter 1

When you save the world, the party that follows is kinda like New Years Eve.

Well, that may be a bit of an understatement. New Years Eve was to this party what tic-tac-toe is to chess, if you get the drift.

The crowds that gathered in San Francisco the night the crew landed at Starfleet Headquarters made sure the Enterprise crew received the heroes’ welcome they deserved.

The crew was swept away in a whirlwind of confetti, laser pyrotechnics and raucous laughter until it seemed the whole city of San Francisco -- and the world -- shared in their revelry.

The grand ballroom of the Starfleet compound, where celebrations of this kind of scale were held, was the epicenter of the evening. Up high above the city in a glittering tower resembling the space needle of Seattle, Starfleet HQ's crowning jewel scintillated with activity. Windows on all sides gave party goers the most envied view in the Bay Area – overlooking the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge at one end, the Berkeley hills on the other.

But over in one corner, Commander Trip Tucker sat alone, his seat close to a window, legs propped up on a ledge, his back to the party.

He sat there, sipping a drink and staring off into space. Well, not as much space as he’d stared at from his quarters on the Enterprise. This space was filled with darkness, the only light reflected off the ripples in the ocean waves below.

Everyone else was so caught up in their homecoming, they hadn’t noticed how the commander had slipped away during the innumerable toasts to the success of their mission and fallen comrades. He’d fallen back when families rushed at their loved ones among the crew, holding up his arms in a mock display of evasion, smiling ever so slightly before another look crossed his face. The look of a man who remembered having that kind of love, who had it no more. Trip sat there for awhile, lost in memories of his own family, when he felt someone approach to his left. He looked up and eyes worked their way up the slim catsuit of a familiar crewmate until he saw her face. A lovely face.

Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!
I've grown accustomed to her face.
She almost makes the day begin.
I've grown accustomed to the tune that
She whistles night and noon.
Her smiles, her frowns,
Her ups, her downs
Are second nature to me now;
Like breathing out and breathing in.
I was serenely independent and content before we met;
Surely I could always be that way again-
And yet
I've grown accustomed to her look;
Accustomed to her voice;
Accustomed to her face.
(My Fair Lady, Henry Higgins)

Where did that come from?

To Trip’s trained eyes, the face registered concern.

"Hi T’Pol. How’s the party going?”

The Vulcan sat down in a chair opposite Trip, also facing the window. Together they sat apart from the party, which roared on at full speed without two of Enterprise’s most decorated senior officers.

”The festivities seem to be enjoyable for the crew,” T’Pol answered in her standard clipped cadence.
”Although I cannot see the pleasure derived from continual squeals of excitement from humans each time they recognize a familiar face. My ears are still ringing.”

Trip smiled. He loved her sense of humor.

”Yeah, we tend to do that when we reunite, especially given how much was riding on our mission,” Trip said.
”But I hear what you’re saying, it can all be too much sometimes.” He sighed and looked out the window.

"Commander, you’re constantly socializing on board Enterprise. Why are you not with the rest of your staff? I thought you were looking forward to being back on your homeworld," said T’Pol.

Trip turned from the window and looked at her, pursing his lips for a second before he answered.

”I was happy to come home. I was happy for all of the crew. They had husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers...and sisters...,” he paused. “to come home to. I know what that feels like, to have someone who loves you waiting for you, worrying about you.”

”But I have no home, not since the Xindi attack. When they wiped out Florida, they wiped out everything that mattered to me here. My sister was my family. There’s no one else,” said Trip, as he gripped his chair and exhaled deeply. “The only things I care about were on Enterprise.” He made eye contact with her with his last words.

T’Pol swallowed before continuing her line of questioning, her composure momentarily shaken.

”I was unaware your younger sister was the last of your family,” T’Pol paused. “What will you do now?”

”I was thinking of heading back to the ship, starting on repairs, giving the rest of the crew a longer break with their families,” Trip said.

T’Pol looked away for a moment. Trip looked at her, wondering what was going through her mind. He was starting to let his mind wander again when her voice shook him out of his reverie.

”Commander? Trip?” T’Pol said. She spoke slowly, more measured than even her usual pace.

”My mother has sent for me. I am to return to Vulcan,” T’Pol said. She waited a beat before looking at him directly with her next words. “I would be honored if you would accompany me. I believe you also deserve time apart from your duties. Repairs to the ship can and will be done by maintenance crews now that we are in space dock. It is not logical for you to spend more time aboard Enterprise, especially given the leave you have been given,” T’Pol said.

Trip felt like a ton of bricks had just fallen on him. He was trying to digest what he’d just heard.

Had T’Pol just asked him to go home with her? To Vulcan? To meet her mother?

She looked outside the window, awaiting his answer.

Trip didn’t know what to do, but something about the way she talked to him...about the way she asked him.
There was no other answer.

”T’Pol, I would be honored to go with you. Thank you.”

Chapter 2

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Very nicely written, Amok2!

The inconsistencies in who/where Trip's family are during "Home" as compared to what's been hinted at in other eps will probably drive me to drink, but taking OMT at his scripted word (no one left), you have a VERY nice scene here... :)

Wonderful start. I can't wait to see how T'Pol's parents react to Trip and what he makes of her home - all that desert! Ali D :~)

Very nice indeed. I´m looking forward to chapter 2!!

nice!!

Nice start! Don't wait too ling with no 2!

i agree, this does deserve sequel! job well done:)

Oh yeah, there should totally be a sequal! Great fic, poor Trip! :(

I haven't read it yet, but I love the title! that's one of my favorite songs from My Fair Lady, one of my favorite musicals! As a matter of fact I just sang that to my hubby the other day! Ok I'll have to read it later because I have to get up real early tomorrow....I hate having a job BTW! ;) It gets in the way of fanfic.

I agree, good start. I look forward to reading the future chapters.

I was also wondering about Trip's parents and his sister/brother (since he has a nephew mentioned in an old episode which I can't remember right now). His parents weren't killed during the attack on earth? Trip is in his 30's, so they should be still alive and kicking. Then again, he might not be on speaking terms with them. I hope you explain this off in future chapters. I love the reference to the movie "My Fair Lady". I wonder if you are going to talk about Kos and T'Pol's marrige when visiting Vulcan. Very nicely written and I can't wait for chapter 2.

very nice

very nice

Great first chapter, I can't wait to see where you take this.

Great start! I'll be watching for your next post. Thanks!

Nice!

Very nice start Amok! Looking forward to your next chapter.

You're off to a great start. Good good good. Trip and T'Pol run off to Vulcan together. I wonder what they'll do there? (Inappropriate thoughts of Pon Farr running rampant in her head)

Great start! Can't wait for more.... ;-)

Ooooooooh, I like the way this story is starting out!! Can't wait for more!

I finally got to read this, great start! I look forward to more! ;)