Hado Venceres- Pt. 2

Hado Venceres Tradición
(Fate Versus Tradition)

By A. Rhea King

A story continuing the universe created by the author in the first season of "Enterprise."

Rating: PG, Drama, Romance
Disclaimer in Part One

PART TWO (Chapters 4-5)

********************

Chapter 4

Phlox sat back from the microscope, looking at the wall. He sat for a long time, formulating what he was going to say. He got up and walked around to the bio-bed T’Pol was sitting on.

“Am I still?” T’Pol asked.

Phlox laid a hand on her arm. “Yes. You are going to need to tell your husband about this, Sub-Commander.”

“I know.” T’Pol sat on the edge of the bio-bed, gripping the edge. She looked down. “I must find an appropriate way to do so.”

“Sub-Commander, there is no appropriate way to tell him this. Why didn’t you tell him this prior to being married?”

T’Pol looked at Doctor Phlox. “Do you recall my comment that humans are not emotionally responsible enough for interspecies relationships?”

“Clearly.”

“I had never anticipated Commander Tucker’s proposal, nor did I anticipate my parents reaction to the news. I did not foresee being married to a human male and I didn’t feel it was necessary for him to know.”

Phlox leaned against the bio-bed behind him. “I was expecting him to ask at any moment. I’m curious as to why you didn’t.”

“I didn’t think he…” T’Pol looked away.

“You didn’t think he really loved you?”

“Yes”

“I guess repressing emotions doesn’t do anything for emotion instability, does it?”

“Apparently not. I was not prepared to handle what I am feeling now.”

Phlox smiled when she looked at him. “If it’s any consolation, Sub-Commander, marriage is full of insecurities. I’m sure, if you carefully analyze the Vulcan marriages you’ve seen, you will see that even they are not so emotionally stable. Furthermore, you are married to a human. And in my professional opinion, he is one of the more emotionally responsible few aboard Enterprise, but he is also open. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him expect that of you in public, but he may expect a little more openness in private now. Your life is about to change drastically, Sub-Commander.”

“I was not prepared for marriage.”

“I don’t believe any man or woman of any species ever is, T’Pol. But as for this matter, you need to tell him.”

T’Pol didn’t reply.

“Are you afraid to tell him?”

“He may wish to nullify the marriage afterwards.”

“There are some aboard I might agree would do that to you, but he is not one of them. He loves you too much. You were all he talked about on the away mission two weeks ago, before he’d even proposed.”

T’Pol slid off the bio-bed, walking toward the doors.

“Just be sure to remind him there are alternatives, Sub-Commander. This is not the end.”
“Yes, Doctor,” T’Pol quietly replied as the doors closed behind her.

Trip walked through the quiet hall to the door at the end. He pressed the button with a grin and stepped in. He looked around the wide room, spotting T’Pol sitting on the couch.

“I think I could like this place, baby.”

T’Pol watched him walk down the steps. He leaned over, kissed her cheek and then sat down to pull his boots off.

“Where’s Amy?”

“Lieutenant Sato took her to dinner and then to the movie.”

“I thought the three of us were going to the movie tonight.”

T’Pol didn’t answer.

“Doesn’t matter. It’ll be nice to have a quiet night. Maybe you can get a nap since you haven’t slept for three days; which I don’t believe is healthy no matter what you tell me, baby. You know, I swear that engine knows when I’m not here and when to misbehave. There was so much wrong! And then I kept getting the old ball and chain jokes.” Trip looked up at T’Pol, “Good thing I don’t care, huh?”

“Yes,” T’Pol answered, looking down at the pillow she was holding.
Trip tossed his boots aside and leaned over, kissing her lips. He pulled back when she didn’t kiss him.

“Something’s’ buggin’ you. What I do?”

“You did nothing, Commander.”

Trip unzipped the front of his uniform and turned sideways, reclining against the couch back.

“The only time you call me Commander is when it’s serious.”

T’Pol didn’t speak right away. Trip reached out, taking her hand. She pulled it away, hugging the pillow in her arms.

“Baby, what is it? This isn’t like you.”

With a heavy sigh T’Pol began, “I haven’t slept for more than three days, Charles, and it is because I have been worrying about an issue I must tell you now that you are my husband. When I was in the Ministry of Security I was chasing an operative. He ran into three Klingons and to them all Vulcans are plotting against them, so they attacked both of us. One was very strong and I was having a hard time incapacitating him. He swung his knife to disembowel me and I jumped. The knife cut me deep, but lower.”

“How much lower?”

“The strike was meant to disembowel me.” T’Pol looked up at Trip. “It cut me from hip to hip, and severed my fallopian tubes. I was rushed to medical care, but the only option the doctor had was to finish the cut.”

“Your tubes are tied?”

“Crudely termed, yes,” T’Pol whispered.

Trip looked down.

“I will understand if you desire to nullify our marriage because of this.” T’Pol looked at the pillow in her hands.

Trip’s head yanked up, his eyes meeting T’Pol’s.

“Look, I know I’ve gone on about wanting kids since you met me, but just because you can’t have kids doesn’t mean I’m going to get rid of you.” Trip rested his hand on the back of her neck. “Baby, I love you. So we can’t have any of our own kids. That’s okay. There are other ways around that. When we’re ready, we’ll look into it, but I sure as hell am not going to abandon you just because you can’t have kids.”

T’Pol pushed the pillow off her lap and climbed into Trip’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Trip held her tight. He caught his breath when he felt tears soak through to his shoulder.

“Baby?” Trip whispered.

“The man I was to marry found out before I went to Earth,” T’Pol whispered. “He tried to annul the arrangement because I could not provide him children, but it was overridden. I can’t have your children, Charles.”

Trip smiled, kissing her temple. “It’s okay. I don’t love you any less.”

T’Pol’s grip tightened for a moment and then relaxed. Trip sat for several minutes before he realized she’d fallen asleep. He stood with her and carried her to their bedroom. Trip pulled the covers back and laid her down. He pulled her boots off and covered her. Trip changed his clothes and went in search of Archer.

The two sat in silence, both men staring at the stars through the A deck observatory windows.

“Wow,” Archer finally said.

“Yeah,” Trip said.

“You are upset, aren’t you?”

“I’m disappointed she can’t have my kids, but I’m not upset at her about it. What upsets me is she didn’t tell me before.”

“Maybe she didn’t expect you to propose to her or to be married so fast.”

“I guess.” Trip looked at Archer. “I just wish she had trusted me.”

“Trip, she’s a Vulcan that cried on your shoulder and climbed into your lap. If that’s not trust, what is?”

Trip sat back on the bench, resting his arms across the back. “Yeah. I guess I shouldn’t trivialize the situation.”

“Some of the my friends that have gotten married have told me that marriage is a rocky road full of blind corners and unexpected detours. Probably more for you two since you’re human and she’s Vulcan. Just be sure to look at what she gives you before you judge what she hasn’t. Having an irrational, oversensitive, emotional human in her life every day from now on is probably going to test every teaching she’s ever learned. And when you two get around to wanting children, tell me. I know some people who adopted back home. They’d be glad to help.”

“You think we’re only going to adopt human kids!”

Archer laughed. “And he makes a step down the rocky road.”

“Mm. One step for the husband. I’m starved. Have you eaten?”

“Nope.”

“Let’s grab a bite and go to the movie. I can take Amy off Hoshi’s hands.”

The two stood and walked out of the room.

“She hadn’t slept for three days?” Archer asked.

“Nope.”

“Be sure to take her something to eat.”

“I will, Cap’n.”

Archer smiled. “How did I ever get myself into this mess?”

The two stopped at the lift.

“I don’t know, Jon, but I’m glad you’re here. Thanks.” Trip held his hand out to Archer.

Archer shook his hand. “Sometimes being your best friend is as bad as being married to you.” The lift door opened. “Get on the lift and don’t even make a come back.”

Trip laughed, getting on.

Three Weeks Later

The companel on Archer’s desk beeped and he tapped it.

“Archer.”

“Captain, Admiral Forrest is requesting to speak to you,” Hoshi said over the companel.

“Put him through.”

Archer turned to his monitor and tapped the control. Admiral Forrest appeared and Archer could tell he was upset about something.

“Admiral.”

“Good morning, Jon. How are things going?”

“Smooth sailing so far. We just docked at Q’Nor and are getting some much needed repairs done.”

“That barter was a stroke of luck. How are your newlyweds doing?”

Archer wanted to come right out and ask Forrest what he’d contacted him for, but decided he’d let Forrest get to it in his time. “They’re doing well, sir. They’re happy.”

“That’s good to hear.” Forrest looked down. “I remember my first few weeks of marriage. Amanda burnt every meal for two weeks. I thought I’d mistaken her for someone else because she’d been an excellent cook before we married. I learned to be humble; she got her cooking skills back. It worked out.”

Archer smiled. “I guess I have a lot to look forward, sir.”

Forrest nodded, looking at Archer. “Yes. A lot. Including meeting the in-laws.”

Archer’s smile wilted. “Trip or T’Pol’s parents, sir?”

“Sub-Commander T’Pol’s. They will be docking tonight and expect to meet with their daughter in the morning.”

“I have no means of contacting them, sir. They went planet side for a recreation day and aren’t going get back until late tonight.”

“Better find a way, Captain, because you’ll have three Vulcan’s standing outside your quarters at oh-seven-hundred.”

“I’ll…do what I can.”

“Jon,” Admiral Forrest leaned forward, “I want you to pass on a piece of advice to that new husband. This is experience talking. I know what a hothead Charles ca be, Jon, but you remind that Chief Engineer of yours that, Vulcan or not, his wife is their little girl. Mine was when I married her off and she still is two grandchildren later. Remind him that honey changes minds better than vinegar.”

Archer smiled, nodding. “I’ll talk to him. Best friend to best friend.”

“I hope things go well.” End transmission appeared on the screen.

Archer’s smile drooped into a scowl. “Computer.” The computer beeped. “Personal log. Begin. Reminder to self: never, ever, ever, get married. End log.” Archer waited for the computer to beep and then tapped the companel. “Hoshi.”

“Yes, Captain?”

“Try to locate Trip or T’Pol. Tell them it’s urgent.”

“Sir, they went on a hike with several other crewmen. They’re not scheduled to return until twenty-two hundred hours and no one took a communicator.”

“See what you can do, Hoshi.”

“Is there a problem?”

“A big one. Find them. Archer out.”

Archer tapped the companel again and turned back to his work. He had to keep his mind off of Trip and T’Pol’s new marital woes.

Trip trotted down the stairs to a chair. He fell into it and hastily pulled his boots on. T’Pol came out of the bedroom, walking down the stairs. She had a PADD in her hand and was reviewing her daily schedule. Amy raced past her, down the stairs and sat down on Trip’s lap. She held up a barrette and hairbrush. Trip took both and started brushing her hair to pull it back in the barrette.

“Please?” Amy asked.

“How’s the Amster this morning?” Trip asked her.

“Good. How’s the Tripster?”

“Great.”

Amy giggled.

“Is everything ready, T’Pol?” Trip asked.

“Yes.” T’Pol stopped beside his chair, waiting for him to finish Amy’s hair.

Trip sat the brush on the arm of the chair and kissed Amy’s cheek as he stood up. She slid off onto the floor. Trip grabbed T’Pol’s hand and lifted their joined hands over Amy’s head. She sat down on the edge of the chair, watching the two walk into a curtained area with long, linen curtains hanging from the ceiling to the floor. It had been put up recently to isolate T’Pol’s meditation pillow and table. Amy smiled, watching the two kneel down beside the table.

Trip glanced at the table as he knelt down. A small black pot sat on a small hot plate. There were two cups and a small wooden scoop. Set out in front of the cups were three bowls with powder in them. T’Pol retrieved a lighter and lit the large candle in the center of the table, turning to Trip.

Their doorbell beeped.

Trip looked up, waiting. It beeped again.

“I’ll get it,” Amy said.

“Thank you, honey. Tell ‘em we’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

Trip turned to T’Pol, smiling.

“Are you certain you wish to continue?” T’Pol asked him.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

T’Pol glanced out into the living area, lowering her voice, “There is more than one person.”

Trip leaned toward her. “Positive. Proceed, baby.”

T’Pol turned at the waist and picked up a cup. With the scoop she added one scoop of each powder. She poured water into the cup and with the scoop mixed the powders. T’Pol laid the scoop down and held the cup before Trip’s lips. Trip laid his hands on hers, keeping his eyes on hers while he drank it. T’Pol sat the cup down. Trip followed the same procedure and smiled when T’Pol met his gaze. He sat the empty cup down and faced her again. Trip reached out, laying his hand on her chest. T’Pol covered his hand and laid her opposite hand on his chest. Trip covered her hand with his free hand. The two bowed their heads for a moment and then looked at each other. T’Pol started to pull her hand away. Trip reached out both hands, cupped her jaw in his hands and pulled her into a kiss. He smiled when he pulled away and saw a faint smile flutter across her lips.

“That is not part of the ritual,” T’Pol informed him.

“A Vulcan ritual with human flair,” Trip explained. “My wife isn’t leaving without a kiss for a good day.” Trip stood, holding his hand out to T’Pol.

She took his hand and used his support to get to her feet. Trip laced his fingers around hers, turning to leave the meditation area. The two stepped through the curtains and froze.

Archer and Hoshi stood beside three Vulcans. A male and female Vulcan with slightly graying hair, and a younger male Vulcan that looked a lot like T’Pol. Amy stood between them and Trip and T’Pol in a defensive stance. She ran over to T’Pol, taking her hand.

“Cap’n?” Trip asked.

“Father. Mother. Brother,” T’Pol said, pulling her hand free from Amy and walking up to the three Vulcans.

Trip looked at her, the Vulcans and Archer. Archer shook his head, signaling Trip to stay silent.

“Daughter,” T’Pol’s father said, “We have come to perform the ar’tef.”

T’Pol looked at each of them. “Father, that is not customary.”

“It is for any married couple.”

T’Pol looked down.

Trip walked up. Archer shot him a warning look.

“Honey, what’s the ar’tef?”

“It is a ritual that is performed for newlyweds by the wife’s parents,” T’Pol’s mother answered, “It help to establish the relationship between two newlyweds.”

“We have a well established relationship, thank you very much.”

“The ritual is also not performed on Vulcan’s that have shamed the family and have been estranged,” T’Pol added.

Trip looked at her and then her parents. “If it’s not performed on Vulcan’s who have shamed their families and been estranged, why do you three want to perform it? You told us you never wanted to see T’Pol again unless she annulled our marriage, remember?”

“Trip,” Archer said.

“I have a right to know what the hell is going on, Captain! They’re the ones that didn’t want anything to do with us. Not the other way around.”

“We have reversed our decision,” T’Pol’s father said. “We never filed the documents to make our decision official. T’Pol is still a part of our family, and it is a family tradition.”

“So you come waltzing in here and expect—”

“Husband.” T’Pol looked at Trip.

Trip looked at her. “But, they—”

“Husband.”

Trip looked hurt and angry. He looked at the Vulcans and then T’Pol and back.

“I gotta get to work anyway. Just…tell me what you need me to do, T’Pol.”

“I will.”

Trip reached out, laying his hand on T’Pol’s back. He leaned down to her kiss her lips, but at the last minute rested his forehead against hers. He reached up a half fist and gently brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek.

“Da ishil,” T’Pol said.

“Da ishil, wife,” Trip repeated.

Amy grabbed T’Pol’s hand, tugging on it. T’Pol crouched down and accepted Amy’s hug and kiss on the cheek.

“You will do well on your exams today, Amy.”

Amy smiled, nodding. Trip took Amy’s hand and led her out, but he didn’t hide his huff.

T’Pol looked at Archer as she stood again. “We will need to discuss arrangements.”

“Sure.”

“No, Captain, my parents, brother and I will need to discuss arrangements.”

“Oh. Sorry. Will you be staying on Enterprise during this…” Archer looked at T’Pol.

“Ar’tef.”

“Ar’tef?” Archer asked her parents.

“We will,” her father answered.

“I’ll make arrangements to—”

“They will stay in our quarters, Captain,” T’Pol said.

Archer looked at T’Pol with open surprise. She returned his gaze with a steady one, devoid of any hint of what she was feeling.

“Okay. Should I have beds sent?”

“Three singles.”

“Singles?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Alright. Two in the spare and one in Amy’s room?”

“Yes.”

Archer turned to her parents. “It was nice to meet the three of you.”
Archer walked away without waiting for a reply that didn’t come. Hoshi followed him and Archer waited until they were on the lift to talk.

“What is ar’tef?”

“The ritual of separation.”

“What happens during it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Go on to the bridge without me, Hoshi. I need to corner Trip and talk to him.”

“You may want to have Doctor Phlox give him a light sedative, sir. He looked pretty angry.”

“And the scary thing is, Hoshi, that was just the tip of his anger. I know he’s bottling it up because she asked him to.”

Hoshi shrugged, looking at Archer, “That’s a plus.”

Archer shot her a ridiculous look. “A plus?”

Hoshi smiled. “He respects her enough to hide how angry he really is for her.”

Archer smiled, but said nothing. The lift stopped and he walked off.

“Trip…you have to.”

Archer watched Trip pace the empty loading bay from his seat on the staircase.

“Why? Why do I have to? I mean…they were the ones that ostracized her! They threatened to have her confined if she returned to Vulcan. They didn’t want anything to do with her, or me, or us.”

“And neither did your parents when they found out, if I recall. But wouldn’t you ask her to be calm and try to keep the waves down if the roles were reversed?”

“It’s not the same!”

“Isn’t it?”

“No. I mean…I got a letter from my dad yesterday, before we left for the planet, and he and mom want us to send them a picture of us. He told me they’re still upset, but they aren’t angry any more. They calmed down. But they aren’t asking us to perform some stupid ritual!”

“If the roles were reversed, Trip.”

“BUT THEY AREN’T!”

“You’re right. You’re the hotheaded one. She’s the down to earth, logical one. No shut up and put your mind in T’Pol’s place, Trip.”

Trip stopped, looking at Archer. He walked over and sat down next to Archer, heaving a sigh.

“She’s not like ‘em, Jon. T’Pol’s not like all the other Vulcans. She has emotions. She shows them when it’s only her and me. She loves me and she shows it when the door is shut. Her parents don’t know that, Jon. They don’t understand what she’s really like. They don’t know her.”

Archer smiled, looking at Trip. “Even humans have that problem, Trip. It’s not just T’Pol. Look at Malcolm, for example. His parents, even now, know nothing about him. But we do. You do. Vardee does. This isn’t any different, Trip. The only difference is she’s a different race with alien customs and traditions. If you love T’Pol—really, really love her—then you’ve gotta bend some. Try to keep this smooth. I can imagine how hard this is but they are her family and she’s their one and only little girl. One day she, or you, may need them. This is the only way to know for sure they’ll be there, okay?”

Trip nodded.

“Meanwhile…you’ve been kicked out of your quarters for today and tomorrow I was informed on my way have.”

“Why?”

“Part of the tradition. So, you can have my quarters for now.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Okay. You can sleep on Malcolm and Vardee’s couch.”

Trip laughed. “On second thought.”

“That’s what I thought. Get back to work and try to keep the boat steady, okay?”

Trip frowned. “I’ll promise to try, Jon.”

Archer left the loading bay.

Chapter 5

Archer led Trip into the Captain’s mess and motioned to a chair to his left between his chair and T’Pol’s mother. T’Pol was sitting on the right beside her brother. Trip flashed T’Pol a smile as he sat down.

“Hi,” Trip said to her.

“Hello.”

Trip unfolded his napkin in his lap and was silent as the steward served them their dishes.

“We are moving to the next phase of the fet’ah. You will both answer questions truthfully,” T’Pol’s father announced.

Trip had stabbed a bite of his salad and lifted it half way to his mouth before her father spoke. He slowly looked up at the man and then T’Pol. She was looking at her hands. Trip sat his fork down.

“I have not introduced you to my family, husband,” T’Pol said, looking at Trip. “This is my father Tuir, my mother T’Kel, and my youngest brother Tol.”

Trip greeted the three with a small smile. “Howdy.”

“Lieutenant-Commander Tucker—” Tuir began.

“It’s Trip, or Charles, sir. You don’t need to use my rank,” Trip corrected him. “You’re family so you can use my name.”

“Charles, father,” T’Pol said.

“Very well. Charles, T’Pol has told us that the two of you have taken in an orphan.”

“That’s Amy.”

“She is half Suliban and half human, correct?”

“Yeah.”

“In what manner are you planning on raising the child? As a human, Suliban or Vulcan?”

“We plan on raising her as we see fit, if we never find her brother.”

“And if you do find her brother, you would willingly give up the child?”

Trip sat his fork down, looking at the table.

“Yes,” T’Pol answered.

“Maybe,” Trip answered at the same time.

“You two have not discussed this matter?”

“There hasn’t been any reason to discuss it. Amy was abandon with us and took a shine to T’Pol here.”

“I have seen you interact with the child. You cannot tell me you don’t assume responsibility for her.”

“I’m not. I’m saying that we, T’Pol and I, have never discussed how to raise her. We don’t know how long she’ll be with us, but she can’t run wild around the ship. I’m sure any Vulcan in our position wouldn’t want a child running loose on their ship without someone to watch after the kid.”

“On a Vulcan vessel, they would not have taken on the responsibility of another race or put themselves in a position where they would feel obligated to. I have read many accounts where Enterprise and her crew have.”

Trip stuffed a bite of salad in his mouth to keep from snarling back a response. There was a brief silence and then Tuir continued.

“My daughter told us you had not planned on asking her to marry her. Is that so?”

“No. That isn’t so.” Trip looked at Tuir.

Tuir looked at T’Pol and then Trip. “Explain.”

“I was going to ask her to marry me, I hadn’t decided on when. I found out she found the ring and asked her to marry me that night.”

“Why is that?”

“It was as good a time as any.”

“And you still wish to marry her knowing she’s a barren and an inferior female?”

Trip looked back down at his plate, his jaw tensing.

Archer looked up at Tuir and then at Trip. He slowly sat his fork down, careful not to make a sound doing it, and waited for an explosion he sure was building in Trip. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that T’Pol was also watching Trip. Trip suddenly stabbed a bite of lettuce and held it up for Tuir to see.

“I see you’ve eaten your salad,” Trip said.

Tuir glanced at his plate. “Has she told you she is barren?”

“Answer my question first, Mister…you.”

“Yes. I have.”

“Ya like it?”

“It was palatable.”

“But you’d rather have something else?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“This is not a customary Vulcan meal. It doesn’t settle well with my digestive system.”

“She’s not a customary Vulcan, but I wouldn’t exchange her for the universe, Tuir, because I love her. Now I don’t know how any of these questions have a damned thing to do with that, but let me make something real clear to you, your wife and your son. I love your daughter. I would put my life before hers. She can be annoying and she has her faults, but I’m not picnic to live with either. Now as for this barren bullshit, that’s all it is. So what. She can’t have kids. Unlike Vulcans and even some humans, I don’t see a woman as damaged goods because of that. There are other ways to have children and when she and I come to that point in our lives, she and I will decide how we want to go about it. Not you. Not your wife. Not her grandparents or uncles or aunts or the God damned Vulcan High Command. She and I. You aren’t invited to that discussion. And did you get all that down, shorty?” Trip looked at T’Pol’s brother.

Everyone looked at him. He had a PADD in his hand and looked up from it.

“I was reviewing my questions,” Tol said.

“Keep up the good work, squirt.” Trip popped the bite of salad in his mouth and turned his attention back to his meal.

Archer looked at T’Pol. She was looking at her plate, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Archer looked down.

“You appear uncomfortable being around your wife’s family, Charles,” T’Kel said.

“Naw. I’m just frustrated, ma’am. I haven’t gotten to be with my wife for three days and I miss ‘er.”

T’Kel lifted her chin. “How can you miss your wife when you see her every day?”

“I miss her company. I miss her touch. I miss watching her sleep. I miss feeling her next to me when I wake up in the morning. I miss how she gives me this look when she’s irritated with me. I miss my wife!”

“What look are you referring to, Charles?” T’Pol asked.

“You know. That look you give me.”

“I do not know which look you’re referring to.”

“You kind of squint and your jaw tenses and your breathing gets a little shallow and you tense up in your shoulders. Then you go about explaining, in great detail, telling me what I did to irritate you.”

“I was unaware I had any external indications when I was irritated with you.”

Trip looked at her, smiling. “You have a lot of ‘external indications’ that I bet you know nothing about.”

“So you’re saying my daughter has little control of her emotions?” Tuir asked.

“No. I’ve just been close to her for so long that I can read her without her saying a word. After spending so much time with her, I’ve discovered a lot of Vulcans have emotions, but they are so subtle most humans don’t see them. You, for instance, have gotten tighter in the face the more we’ve talked. Just like your daughter does when she’s mad about something. She doesn’t sound different or act any different, but I know that it means she’s mad. Now I know who she gets it from.”

“I wasn’t aware you were so sensitive to my emotions,” T’Pol commented.

“T’Pol, you are not to speak during this,” Tuir said.

“And why isn’t she?”

“That is not tradition.”

“So now we’re a traditional couple?”

“No,” Tuir asked, his voice sounding slightly flat, “Which is why I would advise you to nullify this union.”

Everyone looked at him.

“I have already told you, father, I am not nullifying my marriage to Charles,” T’Pol said.

“This union is unsuitable.”

“For who? You or her?” Trip asked.

“She does not understand you and you do not understand her. You have indicated you had no intention of asking her to marry you, you have avoided telling me your opinion on her inability to have children and now you claim she shows emotions she knows nothing about. She has indicated that living with you is uncomfortable, that you question your own Captain regularly, and that you often times approach problems without thinking them through. You are an unsuitable husband for my only daughter.”

Trip looked at T’Pol. She was staring at her father. T’Pol stood suddenly, dropping her napkin on the table.

“Captain,” T’Pol looked at Archer, “I request permission to be dismissed.”

Archer hesitated, feeling Tuir’s eyes on him. “Granted.”

T’Pol walked around the table to the door.

“You have never been good at handling family confrontations, T’Pol,” Tuir scolded. “This is only one more reason to nullify your marriage to this human.”

T’Pol stopped at the door, her hand over the controls.

“No, father, I have never been successful at handling my Vulcan family confrontations.” T’Pol looked at him. Trip turned in his chair, looking up at T’Pol. “I have successfully handled confrontations with my family by marriage, my husband, my crew and with Captain Archer. I now share my husband’s belief that we are not in need of the fet’ah ritual and I will not annul the marriage for you, father. Perhaps one day you can forgive my delinquency. Excuse me.” T’Pol left the room.

Trip looked at Archer. Archer waved him off. Trip jumped up and ran after T’Pol. Archer returned to eating.

“Isn’t it against Starfleet policy for officers to become involved, Captain Archer?” Tuir asked.

“Would be. If she was in Starfleet, Tuir.” Archer looked up at him. “Good soup?”

Tuir looked away without answering.

T’Pol heard someone walk up behind her and turned. She pulled her hands behind her, watching her mother look around the astrometric lab.

“You have much responsibility aboard this vessel.”

“Indeed, mother.”

“Your father never thought you’d make commanding rank.”

“I have done so successfully.”

“You have.”

“The three of you depart tonight, am I correct?”

“Yes.” T’Kel turned to T’Pol. “May we speak in private, daughter?”

T’Pol turned and led her out of the room and down the hall. They stepped onto a lift and T’Pol tapped the controls. The doors opened on deck A and T’Pol led her to the observation room. T’Pol turned to face her.

“Your father may never accept your union, T’Pol. You must know that.”

“I do know this.”

“I feel differently, however. I have watched you and your husband and you have acquired a relation with him that I have rarely seen. He shows a great deal of affection toward you and you display the same toward him. To be frank, daughter, I felt he was an acceptable mate when he told your father that his affection for ywasn’t lessened because of your inability to have children. No Vulcan man would have said that, daughter.”

“I know. I was relieved when I too learned the matter didn’t sway his decision to have me as his wife.”

T’Kel walked up to T’Pol, taking T’Pol’s hands in her own. “But do you know where I truly found admiration and a motherly affection for him, daughter?”

“Where?”

“Every morning you and he perform the kar’tiq, and every morning that I’ve watched you two perform it, he always ends it with a kiss on your forehead. When you close your eyes I can tell that you feel as one with him. I would never tell you to disobey your father’s wishes without sound reason. Rest assured, daughter, you have a sound reason to disobey his wishes. Do not break your union with this human. Remain with him. Your life will be incomplete if you leave him.”

T’Pol looked down when T’Kel brushed her finger over the ruby wedding ring on T’Pol’s finger.

“Fire ruby red was the color you chose for everything as a child.”

T’Pol looked up at her mother’s face. “I did?”

“Yes. You did. I must go. Your father awaits and I’d best not keep him waiting. Is it true that human mothers hug their children?”

“Yes, as do many mothers of alien cultures.”

T’Kel gently pulled T’Pol into her arms and hugged her. T’Pol didn’t pull away or tense. She wrapped her arms around her mother and hugged her back. T’Kel was smiling when she pulled away.

“Vulcan’s only smile on very special occasions, T’Pol. Remember this when you hold a child in your arms. Even if you’ve adopted it, it will be yours and his.”

“I will, mother.

T’Kel turned and left, her smile vanishing before she left the room.

T’Pol didn’t look up when Trip climbed into bed with her. She continued reading her book.

“You and your books,” Trip teased, pulling the book from her hand.

“I was reading, Charles.”

“Yeah, and now your not.”

Trip marked her place with the ribbon lying on T’Pol’s stomach and sat it on the bed stand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He reached up toward the control panel on the headboard to turn off the lights.

“Wait,” T’Pol said.

Charles looked at her face. T’Pol turned on her side. She reached up and laid her hand on his face.

“Are you angry with me?”

“For what?”

“For telling my parents that living with you is uncomfortable.”

“T’Pol, sweetheart, you’ve been telling me I’m uncomfortable to live with since we shipped out from port eight years ago, looooong before we were dating or married. And I have to admit, I like to throw wet towels on the floor, toss my boots when I get home…what’s not to be uncomfortable with when you’re a neat freak like you, baby?”

“Neat freak?”

Trip kissed her nose. “And I love every ounce of your neat freakiness.” Trip reached up and tapped the light control, turning them off.

“Neat freakiness?” T’Pol questioned.

Trip chuckled, pulling her close. “I love you, baby. Annoying father and all.”

The room was silent for several moments. T’Pol sat up.

“What do you mean when you call me a neat freak?”

Trip laughed. He grabbed her waist and pushed her back down on the bed, using his body to keep her pinned down. “Means I love you. Go to sleep.”

T’Pol relaxed under him, letting him cuddle up to her side and fall asleep with his head on her chest. In the darkness she was smiling, not caring if she was allowing her joy to surface.

*****************

Return to Part One

Back to Fan Fiction Main Menu

Have a comment to make about this story? Do so in the Trip Fan Fiction forum at the HoTBBS!

Seven people have made comments

I really like this story. Thank you for sharing.

I really liked this story, and just loved how Trip spoke to T'Pol's stuffy father putting him straight on a few things. And T'Pol's mother was great at the end. Yep, she has earned a slice of pecan pie! Ali D :~)

i welled up a little bit at the end of that. i had a great day today, and this just capped it off. thanks heaps.

This is such a dear story!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww! I obviously read this out of order, Amy confused the heck out of me. Great story!

wow omg awsome cool that had to be the most gripling story i've seen here!!!!!
how did you come up with that?? it was perfact you need to make a sequil !!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!

who is Amy?