If you are seeing this paragraph, the site is not displaying correctly. You can see the content, but your current browser does not support CSS which is necessary to view our site properly. For the best visual experience, you will need to upgrade your browser to Netscape 6.0 or higher, MSIE 5.5 or higher, or Opera 3.6 or higher. If, however, you don't wish to upgrade your browser, scroll down and read the content - everything is still visible, it just doesn't look as pretty.

The Morning After- Epilogue

Author - Destiny Girl
Fan Fiction Main Page | Stories sorted by title, author, genre, and rating

The Morning After

by DestinyGirl

Rating: R

Email: anticipatedestiny@yahoo.com

Genre: Romance, Humor

Codes: T/T, A/H, M/Amanda

Summary: Something the crew picked up along their travels has an unanticipated effect, leading to Trip/T’Pol goodness.

Spoilers: Zero Hour with a twist and anything before that.

Disclaimer: Star Trek: Enterprise is owned by Paramount, not me. No infringement intended, no profit made.

Distribution: Anywhere, just let me know.

Feedback: Of course I want feedback! Leave your comments below.


Epilogue

“Well, if that isn’t the cutest sight I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is.”

“She is quite pleasing.”

Trip smiled softly into the face of his newborn daughter.

“And would you look at that.” One strong, callused finger reached out to brush the bridge of her tiny nose. “An exact replica of her mama’s.”

His blue-eyed gaze turned up to meet T’Pol’s brown one, and his finger traced the bridge of her identical nose.

“Her eye pigmentation is exactly like yours,” T’Pol pointed out.

Nodding, he sighed. “I hope they stay that way.

She arched an eyebrow. “Why would they not?”

Trip’s arm around her squeezed gently, his fingers caressing her hip. “Caucasian human babies are often born with blue eyes, but sometimes they change into a different color before they’re a year or two old. She could have brown eyes like you, honey.”

T’Pol frowned. “I would be pleased if they remained as they are. They remind me of you.”

“Thanks, Darlin’,” Trip said, reaching over to kiss her softly. “But there’s no doubt that she’s yours. Look at those ears.”

If Vulcans rolled their eyes, T’Pol would’ve done so on the spot. As it were, she put on her trademark irritated non-expression and stared him down. “Vulcan ears are not that remarkable, husband.”

His eyes turned sultry, and he leaned in so that his warm breath brushed the shell of her ear.

“On the contrary. I think they’re quite remarkable.” One swipe of his warm tongue against the point of her ear and she melted, her eyes closing as the pleasure shot through her.

And just like that, he moved away again. T’Pol forced down a moue of protest, her discipline giving her the strength to resist even though there was no logical reason for it, save her spiraling emotions. He was her mate.

Said mate had already turned his attention back to their daughter. He chuckled. “It’s damn certain she’s Vulcan, honey.” His finger traced the tiny, delicate point of his daughter’s ear. She squirmed in her sleep.

T’Pol looked up at him, a softness in her eyes. “That gesture is quite caring between a Vulcan father and child. A teasing one, perhaps. Vulcan ears are sensitive, and young children are more so.”

She rarely offered such insight into Vulcan culture, so Trip listened intently. “Like being ticklish?”

“Something like that.”

He grinned. “Somehow the idea of ticklish and Vulcan don’t really seem to fit together. What with the no laughing policy and all.”

“By adulthood, we train ourselves to control the urge to laugh.”

He smirked. “So y’all do laugh occasionally.”

An arched eyebrow was his only answer.

Nodding, he chuckled. “Thought so.”

His eyes turned serious. What if his touch bothered his daughter as she grew older? Somehow he didn’t think he’d be able to handle it if he couldn’t bear hug his baby girl, even if she was 30 years old.

Seeming to read his mind, T’Pol reached one hand up from the baby and stroked his face. “Just because we do not show outward pleasure at such touches does not mean we don’t enjoy them. You should not worry that your daughter will be uncomfortable by such a touch when she is an adult. You are her father, and will always be.”

He thought of Lorian’s news of his untimely death. That was one aspect of his future he didn’t plan to repeat. Trip Tucker would be there for his child. He’d see her fall in love. He’d see her get married. He’d see her have babies. He’d see her happy, or content as the case may be.

Turning his mind back to simpler things, he stroked the top of his daughter’s small head. “She’s the spittin’ image of you, darlin’. More beautiful than all the stars put together.”

T’Pol regarded him seriously, her arms firmly around their child. “You know such comments are unnecessary, Trip.”

He just grinned into her eyes and winked at her. She only made comments like that when she was warmed by his compliments and felt a need to tamp down her emotions. “I know,” he agreed. “But you know I still like saying them. And you like hearing them.”

T’Pol looked at him for a moment longer, then turned her eyes back their sleeping child. Long, delicate fingers poked out from the blanket, flexing and curling as she slept peacefully. The fingernails were impossibly small, and despite the illogical nature of it, T’Pol stared in wonder at the beauty of her first child.

She truly was a miracle.

It was Trip’s turn for mind reading. “Four years ago at the beginning of our mission, I never would’ve pictured us in this place, T’Pol. Sayin’ hello to our daughter.”

“Four years, one week, and three days,” she corrected absently. “I, too, would never have expected this outcome. Our relationship defies logic.”

Trip snorted. “You can say that again.”

“Our relationship defies logic.”

He blinked in startled surprise, staring at her open-mouthed. “Did you just make a joke?”

She frowned at him. “I am not without humor, Trip. You know that.”

“Yeah, I do,” he said, a grin slowly inching across his face. “But you sure do know how to shock me, honey.”

After a moment of silence, Trip spoke. “Hoshi and baby Jon seem to be doing well.”

T’Pol nodded. “She came to see me before my labor commenced. She said it was difficult, but not unbearable, and that she envied my control.”

Trip grinned. “Some control. You can scream with the best of ‘em.”

She straightened up, affronted. “It was a technique to release physical pain through vocal expression. Nothing more.”

Laughing, he shook his head. “Call it what you want, babe.” He grew quiet for a moment, then asked, “Did you ever think they’d make it work?”

“The Captain and Ensign Sato?”

“Yeah.”

“No, I didn’t think they could make a relationship work, but they have maintained a professional relationship that works well despite their personal connection. I am still surprised that Starfleet agreed to adjust ship’s protocols to allow families onboard.”

Frowning, Trip looked down at his daughter. “They made for damn sure we knew it was an exception, not a new policy. They just knew they’d be losing half the crew if they decided otherwise.”

They fell silent, Trip finally speaking again after a few moments. “Do you think we would’ve gotten here eventually, T’Pol? If we’d never seen that planet—” he stopped abruptly.

Her expression was serious. “I do not know, Trip. I know now how much I need you, how important you are to the balance in my life, yet before we even encountered Yendi IV, I resisted the idea of coming to you for help with the after-effects of my addiction. I even let my wariness keep me from seeking you out when I needed it most. It is quite possible that I would have decided to sever all contact with you, thinking it the most effective road to my full recovery, both from the addiction and the pregnancy.”

His grip on her tightened as if she might run away any instant. He shivered as he remembered how close he’d come to losing her when she’d refused to come to him during her pregnancy. “Well then, thank God for fate’s twisted sense of humor, not to mention Phlox’s interference. I wouldn’t give you up for the world, darlin’.”

“I value your presence as well, Trip.”

They shared a charged stare, then turned eyes back to their daughter who was showing signs of waking up. Both were half there, though, as their minds drifted back to the bizarre events that brought them to this point.

The baby’s cry brought them both out of the past and into their future.

Looking up at him, T’Pol reached her hand up and rested it on the side of his face, the contact intensifying their bond so that they could sense each other’s thoughts. Trip’s eyes grew dark as the depth of her desire for him swept through his mind like a forest fire. She was so eloquent, even without words. Not once had she said the words, ‘I love you,’ and Trip knew she probably never would. But he also knew that there would never be any doubt in his mind that his wife would be lost without him.

Hunger made their daughter’s cries intensify, and Trip smiled down at her, running his thumb across her chin. “Looks like she needs her mama right now. I’ve got to get back to Engineering. The phase coils have been actin’ up.”

“I will see you at dinner?” she asked, her eyes serene as she adjusted her clothing and began to feed the baby.

“Yeah,” he said, his eyes softening. “See you there.”

He kissed her briefly, striding out of the room seconds later.

T’Pol closed her eyes as she felt contentment wash over her, her daughter’s feeding creating the only sounds in the otherwise silent room. Her thoughts followed her husband out the door, maintaining their connection only long enough to send him one final message.

“Be safe, beloved.”

End.

a/n: Okay, I know the ending was a little syrupy, but I couldn’t help myself. :D Thank you to everyone who’s stuck with this story and given fabulous feedback. It was my first long ENT story and it’s only whetted my appetite for more. Season 4 should be great fodder for new stories!


Return to Chapter 9

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!


A whole mess of folks have made comments

Bravo!! Not too fluffy or sugary at all. The perfect ending to a wonderful fic. The last 3 chapters took me through a range of emotions from sadness and heartbreak for Trip to mushy happiness at their delight and love for their daughter.

Great fic. You did a terrific job!

Lovely story, I am happy you finished it, and so well. Thanks

Awesome! Warm fuzzies all over!

This is beautiful! I absolutely loved it! Kudos to you for such a lovely story. I'd hug you and give you chocolate if I could! Hope to read more of your stuff in season 4!

Great story destiny girl. Brilliant! The ending had me grinning. And of course I couldn't help but give a "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" at the end. That kid is one lucky girl!

Wow! I'm sitting at my computer at 12:45AM EST and switch to the Trip and T'Pol site, several hours after watching the 1st episode of the 4th season (It was cancelled in NYC yesterday for BASEBALL!)
Thanks for finishing it; an epilogue even! I know how busy your life must be, but thanks! Too bad about Hoshi and Archer, but I guess it's realistic, in the light of their professional life, the huge gap in rank and all; but this is the Trip and T'Pol site, not te Hoshi and Archer. Also, nice explanation on what and why they were affected. Nice going all around. I look foward to your future stories.

The saccharine quotient was just fine with me! I absolutely loved this from start to finish -- thank you! I'll be watching for your next story.

Scarletwitch:

Something you said made me feel the need to clarify: Archer and Hoshi are supposed to be together at the end, just not officially yet. I guess I didn't make it clear enough in the epilogue. :)

I'm glad you all have liked it.

DestinyGirl:

You're absolutely right! I reread the text and realized that 12:45AM is not the time to read and comment. I apologize.
Thanks!

Fantastic, again feels the warm fuzziness feeling all over, thanks for an excellent story, really hope you do more....................Tony

That was lovely! So happy and relieved that T'Pol came to her senses and didn't deny her love for Trip. You really wrapped this up beautifully, thank you so much. Ali D :~)

Just lovely. I really enjoyed this story. Thanks for posting.

Wonderful story, you can feel the warmth, great.

Awwwwwwwwwww! I loved it! Thanks for the great story, and please, keep them coming! :)

OMG really good end. u have talent write more.

Perfect end to a perfect story!!

Wonderful. What did they name the girl? I couldn't find it.

HopefulNebula:

She's no-name girl. I couldn't think of a good name, so I didn't give her one. Unsatisfying, I know, but I thought no name was better than a weird one. :)

DG

Nice finish to your story. I enjoyed reading it. Keep up the good work.

I don't think the saccharine quotient was too high at all! Really nice finish to your story. I like the way you describe their mental/emotional connection. Eloquent.

Not too sweet, It was just right. What a graet ending to an equally great story. Loved it. Thanks for sharing!!

Thank you for finishing up this wonderful story so well. Sweet, sappy endings are the best kind when it comes to Trip and T'pol!

I loved this from beginning to end. You did a great job with these characters.

Beautiful. Absolutly beautiful. There are too many stories that end with a miscarriage and a break up i loved this one

The only thing I have to say is that this was a beautiful piece of writing. Bravo. Encore

Beautifully written and a neat look into all their lives.... Would have liked to see Malcolm as a dad, that would have been hellarious....Even so, this was a wonderful story...Good work....T

So sorry I missed this the first time round, but I have to say I loved it! Nicely written and not too saccharine at all. I concur with TLR, would have loved to see Malcolm become a dad and see how he coped with it. Never imagined him with Amanada, but didn't mind that couple at all. THanks!