Hope Eternal

Hope Eternal

By ginamr

Summary: Just a little ficlet following Kir’Shara.
Genre: Sap, Romance
Rating: G
Archive: If you must…
Author’s Note: It’s one of those ‘how sweet’ ficlets so don’t expect too much action. Although, if I do a sequel it might not be as clean. Also, I’d like to note that I’ve changed my penname to ginamr.

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T’Pol sat before the candle attempting to concentrate. Just as she was about to achieve the mindset required, the chime rang. She slipped her robe over her sleepwear and blew out the candle wondering who could be outside at this time of night.

“Enter,” she called. As she looked up, she saw Trip leaning against the doorway.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting anything,” he said quietly looking at the recently extinguished candle.

T’Pol shook her head. “Please. Come in,” she said offering him a chair.

Instead, he sat down on her bed and lightly tapped the spot beside him indicating for her to sit down.

“Is there something bothering you, Commander?” she asked.

Trip still didn’t meet her eyes. He simply chuckled softly.

“I still can’t convince you that it’s Trip when we’re off-duty, can I?” he queried.

T’Pol’s features softened. “I thought you no longer wished to associate with me outside of duty?” she queried, an eyebrow lifting slightly.

Again, Trip chuckled. ‘Old habits die hard,’ he thought.

At last, he looked up, his eyes meeting hers and a frown replaced what had before been a smile. “I’m…I’m sorry about your mother. She was a mighty decent woman…ya know…doin’ what she did,” Trip said.

T’Pol’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean ‘doing what she did’?” T’Pol said.

Trip frowned. “Ya mean Koss didn’ tell ya?” Trip asked. “She did wha’ she did so that ya wouldn’ have ta stay married ta Koss. From what he told me, she didn’t want her job back anyway. He said she jus’ wanted to do something that would give her a little bit of pride.”

He chuckled. “The gal wanted ta guarantee that she was remembered ‘fore her spark went out,” he said. Noticing her waiting for an explanation, he continued. “I got a communiqué from him about an hour ago sayin’ that he wanted ta dissolve the marriage. He said it was obvious that you didn’ wan’ ta be with him and since your mother had passed, he saw no reason to continue it.”

At this point, T’Pol could feel the rage building…she was furious at Koss for not speaking with her first, but she was even more incensed that he had contacted Commander Tucker and not her.

“Why did he not contact me first?” she asked, the edginess in her voice betraying her irritation.

“I don’ know. I really don’. T’Pol, are you all right?” Trip asked.

She didn’t reply. She stood quickly, knocking Trip backwards. She pounded a fist into a nearby wall and began to slide down it.

Trip hopped off the bed and strode toward her, helping her regain her composure. T’Pol wiped the tears from her face with a shaky hand.

“I apologize,” she said, having regained her control. “I have not…been myself.”

Trip looked at her with concern in his eyes. “What’s going on with you?” he asked.

“It is nothing,” T’Pol said, attempting to lead the discussion away from dangerous territory.

“It sure as hell is something! The Captain said you damn near knocked T’Pau out when she suggested that ritual,” Trip said.

“You have been speaking with the Captain?” T’Pol asked her head turning sharply toward him.

“Of course, T’Pol. We’re both concerned about you,” Trip said.

The anger settled itself inside her again, but this time there was a more overwhelming emotion. She was…hurt…that he no longer seemed to care about her the way she had come to care about him.

“You have seen for yourself. You may inform the Captain that I do not need any assistance, especially from either of you,” she replied pulling out of his arms and ambling toward the bed. The words sounded bitter even to her ears.

“T’Pol, you know I can’t let this go,” Trip said. He paused for a moment. “I care about you.” She stopped dead in her tracks. “Hell, I more than care about you. I…I’m in love with you.” She turned toward him. “I don’t know how in the hell it happened, but somewhere along the way I fell in love with you.”

T’Pol didn’t meet his eyes. “Comm…Trip. I…you are my weakness. I appear to have…developed feelings for you as well. They are difficult for me to understand, but ‘love’ seems like a logical name for them. I have come to highly desire your presence.

“When we spoke during our pursuit of the Augments, your words…troubled me. Since our visit to Vulcan together and since my marriage to Koss, I have had difficulty sleeping and meditating. I have also found my appetite to be nonexistent. The times I have been able to meditate, the images have disturbed me. I…I have not been able to adjust as well to the changes as I would normally be able to. I believe that I am in love with you Charles Tucker and I have no idea as to how to continue,” she said.

“I told your mother. She tried to convince me ta tell ya before the wedding, but I couldn’ bring myself ta do it. Things were already hard. The last thing I would have wanted was ta hurt ya even more,” Trip said. “I’m sorry, T’Pol.” He sighed. “I ain’t sorry I love ya and I ain’t sorry we…we got together that night. But I am sorry about your mom and I am sorry about all the trouble this has caused ya.”

T’Pol strode toward him and touched his cheek lightly with her fingertips. “Do not be sorry. I had spoken with Koss about terminating the marriage while he was on Enterprise just after I had returned. He agreed that if I did not wish to remain with him, I would not be forced to endure it. I…I told him that I cared for you and that I believed you cared for me. He and I decided to dissolve the marriage. It will occur in two days’ time. I wish for you to be there,” she said.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because it is my wish, ashalik,” she replied. She brushed her lips lightly against his.

“T’Pol…” he began.

“In two days’ time, ashalik. We will have our lives in two days’ time,” she whispered.

Trip didn’t say a word. He simply stood there wrapping his arms around her just wanting to hold her.

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

AWWWWWWW!!! Thats sweat!!
You should of writen this about 4 months ago and sent it to Manny.

Loved it on ff.n and I love it here. Nice job!

I'd kiss you right now if it weren't for the fact that I don't know you and then there's the whole fact that I'm a girl.... :D LOL

So instead I'll just clap for a job well done! ;)

I read this on fanfic.net. Very good! Can't wait for more!

Um you do plan to write more, right? ;)

Awwwwww, great. Please a little sequal

Fantastic stuff. Sequel! Sequel! Sequel! :D

Yep, me too! This made my heart flutter. Nicely done.

Please say their is more and more

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

That was great. Is it 'two days time' yet???

ugggh grose