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Court and Spark - Chapter 6

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

Court and Spark

by Ragua

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers in Chapter 1.

A/N: Once again, I apologize for taking so long to get this chapter out. I wasn’t lying around on my couch eating bonbons! I’ve been incredibly busy writing to the various boneheads responsible for making crap decisions about Enterprise.

A/N: Check out the Vulcan Language Institute if you want a translation of any of the Vulcan words. (Although I did make one up.)

A/N: A certain character makes a special guest appearance, just for Myst!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 6

A breeze lifted the branches of the trees surrounding the house, momentarily obscuring the full moon. Then the wind stilled, and the luminous orb again appeared on the horizon. T’Pol inhaled deeply, savouring the musky scent of the local flora.

She and Trip had made it their habit to relax in the porch swing before retiring for the night. It was one of the few places and times when they could be alone, without fear of interruption. T’Pol knew her mate’s family believed that she and Trip used the time to engage in sex play. As their assumption afforded the couple some valuable privacy, she did not disabuse them of this notion. Though her mate might periodically use his lips to demonstrate affection, the two of them primarily sat together quietly, enjoying the physical and emotional closeness. The evenings in the porch swing had become a shared meditation—peaceful, calming: a serene end to the day.

Tonight, however, a conundrum prevented T’Pol from finding the tranquillity of previous evenings. It had plagued her all day—indeed, the problem had been growing more and more apparent over the last few days. Finally, she could suppress her concern no longer.

“Your niece dislikes me. Intensely.”

Her mate sighed, not even attempting to deny it. The feel of the exhalation, more than the sound, told her that the situation disturbed him as well: his body deflating slightly next to hers, his breath slow and warm against her cheek. His silence confirmed her theory, but it also told her that he knew as little as she about how to solve the problem.

They continued to swing, pondering the situation.

“She’ll come around,” her mate finally ventured. “Just give it some time.”

“I will be leaving in less than a week,” T’Pol responded. “I suspect that acquiring Bernice’s goodwill will require more time than I have.” Trip sighed again and nodded in discouraged agreement.

T’Pol felt a stab of guilt over his predicament. Ordinarily, she could have cared less what a nine-year-old of any species thought of her. But this was her t’hai’la’s niece. It obviously pained him that a member of his family would not accept her. He was caught between two people he loved, and of course he could not choose between them. Nor should he have to.

Bernice’s behaviour was illogical, but then she was a human child. Humans were illogical. Children were illogical. The little girl was doubly handicapped. T’Pol narrowed her eyes, considering. As an adult and a Vulcan, it was her responsibility to address this failure of logic.

“I will speak with her,” she declared firmly.

Trip started, alerting T’Pol to the fact that she had voiced her decision aloud. “Are you sure about that, T’Pol?” he inquired dubiously. “I hate the idea that she’d be rude or disrespectful to you. Bernie can be awfully stubborn, you know!”

The Vulcan cocked an eyebrow at him, hoping to lighten his mood. “If memory serves, that is an adjective you have more than once used to describe me.”

A slow grin and a chuckle informed her that her attempt at humour was successful. He leaned in and pecked her on the cheek. “The irresistible force meets the immovable object! I’d better start collecting bets. This’ll be better’n those historic Ali-Frasier vids!”

T’Pol had no idea what he was talking about, but her obvious confusion just made him laugh more. A small price to pay, she thought, as he leaned in and kissed her again.

***

T’Pol sat cross-legged in the clearing by the lake, awaiting her opponent. She had known for some time—even before her discussion with Trip the night before—that Bernie Monaghan had been following her around surreptitiously. With this in mind, the Vulcan had planned her strategy carefully, choosing the lake as the appropriate location for the inevitable confrontation. Whether or not the child knew of the spot’s emotional significance, T’Pol did. It was the closest thing to a sacred locale for the Tucker family, and the Vulcan intended to use that knowledge to draw strength for her encounter with the hard-headed little girl.

Relaxing into her meditative pose, she closed her eyes, allowing her other senses free rein. After several moments of stillness, she identified what she sought. Off to the right, and somewhat behind her, she detected a rustling in the brush. Tilting her head to one side, she inhaled deeply. There it was, on the breeze—the scent of a young human. T’Pol felt a slightly feral satisfaction at locating her prey so easily.

“I believe it is considered rude, even among humans, to spy on someone,” the Vulcan called over her shoulder, in the direction of the rustling. “It would be far more logical to come out of your hiding spot and address me.”

Absolute silence greeted the invitation. Obviously, Bernie Monaghan had not taken into account a Vulcan’s superior hearing and heightened sense of smell when she had begun stalking her uncle’s mate. T’Pol waited for some reaction to her words, but none came.

“You are afraid. That is understandable. Ignorance often leads to fear.”

As the Vulcan expected, a snort of indignation greeted this statement. “I’m not afraid of you!” a sulky voice responded.

“Your behaviour suggests otherwise,” T’Pol countered.

There was a slight pause, then more rustling. Eventually, a scruffy, dirty, snub-nosed child emerged from the bushes to T’Pol’s right. Bernie stood with her hands on her hips, trying to hide her uncertainty with a display of bravado. The twigs in her tangled hair and jug ears sticking out from a face that greatly resembled that of her father made the child seem like an adolescent chimpanzee confronting a hostile alpha male.

T’Pol acknowledged the child’s presence with a serene nod, then turned back to her meditation, listening as the little girl shifted her weight from foot to foot. “You would be more comfortable if you sat,” she suggested. Bernie circled the Vulcan warily, choosing a spot just within T’Pol’s frame of vision, but still several meters away. They sat in silence for some moments before T’Pol went on. “You have been following me for several days. Is there something you wish to discuss?”

The child scowled, looking at the ground. Not expecting such a direct approach, she was obviously uncertain how to proceed. But she was not a Tucker for nothing.

“Why don’t you go away and leave my uncle alone!?” she demanded, leaning forward aggressively, practically bristling at the perceived interloper.

T’Pol turned a puzzled gaze on the angry child. “Why would I wish to do that?”

“Why not?” Bernie snapped. “You don’t love him. You should let him go, so he can find someone who does!”

The Vulcan was taken aback, but did not let it show. She should have expected this. “Why do you assume that I do not love your uncle?”

Her calm question caught the child off guard. “Well,” Bernie stammered, “You...you’re a Vulcan! Vulcans can’t be in love!”

“Why do you believe Vulcans are incapable of love?” T’Pol persisted.

The little girl’s face wrinkled in simian confusion. “You...you don’t have feelings,” she finally blurted. “So how could you love anyone?”

T’Pol cocked her head at the child. “Vulcans do have feelings. We simply do not show them.”

The child blinked in surprise, silenced for a moment as she puzzled over this new piece of information. After a short bout of inner turmoil, however, she doggedly continued her argument. “But it’s obvious you don’t love Uncle Trip! You never kiss or hug. You don’t even hold hands! It’s like you think he’s nasty, or something—like you don’t want to touch him!” The little girl glowered fiercely, insulted at the perceived slight to her uncle.

T’Pol took a deep breath. It would not do to tell the little girl that she couldn’t be further from the truth. That the Vulcan had to exercise incredible self-control to keep from touching her mate every chance she got was none of this impertinent child’s business!

Schooling her expression, T’Pol explained calmly, “Vulcans avoid displays of emotion, including physical expressions of affection.”

“But humans do show affection! And my uncle’s human!”

“I appreciate beyond measure that he is willing to make this sacrifice for me—that he cares enough to respect my culture.” Bernie sat back at this, disarmed by the unexpected praise, giving T’Pol the opportunity to continue. “His generosity and compassion are two of the many qualities that led me to...love your uncle.”

The child was thunderstruck at this declaration. She sat up straight, staring at the Vulcan with her mouth open in a small “O” of shock. Just when T’Pol thought she had succeeded in reaching the child, Bernie leapt to her feet, hands clenched into fists, a scowl replacing the look of surprise.

“Why is he the only one making sacrifices?!” Bernie demanded. She narrowed her eyes at the Vulcan. “What sacrifices have you made for him?”

When T’Pol failed to respond, the child huffed self-righteously and stomped off down the trail. The Vulcan watched her go sombrely. It appeared that this battle would be more difficult that she thought.

She closed her eyes and began to meditate in earnest.

***

As she slowly made her way back to the house, T’Pol pondered her next course of action. Bernice Monaghan had been willing to listen to the Vulcan’s perspective to a point, but the child was obviously not ready to accept T’Pol as her uncle’s bondmate just yet. She somehow had to convince the stubborn little girl that sacrifices were being made on both sides.

But how?

For the first time, T’Pol truly gave thought to the sacrifices she might be making in choosing to bond with a human. The Vulcan High Command would no doubt expel her. It was more than likely that she would be ostracized by her people, at least in some form. As a supposedly enlightened race, no official statement condemning her would be made. The hoary ancients in positions of power gave lip-service to IDIC, so they would make an official show of accepting her choice. But culturally? Socially?

No.

Too many Vulcans considered themselves superior to other races, particularly humans. Any Vulcan who chose a human mate would become something of a pariah. The sudden realization brought T’Pol up short. T’Khasi would always be her home, but her welcome there would no longer be assured.

The young Vulcan stood on the path, unmoving, for some time.

***

Given her current level of mental and emotional turmoil, the last thing T’Pol needed upon her return to the house was the message that awaited her.

“You had a comm from Ambassador Soval while you were out, T’Pol,” Mrs. Tucker informed her as she came into the kitchen through the back door. “I told him you were off meditating, but that you’d contact him once you got back.” The older woman hesitated, sensing something amiss in T’Pol’s sudden stillness. “I hope that was all right?”

T’Pol raised her eyes, as if seeing the other woman for the first time. If her mate were Vulcan, her relationship with this woman would be clearly defined. She would know exactly where she stood. They would speak to each other using traditional forms of address. Terms of respect, used for millennia. An indication of family. A sign of acceptance.

By bonding with a human, T’Pol would deny herself the comfort of tradition. She would always wonder at simple things, her position in both societies vulnerable to every trivial point of etiquette, her status dependent on the whim of an appropriate form of address.

But she could not allow her doubts to dictate her behaviour. Instead, she responded calmly to the question.

“Yes, that is agreeable. I will return his call immediately.”

“Comm’s in the den,” Mrs. Tucker said with a vague gesture to a part of the house that T’Pol had visited only briefly, before turning to begin preparations for the noon meal. T’Pol watched the human pensively for a moment, then moved to contact the ambassador.

***

Soval’s face was stonier than usual when it appeared on her monitor. The ambassador wasted no time with trivialities.

“You did not inform me that you were staying with humans!” he accused.

“You did not ask,” T’Pol replied calmly.

Her elder’s nostrils flared momentarily, be he did not lose control. “From the accent of the woman with whom I spoke earlier, can I assume that you are staying with...Commander Tucker?” The ambassador’s tone dripped with distaste.

“That is correct,” T’Pol replied. Soval waited, apparently expecting more. When no further explanation came, he began fishing for information.

“It is very...illogical for you to reside with humans rather than in the Vulcan compound.”

“Mrs. Tucker was extremely gracious during her short visit to Enterprise. She invited me to be her guest.” The young Vulcan experienced a brief moment of regret at the vague explanation, which seemed less than honest. “I hold Commander Tucker in great esteem. We became quite...close during our time in the Expanse. It seemed logical to accept his mother’s invitation.” T’Pol met Soval’s surprise with a challenging look. “I suspect, Ambassador, that you did not contact me to discuss my choice of friends.”

Soval pressed his lips together primly, condemnation apparent in every line of his face, but he took the hint and got to the point. “The High Command has completed an extensive examination of your actions,” he said. “It has been decided that your rank and privileges be reinstated.” He inclined his head toward her, with the air of one conferring a favour.

“How much time will I have to decide if I will accept the reinstatement?” T’Pol asked thoughtfully.

Soval was dumbfounded. It took him several moments to find his voice. “Decide if you will accept...?” he repeated in disbelief. “The High Command’s offer is incredibly generous! What logical reason could you have to refuse reinstatement?”

She eyed him speculatively, wondering just how much information she should disclose. It would all come out eventually, so what logic could there be in dissembling at this point? Still, the decisions she made about her personal life were just that—personal. Neither she nor anyone else had the right to more information than she chose to provide.

“I am no longer the same person I was before I began serving on Enterprise,” she began. “Many of my actions in the last three years have run contrary to the philosophy of the High Command. Therefore, it would be illogical to accept reinstatement when there is a great likelihood that future actions on my part would again threaten that position.”

Soval narrowed his eyes at his one-time protégé. However much she had taken him by surprise with her pronouncement, he was neither slow nor obtuse. “Are you thinking of a specific action which might be condemned by the High Command, T’Pol?”

There was a brief pause as the young Vulcan tried to formulate an adequate response. Her hesitation allowed Soval to expand his inquiry. “T’Pol, what is the nature of your...friendship...with Commander Tucker?”

The young Vulcan was silent just long enough to give him an answer to his question. His eyes widened in shock, and he gasped out a protest. “T’Pol, do you have any idea—”

“Ambassador,” the young Vulcan interrupted him. “Our people have long respected each other’s privacy concerning decisions that affect one’s personal life. I do not believe you should deviate from custom at this time.” Before he could respond, she inclined her head. “It is time for our noon meal. Good day, Ambassador.” She closed the connection just as he was opening his mouth to speak again.

T’Pol stared at the blank monitor screen for some time after the conclusion of the conversation. She had made her choice. There was no turning back.

The young Vulcan got up and headed for the kitchen to help her tel-ko-mekh prepare lunch.

***

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Trip’s utterance caught T’Pol by surprise. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she had forgotten where she was: sitting on the porch swing, nestled in the circle of his arm. She looked up into his quizzical blue eyes.

“I was unaware that my mental workings had monetary value,” she quipped.

As she had hoped, her comment distracted him from his inquiry. He threw back his head in laughter, momentarily squeezing her closer and deftly tweaking her ear. She allowed the caress for a few seconds, shivering in delight. Then she gave him a gentle elbow in the ribs to remind him that they had agreed not to start anything that couldn’t safely be finished. Her mate sighed theatrically, and instead set the porch swing in motion again, the giddy smile on his face letting her know that he wasn’t too disappointed.

T’Pol returned to her previous line of thought. Her confrontations with both Bernice and Soval had led her to a surprising revelation. Having to defend her relationship with a human, having to think about it—and him—in such depth, had made her realize that there truly was no going back. Or rather, the option of going back no longer existed.

They had bonded.

When had it happened? T’Pol wondered. During their time in the Expanse? As a result of the mind meld? Or more recently, when she had been introduced to his family?

It had certainly begun to manifest itself more these past few weeks. The ease with which she was able to meditate when he was near. Indeed, how very soothing his presence was! The fact that she now thought of him primarily as “Trip.” Before, she would never have used such an illogical nickname. Now, she found it difficult to think of him as anything else. She had believed the change was a result of her interaction with his family, who only referred to her mate by his nickname. But now she realized that it was because that was how he saw himself, how he thought of himself. Trip. Therefore, it was how she thought of him.

He seemed more attuned to her, as well. Just now. She had not wished to speak. She wanted only to sift through her thoughts, in order to better understand what was happening to her. Somehow, he had sensed that, and had afforded her the space she needed. Before, he might have pressed her about her continued silence and pensiveness, but now he seemed to intuitively understand that he should not.

Abruptly, T’Pol leaned into him, laying her head on his chest, awed by what had happened—was happening!—between them. Her bondmate responded by tightening his grip on her shoulders and planting a gentle kiss on the crown of her head.

***

A familiar scent greeted T’Pol as she slowly came out of her meditative state. Upon opening her eyes, she was not surprised to see Bernice Monaghan seated opposite her. The Vulcan cocked an eyebrow at the human child, inviting Bernie to explain her presence.

The little girl flushed slightly, but quickly set her jaw with the air of one prepared to complete an onerous task. T’Pol had a disconcerting sense of déjà vu: her mate sitting across from her, admitting to having read a personal communiqué. At that moment, short, moonfaced Bernice Monaghan had never resembled her uncle more.

T’Pol forced her thoughts back to the child in front of her. The human girl cleared her throat and launched into what was obviously a prepared speech.

“I heard you telling off that mean old Vulcan. The other Vulcans aren’t going to be too happy about your...your being with my uncle,” Bernie began. “Are they gonna kick you out?” she asked.

The Vulcan’s mind reeled for a second. Kick her out of what? Of the High Command? Of her home planet? Of her species? Then her logic reasserted itself. To a nine-year-old, being “kicked out” of anything was most likely the worst punishment imaginable.

“While I will no doubt face a great deal of censure for my decision to ’be with’ your uncle, it is unlikely that I will be ‘kicked out,’” T’Pol reassured the worried child. “I have already resigned my commission in the Vulcan High Command, and the majority of my people profess a respect for diversity. Whatever their personal feelings about my choice, they cannot openly condemn me without also condemning one of the basic beliefs on which Vulcan society is founded.”

T’Pol wondered if her explanation would make any sense to a nine-year-old, but Bernice was nodding sagely. “They’ll be nice to your face, but they’ll do mean things when they get a chance,” the little girl stated, her face furrowing in indignation. “It’s not fair!”

The Vulcan marvelled at how quickly her adversary had become an ally. “As the human saying goes, your uncle and I will ‘cross that bridge when we come to it.’ Do not let it concern you. It does not concern me,” she assured the child. Then she frowned. “What does concern me, however, is your inclination for...covert surveillance.” T’Pol’s eyes bored into those of the suddenly-embarrassed child. “Eavesdropping is another form of spying, Bernice. It is extremely inappropriate.”

The child, although red-faced, gave the Vulcan a cheeky grin. “Okay, I’ll stop.” Bernice hesitated, as though deciding whether or not to divulge further information. Her ebullient nature—which had never before asserted itself in T’Pol’s presence—won out. “It’s not like you and Uncle Trip were doing much worth watching out there on the porch swing, anyway!”

T’Pol sat up perfectly straight, unable to control her indignation. “You have been spying on our private moments together, as well?!?”

The child’s countenance again became guilt-ridden. “Well,” she began, somewhat defensively, “That’s why I figured you didn’t really love my uncle. Even when you were alone you didn’t...do much!”

“A wise decision, in retrospect,” T’Pol responded dryly. At the child’s guilty flush, however, she softened her voice. “If you must know, Bernice, I have made a conscious decision to refrain from certain expressions of physical affection while your uncle is still convalescing. Any kind of...strenuous activity...might be detrimental to his health. It is therefore illogical to...start something that we would be unable to finish.”

Her face still pointed at the ground, the child’s eyes peeked up at T’Pol from beneath mobile eyebrows. “Does that mean I can keep watching, then?” she asked, a giggle threatening to break through the query.

T’Pol gave the child a stony glare.

“No.”

***

Upon returning to the house, Bernice gave T’Pol a cheery, “See ya later,” and skipped upstairs to clean up before dinner. While the Vulcan was pondering the whimsical nature of young humans, Mr. Tucker called out to her from the kitchen.

“Ol’ Soval comm’ed again while you were out, T’Pol,” he explained. “I told him you’d get back to him when you got in.” The human hesitated a minute. “He seemed kinda mad.”

No doubt, T’Pol thought to herself. Aloud she responded, “Ambassador Soval is Vulcan, Mr. Tucker. It is not uncommon for humans to interpret his lack of emotion as a sign of anger.”

Mr. Tucker did not look convinced, but he said nothing when she thanked him and turned away. Before she closed the door to the den, however, she heard him mutter, “Yeah, right. That bitter old Vulcan was pissed off, and that’s all there is to it!”

The ambassador’s visage exploded onto her monitor almost instantaneously, as if he had been waiting for her comm with his hand poised over the controls.

“Ambassador,” she began, but he interrupted before she got any further.

“T’Pol, you absolutely must reconsider your...your decision,” the older Vulcan snapped without preamble. “It’s bad enough to consider...allying yourself with any human, but this particular gene pool—”

“What do you mean?!” demanded T’Pol, feeling a sudden, defensive anger that he should slight the people who had so graciously and lovingly accepted her into their family.

Soval took a deep, calming breath. “This morning I was comm’ed by an incredibly rude and presumptuous human child!” he barked. “In a manner disturbingly reminiscent of a certain Starfleet engineer, this child proceeded to berate me for small-mindedness, all manner of villainy, and,” Soval took another deep breath before going on in disgust, “being mean to you!”

The older man paused in his tirade, giving T’Pol an opening. “Ambassador, I apologize. I learned only this afternoon that my...mate’s niece eavesdropped on our conversation yesterday.” T’Pol frowned. “She feels very protective of her uncle and apparently, by extension, of myself. I will chastise her immediately for these illogical actions, and I will ensure that she does not contact you again!”

Though somewhat mollified by T’Pol’s immediate and supportive response, the Vulcan elder did not lessen his penetrating glare. T’Pol returned his gaze defiantly.

“Your...mate, T’Pol?” he finally asked, with a touch of uncertainty.

“My mate,” she confirmed. “I have reason to believe that we are bonded.”

The silence went on for some time, as Soval continued to gaze at her thoughtfully.

“It is difficult, but bonds may be broken,” he ventured cautiously.

“I do not wish it,” T’Pol responded firmly. “Commander Tucker is generous and honest and honourable. I could not have found a better mate. Of any species.” The young Vulcan took several deep breaths before going on in a more measured tone. “And I would appreciate if you did not denigrate my mate or his family in my presence.”

Soval met her eyes before bowing his head slightly, as though in shame. “I meant no disrespect, T’Pol.” He hesitated a moment before continuing. “And however illogical and emotional I find him, I must agree with your assessment of Commander Tucker’s admirable qualities.” His eyes twinkled at the look of surprise on T’Pol’s face. Then all amusement disappeared, and he spoke earnestly.

“I championed you after the incident at P’Jemm,” he began. “And again, for your decision to remain aboard Enterprise during the Xindi mission.” His eyes became almost sorrowful. “But...with this decision, child...” Soval broke off, unable to continue.

“I appreciate all that you have done for me,” T’Pol replied, carefully controlling her own emotion. “You will always be my osavensu. But from here on, I believe I must follow my own path.”

His eyes glowed with both regret and pride. He nodded in understanding, then raised his hand in farewell.

“Live long and prosper, T’Pol-kan.

“Peace and long life, sa-kuk.

***

When Bernice got up from the dinner table to take her turn doing the dishes, T’Pol rose as well, stating, “I will assist you, Bernice.” Once the two of them were alone in the kitchen, T’Pol addressed the girl.

“I had a conversation with Ambassador Soval this afternoon,” she began, scraping the leftovers into the reconstitution unit.

“Again?” Bernie asked innocently. “Hmmmmm.”

“He was most disturbed over a communiqué from an extremely emotional human child,” T’Pol went on.

“Ummmm...”

“I assured him that I would do whatever was necessary to discover the identity of this child,” T’Pol said, handing the scraped dishes to Bernice to be placed into the cleansing unit. “Upon accomplishing that, I told him I would chastise the child severely and ensure that such a thing would never happen again.”

Bernie continued to load the cleansing unit in absolute silence. Out of the corner of her eye, T’Pol could see the little girl’s flushed, nervous face. The child was obviously concerned about whatever consequences she might have to face.

“Bernice.” T’Pol finally turned to face the child. She did not continue until Bernie had ceased all activity and was facing her in turn. When the child raised her eyes to T’Pol’s, the Vulcan nodded once in satisfaction.

“Consider yourself chastised. Please do not allow this to happen again.” And with that, T’Pol went back to scraping the dinner dishes. After a slight hesitation, Bernie resumed her task, as well. T’Pol noted a relieved look and a smile on the round face.

“Hey, T’Pol?”

“Yes, Bernice?”

“Um...when I was spying on you and Uncle Trip in the porch swing...um...before I stopped, of course...”

“Yes?”

“I noticed that...well,...Grandpa Charlie’s been spying on you guys, too.”

At this, T’Pol straightened up and turned to face the child in consternation.

Bernie glanced up from her chore with a sheepish grin. “Just thought you should know.”

***

“Penny for your thoughts.”

T’Pol was prepared for her mate’s question this evening.

“I believe that Bernice and I have reached an understanding,” she murmured in satisfaction.

Trip chuckled. “I noticed that a lot of the tension was gone during dinner,” he said. “Did you gals have a nice chat while doing the dishes?”

“It was most enlightening,” T’Pol responded, wondering where Mr. Tucker was at this moment. From this angle, the best possible observation point would be the parlour window. She would investigate her suspicions tomorrow.

“Heard you talked to Soval a couple times in the past few days,” her mate commented.

“Soval and I have also reached an understanding,” T’Pol said quietly, carefully keeping the regret from her voice.

But he sensed it. Whether he heard something in her tone or felt the tension in her body, her mate was aware that there was more. As with the previous evening, however, he did not ask further. Instead, he simply stroked her hair and pressed his lips to her forehead.

An intense feeling of serenity and satisfaction descended upon them both. Should she tell him about their bond? T’Pol wondered. She lay her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat, feeling its steady rhythm beneath her cheek.

No, she decided. Not yet.

There was time.


Chapter 7

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

this is just what i needed --a little humor! i really love all your stories. people rarely write enough humorous fanfic imo. t'pol's responses to bernice were so perfect. she, in effect got down to her level. i love that t'pol's doing what she has to do to "survive". also-- mr. tucker is spying, hmmmm...i'm interested.

You know, for a minute I was thinking you'd forgotten us here. Glad to see another Chapter out... and I'm sure that you'll be hurrying so we can see the next chapter VERY soon right? You better! This story is way too good for you to keep us hanging all the time!!!!!!

Absolutely loved this! I found Bernice's reactioms very believable and love the way T'Pol handled the little girl's misplaced anger, also very much enjoyed T'Pol telling Soval that she and Trip were bonded and would stay so! I hope there is plenty more to come. Ali D :~)

Great chapter. Loved T'pol and Bernices conversations. I really love this story. Hope you update soon. Thank you.

Thanks, Ragua! I do love my bitter old Vulcan. "...and being mean to you!" LOL!

I really love the way you write T'Pol - you have done a great job capturing her voice and developing her relationships with humans.

I couldn't interpret these Vulcan words! I must be doing something wrong. What do they mean and which did you make up?

tel-ko-mekh (mate's female parent?)
osavensu

Hmmm,

sa-kuk = uncle

So, Soval's not dad, but her uncle? :D

Yeah, I've been waiting for this next installment! Love the way you wrote Trip's niece; she's quite the firecracker! And Dad spying on the lovebirds?! Sure hope you follow up with T'Pol's investigation! LOL

great story, funny to read, please continue, Thank you


OK, I'm going to take a wild guess here:

osavensu:
osu - Honored one
Ven-dol-tar - Philosophy
or
Venlinahr - normal state of adult discipline


Therefore, literally: Honored Philosopher
conotation: Teacher

Great story, please continue!

Oops cocentrating so much on translating I forgot to include my name.

You gotta love the Tucker family. Nice chapter.

I loved this story, I really liked bernice reaction to the situation with Soval. This was great

I love this story! I think I've mentioned that just about every time I write a comment about it, but it's so true! Awesome, awesome, awesome, keep 'em coming! :)

Oh my God! I need more and I want it now!!! Give now!

This story is excellent and i want more!

More, more, more

I loved this story as well as "Your What" short story. It's extremely well written.

Yeah!!!! I have been waiting for this next chapter! I love this story and its uplifting good humor. I can't wait for the next chapter, hope you update this soon.

BTW the "You're What?" is my story (Favors), but thanks as well.

Finally. :-P

Nice chapter.

Ah, here´s another finally! ;-)))

I feared you´ve dropped from earth or so. ;-)))

And yes, we are very greedy! We´ll need another part sooooooon

YES! Another chapter!
Great interaction, and I LOVE your reaction of Soval!
Please let him appear again!
;-)

I have to say that this is a very enjoyable story with realistic characters. I love it!
Keep up the good work and update soon.

Great update. This just cracked me up "Bernice’s behaviour was illogical, but then she was a human child. Humans were illogical. Children were illogical. The little girl was doubly handicapped." LMFO that was so funny, I could hear T'Pol thinking this. Anyway nicely written, and please update sooooooooon. Thanks :-)

WOW those Tuckers all warm up to T'pol realy quick,, what am I saying whats not to love about T'pol. :) You know theirs only one problem with this story,,,,,You take way to long to update it Ragua! Please update a little sooner next time.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!

NEED NEW CHAPTER! :D

It's fantastic, Tucker's family is impeccably real and hilarious, I don't think a family like that could be written without some real life experience...And T'Pol's dialog is written really well! I love how well you do her stony vocabulary