Little Lizzie - Part 8

Little Lizzie

By: TLR

Rated PG:
Disclaimer: Enterprise is the property of UPN and Paramount Pictures.

Summary: This story picks up right where Part 7 left off. Trip has just found out that Soval is coming to put his daughter through a battery of tests, his mom is starting to come around, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions she has about their relationship and today begins Lizzie's schedule of being about the ship. Enjoy.

May 28th 2005

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Part 8

Trip left with his dad for Engineering. T'Pol and Catherine remained while the little girl's Gramma fed her, her morning bottle. T'Pol gathered the items for her bath and laid them neatly in order of use beside the older woman. Catherine noted the Vulcan's methodic manner and was impressed she seemed so efficient. When the elder woman had finished feeding the bottle, she sat with Lizzie leaning on her shoulder waiting for that ever elusive burp.

*BURP* it came quite loud and distinct.

"Well, that's a Tucker burp if I ever heard one." She uttered very satisfied.

"Oh, so Trip's genes are the origin of that characteristic." T'Pol replied deadpan and even, still arranging her supplies. Catherine smiled with a hint of a soft giggle. "Fraid so"

T'Pol reached to take Lizzie for her bath. She felt the older woman grow sad at having to relinquish the child. The Vulcan thought a moment. "Would you like to bathe her this morning?" T'Pol felt the grandmother's feelings brighten. She grinned widely. "Why yes.....Thanks."

Catherine began pulling off the little girl's outer layers while T'Pol drew the bath water. Gramma watched as the Vulcan checked and rechecked the temperature. (Boy is she a stickler for details.) she thought wrapping Lizzie's naked form into a soft towel.

"Hope I remember how to do this...... it's been a few years since Jimmie's kids were babies." Catherine brought the infant over to the basin.

"I'm sure your skills are still good, however if you'd like I can instruct you through the procedure." Again the Vulcan's demeanor was serious and Catherine wondered how her son ever got a laugh out of her.

"That's alright....... I think I'll be fine." Gramma replied and saw T'Pol sit down silently at her desk.

"Ya seem quite at ease caring for Elizabeth..... do you have many brothers and sisters?" The human asked making pleasant conversation while running the warm liquid over the little girl's tummy.

"No..... I am an only child." she replied.

"Nieces.....Nephews?"

"No..... both my parents had no siblings." T'Pol continued to observe the woman to be available as a resource if she changed her mind.

"Did you baby sit a lot growing up?" Catherine watched Lizzie grasping at her fingers.

"Baby sit?...... is that referring to child care services or is it a form of meditation with children?" T'Pol seemed quite interested in the term.

"Child care....." Catherine was a bit amused at her misunderstanding of the word.

"No.... other then school children my age, I was around no other younger children throughout my early to mid schooling years." T'Pol watched as the woman picked up a rag and ran it about Lizzie's neck a second and third time. She wondered why the redundancy. For a moment, she thought of commenting, but seeing Lizzie relax and enjoy the feelings, T'Pol thought better of it.

"Well.... how did you become so good at caring for Elizabeth?" Catherine asked running the rag over Lizzie's light brown fuzz. The little girl giggled and splashed. "You like that, do you?" T'Pol noted that reaction too.

"I have researched the topic fully, drawing from many Vulcan and human texts to broaden the references covered. Also I received hands on instruction from Dr. Phlox while we were still residing in sickbay. I committed to memory his techniques and simply follow those exact steps each time."

"You mean you learned all this from a book..... didn't your mom ever talk to you about it?" Catherine was amazed that this very efficient woman was a newcomer to the actual act of child care.

"No.... the subject of child care never came up before she passed last year. It wouldn't have been a logical subject to speak of since I am still a few years from conception age." Catherine looked at the young Vulcan surprised. To her estimate, T'Pol was Trip's age or close to it, she thought......(How young was this woman?)

Lizzie splashed again, this time Gramma indulged the little girl's love of the wet stuff. "That's it baby...... splash." Catherine took her hand and made a splashing movement. The child giggled and growled louder.

"She's gonna be a good swimmer." Catherine stated lifting the little girl from the water and moving her to the towel T'Pol had laid out ready for her. That statement got her attention, in that Vulcan's rarely enjoyed water activities beyond hot showers. While it was true that Vulcans had to learn to swim to serve in the military, it was unanimously the least favorite subject of a species who enjoyed learning above all other forms of relaxation. The human female noticed her quandary.

"Vulcans don't swim?" she asked.

"We do ...... we just don't enjoy it."
"Well may be you just have to go swimming with someone who's really good at it." Catherine thought for sure Trip would have this woman deep sea diving before too long.

"Perhaps..., however large bodies of water are not plentiful on Vulcan or on a star ship. I doubt we'll have that opportunity anytime soon..... I assume Trip will take over teaching Elizabeth to swim when it becomes necessary for her to know." T'Pol removed the basin of bath water and came back with the clean dried item. She handed the human female that jar of green goop and explained the need for it. Catherine accepted it rubbing ample amounts all over and especially in the diaper area. While dressing the child, the human female decided to get a few answers.

"T'Pol.... may I ask you some questions.... personal ones?" T'Pol simply nodded. There was a brief pause, then she started.

"Do you love my son?" The silence after that question prompted the older woman to withdraw it again. "I mean, if that's not too personal.... I ..." T'Pol put up her hand to stop the regret Trip's mom was experiencing.

"No.. it is a valid question and you deserve an answer. ... I take no offense." T'Pol took a long breath.

"I hold deep affection for him, by Vulcans standards..... from what I understand that is very similar to what Humans refer to as love. Vulcan's don't express their emotions and as such it is hard to relate the two. I am however, committed to his health and welfare. I am pledged to meet all his needs and protect him with my own life...... when we are together I experience great contentment, there is a pleasing sensation associated with his consciousness with in our bond and I find meeting his needs brings this contentment level well beyond acceptable limits."

Catherine blinked at her in silence. Although she heard the words in English,..... the older woman was sure T'Pol was speaking Vulcan anyway.
"So, in other words, probably yes." T'Pol nodded in silence. Catherine relaxed her features and continued dressing the child. She remembered the conversation the two shared a moment ago and asked. "You called my son something....Ashy..."
"Ashayam..... it means sweetheart, darling, beloved." This sent a wave of relief through the matriarch's heart. (She calls him sweetheart in her own way.... that's better.) Lizzie was completely dressed and ready for her trip to sickbay. Now it was T'Pol's turn to be nervous. Yesterday she ordered the corridors cleared before her move to the conference room but today she could afford none of that. Today Elizabeth was gonna have to learn to get used to being exposed to many more people and this was weighing heavy on the young mother's nerves.

***

T'Pol finished her cleanup from the bath. Lizzie held out her hands to her mother and Catherine felt much better about releasing the child having satisfied her need to grandmother for the morning. T'Pol held the child close to her and went about readying the two for their journey. She could feel Lizzie's eyes on her and also the child's emotions reaching out to her mom in earnest but the Vulcan's mind was busy planning her route. Suddenly a very animated Lizzie lunged herself forward toward her mother's face, planting of very open mouth, spit-laden kiss squarely against her green hued skin. This shocked T'Pol, who pulled away and looked first to the child than to the human female standing there laughing at the little nymph's actions.

"Kisses for Mommy...... my son's been busy, hasn't he?" The elder woman could now see what Trip meant by them not tolerating public displays of affection. Although the Vulcan didn't scold the child, she didn't seem all too pleased that Catherine was there to witness it. Secretly she believed that had Lizzie done this in private, T'Pol would have relished it for what it was. Instead her upbringing required she display her disapproval if only for the Human's sake. Blaming it on her son, Catherine felt she gave the young woman an out to relax and enjoy it. This seemed to work and T'Pol leaned the child close and patted her back. Catherine could tell the Vulcan was getting nervous. She came over and placed a light hand on T'Pol's which remained on Lizzie.

"Don't worry..... it will be fine... I'll run interference....... Ya ready? let's go."

The two women and child went to the door and it opened rather abruptly. They were edgy and T'Pol clung Lizzie closer to her trying not to let her fears reach the child. The small one's eyes grew wide but her usually out going demeanor slowed as she sensed her mother was less than content with this task. The little girl remained even as she watched the scenery change with every connecting hallway.

The doors to sickbay slid open and in stepped T'Pol and Catherine with Lizzie. Coming up to them instantly was crewman Cutler. Her eagerness at seeing the child again took T'Pol a bit off guard. Catherine decided to intercede.

"Hello.... I don't believe I've met you." she swept the hand that was heading for the child's back and took it in a sturdy hand shake. "I'm Catherine Tucker, Commander Tucker's mom and Elizabeth's grandmother, and you are?" T'Pol relaxed a bit seeing her child's foremother knowingly keep the young medic from touching the child uninvited. Catherine looked over to T'Pol showing her move was deliberate and was rewarded with a soft head tilt. Phlox came up and flashed the woman a huge smile. The Human female was so stunned by his appearance she totally forgot to let go of Cutler's hand. The medic remained still watching the obvious puzzlement on the elder woman's face.

"You must be Commander Tucker's mother..... I'm Dr. Phlox.... I'm very pleased to finally meet you." the doctor grinned widely and Catherine's eyes opened even more. She moved her hand in a shaking movement, not realizing she was still clamped onto the young woman.

"Nice to meet you too.... call me Catherine." She looked down, and realized her mistake. Letting go of Cutler, she reached hesitantly for the doctor's offered hand. She continued to eye him intensely, and T'Pol noticed the Denobulan's discomfort.

"Doctor Phlox not only takes good care of your grand daughter Elizabeth, but has saved Trip's life several times in the past four years." The Vulcan readjusted Lizzie in her arms. This struck something in the woman's heart and her handshake took on a new meaning, a truly appreciative one.

"It's so nice to meet you. I know my son has kept you very busy, I'm sure."

"At times, but he also keeps my facility running smoothly, so I would call it an even trade." Phlox relaxed.

Lizzie reached out a finger to the jovial man and the doctor met the little digit with a large one of his own. Like something out of E.T., this brought out a bright smile from the child, recognizing the man who'd been a big part of her life, almost as much as her parents.

"Well.... She looks to be doing fine." the jovial doctor announced. He allowed T'Pol to keep the child in her arms, realizing by now when the young Vulcan was tense and when she was relaxed. Phlox ran a scan of the child, differentiating out T'Pol's readings. Catherine watched the alien male doing his work, her initial reservations turned instantly to trust as she saw the caring way he treated both his charges.

"She's doing quite well, I must say..... I believe we can try to start some fruit, mind you in small quantities." This made Gramma concerned.

"Fruit, isn't she a bit young for food?"

"If she were solely human, I'd have to agree but the copper derived hemoglobin needs a higher iron and magnesium level. Vulcans are strict vegetarians and begin limited quantities of strained fruits at six months. For now, let's just give her a small taste per day and reevaluate her tolerance in a week." T'Pol was taking all the information in without question. Catherine, however wasn't as easy with his recommendation, in that human children usually didn't start until nine months and then with cereal not fruit. She feared the child would grow colicky and lose her unusually sunny disposition.

"I'll have Chef prepare you some for later. Just a few spoonfuls, to get her used to the taste and texture, okay?" Phlox returned his scanner to the table.

"Understood, thank you doctor." T'Pol returned, checking and readjusting the blankets about the child.

***

Trip stopped back by the cabin to pick up his folks and T'Pol for lunch with the captain. He heard first hand from his mom about how well Lizzie was doing and also a bit about her doubts on starting foods so soon. T'Pol sat over on her bunk rocking Lizzie to sleep after her third bottle of the day. The little girl's eye lids grew heavy, as she fought being left out of the action going on in the room.

"She about down?" Catherine asked offering to finish the rocking.

"She's sleeping now." T'Pol eased up from her bunk and moved to put Elizabeth in her bassinette.

"Great, it's almost time for our lunch date with the captain." Trip came up and absently laid a hand on her shoulder while admiring the angelic face of the sleeping Babe.

"You go ahead..... I'm not hungry at this time..... I'll remain with Elizabeth." T'Pol went to her desk and pulled up some data, determined to make use of her baby's nap time.

"Oh No... you're coming too." Trip moved over to where she worked and pressed the button to turn off the screen. T'Pol shot him an annoyed look.

"Elizabeth has had enough ship travel today, she needs her rest now."

"She's not going...." Trip returned and suddenly the door chime rang. "Ah right on cue." the engineer went over and opened the door. In stepped Hoshi and Malcolm, both looking a bit too eager to be there.

"First wave of baby sitters reporting for duty, sirs." they stepped together and gave a mock salute. T'Pol looked ill and turned to Trip who wore a larger than usual grin.

"I see no cause to pull these two officers from their duties to watch our child." T'Pol's doubts were evident.

"No problem Commander, we're on a break and are happy to do this for you both." Hoshi offered and Malcolm flashed a half-hearted smile in concert.

"Yeah and you haven't been out of this cabin for days. It'll do ya good to get out and away from the baby for awhile." Trip was trying to be supportive. "Besides, you know she sleeps like a rock right after her bottle."

"He's right.... ya know...." Charles junior added in. "You have to start letting her get use to your being away. Aren't you to resume your shifts soon?" T'Pol realized she was outvoted and to make a fuss over this issue would no doubt turn into an emotional display on the Human's part. She rose in silence, making a mental note to discuss with Trip later, the rules about springing surprise babysitters on her. The Vulcan walked over to the two junior officers.

"She will most likely sleep. If she does awaken, often simply rocking works however if it does not, feel free to call us in the Captain's mess."

"T'Pol... if she gets upset, you'll know it before they will. She's gonna be fine..... let's go or will be late." Trip again grabbed her shoulder and turned her toward the door.

"We'll be back in an hour.... hold down the fort." Trip commented as he pushed T'Pol out the door. His folks followed with a slight smirk on their lips.

Malcolm turned to Hoshi...."Now what?" She looked back at him a bit.

"Now....we sit." The two of them eased down on the cushions at the far end of the room. Malcolm took Hoshi's arm as she sat putting on his best gentlemanly manner.

T'Pol followed Trip and his parents into the Captain's mess. She stood quiet and uneasy reaching through her bond to check in frequently with their child. Trip could feel her trepidation and tried to ignore it. The Captain stood and assisted Mrs. Tucker to her chair. Charles, Jr. held T'Pol's for her, leaving Trip without a chair to hold. So far on this visit, the patriarch hadn't spent much time getting to know the Vulcan. Oh he spent time with her as a group last night, but largely he was giving his wife ample space and time to gain a better likening for the woman, and it seemed to be paying off. Cause as the five soon had their lunch, pretty much every question the elder gentleman asked, either Trip or his momma answered.

"I noticed how practiced you are, T'Pol, at caring for Elizabeth." he commented hoping to pay the controlled female a respectable compliment.

"Yes...and all without even being of child bearing age." Catherine remarked hoping to impress the crowd even more. Trip, Archer and Charles, Jr. all shot her a look. The Engineer and captain stayed silent, but Grandpa was moved to comment.

"Honey...I believe you are mistaken, from what Trip tells me, the little lady is about our age." T'Pol looked floored, Trip and Archer both choked on the food they were chewing and Catherine returned a stunned look to the Vulcan.
"But you said." She uttered...."I thought you were...." She grew speechless.

T'Pol swallowed hard and tried to maintain her emotional control. "A Vulcan's lifespan is about 200 years. It is common in many species to only be of child bearing age during the middle third of one's life span." Although her voice was even, Trip could sense what seemed to be humiliation coming from his mate at having to discuss such an intimate topic with his folks and the captain.

It was the grandparent's turn to gulp. They looked at their son who was by now rubbing the stress in his forehead and trying to hide from his mate's telling glare all at the same time... They looked back to the Captain, who simply tipped his head, acting nonchalant about the whole thing.

Needless to say, lunch went on rather silently after that bombshell. Trip continued to feel guilty and T'Pol studied her plate rather intensely to avoid the looks from the Humans. This only made the engineer's guilt over betraying her confidence worse. Afterward, Trip went with Archer to the docking port, while T'Pol and his folks went back to her quarters to pick up Lizzie.

***

The door to the airlock opened. Soval stepped through and greeted the Captain. "Welcome aboard Ambassador." Archer smiled and offered his best at rest stance. The Vulcan nodded and walked up to them.

"You remember my Chief Engineer, Commander Tucker."

"Yes....how are you Commander?" Soval asked turning toward the new father.

"Fine...thanks." Trip still felt a bit foolish for his emotional display this morning.

"I am here to test the child." The ambassador spoke directly to Trip, who he knew had a problem with the idea earlier. "Is this amenable to both you and your mate?" Archer bit back a smirk at the reference.

"Yes..Sir....it is. T'Pol and Lizzie await us in the conference room." Trip motioned in the direction of the passageway and Soval began his walk, arms folded together in the large loops of his robes. Trip walked even with him and spoke in a hushed tone as the Captain brought up the rear.

"Listen...about this morning...I wanted to apologize for my outburst....It's just Elizabeth has been through so much at the hands of Paxton. I guess I'm just a little protective of her.......and T'Pol." he added remembering this man was like family to his bondmate.

"No need for apologies, Commander...On Vulcan children are considered most precious and are protected even above our families....It is only logical you'd defend her....and as for your protectiveness of T'Pol....that is simply the mating bond that drives that impulse....It is biological...you can not avoid it. Rest assured...these tests will not harm them in any way...." Trip wasn't sure but every time he talked with Soval, the man seemed more and more likeable.
(Was the Ambassador changing or was he...unsure...maybe we are just growing more respectful of each other's cultures.) he thought and noted a brief look from the diplomatic giant, which made the engineer wonder if telepathy wasn't part of the Vulcan's package after all.

The door opened to the conference room and to the Tucker's surprise, there stood the very tall gray haired alien. Given the conversation at lunch, both Catherine and Charles Jr. wondered just how old this one was, but considering the change in T'Pol's demeanor on the subject, they thought better than to ask.

Bringing the Ambassador up to his folks, Trip started. "Ambassador Soval....I'd like you to meet my parents... Catherine and Charles Tucker, Jr." He pointed in their direction as the Vulcan flashed them a brief V greeting. Charles tried to imitate the gesture, but found his arthritic joints unwilling to move into that position. They simply nodded in kind instead. Soval then looked over to T'Pol holding the baby. His features soften at the picture of his charge holding the amazing little creature.

Lizzie's eyes were bright, her fist planted firmly in her mouth and the other hand clasping onto the young woman's uniform collar.

"Ambassador..." T'Pol greeted him formally. "This is Elizabeth Tucker...." He looked directly into her face, bending to bring the child's eyes squarely to his. Lizzie looked him over hesitantly at first, but then caught sight of those pointed ears. She beamed her widest toothless grin yet, reaching her slobbered hand toward the tall male.

Soval's eye brows rose at her recognition, but didn't leave out the thought that the child's mother could be empathically cuing the little one.

"You find she's easy to reach empathically?" he asked clinically.

"Yes...even from a distance she's able to make her needs known." T'Pol readjusted Elizabeth since her reaching out caused her center of balance to shift.

"I'd like to begin the testing now.....You and your mate may not be in contact with her. Is Commander Tucker able to block his connection?" Soval looked over to the young man standing next to his folks. (This time the man from the screen seemed more at ease with their son.) The Tuckers thought.

"I'll block it for him." T'Pol replied.

"It is preferable if the child were untouched, however someone who's never been empathically linked with her will do." Soval looked over at Catherine.

"Actually Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have been linked, if only secondhand...." T'Pol informed him. Soval turned to Archer, who started looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Captain...if you'd please." The Ambassador indicated a chair, then motioned T'Pol to hand over the infant. She did so, making sure to adjust Archer's hands into the proper position. Lizzie was sitting on the captain's knees, facing away, as she kept craning her head to gaze back at him. When her mom moved away and broke her empathic connection, Lizzie started to panic searching the room now for her parents. Soval watched her reaction.

T'Pol joined Trip beside Catherine and Charles...They were at a 90 degree angle to Archer and Soval. She instructed them all to remain silent and not try to attract the little girl's attention. Lizzie peered over the faces in the room, stopping and glancing for a moment at Archer, Soval, Gramma and Poppy. Then she came to Trip......When she saw his blue eyes, she started to wave her arms excitedly. When the little girl's eyes fell on T'Pol....She saw her mother's ears and began grunting and cooing creating quite a display. Her arms and legs were active now and Archer had to tighten his grip on her to keep the child from rolling off his knees.

"Recognition...... Excellent..." Soval murmured.

The Ambassador bent down on an even keel with the child. Again she saw his ears and craved to connect with his mind. Her demeanor seemed slightly anxious due to the loss of connection with her parents. Soval watched as she reached for him repeatedly, cooing and gurgling all the while.

"Initiation....excellent.." Again the Vulcan's voice was betraying his amazement. He reached one finger out to the little girl, just short of her grasp. Elizabeth thought about it for a few moments then began rocking forward, pushing off with her feet trying to get her finger to reach the older male's hands. She was moving only barely, due in part to Archer's strong hold on the rambunctious little cherub. Soval nodded to the captain, to let the child reach the finger. When the girl's finger touched his, she stopped her rocking and grinned once more.

"Deduction.....very good...." Soval was quite pleased with the little girl's performance so far. He knelt down in her eye sight, keeping his finger with in the child's grasp. She clung to it, wrapping her small fingers around its circumference. Into the older man's head, flashes of emotions came passing softly. Mostly happiness and contentment, but also a brief show of concern for the loss in contact with her parents...

"Intelligence....Excellent...." He stood breaking his connection with the child abruptly.... Soval turned to T'Pol and Trip, beginning to give them his preliminary findings when....."Gurr....Gurr" The sounds from the little girl startled the older Vulcan.. He looked down and found her still reaching out to him. He replaced his finger and she took it eagerly. The Ambassador looked to T'Pol for an explanation.

"When Elizabeth finds she can not empathically communicate her needs with some one, she resorts to making that particular sound... She learned it after her time with our pet Sehlat...during an evening meditation." T'Pol seemed a bit nervous relaying that point and Trip couldn't understand why.

"Adaptability.....Very Good." Soval looked back to the child who was busy conveying her emotions about loosing contact with her parents. He bent down and took Elizabeth into his arms. The Captain remained in the chair watching the sight of this stoic Vulcan diplomat that on many occasions he'd fought tooth and nail with, now holding a baby with a father's expertise. Lizzie continued to hold his finger with one hand and rested a hand atop his shoulder with the other...She watched him as the Ambassador started talking with the group.

"She is quite intelligent....and shows great promise......I deduct from my contact her aptitudes are mostly in mathematics, and science, however she has keen hand eye coordination and demonstrates profound deductive reasoning abilities...." He was continuing with his evaluation when suddenly Lizzie grew tired of his dismissing her. She lunged forward, opened mouth and planted a very sloppy kiss upon his cheek. This startled the man, who leaned away and looked at her. She broke into her famous toothless grin and began grunting in delight. Trip came up quickly to take the child from the Vulcan elder. "Sorry about that....." He took Lizzie and held her close to him. The rest of the humans stifled a laugh, at the sight of the Vulcan getting so much affection from a six month old. T'Pol however looked shocked....and her tension level within their bond grew exponentially.

"What....." Ambassador Soval began to ask and T'Pol quickly stopped him.

"A human characteristic....." She stated swallowing the lump that had caught in her throat.

"What's its purpose?" Again he wondered why humans do what they do.

"It's just something cute....you know....cute....." Trip fumbled through trying to help T'Pol out of this jam and failing miserably.

"Socialization....." She replied quickly.

"Ahhh..." Soval seemed more satisfied with that answer...."Well it seems she has learned that one well.... She'll probably use it often." Soval replied dryly.

"I hope not..." Trip quipped back realizing he may have turned his sweet innocent little girl into a flirt.

"I have seen enough....from the testing, I'd say she ranks at a 4." Soval pulled a tricorder out from his pocket.

"A four?" Trip seemed displeased. "How come so low?"

"A four is not low.....There are only 5 levels... a 4 is an extremely good rating." T'Pol stepped in.

"Indeed...for her genetic makeup, it is surprising she would function past a 2.... " Soval was paying her a compliment, but Trip the dad wanted a 5 or nothing.

"What did she get off on...?" he asked still showing his competitive side.

"She lacked recognition of emotional control." The ambassador stated, fidgeting with the dials of his recorder.

"What....she's 6 months old....and she didn't know that you were controlling your emotions....that's what you graded her down for?" Trip was getting excited, his parents came up to stand behind him.

T'Pol sensing his defensiveness, moved up and placed a soft hand on his arm. "Trip....Vulcan babies can recognize the control and try to mimic it for brief time periods, even at 1 month old.... They are more mentally and empathically advanced than Human children. For Elizabeth to rate as a 4 is astonishing
....better than we could ever have hoped for. This indicates her intelligent and capable of attaining anything she sets her mind on. This is a very good thing."

"Indeed....T'Pol herself rated a 4 for her first testing....She has grown into an extremely capable individual....I would think you'd want no less for your daughter." Soval really wanted this man to know he was not judging his child.

"Well she's human too......she should be given special allowances." Trip placed a hand over T'Pol's and felt her nervousness remaining high.

"That is of no consequence.....she is Vulcan." The ambassador answered sharply and began searching the portion of the disc he needed.

T'Pol's tension turned immediately to glee...Trip however didn't like the human part of his daughter being dismissed. "What do you mean....it's of no consequence?"

"She may be half Human...but I have tested her and declared she has the characteristics of a Vulcan....so therefore she is a citizen of Vulcan." T'Pol let go of the breath she'd been holding.

"Now wait a minute there...." Trip started and his mate stopped him.

"Trip......What the Ambassador is trying to say, is that Elizabeth has a right to be listed as a Vulcan citizen.....gaining all the station and privileges that holds. She will be protected and honored for her accomplishments, and will not be held back based on her genetic make up. She will also be entitled to her inheritance, since no off worlder may own property on Vulcan."

"You mean your mom's house..?" He asked starting to understand a little.

"Yes and the land that stretches out several kilometers in every direction. She will gain the privileges of her heritage, and blood line, but mostly she will be protected there, as all children and females are. Moreover, she will not be looked down upon for her hybrid nature, since it would be illogical to judge her on anything other than her accomplishments. Can you say the same about Humans..?" Trip looked at her knowingly. They both heard a sobbing sound coming from the background and found Catherine Tucker fighting back the tears. T'Pol worried immediately that she had offended the older woman.

"Catherine...I assure you that Elizabeth will know the benefits of both cultures. This is only a formality to guarantee her citizenship...." The Human female stopped the Vulcan with an abrupt bear hug. T'Pol stood frozen by this gesture, her eyes were wide and body stiff. Within a moment, Trip peeled his mom off T'Pol. She was still crying softly.

"Mom..it's okay...It's just a legal thing..." Trip began.

"I know....it's just that it's so beautiful. I mean your father and I were talking last night about how and where you two could live to keep her safe and here, now we know she has a safe place there waiting for her....It's just such a loving thing to do.... And you came all that way to do this for us."
She turned to Soval and started for him, arms open. He jerked back and she caught herself with a weepy smile. "Thank you...." The older woman instead turned around and hugged tightly into her husband and son. The Ambassador relaxed..."You're welcome......What is the formal name you are to give to the child?"

"Well we haven't discussed a middle name yet." Trip said absently, then heard T'Pol in his mind.

(What was your sister's middle name?) she asked.

(Catherine....Elizabeth Catherine Tucker.) he replied.

"Her name will be Elizabeth Catherine Tucker......"T'Pol stated evenly without giving Trip a chance to argue the point. Gramma's eyes grew wide and tears began to flow again, followed by Poppy's this time too.

Soval flipped the button on his tricorder and spoke clearly in an official manner.

"I, ambassador Soval of Vulcan, do here by certify that on this date the 12th day of February in the year 2155, that the child Elizabeth Catherine Tucker, child of Charles Tucker III, child of T’Pol has been tested and found to be a Vulcan in good standing, and shall be deemed to attain the heritage and privileges coming to her as a child of her illustrious bloodline. She is to be honored and protected from this day forward. No claims maybe made against her, in that she has successfully passed all tests qualifying her for this endowment and has shown to be worthy of her heritage."

The Vulcan flipped off the recorder and went over to once more connect with the child. She stared up at him contented, and for a moment, the older male wasn't sure, but he thought she may be trying to mimic his control after all......(Fascinating.....)

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Part 9

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A whole mess of folks have made comments

Sweet scenes with the growing Tucker family! Good girl, Lizzie, plantin' a big, wet one on the BOV! Trip and Jon are bound to toast that one later. Trip's Mom is too much: quizing T'Pol about her feelings, her reaction to Phlox and the waterworks at the end. Oh, and the Age thing...Trip's not off the hook there, right?

Great fun.

LOL, Poor Ol Soval gettin a big ol wet one!LOL
Dang thats a cute one. So is she a 4 or a 5 now? ;) Either way good to know that she picked up her parents good traits along with a couple of their bad one's to. Cant wait for the next chapter,, an BTW let it keep growin,, trust me it wont get old. :)

Love it!! More, more...

Seems like we have a lil' ol summer series growing here!! Like Mitchell said above, it won't get old!!
I don't think anyone here would get tired of reading stories about Lizzie and her parents. After all, this is how we really wanted it to turn out, didn't we??

i loved it cant wait for the next part keep it comming

Yeah this defnitely keeps getting better and better, and since we have no show anymore, why not just let this one go on until you can't write it anymore....we are all certainly enjoying a lot!

This story just gets better and better. Please just keep it going.

Cute, cute, cute!

Don't wanna be a spoilsport, but current infant feeding guidelines call for cereal at 4 to 6 months, followed by fruits and vegetables, then meat at 8 mos. (There's very little iron in fruits and veggies and babies get anemic if you don't add iron enriched cereals by 6 mos.) Of course, you can suppose a change of recommendations in the future if you want to, and the needs of Vulcan babies are anybody's guess. (Sorry! Couldn't help it. I've been a doctor too long and a mom even longer. Don't mind me.)

Yay! Another chappie! Can't wait for more, this story rocks! :)

Thanks...I am loving this serie too and don't want to rush the remaining material, but I have already written the addendum and it's so damn cute I can't wait to post it. But I gotta get this next segment out before that... I have decided, that based on the facts in the addendum, there will be a sequel, but haven't given it a name yet. I'll decide on it before I post the addendum, so you'll know what to look for. Thanks again....I'm glad you all are liking this series....T

Sorry Distracted.....I did say iron didn't I....I meant Potassium, Damn....my biochem is getting rusty....That's not good considering my profession......Thanks for picking up on that....T

Update soon please.

fantastic, please continue, Thanks TLR, you've saved my day.. miss them..

beautifully done....more please.

Nice tension at the Captain's mess! Trip's in for it later, right?
Keep it comin', knone minds!
Soval holding Liz? Cute!:)

I have really enjoyed this series! Thanks so much! I wish I had the money to finance the miniseries version!

Lovely! Very much enjoying this, Ali D :~)

Fantastic!!! Please keep adding to it, its wonderful! I love this series and I'm with everyone else-it won't get old!!!! Thank you!

Great chapter! Trip just can't get over her age can he? Can't wait to read what happens next!