Hero

Hero

By Triplover

Disclaimer: What I own is nothing but what I own. This is not one of the things I own because if it was then I’d own it but I don’t so don’t sue! Anyone understand that? :D
Rating: PG
Summary: The son of Charles Tucker of Earth and T’Pol of Vulcan must write about his hero. So who does he chose and what does he say?
A/N: I couldn’t get this idea out of my mind so here it is! Enjoy! Oh and can’t forget to thank my beta… thanks HopefulNebula!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Varen Tucker opened his eyes slowly as everything began to come into focus. “Father?”

His father was sitting on the bed smiling at him. “Hey kiddo, rise and shine! I let you sleep longer than I should have so ya better get up and goin’ before we both get a lecture from your mother.”

Varen almost smiled at the comment but his Vulcan nature won out before he could. Though he was far more expressive than most when it came to his emotions… showing these emotions would only occur around his father, since anyone else would not approve. Living on Vulcan though opened many opportunities was also quite hard. Many did not approve of him since he was not completely Vulcan but a mixture of Human and Vulcan. Many called him ‘half-breed’, which was a term Varen had grown not to like. “Where is mother?”

“Cookin’ breakfast. Now get up sleepy head. Come on… you have to get ready. I’m takin’ ya to school today.”

Varen nodded and sat up in bed. “Of course father. I am sorry, I forgot to put on the alarm with everything that happened last night.”

His father smiled warmly at him then patted him on the shoulder. “I hope that means ya had a good time on Earth hangin’ with Uncle Jon and Uncle Malcolm.”

Varen raised his eyebrows just like his mother would normally. He was always referred to by his father as ‘his mother’s child’, since from an early age on he had always wanted to be like his mother in every way possible. “I will never understand why you call them my uncles. There is no blood relationship between any of them and myself. They are simply your friends who have known you a long time.”

His father chuckled shaking your head. “You certainly are your mother’s child now aren’t ya.”

Varen’s eyebrows rose even higher as he got out of bed. He seemed to say that almost every day now. “I think I will pick out what I shall wear now. I’m told it will be hotter than usual today.”

His father nodded then stood. “Then I think I’ll help your mother with the fruit salad. Oh and get home as soon as ya can after school. Your mother promised me some Key Lime pie for dessert and I know ya won’t wanna miss that! See ya.” With that he made his leave to let his son dress. Finally Varen allowed himself to smile.

==

School was almost over and Varen was itching to leave as soon as the gong rang. Only five minutes left. Varen watched the clock. “Now I shall give you your homework children.”

That caught his attention as took his padd in hand to write down the homework. “I wish for you all to write three paragraphs on the person who has most inspired you. The person you most appreciate and cherish… someone you see as a role model. And I will not accept Surak. I am speaking about someone you know well or can at least talk to. Is that understood?”

The entire class nodded. It was then that the gong rang and Varen was out of his seat before anyone else.

==

“Varen,” one of his classmates called out as he ran out of the school. Varen looked back to see Sorik and T’Sel walking towards him. Sorik and T’Sel were probably about the only two real friends he had. Neither they nor their parents had any problems with Varen being of mixed heritage probably because Sorik’s parents worked with Varen’s father and T’Sel’s parents were both ambassadors. Sorik and T’Sel were going to be bonded once old enough as husband and wife.

“Yes?”

“So who are you going to do your report about?” asked Sorik.

“I do not know just yet. There are many people I admire,” Varen told them.

T’Sel nodded. “I too do not know of whom I shall speak. I’d rather not choose one of my parents, though, since that is probably what everyone else will do.”

Sorik rolled his eyes. He was one of the more… expressive Vulcans. “I will never write about my parents. Especially since it is my brother who I admire most. He’s a Sub-Commander in the Vulcan High Command you know.”

Varen and T’Sel moved their heads back. “We know.”

Finally Varen let out a long breath and began walking with his two friends right beside him. “I do not know who to chose myself. I have always admired my mother greatly but I have the same respect and admiration for my father as well. It could never be easy to leave everything you have… your dream and live on a planet filled with beings that don’t even quite except you. My father misses his home greatly. But then there are also Admiral Archer and Commander Reed who both have taken an active role in helping my parents raise me. And of course there are Lieutenants Sato and Mayweather. This will be a hard undertaking.”

T’Sel and Sorik looked at each other with worried expressions on their faces. “Do not worry yourself about it too much Varen. Simply chose who you think most deserves your praise,” T’Sel offered.

Varen nodded and looked down at his shoes while he walked. “This will be the death of me.”

Sorik walked ahead of Varen and turned around to face him and look him in the eyes. “You have all week to work on it Varen. I’m sure by the due date you will be finished. And I’m willing to bet you’ll get an A as well, partly because you’ve never gotten anything lower than a B in your life… and partly because you are a great writer. Do not worry about it too much. You’ll do just fine.”

==

When Varen finally reached his house he was tired. Not because of the long walk but because of lack of sleep from the day before. He had not gotten home until late and now he was paying for it. “Hey kiddo!”

Varen looked up at his father and nodded. “Hello father. I see you’re home from work early today.”

His father nodded. “Sure am. Starfleet’s sent a few more engineers to help me with workin’ with the Vulcans. Vor has been showin’ me a lot of new technologies that will be pretty damn useful to us. I’m thinkin’ this exchange of ideas was a better idea every day. You wouldn’t believe the progress we’ve made with those EM shields we’ve been workin’ on. And we thought they were good now… by the time we’re done not even ten torpedos could make a gap in the field.”

Varen enjoyed hearing about his father’s work. He was a brilliant engineer. The Vulcans could no longer ignore this now with all the help he had provided in so many projects. Varen too was looking forward to a career in engineering like his father. He had always enjoyed the field and his father’s many stories about things that have happened back on Enterprise… attacks mostly where there was damage that would destroy the ship if someone didn’t fix it. Those were some of his favorites. “Father?”

“Yeah buddy?”

“Can I go with Lieutenant Mayweather to Risa next weekend?”

“Nope.”

“But father!”

“Nope.”

Varen sighed loudly and folded his arms. “Nolan Reed is going.”

“And you’re not… go figure.”

Varen frowned. It wasn’t going to work. He would never be able to go. It was logical to just move on. Perhaps later he could try again. “Father?”

“Uh huh.”

“Who do you admire most? Who’s the person you most want to be like?”

His father sighed frowning as he thought for a moment. “Well Zephram Cochrane was always the person I admired most. Why?”

Varen shook his head. “No, I mean someone you know… someone you’ve talked to.”

His father sighed. “Then I guess I’d have to pick Jonathan Archer. He’s been one of my best friends for bout twenty-six years now.” Varen nodded. Of course he’d pick the Admiral. His father had always had an appreciation for Archer. “So why this line of questionin’?”

“I have to write a few paragraphs about the person I most admire. I am having trouble choosing.”

His father smiled warmly. “I see. Well who’s on your list? Maybe I can help.”

Varen shook his head. “It’s okay father. I will do this myself. It is my work.”

==Day Two==

Varen frowned. He was no closer in finding who he most admired than he had been yesterday. This was taking forever. How could he possibly pick someone over another? They influenced him in someway. “Perhaps you should talk to others about the people on your list son. They may give you insight on things you did not know about each.”

Varen looked up at his mother, momentarily pausing in chopping up the onions. “I never thought about that mother… thank you.”

His mother nodded and got back to finishing dinner when Varen turned to look at her. “Mother… what was father like before you two were married?”

T’Pol looked over at him with a hint of a smile in her eyes. “He was… charming, hot-headed and kind. In one moment you could go from wishing for something bad to happen to him to wanting to be closer to him in some way. When I first met your father he challenged me more than anyone else. He also had an uncanny ability to see right through me.”

Varen smiled. “Were you always close friends?”

T’Pol shook her head. “No. It wasn’t until later that our relationship began to change.”

“What happened?”

“He read my mail.”

“He what?!” Varen asked in confusion.

“He read my mail. A message was sent to my computer. It was from the parents of the man I was betrothed to.”

“And?”

“He found out about. Thinking it might be something else, Archer ordered him to read it. Neither knew it was about Koss and so your father was very ashamed when he realized it was not what they thought it to be.”

“What happened next?”

“He told me what he did.”

Varen’s eyes went wide. “He told you?!”

“His conscience was bothering him. After he told me, I soon realized that the fact that he knew could very well be good for me since I had been undergoing a lot of pressure. I asked him to my quarters for his advice.”

“What did he tell you?”

“He told me to do what I wanted to do. He told me to choose for myself.”

Varen took a seat though keeping his eyes on his mother. “But if you stayed you’d be breaking tradition.”

T’Pol stopped what she was doing and looked down at her son. “If I had not chosen to stay on Enterprise you would not be here right now. And my life would not be as complete as it is.”

Varen cocked his head to the side then looked out of the kitchen at his father who was busy working. “You chose him? Or did you choose Enterprise at the time?”

T’Pol hesitated. Then looked over at what her son was looking at. “Both… though I did not know it at the time.”

==

Varen had a lot to think about. It wasn’t until now that he realized just how little he knew about his father. In fact he knew more about his mother than his father. Since Varen had always wanted to be like his mother he had never really thought that much about his father’s past. Although Varen was very close to his father and loved him more than anything else in the world he never really talked to him about anything else other than his own life or engineering.

As a kid he’d hear about adventures his father had on Enterprise but that was where it ended. There was much he needed to know obviously. And now was a good time as any to finally listen. He had to learn more about him. And thankfully he knew one person who knew his father almost as well as his mother. Admiral Jonathan Archer.

==

“Varen, what’s up? You look tired,” Archer pointed out on the console screen before him. Varen nodded.

“I have fallen away from my normal habits. It is very hard to start back up again. I have some things I need to ask you about.”

“Of course, you know I’d do anything for my favorite godson!”

“I’m your only godson,” Varen pointed out.

Archer smiled. “So then my statement was true, wasn’t it? So, what did you want to ask me?”

Varen breathed in deep and looked straight at the man who’d helped raise him from day one. “I need to obtain information about my father.”

“Why don’t you just ask Trip yourself?”

“I would but it’s complicated. What was he like when you first knew him? Was he very different from now?”

Archer chuckled. “When I met him he was a Lieutenant and a damn good engineer as always. I’ve told you the story of how we met haven’t I?”

Varen remembered that story well. Both his father and Archer had told him the story many times. It was an interesting story. “You have, but I don’t want to know how you met. I wish to know how you two became friends… or what drew you to him.”

Archer’s grin grew every second. “Well Trip was always such an outgoing guy! Very fun to be around. Especially when you were looking for a good time. He could drink me under the table too! He also had an awful track record with women. I remember this one time when he was chasing this one woman for almost a month only to find out she was actually a second cousin… or something like that. All I know was she was a blood relative. If you’d seen the look on his face even you’d have to laugh. I’d never laughed so hard in my life.”

“He’s nothing like that now,” Varen exclaimed.

Archer sighed. “Well things do change. Even on Enterprise you could see that things were different as the years went by. We all changed, especially after the attack on Earth. I don’t think there was a single person on Enterprise that was the same after that. Trip became way more serious. In fact that’s about the time that he started showing his feelings for T’Pol. There were tons of rumors about it. They became really close that year. The next thing I knew T’Pol was going through Pon Farr and had chosen Trip to be her mate. They were married as dictated in Vulcan tradition. A month or so later they realized they’d have a new addition.”

Varen’s eyes shined as he realized who that new addition was. “Me.”

“Yup. You should have seen how happy your father was. I’d never seen him so excited. The guy was practically skipping around Enterprise the entire day. Every chance he got he was telling one of the crew that he was going to be a father. He’d check up on your mother every five minutes too. Drove your mother crazy,” Archer chuckled. “I’ll never forget the look on his face. It was the first time I’d seen him smile that brightly in a long time.”

Even Varen couldn’t help but smile. “Really?”

“He would tell me for hours on end about everything he’d do with you. If you were a boy you’d go fishing, play football… he’d teach you how to fly a ship and fix a broken relay. If you were a girl… well he’d do the same thing only without the football.”

“So how did I get my name?”

Archer sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “Trip thought of it. He wanted you to have a Vulcan name and so he looked up names in the Vulcan database. When he finally found a good one he told T’Pol only to find out that was T’Pol’s uncle’s name. The only family she had that ever truly approved of her decisions in life. He was the only one that ever accepted the fact that she had bonded with a Human. It was the perfect name.”

Varen’s smile grew. “I had no idea.”

Archer moved toward his console. “But nothing could ever compare to the day you were born. Trip, T’Pol and I were eating breakfast in the captain’s mess when T’Pol started having contractions. We took her to sickbay. The doctor hadn’t realized how many complications there would be. You almost died. Trip was pacing back and forth like crazy. When you finally came out… the doctor put you in his arms and Trip wouldn’t let you go. He held you for hours, the rest of the day in fact. He just couldn’t stop staring down at you. You were the image of your father. Bluish gray eyes, dirty blond hair and that nose!”

Varen laughed slightly. “Thanks Admiral.”

“Anytime buddy… anytime.”

==

Trip got home late. He was more than tired after the day he’d had. Vulcans were just so damn stubborn sometimes! It took him hours just to convince them that what he wanted to do wasn’t too dangerous. Then the rest of the day trying to actually do what he wanted to do without one of the people on the team stopping him. All he wanted to do was rest. “Father!”

Trip rubbed his eyes and smiled. “Hey kiddo.”

“You do not look very good today,” Varen noticed.

Trip walked over to his son and patted him on the shoulder. “Long day today Varen. I think I’ll go get some sleep.” Trip began walking away to his quarters.

“Father?” Trip turned around to see his son walk over to him and to his surprise hug him. “I love you.”

“I love you too son. I love you too.”

==

Varen looked out his window sighing loudly. What Admiral Archer had told him was just repeating in his mind over and over again. He’d never thought about how his father had felt when he as born. But now he knew. There was only one question left on his mind. “Mother?”

“Yes Varen?”

“Why did we move to Vulcan?”

“It was your father’s idea.”

“Father wanted to do this?”

His mother looked him in the eye and cocked her head. “We knew Enterprise was no place for a child. He wanted to give you everything. He knew living on Vulcan would be good for you. And so he asked for Starfleet to give him something to do here. By this time Starfleet was working with the Vulcans in making new technologies. He took a job here and we moved.”

“But the people here don’t even like him!”

T’Pol got out of her seat and kneeled in front of him. “No they don’t. But he loves you… he would die if it would mean saving you. Without you… he would not be complete.” With that she left the room putting his clothes away in their place. Varen smiled. He finally knew what to write.

==

It was the last day… the class would have to read their papers to the class and T’Sel was almost done. Varen swallowed just as T’Sel took her seat. “Varen?”

Varen stood and walked to the front of the class and cleared his throat.

“My father is a Human. He has not always been logical but I could not ask for a better father. He always put my needs before his… even when it wasn’t easy to do. When my mother first met my father all she could see was what was on the outside. The illogical human that seemed smug and careless. But things were not what they seemed to be.

I asked my mother when she first began to see who he truly was. She told me the story and I could not suppress my surprise. My mother had a choice to make. Come back to Vulcan and marry a man she did not even know or stay on Enterprise. She asked my father for his advice, and all he told her was to do what SHE wanted to do. If she chose to stay on Enterprise, of course it would mean not following tradition but when I pointed this out to her she said something I do not think I will ever forget.

She said… “If I had not chosen to stay on Enterprise you would not be here right now. And my life would not be as complete as it is.”

After the Xindi attack on Earth many things changed for my father. He lost his sister in the attack and his more volatile emotions seemed to temporarily take over. It was a dark period for my father but even then his relationship with my mother only grew. When my mother chose him to be her mate he did whatever he could to learn about the Vulcan culture. He wanted to do whatever he could for my mother.

But there is one thing I will never forget. Here he was never treated right because he was human and yet he was willing to leave his life back on Enterprise… the place he worked years to get to just so that I would have everything even though I didn’t deserve it. He gave up everything for me. I owe him my life… and my respect.

He is and forever will be my hero… the one I most admire. Not because he’s a brilliant engineer or a kind man but because he gave me everything and never asked for anything in return. And if it takes the rest of my life to show him how grateful I am then I am willing. I could not ask for a better father.”

==

Trip Tucker smiled at the woman before him. “You know… Varen won’t be back for at least an hour.”

T’Pol shook her head. “School let’s out early today Charles. He’ll be here any second.”

Trip frowned. Well there goes that idea! The human moved his hands around T’Pol’s waste drawing her closer. “I’ve missed ya. We haven’t spent any time alone for weeks now. We need a romantic night out one of these days.”

“Perhaps… but not today.”

Trip smiled and kissed his wife. It was then that he heard someone clearing their throat. Trip let T’Pol go and turned around smiling to see his son standing there. “Hey you!”

“Hello father… mother. Sorry to… interrupt. I just got home from school.”

“How’d your paper go? Get a good grade?”

Varen smiled proudly. “I got the highest grade in the class. The teacher was quite impressed.”

“Way to go kiddo! Let me see it!” Trip had wanted to look at it as soon as his son had told him it was done.

Varen hesitated before taking it out of his bag. He handed the padd to Trip, who took a seat and began reading. Halfway through he looked back up at Varen and smiled then went back to reading. By the end his eyes were watering. He again looked up at his son and smiled. “You wrote this?”

Varen nodded. “I did. I thought it would be a good way to express my appreciation for you since I am not good at expressing my emotions verbally.”

Trip stood and walked over to his son hugging him tightly. “Ya know… you’re my hero too.”

Varen cocked his head at his father. “I have done nothing to deserve this father.”

Trip shook his head. “You’ve given me purpose Varen… you complete me. That’s why you’re my hero. And I couldn’t ask for a better son.”

Varen smiled back at his father. “Does this mean I can go with Lieutenant Mayweather to Risa next weekend now?”

Trip chuckled. “Nope.”

The End

A/N: This is dedicated to my parents. To my dad who is both annoying and wonderful all at the same time, and always knows how to make me laugh… he’ll always be my hero… though this doesn’t mean I’m going to stop driving you crazy! And to my mom for being so hard working and giving ME everything even though I don’t deserve it! Love you both! :D And happy anniversary!

Continued in the sequel Opened Eyes

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

This was great! What a lovely, sweet tribute, Triplover!

Is tearing up at this illegal? coz I am!

I love this, Triplover.

Didn't help that at the end "Hero" (aka wind beneath my wings) came on...such a blubber moment...

Oh somebody get my a tissue!

Great little fic..... and appropriate in that it is just after Mother's day. Parents really are hero's!

Oh well done. Very well done.

*sniff*

Very sweet, and lovely.

Varen was adorable. I loved the tender relationship between Trip and Varen, and how Varen came to realize and appreciate the sacrifices Trip made for him. Very nice tribute to your parents.

You made me cry!!! I haven't cried at a fanfic in ages. Wonderful story. I have to go call my dad now.

I loved this, but am I greedy for wishing we had seen the class's reaction and what his teacher had to say? I would like to think a few people's attitudes were changed by Varen's insight. Lovely job, thanks a million! Ali D :~)

An interesting idea Ali... perhaps it's not to late... ;)

Precious. Very sweet and sincere. Nicely done.

It was a very touching story. And I am glad to see I'm not the only one wanting to see the reactions of his classmates. Poor kid, never going to get to Risa. ;)

Very sweet -- your parents must be thrilled with this lovely tribute!

I had both of them read it... they both loved it. And my mom loves the T/T relationship so she loved it double!

And as I told Ali Alora... you might just get your wish... we'll see.

Great story! Well written!

I loved the end!

I can hear Trip chuckling and saying "Nope" just as calm as you please to Varen.

Just like the wonderful dad I know he would be.

*sniff* I don't think I can quite speak now. There seems to be something stuck in my throat.

I like the way you wrote T/T here - I can just picture them after marriage. Varen seems like an adorable child. Great story.

Triplover, this is beautiful! I read the story while I was visiting my parents, actually, so it caught me in exactly the right mood. Wonderful, really! Thanks for writing this.