Sweet Sorrow

Sweet Sorrow

By vandiver49

Rating: G, Angst, Friendship, Romance

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters associated with Star Trek, I’m just borrowing them for a moment. Please don’t sue; people in the Navy don’t make that much money.

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Chapter One

So Hard to Say Goodbye

After three years of exploration, the starship Enterprise was finally returning home. They had made many friends as well as a couple of enemies, but on the whole humanity’s first steps into the galaxy at large had proven to be a success. Now it was time for everyone to go there separate ways, something Trip Tucker found a little difficult. He knew that he would probably see all of his friends again, with one exception; T’Pol. As Enterprise settled into orbit around Vulcan, he knew his time with her was fleeting. If someone would have told him when he signed up for this mission that some Vulcan chick would end up being one of his closet friends and the well of his affections, he’d have politely escorted them out the nearest airlock. But here he was, walking to the shuttlebay, silently mulling over his feelings for the departing Science Officer.

Trip wasn’t exactly sure when it happened, probably during one their arguments over warp core performance or maybe he was questioning her orders again, but the cause was irrelevant. What was relevant on that faithful day was inconceivable, especially to Trip. As T’Pol attempted to get him to see her point of view, he found himself focusing on her full lips, and how beautiful they were, instead of the words that were coming out. Shocked, Trip attempted to rein his clearly illogical thoughts in but it was too late. His mind continued to drink in T’Pol amazing countenance, from her big brown eyes to her cute little nose, from her perfectly cropped hair to those delectable elfin ears. Trip’s daydreaming and vacuous expression only further irritated T’Pol, causing her to turn and storm off in disdain. "Damn, Malcolm was right." He thought. "She does have a nice butt." That’s when Trip realized he was going out of his mind.

That was over six months ago, and it only proceeded to get worse. Apparently, Cupid’s arrows were warp capable. He also figured the chubby little tyke had a demented sense of humor. How else could anyone explain how he could have a crush on a Vulcan? Only fate could be so cruel. He knew that there was zero possibility of a relationship between them, other than the friendship that they had come to share. He knew his love was simply a lost cause. Trip instead did what he thought anyone under similar circumstances would and concealed his feelings. He played his part flawlessly, purposefully antagonizing T’Pol every so often as to maintain the status quo of their friendship. But it was a difficult and painful part to play, providing him with several sleepless nights when he was ‘out of character.’ As the final days of Enterprise’s maiden voyage drew to a close, Trip considered telling T’Pol how he felt about her, how much he loved her, how much she meant to him, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to do so, knowing he wouldn’t be able to bare her undeniable rejection. So he chose instead to remain silent, and to cherish the wonderful friendship they had. Trip finally reached the shuttlebay to find T’Pol in the midst of packing.

"Hey T’Pol, you got all your stuff together?" He asked cheerfully.

"Yes Commander, I believe so." T’Pol replied as she placed a final container into the shuttlepod. "I am simply waiting on my pilot, Lieutenant Mayweather."

"Well you know I can fly ya down." Trip offered as he wasn’t ready for him and T’Pol to part company.

"Commander, after spending two years on Enterprise, it would be tragic irony for me to perish on decent to Vulcan."

"Ha ha, very funny. You know my flyin’ gotten better since we first met."

T’Pol decided to graciously accept his offer. "Very well Commander, I will simply ensure that my harness is secure."

"Careful T’Pol, someone might mistake you for a comedian." Trip smiled in response.

Of all the friends T’Pol had acquired onboard Enterprise, she considered Trip her best. He was the one whom she opened up to and even confided in on several occasions. And while the two of them still engaged in heated discussions, they had evolved into the cornerstone of their friendship, it was just how they related to each other. Trip even thought she was funny, a testament to her budding sense of humor. She had to admit that it was one bad habit that she wasn’t entirely ashamed of. "Commander, I was hardly attempting to be humorous." But she was in no way about the give Trip the satisfaction of that knowledge. She was pleased though to be able to spend a few more moments with the Chief Engineer.

As the two made their decent to Vulcan, Trip decided to strike up a final conversation. "So did you enjoying all of your going-away presents?"

"Yes Commander, I am especially looking forward solving the ‘Rubik’s Cube’ you gave me."

"I’m sure you’ll fair better than I did. The only way I could solve the damn thing was to cheat."

T’Pol remained silent as she looked over towards Trip. She was definitely going to miss the way he made her inwardly smile.

"So what do you plan to do now?"

"I will be getting married tomorrow."

The shuttlepod suddenly encountered some pilot-induced turbulence.

"Careful Commander, I should very much like to arrive alive."

Trip cringed as his actions conveyed his obvious distress over the news. "Sorry T’Pol, I was just a little taken back that’s all." He replied, hoping she would believe it. "I mean, I figured you and Koss would be getting’ together when you got back, but just not so soon."

"Koss is no longer my betrothed." She said flatly.

"Huh? What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?"

"He could no longer wait for my return."

"Oh, I’m sorry. So who’s the new lucky guy?" Trip inquired as the shuttlepod touched down on the surface."

"I do not know. Being that my first marriage was terminated, my parents were forced to find another suitable mate. As such I lost to right to know who that would be."

Trip suddenly felt somewhat guilty about the ‘advice’ he had given her a little over a year ago. "T’Pol did you know this might happen?"

"Yes."

"So why didn’t you come back when he asked for you?"

"Because Commander, I did what I wanted to do. There is no action that goes without consequence, this just happens to be mine."

Trip wanted to argue the merits of her logic on the subject on it but decided against it as his concern could reveal his true feelings.

"Well he we are." Trip said as he powered down the shuttlepod. After removing the singular box that contained all of T’Pol’s affects, it appeared as though the inevitable could no longer be delayed.

"Well I guess this is goodbye." Trip said begrudgingly.

Of all the words in the human language, goodbye lacked a literal translation in Vulcan. As T’Pol understood the word, it offered no hope of being together again, a final departure. Yet that was exactly what this was. It was curious that she could say farewell to the rest of the crew so easily, yet for some reason could not do the same for Trip. The thought of knowing that she would not be able to hear him laugh, gaze into his brilliant blue eyes or look upon his sandy blond hair was a concept she found truly distressing.

"Commander, Enterprise is not scheduled to leave for another day and a half, would you like to attend my marriage?"

Trip’s eyes lit up. "I’d be honored to. Wait, I don’t wanna intrude or anything, I know a private Vulcans are about ceremonies and stuff."

"One of the rights I still have is to invite whomever I so choose."

"Great, well I’ll just fly back to Enterprise and be back down tomorrow."

"That will be unnecessary Commander; you may stay at my parents’ domicile."

"Oh no." Trip said as he flashed his hands in rejection. "Come on T’Pol, you could only manage staying on Enterprise because of your little nasal inhibitors. Messing with you is one thing, but there no way I’m offending your family."

"I assure you Commander, your concern is unwarranted."

"Alright T’Pol, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The two friends walked for several hundred meters as the sun set in distance. It was dusk by the time they reached T’Pol’s home. Before knocking on the door, T’Pol turned to face Trip, sensing his increasing trepidation.

"You must calm yourself Commander; you are placing more mental strain on this situation than is warranted."

"Easy for you to say, I feel like I’m going before the Spanish Inquisition." Trip gave some serious consideration to reneging, simply walking back to the shuttle and camping out there for the night. But all hopes for a discrete retreat were dashed when the door opened to reveal T’Pol’s parents.

"Hello Mother, Father, I am home."

Continued in Chapter 2

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