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Sweet Sorrow- Ch. 2

Author - vandiver
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Sweet Sorrow

By vandiver49

Rating: G, Angst, Friendship, Romance

Disclaimers in Chapter 1

*******

Chapter Two

Meet the Parents

Fight or Flight; that's the common name to the innate survival instinct embedded within every human being. And while evolution had given humanity the mental capacity to render this instinct obsolete, there existed numerous situations that still elicited such a response. For Commander Tucker, standing before the parents of T'Pol certainly constituted as one of those rare occasions. It wasn't like Trip was xenophobic, although he did harbor a certain distrust for most Vulcans. Regardless, his extreme level of discomfort was undeniable, as evident by his racing pulse and sweaty palms.

*Good Evening T'Pol, your mother and I are pleased you have returned. Who is your human companion?* Her father asked, choosing to confront the awkwardness of the moment directly.

"He is my friend. Mother, Father, this is Commander Charles Tucker III; Charles, this is my mother S'Ryn and my father Vasonn." T'Pol replied in English.

"A pleasure to meet you." Trip said as he stepped forward to render the customary Vulcan greeting, bowing ever so slightly.

As T'Pol's parents returned his gesture in kind, Trip couldn't help but notice what an imposing figure T'Pol's father was as he towered heavily over present company. S'Ryn was a sharp contrast by comparison, her diminutive stature and appearance bearing and uncanny resemblance to that of Ambassador V'Lar.

"Father, I have invited Commander Tucker to my wedding tomorrow as well as shelter here for tonight." T'Pol stated. Trip watched as T'Pol stared her father down, almost as though she were daring him not to acquiesce to her wishes.

"Very well T'Pol, your friend is welcome to stay." Vasonn said, the last word of his concession struggling to cross his lips. "We will be preparing for dinner shortly." He finished.

Trip followed T'Pol across the threshold onto the shale floor and adobe walls of the remarkably Spartan home; its interior a barren and dry as the desert landscape. T'Pol led him through what appeared to be the common area, to one of the few adjoining rooms.

"You may sleep here tonight." She said while turning on the lights.

Trip went and immediately sat on the bed, or what passed for beds on Vulcan as it gave marginally under his weight. "So whose room is this?"

"It used to be my older sister's."

"And I take it she moved out?"

"Yes, she lives several kilometers from here with her husband and children." T'Pol answered somewhat reluctantly.

Trip could tell from her response that he had just touched upon a sensitive topic and aptly decided to subject. "So, what's for dinner tonight?"

T'Pol quickly sniffed the air to ascertain the answer. "If I'm not mistaken, it's Plomeek Soup."

"I shoulda known." Trip derided as he rolled his eyes.

"I must go help my mother prepare dinner Commander; I trust you can find you way to the dining table without assistance?" T'Pol asked before turning to leave.

"Yea, I don't think I'll get lost."

T'Pol left out and walked toward the kitchen, where her mother was putting the finishing touches on the soup.

*Do you require assistance Mother?*

*Yes, could you take those to bowls to the table for me.*

As T'Pol reached for the bowls, S'Ryn decided to make her own inquires about tonight's dinner guest. *T'Pol, why have you invited this human to your wedding ceremony?*

*I believe I introduced him to you earlier Mother." T'Pol answered, her voice containing the slightest hint of annoyance. *Besides, I invited him because it is my right to.*

*Yes, it is your right to invite whomever you so choose, but you have neglected to invite your sister or any of your associates here.*

*Mother, you know as well as I that they would not have come even if I invited them.*

*Perhaps, if you had returned to Vulcan when you were asked, you would not be in such a predicament.*

T'Pol snatched the bowls up with mild irritation as there was no refuting her mother's harsh brand of logic.

T'Pol initially walked evenly towards the table with a steadfast grasp on the bowls until she saw Trip, alone at the table with her father, their cold silence causing her to hasten her pace. She placed the two bowls in front of them and waited for her mother before sitting herself.

With dinner finally served, the three Vulcans began their meticulous art of eating, Trip, never one to rebuke his mother's upbringing, knelt his head in prayer.

*What is he doing?* Vasonn asked of his daughter.

*He is praying Father.* T'Pol whispered back.

*I told you that humans were still far too illogical for interstellar travel.*

T'Pol chose to ignore her father's remarks, silently relishing the fact that his words were unintelligible to her friend.

With his prayer complete, Trip's focus returned to that of the three Vulcans surrounding him, and the pale green broth that was supposed to pass as soup. He recalled prior dinners he had with Vulcans, and surmised that this one should be no different. T'Pol had commented on several occasions that Vulcans didn't engage in small, especially over dinner. With renewed confidence, Trip picked up the lone spoon and attempted to enjoy the marginally palatable meal. Unfortunately for the Chief Engineer, everything that had infuriated him about T'Pol during there first year together would prove not to be learned traits, but qualities she inherited from her father.

"Commander Tucker, what exactly was your position on the Enterprise?" Vasonn asked.

"Well sir, I'm currently the ships' Chief Engineer."

"I image that you found the exploration of space quite monotonous, being that your ship could only travel at Warp 5."

"No, we managed to get around quite nicely." Trip deftly replied, averting Vasonn's lightly veiled insult.

"Will you be returning to Earth after leaving here?"

"No, we have about a month and a half of exploring left before we finally make the turn for home."

"So there will not be a Vulcan liaison for the final portion of your journey?" Vasonn asked, somewhat distressed.

"Nah, I guess your High Command figures we can't cause too much trouble this close to home."

*I cannot believe the High Command would actually let humans gallivant around the galaxy without our supervision.* Vasonn said to her daughter, in complete disregard to etiquette.

*Father, I personally believe that humanity have proven themselves to be a very capable space-faring race.* T'Pol said in her ships' defense.

Vasonn slowly rolled his gaze towards his daughter in what could only be described as astonishment. *That T'Pol is completely illogical. * He stressed. *You need but to simply recall the numerous mishaps and near disasters the Enterprise encountered during your own tenure. *

S'Ryn finally decided to interject, breaking up her husband and daughter's bickering. "So Commander, where have your travels taken you?"

"Well we've been to the Klingon Homeworld, Tandar, Risa and we're scheduled to visit Andoria when we leave here." Trip answered, wondering how long they were going to sit there and ignore him.

"Why is the Enterprise going to there?" Vasonn asked as this plucked a major discord within him. "Are you not aware of the paranoia and suspicion that's grips most Andorians. They are an extremely dangerous race."

"Yes, we are aware that they stay paranoid most of the time." Trip said sternly, the tension in the room steadily rising. "But that doesn't make them any more or less dangerous than the other two-dozen races we've encountered in the past two years. Besides, they invited us, seeing as how we've help them out of some sticky situations once or twice."

"Situations like the one you created at P'Jemm?" Vasonn directly accused.

Though slightly flustered, Trip still managed an equally trained response. "We didn't create that particular situation. It was one that was bound to escalate with or without our interference."

*See, even after two years, they fail to understand the integral aspects and complex nuances of interstellar diplomacy.* Vasonn said for all Vulcan ears, choosing once again to not even acknowledge the Chief Engineer's presence.

T'Pol was but a breath away from dissenting with her father's caustic remarks, but Trip's patience was at an end. "You know Vasonn, while we humans might not be able to understand the integral aspects and complex nuances of interstellar diplomacy, we do know how to honor our treaties and give whom we are supposed to be aligned with the benefit of the doubt." He said, finally tipping his hand.

His understanding captured the attention of all three Vulcans, but Vasonn refused to be assuaged from his train of thought. "The necessity of the listening post at P'Jemm is currently beyond your comprehension. If you were to expand your myopic perception beyond that of right and wrong, you would see that to ensure the safety of Vulcan as well as that of Earth, the monitoring of Andorian movements was the only logical recourse."

Trip could see that this was but a minor aspect of the true point of contention and decided to confront it directly, replacing his spoon back on the table. "Let's be honest here Vasonn; do you have a problem with humanity in general, or just me?"

"Both." He said bluntly. "Humans presume to think that they are all knowing and ready to take on the galaxy just because you have the capability of warp drive. You have no idea what awesome responsibility comes with being able to travel amongst the stars. And while I have several misgivings about humanity as a whole, you seem to embody them all."

Vasonn appeared as though he was about to commence into a running diatribe of all of his faults, but Trip had no intention of entertaining him. "You know that sir, you've said more than enough as well as everything I wanted to hear." He said rising from the table.

"Where do you think you are going?" Vasonn questioned.

"Look, you want me out of your house; I'll be more than happy to oblige you." Trip replied en route to his bedroom.

During this entire transaction, T'Pol could do nothing but sit in shock and embarrassment. Of course these emotions weren't revealed on her face, but in her terse posture as she sat and the slight cant with which she held her head as her father hurled verbal barbs at her friend. Once she finally realized that Trip was about to leave, she quickly rose from her seat in pursuit.

She entered the room just in time to witness Trip gather the last of his things. As he turned around to exit, T'Pol extended her arm in protest.

"Out of my way T'Pol." He scowled.

"Where are you going Commander?" She asked.

"Anywhere but here would suit me just fine."

"You cannot leave." T'Pol stated.

"Give me one good reason why not?"

"Because you do not know the location of my wedding."

Trip was forced to resign to that fact and placed his bag down in defeat. "T'Pol, I told you this was a bad idea, what the hell did I do deserve that?"

"I must confess that while this is the first time my father has met any member of the crew, he is well aware of the ship's missions, as well as some of your more noticeable exploits." T'Pol said as she now used her outstretched hand to invite Trip to sit on the bed.

"OK, so he knows about me getting pregnant, whatever. I still don't see what I did to him personally." He said, accepting her invitation.

"I believe his personal dislike of you stems from your indirect involvement in the termination of my first wedding." T'Pol explained. "He considers you to primary reason for my decision and therefore a negative influence upon me."

"And you knew he felt like this about me?" Trip just barely waited for her nodding reply before rambling on. "Then why in the name of everything holy invite me here? I said I'd show for the wedding, why do this to me?"

"Because Commander, tonight and tomorrow morning will be the last opportunity I will have to see you. I expected dinner to be more civil, but I apparently underestimated my father's ability to control his emotions. His age is rather advanced."

"Fine T'Pol, what do you want me to do?" He conceded.

"Stay the night, walk in my marriage procession tomorrow morning and attending my wedding. I can assure you that my father will not speak another word to you." T'Pol pressed.

"Fine T'Pol, if it'll make you happy."

"It will."

Trip and T'Pol spent the rest of the night holed up in his room, reminiscing over the many adventures they shared. He finally let her know exactly what happened to him and Malcolm on their first excursion to Risa, much to her amusement. She solved the Rubik's cube Trip had given her with relative ease, but it did awaken a penchant for puzzles that had previously been untapped within her. As midnight rapidly approached, T'Pol struggled to convince Trip that it was time to turn in for the night.

"C'mon T'Pol I'm not even tired yet."

"Charles today has been a very taxing day. And tomorrow will be just as long for the both of us. Please try to get some rest." She coaxed.

Trip was amazed by how soothing and calming T'Pol's even voice was, leading him to believe that he was more fatigued than he knew.

"Alight T'Pol, I guess I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Commander, sleep well." She offered, turning off the lights as she left out.

**********

Continued in Chapter 3

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