This is a sequel to 'When you look in the mirror'. It's set about a Terran year after the first story and deals with T'pol and Shran in the Resistance. They have to struggle with many things, including their new growing family. Now, when things are murkier then ever about who will triumph in the struggle, Shran and T'pol have to deal with some mirror ghosts and their future now hangs in the balance.

Note: I don't think it's overly necessary for readers to read the first story, as I will be mentioning a lot of the goings on in it in this story.

Please give me constructive criticism and reviews, they are much appreciated, flames however are not and I will use them to keep my feet warm while I continue writing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek or any of the characters. Any unfamiliar ones are mine though.

Chapter one

His people had a reputation for being aggressive and violent but he was gentle. She liked the way he was so gentle to her. He would stroke her cheek, hold her close and whisper in her ear. She was shocked at how enjoyable this experience could be. She'd only had one other encounter before him and that had been out of necessity, not desire and she'd regretted it afterward. Not this time, not ever. In exchange for his gentleness she would try to reciprocate but was originally unsure how. 'No matter,' he'd said, she had plenty of time to learn. Her people believed that one should only do this with the intent of procreation, his believed otherwise. Procreation of course, children were very important to them, but they allowed themselves to enjoy it. She let out a light gasp as he blew on her ear with his cold breath. He chuckled and kissed the tip. He was so giving she had observed very early in their relationship. She remembered very clearly their first night together.

She'd begun her Pon Farr and he was the one she wanted, no needed that night. He had agreed but he had a rule. She wasn't to kiss him on the lips. It was a small rule, his people had never developed that gesture because of their antenna, and then one of their rulers had turned the gesture to a symbol of death. She'd found it highly odd and illogical but he'd insisted. That night he'd been everything she needed and again the next day for three days straight. He'd laughed and commented on how she was more insatiable than the females of his own kind and it was a good thing the males had such good stamina. She had been shaking as her control returned and he'd held her close and rocked her gently till she'd calmed. The day after she'd begun to notice a change between them. Sexual relations between friends were common among his kind, but she'd felt something for him, stronger than before. She'd cared for him for quite some time since they'd escaped from the Defiant or maybe even before. Now however things seemed different. He hadn't said anything so she assumed things would return to normal after a while, that it was the after effects of Pon Farr. But as she spent more time with him afterwards the more convinced she'd become that something wasn't right. She'd told him about it, feeling highly awkward since she wasn't meant to feel emotions at all and he had been understanding.

"T'pol it's alright, don't be afraid."

"I am Vulcan I don't feel fear." He laughed

"Good point I suppose."

"Thy'lek!"

"Yes alright, alright!" he became serious. "Do you care about me?"

"Yes of course."

"As a friend? Or more?"

"…I don't understand." He walked up to her and took her wrist in his hand. He raised her fingers up and brushed his first two against hers. She gasped at the tingle she felt when he did this and pulled her hand free.

"If you want more with me you have to tell me now." The question stunned her in its suddenness. Did she want more? Perhaps she did. He was a good choice for a mate in many ways… and she did care for him.

"I believe I may… want more." she admitted surprising herself. He smiled and taking back her hand, brushed his lips against her fingers.

"I think I do too."

"But we have not formed a telepathic connection with each other as is proper with Vulcans, how are we able to feel this?"

"Because in my people, in Andorians, we form it over time. It's called the courtship stage. It's a crucial stage in development of a relationship. In Andorians it's when our bodies begin to change inwardly to be able to create children."

"I would have thought only females would-"

"No, no. Both genders have to develop. You see our bodies begin to produce the requirements for creating a child, and this change is triggered by the beginnings of a bond being formed between two people. This bond is permanent T'pol so I need you to be sure of what you want."

"The process is irreversible?" He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Before we were overtaken by the Terran Empire we didn't have a word for divorce or illegitimate. We really still don't."

"Illegitimate?" She wasn't sure of the relevance

"When the bond is fully formed the couple are incapable of becoming sexually attracted to anyone other than their spouse, and because we cannot have children outside of marriage anyway it's virtually impossible to have an illegitimate child. The female would have to acquire an egg from another woman, quite a difficult task I'm sure you will agree."

"What will this bond entail other than that?"

"We'll be able to sense each other, our feelings and personalities might be affected, I don't know how much though it can vary and I've no idea what it will be like between us considering you are a Vulcan." He grinned at this "I don't think any Andorian has ever married a Vulcan." Marriage? The word sounded odd. She'd never seen herself getting married, never finding someone to mate with for life. Alien marriages were very carefully monitored by the Terran Empire, often denied. Yet the idea wasn't unappealing especially if it was with him. But another thought bothered her.

"I do remember hearing that the symbol of marriage among Andorians is the first pregnancy, can I assume that it's because it shows that the bond is fully formed?"

"Yes."

"Well I highly doubt that we'd ever be able to procreate. Our species are extremely different physiologically." He smiled secretly and kissed her fingertips, sending waves of sparks up her spine. She drew in a light breath as he did it. His eyes danced with amusement and care, great care and affection. Could that also be love she saw? Or would that develop over time between them as they deepened their relationship?

"You let me take care of that." he told her softly, reaching out and stroking her cheek.

His lips caressed her neck, bringing her attention back to the present. She reached out and stroked his antennas with her fingers. He cooed lowly as she did this. She found his antennas fascinating; they were so sensitive to touch, they picked up the smallest vibrations in the air. He could tell who was nearby just by the vibrations of their footsteps and heartbeat. They were so expressive today; they'd been wriggling in glee even though, as he had promised, he'd kept a straight face throughout the ceremony. They'd taken care of the Vulcan marriage rights today and tonight they would attempt to complete the Andorian rights by conceiving. Their Vulcan ceremony had been quite spectacular considering they had very little time or resources since everything went into the Resistance. But many of their friends had helped to arrange the celebration. Gral, Thy'lek's favourite Tellerite as he called him, had been the witness. Neither had family present unfortunately but they had acquired so many friends that it was just as satisfying. Their telepathic bond had been fully formed today, Thy'lek was confident she'd wake up pregnant tomorrow. For some reason those words sounded peculiar to her. As he flicked his tongue against her stomach, something she found strangely enjoyable, she decided all her thoughts could wait. She leaned forward and kissed the tip of one antenna, something he enjoyed immensely. He smiled at her and she felt his enjoyment in her mind. She could definitely grow accustom to that.

The next morning she woke up with the sun shining in her eyes through slightly parted curtains. Thy'lek lay beside her, his arms around her waist, just like always. His antennas were twitching slightly, indicating he was dreaming no doubt something pleasant by the way they were moving. As illogical as it was she found herself just studying him. He was younger than her and yet he looked older. She had heard that many people looked more innocent when they were asleep. Well she couldn't speak for Tucker after their encounter since he'd left straight after, but Thy'lek at least looked more relaxed than she'd seen for a long time. He'd been quite stressed these last few weeks and sadly last night was the only time he would get a break. Ever since a Resistance Tellerite ship had found them in the escape pod and taken them aboard their lives had been hectic. As Thy'lek joked, they barely had time to blink they were so busy. But lately things were worse because many of the upgrades they'd been working on based on the data from the Defiant were finally ready and they had to be distributed. Despite the fact that at the time Thy'lek still didn't know if he was going to support the resistance or 'Federation ambition' (and he was still debating somewhat) he had impressed so many people who were high up in the Resistance because of what he'd done (outwitting a whole ship of Terrans, destroying a great threat i.e. the Defiant, and getting them all the data) that he was suddenly given the job of organising it. He'd tried to refuse at first but he and T'pol were the only ones with hands on experience how the technology was meant to work so they were both pushed into the jobs. Resigning they'd agreed and quickly set everyone to work. Now they were the faces of the Resistance, especially Thy'lek much to his displeasure, he wasn't overly fond of attention. Thy'lek made a point of making friends with people from all the species involved to promote the image of unity among the ranks and it seemed to be working. What had been a tedious alliance of different species full of suspicion and mistrust, exactly what Thy'lek had been expecting, was now quite a firm friendship between them. Andorians, Vulcans, Tellerites, Betazoids, Orions and more all working in surprising harmony. She mused that in being cautious about the Resistance he'd probably made it stronger. She felt sudden feelings of care well up inside her and she leaned forward to kiss his antenna and his brow. He shifted and opened his eyes, smiling at her.

"Good morning." she greeted

"Indeed it is." He pushed some of her hair behind her ear and, like she had not moments ago with him, studied her face carefully. "I think…" a slow grin came onto his face and his antenna stretched out, "I think you are glowing." She raised an eyebrow

"Highly unlikely." He chuckled and suddenly sat up propping himself on his elbow. He studied her harder and she began to wonder what he was thinking. She reached out with her mind, an ability he'd taught her to do, towards him and sensed rather than heard what he was thinking. "You believe I have a motherly glow." He grinned broadly, leaning forward and nuzzling into her stomach, pressing a kiss to it.

"Oh you do." he whispered huskily, "I'm sure of it."

"This was the first night we have attempted to conceive. It's improbable that I would be with child already."

"Well you know my people aren't one for patience. Besides," he straightened up to look her knowingly in the eyes, "I can sense it, our child."

"Child?" She didn't believe he could sense a life within her; more likely he was just saying it to be sweet which she felt was unnecessary. He had meanwhile misinterpreted her question.

"Hey be thankful my family has a history of singular births along with Vulcans otherwise I might be saying our triplets."

"Child is fine." she assured him. He laughed again and she allowed herself satisfaction of having amused him.

"Are you sure you're up to this T'pol?" her assistant asked her anxiously. She pressed her lips together and fought the incredible urge to sigh. That was the fifth time he'd asked her.

"I am quite certain. I am capable of determining my own well being, regardless of what my husband thinks." she answered coolly. "I have worked hard on this project and I wish to see its completion."

"Alright if you're sure." he said warily.

"I am." she informed him sharply.

"Well at least let me do the next part, you won't be able to do it with your child in the way." he pestered insistently. T'pol looked at him and then at her near seven month swell of a stomach. He was right; she'd never be able to reach the area that needed work with her stomach in the way.

"Very well." she agreed stepping back to allow him room. She watched him carefully, one hand rubbing her stomach. Where her hand touched her skin she felt sudden movement and for a brief moment she could have sworn that she felt the press of a tiny hand against her palm. It had been a while since she'd felt such a definite movement from her first child. Thy'lek was certain they were to have a son. He had a list of names all ready for the day of the birth.

"There, we're ready." her assistant said cheerfully as he finished. "Do you want to start the simulation?"

"Yes." she nodded and quickly walked over to the consol and keyed in the command to start the simulation for the shields. She monitored the power levels and was satisfied when she saw that they remained stable.

"We did it!" her assistant exclaimed joyfully. "We did it!"

"Indeed." She agreed, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction. "I shall inform Thy'lek." He nodded and she went to the comm. to inform her husband of the situation.

"Ashaya, I can't believe how fast you made that shield modification." Thy'lek said with delight as they sat at the table having dinner. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you." she nodded, cutting up a piece of vegetable and slipping it into her mouth.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her curiously.

"I am feeling well, although a little tired." she was surprised that she would admit such a thing, but knew better than to deny it.

"You've been working hard recently, its understandable." he smiled at her and she nodded, but found herself looking away all of a sudden. "Is something wrong?" he asked concerned.

"No." she shook her head, "Nothing is wrong."

"Well something is clearly bothering you. You can tell me you know." he promised softly, moving his hand so that his fingertips brushed hers, sending waves of sparks up her spine.

"I was just… contemplating the future."

"What about it?"

"About us, and our family." His antennas stood to attention and his ears seemed to perk up as well.

"Oh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. She sighed softly and looked down at her stomach wonderingly. She still had difficulty accepting that there was a person within her. It was a very strange experience, feeling the movements of the child as it stretched and changed its position within her. It could be a comforting feeling at times, especially when they heard bad news about the Resistance, but often it was difficult. The child possessed great emotions and they were affecting her own control. She felt out of control of her own body often times, things annoyed her and she acted with irritation, or things upset her and she reacted with sadness. Feeling out of control was frightening and she couldn't help but feel the fear curling within her stomach.

"You told me Andorians were expected to have large families."

"Yes, we are, because we're hyper-fertile, you know that ashaya."

"I do, but I…" she wanted to tell him the truth, but she had no desire to see the disappointment in his eyes that she knew would be there.

"But?" he pressed, leaning forward slightly.

"But I'm not sure I wish to become pregnant again." she admitted at last. Thy'lek's eyebrows rose and his lips parted slightly in shock.

"Oh." His response was more like a gasp than a word.

"I've found this pregnancy difficult. I… I have been having much trouble with my meditation and my emotional control on a daily basis."

"But isn't that worth it? Isn't that discomfort worth having a tiny little child in your arms? Isn't a child of our union worth anything life throws at us?"

"Us? You have not carried this child for the past seven months! You have not felt ill and overly emotional and you have not felt as if you are no longer of your own kind!" She found herself standing as she snapped at him.

"Maybe but I've taken care of you when you were ill and borne the brunt of your frustration and anger." he retorted, "I've listened to you talk about how it feels to have our child moving within you and I can't help but feel jealous at the fact that you have a connection that I never will with him. I've sat through seven scares where we've nearly lost him, unable to do anything except sit and wait for the news of whether you and our child are all right. I've supported you as best I can even though you can be so prickly and closed off that I've no idea if I'm helping or hindering you. So I'm sorry if you've struggled through this pregnancy, I really am T'pol, but so have I and I don't understand why you'd be reluctant to have more children. We know what things will be like now, we will be better able for it." She sighed and turned away from him. "Children are important to my people T'pol."

"And emotional suppression is important to mine! Since it seems one interferes with the other and it is my body that bears the pregnancy I believe it should be my choice and I would rather only have one child and my emotional control than a hundred children!" His eyes widened and he stood up. He wasn't able to hide the fact that he was hurt by her words, but he tried to cover it up with anger. It didn't quite work though. She tried to hold his gaze but he looked away and then abruptly turned away from her.

"I suppose that's that then." he whispered, "It is your body T'pol and I cannot and would not force you to do something you had no desire for." She moved towards him, trying to see his face but he kept turning away, trying to hide how hard this was on him.

She'd always known that having children was important to him, it was a major part of Andorian culture, but she hadn't realised just how important it was to him personally. When she reached out he shied away from her touch. To some it may have seemed that he was being selfish, and over the top, but she knew better. He couldn't help but be sensitive to those he loved, it was the way he was, and so they could hurt him more with less. Children were what Andorians lived for. Fighting and strength, they were also important, but never as important as having children. She knew Thy'lek had had five older siblings, although only one was still alive now, and he often told her how much he missed them all. Family bonds were so strong among Andorians, far stronger than any other species under Terran rule. She finally spoke,

"I did not realise that your desire for children was this strong."

"I can't imagine why, I've never made it a secret." he said bitterly.

"Perhaps, but only now I see how the idea of only having one would affect you."

"I'm not asking for a hundred T'pol, but one sibling can be an amazing thing. Our son would have a companion forever. A playmate, someone who knows him as well as he knows himself. Don't misunderstand me, I love our son as much as I love you, and I won't just think of him as a… as an object that goes with a collection, he's a person, I'm very aware of that, but Andorians hate to be alone. It can kill us. Even being with someone we hate is enough to keep us alive."

"Our son will never be alone." she stated, pressing a hand to her stomach protectively.

"I'm not saying he will, I'm just saying he'd have a constant companion. Like you are mine." At last he looked at her, he didn't have hopeful or pleading eyes, he just stared at her. She stared back and slowly reached out to touch his face. As her fingertips touched his jaw his head tilted very slightly to her touch. He had a strong jaw and his blue skin felt quite smooth under her green tinged fingertips. Andorian men were the only species she knew of that didn't grow facial hair, and it allowed her to feel his smooth skin, rather like a pebble that has been smoothed all over by being battered by the ocean. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a sudden cry as a wave of pain rushed through her. "What's wrong?" Thy'lek asked at once, catching her in his arms.

"It's, it's the baby!" she said shakily, "I believe it is coming." She gasped as another wave of intense pain rippled through her.

"All right, don't worry." Thy'lek said softly, "Can you walk?"

"Yes." She held onto his arm tightly to support herself, but she could walk.

"Then we'll get to the infirmary. Sheli should be on duty." He supported her and they walked out of their small home, T'pol struggling to keep her control. Mercifully the infirmary wasn't far and they arrived with T'pol only experiencing two more contractions.

"T'pol, we weren't expecting you to go into labour for another little while." Sheli could have been commenting on the weather with her light, conversational tone of voice as she walked over to them and ran a scanner over her stomach. "However, this seems natural enough, from what I can tell this baby is ready to be born."

"Great, now how about a bed for my wife." Thy'lek asked dryly as she was hit with another contraction. The only sign that she was in any pain was the way her nails were currently embedded in his skin and drawing blood.

"Of course. This way." Sheli brought them into a private room and T'pol lay on the bed. "Would you like something for the pain?"

"Yes please." she gasped.

"I thought Vulcans could suppress pain." Thy'lek teased her. She responded by digging her nails into his wrist a little more. "Ah, all right I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. She relaxed her grip marginally.

"Now…" Sheli returned after retrieving the pain killer. "I understand you both want Thy'lek to deliver the baby, is that right?"

"Yes." T'pol nodded, sharing a look with her husband who beamed at her so radiantly that she doubted she could have said no anyway.

"And Thy'lek you know what to do?"

"Yes, I've been made extremely aware of the process." That was an understatement, she'd spent a whole month making him learn the process of birth in minute detail until he could do it backwards, as Terrans say.

"Well then I shall be standing by should any complications arise but I don't foresee any so this is strictly between you three." Sheli gave them that strange smile that all Denobulans possessed and then walked away. Thy'lek watched her leave and then kissed T'pol's cheek almost shyly.

"I'm sorry we argued."

"As am I." she whispered softly.

"If, if you don't want another, I guess that's all right. I mean… we'll have to figure out how to prevent it and all that, but if you really don't want another, well I wouldn't force either you or a child into that sort of situation." The words seemed to catch in his throat as he spoke and she could see it was hard for him to say that.

"Perhaps… perhaps one more child would suffice." she said, trying to reach a compromise. "One more to ensure a companion for our first one."

"Really?" The boyishly hopeful tone in his voice made her feel oddly light, although that could have been the pain-killers.

"Perhaps." She started in surprise as another contraction came, but was able to suppress much of the pain, and the drugs took care of the rest, "However I believe we should focus on delivering our first child before we discuss our consummation of a second." Thy'lek laughed and hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek again.

"Of course ashaya, whatever you want."

"Ready T'pol?" he asked as he got in position.

"More than!" she all but snarled at him. He looked up at her and gave a sheepish grin with the split lip she'd given him.

"Well then, with the next one push." She nodded and braced herself for the next wave of unbelievable pain. As it came she pushed hard, her face mildly changing from stoic to strained effort. "Good, and again." She drew in a sharp breath and pushed hard, her fingers crushing the metal of the bed under them. "I have his head!" Thy'lek cried with delight, "Come on T'pol, you can do this, just keep pushing."

"What other option do I have?" she snapped, her eyes seeming to flash with fury. He looked up at her and pursed his lips in thought,

"I have no idea." he answered finally and she felt a sudden desire to wrap her fingers around his blue throat. He raised an eyebrow at her and she knew he could hear her thoughts, "Strangle me later ashaya, we're both a tad busy right now. Push!" This time she couldn't keep a sound of effort from escaping her lips and the metal under her fingers buckled. She lay back, exhausted from the pushing and the labour itself.

Suddenly a weak cry caught her attention and she raised her head to see Thy'lek staring at something, his face a picture of absolute delight and awe. "You did it T'pol! He's here. He's beautiful." He stood up and leaned over her, holding a crying baby in his hands. T'pol instinctively reached out and took the babe into her arms, not caring that he was covered in bodily fluids. Thy'lek beamed at her with such joy that she decided she'd be willing to have a hundred children, just to have the satisfaction of seeing that look on his face. She finally looked down and studied the tiny face of her son. He was a fascinating colour of aquamarine, with delicately pointed ears, a pair of perfect antennas, sharp Vulcan eyebrows and a very faint ridge on the middle of his forehead. He had the finest amount of sandy coloured hair on his head and his nose was slightly upturned, just like his father's. He was absolutely perfect. She realised that she was shaking as a pair of strong arms encircled her and her son. She looked up and saw her husband smiling serenely down at her and he rocked her slightly, kissing her sweaty temple sweetly. "You did amazingly well T'pol."

"I am… shaking."

"It's all right. I'm here, shake all you want." he chuckled softly. She looked back down at her son and found it hard to believe that this was the result of seven months waiting. She couldn't believe, never mind that it was a fact, that this magnificent creature had come from her. However once the two parents had had a chance to admire their son, came some problems.

"Gral while I value your opinion I am not naming my son after you!"

"Why not? It'll be the only thing he has going for him. He's as ugly as you and as skinny as her!" Gral exclaimed loudly. He was short and squat but oddly thin for a Tellerite, still fat compared to the other people in the room but relatively underfed. T'pol felt Thy'lek's amusement; he enjoyed arguing with the shorter man for reasons she didn't understand.

"At least he's not as ugly as you! Giving him your name would be cruel, it's a terrible name!"

"Perhaps you should call him a Vulcan name, since he does resemble you more than his mother." spoke up Sten a Vulcan associate of theirs. He had, like many Vulcans, dark hair and sallow skin. He was also missing the distinctive points of his ears. "Many have recommended Surak." Thy'lek snorted and T'pol sent him an icy look. He held up his hands

"I'm sorry but if the Terrans ever heard of a boy called Surak born to me and T'pol the supposed leaders of the Resistance they'd go mad. Giving him that name would be asking him to be shot." He had a point.

"Give him a good strong Andorian name." Telev said his eyes gleaming. "One that will strike fear in the hearts of Terrans when he'd older." Telev was an Andorian; he was tall and lanky with strangely smooth skin, giving his face an oddly featureless appearance. He also had the smoothest voice T'pol had ever heard in her life.

"I'm starting to think we should leave him nameless." muttered Thy'lek in T'pol's ear. She said nothing but let him know she was beginning to agree. She then spoke up,

"We agreed that we would call him both a Vulcan and Andorian name and depending on which of us he resembled the most the other species name would come first. Since he obviously resembles his father more than me, his first name will be Vulcan and his second will be Andorian."

"But what will they be?" Sten questioned. Thy'lek clearly bit back a remark as he gently took their son into his arms. T'pol sat back on the bed in the infirmary; she was still quite exhausted. Thy'lek studied the baby, smiling tenderly, and then looked at T'pol. She nodded knowing what he wanted to name him. Thy'lek held him up slightly to present him

"His name is Soval Trenach T'pol Shran."

"Now that is a name." Telev smiled approvingly.

"I believe it is appropriate." Sten nodded. Gral grunted

"I still say he should have been given my name!" but he didn't fault the choice. Soval had been an important person to both parents and Trenach was one of Thy'lek's brothers, the first to die. Thy'lek kissed Soval's brow and then returned him to his mother who did the same. Soval yawned widely, showing off a blue tongue and gums, Thy'lek grinned even more. Soval then fell asleep nestled in his mother's arms. T'pol's eyelids began to droop and Thy'lek ushered the others out. He then returned and sat on the edge of the bed. Leaning forward he kissed her brow,

"Thank you ashaya he's perfect." She nodded slightly her eyes closing as she fell into a deep sleep.

Please let me know about this pairing, I really want to know, but keep in mind that they are mirror versions of themselves and both are different from the regular ones we know and love, so don't say that Trip/T'pol is the only way to go, Tucker's dead in this universe!

Night's Darkness