Disclaimer: I do not own Enterprise or its characters. I make no money from these works.

Author's note: Ivy is my creation however. Timeline is eight years later than Finding Family. If you haven't read that story, it might make some things from this one easier to understand. Thank you to my ever patient beta readers, silvershadowfire and gaianarchy. This is not the mess I sent them, what you see is an example of what a great editor can accomplish. Which is not to say that they wrote this… they just sanded it smooth and demanded more detail and definition. Believe me guys, I appreciate it more than you can know.

Bridges

Chapter 1: News

"He's gonna kill us."

I'd like to argue with Jon, but he's probably right. Daddy probably is going to kill us when he finds out what we've done. Nonetheless, we clamber up the steps and in the door, because Daddy's going to find out sooner or later, and it's better we take him in a two on one.

We find Daddy in the kitchen, looking nervous. This is not good, because if Daddy's nervous, he's afraid how we'll react to something, which means that Daddy thinks he's done something bad, or at the very least, worse than normal.

"Jon… Ivy…" He's twitching his fingers like he wants to say something and is holding himself back.

"Yes, Trip?" Jon's looking a little nervous too. He was prepared to argue with Daddy, but now he's not sure what's going on. Now might not be the best time, it might just push Daddy over the irrational edge.

"I've just finished working everything out, but…" Daddy takes a deep breath, looking straight at me. "Ivy, your mother and your brother are going to be staying with us for about two weeks."

"What?" I'm so shocked I can barely manage the single gesture. Then I get mad. This is totally unfair, I've got a ton of things planned for the summer, and I don't need them messed up by family. "Daddy, what do you mean Lorien and Mother are coming here? How can they be coming here? They live on Vulcan, Daddy." Once or twice, Daddy's tried to send me back there to visit, but he gave up after the suggestions kept bringing on my panic attacks. But in all our eight years here, they've never once suggested coming to visit us. It's an arrangement I've been fine with, because Jon and Daddy and I have been busy creating our own family. In fact, one of the best things in my life was Mother giving up her claims for custody, so Jon, Daddy and I could be a family.

"Earth is hosting a conference that your Mother is going to be attending. Since it's in San Francisco, I offered her the option of staying here, rather than in a hotel or at the Vulcan compound. She agreed." Whenever Daddy speaks very slowly and clearly like this, it means he knows I'm going to fight, and he doesn't want to. "Now, I figured that T'Pol and…" He coughs. "T'Pol can use the guest-room and Lorien can share space with Ivy. We can put a cot up there or something…"

"Daddy, you are such an ass." There is no way I'm sharing my room with Lorien, I didn't even do that when we were on Vulcan. Given that the last time I saw my brother he was trying to beat me up, I hardly think that I am being unreasonable about the subject.

"Ivy, now the decision has been made. They are coming here and they are staying here, is that clear?" He vocalises and uses his hands, both saying the same thing.

"I bet you didn't even ask Jon." I'm sure he didn't which gives me an edge. After all, if it's a family thing, it should be a family decision.

Jon coughs a bit himself. "No he didn't, Ivy… but I don't see why it should be such a big problem. It's just for two weeks, and I knew your Mother as well…"

"Right. Just abandon me on this. See if I care." I give both of them glares now… so much for Jon being on my side. "I'll just go stay with Auntie Nic and Uncle Malcolm then. Georgia ought to be far enough away."

"I don't think so," Daddy answers. "I think you'll be staying right here. And being happy about it."

"You're not just an ass, Daddy, you're an asshole." I turn around and storm out of the kitchen, stomping up the stairs towards my bedroom.

"You know Jon," Daddy complains, "When I had my dreams of becoming a parent, somehow this was the part I always blocked out."

I can hear the humour in Jon's voice. "Teenagers?"

"Teenagers."

I give Daddy a reply, even though I know he can't see it. Which is probably better, because it's one that would get me into more trouble anyway.

"So… Jon. What were the two of you up to today?" Daddy's tone changes, now he sounds suspicious.

I pause on my way up the stairs. Uh-oh. Jon could be in trouble on this one, and I might have to go back and help him. After all, I do have a stake in this, and just because he knuckled out on me…

"We were…" I have to get closer and really listen to hear Jon's reply. "…we were…" He coughs again – this entire family seems to be coming down with colds. "… car shopping."

"I see." Daddy puts on his 'Commander' tone, which shouldn't mean much to a former captain, but Jon knows that this time he might actually be in trouble, and he can't pull rank any more. "Would you care to elaborate on that for me?"

"Well, we might have…"

I hear Daddy walk out into the living-room where he can look out the window and onto the street. "Jon… what's that parked outside?"

"It's… um… it's… it's got really great traction and control, Trip. I mean it handles like it's attached to the road…"

"You bought my daughter a sportscar?" By the time he reaches the end of the sentence, Daddy's screaming.

"It's a great car, Trip. I test-drove it myself. Like I said, it handles great, the auto-nav system is top of the line…" Jon's trying to use a soothing tone, but it's not working.

"You bought my sixteen-year-old daughter a sportscar? Are you insane?"

"Our sixteen-year-old daughter, Trip. Our."

"You know, I'm really beginning to regret that." Daddy says darkly. I know he doesn't really mean that, one of the best times in both of our lives was when Jon decided to adopt me. "You're taking it back."

"Come on, Trip… it's a great car."

"Jon…"

"It's good on fuel, it's safe, it handles like a dream. Do you really think I'd get Ivy something dangerous?"

"Jon…" I can tell by Daddy's tone that Jon's resorted to what he refers to as 'unfair tactics,' which is okay, because they tend to work. This is why Jon wins more arguments with Daddy than Mother ever did.

"You want our little girl… to have a safe first car… and I'll teach her how to drive it…" From the pauses I can tell Jon's playing really unfair. Which is okay, because I really like the car.

"You know," Daddy tries to complain, "I'm supposed to be the impulsive one here, and you're supposed to be the stable, reasonable one."

"Come on, Trip. I know you had a good car at her age…" Which, knowing Daddy, is probably not the most persuasive thing to say, but it doesn't sound like Jon's using words to persuade him.

"Jon… that is hardly a rational argue…" Either Daddy shuts up, or Jon shuts him up, but I have a pretty good feeling that I'm going to get my car. I go upstairs to give them some time to finish their discussion in private… I think they might need it.

When I come back down later, Daddy's looking pretty disgusted with himself, but Jon looks smug.

"I'm getting my car, right?" I start helping myself to dinner, only pausing to talk.

"Yeah." I don't see why Daddy should be so mad at me. I mean it's not mine and Jon's fault that Daddy can be so easily manipulated. I tell him so, and Jon laughs.

"You know, I think you're getting a little to well informed, young lady." Daddy glares at me. "Just what are they teaching you at that school, anyway?"

This makes Jon laugh some more, and me too. For someone who's been married twice – once to a member of an alien species and now to Jon – and is the biological parent to two children (that I know about... Jon keeps mentioning something about a Xyrillian every now and then), Daddy can be very old-fashioned about some things… which is why I haven't gotten around to telling him that I even have a boyfriend, let alone that we've already had discussions about sex. There are just some things Daddy needs to be protected from.

"But…" From this I know I'm not going to get away clean. "I don't want to hear any argument about your Mother and Lorien coming to visit. In fact, right after dinner I want you to go upstairs and start getting your room set up so he can stay in it."

I sigh and nod. It's not really fair, but it's probably the only way I'm going to be able to keep the car. And after all, he didn't say I actually had to talk to them. With luck, I won't be spending enough time here for it to matter anyway.

After dinner, I go up to my room and try to look at things from the perspective of a Vulcan. Obviously there are some things that will need to be changed if Lorien is going to be staying in here – Daddy and I agree on that at least.