Author's Note: Please see previous notes.

XXX

Trip Tucker woke to a sight he could get used to. He smiled down at the woman who was clinging to him like a barnacle and tried to calm down his breathing, so he wouldn't wake her up; so, he could just enjoy this moment a little longer.

He hadn't expected to lay all his cards on the table last night, but it had happened nonetheless. His plan had been to slowly worm his way into her life and heart, so she couldn't imagine a day without him. They'd been working together a lot lately and he had spent more time with her than with anyone else. He hoped mere proximity, coupled with the sexual encounters they'd been having, would make her more amiable to being in a relationship with him.

He had considered others and it had always left him with an uneasy feeling. Sure, he could do what many others had been doing; sleep with a bunch of people and make a choice. But, that didn't sit well with him, not when he had feelings for this Vulcan woman. Was it stupid to bind himself to a Vulcan who supressed her emotions? Probably. Was it illogical, considering their new mission, to partner up with a woman who, likely, he'd never have children with? Absolutely. Was it going to be a complicated relationship with no easy, straight-forward path? Undoubtedly. But, was she the only one for him? 100%.

Trip unconsciously pulled her a little tighter against his frame and sighed. He wondered if she had considered others. Probably. The Captain would have been the only other person on her list, not because she cared for him in a romantic way, for Trip was sure that wasn't the case, but out of a sense of duty. He would need a partner for his life and she would feel obligated to be that person for him. She would think of the greater mission, the fact that the Captain couldn't just be with anyone, and the notion that at his age, he probably wasn't that interested in children. All of that was logical and Trip secretly hoped she wouldn't be so logical in these circumstances or he may find himself losing her to that logic and sense of duty.

"You're awake," T'Pol noted, there was no question in her voice.

"Yeah, I see you are too," Trip said as he shifted to look down at her face. He could feel her pulling against his grip slightly, but he didn't allow her to leave him.

"You fell asleep during the Serev pose," T'Pol noted. "I did some paperwork for another few hours but eventually had to join you for sleep."

"Do I seem like I mind?" Trip asked her.

"No, I was merely explaining how we came to be sleeping in the same bed," T'Pol explained.

"I told you last night I was going to fall asleep and be your bunkmate," Trip smiled down at her. "I'm not surprised to find you here with me, T'Pol."

She nodded and said nothing.

"Have you thought anymore about what I said last night?" Trip asked, his heart hammering in his chest.

"I have," T'Pol said softly. She loved the feel of his chest hair against her cheek. Vulcan men were practically hairless.

"And?" Trip asked.

"You are making a completely illogical choice," T'Pol said. "You should be mating with a human to produce offspring."

"I think everyone else will take care of the babies just fine," Trip said with a chuckle. "Considering the amount of action, they all seem to be getting."

"Action?" T'Pol queried.

"It's a euphemism for sex," Trip offered.

T'Pol nodded.

"Darlin, I have incredibly strong feelings for you," Trip said as he met her eyes. "I'm not going to throw the word love into the mix because I know it would scare the pants off you, but…what's the Vulcan equivalent to love?"

"Deep affection," T'Pol said softly.

"And what other words do Vulcans use for strong romantic feelings?" Trip asked.

"We don't," T'Pol said, coolly.

"So, you either have deep affection or you are friends?" Trip asked.

"Vulcans can also highly regard someone or have an attachment towards someone," T'Pol explained. "But those terms don't necessarily have romantic connotations."

Trip nodded in understanding.

"How would you describe your feelings toward me?" Trip asked. He felt his heart stop for just a moment afterwards; now was the point of no turning back.

"You are my friend first and foremost," T'Pol began. "I highly regard you and have an illogical attachment toward you."

Trip chuckled at her description of their relationship.

"Well that's…" Trip started while chuckling.

"I have not finished," T'Pol interrupted.

"Oh, sorry," Trip apologized.

"I feel…" T'Pol paused and her eyes flicked toward his and then away and then back again; a determination in them the second time. "Deep affection for you, Trip."

Trip couldn't help the slow smile that spread across his face.

"I love you too," Trip said softly as he adjusted himself slightly lower and kissed her softly on the lips.

T'Pol kissed him back and felt him turn more onto his side so they were completely facing each other.

"You and me?" Trip asked simply.

"It is highly…"

Her logic was broken by a passionate kiss that she released herself to. His body was now pressed up against hers and she could smell his hormones wafting over her.

T'Pol pulled back and looked at him seriously.

"Trip, Vulcans mate for life," T'Pol said as she met his eyes. "There is no divorce."

"You mean I can lock this down?" Trip chuckled.

"I am not joking," T'Pol said seriously. "There is usually a psychic bond shared; we will not have that, but we will, most likely, have a physiological connection after a period. So much that you will never be able to mate with another."

"Okay," Trip said slowly.

"I need you to consider these new facts before you agree to mate with me," T'Pol said.

"Can we not use the term mate?" Trip asked. "It makes me think of animals."

"We are animals, physio…"

"Humans say sex, make love, go at it…"

"Get some action?" T'Pol offered.

"You got it," Trip chuckled.

"To a Vulcan the term 'mate' is more than sexual relations, in fact, that only plays a small role, it means the person you have chosen to bind yourself to for the rest of your life. It is the highest form of a relationship."

"Oh," Trip said, considering the term.

"Trip, if you are having doubts…"

"I'm not," Trip said as he smiled at her. "I just am surprised by the term. I really just thought it meant sex when you referred to it"

"Vulcans rarely have sex outside of pon farr," T'Pol said.

"Yeah, but you…we're not going to do the whole seven-year thing are we?" Trip asked, suddenly concerned.

"I enjoy sexual relations with you," T'Pol said with a small smile. "If you would like to have fewer encounters I can adjust my physiological need or…"

"No, I think we are doing just fine as we are," Trip said as he rubbed her hip. "Do you?"

"I do," T'Pol said with a nod.

"Good," Trip smiled before he leaned in to kiss her again.

XXX

Jonathan Archer lay in his bed and sighed. He felt like there was a ton of weight on his chest holding him on the mattress. He hated feeling like this; he hadn't felt like this since his father died and they place him on anti-depressants for a few weeks then as well.

Truthfully, Jon saw this coming. He could feel his mood darkening the entire time they were in the Expanse, but sheer willpower had propelled him through the darkest times. And now, with not mission to stop the Xindi weapon, at least not in his lifetime, he felt…adrift. His parents weren't even born yet for fuck's sake.

And yet, somehow, he was supposed to lead this doomed crew through the next part of their lives as they married, had children and roamed the Expanse aimlessly. He didn't have the drive to be a cheerleader, not right now.

Trip and T'Pol had stepped up, thankfully, and handled most of what needed to be dealt with. T'Pol taking care of the logistics and Trip managing the human side of this shit show. Jonathan was grateful for them, now more than ever, and knew he needed to be nicer to them in the future.

He flung off his blankets and willed his heavy body into an upright position. It had been two days since he'd cared enough to even ask about the on-going plans for his ship. It was probably time he did.

"Archer to Trip," Jon said as he pressed the comm button.

Silence.

"Trip?" Jon asked again.

Hearing nothing, he looked at the clock. It was 07:12, he wasn't on duty yet, but knowing Trip he was probably in Engineering already.

"Archer to Engineering," Jon called on the comm a second time.

"Hess here, sir," Anna Hess returned.

"I'm looking for Trip," Jon said to her.

"He sent me a message last night that we would be starting later this morning," Anna said. "With all the shifts he's been pulling he must need the sleep, sir."

"Huh," Jon said. "I'm sure he does. Thanks Anna."

Jon rose and pulled on the pants and shirt he'd worn a few days ago and, after quickly cleaning up, left his quarters for the first time in two days.

He was greeted with smiles from crew as he walked the halls towards Trip's quarters. He debated waking the man or just allowing him to sleep and Jon decided he needed to tell Trip he had the day off. He could handle things and hold himself together for 24 hours, so his friend could get some rest.

Jon buzzed his quarters and heard no reply. He waited a few moments and then entered his bypass code. The door opened to some empty quarters. The bed hadn't been slept in and there were no signs that he had been here anytime recently.

Jon smiled to himself. "Needed the extra sleep?"

Trip was probably laying in some woman's bed right now, taking advantage of the lift on the non-frat policy and some extra time before he had to go into work this am.

"At least one of us is happy," Jon sighed as he turned and left Trip's quarters.

As he turned the corner, he found himself at T'Pol's door. He knew she woke early, so he wouldn't be disturbing her, maybe he needed to give her the day off as well. She probably would argue with him, but hopefully, she would relent. Jon was sure she could use the day to meditate or read. Everyone needed a day off, didn't they? Even Vulcans.

Jon buzzed her quarters and heart nothing.

He buzzed again. "T'Pol?"

He then heard some shuffling and a muffled voice he couldn't decipher.

"Just a minute Captain!" T'Pol called, her voice…off.

"Apparently, Vulcans don't always wake early," Jon said with a chuckle.

He heard some more shuffling.

"T'Pol, I can speak with you later if…" Jon was just about to apologize and leave when the door slid open and a slightly disheveled T'Pol appeared.

"Yes, Captain?" T'Pol asked. She was standing before him in a hastily tied silk robe.

"I'm sorry to wake you," Jon said. "I thought all Vulcans woke early."

"We usually do," T'Pol said.

"Oh," Jon said.

"How can I help you?" T'Pol asked as she pulled her robe shut a little more. She could hear Trip breathing heavily in her washroom behind her; she hoped the Captain's hearing wasn't very good this morning.

"I just wanted to give you the day off," Jon said with a smile trying to ignore the low-cut opening at the top of her robe, his eyes shifted toward an more innocuous location, her leg. There was a weird wet patch on her leg and her robe was sticking to her. "I'm feeling more myself and thought you and Trip could use a break. I'll tell him once I find him, of course."

"You were trying to locate Commander Tucker?" T'Pol asked, some alarm in her voice.

"Yeah, he's…" Jon paused and decided it was probably not best to share his theory on where Trip may have spent the night last night. T'Pol would not appreciate him speculating on his Chief's sex life. "Probably in the gym. I'll find him."

"Thank you, Captain, I appreciate the gesture but…"

"It's not a gesture, it's an order," Jon said. "Are your notes up to date?"

"As of 02:49," T'Pol nodded as she tried to inconspicuously pull her robe from her sticky leg.

"Well, get some rest and relax today," Jon said. "I've got Enterprise."

"Captain if…"

"Good bye, T'Pol," Jon said over his shoulder as he walked away.

T'Pol nodded and shut the door to her room. She and Trip had been mid-act when the Captain had buzzed her door.

"I don't know why I hid," Trip said as he stepped out of her washroom with his clothes bundled in front of him. "He's going to find out about us sooner or later."

"This was not the way to find out," T'Pol said as she leaned against her bunk.

"I guess," Trip sighed as he shoved his legs in his underwear. "So, he's been looking for me?"

"To give you the day off as well," T'Pol said as she folded her arms over her chest. "You should go to the storage bay and start taking inventory."

"Why?" Trip asked as he pulled on his shirt.

"So, he can find you there and no longer search for you," T'Pol indicated.

"He was going to the gym," Trip said as he shoved his legs into his pants.

"And you won't be there, you need to be the next place he'll look," T'Pol noted. "That will be the armory or the storage bay."

"You think?" Trip asked as he walked toward her and placed a hand on her waist.

"I know," T'Pol countered.

"I'm sorry, I got startled when he buzzed, and it just sort of happened," Trip said, honest in his apology. "You are still…wanting."

"And I'll have to be left that way, so you go to the storage bay before the Captain," T'Pol indicated.

"I can come back?" Trip asked with a waggle to his eyebrows. "Finish what I started?"

"If the Captain gives you the day off you may return," T'Pol said. "After I have a shower."

"Sorry about the mess," Trip apologized again. He'd come all over her leg when Jon had arrived. He was working her over with his mouth and bringing her to the brink when the buzzer had caused a reaction in him and he'd left a mess all over her leg.

"You need to get to the Cargo Bay," T'Pol said as she pushed at his chest.

"I'm going," Trip said before he leaned in and kissed her passionately. "I'll see you later, darlin?"

T'Pol nodded stepped away from her door before he hit the button and opened it, stepping into the hall without anyone the wiser.

XXX

TBC