A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I just graduated with my Bachelor's and got engaged! I hope you like this chapter, and leave a review!

Chapter 10

Captain Archer sat facing the window, watching the stars race by. Although his eyes were trained on the window, his mind was focused on something else entirely. The last decade had been fraught with war and death. Everything he had known about the galaxy had been turned upside down, even his ship was decommissioned. And now the Federation was considering making him an Admiral, when he wasn't positive he wanted this promotion. Being behind a desk for the rest of his career wasn't exactly how he envisioned working with other species. But he had to admit, he seemed to have a way with people, and being an admiral would make it a hell of a lot easier to make deals. Being a captain meant that he had to go to higher ups before making important decisions, which had almost cost the life of his crew, and the life of others. He also wasn't as young as he used to be. Hell, he wasn't even that young when he became captain, but it was different now. His colleagues were becoming increasingly younger than him, while still being in their late twenties. Slow reflexes could cost him his life while out on a mission. And yet…

Being an admiral would mean political hurdles was not something he felt like he wanted to do, or could do. Throughout the years he had experienced times when politics had gotten in the way of a crucial decision. He didn't care if something done on a mission pissed off certain people, what had to be done had to be done. He didn't care how the Vulcans did not approve of everything they did, and he certainly wouldn't take their criticisms as the scripture like earlier admirals had. Archer sighed, and rubbed his hand against his forehead. He would however, be the first admiral who had actually experienced what being in space was like. Perhaps he could even have rules changed based on what he knew worked and what didn't work. He could help make a new system in Starfleet. *ding*. The chime in his quarters rang, and he looked up slowly. "Come in." he murmured, and the door slide slowly open to reveal an ensign, looking shyly at him.

"Sorry to bother you, sir, but the captain asked me to tell you we're approaching the planet." Archer stood.

"Thank you, ensign. Please tell the captain that I am ready to depart as soon as possible."

"Understood, sir." The ensign turned and left, leaving Archer to watch after the ensign. He turned back to gaze out the window. However, this visit this went, it would him make the decision of his career.

XXX

Trip glanced at the clock hanging in the house. T'Pol was supposed to be home fifteen minutes ago, and her being late was not helping his anxiety any. He was pacing back and forth across the living room, wringing his hands together, and glancing up at every little sound. After what seemed like a life time, the front door creaked open, and T'Pol's head followed not far behind it. She was leaning over as she took the key out of the keyhole and as she straightened herself, her bulging stomach was more visible under her traveling cloak. Trip ran to help her out of her cloak. "Where have ya been? Ya know he's gonna be here soon!"

"I believe you said his shuttle was to land at 20:00?" T'Pol asked, clearly knowing the answer.

"Yeah, so?" Trip asked suspiciously, placing his hands on his hips.

"The ride from the landing to our home is approximately fifteen minutes, and often it takes a few minutes for a passenger to acquire a vehicle." She ended there, but Trip felt an inkling of another reason she arrived so late. She could try to tell him it was all because she logically thought out how long it would take a visitor to get to their house, but she couldn't hide her actual intentions all the time, especially now that the baby was helping to project her feelings. He snorted as he interpreted what he was gathering from T'Pol, causing her to look startled. "What?" She asked.

"You're tryin' to tell me that it's all a logical explanation why ya left late. But ya didn't late did ya?" T'Pol shifted her feet unconsciously.

"I don't know what you are talking about." This made Trip chuckle.

"You left right on time, didn't you?" T'Pol chose not to answer, sensing that Trip was going to finish his thought. "But took longer than ya wanted, cause ya waddled a little, didn't ya?" He felt a wave of amusement come from T'Pol. He pulled her in for a hug. "And ya are only five months pregnant, I can't imagine the waddlin' when you are almost bout to have the baby!"

"Vulcans do not 'waddle'." T'Pol said into Trip's chest. He kissed the top of her head.

"I didn't mean to make you feel like ya got fat or somethin'." He said. T'Pol pulled away from his embrace.

"You did not." She stiffly said. Trip rolled his eyes, deciding this was a battle he didn't want to fight. Just then the chime rang, and Trip could barely contain his glee. He half trotted to the door to pull it open. The visitor looked up slightly before being engulfed in a hug.

"Cap'n! It's great to see ya!" Archer returned the hug and patted Trip's back.

"It's good to see you too." He patted Trip's back one more time then pulled away. "Sorry it's taken me so long to stop for a visit." Trip waved a hand.

"It's alright. We know ya've had a busy schedule." Archer had now stepped into the room, and Trip grabbed his luggage before closing the door behind him. Archer was staring at T'Pol with his mouth almost hanging open.

"Hello captain. It is agreeable to see you again." T'Pol said, raising an eyebrow at his glance. Archer seemed to gather himself and close his mouth, but then it fell open a little bit again.

"I… just… It's good to see you T'Pol." He said, taking a step in and pulling her in for a quick hug. When he pulled away, he motioned to her stomach. "Well, congratulations." He said, glancing quickly at Trip, who knew the unsaid question.

"Yeah, I'm the father cap'n, no question." Archer seemed to pale a little, and stepped back, looking for a chair with his hands.

"I don't understand. I thought it was impossible." Trip shrugged.

"Well, guess not." Archer glanced between the two of them.

"Does anyone know about this?" T'Pol nodded.

"Yes, but only Dr. Phlox, and Koss."

"Koss knows?!" Archer had known what T'Pol had gone through to get this divorce, and he didn't understand why she would willingly get to know Koss again.

"Long story." Trip said. Archer leaned back into his seat.

"Well, I've got time."

XXX

"Wow." Archer said, his head in his hands. "I've missed quite a lot." He scratched his chin absentmindedly. "You guys have started a family. I'm happy for you guys." Trip narrowed his eyes at Archer, and exchanged a glance with T'Pol, who was feeling suspicious as well.

"Thanks Cap'n, but I have a feeling that you didn't just come here ta catch up. What's up?"

"Guess I couldn't hide it well, huh?" Archer grinned, but it came out more like a grimace. "They've asked me to become an Admiral. I have until the end of my leave to make up my mind."

"That's amazin' cap'n! Congrats!" Trip jumped off the couch to hug his friend again. "Imagine that, I'm gonna be a friend to an admiral!" Archer looked bemused.

"I said I have made up my mind yet Trip." Trip frowned.

"What's there ta think about? You'll stay on Earth, you'll have better pay, and you'll have power. Sounds like the perfect job to me."

"You don't understand Trip." Archer stood up and walked across the room, then turned around. "I would be sitting behind a desk, not out there exploring like I always wanted to."

"Yeah, well at least you'd be an admiral under the same name you started." Trip said calmly and walked out of the room, his hands behind his head. Archer and T'Pol watched him walk out of the room, then faced Archer.

"I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget everything he went through." He said. She seemed to examine him for a moment. Then she motioned after Trip.

"You are lucky it is easy to forget that Trip gave up his life to protect the Federation." Her words were not filled with anger, but Archer could not help feeling as though he was being reprimanded. He sighed.

"This was not how I imagined seeing you guys going."

"I would imagine not." T'Pol said, attempting to sit down. She put her hand on her stomach and was trying to maneuver into the seat. Archer felt like he should help, but when he tried to offer help, T'Pol shooed his hand away. He did keep his hands at the ready until she was securely in her seat. T'Pol absentmindedly stroked her belly, which did not go unnoticed by Archer. He looked at her, lost in thought.

'I can't believe that T'Pol, all work and no play, is going to be a mom. Her career seemed like it was all that mattered to her.' As though she was reading his thoughts, T'Pol looked up from her stomach to say,

"I imagine it appears strange to see your former first in command, and your chief engineer having a child together." Archer could not control his snort.

"You could say that." He motioned to where Trip had left the room. "When you two met I didn't think you'd ever get along. Plus, other than me, you two are the biggest workaholics I've ever met." He started pacing, trying to keep up with his thoughts. "And yet, here you are, living on Vulcan, having kids." T'Pol had calmly watched his pacing, not moving her body at all.

"Captain, our situation was quite different than yours. Trip has had to fake his own death, and as a result, we have left the Federation. It was not an easy decision to make." Archer threw his hands up in the air.

"But don't you miss it sometimes? Don't you miss running around the universe, meeting new species?!" T'Pol's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Of course." Her words were simple, but Archer had no trouble finding the meaning behind them. After years of her being his right hand, he could read through her words. Knowing she was right, but not wanting to say it out loud, he went out the door Trip had gone out of, not looking back, but knowing that T'Pol was smiling in a way that only Vulcans could.

XXX

He found Trip walking lazily through the garden in the back. He was looking thoughtfully at each flower, and stood over each one. "Ya know, before going undercover, I didn't realize I had such a green thumb." Trip said, not looking up from his flower. "Did T'Pol tell ya to come find me?" He asked. Archer shook his head.

"Not in as many words, but you know how she is." Trip grinned as he rolled a flower between his fingers.

"Yeah, I do." He didn't make a move to stand closer to Archer, but looked more intently at the flower. "Who would'a known, years and years of engineering education to be a gardener." He finally looked up at Archer. "I went undercover with the intent to get back on a spaceship again, but here I am, stuck on Vulcan, with no chance of gettin' on a space ship again." His tone was not laced with any mal-intent, but was rather backed with sadness.

"That's just the thing Trip," Archer sighed, stepping in. "I wouldn't be on a space ship. I'd be in an office, while other people would be out on the missions. I just don't know if that's how I want my career to go." They seemed to examine each other for a moment. Trip ran a hand over his face.

"Look, I overacted, okay? It's just frustrating to be put in a position where a friend could have what everyone wants, when ya are stuck with no options, ya know?" Archer walked closer to Trip, and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked at Trip's face. A face that was different from the one he had known so well for so many years had changed now. It would never again be the face of Trip Tucker, a man who had worked on Enterprise for many years. He could never fully grasp what Trip had been through, but yet again, look at the life he had. A life that so many in Star Fleet wanted, but could not have. A family.

"I shouldn't have brought it up so early into my visit. How about I mull it over in the next few days while I have a visit here with the two of you?" Trip seemed confused. "You two have always been my right hand people, and I think being around you will help me clear my head." Trip squinted his eyes.

"Did ya just plan this vacation to pick our brains?" He chuckled, and threw and arm around Archer's shoulders. "I hope ya enjoy science cap'n, cause T'Pol's got that all covered." Archer groaned loudly, while pushing the thought of coming to a decision to the back of his head.

A/N: Again, sorry for the late post! Let me know what you think!