Chapter 10

Home is where you make it...

Jon, Trip and T'Pol were cuddled together in the bed when they were woken by a beeping sound and the baby crying. The baby wasn't what bothered them, it was the beeping. It had been over a year since they heard a sound come from the probe and it was a mild shock. T'Pol got up to get Henry as Jon and Trip checked the probe. Charlie came out of his bedroom rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Dads? What's that noise?"

"Just the probe, Charlie. Nothing to be worried about." Jon told him as he pressed the button to hear the message.

They heard Malcolm's voice. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. We've been pretty busy up here with trying to get the transporter issue solved. Kelby and LaVey thinks they might be close to solving it and we should be ready for a test run by tomorrow. I know that will be a year for you. I'm sorry about that. We really are trying to work as fast as we can. LaVey believes he might be able to get all of you, children included, back to the ship but...well we won't be able to restore your ages. Once on the ship, you will be the age that you are on the planet. I'm sure that's not exactly what you want to hear, but it would be the only way to retrieve the children as well. Let us know what you think of this plan, if it's acceptable to you. By the way...do you need more coffee? Reed out.

Jon shook his head. "Another day. Another year. What do the two of you think? Do we let Malcolm continue trying to rescue us or do we just stay here and live out our lives as we planned?"

Trip gave a sigh. "I don't know, Jon. Asked me six years ago and I'd been all for getting outta here, but now...well...it's our home. Sure I miss Hoshi, Mal, and Travis...all of them. I miss Enterprise, but we've made a home here. I just really don't know what to think."

"T'Pol? What about you?" Jon asked.

"The logical thing would be to return to Enterprise regardless of our advanced age difference, as long as there is no harm to the children. I can see Trip's point however, we have made a home here and to simply turn our backs on that would be difficult. It will take some thinking and a great deal of discussion."

Malcolm heard the signal that the probe sent back a message and ordered it to be played on audio. They heard Jon's voice. Sorry it took a couple days to get back to you. Well, I guess what was a couple days for us was ten minutes or an hour or whatever for you but we had a lot of thinking and talking to do down here. We've decided that we'll proceed with the test run as soon as you're ready. We understand you won't be able to restore our ages, but that's ok, as long as it will be safe for the children. Make DAMN sure it will be safe for the children! Let us know what we can do on our end to help with any tests. Trip did some math and wanted me to remind Kelby that it was time to recalibrate the plasma coils. Trip's outside at the moment so I can say this freely, but if anyone repeats this to him that I said it, I'll deny it. Fuck the coils! Just keep doing what you're doing on the transporter. Yes, we could use more coffee and send sugar this time, Trip isn't too happy about taking his coffee black. He'd prefer cream too, but we don't have any way to keep it refrigerated and he absolutely hates the powered cream, so he said he'd settle for just sugar. They heard a door and Trip in the background. Did you remind Kelby about the plasma coils? Jon sighed. Yes. I reminded them. They'll get to it when they can. The transporter is a higher priority right now. Why don't you take Henry out to the garden with T'Pol and Charlie so I can finish this message? Ok? A few seconds went by as they heard muttering and a door close. Malcolm, if it ends up being just me, T'Pol and the kids coming back...I snapped and killed Trip. Nah. I wouldn't do that, but its days like this... Anyways, just let me know what you need from us. Archer out.

As what were months on the planet went by, they received several messages concerning test runs. They started out by sending plants. The first few transports didn't go so well but they were making progress as time went on. Jon and Trip were setting up another group of plants for a test run when T'Pol came out and had a strange look on her face. "What the hell is wrong with her?" Trip asked Jon.

Jon looked at T'Pol. He'd seen that look before. Seven years ago to be exact. He picked up Henry and clasped Trip on the shoulder. "You're turn. I'm out of here...you're on your own buddy, sorry." Then grabbed Charlie by the hand and hurried off to the grain shed leaving Trip behind, completely confused.

It was night when Trip stumbled out into the shed. Charlie and Henry were fast asleep on a pile of grain grass in a corner. Jon was propped up on another pile drinking from a bottle. He looked up at Trip. "Geez! What did she do to you?"

Trip gave a wide grin. "That was the best sex I've ever had in my life!" He flopped down next to Jon and grabbed the bottle from him.

Jon cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean best sex? Look at you man! You got a black eye, fat lip, scratches and bite marks all over you. How the hell can you say that was the best sex you ever had? What the hell?"

Trip shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? I like it rough."

Jon looked at Trip shocked. "Ok. New rule. When our wife goes in her Pon Farr, you take care of it. No matter what...all you."

"You didn't like the Pon Farr?"

"Not my thing, Trip. But hey, if you're into it...well...each their own I guess."

They woke the next morning to the probe beeping at them. They had spent the night drinking and passed out in the shed. As they activated the message they heard Malcolm sounding concerned. We've been standing by for your signal. Is something wrong? Reed out.

Jon sent back his own message. Sorry. No nothing's wrong. We got a little side tracked down here and forgot to send the next test up. Ready to go now. Archer out. Jon pushed the button to send the signal and stepped back. The plants disappeared in a swirling shimmer. Now they wait.

Several tests later it was determined that it was time to try with a live animal. "What should we send up?" Jon asked.

"How about a sehlat? That'll give Mal something exciting to shoot at." Trip laughed.

"Trip, that's mean. How about a rabaroo?"

"No! Absolutely not! No killing rabaroos! You're not sending Bugs or any of her babies up. I'll send you up before I let that happen."

"Ok Trip. Calm down. We won't send a rabaroo. But it should be something small and NOT dangerous."

"A shoat? It won't be that hard to catch one alive."

"Ok then. Let's go get one."

They sent the shoat up and got a disturbing message. That didn't go very well. Kelby is pretty upset about the mess he has to clean up. He wanted me to tell Trip that as punishment he's saving the coil recalibration for him to do. We'll signal you when we're ready to try again. Reed out.

"Poor shoat." Trip said. "Whelp...let's go find another one to have ready."

The second shoat didn't go too well either. We don't know what those animals are that you're sending up, but please find something smaller. Those damn things make a hell of a mess when they explode. It's disgusting! Reed out.

They found smaller animals to send up. Not rabaroos. Never rabaroos. It was several years and all three were getting close to giving up.

Jon and Trip were in the shed having their drinks when Charlie came running out. "Dads! Mom said come quick! It's time." They jumped up and Trip told Charlie to stay outside with Henry. As they went into the house they heard T'Pol screaming from the bedroom. Something didn't seem right.

It had been several hours and T'Pol was in too much pain. More than before. Jon and Trip were worried. Trip stayed beside her, holding her hand and keeping cool cloths on her forehead. "Breathe honey. Just breathe. It'll be over soon. Breathe."

Trip looked worriedly at Jon who was holding her bent knees apart. Jon looked at the PADD on the bed next to T'Pol's feet. He quickly read something. "T'Pol! Don't push! Whatever you do...DON'T push!"

T'Pol panted and through clenched teeth yelled. "I have to push!"

"No! Don't! Baby, whatever you do DON'T!" Jon looked at Trip wide-eyed.

"What? What's wrong?"

"The baby's head isn't in the right position. I have to... Oh God. Trip, if this doesn't work...get ready for a cesarean. Sweetheart, this is going to hurt. Just don't push."

"It already hurts! Just get this thing the fuck out of me!" T'Pol screaming in agony. Jon reached between her legs. Trip tried to see what he was doing but wasn't able to get a look from where he was standing as T'Pol tightened her grip on him screeching. "What's happening? What are you doing?"

"I need to help get the baby's head turned right. Into a downward position...that's it! Ok T'Pol! Push honey! Push hard!" T'Pol screamed loudly and gave a hard push. Jon's voice was shaking "I got it! I got it."

T'Pol was breathing hard. Trip looked at Jon waiting to hear the crying sound, but it wasn't coming. Jon blew into the baby's mouth and giving small quick pushes on its chest. "Come on baby. Breathe. Come on." He said between breaths. Trip's eyes started to fill with tears as he said a silent prayer. Suddenly the sound of a loud cry filled the room and tears of joy streamed down Trip's face. Jon had his own tears as he said joyfully. "Oh yes! That's it baby! Oh listen to those lungs on you! That's it! Breathe!"

Trip looked down at T'Pol. She was exhausted and her own tears ran down her face. Trip wiped her tears away then his own. "What...what is it?"

Jon looked up sobbing and smiling. "A girl! Our beautiful girl."