Author's Notes: Please see previous notes. Anything in italics is a bond interaction.

XXX

"I appreciate you doing this for me," T'Pol said as she walked with Domenic through a warehouse storage facility.

"T'Pol," Domenic said as he placed his hand on her lower back. "You know, all you have to do is ask."

T'Pol closed her eyes and took a breath. She was not romantically interested in Domenic, but whenever he touched her, her body responded to him. It was a remnant memory of pon farr that seemed to activate with his touch and she wasn't sure if he was aware of the effect it had on her or if he just wanted to touch her in some capacity whenever they met.

"Have you ascertained why the evidence has still not been processed?" T'Pol asked, ignoring her body's response to him.

"No," Domenic said. "HQ is still holding the paperwork. Could just be a bean-counter problem."

"True," T'Pol said with a nod.

"You know, if you and Nova need a place to stay for a while, I have a second bedroom," Domenic said as he watched her carefully. "No strings attached."

"Thank you for your kind offer," T'Pol said, honestly. "I am not sure what my plans are from this point forward. There are some legal issues to deal with, Nova, my ship…"

"He's the father, isn't he?" Domenic asked.

They both knew, quite clearly who Domenic was referring to as 'he'.

"Yes," T'Pol said with a nod.

"So, you and he are…?" Domenic asked as they got closer to the aisle where (they hoped) Nova's things were housed. His hand moved from her lower back to her waist.

"Complicated," T'Pol answered.

Domenic smiled at her and she felt his hand on her waist tighten and then loosen quickly.

"Well, I'm not," Domenic said softly. "Complicated, that is. I'm still interested, T'Pol. If you are."

T'Pol cleared her throat and said nothing. With him touching her it was sometimes challenging to think clearly. Had she known that this residual effect of Pon Farr would still be present months later when in contact with him, she may have re-thought asking for his assistance.

When she returned to Mars, after visiting Trip for three days ten months ago, she was in full pon farr. Sweating profusely, rubbing herself against the walls of her transport room, a heightened sense of smell…everything. She had left Trip the second she felt pon farr starting and had contacted Domenic, an amiable and physically fit MACO she had worked closely with for months, and asked for his assistance. She had explained, quite clearly, what pon farr was, and why she was asking for his help. If he hadn't obliged it may have been days before a substitute Vulcan could be found.

He had picked her up at the launch station and she had barely made it to her apartment before she was ripping both their clothes off. It was two days of mindless sex with a man, a friend, that was assisting her. She was thankful he was so strong and physically fit or else she would have injured him more in the pon farr process. He had met her needs admirably and, at the end of two days of mating again and again, her pon farr had ceased.

It wasn't until they were back at work together that T'Pol had realized her mistake. Domenic had been attracted to her before she'd asked for his help. And, despite her clear description of it as a physical and evolutionary Vulcan need, he had developed stronger feelings for her in the process.

So, to make their relationship less tense and to meet his needs, as he had met hers, she went on a series of 'dates' with him. They were actually quite enjoyable. He was well-versed in literature, had an eye for beautiful things, and was less militaristic in his personal life than he was in his professional career. He also adhered to a vegetarian menu when around her, out of respect for her personal beliefs. They saw a band once, went to a play, and spent an entire day in an art gallery. Mostly, they enjoyed meals together.

But, when his transfer came through to Helix, T'Pol felt a great sense of relief that she couldn't explain. As much as she enjoyed her time with Domenic, she also felt that they had reached their endpoint. She would never allow the relationship to become something more and he wished for it to be something a great deal more. Before he transferred, he proposed that he become her Security Chief when she left on the three-year mission on Ursula One. T'Pol was not a stupid woman, she knew that this idea carried with it the notion that they would continue their relationship and possibly solidify it.

And, for reasons T'Pol can't even explain to herself, she slept with Domenic one last time the night before he left for Helix. They hadn't had sexual relations, outside of pon farr, on any of their 'dates' but, for some inexplicable reason, she ended that last date in his bed.

"Here," he said as he pointed down one of the hundreds of aisles they had passed.

"How did you know that Chief Commander Tucker is her father?" T'Pol inquired.

Domenic smiled at her and chuckled slightly.

"What?" T'Pol asked, interested.

"T'Pol, I did look up your service record and news items about you after we…"

"Oh," T'Pol said.

"He was the father of the cloned child you found," Domenic said. "So, when I saw that he was…with you…I assumed it had to do with Nova as well. That, and I found an intake picture of her on file and she looked exactly like him."

"She does," T'Pol said softly.

Domenic knitted his eyebrows together; he was fairly good at reading this complicated woman and his spidey-sense told him that there was more to that response.

"You thought she'd look like you?" Domenic inquired as they read the numbers and were getting closer and closer to their destination.

"I do carry more dominant genes in our genetic pairing," T'Pol said absently.

Domenic cleared his throat; the mention of T'Pol and dominance brought a very clear memory to the forefront of his mind.

"I don't know much about genetics, what does that mean?"

"It means that the creation of Nova leads to far more questions then we have answers at this time," T'Pol said as her eyes noted the number sequence they had been looking for.

"But she's yours?" Domenic asked.

"Yes," T'Pol said as she stopped and face him. "Not only does her DNA indicate that she is mine…there are certain mannerisms, interests, behavioural patterns that are distinctly me."

"So, she looks like him but acts like you?" Domenic asked as he pulled over the ladder and started to climb it.

"No, she also has many of his characteristics," T'Pol said as she watched him climb. "She's incredibly emotional."

"An emotional Vulcan? Perish the thought," Domenic said sarcastically as he climbed. His moment of levity in all this chaos and sadness of the day brought a smile to her face. He really was a good man; a good friend; a good person.

"There are a few boxes up here," Domenic called down to her. "I suppose you don't want the one with adult clothing?"

"I'm looking for a bunny, and some books, objects that she will be pleased to have back," T'Pol explained.

"Jackpot!" Domenic said as she watched him reach deep into the shelving.

"Please be careful," T'Pol cautioned.

Domenic couldn't help but smile at her concern.

"There's another one up there that might be her stuff too," he said as he climbed own the ladder. "Here, take this one and I'll get the other box."

T'Pol took the box from him and placed it on a nearby table. She spotted the bunny immediately. The sense of relief she felt at seeing the stuffed cotton creature was unexplainable.

There were books about animals, some sort of half completed craft, balls, a circuitry practice board, a holo-photo of Kim, Jellun and Nova, and some clothes.

She knew she couldn't take everything; it would look suspicious. So T'Pol decided that the bunny, two books, the holo-photo, and one pair of pajamas with a unicorn theme would not be missed.

"Find some things that will help her?" Domenic asked as he placed a second box down. In it there where her school things, textbooks, pages of notes, a PADD that, when turned on, had video of her parents and Nova doing experiments.

"I need to take the PADD as well," she said as she met his eyes. "It's the only video she has of her parents."

"Her adoptive parents," Domenic corrected her. "You are her mother, T'Pol."

T'Pol swallowed hard and nodded.

"You know," Domenic said as he leaned against the table. "I lost my dad when I was her age."

"I hadn't realized," T'Pol admitted.

"It was hard for a while, but then my mom re-married and…and he's been my dad more than the one that died. Does that make sense?"

"You spent more time with him, have memories…" T'Pol added.

"It's more than that," Domenic tried to explain.

T'Pol looked at him intrigued.

"He chose to be my dad," Domenic said. "I was eight and a bit of a terror. But he loved my mom so much that he did everything to make me like him. Eventually, I loved him. He believed in me and wanted a future with me; I couldn't help but love him back."

"I see," T'Pol said, her brain in overdrive.

"What I'm trying to say," Domenic said as he pushed off from the table and stood facing her. "Is that just because Kim Yaz was her mom the first six years, doesn't mean she's the only one who gets to hold that title for the rest of Nova's life. If you love her and help her and keep her safe, she'll become your daughter as well."

Domenic watched the emotions she was trying to supress cross her features. She was worried about her place in Nova's life and future.

"Come here," he said as he pulled her against him and hugged her. She was stiff at first but eventually relaxed into his embrace and placed her head against his thumping heart.

"You're going to be a great mom," Domenic encouraged her. "Just the fact that you are so worried about doing right by this little girl speaks volumes, T'Pol."

XXX

Trip Tucker was startled awake from his half-sleep by a gentle knock on the door. He rose form the chair he was sitting in and looked down at Nova in the bed; she was still fast asleep. Trip quietly crossed the room and looked out the video cam. It was Jon.

"Jon?" Trip asked as he opened the door to his friend.

He and Phlox had left with Tara two hours ago to stay at her place. The MACO conference was in town two more nights and their room was too small for four adults and one grieving, confused child. Tara had been kind enough to offer her living room to the two stranded friends.

"Sorry," Jon apologized. "But you need to place a call."

"Huh?" Trip asked, half asleep still.

Jon nodded for Trip to join him in the washroom where they were less likely to disturb Nova. Jon shut the door over and looked at Trip seriously.

"Marlie called Cathy looking for you," Jon said as he shifted his feet before Trip. He loved Trip like a brother, so he knew bringing up his girlfriend back on Earth, in the middle of everything going on with Nova and T'Pol was going to sting.

"Shit," Trip said as he rubbed at his jaw. He had been supressing his guilt over cheating on Marlie and it all felt like it was washing into the forefront of his mind suddenly.

"She said she needed to contact you urgently," Jon added. "Cathy sort of put her off but…but you need to call her Trip."

"I know," Trip huffed as he leaned his back against the sink. "I don't know what I'm going to say, but I at least need to call her."

"I…forget it," Jon started and then stopped.

"No, what?" Trip asked.

Jon sighed, and Trip looked at him annoyed.

"I was going to suggest that you not tell her about T'Pol over a long-range call," Jon said. "No woman needs to hear that from a distance."

Trip nodded and said nothing.

"Trip, I know this has been a rough day, and the last thing you need is…well, this," Jon said as he looked at his worn, tired and emotionally drained friend. "But, maybe you need to compartmentalize. Deal with Nova now, and your…your romantic life another time, maybe when things are clearer with Nova."

Trip nodded and wiped at his tired eyes.

"I didn't set out to start up with her again," Trip admitted. "It just…sorta happened."

Jon sighed and leaned against the sink next to his friend.

"It was a mistake?" Jon asked. "Maybe Marlie will under…"

"It wasn't a mistake," Trip said as he met Jon's eyes. "I knew what I was doing."

"Oh," Jon said softly.

"There's something about T'Pol…" Trip said to his friend.

"You two have a connection," Jon nodded. "Friendship, Elizabeth, your past relationship…"

"I'm not sure what we are Jon, but something's been happening between us for twelve years and…you know, she visited earth ten months ago? Showed up on my doorstep out of nowhere to tell me she loved me, would always love me."

"Really?" Jon asked.

"Yeah, knocked the wind right out of me," Trip chuckled softly. "We had a great few days, we spoke about transfers, me to Mars or her to Earth…we were finally on the same page, building something and then…"

"Then?" Jon asked.

"She literally disappeared from my bed in the middle of the night," Trip said as he looked at his friend and shook his head. "I was frantic with worry and doubt. Had it really happened? Was it all a dream? Was she okay? Had I said or did something to hurt her?"

"And?"

"And…nothing. She blocked my calls and e-mails, wouldn't answer any of my communications…"

"Shit," Jon sighed.

"I was a wreck for months, and then Marlie came along," Trip smiled at the remembrance of her and the little shit eight-year-old who took off from her class. "And I decided then that I was going to stop harbouring feelings for T'Pol. It was, obviously, a relationship that was never going to work. So, I went all in with Marlie; I hadn't done that with any girl I'd dated before. Was ready to ask her to marry me before I got the call about Nova."

"That serious?" Jon asked.

Trip nodded.

"And now…now, T'Pol" Trip said as he met Jon's eyes.

"You were kidding yourself if you thought you were done with her," Jon said the words Trip was thinking.

Trip made a bingo gesture with his one hand and dropped his head to his chest.

"What the hell am I going to do Jon?" Trip asked, honestly, his voice heavy with emotion.

Jon stepped in front of Trip and grabbed him by both shoulders, forcing Trip to look at him.

"You aren't going to resolve anything tonight, or make any decisions tonight. You are going to call Marlie and let her know you are safe and will keep her updated on your return time. You're also going to get a comm tomorrow so people can reach you; her included. You are going to find out what is urgent and deal with that. Then you are going to get some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning."

"Promise?" Trip joked.

"I promise," Jon said with a soft smile.

Trip nodded. "Can you sit with Nova while I call Marlie?"

"Of course," Jon nodded.

Trip and he left the washroom to grab the hotel comm PADD and go back into the washroom to call Marlie.

Jon sat on the chair next to a sleeping Nova and sighed. As much as he bemoaned (occasionally) his lack of a romantic life, Jon was grateful in that moment to not be in Trip's shoes.

He leaned closer to Nova and caught a sight that no one had seen all day; one of her little Vulcan ears clearly visible on the side of her head. Her hair was pushed away in various directions from her sleep and her ear, which is usually covered by a mass of blonde hair, was sticking out plain as day. Jon couldn't help but smile at the sight of the only physical feature that seemed to link her to T'Pol.

"Hi Marlie," he heard Trip's voice muffled in the washroom. "Sorry to worry you."

Jon closed his eyes and tried to block out his friend's private conversation. It had been a long day and somehow, he knew in his heart, the next one, when reality set in with Nova, was going to be worse.

XXX

TBC