Author's Note: Please see earlier notes. Thank you all for following me through this story—I am sooo enjoying writing it. Enjoy!

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Helen Mistry stepped slowly into the apartment and looked at the scene before her. T'Pol had hitched Nova up on her hip and walked past the woman to the kitchen. The crying child babbling about her ears.

"We weren't expecting you," Trip said as he placed his hands on his hips and tried to look unaffected by her appearance at this most inopportune moment.

"That's the idea Mr. Tucker," Helen said as she walked inside and looked around.

Trip looked over at T'Pol and noticed her getting out a large knife to sheer off a section of Nova's hair.

"How about I show you around?" Trip said as he directed her away from the view of T'Pol.

"This is Nova's room," Trip said as he opened the door to the lime green and white room.

Helen Mistry took out her laser measure and measured the size of the room; documenting it in her book. It was while she was doing this that Trip noticed a chunk of blond hair on the floor that he pushed under a bean bag chair with his foot.

"She stays here alone?" Helen asked.

"She likes it," Trip smiled at her. "Says it's the biggest room she's ever had."

Helen opened a drawer and noted the folded clothes inside. She looked at the book shelf and noted the craft items and the stuffed animals.

"We're going to ship everything back to Earth when we're allowed to move there," Trip said, nervously as he tried to read what she was writing on her PADD.

"Do you normally walk around half naked?" Helen Mistry asked.

"It's seven am," Trip replied, flabbergasted. "We just got up."

"Is that why your partner, T'Pol is also only semi-clothed?" Helen Mistry asked.

"She doesn't dress like that normally, but we got out of bed quickly because Nova was calling us," Trip explained. "She, apparently, tried to cut her own hair."

"Why is she permitted scissors unsupervised?" Helen asked as they walked from the room and Trip was grateful to see that T'Pol was no longer wielding a large, sharp knife.

"She's better with scissors than I am," Trip commented.

"Ms Mistry, I'm sorry for not greeting you," T'Pol said as she extended a hand. Nova was hiding behind her legs and looking at the woman from the court.

"Nice to meet you again, T'Pol," Helen nodded and shook her hand. "And nice to see you as well, Nova."

Nova hid back behind T'Pol's legs.

"I understand you were playing with scissors unsupervised?" Helen asked, sweetly.

Nova said nothing.

"Nova, answer the lady's question," Trip said.

Nova looked at Helen Mistry.

"I wanted to cut my hair like T'Pol's to show my ears," Nova explained. "But the mechanism for the scissors became caught and the more I tried to untangle it, the more it became intricately tangled."

It was then that Nova stepped out from behind T'Pol. Trip tried not to look surprised by the one side of her head that barely had any hair on it.

"I see the scissors are out now," Trip said, trying to sound neutral.

"T'Pol said I need to go for a haircut to even it out," Nova said simply.

"Yes, I think it needs a good evening out," Trip said with a furrowed brow before he looked up at T'Pol.

"That much?" Trip asked

"It was incredibly tangled and would have required more time then we had to release the scissors," T'Pol answered. "Her curls will grow back."

"She looks like she has a half mohawk," Trip said.

When he saw T'Pol's confused expression he added "I'll explain later."

"This is the living room and kitchen?" Helen Mistry asked as she laser measured the space.

"Yes," Trip said. "And that's our bedroom."

Helen walked toward it and, noting the rumpled sheets and clothing thrown on the floor, made another note on her PADD.

"Can you please move into the kitchen, so I can speak with Nova privately?" Helen asked.

"Uh, sure," Trip said as he walked toward their room and quickly gathered a shirt for himself and a pair of pajama pants for T'Pol before they went to the kitchen.

"Nova, when you realized you needed help with the scissors what did you do?" Helen asked.

"I went to get T'Pol and Trip," Nova said, looking at the woman as if she were an idiot.

"And they helped you right away?" Helen asked.

"I called to them through the door," Nova said.

"Why through the door?" Helen asked.

"It was locked," Nova said, as if it was the most obvious explanation.

"Do you like living with Trip and T'Pol?"

"Yes," Nova answered.

"How often do you eat?" Helen asked.

"I only require food once a day but T'Pol said it's important to keep a continuous intake of nutrients, so I eat three times a day and occasionally snack," Nova explained.

"What do you do with your days?" Helen asked.

"I play at the park, I build things with Trip, I read with T'Pol, we bake, I am working on a chemistry experiment that involves a complex sodium compound."

"Your days are full?"

"I want to go to school and T'Pol is trying to get me a place in one on Earth," Nova explained.

"Do you feel safe with Trip and T'Pol?" Helen asked.

"Of course," Nova replied.

"Is there anything about your living arrangements or relationship that bothers you?" Helen asked.

Nova thought for a moment. "I just wish I could go to school here too."

Helen noted a few things on her PADD and dismissed Nova to her bedroom.

She walked toward the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and noted a lot of healthy food.

"She's not a vegetarian, does that bother you?" Helen asked, T'Pol.

"It does, but I respect her right to choose," T'Pol said, honestly.

"She has access to scissors?" Helen asked with a sigh.

"She is very good with them," T'Pol explained. "We had no idea she would attempt to cut her hair."

"Children will always do the unexpected and it's your job as her guardians to ensure she is safe at all times," Helen reminded them. "I am going to have to make note of the scissors."

Trip looked at T'Pol annoyed with this woman's ridiculous rules.

"You lock your bedroom door at night?" Helen asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not always," T'Pol said.

"When?" Helen asked.

Trip and T'Pol exchanged a look.

"When we are intimate," T'Pol answered for them.

"Good," Helen noted on her PADD.

"Good?" Trip asked, confused.

"No child should walk in on two adult guardians in the throws of passion," Helen said clearly. "It is responsible to lock the door when you engage in that activity. But, it would be advisable to keep a robe nearby in case you are quickly called out in an emergency."

"Good point," Trip said with a nod.

"You are still in couple's therapy?"

"We are," Trip nodded.

"But, obviously, things are going well?" Helen asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The bedroom isn't our issue," Trip said dryly.

"Oh," Helen said uncomfortably.

"We are working with Dr Haddad," T'Pol added.

"And your intent is to leave for Earth in a few weeks?" Helen asked.

"That is our plan," Trip said.

"You are both on leave from your jobs?" Helen asked.

"We are," T'Pol said. "But I am currently negotiating a position on Earth, so I can continue with Starfleet."

"And I'm using the vacation time I have accumulated over the last two years," Trip said.

"I have your service records and your pay grids," Helen said as she produced them for the pair. "Are these accurate?"

Trip and T'Pol looked at the information and nodded.

"And are these accurate bank statements?" Helen asked as she produced two statements.

Trip and T'Pol nodded again, but he made note of the large amount of funds in her account, so he could ask her about it later.

"And these are your signatures on the statement of commitment?" Helen asked.

T'Pol and Trip both nodded again.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Helen asked.

"How often should we expect these visits?" Trip asked as he rubbed a hand through his hair.

"There isn't a schedule," Helen replied as she turned off her PADD. "It is my job to ensure a nice and safe living environment for Nova. I get the best picture of that when I drop by unexpectedly."

Trip took a deep breath and said nothing.

"How long until we are cleared to return to Earth?" T'Pol asked.

"At least 3 weeks," Helen said. "By the time I write my report and file it, probably 4 or 5."

"I need to get back to work before then if I want to keep my job," Trip noted.

"At what point would you need to return?" Helen asked.

"I can't stay much longer than another 3 weeks," Trip said as he looked toward T'Pol.

"Then, if my other inspections go well, I will release you, at that time to return to Earth," Helen said. "T'Pol and Nova can join you when the paperwork is filed."

"That is agreeable," T'Pol nodded before she sneezed.

"I'd prefer if we all went together," Trip said.

"I cannot release Nova and one guardian until the court has approved the transfer," Helen explained.

"Then, we'll make it work," Trip sighed.

"Please sign here to confirm my observation occurred," Helen said as she handed T'Pol the PADD. She signed then Trip did, and they walked Helen Mistry to the door.

"Thank you for the visit," T'Pol said as she shifted uncomfortably next to Trip.

Helen and Trip looked at her confused.

"I will see you on my next visit," Helen said before Trip shut the door.

T'Pol quickly walked toward the washroom.

"What's the matter with you?" Trip called to her before the door shut behind her.

"T'Pol?" Trip asked.

"I need to clean myself," T'Pol said vaguely.

"That urgently?" Trip asked, confused.

"My vaginal walls released when I sneezed," T'Pol explained.

"So?" Trip asked.

"So, you left semen inside me and now it is down my leg," T'Pol explained.

"Oh, uh, sorry about that," Trip said. "Wait, you can hold it in that long?"

"Of course," T'Pol said.

"She's coming back?" Nova asked as she looked toward Trip.

"Eventually," Trip said as he walked toward Nova. "Now let me get a closer look at that hair…"

"T'Pol cut half my hair off," Nova said, annoyed.

"Now, hold on darlin," Trip said. "You left her with no choice when you tangled those scissors in your hair."

"Half?!" Nova snapped.

"I'd say more like 35%," Trip said honestly.

Nova placed her hands on her hips and looked like she was not pleased with his attitude.

"T'Pol did her best with the mess you gave her," Trip said as he looked into her eyes. "We'll take you to a hairdresser today and get it fixed nice, okay?"

"Okay," Nova sighed.

Trip smiled down at her.

"Why'd you want to show your ears anyways?" Trip asked.

Nova shrugged.

"Nova…"

"I wanted to look like T'Pol as well," Nova said softly. "I know I look like you, but my ears are the only thing that are like her."

"Okay, I get that," Trip nodded.

Trip opened his arms and she snuggled in for a hug. Trip wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

"It's going to be alright, darlin," Trip whispered as he heard the shower start in their room.

XXX

TBC