Author's Note: Please see previous notes.

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Trip Tucker glared at the Vulcan Minister for Natural Resources as he spoke with T'Pol. It wasn't like she was doing anything to indicate interest, that was not needed, it was just the time she was devoting to the Minister that was getting under his skin.

Yes, they were no longer a couple and yes, she was technically married, but that didn't make it any easier to see a male showing obvious interest in her. The Minister was looking at her with as much expression as a Vulcan could get away with and Trip needed to put a stop to this.

He walked purposefully across the room and joined in their conversation.

"Minister Tzo may I introduce my colleague and our chief engineer, Commander Charles Tucker," T'Pol said with an air of grandeur.

"Trip," Trip bowed slightly with the Minister.

"Trip?" The Minister questioned.

"It's what humans call a nickname," T'Pol replied. "A short form or congenial name humans use among friends."

"But we've just met?" Minister Tzo noted.

"Humans believe in almost instantaneous familiarity," T'Pol explained.

"I wouldn't say th…" Trip started.

"Vulcans are far more private than humans," Minister Tzo noted.

"I wouldn't say that's always that case," Trip said, as he looked toward T'Pol.

"Do you know much about T'Pol, you've been serving together for several years," Minister Tzo said.

"I think our crew knows a lot about each other," Trip said, his eyes narrowing at the Minister. "Vulcans might benefit from becoming friends earlier in their service with each other."

"And you and Commander Tucker are friends?" Minister Tzo asked T'Pol.

"I am friends with many crew members," T'Pol said as she shifted. "Commander Tucker among them."

Minister Tzo looked at Commander Tucker.

"You believe you know information about T'Pol that Vulcan crew members would not?"

"Probably," Trip said, with a shrug.

"T'Pol and I served on board the V'Shtock for three years," Minister Tzo said. "I would be interested to test this theory."

"Ask me," Trip challenged.

Minister Tzo tipped his head to the side, intrigued by the challenge.

"Did she have a childhood pet?"

"A shelat named Gerue," Trip said.

T'Pol nodded that the answer was correct.

"What degrees does she hold?"

"Molecular science, biology and physics," Trip said. "She started a degree in engineering but didn't complete it."

T'Pol nodded, uncomfortably, that he was correct.

"Her childhood friend?"

"Trick question," Trip smiled at him. "Vulcans have comrades, companions, and colleauges. But the closest she had to a true friend was T'Her, a girl who lived a few hundred yards away. You two used to build architecturally sound structures and test them with various extreme weather conditions."

T'Pol nodded reluctantly, that he was correct. The questions were more than demonstrating her close friendship with Trip and that was becoming a problem.

"I think Commander Tucker has demonstrated that on an Earth vessel all crew know a great deal about…" T'Pol started.

"I think what he has demonstrated is that you two have a close relationship," the Minister noted sternly.

"We are friends," T'Pol offered.

"Yes, friends," the Minister said, doubtfully.

"Excuse me?" Trip asked incensed.

"I was merely noting that the level of information you have about T'Pol is something that would take decades for a colleague to learn on Vulcan," the Minister noted. "I did not know the answer to any of those questions except her degrees as they were in her personnel file."

"Well, good thing we aren't on Vulcan," Trip muttered.

"Commander, I believe you are required by the Captain," T'Pol said as she gestured with her head toward the Captain signalling for Trip to join him as he greeted various officials.

Trip nodded. "Nice meeting you."

The phrase was perfunctory in nature and not really as friendly as it should have been, but the Minister nodded and turned to look at T'Pol as Trip walked away.

"You cannot continue with him, T'Pol, you are a married woman," the Minister hissed.

"Being his friend?" T'Pol asked innocently.

"Your relationship has progressed past the innocent," the Minister chided her. "It is obvious."

T'Pol looked at him and realized it was illogical to continue to deny the truth.

"It ended before I married Koss," T'Pol admitted. "There is not a relationship, beyond friendship, any longer."

"You may say that, but you know it is not true," the Minister said. Sounding more like a sage father than a Minister representing the government of Vulcan.

T'Pol said nothing. There was nothing to say; he was right. If Trip had agreed to continue a relationship with her, despite her marriage, she would have. But she hadn't broached the subject and felt she already knew the answer because she knew him. Trip would never be with a married woman.

"I should visit with the other delegates from other worlds," the Minister said before he stepped away and back into the crowd.

T'Pol was left watching after him for an entire minute before she began to focus again on the gathering.

He was right, she hadn't let go of Trip and he hadn't let go of her. Yes, he had watched her marry another, but that didn't translate into the feelings in his heart. She knew, in his heart, no matter what he said, he still loved her. And, in return, she loved him.

T'Pol sat with that uneasy knowledge the rest of the evening. She saw women who were delgates, reporters, and other Starfleet personnel show interest in him and he, time and time again, rebuffed their advances. She wasn't sure he was even doing it purposefully, he just naturally seemed to volley away from anyone the second they showed more than a passing interest in him.

And, as she prepared for bed that night, she wondered if that would always be the way. If he would be alone for the rest of his days because of her? It seemed, by all Vulcan sensibilities, to be imparting more power on herself then she necessarily had, but the possibility was there. Trip Tucker was a man who had few committed relationships over his lifetime, and she wasn't sure he was interested in another one. She hoped that wasn't the case.

Vulcan lives were long ones, and marriages as well. She could expect to live another 150 or more years with Koss, as Vulcan males generally did not die much earlier than females. She would likely bear his children, leave Starfleet to raise them, and one day receive visits from their grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a path she saw in front of her as clear as she could see her own reflection after she washed her face. It was not a path she wanted, not a path she chose of her own volition, but the path that she was on, nonetheless. She needed to become as comfortable with it as she did sensing when Trip was nearby.

The door to her cabin buzzed and T'Pol knew it was him.

She dried her face and walked toward her door opening it and allowing him entrance.

He didn't step inside comfortably, and she could sense, had she not been in revealing night ware, he would have preferred she stepped into the hallway for their discussion. But her choice of pajamas meant propriety dictated he step inside.

"I'm sorry about the Minister," Trip said. "I was rude and I hope…"

"He was baiting you," T'Pol said. "He sensed our past early in the conversation and was investigating."

"To get you in trouble?" Trip asked.

"Possibly," T'Pol said. "He's a relative of Koss'"

"Oh shit," Trip said. "Did you deny our…?"

"I did not," T'Pol said. "But Koss knows we were previously involved."

"He does?" Trip asked, surprised. "I thought Vulcans were expected to be virgins when they married or…?"

"Many are," T'Pol said. "But not all."

"Oh," Trip said as he took a deep breath.

"So, what's this mean?"

"I denied that we were still involved, which is accurate," T'Pol said. "If Koss is told and takes issue with my friendship with you, he will contact me."

"And?"

"And I will tell him the truth, that you and I are friends, that is all," T'Pol said.

Trip nodded and took a step toward the door. "I better let you get to bed. I hope you're not in any kinda trouble. I don't want that."

"I know," T'Pol replied.

T'Pol watched him walk toward the door and just before it activated to open she called to him and he turned to look at her.

"I wish it was different," T'Pol said, honestly.

Trip nodded and gave her a soft smile.

"I do too darlin, I do too," Trip said before he turned and walked out of her cabin.

T'Pol stood looking at the closed door for a long time before she crawled into bed, alone.

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