"No," Trip's answer was definitive.
Retuning empty handed from their new bedroom into the living room, Tucker picked up another carton from the pile at the door. They'd finally received an upgraded apartment. Unfortunately, it was on a higher level and south facing, meaning a panorama of the valley from the windows in the main rooms. Jon was not impressed and wanted to wait until a Lieutenant grade habitation came available, with an obstructed view of the bay, even if they had to be on a lower floor with slightly less space.
"Trip," Archer stood with hands on hips, his pose displaying his displeasure, "how many guests do we get? I'll tell you, in the last ten weeks, not one person has come to stay."
"That's not true," Tucker responded as he trotted past. "Mama wouldn't put us out of our bed and there's no way I'm having my mother sleep on the couch. We need a guest bedroom, Jon. You are not turning it into a private study, even with a pull-down bed. Besides, you snore."
"Oh, I do, do I?" he demanded, starting to get really aggravated.
"There's some nights you sound like your cutting wood," Trip stated, heading back the way he came. "You're so loud, I can hardly get any sleep."
"How the hell would you know?" Jon insisted. "You've been spending two weeks a month on some vessel or the other, upgrading the entire fleet by yourself."
"And when I get home," Trip fired back, "you strangle me with affection. Hell, I can't even get out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom without you tightening your hold. I told you, Old Man, I ain't going anywhere, accept our new apartment."
Following his boyfriend, Archer found his temper rising and he wasn't quite sure what to do about it. He didn't want to move, at all, but understood they needed more space. They were falling over each other on the rainy weekends in his old apartment. When this place came up, Trip inspected and took it without conferring with Jon. He was still more than a little salty about Tucker making a unilateral decision. He wanted a view of the bay, or at least water. Their living and dining room both looked out over buildings all the way to the valley.
Stopping, absolutely stunned as he entered the room that would become their boudoir, Archer's mouth dropped open.
"I gather you like," Trip gave that shit eating grin he did so well when he'd deliberately misled Jon. "I know it's the 'little' bedroom and we don't have the en-suite bathroom, but I think that's worth it."
"You waited how any months to get be back for the comment at your party?" Jon's wide, delighted eyes took in the panoramic view from the corner window.
"Yep," Trip gave another expressive smirk. "As you guessed, this rooms on the corner of the building, so it gets a water aspect," Trip explained, coming to stand beside Jon and throwing an arm around his shoulders. "I thought it would be a good compromise, being able to wake up to that on our days off. We might even stay in bed for a while and enjoy the view. I appreciate that you didn't really want to give up your apartment, that you did it for me."
Sighing, Jon understood, "but you wanted a place that was ours, rather than mine."
"I won't deny it," Tucker agreed. "I also wanted enough room not to 'trip' over you."
"Ha, ha, Trip. Why don't we have Pieter and Lee over for dinner next weekend," Jon suggested. "It's not like we don't have the room. Actually, I rather like the idea of a dining room and not just a table in the corner of the kitchen."
"Kitchen's bigger too," Tip added. "Just wait until you see it."
Thinking about the conformation of the apartment, Jon suddenly realised if the kitchen had a window, it would also have a glimpse of the water. The two rooms in which Archer spent most of his off duty hours met his ideals. "I suspect I know why you took this place without consulting me."
"You would have seen that view from the living room and your mood would have gone south," Trip agreed. "There would have been no talking you into it afterwards, no matter how much I wanted this."
"So, Pieter and Lee?" Jon asked, his disposition definitely on the up. "We've never had the room to have them over."
"What are you cooking?" Trip chuckled. "If it's that risotto you did the other night, squid ink, I'm sure I can talk them into it. I'll get Lee to do his pandan cake for desert. But it'll have to be Friday night. You've got a date on Saturday."
Nodding in agreement, Jon was meeting his water polo buddies for an exhibition match at Stanford, followed by dinner and drinks. He wasn't sure what they'd do now the water polo season had finished. One thing Archer did know he, didn't want to give up the monthly outing.
"The weekend after?" Jon suggested.
"Nope," Trip's eyes clouded over, knowing his next words would kill the mood. "Grandpa's birthday. So, it will have to be Friday, it they're free. Week after I'll probably be gone for ten to twelve days, depending on which ship I get assigned."
Muttering under his breath, Jon slumped onto the bed. Trip soon followed. Now Tucker had Archer where he wanted him, it didn't take long to remove their clothing and improve his disposition. "Supplies?" came the question when Jon finally managed to break the kiss and come up for air.
"First thing I put away. Top draw," Trip stated, "and don't you dare take too long. We need to christen our new place."
Grinning, Archer easily located what he was looking for. Tucker might still need an evil glare occasionally with respect to his clothing on the bathroom floor and putting the cap on the tooth paste, but with somethings he was excruciatingly obsessive. Supplies, like his desk in the Engineering department at the Complex, were arranged to specification and best of luck to anyone who messed up his system. Trip knew if anything had been moved so much as a micrometre.
Pulling the bottle out of Archer's still hands, it seemed Trip was in the mood for to let Jon take the lead but not take too long about it. While Tucker was more likely to start their intimacy, he let Archer know, undeniably, if he wanted to be in charge from the first touch. Right now, Trip just wanted Jon's hands on him, in him. Nudging Archer along with all the subtlety of a brick, Tucker squeezed gel onto Jon's warm, waiting palm. Smirking, Archer decided he'd reward Trip for agreeing to this apartment by taking thing very, very slowly. While it might frustrate his love, in the end, they'd both win.
"Happy Birthday," Trip's breathlessness almost spoiled the moment. The sky was becoming lighter as dawn approached. The sun wouldn't appear for another hour. The bay outside their window slowly woke as the illumination increased. Tucker learnt to love the mornings in their new apartment, his boyfriend's arms wrapped around him.
"Is that what your little display was all about. It's 0500," Jon returned, pulling his lover closer. "We have to get up soon."
"I already had you up," Trip retorted with a snicker of pride, "twice. No point wasting the next half hour. Join me in the shower for the rest of your present."
"You're going to be the death of me," Jon muttered under his breath but slowly started moving. Slowly because he wanted to see Trip prancing around their bedroom butt naked. It did things for his libido that should be criminal.
"You're only thirty," came the response from the other side of the room. "Get your arse out of bed, Old Man. I got plans for it and you today."
Groaning, Archer wondered what he ever did to deserved falling in love with a randy twenty something year old. By the time his shift at the complex was over, all Jon wanted was a few quiet drinks before heading home for an even more quiet evening with Trip. Skipping the drinks would be even better, but he didn't think Robinson and Duval would let him get away with that. Thankfully no one on his team seemed to understand it was his birthday, or the significance of this particular anniversary. It was Friday, and as far as most people knew, a normal day. That's just the way Jon like to spend his birthday, especially such a milestone. Sometime on the couch before bed sounded like the best present Trip could offer.
"Nothing planned?" A.G. asked, watching Jon pack up his desk.
"Should I have?" Archer returned, raising an eyebrow. At that moment he knew something was off. Robinson had waited all day to spring this on him. Jon just hoped Trip didn't know anything about whatever the pilots had in stall. If he did, Archer could only imagine what those two minds would get up to together.
"I have orders from your Adonis," Robinson's expression became blank.
"Please tell me Trip hasn't planned a party?" Jon groaned.
"Okay, I won't," A.G. stated, unable to hide the glee, which told Archer exactly what to expect.
"I'm going to," Jon started an angry triad, only to be stopped by Robinson's expression. A.G. might have promised to get Archer home, but it didn't look like the pilot would play by Trip's rules. Sometimes the animosity between the two of them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. No closer to finding out why, the Commander decided to play this a completely different way. "Do you know he woke me up at 0400 to give me his 'present'."
Robinson didn't say a word. His expression, however, gave Archer a clue.
"Once wasn't enough," Jon continued, shaking his head and rather enjoying the green complexion on Robinson's face. They'd never really discussed the intimate details of Archer's relationships, even though A.G. was open enough with his conquests. Clapping his friendly rival on the shoulder and crowing, "no, we had another go around and then again in the shower." Robinson expression changed, subtly and Jon began to form an idea of what might be wrong. "I tell you, A.G., you should try for someone younger. The stamina and flexibility. What that man can't do isn't worth talking about."
Glaring, the pilot wasn't so cocky. In fact, he looked rather green, both with envy and aversion.
Bingo, Archer didn't bother hiding his delighted smirk. "Any one would think you hadn't gotten any for a while with that scowl. Trolling on your own not working out so well?"
"Shut up," Robinson growled. "I have to get you on a transport and home. You're Adonis wouldn't tell me why."
Rolling his eyes, Jon knew, only too well, what Charles Tucker was capable of achieving if his put his mind to it. Now that he thought about it, the board between the door and coat rack was empty. That should have been Archer's first clue.
Didn't Trip say I was expected to go to Florida for dinner on my birthday, Jon groaned inwardly. I thought the oversight due to Trip arriving home from his last posting on Tuesday. Hell, he had Wednesday off. That's more than enough time for him to organise something. That is, a sense of dread overcame Archer, if he hasn't been planning this for weeks! What have I gotten myself into!
Twenty minutes later, Jon had been directed to the room where the usual Friday night building socials were held. Shoved into a bathroom and told to change into the civilian clothing hanging behind the door, it seemed Trip booked the place and planed this to the last detail. A few of the residents Jon knew well dropped by to wish him a happy birthday, Capt. Smith and her husband among them. Colleagues from the Complex, friends and the Tucker family made up the main crowd.
"I invited Max," Trip told Jon, when the older man continued to look for someone after exiting the bathroom. Although many Starfleet officers attended, Tucker felt he could casually sling an arm around his boyfriends' hips as this was a private party. He wasn't about to let Jon escape when everyone wanted to celebrate with him. "I know you consider him a mentor and the closest person you have to family. The Commodore didn't feel attending was appropriate with so many junior officers. He helped me plan this after telling me you haven't had a real birthday party since your mom passed. I wanted this one to be special for you. So, we're going to the Forest house for dinner next weekend."
Nodding, Jon swallowed, hard. This was just such a Trip thing to do, to consider the emotional repercussion that came with a lack of real family. "Thank you," Archer managed before locking lips. Breaking apart at the crowd cheering, Jon caught Tucker's blue eyes and fastened them on his. "I love you."
"I know you do," Trip's face lit up with pleasure. "The feeling mutual, Old Man."
Rolling his hazel orbs, Jon growled, "enough with the Old Man!"
Laughing, Tucker moved them towards the first group. A drink appeared in Jon's hand as he spent a few moments with Capt. and Mr. Smith. Several other neighbours drifted over before Trip expertly moved them on. He could work a crowd better than anyone Jon knew.
"What has Hess done with herself," Archer attempted to covered his shocked expression when he captured a look at the crowd, which had grown significantly in the last quarter of an hour.
It seemed Trip had thought of everything. His water polo buddied dropped in for an hour after work and they were the next target. Most of the Aviation team were drinking by the ceiling to floor window. They were facing off with several of Tucker's Engineering brethren. Charlie Tucker had Lt. Commander Wu and his wife entranced in a deep conversation, all being engineers. Hess, looking more feminine than he'd ever expected possible, held her own with Alice and Lizzy. Pieter and Lee mingled, meeting many of Jon and Trip's friends for the first time. Currently, they were obviously talking shop with Major and a heavily pregnant Dr. O'Shea.
"Mama," Trip's baby blues shone with surprise. "Hess came early to help me get everything ready. Mama took one look at her and said, 'a girl with your assets needs to display them to best advantage'. Then my mother yelled that she was taking Hess shopping and disappeared with both my sisters, leaving Jamie, Rory and Dad to help me set all this up. Well, you're looking at the result."
"Who would have thought," Robinson managed to blind side the lovers, "a comb, a dress and some advice could change a person that much. I'm not sure anything but a muzzle would help the mouth."
Feeling Trip bristle at his side, Jon slung an arm around his boyfriend shoulders to stop the situation from degenerating further. "You know, some people are just the envious type," he offered as if A.G. weren't standing beside them. "Can't stand to see others happy and getting some."
"That's what happens," Tucker agreed, understanding where Archer's thoughts tended, "when you're constantly playing the field. When you finally meet someone, they only think you're after a good time. You know, I've seen the way Hess looks at Wang. This change might just give him the courage to finally ask her out on a date and her the self-confidence to accept. He's been sweet on her for months but is afraid. The only ones who don't get it are Wang and Hess."
"The course of young love never did run smooth," Jon mocked, before a stray though entered his mind. "Say, Trip, where are your family staying tonight?"
"In our apartment," the younger man answered with a completely straight face. "Except Rory and Vicky. I managed to get them a studio in the building for the night. I thought it would make it easier for them, with my sister's due date approaching. Why, is that a problem?"
"Not really," Jon responded carefully. He'd hoped to continue a more private celebration over much of the weekend. Looks like that options out. I have no idea where we're going to fit four extra people, but I guess Trip's got that worked out, just like everything else.
"Come on Jon, this is your party and it's time to celebrate," Trip lent in and pecked Archer on the cheek. "The food should be out soon. We'll cut the cake about ten. Then I'm going to give you your official present and hopefully people will get the message and start going home."
Three hours later, Jon knew he'd been played once again. While Alice, Charlie, Lizzy and James were staying in their home for the weekend, they'd organised the room at a nearby resort for Jon's gift. As the celebration came to an end, the crowd saw the birthday boy and his partner of almost six months off on their first romantic getaway in a private transport.
"Tired," Trip asked, holding a flute of Champaign above the bubbles of their hot tube in the honeymoon suite overlooking half moon bay.
"Exhausted," Jon responded. He'd been glad the bath was full and awaiting them after being led straight to their palatial suite. The butler took care of their check in, needing only their Starfleet ID's. He'd then withdrawn quietly with in knowledge he wouldn't be needed further this evening. "Your parents sure know how give a gift."
"I got a better one. Max gave you two days off," Trip slipped into the conversation. "I managed to talk Jeffery's into matching leave with all the hard work over the last few months. So, we don't need to be back until Tuesday evening. I don't intend to get out of that bed anytime tomorrow."
"Sound's perfect to me," Jon managed an exhausted chuckle. "Trip, I don't think I ever had a birthday like this one. Thank you."
"Don't go expecting it every year," Tucker warned, pulling his lover close, "not on Starfleet wages anyway." He'd never tell Jon about his share in the business, or his 'trust' fund, unless the relationship became official with the possibility of adding to their family. Kissing the back of his boyfriend's neck, Jon sighed. "Tomorrow," Trip promised, "we're going to use this tub for more than soaking."
"Promise," Archer mumbled, almost asleep.
"You can count on it, Old Man," Trip smiled.
"I've warned you enough times, Babe," Jon responded, moving suddenly. He'd discovered quite by accident, that Tucker was particularly sensitive just below his shoulder blades. Turning and removing their glasses to the side of the tub, he found just the spot he sought. Rewarded with Trip's moan of pleasure, Archer whispered "I'm am not that old. I think it is time I proved it to you, Babe. Experience beets youth any day."
An hour later, and completely boneless, Trip looked at Jon with amazement. His hazel eyes filled with triumph, Archer didn't think he had the energy to move a mussel. "So, Babe?"
"Shut up Old Man," Trip shook his head. "Tell me, how the hell are we going to get out of of this tub?"
"I guess we'll negotiate getting to bed together," Jon snickered. It took some time, but eventually they managed the herculean task.
It was well past noon the next day before either Jon or Trip opened their eyes. Beyond the floor to ceiling glass windows, lay a magnificent view of the ocean. By mutual and unspoken agreement, they decided to explore the magnificent grounds hand in hand. Seated over a seafood meal that night, a soft breeze blowing the smell of salt air into the open dining room, Jon made a life altering decision. He was going to ask Trip to marry him. He didn't know when or how, but Jonathan Archer knew he couldn't go the rest of his life without Charles Tucker at his side.