Ensign Alisa James watched quietly, laughing softly to herself as Trip slept. He had fallen asleep in his chair on the shuttlepod, his head falling to the side and soft snores escaping his slightly open mouth. He had insisted on staying awake until they got back to Enterprise, but obviously that plan hadn't worked.

She checked the sensors. They were almost to Enterprise. "Hey Trip!" she said, shaking him slightly.

"Hngh..." he muttered, blinking and yawning. He streched his arms out and sat up. "Where are we?" he said groggily

"Almost to Enterprise." said Alisa, a smile on her face.

"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?!" said Trip.

"Well, you looked so cute asleep, drool and all..." she said teasingly.

Trip rubbed at the side of his mouth.

Alisa laughed. "I was just kidding!"

Trip gave her a meanacing look, then smiled. "You're as bad as me!"

The comm interrupted them, beeping up from the console.

"We're cleared for docking." said Alisa.

"Taking us in..."

************

Trip popped open the hatch to the shuttlepod, and stepped out onto the bay's floor, only to be struck by a flash of light.

"Ooof!" Trip's breath wheezed out of him as a small girl attached herself to his legs.

"Hi Dad!" said Rachael brightly when she finally let go.

"Hey!" he said, picking her up. "How's my angel?" he asked.

"Good! Uncle Travis showed me how to drive the ship!"

"Travis..." Trip started, staring at the ensign, who was standing a few feet away.

Travis suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Uh, well, I didn't let her drive the ship per say..."

Captain Archer, standing beside Travis, just chuckled to himself. He then turned his attention to Alisa and Trip. "Did you guys get the deuterirum?"

"Yep." said Trip, gesturing with his free arm to the shuttlepod. "They're in there. I tell you, without Alisa's help, I wouldn't have figured out what the hell they were saying!"

Alisa blushed at the praise. She had taken over as linguistics officer when Hoshi had passed away. She was doing an awesome job at it, but no one could ever replace Hoshi's talent.

"It wasn't all that hard once you got the basic grammar." she said, in answer to Trip's comments.

"Well." said Archer, speaking to both Alisa and Trip, "I bet you both are tired. I'll let you guys get some rest and debrief you in the morning."

"Thanks Cap'n." Trip said to his friend. He leaned down to pick up his bag then headed down to his quarters, Rachael talking all the way.

*****************

Not for the first time, Trip watched Rachael sleep. Her light brown hair contrasted with her slight Asiatic features. She was a very beautiful child.

Trip was dreading the day that he would have to tell her why she looked so different from him. He had blond hair instead of brown, blue eyes instead of brown and a fair skin color to her darkish one.

It was not to say he didn't love her; it was exactly the opposite. Trip loved the way she looked, like her mother and father at the same time. It comforted him to know that parts of Malcolm and Hoshi would always be with him.

He reached down to her bed, and pulled her blankets up to her chin. Then he kissed her lightly on the cheek, and headed off to his bed, where sleep eagerly awaited him.