PART 35:

Trip, T'Pol, Archer and Reed waited in the dinning hall for Ezral and Liana to join them.

"What is taking them so long?" Trip asked downing the drink he was holding.

"They'll be here Trip," Archer said. "Don't worry."

"Don't worry," Trip said nervously. "Ezral holds the decision that's going to effect my future and you tell me not to worry." He glanced over at the door.

Archer smiled at Trip's nervousness.

"You didn't say anything to Malcolm or T'Pol, did you?"

"I gave you my word," Archer said. "They know nothing."

Reed wondered over to them. "Commander, is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine," Trip said. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," Reed said. "You just look nervous."

Archer covered his mouth to hide his smile from Trip.

"I'm not nervous," Trip said.

Liana entered the room and once she spotted Trip she walked over to them.

"Liana," Reed said.

"Lieutenant," she replied.

"Where's your father?" Trip asked.

"I don't know," Liana answered. "I thought he was in here."

"Did he say anything?"

"Nothing."

"What's going on here?" Reed asked.

At that moment Ezral walked in.

"You're about to find out," Archer told him.

Trip watched as Ezral talked with one of the stewards.

The steward walked away and Ezral turned his attention to his guests and his daughter.

"Once again I would like to thank you all," he started. "For joining me and my daughter for dinner."

The steward returned with a tray of drinks. He gave Ezral his and moved to give the rest to the others.

"Commander Tucker," Ezral said. "You asked me for permission to make Liana your wife."

T'Pol arched her eyebrow as she looked at Archer.

"Your wife," Reed said surprised at what he just heard.

"The old ways have our people staying with their own kind," he continued.

Liana grabbed hold of Trip's hand.

"And generally I would up hold that," he said.

"But..." Trip said.

"Please Commander, let me finish," Ezral interrupted him.

"Sorry."

"But you make my daughter happy," he said. "And that's the most important thing to me than anything else. And I know how much she loves you." He raised his glass. "Permission from me to make Liana your wife is granted."

Everyone but T'Pol raised their glasses as well.

Slapping his friend on the back. "How come you didn't say anything earlier?" Reed asked.

"Wasn't sure what Ezral was going to say," Trip answered.

"Well congratulations, Commander," Reed said shaking his hand. "Liana." He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you."

"When's the big day?" he asked.

Trip looked at Liana.

"Tomorrow," she said.

"Tomorrow," Trip said in surprise.

"In my culture, when a man asks a woman to be his wife," Liana explained. "And permission is granted, the ceremony takes place the next day."

"Well I guess we have a lot to do before tomorrow," Archer said.

Everyone continued talking about the up coming wedding. Archer caught T'Pol leaving out of the corner of his eye and frowned.

End of Part 35