Author's Note: I don't think I can control who Trip proposes to, well except T'Pol. I hope you enjoy this next chapter; my sister says it's quite funny.

Summary: When a communiqué from Starfleet and the High Command arrives, what will happen when the two of them, Captain Archer, Trip, and T'Pol have a 'discussion'?

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Chapter 11:

The Joys of Marriage

**Archer's Ready Room**

It had been a little over two weeks since they had told the crew and their wedding plans were already starting to be planned out. The couple had asked Archer to marry them and, of course, he had said yes. Malcolm was going to be the best man; Archer was Trip's first choice but he obviously couldn't. Travis had been asked to give T'Pol away since her own father could not and, most likely, would not do it. Hoshi was asked to be the maid of honor by T'Pol, after all the traditions had been explained to her, of course.

"We are planning on letting anyone come who wants t'. And I could have a couple of cameras set up and broad cat it over the ship for those on duty," Trip explained to the Captain as they went over some of the specifics for the wedding.

"Good," Archer nodded before his curiosity got the best of him and he had to ask, "So, what kind of wedding is it going to be? I mean, Human or Vulcan?"

Seeing as Archer was marrying them, he assumed it was going to be part Human, but he wanted to know if any Vulcan rituals were going to be in it. "It will be a Human ceremony. Followed by the private Vulcan rituals preformed afterward."

"Basically, Jon, in Vulcan terms we're already married. So we decided to have a human ceremony so we can be legally married in 'human terms'. But we wont be considered husband and wife until we perform some kind of ritual," Trip said, clarifying what T'Pol had just told Archer.

Archer seemed to understand. He nodded his head and asked with a sly smile, "What about a honeymoon?"

"Honeymoon? I am not aware of any moons that have or create honey."

Trip and Archer both laughed at her ignorance of the term. They hadn't taken into account the amount of discrepancies Human and Vulcan marriage rituals had. "Um, how do ya explain a honeymoon? It's a…uh, it's like a…celebration of marriage," Trip muddled for a response.

T'Pol rose an eyebrow as Hoshi's voice came over the comm. "Sir, I have an incoming communiqué from Starfleet. It's Admiral Forrest," Hoshi paused a moment before she said, "he says it's important."

"Thank-you, Hoshi, patch it through to here."

"Aye, sir," A second later, the screen on his computer switched from black to Admiral Forrest's face. His look was stone and very intimidating. He seemed upset but not at the same time.

"What can I do for you today, sir?" Archer asked in a casual voice trying to make the situation on Enterprise anything but that.

"I need to speak with you about two of your officers, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol," he said in a harsh tone. Archer glanced up at the two; a worried expression covered his face. "It's alright if they are there. This does concern them."

"What do you need to talk to us about?" Archer questioned.

"They're getting married, are they not?"

"Wow, word travels faster out here in space than it does on Earth," Trip muttered to himself, not loud enough to be heard.

Archer glared at him before looking beck at the Admiral and asking, "How did you hear about that?"

"Private sources. But that's not the issue here, it's their marriage."

"What's so wrong with it?" Archer interrupted.

"The Sub-Commander is Vulcan and answers to the High Command! Commander Tucker is a Human and officer in Starfleet!" Forrest exclaimed.

"As you have just stated, Admiral, the Commander and I report to two separate people, making there no regulations against our marriage. Furthermore, the only reasoning in your statement is your prejudice against Human/Vulcan relationships." T'Pol's monotone accusation not only shocked the Admiral, but Archer and Trip as well.

Admiral Forrest stayed silent but Archer spoke up instead, "She is correct, Admiral. You're only true objections is your own prejudice against the Vulcan and way they interact with us."

"Captain, sorry to interrupt but I've just got a communiqué from the Vulcan High Command. They also say it's urgent," Hoshi's voice said as it came over the comm. "Would you like me to patch it through to your ready room?"

"Yes, please, sorry Admiral." The screen switched to that of a Vulcan's emotionless face, it was Ambassador Soval. Archer respectfully bowed his head in greeting and asked politely, "What can I do for you, Soval?"

"I have just been informed of a…most disturbing situation on board your ship that is intolerable," he replied in a normal Vulcan tone.

"And this situation, it wouldn't have something to do with my Chief Engineer or Science Officer, would it?" Archer asked, careful not to give away the fact he had a good idea of what he wanted to talk about.

Soval raised an eyebrow at Archer's very accurate description. "That is correct. I have been told that they are to be joined in union within the next few months."

Trip threw an exasperated look at Archer before moving next to T'Pol in a protective manner. Soval was annoyed by this action but he made no physical reaction toward it. He could now see Soval and knew that Soval could see him. When he started to speak it was with amazing calm and control that displayed none of the raging emotions in his eyes but was still a very firm tone, "If by 'joined in union' you mean marriage, then ya we are."

"Soval, we've just had this discussion with Admiral Forrest-"

"Admiral Forrest? Just now?" Soval asked, cutting off Archer.

"Yes, as a matter-o-fact he's still…on hold," Archer said, holding back a smile for the pathetic phrase he used.

"I wish to be able to speak with him as well for his officer's conduct." Soval's request made Trip just that more outraged but he continued to control it for T'Pol's sake.

Archer pushed a few buttons and did as Soval asked. Forrest's face appeared alongside Soval's. Since Forrest could see the Vulcan's face, he shouted, "What is this about?!"

"This is about your Commander's conduct," Soval said in a blunt manner.

"My Commander! What about your Sub-Commander?!" The Admiral yelled, seemingly forgetting that the two people they were talking about was standing right there, listening.

"Gentlemen, please," Archer said in a futile attempt to stop their bickering. He put on his best diplomatic face and used the voice to match it when continued with, "Let's just settle this peacefully."

"No, sir," his firm yet respectful statement earning him the attention of the four people he was specking to. "There will be no negotiation. We're getting married, I don't care what you two say," he stopped there; he would not make up T'Pol's mind for her. A while ago he told her to make her own decision as to or not to marry Kos and he would give the same luxury about her choice about him.

There was a grueling pause, in which T'Pol thought it through, left Trip thinking she was going to change her mind. When she broke the silence, she said, "I agree with the Comman… Trip. Neither Starfleet nor the High Command have any jurisdiction in this matter."

"We will see about that." Soval's face disappeared as the image of Forrest's face grew larger. Forrest nodded his head, also thinking about everything they had said, then his face also disappeared as the black over toke the space it was taking up.

They didn't know what Soval meant by that at first, but they did now. He had gone to his superiors in the High Command and told them of the situation. They were fascinated yet disappointed by the news. It could benefit or destroy the Human/Vulcan relationship.

Enterprise was the first Human vessel exploring space, if their Vulcan observer was to be in a compromising position…let's just say that wouldn't look so good. They needed good reason to let this happen. Otherwise, they would have to remove her from her position aboard Enterprise.

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I can't tell if I was rambling, had a lot to say, or I was actually putting detail into it.

Anyway, R/R please.