Title: Family Affairs

Authors: Sita/ T'eyla

Genre: Angst/Romance

Rating: PG (for language)

Summary: When Enterprise is in Earth's orbit for a few days of shore leave, Trip, T'Pol and their newborn son go to visit Trip's parents. While on Earth they have to face the hostility and prejudices still existent in the human society of the 22nd century.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns Enterprise, we're not making any money from this.

Epilogue

A few days later Trip was sitting at a table in the mess hall, a padd lying beside his plate. He was totally absorbed in reading the report from Gamma shift and never noticed Malcolm approaching until the Armoury Officer put his tray down on the table.

"Good morning, Commander."

Trip looked up.

"Morning, Malcolm."

Malcolm sat down. He took a sip of his coffee and started on his toast.

"T'Pol is off duty this morning?" he asked.

Trip nodded. "We're taking turns in staying with Sam. The Captain said this was better than taking him down to engineering with me. Or to the bridge for that matter."

"Reasonable," Malcolm said dryly. After a moment he put down his cup.

"How was shore leave, anyway?" He tried to say it in an off-handed sort of voice, but Trip noticed the concern in his tone. He smiled wryly.

"Interesting."

Malcolm raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"In the end we were sitting in my parent's living room, eating pecan pie. But believe me, it wasn't easy. The way it started out, I never thought I'd ever even be allowed into that house again."

"That bad?" Malcolm asked. Trip sighed.

"You bet. That bad and worse. There's one thing my mother and T'Pol do have in common: There's no use arguing with them."

Malcolm chuckled. "I can imagine it was difficult then. What changed her mind?"

"Sam did. If nothing else, I believe he has at least inherited my irresistible charm." Trip grinned at Malcolm, who rolled his eyes.

"So," he said, "it's a happy end now?"

Trip sighed.

"Not really. I believe there must be a sadist sitting somewhere at a desk in Starfleet Command. Just this morning new orders came in. We're already en route to Vulcan."

"No rest for the weary," Malcolm said.

Trip looked at his friend who stifled a grin.

"Nobody cares how I suffer," he murmured, giving Malcolm a sour look, who just smiled and took a sip from his coffee. Trip sighed again. At least it's quite a long way to Vulcan, he thought, and turned back to his breakfast.