Unexpected Chapter 2
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek, Paramount does. I just like to write.
Genre: Drama
Summary: An unexpected turnabout affects Trip and T'Pol.
Archive: Yes, but please email me first.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I decided to outline the entire story first before writing this. Also, I've been very busy with work and volunteer duties. I promise to update a little faster for the next chapter. Thanks Jenna for being my beta.. I couldn't do this without ya. And thanks Myst for taking the time to give this a once-over.
Onto the story. To avoid confusion, the first part of this chapter takes place before T'Pol's parents agree to attend, and a sweeper is a broom.
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Commander Tucker's parents' house lay nestled away in Northern Florida. All was quiet at home. Carolyn Tucker was busy cooking a turkey dinner for her husband and herself. She overheard her husband, speaking to their son, Trip, in the next room.
"Doncha worry, son. If her daddy won't do it, I'll walk her down the aisle. It wouldn't be right making her walk alone," said Charles the second.
"Thanks dad," said Trip. "We don't even know if her ma and pa will come. Her ma might, but she'd have to do it behind Soval's back. Ya know what he thinks of us."
"I know son. The offer still stands," he replied. Trip watched as his father sniffed around, and then he continued, "Smells like dinner's almost done. I'll let you know when we're about to leave."
"K. Send ma love to everyone."
"Will do," said Charles, as the transmission ended. Carolyn stared at her husband shocked over what she just heard. The only reason she was going to Enterprise was for her son. She certainly did not like his taste in wives. She let her anger build up and caught her husband by surprise when she let it all out.
"Charles Tucker the Second, how could you offer to give her away? If it hadn't been for those Vulcans, Lizzie would still be here. He's making the biggest mistake of his life and you're helping him," she yelled to the back of her husband's head. Charles was startled for a moment and then he calmly turned around to face Carolyn.
"First, the Xindi would have surprised us, even if the Vulcans didn't hold back our warp program. No one, not even the almighty Vulcans, saw this coming. Second, her name is T'Pol, and she's a person just like you and me. She's fine girl, but you need to look past her pointed ears to see that. She's very smart and has a package to match." He chuckled at his comment, as Carolyn gave him a look that could kill, and then continued. "Yea he likes to look at her, but it's her mind that entices him. He always loved the sciences and now he has a gal with similar interests."
"What about kids? His brother Brian and his wife can't have any. Trip will be the only one to carry on the name and make us grandparents," she replied. "This is a big mistake and everyone's encouraging him."
"If the family name dies with Trip, then so be it. Besides, Enterprise's doc is working on the kid thing."
"Do ya have to encourage him so much?," she asked,
"Someone has to. He's our son, and he needs our support. He should know we're right behind him. Besides, if you're willing to judge her before you even meet her, then why are you even going?" As soon as he made that statement, he rose from his chair. He didn't bother to wait for a reply as he walked out of the den.
Normally, Carolyn was willing to accept any gal Trip brought home, but after Lizzie died, she changed. What once was a warm, open-hearted person became a depressed mother who could never move on from her only daughter's death. She blamed everything from a clogged sink to sunspots on the Vulcans. It would take some time to convince Carolyn otherwise.
Charles knew after a fight like that, he'd be sleeping on the couch for a while. He prepared himself a plate of dinner, and joined his pillows and blanket on the couch to watch old vids of the kids.
Carolyn was appalled at her husband. She watched as he fixed himself a plate of food and left the kitchen. After he left, she took out her frustrations on the turkey she cooked for dinner, using a carving knife. She could never forgive the Vulcans for holding humanity back, and in her mind, that was why Lizzie was dead. She started chopping at the turkey, all the while, mumbling 'if they hadn't held us back.'
Charles heard his wife from the family room. He heard the chopping of the knife and her mumbling, even though he couldn't make out what she was saying. 'She can't keep doing this to herself,' he thought. Carolyn had to accept Lizzie's death, before she could ever accept T'Pol into their family. He pushed his blanket off and placed the food beside the couch. Charles rose to his feet and walked to the kitchen entrance.
There was turkey everywhere. He could see how upset she was. Normally, she would have been very careful about cutting the turkey; this way, there was enough for leftovers for lunch. Unbeknownst to Carolyn, Charles walked behind her and grasped her hands while he embraced her. Carolyn dropped the knife and turned into her husband's arms.
"Why did she have to die?," she said into Charles's shoulder.
"I don't know sweetie. For what ever reason, God must have thought she was with us long enough." He held her until there were no more tears to cry. This was the first step into her accepting her daughter's death and a new daughter-in-law. After the crying was done, Carolyn went to wash up.
"I guess there won't be any leftovers," Charles said after she left the room. He got the sweeper out and started to clean up the turkey. It was a daunting task. After a while, he noticed that Carolyn hadn't returned to help him. He finished cleaning the last bit of turkey off the wall and returned to the family room.
Charles found Carolyn on the couch watching the vids he put in earlier. She was curled up in his blankets watching the kids. He joined her, and they watched the kids until they fell sleep.
They awoke the next morning to an incoming call. Charles had missed work and they were both still on the couch. The vid shut itself off after a while. Charles, thinking it was work, rose quickly to answer it. T'Les was calling to speak to Carolyn.
"I'll have to see if she's awake, we fell asleep on the couch last night," Charles said.
"If it is more convenient, I can call back later. I would like to speak to her, 'mother to mother,' so to say," said T'Les.
"I understand. Just give us a little while to wake up and get a few things picked up." They nodded heads and the transmission ended. Charles went into the living room, Carolyn had fallen back asleep. Charles gently nudged her shoulder.
"Sweetie wake up."
"Why," she said groggily.
"T'Les, T'Pol's mom will be calling back. She wanted to speak to you, 'mother to mother.'" Carolyn looked at her husband wide-eyed. She would never expect a Vulcan to use a human expression. After the little bit of shock wore off, she nodded her head and folded the blankets.
T'Les called back about three hours later. She figured that was ample time for Carolyn to get up and ready for the day. Carolyn was expecting her call and was waiting near the console, when it beeped.
"You must be T'Les, T'Pol's mother," Carolyn said.
"And you must be Carolyn, Commander Tucker's mother. I had a few questions about your traditions," T'Les replied.
"Good, I have some questions myself." That was the last thing Charles heard, when he left for work, very late. He figured that, they'd talk for a little while and just exchange a few questions and answers.
Charles returned from work many hours later. To his surprise, the lights, except the ones in the den and kitchen, were all out. Carolyn was still talking to T'Les. At this point, the simple question and answer session was now a full blown conversation. They were chatting like they were old friends catching up on the times. Charles poked his head into the den. T'Les noticed him and turned her attention away from Carolyn. Carolyn realized there was someone behind her.
"How long have we been talking?" asked Carolyn.
"Many hours, I'm afraid," answered T'Les. "For now, I must retire. May we speak again soon?"
"Of course, I really enjoyed our talk today," Carolyn replied.
"As did I." The transmission ended, and when Carolyn turned around, her husband had a huge smile on his face.
"You like her, don't you," asked Charles.
"T'Pol's mother is nice. I can't believe how I have been. Have I really been that bad?"
"Carolyn, you are a mother who lost her only daughter. Your actions were understandable."
"Understandable or not, it wasn't right."
"You're forgiven Carolyn. Don't worry about it. Now, what shall we do for dinner? I bet you haven't eaten all day."
"You're right. Turkey's out of the question after last night. How about we go out? There's a nice little diner open late."
"Let me shower and we can go."
TBC