There was a chime on their door, both Tripp and T'Pol looked up. They were sitting together on the couch, not saying anything because T'Pol was leaving in the morning with Charlie, and they were getting their new science officer/ first officer tomorrow. Tripp knew that there was no one that could take T'Pol's place.
Tripp tried to make them go away, but the chime went off again, he sighed as he stood and went to the doors to open them. Crewman Edgerton was standing that the door. She gave him a smile; she knew that she was interrupting their last night together.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you," Crewman Edgerton said.
Tripp nodded and let Crewman Edgerton in. T'Pol sat up straighter as Tripp asked her to take a seat. Crewman Edgerton shook her head. "I know that you are leaving tomorrow, Commander T'Pol and I hope you are okay that I go with you." Tripp widen his eyes. "I know this is short notice but with Charlie gone, I don't have much to do on the ship. I could help you with Charlie when you get to San Francisco. If you don't want me there, I will understand."
"No, I would like you there to help Charlie since it is going to be new to him. It will properly get him adjusted to living on land and not a ship." T'Pol said. Tripp could tell that T'Pol was relief that Crewman Edgerton was coming with her.
Crewman Edgerton smiled. "Thank you, Commander T'Pol."
"Just talk to the captain about your leave," Tripp said. He wanted to make sure that she wouldn't get in trouble about leaving.
"I already talked to the captain, and he agrees with me. He told me I just needed your permission to go." Crewman Edgerton made it to the door. "Thank you again," She said as she left their quarters.
"I glad that she is going with me," T'Pol said. Tripp nodded as he turned off the lights. He made his way to T'Pol and held out his hand for her. She took it and let him help her off the couch to their bedroom. As the door closed, Tripp took T'Pol in his arms. This was going to be their last night until the baby is born, and they are reunited again.
Tripp woke up the next morning to see that T'Pol was still sleeping next to him. Tripp got out of bed, grabbed his robe, and headed out of the room. He made his way across the living area to Charlie's room. Tripp opened the door to see that his son was still sleeping. His blond hair was getting long, and he was going to need a cut soon. Tripp wouldn't be able to give to him or take him to get it cut. T'Pol was going to have to do. Tripp would miss his second birthday.
"He is going to miss you, too," Tripp turned to see T'Pol standing there, tying her robe.
Tripp reached for her and pulled her close. "I'm going to miss you, too." Tripp kissed the top of her head. They stood there watching their son for a moment. "I thought you were sleeping."
"I heard you getting up," T'Pol leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you sleeping next to me," Tripp said.
"Me, too." T'Pol wrapped her arms around him.
"Mama, Papa," Charlie sat up in his bed, looking at his parents.
Tripp let go of T'Pol. "Hey there, Four," He made his way into the room and picked up Charlie. Charlie buried his face in his father's chest. "Let's get dress and then we'll get breakfast." Tripp looked over to T'Pol to see that she was already heading back to their room to change. Tripp changed and dressed Charlie. He took Charlie to the living area to see that T'Pol was already dressed. He handed Charlie to her so he could change.
After he dressed, he stood in his doorway and watched T'Pol and Charlie. T'Pol was telling him a story about Vulcan with some of his toys. He took it all in as he watched. The way Charlie's blond hair blended into his mother's dark hair. Charlie was trying to take the toy away from his mother. He was going to miss moments like this.
He put on a smile. "Are we ready for breakfast?" Charlie nodded.
The small family made their way to the mess hall. They enjoyed their breakfast as a family because they would be separated soon. After breakfast, they went back to their quarters to make sure all their packing was done. Tripp looked around their quarters to see what T'Pol took with her.
"Papa," Charlie tugged on his pants. Tripp looked down to see Charlie holding up a book that he got from grandma and grandpa. "Read."
"Sure," Tripp reached for him, sat them on the couch, and started to read the story with different voices.
T'Pol stopped packing when she heard the laughter of her son. She looked out of her room to see that Tripp was reading Charlie a story. Charlie was laughing at the different voices that Tripp was making. She took everything in, from their blond hair blending into each other. Charlie looked so much like his father when they were that close to each other. She was going to miss this.
"Commander T'Pol and Commander Tucker to Airlock One," T'Pol heard the voice of Hoshi Sato come over the comms.
Tripp looked up and T'Pol nodded. They knew that it was time to leave. Tripp stood with Charlie in his arms. They heard them calling for the captain and Crewman Edgerton to the same airlock. The new first officer would be on the shuttle, too.
Tripp handed Charlie to T'Pol while he went into Charlie's room to get his bags. He then went and grabbed T'Pol's bags from their room. Tripp and T'Pol left their quarters and made their way to Airlock One.
When they got to Airlock One, the captain was there with Crewman Edgerton. Jonathan smiled at the family before making his way over to T'Pol. "Take care of you and Charlie. We'll see you in a year."
"I will, Sir," T'Pol said. She watched Tripp place the bags by the doors and handed Charlie to Tripp. She wanted to tell him that he was a great captain, and he knew what he was doing. She felt that she wouldn't be seeing him again. She leaned up and kissed the side of his cheek. "It has been great working with you."
Jonathan nodded. He didn't know what to say to her. She was a great scientist and first officer. He didn't know what was going to happen to her after the baby was born. He had a feeling that Starfleet would keep T'Pol close to hand or put her on a different ship than his. Jonathan glanced at his friend with his son. "I'll keep an eye on your husband."
Jonathan saw a look in T'Pol that told him that she was worried about Tripp. "Make sure he is around to see our next child is born." Jonathan nodded. He knew that T'Pol would be worried about Tripp. Jonathan made a promise to himself that he would keep Tripp safe to see his next child.
The airlock door opened, and two males came out of the shuttle. Jonathan turned away from T'Pol to see the two men. One was pitot and he was started to talk to Crewman Edgerton. She pointed to the bags on the floor and put them in the shuttle.
The other man was standing there, taking everything in. Jonathan looked at him to see his pips to find out that he was a commander. Jonathan smiled at the man. He didn't return the smile. Jonathan looked at him to see that he was black, and his eyes were dark so that it was hard to see what color they were. He stood there with his arms behind his back.
"Hello, Commander," Jonathan said.
The man looked at him. "Captain," It was all he said because he was busy watching the Tucker family with narrowed eyes. Jonathan could only wonder about what he was thinking.
"Why don't I take you to your quarters?" Jonathan waved the Commander forward. "And leave the family alone to say goodbye."
"Afterwards, I would like a meeting with the senior officers," The commander said. Jonathan gave Crewman Edgerton smiled and all the crewman did was smile. Crewman Edgerton followed the pitot on the shuttle to give the family moment to say goodbye.
The family stood together to say goodbye. Charlie understood that he was going on a trip and thought that both his parents were coming with him. He didn't like being between them and tried to get out of his father's arms. Tripp just held on to him tighter as he looked into his wife's face.
"I love you," He leaned down and kissed her. T'Pol wrapped her arms around his waist. Tripp just held on to his wife because he didn't want to let them go. Tripp kissed the top of her head before letting her go. T'Pol saw tears in Tripp's eyes as he looked at Charlie. Charlie smiled up at his father. "Hey, Four," There was a catch in Tripp's voice. He took a breath before continuing. "I'm going to need you to take care of your mama for me."
"Ok, Papa," Charlie looked at his father before looking at his mother to see that her eyes were wet. "Mama," He reached for her.
Tripp hugged his son one more time before handing him to his mother. T'Pol turned and started for the shuttle. Charlie looked around and saw that his father wasn't following them. He looked over his mother's shoulder to see his papa just standing there. Charlie reached out for his father.
Tripp didn't move. Tripp wanted to race over to them, take them in his arms, and never let them go. When Charlie realized that his father wasn't coming his lips started to tremble. Tears filled his eyes. "Papa," Charlie called out. "Papa."
Tears started to fall from Tripp's eyes as he heard his son's voice. Tripp watched as they got on the shuttle with Charlie crying. Tripp felt in his heart that he could still hear the cries of his son as the airlock closed and locked. Tripp stood there until he heard the shuttle fly away.
"All senior staff to the conference room," Tripp over the comms, but he didn't head for the conference room when his feet started moving.
He didn't know how he did it, but he made it back to his quarters, the doors opened, and he waited to hear the laughs of Charlie, but there was nothing. Tripp fell to his knees and started to cry. He thought that it might all be a dream, but it wasn't.