T'Pol held her daughter as she weighed the merits of various designs. Charles flipped the pages and provided his opinion. Elizabeth watched her parents, and the book they were examining, with curiosity.

"What's wrong with the balloons?" asked Charles. "I think this is a great one."

"It is one of the plainest designs offered."

"Balloons are good for birthdays," he countered.

She raised an eyebrow. "I have seen balloons used for six different occasions in the time since we moved here."

"Okay, what do you like for a birthday cake?" It was a sign of how the Tucker family had been accepted into their small community that the baker, Mrs. Kershaw, did not find her patrons unusual.

"The teddy bear is appealing," T'Pol said after a moment of consideration.

"This one," Charles said, tapping a page, "or the other one?"

Just then, their daughter said, "Pwetty." She looked at the teddy bear and repeated, "Pwetty."

"I was referring to the other one, but it appears that Elizabeth has chosen." She took a moment to enjoy the love and joy that Charles felt, and to share hers with him.

"That's our girl, Lizzie. A year old tomorrow an' ya already know what ya want." He looked at her for a moment, and then added, "Uncle Malcolm is on Enterprise right now, but the first time he sees ya with cake, he'll try convincin' ya that pineapple cake is the best. Don't listen."

The door to the bakery opened. T'Pol did not recognize the individual who entered. He appeared to be a newcomer to the area.

"Commander Tucker?" he asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

"It's Captain Tucker now," chided Mrs. Kershaw, who felt a certain pride in the high-ranking members of Starfleet who were her neighbors and patrons.

"Matt Deschamps. I worked with you right before Enterprise launched."

"Mimicin' Matt!" Charles exclaimed. "T'Pol, this is Matt Dechamps, an' he can do an impression of just about anyone. Matt, this is my wife, T'Pol, an' our little girl, Elizabeth. Lizzie for short."

"Pleased to meet you." T'Pol extended her hand, and Matt Deschamps shook it lightly. "Are you new to the area?"

He shook his head. "I'm just passing through on my way to visit my aunt, and I felt like a cupcake."

"Well, I'm glad you wanted that cupcake. Still in Starfleet?" inquired Charles.

"I'm shipping out soon on the Discovery as chief engineer. It comes with a promotion to lieutenant commander."

Elizabeth looked at T'Pol. "Hungwe, Momma."

"Excuse us, Mr. Deschamps. Elizabeth is hungry."

"I can let you go," he offered.

"You need not hurry. I am sure that you and Charles will have much to discuss."

Twenty minutes later, Elizabeth had finished eating and was playing with her toy kitten on the small lawn in front of the bakery. When Charles stepped out the door, she pointed to him. "Daddy!"

"Yes, that is Daddy." Charles had convinced her some time ago that 'Father' was too much for a small child to say, and she had agreed to call him 'Daddy' when talking to Elizabeth. Similarly, he referred to her as 'Momma.' "We will go see him."

As she lifted her daughter (toy kitten in hand) off the grass, T'Pol heard Lt. Cmdr. Deschamps ask Charles quietly, "Do you ever wish your family was a bit more, well, normal?"

Charles was displeased, especially because he knew that she heard the remark. His response was calm, however. T'Pol found herself realizing that, had a Vulcan asked her the same question, her response would have been less emotional, but similar in expressing contentment.

"I've got a perfectly normal family. A wife an' daughter who I love more than anythin' in the universe- what more could I ask for?"