Title: Demons Part 3
Part/Chapter: 3 of 4
Summary: Set after 'Demons'. My resolve of the Terra Prime crisis. Read this, if you didn't like what happened in the last two episodes :)
Spoiler: 4.20 'Demons'
Rating: PG-13 (just to be on the save side, or is it 'T' now?)
Disclaimer: If Enterprise would belong to me, there would definitely be a fifth season. But since this isn't the case… All characters of Star Trek Enterprise belong to Paramount.
A/N: I still haven't watched 4.21 & 4.22 yet…

Thanks for the reviews cazbarbj and Danielle.
Thanks for the review, Aleja21, already working on the next chapter :)
Thanks for the review, Miranda Merlin, didn't thought of Soval – but you are right :)
Thanks for the review and the tip with the spelling, Jenn, Rathalyn and JadziaKathryn. Since the episode was called 'Bound' I thought it was the noun and didn't look it up – my bad (English isn't my first language). I had already corrected that mistake, before Rathalyn and JadziaKathryn had reviewed, but somehow it took hours for the changes to take effect.

I would be happy to hear from you all again :)

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Chapter 3

Jonathan Archer stood in front of the large window of his private mess, waiting for his first officer and chief engineer to join him for breakfast. He observed the blue and brown panorama of Earth with mixed feelings. Much had happened since his last visit of his home world a week ago and his gut told him, the maybe toughest event was still to come.

He felt happy for Trip to be father – though a little jealous. Jon would never forget that sparkle in the engineer's eyes when he spoke of his little daughter. However, the 'arrival' of this small girl changed a lot – not only the fact she was officially the first Human-Vulcan-hybrid, heating up tensions on Earth as well as on Vulcan – but also she brought trouble to Enterprise. Jon knew the moment T'Pol and Trip had volunteered to investigate on Terra Prime and the organization's connection to their child that Enterprise would loose both her science officer and chief engineer. No matter how much Trip and T'Pol loved Enterprise and the mission, their daughter would always come first.

The hiss of the door opening, pulled the captain out of his thoughts. He smiled widely, greeting his officers and close friends. „I'm glad you found a little time between changing diapers and giving bottles. I assume, your daughter sleeps."

Both men waited till T'Pol had sat down and followed her example then. Immediately Trip began to fill the captain's and his own cup with hot coffee and his Vulcan's mug with camomile tea. "Lizzie is out like a light. She's so cute."

"Trip appreciates to watch her sleeping." Indicating her thanks T'Pol took the tea form her bond-mate.

"Can't get enough from my beautiful little daughter. She just comes after her mother. – Except for the eyes."

Jon smiled warmly, noticing the pride in Trip's voice. "I'm sure, she'll be a heartbreaker when she's grown."

"Just like her mother." During this comment the engineer faced his Vulcan and smirked.

Jon raised his eyebrows about that obvious insider joke. "Let's just hope she doesn't have inherited her mother's stubbornness." Immediately the Captain was rewarded with one of T'Pol's glares, while Trip allowed some chuckles to escape.

For a short instance silence settled over the group. Before it could become uncomfortable the captain spoke up again in order to keep the conversation going. "You said Lizzie. You've finally named her?"

Grinning proudly from ear to ear, Trip said: "Elizabeth Tucker."

A smile crept onto Jon's features. "Elizabeth … after your sister."

"T'Pol suggested the name."

The Vulcan saw the raised eyebrows of her superior officer. "I know how much Trip's sister meant to him. I thought this name would fit."

Nodding in understanding, the Captain changed the subject: „I don't know what surprises me more: The two of you being parents or T'Pol calling you Trip."

Trip chuckled while he took a bite from his toast. A moment later the chief engineer became serious. "Jon, T'Pol and I have to talk with you. Things have changed pretty fast lately and…"

Jon had anticipated this conversation and he knew there was nothing he could do to change their minds. "I'm not happy to loose two of my best officers, but I understand your decision."

"I doubt, this is what Trip was going to say."

Jon raised his eyebrows inquiring and he eyed his first officer until she continued. "On the contrary, captain. Concerning the fact that there was a gravity of spotlight on our daughter, that raised positive, but also negative reactions among the human population, and regarding the tensions on Vulcan towards humans are still in the early stages to decrease, we came to the conclusion, with your permission, to remain on Enterprise."

"Jon, you see it's obvious that neither Earth nor Vulcan is willed to give us and our daughter a safe home. And by the way, you know how much T'Pol and I love being out there in space on Enterprise."

Jon was totally surprised. It took him a moment to find the right words other than 'Great' and 'Thanks, God'. "I believe, you have talked about this and all consequences. Elizabeth would be the only child aboard and a spaceship isn't the safest place in universe to grow up."

Trip knew how important it was to convince the captain that this could work. "Only some years, Jon. It won't be for forever. Just letting the dust settle and a little time for us to adjust. You know we are professional and will keep private things to our quarters."

"We had considered this, Captain. But we have proof that this can work." T'Pol tried to bring forward all evidences logically.

"I'm all ears."

"For one, in the other timeline Lorian and all other descendents of the Enterprise crew had grown up on this vessel."

"But as you said: another timeline with other circumstances." 'Why am I arguing with her? They told me they would stay on board.' Jon asked himself.

T'Pol continued. "Elizabeth wouldn't be the first child growing up on this Enterprise." She pronounced the word 'this'. "Though it were only days, Sim had spent his entire childhood aboard, during extremely dangerous circumstances." T'Pol was aware that mentioning Sim didn't enlighten her commanding officer's mood.

Archer pondered on this. "You know, I don't have the last word in this."

"Yeah, but we wanted to know, what you think about this, before we talk to TPTB at StarFleet." Jon nodded at Trip's remark. "And we hoped for a little backup."

The captain chuckled before he lifted his cup of coffee, making a toast. "Then I'm happy to keep my science officer and chief engineer." Trip lifted his mug as did his bond-mate with her tea. "One last thing: how long is this … relationship going on?"

Trip and T'Pol exchanged a brief look. The engineer answered slowly, a flush evident on his cheeks. "With all ups and downs…"

T'Pol finished for her human mate in a low voice. "… more than one year." While speaking, she gave him her most innocent look, her captain had seen in all those years.

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A/N: Hoped you liked this chapter, though it's short. I tried my best with the spelling and commas (but it was 2AM again and English isn't my first language… but please tell me my mistakes – I wanna learn)

In the next and last chapter Trip's parents are going to meet lil' Elizabeth :)

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