Andromeda Resort
Planet Risa

As the last of the senior staff beamed down, Archer took a look and made sure everyone was there. T'Pol, Reed, Mayweather, Sato, and Phlox were with Archer near the main entrance of the resort. A man wearing a Starfleet admiral's uniform approached Archer, obviously waiting for him.

"Captain Archer! Welcome to the Andromeda Resort. I'm Admiral Percy." Archer offered his hand to the approaching man and they shook.

"Thank you, Admiral. May I introduce my crew…" Archer began as Percy cut him off.

"No introductions necessary, Captain. Your crew is made up of legends." Sato and Mayweather seemed a little uncomfortable with the honor, but Reed and Phlox smiled with appreciation. T'Pol remained motionless.

"Thank you, Admiral. I wanted to give my senior staff a little time to enjoy the resort since I'm not sure when any of us may be here again." The ruse was on, and of course the Admiral knew exactly what was going on. In fact, only Sato, Mayweather, and Reed didn't know what was about to happen.

"Actually, Captain, my schedule has really tightened up, so if we could get the official business out of the way now, you will be free to do as you please afterwards." Archer felt a lump in his throat. He was excited and apprehensive at the same time. Not only was he not sure how his there crewmates were going to respond, but he was also very excited to be seeing Trip again. He hadn't seen him since the day he "died."

"Certainly, Admiral," Archer said. "Please lead the way."

Percy nodded and extended his hand to have the crew join him in a walk. He took them through the lobby and around towards the back to what looked like a private area. They came upon a beautiful garden with flowers and fountains.

"I know you all haven't been told exactly what you'll be taking back with you, but I believe it's an essential element that will allow the Charter to grow and expand throughout the galaxy. I think you especially will appreciate it and find it useful. I'm very happy you are the crew taking this back to Earth."

Mayweather, Sato, and Reed had clueless looks on their faces. The admiral was so convincing that Archer and Phlox almost were unsure themselves.

"That sounds great, Admiral. Where is this…element?" Archer asked.

"Right here," Percy said as he smiled and stepped around the corner and out of view behind a tree. The crew of Enterprise waited for Percy to come back. Instead, it was something they heard behind them that got their attention.

"For the finest crew in the fleet, you certainly have become rusty on your sense of direction."

There was no doubt in anyone's mind whose voice it belonged to. All six of them spun fast in the direction of the voice. Classy touch, Archer thought. Even though he, T'Pol, and Phlox knew what was going to happen, Percy had it orchestrated so the three of them also were able to enjoy the element of surprise. Even T'Pol was taken back.

"TRIP!" Sato screamed and ran full speed towards Commander Tucker.

"In the fles…" Trip said and barely got his arms extended as Sato slammed into him. If not for his extensive daily workouts, the two of them would have flown three feet behind and landed on the ground. Trip embraced Sato and somehow managed to stay on his feet.

Mayweather and Reed were too shocked to react so fast. They looked at each other with wide open mouths and then started to walk over. As Sato jumped up and down in Trip's arms, the other two came together and enjoyed the moment.

"Nice touch…having him appear behind us," Phlox said. "He looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself."

"You do good work, doctor," Archer said.

"Excuse me," T'Pol said softly as she put her hand on Archer's shoulder and then walked towards the other four. Although she knew about Trip, it was still a shock to her because she also thought he was dead until a few days ago. Archer patted Phlox's back and they exchanged smiles and followed T'Pol.

As Sato began to calm down, Reed stated the obvious. "You're alive? How in bloody heck…what happened? How is this possible?" Then a thought came to him. "Wait…are you…are you…Sim?"

Trip was laughing and truly enjoying the moment. "No, no…it's me!" Amazingly, he had fully recovered from his wounds and was enjoying his time on Risa, minus being away from his friends and family. But he was certainly ready to go home.

"Well…" Trip said as he hugged Reed and Mayweather. "…mine is an interesting story to be told, I have to say. I…" Trip cut himself off as T'Pol came into his view. He smiled and nodded to her and brought his voice down. "Hello, T'Pol."

T'Pol was doing her best to control her emotions, just as she was just before Archer gave his historic speech. "Comma…Trip. It is very agreeable to see you." Trip stepped towards her and hugged her. She didn't smile nor return the hug, but Trip knew that was T'Pol being a Vulcan. He knew she was happy to see him.

"You too, T'Pol. I'm very happy to see you." He smiled again and looked at Archer and Phlox. The others could understand why T'Pol was restraining from emotions, but Archer and Phlox were conspicuously calm.

"Captain Archer and Dr. Phlox.," Trip said as he walked over to the pair. "So you were able to keep this to yourselves after all. Well, I have to say that I am indeed impressed."

Sato, Reed, and Mayweather looked at each other in shock. They turned back and Mayweather leaned forward as if trying to force out his response.

"What?' was all he could come up with.

After shaking hands and hugging Archer and Phlox, Trip awkwardly turned around and looked at the three. "Yeah…there needs to be some explaining, I guess. You probably are wondering what the heck is going on."

"Ah, yeah!" Sato said.

Archer put out his hand and motioned everyone to come to him.

"Let me handle this," Archer said.

They all sat down on a stone wall structure and Archer explained everything…from the moment in sickbay when it looked like Trip was going to die to when they came together on Enterprise. He also explained why he told T'Pol three days prior…confirming the relationship that everyone had pretty much assumed, anyway.

"So you've been living here in exile for all these months, not even sure if you'd ever be able to leave?" Reed asked Trip, who was sitting next to him.

"Yep. It's not a bad place to live for the rest of your life if it came to that, but I'm sure glad to be going home. Oh, Captain?" Trip turned and looked to Archer, who simply raised his head in acknowledgement. "Any chance we can double the…cargo load?"

Archer looked at him curiously, not sure exactly what he meant. T'Pol, however, raised an eyebrow. She had a good idea what the explanation was going to entail.

"Double the cargo?" Archer asked. "What kind of cargo?"

Trip smiled, almost looking embarrassed.

"Well, not exactly double. But…her name is Christina."

Without hesitation, everyone…minus T'Pol…let out a collective, "Ahhhhh!" and started to laugh. Mayweather gave him a soft punch in the shoulder.

"You old dog. You're dead, and you come away with the girl!"

"I didn't plan on it. It just happened."

Trip looked over at T'Pol. Even though she and Archer were together, Trip wanted to make sure she was ok with what he just said. He, more than anyone, knew how emotional T'Pol really was. It was important to him there was nothing left unsaid between the two of them. After a second, T'Pol smiled ever so slightly and gave Trip a tilted nod. That's all Trip needed to know.

"She'll be here in a little while," Trip said. "In the meantime, how about I show you around?"

Everyone got up and started to follow Trip as he walked across the cobblestone. Sato, Mayweather, and Reed closely followed trip. Phlox walked right behind them, and in the back were Archer and T'Pol. Archer put his hand on T'Pol' shoulder, and she looked up to him and smiled. The seven members of the Enterprise crew, delighted to be reunited again, made its way through the garden as if they had always been together, and always would be.