A/N Thank you so much to noro for the review. They are very important to me. I am still borrowing these characters

As the crowd filed out, Archer and T'Pol made their way down to where Trip was standing with Natalie. Charlie had finally released his father and was standing next to Natalie.

Natalie smiled and move forward to give Archer a hug, "Welcome home, Jon." She turned to T'Pol, "And you, too."

She then addressed them both, "Congratulations on your wedding. I was so happy to hear about it."

Archer answered, "Thank you, Natalie."

He looked down at Charlie who was looking in awe at him and T'Pol.

Trip smiled, "Charlie, this is Admiral Archer, but also my friend Jonathan and another friend, his wife T'Pol."

Jonathan smiled, "Could I have a hug?"

Still a little stunned, Charlie nodded. Archer picked him up and smiled as T'Pol came up next to him. Charlie stared at her and then asked timidly, "Can I touch your ear?"

T'Pol gave her smile, "If you wish."

Everyone smiled as he tentatively reached out and touched it.

As Archer put him back down, he asked Natalie, "How is the new member of the family?"

"She is fine. I thought it might be a little much for her. She is at home with my dad and the others."

For the next half hour, the group was involved with members of the Earth fleet coming up to Archer and introducing their relatives. Hoshi, Travis, and their parents were among those that talked with them.

When Malcom arrived, he was subjected to Trip raising his eyebrows when he introduced Penelope.

Then, with the crowd rapidly clearing out, a Commander got Archer's attention, "Admiral Gardner wanted you to know the others are leaving."

Archer nodded and turned to Trip, "I guess I better say my goodbyes. When things settle down, we'll come by for a visit."

Trip answered, "That sounds good."

With everyone saying their goodbyes, Archer and T'Pol made their way back to the platform.

While Shran came up to them, Jhamel made her way down to where Natalie was. She gave Natalie a hug and turned to Trip. "It is so wonderful to have you all home. We have missed you all."

Trip smiled, "Thanks Jhamel. Natalie told me how good a friend you were to her when I was gone."

"She was a friend to me as well."

Charlie looked up at her, "Hi, Auntie Jhamel."

Jhamel smiled at him, "Hi, Charlie." Then she picked him up and hugged him.

He touched her antenna and said, "My Daddy's home."

Jhamel smiled happily at him, "I can see that."

Having finished saying good bye to all the members of the Council and Margot, Archer, T'Pol, and Shran came back down to them.

Natalie quickly hugged Shran, "It is so good to see you."

Shran returned it and smiled broadly, "It is good to be back."

He turned to his wife and Charlie, "Hi Charlie, the last time I saw you, you were nothing but a baby."

Jhamel spoke up, "Charlie, this is my husband, Shran."

Charlie timidly answered, "Hi."

Shran continued, "Sorry, Jhamel, but we do need to go. The others are already in the shuttle."

Jhamel nodded and giving Charlie a quick hug, set him back down.

Shran turned to Archer and T'Pol, "Well, I guess this is it. I am not sure when we will meet again but we will keep in touch."

Archer nodded. Then, everyone was shocked and pleased when Shran suddenly moved forward and engaged Archer in a bear hug, which Archer returned.

He then shocked everyone even more by leaning over and kissing T'Pol softly on the cheek.

Archer and Jhamel embraced and then they left.

After again exchanging goodbyes with everyone, Archer and T'Pol made their way to their shuttle. When they were in the air, the Commander chauffeuring them spoke up, "I am going to set down on the roof. Seems there are quite a few people waiting at the landing site."

Archer nodded, "Thanks, we really are not ready to meet with anyone else right now."

Reaching Archer's apartment without any further incidences, Archer collapsed on the couch.

T'Pol came over to him and sat down beside him as he put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.

Archer smiled, "Well, here we are." He looked down at her, "You wouldn't believe how many times I fantasied about you being here with me like this."

She raised her eyebrows, "Indeed. In those 'fantasies', did we sit here on the couch?"

Archer smiled broadly, "Not exactly. Most of them took place in another room."

She moved upward and kissed him softly, "Then we should perhaps move there."

Archer rose and picking her up, headed for the bedroom.

Sometime later, after they had showered and were having a small lunch, T'Pol decided to bring up a subject she had been thinking of for some time and had been reinforced since she had seen the apartment. "Jonathan, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"As you know, I really have no living quarters of my own. I have usually stayed at the Vulcan Compound or in some temporary accommodations when I have been on Earth."

Archer looked at her wondering where this was heading.

She continued, "Now that we are married, I would like us to have a place of our own, as a married couple. I believe we also require something that would provide more privacy."

Archer was surprised at what she was saying, but realized she was right. It was unlikely the admirers or paparazzi would disappear anytime soon. He also realized he wanted a new home as well.

"You are right, T'Pol. Are we thinking about another apartment, or a house?"

She pondered for a moment, "I think a house would be better. I would like to have an area set aside for me to meditate, to have an area that I can utilize as a Vulcan."

"A house it is." He looked at his watch, "It is a little late today, but first thing tomorrow I will get with the housing department at Starfleet to see what is available."

"Thank you, Jonathan." She then looked at him, "I believe I would be interested in continuing to explore more of your fantasies."

"How about you, T'Pol, do you have any fantasies?" To his amazement and amusement, she blushed.

She recovered, "I do believe I am developing some."

They got up and with their arms around each other's waists, started for the bedroom, but only made it to the couch.

Trip sat the shuttle down outside their house. Lester and Chuck were waiting for them by the door. Charlie ran up to them, "Look grandpa, Daddy's home."

They both smiled and while Lester shook his hand, Chuck gave him a hug.

The all moved into the house and Trip was hugged by Ellen and greeted by Dave, who shook his hand. Charlie was dancing around excitedly, still saying Daddy's home.

Then Trip saw his mother holding Rose. He moved over to them and reaching down, kissed his mother on the forehead. She smiled and said, "Welcome Trip, it is so good to have you home."

"Thanks, Mom, it's great to see all of you."

Then as everyone looked on, he looked down at Rose.

He reached out and taking her from his mother, held her in his arms. He turned to Natalie, who was waiting a little nervously. He smiled, "She's beautiful, Nat."

Natalie, tearing up a little, "She is."

Trip looked back at the baby, "Hi, Rose, I am your Daddy."

Everyone relaxed and made their way to the dining room where Trip was greeted with all his favorite foods.

After saying goodbye to all their relatives, Hoshi and Travis made it back to their apartment. They had barely closed the door when they were all over each other. They managed to make it to the bedroom before they expressed their passion for each other.

Afterwards, as they lay side by side, Hoshi got enough breath to say, "That was amazing. I should be satisfied for a year but I am ready to go again."

Travis smiled, "It was wonderful, but I am afraid I will need a little time."

"Now that we are back home, we need to make some decisions." She got up on her side and looked at him. "I want us to have a baby, but I don't think we should have one as long as we are still on active service. I don't want to have to leave it behind."

"I agree, Hoshi. I have been thinking. I am sure I could get a job at the academy, teaching piloting and navigation. I think I would really like to teach. Don't get me wrong, I will miss the others but I have a feeling it will never be the same again anyway."

"Unfortunately, I think you are right. I doubt they are going to let Admiral Archer traipse around the galaxy. He is much too valuable to the future, especially if they do find a way forward to a lasting alliance."

She hesitated, "Frankly, I can't see us on another ship."

"Neither can I. How about you, Hoshi, what would you like to do?"

"For a long time, I have had some ideas on how the translators could be improved. I would like to see if Starfleet would be interested in pursuing that. If not, I could always go back to teaching. In any case, it sounds like we are agreed. We should talk to Jonathon as soon as we can."

"Alright, we'll firm up our plans and talk to him ASAP."

Hoshi laid against him, "If we are not going back to space, I think we should get serious about having a baby. For a first step, I should get off of birth control."

Travis smiled lovingly at her, "I think that is a great idea. But I don't think we should stop practicing waiting for that."

Hoshi smirked, "Speaking of practicing, are you sure you aren't ready?" She reached over and fondled him softly.

Travis moaned, "Maybe I was wrong."

Malcolm and the others got back to the hotel and met with Edward and Jeremy. They spent the next few hours exchanging stories as Edward discussed how the research for Torrin Syndrome was going.

Penelope sat next to Malcolm needing to be in contact with him. Madeline smiled happily to herself as she saw them together. Although it had been great to be with everyone, Malcolm was relieved when Madeline announced that it was time for everyone to get some sleep; they had an early flight in the morning.

She laughed to herself when she saw the look on Penelope's and Malcolm's faces when she said, "Aren't you going back to your room, Penelope?"

Penelope quickly said, "Maybe in a moment, I want to discuss something with Malcolm."

As the others left, Penelope stuck out her tongue at Madeline who smiled happily at her.

When they were alone, they quickly exchanged a passionate kiss. Penelope pulled back and said, "Oh God, Malcolm, it is so good to have you home. I have missed you so much."

"I have missed you as well." He held her hands, "I love you, Penelope."

"I love you too, Malcolm."

Malcolm couldn't help himself, he had to say it, "I know you have said you can handle it, but are you sure you want to wait for me."

Penelope's eyes blazed, "Stop that. Don't ever say it or think it again. You're not going to weasel out of this. You're mine and don't you forget it."

Malcolm smiled, "I'm yours." Then he leaned forward and kissed her again, sliding his hand up to cup her breast through her clothes.

She moaned and taking his hand, led him to the bed.

Archer followed through on their discussion and contacted Starfleet on possible houses available for purchase. The assured him they would get on it right away.

Archer and T'Pol now decided to take care of two pieces of unfinished business coming out of their visit to the wounded aboard the Clara Barton.

They were able to contact both the wife of Ensign Williams and the mother of Crewman Simpson. While Mrs. Simpson was excited to hear from him, Mrs. Williams seemed to be much less enthused.

Taking a Starfleet shuttle, they traveled to Las Vegas. They then took a taxi to an apartment house in a nearby suburb.

Telling the driver to wait, they went up the stairs of the building, stopping at room 4. Archer knocked and the door was opened by a woman in her thirties. Her hair was straggly and it appeared she was still in a robe. She stared at them.

Archer began, "I am Admiral Archer and this is my wife Commodore T'Pol, we called…"

"I know who you are. What do you want?"

"As I said on the phone, we have something for you from your husband. Could we come in for a moment?"

Shrugging, "If you must, But I have no husband." As they entered, they noticed the apartment was apparently not well maintained.

After they entered, Archer began, "When we visited your husband before his death, he entrusted this necklace with me to give to you personally. He said that it was from you."

She took it from him with no show of emotion, "You've done your duty, now please leave."

Archer wanted to say something, but turned to leave.

Beth suddenly spoke quietly, seemingly talking to herself, "The day I gave this to him was the day he joined Starfleet. He was so excited. Even then I somehow knew it would keep him from me. I didn't want him to join, but I knew if I asked him not to, I would lose him. Even if he would do what I asked, he would blame me the rest of his life."

She smiled sadly, "Besides, when you love someone, you want him to be happy."

"When the war started, I begged him not to go, to resign his commission, even if it meant he would face charges. At least he would be alive. Of course, he wouldn't; but he told me not to worry, that he would be back."

She looked at them, "When the officer came to inform me about his death, he told me how proud I must be."

She continued angrily, "Proud! Of what? Dying? Would pride replace him next to me? Would pride give me the children we talked of having? So thanks, but no thanks, Admiral. You've done what you need to feel good. Maybe I can sleep with this necklace." She hurled it across the room.

Suddenly, T'Pol spoke up, "You are acting illogically." Archer stared at her while Beth looked shocked and then angry.

Archer tried to catch T'Pol's eyes, but Beth spoke first, "Illogical? What would you know about anything? You're just a cold fish Vulcan."

Archer tried to say something, but T'Pol put her hand on his arm and stopped him. She then continued, "While it is true we repress out emotions, it does not mean that we do not grieve. Three hundred and seventy Vulcans died in the war and were mourned by their families. Over four thousand Tellarites and Andorians died fighting by your husband's side. Your husband gave his life so the people of the Alliance could be free."

As Archer looked proudly at her she continued, "He died so you could be free and the children of Earth could be free."

Beth just glared at her, finally she got out, "What the Hell? Is this prattle supposed to make me feel better?" She turned to Archer, "Get out and take this," gesturing to T'Pol, "With you."

Archer, fighting not to say something, "Let's go, T'Pol."

As they reached the sidewalk, Archer turned to a confused T'Pol, "Well, that was a disaster. It's my fault. I should have realized the situation when I talked to her on the phone. Maybe I was just trying to make myself feel good by carrying out Williams' wish." He turned toward her and touched her shoulders, "Are you all right?"

She leaned into his touch, "Yes, Jonathan, however, it appears I also contributed to her pain. Why did the fact her husband died heroically not enable her to better face her grief?"

"She is just so full of grief that she can only express it in anger. As strange as it is, she really is angry at her husband for leaving her and probably feels guilty she couldn't stop him from going." He turned to T'Pol, "And don't worry, you tried to help. Your intentions were good, but I doubt there is anything we could have done that would have made any difference."

"There is no need to be concerned for me, I do not 'worry'. I believe you are correct that there was not anything we could do. And you should not feel guilty for bringing her the necklace."

"Well, when we get back, I'll talk to the people at Starfleet. I know they have support groups, often made up of other wives who have lost their husbands. Maybe they can help."

They returned to the waiting taxi and headed out.

After talking to someone at the base, who told them they would check into sending someone to see if they could help, they returned home.

Archer checked with housing but so far nothing had shown up. They checked in with Admiral Gardner and were told they wouldn't be expected to return to work for another two weeks.

The next day they took a shuttle to Chicago and again taking a taxi, found themselves in front of a small house in a quite neighborhood. Again telling the taxi to wait, they rang the doorbell.

The door was answered by a thin woman in her late fifties, who smiled when she saw them, "Admiral Archer, Commodore T'Pol, it is you. When you called I was afraid someone was pulling my leg. Come in! Come in!"

As the entered, Archer answered, "Thank you."

She ushered them into the living room and gestured toward the couch, "Please, have a seat, could I get you something, coffee or tea?"

As they sat down, they both answered, "No thank you."

Archer continued, "Thank you for seeing us today. We know a couple of days wasn't a lot of notice."

"Don't think a thing about it. It is a great honor and I had no plans for today."

She went on, "You said on the phone it had something to do with my son…"

Archer answered, "Yes, and I hope we are not bringing up bad memories by coming. Bus as you know, we were there when your son died. He mentioned someone in his last words to us and we weren't able to determine whom he was speaking about."

Edna smiled, "No, I am proud of Darrel and was moved by your letter to me. But you say he mentioned someone? What did he say?"

T'Pol spoke up, "He said, my Mary is beautiful, do you know my Mary? Then he said I would like her, she is a wonderful person, she is beautiful."

Edna smiled sadly "I guess she had become like a person to him. Yes, I know who Mary is. Would you come with me?"

She led them to the back of the house, opening the door to what appeared to be an artist's studio. She went over to what appeared to be a statue covered by a sheet. As she pulled the sheet off, she said, "Admiral, Commodore, meet Mary."

She had revealed a statue of a young woman.

Archer said, "She is beautiful."

T'Pol added, "It is quite aesthetically pleasing. The workmanship is excellent. Did your son do this?"

Edna smiled proudly, "Yes, this was my son's lifetime project, his pride and passion. Her name is Mary Francis Lewis."

Archer broke in, "I know that name. Wasn't she killed after the war during a march or protest?"

"Yes, she was a young girl who was shot and killed while taking part in a peaceful march urging the new World Parliament to pass comprehensive gay right legislation. Six months later, Parliament passed the Mary Francis Lewis Act that made it a crime to discriminate against gays on Earth or any of its current or future settlements. My son was obsessed to create a lasting memory of her."

T'Pol spoke to Archer, "Jonathan, could I speak to you for a moment?"

Edna said, "You two go ahead. I am going back and get myself a cup of coffee. I will meet you back in the living room. Please replace the cover before you leave."

After she left, Archer asked, "What is it?"

"If I recall correctly, is there not a museum somewhere on Earth that has art dedicated to those who furthered individual rights and freedoms?"

"Yes, it is located in London. They have a portrait of Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation for one. Why do you ask?"

"I believe that this statue would be a meaningful addition. I would like to try to see if we could arrange for it to be considered."

Archer smiled fondly at her, "That is a wonderful idea, and it proves again you are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside." He reached out and grabbed her with the intention to kiss her.

T'Pol, gently pushing him back, "You know how I feel about public displays of affection. However, I believe we should continue this later this evening, and you are beautiful too."

She then held up two fingers which Archer touched.

They returned the cover to the statue and joined Edna in the living room.

T'Pol spoke to Edna, "I would like with your permission …"

A year later, the statue of Mary Francis Lewis found a permanent home at the museum.