—Chapter 19—
It took Trip, T'Pol & T'Les some four and a half hours to make the flight from California, to Orlando, Florida, and another fifteen minutes to disembark and make contact with Trip's mother at the gate.
"My baby!" cried Trip's mother as she rushed Trip and gave him a big hug and a big kiss on the cheek.
"My mother," said Trip, looking at T'Pol and her mother.
Penny gave the Vulcans the tal and a smile, and then said, "Hello, T'Pol, T'Les. It's great to have you both here."
"We feel the same," said T'Les taking in Trip's mother with a glance, a fairly tall, slender Human with an attractive face. "I hope we are not imposing on you and your mate."
"Not at all, T'Les, I hope you enjoy your stay here," said Penny, then looked at Trip. "Where's my stuff?"
"Here," said Trip, handing over three bags of airline roasted peanuts.
"Thanks," said Penny, and after pocketing the peanuts she drove her fist into Trip's stomach as hard as she could. "And that's for you!"
Trip groaned, T'Pol made eye contact with T'Les, then turned back to Trip, uncertain if this was a familial Human ritual. Was she expected to punch Penny as well?
"That's for being a jerk! How could you get in a fight to the death for T'Pol without even contacting us?!" said Penny, then looked at T'Pol. "Nothing personal, T'Pol."
T'Pol indicated that she understood her mother in law's sentiments with an agreeable nod, and said, "He did not tell me either."
Penny drove her fist into Trip's stomach again, and said, "That's for not telling T'Pol!"
"Enough!" said Trip, putting Penny into a headlock and giving her a noogie. "Now let's get our bags!"
Thirty minutes later, they'd left Orlando in the rear view mirror and were heading south down the Florida Turnpike, Trip behind the wheel while Penny and T'Les chatted in the back seat, seemingly on amicable terms, and after an hour and a half's drive and one turn off onto Highway 60 heading east, they eventually pulled into Heron's Beach at 11AM, and drove through town for the Tucker's beach house, and T'Les was fascinated the closer they drew to the beach. This was her first trip to Earth, and she was intrigued by the sheer amount of open water on this planet.
"Charlie," said Penny, "is a marine biologist, so don't ask him about sea creatures or he'll go on about them for hours."
"I would actually find that fascinating," said T'Les.
"Your funeral, T'Les," said Penny.
Trip, T'Les and T'Pol met Charlie, then showered, changed and came down for a light lunch, and T'Les was quite impressed by the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available on Earth, and delighted in sampling new foods, and savoring new sensations. T'Pol felt the same, to a lessor degree, for she was more familiar with Earth's plant foods, but even by that measure, she was impressed by the juiciness and quality of the fruits offered here in Florida.
Trip's parents spoke for the better part of two hours with T'Les and T'Pol, and it was clear that they were pleased with Trip's mate, but when T'Les questioned Charlie on the fish and mammals of the general area, Trip knew T'Les was locked into the conversation 'till evening, and he wanted to show T'Pol around town. He excused himself only to return ten minutes later wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt so brightly colored that it would have seemed tacky even to a Ferengi, and it was bright enough that it clearly drove T'Les into a stupor.
"Come on," said Trip to T'Pol. "Let's go for a drive."
Minutes later, they were tooling round town in Trip's custom built street legal sandrail/Dune Buggy, the roar of the engine and the rush of the wind quite agreeable to T'Pol. They first stopped at a couple of beach shops and loaded up on beach wear for both Vulcans, then headed for the beach.
"We can stop by there on the way back if you like," said Trip, pointing out a building named Jake's, from which music blasted as they drove past.
"What is it?" said T'Pol.
"A swinger's club," said Trip, "where mated couples swap partners."
"We will not be stopping by there!" said T'Pol, scandalized at the very thought, then looked closely at Trip. "Are you joking?"
"Yes," said Trip. "It's a beach bar. They make great mixed drinks, or alcohol-free fruit smoothies, and they put out some good food as well."
"Oh," said T'Pol. "Ok."
They made their way onto the sands, and crossed them effortlessly to reach the water, and then splashed about for the better part of an hour, after T'Pol had changed into one of her new bikinis. They'd just returned to the sandrail when Trip's comm unit buzzed. Noting that it was a call from Jon, Trip put in on speakerphone.
"Hey, Jon," said Trip, "what's up?"
"Trip!" said Jon. "Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"Not at all," said Trip. "Say hi to T'Pol."
"Hi, T'Pol," said Jon.
"Admiral," said T'Pol, "it is good to hear from you."
"I have news for both of you," said Jon. "Admiral Ryan's decided to let the two of you serve together. They won't let you slide back into Engineering, Trip, so you're stuck with being a captain, and T'Pol can serve as one of your officers. You guys have your chance, so don't blow it."
"That's good to hear, Admiral," said Trip, and T'Pol looked relieved. "You want to come out here, spend a week or two with us? You know my parents want to see you."
"Wish I could," said Jon, "but I'll have to do it next time. Erika and I are headed for Vancouver for the next two weeks."
They spoke with Jon a bit longer, then logged off, and turned to the other, relieved.
"So," said T'Pol. "What now? We just relax for the next two months before we have to go back on duty?"
"No," said Trip, shaking his head sadly. "Two days from now, every Tucker in the neighboring ten states will converge here, to visit with you and T'Les. There's going to be food, music, celebration and booze flowing freely. It should be fun for us, frightening for you and T'Les, but you're both strong enough to handle it. Afterwards we, you and your mom, me and my parents, can take the boat out to Miami, and then cruise some of the Caribbean islands for a month or so if you and T'Les are up for it."
"Sounds fun," said T'Pol, uncertain if they'd manage to get T'Les out onto a boat, but content to leave that struggle for another day.
Two years later:
The newly promoted Captain T'Pol celebrated her promotion with Commodore Tucker, her mate. That he was nervous was apparent, but the cause of that nervousness, was not, for the Commodore had been tamping down on his end of the Bond all day long. Still, T'Pol knew her mate well enough, that she was not concerned. Rather, she was amused.
"You've had enough sake, Trip," said T'Pol. "Out with it."
"What? Out with what?" said Trip, sweating profusely.
"Come on, Trip."
"I met someone," said Trip, trying to stall the discussion they had to have. "I want a divorce."
T'Pol smiled at that, and said, "We are Bonded for life, Commodore. You can not have a divorce. Now what is it?"
Looking at T'Pol as wide-eyed as if looking at an apex predator, Trip rushed his words: "I want to have a baby! More than one!"
"Ok," said T'Pol, truly smiling now.
"Don't give me that, T'Pol!" said Trip. "Phlox says we can do it without any problems and I don't see any reason—"
"I said ok, Trip," said T'Pol.
"What?"
"I said ok," said T'Pol, reaching out to touch her mate's face.