Trip looked at the computer console on his desk and sighed. This was not going to be an easy letter to write. Even in the privacy of his own quarters the news that he had to send to his parents made him want to squirm. How in the world was he supposed to tell his mom and dad that he was practically married to a Vulcan? And to T'Pol, his ship's first officer no less? The only thing that gave him even the slightest bit of satisfaction was that he wasn't alone in having to explain the situation to family members. T'Pol was writing to her family as well. Neither of them felt that it was appropriate for their families to have to learn this information from their respective governments. Only, how was he going to actually say it?
"Hey Mom and Dad," he began. "I don't know when this letter is going to get to you, so if you hear this from the Earth Council or Starfleet or someone, please try to remember that I tried to tell you first." No, that wasn't going to go over too well. He punched a key and erased the first sentence. He tried looking out the port hole for inspiration but the passing stars told him nothing. "Well, I can't sit here forever," he muttered. "I have some important news for you and the family."
He paused again, tongue in cheek. 'How in the world to you translate a Vulcan mating bond into Human English?' he wondered. 'Let's try this.' "I know I've written to you about all of the alien people we've encountered and some of their customs." 'No, that's not right.' He erased that sentence too. "I know that everyone except the two of you got a real kick out of my accidentally getting pregnant thanks to touching hands while playing an alien board game. I know that you would have wanted to be the first to know if that situation had resulted in my becoming a father. So, I'm writing to you now to let you know that I've gotten into another strange situation."
While that wasn't that much better, it did let his parents know that something major was up and that involved him bringing someone into the family. It still wasn't right though; this one would make them think he and some lady were expecting right away. He shook his head and once more erased the message. He paced around his quarters, running his fingers through his hair, from bunk to portal to desk and back again. Thanks to the rush to get off of Earth for their first mission, he didn't have a lot of things in his cabin to fiddle with. Right now he could have used something.
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T'Pol sat down at her desk in her quarters to write a letter to her mother. "Mother, I have been informed that I have formed a Pudvel-tor katelau bond with Commander Charles Tucker, Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. I did not believe this was possible as Commander Tucker is Human. Captain Archer arraigned for us to see a Vulcan healer to discover if it was indeed possible. I have just now returned from our session with the healer. The information was correct. Commander Tucker is my mate. The healer will be sending documentation to those who require it on Vulcan. Captain Archer will do so for those on Earth. As Father is dead, I ask that you chose a replacement for him to inform Koss and his family of my situation."
With the formalities taken care of T'Pol paused before continuing. "The one who informed me of my bonding to Commander Tucker is an extremely powerful telepath. He stated that our bond is a strong one and most likely was initiated at the beginning of my service on board the Enterprise, perhaps from the first time I had physical contact with the Commander." She paused once more thinking of her experience with Commander Tucker in the decon chamber during their first mission six months ago. There was no doubt in her mind that, that was the beginning of her bond with him. She had been able to smell his interest even as they argued. And his touch had affected her as well. Indeed, it seemed to her that their frequent arguments quite often affected them both in such a manner, illogical though it was.
"Commander Tucker is a brilliant engineer and is very loyal to his Captain. He is however, a Human and a very emotional one for a member of his species. I am, unsure as to how this will affect me. We are taught that the Pudvel-tor katelau bond only happens to those who are exceptionally compatible. I have yet to see this. But there is no question to what action I must now take. Commander Tucker has offered the compromise of having two wedding ceremonies, one Human and one Vulcan, the Vulcan ceremony to take place the next time we arrive at Vulcan. I find this very logical. I will, however, insist on honoring Vulcan traditions during the first year of our marriage.
"As it will be sometime before I can return to Vulcan, I have begun to research Human mating and wedding customs. I believe that it would be useful for Commander Tucker to research Vulcan customs as well. I ask that you send Commander Tucker the appropriate materials. I do not at this time have any information on Commander Tucker's family or whether they would be willing to travel to Vulcan to attend the ceremony there. The Human ceremony will take place here on Enterprise as soon as it can be arranged. This may or may not wait until Commander Tucker's family may come on board. There are many variables that I must investigate. I will contact you when I have further information on this matter.
Fair thee well Mother."
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Charles Tucker Junior and his wife had been eager to hear from their eldest son. While he had sent frequent letters back to Earth for his family, even to the point of arranging his nephew's extra credit project (his entire class had sent letters to the Enterprise and somehow Trip had managed to get them all answered by different members of the crew) the fact that Trip had been away from the family for over six months was hard for them to bear. That had made each and every letter something of a family event.
So when Catherine Tucker called her sons, daughters and husband to tell them that there was a letter, it was to no one's surprise that everyone that could be there came to the family house that night. In fact, the only members of the Tucker clan that weren't there were Danielle, Trip's older sister, her husband and two boys. They were still in Ireland. Danielle's job as a teacher there was done at the end of this school year and her family was planning on returning to Florida then. Catherine copied each and every letter from her little brother and sent it straight on to them every time she received one. That way she made sure that everyone in the family was kept up to date in the life of her space traveling son.
Catherine waited in the parlor of her home with barely suppressed excitement. She checked to make sure that everyone had gathered around the communications console. James Tucker, his wife Sarah, and two of their four children stood on her right side while his brother Eric Tucker stood with his father Charles on her left with the other two children. Her younger daughter Elizabeth stood directly behind her. "Everyone ready?" she asked.
Various nods, grins and one very excited "Hurry up Grandma!" met her question. Laughing she started the recording. "Hey Mom and Dad, and everyone else because I know Mom has all of you there to listen to this. I must have started and erased this letter about a dozen times at least and not once could I get it right, so I'll just come out and say it. I've somehow gotten sort of engaged, sort of married, to the Enterprise's Vulcan First Officer, T'Pol."
Charles was the one who shot out a finger to stop the recording and rewind it. He just couldn't believe what he had heard. The rest of the family stared at the screen in shock as once more the recording gave them Trip's shocking announcement. It was Eric who broke the silence of the normally gregarious clan. "Oh man, the trouble magnet strikes again!"
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T'Les sat at her communications console in her office at the Vulcan Science Academy doing her best to suppress her surprise and shock at the contents of her daughter's letter. She had known from her daughter's previous communications that there were logical reasons for her to remain on board the Enterprise. She had not expected this to be one of them. However, one could not deny the Pudvel-tor katelau bond; to do so was folly in the extreme.
Her daughter's requests were also logical. Tradition demanded that the father of one who has formed a Pudvel-tor katelau bond inform that child's betrothed. As T'Pol's father was dead, someone would need to take his place and it was T'Les' responsibility to choose that person. Who would she chose to inform Koss and his family of her daughter's change in status? As for the information she requested that T'Les send to Commander Tucker that was logical as well. In forming a Pudvel-tor katelau bond with a Human, many adjustments would have to be made, much more than if her mate was Vulcan. Her mate must be given all of the information he would need so that these adjustments could be made as easily as possible. She was concerned however, that T'Pol made no mention of her time. It was some years off yet, so there would be time to make arrangements. Perhaps she was waiting until her mate had the information on the Vulcan mating cycle?
She looked again at her daughter's letter. Yes, she had missed the implications of her daughter's request for information for Commander Tucker. The Commander must be unaware of the Pon Farr and how it should be dealt with. If he had been Vulcan, his father would have given him the relevant information. As he was not, it was up to her as T'Pol's mother to provide the information to him so that he could find a way to survive the process. Humans were known to be a fragile race. Perhaps she should include the information on restraints. It was unfortunate that Vulcans and Humans were genetically incompatible. Children that resulted from Pudvel-tor katelau bonds were known to be exceptional. She would have to find a sperm donor for T'Pol. She would not allow her daughter to die because of her bond. While one part of her mind focused on what would be appropriate to send to her daughter's mate, the other matter quickly came to the forefront of her mind. Who would be the most appropriate donor?