Healing To Your Life

by pdsldl

This story begins with Trip and T'Pol grieving for their daughter. Their relationship had just begun. Now they must find a way to rebuild their life with each other and their friends. Will not be completed.

6. Chapter 6

Healing to Your Life – Chapter 6

Captain Trip Tucker and Captain T'Pol stood at the front of the room looking defeated. Four groups were assembled. Each wanted control of the security forces at Warp Development and all had very valid reasons. Starfleet because they were on Earth, the Vulcans because they had the most experience, the Andorians just because, and the Tellarites so they could feel as if they were contributing to and had some say in the project. The shouting match began at 08:00 and had not abated.

"Okay, everybody shut up." Tucker yelled several times. After giving serious consideration to using his phase pistol on the stun setting he began banging a chair on the table. Everyone stopped, seriously shocked according to the looks on their faces. This was not the laid-back Charles Tucker III they'd all heard about.

"Sit down and shut up." Trip stated firmly. He and T'Pol were supposed to be in command of those present, but found it difficult to control the single-minded personnel. They'd only had to work with one such person prior to this. Now they had a roomful of Malcolm Reed's. Who took their oath to protect very seriously and trusted no one to do it better than they themselves. When that thought came to mind Trip wondered why he hadn't consulted Malcolm on how best to organize a multi-species security task force. Listening to them it became very clear that they were never going to agree, so he and T'Pol had to pull rank and make some decisions.

The two Captains excused themselves to another room to talk. When they returned the room was still quiet. No one had moved. The commanding officers forgot that Tucker's shouted directive would be seen officially as an order and had left them sitting at what amounted to attention.

"Commanders Telev (Andorian), Garv (Tellarite), Barnes (Starfleet), and Sub-Commander Muroc (Vulcan) you and your seconds Lieutenants Saulan, Lissa, Reese, and Major Talas will operate as a unit. All security matters will be handled by you. You will work together or you will suffer the consequences. I'm sure we don't have to remind you what your respective governments do to those who fail to do their duty." Trip knew about Starfleet and the High Council for sure. From what Shran told him the Imperial Guard dealt with discipline problems by sending them to some distant planet in another quadrant. The Tellarites were an unknown. Were they as rude and obnoxious to their own as they were to other species or would the fact that they had finally been allowed on Earth be enough to keep them in line. They could only hope the implied threat kept the worst of the disagreements to a manageable level.

"Knowing the restrictions for the movements outside the designated area we expect you to submit a detailed security plan for both personnel and property by day's end tomorrow. Teams will consist of four members and we expect to see every group represented on each team." It had already been decided that the teams assigned to Trip and T'Pol would be one Vulcan and one Human, to draw less attention. Andorians and Tellarites had not been stationed on Earth before so they would be more of a novelty. Hopefully forcing them all to work as teams would speed up the getting acquainted phase.

The next set of meetings were with Starfleet to establish who was going to provide space for the new Andorian and Tellarite Ambassadors to Starfleet and Warp Development. Both were due to arrive in 6 days and so far no one had any idea where they were going to go. The addition of Ambassadors was not planned, but when Captain Tucker asked for someone to act as a liaison between Warp Development and their governments they each asked why they couldn't have a representative on Earth like the Vulcans had. When Admiral Kilmer pushed it through the assumption was that they would be housed within the warp facility. In an effort to force Starfleet to set them up in offices in or near Starfleet Headquarters Trip and T'Pol had them assigned living accommodations with their respective species, but no space was made available in the Warp Dev offices.

In their last conversation T'Pol had suggested to Ambassador Soval that having his fellow Ambassadors closer to Starfleet would make it easier to establish a working relationship with each government. The two captains had worked out a strategy for dealing with the bureaucracy. Most of the Admirals seemed to be at least slightly timid around the Vulcan Captain, so T'Pol would take the lead with whichever gathering of command officers they were currently negotiating with. Trip was amused to see the reaction when she sat there with no visible expression and that intonation in her voice as she delivered a request or an alternative to their desired plans. He had practiced his control, but knew he'd never be as good as his mate at that deadpan delivery. The Admirals sometimes intimidated Trip, but with T'Pol at his side he never showed it. T'Pol quite logically suggested to the Admirals that Starfleet needed to take advantage of this new arrangement to strengthen the Coalition and that Ambassador Soval concurred. By the end of the meeting Starfleet had agreed to consider finding office space for them.

After the meeting Trip voiced a severe dislike for T'Pol's uniform insisting they visit the quartermaster. T'Pol saw no reason to alter her uniform as Vulcans paid no attention to their clothing and it was of no concern to her and should be of no concern to Trip. Trip knew her assertion about not caring about her clothes was blatantly untrue.

"Darlin, if you didn't care what you wore those robes you Vulcans wear would be boring and unattractive." All the Vulcans he'd met here and on Vulcan were in colorful, decorative robes. A few of the more old school government types wore bland looking robes, but that didn't appear to be the norm. T'Pol's current uniforms came in a variety of vibrant colors. Not because that was all that was available, but because those were colors she liked, even if she'd never own up to having taste.

"If others find it necessary 'to check me out' it is of no concern to me and should not be of concern to you, husband." T'Pol insisted again.

"Fine, then I'll have my uniform tailored to fit like my blues and we'll see how unconcerned you are with others checking me out." There wasn't even a small chance she'd call his bluff, because he knew she'd tried to hide it but she hadn't reacted well whenever he was required to don his underwear and T-shirt outside his quarters while aboard Enterprise.

Images began to flash into his mind as T'Pol recalled the past. When he woke her up when the ship had been boarded by the Ferengi, while he was in decon, and had to run around in his underwear. The occasions they both had been in decon stripped down to their briefs. When he and Mal returned from Risa wearing robes.

The quartermaster watched the two. The look on Captain T'Pol's face hadn't changed, but her eyes had a look that was unmistakable. "If you'll excuse me I'll be over there when you've made your decision." He quickly moved to the other side of the counter.

An evil smirk started to appear across his lips. Trip felt the wave of emotions flooding her mind. Stunned that she had been livid when they found him and the princess. Him in his blues and unable to give a satisfactory answer for his state of undress. And how had he missed all those female crew members checking out his physique in the rec room or in the corridors. "Wuh pi' kis-ka nam-tor etek, ashalik?" (A little jealous are we, darlin?). He laughed as he felt her react.

T'Pol tensed. She wasn't sure if she was more distraught over the fact that she had failed to control her reaction or this new annoying habit Trip had of speaking to her in Vulcan when in public. She had no argument to make about this behavior as no one else understood what he said to her, so she could not argue it was improper.

It didn't take her long. "I concede your point." Was all she could say, not at all happy about losing to him. Where had this ability to use her own logic against her come from? And when her emotions gave him an opening, he capitalized on it rather quickly. It was good that his confidence was growing, but she wasn't sure she liked the fact that it enabled him win their disagreement so easily. She rather liked being at an advantage.

After much give and take a new design was created to incorporate the lining of the old catsuit like uniform, in black to match the Starfleet issue shirt, and a much more tailored Starfleet uniform, so it didn't fit like a sack. The quartermaster was sure many of the females officers would begin requesting alterations of their own uniforms once T'Pol began sporting hers. They also had Vulcan robes made for each of them that were of a lighter weight material and more representative of Starfleet.

---

Enterprise was to be at Jupiter Station for another two months being refitted and restocked. Most of the crew was still aboard ship assisting the station crews with preparations to reequip the ship before they were granted leave. Trip and T'Pol had only spoken to Malcolm as Trip had arranged for a weekly transmission with his friend to consult. Jon had been tied up in debriefs at headquarters since they arrived. The party Trip had promised was being planned. It was to be in 2 weeks, just before everyone headed off for shore leave.

Trip could avoid it no longer. He and T'Pol were taking two weeks off starting the night of the party and he needed to contact his family. He'd put this off so long that if he continued his parents would never forgive him for being planetside and not contacting them. He hadn't seen them in over a year.

The transmission went through to his parents home. "Hey Mom. How are you?"

"We're fine. Please tell me you're coming home on leave soon." His mother sounded almost desperate.

"Actually, I'm calling to let you know I've been transferred to San Francisco. I want you, Dad, and John to come see me. I have some time off in 2 weeks, so we'll be able to spend a couple of days together." He decided telling them about T'Pol was better done in person. She'd be there for moral support and he could figure out exactly what to say by then. If they came the day before the party and stayed a couple of days after then he and T'Pol could spend the rest of the time alone together.

"I'm so glad you're not going to be flying around out in space if we're really going to war again." Relief shown on her face.

"So am I. Not much of a soldier." Trip left it at that. No point in letting his folks know what atrocities he'd seen. "I'm not sure where I'll be staying. Looking at places to live, so I might have a new address soon. I'll let you know in a couple of days." Am older couple they'd met had a house just north of Ocean Beach they were going to look at. It sounded promising.

"We'll be waiting. Take care of yourself." His mother said as she ended the transmission.

T'Pol moved closer to her husband. "You have not told them of me?"

"No. I'll tell them when they get here." Trip rubbed the side of his head. He didn't know why he kept avoiding the subject with his parents. It just seemed easier somehow.

"You are being very immature." T'Pol pointed out. Whatever was making him apprehensive he had kept it from her. At first she worried that it might be because she was Vulcan, but while he seemed to think his parents might be surprised he was sure they wouldn't be upset.

"I don't remember you being so upfront about me to your mother either." He still wondered if her mother would have insisted on her marriage to Koss if T'Pol had introduced him as more than her work colleague.

"The situation was completely different." T'Pol wanted to change the subject. Speculating about the outcome of that time served no purpose and could only cause hurt feelings.

"Not that much different." Trip knew it was irrelevant. They were married and bondmates now and he had to figure out the best way to break the news to his folks.

----

The morning was spent going over the final stages of the upgrades to the Warp Dev facility. The military had previously occupied the site as had other aeronautical firms. Security had little to do, but add sensors and cameras to the perimeter, while the engineering crews upgraded the existing structure to met the specs the new commanding officers had signed off on. The first day of operation would be just under a month away. Trip and T'Pol were going over the list of engineers who had applied to be transferred to the new project.

"Captain Tucker, you didn't tell me party planning would be included in my duties." Commander Nielson complained.

"Nielson, it's Captain or Tucker not both. And it's the last time I promise. We'll have Burke in the office soon. He'll be responsible for social events." Starfleet frowned on his casual use of last names, but it worked for him and he wasn't going to change it now. He added rank only when there was a superior officer around.

"This music situation is a nightmare. Maybe I should get a hold of whoever plans this stuff at Headquarters." The suggestions he had so far were all over the place, from classical to the more modern sounds younger people enjoyed.

Trip shook his head emphatically. "Please no. We really don't want a stuffy old band like the one at the celebration when we returned from the expanse. Find a group who can play a variety of styles and hire them." Trip remembered how bored most of the Enterprise crew was. It couldn't be that hard to find a decent band.

"I'll do my best, but you owe me for this." Commander Neilson couldn't wait till his department was up and running. Booking bands, hiring caterers, and planning for the arrival of 150-200 guest was not something he ever wanted anything to do with again.

"I could have left you over at R&D buddy. Planning one party isn't too much to ask is it?" Tucker was teasing him, but also knew he'd stop complaining. Scott had taken that transfer for personal reasons not to advance his career. The work was okay, but he was bored most of the time. Now he had the chance to use his engineering skills with little interference from his commanding officers if he got the job done. Being successful would enhance his career possibilities inside or outside of Starfleet.

T'Pol had started out the door on the way to their appointment to see a house and giving him grief for delaying their departure. "I have to go. Let me know if you need my help with anything." It was good to be in charge sometimes.

"You still owe me, Tucker. By the way, Starfleet finally agreed to pay for your little party. Seems Captain Archer has a few more promotions planned and added his name to your request as a way to celebrate with his crew."

---

In the midst of all the meetings and planning the newly married couple enjoyed the freedom of being in a secluded, private guest house and exploring the area in and around Ocean Beach and San Diego. The town itself seemed to be a throwback to a much earlier time. There were no big shopping centers or malls. All the businesses were locally owned and operated. And the people were diverse and open-minded. The inter-species couple could walk the streets and no one bothered them. Starfleet had reservations about the distance from San Francisco, but with a shuttlepod the trip took less than 10 minutes. On the local transit system it only took 30 minutes.

The house they were walking through was across from the beach. Perfect for Trip, who had not yet found time to scuba dive, but had already looked into renting the gear he'd need until he he could have his belongings shipped from his parents house. The couple who owned it had moved to a smaller house closer to town and wanted to sell the house and payoff the mortgage.

T'Pol liked the house almost immediately. Trip didn't even have to ask, he felt it. That gut feeling he often listened to was comfortable here. The floor plan was open in the main living area. The only divisions were the fireplace in the center, that was circular and open to the entire area and the half wall/counter designating the kitchen area.

Trip followed T'Pol around as she examined the rooms. At some point he started just observing her. Seeing her eyes clear and calm he tuned into the sensations from inside. T'Pol had tried to suppress her emotions, but they would not be buried. He stood back, eyes closed, and let them wash over his being. These were the moments he lived for. When T'Pol was totally at ease with him and the world around her.

No overwhelming emotions, no conflict, no need to hide, just pure happiness. She wouldn't identify it as such. Vulcans weren't happy. They were content and appreciative. Trip would never say anything to her for fear she would become self-conscious and erect barriers to keep her sense of control intact. He took on her wants as his own so she could deny them to herself, understanding he would never get past her Vulcan mindset, nor should he try, to convince her that it was okay to desire things. For her to do that she would have to give free rein to very powerful emotions to drive that passion and for a Vulcan that could be extremely destructive. By the time they were standing in the back yard the decision had been made, silently between them.

---

Trip moved from mattress to mattress flopping down across each. T'Pol stood there watching her human husband behave in a very undignified manner. Trip sat on the edge of the last bed in the row he had just tested.

"Do you like the bed hard or soft?" Trip thought about what he liked. He really didn't know. He'd left home where mom and dad picked the furniture in his room then went to the dorm room at college, then Starfleet. As he considered this it dawned on him he had no idea what T'Pol liked either. What colors did she like? Did she have a favorite color? She told him once she liked the color of his eyes. As close as they were there was still so much they didn't know about each other.

T'Pol hadn't answered him. Her hands were clasped behind her back and she was staring strangely at him. "Darlin, are you okay?" He waited to see if her toe would start tapping on the floor like his mothers did when she became exasperated with him.

"We are becoming the center of attention." She was uncomfortable when people focused on them.

They'd never been out shopping together before unless they were on a mission. T'Pol had always been in control and confident. She'd kept him safe and reminded him not to project his values on others. But this wasn't a mission, it was supposed to be fun. "Who cares? How are we supposed to pick a bed if we don't try them out?" He asked with a wicked grin as he moved and continued to bounce on the beds, ignoring the gawkers. Their security team would keep them away.

"We are in uniform, which makes us representatives of Starfleet. We must act accordingly." That Vulcan sense of duty required her to always be professional.

She didn't know how to just be T'Pol out shopping for the afternoon. He stood and moved closer to her reaching out with his fingers to calm her. "Can you just ignore them and help me find a bed?" The uniforms did tend to draw more attention to the Vulcan/human couple. The security team was in plain clothes to avoid that very problem.

"Perhaps we should do this at another time."

"C'mon, darlin please." He used his most pleading tone. Living in Billy's guest house had been great, but a month was enough. He really wanted to move into their own house and they needed a bed. He could suggest they use Starfleet issue sleeping bags and sit on the floor for a couple of days. Maybe that would convince her to keep looking.

The words barely left his mouth when he heard a loud voice screaming "Look mommy that's Trip Tucker from Enterprise." The young boy that voice came from began jumping up and down pointing at Trip. Being recognized was a normal occurrence around San Francisco. Every school aged child had been on field trips to Starfleet where the pictures of the Enterprise crew were prominently displayed. They had also seen numerous news stories about the now famous heroes who saved Earth.

As quietly as he could Trip spoke to the officer. "Major Talas I'd like to meet that young man. But tell him he has to stop yelling." It was all Trip could think of to prevent the commotion from drawing more attention to them.

The major lowered her hand, removing it from it location over the weapon, inside her jacket, as she moved toward the boy and his mother. She leaned down and whispered to the young man. He stopped screaming and took off at a dead run toward Tucker before his mom's arm had a chance to reach him.

Before Trip realized the child had launched himself upward, 40 lbs of force hit him square in the chest sending them both backwards onto a mattress. Once the shock wore off Trip sensed a vibration in the bond. T'Pol chuckled internally quite involuntarily. Major Talas and Lieutenant Logan were both standing at the side of the bed. Logan's mouth was gaping in an expression of disbelief. Talas was stoic as ever, but stunned. They were charged with protecting their superiors and this child had just assaulted their Captain. He was jumping on Tucker's chest firing questions and laughing, as was Trip. T'Pol had hoped that being out of space would end her mates streak of attracting attention and trouble that usually led to accidents and/or injury. She must remember to ask his parents if he had always had such luck.

"Shawn James Dawson, get off him and stand up." The embarrassed mother ordered as she attempted to pull her son off of Trip. Her son had tuned her out, but the authority in the voice wakened the years of discipline ingrained in the Starfleet officer, who reacted almost immediately.

Captain Tucker jumped up planting the young boy's feet firmly on the floor next to him as he automatically stood at attention. Young Mr. Dawson, being in awe of the officer, mimicked his behavior and stood ramrod straight facing his mother. Only when Trip felt the amusement through his connection to T'Pol did the ridiculousness of the scene sink in. Relaxing his posture he introduced himself to Mrs. Dawson then sat down to talk to Shawn. While the two discussed space travel and the Xindi T'Pol walked around testing the mattresses with her palm. T'Pol forced herself to relax. That emotional, fun-loving little boy side of her husband was special. She thought that part of him had been lost once and she had missed it. For the first time she asked herself why she now tried so hard to make him repress it.

After they made a selection of a bed they moved on to find the rest of the furniture they needed. Soon Trip was bouncing around from couch to couch. T'Pol sat down on the end of each when he requested it. Expressing her like or dislike as they went without quashing her mates enthusiasm. She found if she focused on the pleasure he was experiencing she forgot they were being observed by others.

----

Trip came bounding out of the bedroom clutching the ends of a towel around his waist bouncing across the living room on tiptoes as if he were trying not to leave wet footprints on the carpet. "Darlin, what's taking so long. My wallets on the floor by the couch. You promised you'd be right back ...."

T'Pol was standing at the door looking like a statue. Trip's heart stopped. "Hi Mom, Hi Dad." He didn't say anything to John, who was roaring with laughter jabbing his finger into the air in his big brother's direction.

"Damn, what are you doing here?" Trip pulled the towel tighter around his waist "Come on in." He told his family.

Feeling a little under dressed in front of his parents Trip jumped back when his mother moved towards him for a hug. "Mom I'm in a towel." Embarrassed he quickly headed for their room. "We'll be right back. Darlin, you coming?"

Once his parents were inside and seated on the couch she followed him. "You were rude to your parents."

"They're lucky I didn't say something worse. They're two days early." What the hell were they thinking? This was not the way he wanted to introduce his wife to his family.

"They are still your parents and this is your own fault. If you had told them about me they might not have decided to surprise you." T'Pol let all her frustration come through.

Seeing T'Pol had her pajamas on he asked for her help. "Can you please find me a pair of sweats? I only have my underwear here." That's what he usually wore around the house in the evenings. And finding their clothes took time because everything was still in boxes and suitcases as no dressers had been delivered yet.

Handing T'Pol a robe as he took in her bare midriff, "You need to put this on or I'll never get my mind out of the shower." Thinking about finishing their previous activity in the shower would be distracting to say the least and he needed to be in full control while talking to his parents.

Stepping into the sweats Trip entered the living room as the doorbell rang. T'Pol walked to the kitchen to make tea. He scanned the room for his wallet finding it on the floor near the door where T'Pol must have dropped it.

Setting the food down on the counter with the extra plates and chopsticks, the boy had given him when he saw their guests, Trip stilled, pushed his fingers together and took several deep breaths, pushing his anxiety down. When he faced his parents his face was blank. "I hope everybody likes Chinese." They'd been sort of camping out so ordered extra so it would last a couple of days.

His father's eyes hadn't left T'Pol who had her back to them. Trip wasn't quite sure what the expression on his mother's face was, but it wasn't good.

Trip sat on one of the stools pushed up to the counter as he spoke through the bond. "Darlin, you need to come out here so I can introduce you."

He'd never known her to be embarrassed. He didn't think Vulcans let things like this bother them. He sure hoped she didn't start now because he was embarrassed enough for them both.

T'Pol moved to stand next to her mate, waiting for him to say something.

"Mom, Dad, this is T'Pol. I think I've mentioned her a few times in my letters or when we talked." Most recently her name would have come up when he called them to tell them about baby Elizabeth.

He took a deep breath. "T'Pol these are my parents. Charles Tucker Jr. and Beth Tucker."

His brother was behind their parents, leaning against the wall with his arms across his chest, smiling from ear to ear holding in his laughter. "Oh, and that smart ass over there is my brother John."

Realizing his parents had yet to say anything John walked toward them. "Got anything to drink in this place. I think we're all gonna need something to take the edge off." Oh it felt good to see his hero big brother on the spot with Mom and Dad. He's so flustered he's forgotten his manners. John mouthed, "Go give Mom hug." knowing she'd be upset if he didn't.

Trip considered John's suggestion but decided if he did he'd be pulled down on the couch between his parents and he wasn't ready for an inquisition yet. So he offered them food instead. "We don't have anything besides coffee, tea, and water to drink, but we do have dinner. Is anybody hungry?"

As he picked up one of the containers a thought struck him. "How did you get past the gate?" It had taken over an hour to get each of the delivery boys checked out before they were allowed past the security team outside and one of them should have escorted them to the door.

Charles Tucker responded. "If you mean how'd we get by that big Vulcan guy out there, he seemed to know who we were and let us by. Why would you need to have security here? Has someone tried to attack you?"

"No one's tried to do anything. There were threats after the whole Terra Prime mess, so we're just making sure no one gets hurt." Trip hadn't really lied, but he minimized the threats. He then made a mental note to talk to their security detail. They had communicators and should have warned him of his parents arrival.

Charles again concentrated his stare on T'Pol. "So Trip is there something you maybe forgot to tell us?" He wasn't sure if the Vulcan lived here or just came for the night, but she seemed real comfortable here in her pajamas and robe.

"Well, there's a lot I need to explain, but let's have dinner first. I skipped lunch and I'm hungry." He began putting food on his plate. "All we have for dishes are what we borrowed from Starfleet." Malcolm informed them that some of the crew had wedding presents for them, so he suggested they hold off on buying household items until after the party. Trip assumed they could eat out until they had dishes of their own, so they only bought furniture. And the rest of that wasn't due to be delivered until tomorrow. Beds, the couch, 4 stools, and a coffee table were all they had.

After dinner Trip helped T'Pol clear away the mess and put the leftovers in the refrigeration unit. Once done they sat on the floor across from the elder Tuckers. John had located cups and brought them and a bowl with ice in it to the table. He then opened a suitcase and handed his brother a wrapped gift. "Merry Christmas. It's a little late, but I thought you were going to be home." Enterprise was scheduled to be at Jupiter Station just after the holidays, but then they were delayed several weeks checking on the deep space stations.

Trip opened the bottle before offering it to John. T'Pol never complained if he had a drink or two with Captain Archer, but he avoided it most times. She never felt the effects of alcohol herself, but she did suffer the effect it had on him. The last time being their wedding night. He decided tonight he should relax without alcohol. His wife disagreed. She took one of the glasses from the table, added some ice, and presented it to John. Silently signaling he should pour some of the bourbon into it before handing it to Trip.

Trip emptied the glass in one swallow. "Have a seat John." Waiting for the younger Tucker to get comfortable Trip started formulating the words in his head. "I'm not sure where to start."

T'Pol was being unusually quiet and the bond was very still. But then they were his parents and he'd been the one who avoided talking to them for a year. It served him right and he should be the one to deal with the fallout.

Beth Tucker looked at her son. "You could start by telling us about your friend T'Pol. Do you and she live here together?"

"Yes, we live here and we are together. This is our house. We bought it a few days ago." Give them a little bit at at time.

"How could you buy a house like this?" Beth moved her eyes around the place as she asked. She knew it had to cost more than Trip could afford. And why had he decided to buy a house in California? When he said he was looking for a place they assumed he would be renting a small house or apartment.

"Being in Starfleet and then in space we didn't have a lot of expenses, so when Lizzie got that job in Pensacola she introduced me to her financial guy and he helped me set up some investments." Trip saw both of his parent wince at the mention of his sister's name. They were still not over her death. "Never really knew what I was going to do with the money, but Lizzie insisted so I went along.".......He paused for a second. "T'Pol had money of her own and her mom died recently, so we had more than enough to buy the house." Trip listened for any sign from T'Pol that he was discussing things she was not comfortable with. Nothing.

Charles looked troubled. "So you're making California your home now? You're not going to come back to Florida?"

He couldn't live in Florida. He loved his parents, but he couldn't be around them and their grief. There were too many reminders there of things better left at rest. "Our work is here. We're both Captains in Starfleet. We start working on developing and building the next warp drive and starship in a couple of weeks." Trip hadn't even told them about his promotion. He was on a roll so now the big news. "T'Pol and I work together, live together, but we're also married." He waited for the explosion.

And it came from Mrs. Tucker. "What do you mean you're married? How could you get married without even telling us?" Beth yelled horrified.

Trip kept his voice level and controlled. "We were on Vulcan and the High Council thought it would be best if we got married according to Vulcan tradition, so we did. I wish we could have invited you, but we were 16 light years away at the time." That was as good an excuse as he could come up with and he knew it wouldn't make them any less upset.

"You didn't even tell us you were dating anyone." Beth pointed out, angrily.

"We were...we...." Trip didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell them about the bond or the unofficial marriage. Why had he let this situation with his parents get so out of hand?

"Mrs. Tucker Vulcans don't date. We only become involved with someone if it is meant to be a life-long relationship." T'Pol felt sorry for her bondmate. There was so much he couldn't explain and so much he wouldn't want to.

"T'Pol." Everyone heard John say her name. "Didn't you have have a husband? They talked about you after the attack on the Embassy. Something about your husband...." He wagged his finger trying to think of something else. "....and that's when your Mom was killed."

News reporters must have gained access to T'Pol's records somewhere. It couldn't have been on Vulcan. They wouldn't let a human near such information, so someone on Earth must be leaking information and his brother had to remember it now. "There was a marriage but it wasn't meant to be permanent. It was only to keep her Mom out of prison. The ceremony was a legal thing like getting married in front of a judge instead of a minister would be here on Earth." Trip smiled as T'Pol gave her approval. It was not exactly factual, but it made the point. "She and I became friends and then things got more serious and we got married."

"So is this a legal marriage on Earth?" John, the paralegal, really wanted to know and he was sure his parents were asking themselves the same question.

"It's legal." Trip wasn't totally sure that was true, but he really didn't care. They were married. Besides if Daniels was right and the Federation was going to be formed in 2161 then it would be when Vulcan joined.

"You're a Captain, you've been transferred to Earth, you're married to a Vulcan, your wedding was on Vulcan, you're going to live in California, and you bought a house. Is there anything else you forgot to tell us?" There were many emotions expressed while Charles listed the things his son had not told them about, but anger was the most obvious.

He blurted out the only positive thing that came to mind. "There's a party to celebrate all those things with the crew of Enterprise on Saturday." He hoped this would appease them a little. He left out that they were only committed to Starfleet for 5 more years and had no idea what they would do after that.

Beth's body visibly relaxed, but Charles clearly still had things on his mind.

"So how long before Starfleet transfers you back to a starship?" Charles assumed they had been transferred to build the warp drive and then would be back in space.

Trip looked to T'Pol. "We're not ever going back into space." He remembered their earlier discussion about visiting Vulcan and other places they'd visited but never had time to really see anything of and amended that statement. "Well, we might go on vacation and do some traveling, but not for Starfleet." Trip hoped they'd understand and let it drop.

"You're a Captain and Starfleet's not going to give you a ship?" John knew Trip always wanted his own ship.

Trip looked at his brother. "We made a deal with them and they promised we would never be forced to go back into space. I thought I wanted to command my own ship, but after seeing what it's really like I changed my mind." Seeing what it had done to Captain Archer made the decision to give up that dream easy. "And being on a ship made our being together too complicated, so we left." It also endangered everyone around them and threatened to expose some of Vulcans most guarded secrets. But he couldn't explain any of that.

"What was it like out there? It's been pretty great being the brother to the big war hero. I can only imagine how it's been for you two." John thought about the girls who'd been interested in getting to know the brother of the Starfleet officer who saved Earth. Being famous had it's perks.

T'Pol actually cringed internally. Trip felt it and understood exactly how she felt. His expression became very serious. "Listen, we're not going to talk about what happened in the expanse. Most of it was awful and we'd rather just forget it. The press coverage about us was a nightmare. We got recognized and hounded everywhere we went. Still do sometimes. We just want to do our jobs and have a nice quiet life, so we avoid the press. So far we've been lucky, but no one really knows we're together. When they find out it could attract the wrong kind of attention." They both knew it would get out, but they weren't going to do anything to hasten the process.

"Would those groups who want all the aliens to leave Earth really come after you?" Beth was beginning to get worried. There'd been several reports about the attacks outside the courthouse during the trials of Paxton and his followers. The authorities discovered there were several splinter groups that formed when Terra Prime was being investigated.

"They might, but that's why we have security. The Vulcans are protecting us and so is Starfleet." Trip could feel that T'Pol needed to go meditate. "Look it's getting late and we need some sleep. How 'bout I show you to your rooms and we can talk more in the morning. We'll have some time before we have to be at our first meeting." That meeting was with Soval at the Vulcan Consulate. What to do with his family for the next two days was a problem better solved after they meditated and slept.

Again John came to his brothers aid. He picked up his parents bags and headed down the hall in the direction Trip pointed. When the brothers were both safely out of hearing Trip scolded John. "You could have let me know they were coming."

"I would have, but they showed up at my door and said we were going now. I grabbed my suitcase and here we are. What did you expect? You haven't been in touch in months and now we find out you've got this whole life we knew nothing about." John was certain his mom had sensed something when she spoke to Trip. It explained why she seemed so nervous since his call.

Trip voice got very quiet. "There was a lot going on. Then after Elizabeth and Terra Prime, I kinda fell apart. If it hadn't been for T'Pol and my friend Malcolm I don't know what would have happened." He knew he'd have fallen into that black hole of depression, grief, and anger and stayed there without their help.

"Give 'em time they'll be okay, but no more surprises. They don't bounce back quite as fast as they used to since Lizzie." John got a far away look in his eyes.

"How are you since Lizzie?" Trip and his brother hadn't talked about Lizzie. They'd never been as close as Trip and Lizzie were.

"I miss her everyday, but I'm better. Mom's still a wreck about her. Dad's not much better, but he tries to talk about her sometimes. Maybe we can talk about her while I'm here, so it doesn't feel like she never existed." No pictures were allowed, he kept the one picture he had out of sight in his own place, and no one ever mentioned Lizzie. For the most part his parents acted as if there had never been a Lizzie.

"We can talk about her as much as you need to. T'Pol listens to me talk about her, but it not the same because she never knew or loved her."

----

When Charles and Beth came out of their room Trip was speaking to the Ensign who recently took over as their office assistant. He missed the reaction of his father when he saw the Vulcan robes he and T'Pol were dressed in. John questioned Trip about the Starfleet design the garments had while observing they seemed exotic. When T'Pol mentioned the requirement for Vulcan citizens to wear Vulcan attire, out of respect for their culture, when visiting any Vulcan held territory, she felt her new in-laws clamp down on their emotions. Both were upset, but fought to keep these feelings to themselves. When T'Pol sensed these emotions Trip also sensed them turning to face his parents as they each filled the coffee cups they were holding.

"I'll talk to them later, darlin. They'll talk if we're alone." Feeling her apprehension rising Trip tried to keep her calm. He should have known his wearing Vulcan robes could possibly be upsetting to his parents.

"Your parents are upset about our robes." Her mate had assured her that his parents would not be upset because she was Vulcan, but he had been wrong.

"T'Pol please stay calm. Don't jump to conclusions. Wait until I can talk to them." He knew he was asking the impossible. T'Pol was extremely protective of him and if she thought she had come between him and his family she would become irrational. Pointing this out to her accomplished nothing but making her angry at him. The morning was not going well.

The restaurant was near the Consulate. Ensign Burke recommended it saying they served both Vulcan and human cuisine and the fact that he was wearing a Vulcan robe would not be an issue. His family each ordered their meal while T'Pol ordered tea stating she was not hungry when Trip asked why she had not ordered breakfast.

Trip ordered his vegetarian breakfast with an extra helping, placing the plate between himself and his wife. He served himself on a smaller plate and watched, hiding his smile, as T'Pol snuck small forkfuls of his breakfast. She was so centered on not being noticed that she failed to realize what he'd done.

Charles tapped Beth's arm pointing out the mixture of greetings their son and his wife received walking through the Consulate. Trip and T'Pol walked side by side down the corridor as Vulcans they encountered either nodded affirmatively showing what Charles perceived as acceptance of the couple while others tried to ignore their presence, showing their disgust. As they reached the reception area T'Pol extended her fingers to Trip before heading off down the corridor to the infirmary. The appearance of her in-laws made it necessary to refill her nasal inhibitor for use at home. Something she no longer did when it was just her and Trip. Once they were bonded his scent was no longer objectionable.

The gesture reminded the elder Tucker there were questions he wished to ask his son. Except for that finger touching Trip maintained a certain distance between himself and his wife. The distance between them was far less than the distance she required between herself and others, but still they never touched one another. That his son didn't even attempt to touch her seemed odd. Beth had pointed out that while they didn't touch there was a certain intimacy between them. To Charles this seemed like some romantic fantasy his wife had made up to make herself feel better about the lack of physical closeness they'd observed.

Trip then took his family to the commissary. First he spoke to the clerk T'Lek. Vulcans had parents too. Trip was counting on that when he explained his dilemma because they had arrived unannounced and asked the young Vulcan to assist his family if they needed it while he and T'Pol met with Soval. Then he found an empty table and sat down, inviting his family to join him.

"T'Pol and I have to meet with the Ambassador. While we're there you can look around the shops in this corridor. If you want anything just let T'Lek know and he'll charge it to our account." Trip paused waiting for any questions they might have.

Not wanting to turn them loose amongst the Vulcans without some knowledge he gave them a mini lesson on etiquette. "I need to tell you a few things. First, Vulcans don't like to be touched. They are empaths and it is physically uncomfortable to be blasted with others emotions that way, so be careful." That's what Trip had believed about Vulcans, like most others did, until he got to know T'Pol and a few other Vulcans better.

"Is that why you don't touch your wife?" Charles finally asked.

"Vulcans only touch in public when it's necessary. It's just not done and it makes T'Pol uncomfortable, so yeah that's why we don't touch in public." Knowing they had seen the ozh'esta he explained. "Touching your fingers together is the only acceptable touch between married couples. It's like a human kiss to them." It was so much more, but he figured that should be enough to ease their discomfort.

"And you're okay with that? I can't imagine not being able to touch your mother just because there are other people around." Looking at Beth Charles remembered her chastising him for his lack of discretion when expressing his desire for her, in public, when they were first married.

"We've had to make compromises. She lets me be an overly emotional human and I don't make her uncomfortable by touching her in public. It's just one of those things couples have to work out with each other." Having skipped the dating or getting to know you phase of both human and Vulcan mating left them bonded, married, and still working out those compromises. It had seemed unthinkable not so long ago that he'd agree to not touching, but now it seemed natural.

Charles seizing the opportunity to ask his son questions kept going. "So why are you wearing a robe to come here, but we don't have to?"

"I'm married to a Vulcan citizen, so that makes me a Vulcan citizen and subject to their rules." Beth seemed to take this news well, but Charles seemed confused and unhappy. Trip sensed his parents emotions. He'd thought this was due to T'Pol's abilities, but with her on the other side of the complex he knew this couldn't be the case now. He could hear other telepaths, if his shields were down, and sometimes sensed strong emotions from empaths, but not this clearly. Maybe it was because they were family.

"So what, that makes you a Vulcan now? Doesn't that make working for Starfleet more difficult if you have a conflict between Earth and Vulcan? Can't be loyal to both." When had Trip become so open and comfy with Vulcans? What happened if Earth and Vulcan ended up on opposite sides in this war or Vulcan refused to help again?

"Dad, in case you haven't noticed we're in a Vulcan consulate on Earth. We're allies and any conflicts we may have can be worked out together. We have too much at stake to be worrying about petty differences between us." Trip was angry that his father felt he was being disloyal to Earth by holding dual citizenship.

"I saw the looks you got when we came in here this morning. There are a lot of Vulcans who don't like it that you and T'Pol are together." Charles wanted Trip to consider whether it was worth being with a Vulcan if it meant being despised by so many others.

"There are just as many people here on Earth who don't like it either. Hell our daughter died because a bunch of crazies wanted to prevent inter-species relationships. We both knew that when we decided to be together and I'm sorry if that concerns you, but that's just the way it is. We're together and nothing is going to change that. Not even you." Trip saw his father's startled reaction and he was sorry he'd been so abrupt, but his father struck a nerve and he wanted him to know that. If it came down to T'Pol or his safety or even his family's disapproval his decision had already been irrevocably made.

Charles studied his son for a moment. This was not the boy he'd sent off to Starfleet. He was confident and determined. His choices were his own and he was prepared to suffer the consequences of those choices. He caught a flicker of something dark in the boy's eyes, that hadn't been there before, but it had disappeared quickly. The last 4 or 5 years had matured his son and he no longer sought his father's approval. It's what they had raised him to do, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. "I just want you to be sure you're doing the right thing. I can see that T'Pol is very important to you, but I want you to be safe." Losing another child would be more than he could bear.

"T'Pol is the most important thing in the world to me and I promise we're doing everything we can to be safe. We're not making public announcements but we're not going to hide away somewhere just so nobody will be upset either." They'd tried keeping things secretive and it didn't work for very long.

Trip's comm unit sounded. "Captain Tucker I have a message from Tellar. One of their engineers managed to break through our security and sent you an encoded message. Apparently only you can access the contents, sir. It's marked urgent." Ensign Burke informed the Captain.

"Can you forward it to me here. Use the secure channel and set up a meeting for T'Pol and I with security later today. Also contact Commander Reed and tell him I need to speak to him before he calls it a day." How had an engineer on Tellar breached security? He needed Malcolm's advice on that and several other problems. He needed to be sure he was still coming to dinner with them the next night to officially meet his family.

The engineer from Tellar had made a discovery about the interference being experienced in the motion sensors of all the starships in the quadrant. He wished to speak to Captain Tucker about his findings. Trip kept trying to think where he'd heard the name of the engineer before. T'Pol filled in the blank telling him he was on the list of engineers from Tellar who wished to be trained on Earth. Lieutenant Rija had not been selected, but maybe they needed to reconsider. He obviously was a better engineer than he had appeared to be on paper.

After Trip contacted the Lieutenant his name was added to the list of engineers coming to Earth. It seemed the low-tech sensors on Tellar ships were able to track the blips and Rija was convinced the Romulans were experimenting with adapting cloaking technology to probes in order to monitor the activities in the Alpha Quadrant and the blips occurred when they moved. He just needed time and some assistance to make modifications that would make the current sensors more sensitive and able to locate cloaked ships and probes.

While discussing his refit of the dilithium-matrix power converter and the nacelles for the Daedalus class starships he had completed, with Minister Kumak, he brought up the subject of the Tellarites discovery. The idea had merit and Kumak told Tucker the Vulcans would appreciate being included in the further study of the Tellarite sensors. Trip had no problem with this. He would continue to communicate with Minister Kumak and the engineers on Vulcan to share information.

Minister Kumak listened to all Tucker had to say. He had thought the human engineer was very talented, but now saw his greatest strength to be his ability to work with others. He gave credit to those who shared their ideas with him and he openly shared his own ideas with them. Tucker had also gotten an Andorian and a Tellarite Ambassador stationed on Earth to better facilitate communication between the members of the Coalition. Soval had tried to tell the High Council that this effort could be the first step in a true collaboration between the Coalition members, but few had believed him. They thought he'd spent too many years amongst humans making his assertions suspect. Kumak determined closer observation of the situation was needed before any decisions could be made. He found it refreshing to be dealing with more than the normal politicians and diplomats.

His parents were impressed with Starfleet Headquarters. They received a tour of the complex and saw all the displays on Enterprises missions over the last several years. Malcolm and Trip had started to watch these slide show presentations of their missions, but found it impossible. They marveled at how most of their missions were included, but facts had been altered or completely omitted. The creative writers Starfleet employed could have been writing movie scripts instead of mission reports. Even with the Xindi mission they romanticized space exploration to the point of making it seem fun and exciting and almost completely danger free. He still had a hard time reconciling this with believing those who chose to venture out into space in the name of exploration needed to be made aware of the realities they would face. But those were thoughts for another time. Anyone signing up to go into space right now knew exactly what was out there. The Romulans.

----

Captain Tucker spent the rest of the day making sure all the arrangements for the party were in order and that all the final work on the warp facility would be completed while they were on vacation. While he tried to concentrate on these tasks his attention was split worrying about the shopping excursion his parents had taken his wife on. He agreed to let them go, but only after making T'Pol promise she would not let his mother talk her into buying anything with pastel colors or flowers. They could have all the real plants and flowers she wanted, but please no flowery patterns anywhere. T'Pol reminded him that they could return anything he did not like after his parents left for home. How was it that he could handle a roomful of Admirals or diplomats, but his mate spending an afternoon with his parents had him tied up in knots.

Trip had been feeling T'Pol's edginess for an hour or so. She had forcefully centered all her attention on her emotions, but they still bled through. He'd tried to send her calm and understanding only to be shut out. She often did that when she needed to keep herself from being distracted and losing control. It worried him that she was having this much difficulty. What could possibly be causing her this much distress? He needed to keep his mind busy so his emotions didn't add to her already frazzled state.

He and Commander Neilson were watching the final pieces being set in place in the assembly area. The engineers had all the equipment in and were doing the last of the connections and running power into the buildings. Scott had been explaining the last stages of all the installations going on, but Trip was no longer listening. There was this pounding in his head that started off as a hiss and had now built to the level of a drum line beating away. It took everything he had to keep from screaming out in pain, but he kept pushing the pain away trying to focus enough to determine where T'Pol was and what had brought this on.

Just as he turned to leave. "Captain Tucker." A voice yelled through his comm.

"This is Tucker." Trip mumbled into the unit.

"Sir, I have your Mom. She says you have to come now. Captain T'Pol needs your assistance." The Ensign sounded excited, but not in a good way.

Trip could hear the frantic raving of his mother in the background. He centered himself trying again to get a fix on his wife and exactly what the problem was. "I'll have them transport me there. Do you have the coordinates?"

"Yes, sir. I'll forward them to the transport operator."

Trip materialized in a restroom. T'Pol was seated on the stool in the stall in the far corner chanting words over and over, Trip guessed to center herself. When he reached out to touch her she leaned into his hand as it connected with her cheek. "Are you alright, darlin?"

"I'm sorry. I should not have lost control." He heard her thoughts. 'I lost my composure in front of Trip's family. They are wary of me as his mate. I am now more unworthy in their eyes.'

He lifted her chin so he could look into her face. "Stop worrying about making a good impression on my family because I don't care what they think of you. You're my wife and there is nothing you could do to make me think you're unworthy."

"They are your parents what they think matters." His touch had alleviated some of her distress.

"Darlin, we're married forever, so even if they hate you what do you think would happen?" Did she really think he'd leave her?

T'Pol just sat there looking up at him. She knew he was her bondmate and always would be. Trip pulled her up into his arms.

"So what happened?" They'd faced extreme situations while in space and a few hours with his mom and dad had her in a total meltdown.

"I do not wish to discuss this now." Avoiding the questions T'Pol began looking around the restroom.

Trip looked around also. "Why'd you pick the bathroom to hide out in?"

"It was the first place I found. This is an usual restroom." Gesturing to the units on the far wall.

"This is the men's room, darlin. Those are urinals." Trip grinned when it became apparent she had no idea what he was talking about. "Never mind, I'll explain it later." He'd been in several buildings on Vulcan and they all had single restrooms. That were unisex. That would make sense. Vulcans are private and that would make the communal nature of this room seem uncivilized.

The implication of this fact made something clear. "That is why your mother did not follow me here." Trip felt her relief at inadvertently seeking refuge in the one place his mother would not follow her.

"So what did my mom do that upset you so much?" Trip began taking on some of her emotions so she could begin to suppress the strongest ones.

Feeling somewhat better and knowing her husband would not rest until she told him she answered. "It was not just your mother. She wished to purchase this thing she said was to hold dishes and 'china' in the dining area." He could sense her questions about what 'china' was. "A woman who said she was there to assist us kept encouraging your mother to persist. Your father tried to convince them that perhaps we should consider other items." Her anxiety level rose. "Others who were shopping became aware of my presence and began commenting about Vulcans. Then several approached us. It all became loud and I could no longer block them out. When it became intolerable I came in here to try to regain my control to prevent myself from hurting someone."

He could feel how upset she was because she had lost control forcing him to come help her. "T'Pol stop that. I'll come help you whenever and wherever you are." He held her tighter. "I take it you don't want the buffet she picked out?"

"No, and I don't think you'd like it either. It's too big for any of the walls in our dining area and we will never have enough dishes to put in it." T'Pol could not fathom how 2 people could need enough dinnerware to fill something so big.

"Okay, I'll see if I can find a table and chairs for the dining room that will make my mom and us happy." Trip moved away from his wife. "Let's go deal with my mom. I'm sorry I didn't insist on coming with you. It won't happen again." Until T'Pol got used to being around large crowds of people Trip would just have to go with her.

T'Pol began to feel the emotions of those around them again. The apprehension rolled off all the Tuckers as they watched the couple exit T'Pol's hiding place. Trip was trying to remain calm. Being angry with them served no purpose. It had been a mistake to abandon his mate to an environment she was not prepared to handle with people she hardly knew and had not established any kind of trust with.

The minute he felt her fingers touch his he turned to her. "T'Pol why don't you transport home and meditate." Trip could feel her control beginning to slip. "I'll be there in a little over an hour. You need to relax before tonight." Dinner with Mal was just what they needed. A friend to help take the pressure off.

Once his wife had dematerialized Trip put his arm around Beth's waist moving her toward the section of the store he wanted her in. "Mom, can we find a table and chairs for the dining room? It would really be nice to have somewhere to sit down to eat." Not giving her any opening to push the buffet she wanted them to have. And letting the whole incident go. For his parents, but mostly for T'Pol. She felt bad enough without having to discuss and defend herself.

He really wanted to avoid any discussions about traditional furnishings in a southern home. He was afraid he'd end up offending his mother's taste. But he'd have to make his mom understand that a set of 'china' for them would be a waste. The thought of them having big, formal dinners using such formal items like china and silverware was almost funny. No formal dinnerware meant no need for some monstrosity to store them in. Formal just wasn't his style. And T'Pol, well he couldn't even get his mind to form a mental picture of that.

Beth Tucker was a formidable woman. Very strong-willed and very southern. She was raised to believe her husband was the head of the family but a woman ruled her household.

"Trip, I don't understand what happened. We were picking out furniture and discussing a new set of china and T'Pol just walked away and went into the men's room." Beth first thought maybe she had gotten ill.

"She'll be fine Mom. Just a little too much excitement with all the shopping and everybody watching her."

"I thought Vulcans didn't get emotional or upset? Is there something wrong with her?"

"Some things happened while we were on Enterprise that just made things harder for her. On Vulcan you can walk most anywhere on the planet and its quiet. Other shoppers would never bother you. It's just not like here with all these people and all their emotions hammering away at her." Vulcans shielded their emotions in public and there were no malls or large shopping centers.

"She doesn't seem to know how to make a decision without you. I mean she should be able to furnish your house." Beth never asked Charles when purchasing things for the house.

Trip felt the flash of anger and pushed it down hard. "Mom, T'Pol and I talk about what we want. We seem to have very similar taste, but until we know each other better we've agreed to make choices about furniture together."

"But a woman should run the house and take care of keeping things running smoothly." Beth didn't understand any other way to run a house.

"Mom, we're a team and we work very well together, so let us decide what's best for us. Let's find that table and chairs and get home." Trip kept telling himself she was his mother and he loved her and they'd be gone in a couple more days.

---

Malcolm came to the house early. He spoke with the security team out front and reviewed all the procedures and examined all the equipment that had been installed. Finding no sensors to prevent access from above the house Malcolm had them sent over and installed immediately. Trip found it amusing when the tactical officer arrived, he began ordering his staff around, and they all complied without question. What a difference a few weeks of being in the command structure made.

Trip never understood what Malcolm meant when he described his upbringing as very British and military until he introduced him to his family. This man with whom Trip had become closer to than anyone besides T'Pol transformed before his eyes. He shook hands, making direct eye contact, and made a personal comment to each of them. He must have paid attention when Trip spoke to him about his family. His posture was straight, but very relaxed. He became the perfect gentlemen, putting everyone at ease. That proper, condescending air one usually sensed from him in new situations disappeared. His conversation became light and witty. He told stories about their time on Enterprise and entertained the Tuckers until it was time to change before going to dinner.

At dinner he continued, taking the weight off Trip and T'Pol. Keeping the topics light made the time much more enjoyable for all. He even managed to draw T'Pol into their conversation by asking her about incidents on away missions and talking about the many interactions and disagreements she and Trip had over the years. Malcolm had managed to do in a few hours what Trip hadn't been able to do in days. The stories and conversation gave his family a more complete picture of who T'Pol was and how the friendships of these three officers had come to be. For the first time since the Tuckers arrived Trip relaxed.

When the server failed to come back to their table after taking their desert orders Malcolm went to the bar to get drinks.

"Commander Malcolm Reed. Hi, I'm MacKenzie Smith. I've wanted to meet you since I saw you at that silly press conference after you returned from the expanse last year." The woman strode into Malcolm's space.

A little startled by her directness but still the proper British gentleman Malcolm accepted her outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you Ms. Smith."

"It's MacKenzie. Mac to those people I like." Her gaze never left his eyes.

"Well, then nice to meet you MacKenzie." Malcolm turned and gave his order to the bartender.

MacKenzie continued. "I was right there is more to you than what they show on those ridiculously bad documentaries they keep plastering the airwaves with." She'd seen that glint in his eyes and wondered where it came from.

"Thanks, I guess." Malcolm was taken by surprise. This woman was extremely forward.

"If you're not busy I'd like to get to know you a lot better." MacKenzie had always been bold, but she'd never been this bold.

Downright aggressive Malcolm thought. "I'm sorry, but I'm here with friends. Perhaps some other time." He said as he took his drink and started back towards the table. He didn't want to be rude, but he wasn't going to abandon Trip and T'Pol for a fling.

T'Pol had just finished telling them about shopping for a bed and asked the Tuckers if Trip had always attracted trouble when they were interrupted.

Beth began to answer T'Pol. "He was always the first....."

The woman walked up standing next to the Brit. "I'm sorry I don't mean to intrude, but my friends and I are leaving and I wished to give this to Commander Reed." The young lady handed him a ticket. Malcolm looked at her puzzled. He'd thought she was just one of those star struck females who seemed to be interested due to all the hoopla he and the rest of the Enterprise crew attracted since returning from the expanse.

"If you'd like to continue our discussion from earlier please join me at the concert. I'd really like to get to know the real you, not that idealized version." MacKenzie looked around the table. "Sorry for the interruption. Goodnight and enjoy the rest of your evening."

Malcolm watched her walk away. "Damn cheeky of her." Maybe he should pinch himself. This had to be a dream.

Trip watched Malcolm and couldn't decide if he was offended or attracted to the woman who'd just left. "Who was that Mal?"

"Her name is Mackenzie Smith. Mac to those she likes." That's all he knew about her, but some part of him was tossing around the idea of finding out more. Absently he added. "Introduced herself at the bar."

"So are you going to meet her at the concert?" She would definitely be Mac to Malcolm Trip reasoned judging by her behavior. But knowing Malcolm he wouldn't go meet her.

"I don't know." And he really didn't know. He'd never met a woman who was so brash yet elicited such a strong reaction in the deepest part of him.

Trip and T'Pol noticed how the encounter had unbalanced him. Their unflappable friend was lost in thought trying to make sense out of the breeze that just passed through his life. She'd definitely made a lasting impression.

---

Trip, T'Pol, and Malcolm were all in the kitchen attempting to make breakfast. Beth and Charles started out of their room when they heard the three. They quietly sat down on the couch as they talked and worked together.

The bowl Trip had been breaking eggs into was now full of eggs and tiny bits of shell. "I thought the purpose of breaking the eggs into the bowl was to keep the shells out of the omelettes." T'Pol teased her mate.

"You're the one who said this was easy, so I should be able to do it." Trip fired back as he began trying to fish the pieces of shell out of the bowl. "We should have stuck with the egg substitute. There aren't any shells in that."

"Only a Vulcan could eat that stuff. It's bland even with the added vegetables and meat mixed in." Mal looked through the cupboards. "How am I supposed to make hash browns if you don't have anything to grind the potatoes through. I can't cut them up with a knife." Malcolm complained.

"Just slice them and we can make fried potatoes instead." Trip suggested as he stirred up the egg mixture.

T'Pol had been chopping onions, green pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach leaves. Leaving the bacon, ham, and cheese for the guys to chop up.

Malcolm added some parsley and paprika to the potatoes. "If I can't use butter to fry these in what do you use?" Malcolm knew T'Pol didn't eat butter.

"There's 2 different kinds of substitutes in the fridge. We haven't tried them before, so you might want to taste test them before you use them." Trip had picked them up at the store.

Totally changing the subject and catching his friends off guard. "Do you two think I should go to that concert?" Mal asked. He'd been thinking about it since dinner last night.

"You're asking us for advice on your love life. It took us four years to get our own figured out." Trip was surprised Malcolm had asked their opinion and he really did consider himself a really bad choice to ask for any type of relationship advice.

"You started out as friends and worked your way to mates during some pretty difficult times." He saw this fact as a good thing. He'd never had a relationship, until he became friends with Trip then T'Pol, that lasted more than a few weeks. "Am I an idiot for even considering going?"

"Do you like this woman?" T'Pol asked shocking both Trip and Malcolm. She asked if he had feelings?

"I don't know, but there's something. I can't stop thinking about her and that's never happened before." Malcolm had spent time with several girls and while he remembered many of them they hadn't gotten under his skin enough to be all he could think about.

"If you go you would have the chance to see if you like her." T'Pol suggested.

Trip stopped chopping the meat and looked at this wife. "Where was all this relationship wisdom when we were trying to figure things out?"

"Didn't you tell me it's easier to look at other people's problems and see things that you don't see in your own because you are too close." Trip said this about Jon when he was trying to find a way to get him to open up about their time in the expanse.

"Mal, if you like her T'Pol's right. Just go and see what happens. If it's a disaster at least you'll know." Trip wanted him to go if for no other reason than it meant he'd have to step outside of that little box he painted himself into and take a chance.

"Maybe I will." Malcolm thought as the rest of the elder Tuckers came in for coffee and breakfast.

---

When they arrived at the party many of the crew were already there. Malcolm had arranged for Starfleet security in addition to Trip and T'Pol's security staff. Ambassador Soval had insisted on providing additional security from the Consulate, when they invited him to their little get together. Soval declined the invitation stating it was an informal gathering of Enterprise's crew and he would not feel comfortable intruding.

Charles listened as Beth and Jon talked. Jon trying to explain the distance between him and his crew and most especially his lack of closeness with their son. They had been the best of friends when their mission started, but not now. Charles could see there was something wrong between them. Trip still spoke highly of his friend, but there was a distance there and a darkness in both young men that he couldn't explain. Archer had tried to play it down by attributing it to Trip's new assignment, but Charles saw through that immediately. Jon had been invited to join Trip and T'Pol at their table, but he declined and found his own table off in the corner.

Charles Tucker's attention was drawn to the gathering where his sons were telling stories of their youth and their sister. He heard them talk about the day she first rode her bike fearlessly flying down the hill at full speed. Leaving the rest of her family standing there horror stricken because they had not shown her how to use the brakes. He listened for several minutes before he returned to Beth and steered her away from her boys, back towards Jonathon's table. He watched as T'Pol lightly touched her finger's to Trips when tears welled up in his eyes. There was obviously more to that touch than the couple had told them. The moment contact was made Trip closed his eyes and all tension seemed to leave his body. When his eyes opened they were looking directly into his wife's and a smile broke out across his face.

His daughter-in-law's being Vulcan bothered him because they were said to suppress emotions and did not touch others. He now knew they did touch just not in public and he could now see even though she didn't express her emotions she did have them. She also had formed friendships of a sort with the crew members they were now sitting with.

Everyone observed her personal space to some degree. He'd begun to notice this while watching breakfast being made this morning. Trip moved in very close teasing and touching her fingers. Malcolm moved in close, well within her normal boundary also teasing and joking with the couple as they playfully prepared their meal. John came into the mix joking around with her while making his omelette and gradually she relaxed the requirement of space for him also. The crew around them now were all within her personal space, and the others from the crew in the room while still outside that invisible line, still interacted with her in a relaxed fashion.

He then looked at his sons as they remembered Lizzie. Trip was laughing and patting his brother across the back in a gesture of support. John was the most relaxed and tension free that Charles had seen him in many months. He hadn't taken in to account the toll his and Beth's grief had had on his youngest son. His middle child had left the nest once, but returned when he discovered his parents needed him. Trip and Lizzie had both been strong, carefree, independent individuals. So much alike and so close to each other. John had always been less willing to cut the cord and seek adventure. He had almost obtained his law degree when Lizzie was taken. One semester left, but he came home to care for his family. Charles decided he must talk to Trip and get him to help get John to leave the nest again. It was way past time.

Trip, T'Pol, and Malcolm all stood at the front of the room. Trip had a microphone in his hand. He called Jon and several others to join them.

"All right we all know the off duty rules." He held the mike up.

"No uniforms, no rank, and no work." Came in unison from the crew.

"Those are the rules, but we need to break with them for a short time. It seems we have a couple of people to congratulate on their promotions. While we are announcing them here they will not receive their new insignia until they board Enterprise."

Cheers went up around the room.

"Added to the celebration tonight are Lieutenant Hoshi Sato and Lieutenant Travis Mayweather." Jon had pushed for these promotions. They both deserved them after four years. Starfleet had been slow in accepting his and T'Pol's recommendations due to the many other changes in the command structure of the starship. Trip decided not to tell Jon that when Malcolm mentioned his desire to get them promoted so they would be part of the senior staff; therefore; making them an integral part of the command structure, Tucker agreed to go to Admiral Kilmer and request his assistance in getting the promotions through. He knew Malcolm trusted the two officers and felt they deserved the rank and they both knew their experience would be needed in the coming war.

As Archer shook his staffs hands Trip sent everyone back to enjoying the party. "Thank you all for the wedding and house warming gifts. T'Pol and I really appreciate it. We'll take them home and open them. Now let's get back to having some fun. And if for any reason you need to stay here for the night...." Trip searched for the ensign. "Ensign Burke, who's that guy right over there waving his hands in the air will set you up with a room, free of charge, right down the road."

---

Trip led his wife outside and out of sight. Finally he had her alone. "I sense a definite theme this evening. You've been busy doing research again, wife?"

"I do not know what you mean, husband." T'Pol's face became more stoic than ever, but her eyes gave her away.

"Let's see. You fed me oysters and peppers and chocolate and this is the fourth glass of wine you've managed to place in my hand." Trip liked wine because it relaxed him but it also made him feel much more amorous. He went through the rest of what he'd eaten tonight. "I'm sure there were a few things I missed in my diet this evening." He'd only taken a few sips from each glass of wine before setting it down somewhere. Trip gave her his best I know what you're up to smile.

"I take it you believe these items all have something in common. And how is it that a warp engineer would know of such things." T'Pol teased back as she pulled him closer.

He rolled his eyes upward. "I'm a red-blooded male and we all think about such things starting about thirteen or so." He'd investigated aphrodisiacs in college when his roommate explained what they were. "I know I've been neglecting my husbandly duties, but having my parents sleeping in the same house is a mood killer." He knew it was stupid after all it was their house not his parents, but it made him feel like a teen who was afraid of being caught making out. Maybe if they'd had more than a day and a half alone, in the house, before his family showed up he'd feel differently.

"I do not understand your reluctance to mate while they're nearby. It is a normal part of married life is it not?" While T'Pol would not want his parents to be aware of their activity she did not understand why Trip found it necessary to refrain from making love while they were in the house. It was after all a biological necessity.

Trip checked to be sure they were alone before kissing her very passionately. "Okay, I'll drink the wine and we can make love tonight, but only if you promise to be quiet." Trip teased knowing they both tended to be a bit unrestrained. He had in fact encouraged T'Pol to let go of her controls during their love making, but now he was asking her to keep some control. It wouldn't really matter tonight he knew. He was a happy man. T'Pol had expressed her desire for him not through their bond, but through her actions. There was no way he would was not going to make love to her tonight. He wondered if she knew how many ways she told him she loved him without actually saying the words?

"I will try, but your family is on the other side of the house and should not be able to hear us."

---

Trip woke on the first official day of vacation to find T'Pol laying in his arms. He'd slept late and normally she would have gotten up, meditated. and completed several other tasks before he opened his eyes on his day off. He usually stayed up later if he didn't have to get up early in the morning.

"Morning, and not that I'm complaining, but to what do I owe the pleasure of your warm body still being next to mine." Trip kissed her shoulder.

"I awoke earlier and meditated and then came back to bed." T'Pol answered as she snuggled closer to her husband. She'd only slept a couple of hours and started dreaming and had to get up and meditate.

"You're not avoiding my parents are you?" Thinking maybe after the shopping trip she might have thought it better to wait for him.

"No. I just wished to spend some quiet time with my husband."

Trip knew better, but didn't press her. She'd tell him what was wrong in her own time. They had 2 weeks and he'd wait until they were alone and talk to her.

Later that day Trip escaped to the beach. As he sat trying to meditate to relieve his anxious mind he was joined by Charles Tucker.

"Couldn't handle moving anymore furniture?" The elder Tucker asked.

Or unwrapping anymore gifts to hear his mothers assessment. "No. Has she always been like that?" He knew his dad knew exactly what he meant. Trip tried to think back to when he was a kid, but couldn't remember his mom being so demanding.

"By the time you kids came along I'd stopped fighting her about anything she did inside the house. That's why I have my workshop on the other side of the garage so I can get away when I need to. It just isn't worth it, so I let her have her way." Charles let out a deep breath.

"Whatever works for you is fine, but I just want her to stop trying to make me choose her way. T'Pol won't let me say anything. Instead she'll spend the whole day letting mom rearrange our house and then she says we'll move it where we want it when you leave." Sometimes Trip hated it when T'Pol became the unflappable Vulcan and acted as if nothing bothered her.

"Maybe T'Pol sees what's really going on. You threw your mom for a loop with all these changes. There's a new woman in your life and she's taking the place of your mom. Just give her some time to figure out where she fits in now. Your wife isn't making it harder by getting upset, so maybe you should just let them be and it will all be over soon." Charles could see that Trip living some distance away from them was going to be a good thing. He just hoped that future visits would be easier when the couple had lived in their house longer and arranged it the way they wanted it.

"You're right it's not worth making T'Pol upset at me because my mother is nuts." Trip had this cockeyed look on his face. "Did you pick anything out in the house, ever?" Now he was curious. Had his father really handed the house over to his wife. He couldn't imagine living in a space entirely decorated by someone else with no regard for his taste. He didn't see T'Pol ever asking him to.

"I bought the table we had in the kitchen at a flea market. Picked it up to refinish and sell, but your mom liked it so we kept it. There's a couple of pictures on the walls that are mine, but that's it." One of his hobbies was refinishing old furniture.

"Not talking to you and mom made this all so much more difficult and I don't even know why I couldn't tell you. There's just so much I can't talk about that it got easier to not talk at all. I'm really sorry about that." Trip's mind drifted off thinking about all the horrors he'd seen. When did the bad things they encountered begin to outnumber the good things? Was it possible to explore in space without all the problems they ran into? He wasn't sure anymore, but maybe he and T'Pol would find out after the war with the Romulans was over.

Seeing his parents off Trip knew he and his dad had come to some sort of understanding. He and his mother were in the middle of some sort of ritual redefining their relationship that might take some time. Charles Tucker assured his son it would be fine if he was patient. The brothers had reconnected and become closer than they had been before. Trip's father made him promise to find a way to get his brother away from Florida. Charles Tucker Jr. was ready to take care of himself and his wife and let his children find their own way in life.