Okay so I'm a couple of days late for this one but there's a couple reasons for that. One being Friday was basically one hellish thing after another and another being that we have house guests. They leave today so I should be back on track for posting Friday again (unless we go down to Busan but if that happens I'll post Thursday instead)
This chapter is a good bit longer then the previous ones and I think it's really cute so let me know if you agree! Reviews are always appreciated and they mean a lot!
- Galia
Chapter 6
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
-"Kiss Me" Sixpence None The Richer
Saturday doesn't come soon enough for Trip, he'd made reservations at a little restaurant on the water almost as soon as he left lunch on Thursday with T'Pol. It's got the best reviews of any of the vegetarian restaurants he'd been able to find and it had a view of the beach.
Trip is ready to go nearly an hour before he has to leave, he doesn't want to show up early though so he sits on the couch until 6:45, trying to watch a movie but isn't really paying attention to it. At 6:45 he gets up, grabs his wallet and keys and heads down to his car, as he's driving towards her apartment he starts to get nervous, though it's completely ridiculous that he is, it's T'Pol, he knows T'Pol.
"Just a moment!" T'Pol calls through the door after he knocks, he can hear her talking to one of the boys and then she answers.
"Evenin'" Trip grins.
"Good evening, come in, I'll be ready in a moment I'm just trying to settle Avarak." T'Pol says, motioning him in. A teenage girl sits on her couch playing a game with the younger son, the boy in T'Pol's arms must be Avarak. Trip doesn't remember much about Koss but T'Pol is right, Avarak doesn't resemble her.
"It's fine." Trip smiles, waving to the little boy. The child wraps his arms around his mother's neck and mutters something in Vulcan. T'Pol kneels and pries Avarak off of her neck, holding him at arms length she speaks to him in Vulcan for few minutes. Avarak doesn't seem very happy about it but he walks over to the couch and sits next to the babysitter.
"We'll be back around, 11?" T'Pol says to the baby sitter but glances at Trip, he nods. "Eleven, they need to be in bed at 7:30," She says turning back to the babysitter.
"Yes Ma'am." The girl says. "We'll call if we need anything."
"Thank you, the emergency numbers are on the fridge and my phone number is on the counter." T'Pol says, turning to Trip.
"Ready?" Trip smiles.
"...yes." T'Pol says, sparing the boys a glance, clearly she's nervous to leave them but she slips her shoes on and follows Trip out the door. "I'm sorry, I've never left them with a sitter here before."
"They'll be fine." Trip assures, reaching for her hand. T'Pol looks at him shocked and he lets go. "Sorry - forgot about the hand thing."
T'Pol reaches out touches his hand lightly before letting her arm fall back to her side. "It's fine, but yes I'm certain both boys will be alright. I simply worry Avarak won't go to sleep if I'm not there."
"Can he stay up?" Trip asks.
"He shouldn't, but I did leave instructions if they didn't sleep." T'Pol says, stepping into the elevator. "She's to read to them quietly on my bed, it should put them to sleep eventually."
"Do they sleep with you?" Trip asks, he's never much liked the thought of kids in the bed, but he wonders about the Vulcan idea of it. He knows contact with their children is very important but how this translates in everyday life he's not sure.
"They do more since the move," T'Pol explains. "Usually they sleep in their own bedrooms after the first year but since the divorce and moving here I've been more lenient than normal. I know they both have a good deal of anxiety about being alone lately."
"Well they'll get there, best to make them feel secure first I guess." Trip shrugs. "I don't know that I'd like to share my bed though."
"I remember how you feel about the bed." T'Pol says.
"Hey now, what's that supposed to mean?" Trip grins, stepping out of the elevator and turning towards the car.
"You like to spread out and steal all the blankets." T'pol raises her eyebrows. "And I don't believe that will have changed in 6 years."
"Well maybe it has." Trip grins.
"Has it?" T'Pol asks, pulling the passenger side door open.
"Nope." Trip slides into the driver's seat and grins across at her.
"I thought so." T'Pol mutters, fastening her seatbelt and looking at him.
"You okay?" Trip asks, pulling out of the parking spot.
"Yes," T'Pol says. "I just never thought we'd be here."
"What do ya mean?" Trip frowns, glancing at her.
"I never thought we'd be… courting?"
"Dating."
"Dating, and I would have two children from a previous marriage while we did it." T'Pol muses. "I love them, but I'm not sure how they'll handle this."
"We don't have to tell them." Trip points out. "I mean they're pretty young T'Pol, I doubt they'd even understand what was going on."
"I know," T'Pol says. "And they won't understand but I worry how this would effect them if it doesn't work out. How long do you think we should wait until we tell them?"
"Well," Trip says, reading over and putting a hand on her knee. "How about we wait and see how this goes? If it looks like it's goin' to be somethin' serious then we tell 'em, but if it doesn't work out or doesn't go anywhere then we haven't told them and gotten their hopes up about anything."
"That sounds like a reasonable idea." T'Pol nods. "And you're alright if we wait a while to tell them?"
"T'Pol," Trip says, giving her a look. "They're not my kids, they're your kids and you know what's best for them and if you think it's best that we wait three months, six months, nine months or more to tell them then I'm okay with that."
"Thank you," T'Pol says.
The rest of the ride is spent mostly in silence, Trip can tell T'Pol is still worried about the boys even when they arrive at the restaurant 20 minutes later. They get their seats on the balcony, and Trip is surprised when T'Pol also orders a glass of wine.
"Thought you didn't drink." He says.
"I don't drink often, even on Enterprise I had the occasional glass of wine." T'Pol says.
"Well I can understand why. You're still worried about them." It's not a question, he can tell she is. To other she seems emotion less, and collected, but he can sense the worry brewing just under the surface.
"It's Avarak." She says. "He's still upset I've left. I know he'll calm down but I can feel his worry."
"You can feel it?" Trip frowns.
"Yes," T'pol nods. "Vulcan parents have a very special bond with their children, we're linked, I can feel his emotions and he can feel mine."
"He can feel yours? Doesn't that make it kinda hard to calm him down sometimes?" Trip frowns.
"No," T'pol says, taking the glass of wine from the waiter. "I can block my emotions from him, but he's not old enough to have learned the control necessary to block his from me."
"That's kinda strange." Trip admits. "But I guess it makes it easier when they can't talk."
"It does," T'Pol says, sipping the wine and setting the glass down. "Vulcan children don't learn to talk until 2 and a half or 3 years of age anyway and when they do they begin speaking in full sentences, but they can communicate through touch telepathy and emotional projection before they learn to speak."
"That's kinda strange to think about." Trip chuckles. "Human kids are talking by 2 and a half, hell I was talkin' by 18 months. I can't imagine being touched and hearing everything your toddler thinks and feels."
"It's odd to a human," T'Pol points out. "But for a Vulcan it's completely normal, the thought of a child as young as a year and a half speaking is very strange to me."
"Fair enough." Trip chuckles. "So how are you adjusting to your new job?"
"I admit I don't care for teaching." T'pol says. "However, it gives me the flexibility to be there for my children when they need me. When they get older I'd like to take a position on a ship again."
"Really?" Trip says surprised.
"Yes, though they'd be at least 20 before that happens, I'm hoping once Kuvok is school age I an at least work in a lab and send him and Avarak to classes and activities after school." T'Pol explains. "Teaching isn't something I'd like to do long term."
"I don't mind it." Trip shrugs. "I'm not really looking for my own ship though."
"I don't necessarily want to be Captain, but a few months on a ship every now and then would be nice." T'Pol admits.
"You'd make a good Captain though." Trip points out.
"Perhaps, but the children would have to be out of the house for me to be gone that long." T'Pol points out.
Dinner passes in much the same way, with them talking about work and what they've been up to. After dinner Trip pays the bill and suggests they go to walk on the beach a while. T'Pol seems hesitant but as it's only 9 o'clock agrees.
T'Pol had never felt the most comfortable around water and the closer to the ocean Trip pulls her the more concerned she gets. Finally she stops walking and looks at him.
"I think perhaps we should stay up here." She says.
"Why?" Trip frowns.
"I do not like water." T'Pol admits.
"You take baths." He points out.
"That's not much water," She looks out at the ocean. "Vulcan has only one large body of water and we tend to avoid it."
"So no swimming then?" Trip grins jokingly at her.
"No," T'Pol purses her lips and gives him a look. "Trip, I can't swim and I don't wish to get any closer."
"Okay," He says, reaching for her hand and returning to her side. This time she lets him hold it, it's warm and calming. "We can walk up here if you want.
"Thank you." T'pol says quietly. Starting along the sand with Trip, she can feel grains of sand getting into her shoes, it's not the most comfortable feeling but Trip doesn't seem bothered by it so she doesn't bring it up.
"It's beautiful night." Trip smiles.
"I suppose." She nods, "A bit chilly though." She was glad she'd brought her sweater along but it's still chilly for her.
"We can go back if you want." Trip offers.
"I don't mind staying a while longer, though I would like to get back a bit early. The children still aren't in bed." She says, she can feel their thoughts whirling around still and gets the distinct feeling they're bothering the babysitter.
"Why don't we head back then?" Trip suggests. "We don't want them up too late."
"Alright." T'Pol agrees though she's reluctant to leave early, she's missed spending time with him and feels that it's going well, Trip's eagerness to get back almost disappoints her but she pushes it back and walks with him up to the car.
"They behaving at least?" Trip asks.
"I can't tell," T'Pol says. "Though I doubt it, they can be troublesome children when they decide to work together."
"Tiny troublemakers." Trip chuckles. "I'd've never pegged your kids as tiny troublemakers."
"I was a 'tiny troublemaker' as a child." T'Pol informs him. "But having two of them makes it a bit more then a sixteen year old human should have to handle."
Trip chuckles. "I suppose that's true, damn cute kids though."
"Well I think so." T'Pol muses.
T'Pol isn't surprised to discover that she was right, upon returning home she can hear both boys running through the apartment and the babysitter trying to catch them. She opens the door and Avarak immediately flies into her legs.
"Mother I don't want her to put me to bed!" He insists.
"Avarak," T'Pol kneels down to him. "I told you to listen to the babysitter, as you are not listening I will be putting you to bed right now and you're not getting a story read. Kuvok, the same applies to you."
"Mother." Both boys whine in unison.
"Bed, go." T'Pol says firmly before turning to the babysitter. "My apologies, I did not anticipate they would be this difficult."
"Oh, it's fine Ma'am." The sitter says, brushing some loose hair out of her face.
T'Pol pulls some money from her wallet and holds it out to the sitter. "Thank you very much for watching them, you may go." The sitter collects her things and hurries out the door, T'Pol turns to Trip. "I need to get the boys in bed, I'll be right back."
"It's fine." Trip assures. "I'll wait here."
T'Pol grabs Avarak and Kuvok by the hand and pulls them both after her. "You both need to be better about listening to the baby sitter, when she says bedtime it's bedtime."
"Mother, but we couldn't understand her." Avarak pouts.
"Yeah didn't understand." Kuvok giggles.
"Kuvok, Avarak, you know what she meant, I left the cards for her with the Vulcan on them, you did not listen." She reaches into the pajama drawer and hands them each a set of pajamas. "Put them on and get in bed."
"Mother!" They whine.
"Do not whine, it's not good behavior." T'pol scolds, each boy reluctantly puts his pajamas on and climbs in bed, T'Pol tucks them in and kisses them each on the head. "Goodnight children."
"Goodnight mother." Each of them mutters.
T'Pol exits their bedroom and finds Trip still standing in the living room. "I'm sorry." T'pol apologizes. "They should be in bed now, they don't usually behave like that."
"It's fine." Trip grins. "I know what it's like bein' a little boy left with a babysitter, any opportunity to misbehave will be taken."
"They're really not like that - usually, it seems since the move they've changed a good deal." T'Pol doesn't pretend that it doesn't worry her that they've changed so much. "I think they're just testing boundaries so I'm trying to reinforce them at every opportunity but they persist."
"Something's are the same all over the galaxy." Trip chuckles. "And little boys seem to be one of them."
"I shudder to think of you as a little boy." T'Pol says.
"Oh you should, you should." Trip laughs. "So um, I was thinkin' maybe next weekend we could take the boys to the beach?"
"I thought you were okay with not telling them about our relationship?" T'Pol says, caught off guard by this suggestion.
"I am, I am." Trip says hurriedly. "I was just thinkin', they've probably never been right?"
"Correct, and I dont' like the idea of them around so much water." T'Pol says.
"Well, we can pack a lunch, have a picnic on the beach. They don't have to go near the water if you don't want them to." Trip assures.
"What if they want to? They'll see other children in the water." T'Pol points out.
"Then I'll take them to get their feet wet." Trip says. "But no swimming, just a picnic and feeding the seagulls."
"Feeding the seagulls?" T'Pol says, she'd been under the impression that seagulls were essentially just flying rats.
"Yeah, my sister and I used to love it when we were about their age." Trip grins.
"Well," T'Pol considers. "I suppose the beach isn't a terrible idea and Avarak will enjoy the birds."
"Is that a yes?" Trip asks, his grin widening.
"I suppose, but you have to promise me there will be no swimming." T'Pol says.
"I promise." Trip says. "So I'll call you tomorrow and we can work out the details and then I'll see you Saturday?"
"Yes, you'll see us Saturday." T'Pol says, following him to the door way.
Before he leaves he turns and kisses her, it's soft and gentle. "Night T'Pol."
"Good night Trip." She says, watching him leave.
She walks into the kitchen and puts the kettle on, she knew it was human custom to kiss after a date but she felt a little strange about it, though not for the reason she'd though. It didn't feel wrong, or out of place, quite the opposite, it felt right.
Pouring a cup of lavender tea she walks over to the couch and sits down to contemplate the events of the evening. She'd been able to relax about half way through the meal and had discovered just how much she'd missed spending time with him. Vulcans didn't often miss people and as she sits on the couch turning the last six years over in her head and it dawns on her; she'd never once missed Koss when he was away. Not when she was pregnant - he wasn't even present for the births of their children and she hadn't missed him then - not when he was away on business (which she later discovered to be his affair) and certainly not after the divorce. She had fallen back into a relationship with Trip as naturally as if she'd been there all along.
Draining the last of her tea and realizing she'll never sleep if she continues comparing her relationship with Koss to her potential relationship with Trip she pushes these thoughts from her head and walks into the bedroom. Tonight her bed is free of children and she's thankful for it, slipping into her pajamas and into her bed she lays on her side and is asleep only minutes after turning out the light.