"I don't know why you are going to need me tomorrow," Tripp threw two of his cards on the table. They had started a weekly poker game when the war had come to a dead stop. The Romulans weren't making any moves and Earth with her allies were stuck as what to do. Hoshi decided to start a poker game. Jonathan, Travis, Malcom, and Tripp jumped at it right away. T'Pol didn't want anything to do with it and told Tripp to have fun. Tripp had a feeling that she just wanted him out of her hair for one night. Phlox was game and fell in love with the game.
"It will be something to do, and you can get off of this ship," Jonathan threw one card back.
"I understand, but…" Tripp didn't know what to say. T'Pol was close to having their daughter and Tripp wanted to be there with her. He was there when Charlie was born, so he wanted to be there for T'Mir.
"I'll open," Malcom said, throwing his chips in the middle of the table. "He's worried that he is going to miss the birth of his child."
"I'll raise," Phlox said after Travis folded. "I will say that T'Pol has another week or two before the little one is born."
"I fold," Tripp threw his cards down. "Yes, but Charlie came early, so this one could be the same."
"I am going by Charlie's birth because he is the first Vulcan/ human I birthed," Phlox watched as Jonathan folded and Malcom raise him. "I'll call."
The two men put their cards on the table. Phlox had a flush while Malcom had two pairs. Malcom swore as he threw his cards down on the table and Phlox picked up his winning. Jonathan picked up the cards and started to shuffle them. He smiled at Tripp. "I will try to get you back in time for your daughter's birth," Jonathan delt the cards.
Tripp picked up his cards. He had a feeling that Jonathan wouldn't get him back in time to see the birth of his daughter. Tripp swore at his cards. It didn't look good for him. This just might be his last hand. "I don't know if I believe you," Tripp folded when Hoshi opened.
"Believe him," Malcom called on Hoshi. The look that Hoshi gave him had Tripp feeling bad for his friend. Tripp watched as all the others folded. They played out the hand where Malcom lost.
"Don't count me in," Tripp stood and put his chips away. "I'm going to head home," The others nodded.
Tripp headed out of the captain's mess hall. He just had this feeling that his daughter was going to be here sooner rather than later. He didn't know how long they were going to be on this planet helping them get their water system up. They were an alien species that had settled on the plant and didn't realize that the water was buried underground, and they needed it to live. Jonathan wanted something to do since they were at a standstill with the Romulans and had told the Khots that he would help with his chief engineer and others. Tripp would rather stay on the ship with T'Pol and Charlie.
Tripp stopped in front of his door and took a breath before going in. He didn't know if T'Pol was putting Charlie to bed, or they were meditating. Charlie had taken to meditating with his mom. Tripp just thought that it was just a bonding moment for Charlie and T'Pol.
He entered and looked into Charlie's room to see that they were still meditating. He slowly made his way to the couch and sat down. He picked up the PADD that was on the coffee table to see it was something to teach Charlie his Vulcan letters. T'Pol wanted to make sure that their children knew the Vulcan language because Charlie started talking in English when he was learning to talk. He set that PADD down and picked up another. It was something T'Pol was working on. He looked to see if there was anything that he could help with.
"Papa." Charlie shouted. Tripp put the PADD down and put his hands out to catch his son who was running to him.
"Do you need help getting up?" Tripp yelled to the other room.
"No," T'Pol stood in the doorway with a hand on her back. To Tripp it always looked like T'Pol was getting bigger each day. "I thought that you would be later," T'Pol made her way to the couch.
"I was losing," Tripp looked down at Charlie, who was playing with something found on Tripp. Tripp took it away from Charlie. He saw that Charlie's lip was trembling. "You know not to take things from my pockets," Tripp put the thing down on the table. Charlie saw and was ready to reach for it when T'Pol took it and placed it in a drawer in Tripp's desk. She threw him a look because she didn't like him bringing things from Engineering home. He only gave her a weak smile. Tripp wrapped his arms Charlie. "I think that it is time for a bath and bed," Tripp stood with Charlie.
"No," Charlie tried to pull out of his arms. Tripp held on tight and headed for Charlie's room.
"Yeah, you can tell me all about your day with Miranda," Tripp went into the bathroom and started the bath. He threw toys in the tub for Charlie before taking off Charlie's clothes and he put him in the tub. Charlie started to play with the toys and told Tripp about his day. Tripp let Charlie play in the water for a bit after he cleaned him.
Tripp took him out of the water and wrapped a towel around him. He put him in his pajamas. Tripp always like these one because there were planets all over them and his parents had gotten it for him. Tripp tucked Charlie in bed and read him a story until Charlie was asleep. Tripp watched Charlie sleep for a moment before getting up and heading out.
He entered the living area to find that T'Pol wasn't there. He headed for their room and knew that T'Pol was mediating. He didn't say anything as he went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He came out of the bathroom and made his way to bed. He climbed in on his side of the bed. He picked up the PADD that was by his bed. He was reading the latest best-seller and it was good.
"Can you tell your daughter not to be so active tonight? I would like to get some sleep," T'Pol got settled on the bed.
Tripp laughed, set his PADD down, and looked at his wife. He ran a hand over her round belly and felt a kick. He could tell that his daughter was going to be strong like her mother. "She just to let you know that she is there."
T'Pol sighed. "I know that she is there."
Tripp leaned down and kissed her. He heard her moan. He thought about the late time that they were together and T'Pol was smaller with their daughter. He had tried several times for them to be together, but T'Pol wasn't in the mood. He might have her tonight. He ran a hand down her breast, and she let out a hiss. He knew how sensitive her breasts were. He flipped them and had T'Pol on top. She leaned down and kissed him. Tripp knew what was going to happen tonight
Tripp woke and laid in bed. He didn't want to go on this mission. He glanced at the other end of the bed to see that T'Pol was already up. He wondered if she got any sleep last night. He looked up when he heard the shower going off. He looked towards the bathroom and waited until T'Pol came out of the bathroom. She had a towel wrapped around her.
"Don't look at me," T'Pol said as she started to get dressed.
Tripp sat up and watched T'Pol get dressed. "Why not? I think you are beautiful," T'Pol threw him a look over her shoulder before finishing getting dress. Tripp got out of bed and made his way over to her. He leaned his head on her shoulder. "I don't want to go on this mission. I rather be here with you," Tripp wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, but you are not going to miss anything," T'Pol pulled out of his arms and looked him up and down. He was naked. She moved around him. "Go and shower, while I wake Charlie," T'Pol made her way to the door. Tripp sighed and headed for the bathroom.
Tripp showered and dressed before heading into the living area to find that T'Pol and Charlie were both ready to head to breakfast. Charlie held out his hands for each parent to take. Tripp walked with them to the mess hall. Tripp smiled as they had breakfast together. Charlie was talking a mile a minute. Tripp didn't know what he was talking about but just made a noise occasionally.
Crewman Gomez came and took Charlie back to their quarters as Tripp and T'Pol made their way to the bridge. Once they entered the bridge and made their way to the debriefing table where the rest of the crew was.
"Now that everyone is here," Captain Archer said. He went over the plan for today and what it was going to involve. Tripp had a feeling that this mission was going to last days not hours and they might be staying down there for days. "Alright. Those who are going head to Shuttle Bay One with me," Jonathan turned to T'Pol. "You have the bridge," T'Pol nodded. Jonathan headed for the lifts with Travis and Malcom. They were meeting two other Ensigns at Shuttle Bay One.
Tripp turned to T'Pol. He would like to kiss her goodbye but T'Pol wasn't big on public display. He took a breath before saying. "Care of yourself and our children," T'Pol nodded. 'I love you,' He said in his mind. T'Pol nodded again.
"Are you coming, Commander," Jonathan yelled at him. Tripp nodded and headed for the lifts.
T'Pol waited until the lift doors closed before taking a seat in the captain's chair with a PADD. She felt the first pains not five minutes later. "Not now," T'Pol mumbled to her daughter. She counted the minutes until she felt the next one. "Your father is not going to be here."
"Are you okay, Commander," Hoshi asked.
"No, I think that my daughter is coming now," T'Pol stood and headed for the lifts. "You have the bridge, Ensign Sato," Hoshi nodded and watched as T'Pol left the bridge.
T'Pol started to breathe as she made her way to sickbay. Dr. Phlox's eyes widened as T'Pol came in. "It's time," He said. T'Pol nodded. He helped her get settled on the bed before calling Tripp.
"Everyone ready?" Captain Archer asked. The small crew nodded. "Alright let's get on the shuttle," The team started to get on the shuttle.
Tripp had one foot in the shuttle when he heard. "Commander Tucker, to sickbay," Tripp stepped out of the shuttle. He thought about why he would be called to sickbay. He had a feeling that it had nothing to do with Charlie or it would be T'Pol calling him. If something had happened to T'Pol the doctor would have called the captain, too. He had a feeling that his daughter was coming today.
Tripp smiled at the captain. "You are going to have to do this mission without me," Tripp headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Jonathan yelled after him.
"T'Pol is having our daughter," Tripp ran away.
"Do the Tucker children know about timing," Jonathan mumbled as he got in the shuttle.
"I would say no, sir," Travis smiled. Jonathan threw him a look.
Tripp ran in to sickbay to see that T'Pol was in a bio bed and ready to get this baby out of her. She threw him a look as he made it to her side. He kissed the top of her forehead. "I knew that she was coming today."
T'Pol let out a breath. "This is all your fault. You are the one who talked me into this," T'Pol let out a scream.
Tripp only smiled. "You can do this."
Phlox smiled as he checked on T'Pol. He looked up. "Everything is moving like it should. She should be here before you know it," Phlox said before he walked away.
Tripp helped her with her breathing and let her break his hand as he held on. It was an hour before it was time for T'Pol to push. Tripp threw words of encouragement to T'Pol. She only threw him a look.
"I see the head," Phlox said. "One big push. We'll have the head," Tripp looked over T'Pol's leg to see the head of his daughter. "Another push and we will have the shoulders," T'Pol let out another push. "We have the shoulders. I just need one more push and we will have the rest of her." T'Pol gave one more push. "We have a little girl," Phlox placed the baby on T'Pol's chest.
T'Pol ran a hand over the baby. She was so small. It has been a while since she held a baby this small. The nurse that was with them took the baby so the doctor could finish with T'Pol.
Tripp left T'Pol's side and followed the nurse with his daughter. He watched as she was clean and let out a cry. He knew that she had a set of lungs on her. He watched as the nurse wrapped T'Mir in a blanket and brought her back to T'Pol. The nurse handed the baby to T'Pol. The doctor was done with T'Pol and moved away to give the parents room to admire their new daughter.
"Would you like to hold her?" T'Pol asked.
Tripp nodded and T'Pol handed him T'Mir. Tripp looked down at his daughter and saw how much she looked like T'Pol but laughed when he saw her ears. T'Mir had his ears. T'Mir had opened her eyes and Tripp saw that they were green like her mothers. Tripp looked over at T'Pol. "Are you sure that she is mine?" T'Pol rolled her eyes. Tripp could tell that she tired. He placed T'Mir in cot at the end of the bed. "Get some sleep," Tripp leaned down and kissed T'Pol in the forehead. "I'll bring Charlie later to meet his sister."
T'Pol nodded and closed her eyes. Tripp watched as she slept before looking back at his daughter, who looked like she didn't want to sleep because she was here in this world. Tripp looked around and didn't see anyone around. He leaned down and picked up T'Mir again. She didn't make a sound as he held her.
"Hello, T'Mir, I'm your papa and that is your mama," Tripp show T'Mir to T'Pol. "You have an older brother, Charlie that you will meet later. Everyone you meet on this ship will love you. Most of all I will love you and so will your mama. You are beautiful like your mother, and I don't how I'm going to keep the boys away from you when you grow up."
"You will not keep the boys away from her," Tripp turned around to see that T'Pol was up.
"I thought you were sleeping," Tripp smiled.
"I was just about to when I heard you talking to your daughter," T'Pol said.
Tripp made his way back to the bed and took a seat next to the bed. "Do you see how beautiful our daughter is?" Tripp leaned over and kissed her. "She looks just like you."
"She has your ears," T'Pol said and Tripp laughed.
"Yes, do you want me to get Charlie to meet his new sister?" Tripp asked. T'Pol nodded and Tripp handed T'Mir to T'Pol. "I'll be right back," Tripp ran from sickbay.
He stopped running once he got to his quarters. He opened the door to see Charlie and Crewman Gomez sitting on the floor playing. "Papa," Charlie jumped up and ran to his father. Tripp bent down and picked him up.
"Charlie, do you want to meet your new sister?" Tripp asked. Charlie nodded. Tripp looked at Crewman Gomez. "You can take the rest of the day off. I will watch him." Crewman Gomez nodded. Tripp smiled at Charlie. "Let's go," Tripp carried Charlie to sickbay.
Tripp entered to see T'Pol was still up and holding T'Mir. "Mama," Charlie yelled and reached for T'Pol. T'Mir let out a cry because it was loud.
"Charlie, you have to be quiet," Tripp whispered in Charlie's ear. Tripp made his way closer to T'Pol. He set Charlie on the bed. "Charlie this is your new baby sister, T'Mir," T'Pol revealed T'Mir's face to Charlie. Charlie reached over and poked her in the face. T'Mir let out a cry.
T'Pol reached for Charlie's hand and pulled it away from T'Mir. "You have to be careful, Charlie." Charlie looked up at his father, who nodded.
"Why don't you give your sister a kiss?" Tripp said. Charlie leaned over and gave T'Mir a kiss on the head. Charlie crawled on one side of T'Pol and laid his head on her shoulder to look at his sister. T'Pol put an arm around him to hold him so he didn't fall off the bed. Tripp took a seat on the chair and reached for T'Pol's hand. She looked over Charlie. Tripp could see how much love she had in her eyes for their little family. "I love you," Tripp whispered. T'Pol nodded agreeing with him.
Tripp glanced at each of his children to see that they were both sleeping in their mother's arms. Tripp glanced up to see that T'Pol was closing her eyes as held on to their children. Tripp couldn't be happier right now.