T'Pol woke to find that her breasts were aching and wondered why T'Mir's cries didn't wake her. She sat up in bed to see that Tripp was next to her, sleeping. T'Pol slowly got out of the bed and headed to the room where the children were sleeping. She went to the crib and saw that it was empty. T'Pol took a breath as she went to the bed that Charlie was sleeping in and found out that he was gone too.
Where were her babies?
T'Pol walked out of the room and headed back to the room where Tripp was sleeping. She glanced down at her husband. He was lying on his stomach with an arm off the bed and a leg out of the blanket. T'Pol saw that his mouth was open, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Tripp," T'Pol said. Tripp let out a mumble and turned around. T'Pol wanted to know where her children were. "Charles Tucker," She shouted at him.
"What?" Tripp turned his head and looked at her. His eyes were red. Tripp closed his eyes again. "Damn it, T'Pol," Tripp touched his head. "I have a band playing in my head."
T'Pol crossed her arms. "It is your fault that you drink so much last night."
Tripp sat up. "Did you want me to refuse them?"
"No," T'Pol sighed. She didn't want to go into this right now when their children were gone. Tripp was ready to lay his head down again. "Tripp, we have another problem."
Tripp sighed. "What?"
"Our children are gone," T'Pol said in a quiet voice.
"What?" Tripp jumped out of bed. T'Pol saw that he was in Starfleet issue briefs. "I checked on them when I came home and they were both sleeping," Tripp ran from their room to the children's room to see that T'Pol was right. "Son of bitch," Tripp swore.
Tripp turned out of the room to see that T'Pol was barely holding it together. He gathered her in his arms and held her. "We'll get them back," Tripp kissed the top of her head. He led the way back to their room. He let her go and put his clothes on. He watched as T'Pol did the same thing with shaking hands. Tripp made his way over to her and helped her finish getting dressed. Tripp needed coffee but he knew he could battle this hangover until they were back on the ship with their children.
Tripp and T'Pol made their way into the main room. They glanced at Guds and his wives. They had thought that they were getting along very well with this culture even if it was something that they didn't care for. They made their way over to them. Tripp had to hold T'Pol back. He knew how her emotions became after she had a baby and with T'Mir only being a week old she was still raw.
"Minister Guds," Tripp started. "My wife and I were wondering where our children are?" He asked in a voice that was calm and understanding even when he was burning with anger because he didn't know where his children were.
Minister Guds snapped his fingers, and a servant came over. Minster Guds whispered in his ear and the servant nodded. The servant ran off to the side. Tripp looked up at Guds waiting for him to answer where his children were, and he needed an answer soon because he could only hold T'Pol back for so long. Tripp watched as the servant came back and headed for him with a large glass of something.
"Drink that first and then we will talk business," Guds pointed to the glass. Tripp took the glass and gave it a sniff before downing the glass. In a couple of minutes his headache was gone, and his head was clear.
Tripp handed the glass back to the servant. "Where are my children?" He asked.
Guds smiled. "You will get your children back after you pass some tests."
"Tests," Tripp hissed. He could feel T'Pol's hand on his arm. "What kind of tests do we need to do to get our children back? What happens if we don't pass your tests?"
"We think that you are not good parents and if you don't pass, we will keep your children here and you are free to leave," Guds said.
"No," T'Pol said.
"We are not leaving here without our children one way or another. Where do you get off saying that we are not good parents? We love our children and will do anything for them."
"We saw how you interacted with children and didn't think that was good for them. You held on to them too much."
"Of course, we held on to them. Charlie is only two and T'Mir is only a week old. They need us," Tripp shouted.
"You also don't have family helping you raise your children. Children can learn from different family members," Guds said in a calm voice.
Tripp didn't like it one bit. "My children have many people to learn from that is our family on the ship. My son calls them aunts and uncles. Those people on our ship are our family. From where we are our families let us live our dreams. My family is supporting us from Earth and my wife's family is doing the same thing. While our family," Tripp pointed up. "On Enterprise teaching our kids things that we don't know about. Family is what you make it, not what family you are born in." Tripp had to get it off his chest. "Now where are my children?" Tripp hissed.
"You must pass a test to get your children back," Guds said. "They are safe for now."
"What happens to our children if we fail?" T'Pol said in a quiet voice. "I know that you keep them, but what are they going to do here?"
Guds smiled. "They will be raised here and become servants to my grandchildren."
Tripp didn't like that at all. He had a feeling that in other terms it meant slavery. Tripp had to close his eyes because his children would rebel. They would use logic and guts to take over this place.
'Tripp, we have to pass this test.' T'Pol said in his head.
'We'll get our children back,' Tripp said back.
Tripp looked up at them. "What do you want us to do?"
Guds nodded to another servant. "Separate them," Two servants came up and pulled them apart. Tripp didn't like that he was away from his wife. He glances at T'Pol to see her face. "Take the mother to nursing chamber and take the father to the start of the test and wait for us," Guds stood.
Tripp watched as they took T'Pol around the corner. They pulled him to the gardens. Tripp stepped out into the hot sun. It was morning and it was already hot. The servants took him to a tent. They pointed to a pile of clothes and Tripp knew that they were telling him to change. He was glad because he didn't know if he could do it in his uniform.
The clothes were loose and a light material. He looked around for shoes and didn't find any. He took a sigh and knew that he was going to have to do this barefoot. He looked at his clothes that he laid next to the others. He had a feeling that he might never see those clothes again. He took a breath as he stepped out of the tent. He didn't see T'Pol anywhere. He looked around and saw what looked like a maze in front of him. He looked behind him to Guds with his family sitting in the stands watching him.
'T'Pol,' He called out.
'I'm here,' Tripp heard the voice of his wife.
'Do you have a maze in front of you?' Tripp asked.
'Yes,' T'Pol said.
Before Tripp could say anything Guds opened his mouth. "We are here to test these parents to see if they love their children," He shouted to the crowd.
Tripp was angry at the man because he loved his children. They were his world along with their mother. He couldn't see his life without his children. He had to win this because he didn't think that his relationship with T'Pol would survive if they lost these two. Tripp knew Charlie's favorite food. It had only been a week, but he already knew T'Mir's cries. His children were wrapped around his fingers.
"Parents to the entrance," Guds shouted. The servant that was standing next to him pushed him to the entrance of the maze. Tripp gave the man a look. He only shrugged his shoulders. "Enter," Tripp took a breath before stepping into the maze. Tripp looked back to see the servant putting a board over the entrance.
Tripp faced forward and started down the maze. If he had to do a maze to get his children, he would pass it. He wanted his children back and he would do anything to get them back and to see his wife again. Once they won this test, he would grab his family and run to the shuttle. He was going to get on that shuttle and fly away and never look back at this planet. He didn't need to prove to someone that he loved his children.
He stopped for a moment. 'T'Pol,' He cried out. He got nothing. He tried again and nothing. He wondered if they made it so he could talk to his wife. He took a breath and knew that he was on his own.
Tripp started walking again and came to a dead end. He either had to go right or left. There was a sign in front of the path. He read the sign.
What did it feel like when you were told that you were going to become a father?
Tripp smiled as he thought about the day that T'Pol told him about Charlie. He didn't think that they would ever get pregnant. They figured that they would adopt a child to be a part of their family. He was excited to be having a baby with the woman he loved.
Something happened to the right side closed off. Tripp knew to go left he made his way down the maze as he thought about T'Pol's pregnancy with Charlie. He didn't realize if he was making right or left turns until he came to another dead end. There was another sign. Tripp read this sign.
How did you feel about the birth of your first child?
Tripp let out a laugh. His son came as they were going into battle. Tripp didn't leave T'Pol side as his son was born. When the doctor placed the baby on T'Pol's chest, Tripp heart filled with some much love that he couldn't keep in. He followed the doctor to make sure that everything was okay with him. The first time that Tripp got to hold him, he knew that this person needed him, and Tripp would do everything for his son. He was a happy man with his wife and son.
The left side closed off and he started to make his way to the right. He continued in the maze as he thought about the first year with Charlie, trying to work and be a good husband and father to T'Pol and Charlie. He remembers Charlie's first birthday and how they spent the day as a family in a new world. It was a memory that he would never forget.
Before Tripp knew it, he was at another crossroads with a sign.
How did you feel about becoming a father again?
Tripp smiled because they had been trying for months to get pregnant and it was a trip to another planet where they got pregnant with T'Mir. T'Pol was mad at Tripp for taking Charlie camping on a different planet. She had told him a month later and he was complaining about them having another baby. T'Pol just told him it was a little late for that. Tripp was happy about becoming a father again. He really wanted to grow their family.
This time the path went right. Tripp thought about T'Pol pregnancy with T'Mir. He had almost lost T'Pol during this pregnancy and he didn't like it. He didn't like someone taking his wife and son. He had promised them that he would never leave them, but he did. He had to find a way to win T'Pol back and he did that. He had to remember that he was a father and spend time with Charlie even if T'Pol never wanted him back. She did and he couldn't be happier that he had his family again.
Tripp came to another crossroad. He hoped that this maze was almost over because he really wanted to get out of here with his family. He read the sign.
How did you feel about being a father for the second time?
Tripp didn't have to think hard about this too hard because T'Pol gave birth to T'Mir just a week ago. He smiled because he was to go on a mission to the planet and T'Mir decided to come. Tripp didn't want to go on the mission anyways but watching T'Mir being born was everything he wanted. When she came out, he saw that she looked just like her mother, and he couldn't be happier. He was even happier when Charlie got to meet his new sister.
The path went left, and Trip thought about the last week and how hard it was taking care of two children not one. He didn't even want to think about how much sleep he didn't have, but it was worth it. He loved that his family was growing.
He came to the end of the path, and he could see Charlie and T'Mir on the other side. Charlie was playing on the ground and T'Mir was in a basinet. He was ready to make his way through when he was stopped by one more sign.
Are you done?
Tripp had to take a moment to what the question meant. Did mean that they were done having babies or did mean that they were done parenting. It was a no on both accounts. He knew that T'Pol was okay with more children when the time was right. And you never stop being a parent even when your children are grown and living their own lives.
The maze opened and Tripp was allowed to see his children. He ran in and a moment later T'Pol came in from another side. She reached for T'Mir while Tripp picked up Charlie. He looked over his son to see if he was alright. Tripp saw that T'Pol was doing the same with T'Mir.
"Papa," Charlie looked at him. "Are you okay?" Tripp knew why he was asking because there were tears falling down his face.
"Yes, Four," Tripp reached over and pulled T'Pol close to him. "Never again," He whispered in her ear. T'Pol nodded. "Let's get out of here."
They made their way out of the maze and out of the estate back to the shuttle. They were surprised that no one stopped them. They must have passed the test and they were allowed to leave with their children. Tripp watched as T'Pol sat with Charlie, she didn't want anything to happen to them. Tripp started the shuttle and flew off the planet. He would be glad to see that planet in rearview.
They made their way to the ship. They entered the ship to find that it was cool. Tripp was surprised that they didn't see anyone waiting for them when they came back. They made their way in the ship to their quarters. Tripp opened the doors and found the place clean. He traded a look with T'Pol. Tripp sent Charlie down, who ran for his room. Tripp found a note on the coffee table.
'Thank you for going. We thought that we should help you out.'
The note was signed by the captain. Tripp smiled and handed the note to T'Pol. They both fell back on the couch as Charlie came back into the room with his toys.