Unexpected Too

Chapter 6 - All In

Special thanks again to my incredible betas, Honeybee & Dinah.  There is an epilogue coming.  :)

i.

Loud, booming music seemed to come from everywhere as Trip and his companions tried to navigate the dancing sea of scaly bodies.  He was pretty sure his hair was standing completely on end with the electric charge that permeated the air.  Trip liked a good party now and then, but this was ridiculous.  When he was seventeen, he snuck off with his best friend to Mardi Gras, so he knew exactly how crazy people could get.  And as nuts as that had been, teenagers on Bourbon Street definitely had nothing on the Xyrillians when it came to celebrating.

 Sah'nelen, who yanked on his hand as they followed Trena'l and Ah'len, seemed to believe that Trip could actually walk through people.  The tingling intensified each time he crashed into a party-goer.  At first, he tried to apologize each time, but when no one seemed to hear or care, he stopped bothering with courtesy and focused, instead, on not getting lost in the madness.

 Ahead, Ah'len turned around and said something that was lost in the din.  Trip pushed his way closer and shouted, "What?  I can't hear you!"

 She pointed to a building on his right.  "This is where we will prepare for the ceremony!"

 He nodded and turned to find T'Pol and Soval, who weren't far behind.  T'Pol walked as if she were completely unaware of the chaos happening around her.  She didn't even register the Xyrillians who bumped into her.  Soval, on the other hand, was not as graceful.  Trip snickered at the older Vulcan's "I smell unpleasant fecal matter" expression.  When the pair made it to him, Trip couldn't resist getting a little payback for the meeting in the captain's ready room.

 "I'm glad you're enjoyin' yourself, Ambassador," he said as they entered the quiet building.  "Is this what it's like when Vulcans let down their hair?"

 Soval raised his brow in disapproval.  "You can be reasonably certain, Commander Tucker, that if we Vulcans ever 'let down our hair' it would not be so tame."

Trip smirked.  "I'd pay good money to see that."

"It is, perhaps, in your best interest that Vulcans would never allow such illogical behavior."  Soval fixed him with a penetrating stare.  "You would not survive the experience."

 "Still," Trip replied with a wink, "it might be worth it."

The ambassador lifted his chin and walked past Trip into the room where Ah'len and Trena'l waited.  T'Pol gave him a reproving look, and Trip shrugged.  He knew that it was probably inappropriate to talk to Soval that way, but damn, Trip was having a great couple of days.  With a huge grin, he remembered just how much T'Pol had to do with his recent happiness as he followed her through the doorway.

Inside, Ah'len directed them to take a seat on the plush chairs circling the center of the room.  Sah'nelen climbed into Trip's lap as soon as he was settled, and he instinctively put his arms around her as she snuggled into his chest.

 "Before we leave you to prepare," Ah'len said, drawing Trip's attention to her, "I would like to give you a general idea of what to expect with the ceremony as well as the parts we are inviting you to participate in."

Trip nodded for her to go on.  When she began describing the seemingly simple ritual, he found his mind wondering.  He thought about the little Xyrillian in his arms.  He couldn't help but regret that as Sah'nelen grew, his time with her would be limited; they were worlds apart.  To her, he would always be just one of the many adults who mentored her as she grew.  Holding her tightly against his chest, Trip found himself starting to think about what it would be like to be a real daddy.

He glanced at T'Pol.  She sat, paying rapt attention to Ah'len in her unfailingly Vulcan way.  He wondered what families were like on her world.  At what age did they embrace the ways of Surak and stop smiling?  Would half-human/half-Vulcan children be the same?  He smiled as the picture of a diminutive Vulcan girl popped into his mind.  He imagined her, with T'Pol's coloring and ears, giving him the lifted Vulcan brow of death at some silly thing he might have said.  Or maybe they would have little boy like Lorian, blond-haired and blue-eyed, who would have every appliance in pieces as he tried to figure out how they worked.

T'Pol turned to him with a question in her eyes, and Trip shook his head.  You're puttin' the cart before the horse, buddy.  He had to convince her that their relationship was a good bet before he could start thinking about making babies.

 "Will that be acceptable?"  Ah'len's voice interrupted his thoughts.

 Trip blinked.  "Sorry, I got a little distracted.  What was that last part again?"

"After Sah'nelen is bestowed with her new name, to honor life and birth, the parents remove their robes and dance together."

 "Wait, what?"  Trip felt his cheeks burning.  "You're saying that we all get naked in front of everybody and their brother?"  Trip closed his eyes.  He was pretty damn sure that he could hear the cosmos snickering at him again.

"Is this a problem?" Ah'len asked, sounding honestly surprised.

"It's... Well, it's just..." Trip stammered, his face burning.

 "Humans place high value on modesty," interjected Soval, and Trip threw the ambassador a grateful look.  "They have a decided lack of propriety in nearly all other aspects of their culture, but public nudity is something they find disagreeable."

Trip rolled his eyes.  Leave it to the old Vulcan to find a way make a back-handed statement about humans.  "He's right-about the public nudity thing, anyway.  We like to keep our clothes on around most folks."

"I had no idea," Ah'len replied.  "If you would be uncomfortable, you don't have to disrobe.  You are, after all, the first non-Xyrillian to father one of our young.  We would never ask you to breach your cultural standards."

Trip blew out a sigh of relief.  "Thank you, kindly."

"There is only one more important aspect of the ceremony that we need to discuss," Trena'l said.

 Trip felt worry squeeze his throat.  "What's that?"  Please God, don't let some kind of orgy be part of this thing.

"It is Sah'nelen's new name," Trena'l replied.  "The father and mother each contribute a part of the name that has special meaning.  Sah'nelen will be honored by having three to name her, a rarity for our people."

"Oh.  So I gotta come up with part of her name?"  He looked down at the girl who gave him a broad grin.  "Right now?"

 Ah'len tilted her head.  "Not at this moment, necessarily.  During the ritual the Great Mother will ask you to share your part of Sah'nelen's new name and to explain the meaning behind it.  Will this be acceptable?"

"Yeah...  I mean, yeah, I can do that."  Trip bit the inside of his cheek.  "I just wish I had a little more time to think of a name, you know?"

Trena'l nodded.  "I understand.  I should explain that each part of her name should be one syllable-no more than two.  It is the way of our people."

 "Okay.  I can probably think of somethin'."  Trip's cheeks flushed again.  He was humbled by the opportunity to give Sah'nelen something so personal and permanent.

"Knowing your preference for modesty, we will leave you to get ready."  Ah'len stood and held out silky robes of deep sapphire.

Trip took the garments, and Sah'nelen gave him a hard squeeze.  She mumbled something into his uniform that he couldn't quite make out. 

 "What was that, darlin'?"

 Sah'nelen lifted her head.  "I'm so happy that you agreed to come, Trip."

  "I wouldn't have missed it for the world, hon."  They hugged again before Sah'nelen climbed down and left with her Xyrillian parents.

 Trip turned back to his Vulcan companions and found them each with a brow raised.  He was fairly certain that they were both amused, even Soval.  Hell, Trip thought they'd  probably been doing the Vulcan version of laughing on the inside since this whole fiasco began, but he was glad they'd come along-especially after that nice talk on the beach he'd had with T'Pol.

 "Thanks for helping me out there, Ambassador," Trip said as he walked over to the pair.

 "Gratitude is unnecessary.  If I had not intervened, we might have been waiting for several hours more while you continued to stutter," Soval replied evenly.

 Trip narrowed his eyes, not sure if the Vulcan was teasing or not.  "That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think?"

 "Hardly."  Soval lifted his brow.  "This has been a fascinating experience, however.  It was a wise decision to accompany you.  I believe I will go see to our seats now."  He gave Trip a nod.  "Commander."

 "See ya, Ambassador."

 Soval turned to T'Pol.  "Shall we?"

She glanced at Trip.  "I will join you shortly, Ambassador."

 The older Vulcan stared at the couple for a moment then left without a word.

 "Pretty neat, huh?" Trip said when they were alone.

 "Indeed," replied T'Pol.  "It is, perhaps, regrettable that you will not be participating in the disrobing portion of the ritual."

Trip barked a laugh.  "Did you just make a joke?"

 "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

 He grinned.  God, how this woman could give him all kinds of warm fuzzies-when she wanted to.  Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight embrace.  "I'm glad you're here," he murmured into her hair.  "There's nobody else I'd rather share this with."

 T'Pol's arms slipped around his waist.  "I am... gratified to be here, as well."

 He kissed the top of her head and reluctantly let her go.  "Sorry 'bout that display of human affection.  Maybe one of these days you'll teach me how Vulcans do it-if they show affection in public, that is."

T'Pol's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.  "Vulcan mates do, though it is limited."

 "I figured as much."  He shrugged.  "I guess I oughta get changed.  You're more than welcome to stick around, if you want."  He gave her a mischievous grin.

 "I believe I will join Ambassador Soval," she said, canting a brow.

 "Suit yourself."  Trip started to unzip his uniform.  "You did say that you were disappointed that I wasn't gonna get naked durin' the ceremony."  He waggled his eyebrows at her.  It felt so good to be comfortable with her again.

 "I believe the captain was correct in his description of you."  The softness in her eyes belied the stern tone in her voice.

 "Oh yeah?  What'd he say about me?"  Trip thought of any number of things Jon could have told T'Pol.

 "That you are incorrigible."

 He threw his head back and let out a throaty laugh that echoed off the high ceilings.

ii.

 "Since the dawning of time, when Na'Sre'Tel'Fa'Drah'Leh, She Who Gives All Life, shaped our world and people into existence, we have celebrated all new life," the stooped, frail Great Mother intoned in a voice with surprising strength.  "Each new child that draws breath is a blessing, a new soul that will only add to the diversity of our people.  This day we come together to welcome another into the fold."  The Great Mother's bracelets tinkled as she waved, signaling Sah'nelen to stand before her.

Trip, Ah'len and Trena'l stood in the center of a great arena to the right of the Great Mother.  He was a little intimated by the number of Xyrillians in attendance and he self-consciously pulled his robe tighter.  Across from Trip, there was a dais with seating reserved for close friends of the "naming party."  He could see T'Pol and Soval watching the ceremony with their typical blank expressions.  Trip smiled.  He pictured them with white lab coats and clipboards, uttering a random "fascinating."

 "Behold!"  The Great Mother turned Sah'nelen to face the hushed crowd.  Her young features were broadcast on the large screens surrounding the arena.  "She, who once was known as Sah'nelen, shall now be given new birth into our society.  She shall become one with Xyrillia!"

 The Great Mother's words drew Trip's attention back to Sah'nelen.  He still needed to think of his part of her new name.  He thought of Lizzie's, but something held him back and he wasn't sure what it was.  Even though it had been nearly two years since he'd lost her, Trip still got tied up knots.  Maybe in time, it would get easier-but not yet.

 "Let us all now raise our eyes to Na'Sre'Tel'Fa'Drah'Leh.  Let us thank Her for this joyous occasion, for infusing our people with constant breath and joy."  The wizened Xyrillian looked up and raised her hands above her head.  "Let us ask Her for the wisdom to guide this child as she grows."

 Trip raised his hands as the others did.  As he waited for the protracted silence to end, he leaned toward Ah'len and whispered, "You guys do this with every kid?"

 "Yes, though, not usually with such a large celebration in the arena," she whispered back.

 Before Trip could ask another question, the Great Mother lowered her arms and spoke again.  "We gather together in so great a number to honor the unusual circumstances of this child's beginnings.  Na'Sre'Tel'Fa'Drah'Leh has given us a beautiful and unique gift.  This young one carries with her not only the Xyrillian spirit, but that which comes from among the stars.  If cultivated, she will give us a richness that we have not beheld among our people."  She laid her hands on Sah'nelen's head.  "All bow to this child who ushers in a new age for Xyrillia!"

As Trip obeyed, he wondered what this all meant for Sah'nelen.  Would she become some kind of leader?  He felt a little pride swell in his chest.  She would do a good job, he was certain of it.

"Now it is time for her honored Mother and Fathers to give her the new name that will follow her as she journeys through life."  The Great Mother nodded at Ah'len.  "Her First Mother shall extend her gift."

 Ah'len stepped forward and knelt before Sah'nelen.  Her voice was broadcast throughout the arena as she spoke.  "Daughter, I bequeath to you, as part of your name, Rah.  It is to honor the first Great Mother of Xyrillia, who had a great capacity for compassion.  She gave willingly to those in need and, in return, was loved by all."  She took the girl's hand in hers.  "May you be filled with love for all who cross your path."

 Sah'nelen pressed her forehead against Ah'len's.  "Thank you, Mother.  I will hold your gift close for as long as I live."

Ah'len stepped back to Trip's side and he felt his pulse begin to race.  He hadn't thought of his part of Sah'nelen's name yet, and he was afraid of messing this up for her.  His mind scrambled to come up with something meaningful.

"The Second Father will now extend his gift."

 Trip blew out a sigh of relief as Trena'l knelt before the girl.  "Daughter," the Xyrillian commander said, "I bequeath to you, as part of your name, Fe.  It is to honor the Great Mother of my foremother's time.  She bore great wisdom and guided many on their paths in life."  Taking Sah'nelen's hands in his, he continued, "May you take your experiences and learn from them, so that you may be a guiding star to others."

 Sah'nelen repeated her gratitude to Trena'l.

 "Now you will witness the dawning of a new era as the First Father, not of our kind, comes forward to bestow his otherworldly gift," the Great Mother announced.

 Trip didn't think it was possible for the arena to become any quieter.  He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he walked up to Sah'nelen.  She smiled at him as he knelt in front of her and, staring into her brilliant green eyes, he suddenly knew his part of her name.

 "Daughter," he said with a voice shaken by nerves, "I, uh, bequeath to you, as part of your name, T'Les.  It is to honor a great mother who tempered her deep passion with logic.  She helped shape her world with her sacrifices."  He gripped Sah'nelen's electric hands in his.  "May you use logic to direct your passions."  He leaned in and whispered, "May you accomplish great things, kiddo."

 Sah'nelen touched his forehead with hers.  "Thank you, First Father.  I will carry your gift with me as long as I live."  There was such tenderness and sincerity in her voice that Trip's eyes threatened with tears.  He was going to miss her.  He squeezed her hands one last time before he took his place with her other parents.

 He mustered the courage to glance at T'Pol, suddenly worried that giving Sah'nelen her mother's name would offend her.  She stared back at him with eyes slightly widened in surprise, but he sensed something else.  Approval.  He wasn't sure how, but he knew with absolute certainty she was pleased with his choice.  Everything seemed to fall away as they looked at each other, like the rest of the universe froze in time.  He abruptly became aware of sensations, warm and pleasant, that he knew weren't his.  Was this the bond?

"All raise your hands to Na'Sre'Tel'Fa'Drah'Leh as this child is given rebirth!" 

 The Great Mother's words snapped Trip back to reality and the connection ended.  He was disappointed for a moment, until he realized that there had been a connection-which meant that there could be one again.  He smiled as he raised his arms.

 "Let the annals of time record that henceforth this child, the First Daughter of the new age, shall be known as Fe'Tles'Rah!"  The Great Mother placed her hands on the girl's head again.  "Fe'Tles'Rah, you are blessed with compassion, wisdom and logic.  Cultivate your gifts so that you may take your place among the Noble Mothers."  She turned to face the multitude.  "We celebrate her rebirth!"

 Deafening cheers rose from the stands, and Trip had to cover his ears.  When tumult died down, he could hear the pounding of drums.  His heart fluttered anxiously; he knew exactly what part of the ritual they had reached.  Ah'len and Trena'l dropped their robes, and Trip tried to keep his eyes averted.  He hoped that the dancing wouldn't last long. 

 Sah'nelen ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.  Not Sah'nelen, he reminded himself.  Fe'Tles'Rah.  He kept his eyes on hers, ignoring her nudity-though it bothered him less than the adults.

 "Will you join us in dancing, Trip?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the din.  She looked up at him with such innocence and joy that Trip felt at war with himself.  He wanted to make her happy, but his human sense of modesty was making him blush furiously. 

Oh, what the hell! 

 "You bet, darlin'," he said as he undid the sash and threw off the robe.  Did it really matter, anyway?  The Xyrillians certainly didn't care, and Trip was pretty sure his two Vulcan companions weren't prone to gossiping.  Ignoring the burning in his cheeks, he grabbed Fe'Tles'Rah's hands and twirled her around, making her trill with laughter.

It was on the second turn, when Trip glanced up, that he saw a shocked Jonathon Archer accompanied by an equally stunned Malcolm Reed.

Son of a bitch!

iii.

"That was quite the ceremony, Trip." 

 Jon didn't know what he'd been expecting when he arrived late to the festivities, but it was definitely not seeing his chief engineer prancing around in his birthday suit.  Trip certainly had some kind of magnetic attraction to odd alien encounters.  Jon shook his head.  He didn't know whether to laugh or pity his friend.  Probably both.

 "Yeah, well," Trip replied, running his fingers through his hair, "I wasn't expectin' extra guests."  He shot Malcolm a look that dared him to say anything before turning back to Jon.  "I thought you said the admiral had you on a tight schedule."

"He does, which is why we're here," Jon replied.  "The ambassador's needed back at Earth for a conference.  Actually, President Samuels requested that we attend too.  We need to be on our way as soon as possible.  The Xyrillians have already transferred everyone's bags to the shuttlepod."

"A conference?  My favorite."  Trip grimaced.  "I guess we'd better get the goodbyes over with."  He motioned for the Xyrillians to join them.  "You know Ah'len and Trena'l," he introduced the two adults.  "This," he paused, draping his arm around the child, "is Fe'Tles'Rah, our daughter."

"Your daughter?" Malcolm asked.  "Didn't you say-"

 "She's definitely mine," Trip said, cutting him off.  He looked down at Fe'Tles'Rah with such deep affection written on his face that Jon didn't doubt he meant it.

 "Then let me offer my congratulations, Commander."  Malcolm clapped Trip on the shoulder.  "And my apologies for...before."

 "Who are you?"  Fe'Tles'Rah piped up in her tiny voice.

 "You're right, darlin'," Trip said, "I'm being rude.  These are my friends.  This is Malcolm, and that's the Cap'n."

 "Pleased to make your acquaintance."  Malcolm held out his hand to the little girl.

 She looked at it, then looked at Trip.  "It's how my people say 'hello,'" he explained.

 Fe'Tles'Rah held out her hand and Malcolm shook it briefly.  She turned to Jon.  "Hello, Cappen."

 Jon smiled at her attempt to imitate Trip's accent.  "Call me Jon.  I'm glad we got to meet you."

 "Me too," she replied, returning his grin.  "Will you teach me some games?"

 "Ah," Trip interjected, kneeling down to face her.  "I'm afraid we can't, darlin'.  It's time for us to go."

 Fe'Tles'Rah showed the tiniest disappointment but she didn't protest.  She wrapped her arms around Trip's neck and hugged him tightly.  "I will miss you."

 "I'll miss you too, hon.  We'll keep in touch."

 Jon watched the scene as Trip said his farewells to the Xyrillians.  In some ways he wasn't surprised that Trip had become enamored with Fe'Tles'Rah in so short a time.  His friend had always worn his heart on his sleeve.  Jon was just glad that, despite the naked dancing, the trip had turned out not to be a complete fiasco.  It was about time that Trip caught a break on an away mission.

 "I'd better get back into uniform," Trip said after the Xyrillians left.

Jon nodded.  "Make it quick.  We'll be at the docking port."

 "Captain."  T'Pol didn't move when the rest of the group did.  "If I may, I would prefer to accompany Commander Tucker."

Jon raised his brows and saw an indecipherable look cross Soval's features.  Yes, there was no doubt something was going on between Trip and T'Pol, and the ambassador knew it too. 

 Jon gave her a curt nod and began walking again as he mulled over the situation.

 Maybe after the conference he would sit the two of them down and find out, once and for all, just how serious their relationship was.  Then the three of them would figure out how to make this work-after all, Starfleet didn't have any hard and fast rules about fraternization...yet.  He wasn't about to lose his two best officers, and closest friends, because they had gotten moony-eyed.  Jon smirked.  Well, Trip was anyway.  T'Pol was ...  T'Pol was tolerating Trip on a new level.

Jon sighed.  Navigating this new territory was going to be tricky, and he was pretty sure that he had months of headaches ahead of him.

But then, Trip never did make things easy, did he?  Neither did T'Pol.

iv.

T'Pol waited patiently as Trip changed in the other room.  He had been uncharacteristically quiet as they walked to the building.  She sensed that he regretted having to leave Fe'Tles'Rah sooner than expected.  T'Pol found his quick attachment to the child, though not logical, pleasing nonetheless.

 Fe'Tles'Rah.

 T'Pol had been surprised when Trip announced her mother's name as his gift to the child.  He could have chosen to honor his sister and yet, he had paid tribute to T'Les instead.  His unexpected decision had caused both grief and pride to war beneath T'Pol's Vulcan mask.  That he had seen her mother in this positive light-despite her having forced T'Pol's marriage to Koss-showed T'Pol the depth of his ability to forgive and accept.  Could he also so fully forgive T'Pol for the wrongs she had committed against him?

 After he bequeathed his gift, the moment had been enhanced when he'd looked at her.  She had felt their bond abruptly stir to life.  The connection had been unmistakable, and she was pleased that he was aware of it as well.  It would not always be one-sided, she realized.  She only needed to discover how to cultivate it.

 "I'm all set," Trip said as he joined her.  Though he was in uniform again, his hair still stuck out at odd angles.  T'Pol refrained from reaching out and attempting to tame the errant blond locks.  "Are we alone?" he asked as he took a cursory glance at the foyer.

"I believe so."

 "Really alone?" he asked again.  There was something in his voice that summoned the familiar tingling in her middle.

 "Yes."

 He smiled.  "Good."

 T'Pol felt his intention through the bond, and she expectantly closed her eyes.  When his cool lips touched hers, it was not the tender kiss that he had given her the day before, but something deeper, hungrier.  As he pulled her body against his, she found herself wishing that they were already on board the Enterprise, and in her quarters.  After several breaths, he pulled back, and she felt his reluctance at ending the kiss.  Or was it hers reluctance?

"I needed that," he said as he gave her a gentle hug before letting go.  "We'd better get going."

She nodded and followed him to the door.  She paused as an idea occurred to her.  "Trip, wait."

He turned to her with a questioning look in his eyes, even as he grinned.  She knew it pleased him when she used his nickname, and at this moment, pleasing him pleased her.

"Hold out your right hand," she commanded.  She quelled the fluttery anticipation that surged as he obeyed her without question.  She gently bent all but his fore and middle fingers.  "This is how Vuclan bondmates show public affection," she explained.  She held up her fingers and hesitated, remembering how disagreeable the display had been previously with Koss.  Suppressing her illogical fear, she touched her fingertips to Trip's.

His eyes widened with the contact and T'Pol wondered if he felt the depth of her affection for him, just as she felt his.  She hoped he did.  She hoped that all of his trepidation regarding her commitment to him would finally dissipate.

"I could get used to this," he said with awe.

 "Indeed."

 He looked at her and smiled.  "Bondmates, huh?"

"Yes."

 "And we can do this out there?" he asked, waving his free hand toward the door.  T'Pol nodded.  "Well in that case, let's head on out."

 As they left the building, T'Pol was aware that he still had many questions for her-questions that she would willingly answer-but for now, they were late meeting the captain.  They had time yet to discover what awaited them in their new future together.

 And there was a future for them.  T'Pol was now certain of it.