Why end the bond?

[Asso]

I've always thought that Trip and T'Pol would raise any children on Vulcan and not let anyone from Earth or Starfleet find out they were indeed part human. Their human heritage would be a closely guarded secret, and I doubt Trip would encourage them to join Starfleet. I'm not saying they wouldn't join the Vulcan fleet or not be aware of their dual heritage, but I'd bet they'd be raised as Vulcans. Only allowing their human side to have a place in their private family lives.

That works, assuming they come out looking just like T'Pol. What if they don't get their mother's ears?

T'Pol's ears: DOMINANT CHARACTER (for Trip's delight. )

[JadziaKathryn]

Well, Elizabeth did have the Vulcan ears. Presumably if genetic manipulation came into play you could be sure of that.

Here's something to throw out there: what if the idea of hybrid children freaked people out, not because they're inherently bigoted, but because of the whole nasty Eugenics War/Khan/Augments history? Something like that could, at least to my mind, make a difference, because then perfectly rational people with no hatred for aliens might say, "Wait just a second... this whole genetic manipulation business blew up in humanity's face pretty spectacularly before..."

[Asso]

Interesting! Good idea. It makes perfectly sense.

[WarpGirl]

I think that Terra Prime was bigger than we actually saw and even if it did die out quickly there will always be a bigger maniac. I don't think Trip would take that risk. Besides I'm not saying he'd cut ties with Starfleet and Earth, that's silly. He'd just keep certain things private. As to Vulcan ears, well if little Miral Paris has Klingon ridges and a third lung I'm pretty sure alien DNA is usually dominant in hybrids. Even Troi's Betazoid heritage is dominant. Also if T'Pol has any chance of carrying a child to term herself, the baby's physiology would have to be close enough so her body wouldn't reject the pregnancy.

[Aikiweezie]

That works, assuming they come out looking just like T'Pol. What if they don't get their mother's ears?

Based on Spock, Lorian and Elizabeth (poor thing...) pointy ears seems to be dominant.

[WarpGirl]

I like the pointy ears they remind me of Tinker Bell but then again I'm the world's biggest Peter Pan fan.

[Aquarius]

That works, assuming they come out looking just like T'Pol. What if they don't get their mother's ears?

Based on Spock, Lorian and Elizabeth (poor thing...) pointy ears seems to be dominant.

They do seem to be dominant, but it still won't necessarily work out that way. Genetics are funny. I'm reminded of one of those talk shows where paternity tests were the topic of the day (no, it wasn't Springer). One of the fathers wanted a test because the kid looked nothing like him; he was black, and the mom was white, of Irish descent, I believe. His claim is that with mixed kids, you'd see the black features, and this kid was just as white as her Caucasian mom. Test came back positive, he was the father. The expert on the panel explained that while the assumption is that the black genes would be dominant, that's not necessarily what you're going to get.

I'm also reminded of a mother who used to bring her sons in for haircuts at a salon I used to work at. Their ages were all within about a year or so of each other. One was a blond, one had dark brown hair, and one was a genuine ginger redhead, freckles and all. They were all hers, and all three had the same father.

So I'm agreeing that the evidence we've seen so far would support the dominant factor of pointed ears, but I'm also saying that it isn't out of the realm of possibility that T'Pol could have one that looked exactly like Trip (I do seem to remember Phlox informing Trip that Elizabeth had her father's eyes and hair), especially if genes relating only to cosmetic appearance were just allowed to combine on their own and nature takes its course. I don't really see Trip or T'Pol being overly concerned about manipulations that don't relate to the health and safety of mother and baby during pregnancy or the baby's ability to be healthy and thrive after it's born. As long as everything works properly and there are ten fingers and ten toes, they'd be satisfied.

[WarpGirl]

Very true my mother had some distant cousins both white and their first baby was born black. It seemed that a recessive gene that was there generations ago popped up out of the blue. It is certainly possible for a baby to be born without the "fairy ears" but that doesn't seem to be the norm, when dealing with hybrids in ST. Personally I think the ears are adorable. Then again I love ridges too, and my grandmother thinks I'm a freak! Really she hides her face if she sees a Klingon or a Vulcan, and she can't decide which is worse, ears or ridges.

[Escriba]

Then again, the thing with the hybrids is funny...

I mean, Spock was born from a Human mother, so he should be more Human than Vulcan (blood incompatibility anyone?) While Lorian, born from a Vulcan, should be (and behave) much more like a Vulcan. And not the other way around.

[Asso]

Mhh,Aquarius, don't take my words wrong, but I think we shouldn't be so serious and so subtle in regard of this genre of things.
Simply, it's lovely to think Trip and T'Pol's sons have pointed ears. They are so pretty!

[JadziaKathryn]

I don't really see Trip or T'Pol being overly concerned about manipulations that don't relate to the health and safety of mother and baby during pregnancy or the baby's ability to be healthy and thrive after it's born. As long as everything works properly and there are ten fingers and ten toes, they'd be satisfied.

Well, yes - unless these more cosmetic features had a definite impact on the baby's life or quality thereof, i.e. fear that someone would try to kidnap or kill their child.

But I think from what we saw, T'Pol would be a wild mother bear if someone threatened her child(ren). (Very logically, of course. )

[WarpGirl]

Vulcans typically kill anyone who threatens their mates, I'm sure the reaction is even stronger with their children. Then again humans can be prodded into the same thing. In any case the prime concern for Trip would always be T'Pol's safety along with any children. Trip doesn't need to worry about Vulcans going after them, it would be illogical. Even the most disapproving Vulcan wouldn't dream of harming her or the children. Humans on the other hand are another story. If B-B had said that they concealed their bond from other humans it would have made much more sense. Instead they wrote *the_abomination*.

[Asso]

Angst, gratuitous angst... how many misdeeds are they made in your name?
I'm not joking, I'm serious. I HATE STUPID AND GRATUITOUS ANGST!

[WarpGirl]

Well when I write for KOTOR, the Character of Carth Onasi is considered the angst king. I don't mind angst, I just hate unnecessary angst. I didn't mind the Koss thing, but everything after that seemed pointless. If you're going to make your characters suffer give them a good reason.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

I love pointed ears, so I'll subscribe to the notion that they're dominant!

The pointed ears aren't just cute, but sexy as well. Almost as sexy on T'Pol as her awfully nice bum!