Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: 8 Jan 2004 11:42:39 -0800  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: shouldknowbettertt@yahoo.co.uk (shouldknowbetter) 
 

Title:  The Rainbow's Foot (2/5) (31/34 for series)
Series: Begins with "A Logical Proposal"  "The Rainbow's Foot" is
tenth in the series

Author: ShouldKnowBetter
Email:  shouldknowbettertt@yahoo.uk.com
Rating:      PG-13
Codes: Tu/T, A/S Enterprise characters, drama, angst
Summary: Ten years after leaving Enterprise, T'Pol attends a

THE RAINBOW'S FOOT

Part Two


The Tucker residence was in a suburb of San Francisco, one of a large
number of similar houses although T'Pol noted that they were all
decorated in differing styles.  The outside of the one by which they
stopped was neater than she would have expected, particularly now that
she had seen the mess that human children could create.  They dived
through the front door while Tucker collected bags and she summoned
her courage.  "Goodbye, Commander Tucker."

He swung around.  "Where d'you think you're going?"

"I memorised the route here.  From my knowledge of the layout of this
city, I can easily find my way to the consulate."

"It's over 10km!  Be sensible, T'Pol.  Come inside, have a bite to eat
and I'll call you a cab."

"I am not in need of nourishment."

"Dad!  I wanna bath!"

"OK, I'm coming!"  He turned back, only slightly harassed.  "Come in
anyway.  I'll get you sorted after the kids are in bed."

He headed into the house and T'Pol followed reluctantly, but she did
not relish the thought of a long walk with a tired child when most
humans were still unused to her species.  Violence was unlikely but
curiosity could be unpleasant.  Tucker already had his foot on the
first step of a wooden staircase leading upwards but he paused to
point out a door to T'Pol's left.  "Guest suite's through there if you
wanna clean up.  I'll be a while," and he disappeared up the stairs.

Looking wearily down at her daughter's dirty face and sand-caked hair,
T'Pol concluded that Tucker's suggestion had merit.  T'Pril was likely
to be asleep before they reached their room at the consulate and
bathing a sleepy child was almost impossible.  There was a clean set
of clothes in her bag and the child could sleep in her catsuit if
necessary.  The room she entered was pleasantly uncluttered although a
human might have considered it too bare.  T'Pol deposited T'Pril on
the solitary mat and let the bag slip from her shoulder, looking
around for another door to the bathroom she hoped to find and stopped
as an object on the bedside table caught her attention.  It was a
meditation candle; at least, it was a candle.  Irresistibly drawn, she
skirted the double bed and saw that her first identification had been
correct.  There was a cushion on the floor in front of the low table,
showing the clear imprint of use, and there was no dust on the melted
surface of the wax.  So Charles had continued to meditate even when
she was no longer there to insist.  The knowledge pleased her, even
though there were unaccountably tears in her eyes.

"Mother?"  Momentarily forgotten, T'Pril complained about the fact and
T'Pol turned back to her daughter.



T'Pol waited until she heard feet on the stairs before leaving the
bedroom, using the interval to take T'Pril through some of the
exercises that would eventually allow her to have effective control of
her bodily functions.  It was not easy when the child was tired but
that morning they had concentrated on emotional control and it was
important to balance both needs.  Locating the humans was easy given
the noise they were making.  T'Pol passed through a room containing
well cushioned furniture and a computer terminal linked to a large
screen and came into a food preparation area with a table and chairs
to one side where the Tucker children were seated, looking freshly
scrubbed and dressed in pyjamas, busily constructing … something. 
Tucker placed glasses of milk in front of them and caught T'Pol's
perplexed stare.  "Chef never ran to peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches, did he?"

"I … believe not.  They are mixing … savoury and sweet?"

"Yeah."  Tucker sounded dubious himself.  "I'll eat most things but
not that."

"Aw, dad," Charlie said through a mouthful, "it's an American icon."

"You can't believe everything Uncle Jon tells you and don't eat with
your mouth full."



T'Pril was undoubtedly disappointed when the other children
disappeared upstairs to bed with their father but she made no
objection to sitting with her mother on one of the small, comfortable
sofas in the living room and was asleep in seconds.  T'Pol tucked a
handy blanket around her and stood looking down at the child for
several moments.  At least her daughter had thoroughly enjoyed her
undisciplined day amongst humans, even if it had been unmitigated
torture for her mother.  Restlessly, T'Pol began to prowl around the
room.  She had to leave.  She would leave as soon as Tucker returned,
before she lost control and did something unforgivable.

Fighting down her desire, T'Pol halted in front of a side table
covered in a scatter of photographs.  Tucker had always had an
annoying habit of making an informal record of trivia, she recalled,
and focussed fiercely on the images.  They were mostly of the children
but one caught her eye and she picked it up to study it more closely. 
The children were there again, but it was the adults who had attracted
her attention.  Most of Enterprise's senior staff stood in a loose
group, relaxed, out of uniform, laughing at the man behind the camera.
 All were visibly older but most had aged as gracefully as Tucker. 
Sato was pregnant and noting Archer's hand resting on her shoulder,
T'Pol felt momentary but genuine curiosity.  Had her old captain
finally been persuaded to think of something other than his beloved
Federation?  She regretted suddenly that she had let the
correspondence between them lapse, but after learning of Tucker's
marriage she had not wanted to hear anymore so she had stopped writing
and so eventually had Archer.  Perhaps she would contact him again; he
was too polite to reject her and his friendship would provide an
interest beyond her work.

Behind her there was the sound of quick feet on the wooden stairs and
she replaced the photograph carefully, knowing that Tucker had come to
stand behind her.  "You've never come to one of Enterprise's
reunions."

"The opportunity has never arisen."

"The next one's only a few weeks away.  You could stay around for it."

"That will not be possible.  I must ensure that T'Pril returns to a
more disciplined routine as soon as feasible."

"Why?  She's happy enough."

"She must start to learn to control her emotions or her more violent
tendencies will emerge.  We are not a pleasant people when
unrestrained, Commander Tucker, as you know."  He did not reply and
T'Pol stared blindly at the group photograph again, searching for
something to say.  "Ensign Sato is with child."

"Lt Commander Sato, retired," he corrected.  "Baby was born end of
last year.  They called him Henry.  You didn't know about Hoshi and
Jon?"

"No."

"I thought you kept in touch."

"No."  She swallowed.  "I must return to the consulate.  Is there
public transportation available?"

"I can call you a cab.  T'Pol?"  Reluctantly she turned and found him
only centimetres away, so close that she could see the scattering of
grey in his hair and the lines on his face that made no difference at
all to the man he was.  "Stay a while.  We didn't really get much
chance to talk earlier."

"I must ensure that T'Pril gets to bed."

He glanced over at the sleeping girl.  "She's OK where she is.  They
sleep anywhere at that age."  He jerked his head and moved over to a
sofa, slumping down with his customary lack of grace.  "Come here."

If she refused, he would only ask why and she had no acceptable
answer.  She perched on the edge of a cushion, facing forwards,
repressing the urge to curl up next to him, head on his shoulder, as
she used to do when they were alone.

"What's wrong, T'Pol?"  

That was not what she had been expecting, not that all too knowing
question that had always thrown her into confusion.  Startled, she
glanced at him and then away when she saw the familiar look of concern
on his face.  "There is nothing amiss that I know of."

"Like hell there isn't!  You've been miserable as sin all day."  There
was a pause that she did not try to fill.  "You don't hide your
emotions too well anymore, d'you know that?"  She did as it happened;
her mother was forever criticising her for it.  "Why'd you come to see
me, T'Pol?"

 "Why should I not?  We were friends and the opportunity offered
itself."

"Crap.  Tell me the truth."

"I … wished to see you."  She rose to her feet.  "It was a mistake."

"Why was it a mistake?"  He had risen with her, catching her arm; he
never had let her get away with prevarication and the feel of his hand
even through the sleeve of her robe was making her shake with desire.

"I thought that you would have changed."  She still could not look at
him but felt the hand tighten.

"But I haven't?"

"No."  She had lost the war, as she had lost every battle over the
last ten years, and perhaps she had known that she would lose before
she ever saw him again.  T'Pol lifted her head, eyes wide with
distress, met blue ones intent on hers and gave in as her hands rose
to pull Tucker's head down, pressing her mouth desperately to his. 
Then finally, finally, his arms were tight around her again, keeping
her alive and sane and she was clutching frantically at him, tugging
feverishly at his clothes, hardly aware of the sofa under her, only of
his body above.  He entered her hard, hurting even though she had been
wanting him all day, and she gasped into his mouth, welcoming the
invasion, moving with him before her starving body shuddered into
orgasm.  Tucker grunted, probably in protest at her haste, and came
himself, unable to resist the clenching of muscles around him.  It had
taken barely thirty seconds from the moment she had kissed him and
they were still mostly fully clothed.

They remained still for a moment then Tucker raised his head from
where it had been pressed into a cushion.  "Damn it.  I didn't mean
this to happen."

He might as well have stabbed her.  Indeed, T'Pol thought it might
have been kinder if he had, then she would have been spared the
knowledge that the longing was entirely one sided.  It was too much,
destroying any last pretence of control, and she sobbed, feeling tears
streaming down her face.

"Hell, don't do that."  Tucker lifted himself away, moving to one side
to cradle her close.  "You know I hate it when you cry."  But she
couldn't stop and again hardly noticed when he gathered her into his
arms and carried her into the downstairs bedroom, kicking the door
shut before lowering them both to the bed, kissing her face, hands
stroking gently.  "Ssh.  Don't cry, T'Pol.  It's OK."

It was not and probably never would be, but he was there with her and
there would never be another chance.  "Take me.  Please, take me."

"Oh, I'm gonna do that."  His voice was kind.  "But not until you stop
crying, honey."

She couldn't, however, not when he called her ‘honey' and promised to
make love to her again, so all she could do was pull him to her
fiercely, ravenous for him.

"Take it easy," Tucker panted when he was finally allowed to breathe
again.  "Slow down, T'Pol, we've got all night and I'm not as young as
I was."

But she only whispered desperately, "I cannot," and began to pull at
his clothing again.

"No, you don't."  He knelt over her, pinning her down as he unfastened
the robe she wore, pushing it aside to caress her body.  T'Pol sobbed
and arched up into his hand and if she had been in a fit state to
notice, would have seen the sadness in Tucker's eyes.  "Hell, honey,
just how long has it been for you?"  She couldn't or wouldn't answer
and he shook his head.  "It's OK, T'Pol, I'll give you what you want,"
and he began to touch her as she had dreamed of being touched for so
very long.



They didn't talk much because T'Pol was still too distressed to be
rational.  She just wanted to be loved and after a few attempts at
conversation, Tucker gave up and simply indulged her.  It was nearly
morning, when T'Pol was laying limply half on top of him, if not sated
then at least too exhausted for more, before he tried again.  "I guess
that husband of yours sticks to the seven year rule."

"Yes."  

She sounded emotionless but Tucker thought that she was just played
out, not truly composed.  "So … just twice?"

"Once."

He winced in the grey light.  During their time together, T'Pol had
never once objected to his frequent demands for sex.  In fact it had
been she, as often as not, who had instigated intercourse and he had
never ever doubted the pleasure she derived from it.  "What went
wrong, honey?"  She made no response.  "Did he hurt you?"

"No."

"Then what happened?  Why are you here?"

T'Pol turned her head to press her face more deeply into the hollow
between his neck and shoulder, knowing that she could not answer the
first question.  Tucker had only made love to her because she had
quite literally thrown herself at him and he had never been a man to
turn down uncomplicated sex.  If she told him that her marriage had
been dissolved because she had cried out for him when her husband had
mated with her it would make everything far too complicated.  "I
wanted you."  She felt him sigh.

"Yeah, I noticed that."  He moved his head to rest against hers, a
hand clasping the arm thrown across his chest, the other smoothing the
long slender back.  "Get some sleep, T'Pol.  It's nearly morning." 
She remained very still for a moment then abruptly snuggled even
closer and he felt hot liquid drip onto his skin.  "Ssh."  He rubbed
her back some more.  "Go to sleep, honey.  It'll be OK."

She did fall asleep after a few minutes more petting, exhausted from
the sex and from the stress of seeing Tucker again, but the engineer
didn't take his own advice and lay awake for a time, wondering if they
had committed adultery.  The T'Pol he had known ten years before would
never have done so, bound by a moral code perhaps even stricter than
his own, but he didn't know the woman sleeping beside him.  He was
afraid that it was just long repressed lust that had driven her to
seek him out, the only man she had known for sure who could give her
pleasure.  She had certainly been in severe need of release.  She had
always been passionate and he had seen her out of control once or
twice, but it had never been like this.  It had been a wild night and
he didn't exactly regret it but he hadn't meant it to happen.  He had
had enough of being hurt for one lifetime but when hot, urgent lips
had pressed to his and with the taste for her in his mouth, familiar
despite the passage of time, he had reacted with base instinct and
once she had started crying he had been lost.  Things had to be very,
very bad for T'Pol to cry and he had never seen her sobbing as she had
that night.

Beside him, she whimpered softly, trying to shift closer although that
was all but impossible, and he sighed, stroking her again until she
settled.  What the hell was he going to do?



More deeply asleep than she had been in years, T'Pol only awoke
because her living pillow shifted abruptly.  For a moment it was like
too many bad dreams, then she realised that there was cool skin under
her searching hand and the smell of one particular human surrounding
her and would have pulled herself close again if a hand hadn't
squeezed her shoulder.

"Sorry, honey, we got company."

T'Pol blinked in confusion and lifted her head to see two pairs of
blue eyes and one brown pair watching them curiously from the doorway
– and realised with a stab of guilt that she had not thought about
T'Pril since the moment Tucker's arms closed around her.

"Daddy," Katie said reprovingly, "we're gonna be late for school. 
It's after 0730."

"Then get out so I can get up.  Get yourself some juice," Tucker added
in a raised voice as the door closed, T'Pril apparently content to
stay with the other children.

He was out of the bed without a moment's delay, reaching for his
discarded trousers, not bothering with underpants, and T'Pol sat up
slowly.  She wanted a good morning kiss, a quick hug if he did not
have time for a cuddle, but perhaps they did not come with casual sex.

Tucker was gathering the rest of his scattered clothing into a bundle,
fishing a shoe out from under a chair.  "I'll use the bathroom
upstairs, leave this one for you."  His hand was already on the
doorknob.  "See you in a minute."

T'Pol closed her eyes, willing away tears.  She had shed far too many
the previous night and just because Charles had spent the night making
love to her – and she freely admitted that he had been extremely
generous – did not mean that he had any feelings for her.  It was up
to her now to act with the composure that should be habitual and leave
as quickly as possible; and if she never saw him again, then she had
had one more day and night of his company.  Ignoring the tears that
wanted to fall, she headed for the shower, wincing.  She was sore but
if Charles had given her the opportunity, she would not have hesitated
to encourage him to take her again and perhaps that was another reason
why he had left so precipitously.



When T'Pol entered the kitchen area, aware that her robe was crumpled
and unpleasantly stained from their first frantic coupling, it was to
find her daughter placidly eating a banana while the human children
busily shovelled cereal into their mouths.

"Hey."  Strong hands gripped her shoulders but only to move her to one
side as Tucker followed on her heels, grabbing randomly for a glass
and a container of juice.  "Nice one, Katie," he added approvingly as
he dropped a quick kiss on the girl's head.  "We'll have you cooking
dinner soon."

"No, dad," she said with typical feminine resignation even at eight
years old, "that's your job."

"Worth a go.  You OK to get lunch at school today?"

"I guess we'll have to be.  Are you gonna be OK without coffee,
daddy?"

"I guess I'll have to be too.  Where'd you get that worry gene from,
Katie Scarlet?"

"Not from you, dad!"

Father and daughter exchanged fond grins while T'Pril finished her
banana and finally deigned to allow T'Pol to pick her up.  "I must
return to the consulate."

Tucker grimaced.  "D'you mind getting a cab?  I really …"

"Of course."  T'Pril wriggled and T'Pol relaxed her grip.  It just
hurt so much to leave him again.

"You ready, kids?"  They nodded and slipped from their chairs and
Tucker dropped to a crouch between them, a hand on a shoulder of each.
 "One favour, Katie, Charlie."  They looked expectantly back.  "You
won't mention that you found me and T'Pol together this morning, will
you?"  Both solemnly shook their heads and he grinned companionably
back, standing up but leaving his hands where they were, looking
across at T'Pol.  "We don't wanna upset too many people, do we?"

She shook her head, hoping that her expression was under control.  She
did not want him to know how much she was hurting, but that last had
been almost too much to bear.  It no longer seemed terribly important
if people knew that she had a human lover, although it wasn't that
that had hurt.  Tucker's children had not been surprised to find their
father in bed with someone and that request for silence had looked
like a well-rehearsed routine.  Women had always chased him and it was
very unlikely that she was the only one to notice that he was still
charming and attractive.

Tucker was edging the children towards the door and T'Pol followed
blindly, hardly noticing when he held out her bag.  "Don't forget
this."  She fumbled it over her shoulder, realising that she was
shaking.  "Come back here tonight."  There was nothing wrong with her
hearing but she wondered if the stress was making her misinterpret the
words.  "Stay a few days."  She knew he was watching her although she
couldn't look higher than the top of his zipper.  "I bet this place is
more comfortable than a room at the Vulcan consulate … and it's got me
in it."

T'Pol did look up then to find Tucker studying her.  Was it really a
hard choice?  To have a little more time with the only man she would
ever love or to sit in her room for the next week mourning for him? 
The grieving could wait.  "Yes."

"Dad!  We're late!"

"OK, OK."  He cupped T'Pol's cheek and pressed a brief kiss to her
forehead.  "We'll be here from about 1630.  Come when you want."  Then
he grinned suddenly.  "But not after 1830 or I'll come looking for
you.  That's dinner timer."  He vaulted into the ground car.  "See you
later."

T'Pol watched the vehicle move swiftly and silently away and pressed
her face into T'Pril's soft hair.  She was a weak-willed fool who
deserved the contempt of her family and colleagues.  A hundred other
women had probably shared that bed with Tucker, but for a few days it
was going to be her and that was all she currently cared about.



Second thoughts started to hit Tucker once he had dropped the children
off at school and was on his way to Starfleet headquarters.  At 0510,
it had seemed like a good plan - or at least the only plan he could
come up with.  At 0810, tired, achy and coffee-less, he wasn't so sure
but he'd had to try something.  He'd have regretted it if he hadn't
and regret was no easier to live with than hurt; harder, in fact. 
Hurt went away eventually.  Regret tended to linger years after you
thought you'd got over it.  It snuck up to get you on nights when you
couldn't sleep and had nothing much else to think about but past
choices.  He parked the car and slammed the door to relieve some
tension then headed for the mess and the largest mug of coffee he
could find and maybe a few danishes.  He needed the sugar rush and he
had a feeling he'd be working the calories off later.



T'Pol requested that the cab drop her off several blocks from Tucker's
house, just as she had waited until she was some distance away that
morning before looking for one.  She wasn't sure whom she was trying
to deceive except possibly herself.  Her announcement that she would
be staying with a friend for a few days had caused a few raised
eyebrows at the consulate but times had changed since she had last
been on Earth and there were a few Vulcans who chose to live outside
the compound.  She had not said that it was one of them with whom she
would be staying but she had not denied it either.

It certainly wasn't the short walk in the low gravity that made her
heart rate increase by the time she reached the front door of the
accommodation unit.  If he had changed his mind …

It was Charlie who opened the door, his greeting about as
uninformative as possible.  "Hey."

"I … Is your father at home?"

"Uh huh."

"May I speak with him?"

The boy didn't have to answer as Tucker appeared.  "Who is it,
Charlie?"  Then he caught sight of T'Pol standing well back from the
door and gave the boy a mock shake by the back of the neck.  "What did
I tell you about giving me a shout?"  He got a shrug and Charlie
retreated into the house and T'Pol did likewise back down the path.

"I will leave."

"Like hell you will!"  Tucker raced after her, stopping her with an
arm around her waist as he relieved her of her bag with the other
hand.

"If your son does not wish me to be here …"

"I want you to be here."  He had dropped the bag to put both arms
around her, pressing her close.  "Charlie's just had a bad day at
school and he's cranky.  He'll be OK after dinner."  She looked up
doubtfully and he captured her mouth in a gentle kiss that contained
reassurance and welcome and she couldn't leave then.

"Dad!  The pasta's boiling over!"

"Shit!"  Tucker dropped her as if she had been a live plasma conduit
and sprinted into the house.  T'Pol followed, for the first time in
years aware of amusement.  It seemed that Tucker ran his family in
much the same manner he had run his engineering department on
Enterprise, in a controlled panic that stopped short of crisis and
which ultimately had the desired effect.

She left the bag in the hall and carried T'Pril through to the kitchen
where Tucker was wiping the cooking surface while the two children
looked on from the table.  He glanced up with a rueful grin.  "Have
you learnt to cook yet?"

"No."

"So what do you do at home?"

"My mother supplies suitable meals."

"I wish my mom did!"

"We've got some of grandma's ice cream in the freezer," Charlie
suggested hopefully.

His father grinned at him.  "You reckon?  Well, maybe tonight, if
you've had a rough day.  Gonna tell me what happened yet?"

The boy shook his head and his sister stared reprovingly at him.  "You
should tell daddy.  Maybe he can help."

"Don't wanna."

T'Pril began to wriggle and T'Pol set her down cautiously, wary of hot
objects within reach, but the girl simply climbed onto a spare chair
at the table and reached for one of the data recorders, although Katie
snatched it back.  "No, T'Pril, that's my homework."

The younger girl pouted and T'Pol picked her up again, releasing a
wail of protest.  "Put her down," Tucker said firmly.  "She's not
doing any harm.  Katie, go get T'Pril some of your old picture books."

"I brought her own education package.  I will fetch …"

"Let her go."  He lifted the girl out of T'Pol's arms before she could
object, setting the child down.  "Do you know where your mother left
her bag, T'Pril?"  His Vulcan was … odd … but the girl understood him
and nodded.  "Then fetch something to amuse yourself with."  She
trotted off and Tucker stood up, eyes faintly accusing.  "You spoil
her."

"She is a baby."

"No, she's not.  She must be at least three."

"Four years, two months."  T'Pol glared at him.  "We age more slowly
than humans."

T'Pril scampered back, a large box of electronics held in both hands
that she thrust at Tucker with a distinct air of triumph.  He grinned.
 "Clever girl.  Can you operate it?"

"Yes."

The girl scrambled up to the table again and began to activate the
learning device while Tucker slid an arm around T'Pol, squeezing
gently.  "Relax, honey."  His voice was pitched for her ears only. 
"It doesn't matter what happens here.  No one's gonna judge you."  She
swallowed and leant her head on his shoulder, feeling his mouth brush
her temple.  Not to be judged …  He released her abruptly, giving her
a shove towards the table.  "Sit.  If I don't get dinner ready soon,
Charlie's gonna give me a hard time."
T'Pol perched on the edge of a chair, resisting the urge to help
T'Pril with the number game she playing but Katie was performing that
task and Tucker would undoubtedly interfere if she tried.  Charlie was
staring at her with disapproval again and she gave him an enquiring
look; she was used to Tucker men disapproving of her.

"What do you do?"

"I am a scientist.  My current research is in the area of micro
singularities."

"Miniature black holes?"

"Indeed.  I am impressed by your knowledge."

"Dad told me.  He said you're real clever."

"So is your father."

"Nah.  He can't do maths."

Confused, T'Pol glanced up at Tucker who winked at her over the boy's
head.  A pity that she had no idea what he was trying to convey to
her.  "You have reason to believe this, Charlie?"

"Yeah.  He won't do my homework."

"I see," as perhaps she did.

"Science is sort of like maths, right?"

"Mathematics is the keystone of many disciplines."

"Was that a ‘yes'?"

There was that stirring of internal laughter again.  "Yes."

"Would you like to do my homework?"

"I will look at it with you, if you wish."

"OK."  He grabbed one of the recorders, selected a page and thrust it
at her.  "I don't get it."

"It is basic geometry.  What do you ‘not get'?"

"All of it."

She regarded the simple questions thoughtfully.  "Has your father
taught you to play pool?"

"Sure.  We got a table in the basement."

"Good.  Perhaps you would care to show me."

"What about my homework?"

"We will take it with us."

"Dad?"

"Go ahead," and the smile Tucker directed at T'Pol was wide and
approving and she very nearly smiled back.  Instead she brushed his
mouth with her fingers as she followed his son from the room.




T'Pol eat too much but the pasta salad was … tasty … and when she
thought about it, she had not actually eaten since before her arrival
on Earth.  Eating also meant that she did not have to talk, although
as she had noted before Tucker's children talked even more than he did
so perhaps the risk of being required to contribute to the
conversation was small.  T'Pril ate the human food without protest and
did not complain more than four times that she did not understand what
was being said.  She was certainly happy enough to reply when one of
the humans addressed her in Vulcan and speaking during meals was
another bad habit that T'Pol would have to break her of when they
returned home.

They retired to the living room after tidying up the kitchen, Tucker
dropping onto the larger sofa with a yawn, holding out an arm for
T'Pol to join him which she did without hesitation, curling up at his
side while T'Pril crawled up to join them.  Absently, more interested
in the feel of Tucker's body against hers, T'Pol wondered at the
child's lack of surprise that her mother was allowing an apparent
stranger to touch her.  Perhaps it did not seem strange because T'Pril
was so used to receiving caresses from her mother and grandfather; it
was very wrong of them and would soon have to cease.

Much happier now that he had understood his homework and eaten a huge
portion of peach ice cream, Charlie attacked the entertainment unit
while Katie perched on the arm of the sofa, faint jealousy evident as
she watched the two Vulcans cuddled up with her father until Tucker
tickled her and pulled her close in a loving hug.

"Dad," Charlie was busy with a menu system, "can we watch the soccer?"

"No!"  That was Katie.  "Isn't there any water polo?"

"That's a girl's game!"

"Is not!  Uncle Jon likes it."

"Uncle Jon's a sissy."

Tucker laughed himself into hiccups and T'Pol regarded the boy with
barely contained amusement.  "I believe Ambassador Archer would be
interested in your opinion, Charlie," which only made the man laugh
harder.  T'Pril looked round at the hysterical humans with interest
and then shocked T'Pol by producing another smile.  She should take
her daughter away at once – and she wasn't going to.

Further debate resulted in a decision to play a game for an hour,
although that restriction led to a further argument over bedtime but
Tucker was unmoved on that topic; and watching the children's
acceptance, T'Pol realised that his easy going nature was as deceptive
as it had ever been.  When necessary he asserted his authority and
that was it, without argument.

The game perplexed her entirely, however.  "What is the educational
purpose?"

"Dunno," Charlie informed her cheerfully and skilfully dealt out the
property cards.

"But …"  The memory of similarly pointless arguments surfaced and she
decided not to bother.  The ultimate purpose was undoubtedly to ‘have
fun'.  "The dealing of cards is not described in the rules."

"Short cut."  Tucker was stretched out on the floor on one side of the
board.  "For when we haven't got time to play properly.

"Yeah, ‘cos some people are so hung up about bedtime."

"Yeah, ‘cos some people work, Charlie Tucker.  Just you remember
that."

"Aw, dad, I went to school.  That's, like, ten times worse than
designing some stupid engine.  And I did homework."

T'Pril extracted the cards from T'Pol's hand and began to lay them
out, matching colours, and Tucker chuckled.  "Obviously a natural. 
Make the money into piles too, T'Pril."

T'Pol lost, mainly, she was sure, because the Tuckers cheated, but her
early exit from the game gave her the opportunity to whisk T'Pril away
to be made ready for bed as soon as the child started to droop.  And
that presented her with another problem – she did not know where she
and T'Pril were to sleep.  The bedroom she had shared with Tucker the
previous night was a guest room, not his own.  The logical conclusion
was that both she and T'Pril should sleep there, leaving Tucker to
return to his own bed upstairs but that was not what she wanted at
all.  Surely he would not have asked her to stay if he had not
intended them to remain intimate?  Hoping it would not look as if she
were assuming too much, she carried the drowsy T'Pril back into the
main room to find the other children gone and Tucker tidying up the
game.  He put the last few cards away and came over to give her a
quick kiss.  "Better put that sleepy baby to bed."

"Yes."  T'Pol took her courage in both hands.  "At once," and she
turned back the way she had come.

"Hey," her arm was caught in a firm grip, "wrong way.  There's a spare
bed in Katie's room for sleepovers.  You think T'Pril'll be OK there?"

"Yes."

"So do I," and he smiled at her in the way that had always shattered
her composure no matter how long she had meditated beforehand.



By the time T'Pol had ensured that T'Pril was safely asleep, Tucker
had already abandoned his two with a strict promise of half an hour's
reading maximum and returned downstairs.  He was spread out on the
couch when she joined him, smiling as she knelt at his side.  "I'm
tired.  What d'you say we meditate for a bit then get an early night?"

"Yes."

His smile faded even as he stretched out a hand to stroke her cheek. 
"You never used to agree with me."
"Perhaps you have gained in wisdom."

"I don't think so.  Was it that bad, T'Pol?"

She leant forward to kiss his mouth.  "We should meditate."



They really did get an early night so T'Pol awoke around 0400 even
though she had slept for longer than normal.  On Enterprise, their
custom had been to go to sleep together on the understanding that she
would always wake first and would get up to read or meditate or
sometimes, if the situation demanded, to go on duty.  But if she
remained then as soon as Tucker showed signs of stirring she would
come back to bed for a cuddle and, if time and energy permitted, sex. 
This time she stayed in bed for a long time watching Tucker sleep.  It
was a very pleasant exercise but eventually it became impossible to
concentrate on that alone and she was forced to seek distraction,
which was not hard to find.  The conference started later that day and
she could review her notes to ensure that she had omitted nothing.

It was a couple of hours later when Tucker groaned and rolled over and
T'Pol hurried to insert herself within easy reach.  "Charles?"

"Morning."  Cool hands encouraged her to press delightfully close and
she took advantage to kiss him.  It was so nice to share a bed with
someone; her husband had been a fool to reject her suggestion.  "You
sleep OK?"

"Yes."

"Me too."  This time he kissed her back and she could feel his
erection pressing into her belly – and never mind that it was a
physiological reaction and not a sign of affection.  "What have you
been doing?"

"Reviewing my notes for the conference."

"Are you all ready for that?"

"Yes."

"Good," and he rolled on top.  "So I won't be wrecking your
performance if I distract you."

Tucker sighed with contentment some time later.  "That was nice."

T'Pol knew what he meant.  It had been how they used to make love, not
the frenzied passion of the first night.  "I am sorry."

He forced her head up to meet his furious gaze.  "For what?"

"For the other night."

"Don't."  Gentle fingers stroked her cheek, anger gone.  "You needed
that."

"You did not enjoy it."

"T'Pol."  He waited until she finally had to look at him.  "I'm never
not gonna want sex with you.  Not until they nail down my coffin,
anyway.  I hated seeing you so desperate and I'm getting too old for
all-nighters, but you didn't force me, honey.  Never think that."

"It … had been some time."  Tears were threatening again and she
repressed them sternly.

Firm lips pressed to hers.  "I'll make love to you, T'Pol, whenever
you want."

"You cannot."

"The hell I can!"

"But I want you all the time."

Tucker laughed and held her tightly for a moment.  "Can we compromise
on that one?"

"Perhaps."

"Now that's more like my T'Pol."

She pressed her face into his neck, concentrating fiercely.  They had
made their choice ten years before.  She must remember that this was
no more than a brief intermission before she had to resume her chosen
path.  She could not allow Tucker's intrinsic kindness to make her
forget that.

He tickled the back of her neck gently.  "We've gotta get up, honey,
or we'll have the kids looking for us again."

T'Pol pulled back at once.  "Do you wish to shower here?"

"Quicker if I go upstairs."  He kissed her lightly.  "Make me coffee
if you're ready first."

Once, one of her favourite activities had been showering with him. 
She wondered if he remembered.



T'Pol surprised herself by successfully making both coffee and green
tea – she had found a packet in a cupboard – and was rewarded with a
warm hug.  "Thanks.  Want some breakfast?"

"No."

Tucker tossed bread into a toaster and began to make sandwiches.  "You
need to eat more.  How come T'Pril sleeps through the night?  I
thought she'd be awake hours ago."

"She is young.  Her need for sleep will decrease over time."

He grunted and poured himself more coffee, bringing the toast over to
the table and glaring at T'Pol until she took a piece.  "I sure miss
chef in the mornings."

"Could you not eat at Starfleet Headquarters?"

"No time.  I push it to work a full week as it is.  That's why I was
there last Saturday.  The kids were at a party so I was catching up."

"You still appear to have time for exercise."  She did not believe
that he could maintain his physique without effort.

"I go the gym lunchtimes.  Stops me going crazy."  He smiled at her. 
"That and meditation.  Hey, T'Pril."

The little girl climbed onto T'Pol's lap, pulling a furry tiger with
her.  "Hey."

T'Pol glared at Tucker; he had already had a bad effect on her
daughter.  "Good morning, T'Pril."  She repeated the greeting in
English; there was no harm in attempting a little education.  "What
animal is that?"

"A sehlat."

"No, it is a tiger, an Earth creature."

"It is a sehlat."  T'Pril could be very stubborn.

"Not enough teeth, honey," Tucker assured her.  "It's a tiger."

"Tiger."

T'Pol tried the glare again but it was wasted as he turned to give his
own children a hug and to get them fed.

Despite the fact that they had all got up on time there was still a
last minute panic to get out of the house – T'Pol suspected that there
always was – although Tucker managed to back her into a corner for a
hug.  "What time'll you be home tonight?"

She reminded herself sternly that Tucker was referring to his own
abode.  "The conference is scheduled to end at 1600 then I must
collect T'Pril from the crθche at the consulate."

"So around 1700?"

"Yes."

"I'll see you then," and he kissed her softly.



Charlie again opened the door to T'Pol and T'Pril although this time
he grinned at her.  "You're gonna be in trouble.  Dad's in a temper."

T'Pol set T'Pril down, feeling a stab of anxiety.  "Do you know why he
is annoyed?"

"Admiral M'Benga, that's his boss.  He's always making dad cross." 
The boy started up the stairs, T'Pril at his heels.  "We're hiding out
up here."

T'Pol went through into the living room to find Tucker seated at the
computer terminal in one corner, a PADD and a mug beside him.  He
glanced up and scowled at her.  "You're late."

"Ambassador Archer was a guest at the conference.  He held me in
conversation."  Hoping that she was not misjudging the situation, she
crossed to stand behind Tucker, stroking his shoulders, relieved when
he leant back into her.  "Charlie said that an Admiral M'Benga has
annoyed you."

"Yeah.  Bastard.  What did Jon want with you?"

"He enquired into my well being."

"Did you tell him you were staying here?"  She didn't answer and he
swung around.  "Why didn't you tell him?"

"I thought you did not wish it known.  You told the children …"

He pulled her onto his lap.  "I don't want you being gossiped about. 
I don't mind friends knowing.  Kiss me?"  She obeyed willingly.  "Kiss
me again," and when she had finished he sighed.  "That's better. 
Conference go OK?"

"Yes."  Some of the speakers had been interesting and the debate had
been stimulating but she would save the details for later when he was
more cheerful.  "What did the admiral do to cause you annoyance?"

Tucker frowned and swung back to the terminal although keeping her on
his lap.  "Rejected my proposal for the next phase of the project."

"Did he give justification for his rejection?"

"Allegedly!  Guy can't make sense at the best of times.  He wants a
revised version tomorrow morning.  So much for family friendly
policies in Starfleet!"

T'Pol reached for the PADD that she guessed held the original
proposal, scanning through it rapidly as she caressed the back of
Tucker's neck; it had always been an effective technique for keeping
him quiet.  "You have omitted information in several areas.  The
admiral probably assumed that you were hiding a flaw in the plan."

He snatched the PADD to check for himself.  "I didn't leave anything
out."

"You have not documented your verification strategy, nor have you
provided sufficient detail of the work allocation."

"I know that stuff.  M'Benga doesn't have to get involved at that
level of detail."

"How long have you worked together?"

"Three months."

"That is not long enough to establish a working level of trust between
you.  Until you prove that you are capable of working without
supervision, he will continue to supervise."

"I've been in the job for years!  What does he think I am?  A cadet?"

"Charles, you always gave the impression of being far less
professional than you were.  Has that changed?"  He scowled.  "Admiral
M'Benga may even doubt your commitment when you have a family to care
for alone."  She raised a hand to stroke his still sulky face. 
"Update your proposal.  I estimate that it will take no more than an
hour."

"I hate it when you're right.  You ought to be nice to me, not defend
my boss."

"I will be very nice to you … later."

"Promise?"  She looked calmly back and he began to grin wickedly. 
"D'you remember how you used to kiss my stomach?"

"I have an excellent memory."

"Good," and he captured her mouth in a slow, deep kiss.

"Aw, dad!"  Charlie's protest pulled them reluctantly apart.  "Not the
kissy stuff."  Tucker gave his son a quizzical look and the boy
grinned.  "Is it safe to come down now?"

"I guess."

T'Pol removed herself from Tucker's lap.  "Your father has agreed to
complete his task, Charlie, but will require quiet to do so.  I
suggest we leave him to his work."

"Dad's gotta do homework?  Hey, cool!"

"I hate kids."

Charlie grinned, unoffended at his father's claim, and responded to
T'Pol's gentle push in the direction of the stairs.


Continued in Part Three

--
Stephen Ratliff
ASC Stories Only Forwarding

In the Pattern Buffer at:
http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/




Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ 
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com 
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.







From ???@??? Thu Jan 15 00:21:53 2004
Status:  U
Return-Path: 
Received: from n31.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.99])
	by emu (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aGZYW5uU3NZFnx0
	for ; Wed, 14 Jan 2004 21:23:50 -0800 (PST)
X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12881-1074144215-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.