Disclaimer: Star Trek isn't mine, no profit made.

This story won't make that much sense unless you've read my story "Seeing Angels" which introduces Trip and T'Pol's children and Archer and Hernandez's son. This is about their MU counterparts, but it takes place a few years before "Seeing Angels" so T'Mir, Lorian and Henry are in their late teens. This is also a sequel to "A Mirror Cracked", in which TnT and a revived Archer end up members of the Imperial Family.

Thanks to Aquarius for the beta.

T'Pol of Vulcan did not need as much sleep as her human husband, who slept at her side. She lay underneath their velvet comforter, and she looked out the window of the palace into San Francisco Bay. The lights on the water were visually pleasing, though she longed to go home to Vulcan. Her life was simpler there, and she felt more in control of the world around her. Even her husband preferred it there, as did their three children. Alas, those children were part of the Empire's Imperial family, and they could no longer pretend to be uninvolved the dark world of Earth's politics. The Empress had plans for all of them.

She glanced over at Charles, sleeping soundly. She carefully got out of bed and put a robe on over her nude body. She left the bedroom, and with the fine silk rugs soft beneath her feet, she walked carefully to the main living area of their apartments, past the bedrooms of her daughter and younger son. Her older son, Lorian, had been given his own apartments during this trip to Earth. As she passed her daughter's room, her keen Vulcan hearing heard mumbling and sobbing.

T'Pol sighed. T'Mir had been upset for days. As she stood at the door to her daughter's bedroom, and she took a deep breath. She was the governor of her home planet, a member of the Imperial family by marriage and used to people following her orders.

Her sour-tempered daughter, however, didn't like to follow orders. T'Pol had requested she stop acting out and take steps to improve her mood. T'Mir had only responded with more outbursts of emotion.

"T'Mir," she said strongly, "come out of your room, and we can discuss this logically."

T'Pol waited, but the only response was the sound of shattering glass against the door. T'Mir must have thrown a glass or a vase. T'Pol sighed. This was melodramatic even for her.

"You know I can open this door," she said calmly. "I don't wish to violate your privacy. I wish to be invited."

After a moment, the door opened automatically. T'Pol stepped inside. The lights were low, and there was broken glass on the floor, which she carefully stepped around. There was also a fresh mural on the wall, a scene portraying human and Vulcan skeletons in some kind of macabre dance. The central figure was a young female, wearing a white veil and carrying flowers.

T'Pol turned to the corner, where her daughter sat. The young woman was clad all in black, and she stared glassy-eyed out the window.

"T'Mir," said T'Pol, "you know well that you are luckier than most people in this universe, but being a member of the Imperial family means making sacrifices."

T'Mir did not look at her mother. "You married for love," she said glumly.

T'Pol inhaled. "I did," she said, "but my position in my government was not my choice. I would have rather stayed a scientist. You will marry this young man from Romulus, and you will be allowed to keep your chosen profession."

T'Mir shook her head. "It's not worth it. I'll do anything Aunt Elizabeth wants. Anything. But this is like slavery," she said.

T'Pol nodded. "If the young man harms you in any way," she said, "I promise I will take care of him, but he's a hybrid as well, and the pictures indicate he is handsome. You might find him agreeable."

T'Mir folded her arms. "I won't."

T'Pol blinked. This marriage was important diplomatically, and most Vulcan marriages were arranged. T'Mir had grown up on Vulcan, but she had begun showing her human side when she learned she was betrothed to a stranger. T'Pol empathized, but she stood firm. The marriage was part of a treaty with the Romulans that could save millions of lives.

"I've decided that you should go to Vulcan several weeks earlier than planned. The new starship will be ready for a test run, and Vulcan isn't too far. Your father and I will stay behind, but Lorian will be given his first chance at captaining a mission. This way, you will have a few weeks to get to know your prospective husband prior to the wedding."

T'Mir finally turned to look at her mother. "So, Lorian's to be my jailor? I can escape from him."

T'Pol inhaled. "And go where?"

T'Mir said nothing, she just kicked the side of her dresser. T'Pol approached, and she knelt next to her daughter.

"You're 18 years old. You must cease acting like a child," she said holding out her hand.

T'Mir glared, but she held out her hand, and her mother gripped it. T'Pol sent whatever serenity and peace she had in her own mind to her daughter. She also sent love.

The next evening, Charles Tucker sat in a rough tavern off Market Street, enjoying a craft beer. Even with only one good eye, he could tell his son was nervous. Sure, the boy's outward expressions of nervousness were Vulcan and included some unnecessary collar straightening and slight inability to concentrate, but Charles had lived among Vulcans long enough so he knew the signs.

"Are you excited?" asked Charles.

Lorian, his eighteen-year-old son, shrugged. "I think the crew will hate me for my youth. They know I didn't earn the position."

Charles laughed. "If they think that, then they know nothing about growing up in the Imperial family. You've earned it, but you'll need to be strong, show you are in control. I know you can do that."

Lorian inhaled, and he sipped his beer calmly. "Truth be told, father, I'm far more worried about dealing with my sister, than I am for a seven day command. Although, I think I can handle the command. I plan to work late into the night on our customs filings and duty schedules."

Charles smiled. He was somewhat nervous about sending his daughter to be married, but he'd negotiated with the Romulans himself. The young couple would live six months on Earth and Vulcan and six months on Romulus, and they would represent a future of peace.

At first Charles had resisted arranging a diplomatic marriage for his daughter, but his wife had convinced him that it was in her best interest. Charles and T'Pol had no doubt Lorian and Charlie, their sons, would be fine finding Vulcan or human mates. But T'Mir's fragile mental state made her a difficult case. Charles believed that another hybrid, one who apparently was fascinated by Earth culture, might be an ideal match for his daughter. If the young man wasn't, Charles's wife had ways of taking care of him. It was worth a try.

"Have you chosen a companion for the journey?" asked Charles of Lorian.

Lorian blushed and looked into his beer. "I don't see why I need one…it's a few days."

Charles shook his head, sipping his own beer. His kids had been very sheltered, growing up in palaces and with servants and soldiers showing them the automatic respect due to their imperial status, but being captain of a ship would be different. "Your crew needs to see you as strong, and as willing to reap the benefits of your position."

Lorian sighed. "If I can find one to my liking, I'll bring one."

Charles smirked. "Good. You could use some fun, too. You're far too serious most of the time, and I have a feeling that your sister is going to challenge you. Maybe you could find someone you can talk to as well as…"

"I get it, father," said Lorian as he shook his head, "and I'm still more concerned with T'Mir. She's not going to like being locked up."

Charles laughed. "You're not kidding. I'd double lock the door and post guards."

Charles shook his head. He loved all three of his headstrong children, and he only wanted the best for them in this harsh world. He knew better than anyone how quickly one's status could change, and that most people's lives were cruel and desperate in ways his children probably couldn't imagine.