Conclusion

Three Months Later.

Without the Lisyrian's help, Starfleet was able to push the Romulans back into their own area of space. The war seemed to be coming to an end. No one had seen a Romulan ship nor reported any attack for three months. Nevertheless, Invictus and other ships continued to patrol their area of space.

They had just returned to Earth for a conference when in the middle of the night, Trip got a call from Starfleet medical. It was urgent.

Trip raced down the corridor of Starfleet medical. He was doing everything he could to get there. He had promised Erica that if Jon had not come out of his coma by the time the twins were born that he would be there for her and he was doing everything he could to keep that promise.

Delivery Room, Starfleet Medical.

"Erica," the doctor pleaded, "we cannot wait any longer. These babies are coming whether you're ready or not."

"But he said he would be here," Erica cried. "He said he would be here come hell or high water."

"Do you mean the father?" the doctor asked. "Are you finally going to tell me who the father of these babies are?"

"No! It's not your business I tell you…" then another pain hit her. She braced herself for the contraction as the nurse helped up into a sitting position. The nurse put her hand on Erica's back and helped her breathe.

"Okay Erica, don't forget your breathing, c'mom blow."

"Go to hell!" Erica snapped. "That crap doesn't work! It still hurts like hell! And he's not here!" she cried.

Trip raced onto the maternity ward and almost ran into the front desk. "Captain…Erica Hernandez," he gasped. "Where is she?"

The nurses at the desk immediately recognized the celebrated Captain Charles Tucker, III. They were all smiles and falling all over themselves to help him.

"Captain Tucker," one red headed nurse beamed. "What are you doing here? This is the maternity ward."

"I know… I know," Trip said bending over to catch his breath. "I'm here for Captain Erica Hernandez. I'm her…"

"Captain Hernandez?!" the other nurse said all wide eyed. "She's uh, she's in delivery right now…"

"Take me to her," Trip said."

"I'm sorry Captain Tucker, but the delivery room is only for immediate family, next of kin, or…the father of the child."

Trip rolled his eyes. "I'm not the father," he said. "I'm just standing in for the father, now take me to her. I promised I'd be here and I don't intend to make her have to do this alone."

"Oh, uh, right away Captain," the young nurse beamed. "But first let's get you ready. The nurse took Trip in the back, helped him scrub down and got him changed into hospital issue scrubs, head gear and a facial mask. She then escorted him into Erica's suite.

"I see you got started without me," he quipped. When Erica saw him she started to cry again.

"You made it, you really made it," she cried. "I thought I was gonna have to do this alone. But you're here."

"I told you I'd be here, and as much as I'd like to stay, I can't."

"What!" Erica shouted. "What the hell are you talking about Trip Tucker!"

"I'm sorry Erica, but I can't stay. It wouldn't be right!"

"You sorry son-of-a bitch!" Erica screamed. "You promised, you promised!"

"Calm down Erica," Trip said. "Just calm down a minute…"

"Calm down hell! You're not going anywhere, you can't, you can't," Erica cried. "You promised…"

"Erica, listen sweetheart," Trip pleaded as he moved toward the door. "If I don't leave then the guy you really want to be here, can't be here." Then he opened the door and went outside. A few moments later he returned, pushing a wheel chair. In it was a familiar face.

"Jon!" Erica shouted. "Jon! Oh my God! You're awake! You're awake! And you're here!"

"Yes, I'm here," Jon said as the nurse positioned the chair next to Erica's bed. "Now, let's get this done."

"Thank God you're here," the doctor said. "Now let's get ready to push," with that Erica squeezed Jon's hand so hard, he thought she might break it, and she let out a howling scream.

When the contraction passed, Jon looked at Erica. "How long have you been awake?" she asked.

"A little over a day," Jon replied.

"And no one called me? Didn't let me know."

"Well, after I woke up and Phlox allowed the brass to come see me, Trip came by. He told me everything."

"Oh," Erica replied. "Kinda shocking huh?"

"Understatement of the year Captain," Jon replied kissing her hand. "It took a while to adjust to that kind of news."

"Please don't be mad."

"A little late for that isn't it?" Erica just leaned back on the pillow.

"So, Phlox let you out to come all the way over to maternity? I can't believe it."

"No, he doesn't know I'm here," Jon said smiling. "I just spent the last eight months in a coma, you think the doctors would clear me to come over here and see a couple of babies being born?"

"Trip?" Erica asked.

"Trip," Jon replied.

"Jon I'm sorry," Erica said with tears in her eyes. "I should have told you as soon as I found out, but the time just never seemed right. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I'm sure I can," he said, "that is with some conditions."

"Conditions?"

"Yes. Perhaps now you'll reconsidered my proposal, and marry me."

Erica smiled and sat up, "Of course I'll marry you!"

"Good," Jon replied, "cause this time I wasn't taking no for an answer."

Thirty Six Hours Ago.

Trip was on Vulcan when he heard the news. He took the first shuttle back to Earth that he could get. He could not believe it. When he reached Starfleet medical and the room where a miracle had apparently taken place just the day before, he took a deep breath and pressed the chime. He heard "Enter," then stepped inside.

"Jonathan Archer!" Trip said. "You are a sight for sore eyes!"

"Hello Trip," Jon said sitting up. "You don't look so bad yourself." Trip couldn't help himself, he hurried over to the bed and put his arms around his friend in a long and awkward embrace.

"Trip," Jon said in a hoarse voice, as he patted Trip's back. "Trip, I can't breathe," Jon said. Trip finally broke the embrace.

"Sorry, don't mean to be so emotional, but damn, Jon I'm just so glad to see you! "You have no idea how many times I wanted to, needed to talk to you!" Trip then pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. He started to tear up. "I was beginning to think you were never gonna wake up," he said hoarsely.

"Well, you know me," Jon replied, "stubborn as hell!" Trip laughed.

Now tell me, what have I missed? Tell me everything. I've been asking everybody for an update, but nobody would tell me anything like there's some big secret out there. I asked Jeffries and Black when they came to see me."

"I see they didn't waste any time in making it official," Trip said holding up the small box on the night stand next to the bed. "Congratulations Admiral."

"Thanks. You know before this happened, I had such mixed emotions about being promoted. All I could think about was being permanently grounded, not being out there anymore. Now all I can think is how grateful I am to be alive, to get another chance at life. A whole lot of Starfleet's finest didn't get that chance."

"Uh, Jon," Trip began, "what do you remember about how you came to be injured?"

"Not a damn thing," Jon replied. "Phlox said it was common in these kind of cases; to forget a traumatic event completely. All I remember is waking up that morning, talking to you in my ready room, then being on the bridge of Invictus. I'm afraid that's it." Trip frowned but didn't say anything.

"But enough about me already, I want an update. Like I said Black and Jefferies were all hush-hush, so I asked Phlox and you know how he loves to talk- I got nothing. So spill it. I wanna know everything, what's going on with the war, with you? How's T'Pol, Malcolm, everybody! How's…Erica?"

Trip looked at Jon, smiled a big smile, then started to laugh. Jon frowned a bit and leaned back on his pillow. "What's so damned funny Captain Tucker?" he said.

Trip leaned over and called the nurse. "This is Captain Tucker," he said over the comm. "Would you bring Admiral Archer a sedative in a few moments? No, he's not agitated, he's fine right now. But he's gonna need somethin' in just a little bit. Okay. Thanks."

"Trip," Archer said puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Trip didn't say anything. He just got up, fluffed Jon's pillows, and poured water in his cup sitting on the tray.

"Okay, stop it," Jon said, "start talking Captain. That's an order."

"Alrighty then," Trip replied as he sat back down. "Admiral, I hope you're very comfortable," he said, "this may take a while!"

One Hour After The Birth.

Trip and T'Pol stood in hospital garb holding the Archer twins, Jonathan Archer, Jr. and Gabriella Alexandria Archer.

"Look at that," Trip said, "she smiled at me."

"She did not," T'Pol replied as she rocked John, Jr. Trip tilted his head and looked at her sideways.

"She smiled I tell you."

T'Pol just stared at him for a few moments. "How do you feel about the name T'Mirra for a girl and Charles IV, for a boy," she asked him.

"Sounds good," Trip replied absently as he continued to play with Gabriella.

"Of course now that the war seems to be actually coming to an end, I will need to resign my commission and we will need to secure housing on Earth or Vulcan. However since you detest the dessert, I can only guess that you would prefer to take up residence on Earth. I am not advocating that you resign your commission, however. You are a celebrated Captain, a hero of the Romulan war. You have a long career ahead of you. I will adjust while you are away."

Trip raised his head finally. "T'Pol what are you yakin' on and on about?"

"Seriously," she said. "I have often heard human males could be very dense and oblivious at times. Those observations seem to be accurate."

"Wait a minute," Trip said sitting up straight. "Did you just say what I think you just said?"

"Yes Adun," T'Pol replied flatly. "I bought a dog!"

Three Days Later.

Trip was elated with his new status, dad to be. He and T'Pol had consulted Phlox and they were taking all the necessary precautions to ensure this unprecedented pregnancy went to term. Trip had also asked the doctor to begin working on a serum to suppress the alien genes in him. Kaatia had told Trip that not being in close proximity to Lisyrians should cause the blood rage to lie dormant in him. Nevertheless, he did not want to live with the "bloods" as he called it, dormant or not. He wanted them gone. Phlox was hopeful that a cure could be found. Trip also prayed and hoped with everything in him that his child would not inherit the alien gene.

T'Pol went ahead and resigned her commission before any fighting broke out again. She and Trip went house hunting on Earth immediately and planned to start renovations to her mother's house on Vulcan as soon as possible. They planned to spend time in both places. But now they had a pressing matter to attend to.

Starfleet Medical, Mess Hall.

Hoshi watched the room nervously. She had told people where to stand and what to do and so far everyone simply obeyed without question. She and Malcolm had already left for Brazil, but came back when they heard the news.

Trip and T'Pol stood at the head of the room in dress whites. Admiral Black faced the audience and Jonathan Archer sat in his wheel chair with his newly fitted Admiral's formal wear uniform, with Dr. Phlox standing behind him. Music began to play as Jon stood from his chair and Erica Hernandez proceeded down the aisle in a simple off white gown and held a bouquet of white gardenias. She had not wanted to get married in her Starfleet uniform, so Hoshi had looked frantically for a whole day and finally settled on this dress. Erica loved it.

Hoshi had thrown the ceremony together and a reception in just three days and was nervous that something might go wrong. Travis and Malcolm stood on the first row in dress whites, while Liz Cutler and Lt. Hess stood next to them holding two sleeping infants. Hoshi breathed out a sigh when Erica was finally positioned next to Jon.

"Do you have the groom's ring?" Trip said to T'Pol through the bond.

"Yes, for the 100th time," T'Pol answered back.

"You exaggerate," Trip replied, "I only asked you three times."

"Do you have the bride's ring?" T'Pol asked.

"Course I do," Trip answered back. "Can't wait for our wedding."

"That is an illogical statement, we are already married."

"But, we never had a ceremony. We've got to have a ceremony, especially now, and I won't take no for an answer!"

T'Pol looked at Trip for a few moments. "If it will please you, we can have an Earth ceremony."

"Great!" Trip replied with a grin. "Can't wait to see you sashay down the aisle on Vulcan though." T'Pol looked at Trip.

"Vulcans do not sashay," she replied and blew out a sigh. "But if it will make you happy, we can have a Vulcan ceremony as well." Trip grinned even more.

"But of course we have to have a ceremony on Invictus too," he said.

"Just how many times will we have to get married for you to feel that it is official and that we are really married?" T'Pol asked.

"Darlin', I could marry you every day for the rest of our lives!" he beamed.

"In that case, it's a good thing that I will likely outlive you, T'Pol replied."

"Hey!" Trip said.

"Dearly beloved," Admiral Black said, and as the ceremony began Trip noticed a lone figure that he had not expected to see standing in the back of the room, just inside the door.

Trip smiled and nodded at his father. Charles simply nodded back. Trip had told his dad that he would be home in a few days, but Charles hadn't been able to wait. And although he loved Jon and was genuinely happy for him and Erica, he had not come for the wedding, not really. He just wanted to lay eyes on his son, for a few minutes, to see for himself. He didn't need to speak to Trip at this moment in time, he didn't need to. He just wanted to see the man he had raised, who had been through so much; who had reached deep inside himself, and from the dark place where he had been hiding, snatched himself back; that he had accepted and embraced that perhaps he had been born for such a time as this; that he had been pressed to the wall…dying, but fighting back. In the end he had remembered who he was… Charles Anthony Tucker, III, Starfleet, First Class, Engineer, Captain, Warrior, and he remained…unconquered!

The End.