PART 61

Author:

Pairing: A/T

Rating: PG-13

Everything belongs to Paramount/UPN; but what I think up.

ENTERPRISE READY ROOM

Jonathan sat there in the darkness, watching the ShiKahr. Earlier S'Talen had told him what to expect in the bonding ceremony and what he needed to be prepared for - Soval wasn't going to go easy on him and he had to learn some Vulcan words quickly. It was mostly the same information he had told him before, but he provided additional, personal information.

"Jonathan, T'Pol is Soval's only child and has raised her by himself for over 20 standard years. With help from the family, of course. But still primary care fell to him. Therefore, while he knows that T'Pol has chosen you to be her bondmate, he will fulfill his duties as her parent."

Shocked that T'Pol never told him that she was Soval's daughter. "Why didn't T'Pol tell me this?"

Frowning he added, "Wait, is this that familial confidence you spoke of earlier?"

Nodding, "Yes. If everyone knew she was the daughter-niece of the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth that would have changed how she was treated."

Archer nodded and S'Talen continued, "Also, she was recuperating from a mission and she needed to be concerned only with how she would temporarily interact with ship full of Humans."

"As you may know, several times she went against Soval's request that she return to Earth or Vulcan since the original mission to return the Klingon world had been completed."

S'Talen nodded, "Yes. We believe she found herself needed by you and your ship - professionally. You required a good science officer to assist with the success of your mission."

Squinting, "Not because of any other reason?"

"No."

Jonathan already knew that, but it felt good to actually hear it. "It was a huge risk for me to offer her the position as Science Officer and Second Officer, as it was for her to accept. But I believed, and still believe, that we needed her."

PRESENT TIME

The chime to his door went off.

"Come."

Tucker walked in and sat down on the couch, saying nothing. After a few minutes, Archer turned around and looked at him.

"Trip."

"Jon."

"What brings you by this time of night?"

Exhaling, "I stopped by your quarters and found no one there."

After a minute, "Yeah. Its kinda quiet in there."

Nodding, "I suppose it is."

Archer turned back to the porthole.

"You talkin' with T'Pol?"

"No. She shielded the bond. S'Talen said she would until the ceremony is completed."

"Oh, okay."

"Do you want to get some dinner?"

After a minute, "Not really, but I suppose I should."

"Lisas reported that Soval has transported over a few crates of stuff. He's going to transport over some of the Clan's security tomorrow to unpack and set-up the Mess Hall. He's sent me the environmental requirements for tomorrow."

He paused for a minute, "Ya know, its going to be really hot with a heavy gravity in the Mess Hall tomorrow. We're all gonna crash down to the floor and melt."

Absentmindedly, "I know."

Trip tried again, "The Chef and his team received a list of foods that will be required for after the ceremony. Some of the stuff can only come from the ShiKahr and he's assigned Crewman Gumi to work with the Vulcan's on the Shikahr to get it here."

"Okay."

Shaking his head, he continued, "Jon, you need to get out of the Ready Room, and into the Mess Hall to eat."

Being contrary, "Why?"

"The crew needs to see you." He paused a minute, "Not to mention Riann's drivin' me crazy."

That got a chuckle. "I don't doubt that at all." Jon sighed, "Alright, let's go."

Walking out, Trip asked, "When are we going to return Riann to Akaali?"

"Not soon enough." At Trip's look he continued, "I asked Mayweather to plot us a course, taking into consideration our next mission assignments, and get us to Akaali as soon as possible."

"Yeah?"

Nodding, "Yeah. He guesstimates 6 weeks."

"Oh great."

"Yeah, that's how we feel, too."

They walked farther down the corridor and entered the Mess Hall. No sooner than they had sat down, did Riann come in and walk toward them.

Trip looked at Jon, "Ya' gonna revise that guesstimate?"

"Yeah."

The Mess Hall was surprisingly busy and Riann had to maneuver around several people before finally sitting down next to Jon.

Archer and Trip exchanged a glance, "Hello, Riann. Is there something I can do for you?"

She had been trying, somewhat successfully, at controlling her emotions, "Hello Jonathan, Commander Tucker. I've heard around the ship that tomorrow you're going to have some type of ceremony for your marriage?"

Putting down his fork, "Yes, we're having it here at noon tomorrow."

"Why? Aren't you already married?"

Looking at the table, then Trip, he replied, "Yes, we are. But tomorrow's ceremony is for T'Pol's family and her world. This makes everything official in their eyes."

She slowly nodded, "Oh, I see."

Then, "I suppose that you had a ceremony from your world?"

Stretching his neck, Archer tried not to snap at her, "Not yet, though its not technically needed. The original tradition that married us is acceptable to my world."

She nodded again, "I see. Its just her world that doesn't accept you."

Trip tried to deflect Jonathan's anger, "Riann, that's also not --"

At that Archer tuned into a different conversation, 'Jonathan?'

Surprised, 'T'Pol? I thought we couldn't talk until after the bonding ceremony.'

'I felt a different type of frustration, than what you have been feeling. Is there a problem?'

Sighing, 'Its Riann. She's asking questions about the authenticity of our 'marriage.''

'Did Ensign Mayweather plot a course to take us to Akaali?'

Glancing out the window, he chuckled, not realizing he was doing it out-loud, 'Yes, but I'm gonna have to cut some time out of it.'

Trip and Riann looked at him. Riann confused at what he was chuckling for and Trip sighed, he knew what that meant.

'Jon and I miss you.'

He looked down at the table, 'Yeah, I miss you, too. How are is Jon doing with Soval?'

Amusement passed through the bond, 'Soval is sitting there very quietly as Jon reads to him a story about Surak.'

'Why didn't you tell me that Soval is your father?'

'Technically, he is--' 'No technically's.'

Silence in the bond, then he felt more amusement, 'Alright, he is my father.'

'And?'

'And I made a promise that I would not tell anyone.'

'Why?'

Another brief silence, 'You mean, why not tell you?'

'Yeah, I guess I thought you had told me all the important stuff.'

'I should have told you about Soval, he is an important part of my life.'

This time he was silent.

'However, you are the most important.'

Sighing, 'So, Soval is my father-in-law.'

He felt more amusement run through his mind, 'Sometime you're gonna have to tell me about growing up with Soval as your father.'

'Agreed, but you may find it very quiet compared to yours.'

Again smiling, but paying no attention to Trip and Riann. Trip had given up trying to keep Riann busy while Jon was talking with T'Pol.

'That's okay. As long as you're not telling me about planetary environmental aspects, I won't mind.'

Silence in the bond.

'I see.'

Dropping his head to his chest, 'I didn't mean it quite that way.'

More silence.

'Aisha?'

'We have been caught. Unless it is ship's business, we cannot use the bond until the ceremony.'

Rolling his eyes, 'This is stupid. We've been together for almost two years, why is this important?'

'Is there not a human ritual where the groom cannot see the bride the night before the wedding?'

Frowning in confusion, 'Yeah, but how did you know? And, that only means they can't see each other, but they can still talk.'

'Hoshi told me. I must go now. Goodnight, Thy'la.'

Smiling again, 'Goodnight, Aisha.' And though she was gone, the bond itself was strong and warm.

He looked up and saw both Trip and Riann staring at him. Trip merely looked resigned and Riann was staring at him like he was a mad man.

After a moment, Riann asked him, "What are you doing?" She cast a sideways glance at Trip, "Does he do that a lot?"

Trip snorted, Jonathan frowned, he wasn't going to tell Riann about his telepathic bond with T'Pol, "Nothing, I was just thinking about T'Pol."

Nodding, but deciding not to push that about, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Can I see Jon tonight before he goes to bed?"

Both Jonathan and Trip froze at that request, then with a sigh. "Jon's not here right now. He'll be back tomorrow."

Both men waited for the explosion. They weren't disappointed.

"WHAT!" She stood up, glaring down at them. "What do you mean he's not here?"

"Sit down and lower your voice." Jonathan bit back at her. "He's on the ship that's next to us. He's meeting T'Pol's father."

Trip looked over at him in shock, then choked back a laugh, though he couldn't help the smirk on his face. He picked up his coffee cup to take a swallow, but couldn't stop a snort that turned into a cough, "Well, Captain, (cough/chuckle) I guess that explains a lot of stuff, now doesn't it?"

Frowning at him, then giving in to the inevitable teasing, he smirked back, "Yes, I suppose it does."

Trip kept trying to not laugh, but the more he thought of all the times they'd met with Soval and how he treated Archer, he couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing, almost falling off his chair.

Archer looked at him askance, then with looked down at the table with resigned acceptance. It really was amusing, if he wasn't your father-in-law. They both had forgotten Riann.

"What is so funny?" That voice quickly sobered Trip, and he exchanged an apologetic look with Archer.

"Ah," Trip looked at Archer, then answered for him, "His father-in-law hasn't always...liked the Captain."

With a look of smirking amusement, "I guess you could say that." Then Jon looked over at Riann, "T'Pol and Jon will be back tomorrow, you'll have to wait to see Jon then."

They could see Riann getting up a head of steam, so Archer quickly stood, Trip right behind him. "Riann, we've got to go back to the bridge. Good night."

With that they quickly left the Mess Hall, unfortunately they weren't quick enough. Riann joined them in the 'lift before the doors closed.

"I want to see my son tonight." She stood there defiantly, waiting for him to say no. She still hadn't fully given up on taking Jon with her, nor on having Jonathan come with her. She still didn't believe that he would prefer the alien woman over her and thought if she pushed her parental rights, then she would have some control over Jonathan.

Archer held himself stiffly, but before he could reply, "Captain to the Bridge." The doors opened to the bridge and out they walked. The image on the view screen stopped all of them in their tracks.

They were looking at room, a lounge perhaps. Couches and small tables were arranged understatedly around the room. What struck everyone was who was in the room.

T'Pol was sitting on a couch, with Reed directly behind her and Gomez a few feet behind him. She was across from Soval, who had Jon sitting next to him and they were looking at a hardbound book. T'Pel was sitting next to T'Pol and both had tea cups in their hands, looking like they were having a discussion of their own. Phlox was sitting next to S'aan and talking about families and medicine. Mantuscu, Watson, and Wayne were sitting in the circle just behind Soval and they were looking at the book, too. Torres was standing by the door. It was a scene no one had ever seen before, an informal gathering, a family gathering, of Vulcans. In the background, a string instrument was being played gently and softly, not disrupting the discussions in the room at all, but enhancing the relaxed atmosphere.

Hondo was grinning as she looked at the view screen. Mayweather turned around to look at the Captain, with a small grin, "Ah, Sir, the ShiKahr called and asked to speak with you."

With a confused look, but turning into amusement, he asked, "T'Pol?"

With a shrug, she looked over at Soval. Who had been watching Jonathan and noted the first person Archer looked for was T'Pol, then Jon.

Soval looked up, as did Jon when he heard his voice. "Daddy! Grandfather Soval is showing me pictures of Vulcan." He smiled up at Soval, then quickly changed subjects, "Mam says that we're staying with Grandfather tonight. Are you coming?"

With a smile, "Hello to you, too. I'm glad you're having a good time with Mam and your Grandfather." He walked closer to the screen, "I'm staying here tonight, someone has to walk Porthos."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot."

With an arched eyebrow at the language, Soval spoke, "I understand that you have many visitors on-board the Enterprise, and one was interested in Jon."

Nodding and trying to discern Soval's actions, "Yes, we do. Its been a very interesting journey since we last saw you." He thought he saw a glint of amusement in Soval's look, but wasn't sure.

"Indeed."

Soval and Archer stared at each other, while both T'Pol and T'Pel watched the silent exchange. Everyone else watched, too, but only they knew what was happening. They both arched an eyebrow at the silent exchange.

Soval turned his stare to Riann, evaluating what he saw with what he knew from the family meld with T'Pol, then back to Archer, "As you can see, all is well on-board the ShiKahr."

Nodding, "Yes, I see. Thank you." He looked over at T'Pol, knowing she had somehow instigated this impromptu conversation. He saw a smile in her eyes and grinned at her.

Breaking into their silent conversation, they heard Soval's voice, "Good night, Jonathan. ShiKahr out."

The screen went blank. Archer was still grinning, as Trip stepped up next to him. "Well, that's just fine and dandy. They get to sit around, drink tea, listen to music, and relax. We get R...to set-up for tomorrow so we can all melt."

Archer grimaced and looked at him. The night shift stepped onto the bridge, and Archer waved Riann and Trip into the 'lift.

"That was T'Pol's father? They certainly look alike. As do all those Vulcans on this ship."

The 'lift doors opened and Archer said, "Good night, Riann."

"Wait."

Dropping his head, he looked back, "Yes?" Trip rolled eyes.

"When can I go home? With Jon?"

Sighing, "We'll be taking you home very shortly. Jon is remaining with us." With one last hard look, "Good night."

CONTINUED IN PART 62