Chapter 1: Everything Fades Away - original version
Chapter Text
Malaysia, Earth
“I’m going home,” Mary Reed told her soon-to-be-ex husband.
“You are home,” Stuart said, frowning.
“Home to England,” she clarified.
He glared at her. “Is this about that rot with Malcolm again?”
Mary returned the glare with interest, having finally found the strength to stand up to the man. “The only rot in this family is you. Rotten to the core.”
Stuart shook his head. “You honestly believe I’d hurt my own family?”
“I believe Malcolm wouldn’t have written that letter if you hadn’t truly harmed him, regardless of what your intentions may have been.”
Narrowing his eyes, Stuart considered this a moment, then nodded curtly. “Do what you must.” Turning on his heel, he marched from the kitchen.
England, Earth - three months later
Mary had settled into a small but comfortable two-bedroom cottage in the Derbyshire countryside with her daughter Madeline, and the two women had worked together making it a home. Seated at the computer terminal in their cosy living room, Mary pressed the button to receive a transmission over subspace.
“Hello, Mother!” Malcolm said cheerfully.
“Hello, my darling!” Mary replied, beaming.
Madeline leaned over her mother’s shoulder to come into view. “Hello brother! I haven’t seen you smile so broadly since…actually, probably ever. You must be happy.”
“I am! Both for myself and for you. Congratulations on the divorce, Mother.”
Mary chuckled. “Not the sentiment one usually hears regarding divorce, but thank you all the same.”
“Would you like to meet Hoshi and T’Pol?” Malcolm asked. “At least as best you can until we visit Earth.”
“Of course we would, you dolt,” Madeline chuckled.
Hoshi came into view first. “Hello! We meet again!”
“Again?” Malcolm queried curiously.
Hoshi, Madeline and Mary all grinned.
“I called them years ago to ask about your favourite foods,” Hoshi said.
Malcolm was aghast. “The pineapple cake? That was you?!”
Hoshi nodded. “That was me! I’m still not telling how I figured it out though.”
Mary smiled. “I certainly didn’t know, you never really seemed to have a favourite anything, growing up.”
Pursing his lips momentarily, Malcolm sighed. “A defence mechanism. If Father didn’t know I liked something, he couldn’t use denial of it as a punishment.”
“Ah. That certainly explains a few things.”
Malcolm gave a small smile. “For the record, my favourite dessert is pineapple upside down cake.”
“His favourite meal is roast lamb with potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, baby peas, green beans, and brown gravy. With a very small amount of mint sauce on the lamb itself, not the vegetables,” T’Pol said as she joined them. “As a vegetarian I do not see the appeal of lamb, but the vegetables are agreeable,” she added.
Mary beamed. “I shall make a note of that! You must be T’Pol.”
T’Pol nodded. “Well met, Mrs Reed.”
“Please, call me Mary! Goodness knows you’ve more than earned it, making my Malcolm as happy as he is.”
Grinning, Malcolm pulled his two loves close beside him on the couch. “So, how’s the cottage?”
“It’s coming along nicely,” his mother answered.
“We’re working on the garden now,” Madeline interjected.
“If you need any advice, Trip’s girlfriend Naomi is one of our botany experts, I’m sure she’d be happy to help,” Malcolm offered.
Mary smiled. “I think we’ll be alright, but I’ll keep that in mind if anything gives trouble.”
“What she means to say is, she took all the gardening books from the family library with her when she left Father,” Madeline said with a grin.
“Half of everything was mine, that includes the books! So I took the Collected Works of Shakespeare, Austen, and Doyle, plus all of Pratchett, Tolkien, Lewis, LeGuin…” Mary continued listing authors and books until Madeline, Malcolm, and Hoshi were chuckling, and T’Pol had an amused smile at the corners of her mouth.
“I take it you left the military history books and not much else then?” Malcolm laughed.
Mary shrugged, also chuckling. “They did take up half the library!”
Still smiling, Madeline said, “so, how are things on Enterprise, other than your being deliriously happy? Anything interesting happened since we last spoke?”
Malcolm and Hoshi grimaced, while T’Pol got a pinched look between her eyes.
“About that…” Malcolm started.
Between the three of them the trio explained about Malcolm’s brush with death, the rescue and recovery from it, and the fact that it was now policy that nobody went outside the ship alone.
The three Reeds, Hoshi and T’Pol chatted a while longer, and when the call disconnected, Mary sat back in her seat, sighing contentedly. “He really is happy. Genuinely and truly happy.”
Madeline nodded. “He deserves it as much as you do, Mother. Though part of that conversation brings up an interesting point.”
“Mmmm, what’s that?”
“You and I need first aid training. We may not be Starfleet, but CPR is a valuable skill for anyone to know.”
Mary nodded. “Something to look into.”
Vulcan - three days later
T’Pol was consulting with the senior reproductive specialist at a medical centre, while Malcolm and Hoshi sat in the waiting room, holding hands and watching the door to the consultation room nervously.
“It’ll be alright, Mal,” Hoshi said, not sounding entirely sure but trying to be hopeful.
“I never wanted kids, for the longest time,” he said quietly. “I thought I’d be as rubbish at parenting as my own father. But now…”
“Now you’re wanting it to at least be an option,” Hoshi finished.
Malcolm nodded, and Hoshi gave his hand a squeeze.
The door opened, and they were beckoned inside.
The doctor introduced herself, and said, “I have heard T’Pol’s thoughts on the matter of your having children together. I would appreciate understanding your own perspectives.”
Malcolm licked his lips. “At this stage, I would mostly just like to know whether or not it’s possible. I had a rather poor example of parenthood, which I’m in the process of coming to terms with. It wouldn’t be immediate if we choose to pursue having a child, but…”
The doctor nodded. “I understand. Knowing what is and is not possible allows for a more refined decision-making process, when ready to undertake such decisions.”
“Exactly.”
“And you, Ms Sato?”
Hoshi smiled. “I love children, but the women of my family have a tendency towards difficult births. I’d prefer not to share their experience.”
The doctor’s mouth quirked, not quite a smile, but trying to be reassuring.
“I have examined the tissue samples provided, in addition to the genetic compatibility test results your Dr Phlox transmitted, and can confirm their accuracy. I see no reason why you should not be able to procreate, should you wish to. Having said that, it is important for you to know that T’Pol cannot fall pregnant outside of Pon Farr. You will need to have reached a decision by that time, or wait another seven years.”
Malcolm and Hoshi nodded in understanding, and T’Pol bit her lip, closing her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Hoshi asked.
“I’m already overdue,” T’Pol answered in a near-whisper.
The doctor looked to T’Pol in concern. “By how long?”
“Six months.”
The doctor excused herself, and came back about ten minutes later, taking T’Pol to another room in the clinic for a scan and more tests.
Back in the consultation room, she had a grim look on her face.
“It seems that such routine physical intimacy has disrupted the hormonal cycle which controls the onset of Pon Farr. There is no precedent for this, and as such I do not know how to advise you, beyond making your decision as soon as possible. There is a chance that T’Pol may fall pregnant during any coupling, or not at all.”
Hoshi gave a half-smile. “The good news is, that’s the norm for both of us, without the use of contraceptives. The only difference is knowing T’Pol’s in the same boat now.”
Malcolm nodded, resting his hand on T’Pol’s. She pulled away, clasping her hands in her lap with a look of horror on her face.
Enterprise, in orbit of Vulcan
T’Pol had locked herself in the bathroom as soon as they reached their quarters, and an hour had passed without her emerging.
Malcolm and Hoshi were sitting on the sofa together, holding hands as they’d done in the waiting room.
“I’m going to see if she’ll let me in,” Hoshi said in a hushed tone.
Malcolm nodded mutely, a look of worry on his features.
She knocked gently at the door. “T’Pol? May I come in?”
Though there was no answer, the door unlocked from within.
Hoshi pressed the door control, and stepped into the bathroom.
T’Pol was sitting on the floor, her knees tucked to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs, and her chin resting on one knee.
Hoshi lowered herself to the floor beside T’Pol, keeping a couple of centimetres between them in case touch was unwelcome.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Hoshi asked softly.
T’Pol tilted her head to look at Hoshi. “I am,” she said, resigned. “I am unable to control my emotions as most Vulcans do. I have taken two Human mates. My behaviour has caused a hormonal imbalance so severe that I could enter Pon Farr at any moment, or never again, with no way of knowing which. I am wrong.”
Hoshi bit her lip. “May I put my arm around you?”
T’Pol shook her head. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Alright,” Hoshi said, a little sadly. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Could you please ask the captain if I may utilise guest quarters?”
Tears sprang into Hoshi’s eyes. “T’Pol, please don’t pull away from us.”
T’Pol huffed a sigh, stood in one fluid motion, and walked from their quarters.
Malcolm poked his head into the bathroom. “Hoshi?”
Hoshi stood, and leant against the wall. “She wants to use guest quarters.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
T’Pol pressed the door chime, her lips pressed together until they almost disappeared from view. The door opened, and she was faced with Trip.
“Hey T’Pol! How was Vulcan?”
T’Pol gave him a look, and he blinked in surprise.
“Based on that response I’m guessing the answer is ‘not well’. Why don’t you come in?”
She gave a nod, and stepped inside. “Thank you,” she said, her voice small.
Crewman Naomi Taylor looked up from the small sofa and gave a smile, then noticed T’Pol’s expression and turned to Trip. “Babe, why don’t you go fetch us some drinks and snacks?”
“But-”
She gave him a pointed look, and he nodded. “Snacks and drinks coming right up. Back in a bit.”
As Trip left her quarters, Naomi gestured to the seat beside her. “You want to tell me what’s wrong, or just sit quietly for a bit?”
T’Pol sat stiffly. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice tight.
“I know that feeling. How about we just sit until you’re ready.”
T’Pol nodded, her chin quavering. Soon she was shivering all over, close to tears. Rather than tears, words gushed from her, explaining the situation in detail to Naomi, who listened without interruption.
When T’Pol finished speaking, Naomi said, “may I ask a personal question?”
“I have already shared more personal information with you than anyone other than my doctors or partners are privy to. What do you wish to know?” T’Pol said, a slight crease between her brows.
Naomi smiled reassuringly. “Is this bothering you because it’s an unknown without a reliable answer, or because you feel like you’re failing at being a good Vulcan?”
T’Pol looked at Naomi wide-eyed with dawning comprehension. “Thank you,” she answered softly. “Please excuse me.”
She stood, and walked back to her own quarters.
On her arrival, Hoshi and Malcolm stood from where they were seated on the sofa.
“T’Pol!” Hoshi squeaked in surprise.
T’Pol stepped closer, pulling the desk chair with her. “Please sit. With Crewman Taylor’s assistance, I have come to a realisation.”
The three sat - Hoshi and Malcolm on the sofa again, T’Pol opposite.
“I spoke with Naomi, and she asked me one question - whether this situation is bothering me due to the unknown, or due to my relationship with being Vulcan. I have been struggling with how Human I have become in my behaviour, most especially with regards to expressing my feelings. This new complication overwhelmed me because it was yet another way in which I was ‘going native’ as an old Earth expression put it. I am no longer Vulcan enough to fit in amongst the people of my homeworld.”
Malcolm and Hoshi sat absorbing this quietly, and T’Pol continued.
“What Naomi’s question helped me to realise, is that although my physiology is still Vulcan in origin, I am no longer Vulcan. Enterprise is my people now. You are my people. And I do not wish to give you up.”
She reached out both hands, which Malcolm and Hoshi quickly grasped.
“I would like for us to go and speak with Phlox, to see what contraceptives he recommends until we reach a decision about having a child.”
They both nodded. “Do you want to go now?” Hoshi asked.
“I would prefer to have as many answers as possible, as quickly as possible. So yes, please.”
They walked together to sickbay, hands clasped until they reached the doors. Stepping through, Phlox greeted them in his usual cheerful manner, asking what he could do for them.
They explained what the specialist had said, and Phlox gently chided T’Pol.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have started researching for you.”
Half an hour later they were back in their quarters, Malcolm having been given a hypospray similar to the one Hoshi received each month, and Phlox working on adjusting the dosage to suit Vulcan DNA.
“I am sorry for my reaction earlier,” T’Pol said, seated between her partners, their arms around her.
They both gave small smiles, and Malcolm said, “it’s alright, T’Pol, everyone reacts to stress differently. I’m just glad you talked to someone you trusted, and came back to us.”
Hoshi nodded. “That’s one of the healthiest responses there is, for a Human.”
“I am not… technically Human. But I can see you mean that as a positive.”
“You’ve been joining us one step at a time for years. This was a leap rather than a step, and not one you chose. It’s no wonder you fell, for a moment,” Hoshi said.
T’Pol gave a tiny smile. “A good analogy. Perhaps I am a little like Mr Armstrong.”
Malcolm frowned in confusion for a second, then grinned as he realised what she meant. Putting on an American accent, he said, “That's one small step for a woman, one giant leap for Vulcan-kind.”
England, Earth - a month later
The subspace transmission from Enterprise connected, and Mary Reed smiled warmly.
“Hello darlings!”
“Hello, Mother,” Malcolm said, in chorus with Hoshi and T’Pol saying “hello, Mary.”
Malcolm smiled and asked, “how have you been?”
“I’ve been well, and Madeline too. Though Stuart has been calling, asking me to come back to him. The first time I said ‘no thank you’. The second, I told him to ‘get bent’. The third time I said I’d rather drink poison. I think he got the picture after that.”
Malcolm and Hoshi chuckled, and T’Pol smirked. “If he calls again, say you’ll take him back if he can successfully cross the Vulcan Forge unaccompanied, with no food, water, shelter, or clothing, and no weapon to defend himself from sehlat.”
Mary laughed. “From what I’ve read of the Forge, not even a Vulcan could survive that!”
T’Pol raised an eyebrow. “Precisely.”
“Is that the Vulcan way of telling someone to ‘drop dead’?” Mary asked with a chuckle.
Shaking her head, T’Pol gave a small smile. “That’s my way of indicating Stuart’s value. Sehlat food - if he is fortunate.”
Mary shook her head, smiling. “I’d pity the poor sehlat. But enough of that. How are the three of you, and all your friends?”
The trio exchanged glances, and Malcolm said, “we’re well…”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’?”
He nodded. “But there’s been a complication for T’Pol. It seems that our relationship has disrupted her hormonal balance. Phlox is working on it, but we had a rather rough day when we got the news.”
Mary gave a sympathetic smile. “You're not the first woman whose hormones have wreaked havoc with her life, nor are you likely to be the last. I hope Phlox finds a treatment for you soon - there is nothing quite so bothersome as a body misbehaving when you have plans for what to do with it. Fortunately, you have a dedicated doctor and two loving partners to help you through it.”
T’Pol nodded. “Along with good friends, also.”
They chatted a while longer, then said their farewells.
Madeline arrived home, and found her mother in the kitchen making dinner.
“Hello, Mother. Did Malcolm and his ladies call?”
“Hello darling, yes they did. Malcolm and Hoshi are both well, and T’Pol’s got some sort of hormonal hiccup but is otherwise alright. That Denobulan doctor of theirs is working on it though, so I’m sure she’ll be just fine.”
“I certainly hope so,” Madeline said.
Enterprise
Later, they sat quietly for a time - Hoshi and T’Pol reading, Malcolm clearly lost in thought. As he emerged from his reverie he sighed, straightened his posture, and smiled. Hoshi and T’Pol looked up from their PADDs.
“I’ve concluded that my feelings regarding marriage are much the same as my feelings regarding parenthood - soured by my father’s abysmal example of it. On balance though, I would like to formalise our union, if you would both be willing.”
“Is that a proposal?” Hoshi asked.
“No love - if I propose, you won’t be wondering, you’ll know. I just thought it best to be honest about it.”
T’Pol and Hoshi exchanged a glance, then both knelt, holding each other’s hands as well as Malcolm’s.
“Malcolm Reed, would you do us the honour of becoming our husband?” they asked in unison.
Malcolm gasped, then grinned, joining them on the floor. “On the condition that you also be each other’s wife, I heartily accept.”
“Oh, we already agreed to that, we were just waiting on you,” Hoshi said with a smile.
A smaller though equally warm smile graced T’Pol’s features. “A wait that has been most worthwhile.”
Chapter 2: Everything Fades Away - reduced trigger version
Chapter Text
Malaysia, Earth
“I’m going home,” Mary Reed told her soon-to-be-ex husband.
“You are home,” Stuart said, frowning.
“Home to England,” she clarified.
He glared at her. “Is this about that rot with Malcolm again?”
Mary returned the glare with interest, having finally found the strength to stand up to the man. “The only rot in this family is you. Rotten to the core.”
Stuart shook his head. “You honestly believe I’d hurt my own family?”
“I believe Malcolm wouldn’t have written that letter if you hadn’t truly harmed him, regardless of what your intentions may have been.”
Narrowing his eyes, Stuart considered this a moment, then nodded curtly. “Do what you must.” Turning on his heel, he marched from the kitchen.
England, Earth - three months later
Mary had settled into a small but comfortable two-bedroom cottage in the Derbyshire countryside with her daughter Madeline, and the two women had worked together making it a home. Seated at the computer terminal in their cosy living room, Mary pressed the button to receive a transmission over subspace.
“Hello, Mother!” Malcolm said cheerfully.
“Hello, my darling!” Mary replied, beaming.
Madeline leaned over her mother’s shoulder to come into view. “Hello brother! I haven’t seen you smile so broadly since…actually, probably ever. You must be happy.”
“I am! Both for myself and for you. Congratulations on the divorce, Mother.”
Mary chuckled. “Not the sentiment one usually hears regarding divorce, but thank you all the same.”
“Would you like to meet Hoshi and T’Pol?” Malcolm asked. “At least as best you can until we visit Earth.”
“Of course we would, you dolt,” Madeline chuckled.
Hoshi came into view first. “Hello! We meet again!”
“Again?” Malcolm queried curiously.
Hoshi, Madeline and Mary all grinned.
“I called them years ago to ask about your favourite foods,” Hoshi said.
Malcolm was aghast. “The pineapple cake? That was you?!”
Hoshi nodded. “That was me! I’m still not telling how I figured it out though.”
Mary smiled. “I certainly didn’t know, you never really seemed to have a favourite anything, growing up.”
Pursing his lips momentarily, Malcolm sighed. “A defence mechanism. If Father didn’t know I liked something, he couldn’t use denial of it as a punishment.”
“Ah. That certainly explains a few things.”
Malcolm gave a small smile. “For the record, my favourite dessert is pineapple upside down cake.”
“His favourite meal is roast lamb with potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, baby peas, green beans, and brown gravy. With a very small amount of mint sauce on the lamb itself, not the vegetables,” T’Pol said as she joined them. “As a vegetarian I do not see the appeal of lamb, but the vegetables are agreeable,” she added.
Mary beamed. “I shall make a note of that! You must be T’Pol.”
T’Pol nodded. “Well met, Mrs Reed.”
“Please, call me Mary! Goodness knows you’ve more than earned it, making my Malcolm as happy as he is.”
Grinning, Malcolm pulled his two loves close beside him on the couch. “So, how’s the cottage?”
“It’s coming along nicely,” his mother answered.
“We’re working on the garden now,” Madeline interjected.
“If you need any advice, Trip’s girlfriend Naomi is one of our botany experts, I’m sure she’d be happy to help,” Malcolm offered.
Mary smiled. “I think we’ll be alright, but I’ll keep that in mind if anything gives trouble.”
“What she means to say is, she took all the gardening books from the family library with her when she left Father,” Madeline said with a grin.
“Half of everything was mine, that includes the books! So I took the Collected Works of Shakespeare, Austen, and Doyle, plus all of Pratchett, Tolkien, Lewis, LeGuin…” Mary continued listing authors and books until Madeline, Malcolm, and Hoshi were chuckling, and T’Pol had an amused smile at the corners of her mouth.
“I take it you left the military history books and not much else then?” Malcolm laughed.
Mary shrugged, also chuckling. “They did take up half the library!”
Still smiling, Madeline said, “so, how are things on Enterprise, other than your being deliriously happy? Anything interesting happened since we last spoke?”
Malcolm and Hoshi grimaced, while T’Pol got a pinched look between her eyes.
“About that…” Malcolm started.
Between the three of them the trio explained about Malcolm’s brush with death, the rescue and recovery from it, and the fact that it was now policy that nobody went outside the ship alone.
The three Reeds, Hoshi and T’Pol chatted a while longer, and when the call disconnected, Mary sat back in her seat, sighing contentedly. “He really is happy. Genuinely and truly happy.”
Madeline nodded. “He deserves it as much as you do, Mother. Though part of that conversation brings up an interesting point.”
“Mmmm, what’s that?”
“You and I need first aid training. We may not be Starfleet, but CPR is a valuable skill for anyone to know.”
Mary nodded. “Something to look into.”
Vulcan - three days later
T’Pol was consulting with the senior reproductive specialist at a medical centre, while Malcolm and Hoshi sat in the waiting room, holding hands and watching the door to the consultation room nervously.
“It’ll be alright, Mal,” Hoshi said, not sounding entirely sure but trying to be hopeful.
“I never wanted kids, for the longest time,” he said quietly. “I thought I’d be as rubbish at parenting as my own father. But now…”
“Now you’re wanting it to at least be an option,” Hoshi finished.
Malcolm nodded, and Hoshi gave his hand a squeeze.
Enterprise, in orbit of Vulcan
T’Pol had locked herself in the bathroom as soon as they reached their quarters, and an hour had passed without her emerging.
Malcolm and Hoshi were sitting on the sofa together, holding hands as they’d done in the waiting room.
“I’m going to see if she’ll let me in,” Hoshi said in a hushed tone.
Malcolm nodded mutely, a look of worry on his features.
She knocked gently at the door. “T’Pol? May I come in?”
Though there was no answer, the door unlocked from within.
Hoshi pressed the door control, and stepped into the bathroom.
T’Pol was sitting on the floor, her knees tucked to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs, and her chin resting on one knee.
Hoshi lowered herself to the floor beside T’Pol, keeping a couple of centimetres between them in case touch was unwelcome.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Hoshi asked softly.
T’Pol tilted her head to look at Hoshi. “I am,” she said, resigned. “I am unable to control my emotions as most Vulcans do. I have taken two Human mates. My behaviour has altered my biochemical make-up. I am wrong.”
Hoshi bit her lip. “May I put my arm around you?”
T’Pol shook her head. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Alright,” Hoshi said, a little sadly. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Could you please ask the captain if I may utilise guest quarters?”
Tears sprang into Hoshi’s eyes. “T’Pol, please don’t pull away from us.”
T’Pol huffed a sigh, stood in one fluid motion, and walked from their quarters.
Malcolm poked his head into the bathroom. “Hoshi?”
Hoshi stood, and leant against the wall. “She wants to use guest quarters.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
T’Pol pressed the door chime, her lips pressed together until they almost disappeared from view. The door opened, and she was faced with Trip.
“Hey T’Pol! How was Vulcan?”
T’Pol gave him a look, and he blinked in surprise.
“Based on that response I’m guessing the answer is ‘not well’. Why don’t you come in?”
She gave a nod, and stepped inside. “Thank you,” she said, her voice small.
Crewman Naomi Taylor looked up from the small sofa and gave a smile, then noticed T’Pol’s expression and turned to Trip. “Babe, why don’t you go fetch us some drinks and snacks?”
“But-”
She gave him a pointed look, and he nodded. “Snacks and drinks coming right up. Back in a bit.”
As Trip left her quarters, Naomi gestured to the seat beside her. “You want to tell me what’s wrong, or just sit quietly for a bit?”
T’Pol sat stiffly. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice tight.
“I know that feeling. How about we just sit until you’re ready.”
T’Pol nodded, her chin quavering. Soon she was shivering all over, close to tears. Rather than tears, words gushed from her, explaining the situation in detail to Naomi, who listened without interruption.
When T’Pol finished speaking, Naomi said, “may I ask a personal question?”
“I have already shared more personal information with you than anyone other than my doctors or partners are privy to. What do you wish to know?” T’Pol said, a slight crease between her brows.
Naomi smiled reassuringly. “Is this bothering you because it’s an unknown without a reliable answer, or because you feel like you’re failing at being a good Vulcan?”
T’Pol looked at Naomi wide-eyed with dawning comprehension. “Thank you,” she answered softly. “Please excuse me.”
She stood, and walked back to her own quarters.
On her arrival, Hoshi and Malcolm stood from where they were seated on the sofa.
“T’Pol!” Hoshi squeaked in surprise.
T’Pol stepped closer, pulling the desk chair with her. “Please sit. With Crewman Taylor’s assistance, I have come to a realisation.”
The three sat - Hoshi and Malcolm on the sofa again, T’Pol opposite.
“I spoke with Naomi, and she asked me one question - whether this situation is bothering me due to the unknown, or due to my relationship with being Vulcan. I have been struggling with how Human I have become in my behaviour, most especially with regards to expressing my feelings. This new complication overwhelmed me because it was yet another way in which I was ‘going native’ as an old Earth expression put it. I am no longer Vulcan enough to fit in amongst the people of my homeworld.”
Malcolm and Hoshi sat absorbing this quietly, and T’Pol continued.
“What Naomi’s question helped me to realise, is that although my physiology is still Vulcan in origin, I am no longer Vulcan. Enterprise is my people now. You are my people. And I do not wish to give you up.”
She reached out both hands, which Malcolm and Hoshi quickly grasped.
“I would like for us to go and speak with Phlox, to see what he recommends.”
They both nodded. “Do you want to go now?” Hoshi asked.
“I would prefer to have as many answers as possible, as quickly as possible. So yes, please.”
They walked together to sickbay, hands clasped until they reached the doors. Stepping through, Phlox greeted them in his usual cheerful manner, asking what he could do for them.
They explained what the specialist had said, and Phlox gently chided T’Pol.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have started researching for you.”
Half an hour later they were back in their quarters.
“I am sorry for my reaction earlier,” T’Pol said, seated between her partners, their arms around her.
They both gave small smiles, and Malcolm said, “it’s alright, T’Pol, everyone reacts to stress differently. I’m just glad you talked to someone you trusted, and came back to us.”
Hoshi nodded. “That’s one of the healthiest responses there is, for a Human.”
“I am not… technically Human. But I can see you mean that as a positive.”
“You’ve been joining us one step at a time for years. This was a leap rather than a step, and not one you chose. It’s no wonder you fell, for a moment,” Hoshi said.
T’Pol gave a tiny smile. “A good analogy. Perhaps I am a little like Mr Armstrong.”
Malcolm frowned in confusion for a second, then grinned as he realised what she meant. Putting on an American accent, he said, “That's one small step for a woman, one giant leap for Vulcan-kind.”
England, Earth - a month later
The subspace transmission from Enterprise connected, and Mary Reed smiled warmly.
“Hello darlings!”
“Hello, Mother,” Malcolm said, in chorus with Hoshi and T’Pol saying “hello, Mary.”
Malcolm smiled and asked, “how have you been?”
“I’ve been well, and Madeline too. Though Stuart has been calling, asking me to come back to him. The first time I said ‘no thank you’. The second, I told him to ‘get bent’. The third time I said I’d rather drink poison. I think he got the picture after that.”
Malcolm and Hoshi chuckled, and T’Pol smirked. “If he calls again, say you’ll take him back if he can successfully cross the Vulcan Forge unaccompanied, with no food, water, shelter, or clothing, and no weapon to defend himself from sehlat.”
Mary laughed. “From what I’ve read of the Forge, not even a Vulcan could survive that!”
T’Pol raised an eyebrow. “Precisely.”
“Is that the Vulcan way of telling someone to ‘drop dead’?” Mary asked with a chuckle.
Shaking her head, T’Pol gave a small smile. “That’s my way of indicating Stuart’s value. Sehlat food - if he is fortunate.”
Mary shook her head, smiling. “I’d pity the poor sehlat. But enough of that. How are the three of you, and all your friends?”
The trio exchanged glances, and Malcolm said, “we’re well…”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’?”
He nodded. “But there’s been a complication for T’Pol. It seems that our relationship has disrupted her hormonal balance. Phlox is working on it, but we had a rather rough day when we got the news.”
Mary gave a sympathetic smile. “You're not the first woman whose hormones have wreaked havoc with her life, nor are you likely to be the last. I hope Phlox finds a treatment for you soon - there is nothing quite so bothersome as a body misbehaving when you have plans for what to do with it. Fortunately, you have a dedicated doctor and two loving partners to help you through it.”
T’Pol nodded. “Along with good friends, also.”
They chatted a while longer, then said their farewells.
Madeline arrived home, and found her mother in the kitchen making dinner.
“Hello, Mother. Did Malcolm and his ladies call?”
“Hello darling, yes they did. Malcolm and Hoshi are both well, and T’Pol’s got some sort of hormonal hiccup but is otherwise alright. That Denobulan doctor of theirs is working on it though, so I’m sure she’ll be just fine.”
“I certainly hope so,” Madeline said.
Enterprise
Later, they sat quietly for a time - Hoshi and T’Pol reading, Malcolm clearly lost in thought. As he emerged from his reverie he sighed, straightened his posture, and smiled. Hoshi and T’Pol looked up from their PADDs.
“I’ve concluded that my feelings regarding marriage are much the same as my feelings regarding parenthood - soured by my father’s abysmal example of it. On balance though, I would like to formalise our union, if you would both be willing.”
“Is that a proposal?” Hoshi asked.
“No love - if I propose, you won’t be wondering, you’ll know. I just thought it best to be honest about it.”
T’Pol and Hoshi exchanged a glance, then both knelt, holding each other’s hands as well as Malcolm’s.
“Malcolm Reed, would you do us the honour of becoming our husband?” they asked in unison.
Malcolm gasped, then grinned, joining them on the floor. “On the condition that you also be each other’s wife, I heartily accept.”
“Oh, we already agreed to that, we were just waiting on you,” Hoshi said with a smile.
A smaller though equally warm smile graced T’Pol’s features. “A wait that has been most worthwhile.”
DeadheadDaisy (SGC247) on Chapter 1 Fri 23 May 2025 06:23AM UTC
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