The BLTS Archive - Until Tomorrow
by Bether (Bether6074@aol.com)

---

Disclaimer: Enterprise and its characters belong to
Paramount.

This little story takes place during "Home." It's my
interpretation of what I would have liked to see happen after
T'Pol told Trip she was marrying Koss.

Author's Notes: I want to send along a huge thank you to my
beta-reader and friend, Distracted. In fact, I could probably give her
a credit for this one, because she really helped me with some of the
passages.

Words between / /  indicate italics

---

Trip Tucker stepped briskly along the pathway, trying to escape his
growing misery. He couldn't walk fast enough.

/How can she do this to me?/

His heart pounded violently. Every beat increased the pain coming from
deep within his chest. He struggled to focus, his mind clouded with
confusion.

/Marry another man? Just when I thought we. . ./

Something stirred inside him, conflicting emotions obscuring any
rational response he might have otherwise had.

/I should've told her. . .  I should've told her how I feel. . . that
I love her. . . with all my heart. . . that I need her. . . that I
want her. . ./

Trip clenched his teeth angrily.

/I'm tired of her little games. . . Invite me here to do this? What do
you want from me, T'Pol? What do you want? 'Cause I sure as hell don't
know. . ./

"Trip!" T'Pol's voice sounded out with conviction.

Trip put his head down.

/Keep walkin'. . . keep walkin'. . ./

"Trip, please. . . "

/You can beg all ya want, Darlin', I'm not stoppin'. There's nothin'
more to say. You made your choice. . ./

A hand pressed against his shoulder. Trip startled briefly at the
sudden touch.

/Damn. . . how the hell did she catch me so fast? Was she runnin'?/

Trip turned around instinctively to face the Vulcan. His eyes scanned
T'Pol's face, searching for a small sign of suppressed emotions. She
stared back at him stoically, her expression giving no clear
revelation of hidden feelings. But Trip knew her better than anyone
and he was certain there was something behind her unflappable façade.

T'Pol sensed Trip's anger.

/He is displaying such intense emotion. I have caused this response in
him. . . again./

The Vulcan fought to restrain a twinge of regret. She measured her
words carefully.

"Trip. . . you must understand. . . certain things are beyond my
control. As a Vulcan, I must fulfill my obligations to my family.
Personal wishes are irrelevant. . . I assure you I meant no harm."

Trip looked back at her with exasperation. He took a few bold steps
forward and glared confidently into T'Pol's eyes.

"What is this between us, T'Pol? What exactly is it? Does it mean
anythin' to you? Do I mean anythin'?"

The Vulcan gazed back at him in silence, unable to find the words.
Trip nodded his head knowingly and crossed his arms. His eyes were
cold and distant.

/To hell with her. . ./

"Yeah. . . that's what I thought," the young engineer stated flatly.
He turned away from T'Pol and hurriedly walked away.

The Vulcan stood quietly, watching as the human moved further and
further off in the distance.

/It is displeasing to see him this way. I do not wish to lose his
companionship. . . I am only doing what I must./

She sighed heavily.

/Humans do not seem to comprehend the need to place necessary actions
before desires. . . but the Commander. . . perhaps he will eventually
understand./

---

The Vulcan matriarch startled briefly at the sound of her front door
closing loudly. The noise was displeasing and disruptive. She turned
her head slightly, recognizing the perpetrator as her daughter's human
friend. The young man walked with his head down, looking solemn.

Apparently, T'Pol has informed him of her intentions to marry Koss.

Trip stopped and glanced up at T'Les. "I'm sorry about the door. . .
it just kinda slipped. I didn't mean to disturb you, Ma'am."

T'Les tipped her head slightly. "That's quite all right, Commander.
You have caused me no harm." She gazed over his shoulder, searching.
"Is T'Pol with you?"

Trip winced at the sound of her name. "Well, I got a little head start
on her. . . but I imagine she'll be along soon."

Although he was smiling, T'Les could sense the human's discomfort.

/He has strong feelings for T'Pol. How did she allow this to happen? A
human and a Vulcan. . . completely illogical. . ./

"If you'll excuse me. . . " Trip said politely, as he moved away from
T'Les ". . . I think I'm gonna go relax for a while." He made his way
to the guest room quickly, hoping to avoid T'Pol's impending return.

/Relax? He wants to relax? I did not think humans were capable of such
a thing. . ./

She watched him as he walked down the hall.

/Perhaps he will benefit from this exercise. . . his emotions appear
completely unbridled. . . a lack of control. . .  so typical of a
human. . ./

---

Behind the closed door of T'Les's guest room, Trip sat quietly at the
edge of the bed. He slumped over slightly and allowed himself to feel
the sickening ache in his chest. He felt so empty and lonely.

/I've lost her. Lost her before I even had her. . ./

Trip sighed in despair. He cradled his head gently with his hands in a
desperate attempt to somehow soothe himself, and then rubbed his
fingers along his forehead, groaning softly.

/Get a hold of yourself, Tucker. It's not as if you haven't been
through this before. Hell. . .  you ought to be a pro at it by now. ./

He forced back his tears and clenched his teeth.

/Get tough. . . be a man. . . She's doin' it for her mother. . . not
'cause she loves him. She's doin' it even though she doesn't want to.
. . it's her duty. . . as a Vulcan. . ./

---

Commander Trip Tucker sat quietly upon a kitchen stool and stared
ahead in contemplation. The room was dark, silent and peaceful. He
leaned an elbow down onto the counter and rested his chin gently into
his hand, sighing softly.

/If T'Pol only knew how much sleep I'd lost over the past few months. 
. . and to think. . .  she was actually supposed to help me with my
insomnia. . ./

T'Pol turned the corner, catching sight of the starship engineer. He
was clad only in navy blue boxers and white socks. The Vulcan ran her
eyes along the curves of his bare chest. Dim light shone down upon his
skin, illuminating his finely contoured muscles with a pale copper
hue. Her eyes widened as her gaze moved upward, scanning the human's
body. Trip's arms were long, sturdy and well-defined. His shoulders
were large and perfectly sculpted. T'Pol stared at his face and traced
the features of his profile with careful attention. His hair was
mussed as usual. Several misplaced strands danced back and forth
slightly, caught in the breeze of a fan which hung from the ceiling.
He blinked several times, staring ahead, and was apparently oblivious
to the fact that he was being watched. The Vulcan's gaze moved to her
friend's mouth. Trip ran his tongue slowly back and forth along his
lower lip. T'Pol swallowed, attempting to fend off the sudden arousal
she felt beginning to simmer.

/The Commander is indeed aesthetically pleasing. . . quite
aesthetically pleasing. . . for a human. Perhaps I should return to
bed and not disturb him./

Suddenly, Trip sensed a presence in the room. He turned and spotted
T'Pol in the hallway, staring at him.

"What the hell are ya doin'?" he questioned defensively, wondering
exactly how long she had been standing there.

T'Pol tipped her head and gazed back at him. She spoke in a near
whisper. "I have been unable to rest properly this evening. I thought
perhaps a small drink of water would be soothing."

"Soothin'? Since when do you ever need to be soothed?"

"I was merely hoping that the intake of liquid would allow me to fall
asleep."

"Why, T'Pol? Is somethin' on your mind?"

T'Pol looked down at the floor and fell silent. Trip sighed, slightly
confused.

/I've never seen her like this before...think I'll just ignore it.../

He studied her face briefly, then decided it was time to look away.

/Yep... been hurt enough. . . but what if. . . what if she's actually
tryin' to tell me somethin'?/

"What is it, T'Pol?" There was no answer. "T'Pol?" Silence. . .

/Why the hell won't she talk to me? What now, T'Pol? Why can't you 
tell me how you really feel? For once. . . just tell me. . ./

Trip stood up from the stool and stepped quickly toward the source of
his frustration. He moved as close to her as possible, clearly
invading her personal space.

"You know, T'Pol. . . I'm gettin' tired of this." He maneuvered even
closer to the Vulcan, now brushing lightly up against her. "I'm tired
of tryin' to figure out exactly what's goin' on in your head. Tired of
tryin' to read your mind. . . " He glared challengingly into her stoic
eyes.

"Do you want to marry Koss, T'Pol? Is that what you really want? To
spend your life with a man you barely know. . . "

The silence in the air was deafening. The Human and Vulcan stood
facing one another, bodies pressed together, in a heated and lingering
stare. Trip's breathing quickened as he placed a hand firmly beneath
T'Pol's chin, forcing her attention to him.

/Ask her, dammit! Ask her!/

Trip parted his lips slowly. He felt his mouth go dry.

"Do you have any kind of. . .  feelin's for me? I mean. . . well. . . 
do you. . . love me?" he inquired with a gentle sincerity. "Do you?
Because. . .  I sure as hell. . . "

Trip's sentence was interrupted by a sudden, passionate caress against
his mouth. He lurched backward slightly, surprised by the unexpected
pressure, and felt T'Pol's hands clutching his face. He opened his
lips in response to her touch to feel the ecstasy of T'Pol's tongue
exploring his own. A warm rush of exhilaration swept over him. He lost
control. He was powerless against his desire for her. Trip grasped the
Vulcan's face, kissing her frenziedly and hard. The two lost their
balance and tumbled to the floor with a loud thump.

/Sonuvabitch. . .  T'Les. . . I'm a dead man. . ./

T'Pol gazed up at Trip as he lay atop her. "There is no need to worry.
. . Trip. Mother sleeps very deeply and is not easily disturbed." She
grabbed the back of his neck and drew him toward her, showing no hint
that her arousal had subsided.

/This behavior has no logic. . . and yet I wish to please him. . . to
show him affection. . . it is becoming increasingly difficult to
suppress my. . . emotions for him./

Trip felt the cool rush of air on the skin of his back. He felt
T'Pol's warm hands caressing him. . . everywhere. The sensation was
overwhelming. Excitement swelled rapidly within him as his desire for
her became a desperate need. He pressed his mouth to hers lustfully,
craving her and unable to get enough. Her body pushed up against his
in response. He nuzzled his face into hers, planting small, purposeful
kisses along her tender neck. Suddenly, Trip pulled away. He gazed
deeply and longingly into her eyes.

/I know she loves me. . . I can feel it. . . Don't do this, T'Pol. . .
don't leave me. . . not now. . ./

Something wrenched in Trip's gut. He felt a sickening ache and came to
an inevitable conclusion.

/What the hell am I doin'? We can't do this. . . we can't. . ./

T'Pol quivered beneath Trip, the tangible proof of his desire for her
becoming suddenly quite apparent. She felt his excitement all too
well. From beneath his boxers, a bulging hardness pressed against her
lower body in silent yearning. T'Pol steeled herself, repressing the
desire to touch him. She suppressed the need to run her fingers along
his firm flesh and reawaken her memories of his silky smoothness.

/Indeed. . . a pointless exercise. . . if I am to marry another. A
human may give in to such temptations. . . but I am Vulcan. I must not
permit myself to engage in such illogical behavior. . . however
enticing his body may feel upon mine. . . it would be illogical. . .
completely illogical. . ./

Trip gazed thoughtfully into T'Pol's eyes. Beneath the darkened hazel,
he saw something unfamiliar. Something wild, almost feral. . . T'Pol
stared back at Trip intently. Thoughts became lost. A primal hunger
coursed through her body. She wanted him. Logic be damned. She wanted
him here and now.

/Mother would not be pleased. . ./

T'Pol grasped Trip's underwear. She pulled at it frantically, fingers
digging into flesh. Trip's heart pounded forcefully. His eyes widened.
He felt her hands about him, rubbing, tugging and pulling. Waves of
pleasure rushed through his body as she stroked him tenderly.

/Oh, sweet Jesus. . ./

He kissed her hungrily, tasting the warm flesh of her lips upon his.
The sensation of her touch overwhelmed him with pleasure. He drove his
tongue voraciously into her mouth, unable to satiate his appetite for
her. Trip broke the kiss and gazed down at her, still breathing
heavily. He slid his hand down her silky robe and slipped a finger
into the loosely-tied knot around her waist. With a slight pull, the
garment slid off. Her sculpted body lay beneath him, awaiting him with
silent anticipation. Trip ran his eyes down the fine contours of her
breasts. He closed his eyes and gulped. Her hand was still pleasuring
him. Fingers massaged him delicately. His heart fluttered from her
gentle caresses. Suddenly, T'Pol let go, leaving him aching and
yearning from the absence of her touch. Throbbing. . . Pulsing. . . 
Trip pushed his body against her. She felt his stiffened hardness
press against her, beckoning for more.

She lay still for a moment and savored the feel of his body. Her skin
quivered with each thump of his heart against her chest. His lips
settled upon her breast, caressing her warm skin gently with a loving
tenderness. His tongue teased her nipple expertly. T'Pol shuddered
beneath him and grasped onto the back of his head, lacing her fingers
through his hair. She inhaled deeply and breathed in his scent. His
smell was now unmistakably familiar and no longer repulsing. . . 
Sweat mixed with a hint of musk, a slight metallic aroma and something
else. . . something distinct and unique. . . Trip. . .

Instinctively, T'Pol grasped him and guided him inside her. She closed
her eyes and met his gentle thrusting. . .  felt it becoming deeper
and faster, driving her closer and closer to satisfaction. He pressed
himself against her, knowing instinctively how to bring her to
completion. Her breathing became ragged as she felt herself going over
the edge. . . waves of ecstasy rippling through her body as a
sensation of overwhelming pleasure raced through her. She gasped
quietly as the waves softly subsided. She found herself thinking
distractedly. . .

/The Commander's body is illogically pleasing. . .  He is quite adept
at this. . ./

T'Pol opened her eyes and gazed up at Trip. He stared back at her
intently.

/Hmmm. . . a rather unusual expression, but it does appear that he is
enjoying himself. . ./

With his gaze still focused on T'Pol, Trip quickened his pace. He
stared deeply into her eyes and felt his body shake with pleasure. A
pleasure tainted by an indescribable inner pain and an inevitable
loss. His eyes never left hers. He wanted to remember this. He wanted
to cherish it.

/It's okay, Darlin'. . . I'll always love ya. . . no matter what. . ./

He felt himself stiffen within her. Sensations began to rise with each
forceful thrust. Her walls caressed him, dampened his skin and
squeezed him tightly. Trip closed his eyes and reveled in the ecstasy
that assaulted his senses. His body shook as the culmination of their
encounter overtook him, erupting in rapid spurts and leaving them both
trembling with pleasure.

Trip lay softly upon T'Pol. He nuzzled his face gently alongside of
her and suddenly remembered where they were. He rolled off T'Pol onto
the hard floor, scrambling to find his underpants.

From the opposite end of the house, there came the soft sound of
footsteps. Trip jumped to his feet, frantically pulling up his drawers
and feeling a bit like a scared teenager. He rushed over to the couch
and plopped down onto the cushions, trying desperately to look
virtuous.

/Crap. . . crap. . . crap. . . caught with my hand in the cookie jar. 
. . it sure is a good thing Vulcans don't believe in violence any 
more.. ./

T'Pol slipped on her robe quickly and stood up. She watched as her
mother approached with a look of unrepressed disdain on her face.
T'Les glared at her daughter for a long moment and then directed her
gaze to Trip. He smiled bashfully, hoping desperately that his boyish
charm might have some positive effect on the elder Vulcan. The young
engineer fidgeted nervously with his hands.

"We both had a little trouble sleepin' tonight, Ma'am," Trip offered
carefully.

T'Les noted his apparent uneasiness. Trip was unable to look the
Vulcan matriarch directly in the eye and his body language was clearly
defensive. His lips appeared a little more puffy and reddened than she
previously recollected. She scanned his body observantly and fixed her
eyes on his pants, which were noticeably stained.

/Clearly more has been going on here than merely idle conversation. . 
T'Pol is disgracing herself. . .  Living amongst humans has had a
detrimental effect. . .  her ability to suppress emotions appears even
more challenged than it already was./

"I presume the both of you will be going back to your rooms now?"
T'Les inquired with an ever- so-slight hint of sarcasm. Trip nodded
apologetically and smiled with a feigned innocence.

"I was just on my way." He rose quickly to his feet, his eyes briefly
catching T'Pol's. He flashed a knowing glare at her.

/Heavy sleeper, huh? Yeah right. . ./

T'Les turned her attention toward T'Pol. "You and I will discuss this
matter further in the morning."

T'Pol stared at her mother with an unwavering boldness. "Exactly what
is it that you wish to discuss, Mother? If you have something to say,
why don't you just say it now?"

T'Les took a step toward her daughter. An awkward stillness pervaded
the air. Suddenly, the uneasy aura was broken by a distant, yet
powerful thud. T'Les blinked and exhaled forcefully, a twinge of
annoyance creeping slowly to the surface.

/Apparently the Commander needs a lesson regarding the proper way to
close a door. . ./

"Sorry. . . " the human's voice sounded out from behind the door of
the guest room.

If T'Les were human, she would have rolled her eyes. Instead, she
focused her energy on T'Pol. "You have feelings for this. . .
Commander Tucker, don't you? Feelings that aren't being properly
suppressed. . . How did you ever permit this to happen?"

"I have agreed to marry Koss. What more do you want from me?"

"Your conduct here tonight has been reprehensible, T'Pol. Fraternizing
with a human when you have made a promise to Koss is simply
inexcusable. You have shamed both of us."

T'Pol stared back at T'Les, steadfast and unmoved. "Whatever may or
may not have happened between myself and Commander Tucker is none of
your affair, Mother."

"It becomes my affair T'Pol when the two of you are under my roof.
When you are here, I expect your actions to reflect the utmost
respect. Are we clear?"

The younger Vulcan tipped her head and fought back a smoldering anger
that threatened to escape the confines of her emotional barriers. She
gulped and met her mother's gaze, defiant and unafraid. "Very clear,
Mother. . . . Is there anything else that you wish to discuss?"

T'Les relaxed her face. "No. . . I believe that was all. You should
try to find a suitable method of obtaining some rest. The ceremony
begins quite early tomorrow morning."

T'Pol looked down at the floor, nodding slightly. She sighed softly
and walked quietly toward her room. T'Les watched as her daughter
disappeared behind the large oak door.

/Perhaps it is wrong to force her hand in this matter. . . it
certainly does appear that she has formed affection for this human. . 
however senseless it may be. . . and it is quite obvious that her
human friend is hopelessly in love with her. . . I shall have to speak
with him regarding this matter before the ceremony./

---

T'Pol lay awake in bed, trying to calm the emotions that raged deep
within her. She focused her eyes on the ceiling above, struggling to
regain her inner peace.

/I must communicate with him about this... It's something he clearly
needs from me. . ./

The Vulcan rolled over and slid off the bed, reaching for her robe.

/Mother interrupted us.../

T'Pol opened her door and peered out into the darkened hallway.

/Perhaps I should accept that this night will be a sleepless one. . ./

She moved quietly through the corridor, making her way to the
guestroom. T'Pol stopped and stared at the wooden door. She raised her
hand to the oak, knocked softly and then carefully turned the knob.

Trip startled for a moment from underneath the bed covers and sat up
half-way. He blinked and gazed somberly at T'Pol.

"What is it, T'Pol? I don't think your mother's gonna be too happy if
she finds you in here."

"My concern at this moment, Trip, is not with Mother.

Trip swallowed hard, feeling his heart flutter at the sound of his
name. "Well. . . what then?" he asked softly.

T'Pol turned and closed the door behind her. She put her arms behind
her back and clasped her hands tightly, stiffening her body. "I wish
to speak with you."

Trip rolled his eyes. "Well. . . I figured that much out, Darlin'!" He
squirmed, quickly realizing his error. "Sorry, T'Pol. . . guess I
can't call ya that anymore. . .  it's a pretty good bet Koss wouldn't
take kindly to it. . . " His words trailed off with a noticeable
regret.

"Trip," T'Pol began, taking a few steps toward the bed, "I find no
satisfaction in causing you such discomfort. . . but please try to
understand. . . I must do this."

Trip blinked, taking in her words. His expression softened as he gazed
back at her.

/Tell me what's in your heart, Darlin'. . . you'll always be my
darlin'. . . even if I can't have you. . ./

"I know. . . I understand. . . its okay. . . really, T'Pol. . . it
is." He bowed his head sadly, averting his eyes from her and trying
desperately to conceal his anguish. T'Pol sighed softly and sat down,
turning her body to face Trip. The young man stared down at his hands;
unable to bear the pain that gazing into T'Pol's eyes would surely
bring him. His head quivered slightly, his lips trembling and his eyes
watering as his grief suddenly became too difficult to inhibit. Trip
felt a warm hand gently caressing his. He clasped instinctively onto
T'Pol's fingers and then focused his eyes upon their interlocked
hands. A silent tear fell from his cheek and landed softly onto the
back of T'Pol's hand. The wetness spread quickly across her skin, the
cool liquid of his sorrow seeping into her soul.

She didn't think, but suddenly found her arms about him, holding him
tight. She pressed her lips to his face gently; kissing away his tears
like a mother would soothe a wounded child. T'Pol placed her head onto
his shoulder and for a brief moment freed herself from her inner
struggle for control. She allowed the shared sadness.

/I believe I do love you, Trip. . ./

"It's better this way, T'Pol," Trip whispered, interrupting her silent
revelation.

T'Pol blinked in surprise, her face snuggled comfortably into Trip's
neck. "What do you mean?" she questioned.

/Help her. . . tell her its right. . ./

"Well. . . you know. . . your bein' with a Vulcan. . . rather than an
emotional human. . . not sure we stood much of a chance anyhow. . . "

/Perhaps his assessment is accurate. . . although I do believe this is
an attempt at nobility on his part. . ./

"I understand, Trip. . . a valid argument could be made that a human
female would be more suited to fulfill your needs as well."

/Another woman? Not a chance in hell. . . don't want another woman,
Darlin'. . . it's you that I love. . ./

"Stay with me tonight, T'Pol."

"It would not be logical."

"I just wanna hold ya in my arms. . . just for tonight. . . "

T'Pol lifted her head from his shoulder and stared into his pale blue
eyes. An unfamiliar warmth spread rapidly through her body. Left
powerless to battle this new and extremely pleasant feeling, the
Vulcan succumbed briefly to her emotions. She permitted the human to
gaze into her eyes. She allowed him to feel her vulnerability, allowed
him beyond the walls she had built so meticulously to fend him off.
Trip smiled at her through dried tears.

/I just knew ya loved me, Darlin'. . ./

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and squeezed gently, rocking
her from side to side in the comforting embrace. Trip released a hand
from T'Pol and placed it on the bed for leverage. He guided her down,
carefully, until they both lay upon the sheets, their bodies still
entwined in a tender cuddle. T'Pol blinked, looking attentively at the
features of Trip's face, his eyes, and nose and mouth now only mere
inches from her own. She wanted to remember him like this. She wanted
to store everything about this moment in her mind and access it at
will, knowing that a moment like this would never happen again. The
Vulcan pressed her palm to the Human's cheek. She slid her fingers
ever-so-tenderly along his jaw, moving upward to his lips. T'Pol
caressed the softness of his mouth gently. Trip looked back at her
with wondering and glowing eyes. T'Pol took a deep breath,
understanding.

/A human's love is so powerful. . . I shall stay with him tonight./

T'Pol moved her body to Trip's, turning the half-hug into a full
embrace. She closed her eyes and settled into his arms, no longer
fighting the bliss his closeness brought her.

/Perhaps another time. . . another place. . . but one day you shall be
mine. . . Charles Tucker III. . . one day. . ./

---

The End