Animals: The IDIC Romance Advent Calendar

Wow! Only two days left to the year, and to this little Advent calendar of mine! I hope your 2015 was filled with love, laughter, sharing, and so much joy that it flows out from you and embraces others. I hope that The IDIC Romance was maybe a tiny spark of that joy for you, because it certainly has been for me! Over the last few days, T’Pol’s been in my head almost constantly, and she’s been sharing more pieces of her life, demanding that I tell those stories, too…

Which means that she and Trip are likely to be a big part of my joy, in the year to come.

I’m okay with that! =)

Today, I offer you another rough and imperfect little stone; a continuation, of sorts, on a theme…be warned –  this one’s a potential trigger. Life isn’t always fair, or easy to accept – even in fiction.

At the end of today’s story, you’ll find another paragraphs of Remnants and Remains, courtesy of Erin Zarro, our resident supernova of comments and encouragement.

OK, briefing time:

• Spoiler zone ahead! Don’t read these posts if you don’t want series spoilers, or even spoilers for other parts of The IDIC Romance, because things will be revealed, and I don’t like spoiling…I’d much rather delight.

• The base art for the calendar elements of this post was created by Annalise S. Burton, and is used with permission and compensation.

• I don’t own Trip, T’Pol, or the franchise that conceived them. These stories are offered as a gift, without expectation for any financial gain. Of course, comments, rhapsodizing ramblings, and honest feedback of all kinds are always welcome!

And now, to the calendar…..we lift the tab… and find… a worried husband and grieving father, and his best friend, who can’t possibly understand…

“How are you doing, Trip?”

Damn. He wished damned near everyone didn’t use that same tone, as though they wanted him to think that they understood what he was going through. But how could they? And didn’t they get – even Jon? – that what he was going through was a hell of a lot easier than what his wife was going through?

“We’ve lost four babies, Cap’n. I’m not good – but I don’t want to talk about me.”

“How is T’Pol? Sorry – I seem to keep asking stupid questions. I know she can’t be handling this well, even if she’s pretending.” At least Jon had some clue how inane he sounded.

“She’s not pretending. She’s not – well, she’s not doing anything, Cap’n -”

“It’s just Jon – you’re on leave, Trip.”

“Jon – I’m scared. Used to think she could handle anything, because she didn’t care about anything. But then I got to know her, and saw I was wrong. Got closer to her, and found out just how passionate she can be, and how much she controls that. Watched her fall apart, at Azati Prime, fell apart with her on Vulcan, helped her put the pieces back together. But now – these are her babies, Jon, and they keep dying -”

Damn. Hadn’t wanted to cry.

“I’m so sorry. I thought this time -”

“So did we. Everything was so perfect – until that damned accident – sorry -”

“For hurting? For showing it? Don’t be, Trip.”

“We’ve gotta help T’Pol….it’s worse for her. Vulcans – they feel each other, when they’re family. She felt Elizabeth, before we even found her, did you know that? And the twins -right up to the end, even with everything she’d just been through– and Grace…we both had lots of time to get to know Grace….” The pain swallowed him whole – his pain, and hers, all tangled up together…

How did Trip and T’Pol lose their twins?

What happened to Grace?

Does Trip have an idea how to help T’Pol?

Can she be helped, when the pain is so great?

How do animals figure into this story?

Will Trip and T’Pol ever get to be parents?

What’s next?

Drop me a comment, and I’ll add a paragraph. The more comments, the more paragraphs I add. So go ahead – give me something to keep me busy – but note – this story, and tomorrow’s, will both update on January 2 to allow time for comments…

And, as promised, here’s another paragraph of Remnants and Remains:

Context: T’Pol’s escaped her unknown captors, and is headed for Enterprise in a stolen craft, – but her mind and Trip’s are one – and Trip is anything but sane.

Trip clawed his way back up, still shaking, still crying, still muttering in Vulcan. The comm signaled, and Trip looked like he was going to go through the airlock, no matter what was on the other side. “She’s on her way, sir. She’ll be docking in less than two minutes – and her weapons are powered down. MACOs are standing by, as is hull plating, in case that changes.” Malcolm had been with the MACOs when they went to detain Trip. “How are things on your end, sir?”

Need more IDIC Romance Advent stories?