#midwesterntransplant

“...You...” Trip stares in disbelief. “You told Koss to make sure T’Pol ‘has a good time tonight because she needs it’. I mean... you’re not wrong, no one needs to get laid like that woman but I can’t... you said it... in front of her.”

“Just about!” Trip calls from the kids room, he’s pinned Anthony down long enough to get his shoes on. Then he picks him up so he can’t pull the shoes off. “Ophelia, lets go.” Trip says, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the living room. He smiles at Merri, his mood suddenly lightening upon seeing her and the baby on her hip - and the thought of the fourth being somewhere under the gown helps too. “You look amazing.” 

“You know if it didn’t bug them that I called myself First Lady I wouldn’t do it.” Trip chuckles. “I’d let them call me what ever the hell they wanted, but they just make is so much fun.” Trip really did get some sort of childish enjoyment out of messing with the Republican comfort zone. “Honestly though, who’s masculinity is that delicate? You ask me it sounds like Senator Thiels’ personal problem not mine.”

“Merr,” Trip says, looking over at her lovingly. “It’s fine, it might suck in the moment but it ain’t your fault - and trust me it will all be worth it when she’s here.” Trip smiles softly, leaning over and kissing Merri’s belly. 

“Well at least it’s not just me.” T’Pol mutters, sipping her peppermint tea. “He felt the need to comment on my posterior yesterday when he thought I was out of range” Oh she’d come close to reporting him for that one, but she’d been in this environment long enough to know that very little would come of it unless he actually touched her. “Lieutenant Dolokov has been problematic too, he enjoys staring during movie nights.”

Lizzie looks over at her step mother and frowns a little. “Okay.” She says, standing up from her place on the floor and going over to the bed. She doesn’t really know what brought about this seemingly spontaneous bout of cuddling from her step mother but she’s not about to turn it down. She cuddles up to Merri and looks up at her. “Why?”

Trip has just sent the kids with the teaching assistant for lunch and initially intending to work through lunch to finish grading papers. He’s just sat down to finish the grading when he hears the baby’s excited squelling. He frowns a little, it can’t be Millie, she doesn’t call him that. Until he looks out the door he’s confused, but as he sees it is Millie a wide grin spreads across his face. “Millie,” He grins. “Baby girl you ain’t never called me that before”