A/N: Okay, I obviously don't own the characters. I love getting reviews though!

Oh shit, Jim thought to himself as Sulu was pulling away from the space dock. "Mr. Sulu, I'm sorry, can you get back to the space dock, I forgot something on the surface." Jim Kirk and his crew had been on Cardassia for the last two weeks to work on some negotiations and they were getting ready to head on to Ferenginar.

"No problem sir, let me just let the Cardassians know we are coming back in." Sulu hit a few buttons.

"What is it Jim?" Spock asked from his station.

"Nothing, I just need to go back down to the surface. I should be back in twenty minutes tops. Spock, you have the bridge," Jim answered nonchalantly. He got up from his seat and hurried to the transport room. He couldn't believe that he almost forgot to pick up a souvenir for Annie. It was one of the few ways he had to reach her and here, he'd almost let an opportunity pass him by. He rushed from the turbo lift over to the transport pad.

"Just down to the marketplace in Damar, ensign." Kirk stood with his hands behind his back.

The ensign, though confused, quickly did as he was instructed and Jim returned to Damar to get a larish pie.

Meanwhile on the bridge, everyone sat, unsure of what the captain was up to. It wasn't like Jim Kirk to stop the ship just before going into warp.

"Sickbay to the bridge, is everything okay up there?" McCoy called over the comm system.

"Yes Doctor," Spock replied. "The captain simply forgot something on the surface and needed to return."

"Well, I just hope we can get these medical supplies to Ferenginar on time." McCoy replied.

"He should return shortly," Spock answered.

A short while later, Jim returned to the bridge. "Engage original coordinates Mr. Sulu." Jim spoke as if nothing happened.

"Is everything alright Captain?" Spock asked as the ship left dock for the second time within the hour.

"I just forgot that I was going to send Annie a little something." Jim replied as he turned his focus to some paperwork to fill time between Cardassia and Ferenginar.

"I see," Spock responded with a startled nod.

"Sir, I am receiving communication from a Mister Kirk." Uhura called out.

Jim went to stand behind Uhura. "I'll take it in the ready room." Jim answered, a little worried. He shot a look to Spock to let him know to take control and hurried to the small room off of the bridge. After the door closed behind him, Jim sat down and pressed a button. After a second, Sam Kirk, Jim's older brother came on the screen.

"Sam," Jim exclaimed. "This is a surprise."

"Hi Jim, sorry to bother you," Sam smiled warmly at his kid brother. "We just got the pie for Annie. She's out right now but I'll make sure she sees it tonight when she gets in."

"Thanks Sam. Was that all?" Jim asked as he leaned back in the chair.

"You know what is in a couple months?" Sam gently prodded Jim.

"Yeah, are you planning anything special?" Jim asked.

"Well…" Sam trailed off.

"Please let me know if you need anything. This is an important birthday." Jim smiled sadly.

"She said she wants to spend it with you Jim." Sam replied point blank.

"We're on our way to Ferenginar now, but I think I could probably swing though. She really said she wanted to see me?" Jim asked a little incredulously.

"Is there any way you can do anything besides 'swing through'?" Sam asked.

"Do you want me to try to take some time off and stay in Riverside?" Jim asked slowly.

"That would be nice, even though I know you told this town good riddance when you left." Sam nodded.

Jim slowly rubbed his hands together. "She really asked to see me?" Jim asked again.

"Yes!" Sam exclaimed. "She seems to understand the situation you're in, so she knows why you haven't been around."

"Well, I sure wish I could understand it," Jim said a little more bitterly than he intended. Sam didn't say anything. "Do you think she'd want to come up to Enterprise?"

"She has three months of vacation in a week," Sam mused. "But then again, she's never left Iowa, never transported…"

"A first time for everything," Jim shrugged. "Why don't you talk to her and see if she'd be up for it."

"If she's not, will you come back home?" Sam asked.

"I don't know," Jim answered honestly.

"Don't shut her out because you're still mad at them," Sam cautioned. "She needs you now."

"Yeah, just let me know what she thinks of coming up here for a while." Jim quickly tried to bring the conversation to an end.

"I will let you know, when she makes up her mind." Sam promised. Jim pressed a button and the screen went blank, but he didn't move for a few minutes. She wanted to see him, Jim thought joyfully! He knew she was always out there somewhere, but this was the first time there had been any attempt from the other side for contact. Was this a huge mistake that was going to blow up in his face, Jim wondered. What would she do? How safe was it really to bring her out here, especially when the Klingon Empire was as restless as ever. He definitely had a lot to think about. After a while he realized he was probably needed on the bridge. He walked in and went straight to his chair. No one said anything, but they could all tell that Jim was deep in thought.

Later that evening after dinner, Jim was still deep in thought. There was one person he knew he could count on to help him clear his head. Jim wandered aimlessly into sickbay where McCoy was just going over some paperwork.

"Jim!" McCoy smiled when he noticed Jim. "It's not every day that you voluntarily stop by. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Jim replied absent-mindedly. "Do you have a few minutes Bones?"

"Of course," McCoy nodded. He put the padds away that he'd been reviewing and offered his friend a seat. "What's on your mind."

"I am not really sure where to start," Jim mused.

"In that case…" Bones smiled and walked over to a cabinet where he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

"You remember Annie?" Jim asked as he gratefully took the glass Bones offered.

"Yeah, from what you very briefly told me." Bones answered before taking a sip. "She's the one you are always sending souvenirs home to. The scarves, dolls, candy, art, she must be some lady. "

"Oh she is," Jim smiled ruefully.

"So is this something about her?" Bones prompted.

"I was thinking about having her join us on the Enterprise for a little while, but I am just not sure." Jim explained.

"When did you last see her? Does she want to come?" Bones asked.

"Well, she wants to see me, but honestly Bones, I've never met her in my life. I've gotten a few pictures, but…" Jim prattled on.

"You've never seen this girl and yet you've been sending her gifts for as long as I've known you?" Bones raised an eyebrow. "Expensive ones at that."

"It's complicated." Jim explained briefly.

"I see," Bones nodded. "So start at the beginning."

"I knew Annie's mother back when I was in Riverside." Jim's gaze shifted to his glass. "Bones, Annie's my daughter."