(A/N: Ok, peoples, here's a new chapter story for you since I am stuck on what to do next in Independence. I will take ideas for Independence, since I'm kind of desperate right now. So, what I am doing in this story, is taking songs, and making each chapter a short story based on the lyrics/meaning of the song. But, to kick off this story, this first chapter will be more like a songfic with lyrics included. I hope you like it!)

Carol followed Jim and the rest of the landing party through the halls of the Enterprise, matching her pace with Jim's.

"Why won't you let me be in the landing party?" she demanded.

Jim didn't answer as they walked into the transporting room, stepping onto his transporter pad along with Uhura, Spock, McCoy, and Sulu.

"Scotty, set coordinates for Romulan's capital," he ordered.

"Aye, sir." Scotty's hands flew across the controls; flipping switches and pressing buttons. "Ready, captain."

"Wait!" Carol interjected, stepping onto Jim's pad in front of him, so close that she could hear every breath he took. "Why won't you let me go?"

Jim was silent, not meeting her eyes.

"Jim, answer me!"

He kept staring at the floor, and her temper rose.

"James!"

Jim finally met her eyes. "You wouldn't understand."

"Yes, I would!"

"No, you wouldn't."

"Then explain!"

"I can't."

"Try!"

Jim finally nodded slightly, taking a breath and letting it out, then speaking loud enough so only she could hear.

"From the moment we met, I knew I was a goner. I told myself repeatedly 'I just can't lose her'. 'Cause everything about you is perfect to me, from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet."

Carol blinked at him, surprised. He's singing to me? Wow. But he's actually pretty good at singing...

(chorus) "And if I lose you, I'll never be the same again. I'll mope around, hit the ground, and that's the end. This love is new, and I know you don't understand. But I'll just take you by the hand," he slid his hand into hers, "and let you know I can't lose you, I can't lose you." (end chorus)

Carol searched his face and could tell that he meant every word he sang. "But I can take care of myself! I'm not a child!"

"I know. But let me explain." Jim began singing once again. "I know you can take care of yourself, but it's a big world, and I can't help but worry, 'cause you're just a girl. Don't take this wrong, I know you can't see that though you're not a young girl it sometimes seems that way to me."

She nodded slightly, and Jim smiled a little as he repeated the chorus and went on to the bridge.

"And I'll kill myself to save you, and risk my life to protect you, because I love you, more than my own life." Jim sang the chorus one last time, and after the first 'I can't lose you' he finished softly, "Because I love you."

Jim studied her seriously. "Now do you understand?"

Carol threw her arms around him and in a hug, and he wrapped his arms around her, too. "Yes, I do understand. I never knew you cared for me that much."

"Well, now you do." He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "I love you."

She smiled. "Love you, too."

They pulled away and the landing crew was watching them curiously. All except for Spock, Jim noticed.

Nosy green blooded hobgoblin, he thought. Then a scarier thought entered his mind: that's what Bones always says. Great. I'm becoming exactly like him. Oh, horror of horrors.

Carol stepped off the pad, and Jim turned to Scotty.

"Beam us down," he commanded.

"Aye, captain."

As the white swirling lights circled them, Jim let himself smile. Finally, she understands.

(A/N: So, I hope you liked it! A virtual tribble to whoever can guess who wrote the song!)