Personal Journal. Final Entry…

William James Franks recording.

It's finally happened, my Graduation from Starfleet Academy. As much of a shock to me as it was to those around me, I graduated top of my class with T'Lana only five points behind me. She's great, she's been a rock through all of this. After a personal loss three months ago, I thought I would not get over, but with her help... I did.

We where neck and neck all the way through the final year, but when I came to the final exam I cleared her with only five points. I can only hope she doesn't take that personally. Much to the annoyance of every one of our classmates, we've been dating for almost two years now since she was bumped up a year, yet she was still far ahead of the third in our class. Although many of our classmates have accepted transfers to ships, outposts and positions throughout Starfleet we've both decided to take a much needed break from our short careers, we've been granted a two week leave to do as we please. An offer foolishly turned down by many of our classmates, since my home life isn't exactly perfect as my father was more then upset I did not follow him into the Marine Corps, he disowned me calling my career choice all but treason in his eyes. However, I was happy to see the only member of my family still talking to me, my sister Molly was at the Graduation with her new fiancé. I was surprised to see her since she is deep in her final year as a Resident Doctor at Starfleet Medical; however, the fun part was introducing her to T'Lana. James, her fiancé almost tripped over his tongue when she smiled at him he spent the next five minutes stuttering when they spoke… not very professional for a Doctor, but it was funny and later we all laughed about it.

Well I guess this is it. My final recording…

End Log Entry.

Smiling too himself, he placed the computer pad he used for his Personal Journal in his bag and took one last look around his assigned quarters. Nodding to the empty room he turned and left the dormitory for the last time. Slowly walking down the steps in is new Starfleet Uniform he ran the fingers of his free hand over the two pips on his left shoulder.

"Well Lieutenant Junior Franks, where now sir?"

Smiling once again he placed his bag on the ground and looked at the young woman before him, she wore a similar Starfleet Uniform with a gold braid signifying her position as pilot similar too his own yet for the exception of one rank pip on her shoulder.

"Isn't it customary to salute a senior Officer, Ensign T'Lana?" He smiled.

"Ohh go to hell… you look great. But you're going to wear out those pips keep playing with them like that"

For a brief moment, they hugged each other until a male voice echoed from behind them.

"Lieutenant Franks? My I speak with you?"

Laughing slightly he let go of her and smiled as he whispered. 'And so it begins' Slowly he turned to face the direction of the voice before standing to attention as a senior officer approached them.

"Am I disturbing the both of you?" The man smiled slightly.

"Actually yes" T'Lana laughed.

"I'll let that go Ensign; I'm Commander Ben Foster Starfleet Security. Lieutenant, May I have a word in private?"

"About what sir?"

"A job offer" He smiled.

Nodding slightly, T'Lana looked away as she spoke to Franks.

"This looks official Bill; I'll give you a few minutes"

"Alright…" He smiled. "This won't take long"

Slowly she picked up her own bag and walked towards a tree and sat down on the warm dry grass she used to study under as Franks walked towards the Commander.

"What can I do for you sir?"

"What do you know about Outpost Fourteen?"

"Fourteen? A small R & D outpost, purchased from the Vulcans many years ago and set up with their help. Officially, its researching new medicine to treat a number of illnesses, unofficially its joint ran by Starfleet Security and Intelligence to monitor activity in the region. It has a small crew of under thirty…"

"How did you know about its true purpose?" He growled.

"Forgive me for saying so sir, but I have my ways of finding things out… why?"

"Well, its those ways that got you noticed by us, we've been monitoring you for several months now…"

"I know, your people are useless at not being noticed" He smiled.

"How so?" He growled once more.

"Alright, I'll play it your way. The guy sat on the wall, he's been reading the same page of his book since I came down those steps, the woman with the cup to my left, dark red hair… she hasn't noticed it yet but she's put eight blocks of sugar in her coffee the guy walking the dog near the far wall… animals are not allowed on site. Should I continue?"

Smiling the Commander clapped his hands slightly as he was impressed by the young man stood before him.

"What else stands out?"

"You said you're a Commander, three months ago I saw you in the halls, you wore a blue trim uniform bearing the rank of Lieutenant"

"Maybe I was promoted" He smirked.

"Possible, however transferring from Sciences to Security is an unusual move. Not to mention the fact the scar on your left cheek has been removed and your eyes are a different colour, they where blue your hair was blonde. Now your eyes are brown and your black hair is all but gone… give it a few months and you'll get a great comb over. Commander, are you trying to annoy me… I have a date with a beautiful young Ensign and a long journey to Vulcan"

"Very impressive Lieutenant, almost perfect recall. However my eyes where grey at the time" He laughed.

"The colouration you used faded and changed with your natural colour combined with the artificial lighting in the corridor. They give an unnatural blue tint… not grey. Sir I am very busy, if you have a point please make it"

"Alright, we want you… you could be an amazing asset to Intel, your aptitude tests where off the charts, you speak several languages including Vulcan… possibly due to the very attractive young Ensign"

"No sir, my father… was a Marine; he trained me since I was tall enough to hold a weapon. If I am to except your offer, what about T'Lana?"

"Ahh yes the Vulcan woman, what about her?"

"I've had many offers even before I graduated… I was even offered Enterprise, I turned it down… We've both agreed that our first assignment should be together. If you want me, you take her if she will agree"

"It could be done…" He smiled. "… I'll see what I can do, I've read her file. She's an impressive pilot"

"Not her only asset sir" He laughed.

"So I see. Before you make any decision that will change your life, think about it. You have a trip to Vulcan; I can arrange a fast route for you. Docking port twelve, 0930 hours tomorrow. Have a good day Lieutenant Franks"

Nodding slightly, the Commander turned and left the young Lieutenant. Instantly the sound of footsteps approached him, turning slightly Franks smiled as T'Lana stepped in front of him.

"That went well" He laughed.

"I heard, Vulcan hearing… remember. Did you have too embarrass him like that?"

"Yes, I did. Now, we have at least 20 hours to kill… what do you want to do in that time?"

Smiling slightly she took his hand as he picked up his bag and they walked away from Starfleet Academy for the last time as students.

Eight Years Later…

Captain's Journal, Starship Excalibur.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Cortez recording for Captain Franks…

Captain Franks, that still sounds weird. A little under nine years from graduation to the Captaincy is almost unheard of in the short time that Starfleet has been in operation however, with the war heating up I guess it's a necessity to have command level officers on every ship… even the arrogant ones.

Repairs are completed as well as a few minor upgrades, the ship has been launched under orders from Starfleet, our first order of business is to proceed to Vulcan to retrieve Captain Franks and Commander T'Lana. I understand from the grapevine she was offered a command of her own, but she turned it down to stay aboard this ship. Both Franks and T'Lana have been sent to Vulcan for some training exercise that has lasted almost a eleven days, I bet they are ready to return to duty after such a long and rigorous training in the hot Vulcan desert…

End Log Entry.

Since they married in secret, Franks and his new wife had stayed in seclusion at an undisclosed location under the pretence of a training exercise, it was ordered that they both head out into the Vulcan desert for survival training little did anyone know they had actually found a place to hide and wait out the time together in each other's arms. Finally, on the last day of the exercise they both retuned to the co-ordinates for pick up by a Vulcan shuttle. After a long debriefing they where allowed two days of rest before the Excalibur arrived to retrieve them for the next assignment for Starfleet. Time they spent at T'Lana's childhood home with her family.

Sat alone T'Lara, T'Lana's mother meditated as footsteps carefully and quietly approached her. Opening one eye, she smiled slightly as she spoke.

"Do you think you can creep up on me my Daughter?"

"It was worth a try"

"How long before your ship arrives?"

"Well, they should be entering the system in the next two hours…"

"Then you can both stay for lunch" T'Lara replied.

Slowly she unwrapped her legs and stood as she faced her daughter.

"You look good; I see Starfleet is treating you well"

"Of course"

"And what about William?"

"Mother, you do not have to put on the Vulcan exterior for me… I have mastered all of my emotions as you have taught me, they are now apart of me"

"And what about Bill? You two seem closer then ever, you do realise the danger this posses to us?"

"Bill knows, he knows what we really are"

"What?" She gasped.

"I had no choice, I can't lie to him anymore…"

"You foolish child, He is Human, his people are at war with Romulus… if he informs Starfleet… You, Me, our entire family will be arrested, the High Council will be called to account for this, it could end the Alliance between Earth and Vulcan"

"I know Earth it war, I've sworn an oath to protect Earth and Vulcan… if I am arrested then so will he"

Shock crept over the face of her mother as she gave her a questioning look.

"What do you mean? Why will he be arrested?… I know your past relationship will be…"

"Past relationship… he will be arrested and possibly charged with treason against Earth because he is my husband"

"What?" She said in shock.

"He's my husband mother, we where married one week ago in secret. Mother, listen to me… you can not tell anyone about this"

"When, why… when?" She stuttered.

"You remember we worked together after the Academy and that I left? A few months ago I was on a ship that was attacked, Enterprise picked up the survivors but Bill was already on board, the old outpost had been destroyed. He was then offered command of Excalibur and he gave me the post as X.O… our relationship grew from then, once we reached Vulcan, we found an old Cleric who performed the ceremony. I'm married mom… married to Bill"

A large smile crept across her mother's face as she reached out and hugged her daughter for the first time in years, after a few moments she pulled back with tears in her eyes as she laughed.

"And when where you going to tell me?"

"Well, I was going to talk to Bill this morning but I can't find him, where is he?"

"Ohh… he got up early and went for a run. I tried to stop him, but I guess you know him better then I do"

"Yeah, he's an ass at times… but I do love him"

For a moment they both stood facing each other smiling, until the door opened and a sweat covered, dirty human entered the family home. Attempting to hold back her emotions, T'Lara walked towards him and smiled slightly as she spoke.

"Good run?"

"Yeah it was okay… what's going on?" He said slowly.

"Ohh Nothing…"

"Nothing…" T'Lana replied.

"Nothing at all, you look thirsty… how about a drink?"

"Thank you… T'Lara" He slowly once again.

"I don't know how they do it on Earth, but isn't it customary to refer to me as… Mother?"

Frank's jaw dropped as he looked into T'Lara's eyes, he could see the shock and awe in her face as well as the secret they had been keeping.

"W-w-what? I-I-I don't know what you mean"

"Stop it, you know… Son. I'm surprised you don't know by now William… My daughter and I have no secrets"

"You told her?" He gasped.

"T'Lana told you about our background…" T'Lara smiled once again.

"But-But…" He stuttered once again.

"I can see why you married him T'Lana; He's cute when he stutters"

"That's not the only reason mother" She blushed.

"Well, why don't I let you two talk… from what your wife says, your ship should arrive soon. You both need to get cleaned up. Bath or shower?"

"What?" They both said in unison.

"I'd say forget lunch, I assume the two of you want to have some more fun before your ship arrives… a bath I think. I'll get you that drink and run you both a bath; you have a lot to talk about, unless you only talked during your training exercise?"

Quickly, T'Lana ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his sweat-covered body as she smiled.

"We don't have to hide here… she'll keep our secret"

"I hope so" He smiled.