To her credit, Christine didn't question why Leonard wanted her to meet him at Lieutenant Uhura's quarters.

She gave him a questioning look as she joined him outside but he simply shook his head and pressed the comm. Moments later, Nyota's lyrical voice called them inside and she smiled widely at them as they entered.

"Don't look so scared Leonard," she coaxed. "We'll make it fun."

As Doctor McCoy looked even more alarmed Christine queried, "I still don't know what we're doing here Nyota."

Nyota laughed lightly. "Why, we're turning our grouchy doctor here into a proper Southern Belle."

As Leonard growled and dropped himself into a chair, the Lieutenant briefly explained what the Captain wanted to Nurse Chapel.

When the room fell silent, the doctor looked up to find both women scrutinising him.

"It's doable," Nyota declared confidently. Chapel nodded agreement.

"I can replicate an appropriate colour scheme," she commented and Nyota nodded.

"His colouration isn't so different to yours is it?"

"What do you mean 'colour scheme'?" the doctor demanded with a frown.

Nyota smiled again as the nurse moved over to the replicator.

"Why make up of course," she replied. The good doctor blanched and Uhura laughed and called over her shoulder to her friend. "We'll need a good blusher to put some colour back into his cheeks."

"Surely I don't need make up?" he pleaded. "I understand I have to wear a dress and I know I'll have to tone down my language some…"

Nyota put her hands on her hips and frowned at him. "There's more to being a woman than a pretty dress and language. You have to project confidence in yourself."

Chapel rejoined her and added, "The other women will notice you far more if you aren't wearing make up. You'll stand out like a sore thumb."

"Especially with the Coridanites," Nyota continued. "Their women are far more interested in accentuating their femininity than a lot of other cultures."

"Probably due to their lack of natural differentiating features," Leonard suggested, distracting himself with the biological aspects of the situation.

"Most likely," Christine agreed taking a seat next to him and laying out the make up she'd just got.

"My God! What's all that for? Surely I won't need all that?" He eyed the array warily.

Nyota pulled up a chair the other side of him. "It's just the basics," she explained.

"Cleanser to prepare the skin, concealer…"

"It's green! I'm not Spock you know."

Both women glared at him simultaneously.

"It's green to hide any red patches on your skin Doctor," Christine replied primly.

"Foundation, powder, blusher, mascara, eyebrow pencil, eyelash curlers, eye shadow…"

"Lilac," Christine explained briefly, "to bring out your eyes."

"Eye liner, lipstick, brushes of course, and tweezers."

The doctor looked horrified.

"And that's the basics is it? Christine I'll never complain you're late again."

She smiled at him. "At least you won't have to worry about styling your hair."

Nyota looked thoughtfully at his hair.

"I do think you should let it fall a little more naturally," she suggested, reaching up and running a hand into it.

"That is going to be the least of my problems," he muttered, once again eyeing the make up. "The time it takes me to plaster this on won't leave me any time to worry about my hair."

"Nonsense," Christine admonished. "If you can perform heart surgery on a Vulcan during an attack on the ship with power failing you'll have no trouble with eyelash curlers."

"Absolutely," Nyota agreed. "Now, stand up."

"What?"

Nyota tugged his arm until he was standing and both women surveyed him up and down.

"What do you think?" Nyota asked Christine. "Something just below the knees?"

"I'm sure Leonard would wear it well but I think he'd feel more comfortable in something ankle length for now."

Despite himself, Bones blushed.

"I supposed it has to have a high neckline too?" Nyota spoke regretfully. Christine looked pensive.

"Dammit," Bones grumbled. "It's going to be worse than those formal dress uniforms."

Chapel smiled at him.

"I think you'll find it's actually a good deal more comfortable than that," she informed him before turning to Nyota again.

"I don't see why we can't experiment with lower necklines," she said. "It's not like he has anything to hide after all."

"Excuse me but don't I have a say in this?"

"Hush now," Nyota admonished. "You'll have your say when you try some things on."

McCoy blanched again.

"I think we should look at longer sleeves for daytime wear but maybe some straps or even off the shoulder dresses for the evening."

"Oh he'd look darling!" Nyota enthused.

"For the evening?" McCoy repeated. "Why do I have to have something specific for the evening?"

"Because no woman in the known universe would wear a daytime dress to a formal evening event," Christine answered simply.

"And honey," Nyota added, "There will be formal evening events."

As Leonard opened his mouth to argue some more he was interrupted by Christine.

"What perfume should he wear?"

Leonard's mouth snapped shut.