1. Teach All Necessary Life Skills

A Quiet Talk, Over Drinks

August, 2258
Starbase 3

Hikaru watched Rand leave with Hendorff, already laughing as the door slammed behind them. She wasn't alone, he thought, so he had managed to accomplish at least one useful thing today. He turned to Nyota and asked, "I know I said I was going back to the ship, but how about we grab a drink?"

"Definitely," she said. He gestured for the waiter.

When their cocktails came, Hikaru took a sip and said, "I'm exhausted."

Nyota laughed. "You were busy today. You had the conn for alpha shift, came down to the communication center, spent two hours setting up a fifteen-minute conversation with your husband, found our navigator, talked him off the ledge, got him dressed, fed, and on his way to his first big boy party, kept Janice safe, and me from killing Rudolph. That's a lot for one day. You never did get to finish your garden tour."

Hikaru shrugged. Put that way, it did seem like a lot.

She watched him for a few second, then smiled mischievously and said, "So Pavel's date is amazing."

"Amazing," agreed Hikaru.

"Did you see Janice's face when you said that? She really wanted to call you on it."

"But she didn't," Hikaru said smugly, "because she wasn't sure, and that was the point."

"Tell the truth, weren't you a little nervous someone would ask what made her so amazing?"

Hikaru laughed guiltily. "A little, yeah."

"You know Janice will probably repeat every word to the whole Yeoman Corps?"

"I'm counting on it actually, it's my little gift to him. Hopefully he has enough sense not to give anyone any real details."

"Or mention she's McCoy's daughter," Nyota said.

"No. It's better if the doctor never knows."

Nyota said wistfully, "I can't believe he agreed to go. He's usually so shy."

Hikaru wondered if life had really been that different for her. He said, "He's not even eighteen, and his interests include theoretical physics. I doubt anyone that good looking has ever talked to him before in his life. He's not thinking."

Nyota frowned, took a drink, then said. "Yes, she is pretty. Why does that always matter so much? Couldn't he like some nice, quiet girl?"

"Nyota, the nice quiet ones don't ask him to dress up in civilian clothes and escort them to parties."

"Yeah, what was that about?"

Hikaru asked, "What is it with you girls? First Janice and now you? It is not that astounding that someone would ask him out."

"What? No! I meant, what's wrong with his uniform, he looks cute in it."

"Oh. I think Joanna hopes he'll relax if he's out of uniform. I definitely got the impression she's planning to help him relax."

"I don't want to think about that." Nyota said with a sigh. After several seconds she asked, "Is Janice always that hard on him? She basically implied no one could be interested in him."

"She didn't imply, she said it."

"I couldn't hear his response. The security guys clearly thought it was funny."

Hikaru almost laughed thinking about it. He wasn't sure Nyota would enjoy it as much, but he repeated the exchange. "She said 'I'm impressed you got anyone to go anywhere with you. What's wrong with her?' and he said, 'Nothing, however, I would prefer someone more like you and your friends. You know, what is the word? Stupid.'"

Nyota's eyebrows shot up. "He didn't understand what he said."

"He absolutely did. Don't let the accent fool you. He says things like that all the time, just not usually loud enough for everyone to hear. Haven't you ever heard the two of them go at it on the bridge?"

"You know," Nyota said, "sometimes I get the impression I am the only one that does any actual work on the bridge."

"They're brutal to each other, but he takes on anyone else who hassles her, and she's the same. You heard her, after insulting him all evening she asked him to go dancing. I don't know. Maybe they like each other way down deep." He paused and then added, "I think they are competitive for the attention of our leader."

"Kirk wasn't even here."

"No, but, it's a habit now. Pavel, as we know, admires everything about the captain. Sometimes I think Janice maybe has a little crush on him. I can't think of any other reason she should resent Pav. I think maybe she's envious that Kirk respects him, and he envies her daily access to the captain's life." Hikaru took another sip of his Manhattan and added, "You know, that makes it sound sibling like. Weird to think of Kirk as a father figure."

"Oh no," Nyota said. "He's not the father figure, he's maybe the older brother. You're the father figure."

Hikaru laughed.

"You are. Think about it. If I had told Janice not to go to the clubs alone, she'd have torn my head off. If the captain did, she would've laughed and invited him along. You, she made a point to show she listened. And I don't even know where to start on Chekov. You should have heard yourself." She copied his voice, 'Just say it Pav, we'll listen.' You may as well have called him son. Someday you're going to be the perfect dad."

Hikaru looked at his drink and said softly, "I can't believe we are having this conversation."

"Why?"

He hadn't intended to say anything, but he was tired, and drinking, and the afternoon with his crewmates had denied him time to think about it quietly. He scooted a little closer and said, "Do you promise not to say anything?"

She nodded.

He looked around, although he knew there was no one else in the room who would want to hear. "Do you know what Ben and I were talking about today?"

"No."

"His sister is pregnant. That's what he wanted to tell me. She is carrying it for us, carrying her for us. We decided to have a girl."

"Hikaru! That's wonderful! Congratulations!"

"Thanks." He toyed with his drink again.

Nyota looked at him appraisingly. "You don't seem that happy."

"No. I'm happy. I guess. Ben wanted things to be traditional, it's cheaper and he thinks it will be cozier somehow."

"And?" she asked.

He sighed. "I'm little worried."

"Do you realize I've never heard you say anything like that before? You're the most resolute guy I know."

Hikaru sighed again.

Nyota touched his arm. "You fell in love and got married, having a child is usually the next step."

"Yeah," he said uncertainly, "usually."

"What's wrong Hikaru? Did you accidentally leave having children off your "Achieving a Happy Life" list?" she teased.

He tried to keep his voice light, so she wouldn't know how much it bothered him that she didn't understand. "I know you don't think that's important, but it means I didn't plan for it. I like things planned."

Nyota frowned. "Hikaru, seriously. Make a new list and put 'be a father' at the top."

"You can't set goals retroactively Nyota. Life doesn't work like that."

She shook her head. "Sometimes life works best just stumbled into and enjoyed. Lists are organizational, not directional."

"Says the woman who broke her calendar into fifteen-minute intervals at the academy."

"I am so sorry I ever told you that."

"Why, that's how I first recognized you as a kindred spirit."

She laughed, but said seriously, "Truthfully, I didn't plan any of the things that make me happiest right now."

Hikaru decided there was nothing to lose at this point by being honest. "I'm not sure I'll be a good father. I get less sure the more I think about it."

"Hikaru, yes, you will."

He toyed with his drink, then said, "To make captain I'll need to be gone a lot. We'll never be a traditional family. Is it fair to bring a child into that?"

"Other people do it."

"Yeah, like McCoy. What if our kid turns out like his? Even her comms are rude. She basically ordered Pav to show up at her convenience."

Nyota said reassuringly, "You've hardly met her. We had dinner with them last night. She seemed smart, and funny. Besides, Leonard and her mother don't get along. That's hard on a child. You and Ben have a great relationship."

"When we're together, which we will be for maybe two weeks in the next six months. It's hard now, a child will only make it harder. It was one thing to daydream about this while I was stationed in San Francisco, the reality is I'll never be around."

"There are options. You could captain something smaller, and get home more often."

"I want to captain a starship, that's my goal, and it will take years. But even leaving that out of the equation, there's other problems."

"Like what?"

He tapped on his fingers. "I hate mess, disorganization, confusion. I need a lot of privacy. I have a short temper. I hate being awakened early. I hate long talks about anything, but especially you know, love and stuff."

"So, you'll need to compromise, especially about you know, love and stuff."

"I'm not demonstrative, not at all. My parents are reserved, and I make them look effusive. I don't kiss in public. It makes me uncomfortable. I didn't even kiss Ben at our wedding, I meant to, but I got stressed and turned my head. He missed, and pecked at the air. People laughed, the holos look ridiculous. He still mentions it every time he gets drunk. Does that sound like I should be a father?"

"Hikaru."

"It didn't even occur to me that cozier would be better for a fetus."

"Stop." She studied his seriously, then said, "Pasha would agree with me."

"How would he know?"

"Hikaru!"

"I don't do anything for him I wouldn't do for any other friend."

Nyota said, "Then you are weirdly paternal with your friends. I like him too, but I didn't even notice him hyperventilating in the park. If you hadn't come along, he'd still be there. I don't get the panic attack over buying jeans by the way."

"He was just a little overwhelmed, he'd have figured it out eventually."

"It makes no sense. He's an officer on a starship, he gives people orders."

"Not very convincingly,"

Nyota refused to be distracted. "He helped save the universe, but he can't walk into a store?"

Hikaru tried to explain, "He hates to do anything wrong and it's hard for him to ask for help; that's not a good combination. The clerk laughed at him."

Nyota cocked her head doubtfully. "He had no idea what size he is."

"Uniforms are replicated, why would he need to know his size?"

"He should know."

"You're not strengthening your argument Nyota, he's another one damaged by bad parenting. Well, for him, really more non-parenting, but still. He's had this amazing education, but the focus was definitely on getting him ready to be useful."

Nyota chuckled.

"Ben thinks it's funny too, but it bothers me." He tried to explain. "For instance, I invited him over while we were in dry dock. We don't normally entertain teenagers and Ben was nervous, but it turns out, Pav was more nervous. He wanted to be sure he'd have something to talk about, so he went over to the university and read Ben's thesis."

Nyota started to laugh.

"Ben said Pav understood his research better than his major professor had. They talked for hours. It was like the most boring chemistry convention ever; I considered sneaking out the bedroom window. Instead, I told Ben to start cooking so we could wrap up the evening. Pav followed him into the kitchen, he probably wanted to talk theoretical catalysts or something, but when he saw what was happening, he just stood there and watched like the stove was a stage. Ben poached some eggs, that's boil water and throw in an egg Nyota. When he lifted them out, Pav acted like it was magic, like Ben had made gold out of lead or something. It turns out Pav has never cooked, not sort of not cooked much, he'd never even seen the kitchens of most the schools he lived at. I guess his handlers didn't consider being able to feed himself likely to benefit the Federation."

She smiled softly, "How can you think you won't be a good father? He's so lucky you look out for him."

"I don't. I hang out with him because I enjoy his company. Sure, occasionally he's a little unsophisticated, but usually I forget how young he is. He's a good guy."

"Hmm, I guess," Nyota said, "but we are getting away from the big topic. This pregnancy wasn't an accident. If you were ambivalent, why did you participate?"

Hikaru ran his finger around the top of the glass. "Ben wanted a baby so much, I agreed. We did it right before I left San Francisco. I was fine with it then, and it's done. I need to just stop thinking about it." his voice trailed off uncertainly. He tried again. "I want Ben to be happy. He smiled ruefully and added, "I planned to make him happy."

Nyota laughed, "Then indirectly, it's on your list, you can relax."

"I'd like a family. I just don't know how good it is to make one when I only plan to drop in occasionally."

"You'll make it work."

"I don't know. I never know what to say to our nephews. I'm pretty much done after 'How's school?'"

She shrugged and said, "Talk about plants."

He smiled at her, "I never get the impression you enjoy hearing me talk about plants."

She patted his arm. "By the time the baby is old enough to understand how boring it is, you'll have had time to come up with some other topics." She leaned closer and said, "Hikaru, you are kind, and very reliable. Those are the most important qualities. Maybe it won't be easy, but you do hard things gracefully every day. You'll be great."

"Thanks, Nyota. I appreciate it, really."

She raised her glass. "To Hikaru, who will be a great father."

He grimaced, raised his drink, and added morosely, "Hopefully."

She frowned. "We better drink to the baby."

He tapped her drink and said, "To the baby, I promise to teach her how to buy jeans."

"And boil eggs," Nyota added.

"The necessary life skills," he agreed.

They drank, he signaled for another round, and then said, "Your turn."

"What do you mean?"

"You were nervous all afternoon. What's up?"

She sighed, "Your super dad instincts told you."

He sat up straighter and said in a deep voice, "Young lady, it is time we have a little talk."

She laughed, took a sip, and then said quickly, "I gave Joanna McCoy Pasha's contact information. Now I'm not sure it was a good idea."

Hikaru said, "I didn't see that coming. Why didn't you just tell him?"

"I don't know, he was so unhappy, I wasn't sure how he would react and I didn't want to push him over the edge in public. I will tomorrow. I feel guilty."

"It's not that big of deal. He won't care. But, you're usually so big on privacy, what made you do it?"

"I don't know. She wanted it."

He frowned skeptically, she took another drink, and then said, "No, that's not why. I felt badly for him."

"For him? What do you mean?"

"I told you Spock and I went to dinner with the captain and the McCoys last night. On our way, we ran into some of the younger crew members. She recognized him. I guess he gave her a tour of the ship back in San Francisco."

"I didn't know that."

"Her father forgot too. But Pasha remembered. They were happy to see each other. He kissed her."

Hikaru shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "They do that more where he comes from. I've told him not to, but he forgets."

"I know, I think it's sweet. Pavel's pals were quite impressed, her dad not so much." Nyota added, "She wasn't exactly dressed for dinner with her father."

Hikaru laughed, "Oh, I know. I transported down with McCoy last night. She was waiting for him when we came out of the bay. You should have seen his face when he saw her outfit. What would you call something like that?"

"I'd call it not for me. I've got hair ribbons with more fabric. Anyway, Rudolph was there. You can probably imagine the response she provoked from him. Her father stamped across the street, dropped his jacket over her and started yelling."

Hikaru nodded, "He's protective."

"She didn't see it that way. They argued, loudly. Pasha stupidly suggested calming down. The doctor completely lost it and ordered him back to the ship."

"Okay," Hikaru said, setting down his drink. "That's a little much."

"I agree. The other guys bee lined into a bar, Joanna got dragged into the restaurant, and Pasha started off to the transport station all by himself. I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to make the evening any more uncomfortable than it already was, but I kept thinking about him. When she asked me for his info, I thought, we're on liberty, he should have some fun too. So, I gave it to her."

"He doesn't get many chances to be with people his own age Nyota. I don't think it was a bad idea."

She said sadly, "I thought they'd talk, or, maybe get ice cream. Then I saw her comm."

He started to say something teasing, but her expression made him ask, "And now you are worried?"

"Once again, your super dad instincts are correct."

"Then why did you pressure him to go?"

She sighed, "At first I didn't understand the angst was about not knowing how to buy jeans. I thought he was just being shy. I wanted to be encouraging. Then we got him dressed, and suddenly, he didn't look like his sweet little scruffy self. He kind of looked like someone you might meet at a party. It occurred to me that I'd set him up for a whole new set of problems, but by then I couldn't think of a reason to say he shouldn't go."

"I could tell you were worried, I couldn't figure out why."

"Super dad," she said, then added, "Talk to him."

"About what?"

"You saw her message Hikaru. You need to make sure he protects himself."

He raised an eyebrow and stared at her knowingly. "He gets the same hypos we do."

"I am not worried about disease, I mean emotionally. I'm worried he'll," she hesitated.

"Fall for that wild kid of McCoy's," finished Hikaru.

She nodded. "He's so clueless. That salesclerk,"

Hikaru interrupted, "The Caitian one?"

"Yes, the Caitian one, you are as bad as Hendorff. Why is her species the important thing about her?"

"I was just clarifying. The being that asked Pav to come see her after work?"

"Yes, but the point is he didn't even get it. She told him she would have a much easier time dressing him if she saw him naked and he took off his shirt. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't been there. Stop laughing, it isn't funny. I know she's younger, but that Joanna seems, um, worldly."

Hikaru laughed harder. She flushed, but continued. "Talk to him."

"What do you want me to say, watch out for this girl, she's just using you to infuriate her father?"

"That's a good start."

"We don't know that is true, and anyway, he might not care."

"Hikaru, he's so naive he doesn't realize he should care. You have a successful relationship, explain what it's like."

"I avoid talking about it with Ben. I'm certainly not going to talk about it with Pavel."

"How can you not be worried about this? He's defenseless. You'll be sorry when he's wandering around the ship with his little heart broken."

Hikaru tapped his glass and smiled. "You underestimate him. He can take care of himself. In fact, right now, your innocent Pasha is using that Caitian salesclerk to get liquor out of an enlisted man."

"What?"

"Rudolph wants to meet a Caitian female. Pav knows one. Once Rudolph buys him something impressive for the he-hopes-promiscuous daughter of our CMO, he'll introduce them."

"Call him." Nyota said, reaching for a communicator. "Get him back here."

Hikaru shook his head and covered his device protectively with his hand.

She asked sadly, "Are you sure?"

"Remember him saying he had an errand, and then asking Rudolph about his ID?"

"I didn't pick up on any of that."

"Well, you've never been a teenage boy. If I'd had the opportunity I might have done the same thing and I wasn't even interested in promiscuous daughters."

She sighed, "Your kid will never be able to get anything past you."

"Pav isn't hiding anything. He's being pretty obvious."

"Just tell him to be careful."

Hikaru shook his head, "What would that accomplish? Either he doesn't need to hear it or it's too late. I would basically be explaining we assume she can't like him. How's he supposed to respond? With thanks? I would be mad," He stopped abruptly.

"What?" asked Nyota.

Hikaru pushed his drink away and said, "I absolutely can't do it."

"What?" Nyota asked again.

"I just realized how he would react. He'd nod and go back to work. He might be hurt, but he wouldn't be surprised. I couldn't stand knowing someone taught him to expect that. I would need to go to Russia and kill them."

She frowned, "I'm not sure if that's sweet, or horrifying."

"I'd be placed in some rehabilitation facility. Single parent Ben would have to explain me at the entrance interviews for all the really good preschools."

She said seriously, "That you care so much about someone you insist is a casual friend makes me even more sure you'll be a good father."

"Why? It sounds noble but I'm really only protecting myself."

"You would never actually kill anyone."

"I mean protect myself from the feeling. I don't want another person to worry about." He shook his head slowly. "Wow, that's probably my real problem with the whole baby thing. I have enough obligations, with work, and Ben, and my parents. I don't want to be responsible for Pav's feelings or," he stopped himself from saying what he was thinking and added lamely, "or anything more."

Nyota smiled smugly. "You should have thought of that six weeks ago. You've got some new responsibility coming whether you're ready or not. But I know you Hikaru, it might take you a while to wrap your brain around it, but you will step up. Fortunately, you've got nine months to develop some new skills. You can start by talking to Pasha."

Hikaru sighed. "My father never involves himself in painful emotional discussions. How 'bout, in traditional Sulu Dad fashion, I just settle into my recliner, and pretend the boy is at the library?"

She said, "How about not?"

Hikaru leaned back in his chair, and said, "You're the mother, you do it."

"I'm no mother."

"Nyota, if I'm going to saddled with raising the navigator, I need a helpmate. I have no one else to ask. So, Mama, you talk to him."

She shook her head. "I can't. I'd sound judgmental. I wouldn't want to, but I would."

"You don't like Joanna either?"

"I didn't say that."

"You're thinking it."

I'm thinking of Pasha. He needs a less emotional explanation than I would give."

"Conveniently, you know the being on the ship least likely to give an emotional explanation of anything. Ask him to do it."

"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't consider something like this an area of expertise." She added, "or even competency."

Hikaru shrugged. "Fine, get the cool older brother to do it. He loves stuff like this. He could impart tons of valuable knowledge he picked up at the frat."

"The captain was never in a fraternity."

"Nyota, in our imaginary family he's still in a fraternity." Hikaru said.

"I want someone to talk to Pasha about being careful with his heart, not enter him in some ship wide Junior Lothario training program."

"There's the eccentric uncle. He is fond of Pavel and would be happy to talk to him. Although, any explanation he comes up with will have so many mechanical analogies it's possible it will just confuse the boy."

Nyota laughed. Hikaru continued, "Or the crotchety granddad? He's a doctor, and would have plenty to say, he always does. Although his relationship to the perhaps promiscuous teen could be a problem. Sorry Mama, it looks like the cool brother is your only hope."

Nyota grimaced, "I still think that would do more harm than good."

"Not at all. Our Pasha will be enlightened, or he will be embarrassed to the point that he refuses to leave the ship for months. Either way, our problem is solved."

"And," Nyota said with a smile, "either way you can slip into your house slippers, turn on the viewer and watch the news in peace."

Sulu smiled, took a sip of his Manhattan and said, "maybe you're right, this dad stuff isn't so hard after all."