I was planning to write the story of five year old T'Amanda dealing with being a big sister next, but my muse had other ideas. I was singing my son to sleep by going through my entire repertoire of lullabies, and I suddenly found myself wondering what the crew of The Enterprise would sing to a sleepy T'Amanda. All these songs are common lullabies in our house, with the exception of Chekov's. See list at bottom for more information on any song…

Only a few weeks later, Spock was alone with his infant daughter for a night, or as Jim Kirk put it, he was "babysitting." Apparently there was something offensive about this phrase, as when Nyota heard she responded with "It is not babysitting for a man to provide care for his own child!" This resulted in a ten minute rant on her part about Starfleet captains and sexism, which Spock never clearly understood. Kirk took apparent delight in her reaction, and continued to goad her about it the remainder of the day. Spock was actually relieved when his wife kissed he and T'Amanda farewell and then transported down to the linguistics conference she was speaking at.

Rather than eat in their quarters, as was normally he habit, Spock took the baby down to the mess hall, with the thought that the new environment would be intellectually stimulating for her. He flatly denied to himself the possibility that he was also choosing to be around others because he feared he might be an inadequate caregiver for his child. Although he had not taken the opportunity to provide much of her basic physical care himself, he had observed Nyota doing these tasks at length and doubted they would be much challenge. Vulcans did not let themselves experience nervousness.

The bridge crew that was just coming off shift moved to sit with him while they ate and vied for T'Amanda's attention. The strange sounds and expressions they produced to make her giggle were beneath a Vulcan's dignity, but that didn't seem to bother any of the humans or the baby.

She smiled and gurgled in response, and Spock found himself once again regretting the fact that his mother had never even seen her granddaughter. He would have liked to have had a chance to ask her about his own infancy and compare his development to his daughter's. Perhaps it would change later but for now his daughter seemed entirely human, if one discounted the delicately pointed ears. It was puzzling.

Somehow his colleagues managed to invite themselves back to his family's quarters, and they spent the next hour passing T'Amanda from hand to hand, speaking to her in the odd, high-pitched voice all humans adopted when presented with an infant.

Montegomery Scott went so far as to speak to her entirely in Gaelic. Spock commented "Although any linguistic language pattern creates new synapses connections in the immature brain, it will not have any meaningful benefit at this stage of her development." Scotty simply laughed and replied, "The wee lass is naught too young to learn a bit of Gàidhlig..."

This resulted in Pavel Chekov insisting on speaking Russian to the baby as well, and by the time he was through, her eyelids were beginning to droop. Spock moved to take her and prepare her for bed, but Chekov smiled and began singing to her softly in his first language.

Bayu-bayushki-bayu,

Ne lozhisya na serenkiy volchok,

On ukhvatit za bochok

I utashchit vo lesok

Pod rakitovy kustok.

His voice was quite pleasant, and when he stopped, Sulu commented, "Is that a lullaby? It sounds sad…"

"Da. It is not sad really. It is to tell the child to stay away from ze woods or a wolf will eat her. It is a wery old song."

There was stunned silence for a moment, then Kirk burst out, "You're gonna give her nightmares with a song like that!"

Spock restrained himself from pointing out that T'Amanda could hardly be frightened of a song when she didn't even understand the lyrics.

Chekov bristled at the Captain's tone. "Is no worse that the song of 'Rock a Bye Baby' with ze baby falling from the tree!"

Kirk laughed. "Good point, but most Americans don't sing that song to babies anymore anyway."

"Den what do they sing?"

Kirk took T'Amanda in his arms and quietly sang a song that began with him crooning softly.

Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'

So hush little baby

Don't you cry

One of these mornings

You're going to rise up singing

Then you'll spread your wings

And you'll take to the sky

But till that morning

There's a'nothing can harm you

With daddy and mamma standing by

Sulu looked at him doubtfully when Kirk finished and commented, "My mother never sang anything like that!"

"What did she sing? Something in Japanese?"

Sulu snorted derisively, "I doubt it, since she only speaks English and Spanish!"

It was Chekov who asked, "What did she sing den?" and Sulu held T'Amanda and smiled at her as he sang,

Well I'd like to visit the moon,

on a rocket ship high in the air.

Yes, I'd like to visit the moon,

but I don't think I'd like to live there.

Though, I'd like to look down at the earth from above,

I would miss all the places and people I love

so although I might like it for one afternoon

I don't wanna live on the moon.

I'd like to travel under sea,

I could meet all the fish everywhere

Yes, I'd travel under the sea,

But I don't think I'd like to live there.

I might stay for a day there if I had my wish

but there's not much to do when your friends are all fish,

and an oyster and clam aren't real family,

so I don't wanna live in the sea.

I'd like to visit the jungle, hear the lions roar,

go back in time and meet a dinosaur,

there's so many strange places I'd like to be,

but none of them permanently.

So if I should visit the moon,

well I'll dance on a moonbeam and then,

I will make a wish on a star and

I'll wish I was home once again.

Though, I'd like to look down at the earth from above,

I would miss all the places and people I love

So although I may go, I'll be coming home soon

Cause I don't want to live on the moon

No I don't want to live on the moon.

When he finished singing, T'Amanda was still awake, regarding him with curiosity and Spock began to worry she might be finding the music stimulating rather than relaxing.

The baby jumped in surprise when Dr. McCoy moved to hold her and loudly said, "Y'all call those lullabies? They wouldn't put a narcoleptic to sleep!" Then in a surprisingly strong and deep voice, he began singing an old religious song.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come'

Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

Still, at the end of his song, T'Amanda was still no closer to sleep and Spock began to wonder at the lack of logic in singing to evoke sleep in an infant.

Scotty took over next, singing a song that mainly consisted of the same three word phrase throughout.

Bheir me o, horo van o

Bheir me o, horo van ee

Bheir me o, o hooro ho

Sad am I, without thee

Thou'rt the music of my heart

Harp of joy, o cruit mo chruidh

Moon of guidance by night

Strength and light thou'rt to me

In the morning, when I go

To the white and shining sea

In the calling of the seals

Thy soft calling to me

When I'm lonely, dear white heart

Black the night and wild the sea

By love's light, my foot finds

The old pathway to me

When Scotty's song finally ended, Spock realized it was long past his daughter's bedtime and she would be unlikely to fall asleep surrounded by so many people willing to sing to her the remainder of the night.

He took her from Scotty's arms and tried to herd his friends out of his quarters.

"Although your efforts have been much appreciated, I believe I know how best to induce my child to sleep."

After a few more kisses farewell to the baby, his colleagues ("Friends!" Nyota would tell him."Friendship is not something to be ashamed of!") adjourned and he was left with T'Amanda in silence. He fed her a bottle of her mother's milk, changed her clothing and nappy, then moved to the gliding chair to lay his daughter upon his chest.

Very softly, as he rocked her gently back and forth, he sang the same song his own mother had often sung to him as a child. The old Earth song she always claimed was her favorite.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows

And what's on the other side

Rainbow's are visions

They're only illusions

And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told and some chose to

Believe it

But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it

The Rainbow Connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish

Would be heard and answered

When wished on the morning star

Somebody thought of that

And someone believed it

And look what it's done so far

What's so amazing

That keeps us star gazing

What so we think we might see?

Someday we'll find it

That Rainbow Connection

The lovers the dreamers and me

Have you been half asleep

And have you heard voices?

I've heard them calling my name

Are these the sweet sounds that called

The young sailors? I think they're one and the same

I've heard it too many times to ignore it

There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it

The Rainbow Connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me

By the last word of the last verse, T'Amanda was sound asleep. Spock transferred her to the small bed that was beside her parents' and gently stroked the dark curls back from her face. Through the touch, he sensed only feelings of peace and contentment from her, as it should be.

Keeping his hand upon her, Spock let himself fall into relaxation and sleep. He would sleep longer than usual that night, the sleep of a secure child, and his hand would still be touching her when she woke him early the next morning.

*Songs mentioned in this fic

Kirk's: "Summertime" from Porgie and Bess.

Scooty's: "Eriskay Love Lilt" (I never knew that was the title until I looked for the lyrics)

McCoy's: "Amazing Grace" my deceased father's favorite lullaby.

Sulu's: "Ernie's Song" from Sesame Street aka "Well, I'd like to Visit the Moon."

Chekov's "The Little Grey Wolf Will Come" seems to be the translation. Native Russian speakers, feel free to help me out on this.

Spock's : "Rainbow Connection" or "Kermit's Song" from "The Muppet Movie." becuase it reflects on the character of Spock as well.

Other lullabies that always work IMO:

"You are my Sunshine" (the original sad version only ;)

"Country Road" by John Denver

"All the Pretty Horses" traditional with a sad background story.

"Return to Pooh Corner" (I almost gave Sulu this one, but a flyman would have to sing Ernie's song ;)

"Love of My Life" by Carly Simon.

"These Small Hours" from "Meet the Robinsons"