Here's the next chapter, a little late with apologies! Work's been crazy.

Disclaimer: 'Star Trek' and its existing characters are the property of Paramount/CBS. Lila is mine! Other original characters TBA.

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Chapter IV - Sisters

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Flashback------------------------

"Why do you have to go, Nyota?" Lila asks as she watches her sister pack with solemn eyes.

Nyota sighed, glancing at her sister sadly. "It's a school that will help me get accepted to Starfleet, Lila. I have to go."

Lila looked away and at the wall lined with holovids of their family. "It's not just that though, right?" She questions softly as she pulls at the threads of the blanket their grandmother knitted, one for each of them. "You want to get away from them, too."

Nyota opens her mouth to disagree, but the look her sister gives her makes her pause. "Lila, you'll be able to get away, too. Just four more years and you'll be in high school. Sooner, maybe, because you're so advanced."

"Four years is a long time," Lily says cryptically. "And it's only been bearable because I had you here. Now what?"

Before Nyota could reply, their mother entered the room. She was tall, beautiful woman, her dark hair worn in shoulder-length curls. "Are you ready? Your father's here since you insisted on saying goodbye to us at the same time. I don't want to drag this out. Do you have everything..."

Lila tuned her mother out, her eyes straying back to the holovids.

End Flashback-------------------------------------------------------------

"You don't seem surprised," Nyota observed, bringing Lila back to the present.

"Should I be?" She asked, taking a sip of water. "I grew up in the same house. And I was actually around for more of the bad parts than you were."

"Lila..."

"No, I'm not going there again, Nyota. I understand why you left and I don't resent it anymore," Lila said honestly. "What I mean is that seeing a formerly loving marriage go sour up close and personal is reason enough not to want to put another child through it. Though with Spock, do you really believe you'd get a divorce?"

Nyota didn't answer right away as she pushed her fruit around on the plate in front of her. "A separation between bonded mates is illogical to Vulcans, so I guess it's not likely. But it's still possible. I mean, it's been so difficult for us to get this far in our relationship. And sometimes I still feel like I don't know him. Not to mention having to eventually deal with his father and the elders possibly rejecting us together."

"Have you told him this?"

Nyota emits a little laugh. "It's a comedy of errors sometimes, talking with him about things like this, Lila. He just doesn't understand what I mean always, you know? And I don't want to blame him for it, but it's frustrating.

"Well, you should figure out how to make it clearer for him, Nyota," Lila replied, resting her chin on her palm. "Neither Mom or Dad is Vulcan, but they had the same problem: communication." She couldn't help but smile at the irony. "You either want it to work or you don't. As far as the kids thing is concerned, maybe you'll feel differently once you actually talk more with Spock about everything."

Nyota blinked. "Thank you, Ms. Psychologist."

Lila rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not a psychologist or whatever, but I do know why you feel the way you do. And I know you, Nyota. You always wanted children when you were younger, before things got bad. Don't let Mom and Dad's baggage stop you from being happy. Just make sure of what you really want."

Nyota smiled and studied her sister for a moment. "And what about you, missy? Any serious relationships I don't know about?"

Lila shrugged. "I know you'll think me a hypocrite considering what I just told you, but I've never wanted a family. I'm not wired that way. I'd rather have a casual relationship with someone, where we can part ways amicably, if necessary, than all that angst. I don't feel lonely because I'm not seeing someone. I like my privacy and not needing to check in with a significant other every time I need to make a decision in my life. I think I'd make a great aunt, though!"

Nyota looked a little sad, but smiled. "Well, I won't argue with that last part. As to the rest, I know you're an adult, but it's weird to hear my baby sister talk about casual relationships."

"Well, I'm very picky, Nyota, as well as busy, so it doesn't happen often."

"Okay, I don't want to know anymore," Nyota said dramatically.

Lila shook her head with a sigh. "Fine." She looked at her watch. "It's only eight-thirty. Do you have plans later?"

Nyota nodded. "I was going to meet with Spock in a little while. Unless..."

Lila waved her hand. "No, don't worry about it. You guys need to talk, right?" She said raising her eyebrow. "We'll have plenty of time to hang out."

Nyota fidgeted. "Well, I wasn't going to talk about that tonight..."

"Putting it off won't help anything, you know."

"I know, but I haven't formed what I want to say yet."

Lila finished her water. "Well, don't procrastinate. That's one of the first things that Yeoman training stamps out."

Nyota laughed at that. "So, you're going to reorder Jim's command style, then?"

"Nooo," Lila replied with a smile. "I like his style. I'm just going to enhance it. Make things run a little smoother."

Nyota looked at her wide-eyed and then burst into giggles.

Lila took that as a sign to leave. "I see you also think you're a comedian," she said dryly as she stood and picked up her tray.

Nyota stifled her laughter long enough to reach out and touch her sister's arm. "I'm sorry, Lila. It's just, well, I mean Jim's grown on me and all, but trying to put some order into the way this ship runs is not going to happen. The Enterprise practically attracts bizarre events."

Lila considered this for a moment. "Then that just means I'll have to be at best at all times, right. I love a challenge. That's why I'm here. In fact, I might as well get prepared for tomorrow tonight."

With that the younger woman waved at her sister, stopping to drop off her tray at the receptacle before leaving the dining hall.

Nyota lingered at the table a little longer, taking a few more bites of her fruit salad.

She'd missed Lila very much all these years, she realized. It had just been easier to not think about it. About leaving her behind with their parents and feeling the guilt. But now, she had a chance to know her.

As for her sister's words about Spock, well that she'd need to think about some more. And perhaps the resolution to this dispute would provide some clarity as well, she guessed.

And maybe she'd do a little reconnaissance and find a nice guy for Lila as well.

After all, she'd not gotten her chance to meddle like all big sisters do and she wanted to make up lost time.

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TBC...

Let me know what you think! These last two chapters were a bit short, but I'm setting a few things up and I had to decide how to break it up. They'll be longer from the next one on. And there'll be more Jim, too, I promise. :)

~Nadiea