New Enterprises

Cora sat down beside Spock in the room they had been given at Yorktown base before they had departed for Altamid. He was sitting there with Ambassador Spock's box positioned on a small table before him. She placed her small pack on the floor beside her, placing his box that she had salvaged from the Enterprise between them. She reached out to him with her abilities, wanting to be sure there was no lingering pain from being treated at Yorktown for the wound he had sustained. The medical officials there had commended McCoy for his quick thinking and resourcefulness, and had managed to fix up Spock even more, ensuring no danger of reopening and no infection.

"I am well," he spoke to her, "I feel no pain," he looked at her, "I rarely do when I am around you."

"I am not…"

Spock gave her a small smile as she tried to say she wasn't using her abilities on him now, "I know."

It took Cora a moment to realize how he meant that, before she smiled at the implication that just her presence made him feel better.

Spock looked back down at the box before him, slowly opening it and looking through the items inside. Much of their strife had begun after he'd found out about Spock Prime's death. It was only logical (or so he hoped it was logical) to assume there might be something there, in the box, that would help settle everything now.

He pulled out a small datapad, flipping a side open to reveal an image of the crew, Ambassador Spock's crew. He looked at the faces of the people he knew, all older, far past their prime, yet all still together and all still happy.

He watched as the image began to change, to Ambassador Spock and the Kirk of his timeline, the two clearly close and dear friends. A few more images began to play, more and more of his crew and his friends. He closed the datapad and set it back in the box, hesitating when he saw another, similar pad beside it. He picked that one up, curious as to what might be inside that one, and his eyes widened slightly when it powered up.

It was him, him and Cora to be more exact. Moments he shared with her on the Enterprise, smiling at each other, glances shared, a rare time when he could not contain laughter and she beamed beside him, and moments of quiet conversation, of just being near each other, though their care and contentment and comfort around each other was clear in each image. He didn't know how Ambassador Spock had come to acquire them, though he suspected it was Kirk and other members of the crew gathering them when he and Cora were unaware. He had not seen an image among the Ambassador's crew that indicated his counterpart had had a mate the way he did. Perhaps this was the Ambassador's way of ensuring he was happy, to realize he had a mate in this timeline.

He hoped that the Ambassador had found happiness in the end.

He turned the second pad off and placed it back in the Ambassador's box, taking a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts and turned to Cora, "I have given much thought to the topic of our last discussion, while we were separated on Altamid."

"Oh?" she asked, not sounding like she was bracing herself for the talk, but more that she was trying to give him the time and space to speak his thoughts.

"I cannot endure a life without you," he spoke, as though stating an undeniable fact, "Nor would I wish to ever be separated from you."

"Nor I you."

"I realized that New Vulcan is not the place where my purpose lies. It was a momentary thought brought about by shock and grief, but, ultimately, it would not be one I would see through. I…was not happy, when I was on Vulcan as a child. I willingly left my people for the Fleet. And through doing so, I have gained a crew, friends, and a mate. And I do not regret a moment of it."

"I am glad to hear that. I do not regret anything of my life with my crew and mate."

"It would be illogical for me to return to the people I left. I stand no more chance of being accepted now than I did then. I am not Ambassador Spock, that is who they lost. Not me, not Spock. It would not be fair to me, to endure a people who would make me feel less of myself, and it would not be fair to you to subject you to such a people."

"Spock," she sighed, "I cannot leave the Fleet."

"I know," he turned more to her, "And I understand why. I do. It was callous of me to disregard those feelings earlier. I was…"

"Experiencing grief," Cora finished for him.

"I was not thinking logically," he admitted, "And it caused you pain. And for that I am sorry."

"There is nothing to apologize for," Cora smiled at him gently, "I understand sorrow, I know you did not intend to cause any pain and so I hold nothing against you."

Spock let out a long breath and smiled, "Dr. McCoy reminded me of what you would endure had you felt able to leave the Fleet. It would be logical to assume my people would not be welcoming to you, as an Empathic. And, in being one, you would undoubtedly feel their displeasure."

"I would endure," Cora murmured after a moment, "If…if I could leave, I would endure anything for you."

"As I you," he told her, "But I would not wish that on you. And neither of us have need to do so."

"I was not upset with you for wishing to return to your people," she felt she had to let him know that, she never wanted him to feel badly for having concerns for others, "It was more...a fear of being without you. The thought of living without my cherished one is…it is not something easy for an Empathic to imagine. I did not wish to lose you."

"This last event has reminded me of all the reasons I have to stay for. My planet has lost a Spock, I would not have my crew nor my mate lose a Spock either. I have more still to do here, with you. Of that I am certain."

Cora smiled to hear that and reached out to take his hand, "I believe we have more to do here as well, both of us. If…if you would accompany me, I believe I have found our new purpose."

Spock tilted his head at her response, but stood when she did and allowed her to lead him out of their room.

~8~

To say Spock was mildly confused when Cora led him to a quiet area of the base where a small row of flowers was starting to bloom would be accurate. He was uncertain why Cora had led him there, but it would be illogical to guess when she had reason to choose such an area and was going to tell him at some point. He was slightly more confused when, instead of sitting on one of the benches lining down a row she, instead, knelt on the grass near the flowers, moving to sit with her legs curled up next to her. She looked up at him and he understood that he was meant to sit with her and so he moved to sit on the grass as well.

"I…discovered something," Cora began, "Just before we reached Yorktown. I was concerned, with what Leonard McCoy and James T. Kirk said about how I had been projecting."

"I am certain they did not mean to cause…"

"I am grateful they told me," she cut in gently, knowing they hadn't meant anything to alarm or worry her, to make her feel bad for doing so, "It was not something I could sense myself doing, but it was something I should not have done. Empathics are taught from a young age to always be in control of our abilities. To project in such a manner…was worrying, as was another instance."

Spock frowned, seeming to realize that there was something more going on, "There was something else affecting your abilities?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I did not think much of it. It is odd but not alarming for Empathics to struggle to bring up the less pleasant emotions here and there. I had not realized it had been taking longer than it should the last few times I had utilized such. It was not until James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy mentioned the projecting that I…theorized what it could be that was affecting me."

Spock grew serious, "Were you able to determine what it was?"

She nodded, "I went to the gardens on the Enterprise," she looked over at the flowers, "And the flowers told me."

"Forgive me, I am unfamiliar with that turn of phrase."

"It is not one," Cora looked back at him, "It is a method my people employ. When we project without intention, when we struggle to project when we wish to, they are signs of a shift within us."

Spock looked over as Cora moved to her knees, facing the flowers and he followed suit, watching as she held a hand over one of the flower buds. His eyes widened when he saw the buds begin to open beneath her hand, stretching and growing towards her, only stopping when it reached her palm. And when she moved it higher, the flowers continued to bloom and grow.

"I did not know Empathics could create such an affect," he murmured, honestly surprised.

"It is not an ability my people typically possess," she agreed, her gaze focused on the flowers, "It is not one we are encouraged to display when we do. The Mas'heirs…if they knew…if they saw…what they would do…"

"Cora?" he questioned with a frown.

Cora took a breath, gathering her thoughts, "I did not realize, at first. I was never told of it, I was not meant to be told. Because I was always to be sold, I was never to remain on Hestia, to become what all other women on my planet become. And so there was no need for me to know. But I heard whispers, of the signs, the test, what it meant…" she took another breath and Spock got the distinct impression she was gathering courage when she reached out to take his right hand, "There is only one time when an Empathic can affect life like this," she nodded at the flowers, "We can cause life to grow, only when we grow life within us."

Spock looked down as Cora moved his right hand she was holding to rest on her stomach, her hand covering his, and up to her.

"You are carrying our child?" he had to ask.

Logically, it could mean nothing else.

But it felt as though his mind were short-circuiting.

Cora looked up at him, tears in her eyes and nodded.

It was what the test was meant to show. It was but a whisper on Hestia, that when the women found themselves growing life within, they could affect life without. She had heard the murmurs, the questions about whether someone had 'made the flowers grow.' But only flowers, because they were simple and small and reacted to positive emotions, they were basic lifeforms and anything more complex, anything with a mind, could not be affected in such a way. The excess of energy and the pure emotion that radiated off of an expectant mother, so subtle not many other Empathics could even tell till later, could be felt by the flowers. Humans believed that speaking to flowers and positive emotion made them grow stronger and healthier and faster. It was essentially what Empathics could do when they were with child. The emotions were just absorbed by the plants, accelerated their growth.

Often, after she heard that question whispered among her people, there would be more tell that the person in question was with child. Empathics were not stupid, they knew that what the Mas'heirs did to them was cruel and torture and unfair. They knew the Mas'heirs took special interest in the Empathics who bore children. Anything they could do to hide a pregnancy as long as possible, without it being suspicious to the Mas'heirs, to protect the mother and child they would do.

The whispers were one, the test, inconspicuous and subtle.

She had never been set for the breeding program the way the other women were, she was an eleventh child and always meant to be sold. So no one, not even her family, had thought to tell her what would happen or what it would be like to fall with child. Everyone else, at the Academy, in the Fleet, she felt, just assumed she must know about all that already, it wasn't spoken of.

The signs were all she had to go on, projecting without intent and struggling to bring up emotions. Her body was unable to contain all she felt within her with the presence of a new life, and her body was trying to protect her from the emotions her soul tried to stir up that could cause her, and the child, harm.

"I know it is unexpected," Cora began when Spock was silent.

"Yes," he murmured, blinking, stunned, "Unexpected…but not unwelcome."

"No?" she looked at him, hopeful. She had heard many stories of how men could react to the news of a pregnancy and, while she did not think Spock would react negatively, she could not be certain.

"No," he agreed and looked at her, "It is…right," he offered, struggling to find the proper word to describe his thoughts, "It is…"

"Ben'estat?" Cora offered.

"Yes," he nodded, "That is how I feel. I am ready for something more, and I feel as though this is right."

Cora looked down when she felt Spock spread his fingers a bit more on her stomach, splaying them across the expanse, and another thought struck her. Of what she and Spock had spoken of before beaming down to Krall's base.

"I must admit…I am curious if that may be because of me."

"I do not follow."

"I have noticed, more and more, I feel as though I hear your voice in my mind," she admitted, moving to sit back down on the grass, Spock following suit though he moved closer to her, maneuvering himself so that he would not have to take his hand from her stomach. She wasn't even sure he had realized he was doing it, but it was a comfort to her.

"I am sure many who are together as often as we would imagine what their partner would say in situations," he offered.

"Except that it sounds like you, as though you are speaking to me as clearly as you are now. There are times I feel as though you have spoken to me, but when I look up, you have not."

Spock blinked as he considered what she was saying.

"Neither you nor Leonard McCoy informed me that it had been a metal shard that pierced you," she added, "I was in pain, in the woods of Altamid, with James T. Kirk trying to help me through the loss of the crew. And I felt a terrible pain in my side."

"My injury," Spock realized.

She nodded, "It was as though I could see you. You were resting against something, with a piece of metal near your heart, and then it was gone and you were hurt even more. I wanted to comfort you, to help ease your pain."

"I saw you as well," Spock remarked, thoughtful, "I thought I was delirious from the pain, that I had imagined you there with me, a comfort. But…I, too, experienced the effect of your abilities. The pain receded, numbed, my strength returned. And, I suppose, as I look back, there have been times I felt what you were, though I assumed you were merely projecting, but there is a strong possibility that you were not in those moments."

Cora let out a breath to hear that he had experienced the same. She could infer from the brief moments they had been able to speak while attempting to rescue the crew and Yorktown Base, but to hear it confirmed, it was a relief.

"It would seem our bond has strengthened," Cora murmured.

"That is the logical conclusion," Spock agreed.

And it made sense. It had been three years that they had been mated, a little less since they completed their bond. They were often together, hardly ever apart. After so long and in such proximity to each other, it was only logical that their bond would grow stronger.

They had wondered, at the start, if there would ever come a day where they would be able to reciprocate the type of bond each shared with the other. For him, it was a connection to Cora's mind, one which her people typically did not possess as their bonds were tied to their hearts. For Cora, it was a connection to his emotions, one his people did not possess for Vulcans were mildly telepathic in nature and valued logic over emotion. Neither had truly expected that their bond would grow in such a way though. Their species each had their own unique strengths and they had come to terms with what they were, with what their bond was.

Cora, especially, had not known what to expect. Vulcan's could create mental connections with others not of Vulcan, if they chose to. But she had not known it was possible for an Empathic to create an emotional bond to someone who was non-Empathic, till she succeeded with Spock, even if it had been one-sided for so long.

"Perhaps you have felt ben'estat because our child had begun to grow," Cora couldn't help but wonder, "If I have begun to see your mind and you have begun to feel me…perhaps it was a natural reaction. I felt it in the signs, you in ben'estat."

"It is possible," Spock remarked, thinking on it. He had only recently begun to feel as though there was something more he should be doing and, if he recalled correctly, it was around the same time some of the crew had noticed her projecting without meaning to. It could be his own way of subconsciously realizing his mate was carrying their child and his mind preparing him for his new role as 'father.'

He was going to be a father.

He wasn't sure what he felt, there were so many different emotions flying through him. He was certain he should be shocked, afraid, perhaps even angry that she had known of this before Altamid, before Krall and Yorktown, and had not told him. But there was still a small scrap of logic in him, and he could understand that to tell him about her 'surprise' just after he'd been told of his own death was not a good point to do so, especially not after he had upset her with talk of leaving the Fleet, both of them were too emotional and such news deserved calm. And now he understood why she had reacted so strongly to his thoughts of New Vulcan. Neither of them could anticipate an attack of such a magnitude on the Enterprise, and in the middle of multiple rescue missions was also the wrong time to do so.

But, in the middle of all that he felt he should feel…there was an acceptance, a contentment, an understanding that this, THIS, was the purpose he had been searching for. He had found it, and he would be able to experience it with his mate. He felt…ready.

His mother had once said that the single greatest experience of her life was being his mother, and now he would be able to experience the same as a father.

Cora moved her other hand to rest over hers and Spock's on her stomach, "I do not know if our strengthened bond is a natural occurrence after so long together, or a result of this."

Spock blinked, "You believe it could be our child affecting our bond?"

"I do not know," she looked at him, "As far as I am aware, there has never been an Empathic hybrid before, least of all an Empathic-Vulcan-Human one."

"Nor has there been a Vulcan-Empathic hybrid either," Spock agreed, "I do not know what to expect from this."

"Nor I," Cora took a breath, "Empathics can be felt from the wound," she spoke, thinking of the very few pregnant Empathics she had encountered, the stories her father used to share about sensing her within her mother when she had been further along, "But I cannot say if it is because the child is projecting its presence or we naturally feel it there."

"So it is possible our child could be projecting your emotions to me," Spock realized, "And, in being part-Vulcan, it could be sending my thoughts to you."

"It is possible," Cora agreed, "Though it seems impossible for it to be so strong so young."

That was another matter of it. There was no way to know, not until the child had been born and they could see if the new aspects of the bond remained. He could agree, though, that while it was plausible the child could be responsible given they had no idea what to expect with this pregnancy nor a hybrid of such species, it DID seem impossible their child would have so much control over its abilities so young. Vulcan minds developed remarkably fast, but how soon was consciousness felt? Perhaps it was just that the pregnancy had made aspects of their strengthened bond that already existed more noticeable to them, that it had strengthened and they hadn't noticed because it was so gradual, until now, when it was impossible to ignore.

Spock took a deep breath, "It would seem illogical to concern ourselves with it at this point," he spoke carefully with his words, "We can only guess and that will garner no true answers."

"Agreed," Cora nodded, relieved, as she was quite certain there was going to be far more to worry about in the times to come, "So you are not disappointed?"

Spock smiled at her, "Do I feel disappointed?" he moved his free hand to touch her cheek as she closed her eyes, feeling all the emotions swelling inside of him that he struggled to reveal outwardly.

Joy, excitement, fear, anticipation, concern, anxiety, happiness, peace, comfort, wonder, nervousness, contentment, and, above all else, love, pure and complete love for her and their child.

He gently stroked his thumb along her cheek as a tear fell from her eyes. She opened them, smiling at him with so much love he didn't need to sense it off her or read her mind to feel it, he just knew. She lifted one of her hands, holding up two fingers to him in an offer of a Vulcan kiss, but he just pulled his hand from her face to curl his fingers around hers, tugging her forward to kiss her lips.

~8~

Cora couldn't help but smile more and more the nearer she felt Kirk and McCoy coming to where she, Spock, and the other crew members were waiting to surprise the captain for his birthday celebration. She could feel a change in Kirk, ever since they had secured Yorktown. There was an exuberance and an elation restored to him, a curiosity piqued, a renewal in his zest for life and sense of adventure. And she knew, without a doubt, her captain would not be leaving his crew.

She bit her lip to hold in a laugh at the very different emotions she was feeling from McCoy, he did not seem pleased, he was quite exasperated and frustrated.

It just served to make Kirk feel a swell of glee.

"They are coming," Cora whispered loudly to the others, Uhura instantly shushing everyone to be quiet.

And, soon enough, they could hear McCoy's voice as he and Kirk approached, "I know you told me to keep it under wraps but uh..."

As soon as the doors to the room were opened, the entire crew shouted out, "Happy Birthday!" to a very startled, but pleasantly surprised, and very appreciative, Kirk.

"Mr. Sensitive?" he muttered to McCoy as Scotty hurried over with drinks in hand.

"There you go, Laddie," Scotty offered it to Kirk and McCoy.

"Thanks, Scotty."

"Everybody," McCoy called out, holding his glass up, "Raise a glass to Captain James T. Kirk."

"Captain Kirk!" the crew shouted out.

Kirk was beaming at them, "Thanks, everybody," he raised his own glass too, "To the Enterprise."

"To the Enterprise."

"And to absent friends."

They all raised their glasses in silence and respect.

Spock gave Kirk a nod as he passed, before looking over at Cora as she beamed, so happy to be around her crew, though she hadn't told them what she had shared with him just yet, wishing to speak to the captain and a small handful of the crew first, "You look beautiful," he offered.

Cora's smile grew wider, glancing down at herself. She did not often dress so casually around the crew, always in her Fleet uniform. Nyota Uhura had helped her dress for this occasion, as she did not have any other clothing to her name but her uniforms and nightclothes. The woman had taken care to adhere to her tastes and customs and comfort when loaning her the outfit. It was a simple, sleeveless teal-blue dress, with a long-sleeved black sweater to wear over it, with black tights that weren't quite leggings but opaque enough for her to feel comfortable, and boots that started at her ankles.

"My thanks," she blushed, though this time she smiled at him instead of bowing her head, which had him grinning in return.

Spock glanced over to see McCoy eyeing Cora, his gaze lingering on the Vokaya amulet Cora continued to wear, and back to the Vulcan, shaking his head with a roll of his eyes as he walked off. Spock tilted his head at the man's reaction before looking back at Cora. He nodded his head over to the side of the room, to the high windows through which they could see a starship being built.

She nodded and began to head over towards it, his hand drifting to the small of her back as she passed and going with her. They looked up at the craft, it was to become their new home. It was the least Yorktown could do for the damage the Enterprise sustained because the head of the base had not insisted on utilizing the Empathic on the crew, had taken Kalara at her word, allowing them to enter a trap. For the loss they had endured in the death of some of their crew. For the loss of their ship, for the effort they went through to save the base, the risks they took to stop Krall. They had lost everything but each other, they deserved the next ship the base could provide.

A New Enterprise.

It would be fitting, a new ship for a new start, a new adventure for many of them and in more ways than one.

"Happy Birthday, James T. Kirk," Cora spoke a moment later, feeling Kirk approaching.

"Cora, it's my birthday," Kirk sighed good-naturedly, "Can I at least get a Jim today, of all days?"

Cora glanced over at him, "Happy Birthday, Jim."

Kirk grinned at that, though his expression grew more solemn when he looked to Spock, "I heard about Ambassador Spock," he told the man, "Is that what you wanted to mention that time in the turbolift?"

"More or less," Spock repeated Cora's words from that very moment, "I…considered leaving the crew, for New Vulcan, as it seemed a new purpose to have. And wished to ask your thoughts and help with finding a new purpose."

"I take it you don't need to have that talk any longer?" Kirk started to smile again.

"No," he answered, "I have found my purpose, here, with my mate and my friends," he looked over at Kirk, seeing his gaze drifting to Cora, opening his mouth undoubtedly to ask her what the 'surprise' was she wished to speak to the two of them about was, and knew Cora wished to tell a small gathering of the crew all at once, so he quickly added, "I trust your meeting with Commodore Paris went well."

"More or less," Kirk mimicked, "I also thought about leaving," he admitted, "But I also found my purpose too, with my crew."

Cora smiled, knowing the restlessness that had struck both men had now healed to a contentment within them, "I am very pleased you will not be leaving either."

"Thanks, Cor," Kirk smiled at her, "What was it you wanted to talk to the two of us about?"

"I would prefer to speak to you, Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Montgomery Scott, PAC, and Hikaru Sulu together, if at all possible, James T. Kirk."

Now that Spock had decided to stay, the topic she wished to speak to Kirk about was different, she could skip past just speaking to him and Spock and move to the select crew she wished to share her news with. She did not want to say too much to too many, neither she nor Spock knew how this would all go, what the outcome of their mating would be in the end. Mixing species could be complicated, difficult, and dangerous, they were realistic about that. They did not even know if the child would survive to term. She did not want too many to know yet. But those crew were the closest to her and, if the outcome was not a good one, they were the ones she would want around her and Spock to help them through it.

"Of course," Kirk nodded, growing serious and looking over, whistling to McCoy and heading over to whisper something. The man nodded, moving through the crowd to those she named, all of whom began to join them by the window while the others continued to chat.

"You really want to head back out there huh?" McCoy asked as he reached them with Sulu.

"I would like to," Cora spoke up even as Kirk rolled his eyes at his friend's question. All eyes turned to her, hearing a shaking in her voice that was out of place for such a simple answer.

"Cora?" Kirk frowned, noting how Spock was standing closer to her than normal for such a large gathering, "Everything alright?"

Cora looked to Spock who nodded, his hand on the small of her back in comfort and support, "I told you I could not speak of the flowers until I did my cherished one."

"Yeah, yeah, I remember, gotta say, you were a real Poison Ivy with the 'flower power' thing going on."

"I do not understand that reference."

"It's…nothing, continue," he waved it off.

"I have spoken to Spock and now I can speak to others," Cora looked to the crew before her, "An Empathic can only cause life to grow, such as with flowers, when they are growing life themselves."

It took a minute for the crew to realize what she was saying as none of them but Kirk, and Spock, had actually seen her do anything with flowers, but it was the second part that was more important anyway.

Uhura gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, "You're pregnant!?"

Luckily she had had enough sense, or perhaps she was in enough shock, to keep her voice down so only the small group of them could hear.

"What?" Kirk nearly choked on air, McCoy literally choking on the swig of the drink he'd just taken.

"Congratulations!" Chekov cheered, moving to hug Cora.

"Oh, Lassie, that's amazing!" Scotty did the same, beaming and just barely containing himself from shouting out 'drinks all around!' in his excitement.

"That's…that's…wow," Kirk blinked rapidly, before he looked at McCoy, who was being pat on the back by Sulu, "Did you know about this?"

"No," McCoy coughed out, before pointing at Cora, "As soon as this is over, we're taking a little trip to medical."

Cora nodded, "That is…that is something I wished to speak to you about," she opened her mouth and closed it, trying to find the words.

"Our child will be that of Vulcan, of Earth, and of Hestia," Spock spoke, trying to help.

Cora nodded, a hand drifting to her stomach, "Our child will be the first child of Hestia to be born free," she looked to the crew before her, trying to blink back the tears in the corner of her eyes, "And it should not be. It should not be the first child, nor the only child."

Kirk began to smile, seeming to realize she wasn't talking about her and Spock wanting more kids, but something else, "What are you trying to say, Cor?"

Cora looked at Spock, knowing that this request may be against the regulations of the Fleet, it may break the rules, the protocols, and so many other consequences could come from it. But she also knew, of any crew in the Fleet, hers would be the one to find a way around all of it, through it, discover loopholes, and ways to bend and avoid.

They would be the ones to make the impossible possible.

Spock gave her a nod and so she turned back to the crew, "Captain James T. Kirk…I would like to propose a mission."

Kirk nodded, "To do what?"

Cora took a breath, straightening herself, trying to keep her head held high and not bow down, not back down, because this was far too important and it had taken her far too long to realize just how possible it might be.

And so she spoke the words that had the potential to change everything.

"I wish to liberate Hestia."

To be continued...in...TBA! (no title just yet)

A/N: So a couple notes to come here, about this story, the next one, and other tidbits ;)

Ahh! Cora's with child! :D A bunch of you called it lol ;) I can understand it may not be the BEST place to have a kid, on a starship, especially with the dangers around them. But Kirk was born on a starship, his mother was a pregnant crew member, and in one of the TV shows for the series, there WERE children born and raised on board a starship if the parents were also crew. I take Sulu's daughter and partner not being on the Enterprise as either his partner not being in the Fleet or the two of them mutually deciding not to raise her on a ship. But there WERE children and babies on ships. Though, again, that is not saying the baby will be born. Mixed species pregnancies can come with a lot of complications.

We also don't know the time between this movie and the next (I heard there should be at least one more ST movie) so we may see Cora after the birth already happened or still pregnant or near the beginning/end of it, or after a pregnancy failed. I know pregnancy-stories aren't everyone's cup of tea, so just keep in mind if the next movie takes place a year or more after this one, there's a strong chance we won't see Cora pregnant, she would have already had the child (or possibly lost it). We'll have to wait and see.

On that note...

I'm going to announce here that I DO have another story planned for Star Trek, an original one that will explore the implied ending of this one, where the crew looks into if its even possible to do this mission. (so, in terms of a pregnancy-story, again, it may take place in the very early stages or where it's not noticeable. That and that story will not focus so much on the pregnancy as it will be on freeing Hestia, so it won't consume the story or be a main point.)

I've mentioned in a few notes on reviews throughout the course of the series that the reason the Fleet hasn't liberated Hestia before is for many reasons, non interference, no 'broken laws', no 'threats,' no requests for help, and other things. But right here, right now, Kirk has been given a loophole. An Empathic is requesting Fleet help. The Fleet, however, is likely to find a way to say no, because Cora isn't on Hestia any longer, because, once sold, she isn't considered as belonging to Hestia/the Mas'heirs any longer, etc, just excuses to avoid going to 'war' against a planet because ONE Empathic stepped up when the rest haven't. Because of that, Kirk may not be about to tell the Fleet what they clearly plan to do next. Liberate Hestia. BUT, given Spock's penchant for rules and the prime directive, and all the trouble they've gotten into in the past for trying to bend the rules, they are going to need to be very, VERY extremely careful how they do this so they DON'T break Fleet protocols or spark a war, they need to find a way to operate within the rules and regulations this time. They need to be super careful they don't spark a war, because the brief times we've seen Cora on the offense, you cannot begin to imagine an army of Empathics when they are forced to fight. It would not end well.

I feel like I have a way to do it so you may just need to take me at my word and wait till that particular story to see if the plan makes sense and fits with the characters without going OOC or too non-canon or against the flow of things.

That being said, I'm going to hold off on posting the story and hold off on announcing the title for it.

I only say that because, if there IS a fourth movie, we don't know how long it will be between this one and the next, in terms of the characters. Will it be another near-3 years for their mission? Will it happen a week later? We don't know, and I sort of need to know given Cora's pregnancy. You know? :) If it's only like a week or a month after this movie takes place, then my original story may be posted AFTER that movie, because they are going to be doing some heavy duty planning for this. BUT if it's like 2 years after this movie, then the Original story will come next, sort of thing.

So no title, because it'll depend on which story, ST4 or the original, comes next and I can't say when the original will be up (if it takes place before the next movie).

For this chapter though, Cora and Spock finally had that talk :D Quite a few of them :) They cleared the air about the reactions to Spock Prime's death/New Vulcan, they've realized that their bond might be stronger than they realized as they seem to be reciprocating the bond in ways not typical for their species, Cora in her mind and Spock through emotions. And they're expecting! :D The flowers growing are following the same sort of ideal that plants grow faster and stronger when talked to or played calm/gentle music, or just positive vibes. A pregnant Empathic is like a powerhouse of those feels :)

I'm very excited for the original story though, because the crew is finally going to see Cora's home world, they're going to encounter Mas'heirs, they're going to see first hand what her people are subjected to. They've seen Cora, they knew her in the beginning, but didn't encounter her enough when she first entered the Academy to really KNOW her. Even Spock cannot imagine the life she had on Hestia. It's going to be heartbreaking, it's going to be gutwrenching, and it's really going to open their eyes to just how strong Cora, and all Empathics really are. Cora has realized her strength, but will her people see theirs?

We'll have to wait and see }:D

And now the story is over! :( Next I'll be posting my Captain America, Steve/Olivia, version of Winter Soldier in about a week. After that we'll return to the Thor universe with my Loki/Kona stories ;)

And, just to end...I really have to say thank you guys SO much! Really, I give each and every reader/reviewer/favoriter/follower/ko-fi giver/anythinger a virtual hug because you guys are amazing :) I write for all of you guys and I'm just so touched that you all liked the story and am truly thankful that you're enjoying Cora and Spock :) I'll do my very best to keep it up in the future, because you guys most definitely deserve it. I love you all :')

Some notes on reviews...

Loki and Kona will be coming up very soon, I'm just going to be posting one more Captain America story first and then we'll get to Ragnarok for them ;) So probably mid-September :)

Lol, you read my mind! :D That was exactly what I thought with Cora, with her red hair, manipulated the flowers lol :) So I HAD to sneak a little line about just that in this chapter ;) AND we got a mini-something coming maybe ;) I saw Mamma Mia 2 :)