"Mommy why are you crying?"

Rose quickly looked up from her spot on the sofa and swiped at her face quickly, removing the evidence of her tears.

"Mommy's just tired baby," she said, holding her arms out. "Come here."

Miranda quickly made her way across the room and over to the sofa, holding onto Rose's arms as she pulled her up into her lap. Rose wrapped her arms around the child and held her firmly to her chest, placing a kiss on her head.

"Where's Daddy?" Miranda asked.

Rose squeezed her eyes shut and fought the urge to cry some more, "He's off with Uncle Bones and Mister Spock," she said firmly. "They had to work on another ship for a bit."

Miranda nodded and shifted against her, "Can we play with Pasha?"

"Pasha is busy at work, sweetheart," Rose sighed. "How about you and me lay down for a while and rest, hm?" she pushed the unruly curls away from Miranda's face. "That way, when Daddy comes home, we'll have more energy to tackle him."

….

"We have twenty minutes to clear out this ship, take down as many of these sick bastards as we can, and the remaining are to be taken into custody," Jim said, as the teams hunkered down in the cargo bay of the ship.

"And what about the big guy?" Leonard asked, as he checked his phaser. "Do we kill him or take him in?"

Jim shook his head, "Leave him to me," he hissed. "I want that bastard in custody and thrown into a goddamn cage."

Spock shifted against the stacks of crates and other unknown objects in the dark room, "Captain, may I suggest that you think rationally before you hurt yourself or another member of the crew."

"I am thinking rationally, Spock."

Bones shook his head and turned to the small group that he would lead near the escape point on the ship, reporting back to Scotty. Jim turned to Spock and continued, "Yorktown and Pegasus should be arriving shortly to flank the Enterprise, we will divide up the prisoners and they will house them until we return to Earth. I want the ringleader on our ship," he stood, along with Spock. "I want to watch him be tried and put to death for what he did."

Spock nodded briefly, "That is understandable, Captain," he cocked an eyebrow. "But if you become as you humans put it, batshit insane," Jim's mouth twitched with the urge to laugh, "I will have you deemed emotionally compromised and relieved of your duties until further notice."

Jim nodded, "I wouldn't have it any other way, Spock."

"Stay safe, Jim," Spock pulled his on phaser out of the holster. "You have a very emotional wife and a young child waiting for you."

With that, Spock turned to his own team and led them out of the cargo bay.

…..

"Maybe you two should eat something, "Chris said, many hours later.

Rose sighed from her spot at the table, "I'm not hungry, Chris," she stood. "I'll make some dinner for Miranda though."

She moved to the small kitchen in the Captain's quarters and started rummaging through the cabinets, "Are you hungry? I could make enough for the both of you."

Chris moved from his spot against the wall, "How about you freshen up and I'll cook?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You cook?" she asked with a frown. "She's a four year old, Chris. I'm lucky if I can get her to eat a sandwich."

He chuckled, "I'll manage," he said. "Go on now. You need an hour to yourself to relax."

Miranda came running into the kitchen, "Mommy, I'm hungry!"

They both laughed and Chris looked at her, "Your mother is going to freshen up and I'm going to make dinner," he said, as the little girl came over to them.

Miranda looked up at Rose, who nodded in confirmation. "You're Uncle Chris here is a good cook," she said.

"Okay!" Miranda squealed, before looking up at Chris. "Can we make a burger?" she asked.

Chris snorted, "I can see Jim's eating habits have been a major influence on this one."

Rose sighed, "Tell me about it," she watched as Miranda moved to the table. "I fear what my grocery bill will look like once we get home. I might have to take a second job if they both keep eating like this."

"Who said it had to be you?" Chris asked, as he started pulling out food from the small fridge. "I think Jim would make a wonderful secretary."

"You know what? That sounds like a good idea," she grinned. "Thank you, Chris."

He turned to look at her, "You're welcome," he nodded. "Take your time."

Rose nodded and moved passed the table, stopping to give Miranda a quick kiss and to remind her to be good, before disappearing through the sitting room and into the master bedroom. Making her way into the bathroom, she locked the door and turned the shower on. Stripping out of her wrinkled clothes, Rose stepped under the hot water and stood still. All she could think about was Jim, running wild on that ship in the middle of a phaser fight.

"Dammit Jim.." she hissed, covering her face with her hands.

…..

Meanwhile, Miranda sat at the kitchen table and watched as Chris moved around the small stove. As the burgers cooked in the frying pan, Chris turned around and made his way over to the table to sit down.

"Do you work with my Daddy here?" she asked.

Chris shook his head, "Not always," he said. "I work in a big office on Earth."

Miranda nodded, "Do you like dogs?" she asked.

He couldn't help but chuckle at the attention span she had, "I do," he nodded. "I have a dog myself."

"You do?" she asked, her eyes growing wide. "What's his name?"

"Gable."

Miranda frowned, "That's a funny name."

Chris chuckled, "It's an old name," he added. "Old name for an old dog."

He then stood up and moved back to the stove to flip the burgers, as Miranda hopped down from her chair and moved to the fridge.

"We have to get the other stuff out," she said, trying to pull the door open.

Chris helped and watched as she pointed to things she wanted, "Can we put these on them?" she asked, pointing to the container of blueberries.

"I don't know," he shook his head slowly. "That doesn't sound so appetizing."

Miranda huffed, "Mommy wont let me do it," she said, pulling the bottle of ketchup off the door. "She says that Daddy eats like a pig."

Chris snorted as he set the fresh produce from last weeks delivery onto the table, "She's right," he said, taking the bottle from her. "Your Dad eats everything and anything he can get his hands on."

"She also says that he's going to make himself really sick on day," she giggled. "He gets tummy aches and lays on the couch holding his belly like this," she mimicked her father, clutching her belly and groaning. "Mommy tells him that he gots what he deserveded and that Uncle Bones will say the same thing!"

Once the burgers were cooked and ready, Chris brought them over to the table and set each one a bun. The pan went into the sink and he turned back to the table to help Miranda.

"Can we put Mommy's together?" she asked, as Chris sliced a tomato.

"How about we wait until your Mom comes out?" he asked, setting a slice down on his own burger and one on hers.

Miranda nodded, "Can we make one for Daddy?"

Chris paused and hesitated to answer, for the status on the team was unknown to him. It had been nearly six hours since they left and beamed aboard the rouge ship, and he hadn't received any news from Scotty or from the bridge.

"We should wait until he comes home," he finally replied. "A cold burger wont taste as good as a hot one."

They finished putting their food together and sat down to eat in a semi-silent matter, with Miranda asking a few questions here and there. Mostly about his dog and how he knew Rose and Jim, to the house that they would be moving into. A few times during the conversation, Chris found himself slipping back into memories of when he and Rose found out about their own baby. The promise of a happy life together with their son or daughter, only to have that promise ripped away along with the life of the baby she carried. Had things gone the right way, maybe a child like Miranda would be his. He would be called Daddy and it would be him making dinner for his child. But that was so many years ago and while he had moved on, the memories found their way through the cracks to seize his heart.

"I see we've attacked the produce."

Chris and Miranda looked to the doorway and found Rose standing there with a small smile, her hair wet from the shower.

"Mommy!" Miranda squealed. "Uncle Chris maded dinner!"

She laughed quietly as she walked to the table, pulling the chair out to sit down. "I can see that," she nodded. "And I see you made a mess as well."

Picking up a napkin, Rose leaned over and wiped the ketchup from her face, before settling back into her seat.

"I figured you'd want to put what you like on yours," Chris said, as she glanced down at her dish. "Wasn't sure if you liked it the same way."

She managed a small smile, "The greenest piece of lettuce, two pickles and a dash of salt," she ducked her head as he looked at her with slight shock. "I can't eat it any other way."

Chris nodded, "Well," he looked down at his own dish.

Rose quickly put her food together and took a big bite, "Mmm, you still use garlic salt and basil," she said, remembering how Chris always made their dinner back in the day.

"Can't eat it any other way," he shrugged.

Rose smiled; "Well then," she took another bite. "I guess you'll have to make them more often," she nodded towards Miranda. "Good?" she asked.

Miranda nodded and picked up a slice of tomato, "I like you," she said, looking at Chris. "You make yummy food."

Chris chuckled, "I guess I passed the test?" he asked, as Rose nodded.

"Of course you did," she shrugged. "The only way to win a Kirk's heart is through food," she said, keeping the statement child friendly for Miranda's sake.