"How are you sweetheart?"

Kirk gently picked up T'Para as her smiling face awakened more. She was starting to make sounds, and it always sounded like she was singing in the mornings. Not words of course, but syllables and "la la la". Kirk loved it when she did that.

Spock went over to T'Lyra and stroked her fuzzy hair to wake her up. She always slept later, but they needed to eat at the same time. She yawned, and her arms immediately went up in the air for her sa-mekh to pick her up. He of course obliged, and kissed the side of her head as he put her up against his shoulder. She smiled a bit as he bounced her, and she was more awake.

"Are my babies hungry," Kirk asked in his signature baby voice.

Spock rolled his eyes, but followed him over to the two rocking chairs. He sat down, and Kirk could barely hear an audibly "oomf" as he did. Six and a half months was making it harder for Spock to get around. He could still do a lot of things, but putting his shoes was not one of them. Kirk was always happy to help him with that task.

Kirk gave his girl to Spock while he went to make the bottles. He came back, and they talked about ship business while the girls ate. Every so often, they would glance down to the girl they were holding, and smile. Whenever they had skin contact with the girls, they could project their emotion onto them. It was almost always affection and warmth. Kirk thought he would never get over that.

When they were finished, Kirk decided to take them on a stroller ride to SickBay. He missed Bones, and wanted to see him.

"Well hey Jimmy-boy!"

"Hey Bones."

"What can I do ya for?"

Kirk scratched the back of his neck like he was embarrassed that he came all the way there to see him with no actual reason.

"I uh… well I honestly just wanted to see you."

"Well isn't that sweet."

"I guess," Kirk said nervously laughing.

"Kid, you're the closest thing I'll ever have to a son, and I delivered your child. I'm pretty sure it's okay that you just wanna see me."

"Yeah, I guess it is," he replied with a smile.

"Listen, why don't you leave these cuties with Ruby and we'll go for a stroll on deck six."

"Sounds good."

Kirk handed the stroller to Ruby, and the girls started crying.

"I just fed them. It is almost their morning nap time. I guess try putting them down. Probably just fussy from being tired."

"No problem, Captain."

"Kirk to Spock."

"Spock here."

"Girls are going down early for their nap. Started crying when Ruby took them. So early dinner I guess."

"Yes, it would seem so. Anything else, Captain?"

Man, he loved it when he used titles.

"No, that's it. See ya later."

"Spock out."

Spock was sitting on the couch reading a science magazine when he received the communication. He found it curious that the girls always seemed upset when Ruby had them. They were usually such pleasant infants. And they were touch telepaths…

"Computer, provide biological data on Nurse Ruby Matthews."

"Ruby Matthews. Age 22. 60% Belimun, 40% Zaelian."

Spock's eyes blew wide. That couldn't be right."

"Repeat species make up."

"60% Belimun, 40% Zaelian."

Oh no.

Spock jumped off the couch (well the best he could), and went as fast as he could to SickBay. She had their girls right now. And had for a while. When he got there, he saw her holding T'Lyra in a cradle; lulling her to sleep.

"I have come for my children."

"Oh, Mr. Spock. I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"I am here now. Release my daughters to me."

"Of course."

Ruby looked nervous. There was a darkness in his eyes she had not recognized before. She put the girls in their stroller, and rolled it to him.

"I will see you tomorrow before shift, sir."

"You will not."

"Are you taking a rest day, sir?"

"No. You will be in custody, and therefore unable to perform your duties."

"What… what, what do you mean," she stuttered.

"I accessed your blood sample files. You clearly used your hybrid biology to infiltrate the ship, and get close to our family. Zaelia IV clearly has not given up on attempting to steal our children. However, you will not be successful."

Ruby panicked. This wasn't happening. If he got away, she would have failed. The Admiral would have her murdered.

"That's where you're wrong, Mr. Spock," she said; suddenly demonized.

Ruby took out her device, set it to four beings, and transported them out of SickBay. To the only planet she knew… Old Zaelia. It was too early to implement the plan. She would communicate to the Admiral the situation, and he would be proud of her for thinking on her feet. Yes… he would be proud.

She shot Spock to stun him as soon as they materialized so he couldn't attack, and stuck a hypo in his neck to make him pass out for a few hours. The girls weren't going anywhere, so she didn't need to stun them. Ruby drug Spock by his arms to the abandoned medical facility (she knew the coordinates would beam them there), and restrained him. She then went back for the girls, who were wailing after seeing her hurt their father, and rolled them next to his bed. What was she going to do now?

"So anyway, after all that happened, I found Ruby in the girls' nursery. She was giving them their vitamin shots."

"I gave them that yesterday morning, Jim."

"Yeah. But she said you forgot B and D, so just slipped in to give it to them."

"Jim, I gave them that. I never forget."

"I know, but I thought maybe you were busy and—"

"JIM! Listen to me. Something is up. I don't allow anyone else to administer anything to them. Just me."

"What?"

"Just me."

"Oh no. Oh no!" He got out his communicator. "Kirk to Spock! Urgent!"

No answer.

"Kirk to Spock!"

Silence.

Kirk and McCoy ran down the corridors; not caring if anyone stared after them. They reached SickBay, out of breath, and rushed around in search for anybody. Kirk reached where the girls should be, and stopped dead in his tracks.

The stroller was there, and empty. He put his hand over his mouth, and tears started building up. McCoy came up behind him, saw the scene, and put his hands on his shoulders.

"This can't be happening," Kirk said; sobbing.

"We'll find them, Jim. Spock and I found you. We'll find them."

"Spock! Oh my gods, Bones, Spock! Where is he?"

"I think with them," Christine said from behind them.

Kirk and Bones turned to look at her. She continued.

"He came in here saying he was taking the girls back early. I didn't see him again, so I just assumed that he took them. I didn't come in here again, so I didn't notice the stroller still being here. I thought Ruby was running errands." She started tearing up. "I could have done something! I could've stopped her! I didn't think anything of it. I—"

"Christine! It's not your fault," Bones said while going to console her.

"It's not," Kirk chimed in. "…But we have to find them. I don't know what they've got planned for them. Not only the girls, but Spock. If it's half of what they did to me…"

Kirk couldn't keep talking. He was inconsolable. His husband was pregnant, and his girls were just 6 months old. This couldn't be happening. Bones started up weeping, and then all three of them stood around the empty stroller; crying and holding each other.