"Enter."

Grace walked through the door of the captain's office. He was seated at his desk with a glass of breesin next to his right arm. Another man sat with his back to the door on her side of the desk.

"Am I interrupting something, sir? I can come back later," she suggested.

"Not at all, Lieutenant. Sit down." Kirk smiled warmly and indicated the empty chair next to his other guest, and she sat.

"Grace." She turned her head and saw Albix sitting next to her. He reached for her hand.

"How is your father?" she asked, leaning towards him, her eyes filled with concern.

"Eager to get back to the orchards again." He squeezed her hand gently.

"I'm not surprised," she laughed.

"I assured him that we'll get along fine while he recovers. I don't think he's going to listen, though. Stubborn old fool." He shook his head, smiling.

"Ahem," Kirk interrupted. They both looked over at him. "I'm still here, you know."

Grace straightened her skirt, blushing. "I'm sorry, sir." She looked over at Albix and he nodded at the captain. Grace frowned in confusion as they shared a knowing look.

"Quite all right." He folded his hands on his desk. "Are you familiar with our current relations with Agapea, Lieutenant?"

She pressed her hands down on her thighs. "Good since first contact, sir. However limited they are."

"No permanent Starfleet presence?"

She nodded. "That's correct, sir."

Kirk tapped his fingers against the table. "An unfortunate oversight."

"Perhaps." Grace leaned forward. "If I may, sir, why are you asking me? You could have checked with the computer database..."

"A most unfortunate oversight," Kirk repeated, getting up from behind his desk to pace back and forth slowly. "One which ought to be remedied as soon as possible." He leaned forward over the desk and smiled at her. "Does that sound like something you might be interested in, Lieutenant?"

Grace opened her mouth, but no words came out. She glanced between Kirk's easy grin and Albix's loving gaze as it dawned on her what he was suggesting. A wide grin spread across her face. "Oh, yes, sir. It does."

Kirk sat back down in his chair, picking up a memory tape and tapping it on the surface of his desk. He closed his eyes. "Consider it done. I'll recommend you highly in my report to-" Kirk looked up and realized that neither one was listening to him.

Instead, they were lost in each other's arms, kissing tenderly. Kirk moved from behind his desk and exited the room, giving them a moment alone.