Epilogue

It had been over a year since Scotty and Jaylah had left the Enterprise and stepped foot on the planet Orsil. The work was difficult and constant, good for the two engineers who loved a challenge. Despite Scotty's protest, Jaylah had worked the entire time, but as the expected due date approached, Jaylah finally gave in to a few days of rest before the birth.

"Monty, my species has very little pregnancy issues. My mother worked even the day of birth."

"I know, I know." Scotty sat down next to her and grabbed both her hands. "But you're carrying half humans in there. We aren't as tough as you. And with the due date so close, Bones says… ahh look! Here he is now."

Scotty's PADD was flashing. He pressed a button and Dr. McCoy's face appeared, along with a few other of the crew as well. Bickering could be heard in the background, mainly the Doctor trying to push Kirk and Uhura away, but the two prevailing.

"Hello! Oh, you're absolutely glowing, Jaylah!" Uhura exclaimed through the screen.

"Jim, Nyota, it's great to see you." Scotty said with a smile.

"We miss the three of you here on the ship." Kirk looked down at some papers in his hands. "We need Jaylah to go ahead and pop those babies out so you can send them over to us for engineering. Ship's barely holding together."

"I do not think the children will be ready for work many years." Jaylah explained. "Then, they need to go to the Academy for four years."

Scotty laughed. "Kirk can always find a loophole. We'll have to fight him off," he whispered teasingly to his wife.

Bones was in the back looking increasingly agitated. "Jim, will you please let me talk to Jaylah. This is supposed to be a private medical call."

Nyota popped up again. "We just want to know if you decided on any baby names yet. Spock and I are still debating for our second."

Scotty and Jaylah looked at each other. "Well, I suppose it wouldnae hurt to let you know now."

"For our girl, Altamid after my planet. For our boys, Franklin after my home. Montgomery after Montgomery. Enterprise after our ship."

"Good Lord, this is why Engineers shouldn't be allowed to procreate," Bones muttered, receiving a hard elbow from Uhura.

"You go with Enterprise, but not one named after me?" Kirk complained. There was another hard elbow.

"They're… lovely choices," Uhura politely replied.

Bones butted in again. "I'm glad we all are getting to chat, but I really need to get to all of these medical questions. It should take some time…"

"Dr. McCoy. I am healthy. Scotty is forcing me to stay inside. I do not need examination."

"Jaylah," both Bones and Scotty said at the same time.

"I am a little tired. Perhaps I could rest a moment, and we go over these questions in the morning. I need rest, is that what you say?"

Bones knew she was obviously bluffing, but he wasn't about to argue with a pregnant woman. Everyone waived goodbye and Scotty signed off the PADD, not without a quick lecture from the Doctor to Jaylah to listen to her husband and keep the tools down for just three days.

With their house quiet again, Jaylah rested her head in Scotty's lap. There was about ten minutes of silence, and Scotty was on the brink of dozing off himself, when he heard Jaylah speak.

"Do you miss our ship?" she asked.

Scotty knew what was behind the loaded question. Do you miss the ship? The job? The crew? The adventures? He finally settled on an answer. "Of course I do. But I'm happy here, with you."

There was another minute of silence, before she asked, "Do you want to go back? Not now. When our babies are older? Spock and Uhura are raising family on the ship."

Scotty thought some more. "For the longest time, all I wanted to do was explore the galaxies. Contribute to engineering and science. Discover new worlds. And I did, and it was amazing. It led me ta you." He placed a hand on her stomach. "But now, we get to create a new world. I gave up any thoughts of love and a family long ago. But you changed me... Whatever we decide for our family, whether to be colonizers or explorers, it will bring me joy to do it with my family."

Jaylah smiled and snuggled closer into Scotty's lap. "Maybe we should let Keenser decide."

That made him laugh again. "He'll follow us anywhere."

"Maybe we can let the children decide."

"Between settling here or being on a spaceship? I have a feeling I know what their answer will be."

There was silence again. "I love you, Monty."

"I love you, Jaylah."

The next day, after 14 months of pregnancy, Altamid Jaylah Scott, Franklin Linlithgow Scott, Montgomery Cristopher Jorgensen Scott, and Enterprise Keenser Scott were born. Nothing was ever the same.