Author's Note:

This is the last chapter. It feels like an accomplishment-my very first completed fiction! Thanks to all of you who reviewed, fav'd, followed, or just read-can't put into words how much that encouragement means.

Don't own Star Trek, just Katie and Patik.

Kamali's colonists and refugees would remain as guests on the Enterprise until Starfleet could comfortably, albeit temporarily, relocate them. For now, though, the Enterprise herself was docked at Starbase 24 until the worst of her hull damage was repaired.

Jim sat at the desk in his quarters, finally addressing the mountain of PADDs he'd ignored for too long. He efficiently worked his way through the bureaucratic pile until he picked up a PADD that gave him a start.

It was a transfer request from Carol. He was told to expect it, but somehow, illogically, he'd hoped it would never appear.

The succinct, standard wording seemed ridiculously inadequate. After all, he'd be losing one of his finest officers, not to mention a good friend.

Well, maybe he'd lost the friend already.

Jim laid the PADD on the desk and dropped his head into his hands. He had no choice but to let her go, he knew. He felt the familiar creep of guilt as he thought about how he'd ended things with Carol. It was true that he'd never meant to hurt her. Hell, there was a time he thought he and Carol could last. He didn't plan for their relationship to change, but since when did fate ever care about the plans of one James Tiberius Kirk?

He'd miss Carol if she left the Enterprise, but not in the way she needed him to.

He let out a long breath and signed the request. When he turned back to the remaining stack of PADDs, he found he'd lost the stomach for paperwork.

Jim rode the turbolift to the deck where many of the children had quarters, a basketball tucked under his arm. After the whupping he'd been handed by Patik on the ropes course, he wanted to challenge the kid to a game he exceled at.

He buzzed Patik's room, musing as he waited. Bring it, you 6-fingered ninja man-child. But instead, when the boy greeted him at the door, he stated simply, "Patik! Rec Room 4 in 15 minutes. You know where that is?"

"Yes, Mr. Captain. I give you chance!"

"Your English is coming along, Patik. Your trash talk needs work, though."

The boy looked at Jim with amused confusion. He might not have understood exactly what the captain said, but he knew it was funny. Jim was just… funny. Why else would he make Katie so happy?

Jim flashed a grin before leaving Patik at the door. "15 minutes!" he called over his shoulder. He turned down another corridor toward Katie Tallis' guest quarters and wasted no time buzzing to announce himself.

"Come in, Jim!"

"How'd you know it was me?" he asked as he entered her room.

"It's always you." She moved toward him and slipped her arms around his waist, sneakily breathing in his scent.

"Am I getting that predictable?" He smiled, tossing the basketball onto her bed.

She looked up at him, beaming. "I prefer to think of it as trustworthy."

He took in the sight of her, curls wild, smile crinkling her lightly freckled nose. "So," he said, "the Enterprise has new orders."

"Really!" She sounded wary. The life of a starship captain was not a safe one, and new orders gave her pause.

He brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "Really…" he sighed, and abruptly changed the subject. "You know, I have 15 minutes. That's enough time to…"

She stretched up to nip at his ear as she whispered, "Orders, Jim. Tell me."

15 minutes could be enough time… He cleared his throat, hoping it would help quell the desire building inside him. "We're going to Plutus VII. The Federation has decided it's time to renegotiate dilithium contracts and make sure everyone gets their fair share of planet's riches."

She jumped back in delight. "Really?! Are you serious? Do you know what this means?!" She all but danced as she spoke, enumerating ways this new Federation effort would help Plutusian kids… her kids. "We may be able to place some kids back with their families!"

Jim just listened, grinning, enjoying her breathless excitement and letting her joy wash over him. He sat on her bed and sighed with contentment.

Katie Tallis—stubborn, willful, unreasonable Katie Tallis—was perfect.

Carol slid off the biobed in sickbay and wiped her eyes. She didn't dare meet McCoy's gaze. She knew she'd see compassion there, which would only weaken her resolve.

"What will you do?"

"I've had an idea for a while now," she said as she sniffed back tears. "It's a new approach to terra-forming. I think it has real potential." She composed herself, the picture of false cheer. "And I can do it on a planet, rather than a starship."

McCoy nodded. "Better, I guess, considering."

Carol's laugh had no humor in it, and fresh tears filled her eyes. "Much better, I'd say."

"Are you going to tell him?"

Carol looked at the doctor's face, kind as it was, and saw the best friend of the man she loved.

"I don't know," she replied quietly. "But that's my choice."

"It is," he said, "but Jim has a right to know."

Carol looked pained then forced a smile. "Thank you for everything, Leonard."

McCoy shrugged, the compassion still clear in his features.

Carol nodded her goodbye, and left. Her life on the Enterprise was a thing of the past; the present here belonged to someone else. She wished them well—Jim, and this woman who delighted him as Carol never had.

She placed a gentle hand over her abdomen, her first real acknowledgement of the life growing inside her, and realized she already knew what to do. Carol would return to her quarters, pack, and leave the Enterprise that very night.

She would keep this secret, always.

So... I hope you don't hate me for ending this here and going with the 'less is more' approach for Jim and Katie. Did it work, or was it just incredibly frustrating?

I'm playing with a sequel to this story (well, in my head, anyway). Whaddya think? Either way, thanks so much for reading. I'm so glad you guys are out there! :)