"Papa?" A small voice drifted down the hall. Pavel Chekov set down the book he had just picked up and went to his daughter's bedroom. The three-year old stared up him at with wide brown eyes.

"Da?" He asked. "Yes?"

"I'm thirsty. Can I have a drink of water?"

"May I." He corrected. "Yes, you may, but hurry. You are supposed to be in bed." He watched in amusement as the child climbed out of bed and scampered off towards the kitchen. He followed behind her.

Pavel got her a cup from the cabinet and poured just a little bit of water in it before handing it to Nakita. "Spaceeboh." She said. She drank the water and gave the cup back to her father. She returned to bed somewhat more slowly than she had left it. Pavel tucked her in once more, kissed her forehead, then made his way back to the living room.

He settled down on the couch, picked his book back up, and-

"Papa?"

He set the book aside once more. "Yes?" He asked, again going to her room. "What is it, pet?"

She grinned up at him rather sheepishly. "I forgot to brush my teeth."

He wondered what she had been doing in the bathroom, then, but said, "Go on then. But hurry up."

Teeth brushed, he again tucked her into bed. He had gotten as far as the door before she called to him again. He turned in the doorway. She smiled again. "I need to say my prayers."

They knelt by the bed, and bowed their eyes. Sweetly the child said her prayers.

"Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Thy love go with me through the night,

And wake me gently with morning light.

Amen."

Once more Pavel put the child to bed. "Now go to sleep." He told her firmly. "It is past your bedtime."

"Yes, Papa." She said reluctantly. He kissed her forehead again and tucked her in. He left the door open a crack to let the light from the bathroom shine through.

He had managed to read one sentence before the summons came again. Pavel sighed, once more set the book aside, and went to see what his daughter wanted.

"You're supposed to be sleeping." He told her.

"I know." She whispered. "But there was a monster."

"A monster?" He asked. She nodded fearfully. "Where?" He asked, turning on the light. She pointed to the closet.

Pavel went over to the closet and opened the door. He peeked inside. "Nope. No monsters in here." He informed her.

"What about under the bed?" She whispered. Pavel closed the closet door and went to the bed. He poked his head below her bed.

"No monsters." He reported. He straightened up, and moved to sit on the edge of her bed. "Monsters don't come here, you know." He whispered.

Nakita was surprised. "They don't?" She asked. "Are you sure?"

"Completely." Pavel replied, still whispering. "You see, they're too scared to come here."

"Who are they scared of, Papa?" She asked.

"Why, who do you think?" Nakita thought for a moment. "You?" She asked. Pavel nodded. Nakita wasn't sure. "Really?" She asked.

"Of course." He replied. "You can ask Hikaru if you don't believe me."

"I will." Nakita decided. "Next time he comes over."

"You do that." Pavel told her fondly. "But for now, you need to sleep. It's late."

She yawned. "But I'm not sleepy." She informed him.

"Oh?" He asked, trying not to laugh.

"No." She insisted. "But maybe if you read me a story, then I would be sleepy."

"Okay." He said. "But then you have to sleep."

"I will." She promised. "Here, read this one." She said, darting over to her bookshelf. Pavel took the book and began reading.

Nakita's eyes soon began to droop, and by the time he had finished, the child was asleep. He quietly stood, put the book back, and went to turn out the light.

The child's eyes flew open. She was wide awake once more. Pavel smiled, and sat back down on the bed. "You need to go to sleep." He said firmly.

Nakita yawned once more. "Will you sing that song, Papa? The one about Granpa used to sing to you when you were little?"

Pavel lay down beside his daughter, and wrapped an arm around her. As he began to sing, she snuggled closer to him. Her eyes closed, and she hummed along for a few notes before she drifted off. Pavel lay there for a few minutes more, singing another lullaby, before he tucked her in for the last time that night, and kissed her on the forehead, and went to the door. The child didn't stir.

Nakita was fast asleep.

"Goodnight." He told her softly.

The child shifted ever so slightly. "Goodnight, Papa." She murmured in her sleep. "I love you."

"I love you too." Her father whispered back. He left the door slightly open, so that the light from the bathroom could shine through.

Disclaimer: Star Trek does not belong to me.