Hey, all!

Sos you knows, I already have my next multichapter fic planned out and it will mostlikely be posted immediately following the end of this one, which will probably be only a few chapters more. Thanks for the support, guys!!

Disclaimer: I only own Star Trek in my dreams. I do, however, own this story as well as all the other things above mentioned. :)

I REPLACED THE AUTHOR'S NOTE WITH CHAPTER 16!!! So you know... So go back and read the previous chapter first!

I entered my quarters, after making sure Abria was properly put to bed in the room next to mine, where Spock was waiting for me. His back was pressed against the headboard, his nose buried in his PADD. I smiled slightly, putting all worries aside so he wouldn't hear them - the worries of whether our choice was wise in bonding in the first place.

I would never want him to hear my doubts - I loved him, and I knew that - but what does it mean to be bonded, anyway? We will be together until death does us part, like marriage. But what will my death do to him? He will live for much longer than I will, surely. And even on top of that, what will I look like in fifty years compared to him? I didn't think I could deal with the self loathing I would feel if he was stuck with an old hag.

"I sense worry in you, K'diwa," he said, and I looked over to see his PADD put aside.

"I just feel for the girl," I told him with a well placed smile, climbing into bed with him. I wasn't sure if he believed me, but he didn't continue his questioning.

"It seems that she had brought out your maternal instincts," he remarked softly.

"Oh, well, I have a younger sister."

"Even so," he persisted and I smiled softly. "I find your behavior endearing," he admitted as I curled into his side, allowing my earlier thoughts to be pushed away.

"Computer, lights out," I said, feeling his arms wrap around me, surrounding me with warmth. For a supposedly emotionless Vulcan, he sure did like spooning.

I felt our minds merge and I sighed. It felt like returning home from a long voyage, or having a good mug of hot chocolate after a long day in the snow. I felt his amusement at my analogy and I smiled.

"Night, sweetheart," I muttered softly.

I felt his emotions rise for a split moment, touched by the affectionate term.

"Sleep well."

- - -

Her breathing slowed after approximately eight minutes, signaling to me that she had fallen asleep. Instead of getting out of bed right away, however, I held her to me for a few more minutes, my eyes closed as well.

But I don't understand. I love him. I don't understand. Always?

I opened my eyes, her stray thoughts worrying me more than I could say.

'Nyota,' I thought to her, trying to calm her odd dreams as I ran my fingers through her hair. Her fearful thoughts became once more the pleasant dreams that she usually fell to.

I love him... What's wrong with me?

I froze, listening for any more stray thoughts, but none came. I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before standing up to meditate, knowing that this particular evening my mind would be greatly distracted.

- - -

"Well, when I was a kid my favorite food was chicken fingers - you may enjoy that," I supplied with a smile, and I saw her face distort in disgust.

"Chickens have fingers on your planet?"

I laughed, getting her whatever food I thought she might enjoy.
"No, of course not, silly. That's what the dish is called."

"Why?" she asked me as I led her to one of the lunch tables, her small hand at the crook of my elbow.

"I don't know, to be honest," I said, juggling the two trays with difficulty. Just as I was about to drop one, a pale hand shot out and caught it, carefully placing it on the table.

"Thank you, Commander," I said, smiling to the Vulcan that appeared at my side, placing the other tray down and helped the child to sit down.

He sat across from me and, once the child started eating, started speaking in Vulcan.

"We have made progress on the planet surface."

"In what way?" I asked, picking at my food.

"We have concluded that their leader is not at fault for the kidnapping. We suspect that it is the extremists," he said, careful not to use any words the child would recognize.

"My findings support that. Her father, according to her, seemed very anxious to join the Federation and expressed anger in their household about how the kidnapping would effect their chances of joining the Federation," I told him. My knee brushed against his as it usually did during a meal, causing the tips of his ears to flush slightly green.

I pulled away as if burnt. Worry and doubt was felt through the bond the second I touched him, causing my heart to spasm uncomfortably. I feigned a smile, picking up my uneaten food.

"You done, Abria?" I asked politely.

"Yes. I am not used to alien food, anyway."

I laughed again, finding it funny since I always thought of Niburans as aliens.

"Alright, then. Thank you for your company, Commander," I said, glancing back at him before heading toward the entrance of the Officer's Mess after ridding us of our food. His head was bent over his tray, his eyes closed in thought. He didn't respond.

"Would you like to meet our Captain?" I asked her, thinking that Jim would probably be bored out of his mind, anyway. She excitedly agreed and we walked toward the turbolift to take us to sickbay.

We were greeted by a calm Doctor McCoy, probably happy to have most of the crewmembers now out of the Medical Bay.

"Hey there, beauty queen," I was greeted and I smiled.

"Hello, Leonard. I see the sickbay has been mostly cleared out," I remarked.

"Yeah, to my benefit. Now I only have one pain-in-the-butt left, but I've grown used to him over the years. Now, who is this sugary sweetheart?" he asked, bowing down to be on level with the young girl.

She giggled happily, obviously entranced by the Doctor. "My name is Abria," she said, her high voice squeaking happily.

"She is a guest on the Enterprise, from planet Niburan. I may need you to examine her later, actually, but for now we're just visiting the Captain."

"Well, we're honored to have you. You know, I think I have a lollipop around here somewhere..." he trailed off, walking to one of the stations and pulling out a jar.

"I thought only pediatricians handed out lollipops?"

"Well, I have to keep Jim shut up some how while examining him," he said, pulling the wrapper off of a purple one. I laughed.

"What is a loll-ee-poop?" the young girl asked, causing the Doctor to smile.

"It's a kind of food. A candy, actually. You put the circle in your mouth and suck - don't chew and don't swallow the stick, though," he told her, placing it in her small hand, "There y'are, princess."

"There aren't any princesses on Niburan. I am an Isasia. But you can call me Abria," she said with a charming smile. He laughed.

"Well, in that case, you can call me Leonard."

"Thank you, Leo... Lennarr... Leono..."

"You'll get it eventually," he said with a smile and she grinned, obviously captivated by the doctor.

He stood up once more. "You said you were looking for Jim, right? I'll check if he's still loopy from the drugs," he said, disappearing behind the door that led to his room. After a few moments he opened the door for us.

"Jim, I'm so happy to see you're feeling better," I said genuinely, walking to where he lay.

"Uhura here came and visited you pretty often," McCoy said and I blushed.

"Oh, really? Gee, maybe you do like me, just a little."
I laughed. "Don't count on it."

He smiled. "Now who is this?" he asked, referring to the little girl who still held my hand and sucked on the lollipop.

"This is Abria, the Joremur's daughter," I told him.

"Wow, Abria, you sure are the prettiest Niburan I ever met..."

"Jim!"

"What? I'm not gonna hit on some kid!"

The girl laughed happily, "It's nice to meet you, Captain Kirk."

He smiled again. "You know, I broke my wrist. You can sign my cast if you want," he offered to her, realizing that she was blind.

She frowned. "I don't know how," she told him.

"Bones, can you get me a pen?" he asked, sitting up with a short intake of breath.

"Careful, Jim," he said, "You may be healing quickly, but it is easy to hurt yourself again." He handed him the pen he asked for and I brought the girl forward.

"I have an idea, Abria - I'll show you how," he said, placing the pen in her hand, "Now, if you'll be careful, I can ask Uhura here to help you hop up here with me and you can sign my cast."

I looked up at him, my eyebrow raised. "Come on, don't be such a party pooper."

I rolled my eyes, but gently raised the girl, who started laughing with the motion, and set her on the bed beside the Captain. He clutched his fingers around hers and helped her write her name. "There we are," he said with a smile.

She felt the cast for a moment. "Does it hurt?" she asked him and he shook his head.

"Bones here is a great Doctor, so now it doesn't hurt at all," he said and she carefully hopped down.

"Actually, Doctor, perhaps I can schedule an appointment for my little charge?" I asked him and he nodded.

"Yeah, sure. For tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Will I get another Loll-ee-pup, Lenno?" Abria asked us happily and we laughed.

"You betcha. We'll have lots of fun," he said, walking out the door with Abria's arm wrapped around his. And he didn't say a word about him being a doctor and not a babysitter. Maybe he liked the attention.

I turned back to where Jim was laying. "Feel better, Captain," I told him. There was a distant look in his blue eyes, only doubled by the bruises on his face.

"Thanks, Uhura. I'll see you soon," he said, giving me a small smile.

Aww, Abria has a little crush! Lol

R&R