Scotty wasn't quite sure why Charlie was lying on her back on the sidewalk in the early hours of the evening, but he plopped down next to her anyhow. He laid back and put his arms behind his head, resting his head on his hands. He looked up toward the sky and watched the first of the stars of that night start to show. Then he turned his attention to Charlie.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Watching the stars appear," Charlie answered without taking her gaze off the sky. Scotty looked back and forth between the sky and Charlie, doing a very good imitation of a tennis spectator.
"Are you getting sentimental on me?" Scotty asked. Charlie laughed.
"No, just getting used to losing a perspective," Charlie said. "Who knows when I'll look at the stars from this angle again?"
"You are getting sentimental on me," Scotty said. "First you go legit and now you're turning into a proper girl. This needs to stop, Charlie."
"I am not turning into a girl," Charlie argued. "I'm merely appreciating my surroundings."
"You'll be able to appreciate it more from up there," Scotty said. "It's brilliant."
"So I've heard."
"Come on," Scotty said, sitting up and getting to his feet. Charlie looked up at him and he held out a hand to help her up. "The crew is hanging out in the mess hall. Come get some dinner." Charlie grabbed a hold of Scotty's hand and allowed him to help her to her feet.
"Come on," Scotty said, throwing an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward the mess hall. "Captain's got Chekov pretty drunk right now and that kid is hilarious while drunk."
"Oh no," Charlie said. "That poor kid."
"Yes," Scotty said. "But so entertaining for the rest of us." Charlie chuckled as she and Scotty half-jogged up the Academy steps.
"Charlie!" Scotty and Charlie heard upon their arrival in the officers' mess hall. Charlie looked around and saw that Chekov was drunkenly stumbling toward her. Kirk had his head in his arms on the table that some of the crew was occupying. Kirk's body was shaking with his laughter. Sulu was outright laughing while McCoy sat there with an amused smile as he took everything in. Scotty laughed as Chekov came up to Charlie and wrapped his arms around her in a large hug. Charlie staggered a little under the pressure of the hug but returned it awkwardly.
"Hi there, Chekov," she said. Suddenly she was being held at arms' length by Chekov as he grabbed her by the upper arms and held her away from him to better look at her face.
"You should join us," he told her. Charlie smiled and nodded.
"I was planning on it," she told him. Chekov grinned widely and then stumbled back toward the table with Scotty and Charlie following. Scotty was doubled over with laughter as he walked to the table. Charlie elbowed him in the ribs and he straightened up. She stood by the table and the others waited for her to sit.
"I'm going to grab some food," she told them. "Does anyone want anything?" She got answers in the negative and went off to find some food. Scotty sat down next to Chekov and patted him on the back.
"How are we doing young Russian?" he asked the young navigator. Chekov turned to him and smiled.
"Just fine," he said. Kirk couldn't help but laugh.
"Where did you get this vodka?" Kirk asked, picking up the half full bottle of vodka with Russian writing on it.
"My mother sent it," Chekov answered. All of the other crew members looked at him in surprise.
"Your mother sent you a bottle of vodka?" Kirk asked. "Is she willing to adopt me?"
"No," Chekov said. "And she didn't just send any bottle of vodka, she sent the best vodka in the entirety of Russia."
"Good for her," Sulu said, grabbing the bottle from Kirk and taking a swig. Charlie walked back toward the table at that point with a plate of lasagna. She sat down next to Sulu and began eating.
"Who are we praising?" she asked after she took a bite of her food.
"Chekov's mother," Kirk explained. "Not only did she give birth to this smart little bastard, but she also had the kind decency to send him this bottle of vodka all the way from Russia."
"Aren't we supposed to be being productive since we're leaving soon?" Charlie asked. Kirk laughed.
"Nah," he said. "When we leave we can be productive." Charlie looked around.
"Where are Spock and Uhura?" Charlie asked.
"Off being reproductive," Chekov said. There was a silence as the crew members looked at him. Then they burst into laughter. Kirk was banging his fist on the table as the crew still laughed at Chekov's answer.
"At least someone's being productive then," Charlie muttered as she dug into her dinner. She suddenly smacked Kirk's hand with the back of her fork when she saw him reaching for a bite of her lasagna. He dropped his fork and rubbed the back of his hand.
"Ow," he said.
"Get your own," she said. "I even offered to get you some." Kirk just grinned arrogantly.
"I'm the captain," he said. "I can do whatever I want." Chekov suddenly giggled. Kirk looked to him and laughed. "What?"
"I thought you said 'I can do whoever I want,'" Chekov said. "And then I realized that that's not true." Chekov burst into giggles again. Kirk laughed.
"Is he high?" Sulu asked with his hands wrapped around the vodka bottle. Charlie shook her head.
"He's a giggly drunk," Charlie said as she finished her lasagna. She put the fork on the plate and pushed it away from her. She grabbed the vodka bottle from Sulu and took a swig. "That is good."
"Don't hog it all to yourself," Kirk said, taking the bottle from her with a wink. "We know how you like to drink."
"That's right," Charlie said. "You do. But then, you wouldn't have those pretty new cars in the garage if I didn't like to drink." Kirk nodded, allowing that. "Now, give me the vodka."
Charlie snatched the bottle back from Kirk as McCoy stood up. Everyone looked to him and he looked back.
"I'm going to bed," McCoy said. Noises of protest broke out around him. Charlie took a swig from the bottle.
"What do you mean, 'I'm going to bed,'" Scotty asked. "You can't go to bed now. It's barely past eight in the evening. We're just getting started."
"He's right, Bones," Kirk said. "As your captain, I am ordering you to stay and enjoy the company of these fine crew members." After that, Kirk grabbed the bottle from Charlie – eliciting a "Hey!" in protest – and took a swig. Then he offered the bottle to McCoy, who took the bottle and sat back down next to Charlie. "Good man."
"This better be worth it," McCoy said. "There are no cars involved this time."
"No cars but the pleasure of entertaining company," Kirk said to his good friend. "Well, at least until Chekov passes out from all of the vodka."
"I thought Russians could hold their liquor," Charlie mentioned. Chekov leaned across the table to her and blinked several times before speaking.
"We can hold our liquor," he said. Charlie looked to her other crew members while confused, barely able to make out what he was saying through his alcohol-thickened accent.
"Is that right?" Charlie asked. "Barely half of the bottle is gone and you're three sheets to the wind."
"And?" Chekov asked. Charlie grabbed the bottle from McCoy and held it so he could see it.
"You can't hold your liquor," she said. Chekov snatched the bottle from her and held it carefully.
"I'm holding my liquor just fine."
Charlie snorted and the rest of the crew drowned in laughter.
"See, Bones," Kirk said. "Very entertaining." McCoy nodded in his laughter.
A few hours later found Chekov passed out on the table, the vodka bottle almost empty and the mess hall empty save Charlie and Kirk. The two left were sitting across the table from one another at the end of the table with Chekov passed out a few seats away. Charlie had the bottle and took a swig before wiping the back of her mouth with the hand that held the bottle. Then she pointed a finger at Kirk with the same hand.
"You are something, Captain," she told him, slurring slightly. "You are not normal for a captain."
"What do you mean?" Kirk asked. He leaned forward with his chin on his hands. Charlie put the bottle on the table and rested her chin on it.
"You are different," Charlie started. "You are laid-back with your crew. You drink regularly with your crew. You are relaxed about rules and reckless. You trusted me right from the get-go and you had complete faith in me regardless of my checkered past. Granted, you had your own transgressions to get through, but mine are a lot worse and a lot more frequent."
"Do you want me to stalk around giving orders?" Kirk asked. "I thought you didn't like taking orders."
"And, yet," Charlie said, "here I am." Kirk pointed at her and then took the bottle from her. He took a swig and put the bottle back down.
"Your eyes are really blue," Kirk said abruptly. Charlie sat up a bit straighter.
"So are yours," she answered. Kirk leaned in to get a better look at her eyes. He moved his head from side to side as her eyes followed him.
"They really are blue," he said. Charlie nodded. Kirk kissed her on the forehead and leaned back. "You're a good kid, you know that?"
"I'm not a kid," Charlie defended. "I'm barely younger than you are." Kirk nodded.
"True," he said. "But your brothers are about my age." Charlie's eyes widened. "As Captain, I have access to your records. I know you have two older brothers and that your birth name is Charlotte. I was curious so I looked you up."
"Great," Charlie said. "None of what you found needs to be repeated."
Kirk shrugged. "Of course. Although you do get a birthday party soon in return for my silence."
"Fine," Charlie answered. They heard a groan and turned in the direction of the waking Chekov. Charlie sighed and stood up. Kirk watched as she sat next to Chekov and began to softly wake him up. Chekov was very sleepy as he woke, but still managed a large smile when he saw Charlie sitting there.
"Hey, Pavel," Charlie said to him. "Come on. If you get up, I'll help you get to bed." Chekov nodded sleepily and stood up while bumping into several chairs and the table. He put an arm around Charlie's shoulders as she supported him while he walked. Chekov turned his face to look at Charlie.
"Will you stay with me and take care of me?" he asked. Charlie laughed a little and looked at Kirk briefly.
"If you're lucky," she answered. "Let's get you to your room." Charlie and Chekov passed Kirk on their way out of the kitchen. Chekov stopped and turned, bringing Charlie with him as he looked back at Kirk.
"Good night, Captain!" Chekov exclaimed. Kirk laughed.
"Good night, Chekov," Kirk said. "Night, Charlie."
"Night, Captain," Charlie responded as she guided Chekov to the door. "Come on, Chekov. Let's go to bed."
"Does that mean you're going to stay?" Kirk heard Chekov ask as they went out the door.
"You are one lucky Russian," Charlie responded. Chekov scoffed.
"All Russians are lucky," he said. Kirk laughed at that. He took one more swig of the vodka and looked down at the bottle. He looked to the door one more time.
The next morning Kirk visited the officers' mess hall one more time. He was in search of breakfast and something to cure that growing migraine threatening to ruin the day. He loaded up a plate with all of his favorite breakfast foods and grabbed a large glass of milk and another glass of orange juice. He went into the eating area and saw that Charlie and Uhura were the only other ones in the room. He sighed and walked over to them, sitting down next to Uhura.
"Good morning, ladies," he said to them cheerfully. Uhura responded with a cordial greeting.
"Morning, Captain," Charlie responded. "How's the head?" Kirk grimaced and shook his head.
"Not feeling so good," he said. "I'm hoping that will clear by the end of the morning. We've got a big day ahead of us."
Uhura nodded and stood.
"I need to go get ready," she said. "See you later, Charlie." Charlie nodded and Kirk watched Uhura leave. He moved over to take her now vacant seat and sat directly across from Charlie.
"How's Chekov?" Kirk asked. Charlie looked up from her breakfast before answering.
"Last I know he was still sleeping," she answered. "I left about half an hour ago and didn't bother to wake him."
Kirk nodded.
"That was a good thing you did for him," Kirk said. "Staying with him and taking care of him, I mean. You're a good friend."
"So are you," Charlie said. Kirk looked at her. "You did the same for me."
"I thought you were dead to the world," he said. Charlie laughed a little.
"I was," she admitted. "Uhura told me." Kirk nodded in understanding and then turned back to his breakfast.
"He didn't give you any problems, did he?" Kirk asked.
"No. He just wanted the company as he slept," Charlie answered. "I became a human teddy bear of sorts. It was no problem though." Kirk chuckled a bit. Charlie stood with her empty plate and Kirk only just realized that she was done with her breakfast. "I'd do the same for you, Captain."
With that Charlie walked away as Kirk watched her. She deposited her plate in the designated station and walked out of the door without a backward glance at him. Kirk slumped in his seat and sighed, running a hand through his hair.
***
Charlie was pulling her hair back into a messy bun in her room when her communicator went off. She looked at the device to see who was contacting her. She looked back at the device with a confused look on her face. She answered it anyway.
"Yes, Commander?" she asked upon seeing Spock's face materialize on the device.
"We will be needing you soon," Spock said. "I've been set with the task of reminding the crew to be in Hangar 7 soon."
"I know," Charlie said. "Thanks, Spock. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, actually," Spock admitted. "When we leave, I wish to discuss a few things in private with you in regards to Lieutenant Uhura."
"Sure," Charlie said.
"Good," Spock said. "Finish packing and be down in the hangar soon." Charlie nodded and Spock's face disappeared from the communicator as it went idle.
"That was weird," Charlie said to herself as she threw a few things into her bag before grabbing it and walking out of her quarters.
Charlie arrived in the hangar to see Scotty and Sulu standing in front of the ship, chatting about warp speed. She shook her head when she realized that their idle chatter was something that still involved work. She walked past them and onto the ship. She had been shown her quarters on the ship when she had first arrived. She walked the familiar path down the corridor out of the elevator and saw that the door to the quarters next to hers was open. She glanced in when she passed and saw Chekov lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. She just walked past and opened the door to her room. It was an exact replica of the quarters she had back at the Academy. She threw her bag on the bed and got to unpacking. Multiple pairs of coveralls – just like the ones she was currently wearing – were put into the dresser drawers. She had also thought to bring some civilian clothes mostly consisting of jeans and t-shirts for when she got tired of her coveralls. She also pulled out the offending red dress uniform and black boots. She admitted that she enjoyed the boots, but the dress was what bothered her. Perhaps she'd find some occasion to wear it.
Twenty minutes later Charlie found herself in the command staff mess hall, sitting across the table from Commander Spock. Charlie had a mug of coffee she was holding in her hands. Spock had his hands folded on the table. Charlie was admiring the commander's perfect posture when he spoke.
"Lieutenant, you are of the female gender," he observed. Charlie nodded.
"So I've been told," she answered, taking a sip of coffee. "What's up, Spock?"
"I think there may be a problem with Lieutenant Uhura," Spock said, allowing a bit of worry to etch onto his usually emotionless face.
"What kind of problem?" Charlie asked.
"About once a month she gets a little short-tempered with me and discusses not wanting to participate in intercourse and other such activities," Spock started. Charlie held up a hand to stop him momentarily.
"Commander, I really don't need to hear about your sex life," she said. "That's just awkward. What's the problem?"
"She hasn't been getting short-tempered lately," Spock said. "It has been a couple of months now."
"Anything else?" Charlie asked. She seemed to be getting the idea but didn't want to excite or disappoint the commander. She wasn't quite sure what his reaction would be.
"She seems to be sick in the morning but it usually dissipates once the afternoon rolls along," Spock said.
"I see," Charlie said, very confident in her analysis of the situation. "Are you sure you shouldn't be talking to her about this?"
"I thought she may have discussed this issue with you," Spock admitted.
"I'm sure you have ideas about what it could be, right?" Charlie asked. "What do you think is going on?"
"I am not entirely sure."
"Well, Spock," Charlie said, seriously wondering if she was about to give a birds and the bees talk to her superior officer. "I know you're a smart guy, but I'm pretty sure that you just want someone to say what you think is going on. But you're scared to talk to Uhura about it. I can understand that. Here's what you need to do. Take her to go see Dr. McCoy and ask McCoy to administer a pregnancy test. That's really all you need to do."
Spock sat back in his chair, a myriad of emotions playing out on his usual blank face. After seeing that, Charlie suddenly understood Uhura's admiration and attraction for the commander. Charlie smiled to herself at the possibility of a very small crew member making its way onto the ship in a matter of months. Charlie chuckled to herself as she stood up and patted one of Spock's hands.
"You'll be fine, Spock," she said. "It's the scariest thing in the world, but you'll be fine. Besides, think of all the available babysitters you've got on board."
With that Charlie smiled and started to leave the mess hall. Before she got to the door she heard Spock speak again.
"Not a word to anyone, Charlie," she heard him say. She turned back, careful not to spill any of the coffee in her mug.
"I wouldn't dream of it," she assured. And then she left.
Charlie was still smiling to herself when she passed Kirk on her way to hers and Scotty's station down in the engine and transportation bay. Kirk looked quizzically at her and put an hand on her arm to stop her.
"What are you so joyful about?" he asked. Charlie looked off in the distance and took another sip of coffee.
"Nothing," she answered. Kirk scoffed.
"I've seen you walking around here. You're never this cheery," Kirk explained.
"Don't worry your pretty little head over it, Captain," Charlie said, patting him on the shoulder. "It's nothing." Kirk nodded and Charlie continued on her path.
"Come up to the bridge when you have a chance!" Kirk called after her. Without turning, Charlie gave her response.
"Will do, Captain."
Charlie entered the engineering crew room and downed the rest of her coffee before placing the mug in the sink. She heard footsteps enter the room and turned to see Scotty coming in.
"Charlie," he said. "We've got some work to do on the warp cores to see if we can get her to go faster."
"What's the current warp speed?" Charlie asked, leaning back against the sink with her arms crossed over her chest.
"It's about a four point two," Scotty answered. "Think we can get her up to five by the time we head back home?"
"Is that a challenge?" Charlie asked. Scotty smirked.
"It's a challenge from the captain," he answered. Charlie smiled.
"Good," she said. "Speaking of the captain, I'm supposed to go up to the bridge when I get a moment."
"Go ahead and go up now," Scotty said. "We don't have much going on as we just got into space. Go enjoy the view."
Charlie smiled at Scotty and made her way out of the engineering crew room and up to the bridge of the Enterprise. She twirled her wrench in her hand as she waited for the elevator to get to the proper level. She stepped out onto the bridge and watched as Kirk turned his head in her direction from where he was consulting with Sulu.
"Lieutenant," Kirk greeted. "Come over here." Charlie stepped up to where Kirk was standing and looked around as he guided her toward the front of the ship. Charlie stumbled a bit when she saw the vast universe stretched out in front of her.
"Wow," she said. She put a hand on Chekov's shoulder to steady herself as she gazed in awe at the stars surrounding every surface of her line of vision. Kirk noticed that Chekov's left hand automatically sought out Charlie's hand that rested on his left shoulder. Kirk watched his two youngest officers share a look. He interpreted the look on Charlie's face as telling Chekov that he had been right about something. The look was brief before Charlie turned her gaze back to her home for the next five years.
***
"Your birthday is coming up," Kirk could hear Chekov tell Charlie from across the officers' mess hall aboard the Enterprise. Kirk was sitting with McCoy and Spock as they ate their dinner. Charlie and Chekov were sitting by themselves, across from each other at a small table. Their conversation gave a feeling of a closed off nature. No one else dared to sit with them and break up the mild serenity in the mess hall surrounding that table. Kirk glanced up at them for a brief moment before turning back to McCoy and Spock.
"I know," Charlie said. "Kirk said that we have to have a party."
"I thought you didn't want anyone to know," Chekov said, pausing lifting his sandwich to his mouth. "How does the captain know?"
"He's the captain," Charlie said. "He has access to such information. In return for his silence about a few matters, I am required to attend a birthday celebration on the ship soon."
"I think you're secretly enjoying it," Chekov said with a slight grin. Charlie scoffed.
"I think you're wrong," she said to the Russian.
"I think you're hiding something." Charlie smiled a bit to herself.
"We're all hiding something," Charlie said. "Are you relieved after dinner?"
"Aye," Chekov answered. "Are you?"
"Yeah. Should we continue our game?" Charlie asked. Chekov nodded vigorously and grinned widely.
"Yes," he answered. "We should. I'm finding that beating you in chess is oddly satisfying."
"Some of us can't be Russian whiz kids," Charlie argued. "The mere fact that I last more than five minutes against you is a miracle in itself. You crazy mathematician."
"I'm not crazy," Chekov laughed. "Russians aren't crazy." Charlie laughed loudly, causing the captain, commander, and doctor to glance over from their table, causing a break in their conversation. Once Spock had continued his thoughts on intergalactic space wars, Charlie and Chekov resumed giggling quietly.
"Should we just play in here?" Charlie asked. She was still picking at a wonderful Italian dish that she couldn't name. Chekov had finished his dinner and was just waiting for her.
"Aye," Chekov answered. "I'll go get the set." He stood and took his trash with him as Charlie nodded and turned back to her dinner.
"Charlie," she heard McCoy address her. She turned her head toward him and raised her eyebrows. "I'm going to send Uhura in here soon so the two of you can talk. She said something about needing to talk to a female friend and such. Something about a male doctor not understanding."
"That's fine," Charlie said.
"Do you want her to come before or after the Russian beats you in chess?" McCoy asked. Charlie saw Kirk smiling to himself as he took a bite of the food he was eating.
"During is fine," she said. "Since you're so confident in my losing, an extra distraction won't be bothersome."
"Right," McCoy said. "I'll send her down soon." Charlie nodded as she turned back to her food and saw Chekov coming back to the table with his chess set in hand. He was panting slightly and Charlie moved her plate to make room for the board and pieces. They began to set up the board, putting all of the pieces where they naturally belonged.
"No help from Mr. Spock this time," Chekov told Charlie. Charlie scoffed and heard some laughter from the next table.
"It is not my fault that he was passing by and happened to feel the need to help out what would have to have been the worst massacre in the history of chess," Charlie defended.
"It was merely logical to help out the weaker player," Spock said from his table. Charlie and Chekov smiled at each other before Charlie turned to Spock.
"Thanks, Commander," Charlie said. "I'll even ignore the slight against my usually outstanding chess playing skills."
"Very good," Spock said. Charlie laughed a little and turned back to the game. Chekov made a gesture with his hand to tell Charlie that her move was first. As Charlie was contemplating her first move, the occupiers of the table next to them stood and picked up their plates. Spock and McCoy passed the table without a word. Kirk paused ever so briefly.
"Good luck," he said to Charlie and then he was on his way out of the mess hall, catching up with Spock and McCoy, who were waiting for him at the door. Charlie watched him leave and then turned back to the game, simply moving a pawn two squares forward.