AN: Sorry about the hold-up, I've been buuusy and the muses got sick of being ignored. Thus, I give you Part Six of From Rodeo to Romulans! From here on out, I submit to the whim of the reader, lest my muses seize on this and dig in their sharp nasty fangs. If you want to see something, PM me! Please!
And yes, I gave Gaila a last name. :P
Chapter Six
Nyota Uhura looked around the crowded class-room where the Academy Linguistics Club was meeting and sighed. Over by the door, she saw a new face, a male cadet was chatting up the club president and vice president. It looked more like flirting, and Nyota just rolled her eyes. It wasn't the first time she'd seen this act come through town. Some cadet who didn't quite use his brains as often as he used something else would come through and get into the club, flirt like nobody's business, waste time, and then vanish. Nyota usually kicked those undesirables out, there were other ways to land a one-night stand. She watched the newcomer and frowned.
"Not another one."
"What's wrong?" Gaila Pardee, her roommate, looked up, "What'd I miss?"
"Some new Cassanova's in town."
"Ooh. He's not half-bad looking, if you ask me."
"Gaila, you'd date anybody who asked you the time of day." Nyota frowned.
"Says the girl who refuses to either date or give a guy the time of day."
"I have a boyfriend, Gaila, thank you."
"Sure you do."
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"Nope." Gaila just smirked, "Maybe you should ask out the new kid, he looks good." Nyota was about to say not on your sorry life when the new cadet turned and she saw his face for the first time. She was ten seconds from bolting when she knew it had been a mistake. It couldn't be Jim Kirk, he was too busy for this kind of thing. But, she rationalized, there was no one else it could possibly be. She just observed him, watched the way he worked the crowd. Yeah, it was Jim alright. Nyota smiled to herself, smug. Jim, excusing himself to his current companion, came towards them and Nyota was ready for him when he showed up.
"Hey, handsome stranger."
"Hey there, pretty lady." He came around behind and kissed the back of her neck, "Sorry it took so long."
"I knew if I waited you'd show your sorry ass eventually." She turned around to face him, completely ignoring Gaila, and smiled.
"Your faith is staggering." He rolled his eyes. Nyota leaned up and kissed him full-on, just to freak out Gaila. He pushed her back and smirked, "I think we've properly scandalized your friend here, Nyota."
"Jim, this is Gaila Pardee. She's my roommate. Gaila, this is Jim Kirk. He's my boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you." Gaila was stunned.
"Same here." Jim shook hands with Gaila and then the meeting started. It went quickly, usually it seemed to drag on forever, and when it was over, Jim apologized for ditching, but he had to stop by Captain Pike's office before he headed home for the day.
"Oh, I don't have anything going on, I'll come with you."
"Are you sure you want to?"
"Why wouldn't I?" She pushed him out of the classroom, "What are you so worried about, Jim?"
"He said he had a message for me, it was important, but he would wait until I was out of class for the day." Jim frowned, "That's not usually a good thing." When they got to Captain Pike's office, Jim asked if she wanted to wait outside. She just gave him a look and he shrugged.
"Just asking." He stepped into the office, tossing Pike a strangely casual salute, "Hey, Chris."
"About time you got here."
"Sorry, I ran a little late."
"Ah, Cadet Uhura." Pike saw Nyota and just smiled, "I was wondering how long it would take you two to hook up."
"Long enough, sir." Nyota looked over at Jim, who blushed.
"Jim, can you come here a minute? I kept that message for you."
"Sure, Chris." Jim just shrugged. Maybe he didn't want to, but he would do it anyway. She kept one ear on the conversation taking place at the desk and frowned. It wasn't a conversation Jim wanted to be having, but there was nothing for it. She looked over to see him reading a PADD and scowling. He tossed it onto the desk.
"I'm not giving that the dignity of a response, Chris. You can tell her whatever you want, I'm not saying a damned word."
"Jim, she's your mother."
"Oh please! She abandoned me at the county fair when I was seven years old! And that's the least of her crimes! No! No way." Jim turned away from the desk, "Forget it, Chris."
"Would you at least think about it?"
"Didn't you hear me? No!" Jim walked away from the desk. Nyota took his hand as he reached her.
"What's wrong, Jim?"
"Nothing."
"Okay. If you want to talk about it, I'll listen." She had to try.
"There's nothing to talk about, Nyota. Let's go home. Thanks, Chris, I'll be back in the morning."
"Good night, Jim." It was obvious Pike wished Jim would at least give whatever was festering some descent consideration. They left campus and Jim steered her away from the Academy. Taking a transport to Fisherman's Wharf, they ate at a small Italian restaurant.
"What happened in Pike's office, Jim?"
"My mom's trying to get in touch with me."
"Why is that a bad thing?"
"Because I don't owe her anything. She was never around when I was growing up, I lived with my stepfather for a long time before Danny got shared custody and I would stay with him instead."
"You never really talked about her much."
"We're not on good terms, Nyota. It's a terrible thing to say, I don't have any family really. Danny was the closest thing I ever had to a father."
"You have Joanna and Doctor McCoy."
"Yeah, I do, and I'm real glad they came to San Francisco." Jim smiled at her across the table, "I've got you, too."
"I've just got one question."
"Sure."
"Why are you so informal with Captain Pike? I don't know anyone else who calls him by his first name."
"Pike? He's my godfather. I can call him by first name if I want to, he's okay with it."
"Sounds like you have more family than you thought."
"No real family."
"So, what did your mom want?"
"She wants to have lunch with me. It's like, now that I'm in Starfleet, I'm suddenly worth her time." That did not sit well with Jim, "I don't want to sit for an hour and listen to her go on and on about my dad, about how I look so much like him, about…everything."
"Maybe you should try? She is your mother."
"Whose side are you on, Nyota?"
"I'm on yours, Jim. I don't speak to my own mother, if that's any consolation, I haven't for a few months. My step-mother is a wonderful person and I love my father, but…my mother and I had a falling out."
"Over what?"
"Starfleet, of all things."
"I didn't know that."
"I never told you. At least try to make peace with your mother, Jim, it's not easy for her to reach out like this."
"How'd I land a linguist for my girlfriend?"
"It was a bet, remember? Stefanie never forgave me, by the way."
"Whatever happened to her?"
"She's at the Academy for Engineering. She'd probably die if I told her you were here."
"You should, just to see her reaction." Jim smirked, but sobered, "Do you really think I should bother with my mother?"
"Yeah, I do. I'll go with you if you want me to."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Yeah, I would." Nyota smiled and they finished their meal in silence. Then they walked the Wharf and watched the sun set over the harbor. As they walked through Golden Gate Park on their way back to campus, they were stopped.
"Jim! Jim!"
"Who's that?" Nyota looked at the woman coming their way, "Is that your mom?"
"Ugh."
"I'm right here, Jim, don't worry." Nyota pushed him forward, "You can do this."
"Jim!" The woman who finally caught up with them had aged gracefully for someone in her position, or as gracefully as anyone widowed on the same day her son had been born could age.
"Mom."
"What are you doing off-campus?"
"We went out for dinner, that's all. Mom, this is Nyota Uhura."
"Girlfriend?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You don't look like a one-night stand."
"Mom!"
"What? She doesn't."
"My god! Do you mind?"
"It's alright, Jim. Actually, we've been dating long-distance for the last year." Nyota stepped in and smiled at Jim's mother.
"Oh. He never said anything."
"Of course I didn't." Jim spat.
"Winona, give the kids a break." The gentleman with Jim's mother scolded, "They're not breaking any rules."
"Excuse me, I don't believe we've been properly introduced." Jim turned from his mother, "I'm Jim Kirk."
"I know, I've heard a lot about you, son. Robert Voltaire, it's nice to finally meet you." The gentleman offered one hand and Nyota shared a startled look with Jim.
"Oh my god! Admiral Voltaire! Jesus, sir, it's my honor!" Jim grinned as they shook hands, "Wow! It's…wow."
"Sufficiently stunned. I like you, Kirk. You're a sharp kid. It's good to see you finally joined Starfleet, seems we have this lovely young lady to thank."
"Yeah, Nyota's been good for me." Jim blushed. Voltaire just smiled. They chatted for a few minutes before Voltaire dismissed them to get some rest. Once they were out of earshot, Nyota jumped Jim.
"Oh my god! Jim!"
"Holy shit! Nyota, did you see that? Oh Jesus, I need to sit down." Jim collapsed on a park-bench, "Holy sweet god. Does that make me his step-son?"
"I couldn't see a ring, but we can cross our fingers."
"Hell yeah! Sweet! Admiral Voltaire! He is one of the single coolest people I've ever met. Him and Archer are just awesome." Jim put his head in both hands and caught his breath, "Oh, please , God, please let this be the real thing."
"You can tell Captain Pike tomorrow."
"Wait until he hears about this if he doesn't know already." Jim was in incredibly good spirits, Nyota wondered if he'd get any sleep tonight. Probably not. When they got back to campus, Nyota tugged him in the direction of her dorm. Knowing Gaila, their room would be empty. Sure enough, it was, and clothes went flying. They landed on the bed, fought for dominance, and she submitted to a giddy Jim. After two rounds, they collapsed in exhaustion and fell asleep. Jim was gone by morning, of course, but Nyota just smiled and hugged her pillow. It smelled like him.