This was not going according to plan. Joe paced outside of the restaurant, watching as Charlee and her companions were beamed up to the Enterprise. He had to get onto that ship. He had to talk to his legal son.

Joe sprinted down the street, zooming past with his superhuman speed. This stuff had its perks sometimes.

He had to get to Federation headquarters. He had to get to Christophe.

He was their only hope.

Just then, his phone went off.

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother,
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin',
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive.

People were staring. He mouthed a quick "Sorry-" and turned his phone on silent and ignored the call.

Within being on the Enterprise for five minutes, Charlee was prancing around like a five year old, squealing over every gadget she saw, jumping up and down when she recognized it as well. Jehan and Courfeyrac were running after her, struggling to keep up.

"Wait, wait, everyone hold up!" Jehan shouted, crouching down to catch his breath. "First order of business! Epo- I mean, Charlee, would you mind telling us why you're going by Charlee now?"

She struck a dramatic pose in the middle of the sick bay. "I just don't feel at home in mine, so I'll slip now.. into someone elses' skin~!"

Courfeyrac rolled his eyes. "But your middle name is Charlee, so that wouldn't technically be-"

She cut him off, scowling. "Don't ruin the fun."

"I love a good musical theatre reference as much as the next guy, yeesh. It was only an observation." Courfeyrac stated defensively.

Charlee rolled her eyes, composing herself. "I'm sure you do, wait is that a tricorder?!"

"Seriously?! Charlee-" Jehan and Courf cried in unison.

It was too late. She was long gone after an innocent staff member.

"She was here and gone as soon as Autumn's dawn." Jehan said, a leery tone to his voice. "Oh my gosh, I have to write that down!" He ran off in the opposite direction of Charlee to his room, repeating the phrase over and over again.

Courfeyrac sighed, wandering around aimlessly. No one needed him on the bridge and sick bay was boring.

"Charlee, wait up!" He yelped, taking off around a corner, ramming right into her and knocking them both to the ground. Instead of getting up like normal people would, the pair looked at each other and burst into an uncontrollable laughter fit.

Random people that neither of them cared about passed by and stared with concerned expressions, but it didn't concern them. This only came to a stop when a certain captain of the Enterprise happened to stumble by.

Charlee immediately stopped laughing, nudging Courfeyrac, hoping he would get the memo to hush.

"Eponine?"

She didn't even bother correcting him, lifting her hand up as if it was some form of wave.

"Hey, Christophe."

"CHARLOPHE." Courfeyrac chimed in.

"What-?"

Courfeyrac jumped up and darted off to his quarters, hollering "CHARLOPHE!" all the way there, leaving a very confused Charlee and Christophe behind.

"... I think he ships us."

"This is kind of awkward."

"I'll just... go... back to... the bridge."

"Right. Yeah. I'll just go... wreck havoc."

Before Charlee could go, Christophe grabbed her arm, a curious look in his eyes. "We can talk later?" His voice was laced with hope, and she tried with all her might not to feel so bad. She'd been gone for a while. And that kiss... had that meant that he cared?

"Definitely."

Silence enveloped them. She could sense him leaning closer, but before he could kiss her she darted away, after Courfeyrac, leaving Christophe clutching thin air.