Elanore knocked upon the small rounded door and waited, wiping the last of her tears from her eyes and brushing messy hair back from her face. The door opened and an older lady with long grey hair stood before her, a smile instantly coming to her face and her eyes sparkling brightly.

"Ah, bubba! What on earth are you doing here, my beautiful girl!" The woman greeted, eagerly ushering her inside before grasping her in a warm affectionate hug.

"Oh, my darling, I have missed you so much!" She continued and Elanore merely sighed, smiling happily and hugging her back tightly.

"I've missed you everyday, Peggy." Elanore responded, kissing the woman's cheek before they pulled apart and stared up at one another.

"Something is bothering you. Come, sit down and I'll make you something to eat!" Peggy ordered and Elanore sunk down gratefully into the soft chair in the corner, slipping off her boots before pulling her feet beneath her.

"Now tell me, my dear bubba, what has brought you back to me?" Peggy wondered, continuing to bustle around the kitchen, the aromas of a freshly cooked stew making Elanore breath in deeply. She had always adored Peggy's cooking.

"I'm now a Yeoman, Peggy. And on the Enterprise no less. We had a run in with a new enemy that left the ship damaged and Betazed was the closest star system to seek assistance from." -

"I'm sure you were most pleased about that." Peggy responded sarcastically, turning with a grimace before Elanore nodded and sighed deeply.

"I saw Leyana." She said simply and Peggy swore under her breath in Betazoid.

"That woman is insufferable! She was always so hard on your mother." Peggy explained and Elanore inclined her head.

"I remember." She responded simply, thanking Peggy when she handed Elanore a wooden bowl of hot stew and a piece of crusty fresh bread.

"It's like you knew I was coming." Elanore said with a smirk, digging into the meal greedily and Peggy chuckled, watching the woman before her sit solemnly in her arm chair, her face tired and her eyes haunted.

"Bubba, what else has occurred to make you so weary? You were never one to let a few stray comments from Leyana or anyone else bother you." Peggy finally asked and Elanore sighed before meeting the older woman's eyes.

"There's a man, Peggy. Well, he's the Captain, actually. He didn't know, no one knew. And now he does and I'm worried of what he thinks of me, knowing what I truly am." Elanore explained openly, never once keeping a secret from Peggy in all the years she had known her. She was the closest thing she had to a mother now and Elanore loved her dearly.

"Is this man your lover?" -

"What! Hell no!" Elanore burst out, almost choking on her stew.

"Your eyes say otherwise." Peggy stated simply.

"My eyes are lying then. I've never slept with the man and I don't intend to any time soon." -

"You may not be lovers but he has had an affect on you, whether you realised it or not." Elanore exhaled deeply and stared into her bowl.

"He really has." She muttered, giving in, in the presence of such fond company.

"Have you told him how you feel?" Peggy continued.

"I don't know what I feel, Peggy. Especially now." -

"If you are fond of him then I very much doubt that your blood will have any bearing in his decision." Peggy tried to reassure Elanore but she only bit her lip and shifted in her chair.

"But he's so involved with the Federation. How can I possibly keep Daddy a secret from him? It was always so simple and he makes things so complicated." Elanore said, her tone sad and filled with regret. She had left Jim high and dry on Betazoid, with only a slither of an explanation but she had had no choice. She had to keep her father a secret, she always had just to keep them both safe.

"Have you spoken to your father about this?" Elanore shook her head.

"I, for one, think it is time that you both came clean. It cannot be healthy always guarding such a big secret. Admiral or no, he is your father, bubba and you both deserve to be able to express as much." Elanore nodded in understanding.

"You're right, Peggy. As always." She responded with a small smile and Peggy chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

There came a soft wrapping at the door and both Peggy and Elanore looked up, the young Yeoman going stiff in her chair with wide eyes and Peggy putting on a stern yet welcoming expression.

"If it's Leyana..." Elanore began but Peggy waved her to silence before pulling open the front door.

"May I help you?" Peggy queried, her eyes meeting with ice blue iris' and dirty blonde hair. The instant she noticed the standard issue uniform he was dressed in, Peggy let a slight smirk reach the corners of her mouth before she raised her eyebrow at the young man, awaiting his reply.

"Uh, hello. My name is Jim Kirk. I'm looking for Elanore Troi. Is she here?" Jim stumbled lamely, fidgeting with his hands nervously. Peggy saw Elanore instantly shoot out of her chair, brushing crumbs from her skirt and straightening out her messy hair.

"Yes, she is." Peggy said simply but did not move from the door. If Jim Kirk was anything like the man that Elanore had described, then he would have to convince her of his worth.

"May I speak with her? She left in a rush and I was concerned." Jim explained and to Peggy's surprise, she felt genuine threads of worry and fear radiating off him in waves. Her eyebrows shot upward at the other emotions swirling around him. Confusion, pain, loneliness, lust, passion.

"Elanore, there is someone here to see you." Peggy said, turning her head slightly to address Elanore who merely rolled her eyes at the older woman and pushed passed her to face Jim.

"Captain." Elanore said crisply, her usually stoic facade slipping just slightly when her eyes came to rest on the startling baby blue's of James T. Kirk. Her breath hitched in her throat in a way it had never done before and she felt her heartbeat begin to race.

He is worried, Elanore. And confused. He deserves answers, bubba...

Elanore turned slightly to observe Peggy who stood just out of Jim's sight before sighing deeply and turning back to face him.

"Would you like to come in, sir?" Elanore asked hesitantly and Jim nodded and entered the small dwelling, instantly feeling at home in the cosy space.

"I think we can cut the formalities, Yeoman. Today I'm just Jim." Her Captain explained with a shy smile and Elanore couldn't help the tiny smirk that came to her lips. She offered him a cushioned seat by the window, curling up in her chair again before Peggy had brought in a pot of tea and three cups. She laid out the tray on the table and poured tea for each of them before settling down in a two seater opposite Jim.

"I think I might take my tea in the garden." Peggy finally said, rising from her chair and excusing herself with a smile. Elanore watched her leave, not meeting Jim's eyes even though she knew he was watching her intently. Finally she sighed deeply, before saying "Jim, I need to tell you. Everything."

Suspense! Sorry to leave it hanging...but the next chapter will be up just as soon as I've written it. It will explain everything and we will get a proper look at Elanore's past and why she is always so stoic and Vulcan-like. Thanks to everyone who has added my story to their favourites, I really appreciate it! I would absolutely love more reviews though, what I should change, what I should add in or whether it is worth continuing even? I have a lot of ideas so would be great to be able to continue but if no one is interested, I may not bother.

So keep the reviews coming! Thanks :)

alae-megallen