Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last section. You are wonderful. I appreciate all your kind words. This is another mom-figure heavy chapter which is hard for me to write right now. But I am trying.

Once again, a reminder that these letters are arriving at Enterprise time, which is four hours ahead of New Vulcan.

Day 363: It's Still Valentine's Day on New Vulcan

From: KirkWX
To: Peter_K
Time arrived: 02/15/2261 00:00:01
Subject: Greetings from London

Hey sweetie. Thank you for writing. I always look forward to your letters and the pictures that you sent me. My office is filled with them. Yes, I have an office because I am teaching classes. I also have office hours, so the kids need to be able to meet me somewhere. Several of my colleagues think you look just like me. I'll take that as a compliment.

I've been back and teaching for a couple of days. Classes are going well so far. I am hopeful for a calm semester. Or at least it stays that way until Adm. Pike goes into labor.

I don't know what to say about me being the good grandmother. I should not be anybody's good grandmother because you know I am messed up. It makes me want to find where Arlene's egg donor is being held and punch her. She doesn't deserve to be called a mother and is definitely not worthy of being your grandmother. I have made mistakes, hundreds of them. However, I will do my best to ensure you are happy, safe, and loved.

I'm glad you're learning now that everybody liking you is not essential. Some people are going to hate you just because. There is nothing you can do to change that, so don't try to be anything other than yourself. But being a good person and kind is crucial in life. I think your Uncle Jim is definitely going to teach you the importance of being kind.

Yes, I've heard from your Uncle Kevin. He didn't mention the teasing, but I have my sources. I'm glad Kevin is only doing one semester and not a double like I assume your friend Jackie is doing. She would have left Enterprise when we did If she were only doing a single semester. I'm glad you're making friends with some of the younger interns. It's good for you to have lots of friends. Also, in 20 years, a five-year age difference will not mean that much.

Your Uncle Spock did send me your winter break project. You wrote a fascinating paper. I also appreciate you keeping out personal family things. That shows that even though you're young, you have a good head on your shoulder and realize some things do not need to be everybody's business.

Anyway, keep sending more pictures. I think your uncle is trying to schedule a video call soon. I wish him luck.

X

"It's so good to see you. Are you calling us from your father-in-law's house? There are a lot of streamers in the background." His mother asked as soon as she arrived on screen.

"That's because we just had a wedding here like an hour ago," Jim said as he used the remote to move the camera around so his mom could see all the confetti and balloons filling the room. He doesn't know how the kids found so many balloons. They are everywhere right now.

"Whose wedding? Not Ben and Hikaru?" His mother asked. That makes sense because she is friends with Ben. "I feel like Ben would have told me something if they decided to elope virtually."

"Nope, that is still happening this summer in Yorktown. Although now it's May 29. Are you going to be done with classes in time to be there?" When he was a cadet, classes were usually over by the second Friday of May.

"Yes. Besides, I'm only teaching two classes, and my TA can proctor the exams if necessary. I can grade final exams from Yorktown. We are probably hitching a ride with whichever ship brings the Earth delegation to Babel."

"That is probably true." Jim agreed.

"Where's your husband?" Nhi asked. She was sitting next to Winona, looking extra pregnant.

"Grabbing the kids. They were out dancing with their cousin and their favorite teacher in the living room. Gina was the one who got married. It happened an hour ago so her BFF Sue could watch." Jim explained.

"Right, her girlfriend is Vulcan. or I guess wife now. So having a wedding while on the colony makes sense." Winona remarked.

"Although I assume it was a last-minute wedding? Because if this was planned, I'm sure you would have scheduled this phone call for the evening our time instead of morning." Nhi told him.

"Yes, Gina's now wife just proposed yesterday. Since they will be separated for at least a couple of weeks, they wanted to have the wedding now so Gina could begin the citizenship process. They're being pragmatic." Jim explained.

"Because the inspection next week could go badly?" His mother asked.

"Potentially. Peter isn't letting me see his project on the history of Starfleet's use of propaganda. Josephine's presentation is similar but focuses on the Federation as a whole. I'm not sure Commander Franco will be happy about that." Jim decided not to convince the kids to choose different topics. If a project like that got the program shut down, then he doesn't want to stay here.

"Andrea Franco?" Winona asked.

"Yes."

"If it's the same Andrea Franco, I went to the Academy with her," Winona explained.

"It might be the same person. Per her CV, you joined Starfleet around the same time. You didn't get in a fight with her about Dad, did you?" Jim asked.

"No. Although I remember her sending me a very nice card after I lost your father." His mother remembered.

"That's something, at least," Nhi commented as she adjusted herself in her chair.

"Are you OK?" Jim asked, concerned.

"I'm OK. My back hurts a lot." The admiral answered. "These chairs were not designed for pregnant people."

"Or anyone else," Winona added.

"Starfleet interior design does leave a lot to be desired." Jim joked.

"Although it doesn't help that I'm like 20 months pregnant."

"You're still lovely."

"I look like a house," Nhi commented.

"Just another month to go," Jim remarked.

"That is very true, but it will be a long month. Although I'm hoping the babies show up just before spring break."

"You're going on parental leave anyway. So, the breaks don't matter."

"Yes, but post-midterms would be a better jumping-off point for my maternity leave replacement." As Nhi explained, Spock brought the kids into the room. All three of them were wearing party hats — even his baby sister-in-law. He's going to have to get a picture of that.

"Hi, nanna. Sorry, we were dancing. Our teacher Gina got married." Peter explained as he sat down next to Jim. Spock moved to sit on the other side with the two girls standing behind them.

"I heard. You guys seem like you're having fun." Winona told her grandson.

"We are."

"All the other kids and their parents are here now for the wedding reception," Josephine added.

"I'm not sure how it happened, but my father-in-law managed to assemble a wedding reception in about 3 hours," Jim explained.

"My father is a trained diplomat. He has experience in putting on receptions quickly." Spock added.

"Yes, but…" Jim started but was cut off by his husband's eyebrows giving him the Spock sign for please stop talking.

"Do not say it was my mother who did those things because that would be a gross assumption of gender norms." Obviously, he thought that a little too loud, and his husband picked up on it.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Jim leaned over to kiss Spock, causing Peter to scrunch his nose.

"You need to get over it. I'm going to kiss my husband a lot." Jim told his nephew.

"Someday, you'll find somebody you want to kiss, too," Winona told her grandson.

"Not necessarily. He could be asexual, which may explain his uncomfortableness with our displays of affection." Spock answered.

"And there's nothing at all wrong with that. Being asexual is perfectly normal." Winona told her grandson.

"My roommate at the Academy was ace," Nhi added.

"Nanna, I got your latest letter a couple of minutes ago. Although I'll read it later tonight." Peter said, changing the subject.

"I thought you didn't get letters till midnight?" Winona asked.

"We don't, but it's 8:23 p.m. local time. It's still Valentine's Day here." Peter answered.

"Another holiday spent on the colony." Nhi smiled at the group.

"I'm glad you're spending it on this call and not doing a Valentine's dinner," Winona stated.

"I am delighted to be at Gina's wedding." Jim did love a good wedding. It was a fun party even though he couldn't have any pot lemon bars because he was working the next day.

"Did you perform the wedding, Spock?" Winona asked.

"I would have if it occurred on the ship. Because they decided to have it here, my father performed the bonding ceremony. They went with a mostly traditional Vulcan ceremony. They will have the Earth ceremony later when Sue can be there in person along with Gina's mother," Spock explained.

"This is exactly the opposite of what you and Spock did," Winona commented.

"Pretty much."

"So, I heard something about a school project coming up soon. I want to hear all about it." Nhi stated.

"Hey, no need for a subject change. I understand why I wasn't at the first wedding, but I am glad I could attend the bonding ceremony despite it being sweltering. Please tell me this was an inside wedding?"

"Yes. I'll send you pictures of us. I know you always want more pictures."

"Well, I want to know more about the propaganda projects." Nhi moved closer to the camera. "Entertain the super pregnant lady."

"It's best to keep her entertained right now." Winona rolled her eyes.

Xxx

"You had a fascinating couple of weeks. I can't believe so much has happened. I swear Peter grew an inch since your birthdays." Winona told Jim and Spock after the kids left the room again. She was happy to have an hour-long call with the kids. She knows more about what's happening on Enterprise than she probably should but appreciates their enthusiasm.

"He did. They are getting so big. They're going to be teenagers soon." Jim seems sad at that revelation.

"Less than a year to go."

"I really hope Peter isn't me as a teenager." Her son sighed.

"You weren't a horrible teenager," Winona reassured. "You took care of Kevin. You were just angry a lot."

"Obviously, you forgot about all the bar fights and my multiple arrests." Jim joked.

"And you still turned out perfectly okay."

"Perfectly okay, but still in therapy," Jim remarked as Nhi wiggled around in her chair again.

"Are you really OK?" Jim asked. "You've been rubbing your back this entire time." Winona was also concerned. She wondered if her friend was starting to experience the early signs of labor. She may have lost the Valentine's Day bet, but she wonders if she wasn't off by that much.

"From the books I have read, that is a symptom of early labor." Winona tried to hide her smirk behind her hand. Of course, her son-in-law would figure that out. He would read baby books.

"No, really, it is the chair." Winona was trying hard not to call bull shit on that. "I've been here over an hour and need to pee." That makes sense. Winona is surprised Nhi didn't need to go to the bathroom during the last hour.

"Which means it's our time to leave."

"I promise I will email you when I go into labor," Nhi told the two.

"I would prefer a rapid message. Or a video call. I think this warrants a video call, especially if we're still at Starbase 39. Although I hope we're done with repairs by the time you go into labor. I do want you to make it to March." Winona knew Jim feared his other mother figure going into premature labor.

"You were earlier, and you turned out perfectly OK." Winona tried to reassure her son.

"Except I'm like allergic to everything. I can't even have the wedding cake." Jim pouted.

"In his haste to plan the wedding, my father forgot to consult Jim's allergy list before ordering the cake for the festivities. The Vulcan summerberry is in the same family as the strawberry." Spock explained.

"Poor baby," Nhi said in mock sympathy.

"I have virginal lemon bars, at least."

"There is that," Winona said as she moved to end the call. "I love you, and I'll see you soon."

"Love you too."

Xxx

From: Peter_K

To: KirkWX

Time arrived: 02/15/2261 22:15:01

Subject: Greetings from a shuttle on its way back to Enterprise.

Hey, I thought I would write even though I saw you yesterday. Besides, I have time since we're taking a shuttle back to the ship. We had to take a ship to New Vulcan because we were bringing samples and equipment last time.

It was nice to talk to you and Uncle Jim's friend Nhi. He calls her his good mom. I hope you're not offended by that. You're probably not since you're helping her with the twins. Do you know that there's a rumor going around the ship that they're my cousins? I know that's untrue because Jim sees Nhi as a good mother figure as I mentioned earlier. And two, Uncle Jim can't have biological children because he got sick a couple of years ago, and the treatment made him sterile.

We talked about it after Chris 2 made too many jokes about me getting more cousins. Uncle Spock was not amused.

Anyway, I'm glad we got to talk yesterday, and I'm looking forward to seeing you this summer. The parents are considering letting us spend several weeks in Yorktown with Grandpa. They may drop me off at Yorktown after the wedding and pick me up when they finish the Federation Gen. Assembly. Grandpa says that time with him will be more enjoyable. He might be right about that. I forgot to ask today how long you would be staying at Yorktown. Sorry about that.

I also just remembered that I saw Liz before I saw you. We got to talk after the wedding for a few minutes. She likes being at Yorktown. More than the Academy, but she misses Uncle Kevin a lot. Yes, he is writing her now. Practically daily. He still works with assholes, but apparently, it's getting better. Liz says she's thankfully not working with assholes. She finds Ben's sort of mother-in-law stressful. That seemed evident from Zoe crying in the hallway after her call with her mom.

So that you know, that didn't happen with Uncle Jim. He likes talking to you and is glad you guys have a better relationship than before. I am too. He was pleased after the call.

Anyway, I have sent you lots of pictures from today. We spent time with great grandpa and Dr. Suarez when the uncles were stuck in boring meetings. I even got to hear a few stories about Sam. The doctor knew him as well, at least a little bit. She even had a few pictures that I had never seen before. It was nice.

Anyway, write back when you can. Even though I talked to you less than 24 hours ago, I still miss you. If the Enterprise program ends, it wouldn't be horrible because I would see you more often. But I would be away from my friends, and I don't want that. I love all my new friends and don't want to be away from them. I hope everything turns out OK next week.

To be continued.

Sorry, everybody, for the later-than-normal update. I was on vacation for a couple of weeks. I opted not to take my computer with me, which means I could not update until I returned.