Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. I really appreciate all your comments and kudos.

Day 404: Quick messages from New Vulcan.

From: mental_health_help_desk_Suarez

To: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

Time arrived: 3/27/2261 00:00:01

Subject: Your emails are still getting here quickly

Wow, you are close by. We got this in about three or four days instead of a week plus, which is always good. I probably would've received it sooner if you were actually in the system next door and not on your way to the system next door. Although I'm sure you've made it there now.

I think I know what planet you're talking about. Now, you're going to have me doing research during my lunch breaks. I am curious. Can I read the unclassified bits of your report? I am still in Starfleet.

Congratulations on making it through the mission without having to marry someone else. Also, congratulations on not being blown out of the sky. Finally, I commend you on leaving your child behind to do your job. You might think that's a weird thing to congratulate you on, but it actually shows a lot of growth on your part.

You have a lot of trauma related to your dad dying and leaving you behind. I think you're scared of doing the same thing to Peter, which is a reasonable fear because you've actually died. You didn't let your fear hold you back from doing your job. Now you have made the necessary provisions in case something did happen, which I think, as I mentioned in my last message, is good. But you still did what you needed to do, and you had the best outcome where you got to go home. Honestly, I think you and Spock have a better chance of going home when you're together, especially on weird missions like this one.

I'm glad you didn't have to classify any of the kids' projects. However, I want to know more about why you're suing your grandmother again in addition to the other lawsuit. You're suing the witch because of the unauthorized biography, right? I know it's been pulled from the shelves here, even though it was in the fiction section before then. Let it be said that Vulcans are great at recognizing bullshit when they see it.

I'm happy there are no hard feelings about me taking Ben for the seminar. I feel bad about it, but pediatricians have been catching a lot of the worst cases of depression. Not just in adolescents but also in their parents. Vulcan adults tend to say more things to their pediatrician than their own physician. More importantly, Vulcan adolescents are less ingrained in the culture of Vulcan stoicism, especially these Vulcan adolescents who were either born abroad or raised by non-Vulcan foster parents on the colony. These kids will actually tell their pediatrician when they're sad, as well as when mom and dad are really sad. So, it's good for Ben to realize when to intervene.

Yes, the colony is starting to get a lot of young Vulcans raised by non-Vulcan foster parents. A lot were living off planet until the finalization of phase 2 of the colony. I expect more as they try to phase out the group homes for all the young who lost parents during the cataclysm but survived themselves. If I was going to be here longer, I would consider being a foster parent. The ambassador thinks I should anyway. He is sure I'm not going to want to leave once this assignment is up.

He's not entirely wrong. I went back on active duty because of the cataclysm and the need for therapists in Starfleet. I also couldn't let you go on your first big adventure as a captain without me there. So, I left my retirement and rejoined Starfleet.

You're aware I was furious after they transferred me out and left me here. I've made peace with that because they need me so badly on New Vulcan. Not just my patients but the Ambassador and the Elder. Especially the Elder. Even if they can't help him, he shouldn't die alone without friends and family. We need to give him as much support as possible. And it's better if I do that.

Did you know that Alayna and I were planning to become foster parents? I was leaving active duty, and you were actually an adult. We thought it was time. We even finished the training. However, before we could have any children placed with us, she was killed. After that, I wasn't in a good place. I knew that putting a child with me would not be good for either of us at that time.

Now that it's been so many years, I'm wondering if I should put my training to good use. They need more foster parents. Also, I feel like you and Spock are going to settle here between assignments instead of Earth. You have a house here. Granted, Zoe is living there right now, but that just gives you the excuse to buy something in the new development several kilometers away from your father-in-law. There are some nice houses, and I've been looking. I could afford to leave Starfleet housing.

Thank you for all the pictures. I got something that looks like pizza night. It looked fun. Your mom looks happy in the photos with the twins. I don't think I've ever seen her that happy before. It's a good look on her. Especially this time of year. I know March is a horrible month for both of you, but I am glad it's going better than usual. That shows a lot of growth on the part of all of you.

Anyway, write back when you can. Also, I want more pictures of the kids. I always want more pictures of the kids.

Xxxx

From: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

To: mental_health_help_desk_Suarez

Time sent: 3/27/2261 06:23:01

Subject: Your emails are still getting here quickly

Winona is happy. This is the happiest and healthiest I've seen her in my entire life. It's definitely the longest she's been sober.

You were there for large swaths of my childhood, so you know how bad things were. You were Winona's therapist after the Frank fiasco and Tarsus. You probably know things I don't want to ever know about. London has been good for her. She needed this fresh start. I wonder if that was supposed to be Tarsus before, but it all went to hell. At least she got Kevin out of it.

Mom needs things to keep her grounded, and the twins are helping. Peter is helping as well. Winona knows that she will lose access to Peter if she starts drinking again. I can't have him deal with an alcoholic Wynona. I have way too many scars. I'm trying my best to end this cycle of generational trauma.

I'm happy to know that the books were yanked entirely from the bookstores on New Vulcan. According to the lawyers, they've been pulled everywhere. My grandmother is dragging out the lawsuit as much as possible, but the publishing company does not want to be involved. Mainly because they would like to publish my actual biography. [Exasperated emoji]

If I ever write one, it won't be for the company that published that trash. They could've at least fact-checked the thing. But that would've been way too hard. There are going to be depositions when we are in Yorktown. That was why Josephine's aunt's law firm was paying for her to visit. Our time outside of the wedding is probably going to be spent in depositions. I hate evil Nana Kirk so much.

The current lawsuit is because Grandma Kirk sold one of the baby pictures Winona gave her to Starfleet, so they turned me into a propaganda baby. She pretended to have power of attorney while Mom was a mess, sold my likeness, and authorized the campaign. Are you surprised? I'm not.

Starfleet apologized and made reparations. I now think the third therapist was part of the reparations, which is more useful than the cash. Nana Kirk refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing, and that's why lawyers are involved again.

Anyway, all of this was uncovered by the kids during their propaganda assignment. I vaguely knew of the posters existing, but not everything involved. So yes, I'm suing my grandmother again.

See, things like that are why I make sure Nyota is still safely on the ship because my worst-case scenario fear is Peter ending up with that woman because she is pure evil. I'm more worried about that than alcoholic Winona. And you know, if I die, she will go straight off the wagon. She did last time. And you know Kevin was a mess. Liz might be OK. Spock will probably have a nervous breakdown but might be OK afterward or throw himself into a volcano. We're going to have to have the 'you have to keep living if one of us dies because we have Peter' conversation.

I had no idea that you and Alayna were trying to become foster parents before she died. That is something you two would have done. The father-in-law is correct, and you're not going to continue with Starfleet when your current contract is over. You're going to stay where you can do the most good, and that's the colony. You would be an excellent foster mom to a bunch of little Vulcan children. You understand their culture, but you also know that it's OK to be sad. Or any other emotion whatsoever. Don't rush into it, but think about it.

Spock and I have had a long conversation about where we will end up post-Starfleet, and it is going to be the colony. Spock wants to help his people, and I respect that and want to help him in any way I can. I can get a position at the VSA or possibly the new university being built when I'm ready to retire. I don't know how soon that retirement will be. Still, it's definitely going to be sooner than my counterpart in the other timeline. I definitely want to retire young enough to raise a gaggle of Vulcan babies.

I understand that it's crucial to get the Vulcan population numbers up. But it would be a good idea to help raise the children that are already there before adding more. Every Vulcan we ran into had at least two toddlers. I guess maybe some of them think that others can raise the Vulcan orphans. But that feels weird. Or these Vulcans want their own children to raise, which is stupid. Peter is still my kid, even though I did not directly contribute to his DNA. I'm already aware that Vulcans are not as logical of a species as they claim to be.

I think the pizza making pictures are from when we were on the away mission. Nyota had to distract Peter somehow. You might be right; things are improving. Peter did not go into full clingy koala bear mode when we got back. Also, I got to sleep next to my husband without my 12-year-old in the room. However, Peter refused to study for his math test when we were away, which led to math time with Uncle Spock. It could've been worse.

You might be right that I ran into "my daddy died when I was 5 minutes old" issues. Every time I think I've dealt with all of my George Kirk issues, I find new ones. I'll add it to my list of things to talk to Margarita about. My therapist is always going to be gainfully employed.

March 20 went by with little crying this year. I think between having Peter and the twins being born I am in a better headspace myself. I didn't tell Peter what the day meant. He knows that everything in Tarsus blew up in the spring, but not an exact date. Someday, I will, but I wasn't ready this year. Dr. Margarita says that's OK, and the hubby is letting me get away with it. Although we made pancakes.

Anyway, write back when you can. I wrote to the elder when I wrote you, but I am still waiting for a reply. I hope it's because you're better at returning emails. However, if you can check up on the old guy, I would appreciate it. The latest kid pictures are attached.

To be continued…