Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of emails. You are all absolutely lovely.

Day 99: Now On Our Way

From: Mommy_Susan

To: SuluHG2260

Time arrived: 5/31/2260 00:00:01

Subject: We will be there soon.

I have a feeling that by the time you read this, I may be halfway to Yorktown or reading it over your shoulder. Being a lifelong Starfleet Brat, neither scenario surprises me. But right now, I am three days out from leaving, and typing this email out after unsuccessfully trying to sleep on my sister's couch in her new Starfleet apartment. I'm pretty sure this place is nicer than where we lived when I was a kid. Of course, none of my parents were ever higher than a captain. Mom has really come up in the Starfleet world.

And this is not even the apartment she is entitled to have as the head of Starfleet. It's just a regular admiral's apartment. Pike is just down the hall and Rodriguez is two floors down. Nyota's mom is also a floor below. I may have been coerced into bringing some gifts for her daughter and grandchild. I think Liz and Kevin may have got the adoption point across to her. Although maybe it was mom. Anyone who doesn't think Liz is mom's baby girl can seriously get fucked.

Good news, mom is not totally freaking out about Liz and Kevin sharing a room without a wedding ring or marriage contract. It's progress. Although she is kind of driving us crazy with preparing for me going back into space and being Desi's new mommy.

Yes, I am freaking out about leaving my child behind for a year. Why am I doing this? I'm sure all the same thoughts were going through your head last February. I pray that Gina will make the Starfleet minors on Enterprise program work so we can bring Desi with us at some point down the road. Fingers crossed. At the same time, I'm kind of sad that Gina won't be around to help backup Liz, but she has Kevin. He's not going anywhere, but well, his mom is… Yeah, I can't think of a better word than problematic. We couldn't have champagne at my Mother's Day brunch because of her. She's trying. But I'm worried that he might be distracted with her. Especially if she falls off the wagon.

So you should know Gina is lovely and I totally expect you to watch her back while she is on ship. Also I expect you to keep your teenage BFF away from her. I don't know why you're still friends with him either, but it's probably the weird nature of Starfleet.

Also, maybe I have a different expectation of how a 19-year-old is supposed to act. Liz and Kevin are weird because of tragedy and growing up way too fast. Pav is probably a perfectly well-adjusted 19-year-old which totally explains why he went for the "oh my God, we're going to die" sex. I really can't say anything because I've done it too. Why do you think that emergency kits contain prophylactics? Everyone will get stranded on a planet at least once during their Starfleet career, especially in your command.

Okay boyfriend update, because the man is probably too busy at work and with legal proceedings to update you. His former in-laws are still awful people. I know their son died in Starfleet. I know their son died because of bad decisions and traps created by [redacted]. But that does not give them the right to take out their grief and frustration on their son's widow. Ben does not deserve their shit. He's the kindest, gentlest man I've ever met. He is a wonderful father. He loves baby K to pieces. Yes I said that during my deposition today or rather yesterday since it's after midnight here now.

So good news, Ben and baby K will be going with us to Yorktown. Bad news, that when he gets back, there's going to be another hearing or possibly arbitration. It depends on what the judge decides tomorrow. Although their bigotry is showing so Shawn thinks that it's going to be done quickly, regardless. We shall see.

I have my going away party tomorrow. The first will be the traditional Starfleet teachers' party with cookie cake and soda after I administer my final exam later this morning. Afterwards is the real party with vast amounts of alcohol and stories that I want to forget will happen at whatever bar they choose. And you know when alcohol is involved lips will get really loose, not that they actually need the liquor. So good news, everyone at work thinks my ex-boyfriend is an asshole and I got so lucky that you ended up being the father of my child. Yes, they all know about the three-way and excruciatingly embarrassing details.

Did I tell you that I had my ex-boyfriend's sister in class? Yes, the one that ran my sister and Kevin Kirk out of the dorms. Yeah, I'm glad the semester is over with. Did I mention that on the last day of class, she told everybody how Desi got here? Barnett wants to suspend her for a semester, but mom thinks it would look bad. I think she's going to flunk out of the Academy all on her own anyway. I'm glad I must leave for the Hamilton early, so I don't have to grade her exam. Her writing is just that bad.

Anyway, I'm going to cut this short because I need to sleep. I have exams to give in the morning.

Anyway, if I don't write to you before Yorktown, know that me and the baby miss you and love you to pieces and we're excited to spend some time together.

PS: Yes, I'm bringing you more snacks and fencing equipment for the new Enterprise Junior fencing club. Actually Starfleet is paying for the extra fencing equipment because you're keeping the kids docile. Mom is all for that. No one wants the Starfleet minors program to work more than her.

From: Mommy_Susan

To: SuluHG2260

Time arrived: 5/31/2260 06:21:01

Subject: Re: We will be there soon.

I'm also excited to see you, the boyfriend, and the kids. Yes, this did take forever to get here. We are currently making our way to Yorktown as we play diplomatic fairy. The ship is also now full of future Yorktown crewmembers. Some of us with private rooms are doubling up to make space. Sleeping on Scotty's couch is not where I thought I would be, but it beats the alternative.

Allegedly, we are only a few days out from Yorktown and should get there the day before Desi's b-day, but it's probably going to take us longer than that. We have to pick up one more diplomatic team tomorrow and that probably will go badly.

I'm glad that Gina is coming. Okay, I'm glad we are just getting another teacher because I also want the program to work so we can live with Desi at some point in the future. It's so hard to be away from her. But what we do in Starfleet is for the greater good. There wouldn't be an Earth right now if it wasn't for Jim. I wish there was still a Vulcan, but we tried. At least our actions allowed more to evacuate.

I just kind of want to hug my boyfriend really badly. I'm glad that the judge is going to let me do that. Although I wish they would've totally settled things before the trip, but I guess the judge is taking his time. I wrote Ben a few days ago, but I haven't heard anything back. He's probably just busy with the former in-laws and thankfully packing.

For the record, no one who graduated Starfleet Academy at 17 is well-adjusted. You won't have to worry about Pav coming onto Gina because he has a girlfriend. They're casual, and usually only hooking up when Ashley three is in fencing practice, but maybe there's something there. Of course it could totally fall apart. Because again he's 19 and Sanchez is 36. That's a big age difference.

It's highly probable this is just a physical relationship. Her niece has no clue what's going on. That's a bad sign. Now that I'm dating with children, I know that your children only know once it become something serious.

Thank your mom for sending more equipment for fencing and other activities. I think we're making progress. All of the Ashleys are now joining in on the lessons. So it's basically everybody but Jeremy. If things keep improving, when Gina gets here, we might get another four students for the pilot. I'm trying to decide if that's good or bad thing. It probably depends on if they're not like Jeremy. We shall see.

Yes, I'm excited to see everyone and to spend some time together. I'm just thankful that I'm not the missing the baby's first birthday.

BTW, Jim has decided he is throwing the baby a birthday party and I can't talk him out of it. Spock can't either. I think this might be his way of dealing with his own birthday related trauma. I also think that he doesn't want to associate Desi with the terrible things that happened to him as a child. I'm sure Kevin probably has stories. I'm just starting to realize how much baggage Jim has.

One last thing, could you be the most wonderful person in the universe and look in those packages that Nyota's mom gave you to give to her and Josephine. Nyota has a really complicated relationship with her mom. They've emailed each other a couple of times since we've been here, but it's tense. Josephine sent her mom a cookie bouquet on Nyota's behalf for Mother's Day because she wants the two to have a better relationship. Nyota wasn't happy with that but appreciated the gesture in the end. Maybe that's what's triggering the presents.

I totally agree that there is probably a 50-50 chance that I will be reading this message over your shoulder, but all the same, give the babies a cuddle for me. Miss you all and I can't wait until we get to spend some time together.

To be continued