Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last letter. Jim definitely got a lot out. Now, it's time for a bit of a reprieve, sort of, after the last very heavy chapter.

I'm sorry I didn't update last week. I had family visiting and I thought I would have time later in the week to post the chapter but it didn't work out. I should've mentioned it ahead of time, but I really thought I would get it up on Wednesday, at least, but it just didn't happen.

Please note that the "me" in the first text message conversation is Sue. The "me" in the second section is Jim.

Day 105: Figuring out where this will go.

Baby's daddy: So I think we may have just gotten engaged to be engaged. I'm not sure.

Me: If you are text messaging me at 2:13 AM instead of having engagement sex, I think the answer is no.

Baby's daddy: Unless the conversation took place after sex. We still have refractory periods.

Me: Sweetie, I love you almost like a brother except not quite because we had sex, but it's very late and I am going to have to board a starship in less than six hours and be perky, despite the fact my captain made me deal with his meetings with Perez just so he could get laid. I'm also going to smile at people that think I got my job because of my mom. Can we deal with your existential crisis in the morning?

Baby's daddy: I also have to deal with people who think I got my job because of your mom and the fact that I'm fucking her daughter.

Me: Some people have no common sense. No one's going to reward you for getting her daughter pregnant by accident.

Me: I want sleep, so please tell me why are you texting me in the middle of the night. Did he bring out a ring?

Baby's daddy: We were talking about the custody situation and the fact that Zach's parents hate me without even knowing about Vulcan.

Me: How did that become your post sex pillow talk?

Baby's daddy: I have no idea. Did you know how much they hated me? They offered to drop the case if he would just break up with me. Asshole.

Me: Yes, because I was there. Ben didn't want to tell you about how bad things were in an email.

Baby's daddy: Don't have much option with us.

Me: And if we weren't coming to see you in a couple of weeks, he would have emailed you, but it worked out.

Baby's daddy: True, but I wish I would've known sooner. I hate what they're doing.

Me: So how did the subject of marriage come up?

Baby's daddy: I got angry and then Ben said that he understands why they are worried about me, but not why they hate me when they don't know me because I could end up being the stepfather to their granddaughter, someday. I personally think that's why they hate me.

Me: He does have a point. And so do you.

Baby's daddy: Then I told Ben that if I am going to be her stepdad, or even adopted father someday than they are just going to have to get over it. I'm not going anywhere. Just tell them to go get fucked. They don't have any say whatsoever in who you decide to be with now.

Me: That's sweet and you should know that Ben did defend you to Zach's parents. He said you were the sweetest guy in the universe and an excellent father. I said something similar. I also told them it was none of their fucking business and just because Ben used to be married to their son doesn't mean they get to dictate who Ben moves on to.

Baby's daddy: Of course you did.

Me: Because you are the best. So what happened next?

Baby's daddy: I asked Ben if he was open to getting remarried and he said yes.

Me: He said something similar at a practice interrogation. Except he said that he would be willing to marry you someday.

Baby's daddy: Good to know. And this is why I'm texting you at way too early in the morning.

Me: Because the idea of getting married terrifies you?

Baby's daddy: Yes and no. It's not the idea that I'm afraid of, but the fact that I'm sure I would be bad at it. I'm not going to be home for at least the next 4 ½ years. I'm not going to be there for the day-to-day stuff. The only thing that's keeping me connected at all are letters and video files. Is that enough?

Me: Yes, and I think Ben would agree with me. But the real question you need to ask yourself is, do you love Ben?

Baby's daddy: Yes

Me: Do you love his daughter?

Baby's daddy: Yes

Me: Does he love your daughter?

Baby's daddy: I am going with yes, but I feel like you know the answer to that question better than I do.

Me: Yes, I believe so. He treats her like his own kid. I definitely feel more comfortable with leaving because I know he's going to be there too, to provide some additional support. So I think this means that Baby D is going to be calling him daddy 2.

Baby's daddy: What about Kevin?

Me: He is uncle Kev

Baby's daddy: That is kind of adorable. Video?

Me: It will be in your inbox. However, I'm sure over the next few days you will see it for yourself.

Baby's daddy: Probably.

Me: I think it's obvious to me that you two are serious about one another. All the hugging and kissing has been an obvious indication of that.

Baby's daddy: I'm pretty sure we scandalized the diplomat from a homophobic planet.

Me: Which is good. Don't overthink it right now. Just go with the flow and if you guys do make it down the aisle, good. I would totally marry him if he was at least a Kinsey five. But he just has to be a six.

Baby's daddy: That's another thing that came up.

Me: Between rounds, I'm sure.

Baby's daddy: Hey, don't be mad I actually got laid.

Me: I am not mad, mostly because I have a Pleasure Seeker 9000 now. I'm done with people for the moment.

Baby's daddy: I don't blame you after the last boyfriend.

Me: You can't see me, but I am yawning. We'll talk more in the morning. I assume you will be there to see me off.

Baby's daddy: Of course, I will.

Jim was having a good morning. That usually happens when he has a day off. Because unlike Spock, he actually can do a day off. Also unlike the anniversary of Amanda's death, they could both be off together. It's easier to deal with anything with a warm Spock wrapped around him. That was kind of how he woke up this morning and then promptly went back to sleep after seeing his Vulcan off to do Captain things.

He was to have a real break per therapist's orders. In his dreamlike state kind of hoping that Spock got out of his morning meeting earlier to give him another wake-up call. Unfortunately, it was his communicator chirping that woke him up. He was hoping it was a message from Spock, but instead it was Liz.

Liz: OK I'm sure there's like a 50-50 chance you're either sleeping or having sex with your husband, but I thought I would check to see if you guys wanted to explore the station with us after we say goodbye to my sister this morning.

Liz: I want to distract the babies from the first day without Sue. The first day is always the worst. Besides I figured you can use some time out after yesterday.

Me: I'm up now.

Me: The day after your niece's birthday is on my list of least favorite days right after my own birthday. I really don't like birthdays being associated with death days.

Liz: I'll try not to have any of your future nieces or nephews on any day when anybody important died.

Me: Thank you ever so much. I think I'm free. Unless Spock needs me to go with him on any of his afternoon meetings.

Liz: I hope he doesn't need you. Because despite being scanned by both Ben and Dr. McCoy, your mom still thinks I'm pregnant right now and not recovering from some nasty stomach virus

Me: Oh God.

Liz: This is why I need your help. I'm still recovering and I don't have the energy to distract her, especially now that I'm going to have to be mommy full-time.

Me: But she likes you. You are like another one of her kids.

Liz: Oh, she absolutely loves me, but she's pissed off at your brother for being an idiot and worrying about me being able to finish Starfleet on time. She's also being super maternal. Again, I'm not healthy enough to deal with her right now.

Me: I will text my hubby to see if he doesn't need me this afternoon. Margarita wants me to spend as much time on actual leave as possible for the next few days for my mental health. She doesn't want to actually put me on medical leave, but she will.

Liz: Thank you for trying. I really need you.

Me: Wait, what about her best friend Ben?

Liz: Probably going back to his sex marathon with the boyfriend, as soon as we're done with breakfast. They just licked syrup off of each other's fingers. Although they do have the kids in the evening and all day tomorrow.

Liz: Winona is currently being distracted by feeding her adopted grandkids, but I'm not sure how long it will last.

Me: Okay, I will just tell Spock that I'm coming with you guys. I will use the Margarita excuse.

Liz: Thank you.

To be continued.