Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are also wonderful.

Day 179: Give Liz Cookies

From: Benjamin_2254
To: SuluHG2260
Subject: Liz is the greatest
Time arrived: 8/19/2260 00:00:01

I need to give Liz like 1000 cookies. She is the absolute best. Not only have she and Kevin been wonderful helping with babysitting during this entire mess with my former in-laws, but they've been my emotional rock during this. (Along with Kevin's mom because there are some Kirk family stories that I wish I could tell you, but I've been sworn to secrecy that have made me feel so much better.) More importantly, Liz making sure I could do a deep space almost instant message session with you a few days ago. You have no idea how much I needed that. Even though I couldn't hear your voice, just talking to you almost live really helps me process everything going on. I needed that so much.

Liz offered to let me talk to you live yesterday when she and Kevin were going to meet Kevin's nephew for the first time, but there was an emergency meeting about the custody case that I couldn't miss. Essentially our judge commanded us to try to do arbitration again with just 24 hours' notice, and we had to strategize.

Of course, no amount of strategizing could make that meeting go well. Highlights included our arbitrator being 30 seconds from tears for the two-hour long session and my former father-in-law threatening to ruin my career if I don't turn over the Zack embryos to him. Also, he tried to invalidate my marriage multiple times to argue that I have no right to make any decisions whatsoever regarding those embryos. The arbitrator disagreed, and it just got worse from there.

Mr. Johnson still doesn't want visitation with baby K. Zack's mom Victoria did until he gave her a look and she backed down. There is obviously something odd going on there. Compared to daddy dearest, Victoria has always been the almost reasonable one. Even when his dad was a total dick, Victoria still sent care packages to Zack. She also tried to come to the wedding. She didn't make it because she fell and broke her leg the day before, but she tried. Daddy dearest, not so much.

So, it's obvious that arbitration was a complete failure, and my willingness to allow them to have visitation with any child we have using those embryos was completely rejected. When I say rejected, I mean I was spat on, and Mr. Johnson was let out by security. Yes, really. Victoria apologized without making eye contact with anyone.

Only two good things happened yesterday. First, Zoe agreed to handle everything related to suing the fertility clinic herself. That's great because I have 900 other things to worry about. I don't have the energy to do anything besides the occasional deposition. So that's going to all be on her and the legal team.

Two, because I had to go to the men's room to change into my backup outfit (because no parent of a child under two goes anywhere without a backup outfit), I did not get stuck in an elevator with Zoe, Ms. Lee, and Victoria for two hours. I don't think I can be in an elevator for two hours with Zack's mom right now. Not at all. I don't know how Zoe dealt with it although she did leave the elevator in tears, so nothing good happened in that elevator.

OK, I want to know what's going on with you in space. I know that you're at a Starbase right now because you're dropping off the children that you rescued to be sent to other family members or at least that's how Liz phrased it. I was also told that Jim and Spock just became foster parents. Congratulations on their impending parenthood.

Does this mean you get a brand-new room and no longer must share a bathroom with your Captain and his husband? I know you walked in on them before and it can't be comfortable living next door to your boss. I would hate that.

Of course, that was weeks ago because it probably took that long for this message to get to you. What are you doing now? Tell me cute little stories about the ship or the kids that you're working with. I need to focus on something other than custody drama, but that's pretty much taken over my life.

I'm not even sure how much longer work will be a part of it. One of the senior partners suggested that I take a leave of absence until the custody situation has resolved. I'm thinking about doing it because I'm missing work all the time, and it's not fair to my patients. They deserve a doctor that can put them completely first. I'm going to think about it over the next few days and give my decision on Monday

Oh, the babies have a sleepover tomorrow with your sister. Instead of processing that her children's biological mother died, she has been in full party planner mode. I don't know if this is to distract herself or to distract the kids, but maybe some combination of the two. I've been told there's going to be a bouncy castle at the superhero sleepover. Also, K is supposed to arrive in superhero PJs. Thankfully, Liz is taking care of that for me. Again, I owe her so many cookies.

Also, I've seen the mock-up plans for the remembrance ceremony and I've never known funerals being that intense or involving that many candles. Then again, I was kind of a zombie when Zack died. It also happened during the middle of a genocidal massacre, so I probably should not hold that as the gold standard for funerals.

OK apparently, even though we talked a few days ago, I have a lot that needed to get out. Well, this letter ended up longer than I thought it would. You're my favorite way to vent. Liz and Winona are great, but it's different with you. Of course, both refuse to let me continuously wallow in my own misery.

Apparently, while the kids are at their superhero sleepover Winona is taking me out for movie night. I think she's doing it because at least I won't be tempted to drink away my fucked up in law problems. Although it would be tempting. Maybe she needs to vent a little bit about the surprise grandchild. That's bringing all sorts of emotions forward. But hey, this is what friends do and I'm glad I have them right now.

Xxxx

From: SuluHG2260

To: Benjamin_2254

Subject: Re: Liz is the greatest

Time sent: 8/19/2260 18:49:01

I'm glad you have friends as well. You really need them right now. I wish I could've spoke with you too, but I understand. Maybe at the end of September when we're doing the crew switch out. I really wish I was somewhere closer where it wouldn't take weeks for this to get here, but here we are.

I'm sorry about your former father-in-law is being a dick. But hey, maybe Zack's mom is nowhere near as horrible. Are you sure that he broke her leg accidentally before the wedding? I'm concerned a little bit. Maybe I've heard too many Jim and Ashley two stepparent war stories, but I feel like there could be something more serious going on here.

Maybe you should take that leave of absence because just hearing about everything going on is exhausting. This might be a good time for self-care. Although fingers crossed that all of this gets resolved peacefully and quickly.

Work is good, despite being so far away from you and the kids. We are doing a planet assessment and nothing bad has happened yet. No ion storms that have trapped the team on planet. Also, no new friends making inappropriate hook up decisions in a cave. In addition, nothing tried to eat us yet, so bonus points for that. Yes, that's happened before. Ask Jim about the Delta Vega incident. None of the plant samples we have collected made us lose our inhibitions and start acting like silly children. Yes, this has happened before and no, I don't want to talk about it. At least not in an email that my daughter's grandmother may possibly read.

I know other members of the ship are ridiculously bored right now, I'm having a lot of fun cataloging all the new plant species that we have encountered. I'm really enjoying working with the science team. So far, we have catalogued 200 brand new species or subspecies of plant life. We're bringing samples to do some more in-depth research once we leave. We've discovered a few plants that have genetic characteristics like some plant life used in fertility treatments that became endangered when Vulcan was destroyed. The team is cautiously optimistic right now.

Yes, I heard about the sleepover and I already got pictures. Those arrived here three days ago. K looks fabulous in her Captain Marvel PJs. From the pictures it seems like things went well. At least Liz looked like she was having an enjoyable time. Okay and Desi did not dive into the cake, which I consider progress.

I'm not surprised that's my sister is utilizing her favorite coping mechanism of staying as ridiculously busy as possible to deal with her complex emotions. She was doing at least a wedding every week right after the second miscarriage. I totally expect Alicia's funeral to be ridiculously extravagant once the ashes get there. I wonder if they're there by now. I'm sure they will be by the time you get this letter. It's probably going to be three or four weeks before it arrives because we're so far out.

Yes, Jim and Spock are diving headfirst into parenthood. Fostering with the goal to adopt eventually. I think they already wanted to keep Peter even before they knew he was Jim's biological nephew. They're doing okay. Adapting at least at the bare minimum. No additional psychological damage has occurred to young Peter so there's that. And yes, that's Jim's greatest fear and he's been talking to both me, Leonard, and Nyota about that because we are his parent friends. Although I don't know if I'm really qualified. I feel like surprise parenthood of an almost newborn is very different then surprise parents of a 12-year-old.

Jim should probably talk to Liz's mom about that or his own mom. How did movie night with Winona go? I'm kind of glad you're friends of her. Also, I would really love to know those Kirk family stories, but I just have this feeling that it's best not to dig deep there.

Anyway, as much as I would love to write you a two-hour long letter, I must go lead a session of the Enterprise junior fencing club. They are getting good. Do you know if we get more kids, I might be able to do a tournament? That would be fun. Rebecca wants to do an adult class, but since she's probably going to be leaving soon, it won't happen. Apparently, the science department is not big enough for Spock and Carol. Also, Rebecca says Carol wants to go back to school for a couple years to take the classes she wanted to take, but her father would never let her.

Anyway, love you. Kiss the babies for me. Sending you tons of positive wishes and good vibes.