Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all fabulous.
Day 218: London calling
From: Number_one_Pike
To: Spock's_cuddlebunny
Time arrived: 09/28/2260 00:00:01
Subject: Re: Good news
The pictures are adorable. Thank you for sending them. I need something new for my office. You are so good with him. I think you're going to be a good dad, no matter how you got there. Sometimes things in life don't happen the way you think they will, but they happen all the same.
I hope you approve that transfer for Carol and Rebecca to come to London because I'm going to need the extra help with the baby. Christine has been reassigned to Delta Vega, effective immediately. I'm trying to figure out who she pissed off, and I'm not entirely sure, but I think it may have been the Admiral because she found out about Kevin. Even I'm not that happy about that. She's almost a decade older than him.
I know Delta Vega isn't automatically a hell assignment like it used to be because there's now a sizeable Starfleet presence studying the aftereffects of the battle of Vulcan on the planet. However, the planet is still only considered a prime assignment if you're a science officer. Sure, they need medical support, but I'm surprised Christina was randomly chosen to be reassigned to a post she did not apply for. This feels like vengeance, and surprisingly I'm okay with it.
Honestly, I'm okay with her leaving because I'm tired of Christine's horrible attitude about my recent life choices. I do not need to hear her say things like me embarking on single parenthood is a colossal mistake. Maybe it's better for all involved if she's on Delta Vega because I don't need negative people around me right now.
Therefore, I am for Becky and Carol in London. I've sent them an email as well about the baby with the ultrasound picture included a few days ago. So, they'll know by the time you read this. I just have this feeling that they're going to be more supportive than Christine. Not that it would be that hard. It's been a hard couple of weeks.
Yes, I heard the heartbeat. I cried. Twice. It was one of the highlights. Your mom was with me. See, she is being supportive unlike some people. Christine thinks I am only having this baby because I want a piece of Chris with me. I am very aware that's a horrible reason to bring a kid into the universe. I want kids. I've wanted kids for a while, and just because Chris is gone due to Marcus and the grand Starfleet conspiracy doesn't mean I shouldn't have that family we always talked about. I want to do this.
I'm sure that's a concern of yours considering the childhood you had. I promise I will try my hardest to make sure my child doesn't feel like they're just a replacement. Your mom and I have also talked about that. I've also mentioned it to her friend Ben as well, Lieutenant Commander Sulu's boyfriend. He was concerned about this possibility before he found out that his daughter was his biologically and not his late husband's child due to a sperm bank "mishap". I'm so glad we didn't use the same fertility clinic. They both gave me a lot of good advice, so I think I'm going to avoid that pitfall.
I think it's best not to get caught up with what could've been or what happened to our alternate selves under different circumstances. Things are what they are now, and it is useless to wish that they were different. There is no point in being jealous of the life path of alternate versions of ourselves.
At the same time, you shouldn't feel guilty that some things turned out better for you this time around. I don't think Sam would want you to be weighed down with that. He would want you to live your best life. I know that's what Chris would want for me. I also think that Sam would be happy that you're taking care of Peter. As I said earlier, I think you're going to make a good dad.
As you can tell by earlier, I am telling people. Just a few to start with, but it's starting to become a little necessary because I've been throwing up a lot. I owe your brother a pair of shoes. That was embarrassing. I'll have to make good on that the next time I'm in San Francisco.
I guess I should mention I'm already here in London. I had to relocate with the beginning of the new semester, which thankfully starts a little later than in San Francisco. Your mom is here with me. It was a last-minute decision due to Christine's Delta Vega reassignment. Your mom will only be here long enough to get me settled. Technically she's here for work reasons because Wynonna is supposed to inspect the engineering department.
I don't know if she'll still be here in October, but we'll see. It depends on what she finds in the engineering department. We are scheduled to talk on your second day on Star base, so I don't know if that will happen with us together in the same location. Someone else got the first-day spot, but I want to see my grandkid.
You should know I sent some presents ahead to the Star base. I'm too afraid to start buying baby stuff, but preteen things are totally up my alley right now. No kid should have standard-issue Starfleet sheets. I may have also thrown in something for you, but you'll have to wait until you hit the Star base to find out what it is because I'm not telling.
So how is Peter doing? How are you doing? Or maybe I should ask how many books have you read? Yes, I read through most of the collection you and Spock sent. I'm also surprised your mom never wrote a book. You know she can write. Maybe I'll try to convince her to give it a try.
So how is ship life? I heard you're getting more kids. I've also been told none of them are another Jeremy. Rodriguez did the vetting herself. I hope that turns out to be the case. Anyway, write more soon.
From: Number_one_Pike
To: Jim's_cuddlebear
Time arrived: 09/28/2260 00:00:01
Subject: Thank You for the parenting books you sent me.
Spock, I thought I would take a moment to thank you for all the gifts. The books have been beneficial so far, and I know they will prove to be helpful. Also, thank you for the guide to London. That has been very useful.
I started my new job in London recently. It's a "fun" experience starting a new job with morning sickness. I hope I do not throw up on any of my colleagues. I considered deferring until next year, but I think I'd rather moved to another country when I am just slightly pregnant than with a three-month-old. It will give me time to adjust to things before I have to throw a baby into the mix.
How's Peter? I know you know that I asked the same question of your husband because I know you share everything, but I thought I would ask you the same. How are you handling things? Balancing fatherhood and being a Captain can be difficult. I think that's why Chris and I decided to defer having children until he became an admiral.
Jim thinks you're handling it better than him, but I always feel like Jim doesn't see his true capabilities. I blame the stepfather for his self-esteem issues. I blame the stepfather for a lot of things. Too bad he's already dead.
The real reason I'm writing is that I heard about the Carol situation from multiple sources; thankfully, none of them were official HR channels. Jim thinks you can't let go of his other dimension shenanigans and that's why you're so prickly. Carol feels that you're a control freak and do not like anybody else in your lab. Becky just thinks that you find paperwork tedious, and science is your happy place. And I may have just got a letter from the couple about 20 minutes ago which is why I'm writing to you after sending an email to Jim this morning. Chrissy has a big mouth and told them I was pregnant before I told them. I'm not even surprised.
Anyway, I feel like Becky is right. So, I'm just going to ask are you having trouble adjusting to a senior leadership position? I know I did. I think that's why I stayed a First Officer for as long as I did. I'm just glad that my current job is going to be less leadership and more teaching. Although there will be lots of meetings in my future. Adjusting can be hard sometimes.
Anyway, write back when you have a chance.
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Number_one_Pike
Time sent: 09/28/2260 0 6: 18:11
Subject: Re: Good news
The ultrasound picture was adorable. Now that I have it in my office, I've been personalizing it more and more lately. I also have some of Peter's drawings up. He's been doing a lot of abstract art, but he did do a family portrait. He captured Spock's ears just right.
Thank you for another pep talk, but I still have doubts. I've only made marginal progress with Peter's separation anxiety. Through trial and error, I discovered that Peter is not ready for me to be on planet for a few days at a time. We are working through it with Margarita.
Good news, I think I might be able to take a couple of meetings while we are on the Star base with Peter staying behind on Enterprise, but I'm not entirely sure yet. It might all become a take your child to work day experience. Or maybe we just need to be in the same building. Peter is okay with me being on the bridge or in my office when he is in class. He panics if I'm not on the ship with him. I think the same might happen with Spock being off the Enterprise, but we are afraid to test that hypothesis. Again, we are working on it.
We are on our way to the Star base for the crew switch out. We left last night. I have so much paperwork because of the transfer, so maybe it's good that I was stuck on the ship. I'm glad that this is not happening again until summer. I never want to read another resume. It took forever to find a new science officer that I was sure that my husband would like. I hope this goes better this time around. I think I found someone that will let Spock have science time. Fingers crossed.
Yes, you are getting Rebecca and Carol in London. Carol will be teaching while working on her graduate degree, and Rebecca is going to the engineering department to also teach. I think mom might be staying at Starfleet London until Rebecca gets there since she'll be helping reorganize the engineering department or so I've been told. It's going to be an adventure for both.
I know Nyota is angry at me for sending her friends away, but honestly, I think Carol needs to be away from Starfleet for a little while. I don't think she's fully recovered from the mess with her father. There happens to be a lot of guilt there. You getting help is a bonus.
I don't think things like Christine's behavior has made her many friends with the Admiralty. You're very well-liked. I'm sure that the members of the upper echelons of Starfleet that don't like you probably feel guilty for getting your husband killed, so they're going to be kind to you. Therefore, they reassign your niece to Delta Vega for being a petty toddler but bring your friends to help you. I know Rebecca was with you for a couple of years before.
I can't wait to get your gifts. I think it would be beneficial for Peter's room to be a little more personalized. I want him to feel like he's going to be here for the long haul. I need him to see that this is a permanent arrangement and the more stuff he gets, the more he'll feel that way. Spock and I will probably take him shopping again at the Star base, but Star base malls usually have a small amount of merchandise. Unfortunately, half of that is sex toys. Another reason why Starfleet needs more family-friendly policies. Too many lonely people or people in long-distance relationships who really need those toys.
Yes, we're getting more kids for the program. I'm almost hopeful this might work. Now that Jeremy's gone, the kids we still have are thriving. Everyone will probably graduate at least a year early. Also, nobody is trying to break into engineering for alcohol. More importantly, nobody has raided botany for "Vulcan headache medication". Unfortunately, because I now have a Peter, I can't have a Vulcan headache medication brownie, and I really wanted a Vulcan headache medication brownie. No drugs unless there's a babysitter. I learned from Winona not to indulge when kids are around.
I can understand wanting to be cautious, although I'm glad you're sharing the good news. Also, I saw the ultrasound video and I may have cried a little. It was so cute. I've been holding back myself from buying you adorable baby stuff, but as soon as you hit the six-month mark, I will begin ordering.
I've been talking to Margarita a lot about what I discussed with you. She agrees that I can't focus on the past, and it's stupid to play the what-if game. I'm starting to accept the good things that I have.
We have also talked more about the infertility thing. It hurts. I'm not going to lie. I'm starting to see that not having a biological kid doesn't mean that I'm worthless. I think I am still trying to deal with the trauma of dying. I don't think I will ever completely get over what happened, at least not entirely.
In the meantime, I will be the best uncle ever. I've told Peter all about you, and he's looking forward to meeting you. He's excited about our video conference. He deserves all the good grandparents he can get.
Anyway, I hope all goes well with my mom in London. I already knew because of official communications. I'm sure she's still going to be there when we conference. Anyway, I'll talk to you in a few days. It's so bizarre that you're going to read that probably a week or two after we speak.
Write again soon. I must hear all about your London adventures. Anyway, I must now go wake up a preteen who would rather stay in bed all day. Joy.
From: Jim's_cuddlebear
To: Number_one_Pike
Time sent: 09/28/2260 00:00:01
Subject: Re: Thank You for the parenting books you sent me.
I am glad that you found the books regarding childbirth and London useful. I hope you have time to explore the city before you completely immerse yourself in your duties. I spent a summer semester at the London campus during my second year at Starfleet. It was an enlightening experience.
Because she is your family, I will keep my private opinions regarding Christine Chapel to myself. Vulcans rarely lie, but we do understand the importance of strategic silence. However, I'm neither shocked nor surprised that she informed Carol and Rebecca of your impending pregnancy since she notified Nyota of the situation recently. I was made aware of this because Nyota asked James to block Christine's emails from reaching her. I do not believe they are friends any longer.
James is doing well with Peter. I think he's afraid of causing Peter irreparable psychological damage, but I have the same fear. We are trying our best to be what Peter needs. I believe we are making progress because he is talking to us more often, and he referred to James as his uncle yesterday.
Yes, it is challenging balancing our work lives with our home lives, but we are adjusting. I devised a schedule that will allow us to accomplish our Starfleet duties and spend as much time with Peter as feasible. However, that means even less time to engage in scientific pursuits due to that. The most science-related thing I have actively participated in the last month was to help Peter with his science project for the term. I was thankfully able to convince him not to do a volcano before James was made aware of his original project idea.
Instead, he is studying the growth of plants under different soil conditions in the botany lab. Peter did find this activity stimulating and enjoyed our work together. More importantly, Peter was highly engaged in the process. He also has a great appreciation for the scientific method.
I feel that Rebecca's assessment of the situation is the most accurate. Although I do not find paperwork completely tedious, at times, I do find it purposeless.
James is not responsible for the choices of his other counterpart. Only for his own decisions and thankfully, those choices were significantly better than those made previously. I miss having time to spend working in the lab. Scientific discovery is the preferred part of my job, but I also enjoy caring for and protecting my crew.
I am willing to acknowledge that I do miss having direct control of the science team. However, due to other responsibilities, I am aware that I must delegate. I'm hoping that the new science officer will be more accepting of my ideas. Lieutenant Commander Alicia Reyes comes highly recommended. I wonder if James chose her initially because she shares a name with one of his favorite comic book characters, but her resume and credentials from her time on Columbia are impeccable.
I have included some images of Peter and I working in the science lab together as well as Peter sleeping on Jim.
As Spock hit the send button on his email, he is not surprised to see his husband reading over his shoulder. It was quite common despite being a practice that is frowned upon in Starfleet. Of course, James kissed him before he could comment.
"Thank you for preventing the volcano project. I never want to see another volcano ever again."
"Unfortunately, I believe that is highly unlikely since the next planet we are to explore is 73.2% volcanic." James groaned at his words.
"I really shouldn't be surprised at all. Somebody at Starfleet still hates us."
"I would argue that you are being paranoid, but I am not certain of that myself."
"It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. Although, Liz's mom is using her bureaucratic powers for good. Also, I'm so proud of you for not telling Nhi that Nyota is no longer speaking to her niece because Christine casually mentioned that she would prefer if her aunt miscarried."
"I have some tact."
"Not enough to keep Carol as our science officer. If you scare off another science officer, I'm not doing that thing with my tongue that you like for at least a year."
"Your request has been noted," Spock said as he kissed his husband again.
To be continued