Thank you to everyone who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all fabulous.

Just to let you know, the story is moving to a once every three-week rotation for the moment. I hope we will eventually get back to a once every two-week schedule, but it may be a while.

Day 271: Questions and answers with Nana Kirk

XXXX

From: W_Kirk_wellness_Hills

To: Peter_K

cc: Kevin KR; Elizabeth_Chen

BCC: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

Time arrived: 11/20/2260 00:00:01

Subject: Re: Thank you for the care package

Thank you for your letter. It was so wonderful to hear from you again so soon. We decided that I would be the one to write because Kevin and Liz just wrote to you a couple of days ago. Apparently, it was applesauce day. I heard there are plans to do Sam's perfect toffee chocolate chip cookies. They're also planning to make them with you when we meet up on New Vulcan.

I heard plans are being made and you'll get to meet your cousin. I think it's better to refer to Spock's foster sister as your cousin. I guess that makes the most sense. Her being your aunt even though you're close to the same age would be weird.

I'm glad you enjoyed the comic books and other things we sent you. Sam's favorite snack was the cheese crisp, so I'm so happy you enjoyed them. Let me know your favorites, and we'll be sure to bring you all sorts of things when we meet up for winter solstice/Christmas/Hanukkah.

I think the ambassador still does Hanukkah because Spock's mother celebrated. It's his way of remembering her. Also, apparently, there is a gingerbread house tradition. I've been asked to secure the ingredients because they're much easier to get here on planet than on the colonies.

So, do you expect to do a lot of baking when we meet up? I am so looking forward to that even though I'm not particularly good at it. Jim has stories.

Getting to talk to you again was so great, but I really can't wait to see you in person. You can't hug over a video call. Kevin and Liz are also excited, along with baby D. The baby just wants to hug everybody. She probably misses JoJo. That girl is also her best friend outside of her future sister.

BTW I've been in touch with your mom's lawyer and have been given access to your storage unit. So if there's anything you want me to bring, let me know soon. I'll try to bring any photos or anything like that. But if there's like a favorite teddy bear or childhood blanket that you just want to have, let me know.

Now, let me answer your questions or at least as many as I can. Your father is four years older than your Uncle Jim. He was born in September of 2228 in San Francisco. He was supposed to be born in Iowa because we were moving back there to help take care of George's father, Tiberius. Unfortunately, I went into labor two weeks early. I never did carry a baby to term. I don't know why I thought your uncle Jim would've been any different. Although at least your dad wasn't a preemie.

We moved back to Iowa a little before your great-grandfather Tiberius died, but we were just visitors. I don't consider us living there until after the fact. Maybe that's how I saw the situation. I don't know. Tiberius left us the house, and the ex-wife was left with nothing. So perhaps there was more to it than that.

Your dad loved 20th and 21st-century films and television. Now your Uncle Jim was into the music of the time, but your dad loved the movies and the TV. His favorite cartoon was Batman Beyond. Although he was annoyed, it didn't quite get the future right. He is the DC person of the family, and your Uncle Jim was Marvel all the time. Of course, your great-grandma Kirk was OK with him dressing up as Shazam, but not your brother dressing up as Captain Marvel. She also kept calling Shazam Captain Marvel, which is ridiculous because that name change happened like 300 years ago. Be glad you'll never meet your great-grandma; she had issues. I kind of understand why Tiberius got custody of George so easily in the divorce. A lot of people in our family have problems, but we are working on them in our branch at least. The other part not so much.

I think we still have your dad's comic books in storage. Real hard copy ones. Some of Jim's might be in there too. I am going to have to go through the storage unit soon. You should know that Jim and your dad used to fight over comic books so much when they were growing up. I never understood why. That is one of those things to ask your Uncle Jim about.

I had to think about favorite books for a little while. Sam liked the Namesake. He read it after finding the old movie. Sam liked the book better. He was a fan of graphic novels, especially historical ones. Somebody managed to get him a vintage hard copy of March. I already told you about his love for DC comic books. I'm going to go through his book collection when I go through his stuff. Maybe I'll bring some with me when we meet up at the colony.

I'm also going to bring a ton of Legos, that was more of a thing that your Uncle Jim was into, but your dad used to play with him. They built an enormous skyscraper, one that I managed to accidentally trip over. Lego bricks are painful.

Your dad also liked to draw and paint. I'm going to see if I have any of his work. I'm sure there must be some stuff in the storage unit. I feel like I'm going to be spending a lot of time in that storage unit before moving to London permanently.

I mentioned it to your uncle in my letter recently, but I'm telling you now that I have decided to move to London. I think I need a completely fresh start. San Francisco was a good first step, but I definitely need a change of pace somewhere where I'm not reminded of the bad memories. I can focus on building new ones.

Riverside was a very tiny town, and everybody knew everybody else, so I'm not even sure when your parents met. Possibly at the sandbox. They were dating by the time Sam was 14. I think they bonded over screwed up families.

We talked a little bit about Frank, but it's a tough thing to talk about. Just know that he was an evil person that hurt everybody. He's gone now. He was killed in prison because they don't like people like him there.

I don't know if your mom and dad really broke up. Sam didn't want me to be alone, and I think Sam didn't want to force your mom to wait for him. So, they decided to end things while he was on Tarsus. I think he was hoping that once he got back, they would start things again. I don't know if this is all conjecture on my part, but at least that's what I hope they were planning to do in a better world where Tarsus was not a disaster.

I think it's my turn to ask you a few questions. It's only fair. What is your favorite food? I asked you to give me a list of snacks, but what's your ideal meal? I want to know more about your favorite books and TV shows. What do you like about being on Enterprise right now? What's your favorite thing to do when you have free time? Other than Legos, what other hobbies do you have? I want to know for gift purposes.

What do you want to do when you grow up? Yes, I know that's cliché, but it does tell you a lot about a person. Until he was 12, Jim wanted to own a vintage record store. Then again, that might still be part of his dream. That could be the retirement plan. I could see him and Spock running an antique store that mostly sells music.

Has Jim exposed you to his vintage record collection yet? I know he brought a bunch of them on the ship, along with a ton of music files. He loves music. Your dad loved art, but Jim was the music person. Do you have a favorite song or musical artist?

What are the places that you want to see? Have you got to go to any of the planets yet? I doubt that you have. I think Starfleet frowns upon that sort of thing, but you'll get to go to New Vulcan. I heard the ambassador was decorating a room just for you.

Anyway, please write me again soon. I need to know what to bring.

Love grandma

Xxxxx

From: Peter_K

To: Kevin KR; Elizabeth_Chen; W_Kirk_wellness_Hills

Time sent: 11/20/2260 00:00:01

Subject: Re: Thank you for the care package

Thank you for telling me about Sam. I didn't know any of that stuff. Mom never really talked about him. It would just make her sad, and she would cry. Eventually, I stopped asking questions. Batman Beyond is one of my favorite cartoons. I even like all the remakes. Mom doesn't or rather didn't. She never really liked remakes. She was always so hung up on the old stuff that she wasn't willing to appreciate the new interpretation for what it is and to see it on its own merits.

No, unfortunately, I haven't got to go to any of the planets we've explored. Also, even though Liz's mom Adm. Chen said I could go over to the Hamilton during the investigation, Jim won't let me. He says the place is a viper's nest. Why would a starship have a viper's nest? Or is that hyperbole? Considering what they keep in botany on Enterprise, I'm not entirely sure.

I like purple. Chris 3 said it's weird for a boy to like purple without even looking up from his book. Chris 1 may or may not have punched him for that, and Gina swears she didn't see a thing. Chris 1 hates stupidity and gender norms. After that, Chris 3 just mostly kept quiet and went back to his books.

I'm aware of Uncle Jim's music collection. Apparently, his favorite album is an ancient one from the early 21st-century, Posttraumatic. I can understand that. He also loves the Beastie Boys. Jim spent 20 minutes explaining that Paul's Boutique was highly underrated when it first came out but later was appreciated for the masterpiece that it was.

I don't know if I really have a favorite album yet. I'm still trying to figure that out. Jim is helping me get there.

I like eggplant parmesan. The real made from actual plants version, not the replicator frozen version. It just doesn't taste the same. I haven't had it in forever. Not since we left for Tarsus.

Do you think I can talk Mr. Sulu into letting me grow some eggplant in botany? Is that allowed? Now I'm regretting growing sunflowers for my science experiment. I should've gone with eggplant or at least zucchini.

I like working with Spock on the science experiment; it was fun. We are still working on other projects. He's brilliant. So is Uncle Jim. They've been good with homework.

Maybe I'll answer the other questions when we meet up in New Vulcan. I need to think about some of the answers.

No teddy bears or childhood blanket. Although most of my Lego collections are in there. Don't buy me more; just bring those. I would say get me some junior science kits, but I think Spock would be appalled at the primitive experiments. Maybe a make your own candle kit. Those are fun.

Since you can't bring me eggplant, more chocolate, please. I feel like chocolate will be very necessary.

Also, keep telling me more about yourself, not just Sam. I want to know more about who you are. Like what's your favorite color? Do you have a favorite song? What's your favorite food. I think I need the answers to those questions just as much as you do. Dr. Margarita says that we can't always focus on the past. We must keep moving forward. Learning about these things is my own way of moving forward. I would like your help with that.

Anyway, I am looking forward to New Vulcan. Spock's father is trying to convince Jim and Spock to let me stay with him on planet while they're working. That's why I'm not surprised about the bedroom. I like the idea, in theory, at least. I'm a little worried that I would freak out again, but I think I'm getting better.

To be continued