Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. Since Sue is now part of the Enterprise crew for at least the moment, we get to see emails to her now.

A couple of notes regarding updates: you've noticed that updates for the story have been a little slow. The reason for that is the wonderful beta for the story has been sick. Unfortunately, she's going to have to take a break for a while and cannot do additional chapters. This is the last chapter she has edited. I want to say thank you for her hard work over the years.

At present, I will only be using an AI to proofread future chapters. If anybody would like to volunteer their beta services, I would appreciate it. Humans are much better than the AI. Once I build up a cushion of chapters again, I will probably update the story every two weeks.

Day 281: You probably should get Gina a book on polyandry

From: Elizabeth_Chen

To: Mommy_Susan

Time arrived: 11/29/2260 00:00:01

Subject: Have you considered getting Gina a book on polyandry?

I totally respect your right not to give me details of your relationship with your baby's daddy and his future husband. Honestly, even if it's not conventional, it's the healthiest relationship I remember you having. You have spectacularly bad taste in boyfriends. The boyfriend that you dodge the pregnancy bullet with is only like the second worst. You had to press charges against another one. It's never a good sign when you must get a restraining order.

Although, because of your spectacular track record, Gina is obviously going to be wary. Throw in the fact that you almost died, and that's a recipe for making bad decisions. I'm not concerned because it's Sulu. You two adore and love each other. Maybe not like Kevin and I love each other, but you love each other. It's a family bond, and it is not for us to judge how things are. Maybe this is what you need right now.

I'm not going to ask for details. Instead, I offer my babysitting services as you have fun with your boyfriend and his fiancée. Are we using "boyfriend"? Labels are unimportant. You do what you need to do right now.

I'm sorry that the Hamilton was the only option to work together as a command team. I bet they made it that way because they were sure you two would jump at the chance to be able to work together. I really don't want you to go back to that ship, and I'm glad you decided against it. If your rapid message were the other way around, I would have replied right back.

I would have sent a rapid message to your therapist and your baby's daddy to knock some sense into you. The Hamilton was toxic for you. It was toxic before you almost died, you know it. You hated it there. I'm not even sure there's a strong enough word for that situation in standard. I should ask Nyota.

She's fabulous, by the way. With her assistance, I may get through the Kobayashi Maru with my sanity intact. The paper is due in a week and a half, which means I'll probably have turned it in by the time you get this. Then the simulation begins. I don't have my day yet. Although I wouldn't be surprised if I'm going in the first batch, which could be as early as next week. One unlucky person must go the day before the paper is due. With my luck, it will probably be me.

Apparently, they're not going to assign us our simulation date until we submit our crew. It's hard to finalize your crew when you don't know what day you will need the crew to be there. Some people can't do certain days when other people can. Kevin and I already have our preliminary list together. However, I must turn in the final tomorrow. I'm still surprised that they're letting me have Kevin as my first officer. Mainly because he's communications and on the diplomacy track. Although Ambassador Garber saved the day with you. So, I think we need to show our dip grads a little more respect.

Before I forget, Kevin would like the ambassador's email address so he can send her a thank you card. I think that he just wants to ask her lots of questions about her job. Is she staying on the Hamilton? The kidnapping had to be traumatic for her as well. Then she just had to take over, which probably made things worse. Jim gave me access to some of his preliminary reports on the Hamilton situation, but some things are missing.

I am going to help you with your Gina problem because you two have been together forever. First, she's getting the idiot's guide to polyamorous relationships. They make one that's not the multispecies version. However, I feel like that's the better version of the book, so I might get that one instead. Also, I will take care of the munchkins during that extended conversation, which needs to happen. We will also take care of the kids at least one other time, as promised.

Mom has plans, and Sulu's sister is executing them. Apparently, there's a dedication ceremony of a Starfleet facility on the planet. It's going to run with the VSA. Now I'm kind of sad that an internship there wouldn't have been an option from a knowledge perspective. I didn't go to Jim and Spock's wedding for a reason. I sunburn easily. I'm so glad that Ben and Sulu decided to do Yorktown. So are the sisters.

Also, since it is a space station that isn't entirely Starfleet, we can get family there easier. Although I have a feeling the guest list is going to be on the small side. After last year's family reunion, most of the extended family won't be invited anyway. That was by mutual family agreement.

On the other side, Ben has just a few friends, and I'm sure the list is getting smaller. A lot of people dropped off after Zach died. They couldn't deal with a grieving widow. Then others that survived that dropped after Ben started dating again. Others are not happy that he's already getting remarried. Like were they expecting him to cry and mourn Zach for the rest of his life? Who are we to dictate how long it takes somebody to move forward? Not necessarily move on but move forward.

You and I know the difference. We've lost people we loved, and you don't move on. You don't forget them, and you never stop loving them, but you can't stop living. You must keep going forward; you have no choice. You can't just be stagnant and let things pass you by. I think for a while after Tarsus, that's what I did. I was just numb and too young to really know how to deal with it, but I had you, mom, and Kevin. Eventually, I started to rebuild my life.

I'm worried about you too. You went for something traumatic. Maybe it wasn't genocide levels of trauma, but it was still traumatic. I was so concerned about you. I already buried one sister. I'm not ready to do it again. I never want to do it again.

OK, your child just threw apple juice on Kevin. I've sent you pictures, but I need to go help.

From: Mommy_Susan

To: Elizabeth_Chen

Time sent: 11/29/2260 02:23:01

Subject: I thought the throwing food stage would be over by now

I really thought she would be out of the throwing food stage at this point. Although it's nice to have a little back story on that picture. We couldn't stop laughing. The images have been a major source of joy during my recovery process.

I approve of your choice of Christmas present. Nyota already gave her the Multispecies version, so you might as well add the regular version.

We're talking to each other, but Gina still doesn't quite understand what's going on. I'm worried she thinks that Hikaru is cheating on his fiancée with me. She hasn't said anything since Nyota talked to her, but I'm still concerned. I'm not sure she completely gets what Hikaru being demisexual means. I think I might be getting her a book myself. Do they make the idiots guide to sexual orientations? They must, right? It feels like the type of book that the galaxy needs.

Bless you, little sister, for volunteering to watch the kids while we work out things. Gina is going to need to hear it from Ben. She's cordial, but I know she's still apprehensive.

OK, now I am pissed off on Ben's behalf at all his fake friends. You don't leave somebody when their husband just died during a major genocide. You also don't leave your friend because they are making progress in moving forward with their life after such a significant loss. Ben deserves better friends than that, and I plan to make sure I am one.

I think you're right about moving forward versus moving on. I'm trying to move forward right now after the Hamilton. You're aware, I've accepted the position at Yorktown. I'm doing training modules while I am on Enterprise. I'm also helping the research team on the next mission, or I might end up being a field trip chaperone. Jim is still trying to work things out with Jim's father-in-law.

Anyway, we officially wrapped up the Hamilton investigation and are now on our way to the New Vulcan system to rendezvous with the VSA team. You have no idea how happy I am for that. That being over means that I really can begin to move forward. I'm not planning to read the report. Not even the preliminary version with all the things Starfleet doesn't want to end up in the final. I really don't want to know.

Garber's staying on the Hamilton. She wants to at least oversee the rebuilding of the personnel. I think once the permanent captain arrives, she'll move on to something else. We might even see her at Yorktown at one of the embassies. Regardless I'll pass on Kevin's contact information to her.

There's going to be a massive diplomatic Conference Center there. The hope is for it to be the new center for negotiations replacing Babel. If you've ever been to Babel, you'll understand why they want to replace it. It is a horrible place for conferences. Also, Yorktown is supposed to be neutral, and Babel was never neutral. There's also the fact that the Babel space was just old and decrepit. It's like they haven't been renovated in 200 years. Or they are copying that old earth 1960s color pallet. Who really knows? It is not my place to question the architectural decisions of other cultures and species. That's one of the first things they teach you at the Academy.

I'm glad I'm here for a little while because I need people. Gina is still mad at me, but she's still here. Maybe she's not mad at me but worried. You do have a point. I have a history of picking godawful boyfriends. Although it's not like I'm the only person that's had to get a restraining order against somebody. Apparently, Jim has one against Pike's niece Christine. There's a story there, but no one will tell me, and I really don't want to ask. Maybe there are some things you don't want to know.

I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks. Things on New Vulcan are starting to come together. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't looked forward to many things lately, so that's a good thing.

To be continued