Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last section. You are also fabulous. Yep, a lot has happened. Things tend to go off the rails when they're on the colony.

Also, a reminder that midnight Enterprise time is 8:00 PM the day before New Vulcan time. That comes into play for this chapter.

I'm sorry for the late update. My computer was in the shop for the last two weeks. It went into hard drive failure, and the computer pretty much had to be rebuilt. Once I got it back, I spent all weekend updating the software. Because of that, I am behind in updating stories. The good news is I store all the stories on one drive now, so I didn't lose anything. I could even dictate rough drafts on the iPhone because of that. However, I couldn't polish or post chapters while waiting to get my laptop back.

Day 310: Baby Brain

xxx

From: SuluHG2260

To: NyotaUM

Time arrived: 12/28/2260 00:00:01

Subject: The babies miss you

Let me begin by saying thank you for all the presents you left for the babies. I think you gave them half the learning store. The grandmas picked up the other half when we went shopping this morning. Apparently, their favorite thing to do on vacation is buying stuff for their grandbabies.

I wanted to see my captain's "Athletic" demonstration, but we were worried the babies would be disruptive. So, we met up for lunch afterward, and I got to listen to the kids gush about Spock's skills. His opponent happened to be the father of one of his sister's tormentors. So everybody enjoyed watching him get knocked unconscious in 30 seconds. I have attached video.

I have a question about your psychic bond with our boss. Can you feel what Spock is thinking because of it? Spock just got really quiet, and he is very concerned for Jim's well-being.

Okay, now I've just been left with the kids because he had to pick up his husband. I might be sending you another email later. I have kids to distract now.

XXXX

From: SuluHG2260

To: NyotaUM

Time arrived: 12/28/2260 00:00:01

Subject: Yes, the bond really does work like that.

Okay, I have an update on my previous abrupt email. Yes, the boss can feel Jim's emotions, especially when highly stressed. Also, Jim still has a piece of jewelry that is essentially a GPS tracker without being a GPS tracker. Spock has something similar. This is entirely understandable, considering Spock got kidnapped the last time we were here.

I want to ask for one of those trackers for the kids. Their biological grandfather is a dick. Although one of their adopted grandfathers is also a dick. If you're going to tell someone you're very sick, you should have their spouse there for emotional support. That's just being polite.

The kids are moving over to our part of the compound tonight for a sleepover. I expect to see rope burns in the morning. Bite marks at a minimum.

I was planning to have a great evening with Ben and Sue. Instead, I have all the kids. I think Kevin, Liz, and Winona are planning something, so I am the designated babysitter. The ambassador is their driver. Should I be concerned?

XXXX

From: Number_one_Pike

To: Spock's_cuddlebunny; Jim's_cuddlebear

Time arrived: 12/28/2260 00:00:01

Subject: I apologize for baby brain.

I am so sorry I haven't written in forever. I thought I wrote a reply to your last letter, but I just discovered it's been sitting in my inbox for about three weeks. Sorry. I have attached the latest ultrasound picture as penance. Again sorry.

I considered just attaching my original letter, but I figure it's better just to start from scratch. We have so many other things to talk about. Plus, we've had a few work exchanges since then. I know more about the Hamilton fiasco than I ever wanted to. Because of that disaster, we will have to redo the entire communications ethics training course. We will have to make it an actual course, instead of just a unit in one of the other classes. Also, everybody is getting more ethics classes because obviously, we need them. This is such a mess.

I discovered my email mistake because pictures of Peter and Josephine petting various Vulcan animals showed up in my inbox this morning. I wanted to see if your previous letter mentioned what the kids would be doing in New Vulcan. Then I found out my reply was still in draft. Again sorry.

Your kids are cute. Tell Nyota thank you for sending me pictures express. I really should be writing to her too, but I forget. I am so busy being on the London campus and getting ready for the babies. I'm in the third trimester officially as of today. So yep, I'm out of the woods. I look forward to getting your baby-themed Christmas presents.

I'm sure you're sending them back with your mother. Theoretically, she should be back by mid-January, but I feel like Chen may hijack her for another secret mission. Unfortunately, we're definitely still uncovering the many traps of Carol's father. She's been helping us find things because she knows how her father thinks. There's so much going on here; it's giving me a headache. I'm too pregnant for this stuff.

So how are you doing with your kids being away for the first time? Of course, by the time you get this, they'll probably be back on the ship. I hope you get this before Winona returns. Maybe you're on Vulcan with her by this point. How is that going? I hope none of you have been driven to drink yet.

Anyway, I hope you guys have a good Christmas/Winter Solstice/Summer Solstice/Hanukkah/day off from work. Rebecca has decided we are making an actual Christmas dinner. I promise to send you pictures of that. Please write when you get a chance. I'll try to respond more promptly next time.

XXXX

From: NyotaUM

To: SuluHG2260

Time sent: 12/28/2260 07:21:01

Subject: Vulcan bonds are weird

I can confirm that Jim and Spock can definitely feel each other when the other party goes through extreme emotional stress. If it's horrible and I'm close by, I can tell when Spock is upset, but it's very light compared to what Jim feels. Which I think is why it took us so long to figure out we had a link.

Think of it this way, I'm getting a really cryptic text message, but Jim is getting full video. Sometimes they can even send words. I hate to use this word, but it's fascinating. If we were here longer, I would spend time with a mind healer to study my bond with Spock more. Unfortunately, because I'm not having any problems with the bond, it wasn't possible to schedule a checkup appointment.

I'm sure we'll do another side mission in the neighborhood since it's so far out from traditional Federation territory. I think the elder knew of this place because of the five-year mission the first time around. This is smack dab in the middle of what we're supposed to be exploring.

I completely agree that somebody else should have been with Jim. If not Spock, then Kevin or even you. Although you might be closer friends with Jim this time around. I think all of us becoming parents earlier changed a lot of dynamics. I don't even know if my counterpart was ever a mom. It's probably better that I don't know.

How is Jim taking it? I haven't gotten a letter from Jim yet. Since you wrote yours probably the same time he was sending his rapid messages to me, I expect something tomorrow. I should also be hearing from Josephine. I've gotten enough pictures. I can't believe you let the babies pet the sehlets. They're so big. I'm also mad that I never actually got to go to the animal sanctuary. I love the work I was doing here, but I really wish I could have spent more time actually exploring the planet.

Okay, now I am seriously considering taking a six-month detail assignment to the VSA Starfleet center. Josephine enjoys being on the planet. I don't know how Leonard would take it, but I will work on that.

Anyway, keep sending me pictures. I love seeing the kids. I miss them too.

Xxxxx

From: Spock's_cuddlebunny

To: Number_one_Pike

cc: Jim's_cuddlebear

Time arrived: 12/28/2260 13:23:01

Subject: Re: I apologize for baby brain.

Yes, it was weird letting Peter stay with his grandfather without us. Thankfully he had a really good time. Per Sugar Vulcan, the ambassador has mellowed out since raising him. I think my sister-in-law might turn out semi-well-adjusted.

I am happy to report that mom is still sober. She hasn't even broken into the Vulcan tea yet. She agrees with our assessment that cannabis tea is a gateway for somebody with her substance abuse issues. So no cannabis tea and no lemon bars.

I've been drinking low amounts of it for the last three days. Not because of my mom driving me crazy. We're actually getting along better than we ever have. I'm happy to say she doesn't hate my husband anymore. The program at Wellness Hills really did help her not bring her Frank issues into her assessment of my relationship.

I understand why she was apprehensive. Spock strangled me within the first 72 hours of our acquaintance and not in the safe word way. But we've worked through that, and she knows anything like that now would definitely involve safe words, lots of safe words. Although I feel you don't want to know about our breath play activities.

So elder Spock is sick. Terminally ill dying sick. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you that, but mom knows because the elder told her himself after she went to his house to yell at him for dropping this on me alone. So she will probably tell you when she gets back to London.

Kevin refuses to give me details of what exactly happened that night. However, the elder sent me a lovely gift basket the next day. I'm sure yelling was probably involved. It's never good when Kevin doesn't tell me things. But I decided it's best I don't know the details.

I'm processing the best way I can. It's hard to accept I'm going to lose another important person in my life. I usually don't have any warning when this sort of thing happens. I don't think having at least a year to process will improve the situation. Maybe it's just going to drag out the inevitable.

Also, it made me worry that I would lose Spock. There may have been a physical yesterday. He is extremely healthy but slightly stressed and needs to worry about his blood pressure. It's borderline. So at least I'm no longer freaking out about my husband dying on me. Due to health reasons anyway. Our job is still a high-risk factor, like assassination attempts and coup d'état by our assistant. Let's just say I'm never letting central assign us a temp assistant again. Winona is going to have quite the story for you.

Also, why does everyone think I'm the reckless one in this relationship? Sweetie bear tried to sacrifice himself to a volcano. (Sweetie, I know I CCed you on this, and I stand by that assessment.) Also, I heard a fascinating story about a speeder getting wrecked right after my cuddle bear got his license. Now that my father-in-law isn't feeding me allergens, I get to hear all the cool stories.

Excuse me for all the rambling. I don't think the two sessions with Margarita have taken the edge off enough yet. I'm worried about the kids losing someone again. Now I regret even introducing them to Spock's "grandfather." They adore him. I'm not sure how to tell them that he won't be around much longer. I'm not entirely sure how to deal with that. I guess it's on my list of things to bring up with Margarita. That's becoming a long list.

I talked a little bit about it at dinner last night with Suarez, but even though she will always be one of my mom figures, she's no longer my therapist. So, these are all Margarita problems. My poor doctor. I am shocked she hasn't moved me to Reyes yet.

It's okay that you accidentally forgot to hit the send button. Honestly, it was bound to happen eventually. I've accidentally done it a couple of times with Spock, but then the system will kick in and send it to him anyway. He really wanted to know why I didn't want to send him an email regarding a soup recipe I got from one of the ensigns. I swore I actually hit the send button on that. Okay, maybe this is the real reason why I haven't gotten rid of that program entirely. Although it will probably deliver my annual email to George soon.

Maybe finding out that the elder is dying only a little more than a week from G Day is making things worse. I kind of always go into a mini depression between Christmas and G day. Although it's a little better now that I celebrate my birthday on the sixth with Spock. Yep, I am officially celebrating my birthday on my husband's birthday. Of course, we both have to work this year. However, Nyota will host a sleepover. After a ridiculous amount of work meetings, I am heading over to a certain store tonight to pick up some supplies. We kind of used some last night that I need to replenish.

Never ever agree to a working vacation ever. Too much work, not enough vacation. At least the kids have been having fun with Winona and Kevin. And, of course, their cousins go everywhere. Suarez was really sad yesterday was a baby-free dinner. So tomorrow she's going on a picnic lunch with everybody at the cliffs. Everybody but me, Spock, and the Admiral. We have work.

If I have to have one more meeting with an asshole diplomat, I'm going to punch somebody. Hopefully, for Starfleet relations, it won't be the diplomat. Why does Kevin want to become a diplomat? I just want to explore, not kiss up to assholes.

Four more days of meetings, and then we will be back on Enterprise. And here's the thing, Spock's meetings are worse than mine. I'm doing the "spouse meetings." At least that's what my father-in-law calls them. They are the type of meetings Amanda would take, and honestly, I prefer a lot of those meetings. Apparently, I have the "soft skills" of the two of us. That concerns me. Again I just mentioned I want to start punching things.

Thank you for sending a new ultrasound picture. Especially because Winona forgot to bring that file with her. The blob twins are getting so big. Congratulations on getting to your third trimester. I realized they're March babies like I was supposed to be, and I hope they actually make it to March. I hope they are full term. Spock and I are all the January babies we need.

Also, why is everybody making such a big deal about our birthdays? We really didn't do anything for anyone else besides Josephine. Mom says it's because Spock and I are the ship's captains. I think it's because the entire world knows when my birthday is and how utterly traumatizing the whole thing is to me. I'm trying to decide if they want to make the day better for me or they just want to rub it in my face. I'm already older than Sam was when he was killed on Tarsus. Soon I'll be older than George. Only two more birthdays to go.

I apologize for this letter being a lot. I'll be better next time. Unfortunately, it's depression season. This is probably another reason why I CCed my husband. I'm expecting a hug at a minimum when we get out of these hell meetings.

To be continued…

I mentioned discovering a boo-boo last time. I realized I forgot to respond to Number one's last letter when re-reading. So I had to come up with an in-universe explanation.