Thank you again to everybody who has read or reviewed the last section. You are all wonderful. I almost considered ending the story with the previous chapter and flashing forward to the wedding as the epilogue. However, I wanted to see a little bit of everybody's life in their new assignments. We also have the Pike babies to be born. So we are going until the wedding. But there's probably going to be more gaps between letters. Everybody is a lot more spread out now and busy working.

Day 319: Brothers

From: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_Selek

To: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

Time arrived: 01/06/2260 00:00:01

Subject: I am once again home on New Vulcan

I just wanted to write an email to let you know I am back home after my time on Enterprise. I did indeed enjoy my three days on board. She is always a beautiful ship.

I always knew Doctor McCoy was a very competent physician. I am relieved to find that it is a universal constant. I hope you and my counterpart enjoyed your time on the colony. I hope you're able to visit again. It was a pleasure seeing you and the children.

I have a meeting tomorrow with my medical team. They will review the treatment strategy developed by Doctor McCoy. I will keep you abreast of our progress.

XXXX

Starfleet priority message for Captain James Kirk-Grayson from Cadet Kevin Kirk

Hey, Big Brother, greetings and birthday wishes from Discovery. I got permission from my supervisor to send you an I'm OK and safe message. Although regular communications from now on outside of a legitimate emergency.

I'm already dealing with people talking shit about me because I'm a legacy baby. (I'm trying to decide what's worse, the people who don't realize I'm not George Kirk's son or the people who read and believe that bullshit tell-all book. I can't wait to sue the hell out of your grandmother.) Let's not add special communications privileges to the list. Although my roommates think I got this cushy assignment because I am fucking the admiral herself. That is just so very creepy. Anyway please write back the regular way.

Also, if you could let Liz know I'm adjusting to life without her, that would be great. I'll send her a letter the old-fashioned way, but I knew better than to contact her via rapid messaging. I would like to keep the nepotism comments to a minimum here. So far, I've just unpacked and don't know quite what I'm doing yet. I assume that is a tomorrow problem.

Also, happy birthday to you and your husband. Your birthday presents are with Nyota. We didn't give them to Spock because we felt like you would be more likely to find them if he had them.

XXXX

From: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

To: Vulcan_Embassy_Ambassador_Selek

Time sent: 01/06/2260 12:23:01

Subject: Re: I am once again home on New Vulcan

Thanks for letting us know you got home safely. I'm glad Bones was able to find some things that your medical team can work with. Although having my Spock's medical history for comparison probably helped him see some things they couldn't. I hope it helps.

Peter and Josephine adore you. I got tons of text messages from your Lego playdates. I received some pictures from Ash as well. She is my mentee in our support group. I want you to spend as much time with the grandkids as possible because they need people. They've both dealt with a lot of heartbreak. They don't need more. So please just try for them, if no one else. They need a great grandfather.

Thanks for not sending a priority message because it probably would have got here on G day. That's mostly a day for me to write a therapy letter to George and call mom. Although it's been a little hit or miss on that for the last few years. The George part, I usually always contact mom somehow. This year it was a rapid message to my mom, followed by eating lemon bars and vegan chocolate chip cookies with my husband. I promise no one mixed drugs. It wasn't a bad way to spend January 4.

Today is my actual birthday as far as I'm concerned. I like sharing it with my husband, mainly because he makes sure no one really makes a big deal out of it. I know he's not a birthday person. The only thing he ever did was get blueberry pancakes from Amanda.

The ambassador conspired with Peter, and we got breakfast in bed today with what I've been told are Amanda's signature blueberry pancakes. It was one of the other recipes she could make really well. Spock says it tastes the same. So he is happy about that.

I would wish you a happy birthday, but I'm not sure you actually do birthdays either. Spock is warming up to it now that we share.

Although we're never going to be birthday party people.

I have too much trauma associated with birthdays. Frank did something on one of my birthdays that I don't want to talk about. My actual date of birth birthday, not my March birthday. Although he did do something then too. That's the other reason why I have moved to Spock's day.

Anyway, I have attached pictures from this morning. There's even one of Spock in a birthday hat with Peter. That's my new PADD screensaver. I thought you would like it. Thank you for offering to keep us updated. We want to know what's going on with you healthwise. Also, Peter says you can write to him and Josephine. They had a wonderful time with you.

XXXX

From: Spock' s_cuddlebunny

To: Kevin KR

Time sent: 01/06/2261 22:34:01

Subject: Tell your roommate to get over themselves

Yes, baby brother, I let your girlfriend know that you're safe. She said she would write to you herself. She also says they will talk shit about you no matter what. You might as well actually enjoy the perks of nepotism that they accuse you of using. I kind of agree with my future sister-in-law there.

They're going to be assholes no matter what. You should know that, considering some of the things that went down at the Academy. I got a lot of it. Allegedly I'm only still a captain because my daddy died for me or because of my husband, who I'm only fucking to get ahead. I'm not even going to repeat what they accused me of doing with Pike. That was just creepy. The man was like a father to me. Just ignore them. They're idiots.

So, I have pictures from today's birthday festivities. We just did breakfast. Although I did get a cake. I definitely like this birthday sharing thing. I'm having my annual birthday drink with Bones later. Apparently, his sister-in-law sent him something really nice for Christmas that we will enjoy.

I want you to try your best while you're on Discovery. Don't think about what the others are saying because they don't matter. They really don't. Just do your best because I know you can. You were a great assistant to the admiral while on the colony. I deeply regret that you can never work for me because of the nepotism issue. I guess you got away with it with the admiral because you're not married to Liz yet. But that will change.

So, I vote for eloping and then having a big ceremony after graduation. Although doing that means I won't get to see the wedding. I'm OK with that. Although you better consider live streaming the thing.

I know it will be hard to be away from Liz for six months. I have trouble being away from Spock for six days. However, I think the admiral's right that it's good for you to get used to this now. Also, this experience will help you decide if you never ever want to serve away from each other again. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to be away from Spock. We do dumb things when we're away from each other for too long. It might be the psychic bond.

Anyway, have fun, and please be better behaved than the Enterprise interns. I'm so glad we just lost half of them. Although, we're picking up more in February. Why? Anyway, it was good seeing you, and I can't wait to see you again in June. Happy exploring

PS: Thank you for the vintage vinyl albums and actual hardcopy books. Spock and I love everything.

To be continued…

So sadly, due to the format of this story, you won't be seeing the emails between Liz and Kevin because neither person is on Enterprise. I know. That's so sad. However, now Liz and Kevin will be sending separate emails to everybody, which will be fun.