In this story, James T. Kirk and S'Chn T'Gai Spock are married.
"Spock? Do you know how to change a dirty diaper?" Jim asked as his nose wrinkled at the unpleasant smell.
Spock raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging as he replied, "I do not have any experience in child care, Jim."
"In other words, no," Jim confirmed.
"Affirmative," Spock replied, his tone as calm as ever.
Jim sighed heavily, "Well, it looks like I have to do this alone!"
The pair are visiting a colony on a Federation outpost when they discover that all the people have turned into infants. After determining that the reason was not environmental, Spock reasoned that it may have been the consequences of a catastrophic experiment.
Jim glanced around the room filled with tiny toys and oversized furniture. "Great, just what I needed—an entire colony of infants to babysit," he muttered, half-amused and half-exasperated.
The smell was becoming too much for him, and Jim wrinkled his nose in response. "We need to figure out how to reverse these changes before we become their permanent caretakers," he added. Jim retrieves a disposable diaper from a box nearby and undoes the soiled diaper from the baby's bottom, pinching his nose. "If only we had a manual for this kind of chaos," he joked, tossing the dirty diaper into the trash, grimacing. Jim gently washed the baby's bottom, put on a clean diaper, and placed her in a neighboring playpen.
Spock is preparing a bowl of replicated baby cereal. He sits with a baby on his lap. The little one giggled and smacked her lips, enjoying the sweet taste.
Jim smiled at the sight, momentarily forgetting the mess he had just dealt with as he watched Spock expertly navigate the task with a surprising amount of patience. "You look good with a baby, Spock."
Spock did not respond, focusing instead on the task at hand. He carefully spooned another bite for the delighted infant. Once she had finished, the Vulcan cautiously burped her, a small smile flickering across his usually stoic face.
Jim chuckled, appreciating the rare glimpse of warmth in Spock's demeanor as the baby cooed contentedly, clearly satisfied with her meal.
Other members of the Enterprise crew arrived to help care for eighty babies until a science vessel arrived the next day with doctors and caregivers onboard.
Before Jim and Spock returned to the Enterprise, Spock had the baby he fed in his arms, tenderly cradling her as if she were the most delicate of artifacts.
Jim was shocked when Spock's fingertips softly brushed the baby's forehead, an act of caring that amazed and delighted him, exposing a side of his first officer that few had ever seen. "You would be a wonderful father, Spock."
"I remember my mother doing most of the child-rearing since my father had his duties as an ambassador. It was difficult for her to be the only parent on a planet where she had to navigate cultural expectations often at odds with her values." Spock's gaze remained fixed on the infant, his expression thoughtful as he continued, "Yet, she embraced her role with grace, instilling in me the importance of nurturing and understanding." Spock handed her over to a caregiver who had a smile on his face. "I am uncertain if I would be an adequate father, Jim. But if later we had children, I could draw upon what she taught me."
Jim will never forget the sight of his husband softening as he spoke about the possibility of fatherhood. It was a moment filled with hope and vulnerability, revealing the depths of Spock's heart and the transformative power of love.
Thanks for reading, and as always, favorites and reviews are appreciated.