#original star trek

Steve: Tony, if you could spare a minute, I’d like a possible opinion on something.

Tony:Well then, you’ve come to the right person.

Steve: I haven’t told you what the something is. You might not have an opinion.

Tony:I always have an opinion.

Summary: An away mission brings back more than they bargained for, and it will change two crewmember’s lives forever. 

**

“What’s all this about, Doctor?” Kirk asked as he hurried through the sickbay doors to find Uhura seated on one of the beds behind a force field while Dr. McCoy was engrossed in some readings, he had on his medical scanning pad. The Captain had been alarmed once they had arrived back from an away mission to find the transporter room blaring its alarms and he and the other away team locked onto their transporter pad by a force field. Then his concern grew when he watched as Lieutenant Uhura energized away again. Seconds later Doctor McCoy had summoned him to sickbay.

“Standard protocol, Captain,” McCoy mumbled out while his brows furrowed as he continued to read.

“I think this must be a new protocol I was not aware of,” Uhura spoke out. She had been in her isolation in sickbay for only a few minutes but she felt like it had been hours, particularly due to the fact that Dr. McCoy kept brushing off and mostly ignoring her questions about what was happening and why she had been beamed to the sickbay behind a force field.

“Nor I, Lieutenant,” Kirk agreed. “Care to enlighten us, Bones?”

“It is standard protocol for the transporter to beam anyone deemed to be infectious directly to sickbay and put up a force field,” McCoy finally spoke as he now gave both of his friends his full attention. Concern quickly filled the faces of both Kirk and Uhura.

“Infectious,” Uhura repeated as if she was not sure she had heard him correctly. “But Doctor, I was given a clean bill of health by you before I beamed down to the planet.”

“Yeah, I know but the transporter says you brought something back on board with you. Initially, I thought the blasted transporter probably had a glitch. Which is one of the main reasons I don’t like using the blasted things.”

“Yes, we are all aware, Doctor,” Kirk cut off what he knew could turn into an hours-long ranting. “What has the Lieutenant been infected with, and what of the other crew? Myself, Scotty, and Sulu? Should we also be quarantined?”

“No,” McCoy said as he moved to the medical panel on the wall and pressed a button which turned off the force field. “It’s not a contagion and you’re not infected, Uhura.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Uhura breathed out truly happy to hear this.

“So, there is a glitch in the transporter then? I’ll have Scotty take it offline for a full analysis and repairs,” Kirk declared as he moved to the intercom on the nearby wall.

“That won’t be necessary, there’s nothing wrong with the transporters either, at least not in this regard,” McCoy stopped him and Kirk turned back to regard his longtime friend.

“Then what the hell is it, Bones?” He exclaimed a little as he grew irritated with the doctor’s evasiveness.

“Lieutenant Uhura, you’re pregnant,” McCoy directed to Uhura who sat and looked as if she were still waiting for his true words.

“Well how about that,” Kirk said with a genuine smile on his face. He was not aware she had been seeing anyone, not that he kept up with such things. But the ship wasn’t so big that he wouldn’t have heard something or seen something to allude to Uhura being in a romance. She was a very private person but still, people tended to gossip onboard which on most days annoyed the hell out of it’s Captain. “Congratulations, Lieutenant,” He said as he stepped to where she sat in shock, leaned in, and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

“But, Sir,” She turned to look up at him. “That can’t possibly be right,” She insisted.

“She’s right, it can’t be. At least it shouldn’t be,” McCoy concurred. “I gave each of the away team a full examination before you all left the ship not two hours ago, and Uhura wasn’t pregnant before she left this ship.”

“Could your readings have been wrong?” Kirk offered. “Is it possible that it’s your equipment that has a glitch?”

“Even if it does it wouldn’t explain any of this. Doctor, I can’t possibly be pregnant, because I have not been with a man for over three years now,” She declared and both Kirk and McCoy’s eyes bulged a little in their surprise and disbelief.

“I’m sorry Lieutenant, but I find that very hard to believe,” Kirk stated.

“Me too,” McCoy chimed in with a slight scowl on his face.

“Well, I am certainly not lying about it, why should I?” Uhura stated indignantly.

“I’m sorry Uhura, I only meant that,” He paused as he searched for the appropriate words, “Well, you are a very beautiful and very desirable woman,” Kirk said and she felt herself calming and even blushing under his complimentary words.

“Yeah, yer, definitely a looker,” McCoy added with a nod and smile as he placed his hands behind his back and bounced a bit on the balls of his feet.

“So, it’s a bit difficult to believe that no crewman has asked you out,” Kirk continued.

“Plenty have asked, sir, and on some occasions, I agree, but that doesn’t mean I have to sleep with them does it?” She countered.

“No, of course not, my apologies, Uhura,” Kirk replied in a gentler tone and informally. “And are you sure?” He added on.

“Sure? That I didn’t have sex with anyone, yes quite sure,” Suddenly a beeping went off on McCoy’s medical pad. He frowned up in confusion and then hurried back to the medical panel and raised the force field again.

“What is it now?” Kirk questioned his actions.

“This baby is growing at an impossible rate,” McCoy said and Uhura clutched a hand against her still flat mid-section as Kirk eyed her curiously. “When I examined you just a moment ago you were only 2 weeks into gestation, now you’re 6 weeks along.”

“But that’s not possible,” Kirk proclaimed.

“Yeah, that’s what I just said,” McCoy replied.

“None of this is possible,” Uhura spoke out her voice a pitch higher than normal. “I do know where babies come from, Doctor, and there’s no way in hell I knowingly conceived a baby.”

“Well, maybe it was unknowingly,” McCoy offered and her eyes doubled in size at the implication.

“You think she may have been raped?” Kirk asked as he felt rage begin to fill him. Not only to the fact that someone would commit such a crime on his ship but mostly that they would dare cause such harm to Uhura. He thought of her with friendly and nearly brotherly affection. She was the only female crewman on the entire ship he had ever spoken to and socialized within any informal manner. The thought of someone hurting her, particularly in such a vile way made him want vengeance.

“I’m sorry, but that’s the only explanation I can come up with at the moment,” McCoy said. “There are some species we’ve encountered and even some who are crew aboard this ship who have a faster gestation time than us.

"I want a list of all of them,” Kirk demanded. “Would you be able to determine who might be the father?” He asked McCoy as Uhura sat behind the force field terrified by the thought that she might have been violated and didn’t remember it.

“Yes,” McCoy answered as he grasped a handheld scanner and began to input some parameters into it. “I can use this scanner,” He then pointed it at Uhura before he punched in more data. “I have blocked the reading from Uhura’s DNA in the baby so that just leaves the father’s DNA. I just point this at …” The Doctor’s words faltered as he stared down at the readings that were now flashing on the scanner. “My God, Jim, it’s saying that you’re the father,” He breathed out low as he lifted shocked eyes up to Kirk, whom he was pointing the scanner directly at.

“Excuse me?” Kirk responded as he stared back at his friend with a look of amusement on his face, as if waiting for the punchline to his joke.

“Now, this is beyond ridiculous,” Uhura spoke out as she hopped from the bed. “Let me out of this force field, Leonard,” She demanded informally and he hurriedly complied. “You might think this is funny, but I think we all have better things to be doing than pulling pranks on others.”

“I have to agree with the Lieutenant, this is not one of your better jokes, Bones.”

“Do you two honestly think I would joke about something like this?” McCoy asked outraged by the accusation. “I can assure you, Lieutenant Uhura you are,” He paused and held the scanner up to her. “Now 18 weeks pregnant,” He then moved the scanner back to Kirk. “And Jim, you are definitely the father.”

“Oh my God,” Uhura exclaimed as she clutched at her mid-section again.

“What is it?” Kirk asked as his eyes locked onto her belly which he’d swear was more profound than it had been just a few seconds before.

“It’s grown. I can feel it now,” She replied as she shot her hand out, grasped the Captain’s hand, and then placed it back against the slight swell of her belly. Kirk stood in awe to the fact that Uhura was in fact pregnant and that he was going to be a father. He shook it off as he pulled his hand from her belly and focused fully onto McCoy.

“Bones, what the hell is going on?”

“I honestly don’t know. I mean, what exactly did you two do while you were down on the planet?”

“Nothing that would have done that,” Kirk said as he pointed at Uhura’s belly.

“He’s right Doctor,” Uhura affirmed. “While the Captain and I were mostly alone together on the mission all we did was take readings of the planet. The air, the water in the stream we found, and of all the beautiful flora that seemed to be everywhere. The captain even plucked this flower for me,” She spoke this as she reached up and touched the small purple flower she had placed in her hair.

“No, don’t touch it,” McCoy hissed out as he moved and grasped tweezers from his desk and moved back to her to grasp the flower from her hair.

“I already scanned it, doctor, it’s perfectly harmless otherwise, I wouldn’t have put it in my hair,” She assured.

“Well, unless you confess to having some private torrent affair with each other, and tell me one of you has the ability to make super grow babies, I’m not ruling anything out,” He stated as he placed the flower inside of a chamber that would give a more intensive reading on it. “And unfortunately, until I know more, I will have to confine you both as well as the other away team members to sickbay.”

“Is that really necessary?” Kirk asked not happy at the idea of being away from the bridge but happy that Spock had not joined them on this particular away mission.

“At this point, I don’t know how this even happened, do you want to risk you or Scotty, or Sulu impregnating other female crew?”

“No, of course not,” Kirk grumbled out in a defeated tone as he moved to the comm, “Scotty and Sulu report to sickbay immediately.”

“What do we do?” Uhura questioned as she stood with her arms wrapped around herself in a comforting manner. She seemed as if she hadn’t been really saying the words to anyone specifically, and she looked very lost at that moment.

“Don’t worry Lieutenant,” Kirk spoke in an authoritative tone, his ‘Captain’s voice’, though inside he was just as lost and scared as she was. “I have the utmost confidence that the good Doctor here will figure this out and undo it somehow.”

“Undo it?” McCoy repeated a little stunned by the words. “Well, I guess if that is something Uhura wants I can 'undo’ it now before she gets too far along,” He scanned her once more. “It looks like 18 weeks might be the magical number, it hasn’t grown anymore in the last few minutes, and all of the levels read normal”

“So, from this point on it will be a normal gestation?” Kirk questioned.

“Maybe, I honestly don’t know,” McCoy replied. “Do you want to keep it, Nyota?” He posed directly to her using her first name and all eyes in the room locked onto her.

“I could not abort this child, Doctor. Not unless you tell me there is some medical reason I should,” She announced as she again placed her hands against her belly. Dr. McCoy smiled at her proudly and then moved back to check on his experiment. “It doesn’t matter how it was conceived it’s a life and it’s mine,” She added on with conviction. “I’m sorry Captain if that puts you in an unwanted predicament.”

“Not at all, Lieutenant, it is in your body and so completely your decision. And I would never presume to have any say in that matter. But I hope you understand the ramifications of what having the child would mean. There are no children allowed on any Starfleet exploration vessels. So, it would likely mean reassignment back on Earth or to some other federation outpost or base,” He mumbled out as he locked his eyes down to the floor while apparently deep in thought about it. Uhura simply nodded to his true words as she was fully aware of these facts. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, all right?” He ended with a kind smile.

“Yes, sir,” She said around a sad smile as she nodded.

“Well, it’s definitely the flower,” McCoy who had focused back on his examination of the flower spoke out. “Likely, some kind of effects through pollination. I touched the flower to this Treyvilian mouse that wasn’t pregnant before my test, but now it is,” At that moment both Scotty and Sulu entered the sickbay.

“Reporting to sickbay as ordered, sir,” Sulu spoke first.

“Aye, and I hope this is something serious because if I don’t fix the misalignments that happened to the transporter after we beamed back aboard, we’ll not be able to beam back down to finish the survey of the planet on schedule,” Scotty added on looking irritated at being summoned.

“I’m sorry Scotty but this is rather an urgent matter, and until further notice, no one will be beaming back down to the planet,” Kirk said. “Now, did either of you touch or take any flowers or plants from the planet? Please think hard, it’s extremely important.”

“No sir, there was no fauna of any kind on the part of the planet we checked,” Sulu stated as he frowned up a bit in confusion.

“Aye, it was all desert and rocks. Why what’s happened?”

“Well, it seems that I have somehow impregnated Lieutenant Uhura with a flower from the planet,” Kirk replied and both men stood silent a moment stunned as they let his words sink in.

“Aw, congratulations sir,” Scotty was the first to speak out jubilantly despite the situation and moved to heartily shake the Captain’s hand. “Lass,” He then moved and pulled Uhura into a quick hug. Sulu for his part only smiled nervously and nodded as he was not sure this was a celebratory moment, though both the Captain and Uhura smiled kindly at Scotty’s elation and well wishes.

“Thank you, Mr. Scott, but let’s hold the celebrations until after the Doctor has given you two a full examination and can assure me that you have not somehow impregnated anyone.”

“Well, sir, unless that wee flower has the power to impregnate men it’s just not possible. Sulu and I have been in the transporter room with Ensign Hathaway this entire time. Hathaway and I were working on the transporter, while Sulu was uploading into the computer terminal the findings we had on our tricorders.”

“That’s right Captain. Mr. Spock was adamant that we do so as soon as we transported on board. We came straight here when you called us, and passed no females on our way,” Sulu affirmed.

“That’s good news,” McCoy spoke of again. “Still, I want each of you to take a sterilization shower before you leave sickbay. I am pretty certain that this was all due to this flower,” He said and they all looked to the purple flower encased inside the secure containment glass. “Jim, you touched it and got your DNA on it, then gave it to Uhura which got her DNA on it. Then, somehow the pollen from the flower got into your system, Uhura, likely through your pores and caused this miraculous conception,” He picked up the scanner again and pointed it at her. “Still at 18 weeks with normal readings one would expect to see in a normal and healthy gestation,” He nodded and then pointed the scanner at Scotty, Sulu, and then finally Kirk, “And, Jim, you’re definitely the father,” He added on though no one questioned or doubted him.

**************************************************

It had been nearly 4 hours since Dr. McCoy had released them from sickbay, assuring them that they were all no risk to the ship and its crew. Uhura had hurried to her quarters as she prayed none of her fellow crew noticed the obvious swell that was on display in the form-fitting uniform she wore. Until this moment she had never thought about how absurd it was to require the female crew to wear such tight and short outfits. She noted in her mind to file a formal grievance with Starfleet on the matter at a later time. Right now, her mind was still reeling over the fact that she was pregnant and with the child of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, the soon-to-be father who didn’t seem to care one way or the other about her condition and why should he be. She was the one who had decided to keep this child whether he wanted it or not, so she felt she had no right to ask him to give her any form of support.

“I guess it’s just you and me baby,” She spoke lowly on her bed as she cradled her bump that pressed proudly through the satin green nightgown she wore. The Captain had told her she could take some time off to adjust and make any necessary arrangements she may need to her new situation. She took that as his way to give her time to come up with some story to tell about how she got pregnant and by whom. She giggled as she thought about that because she was sure that the entire crew knew by now as Sulu could be quite the gossip when he had some 'juicy’ intel, and this incident was probably the most salacious thing to ever happen on their voyage thus far. Just as she had decided to try to lie down to get some sleep her door chimed and pulled her from her bed. “Come,” She called out to her visitor and then stood up a bit straighter when her visitor finally walked in. “Captain.”

“Lieutenant,” Kirk replied as his eyes took her in from head to toe before he quickly averted his eyes to glance about her beautifully decorated quarters. They stood in silence for a moment before she spoke again.

“Is there something you needed, sir?”

“Ah, yes, I … uh … I just wanted to see how you were holding up. Today has been a very strange and shock filled day for us.”

“Yes, sir,” She said and graced him with a kind smile and a small chuckle. “It surely has been, but I am fine, thank you for your concern,”

“Good, good,” He said with a nod as he settled his eyes upon her bump. “And the baby is…” He paused again and she could tell he was nervous.

“Oh, she is fine too, Captain.”

“She?” He repeated through a crooked smile as he looked at her with excitement twinkling in his eyes.

“Yes, sir, I’m having a daughter,” She confirmed. “I asked Dr. McCoy to check before I left sickbay. I know most expectant mothers would rather wait and be surprised, but I’d rather be-”

“Prepared,” Kirk cut her off and finished the sentence for her. “Yes, I had noticed that about you long ago. And please we’re not on the bridge, in fact, I’m off duty at the moment, so we don’t have to be so formal. Please, call me Jim and I will call you by your first name too, Nyota,” He spoke with a gentle smile. “If that is all right with you?”

“Oh, yes, sir … I mean Jim,” She quickly corrected as she smiled warmly back at him. “Please come, have a seat,” She offered as she waved him to the sofa in her livingroom area. “Can I get you something to drink? I don’t have any alcoholic beverages as I am not much of a drinker, but I had just made tea which should still be hot.”

“Tea sounds wonderful, thank you,” He agreed as he took a seat on the sofa. He openly watched her as she moved about fixing two cups of tea. Her every movement seemed to hold him enthralled, and most intensely the slight swell on her belly. It hadn’t dawned on him until he noticed her about to lift a serving tray with their tea, that he hadn’t even offered to help. “No!” He called out a bit more loudly than he had intended as he leaped up and moved to where she stood. Uhura jumped a little in surprise as she stilled and looked at him with wide eyes. “That looks heavy, allow me,” He spoke as he grasped the tray which wasn’t heavy at all but she still appreciated his gesture.

“Thank you,” She said softly as she led them back to the sofa where they sat and she began serving up the tea.

“By the way … oh, thank you,” He said with a nod and a smile as he grasped the teacup, she offered him. He then took a quick sip before he continued, “I have already contacted Starfleet and gave a full report of everything. They will be sending a special all-male crew back to the planet to finish the survey, with added precautions. Hopefully, it will be enough to ensure that this situation with us is not repeated,” Uhura nodded as she listened. “And I was also able to convince them to allow both of us to stay at our post here on the Enterprise. It took some convincing and they have sent liability forms with specific stipulations that they expect both of us to sign ASAP, which basically says we and the child can stay but at our own risk, not theirs.”

“Cap … Jim, I appreciate that more than I can say, but you didn’t have to go through any trouble for me. I would have been content to go wherever Starfleet deemed safest for me and my child.”

“I am sorry if I have overstepped some boundary, Nyota, I know I should have probably consulted with you first. But if I am being honest I did it more for me than you,” He acknowledged and his words completely baffled her as she frowned at him in confusion. “I can’t imagine myself being anywhere except here on the Enterprise. They did offer to make me an Admiral stationed out of Starfleet headquarters. I’d be the youngest in Starfleet history, but I wasn’t even tempted by that.”

“I don’t understand, why would they make you leave the Enterprise?” She asked and this time Kirk’s brow furrowed as he stared back at her in confusion.

“Because had they not agreed to allow the baby to stay on board, we would have had to be stationed elsewhere, Nyota, you know this.”

“Yes, I know the regulations and fully expected that the child and 'I’ would be reassigned.”

“I see,” Kirk spoke as his face fell a little. He settled his cup back upon the tray, stood, and pulled at the bottom of his shirt. Uhura watched him closely as she too set down her cup of tea and stood before him. His demeanor perplexed her. “It seems I have overstepped again in assuming that you wanted me to be a part of the child’s life.”

“I’m sorry, but you want to be a part of the child’s life?” She asked completely shocked at hearing this from him. The thought of Kirk wanting to have anything to do with a child never even entered her mind. He was too much of a bachelor in her eyes.

“Of course, it is my child … my daughter too,” He replied and seemed to be offended that she would think otherwise. “And I would very much like to be present in her life.”

“Oh my God,” Uhura gasped out as tears instantly filled her eyes. She clamped one hand to cover her mouth and the other to her belly and Kirk’s face paled in fright as he watched her.

“What’s the matter, are you in some kind of pain? Is it the baby?” He asked as he reached out to her. “Do I need to take you to sickbay?” She shook her head at him as a single tear fell freely down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away.

“No, I’m fine and the baby is fine, it’s just …” She wasn’t sure how to continue without offending him when it was now so clear to her that he wanted this baby just as much as she did. “I’m sorry Jim, but your words surprised me. But they were a very pleasant surprise. I just never even considered that you would want to have anything to do with the baby. I mean, it’s not like this was something we planned. We are not in a romantic relationship, and we don’t spend a lot of time speaking or seeing each other informally outside of the bridge or while on duty.”

“True, but I still consider you to be a friend, Nyota, and I hope that feeling is mutual.”

“Oh, yes sir, it is,” She confirmed being formal for a moment.

“Good,” He pushed out a sigh of relief, “Look, I know I have a bit of a reputation of being a bit of a Casanova, and I will admit I never thought that settling down with a wife and children were in my future. I already see myself as being married to the Enterprise and the crew like my children, so to speak. Now, due to circumstances out of my control, it seems there will be a change of plans on that front. But thankfully Starfleet has decided to make an exception which will allow me to retain my command. So, I can still be Captain as well as a husband and father.”

“Wait, are you proposing marriage?” Uhura asked as she stood looking up at him horrorstricken.

“Well, I think that would be appropriate, don’t you?”

“Yes, under normal circumstances. It is true I had always envisioned I would find love, get married, and then have children. But as you said our current circumstance is out of our control. And we are not required to get married to have this child.”

“Actually, we are,” Kirk announced as he clasped his hands behind his back and locked his eyes down to the floor. “It is that stipulation I mention for remaining onboard. We must be married. Also, I think it would help to keep gossip down and keep the baby from being judged unfairly.”

“But Captain,” She spoke formally again. “I promise you Sulu has told half the ship by now.”

“Doubtful,” He interjected. “I’ve ordered him to secrecy.”

“Not that it matters I do not care what the others have to say about it. And you know as well as I do that an ancient word like 'bastard’ is such a ridiculous term it’s laughable, and no one would dare speak it let alone think it about our child.”

“Yes, I know but, I don’t know, call it my male ego and pride,” He tossed out with a charming smile, “But I want my child to have my name.”

“And she certainly can and shall if that is what you really want.”

“It is,” He proclaimed and she smiled pleased by this.

“All right, but we don’t have to get married for that.”

“No, but as I said we must get married if we are to stay aboard the Enterprise. I thought you would be happy about that, that you would want to remain on board.”

“I do and I am happy to know I have that option, but Jim,” She took a breath and then reached out and placed a gentle hand upon his arm. “I cannot ask you to make such a sacrifice, not for me.”

“I appreciate that but I assure you I was thinking mostly of myself. Thinking of how I can stay and keep you and our child here near me as well. Sure, I could visit wherever they may have sent you, but those visits would likely be few and far between. How much would I miss out on in her life? I don’t want to miss a thing. I am truly sorry for not discussing these matters with you on this beforehand. I feel like a huge jerk right now assuming I was making a gallant gestured and you’d be happy about it.”

“And that I’d even be a bit proud I’d be married to the Captain, huh?” She added on in an almost teasing tone which made him roll his eyes a bit and groan at how silly this thought he had, had sounded when she spoke it out loud.

“Right, like a jerk and a dumbass,” He spoke and she laughed a little at his expense.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d be honored to be your wife, sir, except for one big problem, we don’t love each other. We barely even know each other.”

“I can see that really matters to you?”

“Of course, it does, doesn’t that matter to you too?” She questioned. “Don’t you want to marry someone you love? And what about what we would be giving up in our marriage? You are a very virile man from what I’ve seen and I too still have a sexual appetite, and I never intended to become a nun or be celibate for the rest of my life.”

“Wow, and you think being married to me would completely kill your sexual drive?” Kirk asked with a smirk as he placed his hand against his chest. “Ouch,” She giggled at his antics and playfully swatted his arm.

“What I mean is, I am a monogamous woman,” Uhura looked directly up into his eyes as she spoke. She wanted him to fully comprehend what she was telling him. “If I marry you, I could never give myself sexually to another man. That would go against everything I believe spiritually, and go against my vow of marriage to you. I wouldn’t hold you to those same standards by any means given our situation, but I could never break such a vow. So, can you see my conundrum? I’d be married to someone who doesn’t want me sexually, and I would never allow myself to take a man who is not my husband into my bed.”

“I understand, but who told you I didn’t want you sexually?” Kirk questioned seriously and of all the things he could have said at that moment, what he could have taken away from what she had just said, that bit had stunned her. “As I told you earlier, I think you are a very beautiful and desirable woman, Nyota. Surely, you know this. Being Captain doesn’t make me any less a warm-blooded male nor does it diminish my eyesight. I can see how attractive you are. Just because I would never allow myself to pursue anything intimate with one of my crewmembers doesn’t mean I am not sexually attracted to any, you being at the top of that list.”

“Am I supposed to be flattered by that, sir?”

“No, it was not some pickup line, I was just stating a fact. My point is, once we are married, I would have no issue with consummating our marriage or performing my husbandly duties, if you will,” He spoke around a slight smile. “That is, if you had no objections, of course.”

“No, I would not object but…” She turned away from him as she thought about her next words.

“But what? Please tell me what’s on your mind and speak freely,” He coaxed and she faced him once more as she continued to speak.

“It would kind of feel like sleeping with a stranger, a one-night stand, or some fling. I’ve never been that kind of a girl.”

“Okay, I think I understand,” Kirk said this as he nodded his head while he looked to be giving it some thought. “You would feel more comfortable with all of this if we knew each other better first if I courted you?”

“Now, you’re making fun of me,” She smacked her lips, rolled her eyes at him, and then moved back to the sofa and sat down. Kirk followed her trek and also seated himself back down.

“No, not at all. I mean, that is essentially what you are having the biggest issue with, is it not?” She only nodded her affirmation. “All right, then. They say there’s no time like the present. So, let’s get to know each other a little better now. What’s your favorite color?” He asked as he leaned back more comfortably into the sofa. Uhura, let out a slightly giddy giggle as she tucked her feet beneath her backside and turned more to face him.

“Green,” She finally disclosed. “What’s yours?”

“Red, why green?” He fired off quickly.

“Because I grew up in such a lush green countryside, and there’s none of that out here in the vastness of space.”

“So, you brought a little of your own,” Kirk said with a smile as he reached out and gently flicked the green hoops that had become synonymous with the uniforms she wore on and off the bridge. She nodded and smiled in reply.

“May I ask you something more of a personal nature?” He spoke.

“Yes.”

“Why have you purposely abstained from sex for the past three years?”

“Because I feel this is an important mission. To boldly go where no one has gone before, remember? And I wanted to stay focused on the job. This is a pretty big ship, but surely even you have seen how small it can become when someone’s romantic entanglements don’t end well. I have just chosen to avoid all of that 'drama’ and focus solely on the mission.”

“But surely that must become lonely and … sexually frustrating for you,” Kirk continued.

“Not really, I have become quite an expert at masturbation,” She declared and Kirk’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at hearing her shocking carefree confession. “Now, may I ask you a personal question.”

“It would only be fair,” He said with a nod.

“How can you be so …” Again, she found herself searching for the right word that would not offend.

“Promiscuous?” He filled in and let her off the hook.

“I’m sorry,” Uhura spoke as she scrunched up her face a bit, “But you do have a bit of a notorious reputation.”

“Yes, I am aware but I can promise you that that reputation doesn’t really precede me,” He stated and she sent him a look that said she didn’t believe him. “Scout’s honor,” He said as he held up three fingers in their salute. “Now, I can’t proclaim to never have enjoyed the company of a woman in my bed during our journey thus far, but far less than you probably think. In fact, I can count on one hand just how many.”

“Without reusing the fingers as you are counting?” She teased while she smiled and he chuckled finding her wit and humor, even at his own expense, to be quite pleasant. Then she yawned wide as she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry, please know that was not caused by your company. I am just tired. Dr. McCoy told me to expect a sudden onslaught of hormonal changes that come with a usual pregnancy. But instead of having 18 actual weeks for my body to adjust I get one day,” She finished with a small smile which Kirk returned. He reached over to her but instantly stalled in his action as if remembering himself. He looked into her eyes for her approval, she understood and simply nodded. He placed his hand securely over her belly and smiled warmly at it.

“You should rest, and I should leave and stop bothering you,” He spoke out as he released her and stood from the sofa.

“You have been no bother, Jim, I have enjoyed our chat,” She replied as she too stood and watched him walk to the exit. He stalled and turned back to regard her.

“Thank you, Nyota. I know that this situation is not ideal for you, but I truly appreciate your decision to keep our child,” He said this with a sweet smile as he honed his eyes onto her belly once more before holding her gaze again. “And also, for your consideration of my proposition of a marriage of convenience.”

“Thank you, Jim, for being so receptive to this child and for providing me an option that would allow me to keep my position here on the Enterprise. I do so love being on this ship.”

“And we would be truly lost without you,” Kirk then moved to leave.

“Captain, wait,” She fell back to the formalities. “Maybe I should stick my head out there first to make sure the coast is clear before you leave, it is rather late and someone may see you leaving my quarters, and …”

“That won’t be necessary Lieutenant. People will soon notice that you are with child anyway and I have no intention of hiding the fact that I’m the father. So, let whoever wants to gossip, gossip, we have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of or hide from. Goodnight, Nyota,” He spoke softly as he bowed a bit.

“Goodnight, Jim,” She also said with a nod, then he was gone, and she was left to think about what he had proposed. A marriage with all the sexual strings attached. She’d have to give it serious thought. She certainly couldn’t and wouldn’t deny that she found Kirk handsome, charming, and so very sexy. But she did have to recognize that she was not the only female who would, and she didn’t think she would be able to share a 'marital’ bed with him knowing he’d likely also venture into another woman’s bed. When another deep yawn escaped her lips, she decided she’d return to those contemplations in the morning.

********************************

Although she had been given time off if she wanted it Uhura found herself getting up the next morning preparing for her shift on the bridge the same as she always did. She had already put in a request the day before to have new uniforms tailored for her growing belly, and she was pleased with the results as she stood appraising herself in the mirror. Her belly was well hidden but it was still somewhat obvious that she expanded some in the waist. She had proclaimed she did not care what anyone else would say or think about her pregnancy, but she was actually a bit nervous about it. She had always been the 'rip the bandage off’ type and so after another quick glance in the mirror, a deep breath to calm herself, she left her quarters and made her way to the bridge.

When she had stepped onto the bridge, she paused a moment and waited for the looks and whispers to start, but was greeted to every other crew member engrossed in performing their duties. She did get the usual quick smile and nod of greeting from certain crew, same as she did whenever she came on duty, but nothing more. She chuckled to herself over her seemingly unfounded concerns. She knew that once her friends had learned of her condition, they would all be happy for her. She moved to her station.

“Good morning, Jamison,” She greeted the older male communications officer who had the shift before hers.

“Uhura,” Jamison greeted, and at hearing her name Captain Kirk, who had been listening to a report that Yeoman Rand had been reciting to him, turned in his seat a bit and focused on his beautiful Bantu communications officer. He dismissed Rand saying he would finish reading the report later, he then stood and made his way to Uhura who had already taken the seat from Jamison.

“Lieutenant,” Kirk Spoke out as he now stood at her station.

“Yes, Captain?” She greeted him at full attention as she awaited whatever command he had for her.

“I thought I gave you a few days off to rest,” He spoke softly so their conversation would remain more private.

“Yes, sir, but I thought that was just an option I could choose if I felt I needed it, but I woke up this morning and I felt fine. Unless, it was a command if so, I apologize Captain I misunderstood.”

“No, it’s all right, Lieutenant,” He tried to assure her with a kind smile which she quickly returned when she realized he was not displeased with her being on the bridge. “If you feel up to doing your duties please do so.”

“Thank you, sir,” She gave a curt nod and a smile and then focused back on working through a translations file Jamison had left for her.

“But if at any time you don’t feel well, I want you to take the rest of the day off, and that is an order,” Kirk quickly added. Uhura smiled warmly at him as she could see his concern for her and their baby written all over his face.

“Aye, aye, Captain, but I think I will be fine. There are no Starfleet rules that say a pregnant officer can’t continue to perform her duties until she gives birth.”

“That is true, but those rules do not apply on a starship because it is unprecedented, until now. You are the first pregnant woman to serve upon a starship,” He countered her with a teasing smile, which instantly fell from his face when he heard a slight gasped and noticed that Yeoman Rand, who had been about to leave the bridge had stopped and now stared at Uhura with a stunned look on her face. It was obvious to him that she had overheard some of their conversations particularly the bit about Uhura’s pregnancy. “Was there something else you needed Yeoman?” He spoke in a stern tone as he stood upright more. Uhura didn’t turn but pretended to be working as if nothing had happened.

“Uh…oh no sir,” Yeoman Janice Rand quickly spoke with her large blue eyes locked upon her Captain as she shook her head slightly.

“Then as you were,” He commanded and she jumped a little and then hurried onto the lift. “I think the cat is out of the bag now,” He whispered as he leaned down a bit towards Uhura.

“Well, it was bound to happen eventually,” She whispered back to him. “In a couple of weeks, I will not be able to dress up and hide this growing belly,” He graced her with an endearing smile which morphed into what she would describe as pride when his eyes settled on her belly.

“Lieutenant,” He righted himself and spoke a little louder as he put on a show of getting back to business, “Have we gotten a reply from Starfleet about the shore leave request? We will be passing by Risa in another 48 hours and I think we all could use the time off.”

“Yes, Captain,” She replied as she pressed the console buttons with one hand as she held the comm in her ear with the other hand. “Starfleet has approved seven full days of shore leave, sir.”

“Excellent,” Kirk said visibly pleased as he clasped his hand together and rubbed them a bit as if in anticipation of what was to come. Something inside of Uhura clinched as she thought of the reason the Captain was so excited. The planet Risa was a pleasure planet and one that was of all the rage throughout the entire Federation. She frowned a little as she thought about the jealous feelings swelling in her. She knew she was being silly and had absolutely no right to be jealous or even care about how the Captain spent his downtime, and who with. 'But he proposed marriage to you just last night’ a tiny voice screamed at her. She shook it off and reminded herself it would only be a marriage of convenience for their careers and child only, and nothing more. He spoke out once more and interrupted her internal debating, “Please send out a ship-wide notification of the shore leave along with a roster put through the randomizer, showing who will beam down and when. I want to ensure that every crew member gets a day to beam down and enjoy Risa.”

“Aye, Captain,” She then turned and focused back on her task as she pushed back all of her fleeting jealous thoughts.

********************************

A few days later

********************************

They had already been at the planet Risa for three of their approved seven days. Uhura had been on the schedule to beam down on day one, but she found that she had no desire to visit the planet. The Captain had asked her about it when she had reported to duty that morning. And she was able to excuse it away due to her pregnancy and being more tired lately. It had been a lie but also a gift as that very night and the night after Jim had come to her quarters after his shift. He had brought dinner and they spent hours talking about their childhood and anything else that came to mind while they ate and later played some card games. Just that night before they had settled on the sofa together stretched out on opposite ends. Uhura had a book she had been reading as Kirk read over some reports, he had suddenly remembered he had to sign off on before morning. It had been such a surreal moment to her as she glanced up from her book at the feel of him tugging on one of her perfectly pedicured toes. He had been completely unaware to his action as his brow furrowed in his concentration on the report he was reading. The evening had been so nice and it seemed like a night they had been sharing for years. It felt right somehow. But tonight, she expected she would not have Jim’s company for she knew that he was on the schedule to beam down to Risa. She had been shocked when she had gone to the bridge and he was there and stayed for her entire shift. He had briefly shared in some light banter with her but mostly both tended to their duties.

After her shift, Uhura had found she was restless and told herself it had nothing at all to do with wondering about what the Captain was doing down on Risa. She had decided she didn’t want to spend the evening alone in her quarters with those thoughts, and instead, she ventured down to the crew lounge. Upon entering she noticed that nearly all of the chatter had instantly stopped and eyes were on her, which told her she had been the subject of whatever conversations had been going on. Apart of her wanted to turn around and leave but she was determined not to give anyone the satisfaction. Also, she had nothing to hide or be ashamed of. So, she lifted her head a little higher and made her way over to the food replicator and ordered some tea. Something small that would allow her to finish it quickly and then leave. The moment she settled into a table in the corner of the room Yeoman Janice Rand pulled up the seat across from her and Nurse Christine Chapel a seat beside her. They both silently watched her as they grinned like idiots. Uhura knew Rand had already blabbed about her pregnancy and that the two women were now dying to talk about it with her. Uhura couldn’t help but giggle at the way they were looking at her. She rolled her eyes a little, smiled, and then leaned back so they could get a better view of her belly, giving a silent invitation for them to touch. Both ladies shot their hands out and felt the firm but still a small bump.

“Oh, my goodness,” Janice squealed in a lowered voice.

“Congratulations, Nyota,” Christine exclaimed also in a near whisper.

“I am sorry, Nyota, I wasn’t trying to be a busy body, I just overheard the Captain and …”

“And you decided to tell Christine to get a second opinion?” Uhura cut her off as she arched her sculpted brow at her.

“Well … Uhm … Gosh, I’m sorry, but I just had to tell someone. I figured Christine’s a nurse so she couldn’t tell anyone else. You, know, patient privacy and all that,” Janice began to explain her indiscretion.

“And that is not how it works at all,” Christine chimed in as Uhura giggled in amusement.

“I am just teasing you, Janice,” She let the blonde yeoman off the hook. “But you could have just come and discussed it with me. It’s not some dirty little secret and I have nothing to hide.”

“Surely not, if the Captain already knows,” Christine spoke again. “Do you already know where you will be reassigned to?”

“Reassigned?” Janice interjected as she frowned up to the idea.

“Why yes, it is in Starfleet regulations that children cannot live on a starship during its mission,” Christine enlightened her younger friend.

“Well, actually-” Uhura began to speak but was cut off by a suddenly unhappy Rand.

“Oh, that is stupid, and I bet it was some man who came up with that. Oh sure, they have their fun getting us in the family way and then they send us back to Earth or wherever while they get to galivant across the Universe,” Janice huffed out as she crossed her arms against her chest to show her irritation at the idea.

“By the way,” Christine focused back on to Uhura. “Who is the father? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“And I just bet he’ll get to stay on board the Enterprise too,” Janice tossed in as she rolled her eyes while still dying to know about the father.

“You are correct, Yeoman, but both the Lieutenant and her fiancée will remain on the Enterprise with their baby,” Kirk’s voice chimed in and all three ladies turned their surprised eyes onto him as he stood just to the side of their table. None of the women had noticed his approach.

“Fiancée?” Christine repeated excitedly as she leaned in and gave Uhura a hug. “My, my, you are just full of wonderful surprises today.”

“I’ll say, I didn’t even realize you were seeing anyone, Nyota,” Janice said as she also gave a hug to her dear friend.

“Well, one’s personal affairs is their own business and not something for gossip, Yeoman,” Kirk replied. “I think there’s plenty for every crew member to do on this ship other than concerning themselves about what or 'who’ someone else is doing. If not then I am sure I can find more work for them to do,” He added in a warning tone.

“Yes sir, of course, sir,” Janice replied looking like a chastised child.

“May I have everyone’s attention? I would like to share some very happy news,” Kirk spoke loudly and captured the full attention of everyone in the rec room. Uhura’s eyes grew three times their normal size as she gazed up at the man who now stood beside her with his hand placed gently on top of her shoulder. “I had not planned to make this announcement yet but since some of you,” He then glanced at Janice before focusing back onto the full room. “Have already found out I feel it’s time. Hopefully, to deter any gossip before it begins or continues,” He paused and sent a glare so everyone would get his warning that there was to be no gossiping about the matter thereafter. “Nyota and I,” He then reached down and grasped her arm and easily pulled her to her feet, she was too stunned to do anything but comply. Her mind held a mantra of 'He’s not about to do what I think he’s about to do, is he?’. “We want to share some joyous news with you all. You have all become great friends and even like family these past three years into our mission. So, you deserve to know that Nyota and I are going to have a baby,” He announced and every mouth in the room fell open in shock, “Well, she’s going to have the baby … 'Our’ baby girl. And we will be sending out our wedding invitations soon, and we hope all who are able to will join us down in the Botanical gardens when we say I do,” Again there was a pause of shock and looks of disbelief from the crowd but then the room suddenly erupted in cheers of congratulations. Everyone rushed them and gave sturdy handshakes to the captain and hugs to Uhura. Kirk stood like a proud peacock as Uhura graciously smiled beside him. The small celebration continued for an hour before Kirk caught Uhura yawning and excused her and himself. They walked back to her quarters in complete silence, both were quiet due to the fact they were both too nervous to speak first.

When they had arrived at Uhura’s door she entered and didn’t bother inviting Kirk in, and he crossed the threshold behind her not bothering to ask for entrance. It had been a routine of theirs every day for nearly a week, it now seemed like normalcy for them both. Now that they were behind closed doors and alone Kirk spoke.

“I hope you are not angry with me.”

“No, not at all,” She replied and he could see the relief leave her and her rigid shoulder slumped a little. “I will admit I was surprised that you announced it like that. Particularly the part about us getting married as we had not yet decided.”

“You have not yet decided,” He corrected her with a crooked smile. “I had decided the second Admiral Harris mentioned it as a stipulation to us staying onboard. And you still have time to think on it. I know that you wanted us to get to know each other better first, and I think in the last week we have. I have divulged some pretty big secrets about myself to you, which I have shared with no one else. Blackmail worthy stuff too,” He teased.

“Oh, I would never dream of telling anyone of the things you have told me or use it to blackmail you, Jim,” Uhura reassured as concern filled her face that he would even think such a thing. He chuckled as he stepped closer to her and grasped one of her hands.

“I know you wouldn’t do that, Nyota, it was a joke,” He replied. “And that is one of the many things I have learned about you. You have such an innocence and kind-heartedness it makes you so naïve about some things.”

“Well, English is not my native tongue, so sometimes jokes or when someone is not being serious with me can get lost in translation for me.”

“That’s right,” Kirk said excitedly as he recalled. “Swahili is your native tongue is it not?”

“It is,” Uhura replied with a smile and a nod, pleased he remembered.

“Mzuri kama wewe,” He spoke as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles as she giggled. “I didn’t just butcher that did I?”

“No, that was very good, Jim, but I think my language holds greater beauty than me.”

“Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? And I say you’re more beautiful,” He charmingly reiterated his claim and she blushed in kind. “In fact,” He let go of her hand and took a step back. His face took on a more serious gaze as he raked his eyes shamelessly over her frame, which made her blush even more. “I think that you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

“Yeah, I bet you say that to all the girls to have your way with them,” She waved him off with a coy smile even as her heart rate increased and warmth filled her belly from his claims.

“No, contrary to what you have heard or may have conjured up about me, I don’t go around making such claims to women just to get them into my bed,” He spoke in a snappy tone that told Uhura she had upset him. She stepped to him and placed both hands on his arms.

“I am sorry, Jim, I was trying to make a joke,” She declared and he instantly perked up at hearing this. “It seems I am just as bad at telling jokes as I am at getting them,” She laughed a little and he chuckled along with her.

“Well, please believe me when I tell you that I am not joking when I say I have never seen anything as beautiful as you are right now, Nyota. So filled with child, 'my’ child,” He moved his hand and placed it against her bump. He had stopped asking permission to touch it by the second day of learning she was pregnant with his child. And Uhura had stopped expecting it as he now did it so often. She was glad he had stopped asking for she knew she would grow tired and eventually irritated with such constant pestering. “To me, lately, the sight of you is much more intoxicating and,” He leaned down closer to her until their noses just barely touched. “Very arousing.”

“Oh?” She squeaked out a reply as she gulped down the lump that had just formed in her throat.

“Mmhm,” He confirmed with a nod as his eyes darted between her eyes and her lush lips. “And I would very much like to kiss you right now,” He spoke out in a hushed voice.

“Well,” She spoke as she cleared her throat a little, “Lucky for you, I would very much like to be kissed right now,” She said as she matched his volume and leaned towards his more. He smiled slightly before he swooped in and captured her lips with his.

Their kiss had been tentative at first. Neither knowing where they could touch the other, and both wondering if they should even be touching like this. Mostly they were scared of being pushed off and rejected. Uhura was the first to become overwhelmed by the sensations assaulting her. The taste of Kirk and the faint scent of his aftershave pulled a wanton moan from her, which was a trigger for Kirk. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, and deepened the kiss. After a few delicious moments, he abruptly pushed her away while he still kept a firm grip on her arms.

“Tell me to leave, Nyota,” Kirk commanded in a near whisper as his eyes remained locked onto her moist swollen lips.

“But I don’t want you to leave,” She replied as she fisted his shirt in her hands as if to ensure he couldn’t escape.

“If I stay, I don’t think I will be able to stop myself from touching you and tasting you.”

“But I don’t want you to stop,” Uhura declared as she yanked him closer, leaned up, and recaptured his mouth with her own. She then tugged his shirt up his torso. He moved from her long enough the quickly yanked the shirt up and over his head and tossed it aside. He then moved his hand and unzipped the back of her dress. She allowed him to pull the dress from her arms. It fell down her chest and settled around her tiny swollen belly until Kirk bent and gently pushed it over the bump.“

"God, you are so fucking gorgeous,” He proclaimed as he drank in her cinnamon-colored skin and blushed at his words. Then she gasped out in pleasant surprise when he kissed her belly, then kissed his way up to her breast, clavicle bone, and then her neck, before he found her lips again. He stopped again and stared intensely into her eye. “I’m falling in love with you, Nyota,” Kirk said softly and almost coyly. “If we make love it will surely seal the deal for me, and I know that I won’t be able to let you go. So, if you don’t have those feelings for me yet then we probably shouldn’t-” Uhura quickly kissed away the rest of his words and then parted to stare up at him once more.

“I’ve fallen for you too, Jim,” She finally confessed what she was sure she had started to feel just a couple of days after their 'courtship’ had begun. “And I want you too. So, please make love to me,” She said with a sweet smile which made a broad smile spread across his lips as he stepped to kiss her again, but was interrupted by the pinging from the comm. “I’ll ignore it,” Uhura said as she leaned up for his kiss.

“Uhura, are you there?” Doctor McCoy’s voice spoke out as his face appeared on the comm screen. Thankfully he couldn’t see her until the call was accepted on her end. Kirk scowled at the screen irritated by the interrupt, he stalked to the comm and accepted as Uhura rushed to her bedroom to redress.

“Bones, this had better be good,” Kirk huffed out not caring how his state of undress might appear to his friend.

“Jim, good you’re there too, you were my next call. I need you and Uhura to get to the sickbay right now,” McCoy commanded and Kirk could tell by the look on his face it was something serious.

“What’s wrong, Doctor?”

“Jim,” Uhura’s panicked voice made him snapped his full attention onto her. “I think something is wrong with the baby,” She said and fear filled her eyes as she held up a bloodied trembling hand.

********************************

A short time later in Sickbay

********************************

“It started about an hour ago,” McCoy spoke out as he stood to one side of the bed where Uhura lay hooked to a monitor connected to her belly. Kirk stood silent on the other side of the bed where his right hand clutched Uhura’s right hand, while his eyes stayed locked to the monitor that showed the baby’s heartbeat. “At first, I wasn’t too alarmed as a miscarriage in a species that has multiple babies at once, it is not uncommon to lose a baby, more often than not. And the Treyvilian mouse can typically have 40 to 50 babies each pregnancy. But it was miscarrying a baby every couple of minutes. I knew something unusual was happening. So, I thought I should get you here in case you started to miscarry as well,”

“Is there nothing you can do, Bones?” Kirk asked solemnly as he stood watching the bouncing line on the screen grow slower and slower. Uhura sat silently crying too scared to speak for fear only a scream would come out. It shook her to the core that this child she hadn’t fully allowed herself to accept as real yet, was now being taken from her and causing her such grief she had never experienced before.

“No, I’m sorry,” McCoy replied. “It appears that there is a chemical process that occurs in the pollination of this flower that is needed to complete the gestation. Maybe if I had more time, I might be able to isolate and replicate it, but…”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Uhura’s soft voice finally filled the space. She looked up at him with wet eyes and a small shaky smile. “We know you did all that you could. This was an anomalous conception and pregnancy from the start. It seems it was just not meant to be,” She finished and as if her words of acceptance had been all that was needed, the heartbeat flatlined on the screen. They all remained silent for several moments