Worf had confessed to you one night that he had reservations about entering a relationship with you. And ever since those doubts stayed with you months after your conversation about said reservations. You tried to prove him wrong, but Worf didn't appreciate your attempts to soothe any fears he had about dating a human. After a few weeks, you crashed into your worst fight yet and Worf regretted every second, knowing his tone did not reveal how he felt about you but rather portrayed every reason why you were both incompatible.
He wished he hadn't risen to the argument so easily, his temper getting the better of him, sparking a night filled with silent fury on opposite ends of the bed. You would never kick him out of the bed, because despite everything, every harsh word spat in the heat of the moment, neither of you could have a decent night's sleep without each other. Even if it meant him sleeping on the sofa of your quarters, or vice versa.
Worf was caught off guard by your questions which felt more like an interrogation, spawned by a conversation you overheard during your break, and when he felt cornered he always became defensive, leading to the argument he was certain landed you under in the care of Doctor Crusher.
"Her external injuries are manageable. The internal injuries are - we're still finding them all."
Worf nodded in acknowledgment of Doctor Crusher's closing report, his eyes unable to glance away even for a second, your frighteningly still body filling him with unease and bringing his fears to the surface. Klingons were stronger than humans. It was a known fact. Klingons healed differently from humans. Also a fact.
Seeing you lying on the bed made it near impossible for Worf not to fear the worst.
"I am confident she will recover from this." Beverly's words of comfort meant nothing while you remained unconscious and Worf felt useless as he stared down at your body, finding new injuries as his eyes scanned you head to toe. And those injuries were the ones visible, external, and any internal were sure to be worse.
Days passed and Worf found himself drifting throughout his shifts on the bridge. His mind was struggling to focus on his work when all he could think about was you, dreading Beverly announcing your death.
Worf visited before his shift began, while he was on his break, and before he resigned to bed for the night, knowing you would argue that he should never let his work suffer. As a Klingon, he always felt a strong pressure to achieve excellence, and you understood it long before he confided in you about it, but you empathetic soul which allowed you to view the world from various perspectives and a highly valued member of the bridge.
And the bridge seemed so much bigger, empty, whilst you were gone.
Worf entered the medical bay after his shift for the fourth night in a row, Beverly knew better than to disturb him as he stood next to your bed. She had provided a chair for him, but the Klingon always stood, believing it was the best view of you. Worf grasped your hand gently, lacing your fingers as you did, bowing his head to kiss your knuckles.
"Jih parmaq tlhih." He murmured.
"Jih parma tsh. To you too." You whispered, causing his eyes to widen. "No wait. That didn't sound like you -"
"Close enough." Worf rested a hand on your cheek, before moving your hair away from cheek. "ChenmoHwI'."
"You're such a softie." Your dry lips formed a smile, and Worf chuckled. "QaparHa'qu'
"QaparHa'qu'." He bowed his head, pressing a kiss to your forehead and you closed your eyes as his lips lingered for a moment. "I will consult Doctor Crusher."
You held his hand, slowly letting go as he moved further away. "Okay." You whispered.
Worf returned moments later with Beverly who smiled brightly, thrilled you were awake, but you knew better than to expect an immediate release. And despite his wishes, Worf knew better than to expect this as well.
"So...tomorrow?" Beverly sent you a petulant glance and you held your hands up a little, "Alright, not tomorrow."
Worf rested his hands on the bed as he spoke to Beverly who knew he was the only one who could convince you to embrace the next few days of necessary bedrest, and you held your hands above your head, covering his hands, earning an emotional glance lasting mere seconds. Beverly smiled as she walked away after briefing Worf who held in a sigh of disappointment, and meeting your gaze with pursed lips.
"Don't pout. Or do. It'll give the crew something to talk about." Worf raised an eyebrow at your dazed state, a smile forming on his lips.
"Get some rest." His tone left no room for argument, seeing the exhaustion in your eyes after a lengthy fight for survival. Now was the time to recover. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Promise?"
"'Ach bangwI'." He bowed his head and you closed your eyes when he rested his forehead against yours.
"I'm sorry." You whispered, needing no elaboration as the towering Klingon knew exactly what you were referring to.
The argument that could've been the last you ever had.
"No need, chenmoHwI'. Get some rest."
"You need it more than I do." You remarked, seeing how exhausted his eyes appeared, despite how driven he appeared to everyone else. You always saw through him.
Worf kissed your forehead and you smiled softly, your eyes following him as he began to move away. "Goodnight."
Worf paused, looking back at you with a small smile. "'Ej qoghDaj, tlhuHqu'mo' qoy'pu'bogh."
You smiled fondly, your eyes following him as he left. You knew it was harder than an outsider believed for him to leave, but you knew he would rather stay until he knew you were back to full strength. Worf was a towering Klingon with a brooding presence, but you were always able to see beneath his tough exterior And Worf knew that no words had to be said between you, the argument about your biological incompatibility forgotten since your admittance to the medical bay began.
And despite your previous insecurities, you knew that during your recovery, Worf would be by your side, and waiting when Beverly delivered the news that you were discharged.
You approached the towering Klingon with a small smile, which he returned, along with a nod. His eyes told you everything you needed to know. Always.
The thought of losing you was enough to render him near useless. But having you alive, walking, talking, teasing him was the second greatest feeling in the world. The first? Well...that night you reminded him of what it was after over a week without feeling your touch over his skin, feeling the passion in your kiss. And Worf knew that his doubts could never change how he felt about you. Nor could he regret a single moment, finding it only made him treasure every second with you more, while wishing it would never end.
You were his forever and he was everything you needed and could ever crave. A Klingon and a human may not make sense to his species, nor yours, but to you and Worf, it meant everything and was everything. Your love knew no boundaries and Worf knew that no matter what the future held, he could fact it all if he had you right by his side.
Will knew you were used to being on the front lines. Being a Red Shirt you were sent out to explore unknown planets, and terrain, without knowing what you were facing. But you always returned, your skills in combat and training with over a hundred dialects had saved several fights from breaking out and upheld Starfleet protocol. So why did you choose this mission to live life dangerously?
Will recalled the way you rested your chin on your hand, observing him with a small smile, which was common in briefings, but your eyes twinkled with mischief and he believed at first that it was your mind traveling back to the night before. And while your mind had wandered to last night when he surprised you by clocking off early, leading to a night you were sure to remember for decades, it was not the reason for the mischief gleaming in your eyes.
His plan was brilliant on a report. But you knew this species better than he did, having encountered them once before while aboard a different ship long before you met William Riker. So you believed you knew the Starfleet approach would not work on the typically hostile species.
You knew Will would be infuriated that you took such a risk, but the surprise of you leading your team to ignore his orders was too fresh and blinded him to the possibility that you were more experienced than he was, not blinded by the same need to protect yourself as he felt about you, nor did you feel bound to Starfleet protocol as he did. This is why Data remarked more than once that your relationship seemed 'odd'. But it always worked. Until now, it seemed.
"She did what?" Will looked at the group of red shirts that you had kept out of your plan, programming the transporter to only send you to the planet.
"She countered the program, sir."
Will ran his hand down his bearded cheek, ending his five minutes of pacing by sitting at the head of the table. "Has she communicated with the ship since she landed?"
"No, sir. It has been over an hour since she arrived on the planet." A second red shirt stated.
Will upheld his professionalism, although he felt like dragging his hands down his face in an attempt to release his frustration and worry. "Why am I only hearing about this now?"
"She told us to wait, sir." A redshirt sent him a guilty glance, mixed with sympathy. She was dating a lieutenant and could imagine the thoughts running through his head right now. "She didn't want you to stop her from making contact."
"Of course, I would, as you should have." He looked at the team of six who lowered their gazes to the table. "Y/N is a fine member of Starfleet, but this plan was reckless and goes against everything she was trained to do. That's why she kept you on this ship." Will exhaled sharply. "To protect you in case her plan went south."
The door opened and Will looked up at the officer he viewed as an intruder, his eyes fixed in a harsh glare that immediately made the officer regret interrupting. "What?"
"It's L/N, sir. She has made contact with the bridge."
Will stood up and headed to the door before looking at the red shirts. "I understand you feel loyal to her, I do and I am grateful. But in the future, you do not indulge in her recklessness, do I make myself clear?"
The team nodded and Riker left the room, following the hallways to the bridge. "Commander Riker, on the bridge."
Riker approached Date who was speaking to you through the comms. "Anything?"
"She has made contact, Commander."
"Coordinates?" Will asked.
Data proceeded to request your coordinates before turning to look at Riker. "She says they want to meet the Captain."
"Prepare the transporter." Picard stood up from his chair and Riker followed, inwardly sighing in relief as he knew he could witness firsthand if you had been harmed.
A short while later, Picard, Data, Worf, and Will beamed onto the planet and he felt the growing ache in his chest ease when he saw you standing beside the planet's inhabitants. You sent him a small smile as you stepped forward before greeting the Captain, becoming a point of contact between Picard and the Chief of the tribal community.
You approached the man you proudly called yours, as he sat staring at the fire burning wildly, joining him. "You're mad."
"I'm not mad. I was worried."
"You can be mad."
"I'm not mad!" He sighed, glancing at you from the corner of his eyes, trying to remain professional while surrounded by your team, Picard, and the planet's inhabitants who were pleasantly well...pleasant. "What you did was incredibly reckless."
"I knew I could handle it." You shrugged nonchalantly.
"I didn't." Will averted his gaze to the fire. "I didn't know."
"Well, you should have." You smirked, meeting his gaze when he turned his head to look at you. "I'm pretty great."
Will looked away, shaking his head, and felt all his worry fade away as he chuckled. "Yeah, you are." He looked around at the growing group of Starfleet officers on the planet, mingling and learning from the inhabitants who were known for their celebration of love, and knew it wouldn't have been possible without your prior knowledge of the species. "Yeah, you are." He repeated, smiling down at you when you bumped your shoulder with his.
Laughter left your lips when he bumped your shoulder with his and Will smiled over as he admired you for a moment. You sent him a smile, knowing that despite the solitude you had found, he was not comfortable compromising his official position for a kiss that lasted seconds. But your smile and stare said everything you needed and wanted him to know and Will sent you a smile in return knowing that after your shifts, the passion that had been burning brightly for several years, yet to dim, would finally feel succumbed to after hours of upholding your roles on the Enterprise.
You had thought of the many ways the birth of your first child would happen. It was a dull day, the perfect time to go into labor on a starship in your mind. There were no problems with the engines; there was no alien threat, just you enjoying a relaxing stroll around the holodeck. You were sitting down on the picnic blanket when you felt a sharp pain.
You rubbed your bump, trying to ease the pain, but when your water broke, there was no denying that you were in labor.
"Ensign Riker to sickbay. Beverly, I'm in labor and -" The link closed, and you tried desperately to try and reach her, but there was no reply.
Your dull day was going to get a lot more exciting.
The systems were failing, leaving you temporarily trapped within the holodeck program. It felt like an eternity before the program was shut down and you heard Data calling for you. You saw him and Beverly approaching you. You cried out in pain. "Oh thank god!"
Data knelt beside Dr. Crusher, who performed a quick scan. "We have to get to the sickbay. Can you carry her?"
Data nodded, lifting you effortlessly and the three of you left the holodeck.
"Where's William?" You asked.
"He is on the bridge with the Captain. He told me to deliver a message. He said, 'I'll be there as fast as I can.'"
You rested your head against his shoulder, "Thank you, Data."
When you arrived at sickbay, you were laid down on the bed, and Beverly assessed how far along you were. "There's a while to go. I can give you something for the discomfort -" The ship shook, and you gasped when Data fell against a console.
"Are you okay?" You asked him, wincing as another contraction hit, glancing at Beverly as she held onto the bed to avoid falling.
"Lieutenant Data report to the bridge." Picard's voice came through the commlink.
You grabbed his hand, stopping him from leaving. "Tell them that if they don't kick alien ass by the time this baby is born, I will personally make them regret it."
Beverly looked at Data, an amused smile on her lips. "You'd better get going."
He nodded, and you released his arm, accepting the drink of water Beverly offered. Over the next couple of hours, the battle got worse. The ship shook, the consoles in sickbay sparked, and Beverly had taken you to your quarters away from the fire that had started.
You were struggling to push when Riker came rushing in. "How is she?"
You sighed when he took your hand, kissing your head.
"We're getting there," Beverly said. "But we've got a stubborn baby on our hands."
"Just like their mother then." He smiled down at you.
"I can't do it."
He rested his head against yours as you turned his hand white from the pressure, but he didn't notice. All he was concerned about was encouraging you. "Yes, you can. You can do this." He glanced at Beverly who nodded, signaling it was time to continue. Will placed an arm around your shoulders, "Now, push."
You swore you heard a bone crack in his hand but had little time to focus on it as he and Beverly guided you. But the pain was worth it when you heard your newborn crying. You rested your head on his arm, closing your eyes as you caught your breath.
Will smiled brightly, as he observed Beverly wrapping your son in a blanket, looking over at you. He moved your hair away from your sweat-beaded forehead, kissing your temple. "You did it." He chuckled.
You smiled softly, meeting his gaze when you opened your eyes. "How is he?"
"Perfectly healthy." Beverly smiled as she returned. "Congratulations. You have a beautiful healthy baby boy."
She handed you your newborn and you laid him on your chest, not noticing the way Beverly looked back at you and Will who placed a hand on his son's back, smiling bigger than she had ever seen, before she left to give you privacy.
You felt tears in your eyes, relieved that it was over. The ship was stable, the attack was dealt with and you had successfully delivered your son.
"He's barely ten minutes old and he's already got one hell of a story to tell," Will commented.
You laughed softly, resting your head on his shoulder as he kissed your forehead. "I love you."
Will placed a hand on your cheek, "And I love you." He leaned in to kiss you when your son stretched, his arm knocking his cheek. "First lesson, you have to share your mother."
You giggled, shaking your head at the blue-eyed first officer who merely smiled.
When the plan was first proposed you believed it would be a simple mission. Garak would plant the bomb undetected by the Jem'Hadar and then Damar would gain more allies for the rebellion after the Cardassians were freed. You should have known it could never have been that easy.
You kept to the shadows with Kira and Damar as the three of you awaited Garak's return. The two Jem'Hadar watching over the Cardassians caught up to him as he left and you stepped forward to intervene but Damar grabbed your arm, holding you back. Kira looked over at you both, seeing the silent conversation you were having through a staring contest that lasted a few tense moments before Damar spoke.
"Garak can handle it."
You reluctantly nodded, looking over at the Cardassian who had become one of your greatest friends since you arrived on Deep Space Nine. An Ensign post that eventually led to a fast-track promotion that brought you to this moment.
The second Garak was detained by the Jem'Hadar you stepped out, keeping to the shadows, and Damar harshly, though quietly, called your name. Kira glanced at him, noticing that on more than one occasion there appeared to be a relationship shift between you both. And she wasn't sure what to make of it.
Damar grits his teeth before stepping out into the open and you keep your sights on the two Jem'Hadar as he draws their attention to keep you from being discovered and inevitably killed.
"You! Jem'Hadar!"
You drew your weapon, prepared to strike if the Jem'Hadar tried to attack Damar.
"Who are you to treat a Cardassian citizen like that?"
Your shoulders tensed when one of the Jem'Hadar took a few steps toward the Cardassian, recognition in his gaze, "It's him. It's Damar." He turned to the second Jem'Hadar, ordering, "Hold him here," about Garak who was detained, before aiming a gun at Damar. "Surrender yourself or die."
"I choose neither," Damar replied seconds before you hit your target, blasting him against the wall.
Garak stabbed the Jem'Hadar that had grabbed him by the neck and you stepped out, ushering the Cardassians away as Damar and Garak warned them to get back. When the bomb went off you were blown forward, landing on your stomach and you covered your head with your arms as the debris fell around you.
When it was over you heard Kira calling out for you followed by Damar who walked around, his eyes finding you as you got to your feet and with long strides he reached you in seconds. He placed his hands on your arms as his eyes swept across your body for injuries. "Are you hurt?"
"I'll be fine." You assured him with a small smile which he returned.
"It's Damar." A Cardassian observed. "He's alive."
Damar turned to the crowd of Cardassians as they returned to help their fellow citizens who had been caught by the blast off the floor. "Citizens of Cardassia! Hear me!" You holstered your weapon, moving to the sidelines to observe as Damar gave his speech in hopes of coercing more Cardassians to join the rebellion. "The Dominion told you that the rebellion has been crushed. What you have seen here today proves that that is yet another lie. Our fight for freedom continues but it will take place here in the streets. I call on Cardassians everywhere to rise up." He helped a fellow Cardassian by offering his hand as they got off the ground. "Rise up and join me. I need you to be my army. If we stand together nothing can oppose us. Freedom is ours for the taking."
Garak led the shouts of "Freedom" and you watched as Damar was led away by the group as they chanted. A soft smile formed on your lips as you walked away.
You knew Damar would seek you out once he had rallied his fellow Cardassian and as you predicted he came to check on you. Ordinarily, you didn't drink around him as you preferred your rebellion leaders sober and you had seen how far he had fallen as he lost himself in bottles of alcohol. However, the headache you endured demanded it and your worries about the inevitable final confrontation between Damar and the Dominion were eased slightly after your third glass as the pain subsided.
The door opened and closed a few moments later signaling his arrival. "That was a powerful speech you gave today." You looked over at him from your place on the sofa, legs tucked beneath you as you lifted the glass in your hand to your lips.
"Thank you." His large frame moved to sit beside you, his body turned to you as his hand rested on the back of the sofa. "I came to make sure you were alright."
Your hair was flowing down your shoulders and despite your hopes that he wouldn't notice, Damar spotted the marks left just below the hairline by your left temple. "It's nothing. I'm fine." You reassured him when his hand carefully moved your hair away so he could inspect the cuts and bruises further. "After the past three years, a few bruises are nothing."
Damar knew firsthand of the beatings you had taken at the hands of the Dominion - more precisely the Jem'Hadar. He recalled the black bruise surrounding your eye and jaw along with the bruises scattered across your body that he had found underneath your clothes when he had stepped in to help you change clothes and you had never seen such fury in his eyes since or before that day when your weapon malfunctioned and you were forced to engage in hand to hand combat against three Jem'Hadar all alone.
You had seen the worst of him and the best of him. And no one knew him the way you did - seeing everything instead of what he wanted you to see. What started off as a mere attraction, flirting whenever your paths collided while throwing in enough insults to avoid interrogations later, turned to an understanding during the dark period of his life when he turned to alcohol and now you stood by him as he strived to help save his people from the Dominion's control. You had given him hard doses of reality during your confrontations before, then when he was at his weakest you held him as he broke down and stayed with him until the alcohol forced him to sleep. You stood by him as he sought to free Cardassia and for these reasons and more, was why Damar felt at ease around you, enough to show a tenderness that many would never associate with a Cardassian.
His hand moved to your cheek, his thumb tracing your cheekbone as you leaned into his touch, a gentle smile on your lips. You placed your glass on the table in front of you and moved closer, resting your head on his shoulder and Damar placed his left hand on your waist, his lips leaving a kiss on your head, while his free hand moved up and down, his fingers tracing lines up and down your back through the shirt you were wearing.
And as you closed your eyes you could remember what the station was like before you learned about the Dominion and the Cardassian you loved was going head to head against the Founders to free his people and Cardassia from their influence and the dangers you both faced on a daily basis. A more peaceful time that you would fight to bring back.
In times like this it wasn't always possible for Damar to be there to keep the storms in your mind outside the door so in moments like this when he was there to be the rock you had been for him on more than one occasion, you savored every minute of it, choosing not to think about the fact that he would have to leave again. Moments like this were rare and in these moments you could pretend, just for a second, that you both weren't on the front lines in the midst of a war.
The disease was like wildfire, spreading around the ship like crazy, and after the first four hours passed, you couldn't sit and wait for Worf to return. You needed to make sure that he was alright. So you defied his request that you remain isolated in your quarters, and went looking for him. You were heading towards the sickbay to check if he was there when an Ensign bumped into you.
"Sorry!"
"Forget about it." You tried to walk away, seeing he was perspiring and swaying as he tried to stand.
"Hey, you're that Lieutenant! Yeah, you're really hot." You smiled awkwardly, and when you tried to walk away, he kissed you, grinning as he walked away.
You continued to the sickbay, worried about Worf, but you knew, if he was infected, he would be with Dr. Crusher. You looked around the sickbay, frowning when you didn't see him. The disease was starting to take over your thoughts, and you left the sickbay to go to the bridge where Worf would most likely be.
The turbo lift opened, and you entered the bridge. "Lieutenant?"
"Worf?"
You walked by the Captain to where your boyfriend was sitting, the towering Klingon standing up. Your relationship wasn't common knowledge on the ship, but it soon would be.
"You've been infected," Worf stated.
"Ensign Matthews kissed me in the hallway. I was heading somewhere...I can't remember where," you rubbed your forehead, "I feel really giddy and," you ran your hands up his chest. "You look great in your uniform, did I ever tell you that?"
"You are behaving as if you are intoxicated like the others. Go to sickbay."
"It's busy there, and you aren't there." You sat at his station beside Geordi. "Ooh, what does this button do?"
Worf stopped you from touching it, "You don't want to find out." He moved you away from the chair and looked at the Captain, who was also being affected by the disease. You kept cuddling into him, and he would move your hands away, but you kept trying, and he knew that when this was over, there would be a lot of talk amongst the crew. He didn't mind as he could quickly fix it with a threat, but your embarrassment would last months.
"Can't I stay with you? Dr. Crusher is busy, and I want to spend time with you." You pouted.
"Sir, the star is exploding." Worf went to the ops station, and you leaned on the back of his chair, smiling down at him as he ran a series of scans.
"You're pretty." You poked his cheek, and he sighed, exasperated.
"There is a piece of the star coming toward us," Worf reported to Riker through the commlink.
You sat on his lap and giggled as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He tried to move you away, but you pouted, "Please, let me stay with you."
"Only if you behave." He said, amused by your intoxicated state.
You gave a mock salute, and he looked at you when you rested your head on his shoulder. There were many nights where you would cuddle just like this - his arm around you as you relaxed after a troubling day. Worf felt the heat radiating through your clothes. You were burning up. He contacted Dr. Crusher through the commlink to inform her of where you were while the Captain went to Engineering, which was currently taken over by Wesley.
You allowed him to work, your finger drawing patterns on his chest. His eyes would flicker to you now and then to make sure you were alright. You were fast asleep when the Captain and Doctor returned to the bridge, Beverly administering the vaccine.
You stirred in your sleep, cuddling further into Worf, who cleared his throat, standing up with you in his arms.
"Permission to take Lieutenant L/N to her quarters, sir."
"Granted."
Worf walked to the turbo lift, carrying you effortlessly to your quarters where he laid you down on the bed, covering you with the sheets. You wrapped your arms around his neck and he grunted when you wouldn't budge.
"I'll stop by later." He assured you.
Worf looked down at you for a moment, watching as you quickly fell asleep, gently placing your arms down. He moved the sheets up to your shoulder as they had fallen when you hugged him.
"Welcome back."
There was a trace of a smile on his lips as he stared down at you before he left your quarters to return to the bridge.
For a decade and a half, James T. Kirk and Gary Mitchell had been friends - brothers more like. Star Date 1313.7 served as the end of that brotherhood - that strong friendship that had lasted fifteen years. You were the only one on the USS Enterprise who knew just how it affected Jim who dreaded the moment he would have to record Gary's demise in his Captain's Log.
When Jim returned to the ship from Delta Vega, he was bleeding, his shirt torn from his fight with Gary and when he entered your quarters, you could see the way his shoulders slouched. He had mastered maintaining a professional standing in front of his crew, but he never had to do that with you.
You looked at him with tears in your eyes, as Spock had reported to you that Jim was beaming up from the planet. Alone.
You were worried about him, about his plans for Gary, but you knew it wasn't easy being a Captain of a ship housing over four hundred people, and like always you supported him. Even when you knew you were losing a great friend that day.
As Jim stared at you, memories of how you met fifteen years ago flooded his mind. Gary had been protective over you as many tried to exploit your intelligence for their gain, some even daring to cause you harm when you refused to help them cheat their way through the Academy. He was your protector, and he always remarked that if you hadn't pushed him to study more, he would never have graduated. And a part of you wished you hadn't helped him as you knew if he hadn't graduated the Academy, he wouldn't have died that day.
Jim was focused, and smart, and was never seen without a stack of books in his hands. He was driven and like you, he absorbed information that would help him in his career. He had his aims high. He wanted to be Captain of his own ship. And that meant knowing everything about what happened on that ship and the roles of those around him.
Gary knew that you had a crush on Jim since your first class with him. A crush that only grew when you bumped into each other in the library. He was walking backward, finger grazing the row of books to find the one he needed when he bumped into you. Jim helped you pick up your books, apologizing profusely.
Gary entered the library to drag you away for lunch as you had a habit of losing yourself in your studies, and when he saw you talking to Jim, and how you looked at him, and how he looked at you, he knew he had to intervene.
"I keep telling you how unhealthy it is to skip lunch, yet here you are," Gary smirked, looking down at you. You narrowed your eyes when he shook hands with Jim, hoping he wouldn't say anything. "Gary Mitchell."
"James Kirk. But call me Jim."
From that moment on, the three of you were practically inseparable. Gary and Jim were fast friends and when Jim wasn't around, Gary would always mention how he approved of him - if you could ever muster the courage to ask him out on a date.
It became common for the three of you to go to the library and for Gary to be the first to leave, giving you hours studying alone with Jim. And you noticed a pattern was forming when Gary brought you both to the library to study then suddenly had a reason to leave.
You would glare at him when he sent you a wink when Jim wasn't looking, and you would know his intentions. It took two weeks of this pattern before you and Jim started dating. You had studied well into the night and after helping him understand a text in his book, you found yourselves unable to pull away - neither wanting to - and you kissed for the first time. A strong relationship followed and continues to this day. And you had Gary Mitchell to thank for all the memories because, without him, you and Jim wouldn't have started dating, nor would you have gotten married.
You walked over to him as he stood frozen in your quarters, and noticed the tears appearing in his eyes. "I know." You whispered, voice thick with emotion.
"I didn't have a choice." He spoke quietly.
"I know." You wrapped your arms around his neck when the first tear fell freely down his cheek, and Jim wrapped his arms tightly around your waist. "I know."
He buried his head in the crook of your neck and you closed your eyes as you held him. "I know."
You would always remember Gary Mitchell, for his friendship and his work with the Federation. He was a good man who cared about the people on the ship, and that was exactly what Jim recorded in his Captain's log the next day.
You were waiting for Data's shift to end. Your shift finished an hour before his, which gave you plenty of time to clean the day's grime off your body before he arrived and place candles on the coffee table. You had started to play one of your favorite songs when Data entered. You greeted him with a smile, your eyes darting to Spot who leaped off the sofa to run to him.
You frowned when the Captain requested your presence on the bridge. "Alright, don't panic. It could be nothing."
Data lifted Spot off the floor, meeting your gaze with something akin to an amused smile that you no longer dared to mention as he had told you many times how he was incapable of feeling any emotion, such as amusement.
"I am not. You, however, appear to be." Data observed.
"It's been a long day." You admitted. "I practically ran out when my shift ended."
You placed a hand on his arm, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Don't move. I will be right back. Remember all the romantic poetry you read last month?" Data nodded. "Keep thinking of that."
He turned to watch you leave and looked down at Spot in his arms. "Looks like it's just you and I."
Time passed slower when you were apart, and Data noticed. It was impossible as time always passed at the same time every day, but while waiting for you to return, an hour felt like five and Data was debating whether to come to find you when the door opened and you stepped into your quarters.
Your demeanor was different. Your eyes were teary and there was evidence a few tears had fallen on your cheeks. You quietly made your way to the sofa, taking a seat.
Data was well attuned to your emotions, recognizing the signs when a mood changed, like just now. "What is it?"
"My planet." You cleared your throat as he took a seat beside you. "The citadel has fallen. Many are facing execution."
"Your family?"
You shook your head. "No one has heard from them."
Data looked at the ground for a moment before reaching out to take hold of your hand. You would have blushed at his boldness, something that happened more often. But now his act of comfort made the tears fall harder.
"I have spoken to the Captain. He has granted me leave to find answers." You looked at the android whose brow furrowed slightly, processing the information.
You would be leaving the Enterprise for an uncertain amount of time to a place where your kind was being hunted down and killed - in a quest to find out if your family had survived.
Data looked away and you turned to him. "It won't be forever."
"I could assist you." He offered.
"You are needed here." You smiled softly, knowing in his own way he was concerned for your safety. You were embarking on a dangerous mission and he would be lightyears away, continuing the mission from headquarters.
"When do you leave?" He asked.
"After the next shift change." You told him. "We have nine hours."
Data could feel the words forcing their way up to his throat. That isn't long enough. Nothing would be.
You would be in danger, and there was nothing he could do to stop you from going - and he wanted to. But he also understood the importance of leaving meant to you.
"Then we should make the most of it." He said, looking down at you.
You wiped the tears from your cheeks, feeling your lower lip tremble as you stared at the android who had been your rock the past year since the war began on your planet. The android who cared about you in his own special way - even if he denied any inclination that he was capable of emotion. The android you hoped you would see again.
You wrapped your arms around his waist, resting your head on his shoulder and Data hesitated for a split second before wrapping his arms around you, his hold tightening when you cried on his shoulder.
You would return to him when you found the answers you sought and your family. And Data would wait a thousand years if he had to, just to feel the weight of you in his arms again.
Eight hours later you were standing in the transporter room, Jean-Luc Deanna, Will, Geordi, Worf, and Data saying their goodbyes. One by one they left, until only Data remained, Geordi preparing the coordinates. You surprised the android by hugging him tightly, but his hands rested on your waist when he felt your lips against his. You often remarked how loud it must be in his mind and Data had told you once that when you kissed, it quietened all the 'noise'. He didn't run diagnostics, he didn't analyze or input information. The only thing he could focus on was the feeling of your lips moving rhythmically with his.
You pulled away when your lungs demanded it, meeting his gaze which told you more than he believed. "I'll be back before you know it."
You reluctantly stepped aside, moving onto the transporter when Geordi told you he was ready.
A tear fell down your cheek as you stared at the android who meant the world to you - more than he would ever know. "I love you."
And with those parting words, you were gone to the warzone below.
You and Data had participated in an android-human romantic relationship for three months, ten days, eleven hours, forty minutes, and thirty-seven seconds. Every day was a new experience, testing the waters and exploring your feelings for him and his thoughts about you that he had never had regarding anyone else before.
In two weeks, Data realized that he could enjoy certain forms of affection without being equipped with an emotions chip - holding hands for example. Or using the Holodeck to escape to your favorite spot on Earth Colony II which was a field filled with wildflowers, where you would sit on a picnic blanket and Data would lay with his head on your lap, your fingers absentmindedly playing with his hair as you read him poetry.
Data was fascinated as you tried your best to explain the depth of your feelings for him, showing it through small gestures of affection, like placing a hand on his chair when he was on the bridge. Resting a hand on his shoulder would be considered unprofessional, but by resting your hand on the chair, he could still feel your touch - something he was always acutely aware of and always anticipated when you were both off-duty. You would always greet him with a smile and wrap your arms around his neck when you had time alone and Data would admire your features from afar, wishing that even during your shifts, you could always greet him that way. Although he understood the reasons why it was not a good idea, although he was sure Jean-Luc wouldn't comment on it as the Captain had encouraged him to spend more time with you after your relationship - or experiment - as some lesser crew members called it, became common knowledge throughout the Enterprise.
On more than one occasion you had endured painful shifts during which you were questioned about your relationship with Data and shut down remarks about his incapability to express or feel emotions. You had known Data for two years before you started dating, and in that time you recognized the ways in which he expressed emotions in his own way. And on days like that Data somehow seemed to know you needed him, as he would show up at the end of your shift, even if he still had duties to perform, just to talk about your day. And when he smiled you were able to put it all behind you, as he proved that he could still understand and feel in his own way, even without an emotions chip.
Throughout your relationship, Data had many questions, some of which he would ask Geordi or Deanna. He was particularly interested in the hobbies you partook in during your free time. And painting was one of them.
Data tilted his head to the side, approaching you while you painted on a canvas, music filling the silence in the room. You were unaware he had entered as Data was light-footed by design and when he spoke up after inspecting your painting, you nearly fell off your stool.
"Is that me?"
A gasp left your lips and you clutched onto the stool, trying not to drop the palette that you had balanced on your arm. You looked at the android who appeared to be suppressing a smile at the sight of your shocked expression, sending him a small smile.
"We talked about this."
"I remember. I am still intrigued by how easily startled you can be." He replied.
You stood up from your stool, moving to stand beside him. "It's the field from the Holoprogram."
Depicted in the painting was Data standing in the field of wildflowers and the android noticed that you had painted him with a smile on his lips.
"What do you think?" You asked.
"I have not read many books on painting or hold any knowledge on the -"
"Do you like it?" You interrupted with a smile.
"Like..." Data considered the painting for a moment, slowly nodding his head. "Yes."
You smiled whilst placing the palette and paintbrush in your hands on the table. "You know, art is a great way to express yourself. You should give it a try." You kissed his cheek. "I'm going to get cleaned up." You walked to the bathroom to scrub the paint off your hands and arms and Data watched you leave until the door closed, returning his gaze to the painting. There was something missing and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
When you exited the bathroom, you were in the midst of offering Data one of his favorite beverages when you were called to your station.
"Alright, change of plans. I will be right back, you, stay here." You lifted your hand to your lips, blowing the android a kiss. Data looked at his hand before mimicking the movement and you sent him a smile as you left.
He turned to the painting, looking at the paintbrushes you kept by the easel. He tilted his head to the side as he pondered your words. "Art is a great way to express yourself."
Data picked up a paintbrush, examining the painting for a moment as he pondered what was missing before dipping the brush in a mixture of paints, beginning to fill the void in the painting.
You returned over an hour later and sighed when you saw Data was still in your quarters. "Sorry, something went wrong with the..." You trailed off as you stood beside him, seeing the paint on his clothes. You looked at the painting, seeing he had added another person to it. "Is that me?"
Data nodded. "Yes. I knew there was something," He used air quotes, quoting a word you had explained to him after he brought up the frequency in which you used it, "off," He placed the paintbrush down, "about the painting. It was you."
You stared at him for a moment and Data looked at you when he felt your stare. "Did I upset you? You said art was a form of expression, and I would never visit the field without you."
You shook your head, a smile forming on your lips. "No, I love it." You wrapped your arms around his neck and a smile formed on his lips when you kissed his cheek.
You knew this was his favorite gesture of affection, and at that moment it was the perfect way to explain how you felt. You loved him and although he claimed he could never love as it was an emotion, he understood your theory that he could still care without it. One night when you were struggling to sleep, Data was working beside you as he did most nights, and you entered into a debate about the ways he showed his feelings. And Data understood what you meant. Through small actions, he portrayed how he felt about you, the way he would initiate hand-holding, or the many weeks he had spent searching for a suitable pet name for you, reading your reactions to each one to find which one you favored. The time he spent reading your favorite book and memorizing it for nights when you couldn't sleep and recite it word for word. Small things that showed that, in his way, he cared.
As you stared at the detailed depiction of you in the painting, you could see how Data saw you and felt everything that he felt for you.
You had explained the feeling of being 'in love' to him before and although he reminded you that it was impossible for him to feel any emotion, including love, there was no other word to describe the emotions radiating from the painting of you.
In the painting, Data had shown you smiling back at your depiction of him, hair blowing in the wind, hand resting on his arm.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
You nodded. "I love it."
Data's lips turned upwards and you closed your eyes when he pressed a kiss to your temple, an action that had once shocked you but had become a regular occurrence. His reasoning, he enjoyed the feel of your skin against his lips.
There were times when Data mentioned that without an emotions chip, he could not feel as you do, but you argued that the android had more emotions than he believed. And he showed it all through his actions.
You knew he wanted the emotions chip, to feel how you felt. But you knew that you didn't need a chip to know how he felt about you because he showed you every day, in his own way.
You thought meeting Harry was a blessing in the beginning. He understood how you felt, both of you had someone at home waiting for you to return. But when you got closer, and it was not uncommon for you to be found in his quarters, you thought it was a curse. Your first kiss was unexpected; you had been talking about home when he kissed you. He quickly pulled away when you froze up and apologized, but you were gone before he could say anything else. For days, all you could think about was that kiss and how it didn't feel as wrong as you expected it to.
But you had a fiancée at home, and you were trapped in the Delta Quadrant, developing feelings for your best friend.
You entered the mess hall, and Tom noticed you walking in, nudging Harry, who turned around. You approached Neelix, and he gave you a tray.
You walked over to Harry's table, and Tom excused himself, giving you a nod before walking away. You sat down and bit your lower lip.
"About the other night -"
"I don't regret it -"
He paused, eyes widening for a moment. "What?"
You glanced around the mess hall, feeling as if everyone was watching you. "Can we talk later?"
"Sure!" He smiled.
He was called to the bridge, and you smiled softly before eating your lunch. You contemplated the situation you found yourself in, unable to decide what was right and wrong. Was your fiancée still waiting on you? Or had it been long enough for it to be considered okay for you to move on?
Slowly, you walked back to your quarters after your shift. You knew Harry had another hour before he would seek you out, and it would give you time to collect your thoughts. You felt guilty for you found yourself comparing your fiancée to Harry. You had more in common with Harry, and he was more interested in your job than your fiancée was. He didn't approve of becoming an Ensign on Voyager, but you had jumped at the chance to be on the ship. And although you regretted it had caused you to become trapped, you couldn't think of a better group to be stuck in the Delta Quadrant with.
You took a sip of tea, looking at the door when it chimed. "Come in." You fluffed the pillow beside you and tried to calm your nerves when Harry walked in.
"Hi."
You stood up, "Hi." You stared for a moment before gesturing to the food replicator. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you." He stepped closer. "I've made things awkward, haven't I?"
"No!" You quickly shot down, walking toward him. "I'll admit that the kiss came as a shock, but not unwelcomed."
"But..."
"I have a fiancée. You have Libby. They could still be waiting for us. But I can't deny that my feelings have changed." You explained. "It wasn't intentional, yet it felt like the most natural thing in the world. You know me better than anyone, and I would hate to -"
Harry stepped forward, kissing you tenderly. You wrapped your arms around his neck and were surprised by how passionate it was. You expected to find kissing your best friend awkward a few times, but it was the most exciting thing in the world.
You had no idea what would happen if you made it to the alpha quadrant, but you found that you wouldn't mind a more extended trip. The Voyager was home to you, and after so many months, you began to question if you should stay in the delta quadrant.
The planet that was home to a new breed of humans spread like wildfire through the ship. You had a chance to settle down on a planet that bore a close resemblance to Earth. You wondered if it was a way out. If you didn't go home, you didn't have to explain that you had started a new relationship and break two hearts. But if Harry wasn't going to join you, what would be the point? You had your first fight talking about it, and you were torn. You wanted a place to call home, and Voyager was the closest thing you had, but you longed for more.
You stood outside the cargo bay, staring at the doors, and heard your name being called, turning to see Harry running down the corridor. "Don't go." He took a moment to catch his breath. "I know I said that if you wanted to go to the planet, I wouldn't stop you. But I don't want you to go."
You looked away, and he continued. "We'll make it home. And when we do, that's when we worry about -"
"The two people who are going to be heartbroken when we return and tell them we've moved on?" You interrupted.
"They probably have to." He said. "I want you to stay because if we do make it home, I want to have that life you were talking about: the cozy house, the lovely garden, and the pitter-patter of little feet."
You smiled softly, "It wouldn't be the same, would it?"
He shook his head and wrapped his arms around you, kissing your head. "When we get home, your mother will be so happy to see that you are alive. Then she'll notice me, and I'll have to run, so she doesn't kill me."
You giggled into his shoulder. He knew her so well just from the stories you had told him about her.
You knew it was time to come clean. You wouldn't find a better time to tell him, and it had to be now before you changed your mind.
"The baby might occupy her long enough." You told him.
He froze, pulling away to look at you. "You're not -"
You nodded, biting your lip. "I didn't want them to grow up on a ship their whole life." You sighed. "I know I should have said something earlier, but I didn't know how. We never talked about it, and we've only been dating for -"
He hugged you tightly, and you rested your head on his shoulder. "Why do you always have to do things on your own?" He smiled down at you fondly as he answered all your questions. "Unexpected? Yes. Planned? Not yet. Am I happy about it? Yes, and with a little bit of fear. But that's the fun part."
You smiled, hugging him tightly.
"When did you find out?" He asked, walking down the corridor away from the cargo bay. You felt his hand take yours and rested your head on his shoulder as you walked.
"Three days ago. I was feeling sick, and Kes took me to the sick bay. I'm fourteen weeks along already." You anxiously bit your lip, and he smiled at you, squeezing your hand. You knew he was freaking out like you were, but he was keeping his doubts at bay to be there for you.
"I did think you were starting to get a little chubby, but I thought it was all the replicated snacks you have been eating." He chuckled when you glared at him and followed when you walked away. "I was kidding!"
You passed Captain Janeway and Chakotay in the corridor near the turbo lift, and she was relieved to see you and Harry going in the opposite direction of the cargo bay. Tom had talked about the possibility of you leaving, and he knew Harry would follow. The crew knew about your fight as Harry had slept in his old quarters that night. But Harry knew it was fear that made you want to leave Voyager. You, like him, were under the impression that it was a short trip. And now it could last for 75 years.
You smiled at them and entered the turbo lift after they exited. "Oh, Ensign L/N." Harry stopped the turbo-lift so she could speak. "I heard from the Doctor this morning -"
"I know it's not the ideal place for a child but -"
"Congratulations, Ensign. To both of you." She smiled before walking away, and you started the turbo lift.
You looked at Harry, who was smiling. He was getting more and more excited.
And that was why it was so hard to accept that he was gone. You thought of all the ways you could go into labor. The ship under a violent attack was not one of them. The ship trembled, and sparks came from consoles. The Doctor kept telling you to push, but you could only think about Harry, who had fallen through a breach.
You cried as Kes squeezed your hand, trying to comfort you, but you needed one person, and he wasn't there.
You screamed as you pushed, and the sound of crying relaxed you, resting your head back as the Doctor checked over your son. The crying stopped, and you looked at the Doctor who was hovering at the incubator.
"What's wrong?" You asked. "What's happened is he okay?"
He and Kes quickly moved around, and you cried into your hands. "God, no. Please, no!"
It was the worst day of your life. And you often had nightmares about it. Even after Harry came from the duplicate ship, holding your child in his arms, you only cried harder.
He handed you the baby, looking surprised to see you. He stepped back and watched you look at the boy in your arms as if he would disappear.
"He looks like his mother." He spoke up.
You looked at him, "The other version of me...what happened to her?"
His expression was solemn. "She - you - died in childbirth on my Voyager. When the Vidiian came on board, I took the baby and passed through the rift."
You nodded, "Neither Voyager was the way it was supposed to be. The other me wasn't supposed to die. And this Harry Kim and our son weren't supposed to die."
"I have spoken to the Captain of this Voyager." He said. "She said that being a member of Starfleet, you get used to weird. And as weird as it seems, I still love you. Even if you are not from my Voyager."
"My Harry died." You whispered.
"And so did my Y/N."
"You're an exact duplicate of Harry, isn't that right?" Kes walked over to you.
"That's right." He said.
"And you have all the same memories and feelings?" Kes continued.
"Yes." He nodded.
"What's your point, Kes?" You sighed.
"My point is, you shouldn't lose each other for a second time. He's still Harry, just a duplication. And you're still the same Y/N he knew."
You understood what she was trying to say.
"Thanks, Kes." She smiled, bowing her head slightly before walking away. You placed your child in the incubator; aware Harry was staring at you, wondering what you were thinking. You turned to him, hesitating for a moment before hugging him tightly. Harry buried his nose in your hair, and you smiled when he kissed your shoulder.
Ever since the jewels arrived on the Enterprise, you could sense that Deanna was not pleased about the marriage. You were not a Betazoid, but you knew your friend well enough to see behind her expressions when she tried to mask them.
You suppressed a smile when Lwaxana permitted Jean-Luc to carry her luggage. She had just stepped off the transporter, but you already knew her visit would not lack entertainment, much to Deanna's embarrassment.
"Mother!" She objected softly.
"No, no, that's quite alright. I am indebted to your mother for the fine counsellor she..." He tried to lift the luggage with one hand but hesitated when he felt the weight of it. "This way." He carried the luggage, struggling as he led the group down the hallway.
"Mother, this is quite inappropriate," Deanna said, watching Jean-Luc carry the luggage.
"Yes, you do seem to be having difficulty. A man your age must work to keep himself in shape." Lwaxana said.
"Mother, I'm not going another step like this." Deanna stopped walking, turning to her mother, and Jean-Luc put the luggage down. "A starship has customs just as we do." She looked at Mr. Homn, "If you are my mother's valet, then please valet."
The tall man bowed.
"Please, don't let me keep you from doing your duty," Jean-Luc told him.
"I am sorry for her behavior. Do you realize you have embarrassed your captain?" Lwaxana looked at Deanna, and you sent her calming thoughts.
"Oh, no..." Jean-Luc looked at you for help, and you shrugged, smiling softly at the hilarity of the situation.
"And in front of his desired mate." Lwaxana gestured to you, and you bit your lower lip, looking away.
"Mother!"
You placed a hand on her arm gently, "It's alright. I believe I have work to do. So I will see you at dinner, Mrs. Troi."
"Lwaxana." She corrected. "You should wear your hair down, dear, it looks very dull pinned up like that."
"Mother," Deanna warned.
"No, I don't mind. Thank you, Mrs. Tr - Lwaxana." You quickly corrected it.
"I will see you at dinner." She said.
You smiled, nodding before looking at the Captain, a blush forming on your cheeks as you walked away.
A few hours later, after checking in with the different stations on the Enterprise, you went to your quarters to get changed for dinner. You were styling your hair when the door chimed.
"Come in!" You saw the door open in the mirror, and Deanna entered, her steps slow and hesitant.
"I want to apologize to my mother." She told you.
"Forget about it. I have." You looked at her, straightening your uniform. "What do you think?"
"I don't think I have seen you with your hair down before." She smiled.
"It's a special occasion. Besides, your mother is right. It does look better down. There are not many opportunities to do so." You said. "How are you feeling?"
"Anxious, mostly." She told you.
"Have you spoken to Riker?"
"No, not really. I'm hoping to tonight." She sighed. "I am not sure what I can tell him."
"Just be honest with him. That's all he can ask of you. How romantic would it be if he kidnapped you on your wedding day? Running away together." You smiled dreamily.
"He would never do such a thing." She giggled.
"I bet he is thinking about it." You winked.
"We should go before we are late." She smiled.
You agreed and walked to the door, looking back when she stopped following. "Deanna?"
"I just want to say something while we're alone." She hugged you, and you returned it. "I will miss you."
You smiled sadly, "I will miss you too, Deanna." You hugged for a moment before pulling away, attempting to be enthusiastic about dinner. "We better leave now before they wonder if you have run away."
She smiled, following you when you looped your arm with hers.
You quickly found the dinner brought a whole new meaning to the word 'awkward' as Lwaxana chatted away more than necessary, and the gong kept making you flinch in annoyance. You were sure Wyatt was a lovely man, but you could see that neither he nor Deanna were fully prepared for their wedding day.
In an attempt to ease the tension between the two mothers, you tried to distract Lwaxana by bringing up the wedding, rather than having her insult the mother of the groom.
"I was curious about the wedding. I have never been to a Betazed ceremony before." You smiled politely.
"It's an ancient ceremony, wildly regarded as the most beautiful in the universe. After the young couple have removed their clothing -"
"The bride and groom go naked?" Tasha asked.
"All guests must go unclothed." Lwaxana began. "It honors the act of love being celebrated."
You took a long sip of your drink, and she placed a hand over yours. "Don't be silly, dear; your body is in great shape. Besides, the Captain quite enjoys the idea of seeing you unclothed."
You bit your lower lip as your eyes met Jean-Luc's who stammered a response, much to the amusement and intrigue of the crew.
"Oh, give it a rest, mother!" Deanna stormed from her seat and when Mr. Homn hit the gong she knocked it over on her way out of the door
"I better go after her." You stood up from the table and shared a look with Jean-Luc as you left.
For months now you had been dancing around each other. There were times when you believed that he had feelings for you, but then something would happen that would create doubts. You were younger than him, and perhaps that was why he treated you differently. You were a capable Starfleet officer, but he had shown how protective of you he was while allowing you to do your job.
Lwaxana’s comments gave you hope that there was possibly something between you and Jean-Luc, despite his attempts to conceal it. But could you finally be given the chance to do something about it?
Later that evening, you were getting ready for bed, hearing the door chime. You covered your sleepwear with a gown and called for the person to enter.
You were surprised when it was Jean-Luc who walked in.
"Captain, is everything alright?" You asked.
"It was quite the eventful day, wasn't it?" He began.
"Yes," You smiled, moving to sit down on the couch. "Deanna's mother is certainly an outspoken person."
"Yes, very." He agreed, pointing to the space beside you and you gestured for him to join you. "After you had left with Deanna, she told me something that I found to be rather," he paused to find the right word, "enlightening."
"Oh?"
"Yes," He cleared his throat, "She apologized for Deanna's behavior in the corridor earlier,"
You laughed lightly, shaking your head.
"And she told me not to worry about your perception of me. She mentioned that I was getting on a bit so I should be more forward." He continued.
"You have confused me, Captain." You told him.
"Jean-Luc. Please." You smiled when he corrected you, nodding. "For a while now, two months to be precise, I have felt a shift in our working relationship."
"Am I not performing as I should? Because I can -"
He held a hand up, "No, no. That's not what I was referring to." He said. "For two months now I have felt our dynamic change. And I know that I may not have shown it very well, but Mrs Troi encouraged me to -”
"She gave you a speech too, huh?"
"She spoke to you as well?" He asked.
"Well, I was talking to Deanna after she stormed out of dinner when her mother came in. I sent Deanna to go talk to Riker," He raised an eyebrow and you held a hand up, "Long story. But, Mrs Troi told me how loud my thoughts were in the hallway and she said that I should talk to you to put an end to both of our suffering." You smiled at him. "She also mentioned how pornographic your thoughts were at dinner this evening.”
He looked away and you moved closer to him. “She said Xelo never had such thoughts about her. She sounded jealous.”
He glanced at you, smiling as he looked away. You knew he was vulnerable at this moment so it was up to you to take the next step. You placed a hand on his cheek, turning his head to yours, pressing your lips to his gently. You pulled away moments later and met his gaze you knew there was no turning back. Life on the Enterprise would change. For the better.
Set during the episode "When The Bough Breaks" in season 1
gif belongs to me
You were supposed to be meeting Wesley at your quarters and you were walking in the hallway when it happened. One second you were on the Enterprise, the next you were in an unknown room.
You looked around and relaxed when you saw Wesley. "Wes?" You crossed the room, looking at the group of children. "What's going on?"
"Were you scanned too?" Harry asked.
You shook your head, frowning as you looked at Wesley. "Where are we?"
"Aldea." He told you, taking your hand. "Don't worry." You hugged him for a moment, sighing when you pulled away.
"Wesley, I'm frightened."
"I know you are, Katie." He turned to the blonde girl, "We all are, but we're going to be alright." He took your hand, squeezing it, and you smiled softly. "Everyone knows where we are, and no one is going to hurt you. I promise."
You kneeled to hug them and kissed their heads. "We'll be back on the Enterprise and with our families before you know it." You smiled reassuringly, turning when the door opened.
"Greetings, Wesley Crusher." You eyed the man warily, looking at Alexandra, who hooked her arm around Wesley's leg, his hand on her shoulder protectively. Katie stood behind you, and you took her hand to comfort her.
"The Custodian indicated that you would be the leader."
"The Custodian? Who is the Custodian?" Wesley asked.
You frowned, not liking that the Aldeans had taken a particular interest in Wesley.
"The Custodian is not a person."
"You have been brought to Aldea as our guests. We'll provide anything you need or want." The blonde woman spoke.
"Send us back." You stepped forward, and Wesley grabbed your hand, stopping you from leaving his side. You noticed how the three Aldeans shared a look as if pleased by his display of protectiveness.
"We want to go home." Wesley looked at them.
"Wesley, all of you have been chosen because you are special. Just ask for anything you want, and you shall have it."
Your eyes widened when Alexandra left Wesley's side, approaching the blonde woman to shake her hand. You looked at Wesley, feeling his hold on your hand tighten. You touched his arm, watching Alexandra with concern in your eyes.
"Come with me, and I will show you to your units." The man said.
"Who are these people?" You whispered to Wesley as you reluctantly followed the Aldeans.
"He spoke to the Captain before we were scanned. His name is Radue. And the blonde with Alexandra is Rashella if I remember correctly." He whispered.
"I wasn't scanned. Why am I here?" You eyed the three Aldeans warily, and he took your hand, observing them closely.
"I don't know. But don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt you." His eyes met yours as he spoke, and you smiled faintly.
"We need to protect the kids." You said.
He nodded in agreement. "We will." He placed an arm around you, and you followed Radue into a separate room with Katie and Harry.
"Come on. Don't be alarmed. The other children have been assigned to their units." Radue said.
"Units?" Wesley asked while you observed the Aldeans in the room carefully. A man had his arm on a woman's shoulder as she sat in a chair. You felt fear creep in as you pieced together what this was—an adoption.
"A unit is a group where those of similar talents and interests live together," Radue explained.
"Families." You whispered.
"Yes, you could call it that," Radue said.
Wesley shook his head, "We already have families."
You noticed the couple was particularly excited, and it only added to your anxiety. You kept Harry and Katie close to you and moved them behind you when Radue held a hand out to Harry.
"You have what I believe humans call, a strong motherly instinct," Radue commented. "That bodes well for the future of Aldea."
Your eyes met Wesley, who spoke up, trying to get the attention off of you. "Does Captain Picard know you're doing this?"
"We keep nothing from him." Radue held a hand to Harry, and you kept him behind you.
Harry took your hand, and you frowned when he stepped forward. He sent you a nod, and you looked at Wesley desperately, tears in your eyes as the couple approached Harry.
"We've been waiting for you so long, Harry." The woman said. "We are artists, just like you. We see within you the potential of what you can be."
"I'm not an artist," Harry spoke quietly.
"You will be a great one." The man said.
"This way, Harry."
You stepped forward to intervene when they led him out, and Wesley stopped you, not wanting you to get hurt. You turned around, burying your head in his shoulder as you cried silently, clenching his uniform in your fists from frustration.
Harry looked at Wesley, who gave him a nod, attempting to reassure him, and Harry nodded back.
"Unit B, three, seven, five." The woman said, the three of them teleporting to their room.
"Katie." Radue put a hand on her shoulder, but Wesley pulled her toward him gently.
An older man left the table; you guessed he was in his sixties at least, approaching the three of you. "I am honored."
"Thank you," Katie said.
"Melian is the foremost musician on Aldea." Radue introduced, placing a hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Music speaks its own language. I know we'll have much to learn from each other." Melian said.
Katie reached for you when he tried to lead her away, and you hugged her tightly.
"Don't worry, Katie. You'll be seeing Wesley and Y/N soon." Melian told her.
You looked at Wesley, who reluctantly nodded. You placed your hands on her cheeks and kissed her head, wrapping your arms around her tightly as you whispered in her ear. "I promise you that you'll be alright. We won't be here for long."
Katie nodded, leaving with Melian.
You stood up, and Wesley took your hand. "What about us? Don't we get a say in this?"
"Wesley, sometimes something happens which you just must accept," Radue told him.
Wesley rolled his eyes.
"You and the other children are now members of this society. That will not change." Radue continued. "It is up to you to make the transition as easy as possible for the others. It is your duty because you are the leader. Help them to accept it."
"What about me? You didn't scan me. So why am I here?" You asked, crossing your arms.
"One day, we hope that the two of you will give birth to a new generation of Aldeans," Radue explained.
You swallowed thickly, looking at Wesley as your attempt to be threatening quickly disappeared.
Wesley looked at you, frowning at the thought of being trapped here long enough for that to happen.
"If we ever do have kids," you stepped forward, "you and no one else will get their stinking, wrinkly -"
Wesley moved you away, looking at you, amused and concerned that your temper would get you in trouble.
"Nothing you or those on the Starship can do can change it. Because, like you, we also have no choice." Radue told you.
"There's always a choice." You said. "And I will die before I have children here."
The door opened, and your eyes widened when Alexandra ran in, giggling as Rashella chased her. "Where have you been, Rashella?"
You smiled at the blonde girl, frowning when Rashella lifted her.
"Zena and Aran are waiting to take Alexandra." Radue continued.
"No," Rashella told him.
"No? I told you that she..."
"No, Radue. They can't have her." She held Alexandra closer, "I will never let her go."
You shared a look with Wesley, both concerned about Alexandra.
"Very well." Radue turned to you, "It's time to take you to your unit."
"No." Wesley took your hand, "She stays with me."
"You will see each other later -" Radue looked to the red-haired woman, "Duana will show you to the Custodian."
You looked at Wesley, knowing that if he went, he could learn more than anyone. "I'll see you later. Be careful."
You kissed his cheek, and he held your hand as you walked away, dropping his arm when you were out of reach.
Your relationship was fairly new, three weeks to be precise. But you had been friends for far longer, and the switch from friends to a dating relationship wasn't so complicated or awkward.
After Duana showed him the Custodian, Wesley was waiting with Duana for Radue to escort you to dinner. He stood up from the table, and you hugged for a moment, reassuring him that you were alright.
"Did you find anything?" You whispered as he pulled the chair beside him out for you.
"A little. I'll tell you later." He whispered after you sat down, pushing your chair in.
You nodded, looking at him as he sat beside you. You ate in silence, mostly pushing the food around.
"You have eaten very little," Duana commented.
"You didn't eat anything," Wesley said.
"We need very little," Radue told him.
"We know you miss your families, but you'll grow accustomed to us. And one day have a family of your own." Duana said. "I promise you'll be happy."
"We were happy before we came," Wesley replied.
You took his hand, and he looked at you, smiling faintly.
"We are offering you more, especially for you. We allowed you to stay together." Duana said.
Wesley sighed, staring at you for a moment before looking at Duana. "Duana, I feel bad for you that you have no children, but I have to tell you that we don't want to be here, and we will not cooperate."
Dinner ended shortly after the conversation died out, and you walked with Wesley to your unit, looking around with a heavy sigh.
"There's only one bed." You commented.
"I can take the floor if it would make you uncomfortable?" He suggested, and you shook your head.
"It's not like we haven't had a sleepover before." You sat on the bed with a sigh. "They really want kids. And want us to have them." You looked at him when he sat beside you. "I never gave it much thought until we came here. But if I ever have kids, I want them to know their grandparents."
Wesley nodded in agreement, "My mom would kill me if we had kids right now. I haven't even told her we are dating yet. I've been trying to find the courage." He said, making you laugh. He chuckled with you, smiling when you rested your head on his shoulder.
"You should be more concerned about my dad." You giggled. "He likes you, but if you're dating his daughter, you are immediately scrutinized. I thought he was kidding, but when my sister got a boyfriend, he ran out of the house after my dad had a 'chat' with him." You looped your arm with his right arm, his hand taking yours and intertwining your fingers. "I hate to think about what's going through his head right now. He must be so worried."
Wesley kissed your head. "We'll see them again. For now, try and get some sleep."
The next day was long and tedious. You were given literature to occupy you while Wesley was taught more about the Custodian. You rarely had time together apart from dinner. And you were too bored to sleep that night.
"Y/N? Are you awake?"
You looked at Wesley as he turned around. "Yeah."
"I have an idea."
You sat up and turned to him, "What can I do?"
The next day you gathered the kids and found a table to sit around. You smiled at Alexandra when she reached for you when you entered with Harry and Katie, Wesley handing her over to you.
"I missed you."
"I've missed you too." You kissed her head and joined the table, Wesley smiling at you before starting to explain his plan.
"We start by not talking to them or eating any of the food they give us," He said.
"Why will not eating and talking make them send us home?" Katie asked.
"It's called Passive resistance," Wesley explained.
"A form of rebellion." You added.
"Right." Wesley nodded. "We don't do what they want us to do, and they don't want us."
"Will they get mad at us?" Katie asked.
"They can't hurt us," Wesley reassured.
"But, Wes, I kind of like them," Harry said.
You smiled, "I don't think they're bad people. Just desperate. They have tried to make us as comfortable as they could." You shared a look at Wesley, "They're friendly people, but you don't want to stay here forever, do you?"
Harry shook his head. "No. But I like working with the wood."
"Well, maybe you can talk to your dad about that when we get back home?" You suggested.
Harry looked down, and Wesley turned to him. "Harry, we all have to be in this together, or it's not going to work."
"Okay." The younger boy agreed. "I'll do it."
You smiled at him softly, hugging him to reassure him that it would all be worthwhile in the end.
"What are you all doing here together?" Rashella entered the room, and you moved away when she tried to take Alexandra from you. The young girl held onto you, and Wesley stood in front of you both.
"What is going on here?"
Everyone looked away from her except you and Wesley.
"We're raising our kids." You took Alexandra to the window to look outside, and Wesley suppressed a grin at your attitude.
Rashella lingered for a moment before leaving, and you turned to the group, grinning. "Good job, guys."
You looked at Wesley when he took you aside. "I saw my mom earlier." He whispered. "She's trying to find a way to cure the Aldeans." Your eyes lit up with hope, and you smiled. "She's here with the Captain."
You smiled brightly, hugging him, and he grinned into your shoulder. It was finally happening. They were coming for all of you.
The woman Harry was being looked after by walked in, and you and Wesley looked disinterested as she placed a tray of food down on the table, taking a seat on either side of Alexandra.
"Will you at least eat?" She asked.
She left unanswered, and Wesley stopped Alexandra from picking some fruit from the tray.
"No, Alexandra. We can't eat. I know you're hungry, we all are, but it's our way of telling them we want to go home. Understand?"
She nodded, and you smiled when he kissed her head.
A little while later, the Captain teleported into the room and you stood up, Alexandra in your arms as Wesley greeted him.
"Hi, Captain Picard."
"Hi, Captain." You stood beside Wesley, the other children gathering around you.
"Sir, I knew you would come."
"It's not over yet, Wesley." Picard told him.
"I think I figured out the computer controls, sir. But I'm not sure. It's a different system than ours." Wesley informed.
"Good, Wesley." Picard looked at all of you, "Now..."
"Captain?" Harry spoke up.
"Yes, Harry?"
"If something happens and you have to leave us here, will you tell my dad that I'm sorry I made him angry and...that I miss him?" Harry requested.
"You will tell him that, Harry, and I will tell him how much I admire his son," Picard said.
You placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, and he smiled up at you.
"Come on." Wesley smiled down at you both before following the Captain to the transporter. You placed Alexandra down and stood next to Wesley before you were transported to where Beverly was waiting with the Aldeans.
"What is this?" Radue accused when he saw Picard had returned with the children.
"They want to go home," Picard said.
"No, they're staying," Radue told him.
"You can't make us stay here." You argued.
"We gave you everything you could ever want! Why are you so desperate to leave?"
You looked at Alexandra when she took your hand, and you lifted her, standing next to Wesley when he spoke, "It would never be home."
Picard's communicator beeped. "Number one."
"We're in position, sir," Riker informed.
You shared a smile with Wesley, who placed a hand on your back.
"Hold for orders," Picard told Riker.
"The radiation levels on Aldea have been building up over a long period of time. It is similar to what was experienced on Earth in the 21st Century when the ozone layer deteriorated, and the surface of the planet was flooded with ultraviolet radiation." Beverly spoke to Radue.
"The shield that protected your world in one way is weakening it in another. It is the radiation of your own that is destroying you." Picard added.
Radue shook his head, "You are trying to confuse the issue."
"Please, " You stepped forward, "Listen to what they have to say."
Radue looked at you, a small sigh leaving his lips as he looked at Picard, giving him a nod.
"You're all suffering from radiation poisoning. Sterility is only the latest symptom." Beverly said. "If the children remain, they will be affected as well."
"At least they can't make us have kids." You muttered to Wesley, who suppressed a smile.
"Wouldn't be all bad. Radiation aside." He replied.
You rolled your eyes playfully, looking away when Beverly and Picard were raising an eyebrow at you both.
"Later in time obviously." Wesley awkwardly added.
"Stop talking." You shushed him.
"What you're suggesting is impossible. Our scientists would have known." Radue spoke up.
"How could they? Your scientists have forgotten how everything works." Beverly replied.
"No, all lies." Radue turned, but Rashella stepped forward.
"No, wait. Don't send them back yet. What if they're right?" She asked him. "Instead of the children being our hope, we could be condemning them to our fate."
Radue looked at her, "Rashella, they're just protecting their own interests."
"As are we." She said. "But hear them out. The Captain and Dr. Crusher are saying that the very thing which has given us this wonderful world is what has caused this tragedy."
"Finally, some sense." You muttered.
Wesley quietly shushed you.
"That's it, exactly," Picard told Radue. "Your Custodian has controlled you so completely you've even lost the desire to question it."
"Lies, and the discussion is over." Radue tried to send the Captain and the Doctor back to the Enterprise with the device on his arm, but it wouldn't work.
Radue looked at Rashella, who looked at Picard. He tapped his badge, "Commander Riker, "
"Yes, sir?" Riker spoke through the commlink.
"I assume you have control of the computer."
"We've disabled the system temporarily. We found the power source of the shield, and we've centralized it." Riker explained.
"Good," Picard said. "Enterprise, this is Picard. Beam the children up."
You smiled at Wesley, frowning when Harry spoke.
"Wait." He moved to the couple who had taken care of him.
"Enterprise hold."
"Thank you," Harry told them.
"Let me get the dolphin for you to take with you." The man said.
"No, you keep it. I'll make another one." Harry smiled.
The man touched his shoulder gently before Harry walked over to where you stood.
You smiled at him, "Ready, Harry?" He nodded.
"Okay, kids, let's go home," Wesley told them.
You walked a few paces away, placing Alexandra down as you all took your place, prepared to beam up to the Enterprise.
"Beam them up," Picard ordered.
You shared a smile with Wesley before you appeared in the transporter room, and you smiled when you saw your father waiting for you.
You stepped off the transporter and rushed to him, hugging him tightly.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, dad." You looked at Wesley, waving him over. He approached nervously, smiling awkwardly with his hands behind his back. "There's something Wesley needs to tell you."
He looked at you, eyes wide in fright, and you giggled. You looped arms with him, looking at your father. "Wesley and I are...have been dating for three weeks now. And after the last couple of days, I have decided that I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore."
Your father stood straighter, eyeing Wesley, who shifted under his stare. "Very well."
You smiled at Wesley, who relaxed slightly. "If you hurt her, Mr. Crusher, I will make sure you regret it, are we clear?"
"Yes, Sir." Wesley flinched when your father patted his shoulder.
"You can see each other later, right now, I want to spend time with my daughter."
You kissed Wesley's cheek and walked out the transporter room with your father, smiling at Wesley over your shoulder.
Wesley jumped when his mother appeared behind him, "You and Y/N? I thought it would've happened sooner."
"Yeah, me too," Wesley admitted, and Beverly smiled at her son, knowing he had a crush on you for a while. "Hey, did you know their family spent a year on a space station? Her father did work there just weeks after she was born."
Beverly smiled as she walked out of the transporter room with him, "Sounds like you got to know each other even more while you were down there." She said.
"Oh, and her great-great-great-grandmother was a Betazoid. They all married humans, so the gene eventually died out." He told her.
Beverly smiled at him, knowing she would hear all the new facts he had learned about you for the next couple of hours.
"Promise me something, Wesley."
"Sure, mom, what is it?" He leaned against the console in sickbay, enthusiastic about telling her more information he had learned about you.
"No kids until you're at least twenty-five."
"The way the Aldea inhabitants we're talking, it sounded like we would have to have had a kid before we were twenty." He chuckled, stopping when he saw the look on his mother's face. "But twenty-five is a better number, yeah."
She smiled when he left the sickbay, shaking her head.
"It better be!" She called just before the door closed.
It sounded like you had a more eventful three days than she had in the Enterprise. She remembered hearing you arguing with the Aldeans about their hope of you having kids, causing her to laugh softly as she got back to work.
Later that day, you were in the observation lounge when Wesley found you. He smiled as he joined you on the sofa. "Couldn't sleep either?"
You shook your head, "I just wanted to make sure we were really here." You looked at him with a smile on your lips, "You know I'm going to miss sharing a bed with you."
He chuckled, "Yeah, somehow, I don't think your dad is going to agree to that now he knows we're dating."
You unwrapped the blanket around your shoulder and cuddled into his side. "Well, he isn't here right now." You pointed out. Wesley smiled down at you, kissing your head as he wrapped his arms around you, slouching in his seat a little more.
You would have to sneak back into your living quarters later in the morning, but for now, you and Wesley enjoyed the view of the stars, knowing that you were back where you belonged. On the Enterprise.
Warning: Pregnancy, Childbirth, mentions of death, medical setting
gif belongs to me
There was a reason why Worf was so reluctant to enter a relationship with a human female, and you believed that this was the reason why.
"Complications?" You echoed. "What do you mean complications?"
Beverly frowned, "It can happen between certain species. Klingon births are known to be especially complicated when the mother is human. Many things can go wrong. Often the mothers are too exhausted by the problematic delivery and have been known to die from it. Or the baby is..."
You clenched your jaw, holding back tears. "Say it."
"Some babies don't survive the birth. It could be a combination of the mother's exhaustion and the combined DNA. In some cases, both the human mother and baby have died." Beverly stated.
You looked away, wiping a tear that had escaped down your cheek. "So we could die? One of us? Or both?"
Beverly nodded, squeezing your hand gently. "I'm sorry, but you had to know. Most half-human, half-Klingon pregnancies are with a Klingon for a mother. Their bodies can handle the process better."
You looked at Worf when he spoke, "Is there a solution? Termination, perhaps?"
"How can you say that?" You moved away from him, tears in your eyes as you stared at him.
"Did you hear a word of what Dr. Crusher said? You could die during birth." Worf said.
"And there is a chance that the baby could survive." You looked at Beverly, "I know that you would do everything you could to make sure of it."
She nodded.
Worf shook his head, and you glared at him. "What?"
"It's foolish."
"Foolish to want a child with the person I love? When he can be so cold-hearted with the drop of a hat like you can, then maybe it is. But I'm not changing my mind." You got off the bed and stood up, thanking Beverly, who explained that she would give you some information to read over.
You walked ahead of Worf, and everyone noticed the tension on the bridge. You made it through your shift, and during lunch, you sat in the mess hall while you read over the information Beverly had sent to your PADD.
Deanna joined your table and sent you a smile. "How did your check-up go?'
"It was okay." You shrugged, stabbing your food with your fork.
"Is there something wrong?" She asked.
"It's Worf." You explained what happened in the sickbay, and she nodded in understanding.
"I sensed something from him on the bridge. It was an odd feeling, one he had not shown before." She said.
"What was it?" You frowned at the thought of something being wrong with Worf.
"Fear," Deanna told you. "How much thought have you given to the birth?"
"I'm three months along, I've got a while to go so not a lot. Until this morning." You said.
"Have you considered that he may be afraid of losing you? Or the child?" She asked.
You sighed. "I did. But the way he said it was like he was ordering sauce with a meal. Like it was normal just to give up. And he never gives up."
"It scares you that he could be worried," Deanna commented.
"It takes a lot to make him so." You were summoned to the bridge, and Deanna joined you on the walk.
"Perhaps the best way forward is to talk to him? To have him open up?" Deanna suggested.
You thanked her, hugging her just before the turbo lift opened, and you entered the bridge.
"Lieutenant." Riker greeted. "The Captain wants to talk to you."
Your eyes met Worf's, who lifted his head, sending him a small smile as you entered Picard's ready room.
"You wanted to speak to me, sir?" You closed the door, walking further into the room.
"I have received a request from Dr. Crusher. She believes that it may be in your best interest to be temporarily relieved of your duties on the bridge." Picard explained. "She mentioned that there could be complications and wanted to ease the possibility as much as possible. Understandably."
You nodded, "I don't think it's necessary, Sir -"
"Doctor's orders, Lieutenant. And now they are orders from me. Are you going to follow them?"
You nodded, holding in a sigh. "Of course, Captain."
"Take care of yourself, Lieutenant."
You walked out of the office to the bridge, all eyes on you, and you sighed. You walked to the turbo lift and went to your deck, walking to your quarters. It would be rather dull now you had nothing to occupy you during the day.
You had cleaned the living quarters during the first two hours and were organizing the room when Worf came in after his shift.
He looked at the sofa that had been moved, raising an eyebrow at you. He knew how restless you could be, and it would be a long six months for you.
"You were relieved of your duties to avoid stress and strenuous activities. And you have rearranged our room." He approached the sofa when you patted the space next to you.
"I know. But I spoke to Deanna earlier, and I have a lot on my mind that I want to talk about." You said.
Worf sat beside you, and you turned to him. "Tell me how you could be so quick to jump to the termination."
Worf looked at you, "It would mean that you would not die."
"But our son, or daughter, would die." You said. "And I thought you wanted children just as much as I did."
"But not at the cost of your life." He told you.
"I've been waiting for you to say 'I told you so' all day. I guess you were right. I wouldn't be able to handle it after all." You looked away and felt his hand take yours, another turning your head back to look at him.
He always treated you as if the lightest of touch would break you. And at this moment, you had never looked more fragile.
"Perhaps a Klingon woman would've been -"
Worf shook his head. "Before I met you before I knew your name, I believed that. But you changed my perspective with your persistence. And every time I walked away, I would lie to myself, and I would never think that it was the right thing to do. You are very...withstanding. And if you choose to deliver the child, I know that you could do it." His words brought tears to your eyes. "Did I say something wrong?"
You hugged him tightly, "No, Worf. You said it perfectly." You smiled as you pulled away from him. "So, we are going to do this?"
He nodded, causing you to grin, knowing you had his support.
The complications Beverly had described were more definite in your case. You went into labor early, and the baby was in the wrong position, making it even more difficult. Worf was on an away mission when it happened, and you were three hours into labor when the away team finally came back after the planet's inhabitants had released them. Worf made his way to the sickbay, receiving 'good luck' and 'tell Y/N I'm thinking about her' in the corridors.
When he arrived, you were screaming, and you tried to push, panting heavily as you caught your breath. Worf approached the bed, looking at Dr. Crusher before taking your hand.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Exhausted," Beverly told him. "She can't manage much longer." She dabbed your forehead with a cloth. "There may be a way to use teleporter technology to help her. I have Geordi working on it."
He nodded, "Would that be enough to save both of them?" He asked.
"There is a chance that it could be too late for her if we don't hurry. The baby is in great distress right now, so there is also the chance that there will be problems when they are born. But I wouldn't know until I could examine them properly." Beverly explained.
Worf looked at your tired form, "How much longer do you think she can manage?"
"I would say, less than an hour. She no longer has the strength to push."
Your eyes closed, and the monitors started beeping. Beverly rushed around, scanning you, and when she had her results, she looked at Worf.
"She's unconscious."
Worf raced to the transporter room to help Geordi, who had gotten Data to help.
"Is Lieutenant Y/N, going to die?" Data asked.
Worf growled softly. Geordi looked at the android with a determined expression. "Not if we can help it."
Data nodded, continuing to work on the transporter console.
With the help of the Android, they found a way to safely transport the baby into the incubator in under twenty minutes.
When Worf entered the sickbay, he wasn't sure what he would find. But the cries of your child calmed him somewhat. He walked further into the sick bay to see your child in the incubator, two doctors surrounding you, their words overlapping as they spoke to each other.
Worf looked at the newborn. You had wanted the gender to be a surprise, and he was shocked when the little girl reached for his hand that rested on the incubator.
"What's happening, Doctor?" He asked.
Worf looked at his daughter when she calmed down, falling asleep, and approached the bed where you lay motionless.
"Seconds before the transportation, she stopped breathing," Beverly explained. "I'm trying to revive her."
Worf stood beside you, taking hold of your hand. "Is there anything you can do, Doctor?"
"I have a theory, yes. It may prove to be impossible, but we'll try." She told him.
He moved away when a group of doctors surrounded you and looked at your daughter, who had woken up due to the noise. Your vitals rising caused him to look away, and his shoulders relaxed when he saw your heartbeat was getting stronger. You opened your eyes, and he moved closer to the bed.
"Oh God! What -" Worf placed a hand on yours to calm you down.
"We used transporter technology, and she is alright." He adjusted the bed, so you were sitting up a little bit more as Beverly brought over your daughter.
"Congratulations." She smiled brightly.
You looked at the incubator, reaching for your daughter as she cried. Worf lifted her out for you, and you rested your head on his shoulder, still very weak, admiring your daughter as she settled in his arms.
The medical team gave you privacy. Worf leaned down to kiss your head, placing an arm over your shoulders, admiring the newborn in your arms.
It was a complicated delivery with a favored outcome. You didn't lose the baby; the baby didn't lose you, and Worf didn't lose either of you. It would take a few days for you to get your strength back, but you were just thankful that their plan had worked. And now you had a third member of your family.
You entered the quarters with a heavy sigh, reading the report on the PADD. You looked at your son, who was writing on a PADD of his own, not sparing you a glance when you placed your PADD in front of him.
"Want to talk about it?" You asked, crossing your arms.
"What is there to talk about? The report tells you all you need to know. I know you are not a Q, but you should be able to figure it out." He said.
"Don't talk to me like that, Quinn." You warned him.
"It's Q!"
You had nicknamed him Quinn, so he was the only Q with a human name. He was the first half-Q half-human, so you believed he should have a name that set him apart. He was unique, and the name was your way of making him a part of your world and theirs.
He stood up, and you stepped back, feeling afraid for the first time. "I could make you disappear with a click of my fingers."
"And is that what you want? For me to go away?" You asked teary-eyed.
"Yes." He sat down again, and you wiped a tear that fell down your cheek, walking out of the quarters and almost bumping into Q, who was heading inside.
"What's wrong?" He put his hands on your arms gently, and you shook your head, walking away. He watched you walk away, face hardening as he entered the living quarters. You were visiting your son on the Voyager, and his behavior was out of control. You were struggling to be there for him when he kept pushing you away, and Q had enough of the way your son treated you.
"What did you say to your mother?"
"Nothing." Q made the table and chair vanish, and your son fell to the ground.
"Don't lie to me, Junior." Q approached him as he stood up. He was tall, but Q was taller, and it intimated Junior, who had seen firsthand how protective his father was of you. It was an unlikely relationship, a Q, and a human that would lead to heartbreak. But Q never regretted a second of it. He believed that meeting you was what helped him become better. He was still childish at times, pulling pranks, but he gave you an enormous sense of support when the moment required it.
When your son first got the weight on his shoulders, the continuum putting pressure on him, he was quiet, but over the years, he became arrogant, and entitled, and you didn't know how to get back the six-year-old who was determined not to let the attention get to his head. But that's precisely what happened. He was unique, and he was always reminding everyone how much. You were reluctant to put him on Voyager but hoped Q was right. If anyone could help Junior, it was Kathryn Janeway. Plus, you could visit whenever you liked with a snap of Q's fingers, but you felt like you were abandoning your son in a way. And his behavior only got worse when he stayed on Voyager.
"She saw a report about me stealing work and claiming it was my own. She's always nagging me." Junior complained.
"Because she knows you can be better. And you can. She cares about you, Q, and that was a horrible thing to say to your mother." Q scolded. "She isn't like us. Our time with her is short, and you will regret spending it pushing her away."
He headed to the door, turning around when your son spoke. "Why don't you just make her like you?"
"Do you think I haven't tried? To convince her that it didn't have to be this way? She doesn't have to die. And she doesn't want to leave us either."
"So do something!"
"I can't. As much as I'd love to save her life, extend our time together..." He approached Q with a sad sigh. "I have no wish for her to be afraid. And if she became a Q, she would spend her existence in fear of the continuum."
"She's already afraid."
"I know. But would you condemn her to spend several millennia living in fear?"
Q Junior looked away tearily, and Q patted his shoulder. "Go talk to her, Junior."
Q left in a flash of light to find you in the quarters that you were assigned for your visit. He approached the bed where you were sitting, looking through photographs on a PADD.
"Are you alright?" He sat beside you and looked over your shoulder at the photographs. They were of Q Junior when he was younger, ranging from birthdays to spontaneous pictures you had taken.
"Remember, his first birthday?" You looked at him with a teary smile. "He took his presents and left his party. It took you an hour to find him."
"He always did enjoy giving you a scare now and then." He smiled for a moment before frowning. "I know he didn't mean what he said. He doesn't want you to go away. I think he's afraid of the day that happens. I know I am."
"Do you think it was selfish of me?" You turned to him, "To have a child knowing he would outlive me. He'll live forever, and I'll be rotting somewhere -"
Q wrapped his arms around you, holding you as you cried on his shoulder. "We wanted a child together. And do you remember what I told you?"
"That if you ever had children, you wanted it to be with me." You lifted your head, "There were so many things that could've gone wrong, I was afraid it would never happen, and if it did it would be a tragedy. But he is healthy and doesn't want to be near me. I've failed, haven't I?"
"Not in the slightest. There's a reason why you are my favorite human." He said, causing you to smile.
"It wasn't about my personality in the beginning, though, was it?" You nudged him with your shoulder, giggling when he acted offended.
The door chimed and opened seconds later, Q Junior entering. You put the PADD down on the bed to give him your full attention. His eyes darted around for a moment, and Q stood up, leaving to give you both time to talk.
"What were you looking at?" He asked.
You patted the space on the bed and he joined you, looking at the photographs. "This was taken before your fifth birthday party. We had gone hiking, and your father carried you on his shoulders most of the way. We had a picnic, do you remember?"
He nodded, "On top of the mountain overlooking the colony."
"Yes, it was the first time I believed that although born with outstanding abilities, you could live a normal life. I don't know what the continuum has planned for you, and it frightens me. I know it must frighten you too." You put the PADD down and walked to the window. "While you were growing up in the colony, I kept waiting for them to appear suddenly and take you away. I knew that if they did, I would never see you again." You looked down, wiping away a tear that had fallen on your cheek.
Junior walked over to you, and you turned when he hugged you. "You'll never lose me, Mom."
You hugged him tightly, closing your eyes as you tried not to sob. "I love you."
"I know. I love you too." He said. "And I promise to do better with my studies."
You smiled softly, moving hair away from his forehead, "You can do anything you set your mind to, Junior. And I will always be proud of you." He hugged you and you kissed his head, holding him in your arms.
You looked at Q when he reappeared, walking over to you. "Everything alright?" He asked, noticing your tears. Junior stepped away, wiping his cheeks to remove possible tears.
You nodded, placing an arm around his front when he put a hand on your back.
You smiled up at him, knowingly, "You were listening in the entire time, weren't you?"
"No. I wouldn't dare." He smiled when you kissed his cheek, Junior groaning.
"Do you have to do that?" He asked. "It's gross."
Q raised an eyebrow, "Then you won't want to see this..." He leaned down to kiss you, and you heard Junior groaning as he left. You giggled against Q's lips, smiling up at him as you pulled away.
"I love you."
"I love you too." He moved your hair behind your ear and ran his finger along your jawline, holding your chin. "And don't ever forget it."
He was afraid of the day you inevitably grew old. He would live on for a millennium with Junior, and he wouldn't be prepared. How could he be? You were only a small human, which is why the continuum never understood your marriage. But to Q, you were a haven after they had left him scarred due to his constant shenanigans on the Enterprise. And he would never be alone again; you would leave behind a son whom you both loved dearly, and he would keep his promise. No matter how hard it was at times when their similarities clashed too often, he would always be there when Junior needed him, and he would protect him from the continuum.
You paused in the hallway, all eyes on you as you quickly ran through the possibilities of why the Captain had requested your presence.
You exited the turbo lift when it arrived at the bridge and bit the inside of your cheek as you approached Picard.
"Have I done something wrong, Captain?" You asked.
"I want you to join the away team at Data's request," Picard explained.
You nodded, "Aye, Sir."
You followed the away team to the turbo lift, and when the doors closed, you reached for Data's hand, squeezing it gently. He had asked the question before, so he knew it was a form of comfort.
When you beamed down to the planet, you were greeted by a deserted wasteland that looked nothing like Data had described to you.
"Recording signal locked onto the Enterprise, sir," Tasha said.
You followed Data as he looked around.
"This looks like anything but farmland," Riker commented.
"Agreed, sir," Geordi said, kneeling to touch the soil. "The soil appears almost completely lifeless."
"This is the exact position of the Tripoli log," Riker stated, resting his foot on a rock, leaning his elbow on his knee. "Do you recognize anything, Data?"
"The land contours are familiar, sir." Data told him. "Topographically, this is the correct area."
Geordi looked up from the soil in his hand, "This once was rich farmland. I'd say something like 20 to 30 years ago."
Data turned to him, then looked at Riker as he spoke, "I was discovered 26 years ago."
"Commander, I'd say that everything on this planet was either dead or dying at the time Data was found." Geordi stood, dusting the soil from his hands.
"Yeah, but what killed it?" You whispered, looking at the dead vegetation.
Data looked around before pointing, "I was found 20 meters in that direction, sir."
You followed him when he walked ahead, and after 20 meters, you came across a large rock; stairs etched into it.
"Data, any idea at all why you were given the colonist's memories?" Lieutenant Yar asked as you walked down.
You walked ahead curiosity taking over; you scrutinized the rock as the others caught up.
"I've always felt that it was done hurriedly, but I know little more." Data told her.
"Here, sir. This is where the cruiser's landing party found the signal device that led them here." You followed him to a rectangular block of rock, "And they found me lying there."
"You were just abandoned here?" You frowned at him, looking at the uncomfortable-looking rock.
"No identity record, no instructions?" Yar asked.
"Only a layer of dust." Data said.
"What's the first thing you remember, Data?" Riker asked.
"Opening my eyes...looking into the eyes of the Tripoli landing party." He moved to stand closer to you. "They believe that the signal device sensed their presence and activated me."
"Then, this very spot was your birthplace," Yar said.
"I always wondered what it would look like... the reality is always worse." You spoke to yourself more than the others.
Data tilted his head, looking at you to elaborate, but you didn't. Geordi found a way inside the rock, which was a hidden laboratory, and you looked at the wasteland for a moment.
"Are you coming, Ensign?" Data asked.
You looked at him with a small smile, "Whatever is in there, has to be better than what is out here." You took his hand, following the others further into the terrain.
You weren't in a relationship with Data, but you were always regarded as his closest friend on the Enterprise. Geordi often remarked that if Data wasn't...well Data, you looked like a couple.
Which was why Lore found you were the hardest to deceive. He wasn't harmless; you sensed the darkness inside him from the moment he was activated. You were waiting to play your usual game of checkers with Data when Lore entered instead. He claimed that Data was occupied, and you warily accepted his company.
He knew everything about you. He knew that even though he wasn't as designed to act as human as Lore, he was still protective of you. And when he was asking questions about you, Data was suspicious.
You were playing checkers with Lore when he dropped an emotional bomb on you. "You know, my brother does not share the same abilities as I do. He was designed to behave less humanly. Therefore he could never satisfy your need for a connection. He can call you a friend, but he doesn't truly understand the meaning of the word."
"He does just fine." You bit your tongue, fighting your irritation at where the conversation was headed.
"I am far more equipped to satisfy you emotionally." Lore moved closer, and you slid away. "You have been cautious of me from the moment I arrived on this Starship."
You stood up, "I should check on Data." You went to walk to the door, but Lore tugged you back, and you fought him as he moved you toward a wall. It was frightening how identical he was to Data, but his differences were noticeable too, and it was heart-breaking to see such menace in the eyes that resembled Data's.
The door opened, and you saw Data walk in, pausing as he assessed the situation. "Oh, am I intruding?"
You moved away from Lore, heading to the door. "Don't be ridiculous." You stormed by Data who watched you leave before looking at Lore, who had sat down.
"She appeared upset." Data stated.
"She is human." Lore dismissed. "How about a game, brother?"
Data looked at the door before sitting across from Lore. He would check in with you later, but you wouldn't let him enter without definite proof it was him. He answered a series of questions that only he could know the answer to. And you allowed him inside your quarters, taking a sip of some to calm your nerves. Your encounter with Lore had spooked you, and you knew that was his plan all along.
"Are you feeling alright, Y/N?"
You shook your head, "It's nothing, Data."
You walked by a mirror, saw his cheek glitch, and pulled your phaser from underneath your gown, Lore quickly disarmed you, hitting your head against the mirror.
"You are a peculiar little thing; I have to admit." His voice was the last thing you heard before you fell unconscious.
Hours later, Data found you in your quarters, the broken glass alerting him that you were in danger.
He found you on the floor and took your pulse before swiftly lifting you to take you to sickbay.
You woke minutes later with the help of Dr. Crusher, and when you saw Data, you moved away.
"It's him. It's really him." Beverly assured you.
You shook your head. "I can't be so sure. Lore knows everything. He knows everything." You wrapped your arms around your knees, holding them to your chest, and Data stepped closer to you.
"He scanned my brain. He was looking for information about you." Data stated.
You looked at Beverly, "Can I go?"
She nodded, frowning when you wasted no time on fleeing the sickbay.
For days you avoided Data in the hallways, and Geordi told him to give you some time. You kept seeing Lore's frightening grin when you saw Data, and you were having trouble sleeping feeling as if Lore was inside your head.
Your distance was the reason why Data was surprised to receive a message from you, requesting to meet you in your quarters after your shift. He felt he had gained more knowledge on how to approach you thanks to Geordi and Deanna, and when the time came to meet, he felt prepared.
"Come in." You called when you heard the door chime and straighten the board on the desk.
Data entered, looking around the room to see slight differences, but none that should be concerning.
You stood up and said, "I want to apologize for not being a good friend. You lost your brother, and I should have been there for you."
"Geordi did mention that you would need time to recover from the events. Lore appeared to have taken an interest in you." Data said.
"Wrong brother." You shrugged off. "How about we forget about it for a while and play checkers like we used to?" You walked to the table, "I warn you that I have gotten better, so don't let me win."
Data joined you at the table, and you moved your first piece. "Y/N..."
You hummed in acknowledgment, watching the board as he took his turn.
"What do you refer to when you say 'wrong brother'?" Data asked.
You looked away for a moment before sending him a smile. "Don't worry about it."
You left to get you both a drink. You always kept Data's favorite stocked in your quarters and poured him a glass before returning.
"There are only two of us. When you say 'wrong brother,' are you referring to me?" He asked, accepting the glass.
You sighed, taking a sip of your glass of wine. "Yes, Data."
"If Lore is the 'wrong brother' and his interest is unwanted, does that mean -"
"I'm in love with you? Yes." You continue to play the game and take a long sip of wine.
"Interesting. Geordi has explained the concept before, and the old Earth movies we have watched together usually end with the couple kissing after they confess their feelings." Data commented.
"Mm." You looked up from the board when he stood up; your eyes followed him as he approached you.
He held out a hand, and you hesitantly took it, standing up. "Look, Data, I get it, and it's something I accepted a while ago -" He kissed you softly, and your words died on his lips as he pulled away, moments later.
"Cutting of rambling with a kiss was shown in several movies. Would you like me to list them?"
You shook your head, "No, thank you."
You sighed as you stepped away.
"I am puzzled, Ensign. I thought that was what you wanted." He said.
"No, it was - It's just that - well, you don't feel like I do. Not in the same sense anyway." He nodded in agreement. You sighed as you turned away, looking at the ceiling as you gathered your thoughts.
"Have I complicated matters further?" He asked. "Are we not friends anymore?"
You turned to him, approaching slowly. "We'll always be friends, Data. The problem is I want more than that." You bit the inside of your cheek, "Calculate something for me." He nodded. "The success rate of a romantic relationship between an Android and a human. Said human understands that the android does not feel in the same sense, and still wants to continue a relationship."
"Success rate?" You nodded. He considered it. "It would take a high level of understanding of the android, and without that knowledge, the human would face inevitable -"
"If it was you and me. What would you say then?" You asked.
"We do function well together. And you do understand more than most people that Androids do not have emotional responses." He paused before nodding. "It is possible that we could be compatible."
"Would you be willing to try?" You asked, stepping closer.
Data nodded, "It would be an interesting experiment."
You smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck. "Just what a girl wants to hear."
You kissed him tenderly, pulling away minutes later for much-needed oxygen. This little experiment would be more magnificent beyond words. Although he lacked the emotional capabilities, you knew Data had his own way of communicating with you. And you were surprised you hadn't noticed before.
You had worked alongside Tuvok on missions before, so when he came aboard the Voyager, you understood that the Vulcan was stoic and dispassionate. He was a great Lieutenant and voice of logic. So when you entered a relationship with a Vulcan, you knew it would be difficult emotionally, although lately, it seemed harder than in the beginning. Perhaps after dating for over a year, you wanted more than being the only person he would eat meals with. You understood he didn't like small talk, and when you would join him, he didn't object, and you ate in silence as he read.
B'Elanna knew it was hard for you, and it was hard not to speak up at times when Tuvok came across as rude when you were sure he didn't intend to be. You believed there were small glimpses of emotion in him at times. Mostly when you were alone, how he felt flickered in his eyes before disappearing again and leaving you to question whether it was indeed there.
Sometimes those glimpses were enough, but most of the time, it made you question if your relationship had a future. Was it doomed to fail? Or did you have a future together?
That was the dilemma you ran over in your head as you sat with Harry and Tom, looking over your shoulder at Tuvok, who didn't appear to notice you weren't sitting beside him for lunch. Tom's voice made you look away from Tuvok, "It says here that it's your birthday today." He said.
You nodded, "Yeah, it is."
"We should have a party!" He grinned.
"No. I don't want a party." You told him.
"Not everyone, just the bridge crew." He said. "Come on...I have an idea that you'll love."
You sighed at the excitement in his voice, the pouted lip and pleading blue eyes swaying your decision. "Alright. Fine. But just the bridge crew."
"Yes! Okay, meet me at the Holodeck tonight at 1800." He walked out of the Rec room, calling for Harry, who sighed, reluctantly following him. You smiled at the two men as they left, waving goodbye.
"L/N, to the bridge." You heard Janeway through the speaker.
You stood up to get rid of your trash and left the Rec room to go to the bridge. You were walking down a corridor when the ship lurched to the side, and you fell against the wall. You rubbed your forehead and headed to the bridge, Tuvok catching up to you at the door. He relieved the other Lieutenant, and you took your seat beside Tom, trying to figure out what had caused the ship to move forcibly.
"There is a ship approaching, Captain. 20,000 kilometres." You reported.
"Raise the shields. Go to Red Alert." She commanded.
You nodded, following orders, holding onto your station when the Voyager suffered another hit.
"Shields at 89%, Captain," Harry stated. Another hit shook the ship, and you shared a look with Tom, knowing it would be one of those days. "Shields now at 76%."
"Put it on screen." She ordered.
You nodded, hands gracefully pressing buttons to bring up footage of the spacecraft. You looked over at Tuvok and saw he was curiously looking at the ship while the Captain sent for Neelix to be brought to the bridge. "Captain, they're preparing to fire again." He warned.
"Fire phasers." She commanded.
You gasped when your panel sparked, falling to the side when the ship tipped to the left, your back sliding across the floor, a groan leaving your lips when your head hit the steps. Tom stabilized the Voyager and Chakotay helped you stand. "You need to go to sickbay." He said.
"I will take you." Tom volunteered with a sigh when Tuvok was focused on the enemy ship, and you thanked him, leaning on him for support as he led you off the bridge.
You didn't return to the remainder of your shift, and although you believed that Tuvok never even noticed you were gone, you were wrong. He felt the absence of your presence, and when he was granted leave, he sought you out, passing B'Elanna in the corridor.
"Lieutenant Torres." She stopped to turn to him. "Have you seen, Lieutenant L/N? I went to sickbay, but she was not there."
"She is in Holodeck 3 with Paris," B'Elanna told him. "He was throwing her a birthday party. The Doctor told her to take it easy, so he cancelled the party and took her to France."
Tuvok nodded, and B'Elanna noticed the slight lowering of his eyebrows, resembling disappointment and conflict as he appeared to consider the possibility of seeking you out briefly. "You could join her?" She suggested. "I know she would be surprised and pleased to see you."
B'Elanna walked away, and Tuvok watched her walk away, most likely heading to the social gathering. Tuvok walked to the Rec Room where Captain Janeway was sitting, beckoning him over when she noticed he was deep in thought about something.
"You look more in thought than usual..." She trailed off. "I thought you would be at the Holodeck."
"I prefer to keep away from social gatherings. Y/N understands." He said, taking a seat beside her.
"That may be so. But I know that she would enjoy your company on her birthday." Kathryn told him. "Her day hasn't gotten off to the best start. This day will certainly be memorable for her, after ending up in sickbay."
She was summoned to the bridge, so Tuvok was left contemplating for a few minutes as he gave her insight some thought. You always respected him, understanding that he was different and being Vulcan meant he behaved differently, not as affectionate in comparison to a human. But perhaps he had mistaken that respect for silent yearning. You wanted more from him emotionally, and Tuvok realized that he hadn't made his feelings crystal clear as he believed he had.
The Holodeck went silent, the music stopped, as did the chatter and the laughter. You raised an eyebrow at Paris when he stared over your shoulder with a slow grin forming on his lips. "Turn around." He told you.
You looked over your shoulder, and your eyes widened when you saw Tuvok looking around the room curiously, his eyes finding you. Standing up, you walked over to him, meeting halfway. "What are you doing here?" You asked. "Am I needed on the bridge?"
"No." He said. "Luitenant Torres informed me about the party. I thought it logical to attend, considering we are dating."
"You hate social gatherings." You smiled softly.
"I can make an exception." He said.
You looked like you wanted to hug him but contained your excitement, not wanting to do anything to make him change his mind. And he could see this in your eyes. So he leaned down to kiss your cheek and you were frozen in place, Tom and Harry approaching with beverages. "To the birthday girl." Tom smiled, and you thanked him.
Tuvok glanced around, raising his glass when he saw others doing the same. "Happy birthday." He said.
"Thank you." You leaned up to kiss his cheek.
Perhaps there was hope for your relationship, after all. And Tuvok started to see that the more he showed he cared, daring to say it while in the company of crew members, only makes you love him more, knowing that he was trying, for you, to be more emotionally available.
