Dear Jamie,

I am so proud of you my daughter. From the moment you took your first breath I knew you would be my pride and joy. You are so much like your father and I love you so much. I'm so sorry I couldn't come home again this year. But duty calls. Turning 12 is a big step for a young girl and I hope you have a wonderful birthday.

I love you so much,

Your loving mother.

Jamie Tiberia Kirk could've almost snorted as she read the last birthday letter her mother had sent her. She set the padd down on the table next to her. Her fifth birthday is when her mother had stopped coming home to celebrate, and each year after that the letters had gotten shorter and shorter, with less effort and meaning put into the next. On her thirteenth birthday a letter never showed, and by then it didn't even hurt Jamie. An immunity to loneliness and self pity had developed inside of her. Why waste time on the negative? Why waste time dwelling on small things that she couldn't fix? Make the best of a situation, make the world listen to you, that was her policy.

Her mom belonged up there among the stars, so why should she come back to Earth to see a daughter that reminded her so much of the man she lost? So headstrong, so determined, that glint that had been in her father's eyes was now in hers. Her mother couldn't even stand to look at her.

"Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday dear me, I'm far from the sea, and the universe within reach, the stars are my home, wherever I may roam, set phasers to stun, ahead warp factor one," she sung softly to herself, laying back with her hands behind her head, smiling at the details in the medical bay's ceiling. By this time she had them memorized.

"Would you like some candles to blow out too Jay?" Bones asked her in a teasing manner as he walked over to the bio bed she lay in.

"Want to sing it with me Bones?"

"As I tell you every year Jay, I'm not gonna sing your little song until you manage not to end up in my care on your birthday," he ran a tissue re generator over her broken leg, shaking his head in disapproval once again. When was this girl going to stop diving head first into the proverbial water?

"It's become tradition by this point! I wouldn't know how to celebrate if I weren't in one of these lovely beds and a scratchy gown."

Bones snorted as he went over her vitals, "How you managed to break a leg during a simple away mission to gather some plants is beyond me. I think you did it on purpose."

"Who's to say I didn't doc?" It was evident she was teasing, that big tooth grin stretching miles wide.

"Captain, if you are purposely injuring yourself I'm afraid I will have to report that sort of behavior to Starfleet," Spock stood at Leonard McCoy's side, his teasing manner well hidden. But those who knew him well enough could see it in his only expressive feature: those brown eyes.

"Oh come on Spock. I know you have a sense of humor so why not show it just for one day? As a present?"

"Impossible Captain, However, I am relieved that you are only minimally injured. I regret that I didn't realize the plant life would see us a threat and attack sooner."

"No biggie Spock. I didn't think the things could move that fast. What's that thing you're holding?"

Spock walked around over to his Captain's right side and handed her a wrapped package, being careful so their hands wouldn't touch,"It was delivered along with the supplies in the shuttle from Earth, it seemed only appropriate to deliver it to you on this date."

Jamie could almost hear a laugh from the doctor at the Commander's words. Seeing Spock respect Terran traditions certainly was a treat.

"It's from my brother..and my mom." Jamie stared down at it, tucking her hair behind her left ear. Spock noted the conflicting emotions shadowing her face, the twitch in her lip. Had he insulted her in some form, or was he mistaken in some way?

"We should leave her alone to open it," Bones whispered to Spock as he pulled the curtains surrounding her bio bed, "You're healthy as a horse. Go back to the bridge and fill in for her."

The complexities of human proverbial and comparisons were things he was learning to overlook, some things simply could not be explained. The doctor's 'order' was a logical choice of action however.

"Very well Doctor," he said as he began to leave sickbay, "Happy Birthday Captain," was whispered as the sickbay doors slid shut.

Spock returned the bridge, curiosity overcoming logic. Why was a birthday present from her family such a private matter? But he quickly dispelled such thinking; privacy is a cherished thing, especially among Vulcans.

The Captain herself had looked rather solemn after receiving the parcel. From his experience, receiving gifts was a happy occasion for humans. Nyota alone was proof of that. He had simply given her a card for one of her birthdays while at the academy, and she had thanked him by kissing him eagerly and almost hungrily.

But that kind of relationship with the lieutenant had ended 4 months ago, and at this time she preferred to keep her distance from him.

The termination of their personal matters had only been logical. Their minds were not very compatible, and he felt nothing more than an admiration for her abilities toward her, and perhaps a friendship. Leading her to believe he felt anything more wouldn't be fair to either of them.

As Spock sat at his station, reviewing the data they collected during the away mission, he felt a sense of regret that his delivery didn't make his Captain smile. In a lot of ways, Captain Jamie Tiberia Kirk was like his mother, speaking her mind, smiling at the simplest things, determined stubborn, and smart.

Perhaps that was one reason why their friendship had developed to the point it was at. A 'best friendship' is what she had called it. He recalled the relief he felt when she had forgiven him for his emotional outburst, almost killing her. It was truly a mystery that she had not held a grudge towards him. She even sacrificed herself for him and the ship on numerous occasions.

We're like the three musketeers! Or some other fictional power trio, is the way she had stated it, mouthful of apple and clapping the Doctor and himself on the back. He winced, remembering the touch. Personal space was not something she believed in apparently. Many humans forget to remember that.

He blinked twice at the memory and stood, deciding to head down to the lower decks, where his personal station for scientific projects and so forth was located in science lab 3.

"Throw this away Bones, I don't want to see it," her voice was strangely cold.

"Why? It's just a dress and a tribble plush."

"Throw. It. Away."

"Listen, I know you aren't exactly happy with your family but they're still your family and looks to me like they might just care. I wouldn't let you take for granted a luxury like that. So if you don't want to see it fine, but I won't throw it away. It's going to your quarters got it Jay?"

She only nodded in response and laid back down onto the starchy pillow. That's right, Leonard's family was a luxury he had lost. It was rude of her to take something like that for granted in front of him. Best not to bring it up.

"How long until this leg is healed?" Changing the subject was better than getting all sentimental.

"A few more hours, and then I'm putting you on 24 hour medical rest, restricted to quarters. And then I'll assign someone to help you with physical therapy for a few weeks. Don't worry; you'll still be able to take shifts during the therapy."

Damn he could be such a mother hen.

"Still don't want to sing with me?"

"Maybe next time my girl. Happy birthday," he smiled and handed her a vintage record, "For that damn player you refuse to get rid of even though the quality is terrible."

"Jazz? You sure know how to treat a girl you southern hick."

Jamie smiled and squeezed his hand, "Go bug another patient, Captain's orders."

"Get some damn rest, Doctor's orders."

A/N

So this is just a little fluffy introductory chapter. Plot before plot I suppose.

Things will get more exciting and heated later on, I can tell this is gonna be a long one with eventual Kirk and Spock and some darker elements-hence the m rating

Kirk's "Go climb a rock" shirt and the song dear Jamie inspired this story.