Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Star Trek franchise and am not making any profit from this story.

Warnings: Spoilers for "Conscience of the King" (TOS), Mpreg, Tarsus IV (past)

Chapter 6

The next day, Jim and T'Yel are released from the hospital and four days later, Jim's classmates stop by. Tom answers the door. Jim looks up to see Leslie on the doorstep, flanked by Randy and Mike. Leslie stares at Tom and finally stammers, "You're really cute. Come to the graduation dance with me?"

Tom chokes and Jim laughs as he stands, T'Yel nuzzled in his arms. "Tom's a bit old for you, Les," he says.

Leslie blushes and turns to Jim. "Who's the baby?"

"Her name is T'Yel. She's a week old."

Leslie steps into the house and holds out her hands. "May I?"

Jim reluctantly hands her over. Mike asks, "Whose is she?"

"Mine. One night stand gone wrong and to top it off, I don't even remember the girl, but my doc confirmed she's mine."

"What, she just dumped the kid on your doorstep?"

"Pretty much. She's adorable, though, isn't she?"

Mike and Randy crowd Leslie to see the baby. Randy touches an ear, which makes T'Yel squirm. "What's with the ears?"

"She's half Vulcan and apparently, Vulcans have very sensitive ears."

Mike looks up at Jim. "You managed to bed a Vulcan? How? And how do you not remember it?"

"I have no idea. I'm sure it was one of the many nights I drank too much and woke with no recollection of it afterward. What's happening with the graduation party?"

Randy says, "Sarah's parents are hosting it at their ranch, decorating the horse arena with an ancient disco ball and everything. They've promised lots of proper Iowa-style fried foods. You coming?"

"I don't know. Between T'Yel and my cousin Kevin, who's only ten and only in town for a few more days, I kind of want to be with family right now."

Leslie stops cooing at T'Yel long enough to say, "Bring them with you. There'll be lots of kids, mostly younger siblings, but Janel will be bringing her twins. The whole thing will be pretty informal."

"Janel has kids?" Jim vaguely remembers the plump girl whose only real talent is painting, at which she is very good.

"They were born in April. Rumor has it Luke's the dad, but no one knows if it's true. Anyway, you won't be the only teen parent there."

"I want to go, Jim," Kevin says from the door to the kitchen. "I haven't been to a party in ages and I'll take good care of T'Yel, I promise."

"See," Randy says, "you even have free babysitting. You have to come now."

Jim looks toward Tom. "Would T'Yel be okay in such a large crowd?"

Tom answers, "If she were entirely human, I'd say she'll be fine, but we're still learning about Vulcan children. I have no idea how she will respond to large groups of people."

"You'll come with?"

"Of course. Someone has to keep an eye on you two." He glances at Kevin, who is grinning. "You three, rather."

"And you'll dance with me?" Leslie asks Tom. Jim and Kevin laugh at Tom's less than pleased expression.

-0-

The graduation party is T'Yel's public debut. Several of Jim's classmates coo over her, even a few of the ones who used to ignore and bully Jim, but they all behave for the baby. Jim supposes the presence of parents and former teachers helps to encourage their good behavior. Kevin stays with T'Yel the whole night and a few times Jim hears him telling various girls to back off and let T'Yel breathe.

Leslie gets her dance with Tom, as do several other girls. Then she drags Jim into the arena beneath the disco ball. It has been months since Jim last danced and he is thoroughly enjoying himself, first with Leslie, then with various other classmates. Leslie loops back to dance with him again and abruptly kisses him.

He kisses her back reflexively, then asks, "What was that for?"

She swats his arm. "I've wanted to do that all year. Go out with me?"

"I'm a bit busy right now, between T'Yel and the online courses I'm taking. I don't have the time or energy for dating anymore, but I'd be happy to hang out occasionally, in baby-friendly places."

"I know you haven't given up alcohol, Jim. You were drinking beer earlier."

"Yes, I was, in moderation. I have no desire to get another girl pregnant and I really do want to be a good dad to T'Yel."

"Do you even know anything about raising a Vulcan child?"

"Nope, but I'm determined to learn. Friends?"

Leslie looks away. "I don't know, Jim. I really like you and I really ... I won't be happy as just friends."

"What are your plans for fall?"

"I'm going to the University of Chicago to study botany. I was planning on Des Moines, but the scholarship came through two days ago. It's close enough I could still come back for holidays, though."

"You should stay in Chicago, make friends there. You deserve better than this place."

"So do you, Jim. You could come with me."

Jim shakes his head. "I have to do what's right for T'Yel right now. My doctor and family are here and I need that, at least for the next year. I'm sorry, Leslie."

"Yeah, me, too." She drifts away.

A couple minutes later, Jim is dancing with another former classmate when Kevin interrupts. T'Yel is fussing in his arms. "Jim, I don't know what's wrong. I checked her diaper and tried to feed her and everything, but she won't stop crying."

Jim takes her gently and hugs her against him. "What's wrong, T'Yel?" he asks. She snuggles against Jim's chest and gurgles quietly. "Are you getting tired?" He rocks her gently, swaying more or less to the music. She slowly closes her eyes and quiets.

"How do you do that?" Kevin asks. "You just pick her up and immediately she's quiet."

"She knows I'm her dad," Jim says. His dance partner is watching them closely.

"She's yours? Who's the mother?"

Jim shrugs. "One night stand I don't remember." He isn't sorry when she harrumphs and stalks off. "I think it's time to go home, little one."

"Me, too," Kevin yawns. "I think she wore me out."

Author's Note:

Thank you to those who have reviewed, favorited, and followed my story so far. As always, please let me know if you're confused, curious, or concerned. And now I'm rewriting everything from Chapter 7 onward, and I'm busy with grad school applications, so again, I'm not sure how quickly I can post.