[fic] A Few Firsts VI
Title: A Few Firsts VI - Eight Months
Author: chibinecco
Universe/Series: ST: XI
Rating: All Audiences/PG
Relationship status: Established
Word count: ~2,600
Plot: angst, crack, drama, h/c, humor, fluff, family, mpreg, telepathy
Warnings: mpreg
Summary: A few milestone firsts in Sochya's life as Kirk and Spock begin preparations for expanding their little family even more.
Notes I: Sequel series to Due Dates, A RP with chibinecco and diane_kepler. Each installment is completely stand alone, but a collection of them can be viewed here.
"What? No, you can't do that." Jim said astounded at what he was hearing.
"I can, and will. The Enterprise and its crew are employed by Starfleet, and as such will follow the orders given to them, or do I need to have you court marshaled for insubordination."
"No, Sir. But please, you have to understand, Sochya-"
"Captain Kirk," Nogura interrupted impatience coloring his tone and face. "I understand you are a first time parent, but he will survive a weekend without his parents."
"Sir, Sochya isn't a human, separation anxiety comes much sooner and stronger for him-"
"Kirk," Nogura barked. "You have your orders, are we clear?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Very good. Nogura out."
Jim slumped down in his chair with a groan. "Fuck..."
~
When Jim relayed their orders to Spock and McCoy, he was surprised at their reactions.
"Is our superior officer willfully unintelligent, or lack the mental capacity to absorb knowledge crucial to the welfare of his subordinates?"
Bones and Jim stared at the vulcan whose fists were actually clenched at his sides.
"Wow, Spock. I think that's the closest I've ever seen you to insulting someone," McCoy said, impressed.
"I am merely stating facts." Spock's tone dripped with disgust.
"Uh, either way, There's not enough time to go over his head before we're required planetside, and if we refuse, he really would have every right to court marshal us."
"What do you suggest, Jim?"
"I think Spock and I are going to have to go down and participate in this ritual thing. Bones, can you take care of Sochya while we're gone? He knows you best."
"What? No, no he doesn't," McCoy protested. "I'm no good with kids, Jim; you know that. Find someone else. Rand's been taking care of him during your shifts, right?"
"Doctor... Leonard." Spock spoke softly, before Jim could form his rebuttal. "Sochya thinks highly of you. This experience will be very traumatic for him. He will need constant support after the first 10.36 hours apart, and you have proven yourself on multiple occasions to be the most compassionate and steadfast companion I have met in the accumulation of my existence. If you cannot help, we shall put a request to Yeoman Rand; however, I strongly believe you to be the first, best choice as Sochya's guardian while we are indisposed."
A heavy silence descended on them.
"Fuck, Spock. I can't say no after that," McCoy said quietly. "I'll take care of him, and I'm gonna make damn sure that asshole, Nogura, gets his comeuppance for this."
"Thank you, Doctor, I would expect nothing less."
Jim was stunned at the sudden coalescence between the two most important men in the galaxy to him. Almost reluctantly, he spoke again. "We've got three days until we arrive to prepare Sochya for this. At least we'll still be able to comm back here. "
~
The next three days seemed to disintegrate before them, and suddenly Spock was standing on the transporter with Uhura, waiting for his mate to finish saying goodbye to their son.
"You be a good boy, Sweet Sochya." Jim hugged his little boy closer. "We're going to call you at every grown-up meal, okay?"
McCoy laid a hand on Jim's shoulder gently. "We'll be okay, Jim. Some male bonding time with his favorite doctor, isn't that right?"
"Doc-Tor!" Sochya said.
Jim gave them a watery smile as he reluctantly handed Sochya off. "That's right, you've been looking forward to it for how many days?"
"Th'ee!"
An enormous grin spread across Jim's face as he stepped up to join his mate, Spock's own mouth quirking. When Sochya had begun counting nearly two months ahead of schedule, Jim had been pleased; Spock had been his own version of insufferable.
"We'll be back in two days-"
"46 hours."
"I promise, Sochya. Be good." Jim gave his smiling son one more lingering smile before he finally turned to Scotty and said, "Energize."
McCoy sighed, tense and already weary as he braced himself for the next two days. "Alright, Buddy. Let's go see what there is to do back at Uncle Doctor's quarters while your parents are gone."
"Doc-Tor!"
~
McCoy wanted to drop Sochya off to be someone else's problem. McCoy wanted to peacfully drown himself in a glass of soothing amber liquid. McCoy wanted to collapse into an unresponsive coma for a week. McCoy wanted his blasted headache to go away. McCoy forced himself to make do with none of those things.
"Come on Kid, what do you want from me?"
"No!" Sochya wailed, throwing his spoon of pureed sweet potatoes at the wall.
"You just woke up. Your diaper's clean. You didn't want your toys. You won't let me read to you. The only thing left is food."
"No!"
McCoy growled, picking up the screaming ball of a temper tantrum and taking him into the bathroom and turning on the sink. Sochya screamed 'no' over and over as McCoy carefully wiped food from his face, hands and clothes.
"No, no, no, no!"
McCoy sighed, carrying the baby into his bedroom. He was damned tired of all this noise. Patients were bad enough when they could tell him what the problem was.
Placing Sochya on the bed, McCoy got to work trying to remove the damp, food-stained onesie. A battle of epic proportions waged between infant and adult resulting in many a bruised ego and bumped nose for both parties.
Sochya was sniffling pitifully when McCoy eventually carried him back to the main room. "Hey, Little Guy. Do you know what time it is?"
"No," Sochya said with so much petulance that McCoy instantly forgave him for getting food in his eye earlier.
"It's almost dinner time down on the planet. We're gonna call your daddies soon."
"Daddy?" Sochya sniffed, starting to smile. "Daddy. Daddy, Daddy!"
"Yep, Father too. They're gonna show up on that screen there." McCoy pointed to the monitor sitting on his desk.
Sochya squirmed, tears forgotten as he tried to turn around and get a better look.
Exasperated, McCoy helped him get settled and tapped a few commands on the screen. "Uhura, it's McCoy."
"Hey, how's our favorite little rascal?" Uhura's voice came through clear and cheerful.
"Better than I am. I don't know how I'm gonna last another 41 hours."
"I can tell, you sound like death warmed over."
"I look it too, they free?"
"Yeah," Uhura laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing, you'll see." Her conspiratorial voice cut off as Jim's flushed face appeared on the screen.
"Sochya? Sweety?"
"Daddy!" Sochya flopped forward, making McCoy lift him up so he could slap the screen excitedly.
"Hey there. Careful." Jim made an aborted gesture, as if he were trying to reach through the screen to catch his son before he fell.
McCoy adjusted their seat closer to the desk so Sochya could reach without leaning so far forward. "Hey, how's it going down there?"
"Daddy!"
"Pretty good. We're a little ahead of schedule, actually. Any word from command?"
"Pike called earlier, Scotty said he was absolutely livid. Nearly knocked over his wheelchair he was so pissed off for you."
"Bones," Jim scolded.
"What?"
Sochya looked puzzlingly between them. "Pissed?"
"Bones!" Jim yelped.
"Oh, relax. He wouldn't've even noticed if you hadn't objected. Sochya, be nice to your daddy and don't say that word, okay?"
"Otay. Doc-Tor!" Sochya squealed, grabbing McCoy's nose.
McCoy sighed, as Jim tried valiantly not to smile dopily. "Sorry, has he been too much trouble?"
"Not any more than I was expecting. He really misses you guys though. He's used to one of you popping in on him whenever he's supposed to be at daycare. Yeah, Rand ratted you both out when I called her for advice."
The two on screen glanced between each other, chagrined. "What can we say?"
"Parents of children of vulcan descent need to maintain frequent contact with their children to assure proper acceptance of social and emotional bonds."
"Yeah, yeah. You and every other parent who ever squirted one out."
"Fa-ver!" Sochya interjected pointing at his father before Jim could argue.
"I am present, Sochya."
They all smiled at the bundle of boy in McCoy's lap as he yawned widely.
"Somebody's a sleepy sheep." McCoy said softly, adjusting Sochya to lie back against his chest.
"Noo..." Sochya whined, reaching out. "Daddy."
"It's okay, Sweet Sochya. Daddy will be here when you wake up. You'll get to call us at breakfast."
"Hmm-mn... mdd," he mumbled, eyes drifting shut just before he relaxed limply in McCoy's arms.
"Oh, thank god," McCoy moaned softly.
Jim chuckled. "He's not that bad."
"You've never had to take care of him through 'Daddy withdrawl.' He's said 'no' so many times, I completely lost count."
Spock pursed his lips. "If you require we return to the ship..."
"No, no. Stay. It'll be much worse for all and sundry if we stop. He's fine when I can manage to distract him, but he knows when you usually have meals and started to get too anxious in anticipation."
"If you're sure..."
"I'm sure. Me and the mini-hobgoblin are thick as theives."
"I would discourage performing any actions that could be construed as illegal in our son's presence, Doctor," Spock said sternly.
"Now, listen here-" McCoy began before Jim interrupted with a laugh.
"It's just a saying, Spock, means they're getting along great, growing closer by the minute."
Spock nodded, but McCoy was under the distinct impression he was still suspicious, heaven knew what gave him that idea.
"Well, sorry you're still stuck down there, but it's only two days."
"At the current rate procedures have advanced, I anticipate completion in under 36.77 hours."
"That soon?" McCoy said sarcastically.
"That is ahead of schedule by-"
"Relax, Spock. Sochya's okay, we'll be home soon." Jim said, reaching over to grab Spock's hand reassuringly. "We'll make it through this."
Spock gave a resigned nod.
"G'night, you two."
"G'night, Bones, Sweet Sochya." Jim murmured affectionately at the sleeping baby collapsed in McCoy's lap.
"Yeah, same to you."
"Live long and Prosper." Spock raised the Vulcan salute momentarily before the signal faded.
McCoy heaved a sigh as his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten anything except a bag of chips since breakfast. "Thirty-six hours, think we're gonna make it?"
Sochya snuffled, smacking his lips on McCoy's arm.
"Yeah, me neither."
~
Sochya did better through lunch the next day. Lethargic before each 'grown-up meal' approached, but at least he wasn't popping McCoy's eardrums with his screaming anymore.
"We miss you, Sweet Sochya." Jim said, clearly more than a little worn around the edges.
"Daddy." Sochya said sadly, both hands pressed firmly to the small screen.
"We do too, Jim." McCoy said. "At least we're past the halfway, I'm just glad Spock was right about the schedule bump."
Jim nodded enthusiastically as there was a knock from his side. "Shi-" Jim slapped a hand over his face.
"Daddy?"
"Gotta go, sweet Sochya, promise we'll be back tomorrow, before lunch."
"Daddy?" Sochya began to sniff, and McCoy felt dread begin to coil in his gut. Sochya was beginning to have more and more trouble with saying goodbye. "Fa-ver!"
The despair in his voice broke McCoy's heart inside.
Even Spock couldn't bring himself to give his usual, detached farewell. "Goodbye, Sochya. We will contact again soon."
The vid-feed closed, Sochya patting the screen morosely before hugging McCoy's arm and burying his face quietly against the man's chest. McCoy never thought he would miss screaming.
~
It wasn't until sometime after Jim and Spock's transmission that evening that McCoy realized Sochya wasn't eating.
"Come on, Hun. Just a bite. Please?" McCoy said, holding the spoon out.
Sochya turned his head.
"Come on, it's your favorite, pudding. You like pudding."
Sochya whined, turning his head the other way. "No pudd."
McCoy was at the end of his rope, voice going sickly sweet. "Come on, you blasted little hobgoblin. Eat something, even your hobgoblin father isn't this stubborn."
Sochya blinked at the new word a look of utter befuddlement on his face. "G'bobbin?"
McCoy couldn't help it; he laughed. "Even when you're a hassle you can't help being adorable, can you?"
Sochya continued to look at him, confused.
"You're such a silly little 'Bobbin. Now, you gonna eat something? Your daddies wouldn't like it if I let you go hungry."
Sochya paused to think about that before obediently opening his mouth.
"There's a good boy, 'Bobbin."
Sochya giggled, swallowing and opening his mouth again for more pudding.
"Like that, huh? 'Bobbin?"
Sochya nodded, apparently appeased to eat his meal, much to McCoy's relief.
~
Things picked up from there. Sochya was much happier and more playful into the evening until bedtime when he went to bed almost immediately, sleeping soundly through the night and allowing McCoy to catch up on his paperwork before collapsing himself sometime in the early morning.
The last transmission was lighter, much lighter. It was as if Sochya actually understood his parents would be home soon. All four of them chattering happily until the attendant came to retrieve the two Starfleet representatives.
"Bye-bye, Daddy! Bye-bye, Fa-ver!" Sochya waved, patting the screen happily, as it cut away from Jim's expression of utter adoration.
McCoy smiled down at the happy face looking up at him. "Has anyone ever told you how cute you are, 'Bobbin?"
Sochya giggled, latching onto McCoy's neck for a tight hug.
~
McCoy stood in the transporter room, baby squirming eagerly in his arms. As much as McCoy had looked forward to giving him back in the beginning, McCoy was already starting to dread having to say good-bye to his newfound friend.
The transporter whirred and chimed as the away team sparkled and began to form.
"Sochya!" Jim cheered, rushing forward and scooping his son into his arms almost before they were done solidifying.
"Daddy!" Sochya hugged back as good as he got as Spock stepped up, laying the backs of his fingers against Sochya's cheek.
"Were you a good boy, Sweet Sochya?" Jim cooed, nuzzling as he switched shoulders, chaining hugs together.
"He was a perfect angel weren't you, 'Bobbin?"
"'Bobbin!" Sochya agreed as Jim mouthed the word to Spock who merely raised his eyebrow in return.
McCoy tapped Sochya on the nose amidst happy giggles before stepping back to let the happy family reconnect, but Sochya had other plans.
"Doc-Tor?" He whined, making grabby hands until McCoy came back.
"Wow, he really likes you now, doesn't he?"
McCoy smiled, reaching his hand out to let Sochya squeeze two of his fingers. "He's not the only one..." the doctor murmured. He'd miss his little companion.
"You know..." Jim said, looking conspiratorially at Spock. "I've been reading up on this idea... A sort of 'date night.' But we'd need a babysitter..."
"What, you two don't burn the sheets up enough already?" McCoy growled.
"Nope." Jim chirped.
McCoy let out a put-upon sigh. "I suppose you're expecting me to offer my services?"
"I might be hinting at that, yeah."
McCoy pretended to think about it a moment. "Alright, fine. I'll do it if I must."
Spock looked back and forth between the two of them. "I have come to the conclusion that a I will never fully understand the human propensity for illogic."
"'Bobbin!" Sochya concurred.
~
A month later, Nogura was brought up on charges for undermining his superiors authority, child abuse, and telepathic trauma.
Chris Pike replaced him as the direct supervisor of The Enterprise's five year mission.
Author: chibinecco
Universe/Series: ST: XI
Rating: All Audiences/PG
Relationship status: Established
Word count: ~2,600
Plot: angst, crack, drama, h/c, humor, fluff, family, mpreg, telepathy
Warnings: mpreg
Summary: A few milestone firsts in Sochya's life as Kirk and Spock begin preparations for expanding their little family even more.
Notes I: Sequel series to Due Dates, A RP with chibinecco and diane_kepler. Each installment is completely stand alone, but a collection of them can be viewed here.
"What? No, you can't do that." Jim said astounded at what he was hearing.
"I can, and will. The Enterprise and its crew are employed by Starfleet, and as such will follow the orders given to them, or do I need to have you court marshaled for insubordination."
"No, Sir. But please, you have to understand, Sochya-"
"Captain Kirk," Nogura interrupted impatience coloring his tone and face. "I understand you are a first time parent, but he will survive a weekend without his parents."
"Sir, Sochya isn't a human, separation anxiety comes much sooner and stronger for him-"
"Kirk," Nogura barked. "You have your orders, are we clear?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Very good. Nogura out."
Jim slumped down in his chair with a groan. "Fuck..."
~
When Jim relayed their orders to Spock and McCoy, he was surprised at their reactions.
"Is our superior officer willfully unintelligent, or lack the mental capacity to absorb knowledge crucial to the welfare of his subordinates?"
Bones and Jim stared at the vulcan whose fists were actually clenched at his sides.
"Wow, Spock. I think that's the closest I've ever seen you to insulting someone," McCoy said, impressed.
"I am merely stating facts." Spock's tone dripped with disgust.
"Uh, either way, There's not enough time to go over his head before we're required planetside, and if we refuse, he really would have every right to court marshal us."
"What do you suggest, Jim?"
"I think Spock and I are going to have to go down and participate in this ritual thing. Bones, can you take care of Sochya while we're gone? He knows you best."
"What? No, no he doesn't," McCoy protested. "I'm no good with kids, Jim; you know that. Find someone else. Rand's been taking care of him during your shifts, right?"
"Doctor... Leonard." Spock spoke softly, before Jim could form his rebuttal. "Sochya thinks highly of you. This experience will be very traumatic for him. He will need constant support after the first 10.36 hours apart, and you have proven yourself on multiple occasions to be the most compassionate and steadfast companion I have met in the accumulation of my existence. If you cannot help, we shall put a request to Yeoman Rand; however, I strongly believe you to be the first, best choice as Sochya's guardian while we are indisposed."
A heavy silence descended on them.
"Fuck, Spock. I can't say no after that," McCoy said quietly. "I'll take care of him, and I'm gonna make damn sure that asshole, Nogura, gets his comeuppance for this."
"Thank you, Doctor, I would expect nothing less."
Jim was stunned at the sudden coalescence between the two most important men in the galaxy to him. Almost reluctantly, he spoke again. "We've got three days until we arrive to prepare Sochya for this. At least we'll still be able to comm back here. "
~
The next three days seemed to disintegrate before them, and suddenly Spock was standing on the transporter with Uhura, waiting for his mate to finish saying goodbye to their son.
"You be a good boy, Sweet Sochya." Jim hugged his little boy closer. "We're going to call you at every grown-up meal, okay?"
McCoy laid a hand on Jim's shoulder gently. "We'll be okay, Jim. Some male bonding time with his favorite doctor, isn't that right?"
"Doc-Tor!" Sochya said.
Jim gave them a watery smile as he reluctantly handed Sochya off. "That's right, you've been looking forward to it for how many days?"
"Th'ee!"
An enormous grin spread across Jim's face as he stepped up to join his mate, Spock's own mouth quirking. When Sochya had begun counting nearly two months ahead of schedule, Jim had been pleased; Spock had been his own version of insufferable.
"We'll be back in two days-"
"46 hours."
"I promise, Sochya. Be good." Jim gave his smiling son one more lingering smile before he finally turned to Scotty and said, "Energize."
McCoy sighed, tense and already weary as he braced himself for the next two days. "Alright, Buddy. Let's go see what there is to do back at Uncle Doctor's quarters while your parents are gone."
"Doc-Tor!"
~
McCoy wanted to drop Sochya off to be someone else's problem. McCoy wanted to peacfully drown himself in a glass of soothing amber liquid. McCoy wanted to collapse into an unresponsive coma for a week. McCoy wanted his blasted headache to go away. McCoy forced himself to make do with none of those things.
"Come on Kid, what do you want from me?"
"No!" Sochya wailed, throwing his spoon of pureed sweet potatoes at the wall.
"You just woke up. Your diaper's clean. You didn't want your toys. You won't let me read to you. The only thing left is food."
"No!"
McCoy growled, picking up the screaming ball of a temper tantrum and taking him into the bathroom and turning on the sink. Sochya screamed 'no' over and over as McCoy carefully wiped food from his face, hands and clothes.
"No, no, no, no!"
McCoy sighed, carrying the baby into his bedroom. He was damned tired of all this noise. Patients were bad enough when they could tell him what the problem was.
Placing Sochya on the bed, McCoy got to work trying to remove the damp, food-stained onesie. A battle of epic proportions waged between infant and adult resulting in many a bruised ego and bumped nose for both parties.
Sochya was sniffling pitifully when McCoy eventually carried him back to the main room. "Hey, Little Guy. Do you know what time it is?"
"No," Sochya said with so much petulance that McCoy instantly forgave him for getting food in his eye earlier.
"It's almost dinner time down on the planet. We're gonna call your daddies soon."
"Daddy?" Sochya sniffed, starting to smile. "Daddy. Daddy, Daddy!"
"Yep, Father too. They're gonna show up on that screen there." McCoy pointed to the monitor sitting on his desk.
Sochya squirmed, tears forgotten as he tried to turn around and get a better look.
Exasperated, McCoy helped him get settled and tapped a few commands on the screen. "Uhura, it's McCoy."
"Hey, how's our favorite little rascal?" Uhura's voice came through clear and cheerful.
"Better than I am. I don't know how I'm gonna last another 41 hours."
"I can tell, you sound like death warmed over."
"I look it too, they free?"
"Yeah," Uhura laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing, you'll see." Her conspiratorial voice cut off as Jim's flushed face appeared on the screen.
"Sochya? Sweety?"
"Daddy!" Sochya flopped forward, making McCoy lift him up so he could slap the screen excitedly.
"Hey there. Careful." Jim made an aborted gesture, as if he were trying to reach through the screen to catch his son before he fell.
McCoy adjusted their seat closer to the desk so Sochya could reach without leaning so far forward. "Hey, how's it going down there?"
"Daddy!"
"Pretty good. We're a little ahead of schedule, actually. Any word from command?"
"Pike called earlier, Scotty said he was absolutely livid. Nearly knocked over his wheelchair he was so pissed off for you."
"Bones," Jim scolded.
"What?"
Sochya looked puzzlingly between them. "Pissed?"
"Bones!" Jim yelped.
"Oh, relax. He wouldn't've even noticed if you hadn't objected. Sochya, be nice to your daddy and don't say that word, okay?"
"Otay. Doc-Tor!" Sochya squealed, grabbing McCoy's nose.
McCoy sighed, as Jim tried valiantly not to smile dopily. "Sorry, has he been too much trouble?"
"Not any more than I was expecting. He really misses you guys though. He's used to one of you popping in on him whenever he's supposed to be at daycare. Yeah, Rand ratted you both out when I called her for advice."
The two on screen glanced between each other, chagrined. "What can we say?"
"Parents of children of vulcan descent need to maintain frequent contact with their children to assure proper acceptance of social and emotional bonds."
"Yeah, yeah. You and every other parent who ever squirted one out."
"Fa-ver!" Sochya interjected pointing at his father before Jim could argue.
"I am present, Sochya."
They all smiled at the bundle of boy in McCoy's lap as he yawned widely.
"Somebody's a sleepy sheep." McCoy said softly, adjusting Sochya to lie back against his chest.
"Noo..." Sochya whined, reaching out. "Daddy."
"It's okay, Sweet Sochya. Daddy will be here when you wake up. You'll get to call us at breakfast."
"Hmm-mn... mdd," he mumbled, eyes drifting shut just before he relaxed limply in McCoy's arms.
"Oh, thank god," McCoy moaned softly.
Jim chuckled. "He's not that bad."
"You've never had to take care of him through 'Daddy withdrawl.' He's said 'no' so many times, I completely lost count."
Spock pursed his lips. "If you require we return to the ship..."
"No, no. Stay. It'll be much worse for all and sundry if we stop. He's fine when I can manage to distract him, but he knows when you usually have meals and started to get too anxious in anticipation."
"If you're sure..."
"I'm sure. Me and the mini-hobgoblin are thick as theives."
"I would discourage performing any actions that could be construed as illegal in our son's presence, Doctor," Spock said sternly.
"Now, listen here-" McCoy began before Jim interrupted with a laugh.
"It's just a saying, Spock, means they're getting along great, growing closer by the minute."
Spock nodded, but McCoy was under the distinct impression he was still suspicious, heaven knew what gave him that idea.
"Well, sorry you're still stuck down there, but it's only two days."
"At the current rate procedures have advanced, I anticipate completion in under 36.77 hours."
"That soon?" McCoy said sarcastically.
"That is ahead of schedule by-"
"Relax, Spock. Sochya's okay, we'll be home soon." Jim said, reaching over to grab Spock's hand reassuringly. "We'll make it through this."
Spock gave a resigned nod.
"G'night, you two."
"G'night, Bones, Sweet Sochya." Jim murmured affectionately at the sleeping baby collapsed in McCoy's lap.
"Yeah, same to you."
"Live long and Prosper." Spock raised the Vulcan salute momentarily before the signal faded.
McCoy heaved a sigh as his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten anything except a bag of chips since breakfast. "Thirty-six hours, think we're gonna make it?"
Sochya snuffled, smacking his lips on McCoy's arm.
"Yeah, me neither."
~
Sochya did better through lunch the next day. Lethargic before each 'grown-up meal' approached, but at least he wasn't popping McCoy's eardrums with his screaming anymore.
"We miss you, Sweet Sochya." Jim said, clearly more than a little worn around the edges.
"Daddy." Sochya said sadly, both hands pressed firmly to the small screen.
"We do too, Jim." McCoy said. "At least we're past the halfway, I'm just glad Spock was right about the schedule bump."
Jim nodded enthusiastically as there was a knock from his side. "Shi-" Jim slapped a hand over his face.
"Daddy?"
"Gotta go, sweet Sochya, promise we'll be back tomorrow, before lunch."
"Daddy?" Sochya began to sniff, and McCoy felt dread begin to coil in his gut. Sochya was beginning to have more and more trouble with saying goodbye. "Fa-ver!"
The despair in his voice broke McCoy's heart inside.
Even Spock couldn't bring himself to give his usual, detached farewell. "Goodbye, Sochya. We will contact again soon."
The vid-feed closed, Sochya patting the screen morosely before hugging McCoy's arm and burying his face quietly against the man's chest. McCoy never thought he would miss screaming.
~
It wasn't until sometime after Jim and Spock's transmission that evening that McCoy realized Sochya wasn't eating.
"Come on, Hun. Just a bite. Please?" McCoy said, holding the spoon out.
Sochya turned his head.
"Come on, it's your favorite, pudding. You like pudding."
Sochya whined, turning his head the other way. "No pudd."
McCoy was at the end of his rope, voice going sickly sweet. "Come on, you blasted little hobgoblin. Eat something, even your hobgoblin father isn't this stubborn."
Sochya blinked at the new word a look of utter befuddlement on his face. "G'bobbin?"
McCoy couldn't help it; he laughed. "Even when you're a hassle you can't help being adorable, can you?"
Sochya continued to look at him, confused.
"You're such a silly little 'Bobbin. Now, you gonna eat something? Your daddies wouldn't like it if I let you go hungry."
Sochya paused to think about that before obediently opening his mouth.
"There's a good boy, 'Bobbin."
Sochya giggled, swallowing and opening his mouth again for more pudding.
"Like that, huh? 'Bobbin?"
Sochya nodded, apparently appeased to eat his meal, much to McCoy's relief.
~
Things picked up from there. Sochya was much happier and more playful into the evening until bedtime when he went to bed almost immediately, sleeping soundly through the night and allowing McCoy to catch up on his paperwork before collapsing himself sometime in the early morning.
The last transmission was lighter, much lighter. It was as if Sochya actually understood his parents would be home soon. All four of them chattering happily until the attendant came to retrieve the two Starfleet representatives.
"Bye-bye, Daddy! Bye-bye, Fa-ver!" Sochya waved, patting the screen happily, as it cut away from Jim's expression of utter adoration.
McCoy smiled down at the happy face looking up at him. "Has anyone ever told you how cute you are, 'Bobbin?"
Sochya giggled, latching onto McCoy's neck for a tight hug.
~
McCoy stood in the transporter room, baby squirming eagerly in his arms. As much as McCoy had looked forward to giving him back in the beginning, McCoy was already starting to dread having to say good-bye to his newfound friend.
The transporter whirred and chimed as the away team sparkled and began to form.
"Sochya!" Jim cheered, rushing forward and scooping his son into his arms almost before they were done solidifying.
"Daddy!" Sochya hugged back as good as he got as Spock stepped up, laying the backs of his fingers against Sochya's cheek.
"Were you a good boy, Sweet Sochya?" Jim cooed, nuzzling as he switched shoulders, chaining hugs together.
"He was a perfect angel weren't you, 'Bobbin?"
"'Bobbin!" Sochya agreed as Jim mouthed the word to Spock who merely raised his eyebrow in return.
McCoy tapped Sochya on the nose amidst happy giggles before stepping back to let the happy family reconnect, but Sochya had other plans.
"Doc-Tor?" He whined, making grabby hands until McCoy came back.
"Wow, he really likes you now, doesn't he?"
McCoy smiled, reaching his hand out to let Sochya squeeze two of his fingers. "He's not the only one..." the doctor murmured. He'd miss his little companion.
"You know..." Jim said, looking conspiratorially at Spock. "I've been reading up on this idea... A sort of 'date night.' But we'd need a babysitter..."
"What, you two don't burn the sheets up enough already?" McCoy growled.
"Nope." Jim chirped.
McCoy let out a put-upon sigh. "I suppose you're expecting me to offer my services?"
"I might be hinting at that, yeah."
McCoy pretended to think about it a moment. "Alright, fine. I'll do it if I must."
Spock looked back and forth between the two of them. "I have come to the conclusion that a I will never fully understand the human propensity for illogic."
"'Bobbin!" Sochya concurred.
~
A month later, Nogura was brought up on charges for undermining his superiors authority, child abuse, and telepathic trauma.
Chris Pike replaced him as the direct supervisor of The Enterprise's five year mission.