Captain Cambil Bexa stood in her quarters, enveloped in stillness, taking a moment to reflect on the recent events that had transpired. She stood before a masterfully crafted Bajoran tapestry with her hands open wide, her eyes shut, and her head bowed in reverence. The room was dimly lit, with two candles illuminating either side of the tapestry, their gentle flickering casting warm shadows on the walls.

In a soft, almost inaudible voice, Cambil uttered a prayer as though speaking directly to the Bajoran Prophets. “Prophets, hear my plea. I implore you to guide the souls of those who perished in the Dominion’s incursion into the Deneb sector to the Celestial Temple. I pray especially for Captain Rio Canção. May she walk with you forever. She and those who gave their lives for us deserve the peace and tranquillity of your divine abode. Please, help them find their way to you.”

She remained motionless, allowing herself to listen for a response, feeling a deep sense of serenity wash over her. She knew that the Prophets had heard her prayer. She lingered there for a few more minutes, reflecting on the recent events and lost lives. She acknowledged that it was her responsibility to safeguard her crew and the Federation, but she also knew she could not do it alone. She needed the guidance and blessings of the Prophets to sustain her.

With a deep inhalation, Captain Cambil rose to her feet and extinguished the candles, one by one. As she walked away from the tapestry, she whispered to herself, “May the Prophets watch over us all.”

“Bridge to Captain Cambil,” interrupted her first officer, Commander Hunsen.

“Computer, lights,” Cambil ordered, automatically the room lit up in response before she reached for the combadge that was sat behind her on the small glass coffee table. After putting it back on her uniform jacket, she tapped it. “Go ahead, Tremt.”

“Ma’am, you have an incoming private hail; it’s Naprem.” Hunsen shared. 

Hearing her first officer mention her husband’s name surprised Cambil. She had written to him only last week about where the Themis was heading. Both knew they wouldn’t be able to see one another while she was back in the Alpha Quadrant. “Pipe him through down here, please, Tremt.”

A few seconds later and a holographic version of her husband appeared before her. Cambil Naprem had a rugged and masculine build. He had piercing blue eyes and a strong jawline, giving him a striking and charismatic look. Though Bexa liked her husband’s muscular figure and chiselled physique, that wasn’t the only thing she found attractive about him. His confidence and charm, along with his sense of humour, were other factors she loved about him. He had a full head of dark hair styled messy and tousled. 

“Naprem,” She said with a huge grin. “This is a lovely unexpected interruption.”  

Her husband nodded. “I hope I’m not catching you during a shift?”

“Not at all,” Cambil replied, shaking her hand and waving off his concern before placing her hands on her hips. “Is everything okay?”

“It is,” He confirmed with an extra nod. “I’m contacting you as I’ve got some news.” Naprem paused. “Bexa, the boys and I can’t do this anymore with you so far away. So the boys and I have been chatting.”

Her stomach flipped over several times as she said those words, and Bexa immediately felt some dread. “Chatting? Chatting about what?” She asked. 

Naprem’s expression changed to a smirk as he rubbed his stubbly chin. “Well, how’d you like to have some roommates on your big old starship?”

A bit confused at first, eventually Cambil realised what he was saying. “Are you serious?” She asked. “Starfleet ordered all civilians off the ships after we returned from the Delta Quadrant. How are you getting around it?”

“Haven’t you heard? That order has been rescinded. It’s almost like the Prophets are shining upon us, Bexa. So what do you say?”

Surprised and ecstatic, the captain nodded. “Absolutely! I’ll order them to expand our quarters, and once we’ve finished at Earth, I’ll have the Themis hot tail it all the way to Olbari to pick you all up!”

He chuckled. “Slow down, Captain Cambil.” Naprem raised his hands at her. “We’re already on our way to you. We should be on Earth in about six days.”

“I can’t wait!” She smirked. “That is the best news, Naprem. I’ll get us a good bottle of Spring Wine to enjoy!”

“The bottle of the seventy-one you’ve been hiding from me would be good!”

Annoyed but not surprised he knew about her hidden stash of Bajoran Spring Wine, Bexa agreed and said goodbye to her husband. 

She couldn’t wait to see her husband and sons. She then looked around her quarters and realised so much needed to be done to make it big for them all to live in. 

Lieutenant Commander T’Rani sat on the biobed in the sickbay of the USS Themis, curious to hear what the doctor had to tell her as she awaited the results of the scan. Her partner, Lieutenant Commander Samris, sat beside her, offering a comforting presence as they both hoped for the best. The chief medical officer, Lieutenant Remi Forbes, thoroughly examined the four-month-old foetus growing within T’Rani’s womb with the utmost care and attention.

As a first-time mother, T’Rani was acutely aware of the potential risks associated with a Vulcan and Romulan pregnancy. She desired everything to be perfect, and the possibility of complications only added to the uncertainty. However, Forbes exuded a calm and reassuring presence, his expertise and professionalism offering hope.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Forbes looked up from the scanner and offered a warm smile to the couple. “Great news,” he said, his voice conveying a sense of joy. “The foetus is thriving, and there are no signs of any abnormalities. I expect Lieutenant Commander T’Rani to give birth in five months without complications.”

Relief washed over T’Rani, and Samris gently squeezed her hand, his own relief palpable. “Thank you, Remi,” he said, his gratitude evident. “Your expertise is much appreciated.”

Forbes nodded, his gaze gentle and reassuring. “I’m delighted to help,” he said. “It’s always a joy to witness a healthy pregnancy, and this will be the first child born on the Themis since we transferred from Odyssey, so it’s extra special.”

T’Rani sat up a little straighter, her mind racing with questions and concerns. “May I inquire if there are any specific actions we should take or avoid to ensure a healthy pregnancy?” she asked, her words measured and polite.

Forbes took a moment to reflect, his eyes scanning through the data on his monitor. “As I said to you last month, it’s essential to maintain a nutritious diet and get enough rest, as with any pregnancy,” he replied, his tone thoughtful. “Avoiding stress is equally crucial, although I understand it can be challenging on a starship. You’ve done well, even with everything we’ve endured recently, but let’s hope the Frontier Day celebrations give us all a break.”

T’Rani nodded, a sense of gratitude washing over her. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said, her words laced with sincerity. “We will do our utmost.”

Forbes offered a reassuring smile, his eyes kind and compassionate. “I am confident that you will,” he said. “Lieutenant Commander T’Rani, you are under the care of a capable team. I will continue to keep an eye on your progress to ensure that everything is on track.”

Appreciating his continued support, Samris and T’Rani left sickbay after thanking him and returning to their quarters. Walking down the corridors, the two of them remained quiet. The silence kept them calm, and even when they did arrive in their quarters, the only sound they made was ordering a drink from the replicator. After sitting down on the sofa together, side-by-side, it was Samris who interrupted the quietness.

“So, how are you feeling about becoming a parent?” He asked before taking a sip from his tea.

“I am,” T’Rani answered but paused. “Contempt with the issue.”

Samris rolled his eyes at the ever-so-Vulcan response she gave. “I can see that.”

Ignoring his sarcastic tone, T’Rani asked him a similar question.

“I think I can’t wait to have a little Samris or T’Rani running around here,” Samris answered honestly. “Getting to show them the galaxy will be such a great thing to do.”

“We should consider discussing parental leave,” T’Rani bluntly said. She turned to Samris. “I do not want my duties to suffer.”

“How will they suffer, T’Rani?” Samris asked with a slight chuckle. “Becoming a mother isn’t a disability or fighting off a battalion of Jem’Hadar!”

“Captain Cambil has placed a significant amount of trust into me as her second officer; I cannot afford to let her down,” T’Rani answered. “This is still an early phase in her captaincy of the Themis. It will not serve her or Starfleet well if I become absent from my duties.”

“Are you serious, T’Rani?” Samris challenged her.

“Very,” She answered. 

Samris was somewhat surprised, a little bit shocked, but then, on the other hand, he knew he should have expected something like this from T’Rani. “Do you hear yourself, T’Rani? Do you honestly believe the captain will be annoyed at you for becoming a mother? You do know she is one herself, right?”

“I do, I am concerned, and yes, I do know that,” T’Rani replied to each question individually. “Furthermore, we should discuss the status of our relationship.”

Sitting up straight, Samris looked at her. “Hold yourself there, commander,” He pointed at her. “Let’s take a step back and discuss the issue of you and your duties. Firstly, Captain Cambil is your mentor, someone who you’ve told me on multiple occasions you admire. I know she feels the same for you. She will understand that you will need to focus on your newborn baby; not only does she get it, but she is forced to follow Starfleet regulations regarding parental leave. And if that means for a bit of a while that others, like Cline, Trev, Decter or Abbej, have to pick up the slack while you are not around, then that will have to be it.”

Realising she could not dispute his logic, T’Rani nodded her head. “Very well, however, back to my previous point. We need to discuss our relationship’s status.”

“Why?” Samris asked her. “We’re happy where we are, aren’t we?”

“I am satisfied with our relationship, so I suggest we move it forward and we get engaged, followed by a swift marriage. If you are in agreement, then we can go forward in discussing the matter with parents who are visiting tomorrow.”

Further shock and surprise overwhelmed Samris, and the Romulan counsellor was speechless.

Seeing as he had nothing to say, T’Rani continued her statement. “I have also invited your parents to join us while we are at Earth.”

Samris then dropped his mug on the floor upon hearing that news.

Lieutenant Commander Cline Lenjir sat back in his chair, savouring the rich flavour of his raktajino. The warmth of the drink spread through his body, and he felt himself relax in the company of his colleagues. The Ten Forward lounge was a pleasant place on the USS Themis where crew members could relax and hang out. The lounge had big windows with great views of stars and galaxies. There were comfy seats for groups to chat, and the decor was modern and cosy, with calm lighting and artwork. The bar had a lot of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and many snacks and meals were on the replicator menu. The holographic waiters were always on standby to offer a service with a smile. Enjoying a moment to relax while the ship moved slowly through the Sol System towards Earth Station McKinley, the Tiburonian chief security and tactical officer was enjoying a catch-up with Lieutenant Commander Abbej and Lieutenant Decter Jines when the captain had changed the duty roster to give them all a bit more time off to prepare for the upcoming Frontier Day celebrations. 

With a curious glint in his eye, Lenjir turned to his friend, Abbej, and asked, “How did you manage to patch things up with Tierra after all this time?”

Abbej’s face lit up with a gentle smile, and the Boslic chief science officer replied, “It wasn’t easy, but we both realised that we still loved each other and wanted to make it work.”

Jines leaned forward, eager to hear more. “What made you realise that you still loved each other?” he inquired. The Rutian chief operations officer had picked up his coffee and swirled the hot black contents around in his mug. 

Abbej paused, considering her answer. “It was a combination of things, really. We had both grown and changed since we were last together, but when we talked, we realised that the things we loved about each other were still there. We were able to reminisce about our past without any resentment or anger, and that made us realise how much we meant to each other.” Abbej picked up her cup of tea, and she spoke more before taking a sip from it. “All that and an invading Dominion fleet made us realise that our lives were too short of throwing away our marriage.”

Lenjir nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “I always knew you two were meant to be together.”

Jines raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What gave you that impression?”

Lenjir shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know; call it intuition. But whenever they talked about each other, there was always this spark in your eyes. Captain Cambil has had it for her husband, and I’ve seen Samris display the same thing for T’Rani.”

Abbej chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Well, I’m glad someone believed in us.”

Jines smiled warmly. “I’m happy for you. It’s not easy finding someone you can truly connect with.”

“Sounds like someone is becoming soppy in their old age,” Abbej teased.

“Hey, I’m still the young eye candy on the senior staff!” Jines said with a smirk. “Unlike you two oldies!”

“Decter, there is literally one year between us,” Lenjir reminded his friend. “And I’m certain Remi is younger than you by two years.”

“No way, I thought I was younger than him!” Jines said in a defeated tone. “Damn!”

Abbej chuckled as she finished the last sip from her tea. “Well, gentlemen, while I leave you to evaluate your youthfulness, I have some packing to finish before I see my former wife.” She stood up. “I’ll see you boys in seven days.”

“Seven days? I thought the captain gave us only five days of leave?” Lenjir asked, almost protesting at hearing that from Abbej.

“The chief science officer isn’t needed for those two days to run through security and operational checks,” She blew them a friendly kiss, “Have a great few days off!”

Both men chuckled as they watched Abbej leave.

“So, seriously, Cline, do you think I look much older than Remi?” Jines asked in an anxious tone. 

Lenjir looked to his friend and shook his head before taking a large gulp from his raktajino. He couldn’t be bothered to stroke Jines’ ego at that point.

Standing tall and resolute on the bridge of the Themis, Commander Tremt Hunsen gazed out into the vast expanse of space before him, his eyes scanning the horizon with a keen and watchful gaze. He was overseeing the ship’s arrival at Earth Station McKinley, and he could feel the excitement and anticipation bubbling up inside of him.

Near him at the engineering station, Lieutenant Commander Trev Brashlend was hard at work monitoring the ship’s power systems, his fingers dancing across the control panel as he made subtle adjustments and tweaks to ensure everything was functioning at optimal capacity. The Tellarite chief engineer was overseeing the last matters that needed to be sorted so they could all enjoy a few days of rest when they handed control over the ship to the teams at McKinley. As they worked, the two men fell into a conversation that was both easy and relaxed, their voices low and steady as they discussed their personal lives and the challenges they faced as members of the fleet.

“You know, I miss Tellar Prime,” Trev said wistfully, his brow furrowing as he thought of his distant homeworld. “I can’t wait to get back there and see my family. It’s been too long.”

Hunsen nodded sympathetically, his expression one of understanding and empathy. “I know what you mean. I miss Betazed terribly. But at least we’ll get a few days off here on Earth, right? It will be a nice change of pace. No more Dominion ships to deal with.”

Trev grinned, his mood lightening at the thought of some well-deserved downtime. “Yeah, I plan to take just a few days off, but I don’t want to be away from the ship for too long. It’s good to have a balance.”

Hunsen chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I hear you. I’m planning to take Counsellor Horin to Paris for a surprise romantic break. It’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to relax together. We need to recharge our batteries.”

As the ship finally docked with the station, both men felt a sense of relief and satisfaction wash over them. The docking procedure had gone without a hitch, a testament to the crew’s skill and professionalism, and they could now take some time to rest and recharge. Tapping the intercom button on the captain’s chair, Hunsen opened a ship-wide channel. “All hands, we are home.”

The safe harbour of Earth Station wrapped its arms around the Ross-class ship like a tight hug. 

For now, the Themis was safe.