@music_on_world_off  I hope you like how this one turned out, thank you for giving me a reason to write a part two for this ;)

You wiped silent tears as you tried to keep your breathing even while you packed a bag of supplies and food for Scotty. Keenser stood at your elbow, making little whining sounds as he watched you.

You looked down at him, patting his head lightly. "I know, buddy, I know." You gave him a small smile as you finished up by putting in a small picture of the three of you, all huddled together freezing cold but smiling bright enough to put the Sun to shame.

You shouldered the pack and took Keenser's hand as you both followed the loud voice of your Scotsman, your heart skipping at the sound. You watched as the two new visitors followed closely behind Scotty as he showed them around. You didn't want to think about what he was showing them but what was coming was inevitable.

At the sound of you walking up, Scotty stopped mid-sentence and turned to you, his face lighting up. "Lassie! Can you believe it? We are making it off this frozen Hell!" He made quick work of the space between the two of you, grasping your shoulders and pulling you to him as he kissed your cheek.

Before you could say anything let alone process what happened before the old Vulcan spoke up. "I am sorry to inform you Mr. Scott, but your friends will not be accompanying you. However, you will not need to worry about them. I will personally see to their safe return to the Earth."

You look between Scotty and the wise Vulcan, giving him a small smile in thanks as you handed Scotty the bag off your shoulder. "He's right. It's time for you to show them your stuff."

"But-but wait, no." Scotty looked between everyone, even the blond, as if asking if this were truly happening. Finally turns to you, stepping closer. "I don't like the idea of leaving you. And Keenser of course. How did you- when were you going to tell me you weren't coming?" His eyes pleaded with you, forcing you to look away in fear of breaking down right then and there.

You feel Keenser give your leg a hung before he followed Mr. Spock and James Kirk to another part of the hanger to leave you alone with Scotty. You sent out a secret prayer of thanks to them.

"I figured that this was a mission for as few people as possible. The Enterprise will need you if everything Mr. Spock has told us is true." You looked up, meeting his sad eyes. You gave him a sad smile, reaching up to cup his face. "You will be more of a help to them without us there to distract you. Besides,  you are the only one who knows how to properly transport lifeforms." You stroked his cheek lightly.

Scotty looked down at you and blinked slowly, letting out an exasperated breath knowing that you were right. He reached his hand up to cover yours as he leaned into it. "Why do you have to be right all the time? Then I suppose now should be the time for me to give you this." He stepped back a bit so he could grab something from inside his coat. A smile graced his lips as he handed you a small stack of pictures tied with string. "Don't think that even for a moment that I won't be coming back."

You vision swam as you nodded, tucking the gift in your coat, doing your best to keep it together. You felt Scotty reach under your chin to bring your eyes back up to his. His kind eyes twinkled back at you as he spoke in a low tone. "Look after that booger for me, would ya? He seems to like you a lot more than me now."

You let out a weak laugh as you sniffed and nodded. But he wasn't' done. Taking a step closer, he wrapped his other arm around your back as he leaned it slightly, his touch warming you instantly. "And promise me to take care of yourself. I've grown quite fond of you."

You let out another laugh but this time you flung your arms around his neck. "Are you crazy?" You whisper, earning you a small chuckle. But the humor didn't last. "I will," you whisper, "just as long as you come back." You kissed his cheek sweetly before stepping away right when Kirk came walking over.

"Sorry Mr. Scott but we are kind of in a hurry."

Scotty nodded before turning to you with a smile, committing your face and form to his memory before he dashed off. You watched him go, not wanting to follow and prolong the pain. You had no idea how much he meant to you until you watched him run off. You noticed the bag you packed him still on the ground at your feet, the picture of the three of you still inside. You just stared at it, daring yourself to start crying.

So that's what you did. Not caring how pathetic you would look, you laid down on the ground in a ball, resting your head on the bag. Sobs rocked your body as tears soaked the bag. You weren't sure how long you cried for, but it was long enough for you to feel like you ran for hours. You heard Keenser walk up to you and set a hand on your shoulder.

"I know. I know." His sweet voice brought you back to reality.

You sat up, looking at him with a small smile, then you took him into your arms in a bone crushing hug. Mr. Spock soon came over and gave you a kind smile, helping you to your feet. You grabbed the somewhat soggy bag, throwing it over your shoulder as you turned to the Vulcan. He nodded and pointed to the little bunker that he had just come from.

"Come my dear. I will send you and your friend to Earth. There you can wait for Mr. Scott to return."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Screams filled the air as you looked out your apartment window, Keenser joining you. Your hand flew to your mouth at the beam of energy that was boring into the earth by the Academy. You watched in awe for a solid five minutes. Keenser moved to sit on your lap and you held him close. You knew contacting Starfleet would be pointless. You knew the Enterprise was out there doing their best to handle whatever the situation was.

So you just watched and waited, trying your best to tell yourself to not think about not thinking about Scotty and what danger he could be in. Therefore, naturally, you worried. You would stare at the stack of pictures he gave you, promising yourself you will look at them with him when he gets back.

Suddenly, a spark of hope filled you when you heard something extremely large snap. You watched as the beam sputtered out and a gargantuan chunk of metal fall to the Earth, landing in the water.

You let out a breath, knowing Earth was saved from whatever that was. Now all you had to do was wait for your Scotsman to land safely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You ran as fast as you could through the halls, not giving a crap to the people you were pushing aside, the Enterprise has landed and nothing was stopping you from seeing him.

You found a group of the battered crew walking to the medical center to get checked up on. At the condition you saw some of them in you couldn't help but think the worst. Typically, there were casualties but you didn't want to think about that.

You suddenly spot the blond from before, Kirk, so you rushed over to him, cringing at the nasty cuts on his face. "Scotty. Where is he?" You huffed eagerly as you tried to catch your breath.

He looked up and a small smile appeared as he recognized you. "Looking for you. Try the hanger, he said something about getting the ships specs to show you."

Your body instantly felt ten times lighter, colors were brighter and you could breath easier. "He's alive," you whisper in awe but you didn't let the young man say anything before you dashed off to the hanger of the Enterprise.

Soon you heard his distinct voice as you drew closer. Your legs pumped faster and you rounded a corner coming up on the looming ship before you. And right there, arguing with an officer, was Montgomery Scott and you couldn't help but shout his name.

"Scotty!!!"

At the sound of his name he turned but at the sight of you, he forgot all about his earlier argument and started to make his way to you. You took off again and without so much as a warning, you flung yourself at him, wrapping your arms around his neck and your legs around his middle. He caught you easily, holding you tight as he turned, laughing into your hair.

Scotty gently put you down but didn't let you go. You smiled up at him and did what you had wanted to do since so long ago. You reached up on your tip-toes and leaned in. His smile grew as he leaned in, reaching up to cup your face softly.

"Are you alright?" You asked in a low whisper as you inspected his face.

"Now I am, Lassie."

And with that he closed the gap, capturing your lips with his. He was so tender, moving a hand behind your neck as the other wrapped around your back to pull you closer. Your hands reached up and locked behind his neck as you smiled into the kiss. You felt like no amount of time on that cold planet could ever make you feel cold and alone again.

Scotty gently pulled away, placing a kiss on your nose before he gave you a proper hug. "How's the little alien?"

You laughed into his chest as you held him tight. "Hungry, like always, but asleep at my place." You pull back and look up at him. "He would be thrilled if you came to see him."

Scotty nodded, turning to walk in the direction you came as he threw an arm over your shoulder. "I wouldn't mind seeing him either. But I'm a wee bit starved."

You laughed, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "I'll make dinner while you two catch up."

"Having dinner made by my beautiful lass and time with my little man. I couldn't ask for anything better." He laughed and kissed your head, walking with a bit more spring in his step.

You smiled wide and thought about what to cook, loving the idea of the three of you all together again, but thankfully somewhere a lot warmer. You knew this to be the beginning of something wonderful.