To those who have requested: I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN! I swear, I just have been busy and I have a line of stories to finish before I leave. Reminder; requests will be closed tomorrow and will open once I get back in June. I may or may not be able to update. No promises. So enjoy what I have for you here and my other works! Love you all!

You smiled as the group of drunk men stood around the dying fire, hands on shoulders and tankards full of beer, laughing and singing to an old bar tune. You took a rag and cleaned a class, taking in the environment of your successful little bar. When you volunteered to be a part of a colonization project two years ago you didn't imagine you would be happily tending a bar in a dated era.

You thought that by now you would be married and with a child on the way but you quite liked where you were, tending to inn residents and townsfolk. Just like in all those old stories you read when you were younger. You laughed as a few men stumbled and fell, loudly apologizing to you for breaking a few glasses and cracking a chair.

"Just be sure to build me a new one Miles," you called out.

Miles raised his glass and nodded. "You got it, lady of the beer. You will have a new chair by noon on Wednesday."

You shook your head and smiled. "I'll tell your wife. You're not going to remember a thing."

Miles burped and some of the men laughed loudly. "And this is why you are the one in charge. Good on ya." He downed the rest of his drink and hobbled out of the bar, waving.

Soon the bar emptied and you started to prep a few meals for the late night miners. Your colony was not only there to create a population but to mine the abundant goods that laid beneath the rich soil. Every Tuesday and Thursday you served the miners' dinner after their extra shifts. You didn't mind, the colony made enough food to feed them every night if they had to.

But honestly, you had started doing it the night you saw one of the new miners come in, expressing his newness to the colony and what goes on. He was blond, extremely good looking, and had the most radiant blue eyes you had ever seen. So, completely not caring if people saw the connection, you made sure to see him every Tuesday and Thursday. This Jim Kirk was slowly stealing your heart and you were sure he had no idea.

Kirk wiped his brow as he followed the good spirited men out of the mines. It was a hard one today and it was moments like this that made him really hate the Federation for assigning the Enterprise to monitor this colony. Sure, only a year but that was a long time. And a long time not to get attached to anyone here.

Kirk was assigned as a miner to see how things were doing on that front. Bones was to act as an old curmudgeon who hated people but had to work with the primitive tools as an aid to the doctor. As if that was hard for him. Spock and Uhura were to be a married couple who befriends people and learn about the growing government and commodity levels.

Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Spock and a few other lower ranked officers were going on month three in the Batewell colony and Kirk was finding it fairly difficult to keep his heart guarded. He did well enough with the other miners, keeping to himself. But since starting his new undercover position he wasn't expecting to be catered to on some nights by the town's bar maiden. You were kind, beautiful and had a lovely laugh.

Uhura told him to just go for it and live a little. Spock told him to keep his distance and stick to women who aren't part of a colony. Bones didn't care, just as long as he didn't bring back any illness or give you any. Therefore Kirk decided to make up his own mind. It was Thursday and that meant dinner at the bar.

You smiled at the dirty, tired men who shuffled their way in, smiles on their face despite how much they worked. You gestured to the row of plates up at the bar filled with warm food and glasses of water and beer.

"What you have here gentlemen, is good old mashed potatoes and gravy with a nice chunk of honey smoked ham. I have greens in a pot just about done simmering in the ham juices and other spices." You grinned wider at their looks of hunger. "And I made you all a little special something."

Jim sat in his usual spot on the corner by the sick where you did most of your washing. He smiled as you brought out his favorite; warm apple pie. But it wasn't the pie that made his stomach do flips, it was you. Your hair was a bit mussed from the work of the day and your apron was smudged with various foods and drinks. You had a spot of potatoes on your cheek and your eyes glowed with vigor despite the late hour.

You helped the men as they tucked into their food, serving the ones who wanted the finished greens. Finally, you made it to Jim, smiling sweetly as you offered him a scoop of the greens.

"I wasn't sure who all liked them so I waited." You weren't sure why you explained but he seemed to not mind.

Jim nodded to his plate. "Please. Anything you cook is worth eating. Thank you."

You blushed slightly at his compliment as you scooped him some. You turned to go but Jim reached out, resting a hand on your arm. "Are you going to eat with us this time?"

You grinned at his question. Ever since the third time you did this he asked you to join, every time. You didn't eat much during the day and accidently let that information slip. So, Jim wanted to make sure you got something to eat. But this time he seemed a bit more adamant. So you slowly nodded, looking around.

"I suppose I can."

Jim smiled wide. "Perfect."

You made yourself a plate and stood by Jim as you ate. Jim quickly jumped off his stool and took your arm. "Here, no use having you stand when that's all you have been doing all day."

You shyly accepted. Sitting in his seat, Jim stood next to you, the both of you eating in silence as the other miners talked about tomorrow's plans. Jim couldn't help but watch you, drawn in by your beauty. Everything you did was beautiful to him and he found himself just wanting to watch you day in and day out. Blinking, the Enterprise Captain shook his head. He had it bad.

Soon they finished and you served them all pie. That's when you sucked it up and tried to talk to Jim. Turning to him you gave him a small plate of pie. "I heard from a friend that you missed this from your old home."

Jim smiled wide as he took the plate. "Honestly, it has been too long since I have had any kind of pie let alone home cooked." He took a bite and his smile grew. "It's amazing."

You heard that from the others but it meant more coming from him. "Oh good." You took a bite of your own and had to agree. "Now tell me, how was it back at your old colony. Why did you come here?"

Jim almost choked. He had forgotten what his story was exactly so he went to his best defense; flirting. But that wasn't hard to do with you. "I heard they had a beautiful bar maiden here and had to see for myself. Turns out they were wrong."

Your heart dropped and your face got warm. But Jim smiled and let out a chuckle. "Don't worry. You actually surpass all expectations." He lifted a fork full of pie in a solute to you. "Really. I wish I had met you sooner. " And he meant it.

You let out a breath and laughed. "You sure know how to get a girl's heart racing."

Jim chuckled. "I hope in a good way."

You flicked a piece of food on the counter at him. "Sometimes."

Jim smiled and the two of you continued in a comfortable conversation, enjoying each other's company as time went on. Soon it was just the two of you alone and it was late. You let out a breath and looked around. You still had a lot of cleaning to do. Jim stood and took the dishes to the sink and started to clean without any words. You smiled and watched him for a moment before joining him. The two of you talked then finished. Jim offered to take you home and you agreed, glad to have him for a bit longer.

Jim stopped at your house and watched as you decided to stay or leave. You bit your lip then stepped forward. Quickly you pressed a kiss to his cheek and stepped away before you were tempted to do it again.

"Thank you for your help and for walking me home."

Jim smiled. "It was my pleasure. Sleep well and thank you for dinner."

You smiled then turned to go in your house, ready to sleep and dream of a blond hair and blue eyed miner.

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

Four weeks later and you still get giddy when Jim walks in. But something wasn't right today. You stood in a completely empty bar, washing already crystal clear cups, your worry spiking. It was growing later than usual for the miners to arrive. It was odd really, not many people came by today either. Living on the outskirts of the town had its perks but you were usually the last to learn of a gathering in the town hall or a new visitor. But you soon came to realize that soon that won't matter any longer.

Bones ran over to Jim, coughing as he took the little girl from his arms. "That's the last of the girl's from the school."

Bones nodded. "Good. Now get to a respirator. You can't be going into anymore burning buildings. You are inhaling too much smoke."

Jim nodded as he followed his friend to the mass of people standing together all soot ridden and teary eyed. They all stood and watched as their little growing town burned. The miners found a pocket of gas in the mines the day before but didn't think it would leak out. That morning they all woke to several buildings by the mines on fire and it was growing fast. Luckily they were able to warn the people but not save the buildings.

It was growing late and the people were starting to make camp with that supplies weren't burning. But something was bothering Jim. He couldn't find you in the mass of people. He was sure you would have heard the warning but not seeing you was starting to make him frantic to find you.

Turing to a part-time miner, Miles, Jim asked him if he had seen you anywhere. Miles shook his head. "Last I checked she was still at the bar. It's too far from here for her to hear much of anything." His eyes widened in understanding.

Without a second though both men went running. Jim pointed to your house next to the bar. "Check in there. I'll check the bar." Miles nodded and broke off.

You were rearranging boxes up in the attic, wiping your brow. It had gotten alarmingly hot very suddenly. You reached for the attic door handle but yelped in pain. It was burning hot. Soon you saw smoke seeping through the door cracks. You backed up and started to breathe hard. Shaking your head you searched for a way out but there was only a window that lead to the roof and there was no way down from that without help.

Jim ran up and his breath hitched. The bar was aflame and he heard you screaming. Running faster, Jim ditched the idea to run in the house. Instead, he stood outside and cupped his hand over his mouth and yelled over the sound of burning wood.

"(Y/n)!"

You turned and looked out the window. Tears fell as you saw Jim calling out for you. He came. You opened the window and leaned out.

"Help me, please! I'm stuck up here."

Jim shook his head. "Not if I can help it. You are going to jump and I am going to catch you."

He saw Miles rush over and told him to grab a few barrels of hay to cushion your fall. He turned back to you. You sat on the roof, shaking and soot covering your face and clothes.

You shook your head and tried to stay away from the edge. "I can't jump. I'm going to crush you and we will both be hurt."

Jim smirked. "Come on now. You doubt my strength."

You snorted and looked behind you at the flames coming closer. The roof was getting warm. "No. I just happen to believe in physics."

Miles made a sizeable pile and nodded to Jim. Jim nodded back and turned to you as he stood on the pile, arms reached up. "It's not that far, I promise I got you."

You held his trusting gaze and nodded slowly. Standing, you made it to the edge but you let out another yelp of pain. Fire licked at your heels and your dress caught on fire. Jim watched as you tried to kick off the fire but lost your footing and started to fall. Quickly he repositioned himself and the both of you fell into the bed of hay. Just barely. He reached over and patted the fire out then picked you up and the three of you rushed a good distance from the burning buildings.

Miles went to join his wife as Jim collapsed on the ground, you still in his arms. The both of you held onto each other as your breathing went back to normal. You closed your eyes to the fire and buried your face in Jim's chest.

"Thank you, Jim, thank you so much," you whispered.

Jim kissed the top of your head and stoked you hair. "Of course. I wasn't about to let you go, not right when I found you."

Your heart warmed but your heart hurt. Pulling back you looked at his dirty face, amazed he still looked amazing, if not more so. "But everything is gone. What do we do now? Batewell is gone."

Jim gave you a small smile and leaned his forehead against yours, closing his eyes as he held you a bit closer. "We do what we all do when things hit rock bottom." He peeked and then winked at you. "We rebuild."

You swallowed and played with the hair at the base of his neck. "Together?" You ventured.

Jim chuckled and kissed your forehead before pulling you to his chest. "Together."