I don't know how you guys will like this idea but it has been rolling around in my head for a while so I thought "what the heck, why not" xD

You watched the small dot on the navigation screen blink closer and closer. Your control system was shot and you were running low on fuel. Your front window was cracked so you put the reentry shield up in fear of it cracking any further and breaking, sucking you into the vacuum of space. You looked around your small escape pod and your heart dropped. That ever growing closer blinking dot had better be a friendly ship.

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

Scotty let out a breath as he surveyed some of his crewmen replace a section of faulty power dampeners, the ship shaking slightly, putting him on edge. "Careful lads, I have a feeling we are yet to hit the worst of this storm."

He was answered by a collective "yes, sir" as they hurried up. Satisfied with their new pace, Scotty turned to a console, making sure the Enterprise was holding up. Kirk was intrigued by the information of a new solar system found on the other side of this large nebula. Even after Spock told him about the dangers of traversing an unknown Nebula, Kirk thought it would be worth the trouble.

At first, Scotty didn't mind the idea of putting the Enterprise through the unknown area, but the crew and Captain quickly came to find out that this Nebula was in fact and active storm and they were too far in to turn back safely.

It strained his girl, the ship creaking and whining under the pressure of the space storm. For not the first time, and assumingly not the last, he yelled in his communicator to the Bridge for them to take it steady or the Enterprise will exhuast herself and they would be sitting ducks.

But every time, Kirk assured him that they hadn't gone any faster than the last time he called. That bothered Scotty. There was something sucking at the warp drive and other energy cells and it won't be long until she will shut down in order to save herself from blowing up.

Scotty ran around, ordering for everyone to leave the first three levels of the engine rooms, just in case. After making sure it was clear, he ran to the warp core and blanched at what he saw. A glowing light emanated from the radiation room that led to the inner core, a light that should not be there. He heard a crackling voice coming from his comms unit but he was too focused on the light that he didn't hear the captain tell him that a wave hit the ship and now things were going crazy.

Sure enough, there was a sweeping beam of light that passed through him and the ship's core, making his head buzz and his vision haze for a moment. Suddenly it was like time stopped. The air felt thick. Lights were brighter and shadows were darker. Scotty shook his head and blinked, trying to make sense of what was happening.

But when he saw a woman floating in front of him, clothed in a white dress that looked borderline like a nightgown. Beautiful wasn't a strong enough word to describe the practically glowing angel in front of him, floating gently to the ground. His cheeks warmed and he stammered. 

You blinked as you felt your feet touch the ground, your hair falling around your ears and face, shielding you from the face of the man before you. You knew who he was so naturally, you were shy. You looked at the new form you found yourself in. Human. How fitting. Almost like fate was mocking you.

You stretched your new limbs and moved your shoulders. You forgot how good it was to be in human form again. You almost forgot you weren't alone until you heard a cough. You looked up, moving your hair over, smiling sheepishly.

"Forgive me. I did not mean to make such a spectacle of my arrival. It is rare as it is for me to be in this form, I had to take the liberty of doing it now."

Still, Scotty stared at you with nothing but awe. He pointed to you then the warp core behind you. "So what you are meaning to tell me is that you are the Enterprise. My ship. In human form..."

You gave him a small smile, nodding.

He placed his hands on his hips, looking around the room. "Well, I would like to say that's the oddest thing I have seen but it's up there." He turned back to you, looking you over without making you feel self-conscious. "I don't know how the captain is going to take this."

You step forward, your eyes wide. "Oh. You don't know then."

Scotty's eyes snap to yours, his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head. "Know what? That his ship has turned into a woman and we are stranded in the middle of a storming nebula because I already have an idea about that."

You shook your head gently. "No. Time has stopped. Usually, it is only I who can freely move about the ship during this time but it seems you have found a way to join me."

Scotty's head spun. "Wait, "usually"? Meaning this isn't the first time you have become human?"

This time you nodded. "Correct. I have been human once before. Other times I am an animal or just a floating light. But always by myself and while time is suspended." But you kept something to yourself.

"How many times before?"

"Eight."

Scotty shook his head, rubbing his face with this hands. "This is not going to be good for my health." He glanced at you, his heart beating wildly at how gorgeous you were. And to think, the ship whom he shamelessly loved was standing before him as a beautiful woman. Go figure. "How long is time suspended?"

You thought back to the last time this happened. "Three day's your time. Though I am not sure if it will be the same with you knowing and moving about as well this time."

Scotty nodded. He folded his arms across his chest, making him seem broader. Your mind turned to the memory of the Scotsman spending many a night in the engine bay, more often than not drunk and grumbling about how he could never find "a lass of me own because you're my only girl". You looked away from him, hoping he wouldn't spot the blush growing on your cheeks.

You would be lying if you said that was the first and only time a memory like that replayed over and over.

Scotty let out a breath. "Well! Seeing as how time is suspended and I'm left to my own devices, might as well catch up on some reports the good captain has been bothering me about." He nodded in the direction behind him, silently asking you to follow him as he turned to leave. "Honestly, if he wasn't my captain I would show him what it's like to run a ship then be asked to do "homework"."

You let out a giggle, coming into step next to him. "He does run a ship. He's captain." You gave him an odd look, giggling.

Scotty glanced at you then shrugged, a smile of his own pulling at his lips. "Oh well, you know. I'd like to see him turn her on and make her tick. Er, uh, you. Turn you on and uh...What am I kidding, he could do that."

You laughed loudly, resting a hand on his arm. He gave you a shy smile, placing a hand over yours. You looked up at him, smiling contently. "Worry not Mr. Scott. I find myself more comfortable in your hands. Figuratively and literally."

That made the chief engineer blush as red as his shirt. He cleared his throat and started walking around frozen crewmen as if he did it every other day. "So do you have a name, or do I call you Enterprise?"

You scrunched your nose, shaking your head slightly. "I had a name. But I have forgotten. And I'd rather not be called such a formal name."

Scotty nodded. "Lassie it is then. Now. Considering all that you have gone through with us; why have you become...Human and why can I see you? Why me?"

You blinked slowly, accessing your memories. You smile as you fondly linger over the many memories of Scotty. Then you remembered your purposes here.  The two of you stop walking, looking out the window of an observation deck.

You glance at the Scotsman, doing your best to keep your thoughts straight. "You have brought me to life, Mr. Scott,

"Scotty, please. Mr. Scott makes me sound old."

You giggled. "Very well. Scotty. You are the one who has brought me alive. I have only ever take a human form after long moments sometimes days of you spending time with me. And I have come to offer you something."

Scotty looked intrigued, turning to face you now. He took your hand and guided you to a seat nearby where the two of you sat side by side but angled toward one another. He did not release your hand, not that you were complaining, you found you loved the feeling of his warm hand in yours.

"Knowing the nebula storm would give me more energy if used right, I harnessed it, giving you the ability to move around and talk with me. Because I wish to know if you would like to stay like this, you and I, forever. Because I can do that. All those nights you came in to talk, to tell me about your troubles, dreams, and aspirations. How could one not dream to experience those with you?"

Scotty stayed silent, not trusting his voice.

You continued, "The rest of the crew will be fine, I can send them on their way. But we will be in a sort of limbo, but one where we are together and able to do all that you have dreamed"

Scotty indulged himself, letting his mind wander to all the possibilities. The endless discoveries and adventures with a beautiful woman. A woman who has listened to him, knows him and he knows you. He would be lying if he didn't want to, at least a smidge.

But he couldn't in good conscious leave the crew, his friends, his family. You will always be there in a way as the ship herself. And you will always have a place in his heart.

He looks over you, squeezing your hand gently. "I would love to lass, truly. But I-" he scratched the back of his neck nervously, "I have a family here."

Your eyes widen. "Family? You are married and with children?"

Scotty let out a whooping laugh. "The crew, lass, the crew. They are my family."

You relax a bit but the sting of rejection was sharp. "I see."  You felt his hand squeeze yours as your breathing hitched. He took a breath, about to say something but you shook your head, holding up your hand. "It is alright. I am happy for you."

You stand, pulling him with you. You lean forward on your tip toes and place a kiss on both of his cheeks. "May you find a lass to share your stories with. Goodbye Scotty," you whispered with a small sad smile.

And with that Scotty blinked and you were gone. The ship hummed to life and his cheeks still burned with your kisses. The crew was moving around almost like he didn't just have a moment with the ship. As a woman.

Before Scotty could get lost in his thoughts his communicator went off. Absentmindedly he flipped it open. "What is it?"

"Hello there Mr. Scott. You're alive. We need you in the docking bay. We have collected a floating escape pod that must have come from the debris we saw in the nebula. Come quickly, Bones found a lifeform inside."

Scotty was heading his way there before Kirk was done. He stepped through the doors to the docking bay, noticing the group of people around an old beat up escape pod. Why they needed him made no sense but he humored them anyways.

Bones and Spock stepped back to let him through. It looked like the door latch had been fused shut so Scotty did his best to break into the pod, making sure he wasn't harming the lifeform inside. Soon enough the door opened and Scotty just stared, dropping his tools to the ground.

Before him, laying in a heap in the middle of the pod was you, the woman he just turned away for his friends. You blinked at the new light streaming in, taking a deep breath of the clean welcome air. You struggled to stand but a gentle hand reached out, helping you up.

Scotty couldn't stop staring. You were her. You had to be. "Are you alright? Do you know where you are? Do you have a name?"

You looked up at the face to the hand that helped you up. Your heart skipped a beat. He seemed familiar. You shook your head. "I only remember my name. (Y/n)."

Scotty smiled, your hand still in his. "(Y/n)." You liked the sound of him saying it. He liked the feel of it rolling off his tongue. "Welcome to the Starship Enterprise."

Sorry if it sucked hehehe