Scotty let out a breath as he placed his tools away and wiped his hands on his pants. He was about to head to lunch when he heard a noise behind him. Turning he didn't see anything, so he chalked it up to getting old. But as he walked out of the engine locker room he heard it again.

"Keenser! What you doin' sneaking up on me? You already scare me with that ghastly green snot oozing out of your globin' sniffer."

There was another shuffle and bump when a small figure stepped out from behind a large pipe. But instead of his little alien friend, a small girl peeped her head around, her big brown eyes wide with caution and curiosity.

Scotty's shoulders relaxed and his jaw slacked. He never found himself comfortable around children, let alone girls. And the fact she was here, in the engine room, startled him to the point he nearly picked her up and rushed her out. Instead, he knelt down and extended his hand as of offering it for a puppy to smell.

"Hey, there wee lass. Have you gotten yourself lost?"

The little girl took a step forward, looking at his hand like a dirty sock before taking a few tentative steps closer to him. She stopped and looked up at him, her eyes piercing him to his soul. Made him shiver slightly.

"You fix things."

Scotty blinked. Her little voice carried around the open room, making her sound stronger than she looked. Putting his disregarded hand on his knee, Scotty smiled, nodding.

"I sure do."

The little girl smiled. "So you can fix my mommy!"

Scotty blanched. "Well, uh, no. I fix machines."

Her eyes dropped and her lips frowned. "Oh."

Scotty's heart fell and mind raced with ways to make her smile again. "But I can take you to your mother if you would like."

The little girl stood taller and shook her head. "I'll find her." And with that turned on her little heel and ran off.

Scotty stood, watching her little frame until she was out of sight. With a slight shake of his head and a little snort, he went about the rest of his day doing his best not to think about the little girl and her mother who needed fixing.

But as it turned out his little friend came around every day since then. Penny wouldn't say much but she would watch him as he worked. They had a comfortable routine. She would safely sit on various parts of the ship and watch him, occasionally handing him tools and small parts he would need as he would work. She didn't mind that he would sometimes be spouting off facts about the ship and what he was doing. Penny was a good child but then there were times like now where Scotty wished she was his own.

Penny was entertaining herself and her giggles were filling the room. She was swinging her legs as she stared up at the tall ceiling of the little generator room where one of the many energy bypasses was housed. She giggled as she let out another little shout and waited as she heard it come back to her. She had been doing it for a while but only recently started giggling. And those giggles were becoming contagious.

Scotty chuckled as he heard her shout out numbers then letters and later, colors. Soon enough Scotty had forgotten about his reason for being in there other than to play echoing games with little Penny. Neither of them were sure how long they had been messing around when there was sudden frantic shouting down the hall.

Penny's eyes went wide and she grabbed onto Scotty's arm, looking up at him. "It's mommy. She's mad. I forgot."

Scotty sent her a sweet smile as he picked her up. "Don't you worry none lass, I'm sure as soon as we show her you are safe she'll be right as rain."

~

Not soon enough, you came bounding through the hall and into the room, having followed the sound of your daughter's laughs. At first, you thought it was screams of pain but the sound of the chief engineer's own laughs you relaxed. But only just. You came to a stop in a small room, spying your daughter in the chief engineer's arms. You blanched, not sure what to say at first.

"I-I am so sorry." You rushed forward and held your arms out for her. "She knows not to leave the day care." You gave Penny a hard stare.

Mr. Scott just smiled, handing her over to you with careful movements. "No bother. Really. She's been quite the helper."

You looked between Mr. Scott and Penny, an uneasy feeling growing at how comfortable those two seemed around each other. You looked at Penny, poking her little belly with your finger, making her laugh a little bit.

"How long have you been escaping Miss Daylie, you little goober?"

Litty Penny shrugged but Mr. Scott was smiling as he nodded to her. "About two weeks now. Comes around during my lunch break, we eat and then she helps me until she scampers off just before the evening shift starts."

You gave Penny a look. "Just in time for you to seek back into the day care group."

Penny wasn't looking at you as she messed with the science insignia on your dress shirt. "They never know I'm gone."

You let out a breath and kissed her forehead. "Dearest, I missed you. Now let's leave the kind man to his work." You turned to go but looked back. "Thank you for looking after her, Mr. Scott. I'll be sure she doesn't bother you again."

Scotty took a step forward and reached a hand out to stop you from leaving just yet. "She's been a peach, Mrs.-"

"Miss (L/n)."

Mr. Scott nodded. "Miss (L/n). The little lass kept me company and made the work hours a wee bit shorter, if not bearable." He smiled at Penny but then cleared his throat before glancing at you. "And it's Scotty."

You gave him a small smile. "Well, thank you, Scotty."

And with that you left, your daughter looking over your shoulder at Scotty, lifting a small hand to wave goodbye. You tried to some sort of anger for the little girl but nothing was there except a feeling of sorrow for the girl. She desperately wanted a father.

~

Scotty thought that was going to be the last he saw of little Penny and her attractive mother. But as it turned out Penny was insitant on seeing him at least once a day. You would be dragged around the ship after work hours and some times right before bed in hopes of finding the Scottish red shirt before the day was out.

Scotty didn't mind one bit. After various oddly timed meetings, Scotty turned to you and offered an idea he hoped you wouldn't mind accepting. Today you were in plain clothes, struggling to keep Penny from lifting her dress skirt over her head in a game of peek a boo.

Scotty grinned. "I was thinkin' you could just meet me for lunch every day. That way you aren't in a rush."

You looked at him, a small bit of warmth starting in your middle. "Just me?"

Scotty nearly choked on his own spit. "Oh uh, with Penny of course."

YOu smiled at his sudden shyness. "Of course. I think that would work out for the both of us." You turned to Penny as she sat on Scotty's leg, looking up at him with wide eyes. "COme on Penny, it's time for your bath then off to bed."

Penny shook her head, burying her face in Scotty's leg. "No."

You and Scotty both locked eyes and smiled knowingly. Scotty knelt down and tucked the girl under her chin. "Come on lass, you best be going on with your mother now."

She shook her head and scrunched her face. You let out a breath and knelt down too, reaching over to pick her up. "You can see him tomorrow dear, but it's time to go to bed."

You struggled to pick her up as he whined and pouted, raising her voice. "BUT DADDY SAID WE CAN PLAY THE ECHO GAME AGAIN!"

Both you and Scotty froze. Scotty's face reddened and you were failing to suppress a smile. You held Penny to you, smoothing her hair and kissing her brow. Both you and Scotty stood, his eyes averted as he stretched the back of his head. You bit the inside of your cheek before looking back at your put out daughter.

"Penny, we plan on seeing Scotty at lunch, every day. I'm sure we can play the echo game later." You looked to Scotty. "Perhaps on one of his days off we can revisit that room."

A smile crept onto Scotty's face. "I don't see why not."

Penny calmed down and nodded. "Ok." She laid her head on your shoulder. "Thank you, Scotty," she whispered as her eyes drooped.

YOu smiled and nodded to him. "Yes, thank you, Scotty. See you at lunch."

Scotty smiled and nodded back. "Right. Sleep well lass."

~

Scotty couldn't stop thinking about Penny's little outburst. He was finding himself looking forward to lunch every day, not only to see Penny but to see you. The two of you were getting along well, almost like the two of you knew each other for much longer. It only took a handful of lunch meetings for Scotty to decided he liked being around you and didn't wish to stop.

One evening after lunch was rescheduled to dinner, Scotty directed you and Penny to the small generator room. Penny couldn't hold back her excitement. The three of you sat down and played the echo game until the little girl fell asleep in Scotty's lap. Scotty looked down at her and smiled.

You Watched how he cared for her and you couldn't help but suddenly wish he was the one there for her and not you. You have been so busy trying to take extra shifts to save up and provide for the both of you that you have found yourself not spending much time with her. Not until Scotty came around.

Scotty cleared his throat making it echo suddenly, causing the both of you to laugh quietly. "She's a sweet girl."

YOu smiled and nodded. "Yes. She was only a couple months old when she was given to me and I can't imagine my life without her."

Scotty looked at you, his brow furrowed. "So she isn't yours then?"

You shook your head. "No. A friend of my cousin had died giving birth. Her father was out of the picture and my cousin was already preoccupied with her own new born. I offered to take her in, not sure that my application to Starfleet would go through. But thankfully they have a daycare system. And of course, there is you."

Scotty chuckled. "Well if it weren't for Starfleet I would have never imagined myself a family man. Until now."

Your cheeks warmed as you turned to look at PEnny. She rested comfortably in Scotty's lap, her little body utterly relaxed. Scotty moved a hair from her sweet face and tucked it behind her ear. "YOu are one brave lass to take in a wee girl who isn't your own. And without a partner at that."

You shrugged one shoulder and smiled sadly. "She keeps me busy that's for sure. But I wouldn't trade her for the world. But only recently have I come to notice she needs a father in her life."

Scotty sat up straighter and sniffed, acting before his nerves got the better of him. "How do you feel about dinner tomorrow."

"Penny has a check up."

Scotty shook his head. "Perhaps after she's gone to bed. We can take it in your quarters that way she isn't left alone."

Tears suddenly pricked the back of your eyes as you smiled wide. Excitement bubbled up inside you. "I wouldn't be opposed."

Scotty smiled. "Great!" His voice echoed again, making Penny jump slightly.

The both of you laughed then quieted. After a moment of just staring at him, you swallowed then stood. "We need to get her into bed. Until tomorrow then?" You held your arms out to take the sleeping girl.

Scotty maneuvered Penny into his arms and onto his chest as he reached down to take one of your outstretched hands in his. "I might as well learn where we are to eat. Lead the way."

You blushed as you felt his hand tighten around yours as the both of you walked side by side down the hall, little penny sleeping soundly on Scotty's chest. This all felt natural and extremely right.