Uhura pressed a button on a keypad and asked permission to enter. It was given and we came into a room that was slightly larger and better furnished than mine; pretty modest for a captain.

"Uhura, Jasmine, welcome. Please, sit down." When I was settled, Uhura excused herself leaving just me and Jim.

"I'd offer you a drink but it looks like it wouldn't do you much good."

"Thanks, but I don't usually drink," I told him.

"Never developed a taste for it," he said while sitting in the chair opposite me.

"Not exactly, my metabolism runs so fast that I can't get drunk. Same reason most drugs don't work on me."

"My God, that sounds awful."

"You can't miss what you never had," my voice faltered a little. Jim looked worried. "It's okay. I...I'm still adjusting."

"Before we start, is there anything I can get you?"

"Hot chocolate?"

Jim smiled and turned back to the magic machine that seemed to hold everything. "Two hot chocolates, please."

"You don't have to drink this just because I am," I said while taking the blue mug he held out for me.

"Ah no, haven't had one of these in years. I'm sorry that I haven't been to see you. Normally I don't treat guests so badly, but the peace talks were long and our visitors overly sensitive."

"I haven't been in a fit state for company." I fiddled with my locket as a small silence filled the room. "I understand why but it's still hard, you know."

Jim's eyes fell to the white gold heart. Wordlessly Jim put his mug on the coffee table between us, stood, and walked to a cabinet. He brought out a small black box and returned to his seat. He opened the box to reveal an antique pocket watch. On the surface was an embossed globe surrounded by the twelve zodiac. Jim handed it to me while pressing the button to pop the face open.

"That's mine." Opposite the numerals was an engraved color photograph of a man, woman, and a little boy with two missing front teeth. "It's been in my dad's family for over a hundred years. My mom had that done for their tenth anniversary. When he saw what she'd done he said it would up the value when he sold it because of her beauty," I took off my necklace and handed it over.

"No mom."

"We didn't know her well. My mom...she wasn't really around. Sometimes we would only see her once a year. It was more often that three even four years would pass before we saw her again; she didn't call or write. Regina never even carried us; my sisters and I were grown in a lab," we handed back each other's jewelry.

"Did you love her?"

I looked into Jim's face. I wasn't sure exactly what I was searching for but after a few minutes I answered.

"I never got the chance to know her. That sounds terrible but it's true." The words came out slowly. Saying them made me feel dirty. That fact was universally understood in my small four person family but this was the first time it'd ever been said aloud. And to someone who was a complete stranger, no less. "Being genetically linked doesn't automatically a family make," I whispered while fastening my necklace into place.

"I can't imagine what you're going through right now." There was no judgement in either his eyes, or on his face, I could see for grimy truth I'd just revealed. Whether that was because there just wasn't any or he was good at hiding things I didn't know, and decided I didn't want too; just in case.

I felt comfortable enough to keep talking. "I feel so out of place. I don't see a purpose for myself here." I tucked my knees to my chest, wrapped one arm around my legs, and used the other to take a drink.

"You're in a situation no one has ever has been before. You have every right to be angry. In fact I think it would be healthy and therapeutic for you. You also have the right to choose."

I tipped my head to the side, "Choose what?"

Jim picked up his mug and gulped. "After you arrived I alerted Starfleet and my superiors wanted you brought back to Earth immediately. Mr. Spock and I advocated for your continued presence on Enterprise. But we had no right to make that decision for you. I rationalized it by convincing myself, who wouldn't want to explore the final frontier if given the chance."

"You would take me back to Earth?"

"If that's what you want."

"I would be interviewed and studied relentlessly, wouldn't I?"

Jim pursed his lips. "I know that there are many people who would want to talk to you. The time you came from happens to be one that we know very little about. World War Three destroyed so much of our records and monuments. There's a wealth of information inside you that all the worlds could benefit from. And we have just as much to teach you. I won't lie and say it'll always be smooth sailing but you can have a life here."

"I don't want to go back to Earth. There's nothing left for me there."

"That's fine. The Federation has outposts all over the known galaxy. Some of them aren't even on planets but artificially created cities in space. McCoy calls them snow globes." He paused. "You could also stay aboard Enterprise. While I can't make you a crew member I can keep you on as an official observer. The ship is loaded with the full information data base of the Federation. And we have the best serving aboard who would happily instruct you in your areas of interest.

But you should consider that we are two years into a five year, exploratory, deep space mission. We're not a transport vessel, neither is Starfleet a militaristic organization, our mandate is to explore space and seek out new life. It's our second mission like this, and from past experience I can tell you, we've had more than one encounter with hostile races. We've lost crew members before; the danger's very real. Also, you remember my First Officer, Mr. Spock."

"The alien."

"Right, his people are very scientifically curious. He's expressed the desire to observe and study how well you acclimate. You don't have to; if you want I'll tell him to back off and I doubt he'll bring it up again."

I drained my mug. "I'd feel better if I got to know him first."

"Does that mean you'll stay with us?"

I chewed my lip. Stay or go somewhere were I didn't know anyone. Of course I didn't really know anyone here either. But when I got myself straightened out I felt like I could have friends here, Jim and Uhura especially.

"I would like to stay. I'm okay with Spock's request, but before we start anything I want to get back into shape, it won't take long."

"Of course. Just a word of warning; Spock can seem pretty cold and abrasive, it takes time but you'll find he's a good man. For now, how 'bout I escort you to the mess hall; we can talk more over dinner. You can meet more people; it'll be fun."

To my surprise it was.