When Home is Gone

Part Twenty-Two - Saying goodbye.

Luna's Point of View - USS Enterprise

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Luna had no idea where her friends were taking her. She knew they took a left from the transporter room, then a right, then they were in the turbolift. From there it was a series of lefts and rights until they stopped altogether.

Luna heard the sound of doors slide open. Kirk, McCoy and Chapel were standing in front of her when her blindfold was removed.

"What is this?" Luna was filled with confusion and a bit of excitement.

"Well," Kirk started, a smile growing on his face. "We had decided, seeing as how you are leaving us, that we should... give you a surprise to make your last moments aboard the Enterprise enjoyable."

They moved out of the doorway to allow Luna to enter. When she was inside, the doors slid shut behind her, enveloping her in darkness. Fear began to nip at the edges of her mind but she knew they would not harm her.

All of a sudden the lights turned on, almost blinding her for a few seconds. When her eyes adjusted, she gasped at the sight she saw. Piles upon piles of colored boxes filled the room. On a table to her left she saw a note addressed to her. She read it out loud although she was the only one in the room.

"To our dearest Luna,

Due to recent events, we thought it best to help make your last moments aboard our ship as delightful as possible. We understand that whenever you think of this ship, you will think of Ray, but we want you to think of the happy times here as well. All these boxes contain a special gift from everyone you have met.

We hope you like them all,

From your new friends aboard the Enterprise."

Luna smiled. As if on cue, the doors opened behind her. Kirk, McCoy, Chapel, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, Spock and, surprisingly, her parents, entered the room. Luna's smile widened as she rushed over to the group and hugged everyone, giving especially long hugs to her parents, Kirk and Chapel. She did not hug Spock, only nodded to him because she knew how uncomfortable it would be for him. Kirk placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to open them?"

Luna began with the first box within reach and continued to open them, one by one. Whilst opening them and marveling over the gift, she felt Spock's anxiety as he pulled Kirk outside. She couldn't hear what Kirk was saying but she could hear Spock through their connection.

His conversation went something like this...

"Captain, I wish to confess something to you. - *pause*

It is very difficult for me to say, so I ask your permission to perform a mind meld. - *pause*"

By this stage, Luna had stopped opening presents and sat there as if listening to something. She left the rush of love and affection, meaning that Kirk had agreed. Luna felt a nudge and looked up to her mum standing next to her.

"I believe it best that we give those two some privacy." Luna nodded and closed the connection. She continued to open boxes until she had finished and Spock and Kirk came back. Luna could clearly see the bright red blush that filled Kirk's cheeks and the green that darkened the tips of Spock's pointed ears.

Luna placed a hand over her mouth to help hold back a giggle.

This was how she was going to remember them, she had almost forgotten about the void that filled her heart, but it was surrounded by the love she held for her the crew.

------ The End ------