Six Weeks

Fanfiction
Title:	Six Weeks
Author(s):	Gena Moretti
Date(s):	1990
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Six Weeks is a Kirk/Spock story by Gena Moretti.

It was published in the print zine Between Friends.

This story has a sequel called Seven Years Later.

See some comments about this story at Some Fan Comments: Gena Moretti's Star Trek Fic.

Summary

"On a planet exploration for six weeks, soon after they arrive Kirk and Spock discover two infants accidentally left behind by the recently departed World Inspectors."

Reactions and Reviews

Between Friends from Firetrine Press is an interesting zine that marks the debut, I am pretty sure, of Gena M., who was the mother of another K/S writer, Roberta H. (Don’t confuse the classic story of that same title by Gayle F. with this 180 page zine.) Now that’s an interesting way to get family time, talk to your mom about various sex positions Kirk and Spock might use! Gena has “Six Weeks” and “Seven Years Later” in that zine, and I don’t think I’ve run across stories like them anywhere else. In “Six Weeks,” Kirk and Spock beam down to an otherwise- deserted planet just as a survey team leaves it. The survey team had included several family groups. Kirk and Spock will be doing some more work for Starfleet as they take a leisurely six weeks, a sort of working vacation. Only thing is, as the Enterprise warps out of communication range, they discover two baby boys who had been inadvertently left behind on the planet: one little human and one little Vulcan. In a fine example of the “Oh, that is so cute!” genre, our stalwart heroes take care of the boys as they stomp all over the planet, surveying and having sex and changing diapers. It’s really too cute to be believed. The sequel is “Seven Years Later,” as the men establish a relationship with the boys when they are older.

SIX WEEKS and SEVEN YEARS LATER are two linked stories. In the first. Kirk and Spock, expecting 6 weeks alone together on a survey, find themselves caring for two small babies, one Vulcan, one Human, without any suitable supplies or provisions. This is a charming story, which despite my best (or worst) intentions I found myself enjoying - I can't help but think they would find it rather more stressfull than shown, though. The second story has Kirk and Spock encountering their foster children seven years later, and becoming part of their lives, concluding with the two boys bonding with Vulcan women. The K/S relationship is part of the background, but is not stressed. The stories will appeal to anyone who likes the idea of Kirk and Spock having children, and presents a believable way for them to become involved in paternal relationships.

Most fans would swear that Kirk and Spock couldn't parent infants at all—let alone under such difficult conditions with none of the amenities to which 23rd parents would be accustomed. I was impressed by the resourcefulness of Kirk and Spock in this story, and found them more truly heroic here than they would be if they'd gone into battle against the Klingons. A battle is over in hours or even minutes, but this Kirk and Spock spent six weeks in daily struggle to keep helpless infants alive against great odds. This is an extraordinary achievement, but there are unfortunately no medals for parenting.

In ‘Six Weeks’ we find our Captain and his bondmate have beamed down to a newly deserted planet. Newly deserted because the previous inhabitants - a Federation Planetary Survey Group had packed up their homes, goods and chattels and departed to check out another planet for colonisation. The group consisted of men, women and their children ‘testing’ the viability of colonisation, and Starfleet in their ‘wisdom’ had commissioned the Enterprise to provide further samples and information, since the World Inspectors had deemed this one not suitable for purpose.

Before anyone can say ‘tribbles’ our brave Captain volunteers himself and his bondmate for the onerous task. Six weeks, all alone on a deserted planet, no large carnivores, no geological instabilities, clement weather, and all they have to do is collect samples and record their surroundings, just right he thinks for some much needed R and Aaghh! Bravely he sends the Enterprise on its way, with Mr. Scott in charge and turns to his bondmate for what to him is the most important part of their six weeks of ‘exploration’! However, Spock after a quick kiss holds him off. He has worked out their route, keeping them within the reach of water every evening, their schedule he says should allow for a daily period of recreation, the planetary day being 4.1 hours longer than normal, and they must attempt to keep to this schedule.

Resigned to waiting for some aaghhh, Kirk sets off and soon they top a small rise only to hear.. Babies crying??????????????? A trick of the wind, birds. No wind, no birds. They know that there were babies among the colonists, surely they haven’t deliberately abandoned their children? But there on a rug are two screaming infants, one blond curly headed human, and one dark haired little Vulcan. A hurried attempt to raise the Enterprise is unsuccessful it is well on its way and out of range.

On the spaceship carrying the colonists four anxious parents are urging the Captain to turn back for their babies in vain, a meteor shower has damaged their guidance system, the ship can only keep to the course programmed in!

Neither, when contacted, can the Enterprise turn back, it is carrying emergency medical supplies urgently needed, but, Scott informs the frantic parents, his Captain and First Officer are on the planet and will have surely found the babies by now, they are in good hands(!)

The rest of this story documents the inventiveness of our heroes caring for the needs of two three-month-old little boys, and we mothers know what they are, the trials and triumphs and of course frustrations. Surprisingly Spock takes the human baby and Jim the little Vulcan It is amazing how much liquid one small infant can produce seemingly from nothing much. By trial and error the two men fashion slings, clothes, nappies (diapers), and work out a diet for themselves and the two infants, and of course carry out the surveys requested. The R and Aargh is a bit more problematical. When eventually they are all recovered from the planet they are half naked, reeking of ammonia and wet-booted, but the babies are bonny, brown and happy.

A delightful story with all the ingredients we could ask for – humour, pathos, passion and no one gets hurt. Except for McCoy’s feelings – Spock says he would have traded him for a supply of clean nappies. When appealed to Jim purses his lips thoughtfully, “ Waterproof?” Spock nods, ..“We would have kept trying to get you back Bones, no matter how long it took!” Jim assures the medic.

As Six Weeks begins, inspectors have rejected a world which Starfleet topological reports painted as a pleasant place so Starfleet has requested a follow-up, six week sampling mission for unspecified reasons. The Science Officer‘s inclusion makes perfect sense. Kirk immediately assigns himself as well. Do you think he‘s going to pass up six weeks alone with his bondmate when Scotty can take the Enterprise on a milk run, assistance mission? I‘ve often wondered whether this scenario means Kirk is a great leader and a terrible manager or a great leader with a unique, unorthodox management style and whether this has brought reprimand or commendation or frustration for captain and crew. The first officer is the ship‘s general manager. In these storylines was Kirk promoted to captain because of or in spite of his skills in the principal, first officer functions and how did that experience affect his current command style? Back to the story...

The Enterprise barely passes out of communicator range when our intrepid explorers find two squalling, abandoned, three month old babies on a blanket in sodden, disposable diapers. Ridiculous? Not really. I can guarantee that you and your mate/life partner/ significant other have followed the same chain of events, though hopefully with a less dire result. The unfortunate parents are unable to turn back to rescue their kids due to mechanical difficulties, the Enterprise can‘t turn back and still meet their deadline and no other ships are near so Scotty, McCoy and company assure the frantic parents that two inexperienced men will be able to care for their children for six weeks without any baby supplies. In fact, they have a backpack apiece, one complete change of clothes, rations (the 23rd century version of MRE‘s, no doubt), a tricorder, sample gathering apparatus, an inflatable mattress and related camping gear, an innocence and naivete about all things baby and a plan to collect samples while hiking to a new water source each day with numerous time-outs for lovemaking. The plan quickly gets modified beyond recognition and we get an interesting insight into their bonding when Kirk and Spock immediately and simultan-eously without consultation assume responsibility for the Vulcan and human child, respectively. The guys stumble through all of the first time things every new parent deals with and get final survival grades of A++. We learn that standard Starfleet issue is non-optimally absorbant, care of a three-month old is a full time job and babies are cute, even to Vulcans. They also learn how to make slow, passionate love very, very quietly, which I don‘t think had ever occurred to them before and manage to complete their data collection mission. Six weeks later, with distraught parents sure they will spend months nursing ailing babies back to health, the Enterprise beams her command team back aboard bare- chested, wearing homemade hotpants and regulation boots with thriving infants strapped to their chests and backpacks full of samples over their shoulders. There is a fly in the ointment, however. Jim Kirk is upset when his little Vulcan, who has learned to smile and laugh, is immediately corrected by his happy parents, a familiar Vulcan contradiction.

After a much needed hot shower and a decent meal complete with interrogation by McCoy, Spock leads Jim to their favorite observation lounge because conversation in their quarters after the last six weeks would be impossible and gently, rhetorically asks whether Jim really wants the boy to be an outsider in his society. With one problem solved, the privacy quickly puts Jim in horndog mode. After wondering aloud how he can possibly get past his crew without embarrassment, his wily, resourceful mate surprises him with a towel and a tube of lube, and arranges for an insightful, very human gift for his baby.