Archive of Our Own ^beta

Notes:

We know since 'Wrath of Khan' that Kirk has a son which was born a few years before the start of that famous 5-year-mission of the Enterprise NCC-1701. He made a choice back then to meet Carol Marcus' wish to stay out of their lives. When facing young Charlie Evans, a boy approximately the same age as his son David at the time, this knowledge surely did something to him. When McCoy proposes that Kirk take care of Charlie since he considers him a strong father figure... Kirk instantly rejects the idea. Looking back we understand the reason for this.

How do you cope with the choices you've made?

(See the end of the work for more notes.)