Why are Saavik and Peter the children of the Enterprise crew in this AU?
When I began the main story arc, I realized that Sam had been dead for twenty years. At first, I was going to have Jim formally adopt him, and have that be that. But I realized also that if Peter were Jim’s blood-son, this increased the past pain of losing him. In Saavik’s case, it created an irony. Usually, there is no one closer to Saavik than Spock. But if it were Spock himself who was used on Hellguard, this might create a distance, as he blocked out the pain of memory. Further, this pain ultimately broke up the K&S team—which is like 60% of TOS. Spock being Saavik’s father ironically did the opposite of them being closer together. Jim feels guilty over Peter’s suffering, and of course blames himself. Since now Jim adopted both children early on, they are not only lovers but siblings, just as their blood-fathers have often been referred to as brothers.
