Okaaayyyy….my mind wouldn't just let me be finished with this piece, but I promise, now I'm done.

The memorial service was a somber affair. Jim had declined to speak, instead wishing to sit amongst the rest of the cadets and grieve for his classmates. It was harder for him than he first thought possible. It wasn't real for him until he walked the unusually quiet halls of the upperclassmen dorms or scrolled through his PADD and realized half of the friends in his contact list were gone.

But it really didn't hit him until he sat in his chair and looked around for the rest of the old crew and saw only a few chairs filled. Uhura on his left….Bones on his right of course….Carol…Sulu…..Gary…That was it.

Jack Holmes…Xander Dawson….both had been on the Hoover. The last time Jim had seen them they were in the hangar, yelling over their shoulders at him, saying they'd bring him a souvenir. Now they were simply two of the 300 hundred empty chairs that represented the lost cadet class. Each one of the surviving band of friends hung their heads a little lower when their names were called.

When Gaila's name was read from the list, Uhura slipped her hand in his and squeezed. Whatever their differences had been over the years, they both shared the loss of the beautiful Orion girl that had befriended them. Bones frowned at their intertwined fingers and sighed deeply. It was the first brick in a wall that would separate the two of them many times in the coming years.

But he would always stand by him regardless, as he did so later in the rotunda while Jim waited to be called into the auditorium below for his promotion.

Carol stood with him as well, fingering the buttons on his uniform while he pressed his lips against her forehead. He had rarely let her out of his sight in the two days since returning home. It was as if every harsh word and argument between them had lost its poison when they realized how much there was too lose...for now. "It's going to be good," he murmured against her skin. "You and me against the universe, right?"

She smiled. Weakly, but only Bones noticed. "You should get in there, Captain."

He smiled broadly and lightly touched her cheek with his fingertips. "You'll wait for me afterwards?"

She nodded and tapped the rail and pointed. "I've go the best view in the house. I'll be here."

Jim kissed her forehead then slapped Bones on the back before heading to the lift, whistling and tugging at his collar. Bones gave her a small smile and her arm a gentle squeeze before following. She gave him a playful shove but her grin faded when they disappeared and she blew out a sigh and leaned against the railing.

"Humans should usually be rejoicing on such a day."

Carol nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around. "Who are you?"

The elderly Vulcan stepped forward. "Forgive me. I'm…the ambassador for New Vulcan." He looked below them. "Shouldn't you be down there?"

"Oh, um…." She shrugged. "I guess I've never really given into the whole Federation rigmarole."

He cocked his head.

"All the pomp and circumstance," she explained waving her hand.

The ambassador smiled and Carol noticed his eyes were strangely warm for such a stoic race. "I can see why Jim likes you."

"You know Jim?"

"Our paths have crossed from time to time."

"He's never spoken of you."

"Not yet, I'm sure. But he's always spoken of you."

Carol smiled wryly and looked down at Jim at the center of attention. "I'm sure. Our battles are always epic."

"It's always been in the highest of regard," the old Vulcan assured her. "You have a unique relationship."

It was more of a statement than a question.

Carol nodded and found herself warming to the alien. "He's my best friend," she answered simply, thoughtfully. "It doesn't matter where we are or what else is going on between us at whatever moment. We'll always be that to each other."

"I do hope so. It was very nice to meet you, Carol Marcus." He held out his hand that she gripped firmly. "Live long and prosper."