Jim made a point for the next few nights to be back in their quarters every night for the kids' bedtime. He put Will down in his crib; he really was such a well behaved baby. Sometimes he wondered how this little one was his, but all he needed to do to reassure himself, was by looking into his son's little face, that looked just like his. Georgie tiptoed into her brother's room without alerting her father to her presence. She peered into her baby brother's crib, and whispered,
"Nighty night Willie. I love you."
"That's sweet Georgie-pie, but you gotta get into bed if you want me to continue telling you how I met Mommy."
"Okay Daddy, will you carry me?" As she blinked up at him with those Kirk blues and her arms stretched up. And what else could he do but pick up his baby girl and get her ready for bed. Once she was all tucked in and snuggled up next to her daddy, Jim began telling her the story again.
"Okay princess here's the next part of the story…"
To say that their first two years aboard the Enterprise was 'eventful' would be an understatement. There were various away missions that ended in the sickbay and lengthy reports sent to command. Among other things, it was during these two years that the Enterprise witnessed its first wedding and birth.
"Now Georgie-pie, I brought some holopics to help with the story, see here's the picture of Uncle Spock and Aunt Nyota's bonding ceremony."
"Is that you and Auntie Ny?"
"Yes it is."
"Why does she look mad?"
"Well…"
"Mad" was an understatement. The ceremony went off without a hitch, the pictures taken afterwards got her angry. Jim smiled to himself, thinking back to the end of the first year on their mission, he'd brought a date to the bonding ceremony who was, to put it lightly, dumber than a ton of bricks. She also got on just about everyone's nerves including the not-so-blushing bride.
"Where is Mommy? Daddy! This is supposed to be how you met Mommy."
"Don't worry pumpkin, I'll back track. But there are other stories you need to know too."
On a sigh Georgie nodded her head and settled back against her pillows. Jim continued on with his story.
About half way into their second year on board the Enterprise, on a relatively uneventful day on the Enterprise, Jim sat in his ready room waiting for his command team to return from shore leave, when his XO and chief communications officer came in, Uhura beaming, and the Vulcan showing the most amount of emotion he'd seen in a while. Jim eased back into his seat already had an idea of what could have happened.
"So do you two have an announcement for me? Ohh I know did you get a puppy?"
This was met with an eyebrow raise, and Nyota's quick retort,
"Jim! No we did not get a puppy, Spock and I are going to get married! During the next shore leave we were planning on having the bonding ceremony, and we wanted to let you know to make sure all the arrangements are in order."
"Nyota informs me that in Terran custom during the wedding ceremony I am to have a group of male companions with me and one in particular with whom I share a sense of superlative camaraderie. Since I do not conduct myself in a less than professional manner with most, I would like to request you act as my best man."
He was stunned, and there was no way he could have been prepared for this. With a dumbfounded nod, he accepted. As the rest of the command team filtered into the ready room congratulations, handshakes, and slaps on the back resounded, Nyota then corralled her now named three bridesmaids to work on some preliminary details, as Spock awkwardly asked three three of the other men to act as groomsmen during the Terran ceremony.
The months prior to the wedding seemed to speed past them all, and before they knew it they were in space dock preparing for the bonding and wedding ceremonies. The crew began to settle down in their respective quarters for the week of the wedding. Jim pulled a few strings to allow the crew of the Enterprise to witness the nuptials of two of their officers. As usual, Jim sensed that the bachelor party fell on his shoulders and began to scheme what kind he would throw for his Vulcan buddy. He began running ideas by Bones to see what they could slip past Uhura. Each suggestion was shot down by a gruff remark about Nyota possibly making it impossible for Kirk to procreate. They figured one particular club they could go to without getting into too much trouble. Unfortunately for Jim, he spent a better half of the night explaining the tradition to Spock, as he XO got more uncomfortable with every burlesque dancer that came his way. The one highlight Jim had was meeting a lovely young lady whom he drunkenly invited to the wedding as his date.
"Daddy, what's a club? You didn't meet Mommy in a club!"
"I know princess, a club like the one Daddy went to isn't meant for you, it was just a special party for Uncle Spock."
"Is that why Aunty Ny looks made in this picture? Was she mad she wasn't invited?"
"Sort of… Well I think that this is enough story for tonight! Goodnight sweetpea!"
"Night Daddy"
As Jim left his daughter's room, he spotted his wife looking weary as she returned to their quarters.
"How much of the story did you tell Georgie tonight?"
"Tonight we looked at pictures and I told her about Ny and Spock's wedding."
"Oh good, just how much are you planning on telling our four year old?"
"Just the important stuff, don't worry."
Jim remembered exactly why Nyota was so mad at him. First of all, she was upset that Jim had brought a burlesque dancer to her wedding on top of bringing Spock to one as well. But through it all, she knew that Jim bringing another woman would hurt a dear friend of hers. Little did Jim know at the time, but he would regret bringing a date later on.
