The next few weeks go in a blur, as Rose juggles everything that Chris can't do when he's in meetings and trying to keep Cadets from acting out of line. As the days go by, several of their friends stop by for a visit; lunch with Leonard, Joanna and Christine. Dinner with Spock and Nyota, which leads to a few rounds of chess between Chris and Spock, while the girls play with Joshua in the den.

Some nights, Joshua spends the night with his Grandmother, so that Chris and Rose can go out for drinks or just to simply be social with the group. Jim comes and goes between work at the Academy and hanging around a few hours at whatever bar they end up at.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a bit longer?" Leonard asks, as Jim pulls his leather jacket on. "You're going to miss the good part! We're just settling in for the big debate between Scotty and the kid over which is better. Scotch or Vodka."

Jim snorts, "I'm good, Bones," he grins. " It's been a long day and I wanna get a head start on updating my bike."

"You mean that piece of tin?" Chris snorts, taking a sip from his beer. "Are you going to add a helmet?"

Rose tries to bite back the smile that wants to spread across her face, but fails miserably. She knows that Jim will never wear a helmet, no matter how hard anyone begs him too.

"That's my baby you're talking about, old man," Jim chuckles. "You'll see! When it's all done and ready, you'll be crying for one."

"Oh he can cry," Rose shakes her head. "Doesn't mean he's getting a bike."

Leonard snorts as Chris wraps his arm around her shoulders, "But Rose," he pouts. She gives him a stern look, which makes him sigh. "Okay, okay," he sighs. "No bike."

Rose smiles, "You'll thank me one day, " she promises, patting his cheek. "You can get a new holo-screen..something that doesn't result in death or maiming."

"Mid-life crisis already?" Jim snorts, as he swipes his credit chip to pay for his drinks. "Aren't you a bit young for that?"

"My mid-life crisis is you, Jim," Chris says, trying very hard to be serious. It doesn't help when is wife snickers at him and the look on shock on Jim's face, that makes him relax. "Which is pretty tame considering the shit you like to pull."

Jim rolls his eyes, "You adore me," he looks smug as he says this. "Who else makes your job exciting but me?"

"I'd adore you more if you stopped coming to my office and putting your muddy boots on my desk," Chris corrects him.

"Yeah, yeah," Jim sighs. "I'll see you all later! Bones, I will call you tomorrow."

Leonard rolls his eyes, "Oh god.. why?" he shakes his head. "Try to get home in one piece, Jim."

A few hours after Jim leaves, Leonard takes his cue to head home shortly before eleven. Joanna is with a sitter and Christine is due home from a late shift at the hospital, which means that it's his turn to bring home dinner for her.

"How about we get some dinner and call it a night?" Chris suggests, as she drains the last of her beer. "Maybe some Chinese?"

They pay their tab and bustle out past the locals, taking the five minute drive to their favorite take out place. As their food cooks, they stand by the counter and wait, wrapped up in each others arms. It's a slow night at the restaurant, especially for a Friday night; a few Cadets come and go, as well as young couples on date night.

"Remember when I first took you here?" Chris whispers, as a young couple giggles in the corner. "I distinctively remember you giggling just like that."

"I distinctively remember you bringing me back to your place and screwing me into the mattress that entire weekend," she smirks. "Think I can get a repeat of that?"

Chris warps his arms around her waist and pulls her close, "If you play your cards right, I may just call Grandma and have her keep the baby for an extra day."

They take the food home and spend the entire weekend in bed, before waking up early on Monday to pick Joshua up from his extended sleepover.

…..

"Chris! Can you take the baby?"

Joshua squirms against her side and tries his very best to shove his hand into the cookie batter.

"Joshua Robert!" Rose huffs, as the two-year-old squeals. "You cannot eat that!"

Chris makes his way into the kitchen, "Josh, why are you being bad?" he asks, holding his arms out for him. "Come on, kiddo. Leave your Mother in peace so she can bake her cookies."

"No! Mummy play!" Joshua pouts, which is a mirror expression of Chris. Everything Joshua does results in him looking like a miniature Chris, which startles Rose sometimes. "Play!"

"How about I play with you and then when Mommy is done, we can all play together?" Chris suggests.

The terrible twos are just that. Terrible. Between temper tantrums both in public and at home, and the sheer pleasure of throwing toys at people, are enough to drive Rose up the wall. Or take a phaser shot to the head.

"Hmm? How does that sound?" Chris asks, as Joshua blinks. "We can play with your spaceships or with those little toy hover cars that you got for your birthday."

"PLAY!"

Chris sets him down and watches as he runs off into the other room, screeching in the process. He chuckles and turns to his wife, who sets the little lumps of raw dough onto the baking tray.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asks, as he makes his way over to her.

Rose nods, "Just tired," she yawns, while resting her head back against his shoulder. "Between Joshua and this one… I just don't have the energy anymore."

"This one", the baby growing and expanding within her womb, gives a swift kick to her ribs, to which Chris hisses because it's a pretty damn swift one.

"Why don't you let me do this and you go on upstairs for a nap?" he suggests. "I even promise that Joshua wont eat them all."

Rose snorts, "I think you're talking about yourself, darling," she shakes her head. "I'll only take a nap if you promise not to burn these. Last time I left you alone with the baking, I thought you tried to melt tar in our oven."

He kisses the side her head, "Just get your butt up in that bed and take a nap," he growls. "I'll try to get the monster down for his nap and join you."

She nods and steps away from the counter, "Just don't forget my cookies!" she warns, giving him a quick kiss. "And try not to break anything."

At seven months pregnant, she can still scare him with her stern glare and hidden threats. She can also pack a mean punch, especially when he becomes to grabby when it's just them and they've finally got each other alone for the evening. As she makes her way out of the kitchen and down the hallway, yelling for Joshua to be good, Chris can't help but watch her as she moves. After all these years, she's still as beautiful as she was the day they met; older and slightly worn out from motherhood and taking care of a house, but beautiful nonetheless. And she's all his. His wife, his confidant, the mother of his children and the love of his life.

But that alone doesn't stop him from worrying that one day, he could lose it all.