I am so sorry for not updating sooner! I've been very busy lately, but anyway, this isn't the last chapter. I am still not done with this story! Also, I know this chapter is kind of shitty. I have major writers block as I haven't written a fanfic in awhile, but either way I hope you enjoy. I don't know when the other chapters will be done yet.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Jim walked out of the stuffy meeting room with a pissed-off Doctor and an indifferent Vulcan walking next to him.

"I can't stand these stupid dress uniforms, " McCoy scowled as the walked out of the building.

"Bones we know, we hear this every single time we have we wear them," Jim smirked at his friend. Spock just gave him a look of agreement but didn't say anything.

"I'll catch up with you two later, Admiral Pike wanted to see me, " and with that he left poor Spock with the pissed off Doctor. They were currently landed on Earth for some huge event having to do with Romulans. Pike had wanted Jim and his crew to attend this event as they seemed to have good luck in dealing with Romulans. Not to mention, the Enterprise had gotten into a nasty brush with a huge "Space Kangaroo with purple feet", as Jim called it and needed a bit of a tune-up despites Scotty's protest that his girl was fine.

He walked along the campus till he reached the building that contained Pike's office. Before he entered, he smiled to himself about the many times he had to come here in his "Academy Days" to explain why he was once again bruised and beaten to shit from yet another bar fight. Each time he used to come here, he had expected to get another lecture about how much of a loser he was, but that lecture never came. Pike never yelled lectured him, sure he got mad at him once in awhile, but he never told Jim he was a complete failure at life. This time, Jim didn't know what he was in for.

Admiral Christopher Pike was waiting outside the office for him looking the same way he did everyday, except he was no longer in a wheelchair. He didn't even walk with a cane anymore, despite Doctors hounding him about it, he was fine as he insisted. "Come on in, Jim," he welcomed the younger man with a smile into his office.

As soon as he closed the door, he sat down, and got right to business as usual. "Jim, I really can't thank you enough," Pike grinned as he said it. At first, he had to be honest, he didn't have a damn idea what the Admiral was talking about.

Pike caught on to this, "Oh come on, Jim, don't give me that look…you know very well what I'm talking about. My Grandson, CJ? Remember?" he prompted.

Had he ACTUALLY convinced that kid to change his life around? He felt a rush of happiness as he remembered the events of that day. "Yeah of course I remember that," he grinned at his previous stupidity "Yeah what about him?" he asked, pretty sure that he looked like a little kid bursting with curiosity.

"Well, I heard about your little conversation with him, back at Christmas, he himself told me about it. I know people in that part of Iowa, coincidentally enough, and for years they have been keeping me updated on him. My son had a family and moved down there for work in the farming industry. Well, after he moved out, he never talked to me again. I tried to call him, visit him, and all that but it never worked. It took me awhile to realize all of that was my fault. All the while he was growing up, I was off-planet, or in California for work. I let my career ruin my relationship with my only son and screwed up a lot of things. He even got my own wife hating me for awhile. About eight years ago, he died in a car wreck. It didn't hit me until we were at his funeral that all of it was my fault. I've regretted everything since. Well, apparently he taught my grandkids to hate me, and my daughter-in-law will never look at me either, but when you talked to CJ, you sparked something in that kid, Kirk, and I can't thank you enough," with that, Pike looked up at him, all the sadness and regret seemingly washed off his face by the thought of CJ.

Jim, struck with the sadness of this all too familiar story, looked down. How could he have fixed this situation? Him, of all people, with the most dysfunctional family around?

Pike continued "He came up here the week after Christmas, and he told me everything. I never knew I impacted your life so much, kid, and it helps to know I haven't screwed up on everyone. Not only that, but you helped me get my Grandson back into my life and I can't thank you enough for it. While it can't fix everything, it makes me feel a little better about the things I regret. He's been in StarFleet Academy ever since, and he's at the top of all his classes, he wants to be an engineer," and with that Pike finished his story.

Jim was shocked to hear all this personally from Pike, he was a very private person and he never seemed to open up to anyone. "Well, I had to repay you in some way Admiral. I'm so glad to hear he's doing so well. I'll tell Scotty to watch out," He grinned at that. Pike laughed, "Well, he still has at least another year and half, but a warning would be great for Scotty."

Jim didn't want to just leave it at this, he knew he had more to say. "Admiral, I guess I really never did thank you enough for everything. All the bullshit you put up with from me. Four months ago, as I was talking to CJ, I realized how pig-headed I was back then, and that all changed because of you. You could have just left that bar that night with just an apology towards me, but you didn't. You were the first person in my life who didn't see me as a failure, you didn't give me the same haunted look everyone did when they saw me, you didn't compare me to my father, so I guess, honestly you taught me what to say that night to CJ. I'm glad I helped him, but it was you indirectly helping him too. He's a good kid, I saw that under the tough guy exterior and I honestly wish him all the best. When he's ready to graduate, send him my way, I'm sure we'll have a space available on the Enterprise."

And with that, the two men said good-bye and Jim Kirk walked away from the building lost in his own thoughts.