Chapter 7: The future
Author's note: Attention, big fluff overload in this chapter ;) I couldn't stop myself...
The next morning Sulu was giving Jamie Kirk a very impatient and questioning look when she entered the bridge. But he managed to keep quiet, just greeted her.
"Good morning, Captain McCoy", he said, discovering the ring at her left hand. But he tried not to grin.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Sulu", she replied coolly.
The shift started as usual and when Jamie still hadn't said anything half an hour later, he turned around to her. "So... about yesterday evening."
Jamie tilted her head. "Yes?"
"Did you like the roses, the doctor put into your quarters?" he started, trying to sound casually.
"They're really nice", Jamie answered, taking a PADD from a yeoman. She crossed her legs and started to read the files on the PADD.
"And I see you're wearing a ring today", he added.
"Uh-uhm", Jamie made, still reading. The ring sparkled in the light of the bridge.
And by now, the whole bridge crew listened to their conversation. Some of them obviously, others pretended to continue their work.
"Does this mean, you'll legalize the marriage?"
"No."
"No?" Sulu echoed a little shocked. "But... the ring..."
Jamie let the PADD sink onto her lap. "...isn't a wedding ring."
"But... when we call you Captain McCoy, you don't correct us..." Sulu started to protest, until he understood the meaning of the words Jamie didn't say. "Ohhh," he made in realization. And he grinned. "You're engaged."
Jamie smiled. "I am."
Sulu made a victorious gesture. "Yes!"
The bridge crew cheered and Jamie laughed, shaking her head about that display of emotions. And about Spock standing there like always, hands behind his back and raising an eyebrow at what was happening around him. Which was a little weird considering that he's also called her Captain McCoy.
Finally, Jamie turned around to Uhura. "Open a shipwide channel."
Uhura nodded and did it.
"This is a shipwide announcement", Jamie started. "We had two interesting days since Venar and our visit there changed a few things between me and Leonard McCoy. As you all are well aware. Yesterday evening we decided what to do now. Starfleet offered us to declare the marriage valid. Emperor Phido of Venar asked them to do so... Well, we declined. We got engaged instead", Jamie explained in an almost casual tone. "The wedding will be in three months on Earth. And before anyone can ask about my name. I actually will be changing it to McCoy. But the next three months I'm still Jamie Kirk, so - and this is an order - I'll be addressed accordingly... Kirk out."
The order about the captain's name was the first one the crew completely ignored and disobeyed. They continued calling her McCoy. But that was more than okay for Jamie. She just needed to really concentrate when introducing herself to other ships or planet's leaders. At least she tried for about a week to do so and still used the name Kirk. Then she gave up on it. Happily. And not even Starfleet cared that she also started to sign her reports now with Jamie T. McCoy.
The name became finally officially hers one sunny day in summer of 2259.
Near Starfleet headquarters stood a replica of the first ship carrying the name Enterprise - the british HMS Enterprise. On deck of the wooden vessel Admiral Christopher Pike officiated the wedding of Jamie Tiberia Kirk and Leonard Horatio McCoy under white sails with Starfleet insignia.
Leonard and the male officers were in their dress uniforms.
Jamie was wearing a gown in white and gold. She'd actually pondered putting on the blue Venaran again - or another blue one -, but decided against it. She didn't want her real and planned wedding be connected to Venar.
Eleonora McCoy cried and Winona Kirk provided one tissue after another. Ten year old Joanna McCoy was wipping on her feet in excitement, holding the bouquet with white flowers Jamie had entrusted her when she held Leonard's hands for the vows.
And the color blue? Well, this wedding also had blue of course and the whole wedding saying of old, new, borrowed and blue. This time it was a little differently than on Venar. The McCoy ring was old, the dress was new and the earrings were borrowed from Winona Kirk - she'd worn them at her own wedding. The decorative blue garter around Jamie's right thigh was only meant to be seen by Leonard in the wedding night.
The kiss sealing their marriage was sweet and gentle and g-rated. It made the guests awwwwwe and little Joanna jump a little more.
At the reception in the gardens near Starfleet headquarters and the HMS Enterprise Jamie rose at some point at the table and gently knocked with a spoon at her glass to get the attention of the guests.
"So", she began. "Before the dancing is getting started, I want to give Leonard my wedding gift."
Leonard rose and Uhura handed Jamie a little box with a blue and golden bow.
"Well, actually, it's not directly for him and it's also the answer to a question from my mother-in-law", the new Mrs. McCoy continued with a bright smile.
Leonard gave her a curious look, took the box and opened it. His eyed widened seeing its content. He tried to say something, but didn't get out the words. But he slowly pulled out what was inside.
At first the guests only saw some golden laces... until the tiny blue shoes at their ends appeared.
Eleonora and Winona, sitting next to each other, squealed in unison.
Leonard kept holding the little baby shoes, but put down the box in order to be able to slid the free arm around his wife's waist, pulling her into a kiss. "I love you so much."
"I guess being stuck on that planet a few weeks ago messed with my birth control a little", she whispered into his ear.
"I don't mind." He grinned happily. "Quite the opposite."
The guests cheered in excitement.
Only Joanna was a little confused. She got up from her place next to her father and stepped between him and Jamie when their kiss ended. " Those look like shoes for a baby. Why would you need them, Daddy?"
Jamie smiled and Leonard chuckled. As did many guests. Jamie took the gift, so he had his hands free.
Leonard lifted his daughter up. "Your little brother or sister will need them", he said.
Joanna's eyes lit up, now understanding what was happening. She looked to Jamie. "Really? I'm getting a sibling?" she squeaked.
Jamie nodded with a bright smile, held the shoes up and put her free hand on her still flat belly. "You are. But I'll take about eight months."
Joanna squeaked again and reached out for Jamie. Leonard stepped closer, so his daughter could embrace Jamie.
Eleonora finally got impatient and joined the three, taking Jamie in her arms. Winona waited until later, but gave Jamie and Leonard a happy smile from the distance.
When the family made finally space for Christopher Pike to congratulate them, the admiral pretended to sigh heavily and gave them a helpless gesture.
Jamie laughed. "Don't think you're getting rid of me, just because I'm a little pregnant."
"A little pregnant?" Leonard echoed with a chuckle.
Pike also chuckled. "So, I don't have to find another captain for the Enterprise or give Spock a promotion?"
"I'm pretty sure the chair's big enough for me to fit in with a baby bump. Or a toddler in the arms. And if I have to fight this through with Starfleet Command and the people on top, I'll do that."
"Well..." Pike grinned now broadly. "I hadn't accounted for your news, but I think my wedding present hits the mark." He reached for a PADD Sulu was bringing him with a smirk and handed it to Jamie. "I knew you'd be starting a family one day and no power in the universe would keep you from staying captain of the Enterprise. Luckily Commander Starfleet is alright with that. He personally signed this. The Enterprise is as of now a family friendly vessel. Married crewmembers are allowed to bring their family on board."
Jamie let the PADD sink and placed it on the table. "Permission to hug the admiral?" she asked with a wink.
"Go for it. That saves me to ask permission to hug the bride", he replied with a wink into Leonard's direction.
Leonard just laughed, when Jamie embraced Christopher Pike.
"Thanks, Chris."
"My pleasure", he answered. "And hereby I throw my name in the hat for the godparents."
Jamie suddenly felt a tug at her dress and looked down. "Joanna." She sank down to be one eye level with the girl. Well, as much as her dress allowed. "What's up, little Pumpkin?"
Chris noticed it would be a longer conversation and went to some other guests.
"When you won't come to live on Earth, I won't be seeing you and Daddy and my sibling... right?" Joanna looked a little sad.
Jamie gently stroked over the girl's cheek. "We'll visit you often. I promise."
"Nothing will change", Leonard assure his daughter, also crouching now.
Joanna brought her hands together and nervously played with her fingers. "I, uhm..."
"What is it?" Jamie gently asked.
Joanna's gaze met Jamie's. "Can I life with you on the Enterprise?"
Jamie looked stunned at Joanna, then Leonard. He was also taken completely by surprise.
"What about your mother? And grandmother? And friends at school?" Jamie finally replied, when Leonard gave her a helpless look.
"Mom and Clay are often away. I have to stay with Grandma very often. And school's boring. I want to be with Daddy and you. I want to see space." She huffed a little. "Okay, I'll miss grandma terribly."
"Did you... uhm... did you talk to your Mom about this?" Leonard carefully asked, when he found his voice again. "Or did you just have this idea, Honey?"
Joanna shook her head as an answer to the second question. "I wanted to ask you already a few weeks back, but Mom said I should wait... and that..." She lowered her gaze and hesitated.
Jamie ran a hand encouragingly over Joanna's upper arm. "Don't worry, Pumpkin. Just tell us."
Joanna looked first at Jamie again, then at her father. "Mom said she's pretty sure you won't have me... Because I lived with her until now and the two of you would be a new family. She said there wouldn't probably be a place for me in your family anyhow or that you wouldn't have time for me." Now the girl sniffled a little and blinked to avoid tearing up.
Jamie sighed and pulled Joanna in her arms, looking questioningly to Leonard at the same time. She could see a mixture of worry, compassion, love and anger in his eyes. He nodded to her instantly and Jamie replied that nod with a smile. She drew a little back so she could look Joanna in the eyes. She gently wiped a few tears off the girl's face. "You are part of our family, Jo-Jo. And if you really want this and your Mom doesn't object, we'll start next week furnishing a room for you."
Joanna's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. "Really?" she replied in disbelief.
Jamie und Leonard chuckled and he got closer, putting a hand reassuringly on his daughter's back. "Really", he confirmed. "I love you, Honey. And I always missed you badly... But at first you would be the only child on board and we first need to set a schooling for you. And there are no sky, grass, lakes or animals. And no shopping malls. You might wanna sleep about it again."
Joanna nodded, but Jamie and Leonard saw in her eyes that her decision was already made. So they would soon have a ten year old girl on the Enterprise.
Jamie noticed in the corner of her eye Scotty and Keenser. She met their gazes and they nodded to her.
"On it, Captain", Scotty said. " Luckily we already started rearranging the room assignments next to the captain's quarters. Wedding gift." He exchanged a grin with Keenser.
Joanna looked up confused and Jamie gently stroked over her hair. "Uncle Scotty and Uncle Keenser will make sure that you're getting a nice room by making our quarter's bigger."
Leonard rolled his eyes, thinking back at the name thing, the wedding cake and the ring. "Our crew is way too sneaky."
Jamie chuckled and lifted Joanna in her arms when she finally got up from her knees.
Leonard was tempted to warn her about holding a ten-year-old while being pregnant, but he didn't. Jamie's Don't-worry-I'm-pregnant-and-not-sick-glance stopped that thought at once.
"So, let's tell your Grandma the news and hope that she doesn't get a heart attack", Jamie said and started walking.
Joanna giggled.
Leonard looked after them and smiled happily. His family. His growing family. He already imagined Jamie with a baby belly and a little boy or girl with cerulean blue eyes.
He let out a short laugh, realizing how much his life had changed since that day on Venar.
Everything was perfect.
Maybe he should sent Emperor Phido a fruit basket or something.
