Chapter 9
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.26
JAMES T KIRK VIA SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Captain Pike,
Is that recruitment still open for negotiation?
JTK
888
Monday – July 27th – Noon
Richmond Hill – Gad-wak Ogsu Mahr-kel (Sunrise Tailor Shop)
They left early, around ten or so, to make the hour and a half drive out to Richmond Hill to this dress boutique that Pauline swears by. Bones drove, and Jim sat in the passenger seat with her face pressed into the cool glass of the window and her PADD in her lap, which was no use to her because all she did was fall asleep again.
Pauline and Eleanora sat in the back, talking about things that older women, widows, mothers, usually liked to talk about while Bones flipped through radio stations and kept an eye on Jim as well as the road.
They arrive around noon and by the time Jim stretches lazily with a content sigh, her stomach is grumbling and she is inexplicably hungry. She rambles off a list of things she has a craving for to Bones (since he's kind enough to fetch her some food) before Eleanora and Pauline herd her into the classy store.
Even when they're inside, Jim doesn't spare a single dress a second glance because she's too busy jotting off to the bathroom to care about anything else. This has become the most annoying development—her frequent need to pee—and she's only eight weeks into this pregnancy. She knows that the bigger she gets, the worse the urge to pee will be. She's so not looking forward to that.
Jim sighs as she tides herself up, washes her hands, and strolls out the bathroom to the front of the store where Eleanora and Pauline are chatting up the owner, which happens to be the same Vulcan female Jim recognizes as T'Para. The same Vulcan female who was making out with Serene that one weekend they spent in Albany County.
By the slight green tinge on T'Para's cheeks, Jim would say that she recognizes her as well. She quickly schools her expression, however, and the flush dies into something a lot more neutral.
"Oh, T'Para," Pauline gushes and T'Para diverts her attention away from Jim. "You've grown since I last was here."
T'Para's mouth gives a slight frown and she blinks only once. She says, "I fail to perceive what you mean by that comment. Surely, you did not believe I would remain as I was when we last met. Does not everything age?"
Pauline chuckles fondly. "Yes, but, well, it's just a thing we humans say when we take note of things."
T'Para says nothing.
"In any case, I'm curious. Where's your mother?" Pauline questions.
"She has gone to our ancestral planet to convene with our kin. As such, the shop is now within my care until her return," T'Para explains, quite frankly. "I am familiar with her methods, if this concerns you."
"Oh, I've no doubt about your skills," Pauline promises before she gestures beside her. "This is a longtime friend of mine, Eleanora McCoy. And this is her surrogate daughter, Jim Kirk. Jim's the one who'll need the measurin' and the fittin'."
"Very well," T'Para says simply. "I will detain the tools I require. In the meantime, Ms. Kirk, if you will please stand here." She indicates to the small, three-inch stage beside the three body mirrors.
Jim kicks off her boots and steps on it.
Bones enters the shop with his arms full of food.
Jim can smell it from here and it makes her stomach growl. "Oh God, I'm so hungry. Gimme, gimme," she whines and makes grabby motions with her hands.
Bones huffs and says, "Hold on a minute." He lets Eleanora and Pauline grab their food first before he treks over to Jim.
Jim makes an impatient sound as she digs through the bags and pulls free a warm six-inch sub wrapped in tin-foil. "You told them extra onions and extra olives right?" She tears off the foil and takes a huge bite before he can answer, moaning in utter elation as the sharp flavors of mustard, salami, turkey, pickles, onions, olives, and oregano explodes over her tongue.
Bones's lips curl while he watches her in amusement and hands her some napkins when she drips mustard on her shirt with a muttered swear. He hands over a bag of pretzels after he opens it for her before he moves off to the side to join Eleanora and Pauline where they are sitting on a couch to eat his own food.
Jim takes three more bites of her sandwich before jamming a few pretzels in her mouth and chews furiously because she's so goddamn hungry. She makes a face at Bones, who's still watching her with that amused smirk of his, before she rolls her eyes and pretends to be annoyed with being the center of his focused attention (she's really not though, she loves it, but she'll be damned if she ever says).
T'Para returns with all her gear by the time Jim is well on her way to being done with her sub and asking for another (which Bones thankfully prepared for). She moves silently around Jim as she takes her measurements with a thoughtful (yet concentrated) frown.
Jim wipes her mouth clean before she finishes the rest of her pretzels.
T'Para asks, "Are there any specific modifications or stylistic choices you prefer?"
"Black," Jim says before Eleanora and Pauline can make their demands. "All black. I want to look like I'm going to a funeral. Or like a zombie wedding."
Bones snorts but Eleanora doesn't find it so amusing. She says, "Lively colors, if you please, Ms. T'Para. Nothin' that makes her look too pale."
"And loose," Pauline adds. "I suspect she'll gain a little weight during the next four days, as one would while they are expectin'."
Jim frowns petulantly but she says nothing while T'Para studies her with slight interest before she takes the measurement of Jim's waist once again. When she wanders off with Eleanora and Pauline to collect different types of ball gowns, Jim says, "I'm still hungry."
Bones grabs the extra sub in the bag and brings it over to her with more napkins. "We should start outlinin' the move. I've been doin' research," he says as he watches her eat.
"So have I," Jim mumbles back, around two bites of her sub. "Pike still hasn't gotten back to me, but I think he will. He's probably busy with something." She shrugs and swallows. "I still got the map of San Francisco on my PADD and I like tacked off the important places."
Bones nods before he wanders back to the couch and grabs Jim's PADD out of her handbag. When he has the map pulled up, he says, "You marked six daycares? Starfleet has a daycare center."
Jim chews and puts her hand in front of her mouth as she says, "Yeah, but those are just the backups. You don't really know how the instructors are, or if they're too full, or if there's certain things they don't cater too. Maybe you might even disagree with the curriculum. I just wanted to be sure you had some good options for Joanna."
Bones smiles a little but he keeps his amusement contained. She can tell he's amused and that annoys her slightly. He says, "No, you're right. I suppose we can call at least four of these places before we decide anythin'."
"Well, you'll decide. I don't really—I mean it's not much of my—Jocelyn will probably have more of a weight on the decision than I do since…" Jim trails off with an embarrassed flush as Bones waits patiently for her to finish. "I just mean that what I—how I feel doesn't really matter."
"Don't be an idiot," Bones says, not unkindly. "Of course it does. Joanna's gonna be just as much under your care as mine. We're all gonna be livin' together. And I'm sure there'll be days when I get so wrapped up in somethin' and you'll have to pick her up or drop her off. So the choice has to be viable for both of us. We're gonna be dealin' with the same thing when our daughter comes along."
Jim forgot about that. To be honest, she's been fretting over the living arrangement for a little while now. She just wants Joanna to be comfortable but she isn't sure how to go about making that happen other than suggesting things to Bones so that he can carry things out. They aren't even married or dating or anything besides close friends. It's been hard to say what role Jim would play in the grand scope of things when it came to Joanna.
"Quit worryin' over it," Bones drawls and grins fondly at her. "It'll be fine. Joanna already likes you. It'll be fine and we can decide together what's best for her as long as she's living under the same roof as us."
Jim shoves more of her sandwich in her mouth before she nods. She chews for a bit and swallows. "Okay, so, I also marked like local playgrounds and extracurricular programs. There's a studio within a quarter mile of Starfleet, and they offer clubs for toddlers. You know, things like karate, Girls' Scouts, cheerleading, gymnastics, music and art, um, I think they also host a space program with focuses in xenolinguistics and exobiology. Most of them sound really cool. I'd even join them."
"It'll be a treat for Jo," Bones supposes as with a slight grin. "She's got enough energy to run through six of them. This'll be good to tire her out. We can bring her home, feed her up and usher her right to bed."
Jim laughs and shakes her head. "Let's make three the limit because we don't know if it'll interfere with our academic schedule. I don't want her to be stranded if neither of us can get around to picking her up or anything."
Bones nods agreeably. "You didn't mark any of the hospitals in the area," he notes.
"Figured you'd have that all covered. You're the expert between us right?" Jim counters with a coy smile as she finishes the last bite of sandwich.
Bones just huffs and gets to work with marking them all. "I already spoke to an obstetrician. Her name is Dr. Kahlima Gupta. She works in the hospital that's a quarter mile from Starfleet. She's expectin' us on the 10th."
"Kay," Jim says just as T'Para, Eleanora, and Pauline return with arms full of ball gowns. "Do I have to try on all of those?" she asks.
"Yes, ma'am. And you can start with my pile while you're at it," Eleanora says and dumps the gowns in Jim's arms.
"Or, or—I could do the whole 'close my eyes and pick at random' thing and maybe even spare us hours upon hours of choosing when we could just be on the inside of a buffet—"
"No," Eleanora interrupts and pins Jim with a serious look. "I seldom get a chance to share in this stylistic privilege and you will not rob me of the opportunity. Now, you either get in there and try these on or I will knock you unconscious and dress you myself."
Jim blinks but then makes a thoughtful face. "Well, I mean, if it would make things easier to—"
"Oh for heaven's sake! That was a threat, not an idea for you to consider, you absolute lazy sloth," Eleanora fusses but the fondness is still in her exasperated tone.
Jim sighs. Then sighs again. Then sighs one more time, but even louder than the first two times, adding a dramatically hesitant walk towards the dressing room. The first gown is bright pink and ridiculous with ruffles. When she returns, she makes sure that her dislike of the dress is painted plainly on her face.
Eleanora and Pauline laugh.
Bones takes a picture of her using her own PADD.
Jim glares at him. "Don't take pictures!" she protests.
"Too late," Bones merely says with a dark chuckle and snaps another one, just to be an asshole.
Jim rolls her eyes at him and stands with her hands on her hips. "I hate it," she says.
Eleanora ignores her and makes a gesture for Jim to turn.
Jim does.
"Yeah, I don't know about this one," Pauline remarks.
"It is unflattering," T'Para adds, quite candidly.
Jim looks at Eleanora desperately and she sighs. "Alright," she concedes. "Put on the next one."
"Thank you," Jim mutters as she returns to the dressing room. She puts on the next gown, which is an aqua green, one-shouldered gown. She hates it just as much as the first. She stomps out of the room and back to the small stage in front of the mirrors. "I don't like this one either."
Eleanora sighs.
Pauline grins fondly.
T'Para remains stoical.
Bones take another picture.
Jim glares at them all before she returns to the dressing room.
It takes approximately six hours (and several dozen bathroom breaks in between)before Jim comes to a consensus over three ball gowns that Eleanora, Pauline, and even T'Para likes. She tries on the first two again before she changes into the third (which is her favorite). It's a silk, strapless, dark navy blue, mermaid fit with a flowing hem. She looks fucking killer in it and when she returns to the small stage, she knows it because those mirrors don't lie.
"I want it," Jim begs as she twists from side to side.
"It's a little tight," Eleanora protests weakly. "Are you even comfortable?"
"Yes, I am, I promise. It's just for a night anyway. Not even a night. For like an hour," Jim swears as she slides her hands along her hips. "Please?"
Eleanora seems unsure.
"It is very flattering to her physical features," Pauline supposes. She whistles and snaps her fingers. "Honey, if I had a body like that still. Lord, the world wouldn't be safe."
Jim smiles widely.
"It is suitable for her skin tone, and relatively draws the gaze, not specifically to one area, but to her entire form. From shoulder to foot, she appears to be aesthetically pleasing. If it is your intention to 'stand out' amongst your peers, this gown is acceptable," T'Para arthritically comments.
Jim gives her two thumbs-up and a grin.
T'Para merely lifts an eyebrow.
Jim turns to Bones, who has been staring for quite a while, not that she's noticed or anything (maybe). "What's the verdict, boring man? Stash or trash?" she asks before turning her back to him and looking at him from over her shoulders and underneath her thick lashes.
Bones's lips part but he seems stuck. Like he's rebooting or something.
Jim grins coyly at him and winks.
Bones flushes.
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Eleanora snaps and smacks Bones on the back of his head. "If you can't even formulate a reply then we're gonna disregard your opinion altogether."
Jim smirks smugly. "But he likes it," she says lowly and turns with her hands on her accentuated hips. "Don't you?"
"We should get the dress," Bones says in a strangled tone before he quickly clears his throat. "It's—fine. We all agree that it's—good."
Eleanora rolls her eyes and nods to Pauline as they both stand. She says, "Alright, Jamie, go change and bring it back out before my son makes an ever bigger fool of himself over you. Since he likes it so much, he can pay for it. We'll be waiting in the car."
Jim claps her hands excitedly and swaggers back to the dressing room to change back into her regular clothes. She carries out the dress and puts it on the checkout counter as she stands by Bones, who's fishing his wallet from his back pocket.
T'Para rings the gown up before carefully tucking it inside a zip-lock gown bag.
Jim hugs Bones's arm as she watches him buy the dress. She smiles and bounces excitedly. "Thank you," she says as she receives the gown from T'Para and kisses his cheek.
Bones huffs before he tucks his wallet away and puts his arm over her shoulders as he presses her into side. "You ain't gotta thank me, Jim. I'm the one that gets to twirl you around in it, come the Debutante Ball."
"Yeah, and maybe you get to take it off me too," Jim murmurs with a slight smirk as her eyebrows jump suggestively.
"Well, there's that too," Bones casually supposes. "C'mon, let's get you home."
"I'm hungry."
"We'll stop somewhere on the way back."
"Damn right we will. But take this to the car cause I have to fucking pee. Again." Jim shoves the gown into his chest before speed walking to the bathroom.
888
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE VIA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
JAMES T KIRK OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Ms. Kirk,
You can enlist still. Only if you think you can manage it for the next four years.
Pike
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
JAMES T KIRK VIA SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Pike,
Four years?
No, no.
I'll do it in three and a half.
Jim
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE VIA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
JAMES T KIRK OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Jim,
Now, that I'd like to see. When should I expect you?
Pike
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
JAMES T KIRK VIA SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Pike,
Very early august.
And I'll be bringing some companions.
I've got a friend that's interested in enlisting too. You may remember him—Dr. Leonard McCoy. He's coming down with me with his daughter (she's three by the way).
Problem?
Jim
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE VIA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
JAMES T KIRK OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Jim,
Not at all. I still believe he has a lot to offer. His potential is up to par with your own. I'm curious though. How did you talk him into enlisting with you? I recall him being, to put it bluntly, 'prickly' when I attempted to recruit him.
Pike
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
JAMES T KIRK VIA SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Pike,
I have stunning powers of persuasion that, unfortunately, even supersede your own, Captain.
Plus we're kinda having a baby together.
Problem?
Jim
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE VIA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
JAMES T KIRK OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Jim,
Not at all. And congratulations. I'm actually glad you told me. This way I can make certain preparations on my end. How do you feel about living on campus grounds? We could house you in one of the buildings we place a fraction of our instructors. I'm sure I can petition a waiver for the rent, but you and Dr. McCoy would still have to pay utilities. If that's agreeable to you, I'll send you the paperwork via attachment. If the two of you can get that filled out and sent back to me, I can get started on processing your housing applications as soon as possible.
Pike
STARFLEET CORRESPONDENCE
STARDATE 225007.28
JAMES T KIRK VIA SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER PIKE OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Pike,
That's perfect. Thank you. We'll see you soon.
Jim
888
Friday – July 31st – 5 p.m.
"The day of reckoning has come," Pauline chirps pleasantly as she messes in Jim's hair. They're in the kitchen at the table. Pauline's makeup kits and hair bags are spread across the surface of the table.
Eleanora has left to purchase some heels for Jim, because apparently that's the one thing that's slipped their mind.
Bones is sitting across the table in a tailor-made navy-blue suit with Jim's PADD in his hand. His face is cleanly shaved, and his hair is neatly combed and parted. He looks so crisp and immaculate in his suit that Jim is having a hard time not staring.
Bones is fucking hot.
Jim crams a handful of popcorn in her mouth as she sits quietly and stares.
"Are you nervous?" Pauline asks as she begins to add short extensions to Jim's hair.
"Not really," Jim says after a swallow, and she means that. She actually can't wait to get this ordeal over with so she can put it behind her and focus on the future.
Bones aims her PADD at her and says, "Smile."
"Why? I'm not even fully dressed yet." Jim frowns heavily, just to be difficult.
Bones snorts as he watches her facial expression from off the screen of the device. "Just smile."
"No. Why do you keep taking pictures of me?"
"Because," Bones simply says and that's not even an answer. "Now smile like you just won a lifetime supply of chocolate."
Jim snickers but she can't help but to smile at his ridiculousness.
Bones snaps the picture and nods.
"Let me see," Jim demands and eyes the photo when Bones turns her PADD towards her.
(picture can be seen in LiveJournal account)
"You got so close. The shot is like, all up in my face." Jim gestures in a circular motion around her face. "Erase it."
"No. Give it time and you'll be fond of it too," Bones says as he pulls the PADD out of her reach.
"I can always go on later and erase it."
"Sure, but I've already forwarded it to myself so it wouldn't do much good."
"You're annoying," Jim mutters and shoves more popcorn in her mouth. "Pauline, tell him how annoying he is."
Pauline just chuckles as she begins to straighten Jim's hair. "You two are so adorable, it's unreal."
"I'm the adorable one," Bones says seriously. "She gets to be adorable by association."
"Oh, shut up," Jim laughs and throws a handful of popcorn at him. "Cause if you're the adorable one, that means I get to be the sexy one."
"No, no," Pauline interrupts. "You two are adorable. I'm the sexy one."
Jim laughs so hard she almost falls out of the chair and burns her ear against the flatiron.
Eleanora chooses this moment to stroll in with a crème-colored shoebox. She sets the box in Bones's laps as she approaches Jim to eye her makeup. "That's lovely, Pauline. Thank you," she praises.
Pauline grins with a wink and finishes up the last of Jim's hair before patting her on the shoulder. "Alright, you're all set. Go get dressed and we can get out of here."
Jim nods and motions for Bones to follow. Which he does. Once they're in the privacy of her room, she starts stripping down to her underwear. She takes a moment to look down and consider her thickening waistline. It's not overtly obvious if you don't know what your looking for or if Jim isn't standing at the right angle, but it's there all the same.
If Jim were being openly honest, she'd say she's a bit eager to see how she'll look with her belly firm and rounded with the baby.
Their baby.
Their daughter.
Bones is watching her from where he's sitting on the edge of the bed. His expression is almost soft and sentimental.
"What?" Jim says as she unhooks her uncomfortable bra and trades it for a strapless one which also so happens to be a bigger cup size. "What?"
"Nothin'. I just think we're thinkin' the same thing," Bones supposes quietly and he glances down at her stomach.
Jim smiles slightly and says, "Hand me my dress."
Bones sets her shoes off to the side as he stands and wanders into her closet to retrieve her gown.
Jim grazes the manicured nails of her right hand against her lower stomach as Bones reappears with her gown. She takes it from him and steps into it. She presses the front of it to her chest and says, "Can you zip me up?"
Bones nods and makes his way behind her.
Jim bites her bottom lip as she waits. Her eyebrows furrow curiously as they stand in silence. She can feel the warmth of his body as he presses closer and brushes her hair gently off to the side and over her left shoulder. Her eyes fall close as he presses his nose into the crook of her neck, and she shivers quietly when his fingers slowly slide down the bare skin of her back, between her shoulder blades, all the way down to the base of her spine to the cold metal of her zipper.
Bones brushes his bottom lip against the flushed curve of her ear as her pulls the zipper up.
Jim's breath hitches and she shudders as heat blossoms against her cheeks and unfolds between her thighs. Her hands twitch against her hips as he tangles his fingers with hers and pulls her back until there's no space left between them. She lets him grip her jaw and turn her head so that he can sweep her into a biting kiss that speaks volumes to his desire and his possessiveness.
Bones slips his tongue between her lips and rumbles appreciatively at the slight whimper she gives in response as she sucks on his tongue while reaching up to cup the back of his head to deepen the kiss.
Jim feels her blood sing as her heart thuds at a jackrabbiting pace. Something pleasant and sweet, like warm honey, coils around her bones when he kisses her like he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon, like he knows in the very depths of himself that she's meant for him, like everything else can wait. Her knees shake and he keeps her steady by pressing his large hand against her lower stomach to where he must know the baby is.
Bones kisses the corner of her mouth and begins to stamp a wet trail down to the curve of her shoulder where he stays.
Jim opens her eyes and breathes shakily as her body spasms with aching arousal. She presses her thighs together and tries not to think about how perfect Bones would feel if her were inside of her. She swallows dryly and exhales as Bones continues to graze his lips back and forth against her shoulder. She says, "What are you thinking about?"
"Takin' you to bed and messin' up your makeup," Bones rumbles huskily as he rubs his fingers against her lower stomach.
Jim smiles and shakes her head. "Eleanora and Pauline would kill you," she warns weakly because the idea is getting more and more appealing with each passing second.
Bones just huffs and lifts his head to kiss her temple before he pulls away completely.
Jim feels almost robbed at the loss but she doesn't stop him. She walks to the bed and sits on the edge so she can put on her silver pumps. She tucks her hair behind her hair when it falls into her eyes.
Bones is watching her as he leans against her dresser with his arms crossed. He says, "You ready?"
Jim looks up at him before she straightens. "You mean Florence's plan?" she asks because she knows. "Yeah. I'm ready."
"You don't have to do it if—" Bones struggles to find the right words. "Just, we can figure somethin' else out."
Jim shakes her head as she stands. "No, it has to be like this. It'll work," she promises as she cups her hands over his shoulders. "Besides, I'm ready to put it all behind me and have one less thing to worry about."
Bones has an indecipherable look in his eyes. She can't really tell what he's thinking and that bothers her at times because she can usually read it off of him. He says, "I hope one day you can tell me what he had over you, Jim. What made him force your hand. I'd like to know, if you give me a chance to."
Jim sighs roughly and squeezes his shoulders. "Maybe," she says quietly. "Maybe one day but not today."
"Not today," Bones agrees.
Knock, knock.
"You decent, Jamie? I need to talk to you, if you can spare a moment," Eleanora says from the other side of the door.
Jim drops her hands and says, "Yeah. Yeah, come in. It's fine."
Eleanora enters with a small black suede box in her hand and she sweeps her eyes between them before she gives Bones a look. "Len, if you don't mind," she murmurs with good humor.
Bones frowns but he doesn't protest. "I'll get the car started so we can leave," he says and exits the room.
Jim gives Eleanora her full attention. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
Eleanora just smiles and reaches forward to place the small black suede box in her hand.
Jim frowns curiously and opens it, stilling in surprise by the gorgeous ring inside. "Eleanora," she breathes in amazement. "Are you proposing to me?"
Eleanora laughs shortly before she says, "It's a family heirloom. Passed down from mother to daughter for generations. I thought it was rightly so for such an occasion."
Jim stares at her speechless for a few moments before she chokes out, "But why are you giving it to me?"
Eleanora doesn't look confused or angry—just patiently happy and humorously fond of Jim. "Oh, James," she says sweetly and its enough to make Jim blush. "You daft girl. I'm givin' it to you because you're like a daughter to me. I'm tryin' to tell you I love you. And that no matter what, I will always love you and be here for you for whatever you need."
Jim eyes begin to warm before she can even help it and she can't say a thing.
"Now don't start cryin' on me. You'll ruin that lovely makeup Pauline has worked so hard on," Eleanora lightly scolds, even though her own eyes are a little misty. She reaches forward and pulls the ring free, sliding it onto Jim's left hand onto the finger between her pointer finger and her ring finger. "You take good care of it now. And you give it to the little angel you're about to have when she's old enough so she can do the same. So the tradition can continue."
Jim nods and tries to desperately to blink away her tears. When the ring is set right, she throws her arms around Eleanora and hugs her so tightly as if in fear she'll disappear forever. "Thank you. I never had—" She chokes on her words and tries to gather herself. "Just thank you."
"You are welcome, Jamie. You're family," Eleanora promises and hugs her back just as tightly. "No matter if your with my son or not. You're family."
Jim shudders and nods before she pulls away. "Oh, but, what about Joanna?" she says as she remembers. "Shouldn't she have it? I mean—"
"Don't you worry about that," Eleanora says. "Joanna's got plenty comin' to her. She's not gonna be shorted over one old ring." She adds a wink here.
Jim smiles and nods.
"Let's get goin'," Eleanora says and steers Jim out the room, down the steps and out of the house to Bones's car.
Jim climbs into the passenger seat and makes sure she gathers the hem of her ball gown so it wont be caught when she closes the door.
Pauline is the last to arrive and after she's buckled in, Bones drives towards town.
They arrive at Town Square Park around six o'clock and it looks to be quite a turnout. There's a red carpet rolled out and everything, and it leads up to the massive canvas stretched above a temporary dance floor. It reminds Jim of some kind of celebrity wedding reception.
"They make a big deal of it," Eleanora explains. "It is sort of a grand affair and the tickets are costly, which is why they have so much media coverage. This is all for the folks at home who couldn't make it out."
Bones pulls up to the valet post and hands over his keys to one of them before he makes his way to Jim's side and steers her to the starting point of the red carpet.
"More pictures. Yay," Jim mutters and grins when Bones chuckles.
A female coordinator approaches them with a clipboard and a headset. "Okay, you must be James Kirk. And you're her escort," she says before making a note of it. "Alright, you're going to walk through, but stop exactly four times so they can get some good pictures of you. The last picture is one you'll take by yourself. Okay? Good. Go."
Jim puts on her best winning smile as she takes Bones's arm in hand and they start a moderate stroll down the red carpet. The flashing camera lights are a bite blinding and disorientating. When they make it to the end, Bones steps off the carpet so that Jim can take the last picture by herself.
(picture can be seen in LiveJournal account)
Jim slides off to the side and joins Bones just as Zonta arrives with Chadwick. She and Bones walk to the backstage area where Pauline and Eleanora are and wait until they're called for the dance. In the meantime, Jim sends Bones on quick food runs to the concession table located on the other side of the stage. She's still stuffing her face when it's time to gather on the dance floor for the Hudson Hill Waltz.
Pauline puts some red lipstick on Jim before Bones spirits her away to the dance floor.
Jocelyn stands on the small stage with a growing stomach and a mic in hand, "Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to this year's Ms. Hudson Hill Debutant Ball. These three ladies have shown and proved many capabilities and we are happy to welcome them warmly as they perform one of Hudson Hill's proudest standing traditions. The Hudson Hill Waltz."
Everyone begins to clap as the three couples take their positions.
Jim stands across from Bones with a slight smile as he returns it with a small grin.
Jocelyn gestures to the band and they begin to play.
Jim dips gracefully as she locks eyes with Bones.
Bones returns it with a slight bow.
Jim moves in and Bones keeps his gaze focused on her as he settles one hand on the small of her back while she cups her hand over his shoulder. She clasps their right hands together and takes a deep breath, waiting for the musical cue that would signal the start of the waltz.
When it comes Jim leads Bones rhythmically around and around in triple time as they progress around the dance floor. It's almost unfair how easy it is to forget there are dozens of eyes watching them. In fact, she could really care less because the way Bones is looking at her is making her heart lurch pleasantly like a cricket in a cage.
It's like floating almost—she feels so light on her feet.
But that's just it, isn't it? Because with Bones she always feels so thoughtlessly comfortable in her own skin.
I wish you were mine, Jim thinks and grows a little sad. I wish I was right for you but I'm not and you deserve better.
Bones frowns slightly because he must read it on her face and she tries to hide it before he can ask questions.
The waltz ends and the band plays the last chord just as the crowd applauds.
Jim feels flustered as she startled into awareness and she smiles shakily at their audience. She exits the floor and moves to the backstage area while the judges showcase a virtual slideshow of the competition from the beginning to end.
Bones grabs her elbow gently and he looks like he wants to say something but Jim shakes her head firmly. He clamps his mouth shut with a slight scowl but he nods.
"Good looking out there!" a voice says from the immediate left and when they turn to see who it is they discover it's Florence.
Jim blinks rapidly because she barely recognizes her with her normally red hair dyed to a white-blonde and cut into an almost pixie style. She's got all of her piercings out and she barely looks like the same person. "Florence, what's all this?" she says making a sweeping gesture to her face.
"Just thought it was time for a change. And besides, you're leaving soon, and so I thought maybe it was time for me to move on too. Start fresh and new somewhere," Florence says with a strange twinkle in her grey eyes. "But I thought I'd watch you take down Mayor Treadway before I fly the coop."
"You're not leaving tonight," Jim denies.
Florence grins a little sadly and gives a weak shrug.
"Florence," Jim says and feels a bubble of anger growing in her belly. "You're not leaving tonight are you?"
"Not without saying goodbye, Blue, you know that," Florence says gently.
Jim becomes rightly livid and the silence that blankets them is a tense one.
Bones clears his throat and tucks his hands away in the pockets of his pants. "I'm gonna go find Pauline and my mom in the crowd," he says and retreats.
"Where are you going?" Jim asks as she puts her hands on her hips and flexes her fingers.
"Gotta tie up some loose ends, you know. Completely," Florence supposes. "Don't you worry about it, Blue. I'll find you when I can."
Jim wants to be mad, she wants to protest, but she can't because she understands. She understands more than she can say. "Please try and at least let me know you're alive once in a while so I don't worry."
"You got it, sunshine," Florence promises with a genuine grin.
The female coordinator appears in a flurry, attaching a small mic to the dip of Jim's cleavage on her gown, saying, "Five minutes to stage time. You'll be last," and she's off in a rush again.
Florence walks up to Jim and grabs her hands. "Hey, remember what we talked about. Mayor Treadway's out in that crowd and you gotta get him so steaming mad that he'll want to confront you as you step foot off that stage. I'll do the rest, yeah?"
Jim nods and accepts the hug Florence gives her.
Florence pulls back and kisses her on the cheek. "Work your magic," she says quietly, squeezing her hands one final time before she disappears from sight.
Jim sighs and wrings her hands as she walks over to the stage steps where Zonta and Allison are lined up.
Zonta ignores her completely (no surprise there) but Allison greets her warmly. Zonta goes onto the stage first and the audience welcomes her warmly. She gives a little speech and exits.
Allison goes next and does as Zonta did. The end of her speech is met with applause and she exits the stage.
It's Jim's turn and she carefully glides across the stage where Reverend Nolan is waiting. He smiles and waits for the audience to cease their applause so that he can say, "Ms. Kirk, as this is the final portion of the competition, we like to give the young ladies an opportunity to state their case about why they think they deserve to win. We do this by asking one very simple question—what is your greatest aspiration in life?"
Jim smiles pristinely and says, "My greatest aspiration in life? Well, I suppose, would be—to be happy."
The audience coos and applauds agreeably.
Reverend Nolan chuckles and nods, "Maybe you should elaborate on that."
"Of course," Jim says easily. "You see I've always had trouble finding a place to call home where I can be comfortable and feel safe. A place where the people are warm and welcoming and greet you as if you were an old friend. A place where I can build a life for myself. Unfortunately, that's not Hudson Hill."
There are whispers and murmurs of confusion that ring clear throughout the audience.
"I'm sorry, let me clarify. Hudson Hill is a wonderful place full of wonderful people. It's just a shame it's being ran by a shameless tyrant. Now, I'm sure you all adore Mayor Treadway but the fact of the matter is that ever since I came here, I've been hounded endlessly with unwanted advances from both him and his son. I don't feel safe and I certainly don't feel comfortable. I am glad, however, to have met Eleanora McCoy. She's one of the greatest things to have ever happened to me. She's fully restored my faith in mothers everywhere. She's wonderful. Just like Zonta. Just like Allison. They're the ones that deserve to win. Zonta is innovative and she's creative and she's such a hardworker. I've no doubt that given a decade she'll have her own name brand and a firm empire in the fashion world. I'll pray that even happens because she deserves so much to have it and then some. And Allison, who people like to taunt and tease, is a musical genius. She has the rare ability of perfect pitch. She could play any instrument and teach at any school in the world. All she needs is the chance to go to the college of her choice and pursue this career. I only joined this competition because I wanted to open up my own bar in Miami and live off those earnings.
"I wanted that because people like Mayor Treadway were just dragging me down by throwing my less than squeaky clean past in my face. And I'm sorry I don't want to marry your son or that you urged him to blackmail me into doing it but I don't plan on marrying some spoiled brat for your political gain." Jim doesn't even flinch when the audience gasps in surprise. "So when I said that I wanted to be happy, I meant that I plan on doing something more useful with my life besides handing out booze to flashy clientele. I plan on enlisting in Starfleet, like my dad did. I want to make a difference universally. I want everyone to feel as safe as I want to feel. I want to pave the way for my own children, including the one I'm currently carrying now."
The audience gasps again and there is a chaos of voices and exclamations.
Jim just smiles and says, "Thank you." She glides off the stage with a little smirk and makes her way to the back area. She's not even surprised when Mayor Treadway storms up to her.
"You meddlesome whore," Mayor Treadway hisses. "What gives you the right to make such claims in front of all those people who are partially my family and colleagues?"
"I'm sorry," Jim says sweetly. "Did you not like my little speech? It was from the heart."
"You ain't got no heart," Mayor Treadway snaps. "And you're gonna wish you hadn't done that by the time I'm through with you. You're gonna wish you had acted like a good little bitch and married my son."
"What else can you do to me besides blackmail?" Jim says and laughs coldly.
"I've far worse things I could do than blackmail," Mayor Treadway claims. "You think that little miscarriage my daughter had was an accident? Ha. I spared her a lifetime of disappointment. Nothin' ever good comes from that backwater family of her no good husband. Don't think I won't do the same to you and that bastard child you're carryin' now."
The female coordinator rushes over to them in a flurry with wide eyes and a horrified face. "Mayor Treadway—"
"Now you listen to me you worthless orphaned piece of shit," Mayor Treadway snaps, ignoring the woman. "Whatever game you think you're playin', you're gonna lose. You think I ain't ever went toe to toe with somebody who tried to tarnish my good name? Well let me tell you, it never ended soundly for them and it damn well won't for you. This whole town is full of idiots who do and say what I tell them at the drop of a dime. They ain't gonna believe you because they ain't got the brains for it. Hell, you think I became mayor just out of a whim? Those idiots you tryin' to bad mouth me to are the very ones that put me in office."
"Mayor Treadway!" the female coordinator hisses again, appalled.
"What? Goddamnit!" Mayor Treadway snarls.
The female coordinator glares at him and says, "Her mic is still on. Everything you just said was heard. By everyone."
Mayor Treadway pales immensely and he wobbles on his feet, looking ready to faint.
Jim just smirks as she watches Florence give her a thumbs up from where she's standing by the sound system.
Sheriff Kevin McCoy strolls over with two other deputies. He says, "Mayor Treadway, you're under arrest for attempted extortion and unlawful murder." He nods to the deputies and they move forward to cuff a spluttering Mayor Treadway as they read him his rights.
Jim smiles smugly as she crosses her arms and watches them tote him off to a police vehicle. She turns to Sherriff McCoy and says, "Thanks."
"What for? You did most of the work," Sherriff McCoy quips and nods with a wink before he follows after his deputies.
Jim turns in time to see reporters and cameramen flocking up to him and the police car holding Mayor Treadway for what will probably be the juiciest expose that Hudson Hill's ever had. She doesn't flinch when Eleanora and Pauline flock to her with a series of questions. She only deters them by promising that she'll give them the full story once they're home. She moves to find Florence but Zonta and Allison are already there.
"Oh my God," Allison says with wide eyes. "Who knew, right? Who knew?"
"Obviously she did. That was the point of this whole thing," Zonta says and she shakes her head with a contrite expression. "And I am so sorry. If I'd known, I would never have let Chadwick be my escort." She takes a moment to consider something. "Actually this explains why he paid me thirty grand just to do it."
"Really?" Jim says, surprised. "Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but that's kinda unfair. I mean I was supposed to be his bride. He didn't offer me thirty grand."
"Oh, Jim," Zonta says and shakes her head before encasing her in a hug. "The baby," she whispers. "Is it his?"
"Chadwick? God no," Jim shudders in horror before pulling away. "But I don't think you'll like the answer."
"Doesn't matter. Really. As long as he's happy, I can't be mad. Things happen for a reason. One door opens and another blah, blah, blah," Zonta reasons. "Sorry I was such a dick to you because you were a dick to me."
"Well I'm sorry your sorry and that either one of us have to be sorry," Jim replies and grins.
"Okay, I'm totally lost," Allison says with a genuine frown.
Zonta and Jim just laugh and pull her into a hug.
"You think they'll still announce the winner?" Zonta says.
Jim pulls back and shrugs. "Don't know. I think this whole thing may have outshined it. Sorry. I'll still keep my fingers crossed for the both of you."
"You deserved to win," Allison protests.
Zonta says nothing.
Allison shoves at her. "Zonta!"
"What? I still want to win. Sorry, Jim. You and I are cool and everythin' but I want what I want," Zonta explains.
"It's fine. I understand," Jim assures. She looks around. "Look, I have to look for Florence. I'll see you guys later."
Zonta and Allison wave before they scuttle off to find their families and friends.
Jim tries to track Florence for ten minutes, but to no avail.
Bones finds her by food table. "Hey," he says.
Jim smiles. "Hey."
Bones tucks his hands in pockets and says, "That was quite a show you put on."
"Yeah. But it got the job done, wouldn't you say?" Jim counters and shakes her eyebrows suggestively.
Bones chuckles and shrugs. "Suppose it did. Doesn't make me not want to go and break his goddamn nose for how he was talkin' to you any less, but here's to hopin' he gets put away for a very long time. At least for his safety."
Jim laughs and almost chokes on a piece of broccoli coated in cheese and ranch. "Look at you. All overprotective and chivalrous. Who knew?" she teases.
Bones scowls. "You realize I'm bein' serious," he says.
"Yes, and I appreciate it," Jim promises in a soothing tone. "But try and forget about him. Focus completely on the fact that we get to carry on with our lives. Okay?" She grabs his hand and presses it to her stomach. "Just the four us."
Bones huffs but he calms down enough to kiss her stupid for a solid three minutes.
Jim eventually shoves him away with a playful grin. "Stop giving me your cooties," she fusses as she goes back to ransacking the finger foods on the buffet table.
Bones's hand grazes her lower stomach as he says, "You've got a good deal of my cooties, I think."
"Maybe," Jim says with a little laugh. "But those cooties I don't mind."
Bones hums thoughtfully, but there's no missing the happy glimmer in his hazel eyes. "Before I forget," he says. "Florence wanted me to tell you she said 'good luck'."
Jim stiffens minutely before she forces herself to relax.
Bones notices anyway. "She was saying goodbye, wasn't she?"
Jim doesn't say anything but she shrugs one shoulder before popping another broccoli in her mouth.
"Okay," Bones says. He sighs and rubs her back. "Okay."
Jim allows herself to be sad for that moment—just for him to see. She lets his touch comfort her before she locks it all away and chucks the key in the ever growing pile of emotions she doesn't allow herself to dwell on.
888
Wednesday – August 5th – Noon
"You sure about this?" Jim asks for maybe the hundredth time as she watches Bones load the trunk of his black mustang with Jim's bags, as well as Joanna's luggage and his own. "I mean, Joanna and I could just stick around until this whole thing blows over."
Bones closes the trunk and grips her by the shoulders. "Jim, you've got nothin' to worry about it. You and Joanna will be fine to go on ahead without me. I'll trust you'll get there safe and sound. And you can't stay behind with me because we have too many appointments set up. We'd fall behind and neither of us wants that. Besides, it's just for a week. After a week, I'll be right there with you."
"Yeah, but," Jim whines as she squirms. "Couldn't someone else do an autopsy report on Dixie's baby? I—look I know how it sounds—but you gave them your two weeks notice and I don't want to go on without you. And is Jocelyn really okay with me just taking Joanna to—"
"I have full custody of Joanna and I say it's okay. I've talked to Jocelyn already and she ain't tryin' to dispute—not that she could concentrate on anythin' other than the fact that her father is in jail and her brother may very well be too. She actually think it's a good idea that Joanna be taken somewhere the drama can't reach her," Bones supposes and drags Jim close. "It'll be fine and you can't stay."
Jim pouts.
Bones kisses it off her lips before he says, "They don't trust anyone else to do it and I volunteered because I thought it might help the cause. More evidence to keep that damn man to be put away for a long time."
Jim sighs and nods. "Okay. Fine. Even though you're going to miss my prenatal appointment and I'll probably bore Joanna to death and—"
"Stop bein' dramatic. She loves you and there'll be plenty more appointments I'll be there for. You know that," Bones says before he kisses her again and swats her ass playfully. "Now go say goodbye to my momma while I put Joanna's car seat in."
Jim sticks her tongue out at him but she stomps up to the house and inside, where she finds Eleanora and Joanna in the kitchen with Pauline, who's making cinnamon pancakes. "Time to hit the road, Joanna," she announces.
Joanna perks up excitedly and throws her arms around Eleanora's neck, landing a noisy, smacking kiss on her cheek. "Bye, maw-maw. I love you and I promise tah call ya and I promise tah always remember ya and you can come and visit me anytime," she vows seriously as she climbs out of her chair.
Eleanora chuckles fondly as she stands. "Well, as long as you promise, I suppose I can bare to be parted from you," she supposes and watches Joanna run out the door to find her father. She motions Jim to come closer and when she does, she encases her in a hug. "You take care of yourself, you hear? You and that son of mine and my grandbabies. I expect to come down to ya'll when the little angel is ready to come out. March you said?"
"Yes. I'll let you know if that changes for whatever reason," Jim swears and pulls away to give Pauline a hug.
"Well it's a baby," Pauline exclaims. "They tend to do what they please. She'll let you know when she's ready to come out. Some of my own kids came a week early or two weeks late. You oughta be prepared for either."
"Believe me, I've been reading up and doing my homework on it," Jim admits as she pulls away with a smile. "I still feel bad I'm dragging everyone out to California."
"What for?" Eleanora says with a raised brow. "I'll be just fine. Nothin' a phone call or a visit can't mend if I get to feelin' lonely or nostalgic."
"Plus I'll keep her plenty entertained. Now that ya'll shippin' out, I can settle in with my best friend," Pauline remarks. "I forget just how much I adore bein' in your company."
"Oh hush. You can sweeten a lemon with all that sugar you settin' to me," Eleanora fusses but smiles all the same. "Now go so you can get to your first rest stop at a decent hour."
Jim nods and waves one final goodbye before she treks out the door, down the porch steps and to Bones's car.
Bones is already buckling Joanna in, playfully poking at her sides as she giggles and he kisses her cheeks like he can't bare the thought of being apart from her.
Jim smiles as she climbs in the driver's seat and grabs the keys, which are tucked into the sun visor above her head. She starts the engine and lowers all the windows (it is particularly hot) as Bones shuts the back door. She glances in the rearview mirror to Joanna, who is sitting behind the passenger seat, and watches as Bones makes his way around the car to her door.
Bones pokes his head through the opened window and kisses her with a serious amount of intent until she's breathless with it. He pulls away and says, "Comm me when you get ready to settle down for the night. The tank is full now, so you don't have to worry about that. I put you on my insurance just in case anythin' happens when you're out on the road but I'm not really tryin' to think about it so I'll leave it at that."
Jim leans up and kisses him. "Okay. Don't start fussing. You're the one that said we'll be fine. And we will be. Right, Joanna?"
"Yup. Bye, daddy! I'm ready to ride, Ms. Jim," Joanna promises as she kicks her feet excitedly.
Jim smirks. "See. We're all set. I got my things, she's got her things, you put your things in. We're all set."
Bones nods and presses his hand to her lower stomach as he kisses her again, and again, and again, and once more until Jim laughs and shoves him away with a weak complaint. He chuckles and moves away, tucking his hands in the front pockets of his jeans as he steps back to watch them pull off.
Jim waves one final time and smiles when she sees him do the same in the rearview mirror. She sighs and focuses on the road as Joanna hums to herself. She frowns as she feels something warm and wet slide down her cheeks. She makes a sound of surprise when she brushes her fingers against it only to find it's tears. "Oh my God," she mutters furiously and scrubs at her eyes. "I'm crying. Why am I crying?"
"It's okay, Ms. Jim," Joanna quips pleasantly as she continues to swing her legs and hugs her stuffed yellow duck to her chest. "Daddy said he won't be gone from us long. You don't gots to be sad forever."
Jim laughs hoarsely and shakes her head. "I'm not sad. Not really," she says but she's not even sure because she was just crying and didn't even know it. Dear Lord, maybe she does miss him already. "Ew. I think I like your dad."
Joanna giggles. "You're silly, Ms. Jim."
Jim snorts and scrubs her face dry. "Yeah, maybe I am."
Joanna goes back to humming.
Jim flips on the radio and the rest of the drive is silent. She's halfway across the state before she makes a rest stop so that both she and Joanna can pee and get some food. They get hotdogs and fries and milkshakes and carry it back to the car with them. She makes sure to supply Joanna with plenty of napkins the whole time she eats her ketchup-soaked hotdog and fries.
As Joanna sucks away on her milkshake, she says, "I wanna be a duck!"
Jim snorts as she changes lanes and speeds up a little bit while she shoves some more fries in her mouth. "What for?"
"I don't know," Joanna replies cheerfully. "Because, um, because they're yellow and soft and they swim all sorts of good. I wanna do that too!"
"Well you go for it, little duck," Jim encourages with a grin. "Always follow your dreams."
Joanna hums pleasantly as she sips away at her milkshake and that's the end of that.
It's late when Jim crosses over into Alabama. Joanna is knocked out cold by the time she makes the executive decision to settle down in Montgomery for the night. She pulls into the parking lot of a quiet motel and she parks before she gets out to carefully extract Joanna from her seat without stirring her. She carries the toddler with her as she goes to the front desk to pay for a night. She then grabs one of Joanna's bag and her own before going up to their room.
She lays Joanna down and coaxes the little girl to stay awake long enough to change into her pajamas and empty her bladder before shuffling her into bed. When she's satisfied that Joanna is comfortable, she fishes for her communicator and calls Bones, who picks up not even a second later.
"We're all good," Jim rushes to promise because Bones looks reared up to ask all sort of questions. She turns so that he can see Joanna all tucked in. "See that. She's all settled down and still breathing. I think I'm getting the hang of it."
Bones chuckles wryly. "I keep tellin' you there's nothin' to it. You'll be a great mother."
Jim shrugs shyly. "Correction, I'll be the coolest mom in the universe. I just need to figure out that whole diaper thing."
Bones snorts. "Should I buy one of those dollies so you can practice?"
"Don't make fun."
"I'm not."
Jim just huffs and sighs before she rubs at her eyes tiredly. "I'm going to settle down myself. I'll call you before we leave in the morning okay?" She doesn't really want to end the conversation but she really is tired.
"Okay. Get some sleep."
"Lo—" Jim stops and flushes when she realizes what she was about say. "Uh, later. Later. I'll talk to you later. Just—later." She kills the connection before she can become even more mortified. She falls back against the bed with a groan and covers her face in her hands.
What the fuck is happening to me? Jim thinks and falls asleep when she doesn't find an answer.
Joanna wakes her up the next morning, a quarter before ten o'clock, by bouncing up and down on the bed to the beat of a kiddie song blaring from the TV she's managed to turn on and manipulate.
Jim stretches with a lazy yawn before she sits up and grabs the motel menu from off the nightstand. She orders a hearty breakfast for the both of them and manages to wrangle Joanna in her clothes for the day before the food arrives. They spend the next fifteen minutes eating pancakes and cinnamon French toast and waffles and eggs and so on.
Jim grinds a piece of her waffle in a wad of syrup on the edge of her plate as she watches Joanna talk energetically with Bones through her communicator. Joanna seems to have a great deal to tell him and Bones is patiently attentive to her every word, even asking a silly question here or there, all in the name of getting Joanna to crack a smile or giggle.
After Jim finishes up the last of her eggs and wipes her fingers clean, she takes the communicator from Joanna and tells Bones that they're getting ready to hit the road again. He looks reluctant to end the conversation but he nods in the end and she kills the connection before either of them can change their minds.
She then treks into the bathroom to pee and brush her teeth. She makes sure to do the same for Joanna, having to change her again because she's managed to get syrup all over herself. Jim makes a mental note in the future to wait after meals to change her clothes.
They're out and about by the time noon rolls around.
Jim syncs her PADD to the sound system of the car so that she and Joanna can take turns picking different songs to sing along to. In between these songs, they make several rest stops for bathroom breaks and meals/snacks.
Jim crosses over into Louisiana and pushes past Shreveport into Texas. She decides to settle down in Dallas for the night. They stay at a nicer hotel this time, one with an indoor pool/gym and spa. She orders a cheese pizza for dinner and brownies a la mode for dessert. She lets Joanna pick what they watch on TV.
Joanna picks some kind of kooky cartoon with an ambiguous plotline and annoying characters.
Jim is on her sixth piece of pizza when she decides to play Tetris on her PADD. Eventually the sound attracts Joanna's attention and she stops eating her brownie long enough to climb into Jim's lap and commandeer her game. She picks Joanna up and sets her on the bed before she strolls to the bathroom to take a shower. She keeps the door open the whole time, just to be safe.
"Ms. Jim," Joanna says as she pads into the bathroom while Jim is busy scrubbing conditioner into her scalp. "Can I call my mommy?"
"If you know how," Jim replies loudly over the running water. "I don't mind."
"Kay, thank you," Joanna chirps before her little feet stomp away.
Jim's in the shower for another thirty minutes, and by the time she climbs out, she's nice and clean. She shrugs on one of the hotel robes and goes to her luggage to fish for some sleepwear and her paddle brush.
Joanna's lying on her back as she holds Jim's communicator over her face. She's chatting animatedly with Jocelyn and there's a moment when it gets awkward because Joanna asks about her grandfather and Jocelyn gives a noticeable pause that ends when she gives a strained reply. She switches subjects quickly before Joanna can ask for details and the conversation continues on for another fifteen minutes.
Jim's all tucked away in her sleepwear with her hair in two braids by the time Joanna kills the connection. She smiles and pokes Joanna's cheek as she says, "How about a bubble bath, little duck?"
Joanna makes a face but she nods. She follows Jim into the bathroom and she hums as she waits for Jim to fill up the small tub with suds and water. She lets Jim help her climb out of her clothes and into the tub.
Jim washes Joanna's hair and says nothing when Joanna starts building a soapy beard on Jim's chin with mischievous giggles. Of course, this is right around the time Bones chooses to call. She leaves Joanna for a second to grab her communicator and answers it.
Bones lifts an amused eyebrow when he sees her. "I feel like there's somethin' different about you," he teases.
"Oh shut up," Jim laughs as she returns to the side of the tub and crouches down again. "Your daughter is trying to make a man of me or something. I don't know how I feel about that."
"Pirate!" Joanna exclaims as she splashes the water with a giggle. "Hey daddy!"
"Hey JoJo," Bones drawls softly in reply. He looks almost sad as he looks between them. "How're my three favorite girls?"
"There's two of us, daddy," Joanna says with a peculiar frown.
Bones just hums thoughtfully before he goes on to say, "You behaving yourself, Jo-Bear?"
"Uh-huh," Joanna swears as she licks at the bit of soap on the corner of her mouth before grimacing cutely at the taste. She perks up and splashes the water again. "Daddy! Daddy, I'mma be a duck. Ms. Jim says I should follow my, um, my dreams. So I'mma be a duck, daddy."
"That right?" Bones says, sounding heavily amused. "You go right on and you do that. You'll still be my Jo-Bear right?"
Joanna nods hastily.
"I was going to call you, but, you know," Jim says as she gestures to Joanna, who's making a soap beard for herself.
"It's fine. I did wonder," Bones admits before he sighs wearily. He looks like he hasn't got any decent sleep. He confirms it by saying, "I've been holed up in the lab at the clinic makin' sure I don't leave any stone unturned. I haven't come to anythin' which means that whatever he did to that poor child, he's made sure not to leave any trace of it. It's also a bit gratin' with the reporters. They just keep flockin' from left to right. They've even takin to campin' outside the clinic. I've snuck in and out a few times."
Jim makes a face at that and shakes her head. "Well, it's only for a few more days and then you won't have to worry about it. I don't know what else to say. I wish things were different. I feel kinda bad."
"Don't," Bones warns gently and he looks a little less tense. "I knew good and well what I was getting' into when I signed up for it. It's like you said. Just a few more days and I can escape."
Jim nods wordlessly.
"Well I wont hold you. I need to get back to work. I only wanted to check up on you," Bones says with a tired sigh.
"Don't work yourself to death," Jim warns before she kills the connection. She turns back to Joanna, who has the longest soap beard she's ever seen. She laughs as says, "You are just awesome, little duck."
"I know," Joanna chirps and blows bubbles at Jim with a giggle. "I'm ready to get out. I'm wrinkly."
888
Sunday – August 9th – Noon
San Francisco – Starfleet Academy & Headquarters
Jim carries Joanna into the HQ building and, with a little direction from the receptionist at the front desk, up to Pike's office. She sets Joanna down on her feet when they get there and she waits patiently as Pike wraps up a conversation with a tall Vulcan male dressed in the instructor's uniform.
Joanna fidgets anxiously beside her and she tugs on the hem of Jim's shirt absentmindedly.
Pike takes note of them standing in his doorway and motions them in. "We'll continue this discussion later, Spock. I'll look over your request and get back to you," he promises.
The one called Spock stiffly replies, "Very well. I will await your correspondence." He sweeps past Jim and Joanna without even a cursory glance.
Jim tries not to let it get to her. She just hopes she doesn't have to endure him as a teacher in the foreseeable future. She steers Joanna inside the office and over to the second chair on the other side of the desk before she takes the chair parallel to that one.
Pike sways side to side in his chair as he smiles warmly at Joanna. "Hello," he says. "What's your name?"
"Joanna Honey McCoy," Joanna quips proudly as she hugs her stuffed yellow duck to her chest. "What's yours?"
"Well I'm Captain Christopher Pike. You can call me Chris," Pike says with a smile.
Joanna's green eyes are wide with her awe. "Can I call you Captain?"
"Sure, if that's what you want," Pike says with an agreeable nod and a humored grin.
"Okay. Can you call me Captain?" Joanna asks.
Jim snickers as she crosses her legs and shakes her head.
Pike is chuckling as well as he pulls out one of his desk drawers and fishes through it. "Sure. I can do that only if you promise to be on your best behavior while you're here," he says before setting down a plastic command badge Jim recognizes from toy stores.
She'd got a few for herself when she was little, to honor her father's memory before she faded into a moody prepubescent pre-teen and melted all those mock badges down with the torch her Uncle Frank kept in the garage.
Pike slides it across his desk and to the edge. "You wear that whenever you want everyone to know your rank," he explains.
Joanna hops up eagerly and snatches it from the desk, bringing it to Jim. "Can you put it on me, please?"
"Of course," Jim murmurs. "Where do you want it, little duck?"
"Right—" Joanna looks down at her chest before she stabs the space over her heart. "—here."
Jim nods and carefully pins the badge in place, ignoring the way Pike is watching them with dawning curiosity.
"Thank you," Joanna breathes and stares down at the badge like she's afraid it'll disappear at any moment and like it's the greatest thing to have ever happened to her. She jerks her head up to aim a sunny smile at Pike. "And thank you too, Captain."
"You're very welcome, Captain," Pike says with mock gravity. He even salutes her.
Joanna salutes back before she sets off to explore every inch of his office.
Pike doesn't seem to mind. "She'll find the candy dish in no time," he says quietly with a humored grin.
Jim snorts because she can believe.
"Now, how are you?" Pike asks, moving onto more important matters. "I was expecting the good Doctor to be here as well. Wouldn't be the first time he stood me up."
Jim grins and says, "He's coming. He got tied up with work back home and he's cutting off loose ends. He'll be here Tuesday."
"Fine by me. When would you like to take your placement tests?"
Jim thinks about it before she says, "I think first thing in the morning would be good. I'll drop Joanna off at daycare and come straight here. How long do they generally take? I've got a doctor's appointment that afternoon."
"That depends completely on the person taking the tests," Pike explains. "If I had to guess with you, I'd say no more than three hours."
"Okay," Jim says as she makes a mental note of that. "And the living arrangements?"
Pike nods and hands her a packet. "That's the floor plan of the condo you'll be staying in. Along with the general guidelines of the building and other common factors. It's a two-bedroom apartment with two and a half bathrooms. I figured you wouldn't mind the two bedrooms and that you'd want the little ones to share. We don't typically accommodate more than a family of four, but the size and spacing of the condo as a whole is generally very amenable to the families during their temporary stay."
"Thank you," Jim says as she begins to flip through it. "This will work just fine."
"Good. You and Dr. McCoy can decide between you what you want the entrance code for the apartment to be," Pike goes on to say. "Now, about the baby. When do you expect to deliver?"
"Beginning of March, if not late February," Jim replies and says, "I was wondering if it would be possible to do most of my coursework during that two month period that I'm not in classes. Could my work be forwarded to me by the instructors?"
"As long as you remain in constant communication with both me and your instructors, I don't see that being an issue," Pike supposes. "As for the time you missed, the beginning of this year and the start of the academic year, I'll try and see if there's a way for you to catch up without falling behind. I would really like for you and Dr. McCoy to be apart of the graduating class of 2253."
Jim nods.
"But I think that's all for now," Pike says as he stands. "If I think of anything else, I'll contact you." He offers his hand.
Jim stands and shakes it with an easy grin. "Thank you, sir."
"I have a lot of faith in your potential, Ms. Kirk," Pike admits. "Do me a favor and try not to make me look like an ass for the second time around."
Jim smiles widely. "I'll be the best recruitment story you ever had," she promises.
"From your lips to my ears," Pike murmurs before he lets go and looks over her shoulder at Joanna with a humored frown.
Jim turns and laughs as Joanna sits on the floor under a pile of candy wrappers. She's apparently cleared Pike out for his sugary confections. Jim shakes her head with an affectionate sigh. "Oh, little duck. Did you really have to eat all the candy? We're gonna have to replace it to say sorry."
Joanna stands and looks adorably contrite. "I'm sorry," she says and to show just how sorry she really is, she begins to clean up her mess.
It's enough to make Jim's heart melt and when she looks to Pike, he seems to be on the same boat. He shakes his head and says, "You don't have to replace anything. I almost expected it."
"If you're sure," Jim says before she walks over to Joanna, who is dumping the last of the wrappers in the trash. "Come on, Joanna. Salute your fellow captain and let's get going."
Joanna tucks her ducky under one arm as she uses the other hand to toss Pike a sloppy salute. "Thank you, Captain, for being nice and sorry I ate your candy and I think you've gotta nice office," she rambles.
Pike chuckles as he returns her salute with more grace. "Thank you, Captain. You enjoy your stay here," he says.
Joanna nods frantically before grabbing Jim's hand with her sticky fingers.
Jim waves at Pike briefly before she exits his office with the full intention of settling down in their new apartment. She guides Joanna out to the car, and they both climb in so that she can park on the street in front of the apartment complex they're supposed to be staying in. She gets out and untangles Joanna from the prison of her seat, and together they grab what they can carry (not a lot in Joanna's case).
Jim has to introduce herself to the security guards at the front desk area. She ends up getting some help carrying the luggage up to her room by one of them (something she's grateful for). When they have all they're things and the security guards helps her set up the entrance code for the apartment, he leaves, but not without treating Joanna to a lollipop.
Jim is left alone with Joanna and together they explore the place from top to bottom. She starts to get all sorts of ideas about how she wants to decorate the place to make it feel more like home. So she grabs her PADD and makes a list. In the midst of this, she says, "Hey, little duck. Can we quack for a second?"
Joanna comes waddling out of her room with a 'quack, quack' before coming to a stop right before Jim.
"So I have something I want to tell you," Jim says with a little smile. "Your daddy and I are going to have a baby. Which means you're gonna get a little sister. And also you're gonna have to share your room with her. How do you feel about that?"
Joanna perks up with a joyous smile. "I don't mind!" she exclaims.
Jim is relieved to hear this. "Good. Because I was thinking we can split the room right down the middle. We'll do your side however you want to do it. Then you can help me with your sister's side. I want something yellow for her side. What about you? What's your favorite color?"
"I like blue," Joanna says. "Can I have blue on my side?"
"Of course, little duck," Jim says as she stands and grabs her purse and the car keys. "Let's do some shopping. Make this place really feel like home."
"Okay," Joanna chirps easily and grabs Jim's hand.
They go to several stores and Jim spends a shitload of the earnings she's made from working with Eleanora (not to mention the few odd jobs here and there), all in the name of making their quaint little apartment into something alive and warm and full of good energy. She knows that the three (soon to be four) of them are going to need it, what with being in a new place and all. It's temporary, of course, but it didn't have to feel that way.
Jim spends the rest of that day signing for every shipped piece of furniture, for the painters, for the carpet people, and so on. By the time dinner time rolls around, Jim has the apartment looking like something out of one of those interior decorating magazines and she can't wait until Bones sees.
Joanna's room is split right down the middle (literally) with her side painted blue and themed to Cinderella.
(picture can be seen in LiveJournal account)
The other half of the room (the nursery) is painted a cool white, with one wall of orange. It's a very simplistic theme with oranges and yellows and stuffed animals. It's just adorable and Jim is so very proud of it.
(picture can be seen in LiveJournal account)
But as for the room she and Bones would be sharing, well, that had been a bit more challenging. So she decided to go with something neutral and something she felt fit the both of them. She picked a more sleek and modern look (black and white).
(picture can be seen in LiveJournal account)
Jim is so knackered by the end of it all that she spreads out on the couch in the living room and has no plans to get up anytime soon. She grabs the remote on the glass coffee table and flips on the TV.
Joanna eventually comes to find her and climbs on top of her to rest her head on Jim's chest. She falls asleep shortly after and Jim has to carry her to bed and tuck her in. She then turns on the LED constellation lamp she bought for Joanna to help her sleep because she's come to notice that Joanna is somewhat frightened of the dark.
Jim tucks away in her own room, keeping the bedroom door wide open just in case Joanna needs her for something. She climbs into bed as she puts on some sleepwear and she tries to call Bones but he doesn't pick up so she leaves a message. She then puts the device on the nightstand before setting an alarm on her PADD. She hunches down under the covers and spends the next fifteen minutes praying before she drifts off to sleep.
She doesn't let herself think about how lonely she feels in that big bed all by herself.
888
Monday – August 10th – 8 a.m.
One doesn't need an alarm if they are lucky enough to know Ms. Joanna Honey McCoy.
Jim is beginning to understand this.
Joanna has managed to climb into bed with her, waking Jim up with gentle kisses stamped onto her cheeks and eyelids and forehead. She is a very affectionate little girl, which is no wonder really because her father is just the same.
Jim thinks its nice how comfortable Joanna is with her. Joanna is quickly cementing a place for herself in Jim's heart.
"Mornin', Ms. Jim," Joanna says as she tangles her little fingers in Jim's bedridden hair. "I'm hungry."
"Okay," Jim says with a yawn.
"Can I watch the cartoons?" Joanna asks.
Jim smiles and says, "You don't have to ask me that. As long as you're careful."
Joanna beams and climbs out of bed.
Jim watches her little body disappear out of sight and soon she can hear the animated theatrics of a kids' show echoing in the front room. She sits up and rubs at her eyes as she reaches for her communicator. She's disappointed when she sees that Bones hadn't tried to call her back. She climbs out of bed and tries not to let it bother her as she goes to the bathroom to pee.
Then she goes to the kitchen to look in the empty fridge for something that can hold Joanna over until they make it to the daycare. Jim specifically remembers that the place serves breakfast. Plus she hadn't gone shopping because she wanted Bones to be the one to take care of that. It's only one more day until he's here.
Jim frowns as she grabs the leftover salad from the lunch they had at that one restaurant yesterday. She calls Joanna over to the kitchen table and laughs at the face she makes when she sees what's waiting for her.
"But I don't like salads," Joanna protests.
"Really?" Jim pretends to think about it. "I think I read somewhere that ducks love salad."
Joanna narrows her eyes at Jim suspiciously and when Jim just goes on grinning, she reluctantly starts to eat.
Jim chuckles and drops a kiss on the top of Joanna's head. "I'm going to go take a shower and get ready. Then I'll come take care of you."
Joanna just nods distractedly as she moves to the other side of the table so that the flat screen TV in the living room can be in her view.
Jim leaves her to go take a shower and get dressed for the day. When she's all sorted out, she grabs one of her prenatal hyposprays and it hisses as she presses it against her neck before she goes to get Joanna ready.
They're up and out the door by ten o'clock, which Jim views as perfect timing.
The walk to Starfleet Daycare only takes five minutes because it is literally around the corner. Joanna clings to Jim's hand tightly as they enter the building. Jim notes that the place is large and colorful, catering to almost all types of kids, whether they are human or not. She walks to the front office and there's a receptionist called Cassidy who asks her to wait a moment.
Jim sits down and watches the other parents and kids glide in and out of the office. She takes the small pause to text Bones and let him know that she's dropping off Joanna for her first day. By the time she's done, a woman with cropped blonde hair that hangs slanted right around her chin appears. She has steel grey eyes that sit behind thin black-framed glasses. She's wearing a pink short-sleeved turtleneck tucked into a silk turquoise pencil skirt with dark blue pumps on her small feet. In her arms are a wide leather-bound journal and a white ink pen. She's gorgeous in a regal way.
"Ms. Kirk. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Dehner," she says, offering a manicured hand with a pristine smile. "I'm the Assistant Director to the facility. Unfortunately, not long before you came, our Director went away on sabbatical. But I'm confident that I can help get your daughter settled."
Jim thinks about correcting her but she ultimately chooses not to. She shakes the woman's hand with a polite smile. "Well, I'm not sure if it was you or someone else that my—that her father talked to. But he told me that he submitted all the necessary paperwork and that since the two of us are both attending the Academy, the normal fees would be waivered and she'd get to come in early and stay later," she says.
Dr. Dehner nods promptly. "Yes, you are certainly correct. Here at the daycare, we want to provide ample opportunity and accommodation for each parent and child, especially when one or more persons are enlisted to the Academy, which we're sponsored by. Now I was going over the paperwork and I see that she's three—more than likely she'll be assigned to Mrs. Harris. In fact, we can take the time to meet with her for a few minutes." She smiles down at Joanna. "Are you ready to see your class?"
Joanna nods enthusiastically but she squeezes Jim's hand like she doesn't plan on letting go.
Jim follows Dr. Dehner out of the office and into the hall where they maneuver their way to the classroom on the other side of the cafeteria, which is filled to the brim with kids, snacking away on breakfast.
Dr. Dehner stops at a door littered with hearts and finger paintings and a name plaque that says 'Juniper Harris'. She knocks twice before entering the room.
Juniper Harris is a portly woman with numerous freckles, cornflower blue eyes, and an apparent cat lover if the sweater she's wearing is any indication. She's wearing capris pants with white trainers, and she's strumming away at a candy orange guitar as all the toddlers sit in a circle around her, clapping along joyously. When Juniper sees Dr. Dehner, as well as Jim and Joanna, she smiles and turns to flag down her assistant, who takes over for her.
Juniper waddles up to the three of them and says, "Howdy. What do we got here?" She's got a strong Texan accent.
Dr. Dehner introduces, "This is Jim Kirk, and her daughter, Joanna McCoy. She'll be joining your class for the rest of the year."
"You don't say," Juniper gushes and crouches down to be eye-level with Joanna. "How you doin' little lady? I'll be mighty glad to have you apart of my brood, but you gotta answer me this one thing—you like to have fun?"
Joanna nods frantically.
Juniper beams and winks. "Well welcome to the castle. Call me Ms. Juniper. You can go set your book bag and shoes over there and we'll work on putting your name to your bin, kay?"
Joanna nods but hesitates as she looks up at Jim, as though silently asking permission.
"Go on, little duck. I'll be back to pick you up later," Jim promises and smiles just to reassure her.
Joanna hugs Jim's leg before she runs off to put her things down.
Juniper straightens and shakes Jim's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Kirk. I'm gone take real good care of your girl, rest assured."
"I believe you will," Jim says. "You'll get to meet her father Wednesday when he comes to drop her off."
"Alright then," Juniper says. "You ever have any questions or concerns, you let me know straightway."
"Can do," Jim responds before she follows Dr. Dehner out. She says her goodbyes to the woman before she exits the building and heads to the Academy grounds. She feels even lonelier by herself without Joanna around. She doesn't even realize she's crying until she meets Pike halfway and he points it out. "Oh God, really?" She quickly wipes her face and makes a frustrated sound. "Damn hormones," she mutters, but it feels more like an excuse than anything.
Pike smiles amusedly before cups his hand over her shoulder. "I take it you dropped Joanna off," he says as he steers her to the science building.
"Yeah," Jim says hoarsely and then doesn't say much after that.
Pike seems to understand. He doesn't try to make small-talk. He guides her to an empty classroom where the Vulcan she recognizes as Spock is waiting. "Commander Spock will be overseeing your examination time. You get four fifteen minute breaks, if you need them, and the results will be submitted right away to the academic board upon completion. By the end of this month, I should know what to do with you. Classes start on the 31st. Good luck, Ms. Kirk." He nods to Jim and then to Spock before he strides out the room.
Jim crosses her arms and looks at Spock expectantly.
Spock's facial expression looks like its carved in stone, and it's a bit intimidating. He hands Jim a sleek PADD. "You will find all necessary assessments have been compiled to a certain order. Since you are seeking to pursue the command track, all queries will be correlated to this precise field. You may begin when you are ready."
Jim says nothing as she takes the PADD from him and finds an aisle to sit in.
Spock tucks away behind his work desk and carries on doing whatever it is he was doing before. Probably grading tests papers or whatever.
Jim focuses through the silence and tries not to second-guess any of her answers.
True to Pike's calculations, she's able to finish in just under three hours. She leaves the PADD with Spock, who, again, doesn't spare her a cursory glance. She doesn't bother thinking about it as she exits the classroom and checks the face of her communicator, frowning when she still doesn't see even a word of reply from Bones. It's beginning to annoy her.
Jim shoots him a curt text, informing him that she's on her way to her prenatal appointment, you know, if he cared to know that is. She makes her way across campus grounds and climbs into his black mustang, driving out to the hospital, but not before stopping to get herself some chicken tacos from a little taco stand on the way.
It's the best chicken taco she's ever had, that's for sure.
Jim devours every single bite before she strolls into the hospital and follows the directions of one of the nurses to the gestation ward. She sits in the waiting area and waits for her name to be called as she flips through a magazine. When it finally comes time for her to head to a designated room, she's practically falling asleep.
A moment later, a Hindu woman with soft chocolate eyes and very long black hair appears. She looks to be in her mid-thirties and she's got the build of a ballet dancer. She grabs a chair and Jim's virtual chart before she says (in a heavily accented voice), "Hello. My name is Dr. Gupta. I'm the head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics here in this hospital. I see you're about nine weeks along, is that correct?"
Jim nods.
"Okay, so far it seems like you've been experiencing heavy morning sickness. In your charts I see your previous doctor prescribed you some medicine to counter it. Do you still need those filled?" Dr. Gupta asks.
Jim thinks about it before she shakes her head. "No—well, I mean, I ran out like a week ago and so far I haven't had any trouble keeping anything down on my own."
"Good. Good. Yes that can happen sometimes. All it takes is time," Dr. Gupta says before she sets the chart down and pulls on some latex gloves. "I'm going to do some standard tests, okay? And then we'll discuss your progress and any concerns you may have."
Jim nods. After a few brief basic tests and preliminary questions, Dr. Gupta has Jim take off her shirt and lie back on the biobed so they can do an ultrasound. She indicates in what ways the baby has grown and how healthy the development is so far. After that, she writes Jim a prescription for iron supplements, which also acts as an appetite inducer. She urges Jim to gain at least twelve pounds by their next appointment.
Jim shrugs on her coat and leaves to fill the prescription, checking her communicator for the time and avidly ignoring the fact that Bones still hasn't returned any of her texts or calls. She swings by the day care to pick up Joanna early, and as a treat to the good behavior Juniper praises Joanna for her first day, she takes her to a roller-skating rink just two miles away.
Jim used to go skating all the time when she was a kid, and she's certainly looking forward to how Joanna responds to the activity. But of course, she only ends up being all kinds of adorable in her little crème skates with orange wheels. They start off in the beginner's room, just so Jim can get the hang of it again and also to give Joanna a chance to learn.
"Now don't tell your dad we did this," Jim says as Joanna wobbles and latches onto her hand to get her balance back. "He'd probably freak."
"I won't say nothin', Ms. Jim," Joanna promises with severe graveness. She pushes away from Jim and begins to bravely skate on her own. She claps her hands and wobbles but quickly catches herself. "Can we go out to the big floor?"
"Only if you think you're ready, little duck," Jim supposes.
Joanna nods and skates to her, latching onto her hand as they make their way out of the room and to the large floor where strobe lights are glimmering to the beat of the music the DJ is playing.
Jim let's go of Joanna's hand when they begin to skate around the length of the large floor. She skates backwards in order to keep an eye on Joanna.
"Ms. Jim, can I ask you something?" Joanna asks as they make their way around for the fifth time.
"You can ask me anything," Jim says, and kind of feels slightly like she may regret it.
Joanna says, "Well, today in Ms. Juniper's class we were talkin' bout our mommies and daddies. Then I said that I gots a daddy and two mommies but Kyle said that you can't have two mommies unless they live together. Is that true?"
Jim almost stumbles at the question but she manages to catch herself. "Uh—I don't—just—it depends, I guess," she says.
"On what?"
"A lot of things. Like if you're adopted, or if they do live together, or don't live together." Jim doesn't think she's explaining this right. "Jo—why's it matter?"
"Cause I want you to be my mommy too. Ms. Juniper says that mommies are people who take good care of you and make you feel good and treats you with a whole lotta love. But I already knew that. That's what you've been doin'," Joanna points out as she stumbles to her knees.
Jim frowns as she helps her stand. "Yes, but—um, I don't think your mom would like it very much," she supposes.
"Mommy doesn't care. Daddy doesn't either. I told them I know the difference. I do," Joanna promises. "Mommy can still be mommy. And you can be momma."
Jim blanches at that. "You had a conversation with your parents about calling me—about the fact that you—um, I just need to think about this for a second."
Joanna skates forward and grabs Jim's hand. "I like you, Ms. Jim and my daddy likes you too. We all live together and you gonna make me a sister. She's gonna call you momma too and I didn't wanna be the only one who didn't get to," she confesses, sounding just a scale older than she really is.
Jim is quietly amazed and just a little touch. "Oh, Jo," she sighs because Joanna feeling left out or less loved because of the baby is exactly what she wanted to not happen. She makes an executive decision she's not even completely sure of. It—couldn't hurt to try. "Okay. Tell you what, you can call me momma and I'll promise to try and adjust to it. And if you want to stop at any time and go back to calling me by my given name, I swear I won't be mad."
Joanna beams and hugs her leg tightly before she pulls back and says, "Look what I can do, momma!" She does a slow spin.
Jim grins and applauds her. "Very good, little duck. You'll be an expert yet." Her stomach grumbles. "You hungry? I think they sell nachos."
"I like cheese," Joanna says as a way of reply.
"Well good because there'll be plenty of it," Jim says and steers Joanna over to the food court.
They go home when the rink closes, and Jim swings by that glorious taco stand on the way back. When they make it up to the apartment, they spread themselves out on the floor and pick a movie to watch as they eat.
Joanna falls asleep twenty minutes into it with half of churro still in her tiny mouth.
Jim's heart feels all sorts of wobbly as she cleans Joanna up, stuffs her in some pajamas and tucks her in her bed. She turns on her nightlight and leaves the door cracked before she returns to the front room to tidy it up. She then hides away in her room and strips down to her underwear. The sheets of the bed feel nice and cool against her tender breasts as she lies face down and peruses through her communicator.
Jim falls asleep with Bones wrapped up in her thoughts and prayers.
Ten minutes into midnight, she jerks awake at the sensation of something warm and wet skating across the elastic band of her underwear. She blinks and stills her fist when she realizes its Bones.
He smirks up at her from where he's settled between her thighs.
Jim makes an eager sound (which she will deny to the death) as she sits up and pulls him into a furious kiss. She tugs his hair punishingly and tries not to tremble too much or say something stupid like how much she missed him. "When did you get in?" she asks between kisses. "You weren't supposed to be here until way later."
"Wanted to surprise you," Bones says as he eases her onto her back again and slides her underwear down her thighs, tossing them over his shoulder when he's got them completely off. "It's interestin' what you've done with the place."
"You like it?" Jim gasps when he starts kissing his way down her body. "You like it, don't you?"
"S'fine, Jim," Bones murmurs distractedly against her quivering stomach. "Missed you."
Jim trembles and closes her eyes against the words as it wraps like warm bands around her heart. "How much?" she croaks and bites her bottom lip as her lashes stick together wetly.
Bones tugs her body down lower and rests her legs over his shoulders. His large hands grip her hips tightly as he meets her eyes. "Let me show you," he murmurs, voice a deep husk of dark promise, and lowers his head.
Jim gasps and arches her back as her fingers tangle in the sheets.
Bones spends the rest of that early morning claiming his place in their bed, in her body, (and in her heart).
Author's Note: Revive me with your reviews.
