Disclaimer: SSDD

Warnings: Maybe some language, the sexytimes are kind of a glossover so nothing explicit. (sorry)

Author's Note: Wow…so this is it guys. The end of a journey.

Thanks so much for everyone who has been there from the beginning. And I can't even begin to address how grateful and overwhelmed I am by the response I got from you guys after last chapter.

My era of self deprecation and feeling sorry for myself is so over! You guys rock!!

That said… I would like to ask a HUGE HUGE favor.

If any of you out there are artistically inclined…. I would love love love it if someone could make me a drawing of the anklets Jim had Terry make for He and Spock. – The ones they exchanged on Christmas Eve. There's a description of them in that chapter – When Terry shows them to Jim at the Chinese restaurant. It's the big long chapter – Chap 7 - "Everything is Eventual" but the description isn't too far in.

Anyway I actually do have a friend who is a silversmith and she agreed to design a bracelet for me based on the description if I can get a drawing to her. – I don't know how much it will cost me – but that's what I want to buy myself for my birthday – and I can't draw to save my LIFE.

So if one of you artistically talented people out there wouldn't mind – I promise I would love you forever and dedicate the sequel to you or something.

And yes – that means there is GOING to be a sequel. - Just don't hold your breath because I don't know how long it will be before I can get going on it – however the response on whether or not you guys wanted one was so overwhelming that I cannot ignore it. I do have some ideas – I will hint at them in the Epilogue. - The Epilogue will be short – very short – and probably posted over the weekend.

Meanwhile – chapter 2 of Saving Grace is nearly done – and I'll be working on it and Destiny's Child this semester.

Again I want to thank EVERYONE out there who has been reading and alerting and reviewing and sharing your kind words with me. It means more than you can ever know. Trust me.

Au revoir for now kiddies…

Loves you all!

T'Pinto

UPDATE: 1-29-2010 - I have the Epilogue DONE - but the Document Manager won't let me Upload it - Sorry guys. Anybody else having this problem??

I'll get it up as soon as FanFic lets me.

MOII

Chapter 21

Ever After

His first conscious thought was one of general panic. He sat bolt upright on the biobed screaming Kevin's name as if no time had passed at all since he'd lost consciousness at his reception. That was somewhat understandable, since Jim had been in a medically induced coma and for him the time had passed instantaneously.

The moment Bones had heard the scream he'd rushed to Jim's side to calm him. Jim's next immediate questions had come in rapid succession. Where was Spock? How was Spock? Was Spock hurt?

"I am fine Jim, and I am right here," Spock had reassured, crossing the room to Jim's bed. He took his T'hy'la's hand and send calming waves to him through their link which allowed Jim's heart rate to and breathing to slow.

Spock had been down the hall in the cafeteria, which had been made into a make shift waiting room for the 50 or so constant friends and family members waiting to hear on Jim and Kevin's conditions. Spock had heard Jim's scream and had also immediately rushed to his side.

Jim focused on Spock and he scrutinized every inch of his beloved before he was convinced that his injuries were minor and sufficiently healed. As soon as Jim was calmed, more coherent and sure that Spock was okay, his focus shifted to Kevin.

"He's in an ICU room Jim, but he's gonna be okay. I won't lie to you though, it was touch and go there for a while. I was in surgery with him for over twelve hours."

"Twelve hours? How long was I out?"

"You have been in a medically induced coma for just over sixty three hours T'hy'la."

"Sixty three hours? That's over two days! What for?"

"Jim calm down. You're injuries were pretty sever too, but I needed to concentrate on Kevin. You were hit by multiple volleys of laser fire, including a blast to your upper right arm that shattered your humerus. And I mean shattered Jim.

I had M'Benga regenerate your tissues, and give you an regenerative accelerant to help your soft tissue heal and speed up the bone regeneration and help the bones re-knit faster. At that high a dose you would have been in an insufferable amount of pain. A medically induced coma was the only way to go."

"Plus it insured that I wouldn't be conscious to argue with you right?"

"That was the icing on the cake yes. Anyway, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted, as of last night your soft tissue was nearly healed at the shoulder and thigh impact areas, but you still had micro fissures in your humerus. This mornings scans showed remarked improvement and no more micro fissures, so I let you wake up.

Your arm is gonna be sore and weak for a while though, and prone to re-injury. I want it in a sling for at least a week, and no over using it."

"Fine, I'll be careful. Now will somebody please tell me what the hell happened."

Bones and Spock took turns relating the events that transpired immediately following Jim's loss of consciousness. Fortunately, besides Jim, Kevin, a few security officer and the assailants, there had been no serious injuries to the wedding guests. Which was a miracle in itself, but no one had protested too much.

Everyone had run for cover when the shooting had started leaving the assailants shooting at Jim and Kevin on the dance floor, and all the storm troopers and security people in the city firing at the assailants from every angle imaginable.

How they got as many hits on Jim and Kevin no one was sure because there really had been an overabundance of security officer present. No storm troopers, but lots and lots of armed security, all firing at will.

The four of them had obviously coordinated their attack very well. They'd broken off in four different directions all surrounding the dance floor with direct line of sight to Jim and Kevin. When the smoke had cleared and all was said and done two of them were dead and the other two seriously wounded.

J.J. Danforth, a.k.a. Sebastian Karnikov and Captain Korigan had both suffered fatal wounds at the hands of the Security officers. Karnikov had suffered the most, his enormous gut had been ripped open, leaving a string of entrails, blood, and stomach contents where he'd tried to crawl across the floor for cover.

As for Sebastian Karnikov's wife, Tanee'ya she had, perhaps, suffered a fate worse than death. Her right hand had been severed and deemed unrepairable due to the cauterization that had occurred to the blood vessels when multiple laser blasts had hit her simultaneously. She had been shielding her face and head at the time. The hits severed her hand but didn't kill her. They did however severely disfigure her face, causing the entire left side of her face to look melted and charred, while deep gouges ripped open her jaw and cheek on the right. She'd also lost her left eye and ear and her hair had been completely singed off the left side of her head.

Bones had placed her in a medically induced coma as well, but she'd been transferred to a secure facility within the Starfleet prison system. He told Jim that even with extensive surgery of a cosmetic nature, she'd never look normal, but due to the nature of her crimes, on Tarsus IV and the assassination attempts on Jim and Kevin, she probably wouldn't be granted anything other than basic care to her injuries.

She'd been identified at first only by Spock and Janice, who'd overheard Jim and Kevin's converstion. Other than the Tarsus nine, there were no other survivors of the Tarsus Massacre who had ever seen The Butchers up close. They had worked behind closed doors and been somewhat of a legend, or myth, as few ever survived after seeing their faces. Some of those who did had their tongues removed and were severely traumatized.

Starfleet had contacted Thomas and Molson immediately following the reception and learned that both had seen them during the events of the Massacre, though Thomas had been the only one to have seen them up close besides Kevin. Both however, had identified them beyond a shadow of a doubt based on security photos taken of J.J. and Tracy Danforth.

Starfleet was now investigating just how and why the 'Danforth's' had come to live on and subsequently become Ambassadors to Earth Colony 2. The only thing they new for sure was that Korigan had obviously forged documents for them, as well as for himself and Kodos/Karidian.

As for the old man, who the late Captain Korigan had said was his Father, who had produced documentation proving just that, he was far from Korigan's Father. Though they were related. They were cousins.

Korigan had entered Starfleet just after the incident on Tarsus IV, under an assumed name of course, and had risen quite quickly in the ranks, achieving the rank of Captain in just 10 years. His original surname was Kodos, as was his older cousin's, who was known as Kodos the Executioner, as well as Anton Karidian.

Kodos had spent many years in the theater, both before and after the incident on Tarsus IV. He was skilled in the art of theatrical make-up. Korigan had been skilled in the art of forgery and falsifying documents. Which is how Kodos had gotten not only into San Francisco undetected, but gained admittance to the wedding and passed through all of the security checkpoints.

Starfleet was reeling at having to announce to the public that Kodos had slipped through all of their security measures and nearly taken the life of the Federations beloved Captain Kirk. Their only saving grace was that Kodos had somehow lived through the incident and was in custody. He would now face trial for all of his crimes, ensuring that justice would finally be served for thousands of Kodos' victims.

All of that information was a lot for Jim to take in. He sat in silent contemplation for a while before he spoke, and when he did he completely avoided any mention of Kodos. He asked about his Mom, the wedding guests, his family members, the crew, the ship, and then Kevin again, wanting to know if he could see him.

"He's resting right now Jim, but every time he wakes up, he asks about you so yah, next time he wakes up, I'll let ya know."

"Thanks Bones. Look, thanks to your little coma, I am feeling pretty damn good, a little week maybe, thirsty, and hungry as hell. You suppose I could talk you into letting me go down to the cafeteria and see everyone and get something to eat?"

"Yah, but look, the green blooded hobgoblin here has strict instructions not to let you overdo it," Bones state matter of factly. Jim gave him a questioning look in return. "What? I know you well enough to know that you'd ask to go down there first thing, so we discussed it already."

"At length." Spock a greed, shooting an annoyed look at McCoy for the hobgoblin comment.

"Well then I guess I'm in good hands aren't I?"

"They'll do. I'm gonna check on Kevin, then I have some paperwork to finish up. If you aren't back here by the time I'm done, I'm coming down there to make sure you aren't over tiring yourself."

"Fine."

"What you aren't gonna protest?"

"It wouldn't do me any good Bones. I just wanna eat, not argue."

"Good."

Bones made him put his arm in a sling and let Spock wheel him down to the cafeteria in a wheelchair, where he was promptly parked next to his mothers matching wheelchair, so he didn't feel so bad. Everyone was elated to see that he was alright. It was a cacophony of friends, family members, and crew members.

Terry was there, along with Mike, Joe, Corey and a couple more of the old gang from Riverside. The wedding party was there of course, and his entire family, including Sarek and Selek. T'Pau and the other Vulcan Elders had left for New Vulcan once they had heard that Jim and Kevin would pull through, but had expressed their concern and condolences.

By the time Jim got something to eat and had a chance to visit with everyone he was starting to feel tired, but didn't want to admit it. Spock started discreetly asking people to leave once they'd had a chance to chat with Jim, explaining to them that he was too tired to keep up with the visiting very much longer, but that as long as people were there he would continue to try until he over tired himself.

Most people understood and told Jim they had work to get back to and excused themselves politely. That or they just slipped out quietly when he wasn't looking. Although most of them did wish him a belated birthday before they left, as they'd never gotten around to singing him happy birthday at the reception as they'd all planned.

Once there were just family members and his friends from Riverside and the wedding party crew members left a birthday cake was brought out from the kitchen by none other than the cranky Doctor McCoy himself.

"Oh no! NO CAKE!" Jim shouted and pretended to duck.

"Ha ha, very funny. You know I'm a Doctor not a psychologist, but I think you need to face this fear of cakes head on Jimmy boy."

"It's okay honey, Nyota, Janice, Christine, Aurelan and I made the cake ourselves," Winona assured him. "We didn't let anyone else near it, and there are only a few small phasers inside this time. No laser rifles."

"Wow you are so funny Mom."

"You always knew you came by it honestly dear."

"Yah I did. Hey that reminds me. How did those rifles get in the cakes? No one explained that to me yet?"

"Apparently the Karnikov's had adolescent children who were living on Earth Colony 2 at the time of the Tarsus IV incident with relatives." Spock explained. "These children were groomed by the Karnikov's to infiltrate Starfleet by studying culinary arts and working in The Academy kitchens as a pastry chefs and a sous chef. They had completed their culinary arts studies and procured jobs in the Academy kitchens under assumed names while you were still a cadet Jim, but the plan had been to target you and Kevin Riley simultaneously and the opportunity did not present itself while you were both still at the Academy."

"When word got out about your wedding, Kodos and his Butchers decided it was a now or never situation Jim," Pike interjected. "The junior Karnikovs put themselves in a position to be solely responsible for the cakes. That way they controlled the size and ensured that no one else was present during the baking. Decorating didn't matter because no one else in the kitchens kenw what kind of surprises were inside."

"So I take it they've been apprehended as well?"

"Two of them have, we're still looking for the third."

"So until you have him, her, whatever, in custody, there's still somebody out there that wants me dead. Great."

"Jim we'll find him and then this whole thing will be over." Pike assured.

"Yeah sure, that's what you said the other day when we wrapped up the investigation. We'll get Kodos and it'll all be over. Of course you also said there was no way in hell Kodos would be able to get anywhere near San Francisco, let alone my Starfleet Headquarters, or my reception. Yet there he was, at my reception, and he SHOT ME!"

"Look Jim…."

"No, no look Jims… I'm just…. I'm just tired of talking about it okay. Fine Kodos is in custody, and The Butchers are out of commission and their kids, that nobody knew they had, are almost all in custody, fine, great, whatever, I'm done. I'm done talking about it, I'm done thinking about it and until the trial I'm not going to talk about it unless I absolutely have to. Not to anyone," Jim said pointedly looking at his husband. "After the trial I am never, I repeat never, talking about this whole fiasco, or Kodos, or Tarsus, ever again. I want that understood, by all of you. Don't bring it up, don't ask me if I'm okay, just leave it alone okay?"

Every one readily agreed and Scotty piped up about wanting some cake, which of course brought a round of laughter to the somewhat somber assembly. Jim got his happy birthday song, and his cake and his presents, lots and lots of presents, and by the end of the impromptu party he was exhausted.

All the friends and family members from Riverside gathered around Jim and said their farewells. Now that they knew he was just fine they all had their own lives to get back to. After they left the bridge crew and wedding party filtered out, letting Jim know they'd see him in a couple of weeks when they were all back on duty. Selek and Sarek also bid their farewells to Jim and Spock stating that they would be returning to New Vulcan and would contact them when they arrived safely. Finally it was just Jim, Spock, McCoy, Jim's parents, and his brother and his family left in the cafeteria.

The kids were a bit cranky and Sam and Aurelan just wanted to get them home, so they only stayed a few more minutes before heading to the transporter room and going back to Oregon themselves. Chris and Winona stated that they'd join them in Oregon in a couple of days.

"Well that was kind of fun actually, but I'm beat." Jim yawned. "You still stuck in here with me Mom?"

"Nope, I just come in for P.T. and to check on you honey. Chris and I are keeping the farm in Riverside but right now I just really don't want to go back there for a while. I've had a lot of things moved to the apartment here in San Francisco. It's pretty big and there's a park nearby for Zoe.

Oh she's doing great by the way. She's going to stay in Riverside for a couple of more weeks and recoup before we bring her out here though. We're going to go visit George and Aurelan like we planned and I think the kids might get a little too rambunctious with her, but she's in good hands. Andy will pick her up from the vet later today."

"Oh man, I'm glad to hear that. Look, don't be afraid to go back to the house Mom. We can have the floor boards replaced and the banister repaired. That's your home."

"It's your home too Jimmy, and yours Spock, and it always will be. I just need some more time, that's all. I'll head back there whenever Chris is off planet, and we'll both go when he has time off, or needs to be in Riverside, he's the Admiral in charge of the Shipyard you know, so we'll spend plenty of time there. Then when George and Aurelan want a little getaway and room for the kids to run, we can vacate and they can take the place over, and if you guys have shore leave, you're welcome to do the same. It will be the little home away from home for all of us."

"That actually sounds quite lovely Winona." Spock states sincerely.

"Why is it that sometimes you call me Mom and sometimes you don't Spock?"

"I am unsure. Perhaps I am still adjusting to the fact that I have gained such a large and welcoming family."

"You sure have hon," Jim said looking up lovingly at his husband and taking his hand. "And we all love you, but none of them love you as much as I do."

Spock smiled sincerely at his T'hy'la since they were practically alone in the room, then leaned down to give Jim a warm tender kiss.

"Did you have to do that in front of me?" McCoy complained.

"Yes." / "Yes"

"Well you need your rest son, so I'm gonna take your Mom home. Come over to the apartment tomorrow and check in with us and let us know what you decide to do with your extra time off."

Hugs were issued all around, though Jim and his Mom had a hard time with the two wheelchairs, though Jim wasn't sure why he was still in his, it wasn't like he was an invalid, he was just weak and tired. So tired in fact that he wasn't even gonna complain about having to sleep in an uncomfortable biobed. Well he wouldn't complain much.

McCoy ushered them down to the ICU area where he'd had Jim in a room next to Kevin's so he could keep an eye on both of them. He gave Jim a thorough going over and just as he was finishing up his scans one of the nurses informed them that Kevin was awake and asking for Jim.

Jim didn't even wait for McCoy to say it was okay for Jim to go see Kevin, he just bolted for the kid's room. Kevin was so pale even after more than two days of post-op recovery. His entire midsection was a mass of bandages and there were bandages covering wounds on his legs and one arm as well. He blew those off as being nothing but scratches, but Jim had his own 'scratches' to contend with so he knew better.

He sat by Kevin's bed holding the kid's hand and talking to him about everything under the sun except Kodos and Tarsus and all that had gone on over the past few weeks. They laughed until both of them were so tired that they were close to passing out. Finally McCoy broke things up shoeing Jim out.

"His injuries are more sever for God's sakes. He needs his rest, and so do you so get out. Now!"

"Wow, did you just completely skip out on bedside manner class in med school or what?"

"I tested out. What's it to ya?"

Spock stood in the lobby area of the ICU unit waiting patiently for his husband. Jim came out of his room and looked longingly at Spock, wishing he didn't have to stay in the stupid med wing . He crossed over to his Love and let Spock envelop him in his inhumanly warm arms.

"I wish I could just stay like this forever." Jim sighed.

"It is pleasant, however, I would prefer not to stand forever. I find a bed to be much more comfortable when talking in terms of long periods of motionlessness."

"Okay, yah but…"

"I said get out! What part of that did you not understand?" McCoy roared at Jim as he left Kevin's room.

"I'm not in there anymore. Jeez."

"No but you're still standing here, and you need to be resting yourself, so let that damned pointy eared bastard let go of you long enough so you can both leave, vamoose, scram. In other words get outta my sight with your damn warm fuzzy snuggling. It's disgusting."

"But I thought…"

"Oh give me a break, you're fine, you just need rest. And I mean just that Spock, he needs rest, so no strenuous activities, you getting my drift?"

"Yes Leonard, as I assured you before, I understand and I will not allow him to persuade me otherwise."

"You better not, cuz you gave me your word. You also promised to have him right back here first thing in the morning so I can give him a thorough inspection."

"I'm not an inanimate object you know. Wait does this mean I get to leave and go back to the dorms with Spock?"

"No T'hy'la this means that you get to come back to Honeymoon suite that has been reserved for us at the Hotel for the remainder of the week if we want it that long."

"No kiddin'?"

"No kidding. When the Hotel heard what happened they cleared all the reservations off the calendar for us for an entire week to allow for you to adequately heal and be medically released. I have been staying there while you were still in the medically induced coma."

"No you haven't. You've been right here by his bedside, or down in the cafeteria nearly the whole damn time."

Spock shot Leonard a very annoyed eyebrow raise that clearly said 'shut the hell up', before assuring Jim that he had slipped away on several occasions to get a few hours rest.

"Oh sure but you'd only agree to do it if 'older you' was sitting right there in your chair holding his hand for you, and we all had to agree to call you if Jim breathed differently or flinched in his sleep or something."

"Must you grossly over exaggerate everything Leonard?"

"Yes I must, now get him outta here and get him to bed, but no 'honeymooning' until I sign off on it and I'm damned serious about that Jim. You've still got a lot of soft tissue damage and that arm will be prone to re-injury for a couple more weeks at least."

"You know Bones, I think this is the one time you don't have to worry about me disobeying you, I'm just too damned sore and tired to disagree."

"Good." McCoy snorted as he whirled around and stalked off to his makeshift office on the unit.

Jim actually fell asleep in the transport on the way over to the Hotel. When they got up to the room he let Spock undress him and put him to bed. He didn't even protest, though it was still mid afternoon.

Several hours later he woke up to find a very warm Vulcan snuggled up next to him, holding him gently in the overly warm arms that now felt like home to Jim.

"Hey you," Jim greeted his lover. "How come you're in bed with me? It's not even…, what time is it anyway?"

"It is around 6:30 pm I believe."

"Around? Since when do you say around? You okay?"

"I am fine love, albeit a bit tired myself. I admit I didn't get as much rest as I should have while you were comatose. I am in bed with you both because I was tired, and because I needed to be near you T'hy'la. I needed to feel your skin next to mine, and hear and feel your heartbeat and breathing. I needed to have you in my arms and to know that you were alive. Once I allowed myself to relax, I was soon sleeping deeply. You're stirring awoke me from a deep slumber."

"Oh, baby I'm sorry. You wanna just go back to sleep love?" Jim said as his stomach growled. Birthday cake had been over 7 hours ago.

"As tired as I am, and I know you are T'hy'la, I too am hungry. We should order room service and eat something first. Then perhaps we can watch a movie or just enjoy eachothers company for a while before returning to sleep."

"That sounds like absolute heaven to me." Jim agreed.

They ordered and threw on some pajamas so they'd be decent when their food arrived. While they waited Jim decided to ask about Spock's earlier comments.

"So you needed to know that I was alive huh? That sounded a little ominous."

"I suppose it was, however would you feel any different if the roles had been reversed?"

"Given those parameters? No. In fact I would have been panicking and terrified and completely antsy about just having you back in my arms and okay."

"Therein lays your answer then. I have experienced a myriad of compromising emotions since…." Spock trailed off and choked up, unable to finish his sentence.

"I can imagine hon. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm grateful you weren't hurt very badly at the same time, he said fingering a bandage on Spock's forearm and then reaching up to run his finger along a gash at Spock's temple where a laser blast had grazed past his head, probably hitting Jim afterward.

"It was most difficult T'hy'la. More difficult even than when I lost my Mother I believe. It was not until Dr. McCoy assured me that you would be alright that was once again able to breathe normally. I began shaking as the tension left my body and I found that I had to sit down. I have never experience fear in such magnitude before. It was extremely unpleasant."

"I'll bet that's an understatement too," Jim declared, flashing a trademark grin at Spock and giving him a little wink that once again calmed any residual emotional trauma Spock was experiencing from reliving the memory of watching Jim bleeding profusely while laying unconscious in his arms.

Their dinner arrived and they had a pleasant meal and then snuggled in eachothers arms for the remainder of the evening, stealing small kisses from time to time, but mostly just being contented to have the contact of skin and katra, through small touches.

That night they slept well having decided to stay in San Francisco in the suite for a couple more days before going anywhere on their honeymoon.

They did eventually go to Sam and Aurelan's, then to Riverside to check on Zoe. They stayed at the farmhouse for a couple of days and got the floorboards replaced and the banister fixed, though Spock would not allow Jim to do any manual labor and insisted he keep his arm in that damned sling the entire time.

With a week of extended shore leave left they decided to head for Hawaii, and remarkably, nothing eventful happened while they were there. They hiked and walked on the beach. Jim talked Spock into letting him take the sling off so that they could swim in the ocean a bit. They enjoyed the surf and the sun and the luaus and they hit all the tourist spots.

They made good use of the honeymoon suite they'd booked in the hotel in Hawaii also. Bones had given them the go ahead as long as they were mindful of Jim's arms and the many healing flesh wounds between them.

It was a wonderful time and they both hated to see it end, but eventually they had to return to San Francisco, deal with the beginnings of the trials and get Enterprise ready to roll out. By the time they returned, tanned and nearly all of their various owies healed, they felt as if they'd always been together and this had just been a random vacation and not a honeymoon.

When Jim stopped to think that a just over a month before, they hadn't yet confessed their feelings to one another, the thought seemed absurd to him. Why they hadn't said anything to each other sooner, or why he himself hadn't realized sooner how much in love with Spock he'd been, he had no idea. Everyone else had seen it, why didn't they? But that was like the tootsie pop question too, the world would never know. One of these days he was going to have to find out what a tootsie pop was though.

Once all of the legal proceedings had started it soon became clear that with so many people in custody, the trials were going to take a great deal of time. The Enterprise was indeed assigned to not much more than supply runs and liaison missions within the closest solar systems so that Jim and Kevin and any other crew members needed would be available for testimony, within a relatively short time period.

A few months into it they'd all grown used to the routine and Jim and Spock had settled into married life aboard the Enterprise very well. They found that their wedding bands did indeed deter unwanted attention, and that their union and their telepathy came in very handy in certain diplomatic situations.

They decided after a few weeks to return the ni'var pendants to the decorative wooden box with its velvet liner and only wear them on special occasions. Jim's and Kevin's first rounds of testifying at Tanee'ya Karnikov and Kodos' trials had been traumatizing for both of them, but afterward they'd gotten smashed with Spock and Scotty, McCoy, Sulu, and Chekov, and felt much better by the end of the evening.

In the end, Karnikov and Kodos were both sentenced to execution, but it had taken six months for the trials to come to an end and for Federation Council to reach their conclusion in sentencing. The executions would not take place until six months after the sentencing.

Jim was frustrated with that but as Pike explained to him, it had been a very long time since the Federation had allowed execution as a punishment. They were a peacekeeping and humanitarian armada. The only crime that had previously garnered such a harsh sentence was genocide, and the council had debated the definition of genocide back and forth for a long time before deciding that what Kodos had done roughly fit the parameters of the basic definition.

The carrying out of the sentence was postponed primarily because everyone was just flat out sick and tired of dealing with the whole ordeal and there had to be time to send notifications to all friends and family members of the victims of the day, date, and time, in the event that any of them wanted to attend.

Karnikov had been sentenced to death as well, though what she had participated in did not fit the parameters of the definition of genocide, since she hadn't ordered it. However, her crimes had been so heinous, especially the torture and the fact that many of her victims had been children, that Council had deemed them intolerable and reprehensible. Combined with the assassination attempts at the wedding, and her gross disfigurement, they decided execution was not only fitting, but probably more humane as her disfigurement and extensive injuries caused her a great deal of constant pain.

Once everything was wrapped up with the trials and the sentencing, the Enterprise was given its first deep space mission. It would be a round trip six month exploration mission, so that they would be back to Earth in time for the executions, but the crew was looking forward to even a six month mission at that point. If pressed, most would have admitted to extreme cases of boredom while the trials had been ongoing. But there would have had to have been a lot of pressing to get them to admit it, they respected their Captain too much to complain.

The day before the Enterprise was to embark, Jim and Spock got together with Chris, Winona, Sam and Aurelan and the kids for a wonderful day at the little farmhouse in Riverside. It was June in Iowa and everything was fresh and green and warm and wonderful.

The kids had a blast playing ball with Zoe in the yard, and they'd had a fantastic barbecue and invited the Sanders and all of Jim's friends. As the evening grew late Pike suddenly rose from the porch swing and told everyone that it was time they got going, which Jim found really puzzling.

"What do you mean 'got going' Dad, we're all home. Do you mean you want to go to bed but you can no longer form your sentences properly because of your old age?" Jim teased.

"Nope, but thanks for making fun, I'll remember that. What I mean is, we're all leaving. You're Mom and Zoe and I are heading back to San Francisco, and George and Aurelan are heading back to Oregon."

"What for?"

"Jimmy this is your last night on Earth for a long while. We all figured you and Spock would want some alone time." Winona explained giving her son a huge good-bye hug. "Your Dad and I will see you in the morning. You have to report to his office tomorrow before you leave you know, so just come by the apartment for breakfast first. Love you hon, you too Spock."

"Okay fine, love you."

"Thank you Mom, for a wonderful day. Jim and I will see you tomorrow morning." Spock agreed, hugging his mother-in-law closely and tightly to him.

"So Sam, I guess this is it for us for a while huh?" Jim started. "I mean you put in for jobs on Deneva and Earth Colony II nearly 9 months ago right? You're moving off planet soon."

"Actually I'm not so sure about that Jimbo. Earth Colony II is having some real problems right now. The investigations turned up a lot of government corruption, which is how the Karnikov's manipulated themselves into Ambassadorship. It doesn't seem like the place to be right now. And as for Deneva, I got a call from Ambassador Selek and he was very very adamant that we not go there. He wouldn't explain but I got the distinct impression he knew something I didn't know and I've decided to err on the side of caution.

Besides, Dad just made me head of the Biological Research facility aboard the space station orbiting Jupiter and with Scotty's transwarp technology in place – I can beam back and forth to work now. Well, soon. We're still working out the bugs, or the dogs rather, but the point is, I'm home every weekend and just a shuttle ride away during the week if Aur really needs me. I'm happy where I'm at for now."

"Well good deal. Guess I'll see you in six months then."

"Yep. Wouldn't miss it brother."

After everyone was gone, Jim and Spock decided they did want to make it an early evening and were soon lying naked and sated in eachothers arms on the bed in the downstairs guest room.

"I love you so much, you know that?" Jim sighed, staring into his husband's eyes.

"I do James, as I love you more and more with each passing day."

"I love being here too. Just the two of us like this. Right here in the very room where we made love for the first time."

"We have many cherished memories of our time here in December. It was very special, and I will never forget it."

"No kidding. You know we ought to go on another road trip with the guys next time we're back home. Maybe go the other direction this time. Hit Atlantic City or something."

"I would find that enjoyable," Spock said before breaking into an uncharacteristic smile, muttering something about crack fairies and turtles.

"No shit right, gawd that was fun. Chekov cracks me up."

"Has Dr. McCoy ever gotten even with you for the face painting incident?"

"Well you have to remember, I still owed him for dressing me up like a hooker and dropping me off at that biker bar when we were still at the academy, but that doesn't mean we were even. He hasn't done anything yet, but I think he still feels bad for getting you drunk on pancakes in Vegas. Not that I'm letting my guard down mind you."

"Of course not T'hy'la." Spock said kissing Jim deeply. The kiss grew until it was quite evident that both of them were ready for a second round.

"So, you wanna mind meld this time?" Jim said lasciviously, waggling his eyebrows.

"Indeed T'hy'la…Indeed!" Spock said before he pounced on his husband with a growl.

Much later they laid awake in one another's arms in perfect contentment, enjoying the sound of crickets chirping, and the smells of newly mown grass wafting in through the open window. Both were thinking about how happy and fortunate they were, and how much fun it had been being with the family all day, and how much they'd enjoyed playing with the children.

Children were what was foremost in both of their thoughts, though they both shielded these thoughts from the other. There would be time enough to talk of children during the six month mission that lay ahead. Perhaps when they got back they could look into the possibility of finding a surrogate on New Vulcan. This is what they both thought, though neither knew it, as they drifted off to sleep.