Nyota was pushing Spock to the stage. During the band's break was the perfect time for his toast. The room became quiet as soon as he tapped the microphone. "Good evening. It has been brought to my attention that as best man it is my duty to toast the couple. There is nothing I may say that has not been said tonight. And as repetition of those sentiments is illogical, allow me to simply say this. Leonard and Seriana, you have illustrated the meaning of friendship. My respect for both of you grows with each passing day. May you continue in a life of uncompromising love and partnership. May you both live long and prosper." Glasses were raised as Seri leaned her head against Len's chest.

The band, actually the second band, came on stage. The music started; it was a fast song to get the guest into the spirit of the evening. Keenzer was dancing with Lana. Meghan had pulled Louis onto the floor; there was no way she was getting Tucker to dance like that. Jules ran through the guests. Before he realized it, Jim was being pulled to the dancefloor by a small hand. "Uncle Jim! I love this song!" The captain danced with his niece until the song ended. He was a little out of breath, but the little girl was still full of energy.

"Why don't you come sit with your old uncle?"

"I can't. I have to dance with Mr. Scott. Remember Uncle Jim, you are taking me back to school."

"Don't worry, you know I wouldn't forget my best girl." She kissed him on the cheek before running off to find Scotty.

Spock and Len joined Jim at the table. "So, Bones how does it feel to be married?"

Spock looked at Len with a raised eyebrow as if to say, "Well?"

"Tired."

Jim laughed. "Maybe you should have foregone the Betazoid tradition after the ceremony."

"Naw. It was needed; more than I thought it would be."

Spock looked perplexed. "I do not understand."

Len's tone became deeply serious. "We needed the time to join as one. We did that at the altar and last night, but this was different. I hope that one day you will both understand what I mean." He smiled at Seri as she looked over at the trio. "It is an amazing feeling to know that you have a partner for life; that you aren't in this alone." He continued to smile at his wife as he stood to join her at the family table.

Jim looked at Spock. "Well, that lacked subtlety."

"Yes, Jim, I believe the doctor wants us both to be married."

"More than that, I believe he thinks we need to be married, or at least make our relationships permanent."

"I believe to both Nyota and Caroline that means marriage."

"It definitely does. Cal was talking about April, what about Nyota?"

"She changes her mind frequently. She does desire it be here, but not as large as this. She stated it would be nice in the summer."

"Let Sarah know when she decides on a date. You know she will want to make Nyota's day perfect. With all of the weddings this year, she is excited. Sarah is a lot like Len, she likes to see those she loves happy. That lady is a very special person." Spock studied his friend. Jim's eyes searched the room until he spotted Sarah. She was flitting around trying to ensure everything was perfect. When she noticed Jim staring, she smiled so brightly he swore that was all that was needed to light the room.

"My mother would have said we are all very lucky." Spock secretly wished his mother had been there to enjoy the day.

Jim turned his attention back to Spock. "And she would be right."

The night continued well past midnight. The little ones had fallen asleep on the chairs that had been placed in the corner farthest from the bandstand. They laid across them, none wanted to leave the hall. It was all too exciting. If they left, they might miss something. Being asleep didn't seem to factor into their thoughts.

Cal left the cousins to find her brother. She had danced with every other man in her life except her brother and fiancé. "Alright big brother, I believe this is our song." The band was playing a classic song Len played on the piano when they were young. He would only play when she needed to practice her en pointe exercises.

This time they danced together. "You look lovely sis."

"You look happy. You always look handsome. I heard about the promotion. Don't tell Seri, she is getting one also. Jim is waiting for her insignia to arrive before he tells her. You new uniforms have been ordered. I hope you don't mind, but I asked Uncle George to walk me down the aisle along with you."

"Mind? I think that's perfect. I'm proud of you Callie. Just wanted you to know that."

"I've always known. I'm just as proud of you. Lenny?"

"Yes?"

"When did we grow up?"

He didn't hesitate. "My first summer home from the Academy. I saw you as a grown woman when we sat under our pecan tree and I looked into your eyes."

"You're probably right. I told Jim I wanted to get married in April. Can you reverse my birth control a couple of months before that? I'm not getting any younger."

"You and Jim having a child will rapidly age me." He was laughing as he kissed her forehead. "It isn't a problem baby. I need nieces and nephews to spoil."

"I need that too. You two better get started."

"You are incorrigible."

"I take after my brother. I love you so much." She leaned her head against his chest.

Len rested his head on hers. "I love you more." The dance continued as the dancers continued their fox trot around the floor.

George had escorted Seri to the floor shortly after Cal led Len. "You look completely happy baby."

"I am dad. You all gave us our fantasy."

"It is going to be an adventure, being Lenny's wife."

"It has been being his fiancé. I know being his wife will be different."

"Funny enough, it is different. I didn't think it would be, Lena and I had known each other for decades, but marriage was still a revelation. You are perfect for each other. Don't ever doubt that."

"Thank you for that. He is an impressive man."

"And you are an impressive woman. I'm just happy you two found each other."

"Thank Jim for that. I love you." She kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you too baby." He returned her kiss as the music ended.

Will climbed onto the stage. "Ladies and gentleman, it is well past 01:00 hours. The band said three more songs then we need to officially call it a night. A group are going down to the bonfire pit and continuing the party there, also around 14:00 hours a group of us are meeting here before we invade the town. Seri, Len we don't want to see either one of you until the twenty seventh. Enjoy!"

As promised the band started with a fast tune. The dancefloor filled with the children who had woken from their naps. The adults had run out of energy, but enjoyed watching the youngsters. The next song was slower. Len took Joce, Evan took Seri, Jim went to Jo. Donald looked at Jim and Jo. Why did his girlfriend's uncle have to be James Tiberius Kirk? June asked the young man to dance. She hoped dancing would erase the look of fear in his eyes.

"You know, Jimmy isn't all that scary."

"With all due respect ma'am, you aren't dating his niece. And if that isn't bad enough, Leonard McCoy is her father. What if they find out?"

It was all she could do not to giggle. "Find out what?" She already knew the answer, though she doubted the men guessed. Although, they may have.

"Oh, I'm sorry; nothing Mrs. McCoy."

"You mean that you and she have slept together?" His face turned bright red. "Don't worry kid. I think the ladies all know, and we can handle the men. You'll live to see nineteen."

"Do you think Dr. McCoy and Captain Kirk know?"

"I don't think she has talked to them, especially with everything that has happened. May I give you a piece of advice kid?"

"Please."

"Let Jo tell them. Let us handle it, and don't worry. We can tell you love and respect her. That's all that matters. Don't hurt her on purpose and you won't have a problem. And Don't let them fool you. Compared to them at your age, you are an angel."

"Jo and I have talked. She's heading to space and I'm off to Oxford. But we are together until then."

"Sweetie, we assumed that. You may end up together, or you may not; but stay friends. You won't regret it."

He had calmed down. June knew how those two could be about Jo. She also knew, ultimately, they were all bark; at least when it came to a kid like Don.

Joce had taken her hair down earlier in the evening. "You know we're doing it again?"

Len saw a pin left in her hair; it was removed and put in his pocket. "I'm aware. You think the gossip would have stopped by now."

"Nope. I think it makes their night. I need to tell you something."

"That sounds ominous."

"Not really. Donkey, I've given this some thought."

"Oh, shit."

"Stop it. This is what it all meant. That question you asked when I walked out. This is what it got us."

McCoy thought back to that day all those years ago. His dad was in the ground, he had put him there. Then he crawled into a bottle. Joce had enough, enough of the self-loathing; enough of the vicious verbal attacks meant for him, but directed at her. She packed Jo's bags, and hers and left. As she walked out the front door he had yelled after her. He wanted to know what leaving got her, got them. "What did it get us?"

"Love, family, security; everything we had been reaching for. Now we talk. We didn't then. But out of that hell, we gained so much."

"And lost…"

"Everything, and ultimately nothing. Len, we lost nothing. Look around. We are exactly where we should be. I love you Donkey. Be happy, that is my wish for you." She kissed his cheek before resting her head against her ex-husband and best friend.

"I love you too." He kissed her on the top of the head as he held her tight. "We did what we said we would do. We didn't fuck up our divorce." They finished their dance. Neither cared that this would be the basis for town gossip for at least the next month.

Evan pulled Seri in closer. "It's our turn sis."

"Look at them over there." Her eyes motioned to the old ladies watching their spouses and them. "I think Mama invited them for the entertainment they provide."

"They are a show unto themselves. Seri, if I forgot to tell you, I am grateful you are in my life. You know…"

"I love you too. I don't know what I would do without the both of you in my life." She moved in closer; safe in her brother's arms.

Jo pulled back to look at her uncle as they danced. "Uncle Jim?"

"Yes baby?"

"Is it really alright?"

"Is what alright Monkey?"

"Me coming with you on the Enterprise."

"It was alright with your four parents?"

"Yes."

"You know I want you with us. You helped me. From the day I met you, you have helped me."

Jo's eyes never left her uncle's. Over the years she had more than a few friends who had developed a crush on the gallant captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Everyone of them mentioned his eyes. Descriptions varied; piercing blue, bright blue, and her personal favorite, sex blue. Jo couldn't see it. In them she had seen strength and unconditional love. At times she had seen pain, and doubt. At the moment, all she could see was the love. "I remember that time after Kahn."

"When you took away my walker?"

She was giggling. "Yes, daddy said you didn't need it anymore."

"But you didn't have to hide it in the hayloft over the breeding stables."

"It worked."

"It did. It did. I meant from the day I met you. I'm going to tell you something even your father doesn't know." Jo's eyes widened. The lights from the ceiling shown in them like diamonds on blue velvet. Her eyes were a bright almost royal blue like her mother's and grandmother's. "You heard about the volcano incident?"

"That's what daddy calls it. He said you made him jump off a cliff into an ocean, and then swim to the ship. He complained about that for…actually he still brings it up."

Jim turned a light pink. "Anyway, when Admiral Pike called me on the carpet about being reckless, then told me I lost my command, I felt I let you down. You were what made me want to grow up; and according to the admiral I hadn't."

"You never let me down. I am the niece of James T. Kirk, not Captain Kirk. Honestly, I don't really know Captain Kirk. I hear he is impressive, but I doubt he can hold a candle to my Uncle Jimmy." She smiled up at him. It was the first time he realized she had his smile, big and mischievous. "I'm proud to be your niece. You know that. But I think you thought I was proud to be Captain Kirk's niece. That was never the case."

"Well, now you are going to get to meet Captain Kirk."

"That could be interesting."

"It could be, for both of us. I'll leave your boyfriend alone until we leave. Promise."

"You don't have to worry. He is sufficiently afraid of all of you; especially, daddy, you, and Uncle Evan. And I think Uncle Scotty and Uncle Hikaru have added to the fear."

"Good." He kissed her nose the way he had when she was little. Now she was a young woman, dancing around the floor, ready to take on the galaxy.

The music ended. Jo threw her arms around Jim's neck as he picked her up and twirled her around in the air. Will announced the final dance of the evening. Each person paired with their partner.

Len danced with his wife in his arms. For the rest of their lives they would be one. He wasn't in this alone, and never would be again. Actually, he hadn't been alone for a decade, but something about standing at the altar and having their marriage license filed cemented it.

Seri felt whole, safe. As independent as she was, she felt stronger as Leonard McCoy's wife. They looked at everyone as they danced, lost in their own loves. Before the bride knew it, the groom had danced her to the door. Her cloak was on the chair next to the front door. Len grabbed it as he opened the door.

The bride and groom ran across the snow-covered yard to the house. Seri was laughing as she almost fell. Len grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder as he continued home. Gently she was lowered to the floor before he opened the front door. She took a step forward. "No Peaches, wait there; ancient Earth tradition." He picked her up and carried her into the house. "I should have done this earlier."

They kissed as he kicked the door closed and carried her up the stairs. Miraculously he wasn't out of breath when he arrived at their door. No sooner had they entered and locked the door; Len ripped his jacket off. "You've wanted to do that all night."

"But my shirt was stuck to me." Seri was trying to get the tiara off. "Let me help you."

"It gets heavy." She unbuttoned his shirt as he pulled the pins from her hair releasing the tiara. Gingerly he took it from her head and placed it on the table.

"That feels so much better." Seri ran her fingers through her hair, shaking the waves and curls loose. "Can you help me with the gown? I can't reach the back buttons."

"Those fucking buttons?" He smiled. "Sure." It took less time to unbutton his wife than it did to get her into the gown. Carefully he undid the bra clasp and helped her step out of the garment. Seri put on her robe as Len brought the gown into the sitting room to hang up. "PEACHES!"

Seri ran to him. On the table in front of the fire were, two covered dinner plates, drinks, desert plates, napkins, and utensils. There was a silver high hat with a bottle of Dom Perigone. Two crystal flutes sat on the end table; the fire glow caught in their etching. "Lana?"

"Lana?"

"And probably Sarah; have you eaten?"

"No." She sat on the floor and removed one of the covers. Steam rose from the plate. "Why don't you change? I'll wait for you."

He locked the door to the hallway before heading for the bedroom. It didn't take long to strip. When he returned, he was wearing only his underwear. The curtains were drawn and the fireplace lit. "That's better." The floor felt comfortable. Sarah had put the Scottish sheep skin rug under the table. It was large enough to almost reach under the couch giving them both enough room to sit on it.

"Comfortable?"

"Very. God this looks good. I'm starving." Seri snatched the black olive from his salad. "Cheeky." He took a few of the capers from her chicken.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"Sleep, then just relax."

"Me too. Did you enjoy your day?"

"Absolutely! What about you?"

"You gave me my fantasy."

"The family did that."

Seri stopped eating. Len was still concentrating on his dinner. She reached over to push the hair from his forehead and run her hand over his beard. "No, you are the fantasy."

He stopped to look at his wife. "So are you. God, I love you." With that he placed his hand gently behind her neck to guide her into a deep kiss.

"Mmmmmm, you taste like chocolate." The plates were all but empty, though most of the deserts remained.

"Are you done?" She took her desert and his then nodded. "Cute."

No one was back from the reception. Len ran down the back stairs, put the dishes in the sink, then ran back to the room. The door was locked before he opened the champagne. Seri joined him with the flutes. "They don't want to see us until tomorrow. What should we do with all that time except sleep and rest?"

"I don't know." He looked serious as he filled their glasses. "Come with me."

She took a step towards him. Her voice was a rough whisper. "No." They each took a long sip. Len took her glass and placed both of the flutes on the table. They had each other naked and joined in one electric line as they began their night together; making love, joining souls, joining futures.

Jim helped Cal on with her cloak as the lights came up in the barn signaling the end of the reception. "Jim, can we go for a walk?"

"In the snow? Won't your feet get cold in those shoes?"

"You can warm them later."

Without warning he pulled her into a tight hug, closing his eyes to enhance the feeling. "We can do whatever you want."

The couple were the last to leave the reception. It seemed to everyone had gone to the bonfire or their homes. Caroline looped her arm in his after they left the building. "Where would you like to go Honey?"

"The stables. I always wanted to light a wood fire while it snowed, and this may be the last snowy evening in a long time." She looked up at the falling snow. "It's magic."

"It's Tucker."

"Your lack of whimsy is definitely a deficit." She laughed as they continued to walk.

"Spock may be rubbing off. I have to watch that." They snowfall picked up as they arrived at the stables. Jim turned on the lights as they walked into the sitting area. They didn't want to disturb the horses.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"No baby, I'm not tired."

"Neither am I." She put her cloak on the long table against the far wall.

Jim lit the fire. Bart had cleaned out and reset the fireplace the day before in case anyone wanted to use it. "They had a great day. By the way, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. After all these years, they deserved it." She walked to stand behind him. Jim was still crouched in front of the fire. He stood up; her hands came around his waist as her head rested on his back. "I've looked forward to this."

"So have I." She let go of him and carefully removed her necklace. Jim removed his jacket and tie. "I hate ties."

"I can think of some good uses for them." Jim turned to look into her eyes.

Her hands ran across his chest. The crispness of the shirt played under long, slender fingers. His fingers ran up her neck stopping at her hair. Carefully he began to pull all of the hair pins out, allowing her hair to tumble over her shoulders.

Jim wanted to feel what Len had talked about. All these years he had been on his own. There were people who loved and helped him, but a partnership on that level was something else. Cal was a part of him, especially since Kahn, but he needed more. He needed her to be completely one with him. "Cal, do we have to wait until April?"

"No, but are you sure?"

He sat with her in front of the fire. It gently crackled as the snow fell outside the window. The moon lit the outside just enough for them to see the snow as it landed on the windowsill. "Len said something tonight that got me thinking. I want to have that level of partnership with you. Before you say anything, I know we are partners. But we have been apart so long, and so much has happened. Cal, I need you. I have never needed anyone the way I need you."

"When do you want to get married? I want to be yours and have you be mine. I want to be your partner in everyway possible. Tell me when."

He held her to him, buried his face in her neck. She held tight, lowering her face to his shoulder. "After the New Year. I know you need some time to get things together."

Cal moved so she could look into his eyes. Gently she took his face in her hands. "Tell me when. I'll make it happen. You know you are the only partner I have had, the only partner I will ever have. I love you and you are a part of me."

"I love you more than I thought possible. I can't be without you again." Cal kissed him. She molded to him. The heat from his body penetrated her gown. Her body was maneuvered until she was in his lap. When they needed to breathe, she leaned into him.

Jim looked down at her face as he held her in his lap. Every once in a while, she would shift. It was on purpose; the captain knew strategic maneuvering when he saw or felt it. As her cheek was lightly stroked her fingers worked their way to his shirt buttons.

Cal wanted him to know all he meant to her. She had been his, and only his, since Kahn. Jim needed something tangible to show that connection, and Caroline McCoy was more than happy to give him that. In truth she wanted a marriage as well. But at the moment she desperately wanted something else.

She had his shirt unbuttoned. Jim deftly unhooked then unzipped her gown. He was painfully straining against his trousers, but he didn't want to break the moment. Her hand rubbed over his undershirt slowly. Cal's fiancé's fingers ghosted over her back. The first time he felt her skin he had been surprised by its softness. Now he anticipated the rose petal softness, craved it; his Cal, his fantasy, a fantasy that was also a reality. She still smelled like honey, warm and comforting. It didn't take long for them to be naked from the waist up. No matter how many times they were together to Jim it was a dream; to Cal it had become her perfect reality.

Cal stood; the gown slid to the floor. Jim looked up at her. She wasn't wearing any underwear. His eyes ran over her even more carefully than his hands had. "I thought I would give you a Christmas present you could appreciate." Jim lept up. He was no more than a few inches from his lover. Heat radiated off both of them. Cal slipped her hands into his trousers. "Let me get that."

All of their clothes were piled on the table with the cloak. Cal walked him to the fireplace. "This reminds me of our first night. Do you remember that night?"

"Every second. I think that rug is in your brother's room."

"No, his is from Scotland. My old one is in one of the new bedrooms; the one Gil is in. I'll get it back once he leaves." Her fingers ran over his arms. A step closed the distance between them. Jim could feel her closeness deep in his soul, and his body. He was getting harder with every passing second. She could feel him, smell him. It was a fragrance of frankincense and something distinctly Jim. The heady smell was always there, just below the surface, luring her.

They both wanted this time to be slow. It was time to join together. Love wasn't strong enough a word to describe the feelings of the couple. Love seemed an anemic word, or maybe they were only now discovering the full meaning of the word. The first summer introduced them to the concept. Kahn changed their original definition, grew it beyond what they had supposed. Now they moved beyond the definition of the young lovers. For the first time in years they felt something more intense what they had felt in their youth.

Cal allowed a tear to fall down her cheek. The emotions overwhelmed her. "Honey, are you alright?"

"More than that. You're right, I want to get married sooner than April."

He kissed her. She held tightly to him, each completely open to the other, vulnerable, naked in every sense of the word. The kiss deepened, each lost in the other. The wind had picked up and could be heard beating against the windows. It all added to the feeling of safety. They were safe in the room, safe in each other. For Jim, it was a foreign sensation. A feeling he had long forgotten.

Cal ran her hands down his back until they rested on his ass. She loved how hard it was and he loved the sensation of her nails as they scratched and lightly dug into his flesh, calling him to move still closer to his lover. His dick nestled between them. She could feel it pulse against her lower stomach. Jim moved his hand until it brushed the side of her breast; her moan into his mouth urged him on. Cal lifted one leg and hooked it on his hip. It was the only way she could think to get closer to the man she loved.

One of his hands was on her ass as the other one found her mound. Jim began to moan as soon as her hand came around to his throbbing cock. She guided it to her opening, not wanting to prolong the foreplay. "God, I need you." With that he entered her, gently lowering her to the floor as he did so. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

"And you have done extensive research." She was giggling. Her walls clamped around him causing them both to close their eyes lost in the feel.

"Smartass." They made love that night passionately, lovingly. They also laughed and played. They were one, and sex would never be sex again. They always made love, now that would be all they would have in their lives. Their moans and screams could be heard by no one. The couple was free to explore every aspect of each other. They stayed in the stables, adding wood to both external and internal fires as needed. "January sixth."

"January sixth, then I will be Mrs. James T. Kirk." They wouldn't leave their sanctuary until the sun came up and shown through the eastern windows.