Len took in everything about the house as Hal led them down the hallway. Pictures of their nieces and nephews lined the walls. The doctor also saw pictures of Joanna and him. The only thing missing was one showing they had a daughter. Joce was an only child, but according to these walls, the homeowners had no children. Hal called up the stairs to his wife before motioning the men into the parlor.

The room was well appointed, but stiff. Evan felt as if he shouldn't sit, that somehow, he would mess up the lines of the couch. Len on the other hand had no problem commanding the room. He sat in the large wingback chair before Hal could maneuver himself to it. The chair sat next to the Duncan Phyfe style couch on which Evan was seated, but across from the two Danish velvet upholstered chairs that made up the rest of the room's seating. The chairs were delicate, elegant, but in no way dominate. Hal took a seat.

McCoy sat in the chair much in the same way he had with Ginny. It was good training if he ever became the captain of a medical ship. Len wanted there to be no doubt that not only wasn't this a social call, but also, he was in charge of the meeting. As the three men got situated Beatrice walked in the room. She had a smile on her Morticia Adams face until she saw the look on her ex-son-in-law's. Len stared at her for a few seconds, she still reminded him of the character from the old Charles Addams cartoons. Slowly she took the seat next to her husband.

Len started the conversation. "I hear you talked to Joce, that she asked you a question." The question was directed at Hal.

"Yes, she and I spoke." The smile the older man had held since his son-in-law's arrival, faded under the doctor's gaze.

A brindle colored puppy came into the room and made its way straight to Len, she looked a lot like shadow. Len was too focused to notice. Evan leaned forward to grab her before she made too much noise. The little one sniffed him intently before settling onto his lap. For his part, Evan was using the furball to center himself. His anger started the minute they walked past the pictures. He had noticed the same thing as Len. The woman he adored was not prized, or even thought of, by the people who should have loved her above anyone else.

Len became more focused then he had been in years, even more so then he was in surgery, even more then when he confronted Ginny. "Alright, let me make this as clear as possible. At no time in the future are you to have any communication with her or our daughter. As far as you are concerned, they do not exist. Is there anything I have said that is confusing to either of you?"

The couple shifted in their seats. Bea spoke before her husband had a chance to open his mouth. "We have done nothing to you."

"You have to Jocelyn. It ends now. I have no idea why you treat her the way you do, but it ends now." His voice was deep, cold, almost menacing.

Hal stared directly at Len. "She is nothing. After how she was growing up, I knew she would never amount to much, so scattered and unfocused. Look at her. She barely graduated from university. All she ever was, was because she was your wife. The wife of the great Leonard McCoy, the future matriarch of a prominent family. Now she isn't even that. Now she will marry some quadroon. If she is lucky, she won't be able to breed again. She isn't what any man would want. I guess marrying who she is will suit her. A piece of trash for an abomination."

Before Len could stop him, Evan was across the room. He had grabbed Hal by the throat and jacked him up against the wall, his face inches from the other man's. The puppy had jumped off his lap and ran out of the room to the front door. "Say it again old man. Tell me how my fiancé is trash. I want to hear you say it before I break your neck."

Len jumped up as Evan grabbed Hal. The man's Vulcan reflexes made it impossible to stop him; but Len wasn't going to let him destroy himself. Not over a man as insignificant as Hal. Bea was screaming, but McCoy couldn't really hear what she was saying, he was too fixated on saving his friend. "Evan! Evan, stop!" The fire in Evan's eyes slowly began to fade as evoice broke through his anger. "I think we'll be going now." He turned to Bea. "Never contact any of us again. We don't exist. Do we understand each other."

The woman was genuinely terrified. "We understand."

Evan still had his hand on Hal's neck, though his grip had loosened. Len walked forward until he stood directly behind the man's ear. Before he said anything, he looked at his ex-father-in-law. Part of him reveled in the fact that all he could see in the man's eyes was abject fear. "Ev, it's time to go. Ev?"

Evan slowly let go. "I'm coming. I need to do something first." Hal took a step to the side, trying to get away from the larger man.

"Go ahead of me. Bea, Hal, as always, it has been a pleasure." Len's smile was cold bordering on evil.

On their way out Evan took the two pictures with Jo in them off the wall. He turned back to the couple. His voice was ice. "She isn't yours." The puppy sat at the front door. No one noticed it as it ran out of the house when the man opened the door. A bang of the heavy front door echoed through the neighborhood, putting a definitive end to the Fenstermacher chapter of their lives.

The two walked to the front gate and almost reached it when Len grabbed Evan's arm. Ev turned back toward the doctor, but looked past Len to the house. He saw the shadows in the door as they became smaller, signaling the couple's retreat into the safe recesses of their mausoleum. It took a minute before he noticed the other man staring at him. "May I point out that I was the calmest one in that room?"

After a minute Evan's eyes softened as he began to laugh. "So much for my reputation of having a calm, controlled personality. Thank you for that. I needed the laugh. How far off the ground did I have him?"

"Not far, maybe sixteen centimeters. Why hello there." The pup cuddled up to Len as she looked up at Evan, her tail wagging.

"We should bring her back. She could get hurt."

"No, I have a better idea. I think this baby deserves better than these assholes."

"You are going to steal their dog?"

"Steal is such a strong word. They wouldn't let Joce keep her dog. This will simply be… restitution." With that he scooped up the puppy.

Evan opened the gate for Len, but didn't close it. The Fenstermachers would think they dog ran away. He reasoned they probably wouldn't look very hard. God knows to them every one was expendable. "She's going to eviscerate both of us when we get back."

"Smell that?" Len inhaled deeply. "I love the smell of jasmine. What do you think little one? Would you like that as a name.?" He was cuddling her near his cheek. She licked him. "Jasmine it is." He laughed softly. "Let me deal with her. She can only divorce me once."

"She could try to kill you."

"True, but I think I can take her. Seriously, she will get over it. Joce knew this had been coming for a long time. She just thought it would end with me in jail."

"Instead it was almost me. I haven't lost control like that in over a decade. Fuck, I was a kid the last time."

They reached the end of the street and started to the terminal. "We have to get return tickets for a shuttle that takes dogs. We also need a small carrier. They usually have some there." Len stopped. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Hold out your hand."

"What?"

"Hold out your hand." Ev did as he was told. His hand was shaking ever so slightly. "Yeah. You know you can tell me anything."

"Yes."

"Sure. Evan, I like you. You seem genuine, and Seri thinks you're great. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want, but I know there is more to this than what happened back at that house. When you're ready, I'm always here for you." With that McCoy continued to the terminal. It took a minute before Evan started to walk. How much had the doctor figured out, how much did he extrapolate from what had transpired? How much had he let his true self be seen? Who was he really?

It didn't take long for him to catch up with Len. "Thanks. I may take you up on that."

"I'm always here." They walked in silence until they got to their destination. It didn't take them long to realize there were no flights to Georgia that night, none that took animals. Len purchased a ticket and rented a carrier for the next day. "Well there goes that idea. We should get a room nearby. The shuttle leaves at 07:00."

Evan looked up some nearby hotels that were pet friendly. Ultimately, he decided on a more upscale hotel around the corner. He booked it in his name hoping the Fenstermachers didn't know the name Lovee. Part of him was still concerned about a possible arrest. "Got us a room around the corner. It looks like a nice place. Figured we should enjoy ourselves before Joce gets to us."

"One last night before the execution." Len smiled. "A night away may calm her down. I'll comm Seri, let her know what's going on. You should comm Joce."

"I'm not so sure. But I need to call her. Wish me luck." Len patted him on the shoulder before walking away to call Seri.

The comm beeped right after McCoy pushed in Seri's code. "Hi Imzadi. How are you both?" She sounded concerned but not upset, much to Len's relief.

"Not incarcerated if that's what you mean. Honestly, we are both fine. We can't get a shuttle out until tomorrow."

"I thought there were multiple ones out tonight."

"Not ones that take pets." Her face betrayed her confusion. "Don't ask. I'll tell you when we get home. By the way, Evan did great."

"You look far too pleased with yourself Dr. McCoy. Enjoy yourselves tonight. I love you."

"I love you too Peaches. He and I will have a good time with Jasmine."

"Jasmine?"

"I have to tell you something. I met another girl. She's spent a lot of time in my arms. She has taken a part of my heart." His face was neutral, hazel eyes betrayed the humor in his statement.

Seri thought for a moment. "How cold is her nose."

"Very, and a little damp." They both laughed at how well she knew him. "We are leaving at 07:00 tomorrow. Should be home by 10:00 your time. I can't wait to be home with you."

"I miss you too. I love you. Good night Imzadi."

"Good night Peaches. I love you too." He shut off the comm and looked over at Evan. He was staring at his closed comm. Len walked over, afraid of what Joce may have said. Evan was perfect for her in ways Len knew he never had been. Hopefully she didn't ruin their relationship. "How did it go?"

Evan's gaze was fixated on the comm as he held the puppy with his other arm. "She didn't yell."

"Mama must have gotten to her. What did she say?"

"That she couldn't wait until I got home and that she wants to talk to you as soon as we're back."

"Shit. Oh well, it won't be the first time she has verbally reduced me to ashes. Let's get to the hotel."

"We should get this one a leash and a harness."

"We should. Let's see." He pulled up pet shops on his comm. "There is one down that street." They walked down a beautiful road. Some of the homes along the way had wrought iron balcony railings with jasmine growing up trellises. "You know something?" He wanted to get Evan out of his head.

"What?"

"I know that no one needs money for the basics."

"I know. Where are you going with this?"

Len was looking all around. "Do you think I am horrible to like the things having money can do? I know I shouldn't and I'm not materialistic…"

"I know you're not, but no. I love the farm, and I love neighborhoods like this. Even if credits are eliminated in the future, I don't think homes and property will be equal for all. Also, there are many other worlds that use credits and most likely always will. You aren't horrible. Here, it's over here." They walked across the street to a quaint pet shop. Inside were all manner of animal accoutrements.

The two men spent over an hour picking out all manner of things for the fluffball. Pink martingale collars, some with rhinestones, a few harnesses in varying sizes, one in each size with Jasmine embroidered on the chest plate, puppy food, a pink carrier, and a dog bed that could be adjusted to grow with the puppy were all put in bags. One of the embroidered harnesses was put on Jasmine and a leash attached. Len picked her up along with the bag that contained the carrier and bowls. Evan paid for it all then grabbed the other bags. They thanked the store clerk before leaving for the hotel "I think she thinks we are a couple."

"I noticed. If she only knew." They were a lot happier by the time they got to their room. Evan set up the dog bed as Len got the puppy water and food. Both bowls were put in the bathroom as Ev took off her harness and put on one of the rhinestone martingales. "There you go baby; very pretty. Len?"

"Yeah? He was putting in a room service order. Ribs ok?"

"Yes. Do you think they will call the cops?"

"Not if they know what's good for them. Trust me Hal knows better. You didn't hurt him, only scared him. He knows what I will do if pushed."

"I don't want to know."

"Maybe some day we'll have that conversation. Anyway, which bed do you want?"

"Doesn't matter. Hey look at this view." The view from the floor to ceiling window looked out over Vicksburg to the Mississippi river. There was a riverboat pulling into the dock, her paddles fascinated Evan. "One day I would love to go on one of them."

"That can be arranged. This is one of my favorite towns. We should all come back here. We have a long vacation right after graduation. The Academy gives us four weeks before we have to head to our assignments. One last family vacation before I have to go into the black. You know how much I hate space travel, so of course I'll get a ship assignment."

Evan started to laugh at Len's misery. "Probably."

Len walked back to the room. Jasmine was scratching at her bed before she laid down. It wasn't long before there was a knock at the door. Room service was let in as Evan continued to look the river as it meandered lazily past the town. McCoy gave some credits to the kid as he put the plates and glasses on the table. He took the bottle from the cart before the kid could open it. "I've got this. Thanks." The kid looked at his tip, smiled broadly then left the two to their dinner. "Ev, you want to eat before it gets cold?"

Evan joined Len at the table. He looked at his friend. "Lagavulin? Nice choice."

"Lagavulin 16 is my favorite, but 12 is also great. They only had 12."

"I'll choke it down I guess." Two fingers were poured into two snifters.

"I think Joce definitely has a type. You're almost as sarcastic as me."

"Almost? Wait until you get to know me better." They started to eat. "Joce said you and I would get along."

"I doubt she thought it would happen this fast. I'm sure I've said it already, but I'm glad she is with you. You're better for her than I ever was. Trust me, you definitely are more grounded."

"Not grounded, I am just confident of who I am most of the time. You seem to be reaching."

"Are you sure you're not a counselor?" Evan raised an eyebrow as he continued to gnaw on the rib. "I know. You're right. My sister called me lord of the manor."

Ev almost choked as he laughed. "I heard. Do you miss her?"

"Ginny? Yes. But not enough to keep her around Jo." His eyes shifted to the salad in front of him. He started to play with the leaves. "I don't feel like lord of the manor. It sounds like a lonely existence."

"Does it? Why?"

"Means I'm alone in it; it's all on me."

"I'm not so sure about that. You have a house counsel that seems to love you, and frankly I don't exactly see your mother as a shrinking violet."

Now it was Len's turn to laugh. "No, she isn't that. But ultimately it isn't her responsibility."

"True."

"I left it all on her shoulders when I ran away. Some fucking son I turned out to be."

"Don't do that. We all have our pasts to live up to or to get over. You seem to have both."

"Maybe. I just need to make this all work. I can't leave it up to her. She should be relaxing more."

"Alright, so how can we make that happen?"

"We?"

"Yeah asshole, we. After today I think we have proven that we make a great team." Len was concentrating on his food again. He never thought of having a partner, not one like Evan. "If you don't want my help I understand; your ex's fiancé and a quarter Vulcan in the bargain."

McCoy's head snapped up. "Where the fuck did that come from?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do."

"Alright, I guess we're doing this. Do you think those two were the first ones to call me an abomination or a quadroon? The first time I heard those words were from my parents. My mother was, let's say disappointed with the way I looked. My brother looked Vulcan, not me. My father feels that all things Vulcan are superior to Terran. Suppose that's why he married my mother, the closest he could come to marrying a Vulcan." Evan started to play with his salad.

Len continued to observe the man. There was more, and his look said he wanted to talk. "What is he like?"

"Who?"

"Your dad. Mine was just this side of Satan."

"I don't know. He loves, actually he doesn't really love anyone, not even himself."

"My dad loved himself."

"Mine didn't. He wasn't as successful as he thought he could be. The diplomatic corps seems to suit him."

"He can bullshit for a living." Len wanted to break the tension.

Evan chuckled silently. "Yes, and he can stop blaming every one else for his inadequacies."

"He did that to you?"

"And my brother, but he stopped going after him. I guess at least Sern looked the part, pointed ears, slanted eyebrows, green blood, all of it."

"What is he like?"

"He and Ginny would get along. No, no they wouldn't. He also thinks Terrans are inferior."

"He knows he is three quarters Terran, doesn't he?"

"Sern has a way of ignoring facts if they don't fit his view of the universe."

"Why let the facts get in the way?"

"What about you? I know what you've told me, is there anything else?"

"He was verbally and physically abusive. I was lucky though, I had Mama."

"You were. You're lucky to have her as a mother. Mine never liked me let alone loved me."

"Well, Mama loves you; I can tell. When will Joce meet them?"

"Never if I can help it. I don't want them to ever meet her or Jo. You may if you remain in Starfleet."

"That could prove interesting."

"Try to be good."

"Why?"

"They are Federation ambassadors."

"So? If I'm rude what is the worst they can do to me, send me back to Earth?"

"I see your point."

"Ev, I need to ask a favor of you. Please feel free to say no if you don't have the time."

"Alright?" He finished his dinner and piled the trash on his plate.

"Do you think you could help Jake and George while I'm gone? They are running the farm and the corporation, but I was wondering if you could oversee both? After today I trust you to keep the family safe, and that includes the companies." Len put his trash on the plate and carried both plates to the door.

Evan kept an eye on the man as he opened the door and put the plates in the hall. "Why?"

"Because I trust you."

"No, I mean why do you trust me?"

"Because you are a more put together version of me." Len wasn't joking. "You know exactly who you are."

"Not all the time."

"No, but most of the time; and for the most part I don't think you hear your parents in your head. I can't say that. I still hear my dad. I need to get past that."

"He was wrong. I haven't known you that long, but I know that. One day I want to be as strong as you."

"You are. I think you're stronger." Evan looked at him through the eyes of doubt. "Alright, we'll revisit that later. I'm glad we had this time. Not the best reason, but I'm glad I got to know more about you."

"I'm glad we had this time. It's still early, want to go for a walk."

Len smiled. "Let's go down to the docks. We can see if they have a two-hour cruise tonight." Len looked up the short cruise times. "There is one in forty-five minutes."

"I'll take Jasmine out. Come here little lady."

Len looked out the window. This trip gave him something he wasn't even looking for. He and Evan, he could see them becoming a team. Jim would like him; Len was sure of it. Seri already liked the man. Now Len could feel a little better about going back to the Academy. Evan would keep the family safe. He heard the door open. "She went?"

"Yep. Ready?"

"Let's go." Len looked forward to taking Evan for his first riverboat ride. The turn to the dock was a block from the hotel. They got there just in time to get tickets and board. Evan looked in wonder as the city moved slowly past them; the sound of the paddles humming as they turned the muddy water.

Len watched; he didn't think a man as jaded as Evan could still find wonder in a simple river cruise. Maybe there was still hope for him in this universe. McCoy spent the rest of the cruise pointing out some of the landmarks as they went past cities and monuments. The rest of the cruise, as well as the rest of the night was relaxed and peaceful, the complete opposite of the early afternoon. After a couple of hours on the river, they made their way back to the hotel, took Jasmine out one last time, had another drink, laughed and went to bed. They had to be up early if they were to get to the terminal by 06:00.

Seri waited until Joce stopped screaming before signaling the woman to join her on the porch. The two walked out into the warm summer night. "How dare they! Seriously, did they think this would endear either of them to me?"

Black eyes motioned for the other woman to take a seat on the couch. "Didn't it?" She didn't need to be a telepath to know what Joce was thinking and feeling.

Joce leaned her head back onto the top of the couch. A smile slowly crept across her face. "Maybe a little. I didn't think you read minds without permission."

"I didn't read your mind. You know you play rage well, but you have a few tells. Your voice goes up a half an octave when you start to calm down."

"I need to work on that." She lifted her head. "Kept the cowards in the office."

"That it did. So, what are you really thinking?"

"I love those two idiots. You know I really didn't want them to do anything?"

"I know. But you can't change what happened."

"No, and in the long run it is best for Jo. I like to think that Jo was Len's reason for doing it."

"If it makes you feel better, think that. You know what I think?"

"That I should have taken care of it myself?"

"No. We all have things that we can't do. I think that you and I have a lot in common. Len took care of me when it came to my mother. I could have destroyed her, and that would have destroyed me. He did this for you, so did Evan. What were your parents doing to you all these years?"

"I know, and what would they have done to Jo? Len watched them treat me like shit almost since the day he first met them. You know they loved being related to 'the McCoys'. Then we divorced, me they didn't care about losing, but to no longer have access to Len and his…"

"Money?"

"Power, prestige, and yes, money; they wanted it all."

"Just not you."

"No, not me. Back then Len wanted me, then the family wanted me; not David, but the rest."

"Now you have all of us."

Joce smiled. "I do. Evan is…well he isn't like any man I have ever known."

"He is something. He definitely knows who he is. Len and Jim are getting there."

"Thanks to you. Len is become the man he always was, or could have been without his father."

"Now you have the chance to be who you are. And trust me I have the same chance without my mother."

"I guess today we all grew up."

"No, we did that a while ago. Today we can finally start moving forward. What do you think?"

"I think I still have to give them some grief when they finally get their asses home."

"Be gentle on Evan, but have fun with Len, he can take it."

"Yeah, plus with you all going back soon I need to torture my ex as much as possible before you leave."

Seri started to giggle. "He deserves it sometimes. This has been a very interesting summer."

"It sure as hell has been sis."

Their comms both went off at the same time. The ladies answered simultaneously. "Hi Imzadi…" Smiles followed their conversations as the ladies watched the sun set over the cow pasture.