Kirk and McCoy had been excused from their respective classes specifically for this moment.
They had been watching since they got word that Enterprise had come out of warp and was proceeding at impulse speed to Earth.
When Peter was returned to Earth, following the deaths of his parents on Deneva, Joanna was excited to meet the nephew of the man she called Uncle Jim. The two started up a quick friendship; talking over com screens and visiting each others homes whenever possible. They soon became as close as the elder Kirk and McCoy aboard the Enterprise. Although their occasional verbal sparring sometimes sounded more like the Doctors relationship with a certain Vulcan science officer.
Now they stood waiting to see the heavy cruiser that would bring their family to them.
"Five years since I've seen them on anything but a view screen," Joanna said.
Peter nodded. "Four for me." He chuckled. "I still have the kid sized uniform he gave me after I got out of sick bay."
Joanna looked at her own reflection through the view port, still excited to be in a cadet uniform. "Well, soon you'll have one of your own." With a sly smile she added, "Just like mine."
He knew an invitation to play when he heard it. "Yeah, yeah, you're a year older than me and you're going to hold it over my head, forever, aren't you?"
"Oh, you know it. I'll never give that up," she added, "I'll make sure to pick on you relentlessly when you're a freshman."
Peter replied, "Oh I don't think you will. Don't forget, I know all your tickle spots. You're going to be very polite." He stepped closer and looked down to emphasize their height difference.
She paused in mock contemplation. "Hmm, I see your point." She conceded, though showing no signs of intimidation. "I'll keep my teasing to a minimum."
"You'd better... And besides, my uniform won't be exactly like yours. I'm aiming for command division. Once you sit in the center seat, you're hooked."
"Center seat? You were thirteen. He was letting you play."
Peter smiled at the memory. "Yeah, I guess so." He recalled that day. He told Joanna, "Uncle Jim would whisper something like 'Personally I'd recommend a course change to, oh say, 174 mark 6.' And he wouldn't let Mr. Sulu make the change until I gave the order."
She really wished she could see a picture of him in that uniform, sitting in Uncle Jim's seat.'Must have been the cutest thing in the world.' She thought to herself. Then she said to him. "Well, the next time you sit in a seat like that you won't be playing."
Peter couldn't resist some more mischief. "Yes, too bad it's a feeling you'll never have," he said in an overly dramatic tone.
She scowled up at him. "Damn it, Pete. I'm a doctor, not a soldier. You just wait until you're laid up in MY sick bay. Then we'll see who's in command."
The two just started laughing, putting their arms around each other in a friendly embrace. "You were really trying hard to work in that 'I'm a doctor' line, weren't you?"
"Oh, you know it. And don't you dare tell daddy."
He rubbed his chin. "Hmm, well what's in it for me? To not tell your daddy?"
She put her hands on her hips and looked at him sternly. "Well, what do you want?"
Before he could think of an appropriately mischievous answer though, she caught something in her peripheral vision. She looked. "Is that it?" She pointed to a white dot about where they were expecting to see the Enterprise approach.
"I think so," he said.
The two turned to face the viewport side by side. Each with an arm around the other they watched as the small speck slowly grew.
In a few minutes they heard a familiar voice behind them.
"I thought I'd find you two here."
They turned to see Admiral Nogura. Joanna quickly came to attention.
"At ease cadet. I'm here as a family friend. Thought I'd join you to watch Enterprise return." He turned to Peter. "Looking forward to starting the academy?"
"Yes sir."
Joanna said, "Someday there'll be another Captain Kirk out their saving the galaxy."
Peter smiled down at her. "And hopefully with another Doctor McCoy at his side."
"Count on it, Pete," she said with a warm smile.
"I'm sure it's a partnership that will serve the Federation well." He glanced out the window. "Now, if the two of you will follow me, we will go to welcome out heroes home."
The crowds parted as the trio walked toward the turbolift.
They arrived in time to watch Enterprise approach the space doors. All three stood in silence as they waited for the heavy cruiser to dock. Soon a gangway extended to the hatch in the primary hull and another to a docking port in the secondary hull.
The captain and his bridge crew were the last to disembark, frustrating the two young people waiting for them.
Kirk saluted the Admiral then shook his hand. "Returned her in relatively good shape," Kirk told him.
The group turned to face Peter and Joanna. Peter saw out of his peripheral vision, Joanna holding back the enthusiastic welcome she was hoping for. She saluted the officers.
The Admiral must have caught it to. He said to her, "Cadet, a salute is no way to greet your father."
Seeing the smile in the Admirals eyes, she leaped into her father's arms.
He hugged her tightly. "It's good to see you, kiddo."
"I missed you so much daddy." A small tear showed in one eye.
"Well, the wait is over sweetheart. Time to do some catching up."
The doctor turned to Peter, who was talking to his uncle. "Young man," he said. "I assume that you've been watching out for my little girl like you promised."
With an ear-to-ear grin he answered. "Yes sir. Although I'm not sure who's really watching out for who sometimes."
"And has my nephew conducted himself like a gentleman?" Kirk asked the girl.
"A perfect gentleman," she said tossing a smile Peters way.
"And you? I assume have been a proper southern lady," the elder McCoy said.
Joanna looked back at Peter as she hesitated. "I was...well, mostly."
"Young lady I hope that's a joke?" The Doctor asked.
"Mostly," Joanna and Peter said in unison.
The rest of the command crew, and the Admiral, standing nearby laughed.
After a little more small talk, the group began to go their separate ways. They all had friends and family they were anxious to reunite with.
"Well bones," Kirk said. "Will it be Iowa or Georgia for dinner tonight?"
"I'm not having my atoms scattered any more than I have to," he answered. "You're coming to my place. I've already invited Christine"
"Have it your way bones," Kirk said as he began to walk with his old friend and the younger generation Kirk and McCoy.
"Jim," Admiral Nogura said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let the others go ahead. I have some things to talk to you about."
He separated to go with the others. "I'll catch up later," he told them.
Later that day the Kirks and McCoys sat down for dinner, or supper as the McCoys insisted. "Dinner is what you eat between breakfast and supper," the doctor insisted, his daughter nodding in agreement.
"Your home bones. Your rules," Jim answered.
"Now I'm worried," McCoy said. "The last time you conceded a point was that whole business with the Babel conference."
Kirk turned to his nephew. "Would you say it's best to avoid unnecessary combat?"
"Yes, I would uncle," he said enjoying the banter between the two officers. It was so much like himself and Joanna. Well except for the occasional semi flirtatious exchanges that was part of his rapport with her. Fun, even if it did cause rumors about them.
"So, Uncle Jim," Joanna asked, "If you can tell me, what did the Admiral want to talk about?"
"Well, I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that the fleet is in for some changes. And I'll have some involvement in them. With all that we encountered over the years; our experiences will play a major factor in deciding the direction of those changes."
"That's great news," Peter said.
Kirk added. "I was offered a promotion to fleet captain at any starbase of my choosing. But I turned it down to take the Enterprise out when she's done with a refit they're working on."
"Nice," Peter said.
Jim saw the eager look on his face. He could imagine the question Peter must have but knew better than to ask, knowing that Jim couldn't answer anyway.
Truthfully, it was an excitement Jim felt too and he wanted to share it with Peter. To share his love of space and the powerful, beautiful ships that traverse it. To tell Peter what Admiral Nogura had told him. Things like the fact that the Dreadnoughts, intended at the new muscle of the fleet, would in fact just be a stop gap measure until new ships, with new technology, could be put in service. More specialized ships, some using cloaking technology based on the device captured by the Enterprise. A new class of science vessels that would render the Hermes class scouts obsolete. New heavy cruisers that could reach warp 12, a strike cruiser specifically designed to counter the D-7 Battlecrusers, and so much more that he'd like to share with Peter. But he'd have to keep that under wraps for now and they both knew it.
"Just keep up with your studies Peter. You'll be right in the middle of everything soon enough."
Joanna added. "In a few years we'll have another Captain Kirk sitting on the bridge of his ship."
The Doctor piped in. "You'd better not be too much like your uncle around my baby girl."
"Daddy." She gave him a mocking slap on the arm.
Peter chuckled. "Don't worry too much Doctor. Joanna's too smart to be swept off her feet by some smooth talker."
"Bones," Kirk said. "Stop cleaning your shotgun."
"Oh, if only Spock were here," Peter said. Imitating the Vulcan as best as he could he said, "Doctor McCoy is not in possession of a firearm at the moment Captain."
They laughed. Doctor Chapel said, "That was pretty good.
Once again Joanna's sense of humor got the better of her. "Want me to make you some plomeek soup Pete?" She cast a mischievous glance at Christine.
"Don't try to embarrass me young lady. You've told me too many of your own secrets."
Joanna hung her head. "I'll be good."
"Very wise cadet." The older woman said. Everyone at the table chuckled a little.
"Uncle Jim, can we talk about what's next for the Enterprise? Also, how long will you be on Earth?" She asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
"Yes, we can. And we'll also talk about your fathers new teaching position at the academy."
"Oh, will we?" an obviously surprised McCoy said. "And when were you planning on telling me about this?"
"I just did," Jim said before taking another bite.
Bones lightened up. "Well, it'll keep me here with my little girl." He gestured at Peter. "And I can provide some needed guidance to this young man."
"I understand there are promotions all around for the command crew," Christine said.
"Yes, there are," Kirk told her as he folded his hands and started to go over the roster of the accolades that were to be bestowed on various members of his crew.