That evening, Jim and the others were starting to get concerned about Bones and Andrea because they had not been back to the condo and had not contacted them. "Why wouldn't he let us know where they were going?" Carol asked. "Is he so rude to visitors?"

"I can't imagine where he would go," Jim replied. "I tried to contact him on the communicator, but I didn't get an answer."

"Do you think something's wrong?"

Jim shook his head. "He got a call earlier today and I didn't see him after that. I don't know."

"Andrea was only here a few minutes after she came home from work."

"Something must have happened. You know how Bones is. I'm sure he'll tell us later. Right now, let's cook together."

Carol smiled. "What are we making?" she asked.

Jim opened the refrigerator and the freezer. "Let's see…" he said as he contemplated what to make. "What do you want?"

"I never get tired of seafood. Why don't we make a variety?"

"Sounds good to me."

While they were cooking, Padme came to the half bar between the kitchen and the living room. "Do they always leave without notice?" she asked.

"No," Jim replied. "I don't know what's going on. They're not answering the communicator either."

"You think something's wrong?"

"I don't know. We'll find out later."

"You need any help fixing dinner?"

"You're welcome to fix a dish."

Padme smiled. "I think I will. Something we ate on Triona which I love."

When they were done cooking the dishes, they all sat at the table. Jim was starting to get concerned about Bones. It was just not like him to stay out of touch this long when he had guests at his condo.

Just as Jim thought that, they heard something outside, and soon, Doctor McCoy and Andrea came in. "Sorry we were gone so long," Bones said. "We had some business to take care of. I see you guys are making yourselves at home."

"Why don't the two of you join us?" Carol asked. "There's plenty."

"I'd love to," Andrea replied. "I'm starved."

Bones sat in the chair next to Jim, but he was not sure he wanted to eat. Jim studied Bones' face a moment. "So, what's going on?" he asked.

Bones looked at him, looking more worried than Jim had seen him in quite a while. "I'll tell you later, Jim," he said.

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah." Bones stood up. "I'm not hungry right now. I'll see you all later."

Bones left the table and went to his room. Everyone else looked at Andrea. "I'll let him tell you," she said. She tried to smile. "So, what's been going on while we were out?"

Jim concentrated on his food and did not really hear the conversations that were going around the table. He thought something bad must have happened for Bones to be so distraught. He finished eating and then stood up. "Excuse me," he said.

Jim went down the hallway but he went to Bones' room and knocked. "Bones, are you alright?" he asked.

Bones came to the door and opened it. "I'm fine, Jim," he said.

"You don't look fine. What's going on?"

"Come on in."

Jim went into the room and Bones stood at the window looking out at the ocean. "So what happened?" Jim asked.

Bones was silent a moment. "Pamela's dead," he said.

Jim had not been expecting anything like that. "Why? What happened?" he asked.

"She had a horse-riding accident."

Jim tried to think of what to say next. "Who told you? And why were you gone so long?"

"It's a long story, Jim."

"You don't want to tell me? I'm sorry if I'm being nosey."

"No. It's not that. You know I…" Bones chuckled at himself. "I hate how hard it is for me to discuss things. I feel embarrassed about the whole situation."

"Come on, Bones. This is me you're talking to."

Bones sat down on the stool in front of the window where he could see the last rays of the sun about to disappear over the horizon. Jim sat down as well. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Jim said. "I'm here for you though."

Bones nodded. "I know. Jim, I have a twelve year old daughter. She hasn't even seen me since she was a baby."

Realization came to Jim. "And now…her mom's gone," Jim said. "What are you gonna do?"

"I did send her letters and birthday gifts. Maybe she knew I cared about her."

"Bones, what are you saying?"

Bones looked at Jim then. "She's on her way to Pacifica," he said. "What am I supposed to say? She's coming to live with a stranger."

"Stop. You are not a stranger because you're her father whether she ever really knew you or not."

"I'm trying to imagine how I would feel if I were her."

"When is she arriving?"

"In about three days. Jim, please don't go back to Earth yet. I can't do this by myself."

"You won't be by yourself. You have Andrea."

"I know that, but…you're a father. You also know what it's like not to have a father."

Jim frowned. "Bones, you're gonna do fine," he said. "Just don't be so cynical and blunt. Have a little more bedside manner when you're talking to your kid."

Bones shook his head. "Jim, this is serious," he said.

"I'm being serious. Relax. Really all kids want is love."

"What if she hates me?"

"She might be uncomfortable for a while, but I think she will understand more than you think."

"Well, I want you to do our wedding ceremony. I want that done before she gets here."

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean, am I sure? You think I want her to see me getting married right after she gets here?"

"It might just break the ice, Bones."

"Are you kidding? No. I want it done before she gets here so she won't have to go through any weird, awkward stuff like that. She'll be coming to live with two parents."

"You're way to hard on yourself," Jim said. "Who told you she was coming?"

"Some lawyer. She's bringing her here. I want you to stay here, Jim. Don't leave me like this."

"Bones, I'm supposed to be back at Headquarters…but I guess I can ask Admiral Winston for another few days. Come on, why don't we go outside and sit? Think about something else."

"I can't think about anything else. I don't want her to hate me."

"She won't hate you. Why do you think she would hate you?"

Bones was silent a few moments. "Bones, why do you think she would hate you?" Jim asked again.

"Because…the last time I sent her a birthday gift, she sent it back and sent me a letter that said I hate you and I never want to see you," Bones replied. "Now, she's coming here."

"She'll change her mind. Maybe she was just angry that you weren't there."

"I don't know if I can do this."

"Just don't overthink it. She's distraught over losing her mom, and she's going to need you, so maybe she's just as nervous as you are."

"I guess we can't know till she gets here, can we?"

"No. Why don't we go see one of those movies you like so well?"

Bones shook his head. "I don't think I want to do that," he said. "I contacted Spock and told him Andrea and I are getting married. He said he could be here tomorrow."

"Great. I suppose the family and I could return to Earth with Spock," Jim said. "I suppose I can ask him to stay here as well."

"You are his commanding Admiral."

"Not when I'm on vacation, but I'm going to talk to Admiral Winston. Just relax, and don't be so hard on yourself."

"I'll try."

Jim left that room and went to his own room. He had no way of knowing how Bones felt. He had been in Alex's life since he was born. He could not imagine his life being any other way.

While Jim pondered that, Carol and Alex came into the room. Alex was almost ready to sleep, but he was still bouncing and running. "It's bath time, young man," Carol said. "You've probably got a pound of sand on you." She looked at Jim who was just lying on the bed. "Everything alright?"

"I'll tell you later," Jim replied.

After Alex had his bath, he was asleep in no time. Jim put him to bed and then got into bed himself. Carol was waiting for him. "So, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Bones," Jim said. "He's had some distressing news and I don't know how to help him."

"What happened?"

"His ex-wife died. She had a horse-riding accident."

Carol was shocked to hear about that. She was not sure what to say. "What's going on? Some sort of legal trouble?"

"No. You know Bones has a daughter."

"Oh yes. You mean, she's coming here?"

Jim nodded. "He thinks she's going to hate him," he said. "He wants me to stay here to meet her with him. I can't just abandon him."

"When is she arriving?"

"Less than three days. He's really upset. I told him he had no idea how she would react, and that he shouldn't be so hard on himself."

"He's nervous."

"I'll say. I told him he wasn't a stranger to her because he's her father."

"How old is she?"

"Twelve."

"You never know how a child will react."

"He wants me to do their wedding ceremony tomorrow so that will be out of the way. I thought maybe he should let her see the wedding. Maybe it would make her feel included. I don't know."

"It's hard to say. She might be terribly upset by something like that. Maybe she thinks he didn't love her mother."

"Well, he did."

"And you're going to stay here and meet her with him?"

"I guess. He wants me to. I told him he wasn't alone because Andrea is here." Jim sat up. "I can't think of anyone I would rather have next to me in trouble besides you."

Carol sat up beside him. "What are you saying?" she asked.

"I don't understand why he needs anyone besides Andrea."

"Jim, you can't compare others with your feelings."

"He said it was because I'm a father and because I know what it's like not to have a father."

"Then maybe that's the real reason. Don't you think he loves Andrea?"

"That's the problem. I don't know."

Jim got out of bed and got into a pair of shorts and went out onto the terrace. Carol followed him. "I think you're reading too much into this," she said.

"Am I?" Jim asked. "He's so worried about what happened in the past that he can't even live in the here and now."

"Why would he marry her if he doesn't really want to?"

Jim considered that. "Maybe he does and he's just afraid to show it."

"Maybe he shows it to her in private. Maybe he just doesn't like to show it publicly."

"You could be right."

"You should come back to bed and stop worrying about this."

"Maybe but if all this doesn't work out, he's going to remember me being here during the whole mess," Jim declared.

"It certainly won't be your fault," Carol replied. "You had nothing to do with this situation."

Jim shook his head. "I did kinda push him to give Andrea a chance."

"Give her a chance, Jim, not marry her. There's a big difference."

"Maybe. I just hope this works out for them and he's happier than he's ever been in life."

"Me too. Now, let's go back to bed."

Jim went back to bed but he lay there thinking about the situation until way in the night, and then he thought he heard noise, so he got up and went to the kitchen. Bones was in the kitchen and he was startled when Jim came in. "What are you doing up?" Bones asked.

"Can't sleep," Jim replied. "And I heard something in here."

"Well, I'm hungry now. You want a midnight snack?"

"Sure. Why not?" Jim looked at the watermelon half Bones was taking out of the refrigerator. "Looks good."

They went to the table and Bones got two forks and a knife. He cut the watermelon half into quarters and gave one to Jim. They ate in silence for a few minutes. "Are you looking forward to tomorrow?" Jim asked.

"Sure," Bones replied. "I'm nervous. I feel like my life is…exploding, and I'm trying to catch all the pieces."

"Bones, I think you're about to be happier than you've been in a long time, and you need to just let it happen."

"I'm trying."

"Stop being so nervous."

"Weren't you nervous when you got married?"

"Of course. You're about to have everything you ever wanted."

"How do you know what I want, Jim?"

"Doesn't everyone want happiness?"

"Okay. I'll try harder."

"Good. I just want to know that you're happy."

Bones thought about that a moment. "If you're wondering if I love Andrea, the answer is…yes, I do love her. Jim, I just have a hard time giving her my whole heart, especially that part that was hurt so badly the last time."

Jim did not know what to say to that. "It's hard for you to trust and believe that it's going to last," he said.

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

"Have you ever seen a doctor about depression?"

"Maybe I am a little depressed. I've gotten this far."

"Just relax. It's gonna be alright. I think Carol and I will be coming to see you when you're old and gray and an even bigger grouch than you are now, and Andrea will be right here with you…the two of you sitting out there rocking in your rocking chairs watching the ocean."

"You know, you make that sound really boring," Bones said. "You might be sitting out somewhere at a cabin in the mountains rocking on the front porch too."

Jim smiled. "I might be, and I'm going to love every minute."

"I'm sure I will too."