Four

"Fascinating."

Emily rose an eyebrow as Spock stated the word for the second time in a row. She knew that whatever research was being conducted must have been just that – fascinating. The commander had been keen to finish the report they developed while exploring Planet Narla. So she spent a good portion of the day in the lab with him discussing what they discovered. It hadn't been easy backpedaling and discussing what she felt was uncomfortable information, but Spock made it easier by listening keenly. She was acutely aware of how important this information was to herself and her people. Once enough information was gathered through the report, protections could be made on the people of Narla. At least, she hoped that was the case.

She still wasn't sure what to make of Eon's story. When he shared with her, Kirk and McCoy what happened to his people, her stomach twisted in an uncomfortable knot. The people of Narla had suffered a heavy blow when other planets began developing space exploration. Those aliens that visited their planet had seen them as gods. From what she gathered the Narlanians were both feared and revered by many. In time though, outsiders had grown wary of the power her people possessed. It became evident that the greed for said power was overwhelming, and eventually it destroyed the planet in the process.

She supposed she was lucky that Eon and his bondmate had chosen to send her to Earth. She wasn't sure what would have happened if she was raised by them. Hell, she knew that she and McCoy would have never met. That thought alone left her gut wrenching, along with the fact that Coulson would have never adopted her. The more she thought about it, the easier it was to see why they'd sent her to Earth. Not only had it given her the chance to survive what was likely a mass genocide, but it also gave her the chance to save their species as a whole. Though that in itself was enough for her head to spin.

Who would want that kind of weight on their shoulders? she thought bitterly.

Then her heart sank as she thought of Spock and his own people suffering at the hands of Nero. After finding out that Planet Vulcan had been destroyed, along with half of their population, Spock was worried that he would have to play a part in saving his species. She understood where he was getting at, especially since Vulcans were now considered an endangered species. Yet the idea of having children just to expand the population didn't sit well with her, and she doubted it would sit well with McCoy either.

"So, I'm guessing that the samples that were taken match my own DNA?" she finally asked.

"Your DNA matches the samples that were taken from the indigenous foliage," Spock informed her. Her brows furrowed together as he finally glanced at her. After spending hours looking through the notes that were taken by O'Neil and Kiale, she suspected he would be busy for the next couple of days. "I am not certain if it is safe to mention it here, but the samples are also similar to that of the object known as the Tesseract as well."

Emily chewed the bottom of her lip. She often thought of how the Tesseract would respond to her presence. When she and Clint were assigned to protect the base she would avoid the Tesseract at all costs. There was something about the object that caused the hair along her skin to stand on end. She could practically feel the energy the Tesseract gave off, even though it wasn't reported by fellow agents or Doctor Selvig.

"There were five stones we could see when Eon told us about the planet's history," she said thoughtfully. "According to him, the stones were what created Planet Narla and the universe. Whether or not that's true is yet to be seen, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Tesseract was connected to these stones."

Spock lifted a brow as he took her words into consideration. Though the stones themselves didn't seem to pose a threat, she couldn't shake off the feeling that they could if they fell into the wrong hands. The nightmares she suffered from had occasionally shown those stones, along with a being that fueled her fear.

"It is likely that this Eon spoke of the truth," Spock eventually replied. "I will compile the reports and send them to the Council. From there they will likely discuss the fate of Planet Narla."

Unease crawled through her at the thought of letting the Council decide her fate. It was bad enough she had to endure their decision once when Kirk gave away her history with SHIELD. She had a feeling that the Fleet would take advantage of the situation once word got out. The last thing she wanted was for the planet to suffer more than it already had.

Even if they had good intentions for establishing a Starbase, she silently reminded herself.

After seeing what her people went through, she wanted what was best for them. She understood it would take months for the Federation to reach a decision that would ultimately protect the people of Narla, but anything was better than nothing. If there were any survivors out there, which she highly doubted, then they would be protected by the Federation and everything it stood for.

She blinked in surprise when she found McCoy waiting for her when she left the lab. She knew he preferred staying busy and making sure that everything was in working order in medbay. So she wasn't expecting to see him back so soon. Or to find that he'd made dinner for them. Emily rose a curious eyebrow when McCoy finally noticed her arrival.

"I'm surprised you're back so early," she remarked thoughtfully. "What's the occasion?"

McCoy let out a sigh as he reached her without hesitation. She could feel his anxiety spiking through the roof, telling her that this had something to do with their recent discovery. Even though he had been more than supportive over what happened on Planet Narla, that didn't stop him from thinking of how things could have gone differently.

"I figured after a week like last week, we could use the break," he admitted sheepishly. Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement as he kissed her affectionately on the lips. "I know the last couple of hours haven't been easy for you."

"I think it's safe to say that our lives are always going to be hectic, regardless of what we discover," she reminded him. McCoy merely eyed her with concern when she reluctantly pulled away. "I'm more concerned over what the Federation is going to do when this is over… Spock said that there's a chance they'll provide protection for Planet Narla, but that won't mean much to the people who were already wiped out."

"It isn't just your people that you're worried about," he guessed.

She held back a sigh of frustration and looked down at the floor, suddenly aware of the thick tension between them. The last thing she wanted was for McCoy to feel responsible for everything she felt. He already felt guilty enough for what happened between them; she didn't need him worrying about this as well.

"I'm just worried about how people are going to look at me," she admitted. "They've always seen me as a…"

She trailed off, not wanting to say the word out loud. McCoy's eyes narrowed when he realized what she was implying. Her own parents used to call her a freak simply because she was different. At the time it never bothered her, but looking back at it she realized just how cruel they were. Maybe her mother had never treated her that way, but her father was certainly a different story.

"Those people are full of shit if they can't see past that," McCoy muttered after pulling her into a warm embrace. Emily couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed. In spite of her earlier misgivings, he was taking all of this in stride. "Darlin', I've learned the hard way that you shouldn't judge someone based off of what you've heard. Pretty sure Pa would've kicked me in the ass if I did."

Emily snorted with laughter at the mention of his father. McCoy rarely talked about David, though she suspected there was a good reason for that. The few times he did was usually with pride and a fondness of memories they shared. She let out a sigh and kissed him back without hesitation. Knowing that he would always support her left her stomach churning in different directions.

It didn't take long for them to settle down once dinner was ready. Emily explained to him what she and Spock had been looking through all day. He wasn't entirely surprised to find that there was a connection between Planet Narla and the Tesseract. She hadn't told him about her theory revolving around the stones… truthfully she was worried over how he would respond to that. She planned on talking to Natasha or Clint about the stones. Either assassin would have an idea as to what it all meant, and if there was a way to prevent those nightmares from coming true.

"I'm still trying to decide what I'll tell the media when they find out," she suddenly put in. Once dinner was finished, they cleaned everything up and settled in the bed. McCoy wasted no time in tracing his fingers along her bare skin, sending shivers of pleasure through her. "They're going to eat this story alive."

"I'm surprised we haven't heard anything yet," McCoy said dryly.

"More than likely we'll be ambushed by reporters the moment we return to Earth," she warned him. McCoy merely rolled his eyes at the thought of being ambushed by reporters. It was something they both got used to since the Avengers formed. When the media found out that she was dating a doctor within Starfleet, they ate the story alive. The situation got worse after they found out that she and McCoy had been in a relationship prior to that mess. The only good thing about being in space was the fact that they could avoid the reporters that tended to stalk their apartment. "You really are an amazing partner, you know that?" McCoy just looked at her in surprise as she kissed him without hesitation. "Pamela was blind to see that in you."

"Considering the type of curveballs you've thrown me in the past, not many," he gave a dry chuckle after realizing what she meant by that. Emily just smirked in amusement as he kissed her back. "Darlin', I'd follow you to the moon and back if I had to. You mean too much to me."

Her heart soared upon hearing those words.

"Would you still be feeling that way if you had your way with a princess?" she asked while keeping her brow arched.

It was his turn to raise an eyebrow in surprise. But it only took McCoy a split second to register what she meant by that. He kissed her once more, this time with more force than usual. Emily stifled a groan when his free hands reached her waist, holding her close so that she was almost straddling his lap.

"Darlin', I'd be happy to claim you as both my wife and a princess," he reassured her without hesitation.

As if to prove his point, he kissed her to the point of breaking skin along her lips. Emily let out a soft groan at that, though not without biting back. She wasn't about to let him take advantage, not when she enjoyed putting up a good fight. McCoy's hands were already exploring her chest after managing to pry her shirt off along with her bra. It didn't take long for him to push her to the bed where he could deepen their kiss. His tongue demanded entrance, and she obliged willingly. Though she preferred being the dominant one, there were times when she found herself enjoying the few times he took control.

"I need you," she growled when she felt the tent forming in his pants.

She was surprised he hadn't taken them off sooner. Given the fact that they were alone and they had been talking about their future, there was a lot of tension they needed to let go of. McCoy merely smirked in amusement when he realized what she was doing. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him tight, smirking when he groaned from the friction created by her movements. The moment their eyes met was when she saw the laughter glowing within those hazel eyes. She almost wished the rest of the crew could see McCoy this way. There were few people who got to see this side of him, and she was lucky enough to be one of those few.

"How the hell did I get so lucky to meet someone like you?" he growled.

"Well, you can thank Papa for that," she replied without missing a beat. McCoy just rose an eyebrow in amusement as her eyes locked with his. "We would've never met if it wasn't for him. And truthfully meeting you was one of the best things that could've happened to me."

His face softened when he realized what she meant by that. Before she could think of something else to say, McCoy suddenly thrust into her. She bit back a groan as pleasure radiated through her. She knew the walls weren't exactly paper-thin, but that didn't stop them from doing whatever it took to relieve themselves of stress. McCoy wasted no time in setting a pace they were both comfortable with. Her moans became more vocal as he wrapped his mouth around hers, careful not to alert anyone else to their intentions. Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and tussled with his hair, noting how soft it felt between her fingers.

She could practically feel him grinning into their kiss when he picked up on those thoughts. As if to prove her point, she thrust her hips upwards in time with his. The moment she did that was when McCoy let out a primal growl, the sound reverberating against her skin. His thrusts became more aggressive as her walls wrapped around him, clenching in anticipation of what would follow. She knew he wasn't going to last much longer. He was getting close and losing control fast.

'I want to feel what you're feeling,' his thoughts cut through hers.

'And here I thought you hated using our telepathic bond,' she quipped in amusement.

Her amusement never faded as he thrust deeper and harder into her. She was struggling to compose her thoughts as she became increasingly closer to losing control. The only thing keeping her anchored from losing control entirely was McCoy. And just as she was on the verge of being pushed over the edge, McCoy suddenly erupted into her. Emily stifled a scream of pleasure as she came seconds later, letting out short gasps of air as she struggled to regain her composure.

"Fucking hell," she breathed out the moment she managed to find words to speak.

McCoy let out a sigh of relief of his own as he rested atop of her, still inside her. Emily wanted that moment to last… she realized with a start how he filled her in a way that no one else did. Not that she would ever know what that felt like. He was and always would be her Imzadi… nothing would ever change that.

"That was amazing," McCoy whispered after kissing her once more.

"Hm… so you're saying it felt amazing to fuck a princess?" she asked, tilting her head to one side in amusement. She laughed when heat rose to his cheeks the moment she said that. "You should see the look on your face!"

It only took a split second for McCoy to register what she meant by that. He stopped the moment she started laughing, and his face softened with warmth. He would never admit out loud that he loved seeing this side of her. Few people were lucky enough to see a lighter side of Emily, and he preferred keeping that part of her to himself. Emily let out a sigh as she buried her face into the hilt of his neck, relishing the warmth and comfort he provided.

After everything they had been through, this was the kind of relief they desperately needed. Because something told her that the moment they returned home was when hell would break loose.

.

.

Kirk let out a sigh of frustration as he leaned forward in his seat. The voices of Admirals arguing in the background gave him the telltale sign that his day was far from over. Emily sat beside him and was struggling to keep a straight face throughout the bickering. He could tell she was getting a kick out of his frustration, which only fueled the flames. The only reason she was there in the first place was because the Council requested her presence. Today the Council was deciding the fate of Planet Narla and her people.

It was a daunting thought when he imagined what could happen. The fate of Emily and her people rested on the decision of the Council, and it was enough for his stomach to churn with renewed anxiety. She had already suffered enough at the hands of Starfleet. The last thing she needed was the Council deciding that she couldn't continue her work aboard the Enterprise because of this recent discovery. Though he was fairly certain that McCoy would fight tooth and nail for her if such a decision was made.

"They've been going at it for hours now," he muttered after putting the speaker on mute. Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement as he rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Are you actually enjoying this?"

"I wouldn't say that I'm enjoying hearing the fate of myself or my people," she retorted, though there was no bite in her voice. She took a sip of her coffee while leaning back against her seat. "Watching your reaction though makes it worth the risk of listening to these idiots bicker like a bunch of school children."

He couldn't help but laugh at that. As annoyed as he was over the fact that she took joy at seeing his reaction, seeing her like this was like a breath of fresh air. He realized with a start that she seemed almost happy, in spite of their current situation. He suspected a certain CMO had something to do with her calm demeanor, and he planned on thanking McCoy later for such actions.

"So have you and Bones talked about what you're gonna do when you get back home?" he asked while keeping an eye on the screen.

He wasn't in a hurry to face another reprimand from the Council after his last fiasco with the Kobyoshi Maru. So that meant keeping an eye on the screen while they argued, in case anyone addressed the two Starfleet Officers listening to said argument.

"We've talked about how we're going to handle the press when we get back," she let out a quiet sigh of her own. Kirk's brows furrowed together at the mention of the press. He knew that she and McCoy had been the victims of reporters jumping them whenever they could. After taking on the title of youngest Captain in the Fleet, he too had faced the backlash of the press. "I'm more concerned about what the rest of the world is going to view me as when we get back. Spock's done a good job at compiling the data but there's only so much information we have on Narla's history."

He gave her a sympathetic look after realizing what she meant by that. It was clear that this was something that had been eating away at her since they left Planet Narla. There were times when he wished he could provide the same comfort McCoy did for her. He knew how much his friend cared about her. McCoy was always worried about her mental health more than anything else, though after what he found on her profile history, he understood why.

"I think, if it were up to me, I'd be pretty impressed that you're willing to protect these people," he said thoughtfully. Emily threw him a look of surprise as he arched his back, throwing his arms up in the process to stretch. They had been sitting for what felt like hours, and he was getting antsy just waiting around for a decision to be made. "If I were you I would've likely tossed them under the bus for abandoning me on Earth. I'd be pissed knowing that they gave me up because they felt compelled to."

Even though his relationship with his mother had never been the best, he also knew that she still looked out for him. Hell, she still cared about Sam even though they hadn't heard from him in years. He'd seen enough shit in the world to know that they were both lucky to be alive. Though he never told her about his involvement on Tarsus IV, he suspected that she knew. If anyone had told her anything, McCoy likely had from the recent discoveries he made.

"I would've never met Leonard if they hadn't given me up," she murmured. Kirk eyed her thoughtfully when he realized what she was implying. "And truthfully, it was the best choice they could have made for me. I loved Papa with everything he had to offer me, along with Leonard's family. They've all given me a second chance at life."

He was ready to say something else when Admiral Pike suddenly gave them a warning look. Kirk held back another sigh as he flicked the speaker back on, knowing full-well neither of them needed to face the wrath of the Council. From what he heard, Admiral Moore had been the biggest advocate against providing protection for Planet Narla. Luckily she seemed to be the only one against it, as everyone else had agreed that something needed to be done to preserve the planet and its history.

"Captain Kirk, Liaison Coulson, the Council has reached a decision that will benefit both sides," Admiral Barnett, the man in charge of said Council, spoke up. Kirk shared a knowing look with Emily, not missing the wariness sweeping across those dark brown orbs. "Given the fact that the people of Planet Narla have already suffered injustice in the past, it's clear that the planet deserves to be protected and preserved. We've also decided it's best if you become an Ambassador for your people, Liaison."

Kirk narrowed his eyes at the thought of becoming an ambassador to any species. He knew this was what Spock from the alternate universe had done, but it was a heavy responsibility for anyone to carry. He could tell she wasn't comfortable with the position suddenly thrown on her shoulders.

"Sir, while I appreciate the fact that you're giving the planet the protection it needs, I'm not sure if I'm ready to take that position," she finally said after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence followed.

"Very well," Admiral Barnett relented, much to Kirk's relief, "We will give you a week to consider your decision."

"Thank you, Admiral," Emily nodded her thanks, though it didn't show in her eyes.

The moment the screen went dark was when Kirk could practically feel the tension in the room. He hated knowing that she had to make this decision sooner or later, and that said decision would later effect her future. He just hoped that this didn't backfire on the Council once all was said and done, otherwise there would be hell to pay.

.

.

"They must be full of shit if they think this is going to make up for what happened in the past," Emily scoffed as she paced back and forth. McCoy watched the scene unfold within seconds after she returned from her meeting with Kirk. It hadn't taken long for her to explain what happened when the Council reached their verdict. While she was relieved that they wanted to provide protection for Planet Narla, it didn't make her feel any better knowing they wanted her to become an ambassador for her people. "I'm not in any state of mind to become an Ambassador of all positions! Hell, I'd rather not think that I'm some long-lost princess!"

Her anxiety had begun spiking through the roof, and she knew that it wasn't just because of what they discussed. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt knowing that she would likely have to take that position. It would change everything. If anything should happen that led to her people allegedly being alive, then she would have to take the mantle and be their voice. Just the thought of having such responsibilities terrified her.

It wasn't until feeling a hand reach for hers that Emily finally stopped pacing. McCoy had taken some time off to sit with her in his office, knowing full-well she needed someone to vent to. She thought of reaching out to Tony or Clint, but she knew how busy they were with their own problems. She didn't want to be a burden to them anymore than she already had in the past.

"Darlin', you need to relax," he reminded her with a firm look. Her shoulders sank as she forced herself to do just that, though it didn't stop her mind from wandering back to what the Admiral told her. McCoy gently cupped her cheek, eyes dark with concern when he forced her to make eye contact. Emily knew she would melt under those warm hazel eyes, and it didn't take long for her to do so. "Look, I know this isn't a position anyone takes lightly, but they've given you time to think about it. That's better than having to make a quick decision on the spot."

Emily let out a heavy sigh when she realized he was right. Though it didn't help lower her concerns over what the future held in store for her, it helped knowing that she had his full support. She was grateful for the fact that she had him by her side, especially at a time like this.

"I'm worried over what they're going to say if I decide to accept the position," she admitted guiltily. "It's going to change everything, and I don't want it to get between us."

McCoy's face softened as he understood what she was implying. He had been concerned over how this recent development would effect their relationship. The last thing either of them wanted was to start fighting again, though that was inevitable. They had their fair share of shouting matches that would often lead to bitter consequences.

She was rather surprised that McCoy had taken this recent discovery as well as he had. She rarely pushed into his thoughts unless she was given permission, but there were times when his emotions had been easier to read than usual. This time around it was easy to tell that he was worried over what this would do to her, both mentally and physically. She was forever grateful for the concern he showed, even if it was because he knew of her mental history.

"I think it's safe to say that I'm stuck with you until the bitter end," he finally reassured her. Emily's brows furrowed together when he tilted her head up to look at him once more. There was no bite to his voice, only sincerity that left her heart melting with joy. "Emily, I love you… nothing is gonna change that."

Her heart practically melted upon hearing those words. McCoy said them far more often than she deserved, and the feelings were entirely mutual. She knew that Pamela had torn him apart verbally, and she had to constantly remind him that he wasn't that person. It took months for him to finally break out of the shell he formed when the divorce from hell happened, and even then he was closed off to those who didn't know him well.

"I love you too, Leonard," she replied without missing a beat. She kissed him firmly on the lips, relishing the comfort he provided. "I just don't know if I'm ready to commit to the idea of being an ambassador."

"Then be honest with them and tell them you're not ready for that," he pointed out. She rose an eyebrow in surprise as she realized what he was implying. "They can't force you into anything you're not ready to commit to, regardless of what they tell you."

She couldn't hide the sheepish smile that followed. She knew he was right; she had to put her foot down and tell the Council that she wasn't ready for that kind of commitment. She barely had her life together let alone controlling the fate of her people. The only thing she could hope for was that the rest of the world was ready for such a response, otherwise there would be trouble in the near future.