Hi guys, so not the longest chapter but I need to post otherwise I'll keep writing and it'll just be one massive document on my phone :')

Enjoy and please comments are welcome and I love hearing when you guys actually enjoy my writing.

The pair looked at each other and laughed giddily, leaning into one another as the lift's doors finally closed, shutting them off from the outside world. Foreheads pressed together as they caught thier breath, and grins plastered on their faces as Alex put a hand up to Leonards face, cupping his cheek. The man covered her hand with his own as he kissed her palm before leaning forward and capturing her lips. It was a tender kiss, and Alex felt herself melt at the amount of affection flowing between them, it was electric and warm and so sweetly soft she couldn't help the sigh that left her as he pulled away, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as he looked at her.

I think you just might be the best thing that's happened to me since joining starfleet

"Don't be silly, you've achieved so much." Alex spoke softly as Leonard half smiled. Kissing her forehead fondly as the red head wrapped her arms around his back hugging him.

"Maybe, but I've not been this happy in years."

Leonard felt the woman laugh pressed against him in a hug as he took a sip from the straw of his take away cup. She pulled away giving him a look full of mirth as she put her hands on her hips and cocked a brow.

"It tastes too good to waste." Leonard defended letting out a huff of laughter as Alex audiably slurped on her straw just to take the piss outta him.

"Not exactly discreet are you." She jibed playfully.

"Never." Leonard replied, watching the lift doors open and the red head turn around abruptly. Tapping her ass gently to get her to head out into the corridor. "Prepare yourself."

The pair sucked in a breath as they scanned themselves in opening the door to see something they didn't expect whatsoever, Spock, Nyota, Jim, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov all sat on the huge sofa giggling and laughing away to themselves as they watched the Tv.

"Here they are, the half cut couple of the moment." Sulu joked as Leonard tried to hide a smirk.

"Half cut- you're all traitors, especially you Nyota." Leonard commented as he plonked himself down next to the woman offering her a sip of his cocktail.

"The accumulated footage remains seen only by people in this room, and- Leonard this is, what have you been drinking?" Nyota questioned as she took another sip from the cup she'd been handed, raising a brow as Alex shimmied over plonking herself in Leonard's lap rather gracefully considering the amount they'd drank.

"It's a passion fruit Martini." Alex said full of pride as she sat perched on Leonards knee precariously, until the man pulled her onto the sofa beside him.

"And it's delicious so be grateful I've handed it over, now c'mon, what have we got i wanna see what dirt you've managed to dig up on us." Leonard elbowed Nyota playfully as Sulu started cracking up.

"Not much dirt but there's some Quality content- " Sulu let slip being smacked by Jim and Chekov as they all laughed lightly. "We've all been updated about the plan, don't stress, Nyota told us, and I've seen the news recently they've not been too obvious with their suggestions but clearing it up for being wrong isn't a bad idea." Sulu added. Giving Alex his award winning smile that always made the woman feel warm and looked out for.

"Hit me with it then. I can take it." Alex cracked her knuckles ready for the shit show as Nyota clicked play.

The camera zoomed in on Leonards face looking absolutely distraught as faint giggles could be heard in the background, zooming out to what had to be the med bay the full scene unfolded, Leonard at his desk, piles of data pads surrounding him and that vein popping out of his temple that happened when he got really stressed. Panning out to witness Alex strolling over taking half the stack of data padds off him as the man frowned in confusion as his pile had shrunk, Alex keeping them tucked under her arm as she promptly made the man a coffee and came and placed it on his desk. Leonards frown immediately vanishing despite the apparent lack of words exchanged as he held the coffee cup in both hands, his features visibly softening as he looked over to where Alex was having a quick word with a patient before the camera zoomed in on his face again and half smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head.

"God you're both so subtly sweet at times its gunna give me diabetes." Sulu commented taking a sip of what had to be wine.

"Shut up." Alex defended, throwing a cushion in sulus' general direction, the helmsman narrowly avoiding being hit and Scotty instead being hit by the attack.

"Watch it Ginge." Scotty jibed with a fake scowl and an accusing finger point as Alex stuck her tongue out at the man.

"Theres no way they'd actually fight for real-"

"No honestly they're going to spar i swear to god-"

"My Bets on Mccoy."

"I don't know man, she's got a lot of rage."

Alex and Leonard couldn't help but laugh at the video that was currently playing. They knew someone must have filmed it but didn't know about it till now, after all they were focused on sparing each other at the time, the inevitable moment coming where Mccoy full on bodied her into the ground while she had herself wrapped around his back came and all of their party winced, along with the people recording the video.

"That was brutal." Scotty commented, watching intently as Mccoy on screen was saying something to his downed opponent with a smirk before a leg swiftly swung out and knocked the man on his back. Much to the delight of the filming party and half of the asshats sat with him watching this for the first time as they roared triumphantly and laughter erupted as Nyota re-wound the video to pause it on Leonards face of shock as his feet were swept from under him.

"This is my favourite picture of you Leonard." Nyota stuttered through her laughter as she held her stomach. Jim half bent over the back of the sofa as he wheezed alongside her.

Pressing play they all witnessed the brief pause as the pair lay on the mats in the studio before Leonard openly slapped Alex's ass as encouragement for the woman to move and the person filming turned to their friend with a low whistle as the female ensign raised a suggestive brow towards the camera man.

"That was a little bit cheeky." The woman smirked with a knowing head tilt as the cameraman immediately let out a wheezing breath.

Laughter promptly erupted from the camera man as the video feed blurred then cut to black.

"Leonard!" Nyota gaped in mock shock as she slapped the man lightly. Leonard chuckled into his hand with a mischievous grin as the rest of the group came to life again with another wave of laughter.

"I was out of breath, it was a quicker signal to get up." Leonard defended himself half heartedly as Alex laughed quietly beside him.

"Liar, you've been wanting to do that from the start." Sulu raised his brows at the man and all Leonard could do was squint at Sulu with intent before Chekov piped up from beside him.

"Ah yes, so vat is it like dating a woman with the power to crush your skull 'between her legs?" This had Nyota and Alex roaring with laughter while Jim sat with his eyes squinted shut trying to keep his shit together.

"I said nothing, I kept everything in here like I usually do." Leonard pointed to his head with intent as he then threw an accusing finger at Scotty. "He's the one that brought up skull crushing thighs. And you kid, don't even get me started on what you came out with." Leonard raised a knowing brow and Pavel turned beet red. Setting Sulu off who promptly ruffled the Russians hair thoroughly while cackling.

"I have changed my mind in zat regard. If you 'ave survived this long Mccoy. I would be 'peachy' as you Americans say." Pavel hit back causing Leonards eyebrows to reach his hairline.

"You cheeky little shit." Mccoy was promptly on his feet and had Pavel flung over his shoulder in half a second as he marched them towards the balcony doors. Pausing at the edge of the pool as Pavel managed to splutter out that he couldn't swim, stopping the doctor dead in his tracks. "Alright you avoid it this time but watch your mouth." Leonard grumbled putting the man down as gently as he could marching him back into the room with his hand on the small of Pavels back.

"What's next?" Leonard asked matter of factly like he hadn't almost drowned Pavel in the pool. Nyota hit play again, putting the remote down as if to stop herself from pausing it this time.

Immediately Leonard and Alex filled the screen being filmed from what had to be a patient in the med bay, stood beside each other in deep discussion looking down at a data padd as a caption covered the bottom half of the screen that said:

"I want what they have please."

As the clip continued to play it zoomed in to focus on them more, Leonards brow cocked before his mouth started moving a mile a minute and Alex slapped him square in the chest with a face like she was trying to stop herself from laughing before Leonard slapped her back hitting her directly in the tit causing Alex too cup her breast in fake pain as she looked up at Leonard who looked shocked for a split second, hands coming up to his face before he burst out laughing keeling over, his grin wide as he had to turn away from the red head who was now laughing hard while still holding herself. The camera started to shake lightly as Leonard physically crouched down on the ground behind his desk shoulders still visibly shaking with laughter.

"Christine! I'm putting a claim in for assault and battery where's the captain."

To which Leonards hand came up from behind his desk, waving frantically before he stood up face red from laughing as he waved off the red head and walked towards his office. Hand coming up to cover his eyes momentarily as he went, grin still in place. Popping his head round the door and pointing at Alex accusingly. Going to speak before he started laughing again as soon as he looked at the red head making him turn around and close the door.

Leonard had his head in his hands at that memory in particular as he heard everyone else roar with laughter around him, even Alex and her uncontrollable giggles.

The next things on screen were photos snapped by the crew. Nyota read out comments that were attached to the emails per image as they went.

First one of the pair of them walking down the corridor, Leonards hand on the small of her back and head turned towards her, freshly shaved face with an obvious smile.

"This one was taken before you'd even got together, 'walking behind these two to the canteen and I needed to snap a pic as proof Mccoy does smile, I'd said back then I'd put credits on them getting together but nobody believed me.'" Nyota read the caption aloud causing Jim and Sulu to chuckle to themselves.

"I smiled before the witch joined the crew." Leonard defended.

"Not much, though Bones, no where near as much as you do now."

"It's nice though, you're less tense mate and that's never a bad thing." Scotty defended the man as they clicked to the next photo, one that wasn't exactly painting Leonard in an innocent light, sat at his desk, one brow cocked in interest, eyes clearly trained on a certain body part of Alex as she bent down to pick something off the floor.

"Oh for fuck sake." Leonard commented feeling colour flood his face as he was slapped on the shoulder by multiple people as they laughed.

"Which one of you took this theres no way the rest of the crew would have took this without sending it ship wide immediately." Alex laughed.

"And to think this was one of the times you were not caught staring, Leonard." Spock piped up with a half smirk as Leonard shook his head at the Vulcan with a tight smile biting the insides of his cheeks to stop himself biting back.

"It was me, I couldn't pass up the opportunity he'd dragged me in for a routine physical and made me wait for half an hour so I had to get my own back." Jim admitted not dodging the arm that now held him in a headlock and the hand thoroughly messing up his hair.

"You're lucky I don't have a hypo spray on me Jim." Leonard spoke as he rubbed his knuckles across the blondes head, the static making the blonde's hair stand on end when Leonard let go.

The next thing to fill the screen was Sulus face as the man shook his head fondly before the camera turned around to see Leonard and Alex sat across from each other in the canteen intently looking at a data padd whilst talking, subconsciously putting things they didn't like onto the others plate, Alex not so discreetly dispensing tomatoes onto Leonards plate while they frowned at some data before Leonard looked up for a second before swapping their tubs of sauce. The camera cutting back to Sulu who just smiled.

"Being on a star ship does things to you man, they're mentally past the first year of the relationship already. And I better be invited to the wedding."

Then suddenly the screen was filled with Leonards back walking away from the camera shirtless, with the red head obviously in his arms, pale legs sticking out on one side and hair just visible near his shoulder as her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Can someone send me an emotionally supportive boyfriend to carry me to bed?"

" I have that recorded so I'll send the message out for you."

"What- oh no you sly bitch-"

Laughter then erupted from the woman recording as heavy footsteps could be heard and unintelligible shouting in the background before the screen cut to black and Nyota clicked the screen off with a sigh and looked towards the pair in question.

"So. What you using for this photo evidence?" The woman asked bluntly as the pair looked at eachother and pulled matching uneasy faces.

"Not sure, if we use any of these it'd have to be tonight because we got chased by reporters on our way back here, and I can guarantee the photos won't be all that flattering." Leonard chuckled rubbing the back of his neck with a shrug.

"Oh my God we don't have much time why didn't you say this when you came in!" Nyota scrolled frantically through all the files sent to her as the pair scooted closer Alex finding her way onto Leonards lap yet again. The man wrapping hands around her middle as he leaned slightly looking down at the data pad in Nyotas hand along with Alex.

"There were more people here. We wanted to know what was going on first! Ah why are we stressed about this? Any of them would work fine, hell the reporters are probably gunna do it for us anyway." Alex said taking a controlled breath in then breathing out slowly.

"Thats true, but- whoa-" Leonard felt Alex weight shift on his knees but couldn't move himself in time before the woman had fell through the gap in his legs and landed with an 'oof' on the floor. The red head immediately erupting into laughter as her arms remained awkwardly stuck out across both of Leonards legs. Leonard couldn't help laughing then, hearing giddy laughter of the red head and Nyota beside him had him keeling foward slightly. Grin plastered on his face as he shook his head fondly, the red head tilting her head back to look up at him with a dopey grin which had them both laughing harder. "I could have told you I don't make a very good chair."

"You- you know exactly what I'm gunna say to that now you're regretting making that comment-"

"Look- I didn't quite think that through, but you don't have to say it, get up here." Leonard spoke through his laughter as he hooked his arms under the red heads and hioked her back onto the sofa beside him with minimal effort.

"I think something else has just been sent there lass you have a new message." Scotty spoke out before chuckling again at the half cut pair fondly smile never faltering. Nobody noticing that Jim was now stood in front of everyone.

Clicking on the message Nyota grinned ear to ear then looked up at Jim with a knowing smile. "It's such a stupid group of pictures but these are my favourite." Nyota spoke with sincerity as she showed the screen to the rest of the group. Three images, the first of Alex sat on Leonards knee, both looking down curiously at the data padd in Nyotas hands and Leonards arms fondly but innocently wrapped around Alexs middle for stability. The next was Alex on the floor her arms stuck out at a ridiculous angle as she full body laughed, eyes closed and mouth in an open mouthed grin as Leonard was leaned back into the sofas back rest head tossed back slightly as he laughed, eyes not quite closed and one hand on his face, his eyes seemingly dancing in the still image. The very last photo was Leonard leaned forward and Alex tilting her head back to meet his gaze with the dopey grin and Leonards wide smile as he laughed at her some more.

"Thats it, those three specifically, we want the world to know they're both a pair of idiots." Sulu joked as he eyed the pair fondly, something about them both just being so contempt in eachothers company made him happy. And it was honestly glorious seeing the southern doctor so happy and obviously in love, he couldn't help but think the man deserved this, especially after being alone so long. The pair of them just fit.

"What are you guys plotting behind our backs you found one?" Alex commented eagerly sitting up only for Nyota to hide the screen from her holding up a finger for her to wait.

"Do you trust me?" Nyota asked Alex in seriousness.

Alex stilled momentarily, looking into Nyotas eyes and seeing the fondness there, fondness aimed towards her. " 100%" Alex spoke with absolute confidence as Nyota smiled back at her.

"Then you two go to bed, I'll handle the post for the socials, we have the perfect images, and ill make sure the message gets put across in a short and sweet way."

"Well I won't argue with that." Leonard stood, stretching before sparing a glance towards Nyota with a knowing look. "No making digs at my expense."

"Would i ever Leonard?" Nyota fienned shock, before smiling at the man as she mouthed the words 'of course i won't. ' shooing him away with her hand as Alex got up aswell and walked towards the stairs ahead of Leonard smiling to herself happily and tiredly as she climbed the stairs to their room.

The next day after quiet breakfast in bed consisting of toast and Jam much to Leonards silent disapproval Alex pulled out her datapad in bed, Leonard beside her sipping his coffee quietly. The brow quirked up when the red head started laughing lightly passing the pad to Leonard in bed as she continued smiling.

Leonard took the pad only to see three photos that had to be taken from last night posted by none other than Nyota herself. The photos taken exactly when Alex had fell off his knee and onto the ground but the grin she was wearing in laughter had Leonard smiling to himself.

"We know they were seen together by the Paparazzi last night so we just wanted to confirm that yes, they are dating and yes we have to deal with them being insufferably happy on a regular basis, we have your back guys and we love you. Enterprise crew 1 - Paparazzi -0- Nyota really didn't mess around with the caption did she-" Leonard spoke starting to laugh as he read the last part out loud.

"No but I love it, posted it before the paparazzi got a chance to do anything aswell and people know, problem solved." Alex sighed in relief as she leaned back in bed closing her eyes before she heard Leonard chuckling to himself.

"Some of the comments on this are desperate and weird and this one's gotta be my favourite so far, 'Dr Reid Smart and gorgeous, I bet she fucks like a pixie on acid.'"

"Leonard! No way has someone commented that!" Alex gaped in shock as the words fell from Leonards mouth, the man laughing loudly as the red head stole the pad off him and gasped as she read the words for herself before laughing as well at just how absurd it was. "Oh my god the thirst of these people, my ideal weight is Leonard Mccoy on top of me?" Alex spoke, making them both crack up laughing again as she pointed at the comment in question with an amused grin.

"That's your ideal weight." Leonard rumbled cheekily earning him a cheeky smile as the red head looked him up and down.

"You Being on top is not necessarily the same as you being inside me so you know maybe I don't need you on top." Alex stated matter of factly with a smug look on her face as she avoided eye contact with the man.

"You can have me any way you want. I'm just happy to be taking part." Leonard said with a lopsided grin as Alex laughed at him. "I can't believe we've only been on one date, if you can call it that."

"You don't need to take me out all the time you know, i'd rather have your time and attention than constant dinner dates, not that they aren't nice because they are."

"I appreciate that Ace, but I do want to take you out, not all the time but I enjoy your company Witch... and maybe I like showing you off a little, I am with one of the smartest women in the medical profession." Leonard said casually as he took another sip of his coffee like he hadn't just paid the woman next to him a massive compliment.

"You like showing me off? I think I'm gunna combust- and you think I'm one of the smartest women in our field?" Alex paused as she looked at Leonard questioningly. Leonard cocking a brow at her as he noticed the faint blush and the uncertain stare.

"Course I do. You're smart as hell, got a wicked sense of humour and are god damn gorgeous. And yea you may not have had to do any surgery or anything while on the ship but I've watched a couple of your past lectures at the University here, starfleet records a lot of them don't they and I was curious when I had amnesia so…"

"You're a soft bastard, have I told you that?" Alex said with a soft smile.

Leonard rolled his eyes fondly, a flush of colour across his cheeks as he nodded. "Yea, yea you have."

"I love it though." Alex said, leaning over and kissing Leonards cheek before turning his head with her hand on his cheek to kiss his lips. A smile lingering on her face as they pulled apart.

"Hey. Hold on a sec I got you something while we were on new Vulcan, couldn't tell you why cuz I had amnesia at the time, but I saw it and I had to get it." Leonard clicked at her, getting out of bed in nothing but his boxers and walking over to the drawer he kept his underwear in he started rummaging through. Alex laughed at him then, expecting it to genuinely be some mens boxers because she did wear them for comfort a lot of the time after all.

Its not pants sorry to disappoint

Oh what? You didn't need to get me anything

"I wanted to." Leonard said coming to sit back on the bed with a small rectangular box opening it to reveal a small triangular pendant that looked like it was made from green aventurine, a brilliant blueish green with emerald like viening throughout the stone set by three silver claws holding it in place against the backing plate, with a matching silver chain.

"Oh my God Leonard that's gorgeous- wha- how much did that cost? you better not have spent a load of credits on me."

"The price is none of your goddamn business, here." Leonard spoke with a smile as he lifted the necklace from the box Alex tucking her hair out of the way as Leonard gently draped the dainty chain around her neck fastening the clasp at the back. "I'm not great with jewellery I won't lie, but it reminded me of your eyes so I impulse bought it, weird I know but-"

"Shut up." Alex said, swinging her legs over the doctor and kissing him, calming his overactive brain as she rubbed her thumb over his cheek before pulling away. "I love it, thankyou."

"Thats good because I'd have a job returning it now." Leonard smiled, chuckling lightly as she grinned at him. Her fingertips fiddling with the pendant absentmindedly as she got off his lap and out of bed to start getting dressed, opting for casual jeans and black t shirt, deeming it a no bra day. Leonard just sat in bed and watched her with a tilted head and a soft look on his face.

"I promised Jim I'd go looking for Christmas trees with him today, we shouldn't be out too long, do you want some lunch grabbing while we're out?"

"Nah, i can sort myself something… Hey Ace, what do you want for Christmas?" Leonard questioned, the soft look still on his face as his heart stuttered at the red heads dazzling smile.

"Look I'm gonna be honest with you Len, I don't really want anything, but I know you're gunna try and get me something anyway so… anything you get me that you've got thinking I'll like, I'll probably adore, just because you've put a little thought into it. I'm easily pleased Leonard, you could get me a AC/DC t-shirt and I'd be thrilled- not that I'd expect that they're sort of rare now."

"So you don't have anything particular in mind then at all is what I'm getting from this." Leonard tilted his head with a knowing look as the red head sighed lightly as she smiled at him.

"No, i have everything I want right here so I'm happy." Alex turned and offered Leonard a heartfelt smile, one that reached her eyes fully for the first time since the trial and it had Leonards heart aching in his chest.

"Well I'm getting you something anyway." Leonard stated firmly, a soft undertone to his voice as he smiled back at her from the bed.

"I won't try and stop you, just don't go crazy."

"Hey Witch!" Leonard called as she cracked open the door half way out on the landing before she popped her head back in with a smile.

"Yea?"

"I love you."

Alex smiled from ear to ear then. Eyes lighting up as she took Leonard in, still in bed, hair a perfect mess, and that sleepy look still in his eyes as she replied. "I love you too."

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