It's a soft crackle, a gently disruption of the hum that soothes their lives, that pierces Leonard's sleep. A shame, because Leonard is actually enjoying his nap and the first glimpse of real sleep he's had in months. "..op it," he mumbles sleepily. Maybe if he can get Jim to stop screwing around with whatever he's found to focus his attention on, then Leonard can avoid the being conscious thing.
The crackle continues, interspaced with half broken noises that sound like they're trying to impersonate words. Curious, but not enough to drag Leonard away from sleeps loving arms. Jim's always getting up to things when they should be sleeping. Leonard blames Jim's genius IQ.
A shiver runs through Leonard. It'd be nice if Jim could do him the courtesy of not taking the blankets with him when he gets up to engage in his delinquency. Or better yet, if he would quit reprogramming the computer to change the temperature. Leonard was raised in Georgia not the north pole.
The frantic beeping of a touch screen being frantically attacked by deft fingers sends a rail spike of reality through Leonard's brain. It's not cold because Jim's a blanket hog, it's cold because they're stranded in a broken shuttle and frantic computer use cannot be good.
"Seriously, if we're in trouble here, like ride off into the sunset one last time trouble, you can tell me Jim," says Leonard cracking an eye open.
Jim taps a button on the corner of the consol, powering it down to stand by use and places his hands in his lap.
Nothing suspiciously concerning there.
"We're not going to die here," says Jim looking a little exhausted.
"Oh? Are we drifting? Are we going to die over there?" asks Leonard pointing to a spot out there in the black displayed on the view screen.
"You don't trust me?"counters Jim, with that lopsided smile he knows frustrates Leonard. He knows it's nothing personal but it would be nice to hear Leonard say he has faith in Jim's survival skills.
"Jim," says Leonard in that tone he reserved for Joanna when she was little and trying to use child logic to get out of something or for the students that thought they had valid reasons for turning in an assignment late. "Something is clearly going wrong. Floating in space doesn't require that kind of engagement."
Jim shrugs one shoulder. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"That wasn't you, trying to reroute systems a minute ago?" presses Leonard. Clearly something is going on and Jim's desperately trying to fix it without worrying Leonard. This is exactly why he didn't want to tell Jim what's been bothering him. Now the adorable idiot is going to hide things from Leonard and Jim can't afford to keep things from him; that's how things spiralled on the Michigan.
"We're not in danger," insists Jim a little desperately.
"You don't have to protect me. You can tell me how hopelessly screwed we are."
"We're not!"
"When has anything good ever happened being stranded in space?"
Jim can think of a few things, though Leonard hardly seems in the mood for at least eight of them. "Everything's going to be fine."
Leonard's fuse is growing short. It probably wasn't that long to begin with. "Jim!"
"Fine, we're going to die so will you just marry me?" blurts Jim.
"What?" ask Leonard. He's pretty sure Jim just asked him to marry him, but that's ridiculous. Maybe he's having an aneurism? Panic induced psychosis?
"Marry me," repeats Jim, a little slower and surer. "Or, technically marry me again."
Leonard just sits there with a confused look on his face. He hasn't thought about re-marrying Jim. Actually, he used to think about it a lot, never having wanted to sign separation papers to start with, but Jim's made it pretty clear over the years that it wasn't something he was prepared to do.
"Some would take silence as a no," says Jim to fill the chasm that's filling the shuttle. He's feeling a little exposed. Neither of them had plans to go anywhere, at least Jim doesn't, so the answer shouldn't be that difficult. And yet, Leonard is sitting there silently with this frozen perplexed look on his face.
They have such a good thing going, Leonard would hate for that to change or worse go back to the way it was before the separation- when Jim was unhappy with the world and everyone in it and Leonard was terrified he was the only one desperate to be in the relationship. They've always been married in Leonard's mind. He talks about Jim as his husband, introduces him as such; it's why he couldn't get rid of his wedding ring. But there's something about it being official and undisputable that he covets and on some level wonders if Jim fears.
Jim Kirk is not someone that can ever be tied down. Leonard's always chalked up their relationship working after Jim filed for separation because Jim no longer felt trapped; that every day was a choice and not an obligation.
If Jim's simply proposing because of what happened on the shuttle today it would break Leonard's heart. He doesn't need a sympathy proposal or Jim to do it because he thinks that's what Leonard wants. Or worse, they really are going to die here and Jim's just trying to keep Leonard positive.
The silence is killing Jim. "You have some other marriage proposal you're considering or…?"
"No, Jim," says Leonard, slightly irritated. He's not in the mood for games.
That kind of hurts. Jim doubts Leonard will leave him, but hearing Leonard turn down something he knows Leonard has always wanted, turn down Jim being his legally once again, stings. "Right," says Jim, the smile returning to his face; he knows where he went wrong. He gets down on one knee. "You're a traditionalist. Leonard Horatio McCoy, will you marry me?"
"Get up, Jim," snaps Leonard. Jim takes things way too far sometimes.
"What's the problem?" asks Jim, honestly perplexed. "This is infinitely better than doing it in a Romulan dungeon. There's more romance and slightly less we're all going to die."
"The problem is everything is always a joke to you or worse some whim you feel like acting on as a lark." Decisions have real life consequences; which is what Leonard was trying to get at when he begrudgingly confessed the source of his growing anxiety. Now here's Jim making fool hearted, heat of the moment decisions.
Jim can't help but smile; Leonard's curmudgeon antics are endearing. "I swear, it's not. I've really thought about this."
"Thought? Don't hurt yourself now."
"Bones," laughs Jim.
Leonard crosses his arms. "How long have you thought about this? The last thirty seconds or since we got trapped on this death shuttle?"
Jim wants to bang his head against the bulkhead. "Longer than today."
Leonard rolls his eyes. Jim hasn't breathed a word about marriage in over five years and even then it was only to reaffirm it was an non start for him.
"I told you once that not marrying you would be the single regret of my life. That's still true today." The separation wasn't because Jim stopped loving Leonard; it was because Jim loved him too much. Leonard has spent every moment since they met looking out for Jim. Jim just needed to make sure Leonard had and escape pod ready to survive the inevitable tire fire that is Jim's life. Since Leonard is smart in all things except surviving Jim, Jim's selfishly going to hang on for as long as possible, in every way possible.
"I'm not lookin' to be someone's absolution." Leonard's been married for all the wrong reasons before. He's been married because he couldn't stand the thought of not having that kind of a bond with someone too. Now he's two times divorced with little desire to do it again if the results are going to be the same.
"We're practically married already. Hell, we tell people we are. So what's the big deal?" Jim didn't think this would be such a fight. This is nothing how Jim imagined this going.
"Exactly! What's all the fuss about? Nothing needs to change. Especially since you've never wanted it to."
"I want it to now. When you were injured in sickbay and they didn't know if you were going to survive, the only thing I could think was I had let the only thing important to me go. That if I held you at arm's length it would hurt less when you left because everyone leaves. But the truth is, it hurts more. It hurts more knowing you might think I didn't love you enough for this, that we don't throw it in the universe's face as the one thing it can't deny. And I'm sorry I'm not bright enough to realize how important things are to me until they're gone, but I love you Leonard, and I want that to be recognized in every way possible."
Leonard's kind of speechless.
"I love you, Bones. Will you marry me?"
"This would make a much better engagement story to tell Jo," replies Leonard, a little breathless. "But you do notice you only ever propose to me when we're about to die?"
"We're not dying Leonard. And I promise next time I won't do it when our lives are on the line," swears Jim. "How about a beach at sunset?"
"Next time?"
"Okay, spring time in an enchanted forest," suggests Jim.
Leonard just kind of rolls his hands over in a 'what the hell' gesture, while his tilts his head to see if Jim's suffered a recent blow that's making him especially dense.
"Okay," huffs Jim, "under the northern lights in an igloo, but you do hate the cold." He's scraping the bottom of his proposal fantasy bucket here and getting a little desperate.
"How many times are you planning on us getting married?" asks Leonard exasperated.
"Is that a yes?" asks Jim, elated and a little hesitant.
"Yes. But I'm keeping my last name." Leonard seals the deal by leaning over and devouring Jim with a series of kisses that are each far more passionate than the one that preceded them.
That was the kind of response Jim was looking for. He could spend the rest of his life in this moment and be perfectly happy.
"Now if you could just get us rescued, we could plan a wedding and honeymoon that doesn't involve an extensive stay in sickbay after."
"I'll do you one better," says Jim turning to face the consol. He enters his authorization code, bringing the shuttle to life. The lights return to their illuminating white as the hum of the engines fills the background. "Kirk to Enterprise," he says as he opens a comm. channel.
"Enterprise here," replies Uhura.
"We're ready when you are," Jim informs, like there was never a problem to start with.
"We're all set here. See you soon. Enterprise out," replies Uhura in her normal calm professional manner. There's no trace of concern that the shuttle is in danger or sent out a distress signal earlier.
Leonard sits there in disbelief. He's still riding the adrenaline high of being proposed to so it's hard to switch gears down from elated euphoria to pissed off and betrayed. "Did you fake an emergency?" demands Leonard, his brain still trying to catch up and slot all the pieces together.
Jim casually shrugs one shoulder. "Maybe a little."
"You faked us being stranded in this tin can of death," repeats Leonard, the words feeling funny in his mouth.
"You do tend to only accept my proposals when you think we're going to die," says Jim a little defensively.
"I'm going to kill you," declares Leonard, running scenarios through his head. He has a million of things at his disposal that he could use and make it look like an accident.
Jim's not looking for a fight. He focuses on plotting in their course and avoiding direct eye contact with Leonard for fear it would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. "What about your Hippocratic oath?" The shuttle vibrates before going to warp.
"I'm going to kill you. Then bring you back. And then kill you again."
Jim has no doubt Leonard could absolutely accomplish that threat; Leonard's skilled like that. But for all his blistering and bitching, Jim knows Leonard's a big ole teddy bear that for some unfathomable reason thinks Jim's worth his love and devotion. Besides, Jim's pretty sure the ace up his sleeve is going to win him all the brownie points. "Well you might have to wait on the double murder because I have a surprise for you that can't wait until after."
"I don't think I can handle anymore of your surprises," replies Leonard sullenly from the co pilot's seat. He even makes the point to cross his arms and pout a little. Clearly Jim wasn't acting alone in whatever this plan is. Leonard makes a list in his head of all the accomplices Jim would need to pull this off. Uhura, probably Spock- most definitely that pointy eared hobgoblin. Vulcan medical conference his ass. Add M'Benga to the list and Chapel for good measure too. Physicals and a round of inoculations for all, plus double duty for M'Benga and probably Christine for helping to facilitate.
"You'll like this one, I promise," pledges Jim. "And if I knew you were going to have a reaction to being on the shuttle, I would have got Scotty to help me come up with a different plan." Jim can't argue with the ultimate result of today but it's not how he wanted to get there.
Scotty. Where Scotty is, Chekov can't be far behind. Chekov's on the shit list too. Leonard thought it would feel better to be moving again but it's not as thrilling as he'd hoped. Perhaps it's the unknown that's promised to be awaiting him. "Wait, what exactly did you and Scotty do?"
"We rigged the shuttle to fail. In case you haven't figured it out there is no conference, but I needed to distract you away from the ship." It actually is a bit of brilliant engineering on their part, though highly influenced by Leonard's lack of shuttle know how.
"You rigged a shuttle to break down in the middle of nowhere! What happens if we actually got in trouble? What if someone attacked us? What if I tried to fix it?" Leonard's starting to spiral again. He's come up with about ten doomsday scenarios and highly doubts Jim gave consideration to any of them. Just another cliff with Jim leaping off. Leonard's too old to be looking after a man child.
"Whoa," cautions Jim. "First, the shuttle was never really broken. We created a subroutine to simulate damage and shut down systems. The program would end if I didn't enter a code every fifteen minutes so if something happened to me you would still be able to get out of here. I could also shut it down at any moment by entering another code. I knew you wouldn't try to fix anything because I'm here to do it, but if you did, the program would keep you from implementing corrections. We've been in comms range of the Enterprise the entire time, they could get to us in an actual emergency. And we're not in the middle of nowhere, in fact, we are very near a planet. I counted on your lack of interest in star charts and piloting in general, so I created fake ones that made it look like the asteroid belt was secluded."
There's a self satisfied smirk forming on Jim's lips that makes Leonard want to punch something. The kid's too cocky and he has every right to be. Leonard got played and played well. He needs to work on his issues before important things start falling through the cracks- like the details of today. "And just where are we speeding off to now?"
It's breath taking. Of all the things Leonard could imagine, he's never come anything close to this. The blue and white lilies are extravagant without being over the top with just a hint of lavender spread throughout the bouquets that cover the ivory colored walls and amber stained wooden benches. The hall is covered in faintly tinged grey candles, giving it a soft intimate glow that whispers romantic evening while the large stain glass window behind the altar lets the warm oranges of sunset shine through in a kaleidoscope of soft purples and pinks.
"What do you think?" asks Jim, stepping up behind Leonard and wrapping his arms around Leonard's waist. It was stunning when he arranged it in vids but seeing it come to life is rather magical.
Leonard can't really get his brain to form thoughts let alone words. This morning he didn't imagine it would ever be a possibility he would be legally married again now he's standing in a wedding venue. "Is this for…" he stammers.
"Us? Well I don't think our friends and family would go to all this trouble for someone else."
Leonard cocks his head to look at Jim in disbelief. It's all rather surreal. "You want to get married right now?" He can't believe the words are actually falling out of his mouth.
"Well," drawls Jim, "in thirty minutes. Figured I give you time to write your vows and get dressed. I mean the crew did do all this work and everyone is here."
Write vows and get dressed? Leonard is woefully under prepared to engage in anything so formal that's been managed to be put together here. He's a little perturbed that everyone could not only keep such a secret, but execute it right under his nose. This just didn't happen overnight; it's months of planning. "What am I even going to wear?" he certainly didn't pack anything for a medical conference that he'd want to wear on his wedding day- a proper wedding day with Jim to boot. It would be a shame not to have something nice to wear amongst such a pretty and obvious outpouring of love.
"I have your suit all ready for you, Daddy," says Joanna stepping into the foyer at the back of the hall. Her lavender dress sways and flows over the pale blue marble floor that rushes up to the threshold of the ceremony room where it crashes against the petal strewn cherry wood floor.
There's only one thing that can pull Leonard out of Jim's arms that fast. She's barely finished her sentence and Leonard is already wrapping his arms tightly around her. "You're here, baby girl." Hot tears well in his eyes; Joanna is the only thing that could make this magical fairy tale Jim's spun even more perfect. "I thought you had a recital this week?" he whispers in her neck, unwilling to let go just yet. He never gets enough time with his little girl.
"I'm not a baby anymore, Daddy," sighs Joanna.
"My mistake," concedes Leonard in a placating tone. "The recital?"
"My two favourite dads finally making it official, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Besides the opportunity to tell mom I was going to be passing up a chance to perform at Olympia Hall to watch you marry Uncle Jim is the cherry on the sundae."
"You're too much like Jim for your own good," chastises Leonard. He enjoys sticking it to his ex, especially when it comes to his happiness with Jim, but he tries to make sure his daughter stays neutral in their ongoing bitterness. Weaponizing his daughter's love seems like a sure-fire path to mutual destruction.
Joanna just shrugs. "Congratulations, Uncle Jim," she bids with a loving pat on the shoulder. "They have a room for you to prepare just at the top of those stairs. I'll meet you up there, Dad."
Jim bops on his toes, feeling entirely self-satisfied. "I said I took care of everything, Bones. There are some things I can handle."
Maybe Leonard doesn't need to worry so much after all. Clearly Jim does have the capacity to plan things out. Now if he can just convince Jim to use that skill more often.
"You better hurry and get ready. The admiral is officiating and you know he doesn't like to be kept waiting. I figured it was only fair to have Jo give you away since I asked you to marry me, so you'll be walking down the aisle. Jo and Uhura are going to stand up for you." It seems the most appropriate; Joanna's always held Leonard's heart since the moment she was born. Jim even went so far as to ask her permission to propose to Leonard again.
"I love you," says Leonard, and he doesn't think he's meant it more. He's just about to head up stairs when he turns back. "Wait, what would you have done if I had said no?" asks Leonard, looking around at the impressive volume of decorations and sheer number of friends in attendance. It was a hell of a gamble, granted the odds were in Jim's favour, but still.
"Well, then this would all be rather embarrassing for you," says Jim with an indifferent shrug.
"Embarrassing for me?" asks Leonard confused. He certainly wouldn't be the one to have to tell all their friends and family there wasn't going to be a wedding.
"Yeah. You turn me down, Scotty and Sulu would take a handsome, yet broken hearted friend drinking out of sheer pity for the love sick fool who had his dreams crushed. You, on the other hand, made all these people come here for nothing and at best get to sit at a table with Spock and Uhura while she glares daggers at you for a change."
"And why exactly is Uhara glaring daggers at me?"
"Umm, because she secretly likes me, and because I made her wear a bridesmaid dress in a color she hates for you. Now you better hurry, because my vows are going to bring the house down and I except no less from the future Mr Leonard Kirk."
"I'm still keeping my last name," hollers Leonard as he heads up stairs.
"Are you nervous?" asks Uhura as she straightens Leonard's medals on his uniform shirt.
Leonard frowns and pulls at his collar. There are few things worse than having to cram himself into Starfleet dress uniforms. "This things is a noose not a shirt. Why would Jim pick this?"
"He said he wanted to marry a handsome Starfleet doctor," supplies Joanna handing Uhura back her bouquet. "I brought you a proper shirt and jacket for the reception."
"He planned a reception too?" asks Leonard. He shifts his weight from foot to foot. He shouldn't feel nervous but he does. Beyond the beautifully carved wooden doors in front of him is the wedding he could only dream about, first because he didn't believe Jim felt the same way, then because they were going to die on the Narada, then again because Jim was injured and hating the world. It remained a distant fantasy when Leonard signed the separation papers and when he received the call that Jim was in the hospital under suicide watch. It remained wishful thinking when they settled on the farm and the furthest thing on his mind when Jim convinced him to accept Spock's offer as CMO of the Enterprise. Yet here he is, on the cusp of everything he's ever wanted and it's scary-exciting.
"Jim's been busy," confirms Uhura.
Leonard smiles, full and true. He never thought he'd live to see the day. "And you helped him."
Uhura sucks a sharp breath between clenched teeth. "He's grown on me. Like a Triellian bog fungus, but he's grown on me."
"Ready?" asks Sulu as he opens the doors to the hall. The music from in the hall floats through the foyer. Sulu leans down so he's at eye level with his daughter Demora who's been impatiently waiting for the adults to give her her cue. "Just like we practiced."
She nods her head, beginning her silent countdown from fifty to give Sulu time to take his seat next to Ben near the front of the venue. Slowly she takes her first steps in her white satin shoes, letting white rose petals and sparkling confetti drop gently down the sides of her lavender dress.
The gathered guests all oh and awe as the flower girl makes her way down the soft baby blue carpet aisle heading directly towards Jim who's eagerly waiting at the end for his husband.
Leonard feels a little less awkward seeing Chekov and Scotty standing next to Jim in their dress uniforms. Jim is in a tux that's been tailored to hug every curve and line of Jim's lean body that he loves. It doesn't hit him until Uhura starts her walk down the aisle, that the music playing is eerily familiar. "I know this," he whispers to Joanna, who's hooked her arm around her father's as she prepares to walk him down the aisle. "Jim's been humming it for months."
"Jim picked all the music and made all the decorating decisions. We just had to execute it before he brought you to the planet."
"Do you know what it is?"
"It's part of a song his parents used to listen to. He said it was about decisions and relationships that didn't work out the way they thought, but this chorus was about love." She gives a small covert wave to someone out in the crowd.
It doesn't escape Leonard's attention. He follows his daughter gaze to her boyfriend Skylar sitting near the front beside Ben Sulu. "You're not catching any bouquets today," whispers Leonard with a hint of humour but mostly parental horror.
The smile never slips from Joanna's faces as she counters, "Nobody is asking you to throw any." She knows Leonard doesn't have anything against Skylar personally, Jim's allude to as much. But sooner or later she needs to stop being 'little girl.'
"Good," says Leonard patting her hand. "One wedding a decade, that's the rule."
"Rules are made to be broken," she assures. She's nowhere near entertaining the idea of marriage but her father doesn't need to know that.
"You're no longer allowed to talk to your Uncle Jim," counters Leonard, playfully. Though he might have to have a word with Jim about encouraging such behaviours in his daughter.
Any nerves Leonard had vanish with the first step he takes into that hall. The sea of guests and endless possibilities for the future fade away and all Leonard can see or think about is who is waiting for him at the end.
Jim stands there, his gaze never wavering as Demora and then Uhura take their designated places near the altar. There's something about Leonard in his uniform that makes Jim weak in the knees. The blue compliments Leonard's hazel eyes in a way that puts to shame every spec of beauty in the universe. He was in love with the venue when he chose it, but seeing the way twilight filters through the stain glass and falls on Leonard as he makes his way down the aisle exceeds his expectations. "Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night, I can see paradise by the dashboard light," he mumbles to himself as Leonard reaches the end of the aisle.
Leonard kisses Joanna on the cheek as she lets go of his hand passing it over to Jim. She steps over next to Uhura, fixing her train as she finds her spot.
"Friends and family," begins Pike as the couple turn to face him. "We are here to acknowledge the love between James Tiberius Kirk and Leonard Horatio McCoy. In that spirit, the couple has prepared their own wedding vows." Pike leans in close to the couple, looking Leonard in the eye and whispers, "We have prepared our vows?"
Leonard nods. He's not completely satisfied his work but Joanna seemed to approve what he was able to come up with on such short notice. It's not the words but the sentiment that matters most; he's a doctor damn it, not a poet.
"Very well, Jim," says Pike, yielding the floor.
Jim turns to face Leonard, swallowing hard. He takes Leonard's hands in his. "Wise men say, only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you. Shall I stay? Would it be a sin, if I can't help falling in love with you? As a kid, I used to listen to these playlists my dad made for my mom. All these love songs or songs about heart break and I never really understood them, understood what that kind of love was, until I met you, Bones. Like a river flows, surely to the sea; darling, so it goes some things are meant to be. You've been stomped down a few times and still somehow manage to be the most selfless caring person I know. Once you get past wolverine like exterior lies the most compassionate soul I've ever encountered. Even in the darkest light you manage to find the humanity in people. You don't give up, even when everyone gives you a reason to, and that's one of a million reasons why I love you. You make me want to be a better person, someone worthy of that passion and faith you put in people, that you've put in me countless times. So take my hand, Bones, take my whole life too, because I can't help falling in love with you."
Jim extends his hand out to Scotty who begins patting down all his pockets. A shade of worry passes over the Scotsman before Chekov subtly slips him the wedding ring. With a sigh of relief, Scotty hands the ring over to Jim. Jim doesn't miss the way Leonard's eyes light up as it dawns on him what Jim's just done.
"My ring," whispers Leonard, "you stole it." He's felt naked all day without it, like a piece of him was missing. He tore their quarters apart and spent hours fretting that he'd lost something positively irreplaceable- and apparently Jim had it the whole time.
Technically Jim did steal it, but it required a lot of stealth and distraction techniques not to mention lube and a fair amount of time trying to suck it loose. It was totally worth it. "Now I'm returning it, better than before." The light of the hall catches the fine engraving that now resides on the inside of the ring. My love, the light in my life, you are my North star. With reverent devotion, Jim slides the ring onto Leonard's finger- the proper finger this time, where it belongs, where it always should have been.
"McCoy," says Pike, giving Leonard the floor.
"Jim, I'm in love with how your soul's a mix of chaos and art and how you never try to keep 'em apart. I see everything you can be, I see the beauty that you can't see," starts Leonard, brushing away Jim's bangs that hang over the scar crawling across his forehead, "and there has never been anything or anyone I've wanted more. Growing old with anyone else just won't do. It's a difficult road we've been set upon, not one for the faint of heart. I met this kid on a shuttle at the lowest point in my life and while everyone said to stay away, that that path would lead to ruin, there was something there that just wouldn't let me listen. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that truly has made all the difference."
Joanna wipes away a small tear before giving her father the ring meant for Jim.
Leonard's normally steady hands tremble slightly as he places the ring on Jim's finger. Nothing's changed from yesterday, yet seeing that simple, elegant onyx band on Jim's finger fills Leonard with love, joy and pride.
"Do you, James Tiberius Kirk, take Leonard McCoy to be your lawfully wedded husband, for the rest of your life and all that entails?" asks Pike.
"I do."
"And do you, Leonard Horatio McCoy, take Jim Kirk to be your lawfully wedded husband, for the rest of your life and all that entails?"
"I do."
"Then with the power invested upon me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets, I know pronounce you husbands for life. You know what do," decrees Pike as he steps back so Jim and Leonard can seal their marital pact with a long passionate kiss.
"So, what do you think? Was it everything you ever wanted?" asks Jim as he sways with Leonard on the dance floor for their first official dance as a married couple. There were lots of songs he could have picked, any number of Leonard's favorites, or even something modern but the sentiment behind Kina Grannis's rendition of Can't Help Falling in Love seemed to capture the amalgamation of their love best.
"Hmmm," agrees Leonard, trying to soak up every minute of this moment as they dance to what will now be their song. They didn't have a song last time, or a cake or a china pattern. It didn't matter at the time, nor does this moment hinge on those things either but there's something solidifying about having these details- concrete, like the universe can't erase the evidence of what they have. "All I need is you. The rest is just bonus. But it is a beautiful breath taking bonus."
Jim put a lot of planning and detail into today. While it didn't exactly go as planned in the beginning, Leonard appreciates everything Jim managed. He couldn't ask for a better group of people to share this day with either. All of his reservations about accepting the position on the Enterprise and then officially accepting the assignment for the duration of its five year mission melt away. Things haven't changed with Jim, there will be good days and bad days, but as Leonard looks around the reception hall at all the people, friends, that turned out, and he doesn't have to worry about Jim ever being alone.
The song comes to an end; the dance floor slowly filling up with couples eager to try their hand at it now that the happy couple has christened it. "Looks like the cake is being served," says Jim as he grabs Leonard by the hand to lead him back to the head table. "Brown butter peach with your grandma's icing recipe," says Jim. He pulls out the chair for his husband before sitting down next to him.
"It's good," agrees Chekov, stuffing a forkful in his mouth.
Ben takes off his suit jacket and drapes it over his daughter, asleep on two of the chairs beside him. "We'll have to save Demora a slice."
Sulu nods, twirling a lone rose between his fingers as he leans back into his husband. He's quite pleased his crop of flowers turned out in time for the wedding. The days before his and Ben's wedding had been fraught with concern that his prize Hatourian Lilly wouldn't bloom on time. Everything here seemed to run smoothly.
"As maid of honor, are you going to indulge us with a speech?" asks Pike looking at Uhura.
Uhura rolls her eyes. "I'm wearing lavender. I think that's enough of a spectacle for today." The table smiles in appreciation of her sacrifice. She was glad to help create such a special day for Leonard, though she wasn't going to let Jim know, so she put up her usual indifference and cagey antics through every step of the planning process. She suspects Jim picked the one color she scoffed at for the dresses as his own way of torturing her. Revenge will be sweet and dispensed at a later date. "The best man can take that honor."
"That will be interesting," says Pike, looking over his shoulder at the bar where Scotty is making full use of its services.
"Did you know the function of the maid of honor was to marry the groom should the bride fail to arrive?" states Spock.
"So Uhura would have had to marry me if Leonard had turned me down?" says Jim with a wicked gleam in his eye and a devilish smile.
"That'd never happen," spits Uhura. "No way in hell. Leonard would be showing up even if I had to drag him to the altar by his ears."
Jim places his left hand over his heart, letting the candle light reflect off his wedding ring. "Ouch, that hurts, Uhura," he says feigning hurt. He couldn't imagine a worse fate but there would be a certain level of satisfaction in a union between them based on one upping each other in the spreading misery department.
"That's why I agreed to stand up for Leonard and not you," replies Uhura, with her own dangerous smile.
Jim cocks his head to the side. Shots fired and game on. Uhura's just made a mistake, Jim has lots of free time to plan new annoying antics in their well choreographed game.
The song changes again, to something more upbeat. "Do you mind?" asks Sulu gesturing to his sleeping daughter as he and Ben get to their feet.
"Go ahead," agrees Uhura. The child is asleep, looking after her isn't that difficult a request.
Sulu smiles as he escorts his date to the floor. Subtly behind Ben's back he points dramatically to the young nurse sitting at the next table that has been smiling at Chekov all night. It's the perfect opportunity because Chekov has been lamenting lacking the courage to approach said nurse for months.
Chekov turns bright red before practically smashing his face into his piece of cake.
"Uhura," drawls Jim with an eerie satisfaction. "What's your middle name?"
"I don't have one," states Uhura cold, yet firm.
"Isn't you r middle name…" starts Chekov, eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
"Finish that sentence and Leonard won't be able to put you back together. Your puppy eyes and curly mop won't save you," warns Uhura, jabbing her fork in Chekov's direction for emphasis.
Jim lights up like a kid at Christmas. "So you do have a middle name. Now I have something to work on after the honeymoon."
Uhura shakes her head. It's going to be a long five year mission. "Not all of us like to proclaim our whole name to the universe. I bet you even scream your own name during sex."
Scotty practically chokes on his drink as he sits down. This was not the topic of conversation he was expecting to return to.
Jim lights up, putting his elbows on the table so he can lean closer to Uhura. "There's an idea."
"One Gaila says you've already had," she retorts, copying Jim's position.
"How is Gaila?"
"Good. Sad to be missing this. Probably for the best, though. Nobody wants to see you impregnate her on the dance floor."
Jim doesn't break the intense stare he's locked into with Uhura as he asks, "What do you say, Bones? You want little green babies?"
Leonard rolls his eyes. He was so glad when these two gave up the pretence of mortal enemies a few months ago. He's not ready for a second round. "I'd rather my husband didn't fornicate with other people."
"I noticed that wasn't a resounding no on the baby front," chimes in Scotty with a happy drunk smile and slight slur.
"Well Jim could use someone his own age to play with," says Leonard, hoping to side step the whole conversation and all its pitfalls.
"Hey Bones, did you know Uhura has the suite next to ours at the hotel," says Jim casually as he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively."
"And?" says Leonard, with trepidation.
"We're going to go so hard tonight and we won't stop until she knows my name," declares Jim triumphantly.
It's only an Admiral and Captain sitting at their table- their Captain who happens to be involved with Uhura. Thank god Joanna left for the dance floor too. "Jim," scolds Leonard, trying not to blush. "She already knows your name."
"I'm just aiming for some auditory reinforcement," say Jim with innocent eyes.
"I'm staying somewhere else tonight," sighs Uhura.
Jim smiles suggestively as he twirls his finger in a strand of Leonard's short black hair. "You might learn something, Uhura." He tilts his head in Spock's direction.
Uhura crumples her napkin and tosses it at Jim's head.
Thanks for reading, Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and have a better New Year.
* songs referenced in story
Paradise by the Dashboard light by Meatloaf
(in Jim's vows) Can't help falling in love (originally by Elvis Presley but for this story the version by Kina Grannis)
(In Leonard's vows) Outnumbered by Dermot Kennedy