Chapter 3: A crazy idea

"I won't go on any more away missions", Leonard McCoy proclaimed when he entered the captain's ready room without asking for permission.

Jamie sat at her desk, held a PADD and looked up. "Yes, of course, do come in, Doctor McCoy."

He ignored her sarcasm and sat down. "I'm done with over and over getting married. Today was the tenth time. Nine times I ended up marrying you, because some aliens think we're a couple or because no unmarried woman or man is allowed to enter some special building or because I simply touched your arm or because one of us handed the other some completely innocent looking object which meant tying the knot or, hell, some other crazy shit happens. I also really hate being on top of that weird white-alert-score the crew is keeping."

While rambled and talked himself into a little rage, Jamie just sat back and crossed her arms.

"And the one time I got married, because I wanted to, it didn't work out and I th-... knew I never wanted to get married again", Leonard went on, almost saying that he only thought he never wanted to get married again, because... well... he would never admit it, but he wasn't actually opposed to the thought of being married to Jamie Kirk.

He had realized that by the second time they got accidentally married on an unknown planet. It had come quite as a shock to him and it was one of the reasons all following weddings affected him so deeply. The other seven ceremonies since then had been torture. Having to say words, exchanging cups, rings, bracelets or walking around each other in circles, sometimes with kissing, broke his heart every time a little more. Being suddenly married because of handing her something wasn't much better.

Because he was in love with her.

Because he thought she doesn't love him.

Because she always gave him the 13-13b within a day after the return from one of those planets.

And because he was a coward and fool who didn't have the courage to tell her that he felt more than friendship for her.

Jamie sighed and handed him a PADD. "13-13b."

Leonard took it and stared at it.

"I'm fed up with this too", she whispered then, got up and walked to one of the windows. She crossed her arms and let her gaze wander into deep space.

The captain was as upset as he was. She had enough of meaningless ceremonies out of necessity or misunderstandings and gestures meaning a wedding. She had neither been a girl nor was a woman who pictured herself married. But lately...

Today had been Jamie Tiberia Kirk's ninth unwanted wedding day and though she was annoyed, she also was used to this by now. Some part of her was almost... glad and proud... that these strange cultures recognized a connection between her and Leonard McCoy. So, at least, she always ended up being married to him - and not Spock, Sulu, Uhura or some Security Lieutenant. But she was tired of it. She wanted something that did count. And the strangest thing: She wanted that with him, her best friend, for whom she had started to feel more a long time ago.

Some part of her did not want to give up these... connections, but the other part wanted these recurrences to stop. Jamie didn't know if she could take another accidental or forced wedding. And another 13-13b.

Since they got back from Elara a few hours ago an idea started slowly forming in her mind. But it was absolutely crazy and she didn't know if she was able to pronounce it. Or if it wouldn't ruin their friendship, if she did.

With the PADD in his hand Leonard finally got up, too, and stepped next to her. "Always the same drill. The only solution is either not going to strange, unknown planets or me not going on away missions anymore."

Jamie tilted her head. "What if there was another possibility?"

"There isn't", he grumbled.

"Oh, there is. But..." She bit her lip and hesitated.

Leonard look at her curiously and was surprised by her expression. "You're nervous. Why are you nervous?"

"Okay", she started, "this sounds totally crazy, but... well, the main reason we keep running into these situations is that none of us is married."

He blinked. He had a faint notion where this might be going, but didn't allow himself to finish that thought.

"What if..." Jamie took a deep breath. "What if we... get married? To each other. For real, I mean. There're enough people saying we're bickering like an old married couple. We like each other, know everything of each other and are honest with each other." Except for that one thing, she added in her mind and wondered why she simply didn't say it to see if he reciprocated her feelings. "We would never run into problems on away missions again - or at least no more 13-13b for us anymore. And a bonus would be that no creepy aliens hit on us - or, well, at least less of them."

Leonard stared at her. He tried to say something, but it took him a few moments. He looked at the PADD in his hands, then at her again. You're right. This is crazy", he finally said, but almost smiled.

Jamie returned that small smile. "You know me. I'm not doing things the normal way. So why should it be different when it comes to marriage?"

Now he chuckled. "No, you would go and get yourself married nine times to the same guy."

Jamie noticed something in his eyes change. He was looking at her in a way she didn't know. Or simply never noticed in a, well, romantic way. She decided to stay bold. "Maybe ten times is the charm?"

Leonard just blinked. "Are you really asking me to marry you? Just like that?"

"Yeah, I think I really am", she answered, amazed and shocked by herself. She was proposing without being in a romantic relationship with him or without ever having kissed him. Well, for real at least. In four of the nine weddings they had to kiss, but they'd always kept it brief, without tongue and never talked about it.

And as if he'd read her mind he leaned in closer and locked their gazes. "Are we talking about two friends in a pretend marriage... or more? And real?" He hoped for the latter and also hoped she wouldn't propose a marriage if there weren't also some feelings involved.

Jamie didn't answer and waited what he would do. Also, she couldn't believe in which direction the conversation was heading. Well, her own fault.

"Okay, I'm taking a leap of faith here..." Leonard whispered against her lips and kissed her.

It was a brief and chaste kiss. But a kiss without any alien shenanigans around.

Jamie looked at him and tried to realize that this was real. She had asked her best friend to marry her and he had not answered with words but with a kiss. A very clear answer. Suddenly a smile spread on her lips and she grabbed his uniform shirt pulling him into a second kiss. This time a steamy one. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she dug her fingers deeper in his shirt.

When they came up for air, he kept holding her close. "Still crazy", he murmured.

"Is that a yes?"

"When could I ever say no to you?"

Jamie giggled, then smiled warmly at him and ran her fingers through his hair. "That leaves just one question: What are we telling the crew?"

Before he could answer, a voice sounded. "Doctor McCoy, please report to Medbay."

Leonard sighed.

"We'll talk later", Jamie said.

He nodded and left.