Sorry about the delay!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek

Cordelia sat at the foot of Ginger's bed, eating Chinese food from a take-out container with chopsticks. Ginger was clearly having difficulties.

"Why is this so hard?" Ginger groaned. "Who the hell eats rice with chopsticks?!"

"I don't—

"I want a fork."

"Which is why I brought one," Sulu chuckled as he walked in. "You ready to go home, babe?"

"Yes," she groaned. "My freaking paper work needs to get done and then we can go. I even got to change into human clothes, I'm not all hooked up to a bunch of crap, and I've signed everything. I want to leave." she paused briefly to huff in annoyance. Seeming satisfied with her short rant, she straightened her back. "But for now..."

"Your fork," he offered it with a grin. She accepted it with a kiss, digging in happily. The three chatted companionably while their other friends filed in, confusion crossing Ginger's eyes as they did. Cordelia hid her smile.

"What's going on, Hikaru?" Ginger eyed him suspiciously.

"Well," he gulped. "I've sort of been busy the past few weeks."

"Doing what exactly?"

Sulu reached into his deep pockets and pulled out a square jewelry box. "I wanted to celebrate the new addition to our family, so I bought you—us, something. Go on and open it."

Ginger did just that slowly. She lifted the lid of the box and grinned at the sight of a cute little key chain, with a simple silver key. "Is this what I think it is?"

"A house," Sulu nodded. "And...a future."

She looked even closer and gasped. Tied to it by a little string, a silver band hung from the key ring. It was an emerald cut diamond, two smaller diamonds set on either side of it. When she refocused her attention on Sulu, who knelt at her bedside, Ginger gasped. "I didn't expect..."

"I thought our friends should be present, to share this special moment," he cleared his throat. "Virginia Princeton, I love you. I don't want to marry you because of the baby, I want to marry you because of your southern charm and grace, your fantastical view of life, and because I could never be with another woman in my entire life if she wasn't you. Would you do the honor of becoming my wife?"

Ginger squealed and jumped from the hospital bed. Not caring that Leonard disapproved of too much excitement, she knocked her new fiancé to the ground in elation, all the while squealing that he was an idiot if even had to ask. The moment, which didn't seem like it could get better, was made better with the arrival of another friend.

Cordelia admired the scene with a trace of tears in her eyes (Mina should have been able to witness this) when she looked up and saw James watching from the doorway with a pleased smirk, Spock close behind him.

"James," she breathed lightly, her chest constricting at the sight of him pale, but awake. Sulu and Ginger scrambled up from the ground in surprise. "When did you wake up?"

"About an hour ago," he replied casually. "Bones didn't want me walking around, but Spock helped me out."

"You broke the rules?" Uhura grinned at her boyfriend.

"The Captain wished to witness the event with the rest of us," Spock replied. His lips quirked, so fast you would've missed it if you blinked. "I followed the orders of my captain and assisted him."

"I'm really happy for you, Sulu," James clapped the man on the soldier. "You too, Ginge. You'll be the hottest pregnant chick ever."

"Thanks," she rolled her eyes dryly, still clearly pleased.

"And as happy as I am though, I really need to go to sleep," he said with a strange look. "I'm wiped out. Spock?"

"Here, Captain."

Discreetly as she could, Cordelia followed the pair out of the room. She swiftly eased herself beside James and lifted one of his arms around her shoulders to support him the same way Spock was. A grin lit his face. "Cordie, my girl."

"Hey," she said softly. "How do you feel?"

"Tired, but better," he replied. Something in his eyes flickered. "Cordelia, I'm sorry I dropped that bomb about going rogue on you right before I let. It wasn't right."

"No worries," she assured him. "I'm just glad you're alive and that you did the right thing in the end."

"I'm going home tonight," he grinned. "Someone told me you'll be there."

"Yes," she blushed. "I've been staying there because I can't go back to the apartment."

"Mina," he said in understanding. "That doesn't matter much. I'll rest up and then we can go home. I've missed having a girl who snuggles around."

Cordelia chuckled and smiled at him shyly. "You are quite full of yourself. I missed that."

"Unsurprising," he wiggled his eyebrows as they entered the hospital room. "I need a nap before I go home. Stay?"

"Of course," she replied. While she and Spock helped him into bed, Cordelia felt a tingling sensation at how he said they would go home. It probably meant nothing. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder at the wording.

We can go home.

Oddly enough, she already felt at home.

"You should just stay at my place for a while," James muttered sleepily. "It's where you belong, you know? With me."

"Go to sleep, James," she whispered. "I'll be here when you wake up."

"You always are," he grinned, before his mouth dropped and his breath evened. Cordelia squeezed his hand affectionately. She'd missed his smile and his cocky nature. It was what she needed to feel like herself a little more. Her world was turning upside down, but James was still the same as ever. That she could count on.

)-(

Cordelia watched James stagger to the couch with a laugh. "You should have let Leonard or Spock bring you home."

"I haven't slept in my own bed in two weeks," he said stiffly. "I want to watch movies and eat cheap food before I have to write my report."

"Cheeseburgers?"

"All the way."

She chuckled and reached for the PADD sitting on the counter. There was a burger joint down the street he liked, so she opted for that. From the couch, he flipped on the TV and began flicking through channels.

"You've been watching a lot of chick flicks," he smirked. "Romantic comedies seem to be your specialty."

"I like them," she said simply. "And there are some adventure flicks, thank you very much."

"I see one."

"Do you want your burger or not?"

"I think chick flicks are fun," he winked.

"I think I liked you better when you were asleep, you know that?"

"I like the saucy side of you."

"I only have it around you."

"I bring out the best in people."

They shared a familiar smile. This was their routine, what they did well. James flirted, she brushed it off as a joke, and they hardly strayed. There were times when she flirted back, but it was rare. Cordelia wasn't a professional flirt like James, so she never wanted to make that awkward effort. She liked them the way they were.

At least, sort of. She wished James would stop being a flirt and maybe make a serious move of commitment, but she didn't feel right wanting him to do something she couldn't do either. Courage wasn't her strong suit—it was James'.

"You take such good care of me," he said when she curled herself up on the couch. "How would I have survived school? Life?"

"I don't know," she blushed. "But I wouldn't have survived without you making me take breaks so often either. I needed the relaxation."

"I'm glad I could help," he grinned. "I love corrupting people."

"I don't know if you've corrupted me exactly..."

"Embrace the corruption," he poked her in the side, causing her to fidget and laugh. He got a smug look on his face and placed his arms behind his head. As they watched TV in silence, Cordelia snuck glances at him. Almost the entire time, his eyes seemed to appraise her and make her feel nervous. Sometimes he did this before he spilled his heart about something bothering him.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before James turned the volume down and fiddled with his hands.

"There was a moment," when he spoke, Cordelia could barely hear him. "When I was running to help Chekov stabilize the ship, I saw people in my crew die. I watched them fall to their deaths, Cor. That's why I did what I did, you know? That's why I had to fix the ship and I didn't care if I died."

"Spock told me everything," she assured him. "Then the others told me the story again. You sacrificed yourself for your ship."

"I just couldn't watch them die anymore," he said. "How many families were ruined? Because of this damned mission, Mina..."

"Kahn would have attacked StarFleet either way," she cut him off, something she rarely did. "You are not to blame for Mina's death."

"Then why do I feel so guilty?" he looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"Because, you're thankful that you're alive," she answered for him, scooting closer to wipe his tears away. "You came back from being barely dead, and you're glad you have a second chance, even when you know that Mina didn't, and that's what makes you feel guilty."

James drew her near so that she rested in his lap, pulling her as close as he could manage. She ran her fingers through his hair. It wasn't hard to give him comfort. Cordelia simply held him and soothed him, even though he wasn't crying. For once, James wasn't being dramatic.

Sometimes, you just needed a hug.

"Thanks, Cordie," he murmured. They were still in each other's arms when Cordelia's personal PADD informed her she was receiving a call. Confused, she hurried to it and pressed the answer. She was met with the sight of her captain.

"Captain Darvis!" she exclaimed. "I was under the impression..."

"You are still on leave of grief, yes," the man brushed it aside. "I wanted to thank you for your honorable actions the day Kahn attacked StarFleet. You saved many lives and took charge as a true member of StarFleet should. Many important men will remember your face caring for them, and officials were impressed with your leadership abilities."

"It was no matter, Captain," she blushed, avoiding James' impressed stare. "Anyone would have done the same if I had given them the chance."

"That attitude is exactly why you will be awarded in the ceremony where we honor those we lost," Darvis smiled. "You have honored us, so we will honor you."

"Is...is anyone else being..."

"Commander Spock will be awarded as well," he said. "For capturing Kahn."

"I don't believe this," Cordelia said. "Thank you, sir."

"I would also like to approach the idea of a transfer."

"I don't understand, Captain," Cordelia frowned. "If I'm being awarded, why do you want to move me?"

"You've proven your worth," he smiled. "You're far beyond the Farragut now, and you deserve to be with the best. The Enterprise is the ship for the best of the best. You wouldn't be the head nurse, I believe you're friends with the head nurse there, but you would be respected and a candidate for the best exploration. You should be there, Nurse Jennings."

"I-I would be honored," she stammered out.

"I'll talk to the Captain of the Enterprise and a few more officials to discuss it," Darvis told her. "Until then, mourn. You can't grieve forever, though, remember that."

"Until then, Captain."

"Not your captain for long, Jennings."

When she set her PADD aside, Cordelia saw James grinning like a child from the couch. She blushed and walked smoothly back over to him. "I can't believe this."

"You're amazing, it's about time you're finally recognized for it," James said, opening his arms to her again. "And I told you I would somehow get you on my ship."

"Imagine that," she smiled. "All we need is Ginger and we're all there."

"Because of her and Sulu getting married, she'll be on the ship either way. We'll be...complete."

"Yeah," Cordelia settled into his embrace, which felt more intimate than before. "Complete."