With this Ring…
Chapter 2
"A wedding is an event,
but marriage is a life."
Myles Munroe
Before departure to Riverside, Jim had spent a good two hours with Scotty going over the parameters for the ships patrol of the Federation border.
"Komack is going to keep a close eye on you and the ship, Scotty, so don't do anything out of the norm. Just cruise and keep cruising until it's time for you to return to Jupiter to pick us up. That man is just looking for something to complain about."
"Dinna' worry, Captain. We will not be doin' anything untoward, rest assured. All of you have a great time and enjoy your visit. Please convey my regards to your mother, sir, and thank her again for never forgetting me when she sends you baked goods."Jim grinned. "I'll tell her, Scotty. She loves how you enjoy her baking."
"Aye, Captain, she is a bonny baker. What's not to enjoy!"
With that Jim clasped Scotty on the shoulder and made his way to the shuttle bay where Spock, Bones and Uhura were waiting for him in the corridor.
As they entered the shuttle bay, Lieutenant De Salle stopped him.
"Captain," De Salle said. "We've readied Copernicus for you. I'm afraid Galileo didn't pass inspection yesterday. There's a glitch in the computer read outs, and although it's a minor glitch, I've decided to do a complete inspection of the shuttle's systems just to be on the safe side."
"Good idea, Mr. De Salle. Copernicus will do nicely. It's my favorite shuttle after all," Jim smiled. "Thank you."
Uhura and McCoy strapped themselves in, while Jim took the pilot seat and Spock the copilot's, then Jim and Spock went through the take off procedures.
"Riverside coordinates are in the computer, Captain," Spock told him.
"Very good, Mr. Spock."
"We're ready for take off, Mr. De Salle," Spock told him over the comm.
De Salle exited the shuttle bay and entered the enclosed viewing room that looked out into the huge shuttle bay. From there he controlled all shuttle exits from the ship. He opened the huge bay doors and Jim maneuvered the shuttle off the ship; the giant shuttle bay doors closed behind them and they flew away from the ship. The Copernicus was built with limited warp drive, but it was sufficient for the short trip to Riverside.
The flight past Jupiter and through the inner planets to Earth was smooth and uneventful. Jim, who loved to pilot anything that moved, enjoyed it immensely. Once they were in Earth's atmosphere, they could see the terminator moving across the planet, separating the part of the Earth experiencing daylight from that experiencing darkness. Bones, leaning over to look, never tired of seeing the sight that the astronauts of old called "the big blue marble" because from their vantage point on the space station which had orbited Earth, the planet had the appearance and size of a blue glass marble. Jim brought the shuttle down lower and they crossed the continental United States from the west. Soon the flat plains of Iowa were below them.
The Kirk farm house came into view and Jim piloted the shuttle down to the empty field behind the house where his mother's shuttle was parked. He landed Copernicus gently besides the other shuttle and they disembarked carrying their duffle bags and hanging clothes.
A small whirlwind and a slightly larger whirlwind flew out of the farm house and across the field. Two bodies threw themselves at Jim and four arms went around him. His duffle bag and hanging clothes dropped from his hand to the ground and his arms went around Winona and Peter.
"Jim, sweetheart!" Winona's delighted face looked up at him, and Peter buried his face in Jim's waist. "Welcome home! All of you, welcome home," she beamed at them.
"Ma...Peter. It's great to be home." Jim hugged them hard, loving the feel of the two people he loved most in the world. His mother let him go and then went to hug Uhura and Leonard. She turned and looked at Spock, who as always, had observed the loving interaction between mother and son with great interest.
"Welcome home, Mr. Spock."
"I am most gratified to be here again, Dr. Kirk. Thank you for inviting us."
Peter turned his head away from his Uncle Jim and saw his beloved Mr. Spock and didn't hesitate. He went over to him and put his arms around the tall Vulcan's waist. Spock put his warm hand gently on the sandy curly head. "Peter-kam, it is good to see you."
"I'm glad you're here again, Mr. Spock," he whispered. "I missed you."
"I too, missed you, Peter. We must make good use of the time we will have here, and of course, play several games of chess. Correct?"
Peter grinned up at him. "Correct."
"Hey, don't the rest of us get hugs, young man?" McCoy asked, grinning at the little boy.
"Yes, Peter Kirk, if you want more recordings to take to school, I better get a very good hug!" Uhura told him, mock frowning at him.
"I'm coming, I'm coming Dr. Bones and Miss Nyota," Peter laughed, and went over to hug them.
Winona laughed softly and whispered to Jim, "an embarrassment of riches of people who love him."
"I know," Jim whispered back. "How is he doing, Ma?"
"He's doing very well, dear. He very seldom has nightmares now; we talk about Sam and Aurelan often, his grades are all good, and he has friends he hangs out with; they come to the farm to play, much like your and Sam's friends did."
"Lucky friends," Jim said hugging her again. "Eating all your cookies too, I bet," he grinned.
"Jim Kirk, they're hungry little boys! Now, shall we go inside and get everyone settled?"
They followed her into the homey farmhouse and Winona led them to their respective rooms so they could unpack; Spock and Leonard in the guest room, Jim and Peter in his and Sam's old bedroom which was now Peter's, and Uhura in Winona's room.
Uhura hung her bridal attendant's dress in the closet and began to unpack her duffle. "Winona, I'll be glad to help with the wedding preparations with whatever you need. I was so honored when Violet asked me to be her attendant, but since she doesn't want a party or shower there really isn't that much for me to do as her only attendant."
"I'll be glad of your help, Uhura. Violet is very considerate; since she already has a house, and Gavin has his apartment, she felt they would have more than enough household goods and furniture between them and there was no need for anyone to go to an added expense."
"How big is the guest list, Winona?"
"Well, there are all the Riverside folks who know and love Violet, although she's keeping the church group small. She's invited more people to the reception. The church group, is all of us, Mama Salvatore, Papa, Gino, Marie and her family, Jonathon, Serena, Violet's boss, Dr. Snyder, Gavin's good friend, Sonnai Connolly, his brother of course, and Admiral and Mrs Nogura. I believe that's everyone for the church. Father Joe is marrying them in the small chapel; he's known Violet since she was a baby."
"When will Violet and Davy get here? And Gavin?"
"Violet comes day after tomorrow; Gavin won't get here until a couple of days before the wedding. He wanted to save his days off for a nice honeymoon, and then for his big move to Violet's house. They've decided to live in the house for a while, so there aren't so many big changes in Davy's life too quickly."
"Is Davy going with them on the honeymoon?" Uhura laughed.
Winona laughed too. "Sweet Davy. Violet had a very hard time deciding he could be left behind for a few days. She hasn't forgotten when she had to leave him. 1 "I convinced her that he'd be perfectly happy here with Peter and I for a few days. She finally agreed. It will be lovely to have a baby in the house again."
"Winona, he's going to be a handful! Jim says he doesn't walk, he runs everywhere!"
Winona grinned. "Well you know, Nyota, I have experience with that kind of baby. Jim was fearless, and he never walked when he could run. George, Sam and I learned to never take our eyes off of him. Once, when he was two, we were picnicking on the lake and Jim decided he wanted to swim just like Sam so he threw himself in the lake. Sam was six then and already a very good swimmer, so he jumped in after him before George or I could do it. He grabbed Jim by the hair and towed him in, Jim hollering all the way, "I do it, Sammy, I do it!"
Uhura laughed. "He hasn't changed much, has he."
"No, he hasn't." Winona smiled, but she sighed too, thinking of all the worried days and nights she'd had as a mother of a Star Fleet Captain.
"Ma," Jim called, "where are you?"
"In my bedroom, dear," Winona called. "We're unpacking."
He poked his head into the room, Peter at his heels carrying Sorrel. The cat lay placid and relaxed in his arms. "Peter and I are going to the barn to visit Ginger and Dapple. How is Ginger doing?"
"He's doing very well, Jim. The vet was here not long ago to check him over and re shoe him. He said he's in very good health, still fit to ride; just not to gallop him too hard or too long. Peter rides him often."
"Ma," Jim said reproachably. "You didn't send me the vet bill. I told you I'd take care of the animal bills."
"I forgot, dear," Winona said. "It wasn't that much that you need to worry about the expense."
Jim just nodded, knowing better than to argue, but he made a mental note to comm the vet and have all future bills sent directly to his bank for automatic payment.
Jim and Peter stopped in the kitchen to pick up some carrots and sugar lumps for Ginger and Dapple. The old horse was in a fair way to bring thrououghly spoiled by all the Kirks, but in Jim's opinion he deserved it, after giving them so many years of devoted service, fun, and affection. They spent a good half hour with Ginger and Dapple laughing as the two nibbled at their treats. "Ginger, we'll have a good long ride tomorow," Jim told the old horse. Ginger nuzzled him affectionately and jealous Dapple moved in to do the same. "Peter, you've taken good care of Ginger,"Jim said. "He looks great."
"He sure does." Bones stood at the barn door, arms crossed, blue eyes alight with pleasure at seeing Jim so relaxed and happy. In his opinion as both friend and doctor to Jim, that happened all too seldom. The burden of command sometimes weighed very heavily on Jim's broad shoulders, although he never complained.
Jim's face lit up with a pleased smile at seeing Bones in the barn. "Come on in, Bones. There's one more carrot and you can have the honor of giving it to Dapple. Ginger already had two."
Peter held out the carrot and Leonard gave it to Dapple, who nibbled it out of his hand daintily and politely. "Well, now, aren't you a little sweetheart of a donkey, a perfect little lady," he said scratching Dapple on the forehead. "Your mom sent me out to get you two. Lunch is just about ready."
"I'm getting really hungry, Uncle Jim"
"Me too, let's go in."
They walked into the homey farmhouse kitchen, Jim sniffing as he came in. "It sure smells good, Ma. What are we having?"
"We're having individual leek-and-mushroom pizzas and a watercress, avocado, and, tangerine salad. There are cookies for dessert. Peter, go wash your hands, dear," Winona said, pulling the pizzas out of the oven.
Spock stepped back from setting the large kitchen table to contemplate his handy work. The table looked, as Spock would say, aesthetically pleasing. Winona's Blue Willow dishes that had been handed down to her from her her grandmother, were placed on a checkered blue and white tablecloth; the large salad was in a white milk glass bowl in the middle of the table, and Uhura brought in the blue glasses filled with iced tea and milk for Peter to the table.
Leonard, washing his hands at the kitchen sink, sighed happily. "You know, Winona, sometimes I dream about your fine cookin'" he told her. "When I wake up, I'm all forelorn that I have to go eat in the mess."
Winona laughed. "Well you're going to be here nine more days, so you don't have think about the mess food anymore for a while." She brought the tray with the individual pizzas to the table. "Let's sit down and catch up with each other."
1 See "A Riverside Christmas Mystery"
