2279: Starfleet Academy ballroom, San Francisco

It was difficult not to feel a sense of deja vu. Once again we were in the Starfleet Academy ballroom following a beautiful ceremony before a Justice of the Peace in the old Mission District, and once again I looked and felt like a princess in the dress that had been Jim Kirk's wedding present last time out and which I was wearing again for this wedding. With all its silk and lace and fine embroidery, it was a stunning creation, and since I can still get into it would have been a crime not to wear it a second time. Janice looked suitably dashing in her Starfleet dress uniform, Grant made an adorable flower boy, and my tomboy daughter, who usually hated wearing dresses, had happily worn one on this occasion to be our maid of honor. The last time I got married, Janice was my maid of honor. I remember dancing with Arthur and watching her dance with Jamie. Now I was the one dancing with Janice, and she was my wife. It's funny how things sometimes turn out.

"A penny for them?" said Janice as she swirled me around.

"I was just thinking that from now on I'll be introducing you as 'Janice, my wife' and how much I liked the sound of that."

"Me too," she said, leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the lips.

Everyone was on the dancefloor except Jim Kirk, who was sitting on the sidelines talking with my son. Grant was sitting on Jim's lap and chatting away animatedly in that way only a 5 year old can. Jim had the most wistful look I'd ever seen on his face, tenderly ruffling Grant's golden hair as he listened to him babble on.

I thought about that look often in the days that followed, but I've no idea what it meant.

""""""

2283: Cinnamon Cove, Maine

Even through the glass I could hear the cawing of the seagulls overhead as I gazed out the picture window of the holiday cottage where my family and I had been vacationing for the past week. I couldn't help but smile at the sight before me. Grant was sitting out front at an easel, painting the scenic view before him. He was a quiet, serious boy, and despite being only nine years old was already an impressive artist. There was a stillness about him that was in direct contrast to the restless energy of his sister. He could sit still for hours, where Grace needed to be up and about and doing things. What she was currently doing was climbing the sharp cliff face on the headland at the outer edge of the bay, though at the moment she was out of sight.

Then there was Janice. As I watched so she emerged from the waves having completed her daily swim across the bay. She looked gorgeous in her swimsuit and she was mine, a fact that still made me smile. I watched her walk up the small beach, towelling herself off as she progressed towards the cottage, and was waiting for her as she came through the door. It had been four years, but we still kissed with the passion of newlyweds.

"I was surprised to find you weren't there when I woke," I told her.

"Hey, I do get up before you once in a while," she chuckled.

"Did you see Grace during your swim?"

"Yeah, she was tackling an overhang last time I spotted her. Our daughter is fearless."

"That's what worries me. I hope she doesn't get new cuts and bruises to add to those she managed to acquire last week."

"Those are badges of honor," said Janice. "When those bullies picked on Grant because he preferred to hang out with his friend Amy rather than kick a ball around they let themselves in for a world of hurt."

"Grace has been fiercely protective of him since the day he was born. I guess those bullies never got the memo, that if you're going to mess with Grant Coleman his sister is going to have more than just words with you."

"Our feisty little warrior," said Janice, shaking her head ruefully. "There were three of them, and she sent them all fleeing with their tails between their legs."

Smiling, I stroked Janice's cheek, and we kissed again.

"This is perfect," I said, "being here with you, Grant, and Grace, the three people I love most in the world. My family. I can honestly say this is the happiest I've ever been. And it feels wonderful."

"Me too," said Janice, leaning in for another kiss, "me too."