2287 - Oakland

In these days of home replicators, preparing a packed lunch would probably be considered odd by most people, but I enjoyed the act of making things by hand, even something as prosaic as a sandwich. I was making one for Grant before sending him off to school for the day when Grace came crashing into the kitchen.

"I got it, Mom, I got in!" she said excitedly. "The notification just came through: I've been accepted into Starfleet Academy!"

Today was Grace's seventeenth birthday. She would always say afterwards that this was the best birthday present she ever received.

""""""

2290: Starfleet Academy, San Francisco

All eyes were on Captain James T. Kirk as he danced with class valedictorian Grace Coleman on the floor of the Starfleet Academy ballroom. Grace's own eyes were gleaming with excitement. A dance with her hero was something she could never have turned down. Jim had given the commencement speech to the graduating class of 2290 and, as tradition demanded, got the first dance of the formal ball that night with the top female cadet.

Janice and I were among those watching them, me in a designer evening gown and she in her dress uniform, as were all the Starfleet officers present.

"I've been talking with a lot of people," I told her. "Seems our daughter cut quite a swathe through the female cadets in her class during her three years at the Academy."

"Not surprising," chuckled Janice. "She is very dashing."

"True. And apparently one of her conquests was a Vulcan."

"Really? I thought Vulcans considered homosexuality illogical."

"As far as anyone can tell, they do, or at least we think it puzzles them. Vulcans have always been notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to their sexual practices - we only know about pon farr because of a report Jim Kirk made after being roped into one of their rituals - so who can say for sure. I guess this girl's curiosity must have got the better of her. Can you imagine the scene? 'I do not understand these physical sensations you arouse in me.' 'You're not supposed to understand them, just to go with them.' 'To do so would not be logical.' 'Maybe not, yet here you are in my room and we're both naked. That being so, the logical thing to do next is kiss me.'"

Janice laughed.

"Hah, I can see that," she said. "That's probably exactly how it went."

"What are you two chuckling about?" asked Grace. The first dance number had ended and she and Jim Kirk had come across to see us as most everyone else took to the dancefloor.

"On nothing much, darling," I said. "We were just speculating on ways in which you might be doing your bit to foster greater inter-species understanding."

Janice almost spit out her drink at this, and went red in the face trying not to laugh. Jim Kirk looked puzzled, and Grace irritated.

"Fine," she said. "Don't tell me then."

I gave her a big hug.

"It was just a private little joke between Janice and me, honest."

"Well, okay then, I guess," she said, allowing herself to be mollified, because however big you get a hug from your mother always works wonders.

"Lt. Rand," said Jim, "would you object if I asked your wife for the next dance?"

"Of course not, sir," replied Janice, who had managed to regain her composure.

"Then, Dr Lester, would you care to join me on the dancefloor?"

He offered me his arm.

"I'd love to, Captain" I said, taking it.

"You're looking very happy, Janice," said Jim, sliding an arm around my waist as we took to the floor.

"I am," I admitted. "I have a wife who adores me and two wonderful children."

"I'm truly glad for you."

"The only cloud on my horizon is that Janice ships out tomorrow on the Excelsior as its new communications officer. I don't know when I'll get to see her again. I'm going to miss her terribly."

"She'll be in good hands serving under Captain Sulu," said Jim. "He'll look after her and bring her home safely to you."

"I imagine Grace will be assigned to a starship soon as well, then there'll just be me and Grant left at home. He'll be going off to college next year. I'll really have 'empty nest syndrome' to deal with when that happens."

"Two amazing children, and Grace in particular is a young woman anyone would be proud to call theirs." He sounded wistful.

"Is everything OK with you?"

"Seeing you and Grace and Janice together, I see my life as it might have been and I find myself regretting paths not taken."

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"I've done many things in my life I'm proud of, and many I'm not," he said, "but I made my bed and I have to lie in it. The chance of a family was there if I wanted it, but I chose the Enterprise instead."

"You've been an amazing captain," I said.

"Thank you; that means more than you can realize."

He looked into my eyes thoughtfully.

"Twenty years exiled on Earth is long enough. I'm going to use the clout I have with Starfleet - which is quite considerable - to get that order lifted."

"Thank you, but I'm happy where I am. I'm not in any hurry to go back into space."

"Maybe not, but you should have the option, and I'm going to see to it that you do."

The dance ended and we disengaged. Jim took my hand, gave a little bow, and kissed it.

"It was really good seeing you again, Janice," he said, sounding sad, "really good."

Then he turned on his heel and headed off back across the dancefloor.

I didn't know it then, but this was the last time I would ever see James Kirk.