James broke out of his reverie when he heard the front door whoosh open. Turning and walking down the hall, he grinned when he saw Maddy.
She wasn't that different from the day he had first met her. Maybe a few more lines on her face, a little thicker around the waist, a few more scars from various ordeals, but he didn't mind any of that.
"Did he give you any trouble?" Maddy asked softly, as he wrapped her in a hug.
"No, he didn't. You've raised him too well for him to give any trouble."
"Well if I had left it up to you it would've been cookies for dinner, paint on the walls, little trinkets gone missing, someones- mfff!"
Once again, James had used his secret weapon to make her stop talking.
"Have I ever told you how much I hate it when you do that? I never get to finish my sentences?" she asked with fake irritability.
"You just finished one."
"Shush it now," she warned him.
"What we're you doing when I came in?"
"Just thinking about a certain day, four years ago."
"Why were you thinking about George's birthday?"
"I don't know," he replied shrugging.
"Well, if you were thinking about that day you'll remember that you had a certain question for me, and now I have suitable answer. Come to think of it, you ask me this every year on George's birthday."
"It's ringing a bell, tell me your answer and I'll remember."
"Well,
I'm ready for another one."
"That's great, another what?
Oh, wait, really Mads?"
"Yes, I am. George is old enough now that he doesn't demand my constant attention."
"Well, you just tell me when you want to get started on that mission Lieutenant Kirk and I will okay it."
"Whenever you're ready sir," she replied, a grin coming to her face.
"Well, let's call Uhura and Spock to take care of certain things then I will be ready, ma'am."
Ahhhhhh! Done! And in a night and a morning! I hope you like it!