A/N: Still don't own them.
Thanks as always to Bookdragon01 for Beta-ing.
The next day was full of cleaning up the house and making sure all the laundry was finished and ready to be packed.
After dinner they settled out on the porch, talking and enjoying the quiet night. Something seemed to be going on between Spock and Uhura as the day went on, everyone was hoping that it wasn't something bad; they'd never seen the two of them happier.
After Joanna told them goodnight, Spock rose from his chair and turned to Jim. "Captain, might I have a word with you, in private?"
"Sure Spock, c'mon, I need to make sure everything's locked up for the night," Jim replied leading the way into the deepening dusk. "What did you want to discuss?" Jim asked as soon as they were out of ear shot of the porch.
"Captain there is a task I wish to undertake and having already undertaken the logical first steps I am now faced with a slight dilemma," Spock replied choosing his words with obvious care. "What I am faced with is a slight paradox between regulations and personal wishes."
"Spock, I'm not sure I follow you. You aren't putting in for a transfer are you?" Jim asked suddenly worried.
"No Jim, I wish to request permission to marry Nyota. As the Captain I am required to obtain your permission as well as your signature on the necessary forms for the Admiralty. I wished to speak with you in private both because at the moment it is a private matter, and because I know that you also have feelings for her. I would hope that this will not strain our friendship as I have come to value it highly."
Jim stared at him for a moment, only slightly surprised by the request but that wasn't what made him pause; it was the fact that Spock thought that he was in love with Uhura as well. "Spock, you have both my permission and any help you need with Starfleet," Jim replied grinning. "But you're wrong about my feelings for her. I do care about her, but I'm not in love with her."
"Your actions and words don't always support that statement, both in the past and even now," Spock replied, his curiosity aroused at Jim's statement.
"You're reading way more into this than is there, Spock. You can have feelings for someone without being in love with them. Ok I'll admit that I was attracted to her when we met at the bar, and for part of my first year at the Academy. But after a few months it got to be more fun to match wits with her, part of that was the fact that she refused to tell me her first name," Jim smirked slightly at the memory.
"But long before I even knew about you two, I'd given up and just enjoyed getting a rise out of her. It's the same sort of thing that I do with Bones. But I'm not in love with her. She-she's family, it'd be like kissing my sister," he finished quietly, looking straight at Spock, shoulders braced as if expecting some sort of attack.
"An interesting metaphor, considering that such an occurrence would be both morally and ethically wrong Captain. But I'm not sure that I understand its usage here," Spock remarked one eyebrow raised, and clearly trying to understand what Jim meant.
"I mean that I feel about her the way I would if she really was my sister. Spock, I comforted her when you were hurt on Targus and were in that trance for two days; it was nothing romantic; protective yes, but that's it," Jim said trying to be as clear as possible.
"I think I understand the type of bond you mean," Spock said looking at him, relieved that Nyota had been partly right about their friend's feelings. "Thank you for clarifying that and for your support with the Admiralty. Both Nyota and I appreciate it," he said with a small Vulcan bow.
"You're very welcome Spock. There's no one who deserves happiness more than you," Jim replied clapping him gently on the arm. "What's the logical first step you said you'd taken?"
"I spoke to her father as is her family's custom and obtained his permission. The next step, logically, was to speak to you so that hopefully, there would be no objection from yourself or Starfleet," Spock replied looking at Jim.
"Get me the paperwork as soon as you can so we can get this going. And please keep me informed about what you decide to do about the ceremony and everything. Just one question though. Are you going to get her an engagement ring?" Jim asked him, starting to get excited at the prospect of the wedding.
"Yes, I had a replica of the ring my Father gave my Mother made and presented it to her before we left Africa. She has been wearing it on a chain around her neck until we could announce it. Jim, thank you for everything you have done for both of us," Spock said sincerely before starting back to the group on the porch.
"That explains why you both were looking so relaxed when you arrived. You're both welcome, I'm the one who should be thanking you both for putting up with me sometimes," Jim replied with a smile, just before they reached the porch steps.
They sat back down and talked for a while longer, making plans for going to the Shipyard Bar the next night. Everyone, Jim included, agreed that it would be an early night, but that they ought to have one night to cut loose, after everything that had happened over the last three weeks. As soon as the main details were settled they started drifting towards their beds.
Jim lingered a bit behind the others, collecting the last stray glasses when Uhura paused, looking at the stars. As he passed her spot leaning on the corner porch post, she held out her glass for him to take.
"Thanks," he said taking it, then caught her hand, and placed a quick kiss on the back.
"What was that for?" she demanded slightly suspicious.
"Congratulations. I figured either you or Spock would kick my ass if I'd kissed your cheek, no matter what I said about not thinking of you that way," he said with a chuckle. "I'm serious Uhura, I quit chasing you a few months after we met but it was too much fun to keep pestering you for your name to really stop. I've never seriously meant anything by it, at least since around that first Halloween," he told her with a slightly guilty half smile as he leaned against the railing a couple feet from her.
"I admitted something to Spock tonight I never really had to myself. I've felt it often enough, but I don't know, I guess I was just too chicken to accept it, until we got into this whole mess with Bones and Joanna," Jim said carefully.
"What are you talking about Kirk?" Uhura asked him, clearly puzzled.
"I told Bones that he's the closest thing to a brother I've had since I was twelve. Its true too. He's needed to look after someone, and I've needed him to keep me in line. But what I didn't want to look at really was the fact of what my feelings for you had changed into. I didn't want to lose whatever kinda friendship and trust we'd built over the last two years by saying something," Jim explained with a sigh, looking up at the stars. "But the truth is," he continued as she opened her mouth to question him. "You've become like a sister to me. I know you probably think its stupid and everything but I can't help it," he finished in a rush, waiting for her to either laugh or haul off and slug him.
"Wow, ok, I don't really know what to say K-Jim, I never expected you to say that," Uhura said as she laid her hand on his arm. "You've come to be part of my second family too, and no, I don't think this will ruin anything," she chuckled as he relaxed. "I guess I've always known you weren't totally serious and I can't say I haven't enjoyed matching wits with you. I just never-," she trailed off, shaking her head. "I don't know, I guess in a way I still thought you were just being the charming ass that you were when we met. Then you'd do or say something and I knew there was more to it, but I never could figure out what it was. I think that was the only thing that I didn't consider. And I have trusted you since you helped bring Spock back," Uhura had to chuckle at the puzzled look on his face.
"After Vulcan was destroyed it felt as though the man I love was disappearing. After the fight you two had, I really wanted to hate you. But I realized a couple of things when I calmed down and listened to your reasons. One was that he needed to step down. We were all in shock, but I still should have seen the fact he wasn't in any state to command. I knew something was off about him but I didn't really realize until you and Scotty were brought to the bridge how close to the edge he was. The other was that of all of us you were somehow the most, but yet least affected by what happened. I'm still not sure how you were still able to function almost normally," Uhura explained, shaking her head slightly at the memory.
"When he volunteered to go over and get Ca-Admiral Pike, I knew he didn't expect to come back, no matter what he said, that's why he kissed me basically good-bye in the transporter in front of you and Scotty. I don't know for certain what happened but something between the fight and his coming back to the bridge helped him center himself again. Part of it was whatever his father said to him after the fight; but something about you got him to see that you were right about stopping Nero before he could destroy another planet," Uhura looked down unable to look him in the face any more.
"I guess it was the fact that I'd lived with the anger at whoever killed my Dad most of my life. I could use it instead of the other way around when I finally had somewhere to direct it. My anger at what happened to the fleet and Vulcan ended up being fed into that old knot of anger so it was colder, more focused on protecting Earth and stopping Nero, than anything, especially after Spock got tunnel vision about getting it touch with Starfleet. That's what set me off before and after he marooned me it made me determined to trust the other him and Scotty," Jim chuckled softly. "I'm just glad we got the chance to work things out," he said smiling at her as he moved to collect their glasses.
"I told Spock to get me the forms as soon as he could so I could sign off on them. Can I see your ring before you go? Spock said it was a replica of his mom's," Jim asked as Uhura started towards the door.
Uhura wordlessly lifted it free of her shirt by the chain. It was beautiful in its simplicity, Jim could honestly say that. A single blue stone set in a mix of gold and silver twisted together.
"It's perfect for you; I hope you can wear it soon," Jim told her sincerely.
"I do too. Good night Jim. Thank you for everything," Uhura said as they separated at the door and she headed upstairs.
"You're welcome. Night Nyota," he replied taking the glasses into the kitchen.
'Two years,' Jim thought wryly as he placed them in the washer. 'They've been the best kept secret on the ship.' As he heard the murmur of their quiet voices on the stairs, he had to smile over the fact that the ship rumor mill was going to blow up when this came out. If he hadn't known he never would have guessed so it wasn't too surprising that no one else had.
The next morning Jim headed down stairs to start the coffee before going to join Spock and whoever else was up for a sparring match. As he entered the kitchen he noticed Spock's PADD on the table with his name on the screen in Uhura's handwriting, making him smile.
As Jim waited for the coffee he sat down and went over the forms. By the time he'd finished filling his portion of them out the coffee was ready so he quickly transferred a blank copy of the forms as well as one of the completed ones to a chip and saved both the chip and the PADD copies, dropped the chip in his coat pocket, grabbed a cup of coffee and the PADD and headed to the garage to spar until his mom called them in to help with breakfast, and make sure the PADD got back to Spock without anyone else realizing what was going on.
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and playing with Joanna. They even managed to get Spock to join them for a game of hide and seek after pointing out that logically if someone were able to hide from friends that knew them, someone who didn't would have less chance of finding them.
Surprisingly it was Uhura, then Joanna, and Winona who managed to find Spock the most. Uhura seemed to almost have some kind of radar for finding him no matter where he hid that the others found funny.
Dinner was a traditional cookout, eaten on the porch; and afterwards they toasted marshmallows and told stories of their escapades growing up before putting Joanna to bed and getting ready to go out.
About an hour and a half later Winona looked up from her book to find Joanna watching her from the living room doorway. "What's the matter, Honey, can't sleep?" she asked as Joanna hurried over to her.
"No it's too quiet up there, Miss 'Nona. When are they gettin' back?" Joanna asked as she curled up in Winona's lap.
"They'll be back around ten at least that was the plan. But I doubt that Spock will let them stay out too late," Winona told her with a smile. "Do you want to lie on the couch and wait for them?"
"Can I?" Joanna asked surprised.
"Yes, I could use the company too," she said nudging Joanna off her lap and standing.
Winona got Joanna settled on the couch easily and a few minutes later she was asleep again snuggled in the folds of one of Mary Kirk's quilts.
They got back from the bar just after ten; Winona had just checked on Joanna when she heard the sound of the van pulling up and moved to stand in the doorway to warn them about Joanna being down stairs.
"How was -what happened?" she asked shocked as they stepped inside, seeing the bruises on Jim, Leonard, Scotty, and Sulu, while Uhura and Spock hovered over a limping Chekov. "Everyone in the dining room and keep it down, Joanna woke up, came downstairs and fell back to sleep in the living room," she ordered quietly.
Once Chekov was seated, Uhura hurried upstairs as the others pulled the dining chairs into a group.
"That bastard Dirk Metzler showed up drunk with a couple friends and decided to pick a fight." Jim explained rubbing his throbbing left wrist as Uhura returned with McCoy's medkit.
"Oh Jim, I thought you'd learned to ignore him years ago," Winona replied pulling a chair next to his and sitting.
"He was, until the idiot decided to upend the table on Chekov when verbal abuse didn't work. Hold still Pavel, I just wanna make sure I didn't miss anythin' back at the bar. I don't like trustin' other people's equipment." McCoy ran his tricorder over the boy. "With some of the shit he was spewin' I'm a bit shocked that ya didn't take a swing at him sooner. You'll be fine kid," he added patting Chekov gently on the shoulder and starting to scan Scotty's injuries.
"Ah'm fine Doc, Jus' a few bruised knuckles, an' they airn't enough ta slow me down," Scotty assured him, managing to make his split lip start bleeding, earning a glower from McCoy as he reached for the dermal regenerator.
"Hold still or I just might manage to seal that mouth of yours shut, ya crazy Scot," McCoy grumbled as he sealed Scotty's lip and started on his split knuckles.
"Let me guess that same nonsense about his sister's accident?" Winona asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Only this time he was going on about how I was either on behind her on her bike or chasing slash racing her on mine when she wrecked. He was so drunk he couldn't seem to keep his story straight. It wasn't worth it Bone. Besides that's what he wanted me to do so that he could call the cops on me for starting it, and I was hoping that he'd get tired and go away. The cops know I wasn't anywhere near her that night, I was up at Cornel getting ready to defend my dissertation. He just can't accept the fact that she still won't tell him what was going on that night, or that it was an accident, so he got it fixed in his head that we were more than friends and or that I know something about it. Truthfully I'd rather fight Cupcake, Canolli, Cookie, and Twinkie again than waste time with him." Jim replied. anger still edging his words. "Spock, thanks for knocking them when you did," he added shooting Spock a grateful look.
"You're welcome, I was merely doing my best to end the altercation as quickly as possible before there were any more injuries," Spock replied calmly, but no one missed the remaining spark of anger in his eyes and expression at the unprovoked attack.
"So who are the baked goods?" Winona asked gently wrapping her arm around Jim's shoulders, trying to lighten the mood by changing the subject as McCoy moved to Sulu and started fixing the pilot's split knuckles.
"The night I met Pike again and Uhura I got into a fight with four cadets. I more or less gave the leader- his real name is Richard Martin- the nickname Cupcake. I called him that when he started getting in my face for talking to Uhura; I told him I was joking or to relax, Cupcake, not totally sure which. And no, Mom, I haven't called them that except to Bones, in private in almost two years, but it's still going around," Jim said with a small smile.
"Of the others, Carrannelli was on the Enterprise, Teng, and Williams were on the Farragut. Cu-Martin's now second in command of security under Lt Cmdr Giotto. He's turned out to be a solid security officer and one of our best," Jim explained as Bones carefully scanned his hand.
"Yeah, he's definitely hard to kill," Bones replied from where he was finishing his treatment of Jim's injuries.
"Ok Leonard, let me take a look at you," Winona ordered as she watched McCoy trying to manipulate the dermal regenerator to fix his right knuckles with his almost equally damaged left hand.
"Damnit, maybe ya better Winona, I haven't been this banged up since the Academy when I was havin' to drag Jim bodily outta fights damn near every weekend," he admitted grudgingly handing over both his tricorder and the regenerator.
"I have wondered where that particular set of names originated since I heard them while teaching, but I have hesitated to ask either of them, particularly Lt Martin because of his sensitivity to its use. How much alcohol had you consumed that night, Captain that caused you to be so imprudent?" Spock asked as Winona started running the regenerator over McCoy's split knuckles.
"More than I really care to remember, Spock. I was 'celebrating' finishing a computer programming degree and wasn't paying much attention, mostly because I had finished all the ones that Cornel offered. So I was going to have to look into another field if I wanted to keep going there or transfer to another college," Jim chuckled at the looks of surprise on the others faces as they realized what he'd just admitted.
"Yes you heard me right; I'd been taking classes for about six years by then. Spock, I know you read my record two years ago and saw that I graduated from high school at sixteen. Why do you think Pike was so eager to get me to join Starfleet?" Jim grinned watching as Bones flexed his hands as his mom moved on to the bruises on his face.
"I will admit that I had never really considered that fact, other than to surmise that the awards you hold in computers as well as your IQ level were the reasons for your ability to plant the subroutine into the Kobyashi Maru program," Spock replied making the others chuckle.
"I was, as Pike put it when we talked that night, 'the only genius level repeat offender in the Midwest' for around eight years," Jim said grinning at the memory as his friends figured his age in their heads and looked at him surprised; Jim just chuckled. "Yes there are some things I did then I'm not too proud of now but I don't think I'd be here without them."
"And on that note we all have to be up early tomorrow so to bed with all of you. Jim, you or Leonard need to carry Joanna back up stairs," Winona told them, as she stood up. McCoy detoured to carefully scoop Joanna off the couch and soon the house was quiet except for Scotty's snoring.