Hello there! Hope my fellow US authors enjoyed their 4th of July. Fireworks are the bomb. So anyway, didn't upload the fourth chapter yesterday because of those Independence Day events. Which means I unfortunately will be double-posting again today, awk.

At any rate, thank you again to everyone that's supported me so far! Hope you enjoy this latest addition to the oneshot family!

Warning: Contains many spoilers for Into Darkness.

4. Smile

He has many different smiles, each one defined for specific situations.

Take, for example, his trademark I'm James Tiberius Kirk smirk (rhyme fully intended). It's pretty much a one-size-fits-all and is his go-to smile in most cases, but he's noticed that it tends to pop up most whenever his crew needs confidence that they will succeed, and/or when he's in a bad (read: rebellious) enough mood to mock whoever is doubting/questioning him at the time.

Then there's his icy you will die smile that could probably more accurately be classified as a snarl. Used on any and all enemies who dare to hold any of his crew prisoner (as well as arrogant drunks who insult anyone in his surrogate family), and reserved specially for those villains that harm anyone in that family.

Well, it's also used on anyone stupid enough to ask about his past more than once.

Anyway, after that there's his I can empathize smile. He has to admit, in years past he used it to bed an almost unfathomable number of women, but lately, he's proud to say, he's been using it more and more as a genuine way to comfort his crew whenever issues come up in their lives.

After all, while being Captain means many different things, one of its main definitions (in his eyes) is to always be ready to provide support for his family.

He shuts off the computer after finishing his Captain's Log for the day, then leans back in his desk chair, steepling his fingers. A genuine smile slowly spreads across his face as he recalls the holiday celebration hosted on the Enterprise last night.

Ah, that's right. The elusive whoa, I actually feel...happy smile has joined the ranks as well.

It's the rarest of his smiles, and rightfully so, considering his past. After Tarsus, his first smile of this kind happened at the Academy after many months spent getting to know Bones. However, within the past year or so (since the Enterprise was assigned her unprecedented five-year exploratory mission), it's popped up at an increasing rate with every passing month.

He's a conflicting mix of relieved and alarmed at this.

Relieved, because his mask is finally wearing away. After twenty years of using it. Now his crew, his family, can at long last see who he really is.

Alarmed, because his mask is finally wearing away. After twenty years of using it. Now his crew, his family, can at long last see who he really is.

He doesn't want to have to deceive his family any longer, yet paradoxically, he's not sure he wants them to see what's behind the mask, either.

Heck, it's been defending him for so long even he doesn't clearly know who James Tiberius Kirk truly is anymore.

If only Chris were here. The smile fades off his face as a lump forms in his throat. Whenever he spoke to the exemplary Captain (later Admiral), he could relax. Chris always saw right through his mask. In fact, now that he thinks about it, he's willing to bet that Chris understood him better than he understands himself.

The smile returns to his face as he recalls the conversation he had with his friend, mentor, father while in...stasis. That was probably the most accurate description for it.

Blackness.

As his senses slowly return to him, that's the first thing he notices. It's dark, so dark, like the venomous fury and hatred boiling through his veins only...how much time had passed since he'd last talked to Khan? A day? A week?...ago.

His sensation of touch finally comes back. Ah, so that's why it's so dark. His eyes are closed.

Slowly, he opens them. They're slightly gummy, and there's resistance when he first tries, as if he's been...out, gone, whatever the term is...for longer than he originally thought.

"You're awake."

At the sound of the gravelly, deep voice, memories flood back into his head. The warp core chamber, Qo'noS, the room with all of Starfleet's top officers,...

He sits up. He's on a spotless white surface, surrounded by white mist obscuring the surroundings. Sitting about three feet away is - no, it can't be.

"I'm dead."

It's a statement, not a question, one that brings an easygoing smile to Chris's face.

Jim studies his father in all but name. He looks so relaxed, more at peace with himself than he probably ever has been.

"Are you?" comes the reply. "Why do you think so?"

Jim considers his answer carefully. For some reason, he feels like he's got all the time in the world to respond.

"Well, considering that we're in a white room - or are we actually enclosed? - and that I feel completely healed-" he shakes his arms and legs and inhales deeply - "it sure seems like I am." A pause. "Is this heaven, then?"

Chris chuckles. "It is what you make of it, son."

At that last word, Jim's gaze jolts from the floor to the Admiral. Stricken, he protests, "I don't deserve a father, Chris. Certainly not you. I - I almost got everyone killed! We all would be dead if it weren't for Scotty. And I was emotionally compromised, not fit to command, just like Spock was right after Nero attacked Vulcan. And then-"

"Jim."

It's a three-letter word, but it has such power in its inflection that he stops. In that one word, Chris expresses love, respect, patience, and understanding. His gentle voice continues, "Jim, you did great. You saved thousands of lives by going into that chamber, and in the face of death not only accepted full responsibility but also gave everything you had - including your own life - for your crew. If doing all that doesn't make you deserve a father, Jim, then I don't know what does."

And there it is. That rare, truly happy smile slowly spreads across his face.

By the time he realizes he is also crying, Chris is gone, though one last sentence resounds in Jim's head: "I'm proud of you, son."

"Son."

One three-letter word with, again, so much power. It means he belongs. It means he is loved. It means he has someone to turn to when the going gets tough. It means he finally has a family that cares.

His thoughts turn to the other members in his slightly dysfunctional surrogate family.

Bones. His CMO and best friend, his true brother who's somewhat older than he is and far wiser than he will ever be. A prickly, gruff miracle worker of a surgeon whose outward appearance hides a heart of gold.

Spock. His First Officer, his trusty sidekick balancing out his own recklessness and irrationality. A calm, collected intellectual who feels far deeper than most would guess at first glance.

Sulu. His Helmsman, the younger brother he's never had who's hiding deep potential. A serious, dedicated born leader who just needs his own chance to flap his wings and shine.

Chekov. His Navigator, his innocent nephew who's still a bit socially awkward. A young, excitable genius who performs mind-blowing calculations in the blink of an eye despite his size.

Uhura. His Comms Officer, his confident sister who easily banters with him. A beautiful, intelligent diplomat who's powerful with her tongue, completely destroying the damsel-in-distress stereotype.

Scotty. His Chief Engineer, his chummy uncle who knows when to push and when to stop. A lighthearted, ingenious innovator who is just enough off his rocker to perform the unimaginable with the "Lady Enterprise."

And the latest, but most certainly not least, addition. Dr. Carol Marcus. His Science Officer, his go-to confidant who he's recently felt might become something more. A courageous, witty beauty who combines smarts with looks to great effect, especially when keeping him in line.

He needs them. They're what keeps him anchored to reality, why he's made it thus far. He owes everything to them, to his surrogate family.

They're the reason why, at the end of every day, no matter how stressful or cruel fate has been, he can conjure up his genuine smile before he goes to bed.

Man, this one started out alright but began grinding to a halt in the middle. Blegh. I do like that it's lighter than the previous three oneshots, though.

Please let me know how I did!