Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. I love your comments and feedback. I don't always get to reply personally to everything but I cherish every piece.

The end is near. This is the first part of our two-part finale. This was actually all one humongous chapter but then it got too long and I decided to break it up so I could post sooner.

Chapter 26: Happy-ish Ever After part one

"At 0200 hrs. San Francisco time a Starfleet facility in Jupiter's orbit was breached by an unnamed terrorist group led by former Starfleet Admiral Alexander Marcus. At this time we believe the attack may be retaliation for Marcus' dismissal from the organization due to misappropriation of funds and misconduct. However, nothing is conclusive yet."

Christopher Pike heard the Starfleet press secretary Jane Barnett say a little too calmly for the legions of press ready to pounce at any moment on the screen in front of him.

"Is it truth that he arranged for the murder of his own daughter?" And pounce they did.

"Let me give the rest of my statement and then we will have time for questions." Several in front of her grumble at that but she continued on.

"The intruders tried to force the head researcher at the facility to give them access to all projects. Instead, after evacuating Marcus's hostage, a child believed to be under the age of three, the project head activated the facility's defenses and initiated a self-defense sequence. All those at the facility that were not evacuated were killed, including Alexander Marcus."

What the press secretary said was mostly true from a certain point of view. Of course Jane Jackson did not actually activate a self-defense sequence but utilized her ring and a glass of water. The ring she put on the last time he saw her was actually a bomb triggered when it made contact with water or rather the hydrogen in the water. That was in his classified briefing that he received only 30 minutes earlier before the press conference.

The pretty words don't really matter. It all essentially boiled down to Jane Jackson sacrificing her life to make sure Alexander Marcus would not get his hands on her research or her brother. It was drastic, but necessary. David was safe and his former mentor would never be able to hurt anyone ever again.

However, the press was not satisfied with the simple statement. Maybe they all realized that there was more to this crazy story than what was being told. Of course maybe it was Jane's own fault for opening the floor to questions.

"Is it true that Alexander Marcus's grandson David Marcus was the young child in question? According to other reports, the child was forcibly removed from the care of his grandmother, Vulcan Council member Dr. Amanda Grayson, prior to the incident at the facility. Are the incidents connected?" Chris closed his eyes at that first question. Barnett did not even blink.

"In line with Federation guidelines we cannot reveal the identity of the young child that was evacuated prior to the self-destruction of the facility especially due to the fact that there is a pending investigation into how the child found itself in the custody of Alexander Marcus. Therefore, I am unable to comment on that at this time." Chris was sure that the press will interpret this as a yes.

"Can you release the identity of the project head that activated the self-defense sequence?"

"We cannot disclose that information until her family is notified." That was such a bullshit answer considering that her only 'family', and Chris uses the term loosely were either killed in the explosion or are currently being relocated to another secure Starfleet facility. There is her great great great great nephew, but Chris is sure he already knows considering he's at the press conference.

"However, I can tell you that she was a citizen of Earth and has been with Starfleet for nearly 4 years after coming out of the private sector. Next question." That was almost true from a certain point of view.

"Was this incident connected in any way to the massacre on NCX17?" Some unknown guys screamed from the back.

"Yes. Both facilities were conducting similar research. The scientist who activated the self-destruct sequence was the head of the research team on the NCX17 facility. However, she suspected that there was unauthorized research going on and was meeting with Starfleet officials about this. We are still investigating this allegation. In addition, it has since come to light that one of the terrorists involved in the recent incident participated in the NCX17 attacks." The press secretary said before signaling for another person to speak.

Personally, Chris is surprised that factoid was released publicly although they did not give out names. That was only because the individual in custody was cooperating. By cooperating Chris means selling out everybody after being locked in a room with Gaila without her hormone suppressant for 20 minutes while being chained to his hospital bed.

"I'm sorry; I cannot give the name of this individual out because the investigation is ongoing. I will say that the individual is in Starfleet custody and at present is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to overthrow the Federation, suspicion of terrorist activities, multiple counts of murder, and kidnapping of a Starfleet Captain."

The bastard was also being held on attempted sexual assault charges, but for the sake of Nyota that information was not being released publicly. He's sure that the press will figure it out eventually, but they want to give the woman a little time to breathe especially considering she is still stuck in a New Vulcan hospital. So was Amanda for that matter and Chris hated that. He needed to touch her to know that she was all right. He just needed her almost as badly as he needed air.

"So you can't give us a name?" Someone else yelled. Okay, that time Barnett actually rolled her eyes.

"As I just stated moments ago, I'm not able to give that information out at present. Other agencies are still investigating. This is just our first press conference and I'm sure we're going to want something to talk about next time. Next question. Jennifer, you always ask good stuff." She said pointing to a woman in yellow.

"What was the research being done on the facility?"

"The sanctioned research included trying to cure cancer, leukemia actually." No, they were trying to cure dying but its best not to say that out loud, Chris thought to himself.

"Although they accidentally came up with a treatment for paraplegia. However, the majority of that research is now destroyed and only one of the test subjects still remain." Chris is that test subject. He assumes that they're trying to prepare the way for his miraculous recovery. The fact that he could wiggle his big toe this morning was considered extreme progress.

"Is it true that this facility stored augment embryos? And that the embryos were being used in the research." Chris wondered how they were able to ask questions so close to the truth

"Actually it was nano-tech research." Complete bald-faced lie in the fact that the press secretary did not blink at all, which made him wonder if she was part of Section 31.

It would make sense. Winona's wife was. Jonathan Jackson grabbed her after she was forced out of the Federation Bureau of investigations for reasons not in her file. She was a consultant/profiler before she met Winona. Afterward she became a field agent. Chris wondered if this happened so she could help protect her wife from her ex-husband. From his briefing, the agent took the gateway back just so she could be there when they arrest Frank on everything from conspiracy to overthrowing the Federation to sentient trafficking.

"However, as we stated earlier, unauthorized research was taking place at both facilities. It is believed that the organization headed by Alexander Marcus was responsible for this research and wanted to utilize resources at the Jupiter facility. The scientist decided it was better to lose the facility and research than to allow them access. At this time we are uncertain of what that research was. However, we are investigating all possible avenues." She responded before pointing to an individual who was obviously Vulcan.

"Is it true that Elder Sunk of the Vulcan Council funneled an estimated 123.7 million credits to researchers on NCX17 to create Vulcan augments?"

"Right now this is a rumor. We are investigating all possibilities, but we're not at liberty to discuss this information at present. Once we know more we will have another wonderful discussion. Right now I know as much about this as you do."

"Do you think we can get her for the Vulcan Council briefing?" Chris hears a voice say from the doorway and he quickly clicks off the press conference. Besides at this point he expects it to mostly be dodging questions about the role of the New Vulcan government and the entire fiasco since the next question was about Elder Sunk involvement.

"I'm not sure she would be needed. Vulcans are very skilled at saying A when they really mean B." He said turning to Amanda. "I thought you were still on new Vulcan."

"I took the pathway back with Agent River. I still can't believe that she is an agent. From George's description, I would never see her like that." Amanda said taking the seat beside his bed.

"Neither can I, I'm her boss." The room gets silent again.

"They told me that you were dead." Amanda said after a minute. He actually sees her shaking.

"I'm not." Chris grabs her hand in an effort to calm her down.

"I know that now. Gaila told me that after I was rescued, but I just need to…"

That's when Amanda's lips descended on his. Apparently hand contact was not enough. He understands. He needed this to. He needed to know that she is still with him just as much as Amanda needed the same thing. Chris was certain that the only reason they stopped kissing was she needed to breathe. Thanks to whatever Jane shot Chris with, his lung function was better than ever and he did not have the same issue.

"I'm here." Chris' words were punctuated with another kiss. "So are you and it's going to be okay."

"Because of Jane?" Amanda asked hesitantly. "They told me you were hit with a phaser on the kill setting and yet somehow survived. She's the reason you survived?"

"Yes."

"I owe her a lot. She saved you and she saved David. She gave her life for that." One tear fell down Amanda's cheek for the now gone scientist.

"I think she knew this was going to happen." Chris tells her after he reaches the box of tissues to her. "Before Jane even injected me with her secret formula, I think she was planning to destroy the Jupiter outpost. Actually I think she knew they were coming and she injected me with the formula so they wouldn't get it. She's always two steps ahead which is why I'm shocked she didn't find a way out." Part of him expected her to survive the explosion. Jane Jackson was a survivor, regardless of everything else. She survived cancer, injustice, and waking up in the 23rd century. Yet according to Admiral Lume, she was taken out by the same explosion.

"I'm just glad you're still with me. And you are never leaving me again." Amanda's mouth was on his again. Actually at this point she was mostly on the bed. The fact that he could feel her touching his legs was comforting. It meant that whatever Jane gave him was really working.

"So when's the wedding?" Winona joked as she walked into the room carrying a very large bouquet of balloons. He wondered if some shop actually sells balloons that say "congratulations on not dying" or whether she had to custom order those balloons. Regardless they pulled away rather quickly and Amanda went back to her chair.

"I was thinking about a June wedding." Chris joked.

"That's too long away. I was thinking Christmas." Amanda said as she straightened her robes. There was something about the way she said this that made Chris believe she was entirely serious.

"You were? You're really thinking about an actual wedding at Christmas." Originally their engagement was fake, but their relationship was real. Everything that's happened made Chris realize that he really did want to spend the rest of his life with her. When they told him that she was missing, it killed him. He can't deal with a reality without her. He needs her.

"Of course I'm serious about marrying you as soon as possible, but Christmas may be too soon. It's almost November now. Do you want to marry me on Valentine's Day?" And if Winona was not in the room he would have pulled Amanda back onto the bed.

"Yes I want to marry you. Actually tomorrow would be fine as well." And if Winona was not in the room Amanda may do the exact same thing.

"You're not allowed to run off to the courthouse or New Las Vegas." The older women chastised. "Your friends and family need to actually be there. Your daughters would never forgive me if I just let you guys run off together. They really want to plan the wedding. Your son may feel the same way and he already has enough reasons to hate me." The part about Spock was probably very true, but Chris knew better than to say anything about that.

"That's what you did for your last wedding." Because nobody was supportive of her relationship with Frank, for good reason, it was a 'surprise' wedding. Chris is not even entirely sure if Jim and Sam were there. Chris knew that he wasn't there. He didn't even find out about it for a while.

"No. My wife actually has family. I think she does anyway. They could've been spies. I don't know. But I had a real wedding this time, complete with Georgia as flower girl and a gigantic wedding cake. I have pictures." Winona seems very sad when she said this. While they were waiting for Amanda to be rescued, Winona told him all about not knowing that her wife was Section 31 until things started to fall apart.

"She could be from a family of spies." Chris gave as an excuse.

"I don't even know. I didn't even get to talk to her for more than 10 minutes before she was off on another mission. She told me that Amanda was back and visiting you as soon as her debriefing was finished and she was going on another mission that she can't tell me about until it's over." Of course she wasn't going to tell Winona that she was going to arrest Frank. She wouldn't want to get the women's hopes up.

"It doesn't matter I have two little girls who…" At that moment, one very excited little Vulcan and one girl who was obviously Jim Kirk's little sister rushed the room with a sulky almost teenager behind them. He was instantly enveloped by two Vulcans, who were hugging him. He's not surprised by T'Pay doing it, but he wasn't sure such actions were in her sister's vocabulary.

Of course once the moment passes, T'Pan quickly reverted to traditional Vulcan reserve. "I'm pleased that you are both safe. I have already lost one set of parents. I wish not to lose another."

"I can't make any promises, but I'll try hard to make sure you don't." With that he kissed all three of his girls on the forehead. So this is what having a family is like. Maybe he could get used to this.

When Jim left the ship three or four days ago (he's not sure which because time has gone really wonky in the last few days) he thought that would be the last time he would see his baby for months. Instead Jim slowly opens the door to see a sleeping David curled up into the arms of an exhausted Spock. He was almost considering taking out his PADD to snap the picture, but that would be totally inappropriate. Instead he slowly takes the seat next to Spock and gently kissed the brow of his Vulcan.

"You're here." Spock said sleepily which explains the contractions.

"Well more like you came to me. The Enterprise is orbiting New Vulcan so that you guys could pick up a truckload of Marcus's co-conspirators, the ones that are not dead anyway. Nyota and Gaila's team did a lot of damage. Actually Nyota did the most damage." It was a massacre at the compound where they found Nyota. He was glad that he wasn't the one dealing with the cleanup. But considering what he saw on the video file, it was probably best that they were already dead.

"I was informed that the extraction was successful before we were redirected to Jupiter. However, I was not provided with any information regarding Nyota status nor was I given any information about my mother." Which makes perfect sense. Knowing that Nyota was unconscious would have been a distraction for Spock. It was best that he did not know.

"Your mom is probably on her way back to Earth if she's not already dead. The fact that her captor was extremely human phobic probably saved her from worse punishment. He did a real number on elder T'Panda." Jim saw the file before arriving on the ship. According to the video footage they had, she was drugged, sexually assaulted, and then taken to a room where they ran all sorts of tests on her.

"What happened to the elder?"

"Nothing good. The doctors are still trying to sort everything out." Jim answered vaguely. "Thankfully for us he stuck with psychological torture for Amanda. He pretty much relished telling her that Chris was dead and because of that, your mom has an intense need to prove to herself that he is not." Jim could feel the rage coming off of Spock in waves. "Don't worry about it Spock. He's dead now. He will never be able to fuck with your mom again."

"I am unable to see this as a negative thing. But what about Nyota?" Jim was hoping that he could distract Spock from talking about Nyota He wanted the Vulcan to be in a better mood before he finds out about that.

"She's okay considering everything. She's just really tired and she over exerted herself during the extraction. Okay she really extracted herself and Nyota killed a lot of people in the process. She's still at the hospital in the capital. Bones is going there to see if we can move Nyota to the ship. Really it's merely exhaustion." Jim emphasized again.

"That statement makes me question your definition of 'okay'." Spock said darkly.

"She is okay, just a little unconscious." Spock raises an eyebrow in alarm. "Not really unconscious, like I said exhausted. She just needs a good 24 to 48 hours to sleep and she will be fine." Spock decided it would be best not to mention that the sleep was probably medically induced. There was a baby Vulcan sleeping on his lap.

"You are not telling me something." Spock stated darkly.

"Of course I'm not telling you something. You have a 2 ½-year-old in your lap who has gone through enough shi- stuff in the last month that he's going to need more therapy than what we can afford. I don't want to add anything else." Thankfully James caught his use of profanity mid-word.

"I find that improbable due to the fact my family still have vast holdings." The family lost a lot including any tangible assets such as property or antiques that were destroyed during the destruction of Vulcan. However, there were other assets, mostly stocks, that added up to a good size fortune. "Even though Dr. Margarita Cruz has recommended a specialist, Dr. Alayna Suarez, I'm sure we would be able to afford all sessions necessary for David to adjust to recent circumstances if our Federation health insurance does not cover such visits."

"Mostly because your father was smart enough to diversify his portfolio and invest in lots of non-Vulcan companies. I was also exaggerating to make a point." Of course Jim couldn't help but kiss one of Spock's eyebrows at that point. He was always extra cute when he was annoyed.

"I'm not sure what that point was."

"Let's not talk about unpleasant things in front of David. We can talk grown-up things later once we are safely back on Earth." Because Jim knew way too much as a little kid and David already knows way too much. He wants him to have some semblance of a normal childhood.

"This is logical." Spock pulled James closer to him.

"I do try sometimes." He smirked.

"It also displays your aptitudes for being a parent." Spock praised, but honestly Jim felt like he didn't deserve it at all. Actually he felt like a failure right now. David deserved better.

"I'm not sure. I got my kid kidnapped within the first month." Because keeping David out of Alexander Marcus's hands was his number one priority and he didn't do it.

"In the last year, there were 17 instances of babies being forcibly removed from nurseries shortly after birth." When Spock is worried, he usually quotes random statistics at Jim.

"Spock, that is not reassuring. I said we were going to talk about happy things. Let's talk about how we should decorate David's room. Should we get bunk beds or something totally different? We need to get him more toys. Toys "R" Us shopping spree." Jim needed new action figures, not that he would ever admit that to his husband.

"I assume this would be even more for you than David." Because Spock knew him way too well.

"Of course it would be more for me and he needs a new teddy bear. I think David has squeezed the fluff out of this one." James said trying to grab the bear away from David, however the 2 ½-year-old refused to let go of the bear.

"Okay it looks like we're going to have to get an exact replica and just switch it out in his sleep." Although considering the child was asleep now Jim was not entirely sure that was going to work, but it was worth a try.

"Logical."

"And building blocks." They were going to have so much fun building a skyscape of San Francisco together. Jim always wanted somebody to build things with and he never got that as a kid (Sam always had other things to do and his mom wasn't always there). David was going to have that

"Again, more toys for you." Spock kissed his neck.

"Of course. That's also why I am getting the Enterprise playset." He smirked. "I just want David to have a good childhood. Happy things. A better childhood than I ever had Instead he has lost both of his mom's, Christine, and even Dr. JJ. So many people have died for him. Stuff like that really fu- messes with a kid." Jim said sadly.

"But he still has us." Spock pointed out to his husband.

"Yeah he does." James said as he kissed David on the forehead before kissing Spock on the lips. Maybe, just maybe they can pull this family thing off.

XXX

Nyota opens her eyes slowly to only see white. Nyota seriously wondered where she was, but the fact that she was wrapped in a very fluffy blanket made her 98% certain she is no longer in the custody of the assholes. The last thing she remembered was fighting her way out of the compound. Apparently she made it.

"Where am I?" She asked groggily.

"Sarek Memorial Medical Center or at least that's what they're planning to call it eventually. Amanda is not 100% sure she wants a hospital named after her dead husband." Only one person could deliver that so deadpan. It was Leonard. If he was with her, that meant she was safe.

"Amanda said that they should at least name things after him that makes sense like an embassy or a school." She said remembering a conversation they had months ago. She was actually on very good terms with Spock's mom.

"A response like that tells me that brain damage is highly unlikely, Commander Uhura or maybe I should say Captain. They already want to give you your own ship for this." She doesn't feel like being rewarded for what happened. She just wants to forget about all of this.

"I don't want to talk about what happened." She's killed more people in two days then she has during her entire Starfleet career. She was a linguistics officer. She was never supposed to see combat like this. If she had a roommate other than Gaila, she probably would not have stood a chance.

"You will. Gaila needs to take your statement. Then Dr. Margarita is going to make you talk to her whether you want to or not. The security footage shows that you beat off the bastard the last time before things got worse but…"

"If you do a rape kit right now, the only evidence of sexual intercourse you're going to find is my last consensual time with you." Nyota told him sharply. "I stopped him."

"Well it's good to know that you consider that entirely consensual." Leonard tried to joke, but it fell flat.

"I don't regret what happened that night." She tells him honestly.

"I was worried that…" Leonard started but did not finish that thought.

"I could've died today. They could have killed me at any moment. I just killed them instead." She doesn't look at him. Nyota stares at her hands instead. She knows that they are clean, but she still feels the stickiness of blood.

"You didn't have a choice." There's a part of her that doesn't believe him. She didn't have to place those phasers on the kill setting.

"I know that." She lied. "I'm tired of being afraid. Of letting fear control everything. I have spent so much time and energy on trying to avoid my mother's mistakes that I keep making completely new ones and I don't want to be that person."

"What are you trying to say?" Leonard seemed confused which makes perfect sense because half the time she was confused, but not this time.

"If I was some silly schoolgirl, I would say I want you to be my boyfriend, but I don't really like that term. We were already friends and have been for a very long time. Also you're way too old to be a boy." She explained in a very rambling way.

"I'm not that old." He said with mock offense.

"Older than me, but that really doesn't matter. I want a relationship with you complete with Thanksgivings with your daughter and applying for tandem assignments. Not just sex, not just what I've been sticking to for the last few years. I want to let you in to my heart." His response was to kiss her in a way that made her heart monitor go crazy.

"I may not be able to pull off the Thanksgiving thing because of the cow, but everything else is yours, especially my heart." She was already mentally making a note to call Alexis. She would need to apologize to the mother of her sister for being a total bitch. However, maybe the legal genius would be willing to pull some strings.

""That's good to know." She said pulling him back down for another kiss just in time to completely miss Gaila walking into the room and sharing.

"It's about fucking time. Too bad Christine didn't live to see this." And with those keywords her happiness fell away. Actually everything fell away including herself, but Leonard caught her. He held her tightly as she cried for her lost friends and everything left unsaid.

Everyone else was back on Enterprise traveling back to Earth, but she was asked to stay behind to help clean things up. Part of her wanted to stay with Nyota. She felt horrible for the way she found out about Christine, but Nyota pushed her to stay here and finish things.

Cleanup duty in this case meant finding the others within the Vulcan government who were sympathetic toward now dead Elder Sunk's cause. She's sure that she will find a few. Prejudice breeds in times like these. She is certain there are factions that want things to be like they used to be and would so easily want to blame people like Amanda for the loss of Vulcan-of-old when the only one responsible for the lost was a particularly disturbed Romulan.

Maybe she would've volunteered to stay here anyway without the orders. She's not sure, at least not until Spock brings him to her house.

"If you like I can put your things in the guestroom…" Spock said hesitantly.

"I'm your girlfriend." She said out loud for the first time realizing that that was the best way to describe the relationship even if she found the standard word quite strange. "I mean we have been sleeping together off and on for three years as well as emailing each other back and forth in all that time. That seems like a relationship to me, at least from the outside looking in."

"I was under the impression it was an open relationship." It was once upon a time. But taking a hard look at herself, Nyota has been sleeping around more than she has in recent months.

"It doesn't have to be. Besides if the most relationship phobic person I know…"

"Then maybe it's something you want to try." Spock finished for her.

"You and I are not normal people. We have seen too much." Spock paused for a moment as he grabbed her hand for a Vulcan style kiss. "But maybe we can get through things together."

Her response was to kiss him on the mouth. She had time to figure out what all this meant. The Enterprise is going to be out of commission for months for the renovations and honestly she's not entirely sure how long it's going to take to completely infiltrate the Vulcan Council. She had time and she would not have to do this alone.

Whitney River a.k.a. Winona Kirk managed to finally get two overactive adolescents to sleep. The third was quietly reading upstairs which was fine with Winona since she was practically a teenager and she really required less sleep due to her Vulcan physiology.

Winona volunteered to keep the girls for another night so that Amanda could stay with her fiancé. She realized that Chris needed the woman right now and Winona was really happy that her oldest friend found somebody that really loved him. Besides even if Jim was still mad at her, Amanda was family and so were her daughters. Winona will make sure these family members are safe. It was the least she could do.

Now alone, Winona flicked the screen on in the living room downstairs and started to stream the news. Most were reporting on the Jupiter incident as they dubbed it and the attempted coup d'état of the Vulcan government. It was being framed as an isolated incident that only one member participated in. They managed to keep out mention of the plans to use the Vulcan puppet government to start war with the Klingons. That would just cause mass hysteria.

Winona was just about to flip to something entertaining when she saw the image of her ex has been being dragged out of the Iowa City spaceport in restraints. She knew it was him because Winona has been on the alert for him ever since the day she ran away. She was always worried that he would find her.

In the back, trying not to be seen was Kayah and again she would recognize her wife anywhere. That explains why her wife couldn't say anything about the mission. She didn't want to get Winona's hopes up in case Frank actually made it to the spaceport. If the media were to be believed, the bastard almost made it, but was caught before he could board a shuttle to who knows where.

She quickly pulled up the second screen and started searching for anything about Frank. Apparently the bastard was the Dragon for Marcus, doing all of his dirty work such as securing weapons and finding people perfectly willing to off his own daughter.

The bastard was charged with everything from corruption to attempting to overthrow the Federation. Considering Frank was one of the highest ranking members of Marcus' group that was still alive, they were probably going to throw the book at him. There's no way he's going to be able to wiggle out of it this time.

Winona wasn't sure she wanted to laugh or cry. For the first time in years, decades even, Frank couldn't hurt her. For the first time in forever, she was safe. Of course before she could decide, she heard the telltale signs of somebody entering their code into the front door. It had to be Kayah. No one else had access codes.

"So, I guess you know where I was." Her wife said as she pointed to the screen up front.

"He's really in jail now?" She asked hesitantly. Frank has been arrested before, but he always managed to get out. Nobody believed her. No one wanted to believe her.

"I locked the door on his cell myself. He's not getting out this time. You can't get bail when you're being charged with something like conspiracy to overthrow the Federation and insight war with the Klingons. That's in addition to the sentient trafficking and everything else. He won't get out. I won't let him." She sat down beside Winona.

"He has good lawyers."

"They don't stand a chance. I'll make sure it." She tried to grab Winona's hand, but she just pulled away.

"So it's done now. You caught your man. Will you leaving soon?"

"Why would I be leaving?" Kayah looked at her with a hurt expression.

"Because your mission is done. What's the point of you staying any longer?"

"I love you." Winona doesn't believe her.

"As I just found out a few days ago, you are a professional liar." She said bitterly.

"So are you. You were Section 31 before I was out of elementary school. You were the legendary Black Widow. That was part of your past you never mentioned." Kayah said defensively.

"Because we work with too many assholes and Jonathan Jackson couldn't keep his head out of the comic books." She hated that nickname. It was inappropriate considering she was a widow.

"You were never my mission." Kayah pleaded with her.

"Yes, I was working on the Frank case before I met you. I was a profiler for the Federation Bureau of investigations, but more of a consultant really. I worked for them part-time. We were trying to figure out who was responsible for a massive sentient trafficking ring responsible for the kidnappings of at least four dozen people around major Starfleet installations including Riverside. Then one night I was blowing off steam and I ran into the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life. I instantly fell in love with her. I had no idea you were Frank's ex-wife until you told me who you really were and by then it was too late, I was already head over feet in love with you."

"Again, you are a professional liar and you have a psychology degree. Do you really have a psychology degree?" Because how much does she really know about the woman she's married to. Not much apparently.

"Yes. Not everything I told you was a lie. You knew I did some consulting work in law enforcement in addition to the work with kids. Actually most of my lives were lies of omission. You met my real family and my real friends. I got kicked out of the FBI for you."

"What?"

"When I found out you were actually Winona Kirk, I had to tell my superiors. I was given a choice. I either had to leave you or stop working as a consultant. However, somebody in section 31 was watching and I ended up there instead, full-time this time."

"You lost your job because of me?" Winona asked slightly surprised. She remembers a couple of weeks where Kayah was very stressed out after the engagement, but she just thought it was normal wedding stress.

"It was never a choice. You are worth more to me than anything in the universe except for maybe Georgia. I know she's not biologically my daughter, but in my heart she is." At this point Winona was crying.

"I will do whatever I have to do to earn your trust. If you want me to resign from Section 31, I will. If we need to go to therapy for the rest of my natural life to work through this then that's what I will do but I'm not giving up on you." Winona actually crying by this point.

"So you're perfectly fine sleeping on the couch for the next month." She said through her tears.

"Whatever it takes." Kayah took a Kleenex from the nearby table in an effort to physically wipe away Winona's tears.

"I'm expecting breakfast in bed tomorrow." She said grabbing Kayah and dragging her upstairs to their bedroom.

To be concluded

Yes we are only one chapter away from the end of the story. I was originally going to do this in one big chapter but when the chapters started to go over 10,000 words I decided to split it.