Twenty One
"My husband wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your actions, Liaison Coulson… thank you for everything you've done."
"I have never had to make these wideos before, but I suppose now iz good time to start. I vanted to thank you for helping me out vhen the varp core vas substantially damaged. I vould not have been able to figure it out vithout your help."
"Often times, I find myself wondering whether or not my people would have survived a different outcome if your agency had been received and accepted by the Federation. I am grateful for your services, and the work you have provided, Liaison… Emily. I am forever gratified for what you have done for this ship, and the crew."
A lump formed in the back of Emily's throat as she continued scrolling through the videos that were sent to her data PADD via face messages. The last thing she expected was for them to send her any messages after she'd realigned the housings. Most of the crew had known by the time the ship returned to Earth what she did. She just hadn't expected them to react the way they did. Leonard was the one who kept telling her that she doubted herself too often. He of all people knew that it was difficult for her to get along with anyone. After what happened during school and everything else, socializing wasn't exactly her strongest suit.
I'm not used to so many people actually reaching out to me at once, she admitted silently. I never realized they would actually care so much.
It felt strange to think that times had changed so drastically. She could still recall when she started out at the Academy. Her life had been so different back then. She hadn't been open to meeting new people, and she certainly hadn't been open to the idea of actually dating someone. True, she would sleep with random men on occasion, but it was only to brush off the tension she would feel. She doubted Leonard would have been happy knowing that other men had their way with her. Though if she was being honest with herself, it was always an act of defiance on her part. She had been angry and resentful towards the fact that he chose Pamela over her at the time.
She finally set her data PADD to the side and glanced at the new arrivals warily. They hadn't been around since the investigation revolving around Barris. Since then, she and Natasha had been keeping in touch. Clint stopped talking to her after their last argument, though she couldn't blame him for acting the way he had. She knew in the back of her mind that he would never forgive Leonard for everything that happened.
"I wasn't planning on stopping by," Clint finally cut through the tense silence.
Emily nearly rolled her eyes at the tone of his voice. Natasha left the room for a few brief seconds, giving them enough time to sort out the mess they were in. Though she doubted Clint would ever get over the fact that she'd chosen Leonard over the agency. She held back a sigh and looked at nothing in particular, suddenly wishing they could go back to older times when they had been happier.
Clint had always been there for her when she needed a good friend. He was the first to reach out to her when he realized Leonard had abandoned her. He was the first to treat her as a normal friend, not once putting a label on her. More importantly, he had been with her when she was at her lowest point in life.
"Then why bother? It's clear you want nothing to do with Starfleet or myself," she snapped.
She turned in time to see Clint's face fall slightly. Despite his earlier annoyance, it was clear he did feel an ounce of guilt over what happened between them. Her face betrayed little to no emotion as she studied a few nicks and grooves in the wall beside her. She desperately wanted a hole to open up and swallow her when she felt his piercing gaze bore through her. She doubted their lives would ever go back to the way they had been prior to this mess. Hell, Clint had always been vocal when it came to their friendship. The moment she chose someone else's life over her own was when he knew she would never change her ways.
"Because like it or not, I still have a kid who believes in you," he scoffed. Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise. It suddenly made sense why he wanted to stop by. Lila was the world to him, along with Cooper. She swallowed hard at the thought of not being able to see the little girl. "She doesn't understand what's going on, and frankly, I don't want her to. To her, you're still her Godmother and one of the greatest heroes she's ever seen… aside from Natasha or myself."
"So where are you getting at with this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes with annoyance.
He could have easily explained to Lila that she was too busy to see her. Hell, anyone else would have done the same for their own sanity. She had a feeling that Clint felt guilty for what happened between them. Though he would never admit it out loud, especially since it meant admitting that he had been wrong.
"Look, I'm tired of the constant tension between us," he let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. She was even more surprised with that response. More so by the guilt in his movement and his voice. Maybe he did feel guilty for saying what he said. "I'm not saying that it was wrong to accuse McCoy of what I accused him of." He added the last part with a hint of aggression, and Emily rolled her eyes once again in annoyance. "What I'm trying to say is, you are happier when you're with him. And as much as it irritates me beyond anything, that's what matters."
For a moment, Emily didn't know what to say. She knew this was his way of apologizing, even though he had a shitty way of making it seem that way. She held back a sigh of her own as realization dawned on her. Despite trying to make himself seem tough and strong around everyone else, she saw right through his ruse. And she could tell that her near-death experience had been eating away at him.
"Considering that's the first time you've ever apologized for anything, I'll take it," she said dryly. It was his turn to roll his eyes in exasperation, though he did look relieved. "So it took me nearly dying for you to realize that Leonard isn't nearly as bad as you perceived?"
"I already knew he wasn't," Clint rolled his eyes incredulously. "What he did was wrong, and that's why I was pissed. Hell, I still am. I saw firsthand what you went through during those years."
Emily grimaced at that. She knew he had a point. She'd gone down darker paths before, resulting in self-inflicted injuries and other horrible occurrences. It wasn't until she was caught by Coulson that she was finally dragged back to her feet and forced to take a break. She still regretted going down that path, mostly because her wrists were covered in scars.
Leonard understood where the scars came from and why they'd been inflicted in the first place. When she first explained the reason behind them, he'd been horrified and full of guilt. Not only because she pushed herself to that point, but because he hadn't been there for her at a time when she truly needed him.
"And I'm grateful that you were there for me when I went down that path," she let out a sigh of her own. "But I can't just ignore the fact that Leonard and I share a bond… it's always been there, but it only grew stronger when we met up again. He knows what happened to me when we were apart, and he still lives with that regret to this day."
Clint rose an eyebrow in surprise when she mentioned their life-bond. She hadn't told Jim or anyone else about their bond. But she had a feeling that Spock was aware of their telepathic link. The Vulcan would always give them a knowing look when they were in a meeting together, as if he could tell they were silently communicating whatever they thought of said meeting. Clint only knew a handful of telepaths himself, and he hated every single one of them. Emily had little doubt in the back of her mind that he would have hated her when they first met if he had known what she was capable of.
"Well, that explains a thing or two," he remarked thoughtfully. "The two of you have always been a little too close for my liking, and this explains why."
She couldn't help but look down at her lap guiltily. The archer knew that she wouldn't back down from the challenge of seeing Leonard again. There was simply no denying her access to the one man who'd opened her world up to entirely new challenges. Once her mind was made up, there was simply no changing it. Her shoulders sank in relief when Natasha chose that moment to join them. She had little doubt that the redhead had been listening in on them, and from the look written across her face, she looked equally as relieved that their arguments were over… for now.
Once they were both settled in the room, Emily went into full detail over what happened during their time apart. Though she already had a feeling they knew from what the media had informed them. News spread quickly when it came to the Daily Bugle. Once information was released on what had happened, Emily knew it wouldn't be long before the rest of the world was caught up on what happened throughout the ship. It meant she and Leonard would have little time to themselves, and they would likely have to face the reporters that went after them once again.
"Apparently there were cameras all over the ship," she explained with a glare. She rubbed the temple of her forehead when Natasha and Clint shared knowing looks. The agency had a contingency plan for agents that weren't working under any names. Emily had known about this plan long before she chose Leonard over the agency. "What bothers me more than anything is the fact that I could have lost everything because of them. I understand where the agency is coming from, but that doesn't make what happened any better."
"Well, considering what goes on behind those closed doors, I can see why," the archer started to laugh when Natasha suddenly gave him a sharp nudge with her elbow.
"Quit being an ass, Clint," the redhead rolled her eyes. "You don't even want to know about the cameras installed at the safehouse."
That was enough for Clint to grimace as he realized that Natasha was joking. Though, Emily recalled hearing that Director Fury had cameras installed in agents' homes for the pure fact that safety was needed. Clint's job wasn't the easiest in the world, and he had numerous enemies as a result. If any of them discovered where he or his family was living, the end results wouldn't be pretty.
She had a feeling those were the same excuses Fury would have used in the case of the Enterprise. But she also knew that the Enterprise was a ship with hundreds of crew members. Keeping cameras placed in every vicinity would never be an easy task. If Fury had been the one to place those cameras, he would have had to have known what location she went to the most, and where to place them exactly.
"The good news is, Kirk was able to reinstate me as his Liaison," she put in. "I'm glad about that… despite some of the crap that we've put each other through."
"Speaking of feeling grateful, what exactly are you and McCoy planning on doing once all is said and done? Everyone knows that you're pretty much together, despite my best interests," Clint rolled his eyes.
Emily snorted at his last comment, though that didn't stop a trickle of fear from worming its way into her stomach. She was well aware of what the press would do once they found out she and Leonard were together officially. They had been seen leaving her apartment together, and Leonard hadn't been able to leave her apartment alone without getting ambushed by reporters.
She knew that it would take time for the press to find someone else to focus their attention on. Since she and Tony had spent so much time together, even the billionaire wouldn't be able to deter them. She held back a sigh of frustration and struggled to straighten up, hating the fact that she was still restricted to a biobed.
When Leonard explained that he wanted to run tests to make sure that the transfusion had been successful, she knew there was more to it than that. He didn't need to be honest with her; she had a feeling that he and the rest of the Fleet worried over the fact that Khan's blood effected her in some shape or form both physically and mentally.
"We've talked about getting married," she admitted. "But that was also before Khan happened… Leonard's always been worried about how much we'll manage from there. Hell, I'm not even sure if we're ready for that step."
"The two of you pretty much share heads," Clint pointed out with a snort of disbelief. "I think that's about as married as it gets."
For a moment, Emily was taken aback by his sudden remark. She realized with a start that he was right. As difficult as it was to admit, they were already practically married. Leonard had been willing to accept her for who she was and what she had done. She lived with the guilt of taking those lives in the past, and Leonard had been with her when she suffered from the worst nightmares as a result.
"I never really thought about it that way," she said quietly.
Clint shared another knowing look with Natasha, this one more profound than the other. They knew how close she and Leonard were. Neither of them needed to be told that they would likely get married regardless of how the rest of the world saw them. And Emily was only just beginning to realize how right it all sounded or felt.
She wanted to spend the rest of her life with Leonard. It wasn't just a matter of whether or not he was her soulmate. He was her best friend, the one person she could go to when she needed him the most. While it hadn't always been that way, things had gotten better over the past couple of years. She knew he was just as ready as she felt, if not more after everything they had been through together.
"You might wanna turn on the news," Natasha suddenly put in. Emily pursed her lips when they stood up together, neither backing down from the challenge. "The press has been eating your story alive."
She wanted to scoff at the thought of having to deal with the press once more. Once they left, Emily rolled her eyes and turned on the holoscreen. Her heart sank the moment a story immediately followed revolving around herself and her relationship with Leonard. She should have known that was what they would focus on rather than what happened with the Enterprise.
"And that's not even the best plot in this story," a woman with a gross amount of makeup covering her face appeared on the screen, "As we've recently learned that Liaison Coulson, otherwise known as the Phoenix amongst the Avengers is also a princess of a people known as the Narlanians, we've also discovered that she is currently dating a certain Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise."
As if to make the situation worse, an image of them being seen together appeared along the screen. Emily narrowed her eyes when they showed a picture of herself with Leonard outside her apartment. She was standing close to him, her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him tenderly on the lips. Then another image showed across the screen, this one a younger version of when they had been together.
"The best part of this story is that they've also known each other for years," the reporter went on. "Liaison Coulson and Doctor McCoy are currently our top focus as far as celebrities and heroes are concerned. I think it's safe to say that she's made a wise choice given his good looks."
'These damn reporters are gonna be the death of us,' Leonard suddenly snapped through their mental link. Emily rolled her eyes once again when he finally reached her room, though he looked furious when he noticed she was watching the news as well. "I take it you've seen all the damned reports?"
"How can I miss it when it's plastered along every holoscreen," she muttered, not missing the fact that he added the last part out loud. "Look, I didn't ask for the press to get word of the fact that we've known each other for so long… hell, I didn't ask for them to harass us at all."
Leonard's face softened when he heard the frustration in her voice. He hadn't meant to snap at her. But the moment nurses and fellow doctors had begun asking questions about their relationship was when his life had become chaotic. It was bad enough they couldn't even leave her apartment without getting ambushed by reporters. He had been hoping that the incident with Khan would give them a moment of peace. But it seemed as though that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Look, I'm not gonna deny the fact that we are seeing each other," he reassured her after pulling up the chair Natasha had used earlier. Emily drew in a sharp breath when his hand reached for hers, giving it a light squeeze as their eyes met. "Hell, I know how much you mean to me, so there isn't a point in discouraging them, even if they're practically harassing us."
Emily wasn't sure what to say as she realized what he meant by that. Her heart practically melted upon hearing those words out loud. Leonard meant so much more to her than just some random person she'd met at the bar. He was and always would be her best friend… more importantly, he was her Imzadi.
"I love you, Leonard," she whispered after leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek.
He rose an eyebrow in surprise over the lack of profession between them. They'd made an agreement to remain professional around each other, even while off duty. Yet the more he thought about it, the harder it was becoming to concentrate. Emily knew in the back of her mind that he was right… there was no point in living in fear from the press or the reporters. It was time they faced that part of their lives.
"I love you too, Darlin'," he replied without missing a beat.
"The best part of all of this is, if they decide to get married, the good Doctor will be marrying a princess. There's no telling whether or not their titles will change when they get married, but the odds are— "
She rolled her eyes when the reporter added that last bit. Even Leonard's cheeks had turned a faint shade of red with annoyance and embarrassment. She was quick to turn the holoscreen off when a few nurses who had been on duty at the time peeked into her room as if to prove the reporter's point. The whole thing was made even funnier when some of the doctors who worked with Leonard had also stopped by, not missing the fact that they were in the same room together.
"By the way, when am I getting discharged from this room? I feel like I've been here forever," she added with a mutter of annoyance.
It was his turn to roll his eyes at her expense. He knew what it was like to be holed up in one space for too long. Though in reality she had only been awake for a week, she had been stuck in that room for a good four weeks. It took two weeks for the transfusion to work properly, and another week for her to wake from her coma-like state.
Leonard hadn't been more relieved than in the moment when he was alerted to the fact that her vitals were finally stable. He had been worried that her body wouldn't accept Khan's transfusion… truthfully he never considered what would happen when her blood mixed with foreign blood. At the time of the operation, he was desperate to revive her. Now that he thought about it, he was lucky that the risk was worth it.
He'd begun taking notes on the side-effects of the transfusion since she woke up. Whether it was for better or for worse, he was worried over how she would react to it. So far she hadn't shown any significant change, but he had begun to notice that her physique was stronger than the average human. While it had always been that way because she technically wasn't human, there was an alarming factor involved that rose a red flag.
He was quiet about it, though. The last thing Leonard wanted or needed was for her to worry over something that might not be worth worrying over. It was bad enough the Council wanted to keep an eye on her after this mess, especially after she sacrificed herself to keep the crew and the ship safe.
"Your vitals are finally at a stable level, but that doesn't mean you're ready to leave this room," he remarked while glancing at her thoughtfully. He was toying with her, of course. But it was fun to watch her squirm every now and then, especially when she had done the same to him not long ago. "I'd give it another week or two before you're discharged."
"Dammit Leonard, I've been stuck in this hellhole for over a week now," she snapped without missing a beat. Leonard rose an eyebrow in amusement when she sat up immediately, ignoring the incredulous look that followed when she went against orders to take it easy. "And I'm counting the times when I was in a coma. I don't think you need to be reminded of what happens when I'm stuck in a room for too long."
As if to prove her point, the lights began flickering on and off. Leonard swore under his breath when one of the machines suddenly went haywire. He knew she was just playing along, but the risks of losing control now was far too real. He'd seen the kind of damage she could do when she lost control, and he wasn't in any hurry to be responsible for that risk.
"You were discharged this morning," he finally rolled his eyes in exasperation. Emily's tongue tsked at the roof of her mouth with realization. "I wanted to wait until now because I knew you would have visitors."
Emily wasn't sure if she should laugh at his statement or cry over the fact that she could have been out of that room sooner. She went for the latter, letting out a rush of air she'd been holding in. Leonard wasn't even given the chance to react when she suddenly bolted from the room after tearing off the IV bags. She heard him cursing after her, though Emily didn't give him time to catch up.
She tore past nurses and doctors who ducked out of the way as if this was an everyday occurrence. Emily almost smirked at the thought of them having gotten used to the fact that their coworker had an unruly girlfriend. Or that they had gotten used to her presence at all. It was strange to think about when she thought about it. Even the receptionists at the front desk smirked at her expense, especially when they caught Leonard trailing after her at the end of his own shift.
It was only until she reached the outside that Emily sucked in a deep breath, relishing the salty air that filled her lungs. She hadn't realized until then how much she missed being outside. Or how much she missed the smell of the ocean breeze. There was something almost nostalgic about it, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
"Dammit Emily, you know I hate it when I can't keep up," Leonard finally caught up with her and complained the moment he reached her.
Emily couldn't hide the sheepish smirk that followed when he glowered at her. Though the moment was short-lived when he noticed something was different about her.
"I've missed hearing and smelling the ocean," she admitted when she caught a glimpse of the beach nearby. She could see the waves crashing against the rocky bluff that surrounded the landscape, protecting the city from storm surges and the incoming tides. "Is that weird to say?"
"It ain't any stranger than seeing someone leave the hospital still dressed in a hospital gown," Leonard snorted in amusement, gesturing to the hospital garb she was still dressed in. Heat immediately rose to her cheeks when she realized that people were watching. Though Emily suspected they mostly recognized them from the news reports earlier that day. "Come on, let's at least get some privacy from our nosy neighbors."
She merely smirked in amusement as she followed him back to their apartment. Even that was a sight she desperately missed. Emily hadn't realized until returning how much she missed coming home with Leonard after a long day of work. His presence was oddly comforting… it reminded her of when they were children and they would hang out together after a hard day of school.
"I'm surprised you didn't leave a spot for me to clean," she remarked after noticing how immaculately clean the apartment was.
She was relieved they hadn't run into any reporters waiting for them to return home. She was even more relieved to see that the apartment was indeed spotless. Leonard hadn't left a single portion for her to clean, though she suspected he didn't want her straining herself so soon after being discharged.
"Well, there is one thing you could clean off for me," he suddenly said. Emily rose an eyebrow in amusement as she turned to face him. She didn't miss the tent forming in his pants, and she silently thanked her lucky stars that they hadn't been ambushed that evening. She could already imagine the rumors and reports that would follow if the press had caught him in that condition. "You laugh, but it's been almost a month since we were last together."
Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she realized he was right. It had been a good month since they last slept together or had any sense of normalcy. Most of her time had been spent in a coma in the hospital. He had been so close to her, yet so far away. And she realized with a start how horrible that must have been for him. She let out a quiet sigh as she leaned into him and kissed him thoroughly on the lips.
"I've missed you," she whispered.
"I've missed you too, Em," he whispered back without missing a beat.
There was a pause between kisses when another thought crossed her mind. When Clint said they were already practically married, she wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Have you ever thought about what we talked about before the whole… you know?" she asked hesitantly.
She didn't feel right mentioning it out loud. Khan's attack had left everyone feeling strained and exhausted. She was lucky Leonard had been able to find a way to save her from radiation. Though there was also a small part of her that often wondered if it was worth the risk. She would have been just as happy and blissfully unaware that her life had been cut short. Yet that didn't stop her from cringing when Leonard's face fell.
"Do you know how much losing you would've meant to me?" he suddenly asked. When she couldn't bring herself to answer, Leonard let out a heavy sigh and suddenly lifted her chin with his thumb. The moment their eyes met was when she found herself swimming within warm hazel eyes. "Look, you mean everything to me, Emily. Hell, when I felt the pain you were in I knew something was wrong. But the moment I stopped feeling your pain was when I knew what happened. It tore me apart knowing there wasn't a damn thing I could do to stop it."
Her heart sank upon hearing those words. She realized with a start that he made a valid point. They could feel whatever the latter was feeling. The bond between them was strong enough that they could feel the other's pain. She hadn't thought of blocking that out, but it wasn't as if she had a choice in the matter. She swallowed hard as guilt stabbed her in the chest. She didn't know what to say. Hell, she wasn't sure if she could ever make up for what happened. It wasn't until feeling him kiss her that Emily was forced to meet his piercing gaze once more.
"I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty, Emily. I'm saying it because you mean so much more to me than anyone I've ever known," he reminded her. Emily couldn't bring herself to respond even if she wanted to. Tears formed along the edge of her vision when she realized how much he meant to her. "I know I should've said it sooner, but I want you to spend the rest of your life with me… if you'd have me."
The moment he said it out loud was when it felt as though the world suddenly stood still. For not only did it confirm what she first suspected, but it also meant securing another chapter in her life. Emily was left breathless when he left her for a moment, reaching for something on the bookshelf that contained pictures of them throughout their lives. He returned seconds later with a familiar object in hand.
"Emily Grace Coulson, would you do me the honor of bein' my wife?" he finally asked the one question that everyone had been anticipating.
Emily drew in a sharp breath when he opened the box and revealed a ring she hadn't seen in almost four years. For a moment, words were lost on her when she eyed the object curiously. The ring itself looked as though it had been recently cleaned and fitted. The sapphire jewel that lined the center of the ring was what really stood apart.
"Yes," she finally answered after realizing he was waiting for one. "Leonard Horatio McCoy, I've been waiting for so long to hear you ask me that question. I'd be an idiot not to say yes."
It took a few seconds for Leonard to register that she'd used his full name. He almost smirked when he finally put the ring on. It fit her finger perfectly, just as it had before. Emily's smile widened when she realized for the first time just how happy she truly was. She kissed him without hesitation, wrapping her arms around his neck with pure joy. And for the first time in her life, she realized with a start that she could truly be happy without worrying about the world spiraling apart.
