Twenty Three

'Relax, Leonard. Your mother is going to be thrilled to hear from you again.'

McCoy let out a heavy sigh when Emily tried reassuring him through their mental link. He knew she would feel his anxiety spike as her own. It took every ounce of willpower not to let said emotions overwhelm him. After discovering that they could feel what the latter felt, McCoy knew in that moment they would have their hands full. He wanted to work on figuring out how to block one another whenever they had the chance. It would mostly be through self-defense in case something happened to either himself or her. If anything happened to either of them – God forbid such an occurrence should happen – at least they would be prepared.

Yet nothing could have prepared him for the moment when he had to reach out to his mother for the first time in nearly four years. He realized with a start that it really had been a good four years since they last spoke to one another. Guilt stabbed him in the chest at the thought. He had always been close to his family. Ever since his father died, he and his mother had been closer than ever. Yet the moment Pamela filed for a divorce was when everything went horribly wrong. At first the arguments had revolved around that. But then his mother had to bring up the fact that this mess could have been avoided if he had chosen Emily over Pamela.

He still lived with that regret to this day. Emily hadn't done a damn thing to deserve the bullshit he'd given her over the years. Yet she was still willing to accept his proposal, even after everything he'd done to her. He was more than relieved with the prospect. Especially since it meant he was able to make up for everything that happened between them. McCoy drew in a heavy breath as he struggled to maintain his composure while calling his mother. It only took a split second for her to pick up, and McCoy could only guess that she had collar ID.

"Lennie! I was wondering how long it would take to hear from you again!"

He nearly rolled his eyes at the nickname his mother had chosen for him. Well, it was certainly better than Mc-Suck-it. McCoy grimaced as he recalled Stark calling him that on more than one occasion. The more he thought about it, the more he began to realize he was lucky he hadn't been called worse. 'Bones' was about the only nickname he could tolerate from Kirk, and even that was a stretch.

Still, that didn't stop him from letting out an intake of breath. He couldn't even remember the last time they had a decent conversation. The last one hadn't ended on a high note. Though from what he heard through the grapevine, Emily had been keeping in touch with his mother since they stopped talking. He was grateful for that notion, especially since he never had the courage to face her again.

He knew in the back of his mind that it was never fair to put his mother in that position. She'd already lost his father and so much more over the years. Leaving without another word had been a terrible mistake on his part. He supposed the only consolation he had was that his mother had always been kept on the loop of whatever was happening in his life thanks to Emily.

"Hi, Ma," he finally greeted her after struggling to find the right words to begin.

Hell, he wasn't even sure where to start when it came to a long overdue conversation between them. His mother had always been far more patient than anyone else he knew… well, anyone other than Emily. Compared to most people who worked with him at the hospital, Emily was practically a saint for putting up with his bedside manner for as long as she had.

"I had been hoping I would hear from you sooner, given everything that's been going on," his mother said once they were finished with formal greetings. McCoy swallowed hard when his mother's face softened with understanding. "I know you've been through a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not above scolding you for ignoring me."

"Sorry, Ma," he apologized while trying to hide the embarrassment that followed. It was bad enough that he'd ignored her for four years. But Emily was the one who kept his mother posted on everything that happened between them. McCoy was forever grateful for the fact that she'd been willing to do that. "Look, I've been trying to figure out what I'd even say to you once I found the courage to reach out… heck, I'm still not even sure what to say after all these years."

"Considering how much has changed in your life, I'm not surprised," his mother let out a quiet chuckle before furrowing her brows together. "Emily has been keeping me posted throughout these past four years, but I'd like to hear your side of the story."

McCoy couldn't bring himself to feel more than relieved when he realized she was willing to listen. And so he delved into how they reunited that awful morning in the prison. Emily was the one who found him when he was passed out on the prison floor from alcohol poisoning. About the only consolation he had was that she had been willing to stay by his side until he recovered. Then came the part where he and Emily enlisted in Starfleet together, and they started seeing each other again.

His mother was hardly surprised that they had agreed to see each other again. They had always been close even before he started dating her. And while their lives had been filled with hiccups – a good portion of them were caused by himself – they always seemed to make up for it. His mother closed her eyes for a brief moment to let this new information sink in. She looked more relieved than ever to hear from him again, even if it was over the data PADD.

"I only wish I could've proposed to her sooner, Ma," he admitted with a heavy sigh. "When I realized how much she meant to me it was too late."

"It was almost too late, Leonard," his mother reassured him. McCoy couldn't hide the small smile that followed when their eyes met. Though they couldn't see each other in person, McCoy planned on making up for his long absence… somehow he would find a way to make up for leaving her for as long as he had. "How have you been handling all of this? I know Emily found out that she's not human, but that isn't even the biggest change."

"It hasn't exactly been a walk in the park," McCoy replied while glancing up from his position. He hadn't missed that Emily was in the other room with Stark's girlfriend, Pepper. They met occasionally when Emily visited Stark, but they rarely exchanged words. "Honestly I'm amazed Emily has the patience to put up with me. I haven't made her life any easier."

"No one ever said life would be easy," his mother reminded him with a pointed look. "The biggest difference between what happened with you and Pamela is that she was the one who ruined everything. I doubt something similar will happen between you and Emily. She's always cared more about you than anyone else."

Again, he wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve that sort of kindness. McCoy swallowed hard as he recalled the many times he made Emily's life hell. From avoiding her when she was finally released from the ICU to finding out that she was a princess… the situation was overwhelming to say the least. Emily seemed to take everything in stride, including the verbal abuse that often occurred. He knew full well that she deserved better.

"We're planning on stopping by at the end of the week," he explained after rubbing the temple of his forehead. His mother looked more than relieved to hear that news. "Figured we're long overdue for a visit."

"You're right about that," his mother nodded in agreement. "I'll be sure to leave a few stalls for you and Emily to clean up. I think the horses miss seeing you." McCoy let out a huff of laughter at that. He had little doubt his mother would pull off that stunt just to make up for his time away from the farm. "I love you, Lennie. And Emily. You better not forget that."

"We won't," he reassured her with a warm smile. "Love ya too, Ma."

Once that was established, the screen went dark and McCoy let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't realized until then how much of a relief it was to get everything off his shoulders. Then again, Emily was the one who kept reminding him that everything would work out in the end.

'See, that wasn't so hard, was it?' she pointed out.

'That had to be one of the toughest challenges I've ever faced,' he rolled his eyes in exasperation. 'Though the divorce from hell probably comes close to the top.'

"Well, in your defense you didn't face it on your own," she reminded him with a pointed look.

McCoy's face softened when he realized what she was implying. She was right. She had been there for him from the beginning; when he found out that Pamela was cheating on him, she was the first person he reached out to. He wasn't sure if it had been out of self-consciousness or if something else pulled him forward. Either way, he was grateful he reached out to her.

When she stopped by for a visit he didn't expect her to be there for a week to help him. She went out of her way to be there for him when he needed a friend the most. It was a kind gesture that hadn't gone by unnoticed. McCoy knew then and there that Emily had always been more than just a friend to him. He just wished that he could have seen the signs sooner.

"Sure, turn it back on me," McCoy muttered under his breath.

Though he knew she was right. She stopped by that morning to check in on him before he was forced to meet with Pamela at the courthouse. It was technically his fault for pushing her away when he needed a friend the most. He tried pushing those uneasy thoughts aside as he followed her into the waiting room where Pepper was waiting.

"Now, the biggest key to dealing with the press is making sure that you don't give away too much information," Pepper explained after noticing the utter confusion that followed. "You need to be straightforward with your answers, but not too straightforward."

"Em's already given me the rundown on how to handle interview questions," McCoy retorted.

He was grateful Emily prepared him with a flurry of questions the reporters would likely ask. McCoy hadn't thought of what to say when they asked what his past had been like before they officially started dating. They'd known each other since he was four, so it wasn't as if he wouldn't have to remember everything about their past together. Even if he did.

"Relax, Leonard," Emily reassured him with a playful nudge. "Everything should work out fine."

McCoy threw her a doubtful look, though he didn't bother arguing with her. He knew at that point that she was the one who had a say in what happened during the interview. He just hoped that he didn't end up snapping at any of the reporters, otherwise they were both in for a long haul with the press.

.

.

"He certainly has a way with words, doesn't he?" Pepper asked when Leonard left to make some last minute changes.

Emily watched him disappear with a shake of her head. She knew this was anything but easy for him. He hadn't asked to be dragged into her mess with the reporters. Unfortunately, Leonard was now more involved with her life than ever. One of the perks of being involved with the team was that the press made a frenzy with everyone surrounding them. Emily had learned that the hard way, and she suspected nothing good would come out of the involvement of civilians.

It didn't help that the Enterprise crew had also become famous for being involved with the Battle of Vulcan. Jim especially was famous for being one of the youngest Captain's in the Fleet. She knew that the media had been eating up the stories revolving around the Enterprise command crew. They were made even more famous when Leonard developed the transfusion from Khan's blood, though most of that information was kept hidden from public view for the sake of her medical records.

"Leonard's just feeling anxious between his mother and this press conference," she admitted with a heavy sigh. Pepper gave her a sympathetic look as she took a thoughtful sip of her water. "He's dealt with being ambushed before when he stayed at my place, but it's never been to this extent."

"He should try walking in Tony's shoes for a bit," Pepper gave a dry chuckle before glancing in the direction Tony stood. He was currently appeasing a crowd of eager reporters desperate to get more information on the team. Though more importantly, they wanted information on what Emily planned on doing now that she and Leonard were officially engaged. It was bad enough the media got wind of their proposal in the first place. Spending time with Tony meant that the press had known about her prior to her involvement with the team, which made it worse. "Then again, I'm sure they'd kill each other if we gave them the chance."

"Tony's already threatened Leonard on more than one occasion for some of things that happened between us," Emily rolled her eyes in exasperation. "He will always be my older brother, but that doesn't give him the right to threaten my fiancé."

Pepper merely smirked at the thought of how Emily would handle Tony if he tried threatening Leonard again. She knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. Clint managed to hold back for as long as he could, but she also knew the archer already had a few goes at Leonard in the past. She grimaced as she recalled how Clint punched Leonard square in the chest at the Tower during Loki's attack. That had been a less-than-spectacular display of how angry the archer was with Leonard at the time. Hell, he still hadn't gotten over the fact that she'd chosen to go back to Leonard even after everything that happened between them.

She tried pushing away the uneasy thoughts aside when Leonard finally rejoined them. His arm wrapped around her shoulder when he noticed how uneasy she looked. She couldn't deny the fact that she was worried about how the press conference would go. But another thought crossed her mind, one that hadn't occurred to her until Pepper brought something up.

What am I going to do with myself during the five-year mission? she found herself wondering.

She realized with a start that she would be leaving behind a family that cared so much for her. Despite their ups and downs, Clint was also like a brother to her. She would miss him and the rest of his family. And though they hadn't known each other for very long, she and Steve had become good friends. Finally, there was Bruce. The good doctor had been keeping in touch with her ever since the team parted ways, but it was never the same as seeing everyone in person.

'I'm sure you'll find some way of keeping in touch with them,' Leonard reassured her with a squeeze of her hand. Emily glanced at him self-consciously. She noticed with a start that he seemed much more confident now than he had minutes ago. 'Knowing that team of yours, they'll all make sure they stay in touch with you.'

Emily couldn't hide the warm smile that followed when she realized what he was implying. She knew he was right, even if she didn't like the idea of being so far apart. And it wasn't as if she wouldn't be surrounded by family. The command crew had become a large part of her life. She and Uhura had already agreed to make sure they met up regularly after their shifts were over, along with Christine whenever she had the chance.

"… and seeing as the majority of you are here to learn more about Liaison Coulson and Doctor McCoy, I think it's high-time we introduced them."

She stiffened when Tony's voice suddenly rose through the com. That was their cue. Since they were fully dressed in their Starfleet uniforms, there was no judging from the reporters as to their fashion choices. Her arm wrapped around Leonard's as she led the way into the main conference room where the reporters were gathered.

Tony had been giving some speech on what the team would be up to, along with how his own company would be doing since he was busier than usual. With Pepper in charge there was little room for error in the ways of Stark Industries. Emily hoped that trend would continue, especially since Pepper had already proven herself a worthy CEO.

'We'll be fine, Leonard,' she reassured him when she felt last-minute panic bubble over.

He didn't need to be told twice what would happen if she lost control through his panic. After taking a deep breath and clearing away the anxiety, they made their way into the conference room together. Emily drew in a sharp breath as she noticed how large the crowd was. Most of them were spectators who had investments in Tony's company. But there was a good majority of reporters standing at the front row with microphones and recording devices at the ready. She almost smirked at the sight, having grown familiar with it after dealing with them for so long.

"Thanks again for doing this, Tony," she whispered when they reached the podium.

"If this doesn't clear the air with nosy reporters, I don't know what will," Tony rolled his eyes in exasperation, though that didn't stop him from patting her shoulder confidently.

She merely returned the gesture with a smile of her own before reaching Leonard's side. It didn't take long for the reporters to begin asking questions that Emily had been anticipating. When one of the reporters asked how Leonard felt knowing that he was engaged to a princess, his reaction was priceless. It took everything she had not to laugh at the fact that he was being placed in an uncomfortable position. Especially when another reporter asked how long they had known each other.

"Our fathers were good friends before we met," Emily explained to give him a break from all the answering. She knew he was getting exasperated from the ulcer forming along his forehead. "When Phil Coulson adopted me it was Leonard's father who suggested we move to Georgia next door. I don't think he had any regrets with that offer either."

She shared a knowing look with Leonard, not missing the way his face seemed to soften at the mention of his father. It was still a sore subject to discuss. Emily rarely brought up his father's name around him unless the situation demanded it, though even she knew that he'd learned to move on from that part of their past.

"Have you ever considered starting a family with your genetics in play?" a female reporter finally stood up and spoke up. It was clear she had been hoping to ask that question since the conference started. From the way her fingers twitched along the recorder to the way she glared at anyone who stood up before her, it was obvious. But the moment she asked that question was when Emily stiffened in surprise. "As I understand you are the last of your kind, which would technically make you an endangered species. Have you considered repopulating your planet?"

It took a few seconds for her next question to sink in. For a moment, Emily wasn't sure how to answer as she glanced at Leonard warily. Neither of them had even gotten the chance to talk about starting a family or if they wanted to take that step. Hell, Emily knew in the back of her mind that she had always wanted that sort of life. But she knew it wasn't possible. Between her biology and the fact that she suffered from radiation poisoning, she couldn't shake off the feeling that getting pregnant was possible.

"I think that's enough questions for one day," Tony suddenly stepped in after noticing how pale she had turned.

Emily swallowed hard when she felt Leonard guide her away from the conference room. Her mind suddenly went blank when the reporter asked that question. She wasn't sure how much time passed since then, but she knew the long pause had caused enough of an alarm for Tony to step in before the situation could get any worse.

"Em, talk to me," Leonard started after making sure she wasn't going to suffer from a panic attack.

It had been years since her last panic attack, but he knew it was a very real and terrifying possibility. Emily blinked a few times when she felt his hand squeeze her shoulder gently, reminding her to breathe.

"I'm sorry," she finally whispered. Leonard's face softened as he guessed what was really bothering her. "It's just… when she asked that question I didn't know how to respond."

Leonard let out a heavy sigh as he understood the gravity of the situation. It was worse than a panic attack. It was realization hitting her at full-force. He suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, watching with worry when she broke down into tears. She rarely cried in public. It was always considered a sign of weakness, though Leonard had always scoffed at the notion.

"That reporter crossed the line when she brought up those questions," he reminded her after guiding her to bench where they could sit down.

Pepper was already working on damage control to try and simmer the situation, along with Tony. Embarrassment swept through Emily when she realized that she likely made the situation even worse for them. She'd given the reporters an incentive to continue asking more questions as to why she reacted that way in the first place.

"No, she was doing her job," she whispered. "I don't even know if we could start a family… After everything I've put myself through, I don't know if it's possible."

His heart sank at the defeat in her voice. Leonard held her close as she buried her face into his shoulder, fighting back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. She hadn't realized until then how much she wanted that sort of life. To be able to hold her own baby girl or boy and watch them grow. To raise them with unconditional love… she knew it wasn't possible. What made it worse was knowing that she'd also taken that away from Leonard as well.

"Emily, no matter what happens I'll always be grateful I chose you as my wife," he reminded her when she finally looked at him. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when he lifted her chin gently so their eyes would meet. "And we haven't even looked into the possibilities of you getting pregnant. I know there are other options we can resort to, and if worse comes to worse, we can always adopt."

Emily didn't know what to say when those words sank in. Her heart was racing for a whole different reason when she realized he was still willing to accept her, despite the fact that she wouldn't likely be able to carry a child. She buried her face into his shoulder once more as his comforting warmth wrapped around her like a protective blanket. It wasn't until hearing a cough from behind that Emily finally looked up to see Tony giving her a sympathetic look.

"Pep's already taking care of that mess," he reassured her after deciding to cut straight to the chase. "Once everything is sorted out they won't be bothering either of you anytime soon." There wasn't enough gratitude in the world for her to offer. She suddenly felt mentally drained after realization hit her like a truck. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," she replied without missing a beat. "Thank you Tony, for everything."

Tony merely offered a wide smile, though not without glaring back at Leonard, "Anything for my little sis."

She just stuck her tongue out at him as he walked past. The moment he was gone was when she let out a heavy sigh. She hoped that Leonard was right about testing to see if it was possible. She had to cling on to the hope that she could get pregnant, and if worse came to worse, they would adopt. Those were the only options they had at that point.