Kirk took a deep breath as he stepped onto the transporter pad, it would be his last time as Captain aboard the Enterprise. There were no words to describe the feelings in his heart. Sadness at leaving his beloved ship and the stars he loved to explore, excitement for the next stage of his life, and anxiety at becoming a parent in four months. Resentment was also present, resentment that Starfleet and his husbands forced him to become an admiral. Starfleet because they wanted to display their golden child at their headquarters for all to see, his husbands wanted him to stay planetside for his safety and the safety of their child. The resentment oscillated with begrudging understanding of his husband's request for him to stay safely on a planet, the fact that promotion happened to coincide with that request, who was to look a gift horse in the mouth? Spock and Leonard soon joined him on the transporter pad.
Leonard and Spock both felt the flurry of emotions that were running through Jim through the marital bond. Leonard, being the one most comfortable confronting emotions, turned to his husband and spoke quietly so only the three of them could hear, "Jim, I know you're sad at leaving, frustrated at becoming admiral and anxious about being a father. Spock and I share that last emotion with you and we will help you with the other two - we know this was not an easy decision for you to make and we love you more for it. We know that you are being asked to sacrifice a lot for our family, we appreciate and adore you for it. We will support you in any way we can."
Jim gave them a small smile and responded, "Thank you both. You're right, it's not an easy transition for me to make, I knew deep down that this was the logical thing to happen but when it happened I still was surprised and yes resented it. Illogical I know but it will not affect my relationship with you or with our child."
Spock held out his middle and index finger towards Jim and murmured, "K'diwa you are a beautiful man inside and out. Our child loves you, surely you must feel that. You have been a brave, compassionate, intelligent and forthright captain. Although you show fearlessness to our crew, I have seen you behind closed doors. I have seen the crippling doubt and the anguish when injury or death occur - all these qualities that have made you an incredible captain will make you a wonderful admiral. You remind me of Christopher in that respect, always able to bring out the best in others. Perhaps, when our son is old enough we can bring him to Talos IV to visit his namesake?"
Jim hastily wiped tears from his eyes, "Damn hormones making me all emotional. Thank you Spock and yes, I would love to bring our son to meet the man who brought us together." Before Jim could lean in and give his husbands a kiss, Scotty said, with a lilt in his voice, "Alright you three! Before we have a scandal on the transporter pad I'm going to transport the three of you to Atlanta." All three men were sent laughing down to their new home in Georgia.
Jim sat in the rocking chair that had belonged to Leonard's grandmother and now had its home in his son's nursery. His hands were splayed over his stomach, he was seven months along and it was getting harder to walk every day and was now on official maternity leave from Starfleet and was looking forward to meeting his son.
As his eyes wandered the room that had been so lovingly prepared for his son, his mind wandered to the beginning of his pregnancy when the three of them had decided on where to live after their five year mission had been completed. They had been in their cabin after their shift was over, Spock had been reading scientific journals, Jim was completing paperwork he had been putting off for far too long and Leonard was a bundle of nerves who was pacing the room.
"Ashyaum, please calm yourself, I can sense your thoughts and we are more receptive than you think we are." Jim looked up from his paperwork and looked at both his husbands with a questioning look on his face.
Leonard looked at Spock, took a deep steadying breath and began to speak, "Well, I've been thinking since we've gotten together what I would do after our five year mission. I really only joined Starfleet to get away from Earth and Jocelynn, well I've found what I really needed…you two. I know you two will stay in Starfleet after because it's what you've always wanted. The both of you have improved Starfleet so much by just being there. It's not what I need or want anymore, so I've decided I want to retire from Starfleet and do research in the medical field. You two will stay in Starfleet but I'm a country boy at heart…so this is where I'm nervous." He looked at his spouses with wide, scared eyes, unsure how to proceed.
Jim got up from his desk and came to stand in front of Leonard, grabbing his hands and looking into his eyes, "What is it Bones? This is unlike you not to be able to express yourself. Spock and I would never get mad at you for expressing yourself."
Spock also approached Leonard and put his fingers on McCoy's PSI points, projecting love, devotion and faith through the bond. Leonard leaned into Spock's hand, closing his eyes and softly saying, "I would love us to live in Georgia, in my home there. I've missed the climate and greenery of the place. With transporter tech it would be easy for you two to commute to San Francisco as needed for Starfleet. I have a lab already set up in the house that I used before Starfleet and on some of my shoreleaves." When he was finished speaking he opened his eyes, eyes that were vulnerable and unsure how his spouses would respond to his idea.
Jim's eyes lit up and an enormous smile split his face. "Bones! That is a fantastic idea! I love the idea of raising our son where you have so many happy memories and where you feel most comfortable."
Bones' entire body relaxed at Jim's response but he looked at Spock with a shade of doubt still in his eyes, "What about you Spock? Is this alright with you?"
Spock gave him a tiny smile and responded, "Of course, Ashayam, I too love the idea of raising a child where you are happiest. Jim and I can easily go to San Francisco from your home, so do not worry."
Jim shook his head as he struggled to get up from the rocking chair. Leonard was always so worried about upsetting his mates, a remnant from his marriage with Jocelyn that still hadn't gone away despite all the love and support from him and Spock. He slowly waddled towards Leonards office. God how had he gone from lithe and limber to this waddling beach whale? As he entered the office, he smiled as he sensed the excitement coming from Leonards side of the bond. "Ashayam, what has gotten you so excited?" Leonard launched into an explanation of his newest experiment and the results, Jim just nodding - understanding some but most went over his head. "Jim, why did you let me ramble like that? I can sense through our bond that you're uncomfortable. Come here, let me help you sit in the recliner - I want you to keep me company for the next couple hours but do it in comfort." Jim smiled as he was helped into the chair and was content to watch Leonard work but slowly drifted off to sleep.