The Vow au bc I love this plot twist and Aqua/Jim are adorable

[done_in_3]

Three years, nearly four, of wedded bliss. Jim was calmer, more focused and honestly a better captain. He had his wife, his beloved Aqua to thank for that, she was his light, his heart, his whole world. She kept him grounded and morally upright and he honestly took fewer stupid risks with his life thanks to her. The crew ran better, the Enterprise had better records, life was good.

Jim had bought them a house for when he was on Shore Leave on Earth, it barely got used but when Enterprise was docked, well they needed to crash somewhere. It was a nice place in San Francisco, in the heart of downtown and worth every penny of the millions it was worth.The property values were sky high but Jim was a veteran captain and got paid accordingly. He used his money on very little else besides charity so he was happy to spoil his wife with a comfortable home. Besides, if and when they had kids... well if their house just happened to be in an ideal school district he wouldn't call it an accident.

Everything was perfect, which begged for it all to come crashing down soon enough. Jim wouldn't remember the crash or the drunk kids in a truck behind him and Aqua on the road, he wouldn't remember that he shouldn't be alive, his wayfinder had saved him....but he doesn't know what this anymore. All he knows is he's laying in bed, he feels numb.. and he's waking up in what sounds and smells like a hospital.

"Mmm... mm." he was so tired and yet his mind was racing with questions. 'Where am I? What happened? Where's my ship?'

Comments

[done_in_3]

" even worse. Women. Beautiful girls, but they were accompanied by the captain who was this creepy pudgy man named Mudd. He says they're his cargo and he needs a ride to the nearest mining planet. Now we were low on dilithium crystals do we were headed there anyway. Thing is... these girls had a weird power. They seduced men just looking at them. My crew was reduced to blathering idiots following them around like puppies..." never mind what his own reaction was. He was glad he could help get feel better. This was fun.

[watersacrificed]

Aqua's chuckling had turned into weak laughter. In her mind she was picturing all of Jim's male crew members acting like idiots. Or acting more like Ven whenever he was excited over something. Her mind didn't dare to think how her husband might've reacted. It was all in the past, nothing for her to think about.

"Please tell me when it was all over, Uhura made you give her a raise or a better room."

[done_in_3]

"She didn't ask, I gave her one anyway. The men were only ogling Mudd's women, they had this aura about them... turns out it was a drug he was making them take, he called it Venus. It was some sort of hormone supplement, it supercharged them with estrogen, it made their skin glow, their hair was shinier, their faces were more youthful... they looked like the magazine models only real. It was nuts. Thing is he wanted to trade them to the miners on the dilithium crystal facility were were headed to. We were prepared to buy crystals off them but damn Mudd... he got there first through a loophole he made for himself and traded the women to the miners first! They gave him everything they had for those three girls, so nothing for the Enterprise, Mudd has all the power in his money grubbing hands, and those girls are fed to those men and I tell you, they looked like wolves when they saw them. They were fine men until the women showed up, they turned into animals even though they still talked and walked as professionals. I couldn't leave them like that, I couldn't leave at all. Enterprise was starving for those crystals..."

...I thought I replied to this

[watersacrificed]

"So you figured out a way for the Enterprise to get those crystals, save the women and everyone is in your eternal debt?" Aqua lightly joked, waiting anxiously for him to finish his story. He was doing a great job of keeping her attention on him, practically hanging off his every word.

"You never told me this story before. What made you want to share it now?"

Happens to us all

[done_in_3]

"You're ruining the ending." he said sarcastically, though with a smile.

"Well the drugs were a thing the girls had to keep taking, and Mudd and I got caught up in a struggle for a while, just long enough for one of the girls to miss her dose. Apparently that drug was so potent, her system was so overloaded with Estrogen that if she didn't take it exactly on time her body started to go back to normal pretty fast. And it wasn't just their looks that changed. That drug made them more flirtatious, more nurturing, they just doted on the miners like it was their dream come true. You know, exactly what a bunk full of lonely miners dream of...they were nice enough to the girls, they were starved for female company. Worshiped their feet... but I knew that would only last until they wanted carnal relations and then they'd start fighting... the miners weren't interested in any deal with the Enterprise and Mudd had all the crystals and no ship to fly on. We were all at an impasse but that girl without her dose... she started going back to normal and the miners caught on, they were pissed as hell. She started looking more normal, started getting annoyed at things, started being a real woman instead of some fetishized living doll... they wanted Mudd to take them back, Mudd didn't want to trade, the girls... two of them were terrified they were going to lose out on the eternal youth the drug brought... the third one, she was almost normal again and she ran off, out of the mining facility, couldn't take it anymore. There was a sandstorm coming, a big one, the kind you could get lost in four feet from your front door. I ran after her, nearly got us both stranded out there in the desert.... ah, long story short... the miners got a dose of reality and decided to keep the girls as they were without the drug. The girls seemed happy enough. I was alright with leaving them there after that. Mudd had to hand over the crystals we needed and Enterprise was free to go.

"I tell that story because I... it made me think for a long time after that. Most of the men in my crew had a lot to say about those girls before they stopped the drugs but when they went off them and were normal, the boys weren't so impressed. In fact some of them said they wouldn't have taken the women the way the miners did, one even tried to find Venus for his girlfriend to start taking. It got me thinking.... I didn't find myself attracted to those girls beyond finding them beautiful. My men were dragging their jaws on the floor but those girls were never NOT pretty. They were never annoying or weird or angry. They were obedient and they were thrilled with anything you said to them and I just.... it rubbed me the wrong way. I never thought about it before them but I knew then I wanted a human being and not a 'yes girl'. I wanted someone real....

And you're real."

/luffs, shouldn't you be asleep?

[watersacrificed]

Aqua raised an eyebrow at him. Some of the men in his crew wanted their significant others to take the Venus drug. She shook her head at that, finding it to be a little sad. Why couldn't those men appreciate what they had? But at least Jim didn't fall for it. Hard to believe since he was a womanizer.

"....yes, I am." She was real, stubborn, really stubborn and able to keep a calm head on her shoulders. She was there to keep Kirk on his toes, to give him a witty retort and bring him back down from the clouds. They kept each other leveled, safe and happy.

"You've called ma 'real pain' at times, but I think you enjoyed that part of my personality. Especially whenever I became a 'mother hen' around you."

I did go to sleep then I plonked off for a while, sorry this is late!

[done_in_3]

"I'd prefer you be a pain than a facade." he pet her hair gently. He had a strange affinity to her now, even though he clearly didn't love her.

"Eh, that might be welcome... my mom didn't really... she wasn't really around much. But I bet you know all that." another thing he didn't really dive into though he had told his wife that his mother was emotionally absent from his life, she knew Winona Kirk wasn't much of a mother.

[watersacrificed]

"..I don't actually." It would be easy for her to lie and say she did, but Aqua wanted to remain honest with him. His past was a sore spot, she knew and never wanted to press on with it unless he was willing to talk about.

"It's...not something we talk about often, and after living with two kids essentially, someone had to remind them to pick up their things." Luckily Eraqus was there to tell them to eat their veggies.

"I think...I feel well enough to crawl into bed."

[done_in_3]

"Might as well get it out now then." while he was willing to talk. "Let me help you to bed first." he reached for her, helped her to her feet if she wanted he'd even carry her to bed.

"Sounds like what Uhura said I needed, a nanny who'd also sleep with me." he rolled his eyes. "I hated when she said that but I knew she was right... eh... my mom didn't want to be around me ever since I was born. Seeing me reminded her of my dad and she avoided me. Took every mission she could off the planet and said she was being a strong parent by providing for Sam and I financially when really we just needed someone around."

[watersacrificed]

Aqua greatly appreciated him helping her to her feet. She managed to get up just fine, no sign of dizziness or anything else. Maybe it was just a seven hour flu bug or something.

"Thank you..." she murmured, climbing into bed and loosely hugged the covers.

"You still had her, that has to count for something. I mean, I don't remember my parents, what they were like or who I take after. It's one of the reasons why I tend to hold tightly to Ven, Terra and you."

[done_in_3]

"Yeah? That's got to be hard... I get that with my dad. Well sort of. People talk to me about him and I can see his photos but I have no idea who he was. And him not being around seemed more like a presence than he should have been if he were still alive...anyway. Yeah I still had her. We aren't close though." in fact he resents her most of the time.

"That's got to be hard not knowing your family...What happened? Do you know?"

[watersacrificed]

For Aqua she had nothing. She had no pictures, no memories of her former parents. There were times when she imagined what her father and mother looked like, but that's all she could do. No spell or magic could give her a glimpse into the past.

"No, I don't. I didn't dwell on it when I was younger. I had my studies to worry about and Eraqus, was more than enough for a father." she laid her head down on the pillow, curling up against him slightly.

[done_in_3]

He wondered which was worse... so to speak. They both had their ups and downs. He had a shadow to live under even though he didn't know the man. Knowing about him just made it sting more. In a way her clean cut was easier... and harder because he at least had some closure about his father. He knew what kind of man he was. He knew he was a lot like him.

"I....can grieve with you." that was better than 'I'm sorry' in his book.

[watersacrificed]

It was touching Jim would be this understanding with her. That they were exploring what the other had kept hidden for years. While they knew each other, they rarely touched upon subjects like these. She reached out to squeeze his hand.

"We can grieve together." Though there was rarely any room for grieving. Not when he brought so much happiness in her life.

"Though I sometimes wished I had a mother figure around. Being the only girl...there were certain topics that were difficult to talk to Eraqus about." Or have the man tell her about. Like the birds and the bees, or what happened every month.

[done_in_3]

"Yeah. I like that." having someone to go to was a nice idea, having a designated person to be open and vulnerable to was good for him, even though he wasn't the type of person to actually take advantage of that. He knew better, he knew he should. He was starting to understand the idea of why a spouse was nice. Though he didn't think he had an easy time with the monogamy thing.

"I bet. Ah... you can talk to me about it but I make no promise I will be of any use." he's never been the kind of man who is rendered uncomfortable by the mention of periods. He loves women, he had to get used to the cycle, never bothered him with Aqua or previous lovers. But... that doesn't exactly make him helpful to her need for a mother figure.

"I kind of want one too..." even though she just said he should be happy to still have his mom.

[watersacrificed]

Sooner or later Jim would be won over the monogamy idea. Though, she wasn't in need of a mother figure. Not right now. She learned things about being a woman from Eraqus. She was raised to be a lady and a warrior. Sure, there were times when she wanted a mother figure around if only to spare her the awkward conversations about her adolescent development.

"Ahh, no. I meant when I was younger having a motherly figure would've been helpful in that respect..." she replied, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Well...I can't be your mother, since that's...that's just too creepy. But I'll be more than happy to be a mother hen to you," the bluenette teased.

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"Oh. Right. Well at least that's over." he snuggled into his side of the bed, surprised at how ready he felt for a lazy nap. He could read one of the books he bought if she fell asleep before him.

"If you don't feel better tomorrow I'm calling Bones oh 'mother hen'."

[watersacrificed]

A frown appeared on her lips hearing who would be called in tomorrow. Okay, now he was worrying for nothing. There was no reason to tear Bones away from his vacation to fuss over her.

"Don't you dare trouble him. I'll be fine on my own. In fact, I'm feeling better already. So no need to call him." Her voice was stern then, making sure Jim knew she wasn't going to be pleased if he invited his friend and doctor over to their home for a silly check up.

That icon is perfect.

[done_in_3]

"you sure about that? You know he's going to come around anyway to check on ME. It's not like he's all that far away." he might be taking Bones for granted but that's beside the point. The man did make a commitment to Aqua to come for Jim's sake at any hour, he wasn't going far.

"But sure, you want to be a tough girl then I've got plenty more stories to tell you toilet-side."

I knew I had an icon of her being all huffy

[watersacrificed]

"He can check on you whenever he wants. I don't want him to start worrying over me." Poor man had enough on his plate. Between worrying over Jim on the Enterprise and now on solid ground. Sometimes Kirk managed to put his crew through the ringer, even when they were on vacation.

"You can tell me stories at any point, but...I'll stay in bed for the rest of the day. You are more welcome to keep me company."

Do you want to time skip to when she finds out she's prego?

[done_in_3]

"Oh, a double standard. I love those! Except only when I'm the one giving them out. My decision still stands, you get better or Bones hears about it. He'll skin me if he comes for me and finds I didn't tell him about you being sick." enough said, he's not about to bend on that either. She ought to know how stubborn he was when it came to his people.

"But I can tell you a bedtime story if you want."

That's fine with me!

[watersacrificed]

There was a light chuckle from Aqua as she curled up next to him, moving to rest her head on his chest.

"I'll get better, promise." She'd make sure of that. Nothing but rice, bananas and toast for her for the next couple of days.

"But, another story wouldn't hurt." Another story, another chance to learn more about him in ways she didn't know before. Aqua fell asleep listening to the sound of Jim's voice. For the next few days she kept to a strict diet, but it didn't stop her nauseousness. Bones had been called in to check over Jim and now her.

In her examination she found out some news. She didn't have a cold, it was something completely different.

"Leonard...are you sure? I can't be pregnant at a time like this."

[done_in_3]

Leonard had taken Aqua into another room, give her some privacy since he had to see her partially undressed for the exam. Jim had wandered off, made some coffee and left them alone.

The doctor raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm more than sure, I know. And you can because you are. You're a married woman and you live like one, until recently. But we're talking about five weeks ago when Jim was still himself. You trying to tell me he didn't touch you in that time?" he was closing his case and getting prepared to help her with the next step.

"I can help you talk to him. This might... scare him."

[watersacrificed]

A blush came over her cheeks. Yes, they had time to themselves when Jim was still himself. While they were in the midst of talking about having a family, she didn't think they'd have one now! Now wasn't the best time! Especially with a man who had bits and pieces of who she was.

"We...had our time a month ago, but..." God, how could she handle a pregnancy and a husband with amnesia. Nor could she terminate her pregnancy...God what was she going to do?

"You kidding me? This'll make him run!" Jim was still trying to get used to the idea of being with one person. Having a child on top of that? Aqua bowed her head, trying her best to keep things together.

"...I don't know what to do, Leonard.."

[done_in_3]

"You listen to your doctor, and your friend. Just breath, take it easy. We'll talk to him together. Jim might flip for a little bit but he won't run, Aqua. You know the abandonment issues he has, he couldn't do that to his own kid. It's not in him... I'd expect him to be more on the line of 'useless' as far as helping you." he sighed gently.

"I know this isn't how you wanted this to happen... but you have to know that the old Jim, your husband... would be over the moon about this."