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

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."

[watersacrificed]

"But you're assuming my husband will come back. Yes, he's there, but..." How long would his memories continue to elude Jim? Yes, he would be thrilled over a child, but the current Jim? While he wouldn't run as Leonard said, she was still worried about what they would do. Jim wasn't 100% himself and she needed her husband right now.

She brought her hand up to wipe away a few tears that stained her cheeks.

"...I can't do this without him."

Joanna's his daughter if you didn't know.

[done_in_3]

He sighed, nodding. She had a point. Jim might never remember no matter how strongly they wanted for him to come back and be like normal. He knew the statistics even though he didn't want to quote them for Aqua.

He sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Maybe not but you can do this with your friends here. You've got us, all of us. I'm in San Fran with Joanna all of shore leave, she's on summer break. We're ten minutes away if you need anything. Nyota and Spock would do anything for you, that goes for Sulu and Chekov and Scott. Carol too, you have us, we're your family." From Jim's side, they were her clan, though he knew she had people she couldn't see anymore from her past.

"I wish it were better sweetheart. But it's far from impossible. He'll come around."

Thanks~ I know. :D

[watersacrificed]

Aqua was appreciative of Leonard and the comfort he was offering her. He wouldn't be too far away, none of the crew would, but it wasn't her place to bring them into a personal matter. Not one as sensitive as this with his amnesia and her being pregnant. But pretty soon she'd have to sing a different tune if she wanted things to work.

"I know..." she murmured, calming down and stopped her tears.

"I'll take things slow and tell Jim in private. If I need anything..I know he has all your numbers.." But she'd save McCoy for last. He needed time with his daughter.

"Thank you, Leonard."

Whoops, nvm then~ I never want to assume, it's the mother of all f*uck ups

[done_in_3]

"You sure about that? I was prepared to tell him by myself alone, let him react and then approach you once he's calm... you sure you want to face him alone? It's your choice just know you have options."

He wanted to do this for her, he wanted to do it all for her and see her smile again and his best friend return to them all. This was the last thing he wanted. Aqua had a heart of gold and Jim had finally calmed down and become the man he needed to be for her, himself, and the ship. It was such a damn shame this all ruined it.

"Whatever you decide... and just remember I'm available anytime. Hell, Jo will be excited once she hears about it... if that's alright I tell her. She'll want to come over here and help you."

Its alright. I've seen both movies, just don't ask me about...technical stuff

[watersacrificed]

It didn't matter what options Aqua had, it was all a matter of how he'd react. If Leonard told him, it would feel wrong. it was a matter a wife should tell her husband, not his doctor/friend. If Jim was going to freak out, he could do that in front of her.

"I can tell him alone, but stay a little while longer for him." Just in case Jim had a bigger freak out than what she was expecting.

There was a slow nod of her head. Yes, she could call him day or night, but she'd refrain as long as he was with his daughter.

"Ahh, you can tell her, just don't let the others know yet. I don't want everyone suddenly coming over and trying to babysit the two of us." Or fuss over the two of them.

"I'll go talk to him now, thank you again."

That's what you have me for, we can BS what doesn't make sense anyway

[done_in_3]

"Alright. I'll be in the front room if you need me." trying to think of how to calm Jim down without medication should it get that far. He'll keep it a secret for now, Joanna wasn't too great with those just yet. She'd tell the whole crew.

Jim was in a deeper part of the house, fiddling with a scale model of Enterprise he had made a year before.

"Aqua?... Everything... ok?" he kind of overheard them and was wandering towards their room.

xD YAY

[watersacrificed]

There was another nod of her, watching Leonard go into the front of the house while she collected herself and put on her best face. Making sure her face was clear of any tears and her eyes weren't red. Once she was sure she was fine, she left the room to head to him.

"Yeah, everything's fine..." Sort of.

"I need to talk to you though..." Aqua tilted her head towards their bedroom and gestured for him to come in. Once he was inside she softly shut the door.

"I was talking with Leonard and it turns out I'm not sick. Which is great and all, but I won't be able to keep anything down for a few more weeks..." she trailed on, trying to summon her courage to tell him what was going on.

"...and that's because...I'm pregnant."

[done_in_3]

Jim wandered in after her like a kid entering the headmaster's office. She started talking, he nodded gently, arms crossed as though he were cold.

When she offered the p-word he said nothing. He jut nodded as if she hadn't said anything out of the ordinary but his visibly stiffened.

"I thought about that... I thought maybe that's what it was." he lost his memory but he wasn't stupid, he knew their situation, he knew what pregnancy symptoms looked like, not that he'd ever fathered a child before but he had several women accusing him of it in the past.

"So... great. That's....that's really good. Were we trying to have a baby?" he didn't sound upset but he didn't sound excited either. He sounded like a child being told they were about to be an older sibling; emotionally distant.

[watersacrificed]

The emotional distance hit Aqua harder than she was expecting. Jim didn't seem like he was excited, angry or anything. It nearly felt like she was talking to the walls. But, there she was, expecting things of him again. He wasn't the same person and she couldn't take it to heart how he was reacting.

Maybe it would've been better to have Leonard talk to him.

"No, we weren't. We...briefly talked about it, but never planned anything," she explained, taking a seat on the edge of their bed.

[done_in_3]

He realized logically that he was probably hurting her but it didn't matter. Nothing really sank in, even her pregnancy was cerebral knowledge and not anything that made him twist in fear or disgust. He was just... unsure what he was supposed to say right now.

"I guess it's a happy accident then." said with absolutely no joy in his voice. There was no derision or anxiety either. He looked a bit lost.

"You ok?"

[watersacrificed]

It was hard to figure out what Jim was feeling. He looked lost, but to her it as though he was uncaring about it. Like her news was nothing worth celebrating, especially considering the 'happy accident' was said with no joy. Aqua didn't want to hold it against him, but it was becoming harder to do that. She wanted, needed her husband back.

"Yeah...I'm trying to take it all in..." she murmured, putting up an act as she pushed her bangs back.

"I'll be fine, go talk to McCoy. I think he wanted to do another check up on you..."

[done_in_3]

He was sort of ill at ease with it too. He wanted to feel something, honest he did. He should be happy or at least startled but there was just nothing. He couldn't feel anything even as he tried to scare himself with thoughts of late nights and dirty diapers and pregnancy issues. Distaste for the situation was better than nothing at all but he couldn't dredge up one feeling for it. Sure. Having a baby. Whatever.

He had a long talk with Bones, or rather Bones had a long lecture with Jim about taking care of Aqua.

"She needs you right now."

"She needs the old me, this is who she has now."

"It's got to be hard knowing you're unwanted in the state you're in... but you give her that vibe right back. The both of you need to get your act together as a unit or that baby is going to suffer for it."

"Sure."

"Jim come on, pull your head out of your ass."

"....Did I want this baby?"

"More than anything. You two had a couple times it looked like she was pregnant and you almost gave yourself a coronary you were so excited. Hated to see your face when I had to tell you 'no dice'."

"Does that sound like me?"

"Jim, you changed when you met her. You stopped partying, you started nesting, you wanted to build a life with her, other women weren't on your mind after Aqua."

"I get that but..."

"What is it?"

"This kid.... I have to... I have to stick around. I don't know that I will... I don't want to be my dad. Just..."

"Hmmm...there you are, Jim. Your heart's in the right place. Go have this conversation with her. You know my number, and where I hide my liquor."


Jim returned alone to Aqua, slowly approaching her.

"Hey..."

[watersacrificed]

In the time that Jim was talking to McCoy, Aqua found herself alone with her thoughts. Her worries and fears were coming over her, threatening to take control. It was hard to picture a life with the man who was in her home now. A man who didn't know her, but at least was nice to her. There were some feelings there, but nothing substantial. She could show him their lives, try to replay memories from her mind for him, but if there was nothing there....then what could she do?

Dread and guilt swelled in her, making her pull her legs up and hug them. Tears were pricking at her eyes and she let them flow. In her head she began to pray to God or whatever deities were there. Praying for Jim to have his memory back. She couldn't do this without him.

By the time she heard his footsteps coming, she stopped crying and wiped the tears from her face.

"Hey."

[done_in_3]

He blinked at her, noticed the red puffy eyes and strode over, crouching in front of her.

"Don't cry...please? I know this is my fault. I... I'm sorry. I'm going to be here for you, I promise. I... I'm trying." he doesn't know who he is supposed to be for her, only that he's unwanted as-is.

He looks at her, concerned, confused, and guilty.

[watersacrificed]

"I know you are.." Aqua murmured, bringing up one hand to wipe her eyes. She had to fight those feelings as hard as she could. Her husband was right there in front of her. He didn't give up on her when she lost her memories. He continued to push forward even as she threatened to end his life.

"You've been trying, we've been trying at putting our lives back together. We also wanted a baby and...now it's happening. I've gone from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other and I'm...I'm a mess, simply put and I'm sorry."

[done_in_3]

"It's alright, you have every reason to be I just... don't know how to make it better. Do you want to cry about it? I mean, you can just let it out if you need to." he just needs directions, tell him what to do.

"We're both a mess. We can stop trying to put up a front for each other. I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like I'm expected to just be someone I'm not...I'm kind of sacred."

[watersacrificed]

Aqua had cried about it already, though she was sure there were plenty more tears in her system that she could cry out. No, she didn't want to keep crying and give herself a headache later on.

"Neither of us has a clue what to do but...can you hold me, please?" her request was asked in such a small voice with a tremor in there. Right, pregnancy hormones, she may end up crying again even if she doesn't want to.

[done_in_3]

He sat next to her, pulling her close. It was more comforting to help her physically than to talk about it. Men weren't typically good with the whole talking thing and Jim was no different than the average specimen.

He'd hug her tight until she was done, crying or just sitting. Whatever she needed.

[watersacrificed]

Aqua stayed quiet as Jim held her in his arms. She breathed in his scent as she tightly held onto him. Tears ran down her face and spilled onto his shirt. Later she would apologize, but she needed to get it out of her system.

They sat in silence for the better part of thirty minutes before buried her face into the crook of his neck.

"...I don't think I can do this without you."

[done_in_3]

"You're tough, Aqua. You can do it... but you don't have to. I'll be here for you, you can cry if you want. I'll take you to every appointment, I'll get all the supplies with you, I promise." just... please stop being so disappointed with the situation...

Please, situation, improve. Like now.