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

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.

[watersacrificed]

It wasn't Aqua was disappointed with the situation, she was utterly terrified. This wasn't the first time someone she truly cared about had lost their memories. Terra was the first one, he lost his memories and became something entirely else. She nearly lost him and it wasn't until years later when they were able to face each other again.

She didn't want the same thing to happen to Jim.

"I don't want to cry anymore..." she murmured, moving slightly to place her forehead on his shoulder.

"I was hoping you'd say that...especially if I can't make it too far from the bathroom.." She was trying to lighten the mood and get their spirits up by making fun of her morning sickness.

At that moment the doorbell rang. McCoy already let himself out, but there another person there. A tall man with long, spiked brown hair and clear blue eyes.

[done_in_3]

"Alright. I wouldn't abandon you like this. I just have no idea what I am supposed to do. I'll do anything you need you just have to tell me what that is." typical male alert; greetings.

Jim perked at the sound of the doorbell. Bones had left already, who could it be at this hour? Hopefully not some salesman or something. Surely in this day and age...

"I'll get it." he left her on their bed, headed to the front of the house, before he opened the door he asked "Who is it?"

[watersacrificed]

"I don't have a clue what to do either." Aside from taking prenatal care and buying a book that basically told them what to do. She wasn't afraid Jim would leave her...much. There was a part of her that felt he would run and get out of the situation. He was still uncomfortable with settling down and having a child on top of being in a marriage he didn't remember, it would make anyone else want to go.

"Having you around is enough for me..." she murmured, hugging him tightly before he was forced to pull away.

Standing outside their home was a man in strange garb.

"Terra," he called out then waited a beat.

"Aqua's...brother." Aqua had no idea he was there, but they had been writing to each other and informed him of what was going on. He knew of Jim's condition and thought it would be best if he came to see how his best friend was doing.

[done_in_3]

"Well there's books... we like books. We can find about a million mom blogs probably. We'll figure it out, it can't be that hard. People raised kids since the dawn of humanity, in caves and tents. We'll be ok." if only he knew how wrong he was.

He approached the front door and raised his eyebrows at the word. Terra. Yes...

"Oh right, Terra." He opened the door with a genial smile. "Aqua told me about you. Come in. I'll get her." he showed Terra to their living area, both stylish and comfortable as he headed to his wife......right, his wife... that felt weird to even think.

"Aqua, Terra's here." he smiled at her. "Should cheer you up, right?"

[watersacrificed]

Terra forced a small, polite smile on his face. He quietly entered Jim's home and stood by the couch in the living room.

Aqua on the other hand was in the midst of fixing the bed when Jim came back to her. He had a point, they could get a million books and seek out advice from 'bloggers'. Just as she was starting to feel better, she learned Terra was there. Concern and confusion came across her features.

"I..guess..." Terra would've sent word if he was coming. To have him suddenly show up was worrisome. Trying to be optimistic, she placed a small smile on her lips and kissed Jim on the cheek.

"I'll say hi to him. If you want to join us, feel free--" her sentence was cut off as Terra was now standing in the couple's doorway.

"It won't be a quick visit. Aqua, it's best if you come home. Eraqus and I both agree. You need to come home."

[done_in_3]

Jim flinched, looking at Terra slightly put off. Nobody invited you into this room, this private room, he might add. Rude.

But then he started talking, and Jim got annoyed, even defensive.

"What?" he stood up straighter. "And why is that?" this is Aqua's brother and he wants to like him... don't make this hard on him, Terra.

[watersacrificed]

While it had been rude of Terra to follow Jim to his quarters, he had to talk to Aqua. It was of the utmost importance that she come home. Not because the worlds were in danger, but she was going through hard times. She needed her family, not a man who couldn't remember her.

"I don't need to come home. I am home." she interjected, glaring at Terra while glancing over at Jim. They shouldn't have this conversation in front of her husband. Terra didn't seem to care, continuing to press on.

"No, this is his..." he inclined his head to Jim's direction.

"Home. You're killing yourself by being here with someone who doesn't remember you. He's not worth it."

Terra's words shocked Aqua to the core, leaving her speechless.

[done_in_3]

"Woah woah." he stepped over, between Terra and Aqua. "Back up. Where do you get off? Coming in here telling her that crap."

Who was this guy anyway? Jim wasn't impressed... like at all.

"We're fine."

This is over a month long too!

[watersacrificed]

Aqua was forced to take a step back, but she didn't mind. Really, she was trying to process what the hell Terra just said.

The brunet on the other hand stood his ground. He started to glare at Jim with his hand curled into a fist at his side.

"You maybe fine, but Aqua? No. You don't know her enough to know if she's fine, okay or any of that crap. She's been taking care of you. Not herself, you. Someone needs to look out for her and you? You're not cut out for the job."

Sweet.

[done_in_3]

Jim sounded annoyed, what the hell was with that fist clenching?

"Who the hell are you to say that? You haven't even been around. I don't have to discuss this with you, not in my own home. I think you should go now."

He's going to shower once he's gone and wash the distaste off himself, try not to think of Aqua's brother as a complete punk.

:D

[watersacrificed]

"I'm her brother. I don't have to be around to know when she's in pain." Terra stated, keeping his voice, even and stern. He wasn't going anywhere with the bluenette.

"I'm not leaving without her. You can't take care of her. You don't know a damn thing about her. So do us both a favor.." he leaned in, getting close into Jim's personal space.

"Let her go and be the man you're so comfortable with. Let her go and crawl back to the women you like to keep. For once in your life make her happy."