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?'

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[watersacrificed]

It would at least an hour until Aqua began to come back around. She felt something against her, but didn't think too much about it. There was a sense of peace about her, one she hadn't felt in ages. She had no idea she was sleeping against Jim. For all she knew, she was cuddling against the arm of the couch, holding onto it.

"Mmmm...."

[done_in_3]

Well Jim is pretty out of it, he's still sleeping though he's shifted to lay against her as well, his head on hers. He's perfectly still, baby face, he looks like he's his normal everyday self. Sleeping comfortably against his wife.

[watersacrificed]

Aqua continued to cuddle against her husband, pulling away a little to sleepily stare down at his face. He always looked so cute like that. So at peace and happy. Aqua couldn't help herself, she leaned in to give a chaste kiss. At least...it would've been chaste if it weren't for her tongue slipping out to lightly trace along his bottom lip.

[done_in_3]

Good thing he was asleep. He was slowly waking up but... his body responded to the kiss first. His lips quivered then he puckered, returning her gesture... but his eyes slowly opened...

"Mmm..." he stiffened, moving back, looking at Aqua shocked.

[watersacrificed]

Having Jim move back didn't deter Aqua. It only meant their kiss was over and she had to go back to resting her head against his shoulder. She did get to be more affectionate whenever she was half asleep. Hopefully he didn't mind, hopefully. if he did, too bad, she was already drifting back asleep.

[done_in_3]

Well he sits up for a while, wondering that the heck that was all about. He just watched her and wondered if that was normal for her...

but thing is, he kissed back and it had felt natural. Even nice.


What did this mean about him? It was good news surely but he just... didn't really know what to think and he wanted out of her laying on him but he didn't think he should move her... except he will. He'll lay pillows underneath her and lay her out on the couch, then wander off on his own.

[watersacrificed]

Aqua didn't wake up from Jim moving out from her. In the midst of dreaming she knew he left as her facial expression briefly changed from calm to slightly upset. She had a frown on her face for a moment until she got comfortable without him.

The blunette didn't know if Jim was awake of her kiss, but didn't ask. Days moved on and a month later they were at the doctor's office for a check up. McCoy was acting as primary physical in conjunction with an OB/GYN. so far everything about Aqua and the baby was fine. Both were healthy and Aqua's morning sickness had gone down quite a bit.

The only thing she'd have to do was take one extra dose of multi-vitamins. That was it. Aqua released a sigh of relief, happy to hear the pregnancy was coming along.

"So far so good, right?"

[done_in_3]

Jim got to enjoy seeing a weird remote-sonogram he didn't understand of some strange pinprick bulbous thing he didn't recognize. Bones prattled on and he and the OB/GYN were happy to lecture ad nauseum about anything from pre-natal vitamins to breast feeding. He wanted to roll his eyes and yawn obnoxiously to express his boredom but out of respect for Aqua he didn't.

Strangely over the last month he'd grown attached to her, even gotten a bit of a crush on her. She was magical, badass, beautiful, pure hearted, and he had an inkling she was good in the sack. Damn he had to thank his own judgment on this, yes he totally would have crawled the earth to marry this woman, she's a keeper.

The baby still freaks him out though but...it certainly was.... well there was definitely a thing inside her.

[watersacrificed]

"Jim?" Aqua looked over at him, trying to read his expression. He was never thrilled whenever McCoy started talking medical jargon. The gist of the appointment was to find out how she and the baby were coming along. So far, everything was fine.

"You okay?" she asked, placing her hand on his. Their appointment was over now and they could do whatever they wanted to.

She noticed over the last month things had changed between them, but it was a good type of change. Things were drastically less awkward between them. They were building a friendship between them, the perfect foundation to a loving relationship. Though there were some challenges with that, particularly with her needs...but she found ways to keep herself occupied.

[done_in_3]

"Hm? Yeah, fine. Just... he certainly likes to get on his medical soap box, yeah?" he smiled.

"But you're both doing good so it's fine. When this is over I am taking you somewhere nice. I'm famished." he's not even listening to Bones, who he knows will send all this along to him in easy-to-digest note-form anyway. He's just imagining getting out of here and sinking his teeth into something delicious. Steak... a burrito... salad... cake...

[watersacrificed]

The mention of Jim being famished makes Aqua's stomach rumble too. McCoy took the hint and ended his ramblings, allowing both of them to leave. Aqua grabbed her coat and bag before following after Jim. Her hand nearly went for his, but she caught herself and placed her hands in her coat pockets.

"What do you feel like having? I think I'm good for anything right now. Though, maybe it should be some place with dessert?" Her pregnancy was making her crave sweets and breakfast foods like no other. Last night she woke up in the middle of the night to eat a bowl of peanut butter cereal.

[done_in_3]

"I remember this place we ate at in the academy that has great steaks and even better hot fudge cakes. Sounds like a winner, eh?" he touches her hand but doesn't take it. He will carry her bag though, and open her doors and drive her around like a nice guy.

One thing Aqua might notice once they announce this pregnancy is how much the entire crew will hover at her feet. Jim was wondering about it himself.

"We should think about telling the crew... you know, not soon but just.... about how we want to do that."

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"Ohhh, sold. I'm totally sold on the place. I don't know if I'll be able to wait to eat steak before cake." Aqua let out a soft chuckle, her hand coming out of her pocket to have it brush along the back of his. There's a silent offer of her hand, if he wants to take it.

The idea of telling Jim's crew--his family of their pregnancy was something they hadn't talked about. There were other things on their mind, like his lack of a memory for starters. Sooner or later they'd have to tell them, but...how?

"Yes, we should. I don't want to say anything for another month. Just...in case." Speaking too early about a pregnancy could jinx them.

She hopped into the car and let him drive them to the Academy. There wasn't much of a baby bump on her, but having a coat hide her stomach was becoming part of daily clothing.

[done_in_3]

Well he had looked up what he could about the situation after Aqua became pregnant. She wouldn't show for another few months yet, still plenty of time to wait and bide their time... he wasn't keen on waiting the requisite three months though, impatient as always.

"Another month it is then, we'll still be early by social standards." he wove in and out of traffic effortlessly, with an easy smile on his face as though this was something he recalled from a great day out.

"Until then we can just gorge on chocolate and ice cream."

[watersacrificed]

"We?" Aqua repeated with a soft chuckle. She could gorge on chocolate and ice cream, since she was eating for two. but Jim? He was still captain and had to maintain prime physical condition, even while eh was on vacation.

"I think you'll need to stay away from the chocolate, Jim. Too much and you might lose your edge," she teased, relaxing in the car as they drove up tot eh Academy. She rarely stepped foot there, not unless Jim had business there. Even then if he did, then she only came along if he requested it.

Aqua preferred to stay in their home or on the Enterprise. For the sake of her not getting lost, she liked those two places the most.

[done_in_3]

"I never said I wouldn't work it off. I can eat what I want." it was just a question of portion. He ate anything, he just made up for it in his workouts.

They arrived at the restaurant and headed inside, Jim was drooling at the idea of a big steak and some steamed broccoli. Maybe some corn too. He's famished.

"You're both healthy though so I'm happy. But you gotta watch it too, just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can go overboard, Bones said you only need 300 extra calories a day."

[watersacrificed]

"Work out? I haven't seen you do that in a while.." More teasing, something to put them on equal ground. Aqua was very happy to have a clean bill of health for her and the baby. Jim seemed to be doing well, but they could discuss that later. Even after eating a stack of pancakes and a side of eggs, Aqua was still hungry. Her appetite was growing, something that was normal. But ear Light, she was ready to starve.

She followed his lead, heading inside to the restaurant. they were seated right away. Thankfully there was some bread and butter for her to nibble on.

"Do you really think I'd go overboard?" she raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to answer as she took a small bite of buttered beard.

"I'll watch what I eat and won't have too many sweets, promise."

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"Then I won't either." he perused the menu, ordering them a small appetizer. Artichoke hearts. One of his favorites. He remembered a moment of eating them, laughing with Aqua in a booth, but not this restaurant. It felt like they'd had that carefree euphoric kind of conversation countless times.

"..." he blinked as he chewed one of the vegetables.

"It's... not a month yet, but it seems too early to start making a space for the runt but too late to still being doing nothing."

[watersacrificed]

"We're kindda stuck in limbo." Which was true. It was too early to do much of anything, but if they waited too long then they wouldn't be prepared. She moved from the bread to having some of the artichoke hearts. Funny, it took some convincing from Jim to get her to try one. She didn't mind artichoke dip, but the hearts were something else.

"We could look at designs or figure out at least where it'll go..." she thought it about again, nibbling on the heart.

"I don't want to hire anyone for this. I..think its something you and I could work on."

[done_in_3]

"Well we can think about it for now so when it's time to get to work we already have a plan. And I like that idea, let's work on it together, a little at a time. We'll get a crib and blankets and sappy photo albums that make house guests go 'awww'."

A baby... it was still so new. Even when their food arrived and he sank his teeth into delicious steak and veggies, he was floored by the idea he was going to be a father. He was already a father in technicality.

[watersacrificed]

Aqua let out a light chuckle, happy to know Jim wanted to do the project together. They already had someone help them decorate their home. The nursery would be their own personal pet project. Something they could do together and forged a stronger bond.

"We'll have to take pictures then. A lot of them. We already so many..." shoe boxes filled with photos that hadn't been sorted out into different albums. It was amazing to know Jim had so many of them together.

"I still wonder how you managed to get half of the pictures that we have now. You're very sneaky with a camera."

[done_in_3]

"I'm just a ninja like that. And we can put them on digital albums, for when we're feeling nostalgic and have nothing better to do.

Lunch was good, after that Jim kind of wanted to wander, though he was pretty sure Aqua needed a break.

"You want to go home or go somewhere else?"

[watersacrificed]

"Yeah, you are a ninja...." she took another bite of her food.

"Okay, we can do that. but I still like the photo albums we have. Oh, can you imagine getting one of those baby books and having to fill it out?" Specifying when and where their baby first laughed, smiled..first photos. Aqua was trying hard not to get sentimental or teary eyed, but it was certainly tugging at her heart strings.

"We can go somewhere else...I feel much better after eating steak." And having a small scoop of ice cream. Where ever Jim wanted to go, she'd be happy following him.

[done_in_3]

"Well when you have the missions I do... and yeah, we're going to be complete saps about our kid aren't we? Gonna get embarassing Tshirts about it and take stupid photos only we care about and force our friends to look at them. Let's go to the used book store near the house and see what we can't dig up about baby books, eh?" he had read things online but he wanted a concrete book too, or four or five. He knew Aqua would feel better in a place full of books anyway.

[watersacrificed]

"I wouldn't say we'd take stupid photos. More like candid ones..." Things that weren't staged or faked. The only ones she wanted staged were the ones for family portraits. Those photos were everyone wore matching outfits and smiled. Something like that.

"That works..." she wasn't too picky about where they went, sitting in the car as they drove on. In a matter of minutes they were there and browsing through the pregnancy section. The classic 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' was there. Aqua picked it up and began to thumb through it a little.