Four years later

Leah and Joanna were watching a long line of red-clad cadets receiving their diplomas at Starfleet Graduation. Joanna was bursting with impatience to see her "Daddy Jim".

"How long until Daddy, Mama?" She asked eagerly, craning her neck to see if she could spot him.

"Not long, Jo," she answered, glowing with pride herself. She could see Jim's chair on the end of a row of seats and knew there were only six or so cadets left before they called her husband's name.

It was amazing how he'd gone after his new dream with everything he had. He'd even finished a year ahead of schedule, in fact.

Jim had studied design and engineering and was going to live out his dream of making starships safer and more accommodating to those with physical challenges like his.

Leah had no doubt with his determination and brilliant mind, he'd revolutionize Starfleet. He'd beat cancer, after all. This would be small potatoes to him.

"James Tiberius Kirk" called the Admiral and Leah gave Jo a boost on her lap so they could see Jim rolling up smoothly and collecting his diploma and being congratulated. He ended up receiving a standing ovation from the adoring audience gathered there and returned to his place a little red-faced.

She thought he looked devastatingly handsome in those neat cadet reds, fine brown hair neatly combed and sitting straight as a rod beside his classmates.

When his hair started to grow back after he'd finished his chemo, it was definitely not blonde, but a decidedly medium brown color that gave him a different look, but she liked it.

He had less need for hats now, but he'd saved his collection and still wore a few occasionally. (Joanna made him wear the jester hat when he'd read her stories.)

He now brightened other patient's lives by donating cheery hats to the hospital for those who'd lost their hair.

Once he'd been released from the hospital, he'd moved in with Pike temporarily, until they could find a suitable place for him to live. Turned out, finding a ground floor apartment was next to impossible unless you had a million credits to spend.

For the first two years, the arrangement worked, Jim was enjoying his classes, growing stronger (those arms!) and rebuilding his life and health.

He and Leah were dating and flirting shamelessly, often causing Joanna to groan and flee upon catching her mother sitting in Jim's lap, shamelessly smooching him.

The relationship got some raised eyebrows from people who didn't know Jim very well.

"Isn't it a difficult relationship to have in addition to your job and raising a daughter?"

Leah would fight down her irritation and simply say "So's any relationship. Jim's far from helpless, and he's not a burden, if that's what you're implying. Have you seen the way he gets around? Smoother than I do, that's for sure."

She'd grin proudly as Jim zipped up beside her and proceeded to charm the pants off of the skeptics.

Soon enough, they were the talk of the academy, mostly positive, but certain bitter spurned suitors of Jim made spiteful comments about Leah's age and looks.

Rather than getting mad, Leah got even. After some Scheming with Jim, she contrived an excuse to bring him a "forgotten" PADD between classes, deliberately timing it on a day when she had a staff meeting and was dressed somewhat formally in sleek skirt and blouse. Now Leah was not one for "fuss and frippery" when it came to make up, but she knew what to do when it was called for besides having a devious streak that liked to throw people off.

During Jim's lunch break, she strutted in to the dining hall and made her way over to the table where he was currently sitting with some of the miscreants, pretending to enjoy himself.

"Hey, Jim," she greeted invitingly, "I believe you left this behind?" Pulling out the PADD, she held it out to him and the whole table stared, including Jim.

He'd been warned, but even he was clearly stunned by this version of Leah. He finally recovered himself and accepted the PADD.

"Thanks, babe. I was looking for this." (Wink, wink) "Wow. Everybody, this is Dr. Leah McCoy. She helped save my life and is a totally awesome person as well as my girlfriend."

Jim sounded rather proud and somewhat amused watching his classmates' confusion. Cadet Mitchell seemed especially confounded and Leah reveled in his dismay, knowing he was one of the worst.

"You take care, everyone. Have a nice day, darlin'" she added lowly for Jim's benefit, giving a quick peck for good measure before she departed with a wave.

Afterward, Jim reported that he was the envy of the room and no one made any more snide remarks.

"Dowdy old lady, my ass!" Leah thought smugly.

Just before his third year at the academy, Pike got a promotion and ended up getting ritzy new quarters that weren't workable for Jim. The student dorms were full and things were quite worrisome for some time before Leah came up with a solution-albeit a radical one.

She and Jim had just left the movie theatre after a ridiculous shoot em up western involving bank robbers and bloodthirsty sheriffs that made Jim squeal with manly glee, when Leah broached the subject.

"Jim, I've been thinking about us and our future a lot lately," she said feeling out how to ease into the subject.

"Oh? Jim asked, giving her a searching look. "Will I like what you're about to say?"

"Hopefully," Leah said rather breathlessly, as Jim maneuvered into his modified hover car. All the controls were operated by hand or voice so he could drive himself around and it was his pride and joy.

She ended up holding off until Jim was parked in front of her place, not wanting to make him lose concentration. Jim shut off the engine and looked at her expectantly.

"Jim," she began. "I know this might be a weird time to ask this, but I love you and I was wondering what you would say to...to...marrying me." She finished in a rush, unsure how he'd react.

Jim's blue eyes went wide and practically glimmered at her.

"Bones, are you proposing to me?" he spluttered out.

"Yep, I am." She admitted. In for a penny, in for a pound.

"It's okay if you need to think about it for awhile. I know this is kind of a surprise," Leah added quickly, not wanting to pressure him.

But Jim was beaming and had grabbed both of her hands.

"Course I'd like to marry you, Bones. You know I'm hopelessly in love with you. I'd actually thought of asking, but decided to give you more time. I wasn't sure if you'd want to after what that jerk did to you."

"I used to think that way-before I knew you, Jim darlin'" she confessed, relaxing and letting him kiss her hands. "You're not the type to run off and you genuinely care about people."

"Well, then, if Joanna's okay with it and you're all for it, I Accept, Bones."

Leah grinned and leaned in to kiss her blue-eyed menace.

"Just so you know, Jim," she whispered when they came up for air, "Jo's only indecision is whether to call you Papa or Daddy. She's never had anyone like that in her life before."

This caused Jim's eyes to well up with tears. "That's...wow...I'm honored, Bones. She's an amazing girl and I can certainly understand that longing for a dad. I hope I'll be a good one."

"You will, sugar, I'm pretty confidant of that," Leah assured him and swooped in to gently kiss a certain freckle on his neck just to see Jim blush like he always did.

So, during winter break from classes, Jim and Leah tied the knot in a simple but memorable ceremony in front of their closest friends and family.

Leah wore a simple white A-line gown with an added yellow sash for color.

Joanna was junior bridesmaid and wore a pretty yellow dress that matched Christine's, Gaila's, and Uhura's.

Jim was devastatingly handsome in his suit and looked up at Leah with love and joy shining in his bright eyes. Pike, Spock, and Chekov were his groomsman and two of them were beaming almost as brightly as the groom. Spock wasn't one to smile, but Leah was pretty sure his eyes were.

Four year old Amanda was flower girl and made quite the sensation when she appeared behind Joanna, solemnly dropping petals. There was no doubt about including her in the festivities; after all, her very presence had been the catalyst for bringing Jim and Leah together and Uhura made no secret of her pride in making the match.

During the vows, Leah opted to sit facing Jim so they could be on eye level and hold hands easier. She spoke the line "in sickness and in health" especially intently so Jim would understand she was in this for life and wasn't running off if his cancer came back. Before she knew it, it was over and Jim rolled forward a little and kissed her tenderly.

Everyone in the wedding party cheered or cried for joy, pausing in their long celebration to pose for photos using Jim's hat collection.

Jim grinned and roared with mirth at Spock in an elf hat and Uhura in a Wizard's cap, thoroughly enjoying celebrating the wedding in a way that made everyone think of the Sunshine. Only now, he wasn't confined to room 296 anymore.

Now, six months after welcoming him into their family, Leah and Jo made their way across the large room to congratulate the new graduate.

When they got his attention, Jim's eyes lit up and he started wheeling their way.

"Bones! Jo!" He exclaimed. "There you are! It's so hard to find anyone in this mob."

"Yeah, there's quite a few tender feet young space explorers around here," agreed Leah, glancing at the throng of red around them.

"So much space, so little time," Jim said thoughtfully. "I never thought I'd make it this far, Bones." He looked down at the diploma in his lap and back at his two favorite ladies. "Or end up so happy." He clutched Leah's hand in his, and accepted Joanna's hug with the other.

"Well, you earned it, Sunshine," Leah told him. "Now, lets go out and enjoy it by indulging in artery-clogging fast food."

"Now you're speaking my language Bones!" Jim declared eagerly. "Burger time!"

He and Jo high-fived and they headed out to do what families did.