Epilogue

Jim continued his fight for shared custody of David. He won a month later. David had remained blissfully ignorant of his parents' fighting, which pleased Jim to no end.

Carol, having lost her battle, packed up and left for Chicago without warning. A few well placed comm. calls told Jim she was moving to Riverside permanently, to have David closer to his new favorite grandma, and of course his daddies while they were there. It gave Jim a definite place to find his son when he would be coming to pick him up from San Francisco in the fall.

Jim taught David to ride a horse after all. He was amused when David insisted on riding with Daddy Two, because Daddy Two could talk to the horse. Spock would speak to the horse and then 'listen' for an answer. Spock decided when David was old enough he would actually speak to the horse for him.

A week before they left for San Fran, David turned five. It was a glorious celebration, full of cake and ice cream and presents. He was presented with a picture of a room in a house in San Francisco that was to be his. He got to help decide how to decorate it and he picked several toys for his daddies to take with them when they left.

There were no lasting effects from the public spectacle of the trial. Jim and Spock started teaching at Starfleet Academy together; Spock in computer sciences and Jim in command track. Cadets quickly learned the two instructors talked, and there were no secrets between them. They easily became two of the most popular instructors the Academy had ever had. They had many adventures, but that's a story for another time.

"Spock?"

Spock hummed.

"Why won't you let me coach the intramural softball team?" Jim batted his eyes across the desk.

"Ashayam," Spock sighed, "you know nothing about softball. You simply want to coach them because they are women."

Jim pouted. "I think I grasp the basics."

Spock sipped his tea and set the cup back down. "First, you do not. And second, do not think your elaborate attempt to avoid grading your midterms has escaped my attention. Now finish and we will watch a movie."

Jim perked up at this promise. "Can we watch Saw 48?"

Spock shivered in protest. "Very well. Grade your papers."

A head popped in the door. "Hey guys, happy anniversary!"

Jim swiveled to look at the newcomer. "Hey Uhura! What brings you to town?"

She sashayed in. "Communications department wanted someone with 'field experience' to come teach for a week next semester. I came to set up during break. I just happened to get in on your happy day!" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Can a girl take you to dinner?"

Jim opened his mouth but Spock beat him to it. "That would be pleasant, Nyota." Jim pouted again. Spock noticed and sighed. "Jim, we can watch Saw 48 afterward. I am sure Nyota would enjoy experiencing it again."

"For the millionth time," she whispered under her breath.

The three sat chatting in Spock's office. A pair of cadets walking by stopped to eavesdrop.

"That is Commander Spock and Captain Kirk."

"Who's that with them?"

"Commander Uhura. She is a master at languages."

"You think we'll ever be as famous as them?"

Cadet Saavik tucked her hair behind her delicately pointed ears. "I do not wish to be famous. I only wish to do my best."

"You Vulcans are weird," the other cadet lamented. "Come on, I heard they opened the physics lab this morning. We can get some extra studying in before everyone comes back."

They walked off down the deserted hall. It was just another day to them.

One Last Massive A/N: Once again, many thanks go to the K/S writers who came before me. Acknowledgment goes out to CMM, who first listed Spock's clan as being related to Surak. The wonderful author zedrobber was first to detail loss of control during Pon Farr. All Vulcan language bits were researched on the Vulcan Language Dictionary online, www . starbase-10 . de/vld/ . Jim and Spock's wedding song is "Answer" by Sarah McLachlan. The song Spock was listening to alone is "Leave Out All the Rest" by Linkin Park. Imagine that – a Vulcan listening to Linkin Park! My deepest and most sincere gratitude goes to my beta and heroine, mockingbirdhill. Once again she was there from the beginning and through every last-minute change. She's the best. I'm not done writing yet...!