Look, we have a visitor! [Leonard/Paula]

[dctr_mccoy]

As much as they both loved their daughter, Leonard knew it was important to have a little alone time, to keep them sane. So once a day, Leonard stopped by Sickbay, presumably to make sure everything was running smooth in his absence, but usually he just ended up telling Olivia stories, which were pretty impressive for a five-day old baby

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[dctr_mccoy]

"It's hard not to worry," he admitted, finishing the sandwich in just a few bites. "Guess I was hungrier than I thought," he added, reaching for another sandwich half. "Everything just gets pushed aside when she's around, you know? Not that I'm complaining, not one bit. We just forget about other things, its easy to get lost in her life, playing and eating and just watching her."

Looking down at Olivia, he felt a sort of gratification and pride that she could see it too, how smart his daughter was. "I tell Jim, she's just like him, I can tell already. Those eyes, they're looking at everything," he said. "You know, when she was born - hell, when she was conceived, there was magic all around, Paula. Literally, it was magic. I wonder," his voice dropped low, as Olivia's sleepy eyes batted up at them, "how much of that affected her."

Leonard's eyes were back on Olivia until Paula's last statement. "He... what?" Leonard asked, surprised and happy. "You two going to live together?" It did seem the natural progression, the two of them had been pretty serious for a while now. "I guess I don't have to ask if you're happy about it."

[lt_paula]

"From what I could see, your staff performed admirably." Paula made a face, chuckling a little. "Sorry, I've just come from an officers' meeting." Commander Spock had used those words, which were as close to glowing praise as he ever got, she supposed. "They've done well, Leonard, really. That day... they were so busy, but so worried about you and Jim and the baby." It had been the same all over the ship, as the news had spread. There had been the outrage that the Klingons had boarded their ship, but then the worry and the protectiveness as they'd closed ranks to keep everything running while their captain was out of commission.

She looked down at the sleepy baby in her arms with a smile. "Given that it's the two of you, I can't say I'm surprised." Her voice turned thoughtful as she continued. "I knew something unusual was going on, back during that away mission. I just didn't know what, exactly." Paula finished the rest of her sandwich and reached for a cookie. "As for her birth... if magic helped save her and Jim, I'm glad." Mysterious and baffling as the idea of real magic might be, Paula didn't doubt that there was something extraordinary about this little girl.

Paula could feel her face warming as she met his gaze, and she gave a nod. "We are. I guess we'll have to make the formal request soon, but it'll be when we leave the colony." She shook her head, unable to stop smiling. "He asked the other night... it was a couple of days after the battle, and we finally had a few hours together." Paula recalled that night, exhaustion and euphoria mingling as they'd lay curled together in her bed. "Technically, he'll be moving in with me," she explained. "It made more sense, since I have the larger rooms. But... yeah. I'm excited. It feels... right, and we're together most nights anyway, so it's not like it will be that big of a change." Except it would be.

[dctr_mccoy]

He could hear Spock's words coming from her mouth, and it made him laugh. "I'm so proud of them, Paula, I really am. One of these days, after we get back, I gotta find a way to thank my department." To say that they had done a good job was an understatement. "Hell, the entire ship needs a little party."

"I can't even explain how strange it all was," Leonard said, watching as Olivia's face moved in her sleep. I mean, the very fact that we even managed to conceived this baby was beyond unexpected, but..." he shrugged, "its still a little scary, you know? Not knowing what's going on in there?" He touched her tiny hand, stroking the soft skin. "She's growing a little faster than expected right now. I think her body is trying to catch up to where she's supposed to be." It was a frightening thought, that some otherworldly forces had some effect on her, even if they were positive right now.

Paula's blush was as much of an answer as he could want. "You look happy," he told her, feeling good for his friend. "If he makes you smile like that, then I'm happy for you two, really very happy." Who would have guessed that the two of them would have hit it off. It was a strange world, Leonard thought, throwing people together, and seeing magic happen all around him. "So, you guys talked marriage yet?" Leonard asked, curious if that question would shock her or not.

[lt_paula]

"A party might be just the thing," she pointed out. "Maybe after you're all settled and Jim and Olivia are up to it, you could have a get-together." Paula thought the chance to celebrate and let off a little steam sounded ideal after all that they'd been through.

She nodded, looking down at the tiny body curled against her. "I guess that would be scary, not knowing." Paula tried to imagine it, knowing something like that was happening with her own child. It was a sobering thought, even though for now, whatever was going on inside Olivia seemed to be good.

"I don't think I've ever been so happy," she told him. "Maybe when I realized he was safe the other day. When I finally found him... or he found me, actually. I got to Sickbay first." Paula didn't think she would ever forget the panic that had settled cold in her stomach when she'd heard about the Klingons forcing their way onto the bridge. "We've talked about it a little," Paula told him, that smile still tugging at her lips. "Nothing specific, but the subject has come up. And children, too. I don't think either of us are quite ready yet, but... someday."

[dctr_mccoy]

"We were thinking of having a small get together on the colony, just family and friends," Leonard answered, grinning at the thought of showing off the baby to everyone. "But I think the people on the ship need something too," he said. "I dunno, maybe just the time on the colony is enough for them, some rest."

It was clear from the way Paula held the baby that it was something she had given some serious thought to, and the way that Olivia seemed to respond to her made him feel good. "There is nothing worse than not knowing if someone you love is hurt." Too often he and Jim had experienced that, and it never got easier. "I think that's when it really happened for Jim and I, after the Narada. I just... I couldn't go on not letting him know how much I cared about him. Couldn't hide it anymore." Olivia yawned and stretched in her sleep, and Leonard's face softened. "And now look at us."

Another look at Paula. He wanted so much for her, happiness and safety and someone who loved her without limits. "Just don't wait too long, okay?"

[lt_paula]

"I think they'd appreciate anything you did for them," Paula told him. She wasn't sure whether Leonard really knew how well-liked he was by his staff, but she'd seen a glimpse of it on the worried faces she'd seen in her visits to Sickbay over the past few days. "Maybe Commander Spock would have some ideas, or his brother? They might have a better idea of what's available on the colony."

She nodded, aware that he knew first-hand how difficult it was, waiting to find out if a loved one was safe. "It's harder than I imagined. I mean, I know Hikaru is more than capable of taking care of himself, but... I still worry." Paula looked down at Olivia, her smile returning as she watched her get comfortable. She looked over at Leonard, thrilled to see him looking so incredibly happy. "How's Jim adjusting?" It had to have been hard on him, being injured, especially with his condition.

"I don't think we'll wait too long," Paula tried to assure him. "I think once the mission is over... that's what we've talked about, anyway."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Hikaru is quite the fighter, from what Jim tells me," Leonard said, "Never saw a man wield a sword like that. Its a lost art, from what I imagine." Leonard had never been interested in that sort of hand to hand fighting, but he appreciated that some people were masters at it. Better them than him, he mused.

"Jim's good," he answered her. "Hates being held back, and that surgery was pretty tricky, so he's having to take it slow while his body heals. But having her around has helped, I think. He has to rearrange things to her schedule, so he's not quite so apt to wonder and worry what's happening on the bridge." Laughing, he admitted, "Of course, that's where he's at right now, nosing around, making sure Spock hasn't rearranged the furniture."

"Have you thought much about that, life after Starfleet? Where do you think you'll settle down?" Leonard had never really wondered too much, assuming first that he'd find somewhere on the planet where he could be near Joanna, and now he guessed that he and Jim would find a place somewhere after Jim was done exploring space.

[lt_paula]

"He really is good," Paula agreed. "I've watched him practice, and I'm not sure how to really describe it. He's graceful," she told Leonard. She supposed that was necessary when wielding a sword, but there had been something beautiful about the controlled power in the lines of Hikaru's body, his strong shoulders and arms as he moved through his workout.

She laughed at the description of Jim nosing around, checking up on his crew. "I see what you mean. Getting to know Olivia has to keep his mind off of things to a point, but I know he's not normally an easy patient." Paula had heard Leonard fuss about Jim any number of times, how he pushed himself too hard when he was sick or injured. "With all that's happened... are your plans the same, as far as your leave?"

Paula looked down at the sleeping baby and reached to wipe a little drool off the corner of her mouth, the tiny lips parted slightly as she snuffled and made a soft noise. "I've thought about it now and then," she said. "I wouldn't mind going home, but I liked San Francisco, too. I could teach at the academy, and Hikaru's family is there." She bit into a cookie and chewed slowly, then glanced at Leonard. "What about you? Have you thought about it?"

[dctr_mccoy]

She looked positively smitten as she talked about her boyfriend. "You two," he shook his head, knowing he was probably worse when he was around Jim. "So far, my understanding is that we're still planning on staying with Spock's family - they've got one of those big family compounds," he added, suddenly feeling a little nervous. "I hope we don't mess things up for him, I know the politics on that planet are all probably very tenuous right now."

Watching her tend to Olivia, Leonard knew she'd be a great mother one day. "We'll most likely just come back on board when the ship's ready. To be honest, I never thought Jim would be able to stay away for his entire allotted family leave. "

From her words, Leonard decided that Paula probably had thought about her life after this mission a little more than she let on, her life with Sulu. It was cute. "To be honest, I don't know," he said, reaching for a cookie of his own. "Selfishly, I'd like to be somewhere I can see Joanna more than I do now. I'd like Olivia to grow up knowing her, and knowing other children, not being the only kid on a ship or outpost." So much now revolved around his family, and Leonard was happy to make those sort of sacrifices. "But ultimately, I think it'll depend on what Jim wants to do. I'm happy as a clam following him around."

[lt_paula]

"That's generous of him," Paula commented. She had an idea it would be easier on them, too, rather than staying in a hotel, quieter and more comfortable for them and the baby. "It'll be a few weeks, from the sound of it, so we should all have time to rest. Jim..." Paula gave him a faint smile. "I think he learned a lot, these past few months. When you were away," she paused, looking down, and caught Leonard's hand and gave it a squeeze. "When you were gone, he had a rough time, but he tried hard to take care of himself. We were all looking out for him, you know." Until Jim had needed to look out for her, at least.

"He'd make a great instructor, too. Or anything he wants to do," Paula mused. She looked over at Leonard, smiling at the contented look on his face. "Have you had the chance to talk to Joanna yet, and let her know she's a big sister?"

[dctr_mccoy]

In a year full of strange and bad things, being whisked off to that mirror universe had been particularly troubling. "I appreciate you all watching out for him, more than you know. And I think he's changed a lot, too." Leonard got quiet a moment, then looked up at her. "Not that there was anything wrong with him, not at all. I love him, you know that, everything about him." Then he smiled softly, looking down at Olivia. "But there's this peace that's sort of come over him since he woke up, this... maturity. He's always been responsible, being the captain, but when he holds her, and feeds her, and looks at her, he's different, and I love him even more than before."

As if on cue, Olivia stretched in her sleep, her tiny features stretching out, her mouth making little feeding movements and he exhaled. "She's made us both better men, and she's not even a week old."

The idea of Jim teaching made him smile too. Can you see him at the Academy? He'd turn it upside down... but maybe that'd be a good thing. All the experiences we're having out here." The mention of Joanna brought another smile to his face. "My big girl, yeah, she knows. I sent her a message, and she's very excited about it all," he nodded. "Once we're planetside, we should be able to get a subspace feed to Earth, and we can have a real-time chat. I'm looking forward to introducing the girls to each other."

[lt_paula]

They both had it bad, Paula decided. She couldn't help smiling when Leonard tried to explain the difference in Jim, and privately filed that idea away for the future. For just a moment she let herself imagine Hikaru, holding their child in his arms, completely absorbed in every tiny movement and soft baby noise, an image so sweet it made her ache. "It sounds like he's fallen hard for this little one," she said, chuckling as Olivia stretched and worked her mouth like a little bird. "Not that I can blame either of you. She's adorable."

"It might be time for a shakeup there," Paula agreed, imagining Jim back at the Academy, training a new class of bright eyed, eager cadets. "He'd be one of the best candidates for the job." She wondered where they would all be in another five years, whether they would have signed on for another mission or if they would move on to other assignments, other dreams. With Jim as captain, she thought the likelihood of the crew remaining together was high, but so much could happen in the next few years. It was pointless to speculate.

Her smile turned warm again, her expression softening as Olivia began fidgeting. "That'd be wonderful, a chance for all of you to catch up." She looked down, watching Olivia's tiny face, her nose scrunched up as she started to whimper. "What is it?" she murmured, carefully lifting Olivia to rest against her shoulder so she could rub her back. Paula recalled her introduction to the baby and chuckled softly, looking down at her. "Is it time for a clean diaper? Is that what's wrong, sweetheart?"

[dctr_mccoy]

"I can't imagine Jim not being on a star ship," Leonard admitted, sitting back and folding his hands together. They itched to go pick up Olivia, to hold her and mess with her hair, but she was comfortable with Paula, so he left her there, despite that feeling. "I mean, I know one day we won't be doing this, but I suspect, given his choice, he'll sign up for at least one more tour, maybe a couple more. He's so young," Leonard sighed, smiling sadly at Paula, knowing she'd understand his ache. Let's say we sign on for two more after this. He'll still be younger than forty years old." Leonard shook his head, always surprised at that. "That's an age some people just get their captaincy, you know? How do I ask him to retire at that age?"

Maybe he and Jim would need to talk more about this soon. The idea of Olivia growing up on a star ship was one he was prepared to deal with, if need be, but to be the only little girl among a crew... it made him sad.

Then Olivia started moving around, her eyes slowly opening as she looked around and blinked, resting her head against Paula's shoulder. Precious. "She probably had a wet nappy, we usually have to change her first thing after a nap." Standing, Leonard offered to take her from Paula. "Unless you'd like the honor, ma'am."

[lt_paula]

She recognized that look on Leonard's face. It was the same one that had been on her brother's face when her nephew had been a baby and all the women in the family had taken over their small living room to coo over the new arrival. Paula dropped a kiss on top of Olivia's head and let Leonard have her, then grinned at the small, hopeful noise Olivia made. "I think she wants you," she told him with a chuckle. "But I volunteer to babysit whenever you and Jim need a few hours, so I'm sure I'll have my turn."

Paula got up and followed them, though, leaning against the nursery door so they could continue talking without raising their voices. "Maybe he'll want another tour or two, but it could be that Miss Olivia here opens him up to new opportunities," she pointed out. "We're all young. Even you," she teased, anticipating what he would say. "You'll have to talk about what's best for all of you, I guess."

[dctr_mccoy]

Oh, she felt so good in his arms again,like something had been missing. Laying her down on her changing table, he pulled off the pants of the little outfit she was wearing (for company) and quickly changed her diaper. "See, there we go," he told her, giving her powdered and diapered butt a little pat. "My girl likes a clean diaper, doesn't she? She likes a dry bum." Might have been his imagination, but she was looking at his face, responding to his words. "My princess," he told her, kissing her forehead.

"And you're lovely too," he said to Paula with a grin. Reaching into her crib for her bunny, they walked back out into the living area. Spreading a blanket on the sofa, he lay Olivia down between them. "Maybe," he said, thinking about her last comment. "Its all so... I don't know. I guess having too many options can never be a terrible thing. And it isn't like we'll never be in space again, even if we got jobs on Earth for a while, or on a starbase." Playing with Olivia's feet, he smiled down at her, wondering what her childhood would be like.

[lt_paula]

Paula bit her lip to suppress a giggle, the sound of Leonard talking to Olivia entirely too precious. She loved seeing him like this, so completely happy, and wondered if Jim was the same way, enthralled with their little girl. Her lips twitched as she thought about it, and Paula decided maybe she and Hikaru should return the favor and have them all over for dinner sometime. She had an idea that the three of them together, Jim, Leonard, and baby Olivia, would be almost unbearably cute.

"I'm flattered," Paula told him, laughing out loud as they moved back over to the living room. She watched Olivia clutch the stuffed bunny, her eyes wide as she looked up at them. "Who knows," she said at last. "By the time this mission is over, families on starships might be more commonplace than now." She knew the concerns, but depending on the mission, it could happen.