Waiter- Part 3
Title:Waiter Part 3/3
Author: teethe
Rating:NC-17
Pairings: Kirk/McCoy, Chekov/Sulu
Word Count: 3430 (11,900 total)
Warnings: MPREG
Summary:For the prompt asking for "Waitress" AU
"Jim Kirk is a small-town diner waiter trapped in abusive marriage with an unwanted baby on the way. Leonard McCoy is the grumpy but sweet doctor who helps him find a way out of his unhappy life."
Part 1
Part 2
Jim wasn't sure when his visits to the doctor had become the best part of his week; maybe somewhere in between the hard fucking up against the wall and the way Leonard knew just how to use that mouth of his. It was just sex, Jim told himself- really great sex.
Sitting in the waiting room, he was unable to keep a smile off his face remembering his last visit. The almost awed look on Leonard's face as he looked over his shoulder at Jim, who was licking his ass. He had looked like he'd been about to say something, before he'd been reduced to needy, incoherent moaning sounds, with Jim's tongue buried deep inside of him.
The way he'd looked at Jim; it felt a lot like the way Jim felt about Leonard, about everything with them lately. Nothing in his life had ever been able to go this well for this long. It had been a little over a month now, and he hated that he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He sighed contently as he was told the doctor was ready to see him. His smile faltered when he walked into the room to see Dr. Montgomery Scott
“You're back? I thought... you had stopped working here? What's up, man,” He tried to keep his cool and not let his mind run through the scenarios that would lead to Dr. McCoy being gone.
“Aye, and here I thought you'd be happy to see me, Jim. I hear the new guy's a real hard ass,” Scotty grinned, absently, looking through Jim's charts. “I'm only back for the day though.”
Jim had missed Scotty, truth be told, but that didn't stop his presence here from being worrisome. “Yeah, hard ass. Where is Dr. McCoy anyway?”
“Well, I'm not sure I have a real answer to that one for you,” Scotty scratched his head. “From what I heard he was needed out of town with his wife. Or something? All I know is I'm the one receiving the last minute notification that I'm needed here.”
Scotty smiled ruefully, and Jim felt his heart sink. He'd almost forgotten about the wife, or at least let himself believe that maybe she was out of the picture. Leonard never talked about her, that had to mean something.
“Anyway, it looks like you're scheduled for some blood tests today. Just routine, no worries. Sit down and we'll be done in no time.”
The rest of the appointment flew by without incident, and Jim took the bus to work, letting himself become more and more annoyed with Leonard. It was probably good that he was gone, he always had seemed to like jabbing Jim with needles a little too much.
He slipped into his uniform before joining Nyota and Hikaru in the kitchen of the diner. “You are looking way too happy for being here,” Jim snapped at Hikaru. Not that he'd been looking for people to complain about life with or anything.
“Yeah, um,” Hikaru was blushing now, that was just weird. “I guess I just have reason to be happy right now.”
Nyota raised an eyebrow, when he didn't elaborate. “You can't just say that and not tell us what's up. Spill it. Now.”
“I'm kind of seeing someone,” Hikaru ran a hand through his hair, the little grin never leaving his face. “Have been seeing someone. We just finally made things official I guess.”
“You finally found someone?” Jim asked, not really minding that he might be sounding rude right now.
“Uh, you guy's know that little Russian guy who kept showing up here?” Hikaru's eyes darting between the two of them, they nodded dumbly. “He just kept coming back, and well, he grows on you.”
Uhura stifled a laugh, before looking at him again with what looked like a genuine smile. “Wait are you serious? Because I mean, that's great!”
Jim was less kind. “Oh my god,” he said, laughing maybe a little bit more than the situation called for, especially when he'd seen this coming for weeks. “The Russian Stalking Elf. Seriously?”
Hikaru blushed fiercely. “It's not like anyone else was offering, I'm not exactly a catch.” He sounded so insecure like this, and Jim regretted the teasing.
Nyota put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him in comfortingly. “Sweetheart, you should never date someone for that reason. Especially when any man or woman would be lucky to have you.”
Jim nodded, Nyota had always been the one who could find the right words.
“Isn't that why you married Nero? He was the only one who would have you?” Hikaru looked into Jim's eyes for a moment, just a hint of something dangerous in his voice. Cutting Jim down with a few words, before turning back to Nyota. “He finally got my phone number out of me, and he just.. kept calling.”
Hikaru sighed wistfully, “Every night at the same time, right down to the minute. And we would just talk, it came so naturally. It's never come so naturally. Plus, he's a sexual dynamo. I know you wouldn't expect it to look at him, but wow.”
“Wow,” Nyota repeated, trying hard to picture that small, unassuming boy as even a sexual being. “No, I can't say I saw that coming.”
Jim tried not to choke on his own spit, fearing that he was picturing it far too well. “I'm glad you're happy,” Jim said quietly, and he was. Despite himself, he couldn't help be happy for Hikaru.
“I know you're not, but thanks,” Hikaru said, not smiling so much anymore. “And Jim, jealous really isn't a good look for you. I get it, your husband's a dick who couldn't be more controlling if he tried, but please just let me be happy for once.”
Jim stood there, mouth open, watching mutely as Hikaru turned to leave. He'd never seen Hikaru stand up for himself like that, didn't really know he had it in him to.
“I'm sorry,” Jim called out to the back of Hikaru's head. “You're right, I'm taking my problems out on you. I do want you to be happy.”
Hikaru didn't reply and Jim figured that he deserved that. He stepped outside to give his friend time to cool off. He wasn't really surprised to see Pavel standing awkwardly against the front of the diner, trying to look casual.
“Waiting for someone?” Jim asked, catching his attention. The young man smiled that infectious smile of his, and Jim could understand what Hikaru might see in him.
“I'm here to pick Hikaru up after work, don't tell him, but I am going to take him somewhere fancy tonight,” Pavel's eyes showed a hint of anxiousness, reaching out for Jim's approval.
“I'm sure he'll like that,” Jim said, knowing it was true. “I heard you two made things official, how's that working out for you?”
Jim listened to Pavel speak excitedly and seemingly without ever stopping to breathe, about all of Hikaru's many good features. It was difficult to remain unhappy around him, all that youthful, giddy, cheerfulness.
Jim didn't turn around when a car pulled up, until he felt a tap on his shoulder. Suddenly he was face to face with Leonard. He mumbled something about doctors to Pavel and pulled Leonard away.
“What are you doing here? And when did you even get back?” Jim said, remembering the reason for his previous foul mood.
“I just got back, and I wanted to know when I can see you again. I'm sorry I missed our appointment this morning, some unavoidable stuff came up,” Leonard ran his hand along Jim's bicep, looking at him like it had been longer than a week since they'd last seen each other.
Jim suddenly felt all the guilt that had been building push to the surface. How many people would be hurt if they found out about this. And he really knew almost nothing about his doctor. He never spoke about his life before coming her, his family, his wife.
“We can't keep doing this. And you can't - you can't be here,” Jim looked into Leonard's eyes as he said it, not backing down. “It would probably be best if you left now, don't make a scene.”
Jim didn't wait to see if Leonard complied, instead he turned away and went back inside. He spent the rest of the day trying to pretend that what had happened hadn't affected him.
That night Jim couldn't sleep, and apparently Nero didn't want to sleep. Calloused hands reached into Jim's brief's to grope is ass. “It's been too long,” Nero's rough voice was in his ear.
Jim tried to move further away, he couldn't do this tonight. “Not tonight,” Jim said tiredly. “I work in the morning, you know that.”
Nero didn't pull his hand away, pressing forward so Jim could feel his hardness against his back. “I need this, you don't get to say no,” The tone of Nero's voice had gone threatening.
“I give you everything and this is what you give me? I pay for the house you live in, the food you eat, even the clothes on your back.” Jim closed his eyes as Nero spoke, and tried to imagine how things would be when he left this.
Nero's voice went soft, as though he hadn't just said any of that. “Look, there are ways we can do this so that fat belly of yours doesn't get in the way,” he laughed and the sound of it grated. He was silent for a few minutes and Jim hoped he'd fallen asleep. “I love you, you know.” Nero whispered and turned away.
Jim lay in bed after Nero had left for work the next morning, feeling bloated and self pitying. In his head he calculated how soon he would be able to leave. He was calling in late for work today.
Jim was finally drawn out of bed by a knock on the door, which was weird in itself. Nero wouldn't knock, and it wasn't like he got visitors.
Opening the door, he was greeted to a cautious smile from Dr. McCoy. “Honestly, I don't mean to intrude, and I waited until your husband had left, but I couldn't let things end like that. And I didn't want to wait for your next appointment.”
Jim opened the door a little wider, giving Leonard a once over. “I didn't know you made house calls, doctor.”
“I took the day off, it seemed important. You look sad. Is it me?” Leonard looked concerned and Jim sighed
“I'm pretty sure that you've known me long enough to know I'm not an entirely happy person,” Jim furrowed his eyebrows. “Not that I'm looking to be saved. Don't read into that.”
McCoy's mouth turned up at the corners, and he reached in to pull a strand of hair out of Jim's face. “And you listen, I'm not hear to save you, but can you at least let me in?”
“No. Yeah.” Jim motioned for him to come in.
Leonard stepped in and pulled Jim in close, not to kiss him or for any reason other than to be close. They stood like that, by the door. Jim rested his head on Leonard's shoulder and wondered if the silence should be awkward.
Jim thought he would like to stay like this for just a little longer, but the door was still open and anyone could walk by and see them. He reluctantly pulled away and went to close the door.
Leonard just followed him, pulling him back against him when the door was closed. He placed slow, easy kisses on Jim's neck, and Jim's back rested against his chest.
“You don't even know how perfect you look do you?”
“If you're into fatties, I guess,” Jim didn't know why he had so much trouble taking a compliment when it came from Leonard.
“You're pregnant,” Leonard whispered, reverently, hands moving to Jim's stomach. “And that's beautiful.”
“You don't get it, do you? I am like, the anti-parent. I won't even know what to do with a baby.” Jim laughed bitterly, trying not to melt into Leonard's gentle touch. He needed to change the subject. “Hey, why'd you come here anyway? This town, I mean. It's not exactly somewhere I'd move to if I had a choice.”
“There were... there were some problems with my wife,” Jim turned to look at Leonard, and tried to read the expression that had taken over his face.
“Okay,” Jim hated how annoyed he was at a mention of this woman he'd never met. “Problems?”
“She left me,” Leonard shifted uncomfortably, clearly not keen on talking about it. “That's what I had to take care of yesterday. The divorce was finally finalized.”
Jim hugged Leonard tightly, not sure if he should be comforting the other man or congratulating him. “You can tell me about it some other time,” Jim kissed his lips briefly and Leonard nodded gratefully.
“Thanks,” he laughed self deprecatingly. “Tell me, what did I ever do to deserve someone as beautiful as you.”
Jim laughed and Leonard stole another kiss.
“You look so good when you laugh, when you smile. It's the way your eyes light up,” Leonard pressed their bodies together as well as he could with Jim's belly jutting out. “Those eyes.”
After that neither of them needed to say anything. They fell into bed as easily as they always did. Everything with them was so fluent. It didn't matter that it was the bed he shared with Nero.
Something changed with them that day though, something opened up inside of Jim and he couldn't shut it off. It started with little things, but soon they were really confiding in each other. Jim didn't hold back the way he usually would.
“You're kind of my best friend,” Jim was sitting on Leonard's lap in his office. “Is that weird or what?”
Jim was pretty sure that things weren't supposed to happen like this. People were supposed to get to know each other before the awesome sex, not after. Or so he'd heard... from Hikaru.
“What are we doing?” Jim looked at Leonard. Because this was weird. It made a lot more sense when this wasn't real and could never go anywhere.
“Well, right now I was hoping we could..” Leonard trailed off when Jim snorted. “I think I'm falling in love with you.”
Jim closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss Leonard. He'd remember to ask Leonard what exactly it was he'd been hoping for a little bit later.
When they had sex this time, it was different that all the other times. It was languid, gentle and, it meant something.
Jim thought that it shouldn't turn him on the way it does how Leonard pays special attention to his stomach. The slow kisses placed on it, soft touches. There was something erotic about the care in all of Leonard's movements. It was so novel for Jim.
The weeks that followed were as close to perfect as any Jim could remember. The good streak was broken on a quiet Tuesday morning at the diner, when Nero barged in without reason to be there. The way he slammed the door behind him was a clear indicator of his mood.
Wild eyes darted across the room, until he saw Jim. “Get out of here now.” He picked up a chair and threw it across the room, seething.
Hikaru and Nyota shot Jim concerned looks and he shrugged it off, following Nero out to his car. Wracking his brain for things that would upset Nero like this, Jim climbed into the passenger's seat.
“Did you really think you could hide things from me?” Nero looked a few seconds away from hitting Jim, and he needed to calm him down. Only that would have been easier if he'd known what exactly Nero was talking about.
“Of course not, you know that,” Jim looked over at Nero imploringly. “I'm sure this is a misunderstanding. Let's just talk.”
“I found the money you've been keeping from me,” Nero gritted his teeth, raising his voice. “I found it hidden. All over the house. Who are you to keep secrets from me?”
Jim closed his eyes, mind racing, searching for a good, plausible explaination. “It was for the baby,” Jim blurted out. “I wanted to buy a crib, and surprise you. And toys and stuff.”
Nero's expression brightened slightly, latching onto the idea with hope that this wasn't in fact betrayal.
“For the baby. Of course,” Nero smiled, showing too many teeth, brushing off his prior accusation like it was nothing.
He leaned over, pulling Jim towards him. When he pressed their lips together it was too hard, too possessive and needy. As if he needed to show anyone who might be watching that Jim belonged to him.
Jim tried not to resent the baby more than he already did, when they spent the money that had been his last hope on a crib.
“I want to run away,” Jim muttered at his doctor's appointment the next week.
Leonard gave him a quizzical look, maybe trying to gauge how serious he was being. “Where would you go? I'd go with you, you know. If you asked.”
Jim bit his lip, trying not to just ask him then. “Anywhere. Somewhere that isn't here,” Jim's smile didn't reach his eyes. “Think you'd be up for that, doctor?”
Leonard sat there, just looking at Jim for a moment too long and Jim was ready to laugh the whole thing off, when he finally spoke.
“Let's go for a drive,” Leonard said whispered. “Might even run away.”
He grabbed Jim's hand and pulled him out of the clinic. Suddenly, they were doing this.
Opening the car door, Jim paused. “Can we do this? Just leave?” Please say yes.
Leonard glanced at the doctor's office, then back to Jim. “I've been a doctor before I came here, I'll still be a doctor in a new town. I haven't been her long enough to miss anything.”
Jim blinked, thinking about the friends he'd have to leave behind if he left right now. He pulled out a scrap of paper from his bag and a pen. He jotted down a quick note for Hikaru and Uhura. “Could I leave this with a someone here and they could give it to my friends? I just want them to know I'm okay and that I'll call them when I can.”
Leonard took the note from Jim, taking it in to the receptionist. “So we're doing this?”
“Looks like,” Jim grinned, feeling more alive than he had in a while. “Let's just drive until we need to stop. See where we go.”
Leonard started the car, nodding. Jim trusted that wherever they went things would be better.
“I love you.”
“I know, Jim.”
Author: teethe
Rating:NC-17
Pairings: Kirk/McCoy, Chekov/Sulu
Word Count: 3430 (11,900 total)
Warnings: MPREG
Summary:For the prompt asking for "Waitress" AU
"Jim Kirk is a small-town diner waiter trapped in abusive marriage with an unwanted baby on the way. Leonard McCoy is the grumpy but sweet doctor who helps him find a way out of his unhappy life."
Part 1
Part 2
Jim wasn't sure when his visits to the doctor had become the best part of his week; maybe somewhere in between the hard fucking up against the wall and the way Leonard knew just how to use that mouth of his. It was just sex, Jim told himself- really great sex.
Sitting in the waiting room, he was unable to keep a smile off his face remembering his last visit. The almost awed look on Leonard's face as he looked over his shoulder at Jim, who was licking his ass. He had looked like he'd been about to say something, before he'd been reduced to needy, incoherent moaning sounds, with Jim's tongue buried deep inside of him.
The way he'd looked at Jim; it felt a lot like the way Jim felt about Leonard, about everything with them lately. Nothing in his life had ever been able to go this well for this long. It had been a little over a month now, and he hated that he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He sighed contently as he was told the doctor was ready to see him. His smile faltered when he walked into the room to see Dr. Montgomery Scott
“You're back? I thought... you had stopped working here? What's up, man,” He tried to keep his cool and not let his mind run through the scenarios that would lead to Dr. McCoy being gone.
“Aye, and here I thought you'd be happy to see me, Jim. I hear the new guy's a real hard ass,” Scotty grinned, absently, looking through Jim's charts. “I'm only back for the day though.”
Jim had missed Scotty, truth be told, but that didn't stop his presence here from being worrisome. “Yeah, hard ass. Where is Dr. McCoy anyway?”
“Well, I'm not sure I have a real answer to that one for you,” Scotty scratched his head. “From what I heard he was needed out of town with his wife. Or something? All I know is I'm the one receiving the last minute notification that I'm needed here.”
Scotty smiled ruefully, and Jim felt his heart sink. He'd almost forgotten about the wife, or at least let himself believe that maybe she was out of the picture. Leonard never talked about her, that had to mean something.
“Anyway, it looks like you're scheduled for some blood tests today. Just routine, no worries. Sit down and we'll be done in no time.”
The rest of the appointment flew by without incident, and Jim took the bus to work, letting himself become more and more annoyed with Leonard. It was probably good that he was gone, he always had seemed to like jabbing Jim with needles a little too much.
He slipped into his uniform before joining Nyota and Hikaru in the kitchen of the diner. “You are looking way too happy for being here,” Jim snapped at Hikaru. Not that he'd been looking for people to complain about life with or anything.
“Yeah, um,” Hikaru was blushing now, that was just weird. “I guess I just have reason to be happy right now.”
Nyota raised an eyebrow, when he didn't elaborate. “You can't just say that and not tell us what's up. Spill it. Now.”
“I'm kind of seeing someone,” Hikaru ran a hand through his hair, the little grin never leaving his face. “Have been seeing someone. We just finally made things official I guess.”
“You finally found someone?” Jim asked, not really minding that he might be sounding rude right now.
“Uh, you guy's know that little Russian guy who kept showing up here?” Hikaru's eyes darting between the two of them, they nodded dumbly. “He just kept coming back, and well, he grows on you.”
Uhura stifled a laugh, before looking at him again with what looked like a genuine smile. “Wait are you serious? Because I mean, that's great!”
Jim was less kind. “Oh my god,” he said, laughing maybe a little bit more than the situation called for, especially when he'd seen this coming for weeks. “The Russian Stalking Elf. Seriously?”
Hikaru blushed fiercely. “It's not like anyone else was offering, I'm not exactly a catch.” He sounded so insecure like this, and Jim regretted the teasing.
Nyota put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him in comfortingly. “Sweetheart, you should never date someone for that reason. Especially when any man or woman would be lucky to have you.”
Jim nodded, Nyota had always been the one who could find the right words.
“Isn't that why you married Nero? He was the only one who would have you?” Hikaru looked into Jim's eyes for a moment, just a hint of something dangerous in his voice. Cutting Jim down with a few words, before turning back to Nyota. “He finally got my phone number out of me, and he just.. kept calling.”
Hikaru sighed wistfully, “Every night at the same time, right down to the minute. And we would just talk, it came so naturally. It's never come so naturally. Plus, he's a sexual dynamo. I know you wouldn't expect it to look at him, but wow.”
“Wow,” Nyota repeated, trying hard to picture that small, unassuming boy as even a sexual being. “No, I can't say I saw that coming.”
Jim tried not to choke on his own spit, fearing that he was picturing it far too well. “I'm glad you're happy,” Jim said quietly, and he was. Despite himself, he couldn't help be happy for Hikaru.
“I know you're not, but thanks,” Hikaru said, not smiling so much anymore. “And Jim, jealous really isn't a good look for you. I get it, your husband's a dick who couldn't be more controlling if he tried, but please just let me be happy for once.”
Jim stood there, mouth open, watching mutely as Hikaru turned to leave. He'd never seen Hikaru stand up for himself like that, didn't really know he had it in him to.
“I'm sorry,” Jim called out to the back of Hikaru's head. “You're right, I'm taking my problems out on you. I do want you to be happy.”
Hikaru didn't reply and Jim figured that he deserved that. He stepped outside to give his friend time to cool off. He wasn't really surprised to see Pavel standing awkwardly against the front of the diner, trying to look casual.
“Waiting for someone?” Jim asked, catching his attention. The young man smiled that infectious smile of his, and Jim could understand what Hikaru might see in him.
“I'm here to pick Hikaru up after work, don't tell him, but I am going to take him somewhere fancy tonight,” Pavel's eyes showed a hint of anxiousness, reaching out for Jim's approval.
“I'm sure he'll like that,” Jim said, knowing it was true. “I heard you two made things official, how's that working out for you?”
Jim listened to Pavel speak excitedly and seemingly without ever stopping to breathe, about all of Hikaru's many good features. It was difficult to remain unhappy around him, all that youthful, giddy, cheerfulness.
Jim didn't turn around when a car pulled up, until he felt a tap on his shoulder. Suddenly he was face to face with Leonard. He mumbled something about doctors to Pavel and pulled Leonard away.
“What are you doing here? And when did you even get back?” Jim said, remembering the reason for his previous foul mood.
“I just got back, and I wanted to know when I can see you again. I'm sorry I missed our appointment this morning, some unavoidable stuff came up,” Leonard ran his hand along Jim's bicep, looking at him like it had been longer than a week since they'd last seen each other.
Jim suddenly felt all the guilt that had been building push to the surface. How many people would be hurt if they found out about this. And he really knew almost nothing about his doctor. He never spoke about his life before coming her, his family, his wife.
“We can't keep doing this. And you can't - you can't be here,” Jim looked into Leonard's eyes as he said it, not backing down. “It would probably be best if you left now, don't make a scene.”
Jim didn't wait to see if Leonard complied, instead he turned away and went back inside. He spent the rest of the day trying to pretend that what had happened hadn't affected him.
That night Jim couldn't sleep, and apparently Nero didn't want to sleep. Calloused hands reached into Jim's brief's to grope is ass. “It's been too long,” Nero's rough voice was in his ear.
Jim tried to move further away, he couldn't do this tonight. “Not tonight,” Jim said tiredly. “I work in the morning, you know that.”
Nero didn't pull his hand away, pressing forward so Jim could feel his hardness against his back. “I need this, you don't get to say no,” The tone of Nero's voice had gone threatening.
“I give you everything and this is what you give me? I pay for the house you live in, the food you eat, even the clothes on your back.” Jim closed his eyes as Nero spoke, and tried to imagine how things would be when he left this.
Nero's voice went soft, as though he hadn't just said any of that. “Look, there are ways we can do this so that fat belly of yours doesn't get in the way,” he laughed and the sound of it grated. He was silent for a few minutes and Jim hoped he'd fallen asleep. “I love you, you know.” Nero whispered and turned away.
Jim lay in bed after Nero had left for work the next morning, feeling bloated and self pitying. In his head he calculated how soon he would be able to leave. He was calling in late for work today.
Jim was finally drawn out of bed by a knock on the door, which was weird in itself. Nero wouldn't knock, and it wasn't like he got visitors.
Opening the door, he was greeted to a cautious smile from Dr. McCoy. “Honestly, I don't mean to intrude, and I waited until your husband had left, but I couldn't let things end like that. And I didn't want to wait for your next appointment.”
Jim opened the door a little wider, giving Leonard a once over. “I didn't know you made house calls, doctor.”
“I took the day off, it seemed important. You look sad. Is it me?” Leonard looked concerned and Jim sighed
“I'm pretty sure that you've known me long enough to know I'm not an entirely happy person,” Jim furrowed his eyebrows. “Not that I'm looking to be saved. Don't read into that.”
McCoy's mouth turned up at the corners, and he reached in to pull a strand of hair out of Jim's face. “And you listen, I'm not hear to save you, but can you at least let me in?”
“No. Yeah.” Jim motioned for him to come in.
Leonard stepped in and pulled Jim in close, not to kiss him or for any reason other than to be close. They stood like that, by the door. Jim rested his head on Leonard's shoulder and wondered if the silence should be awkward.
Jim thought he would like to stay like this for just a little longer, but the door was still open and anyone could walk by and see them. He reluctantly pulled away and went to close the door.
Leonard just followed him, pulling him back against him when the door was closed. He placed slow, easy kisses on Jim's neck, and Jim's back rested against his chest.
“You don't even know how perfect you look do you?”
“If you're into fatties, I guess,” Jim didn't know why he had so much trouble taking a compliment when it came from Leonard.
“You're pregnant,” Leonard whispered, reverently, hands moving to Jim's stomach. “And that's beautiful.”
“You don't get it, do you? I am like, the anti-parent. I won't even know what to do with a baby.” Jim laughed bitterly, trying not to melt into Leonard's gentle touch. He needed to change the subject. “Hey, why'd you come here anyway? This town, I mean. It's not exactly somewhere I'd move to if I had a choice.”
“There were... there were some problems with my wife,” Jim turned to look at Leonard, and tried to read the expression that had taken over his face.
“Okay,” Jim hated how annoyed he was at a mention of this woman he'd never met. “Problems?”
“She left me,” Leonard shifted uncomfortably, clearly not keen on talking about it. “That's what I had to take care of yesterday. The divorce was finally finalized.”
Jim hugged Leonard tightly, not sure if he should be comforting the other man or congratulating him. “You can tell me about it some other time,” Jim kissed his lips briefly and Leonard nodded gratefully.
“Thanks,” he laughed self deprecatingly. “Tell me, what did I ever do to deserve someone as beautiful as you.”
Jim laughed and Leonard stole another kiss.
“You look so good when you laugh, when you smile. It's the way your eyes light up,” Leonard pressed their bodies together as well as he could with Jim's belly jutting out. “Those eyes.”
After that neither of them needed to say anything. They fell into bed as easily as they always did. Everything with them was so fluent. It didn't matter that it was the bed he shared with Nero.
Something changed with them that day though, something opened up inside of Jim and he couldn't shut it off. It started with little things, but soon they were really confiding in each other. Jim didn't hold back the way he usually would.
“You're kind of my best friend,” Jim was sitting on Leonard's lap in his office. “Is that weird or what?”
Jim was pretty sure that things weren't supposed to happen like this. People were supposed to get to know each other before the awesome sex, not after. Or so he'd heard... from Hikaru.
“What are we doing?” Jim looked at Leonard. Because this was weird. It made a lot more sense when this wasn't real and could never go anywhere.
“Well, right now I was hoping we could..” Leonard trailed off when Jim snorted. “I think I'm falling in love with you.”
Jim closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss Leonard. He'd remember to ask Leonard what exactly it was he'd been hoping for a little bit later.
When they had sex this time, it was different that all the other times. It was languid, gentle and, it meant something.
Jim thought that it shouldn't turn him on the way it does how Leonard pays special attention to his stomach. The slow kisses placed on it, soft touches. There was something erotic about the care in all of Leonard's movements. It was so novel for Jim.
The weeks that followed were as close to perfect as any Jim could remember. The good streak was broken on a quiet Tuesday morning at the diner, when Nero barged in without reason to be there. The way he slammed the door behind him was a clear indicator of his mood.
Wild eyes darted across the room, until he saw Jim. “Get out of here now.” He picked up a chair and threw it across the room, seething.
Hikaru and Nyota shot Jim concerned looks and he shrugged it off, following Nero out to his car. Wracking his brain for things that would upset Nero like this, Jim climbed into the passenger's seat.
“Did you really think you could hide things from me?” Nero looked a few seconds away from hitting Jim, and he needed to calm him down. Only that would have been easier if he'd known what exactly Nero was talking about.
“Of course not, you know that,” Jim looked over at Nero imploringly. “I'm sure this is a misunderstanding. Let's just talk.”
“I found the money you've been keeping from me,” Nero gritted his teeth, raising his voice. “I found it hidden. All over the house. Who are you to keep secrets from me?”
Jim closed his eyes, mind racing, searching for a good, plausible explaination. “It was for the baby,” Jim blurted out. “I wanted to buy a crib, and surprise you. And toys and stuff.”
Nero's expression brightened slightly, latching onto the idea with hope that this wasn't in fact betrayal.
“For the baby. Of course,” Nero smiled, showing too many teeth, brushing off his prior accusation like it was nothing.
He leaned over, pulling Jim towards him. When he pressed their lips together it was too hard, too possessive and needy. As if he needed to show anyone who might be watching that Jim belonged to him.
Jim tried not to resent the baby more than he already did, when they spent the money that had been his last hope on a crib.
“I want to run away,” Jim muttered at his doctor's appointment the next week.
Leonard gave him a quizzical look, maybe trying to gauge how serious he was being. “Where would you go? I'd go with you, you know. If you asked.”
Jim bit his lip, trying not to just ask him then. “Anywhere. Somewhere that isn't here,” Jim's smile didn't reach his eyes. “Think you'd be up for that, doctor?”
Leonard sat there, just looking at Jim for a moment too long and Jim was ready to laugh the whole thing off, when he finally spoke.
“Let's go for a drive,” Leonard said whispered. “Might even run away.”
He grabbed Jim's hand and pulled him out of the clinic. Suddenly, they were doing this.
Opening the car door, Jim paused. “Can we do this? Just leave?” Please say yes.
Leonard glanced at the doctor's office, then back to Jim. “I've been a doctor before I came here, I'll still be a doctor in a new town. I haven't been her long enough to miss anything.”
Jim blinked, thinking about the friends he'd have to leave behind if he left right now. He pulled out a scrap of paper from his bag and a pen. He jotted down a quick note for Hikaru and Uhura. “Could I leave this with a someone here and they could give it to my friends? I just want them to know I'm okay and that I'll call them when I can.”
Leonard took the note from Jim, taking it in to the receptionist. “So we're doing this?”
“Looks like,” Jim grinned, feeling more alive than he had in a while. “Let's just drive until we need to stop. See where we go.”
Leonard started the car, nodding. Jim trusted that wherever they went things would be better.
“I love you.”
“I know, Jim.”