What do we owe to each other? (TGP)

On the other hand he would have no more flight classes. McCoy smiled as he turned at the far end of the pool and began to swim back. He had made it through a whole year of flight classes and had passed his final exam quite well. He and Lt. Flores, his flight instructor and advisor, had already discussed how they were going to keep him from losing his skills or falling back into his fears.

“Well cadet, you did promise to join this year. Still going to?”

McCoy looked up at the end of his last lap to see the swim coach, Cmdr. Raleigh standing above him. McCoy chuckled as he hauled himself up on the edge and caught his breath.

“Yes sir,” he replied. “And I swam as often as I could over the summer.”

“I may have timed a lap or two,” Raleigh smiled at him. “And it was much better than the laps you gave me last year.”

McCoy nodded. “When do practices start sir? Is there anything I need to do for signing up?”

Raleigh chuckled. “No cadet, no sign ups necessary. No try outs either. I’ve already seen what you can do and you have a spot. Practices start two weeks from Tuesday, 1730.”

“I’ll be here sir,” McCoy said, hearing a hint of excitement in his own voice.

“Bones! Good, you’re here!”

McCoy looked cautiously at Jim as he sat down for lunch. “Why?”

“We’ve got to go grocery shopping!” Jim said.

“Grocery shopping?” a familiar voice asked.

“Ny!” McCoy exclaimed. He stood back up and embraced her. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too Leonard. Hi Jim.”

“Hey,” Jim grinned. He also got up to hug Uhura.

Christine sat down beside McCoy. “Swimming?” she asked, looking at his wet hair.

“Yep.”

“I thought everyone would be here,” Uhura said as she sat beside Jim.

“I’m sure they’ll come in soon,” Christine said.

Part 12

Scotty

“Well, I think we have lots of work to do this year, eh?” Scotty said to his friends once they finished talking about the engineering ideas they had developed over the summer. They were all different, but interesting all the same.

“True,” Aporal agreed. “Though it’s hard to decide on a project to start with. What do you think, Keenser?”

The two taller cadets looked at the smaller one sitting across from them. He didn’t answer. He didn’t even blink. Scotty couldn’t deny that it worried him.

“Keens? What’s wrong, laddie? Ye’ve been awfully quiet. Well… more than the usual that is.”

Finally, the Roylan moved his head and looked from one friend to the other.

“What?”

“I asked ye what’s wrong?” Scotty repeated his question and Keenser slowly shook his head.

“Nothing.”

It was easy to see that Keenser didn’t tell them the truth, but Scotty chose to let it go for the moment. Maybe it was something private and the wee man didn’t want Aporal to know.

“Okay.” Aporal didn’t push either. After all, he himself had kept secrets for long enough. He had hid a horrible past for quite long, before eventually opening up to Scotty and then the others. “So, what do you think? What project should we start with?”

They were back on the topic quickly and in no time it was time for lunch.

“So you’re really going to join the swim team, Leonard? But then when will you have time to learn all the new medical stuff with me?” Eugene asked at lunch and Leonard laughed.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ll find an afternoon or two for studying.”

“What? You don’t want to spend all the free time left with your husband?” Jim asked, pretending to be shocked. “I’m surprised.”

“I don’t need the afternoons for that. After all, Scotty and I have all night,” Leonard reminded the blond and Scotty blushed slightly.

“Len.”

“What? It’s true, isn’t it?”

Scotty just rolled his eyes… and frowned when his gaze fell on Keenser. The Roylan looked very tense and uncomfortable. It was quite unusual for him. Whatever was wrong with him, the Scotsman wanted to know more so he could help his friend.

“Is it really okay for you if I go grocery shopping with Jim?” Leonard asked him after lunch and Scotty nodded, a soft smile resting on his lips.

“Aye. Don’t worry about it, mo ghràdh. I have other things to do anyway.”

At hearing that, Leonard raised an eyebrow curiously. He tilted his head to the side.

“Oh? Something I need to worry about?”

Scotty narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. If only he knew.

“I’m not sure yet myself,” he admitted, then shook his head. “But ye can go and enjoy the afternoon. I’m looking forward to dinner.”

“Are they good pics?” Jim asked, grinning.

Scotty raised a brow in question and McCoy nodded. Scotty handed the device forward to Jim and Spock.

“None of you two together huh?” said Jim.

“I hope Marjory doesn’t get bothered,” McCoy said as Jim handed the PADD back.

“Don’t ye worry about her,” Scotty smiled. “She can take care of herself.”

“I hope so,” McCoy murmured. “Let her know if she does need—”

“I will love, no worries.”

The shuttle landed soon after and the young men gathered their bags and trunks.

“At least we’re all closer together in the dorms this year,” said Jim as they began to walk. He had already taken care of finding out and sharing where everyone was assigned and what classes everybody had together.

“That is nice,” Scotty agreed.

“And that we don’t have to go stand in line at the registrar again,” McCoy added. “Should we drop this off and then get our stuff from storage?” He lifted his end of their trunk in reference.

“Might as well,” Scotty agreed. “Get it all taken care of at once, then find somewhere to meet everyone?”

“On it!” Jim said, his comm in his hand. McCoy felt his own comm buzz in his pocket.

Scotty tapped in the door code they had been sent for their new room. They had been moved over to the C dorms. Jim and Spock were a few floors above them while Sulu and Chekov were at the other end of the hall from McCoy and Scotty.

“This isnae too bad,” Scotty said as they walked in.

McCoy chuckled. “At least you won’t have to do any work there.” He pointed to the double bed, then moved forward to set his end of the trunk by it.

“Oh, there will be some work there,” Scotty said. He set down his end of the trunk and winked at McCoy. McCoy grinned back.

“This is going to be much nicer,” McCoy said, looking around at all the space. “We get the chairs and table set up and that will almost be like a proper living room.”

McCoy felt his comm buzz again and pulled it out.

“Looks like everyone is here,” he read. “Except Uhura. She isn’t getting in until tomorrow. Jim says to meet before dinner.”

“Sounds good,” Scotty said. “Should we unpack or get the rest first?”

“Storage, then unpack. Then we’ll have everything ready to get put away at one time. Then maybe if there’s time, we could make this room ours.” He grinned as he turned to Scotty and pulled him in for a kiss.

“Aye, there’s my mad man,” Scotty smiled back.

Part 10

Scotty

“Hey, guys. Oh, it’s so good to see ye all.”

Several hugs were exchanged when the group of friends met at one of the rec rooms that was free. Of course they had chatted from time to time over the semester break, but they hadn’t seen each other in months.

“Scottish boy, how’s it going?” Aporal greeted Scotty and patted him on the back. The Scotsman grinned at his Andorian friend.

“Good, good. What about ye, lad?”

Aporal shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, you know me. I’m always good.”

Obviously Scotty knew that that was an exaggeration, if not a lie. His alien friend, whom he’d met a year ago, often pretended to be a tough guy with a hard shell, but underneath it all he was hiding a soft, broken core. He had been through quite a lot in his life and was trying his best to keep it secret from anyone. However, in their group he had found several friends he’d opened up to.

“We’re just fine, Montgomery Scotty. Really.”

Scotty looked over at Jaylah who had stepped beside Aporal and grabbed the Andorian’s hand. She was smiling brightly. The two of them had become a pair during their first semester at the academy.

“I’m glad to hear that, lassie. Did ye enjoy the break?”

“Oh, yes!” Jaylah nodded her head vigorously. “I visited Andoria again and it was so amazing! Aporal showed me a few of his favorite places. The planet is gorgeous.”

They had been to Andoria together before but hadn’t seen too much of it. After all, they had mostly stayed at Aporal’s place back then, trying to help him get closer with his family.

Scotty smiled at his friend.

“That sounds great. Maybe we should pay it a visit too again soon.”

“Oh, that would be nice! Right, Aporal?” Jaylah looked at the other who shrugged his shoulders once again.

“I could probably arrange something.”

“How was your break? Heard you were at what you Scots call a ceilidh?” Chekov asked and Leonard rolled his eyes.

“Ugh, apparently everyone knows about that, huh?” he asked, annoyed by the question. “I can’t believe it.”

“Sorry, Leonard. I stumbled across the article and read it,” Pavel apologized. “What is a ceilidh though? It looked like lots of fun on the pictures.”

“It’s a traditional festivity in Scotland. People dance and sing and exchange stories. It’s quite nice,” Scotty explained. “At least when ye’re not being stalked by people taking pictures of ye.” He placed a comforting hand on his husband’s shoulder.

“Well, it still was a nice night,” Leonard said with a sigh.

After everyone had exchanged stories about their semester break, they made their way to the dining hall.

“I really have to get used to this food again,” Leonard groaned as he looked at the dinner on the plate in front of him.

“Right? Francine’s cooking was so much better!” Jim agreed with him.

Scotty chuckled at that.

“Well, we can use the community kitchen now that we’re second years, so how about the two of ye prove to us that ye learned from her tomorrow?”

Jim beamed at the idea.

“Oh yes! That’s a perfect idea! Bones and I will make a great dinner for everyone!”

Marjory was waiting at the park entrance when they arrived for the ceilidh.

“Hey guys!” she greeted them. “Hello Francine, Granddad.” Quick hugs were given as music drifted on the air. “Who wants to dance first?” Marjory asked, eyeing McCoy.

“Oh fine,” McCoy laughed. “Alright with you leannan?”

“Go on,” Scotty nodded.

“Well, I’d sure love to dance with a wonderful woman,” said Jim. “Francine?”

“Oh lad,” Francine smiled. “Ok.”

“Good luck,” McCoy and Scotty said at the same time.

“C’mon lads, we’ll find a table and some drinks,” Granddad said to Scotty and Spock.

“I would like to see the musicians please,” Spock said. “I hear drums and bagpipes of course, but there are others I do not recognize the sounds of.”

“I didn’t know ye were interested lad,” said Granddad.

Spock nodded. “Oh very.”

“Follow us then,” Marjory said. “You’ll see them well enough from where the dancing is.”

McCoy stood across from Marjory trying to recall the steps to the dance.

“Dinnae worry, ye’ll do fine,” Marjory encouraged him.

“I hope so. At least I know what I’m in for,” he grinned and looked towards where Jim and Francine were. “I can’t wait to see how Jim does.”

Marjory laughed. “It should be good. I don’t know anyone who dances better at these than Francine. Do ye suppose Spock would dance?” she asked a moment later. “I could dance with a prince and a Vulcan in one night!”

“That I don’t know,” he called as the dance began. “You’ll have to ask.”

“How are ye love?” Scotty asked when McCoy and Marjory found the table he and Granddad were at.

“Thank goodness for all the swim practice I’ve been doing, or I’d be even more out of breath!” He sat down beside Scotty and his husband pushed a glass towards him. “Thank you,” McCoy said gratefully as he picked it up and took a long drink.

“Oh. My. God. I think I’m dying!” Jim fell into a chair beside Granddad, breathing heavily. “How? How does Francine do it? She isn’t even out of breath and is already dancing again with someone else!”

“We said good luck,” Scotty laughed.

“Suppose that means ye don’t want to dance with me yet?” Marjory smirked.

Jim shook his head fervently. “I thought I was in good shape!” he bemoaned. “Where’s Spock?” He looked around. “Ahh,” he said to himself before any of them could answer.

“Here lad,” Granddad finally said and pushed a glass of water towards Jim.

“Thanks.”

“Let me take a break,” McCoy said to Scotty, “and then we can dance?”

“Sounds good mo ghràdh.”

Jim suddenly sat up straight in his chair and blinked.

“What Jim?” Scotty asked.

“Marjory just asked Spock to dance!”

Part 8

Scotty

It was a surprise to all of them when Spock followed Marjory to the spot where everyone was dancing and grabbed her hand. They started to move. Slowly at first, then faster and faster. Eventually they were dancing in the proper pace. And it looked pretty good.

Scotty looked over at Jim who was staring at the scene wide-eyed. He smirked.

“Ye jealous, Jimbo?”

The blond slowly shook his head, mouth open.

“He’s impressed,” Leonard concluded, sending Scotty a glance sideways. They smiled at each other. They knew their friend all too well.

“We can all be. The lad is quite good for his first time at a ceilidh,” Granddad said, before he took a sip of his beer.

“Aye, he is. Even though he’s quite stiff usually,” Scotty noted and Leonard’s smile softened.

“The music relaxes him,” he explained. It was quite obvious that he had seen his friend and ex-bodyguard dance like this before.

“I’m so gonna dance with him as soon as my energy returns,” Jim breathed and Scotty chuckled, patting his friend’s shoulder.

“Sounds like a plan. After all, ye already ken the steps now.”

“I saw ye and Marjory dancing, Spock. And let me tell ye, ye were amazing,” Francine said to the Vulcan when they all took a break.

Spock gave Scotty’s mother a grateful nod.

“Thank you, Francine. Even though the steps appeared to be complicated at first, as soon as I repeated them, it was quite logical.”

Francine laughed.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it logical. It’s… more like a feeling to me. But to each their own I suppose. Maybe ye will dance with me later tonight?”

“I would love to do so. But I am not sure if I can dance on your level. Your dancing skills appear to resemble the ones of a professional.”

“Oh Spock.” Francine blushed at the compliment. “Thank ye. But I’m sure ye can keep up with me.”

A slower song started to play and Francine smiled at the boys. There was a twinkle in her eyes.

“I suppose this dance is for the couples though. So how about ye lads go and enjoy the song.”

“That is a great plan.” Leonard grinned, got up from where he was sitting and offered his husband a hand. “May I have this dance?”

A smile pulled at Scotty’s lips as he took the hand.

“Well, if a prince asks me that politely. How can I say nay?”

“Come on, Spock. Let’s get going,” Scotty heard Jim say and soon enough the four of them were dancing the song away.

“I have to admit that I’ll miss all the free time,” Leonard whispered into Scotty’s ear as they danced closely. “Going back to the academy is fun and all, but spending every minute with you is so much better.”

Scotty hummed in agreement.

“It sure is.”

But they had to face the fact that they couldn’t spend every single minute together. For sure there would be even more excursions during their second year. And Scotty really looked forward to them.

“Oh. Would you like to?” McCoy was surprised at his husband’s suggestion. Though he and a former teacher at their boarding school had helped teach Scotty to swim, he knew it still wasn’t one of his husband’s favorite activities.

“Aye. It’s supposed to be warm tomorrow, and ye wouldn’t want to get out of practice before next week.”

McCoy chuckled. He had promised the commander in charge of Starfleet’s swim team that he would get back into shape for the new year and join the team. He had swum every day they were home on Georgiares and Scotty had joined him most of the time. And if he hadn’t, he had at least come to the pool to sit and read while McCoy swam.

“Missing a few days isn’t going to hurt anything,” he reassured his husband. “But that does sound nice. I’m sure Spock and Jim would like it too.” He yawned. “Love you.”

“Love ye too. Get some sleep.”

A soft kiss touched McCoy’s forehead as he closed his eyes.

McCoy floated on his back and looked up at the blue of the sky above him. Scotty was right, the day was getting to be quite warm, but the local pool was just right. Fingers slid into his hand and McCoy lifted his head from the water.

“Did ye get enough laps?”

McCoy let his feet drop deeper and righted himself next to Scotty.

“Of course,” he said and pulled Scotty close for a kiss.

“Hey lovebirds!” A wave of water splashed at their faces.

“Jim!” both cried at the same time.

“You tired out enough I can beat you in a race now?” Jim asked. He was grinning.

Scotty looked at McCoy conspiratorially. “Go on love, race him.” He lowered his voice. “Then we can pay him back.”

McCoy’s brow lifted in interest.

“Let’s go Jim,” he said and led the way to the far edge of the pool.

“That’s not fair!” Jim exclaimed when he finished the race. McCoy was already sitting on the edge of the pool waiting. “I saw how many laps you swam! How are you still not tired?”

McCoy laughed. “Did you forget I’ve been swimming all summer? Everyday I was at home?”

“I know,” Jim pouted. “One of these days I’ll win.”

Something behind Jim caught McCoy’s eye and he fought a grin.

“Maybe you should join the swim team too. Then at least I’d know someone on it,” McCoy mused. He had to keep Jim’s attention on him. Scotty and Spock were coming up behind him so quietly.

“Hey, maybe I should,” Jim said thoughtfully. His arms were casually moving back and forth to keep him in place. “We could be the best ones on the team just like—” His words cut off as Scotty and Spock each grabbed one of his legs underwater and he was pulled down.

He came back to the surface a moment later.

“What the hell?!” He wiped water away from his eyes, laughing.

“That’s for splashing my husband,” Scotty laughed. “And me.”

“It wasn’t kind to splash while they were kissing Jim,” said Spock.

Scotty climbed up on the edge by McCoy.

“You’re against me too?” Jim said with fake outrage as he turned to Spock.

“When one has been trained quite thoroughly to protect his prince, it is hard to turn off,” Spock said. A twinkle in his eye had McCoy and Scotty laughing again.

“This isn’t any way to treat your captain!” Jim said, still pretending to be shocked.

“I thought it was going to be Cora,” Scotty smirked.

“He’s not under your protection,” Jim said to Spock. “I’ll get you for that one!” he said and flung his arm across the water to splash Scotty.

Part 6

Scotty

They had a fun day at the pool. Even though it was exhausting for Scotty to be in the water for several hours, as he still wasn’t as used to it as the others, he had still enjoyed the time. After all, there was nothing better than taking a swim on a hot day.

“I wonder what Francine is cooking for dinner! Her dishes always taste so amazing,” Jim mused dreamily as they walked the way back home through town.

Leonard snorted, then chuckled.

“I doubt she’ll cook anything. There are quite enough leftovers from yesterday.”

At that, Jim sighed and pouted.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right about that. Aw man! How could I have cooked so much? Stupid me!”

“Ah, I see someone’s finally making peace with being who he is?”

The boys all turned around when they heard a mischievous voice coming from behind them. At the sight presenting itself to them, Scotty grinned brightly.

“Marjory! Hey!”

The young woman in question just smirked at them and waved her hand.

“Hey, lads. Nice to see ye.”

Scotty moved over to his childhood friend and hugged her tightly.

“Ye too, lass. We wanted to meet up with ye anyway, but it’s lovely to see ye now already.”

“Have you been following us?” Jim asked as he took Scotty’s place once the Scotsman let go. “Spock! You’re a pretty bad bodyguard if you don’t notice someone stalking us.”

“I did not notice someone following us, ashayam, because no one was,” Spock clarified, hands clasped behind his back.

“Dinnae worry. I was nae following ye. I just happened to turn onto this street at the right moment to see ye guys,” Marjory explained.

“Hey,” Leonard too greeted the girl and hugged her when Jim was done. Marjory wiggled her eyebrows.

“Are ye ready for another dance, yer highness? I think there’s a ceilidh close by on Friday.”

Leonard laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh, I’m not sure if I’m up for another round.”

When Scotty and Leonard had visited Scotland the last time on a weekend, there had a been a traditional Scottish ceilidh at the park. Marjory had danced with the prince, showing him all the steps, but in the end Leonard hadn’t been able to get to her level.

“Well, I’m always up for a dance,” Jim said. “So we’ll be happy to join.”

“That is unless Francine has other plans, of course,” Spock reminded him. They had decided that Scotty’s mother was to decide what they would do on her two days off.

“Which I highly doubt.” Scotty waved a hand at the statement. “Mum is always happy to visit a ceilidh.”

“Looking forward to it then.”

“Would ye like to have dinner with us? As ye already heard Jim cooked way too much yesterday. I’m sure there’s enough for ye too,” Scotty offered, but Marjory politely declined.

“Nay, thanks, Monty. I’m on my way home from work and the day was exhausting as hell. The wee lads and lasses can be quite a hand full. I’ll just eat a sandwich and go to bed early.”

Marjory had started her training to become a kindergarten teacher. Even though it was the perfect job for her, Scotty understood how exhausting and draining a work like that could be.

“Well then, we’ll see ye on Friday?”

Marjory gave Scotty a thumbs up before she looked at the others.

“Sure will. Bye, lads! Have a fun week!”

They all said their goodbyes and the girl parted ways with them.

McCoy and Scotty exchanged a quick smile, then got up to follow Spock and Jim from the shuttle.

Alasdair Scott was waiting for them and greeted all of them with a quick hug, except Spock, whom he knew was not a fan of the contact.

“Francine’s been planning up a storm what to feed ye these couple days,” Granddad said when they were all seated in the car and leaving the shuttle port.

“That’s what she thinks,” McCoy heard Jim murmur. He was hoping to get a few more lessons in the kitchen himself, so he could only hope Jim wouldn’t monopolize the time.

Good smells were wafting out to the garden where McCoy and Scotty had settled after their brief unpacking. They had planned to read, but Granddad and Spock had come out to enjoy the sun and McCoy had begun to look at the garden itself.

Quite a few of the plants and flowers had been his birthday gift to Francine the summer before. Though her birthday was in winter, the plants had been grown and gotten ready for her in the greenhouses at the royal palace. He was glad to see they were growing strongly.

“What’s the plan then lads?” Granddad asked.

“For this week?” Spock asked.

“Sure,” Granddad nodded. “And for back at the academy. Are ye and Jim staying in the dorms too?”

McCoy came back to join the others around the garden table. He and Scotty had thought and talked it over many times and had finally decided to at least stay in the dorms until the semester break. They hadn’t looked around the city for apartments or small homes yet. McCoy had worried too that if they moved off campus they wouldn’t see their friends as much. He knew Scotty had had the same thought. So for at least the first semester they would live in the second year dorms.

The room would be bigger, and they would have access to the communal kitchens if they didn’t want to eat in the dining hall all the time. Fortunately, Starfleet had small storage areas for cadets during the summer, so the few larger items they had purchased the year before, chairs and a small table, were still on campus. They’d just collect them when they got to campus on Saturday.

“Yes, Jim and I have a dorm room together again,” Spock answered Granddad.

“Hopefully they’ll honor our request,” Scotty muttered.

“Aye lad?” Granddad looked over at him.

“For a double bed,” Scotty said. “It’d be easier than having to rebuild and hook two singles together again.”

“Ooo!”

Jim had come outside and was smirking at the conversation.

“Shut it kid,” McCoy grinned.

“I need some help,” Jim said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder back at the house.

McCoy stood up quicker than Spock. “I’ll help.”

Part 4

Scotty

“Francine!”

“A mhathair!”

When the house’s front door opened later that evening, three young men quickly jumped up from their seats and rushed out of the living room to hug the person entering.

Francine Scott let out a surprised cry, then laughed softly as several pairs of arms wrapped around her.

“Oh, hello, ye lads. It’s so good to see ye all,” she greeted the visitors once they had let go of her.

“It’s good to see you,” Jim replied, grinning from ear to ear, as he hugged his counterpart once more, faster that time. To him the woman was something like the mother Winona had never been. She always took care of him and was there for him when he needed her most.

“Welcome home, Francine,” Spock, who had stepped into the hallway too, said, his hand forming a Vulcan salute.

Scotty’s mother returned the greeting, smiling gently.

“Hello Spock.“ A moment later she blinked in surprise, looking around. “Oh? What’s that smell?”

“I made dinner for you,” Jim exclaimed happily, already grabbing Francine’s arm to drag her into the kitchen.

“With help,” Leonard reminded the blond, sending Scotty a glance, and his mother-in-law chuckled.

“Oh, ye lads. Ye shouldn’t have. It’s yer semester break. Ye’re supposed to get some rest before the academy starts again.”

“Jim found it to be a good way to thank you for your hospitality,” Spock told Francine.

“But that doesn’t mean he’ll cook everyday!” Leonard protested. “I want to learn more from you.”

A warm smile washed over Scotty’s face as he watched his mother entering the kitchen, surrounded by the others. This was going to be a fun week.

“Did ye have a good flight? I ken that it can get quite exhausting to travel from planet to planet.”

They all sat together at the kitchen table, enjoying the dinner Jim and Leonard had made earlier on. It was more than enough for the six of them. Obviously Jim had wanted to impress Francine, trying to outdo himself.

“It was alright. Well, at least we arrived in one piece,” Leonard joked and Francine sent him a sympathetic smile. She knew that her son-in-law was scared of flying.

“That’s good to hear. I’m so happy ye decided to spend yer last week of yer break here in Aberdeen. Ye ken, the house can get too quiet sometimes, with all the kids gone.”

“My, Francine, isn’t me working downstairs in the workshop noisy enough for ye?” Alasdair returned, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Francine playfully slapped his arm.

“Oh, come on! Ye know exactly what I’m talking about!”

They all had to laugh.

“I hope ye made some nice plans for the week though?”

Scotty shrugged his shoulders.

“Not too many, a mhathair. We wanna meet up with Marjory. And maybe a trip to the beach.”

The boys had planned on taking it slow. After all, the first week at the academy would surely get stressful enough.

Francine nodded.

“Summer?” Scotty asked.

McCoy nodded. From troublesome instructors to the almost deaths of their siblings— McCoy tried not to shiver as he thought of Scotty’s own brush with death— their first year at Starfleet had certainly been filled with ups and downs.

But for all those hard and fearful moments there had been many good and joyous ones as well. They had made new friends and learned so much in their respective fields. McCoy could now fly a shuttle. It still frightened him, but not like it had used to scare him.

“I know mo ghràdh, it’s been great. But getting back and seeing everyone and learning will be good too.”

In the morning they would fly to Earth again. They had spent the beginning of the summer there and then returned to Georgiares in time to spend their first wedding anniversary where they had married. They would be heading back to Scotland for a few days, before heading to San Francisco to start their second year as Starfleet cadets.

“I know,” McCoy agreed. “It will.” He looked up at the trees and the sky. The shadows were beginning to lengthen. “I guess we should head back if we want to clean up before dinner.” He grinned at Scotty. There may have been one other reason he had so easily slipped off to sleep…

Scotty’s face flushed pink. “At least it’s private out here, unlike some other places ye try, ye mad man.”

“You love it,” McCoy kept grinning.

Scotty gave his shoulder a shove and stood up to begin collecting the few things they had brought to the grove.

McCoy and Scotty entered the dining room hand in hand.

“Enjoy your afternoon?” Leah McCoy asked. Her mouth was pulled up in a smirk. McCoy glared at his sister as he and Scotty sat, before smiling brightly.

“Of course we did Lee, would you like the full details?”

“Gross,” Leah replied. Beside her, Robbie Scott’s eyes widened and he made a face. Scotty’s younger brother still blushed the most easily of the four.

“What did you do?” McCoy asked his sister and she took Robbie’s hand.

“Worked,” Leah shrugged.

“Hey guys!” Jim Kirk called as he and Spock entered the room.

Jim had an open invitation from Francine Scott to spend his summer- any of his free time really- in Scotland, and had taken her up on that, following McCoy and Scotty as they traveled. Spock, of course, had followed as well, though he and Jim had returned to Georgiares sooner than McCoy and Scotty.

Close behind Spock and Jim, the adults began to enter. King David and Queen Eleanor. Spock’s parents, Amanda and Sarek, who was head of palace security. And the ever present Dr. Boyce, former teacher of McCoy and current advisor to the king.

“It’s still so hard to see you go,” Eleanor said to McCoy after everyone had been greeted and the meal began. “But I will admit it is easier than last summer.”

The queen’s eyes were shining, but no tears fell.

“It’s probably weirder when I am here now,” McCoy said.

Leah rolled her eyes. “Shut up Lenny, you still don’t get it.”

“Oh you children,” Eleanor said fondly. “They never really do grow up do they?” she said to the other adults.

“Mother!” McCoy and Leah protested at the same time, causing a laugh from everyone else.

Part 2

Scotty

“Are you looking forward to your next year at the academy?” David looked at all of the cadets at the table. They had just started to dine, but it was always nicer to eat and conversate.

“Aye. It’s gonna be amazing! I’ll finally get to fly a shuttle!” Scotty was beaming with excitement and joy. They all had received messages about their new schedules in the morning. “Unfortunately Flores will nae be my instructor, but I bet it’ll still be great.”

Lt. Flores had been Leonard’s instructor and advisor during their first year at Starfleet Academy. He had taken good care of the prince, supporting him in every way he could. Once he got to know about Leonard’s fear of flying, he had done everything in his power to take it from the young man.

Leonard smiled at his husband’s enthusiasm, before he himself answered his father’s question.

“And I’m finally free from flight classes. Plus, I have way more medical courses this semester. So many interesting topics. I can’t wait to learn about psychology.”

“Oh?” Jim raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t know you were interested in that kind of stuff.”

Scotty exchanged a quick glance with Leonard. They both knew very well how the prince’s interest in the human mind had been sparked. And it wasn’t a very pleasant reason. During their last semester Mabel, a cadet crazy in love with Jim, had taken both Scotty and Jim hostage. Her obsession was the reason Leonard had taken a closer look at books and papers about psychology. But, of course, they wouldn’t admit that to their blond friend.

So Leonard just shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, well, as a good doctor I have to know about a lot of stuff. And maybe that way I’ll learn to cure my aviophobia all by myself.”

Even though the regular therapy sessions with the academy’s psychologist Dr. Cuthbert had helped Leonard quite a lot already, he still wasn’t completely free of his anxiety. But Scotty was sure that the next year would change that.

“Ye’ll do amazing in every medical feel, mo ghràdh.”

Scotty gently squeezed his husband’s hand and leaned over to kiss him.

“Ugh, these lovebirds. It’s always the same with them,” Leah groaned, playfully, while rolling her eyes. “Jim, Spock. What are you looking forward to the most?”

“I am most curious about the course about xenogeology, your highness. It might turn out to be quite helpful for me as the future science officer I intend to be.”

Jim snorted.

“Oh, come on, Spock. That sounds so boring,” he protested, ignoring the stern look Sarek gave him and spoke on. “I, for my part, look forward to the mission training in the simulator. It’s gonna be so awesome! Getting to see other worlds and ships.”

David chuckled softly.

“I can see that you all have different opinions on what you’ll enjoy most. But I’m quite certain that you will all have a great time.”

“We will, Father. We will.”

Later that evening, when they were lying in bed, Leonard let out a heavy sigh. In the darkness of their room, Scotty couldn’t really make out any features, but he could guess that trouble was written over his loved one’s face.

“What is it, mo ghràdh?”

“It’s just… I’ll miss home. As much as I love Earth, Georgiares is where I grew up. And spending time here always makes me feel nostalgic.”

“Oh, Len.”

Slowly, Scotty moved a bit so he could wrap one arm around Leonard and pull him closer.

“Ye have great memories of this place, just like I have of Aberdeen, but I promise ye that we’ll make many good memories in San Francisco too this school year. We’ll make it a home.”