"Daddy!"

McCoy searched everywhere for the little girl that called for him. But it was hard to see through the fallen ship parts and the glare of the red alert lights blinking in his face. Smoke and debris made it difficult for him to see more than a few feet in front of him. The ship shook and he winced as he crashed against metal shards. Blood seeped from open wounds and his head spun. But he couldn't stop now. Not when he was so close. 

He could hear her scream and his heart stopped. Frantically, he pushed and pulled his way through the wreckage only to hear her call for him from another part of the ship.

"DADDY!"

He winced as blood seeped through his clothes and onto his hand that pressed against his wound. With every bit of energy, he had left he called out. "Clara! Where are you?"

He heard the scampering of little feet and then her voice came again. "DADDY HURRY UP!"

Leonard tried to take a step forward but his wound was getting worse. He collapsed to the ground with a groan. His eyes grew foggy and his hearing started to fade.

"Daddy! Why can't you help me?"

Tears pricked at his eyes as he reached out blindly, his voice just above a whisper. "I'm sorry Clara...Daddy is just too tired right now."

"But daddy I need help!" Her little voice echoed off the walls.

But before he could even muster up the energy to speak another voice floated through the halls, a voice that made his heart leap.

"Dearest, your father is tired. Let him rest."

Leonard found his eyes slowly closing as your voice washed over him. Suddenly he felt a hand on his cheek, a little tiny one.

"Sorry, daddy. Mommy helped me this time. You can sleep now."

He felt your hand on his hairline, stroking it like you always did. Oh, how he wished he could just take you into his arms. "Rest dear, I have her."

And like a wave over the shore, McCoy was taken off into the darkness the voices of his two girls guiding him home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leonard woke with a start. Rubbing his face he looked around. He was in his bed the lights were dim and it was eerily quiet. That is until he heard a loud screaming laugh come from the other room followed by your urgent shushing. Damn those nightmares.

Slowly he got himself up out of bed, taking a deep breath and reminding himself that those nightmares were nowhere near reality. Leonard walked out of his room and turned to follow the voices of his wife and child bickering over being quiet and letting daddy sleep.

"Dearest you know he needs his sleep. If you need me to help you wipe after using the potty don't scream like you're dying, least of all to your tired father."

"But he said he would wipe this time."

Leonard smirked. So she was calling for him. To be wiped. He came to stand at the doorway of his daughter's little room where you sat on the corner of her bed as Clara snuggled under her blanket. You leaned forward to brush some hair out of her face but your very pregnant belly made that movement somewhat difficult. He found it adorable when you struggled to do simple tasks.

"I know. Maybe he can make you breakfast when you wake up."

Clara's face lit up and her head nodded quickly making her pigtails bounce. "OH yes, please! Can he make my favorite pirate's treasure."

You hesitated, not sure what to say, but Leonard stepped in saving you from having to make up a reply.

"Only if you talk like a pirate ye smelly stowaway!" He walked up to her and lightly pinched and shook her little toes that stuck out of the blanket.

"DADDY!" Clara giggled.

You turned and smiled, resting your hand on your swollen stomach. "Leonard I swear you are going to make this baby come sooner with every scare you give me." You placed your other hand over your heart.

Leonard gave you a knowing look. "Well then let me scare you a bit more. That baby has been cooking long enough." He leaned forward and kissed you lightly.

You reached up and stroked his slightly stubbled cheek. "Sorry if she woke you. She was adamant  for you to wipe her this time."

He smiled. "So I heard." Turning to the little girl in the bed looking up at her father with wide eyes full of admiration, Leonard knelt down beside her and tapped her nose. "But I can make her breakfast in the morning when I get back from my night shift. But only if you promise to be good for mommy and go right to sleep."

You wished to say and watch your husband interact with your little girl but you desperately had to pee. You patted Leonard on the arm and left to relieve yourself for the millionth time that day. But when you got back you about burst into tears. Stupid pregnancy.

Leonard was leaning on his hand that probed his head up on the bed while he stroked Clara's hair with his other hand as he sang her her favorite song, Hoist The Colors. You always told him you loved his voice but Leonard didn't like the idea of his grumpy reputation getting ruined with his deep, smooth and gentle singing voice. Yet you dared not tell him that his "grumpy reputation" was ruined the moment Clara was born almost five years ago.

You watched as he expertly put his little girl to sleep, her little chest rising and falling peacefully as he finished his song. He quietly leaned over and kissed her forehead before standing and turning off any remaining little lights in her room from various pirate toys and nightlights. You reached out and Leonard took your hand and shut Clara's door after him.

You felt the baby kick so you took his hand and placed it on your belly. "This one has not stopped moving all day. I would not believe how many times I have peed today because of this little one."

Leonard chuckled and kissed your forehead. "I think I have an idea, being your doctor and all."

You rolled your eyes but smiled. "Do you think it's a boy or girl?"

Your husband bent down to be level with your bump, cradling it with his large hands. "You know, I think what we have here is a strapping young man."

You laughed, placing a hand on Leonard's head as he kissed your belly. "Oh yes, very young man." You signed then yawned.

Leonard stood and took you by the shoulders, rubbing circles with is thumbs on your tense muscles. "Are you sleeping alright, dear?"

You nodded but another yawn took over. Finally, you shook your head. "I don't mean to sound like a snooty pregnant wife but with you working night shifts this week I have been having a hard time falling asleep without you."

Leonard smiled. "Aww, my wife misses me."

Normally you would have smacked his arm or told him you didn't miss his morning breath, but you were pregnant. You nodded, tears brimming in your eyes as you opened your arms and fell into his chest. Leonard's smile softened and he closed his eyes as he held you in his arms. Lately, he has been taking night shifts to train the other nurses a bit more so that he could afford to be off duty when you give birth and be around for a few more days than allowed.

But he had no idea the extra work would not only plague him with nightmares but you with sleepless nights. He cradled your head as he rubbed your back, swaying from side to side slightly. Soon the tired doctor got an idea. Gently he picked you up bridal style, but not without letting out groans, exaggerated or not.

You laughed, your tears drying up as your husband pampered you. He set you on the bed, making sure to get the appropriate amount of pillows for you. He got you a glass of cold water for you on the side table, jst in case. Next, he draped you with a warm blanket and kissed your forehead.

"Now, what would my lovely wife like to hear me sing to her tonight?"

You suddenly became giddy. He had sung to you only a few times and all before Clara was born. But you knew exactly what song you wanted to hear from his lovely mouth. You looked up at him and smiled coyly. "You know the one."

Leonard feigned reluctance. "Fine. If you insist." He sat at the foot of the bed and pulled back the blankets so he could get to your feet. "Get ready for the best sleep of your life." And he started rubbing your feet as he sang you your favorite lullaby.

It didn't take you long to fall asleep, but he made sure to finish the song. Doctor McCoy smiled and placed the blanket back over your feet. He stood and kissed your head but as he turned to go, you gently reached out and stopped him with a hand on his.

"Thank you for that. But thank you for taking the extra shifts. I know it's not been easy on you."

Leonard turned back around and kneeled by the bed. "You are creating a human inside you. I think I can afford a few short nights."

You reached up and stroked his cheek. "Yes, but you don't deserve the nightmares."

He stilled. Leave it to you to see right through him. He leaned into your touch. "They will pass."

"I know but I still don't like knowing you sleep restlessly."

Leonard's comms unit beeped. His shift was about to start. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your lips before getting up. "I love you. Now sleep." He rubbed your belly. "Both of you."

You smiled up at him and watched him leave. You slowly fell back asleep, your mind wild with the idea of your child coming soon and your husband sleeping with nightmares. But his kiss goodnight was gentle yet earnest, reminding you that he knew he wasn't alone anymore and that made you rest easy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You woke to the sound of your daughter doing her morning run around the apartment. You mentally prepared yourself for her to run in and jump on you, begging for breakfast. But before your door opened you felt movement next to you. Looking over you were meet with the dark warm eyes of your husband.

"Goodmorning, doll." He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed your cheek.

Leonard got lucky and was able to come back early and get some sleep with you. He pulled you to him and the both of you closed your eyes and rested in each other's arms. That is until Clara opened your door and shouted something about unhanding the treasure. She jumped up on the bed and shimmied her way between the two of you, making Leonard laugh. He watched as his daughter said good morning to her mom and her baby brother or sister. She then turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering something in his ear.

"You are always here when I want you most, daddy. I love you."

The gruff doctor hugged his daughter tight, tears threatening to fall until Clara demanded to be released, making him smile. "Unhand me you filthy sea dog! Off to the kitchens with you now, I am ready for my breakfast!"

Leonard raised a brow. "Is that how you talk to the best pirate chef known on all the great seas?"

Clara giggled. "Sorry daddy, but the Captain is hungry."

Leonard reached out and started to tickle her. "Well we can't have that now, can we. We may have a mutiny on our hands."

Clara giggled and laughed loudly, finally wiggling out of his grasp. "No munteny! No munteny!" And she raced off and out of the room.

Leonard smiled. He turned to you and kissed you. "Excuse me as I help save the Captain from being overrun with hunger."

You laughed. "Save me a plate, I'll be in the bathroom. Arrgg."

Leonard helped you up and watched you hobble off. The way he woke up exceeded any expectations he had once he married you.

"DADDY, THE MUNTNEY IS GETTING BIGGER!"

Chuckling he stepped into the kitchen and picked up an old spatula. "Quick, it's time to make the pirate's treasure!"

Clara placed her hands on her hips. "You don't make pirates treasure, you FIND it."

Leonard nodded. "Oh right. Silly me."

Clara giggled, shaking her head and looking like a little mini you. "Silly daddy."

Hey my lovelies! Just a heads up, all requests will be CLOSED on MAY 8TH and will open back up when I get back from Fiji. That way when I get back I don't find myself drowning in requests hahahahahaha as if I'll have that many. But it will clear my mind to just close them, just in case. SO REQUEST WHILE YOU CAN ;)