It was a good story. Kirk liked telling it, when people wanted to hear. It made him smile to think of Pike, of the life he had thanks to that man and his ridiculous dare, that ridiculous promise he had made him all those years ago.

"Don't lose faith," Kirk murmured, watching Anders. "If there's one thing I've learned, family isn't always about blood. It's about the people around us, who care about us. That's family." His mouth twitched into a little smile. "I would say we're cousins, wouldn't you?"