Eventually I will have to come up with a title for this fic as I will soon be publishing the first part to AO3.

Anyway, my prompt this week was: alcohol

 

Spock had come to appreciate Leonard. By the time their two five-year missions had ended, he considered Leonard a friend. And he knew Leonard reciprocated.

Spock had three humans in his life that he counted as very close to him. Leonard was one, Nyota was another and, of course, Jim. Jim surpassed all, as he naturally would, being so much a part of Spock’s very existence. And he would do anything for Jim.

Including allowing their new found solitude to end in favor of Leonard coming to their home for an extended stay.

At the end of their mission—their last one by mutual agreement between them and Starfleet—there had been much discussion of where Spock and his mate would settle. Jim wanted to renovate and live in his family’s old farmhouse in Riverside and Spock had wanted to go to New Vulcan. They spent more than a month at a standstill.

Nyota had reminded Spock that he would never truly feel at home anywhere Jim was not and that had caused Spock to go to Jim and tell him that he would accept Riverside. For Nyota had been right. He would not be parted from Jim.

In the end they’d compromised. A year in Riverside. A year on New Vulcan. After that, they’d see what they wanted. Where they belonged. Spock was only sure of one thing. He belonged with Jim, wherever his mate chose.

They’d only finished the renovations in October, near the middle of the month. They’d settled into their new home. Spock had been worried at first it would bring Jim too many unpleasant memories but it had not. Jim assured him that there were enough changes that it was like a new home and anyway, the place itself had never been at fault for what happened in the past.

Spock felt that they’d barely had time to find their way here when Jim had invited Leonard to come stay. And though it was illogical, he resented it some. After all these years he finally had Jim alone but not nearly long enough.

While he understood the reasons, the open-ended invitation to stay with them was not something Spock particularly appreciated. But Jim had made the decision without him. As though Jim was still captain and made all the command decisions. Definitely something he would need to discuss with his husband at some point.

But just now he followed Jim down their newly rebuilt staircase leading to the ground floor. When Jim stopped at the bottom, he shot Spock a grin that made the tips of Spock’s ears warm.

“Jim, now is not the time—”

A loud knock rapped on the door.

Spock moved past Jim and down the hallway toward their front door. It had also been replaced. Jim had insisted on replacing it with a door that included an elaborate stained glassed window of the Enterprise flying through space.

He opened the door just as Leonard was about to rap his fist on it once more. He barely missed Spock’s face.

“It’s about time,” Leonard exclaimed. He glared past Spock to where Jim stood. “You too weren’t doing it, were you?”

“We were trying,” Jim retorted. “You got here early.”

“Jim.”

“Well. I was into that.”

Leonard rolled his eyes and pushed past Spock. “You’re always into the hobgoblin.”

“Actually usually he’s into—”

“Jim.”

Jim laughed. “Come on, Bones. Let me get you settled into your temporary home.”

At least Jim said temporary, Spock thought. He watched as they headed up the staircase, and if his gaze lingered on Jim’s ass, well, who could blame him?

He made himself busy making tea and eyed the coffeemaker wondering if Jim and the doctor would want their favorite beverage.

Before he could set it up, though, he heard the noisy footsteps of the two humans returning downstairs.

Despite Jim being his mate for nearly three years now, every time Jim entered a room Spock was in, his heart rate sped up. He’d tried to figure out why he was so incredibly illogical where Jim was concerned but to no avail. One time he’d even asked his father, thinking there was surely something wrong with him. Sarek had advised that his heart did the same thing whenever Spock’s mother entered a room, so that had been the end of that.

And it was something Jim was well aware of, whether through Spock’s body language or their bond, it did not matter. He went immediately to Spock and produced his two fingers toward Spock, who gratefully met them.

“You two are still at it, I see,” Leonard grumbled.

“We’re happily married, bonded, whatever. Married and bonded.”

“Whatever,” Leonard sassed. “Aren’t you supposed to be over the kissing thing every time you’re apart for more than a minute?”

“Nope.” Jim leaned forward and kissed Spock on the lips. He then turned around and winked at Leonard. “You want something to drink?”

“You got any alcohol?”

The look Jim gave his friend was all sympathy. “Yeah we have. Coming right up.”

Leonard turned red and looked around. “Place looks great. Are we really going to have like turkey and stuffing in a couple weeks?”

“You and I, sure. We’re going to make acorn squash and stuff like that for Spock.” Jim stood on tiptoe to reach the top cabinet in the kitchen. It caused his shirt to ride up exposing his bare back just above the waistband of his jeans. Spock tried and failed not to look.

Leonard shook his head. “You haven’t changed at all, Spock.”

“Doctor?”

“Still ogling Jim every chance you get. I remember I had a running bet on the Enterprise with—”

“Bones, leave Spock alone.” Jim pulled down two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. “Besides Spock can ogle me whenever he wants to. You don’t want any whiskey, do you, honey?”

“I do not. I have tea.”

Jim handed Leonard a half glass of the amber liquid. He poured one for himself.

“To wedded bliss,” Leonard said with only a touch of sarcasm as he held his glass to Jim’s and clinked. They both took sips.

Jim was staring at Leonard now, even though he had moved to stand very close to Spock. Admittedly, Spock found it quite pleasant that Jim rarely left his side when they were together. They both had come to prefer it that way.

“You okay?” Jim asked, softly.

Leonard sighed and looked into his drink. “I guess I will be. Never thought I’d be divorced twice.”

“She’s a bitch.”

“Jim.” But there was no heat in Leonard’s voice.

“Well, she is. Who wouldn’t love you?” Jim went and gave Leonard a quick hug. “You’ll get through this and all this holiday shit, Bones. You will.”

“I know.” Leonard shrugged. “Are you sure I’m not imposing on the two of you?”

Spock opened his mouth but closed it when Jim nudged the bond just a little.

“Of course you aren’t. We love having you. You’re not a guest. You’re family to us, Bones. We love you.”

Leonard smiled for the first time since he arrived. “Thanks. Both of you. I’m kind of fond of you too. Even you, Spock.”

Spock quirked his brow. “Why thank you, Doctor.”

Leonard held up his glass toward Jim’s glass and Spock’s mug of tea. “To friends.”

“To friends,” Jim and Spock murmured in unison.

Then Jim leaned over toward Spock. “And to really hot husbands.” He kissed Spock.

“Jim, for heaven’s sake—”

Spock kissed Jim back, drawing him closer.

“Spock, not you too.”

Jim set his glass down on the counter and wrapped his arms around Spock’s neck.

“Oh for corn’s sake. I’m going up to take a shower.”

Spock pushed Jim against the counter, his hands pushing up under Jim’s shirt to spread over his bare skin.

Jim broke the kiss to breathe, his eyes shining. He looked around. “What happened to Bones?”

“I have no idea,” Spock replied.