Dear Nyota

Things are going extremely well. The captain and I are becoming increasingly comfortable with each other and quite close.

He shows signs of being weaker than normal, due to his extended recovery time, but we have become completely involved with each other (pause to blush), and I am aware you will know what I mean by this. It is…gratifying.

Recently, Jim announced that we would partake in the tradition of being thankful. In ancient history, Humans in this locale took part in the feast-gathering holiday known as ‘Thanksgiving’. The captain wishes to participate.

Therefore, we went to the grocery store to purchase the necessary provisions.

“That is an eight pound turkey,” Spock said as he watched Jim place the frozen headless bird into their cart.

Jim grinned. “Yep.”

“Since you are the only one consuming the turkey is that not a lot of meat for one individual?”

“This is the smallest I could find. Don’t worry, I like leftovers. Turkey sandwiches, turkey omelet, turkey soup, Turkey Tetrazzini.” Jim patted Spock’s arm. “I got it covered. Now…cranberry sauce.”

“Over there.” Spock pointed to a display of cans.

“No, no. Not those. Yuck. I want actual cranberries. Let’s go to produce.”

Spock followed after Jim as he wheeled their cart to the produce section. Besides the turkey in the cart, Jim had already placed a package of cubed cornbread, and packages of powdered gravy mix Jim planned to doctor with some of the cooked turkey juices.

“Aha!” Jim stopped the cart at a display of numerous bags of fresh cranberries. “Now we’re talking.” He added two bags to their cart.

“Do you know how to make those?” Spock asked with no little skepticism.

“Of course I do. You add sugar and cook them in a pan. Besides, I can follow a recipe, babe.” He moved on to potatoes. “You’ll eat mashed, right? Without the gravy?”

“I will.”

“Great. And we’ll get you some acorn squash and green beans too.”

“That is satisfactory.”

“I’ll make a pumpkin pie too. Completely vegetarian, no worries.”

“I am not,” Spock assured him.

Jim picked up a few other things, checked out, and they made their way back home just as the sky opened up and started to rain.

“Ha!” Jim declared triumphantly. “We made it. Barely, but it counts.”

Spock turned toward the window as it started to downpour.  “It does indeed count.”

“Now, let’s get this stuff put away so we can snuggle under the covers upstairs.”

“And perhaps a little more than snuggling.”

Jim laughed. “Yeah, okay. You found me out. Way more than snuggling.

Our time here is peaceful and uneventful for the most part. I believe if we spent more than the allotted time here, Jim would become extremely bored. Even now I see at time that he stares off into nothingness, often with a wistful look on his face.

Having experienced so much uncertainly and danger on missions that have risked all our lives, I find this extended version of shore leave quite appreciated.

My final bit of news is that I have made the discovery that Jim and I share an ancient revered bond. We are Telsu. T’hy’la.

It all makes a lot of what I have experienced and felt make more sense.

It is fitting that this is the time of year to be thankful, because I can only be filled with gratitude for Jim and for your urging of me to advise him how I felt. For that and your endless love, support and kindness, I thank you.

I have informed him I am writing to you, so he sends his best, and advised he looks forward to the reunion of our family on the Enterprise.

I am likewise pleased that your relationship with Mr. Scott is progressing at a satisfactory pace.

I must go now, as he has asked for my assistance with the pumpkin pie.

With great affection,

Spock