A little early, because her birthday is May 10th but I wanted to get it up now so she could enjoy it before her little wine tasting trip!

Photo by Karley Saagi on Pexels.com

“Stood up again,” Leonard muttered as he lifted his glass of bourbon to his lips and took a large swallow.

Last time they were supposed to meet him at a restaurant, a few months back, some crisis prevented them from showing up. And Leonard was pretty sure getting stood up by Jim for plans dated back to their Academy days. If he thought Spock would be a mature, steadying influence…

He’d at least thought on his birthday, Jim would make the effort. But nope. They were supposed to be there a half hour ago.

He finished his drink and was about to slide right off the stool he sat on so he could be on his way when suddenly the bar’s door burst open and none other than Jim came rushing in, running, literally running, to Leonard.

His face was flushed red, his blue eyes shining, his lips looking a bit puffy. He wore his dress uniform. An admiral’s one, now, though just barely. There was a bit more gray in his hair than before, but still he was in pretty good shape. More than Leonard could probably say for himself. He guessed Khan’s blood was working its magic on Jim.

“Bones! Thank God, I didn’t miss you.”

“Jim—”

Jim one armed hugged him and then kissed the top of Leonard’s head. “Happy Birthday!”

“You been drinking already?”

“What?” Jim laughed. “No, no. I’ve had nothing.”

“You seem intoxicated.” Leonard narrowed his eyes.

Jim sat down hard on the stool next to him. “Drunk on love maybe.”

“Please, it’s my birthday.  Where is Spock anyway? Thought he was coming.”

“He’s coming at a much more sedate pace, of course. I said I’d run along ahead to make sure you hadn’t left.”

“Well.” Leonard glared at him. “I’ve been waiting thirty minutes.”

“Exactly. Sorry. So Sorry.” He leaned forward, almost tumbling off the stool, as he kissed the top of Leonard’s head again. “Spock’s got your presents.”

Leonard perked up at this. “Presents?”

“Yep. It’s just some booze and stuff. You can wait to open them later.”

“You wrapped them? Why wrap booze if you were going to tell me? That’s no surprise, you know.”

“You hate surprises anyway. I told you ‘and stuff” so it’s not just booze.”

Leonard snorted. “If you haven’t already been drinking then—”

The door to the bar opened again and this time it was Spock. And he too had dressed in his dress uniform. His arms were full of brightly wrapped birthday presents.

Leonard grinned. “Ah, Jimmy, you shouldn’t have!”

“I know it. But I did.” Jim got up from the stool and rushed toward Spock, grabbing onto his arm, and dragging him the rest of the way. “Need help, honey?”

“I have it, Admiral.”

Leonard rolled his eyes. They’d been shagging for years and Spock still called him his title. Wondered if he did that while they were…nah, Leonard didn’t want to know.

Spock gazed blankly at Leonard, dumped the wrapped presents on the bar beside Leonard, and said, “Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks, Spock.”

Jim looked at Spock as though he’d hung the moon or something. He put his arm around Spock’s waist, and then looked back at Leonard.

“So, we were a little late, because…”

“You were canoodling.”

Jim laughed. “I know that’s your word for—”

“We were not,” Spock said quickly.

“Right. But we were getting married. Barnett married us in his office. His wife and daughter were our witnesses.”

“Wait. What? You got married on my birthday?”

“I had to act fast before Spock changed his mind. We’ll have like a big reception with everyone later.”

“A small one,” Spock said.

“Right,” Jim said again. “With like, I don’t know, five hundred—”

“Fifty.”

Jim shrugged. “Five hundred fifty then.”

“Jim—”

Leonard chuckled. “I can’t believe you saddled yourself to this idiot for the rest of your life.”

“Hey.” The idiot kissed his head again. Jim was very affectionate when he was happy.

Leonard got off his stool. “This calls for a dinner. For my birthday and your marriage. I’ll buy.”

“You can’t buy your own birthday dinner.”

“Watch me.”

Jim hugged him again, a full on one this time. “Thanks, Bones. I’m really happy.”

“I can tell.”

“Happy Birthday, Bones.”

Leonard gathered up his presents with Spock’s help and left the bar to go to a restaurant nearby. Happy Birthday, Eveningstar!~ I hope you enjoy your birthday trip