A bit of silliness from The Original Series, OMS

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The first one Spock allowed into their house, Jim hadn’t care that much. He’d known Spock liked them, though he would never admit it outright. Every time they had come across one, Spock ended up holding and petting them.

Once after they’d first married, Jim had suggested Spock adopt one. Their duties, though reduced, seemed to preclude that, so Spock had declined.

After Spock’s memories returned, after all the disaster of Khan and Genesis, Jim had brought it up again, but Spock had once more said no.

Therefore, Jim was mildly surprised when they retired to Riverside when one day Spock came into he house carrying a fluffy gray cat.

“That’s a cat,” Jim said, obviously.

“Indeed.”

“Well. Where did it come from?”

“I do not know the origins of these particular feline, but when I was out in the barn, she walked in.” Spock shrugged. “I believe it was her intent to adopt us.”

“Adopt us? Spock, she likely belongs to someone.”

But they checked and no one claimed her but Spock. Or as Spock had insisted, she claimed them.

The second one came home with Spock one day when he’d been at the store. Jim waited for his husband to say that the cat had followed him home, but Spock merely said that he saw the stray and picked him up.

The third and fourth were twin kittens Spock arrived home with some months later. By then, Jim had decided not to ask Spock where he got them. They made Spock happy and that was good enough for him. If they were, a bit, underfoot at times, well.

The fifth came one year right around Spock’s birthday and when Jim opened his mouth to protest, Spock coyly advised that this one was Jim’s birthday present to Spock. Since Jim had, in fact, forgotten Spock’s birthday, he closed his mouth.

There was a time or two when Jim broached the subject of a dog, but Spock pointed out that the cats probably would not welcome such a companion. Jim gave up that idea.

The moment he noticed a sixth cat, he counted them twice, Jim finally put his foot down.

“Spock, baby, you know I love you.”

“Yes, Jim.”

Jim smiled. “But maybe. Perhaps, a half a dozen cats is our limit.”

Spock pursed his lips. “Yes, perhaps.”

“I mean I know you have a particular fondness for—”

“Not over any particular creature, Jim,” Spock insisted.

“Er, right. Anyway, this should make our home quite full now.” He smiled again.

“However.”

Jim raised both brows. “However?”

Spock shifted awkwardly. “I was thinking that eight might be a more suitable number.”

Jim felt a headache building behind his eyes. “Eight, Mister Spock?”

Spock shrugged slightly. “It is only that they have already been acquired and are due to be delivered tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Yes, and since it is our anniversary—”

Jim frowned, thinking about it. Was it? He couldn’t quite recall. It was possible. He sighed.

“Very well. Uh. Happy anniversary, Spock. But that has to be the last.”

“Of course, Jim. Of course.”