Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

An extra!

A hundred years ago I wrote a hurt/comfort story called By His Side. It had everything. Jim severely injured, Gary plotting, a devoted Spock, Spock got poisoned, Jim beat Gary, and in the end they lived quite happily ever after.

I wrote By His Side in 2015.

I thought it might be fun to check in with these two.

Merry Christmas.

“I never thought I’d ever be able to have this.”

Spock gazed upon the tiny infant in the bassinet between them on their bed. Then he glanced at his husband and mate.

“It took a bit of planning but he is beautiful.”

“Best Christmas present ever,” Jim declared.

Spock blinked. “Jim, perhaps the heat is getting to you, my adorable one, but it is July not the month of December.”

Jim laughed. “I know, sugar. But way back in December we started planning for him.” He paused. “Actually the previous Christmas. Don’t you remember? I put baby booties in your stocking to see how you’d react.”

“It was most puzzling.”

“Then we talked and talked and this past Christmas we started the adoption process. It just took this long for us to finally have him.” Jim reached down to pick up their son.

“Jim, he will never rest if you constantly pick him up to hold him.”

“He can fall asleep in my arms.”

“Mm.”

“Does he look like you or me?”

“Since neither of us share DNA with him, he looks like his biological parents.”

Jim sighed and nodded. “I’m sorry they had to die on that ship explosion for us to get him.”

Spock touched Jim’s hand. “I know you think about the loss of your own father in such circumstances.”

“Yeah. Anyway, can we call him George Sarek?”

“Or perhaps Sarek George,” Sarek said from the doorway of their bedroom.

“Father, I thought you were not arriving for another few hours.”

“I took an early shuttle to see my grandson.” Sarek smoothly stole the child out of Jim’s arms.

Jim didn’t mind.

Jim put his arm around Spock and leaned in to kiss him. “So, you know, Merry Christmas in July. For our best present ever.”

“Indeed.”

“And thank you. For being here, with me.” Jim paused. “By my side.”

Spock’s eyes sparkled. “Always.”