Flash Fic, February 15, 2023

I had hoped to have a fic with Sarek and Winona for today but time got away from me and I’m just not able to get it done for this week, so I hope to have it up for February 22, the last flash for February. This week I wrote a short but hopefully sweet one for today. But hey, you got two this week so there is that!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

“Jim?”

Jim looked up from the poem he’d been reading out loud and smiled when he saw Spock standing in the doorway of their shared bathroom. “Hey. You ready to play chess?”

“Yes. You were reading a love poem?”

Jim nodded. “Yes. My favorite poem about love. I think my favorite lines are ‘I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach’ and ‘I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears of all my life: if, God choose, I shall but love thee better after death’. It’s a beautiful poem.”

Spock steppe inside Jim’s quarters and handed him a small red box. “I believe it might be a good time to give you this.”

Jim took the box and stared at Spock. “What is this?”

“A gift for Valentine’s Day.”

He smiled quizzically. “I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts for that. I asked Uhura if that had been a thing and she said—”

Spock shook his head. “We did not, it is true. And I expect nothing from you, save your answer.”

Jim sucked in a breath and flipped open the box. “Yes.”