I had promised that I would eventually get around to the second part of the flash where Jim and Spock have a son “Tommy” and the mother visits the space station. Taken me a while but here it is. I added the first part too, to remind you of the story. Here’s the thing in full. Enjoy!

Jim sat alone at a two-seater table in the corner of a canteen restaurant on Space Station 12. He had his PADD with him, but at that moment he was people watching.

Half-listening for the beep from his PADD when he received a new message. He was waiting for one from Spock.

They’d been parted now for nearly four months and it was wearing on him.

Jim hadn’t accepted retirement, but he had accepted that he wouldn’t be captain of a starship anymore. Instead he was acting as the military head of this very space station.

And Spock had taken on the ambassadorial duties of his father when Sarek had been too unwell to complete them. Spock was spending his time between Earth, New Vulcan, and Space Station 12. And it seemed to Jim that his location got the least amount of attention from Spock.

Jim got it. He did. And it wouldn’t be forever.

The blood he’d received from Khan all those years prior had insured he would live a life far more matched to Spock’s and for that he was grateful. But he would very much like to spend that life with Spock more often.

Last time Spock was here, he’d been there only a month before leaving for New Vulcan. Jim had traveled four months ago for a visit with Spock on Earth, for a mere two weeks, and he’d had to return.

He spotted the Human woman the minute she’d entered the canteen. She was dressed all in shiny silver, a mini skirt with a halter top. Her white hair was pulled back in a pony-tail reminiscent of the way Uhura had once worn hers. Dangling from her ears were large silver hoop earrings. Even her makeup was silver, glittery. And she looked his way.

When she reached him, she sat down without invitation.

“Admiral Kirk.”

“Jody. I wasn’t aware you were on the Station.” Which annoyed him. He should be alerted to all who arrived. Some security.

She smirked. “Sorry, sir. I should have let you know I was coming. You’re alone?”

He shrugged. ”Unless you’re sitting on someone very tiny.”

Jody laughed. “You haven’t changed.”

“Did you expect I would?”

“No.” She sighed. “Where is he?”

“In class. He doesn’t get out for another two hours.” Jim sighed and picked up his coffee cup, taking a sip, then grimacing when it was cold. “He’ll be glad to see you.”

“What about you, Jim? Are you glad?”

“That ship sailed, as you know.”

“True. I’m just passing through. I’ll be on my way tomorrow, so you needn’t worry I’ll overstay my welcome.”

“Where are you off to?”

“I’ve taken a job on Caltos 6. Six-months. I wanted to see my son before I went.”

He nodded. “As I said, he’ll be glad to see you.”

“Where’s your husband?”

“Working.”

“You two, always busy.”

Jody, of course, had been Jim’s mistake before he and Spock ever got together. Back on a place just like this. Yorktown. They’d spent a few weeks together pretending to have a romance, Jim supposed. It was only ever sex for him as he loved Spock even back then, but he had liked her.

But then after she left, after it was over, she informed Jim she’d gotten pregnant. Their son, Thomas, stayed with Jim fulltime. Jody didn’t want to be tied down to a child, she’d been clear about that, but she did visit Thomas when she could, and they did have a loving if somewhat distant relationship.

“I’m waiting to hear from him now.”

“He’s coming to the canteen?”

“No. He’s on New Vulcan.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “I’ve got some things to take care of. Can I meet you at Thomas’ school in a couple of hours? Maybe we can have take-out together at your apartment.”

“Sure. Okay.”

She smiled, stood, and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “See you in a bit, Admiral.”

Jody turned around and walked right into a tall, thin Vulcan.

Jim stood up immediately, aware he was grinning like a fool. “Spock!”

Spock arched a brow at Jody and stepped around her to accept Jim’s embrace.

“I was waiting for your message.”

“I decided to surprise you,” Spock said. He looked at Jody. “Clearly this is your day to be surprised.”

“Nice to see you again, Spock,” Jody said. “Don’t worry I am leaving again tomorrow.”

“I was not, in fact, worried.”

“She’s going to eat with the family tonight. She wanted to see Tommy before she’s off on a six-month assignment,” Jim explained.

“She will be welcome.”

Jody laughed. “Doubtful, but I appreciate the sentiment. I will see you soon.”

Jim watched her walk away. He put his hands on Spock’s arms. ”Sorry about that. She did surprise me.”

“It is not your fault. And I am actually glad I will be here for her visit.”

“I don’t think I need protecting from Jody.”

Spock gave him a reproachful look. “I do not think she will attack you, but I wish to be there with my family.”

Jim linked his arm with Spock’s. “And we want you there, too. How long are you here this time?”

“For the foreseeable future, Ashaya.”

And now with Spock beside him, Jim knew he was ready to face anything. Even his son’s mother.

****

Despite Jim’s statement that he didn’t need protecting from Jody, Spock knew his husband well. He didn’t miss the tightening in Jim’s shoulders or the pinched look near his eyes. These were definite signs of Jim’s stress as he was well familiar.

Later when they were alone and could put Thomas’ mother’s visit behind him, Spock would make it his priority to care for Jim.

Spock could not help but appreciate that when they arrived at their son’s school, Thomas ran straight to him. He readily accepted the child’s enthusiastic embrace.

“Father! I didn’t know you were home.” Thomas shot a brief accusatory glance at his dad.

“Only just home a short time ago,” Spock assured him. “I managed to surprise even your dad.”

As Thomas released Spock and turned to speak to his dad his gaze rested on the approach of Jody, his mother. The boy’s eyes widened slightly and he put a hand on Jim’s arm.

“It’s okay, buddy. She wanted to surprise you,” Jim told his son. He smiled. “It’s okay,” he repeated.

Thomas nodded and then turned to greet his mother. “Hi Mom.”

He hugged her with much less enthusiasm but he did smile and Spock wasn’t even sure she would notice the difference.

“Hi baby. I wanted to surprise you.”

“I am surprised.”

She laughed and ruffled his hair. “I’m leaving tomorrow for a new planet but I couldn’t go by here without stopping to see you. Your dad and Spock generously said I could have dinner with you guys tonight.”

“Great,” Thomas said.

“I brought gifts too,” she told her son, putting her arm around him. She glanced at Spock and Jim. “Ready?”

“Sure thing,” Jim agreed.

They lived in a two-story villa on the Space Station that overlooked the main city area. The living room and their bedroom had a spectacular view of the city lights and the man-made water feature. Yorktown had nothing on Space Station 12. Jim had his pick of which one he’d be in charge of and he had chosen 12. Spock had approved.

“I’ll order something to be delivered,” Jim said when they arrived. “Tommy, why don’t you show your mom your room?”

“Okay.”

And off they went.

Jim shook his head, went to the whiskey decanter, opened it, and poured himself a drink.

“Are you worried?” Spock asked.

“Worried? About what?”

“Her arrival.”

“No. I believe her when she says she’s leaving again tomorrow.” Jim took his drink to the floor to ceiling picture window. Spock followed him there. “I used to be concerned.”

“About wanting to take her son?”

“Our son. He’s ours, Spock. Yours and mine. She shows up a few times in his life with a smile and gifts like it makes up for her wanting nothing to do with him.” Jim sighed.

“Like your mother did with you,” Spock surmised.

“I love my mom. She did the best she could,” Jim said softly.

“And you have a good relationship with her now. But when you were a child…”

Jim shook his head. “I know. But I don’t really think the situation with Jody is the same. And the truth is, I used to worry she’d come back to take Tommy but I don’t worry about that anymore. She doesn’t want him. She wants to live whatever life she has with no responsibilities to the boy she gave birth to. Tommy is ours and he wants to be with us. If I ever had to fight with her over it, you and I both know I’d win. But she won’t. It’s not what she wants.”

“I am sorry you sometimes have to manage all this without me here.”

Jim smiled, put his drink down, and walked into Spock’s embrace. Spock wrapped his arms around his husband.

“We knew what we were getting into when you took on the ambassadorship. And me this station. We always work it out because we want to. We love each other and there’s no one else for either of us. I don’t blame you when you aren’t here. But I do miss you.”

“And I miss you. I will be here with you, with our family for some time. What duties I currently have can be managed from here.”

“Fantastic.” Jim gave him a squeeze and then stepped out of his arms. “Guess I better order that food.”

“I will do it. You finish your drink.”

Jim blew out a breath. “Thanks. I love you, Spock.”

“And I always you. Eternally.”