Five Times Spock told Jim he loved him and the one time Jim told Spock.

Spock woke to the sound of rain against a window.

No, that wasn’t right.

He woke to lying in a biobed in the medbay. And it wasn’t rain, but Jim’s tears.

Jim, sitting in a chair beside Spock’s bed, had his face hidden against his forearm, which he leaned against  the bed.

“Jim,” Spock rasped.

Jim’s gaze rose instantly, tears still spraying his lashes, as he jumped up from the chair.

“Spock!” Jim leaned over him and kissed him on the lips, the wetness of his tears falling on Spock as he did so. “Don’t ever do that again!”

Though he felt incredibly weak, Spock lifted his arms to wrap around Jim to hold him close against him.

“It is all right.”

Jim pulled away and wiped his eyes. “No it isn’t! You almost died.”

“I am…somewhat relieved to find that I did not.”

“Somewhat relieved?” Jim repeated, sounding scandalized. He closed his eyes. Shook his head. Opened them again. They were pooling with renewed tears which alarmed Spock.

“Jim, I—”

“I fucking love you so much,” Jim managed to get out in a choked voice. “And this isn’t funny.”

“T’hy’la, I assure you I did not mean to imply that it is.” Spock swallowed hard. His heat beat fast. “You have never said that before.”

Jim stared at him. “What?”

“That you love me.”

Jim laughed and shook his head again. “You have to be daft not to know I am crazy in love with you.”

“I am not daft. I always believed that you did, but it is very nice to hear it for certain.” Spock paused. “Even under these circumstances.”

Jim grabbed his hand. “I will say it every day, every hour if it will keep you from pulling such a dumbass move again.”

“I will always offer my life as an alternative to yours, T’hy’la.”

“What is that word anyway? You’ve said it a few times.”

“It is a Vulcan word. It is hard to explain entirely but most easily explained to you by using the term…soulmate.”

Jim smiled. “Soulmate? I like the sound of that. I gotta tell Bones you’re awake or he’ll kill me.”

“Wait.” Spock held onto Jim’s hand. “Bond with me.”

“Now?” Jim’s brows rose.

“Not this very minute but in the foreseeable future.”

“A proposal, Mister Spock?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s what I say too.” Jim pulled Spock’s hand to his and kissed the fingers. “Yes.”