Here’s my New Year’s Eve Flash (a few hours early)

“Here you are. I wondered where you’d gotten off to after the ball dropped.”

Jim smiled faintly. Another year past. This one spent temporarily based on Yorktown while the Enterprise was rebuilt after being pretty much destroyed on Altamid.

Delay after delay in the Enterprise being finished had Jim feeling pretty down as the Yorktown grand parties went on all around him. Like Bones said, he had snuck off to get away after the ball drop at midnight. Yorktown time. He didn’t want to think too hard on what time it was in Riverside where his mom had been spending the holiday season with Sam, his wife, and their son.

Jim wanted to be there, but Starfleet said no. And here he was.

He turned to Bones with false cheer. “Just needed to clear my head after all that champagne and celebratory kisses.”

“Mm. Your birthday’s in a few days again.”

“Let’s not go there. Not this year.”

“You sure you don’t want another party?” Bones moved to stand next to him at the railing that overlooked one of Yorktown’s many gardens.

“Positive. Last year we at least could be happy we defeated Krall and saved Yorktown from his nefarious plans. This year? We’re stuck here waiting forever for the Enterprise to be finished.”

“Scotty says he thinks it will be done and ready for the shakedown by the end of January. For real this time.”

Jim nodded. “He told me. And I hope it’s true. I’m sick to death of being here. It’s funny, I was feeling…I don’t know…almost claustrophobic on the Enterprise before all that. Now this place is driving me nuts.”

“And yet you thought you would be happy here.”

He shook his head. “Not happy, exactly. Content? Having something different? I don’t know. But I’m ready to leave.”

“Me too, honestly,” Bones admitted. “I’m sorry Komack said no to your family time.”

“He’s never liked me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but yeah, I was disappointed. I haven’t seen Sam in years. And it would have been nice to…” He shrugged. “Whatever.”

Bones glanced toward the doors leading out to where they stood. “Spock’s coming. I’ll see you inside.”

“Thanks, Bones.”

A moment later, Spock took over the spot beside him that Bones had vacated.

“I didn’t mean for you to leave the party,” Jim said, softly.

“It is no great hardship.”

“I saw you talking with your dad.”

“Yes, but when I left he was talking with several other ambassadors. He did not require my presence.” Spock paused. “But you did.”

“I’m sure Uhura would like to spend some time with you.”

Spock sighed, softly and almost like a slight breeze. “Why do you deny yourself comfort when it is offered?”

“I don’t want to be a burden, Spock.”

“You are not a burden. You are my…boyfriend… to use an Earth term.”

“Not for long.”

Spock frowned. “Are you intending to end our relationship?”

Jim huffed a laugh and turned to him. He pulled him in for a quick but passionate kiss. “That’s not what I meant. I meant we haven’t been boyfriends for long.”

“Ah. The amount of time does not correspond to any lack of depth of feeling nor my desire to assist you out of this funk.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just feeling sorry for myself.”

“You are sad because your holiday leave was denied. I do not think that is unusual or unwarranted.”

“I really wanted us to go to Riverside so I could introduce you to all of them.”

“There will be other opportunities, ashayam.”

“With all of us at once? I hope so, but every year something changes. Mom’s disappointment when I had to tell her was…it was hard.”

“I understand,” Spock said quietly. “Your disappointment was equally distressing for me.”

Jim walked into Spock’s arms, and Spock closed them in a tight embrace.

“I’m sorry. I should be happy to have you here with me. And that your dad is here for you.”

“Ashayam, there is nothing wrong with missing your family and being sad that your plans did not work out. You can also be glad I am with you. And we can find pleasure in spending time with my father.” Spock squeezed him. “And be anxious to resume command of the Enterprise.”

Jim chuckled against him. “I’m definitely tired of Yorktown.” He pulled back slightly to look at Spock. “But it’s here that we became what we are now.”

Spock’s lips curved. “That would have happened elsewhere, too. It was time for us both to stop denying what we felt.”

“Mm. That’s very logical of you, Mister Spock.”

“I tend to be that way.”

Jim laughed, kissed him, and squeezed him tight. “Let’s go back inside and find your dad. Maybe Bones, me, you and your dad can do a resounding version of Auld Lang Syne.”

“Let us hope not.”

Jim grinned. “I love you.”

And after Spock responded in Vulcan, “Taluhk Nash-veh K’dular”, they went inside.