Jim didn’t even see her until she launched herself into his arms at high speed. For a moment she knocked him off his balance but fortunately a hand shot out behind him to rest on his back and steady him.

“Jimmy! I can’t believe it!” She shrieked in his ear. Then she put her hands on his face and kissed him hard on and long on the mouth.

He grabbed her wrists, moved her hands from his face and stepped back, breaking the kiss.

He did so with a gentle laugh as he recognized her.

“Kimberly, wow. It’s been years.”

Her long golden hair was a cascade of ringlets trailing down her back. She was beautiful. Probably more than he’d seen her last.

“First year of Academy,” she told him breezily. “I knew you’d get far.”

Jim smiled. “A little far.”

Kimberly laughed. “You’re a legend. I can’t believe I ran into you. We just have to get together for dinner.” She glanced briefly at the Vulcan by his side. “Oh. Who do we have here?”

Jim opened his mouth.

“Don’t tell me. You have to be his—”

“Husband,” Spock supplied with a raised eyebrow.

Her excited face fell. She stepped back and blinked. “His…what?”

Jim said gently, “Yes. This is Spock, my husband. And my first officer.”

“Well.” She cleared her throat. “Things have changed quite a bit, haven’t they?”

“It has been a long time. About that dinner…”

Kimberly held up her hands. “You know I’d love to, but I forgot all about…my appointment. You know how it is.”

“I certainly do.”

“Some other time. It was very nice to meet you, Spack.”

“Spock,” he corrected her, needlessly. Jim knew she couldn’t have cared less.

She took Jim’s hands in hers and squeezed. “You look great, and it was fantastic to see you. Your first officer is a very lucky man.”

“His husband,” Spock corrected her again, but she was already hurrying away. Spock stared after her, bemused.

“We, uh, dated a bit my first year at the Academy.”

Spock looked at him. “Yes.”

“She dropped out. Decided Starfleet wasn’t for her. Have no idea what she did after that.”

“And apparently you never will know as she could not get away from me fast enough,” Spock commented.

Jim chuckled. “It’s those ‘mine’ vibes you’re putting out, babe.”

“I am putting out no vibes,” Spock insisted. “As least not deliberately.”

“Mm.”

Jim began to walk toward HQ once more with Spock accompanying him.

“She clearly expected to copulate with you.”

Jim choked.

“Do you deny it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Jim.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But she figured out that wasn’t going to happen.”

“Because I was with you.”

Jim shook his head. “Because I wouldn’t have been interested. You’ve spoiled me for anybody else and you know it.”

Spock seemed satisfied with that, so with a smile, Jim entered the doors of HQ with Spock by his side.