I’m not necessarily moving away from posting the continuing story here but today’s flash fic is unrelated and a stand-alone

There were a few things that needed to be done to the Enterprise that hadn’t been able to be finished on Yorktown so the starship had been moved to HQ in San Francisco to have those finishing touches done before the crew went out again.

There had been no reason to remain on Yorktown under those circumstances, so Bones and Jim had returned to San Francisco. Bones had arranged for his ex-wife to bring his newly turned thirteen-year-old daughter to San Francisco for the time Bones would be there before the Enterprise departed.

Naturally Jim’s bestie was incredibly excited at the opportunity to spend some quality time with his daughter and Jim was happy for him. But he didn’t intend to intrude most of the time they had together. Jim had some things he wanted to do also.

Jim had joined them when Bones had decided to take Jo on a tour around a lot of the city, but when they happened to finish the tour right by HQ Jim told them he was taking his leave.

“I have some meetings scheduled.”

“Meetings?” Bones frowned. “I thought maybe you could join us for an early dinner.”

Jim smiled. “I’d love to, Bones. Really. But I don’t think I’ll be free to make it tonight. Why don’t we plan something later in the week?”

“Later in the week?” Bones asked, doubtfully. “You’ll be that busy?”

“Well…”

Jo laughed. “Daddy, stop pestering Uncle Jim. I’m sure he has stuff he wants to do while he’s here. You can message him later and set something up.”

Jim shot her a grateful look. “She’s right. Go and go eat. Jo’s been talking about starving for the last twenty minutes.”

“Okay, okay. If you’re sure.”

Jim playfully shoved him. “Go on. I’m going inside.” He said gesturing to the HQ building. And he did just that.

Ten minutes later he walked back out again, looking down the street to make sure Bones and his daughter were out of sight.

With a satisfied nod, Jim shook his head and headed in the opposite direction from where his friend had been headed toward the sea.

When he reached an area with a railing, he paused and sent a message.

Here.

And then he waited, anticipation making his stomach flutter though he was a full-grown man of many years of experience. But something about this secret, clandestine meeting had him absurdly excited.

It had been years since this kind of thing.

Jim pulled the collar of his coat a little tighter around his throat as the ocean breeze picked up and the temperature dropped a little.

“Have you been waiting long?”

He didn’t turn around, but he smiled. “Yeah, I think I have.”

A hand on the small of his back forced a shiver down his spine.

“You are cold?”

He did turn a little when strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him close.

“Just a little chilly. I missed you.”

“You saw me when we parted this morning when you went on your tour with the doctor.”

Jim laughed. “I know. It’s just…”

“This is still new,” Spock spoke quietly.

“Yeah.”

“You could have informed the doctor about us.”

“I know.” Jim sighed and pulled away, conscious of making Spock too uncomfortable with such PDA. “I just sort of want to keep this between us for now.”

“You have doubts?”

“No,” Jim denied. “Just…it’s nice only the two of us. No one knowing or commenting or judging.”

“Eventually they will all know. We will have to report it.”

“I know that too. But we won’t have…this stage in our relationship won’t ever come again, you know, and I want to enjoy it.”

“Jim,” Spock said softly.

“Yeah?”

“I will not change my mind, T’hy’la.”

Jim looked away, felt the sting of tears he couldn’t keep from forming. “Yeah?’ He swallowed the heavy lump. “Okay.”

“I suggest we pick something up to eat, whatever you wish, as I am not particularly picky, and take it back to our hotel room, spend the rest of the day there exploring all there is to explore between us.”

Jim smiled. “That does sound good. And super hot too.”

Spock smiled a little. “And we will enjoy the experience so much we may as well do it tomorrow as well.”

“Now that sounds like an excellent plan, Spock.”

“I thought you would approve. Come Captain. I will warm you.”

Jim snuggled into Spock’s arms. “You do, Spock. You do.”