You might be sorry I added this!
“What are you doing out here?”
Jim looked over his shoulder at Bones and smiled. “Out here? This is a space station, can it really be out here?”
“Jim…”
“You’re the one that compared it to a snow globe.”
“You’re deflecting.”
Jim sighed as Bones came up to sit next to him on the bench overlooking the manmade park for Yorktown. It was made to look like Golden Gate Park. Jim thought it failed.
“Are you avoiding someone in particular?”
“Just…no, not really.”
“I’m sorry, Jim. I know you were hoping…”
“No,” he interrupted quickly. “No. I wasn’t hoping that. At all.”
Bones patted his knee. “They’re about to cut some of the pie. You should come back to the dinner. Everyone’s asking after you. Ensign Parks made the sweet potato pie special for you.”
He didn’t have the heart to admit he didn’t care for sweet potato pie. Instead he nodded. “I’ll be right in.”
“Jim…”
“I will. I need to contact my mom.”
Bones sighed. “Okay. Under ten minutes, Jim.”
The first thing his mom said was, “You look wrecked.”
He smiled faintly. “Nah, I’m okay. Just still a little soreness from my injuries. Which had mostly healed. I’m good.”
“And emotionally?”
“Also good. Promise.”
“Wish I was there. Or you were here.”
His smile widened. “Me too. But I couldn’t let today go without contacting you. I guess I’m expected back inside for dessert. Dinner’s over.”
“Was it good?”
“Delicious. They did a great job with the turkey and all the sides.” He paused. “How about you, Mom?”
“Oh, I went to a restaurant. With just me, it’s not worth it to make anything. But it was good.”
He felt sad again, but didn’t think it was a good idea to let her see. She couldn’t change anything anyway. It was what it was.
Kaiidth.
Yeah, he sounded like Spock.
He blew out a breath and forced a smile. “I should go. Happy Thanksgiving, Mom.”
“Okay, Jim. Talk soon. Happy Thanksgiving.”
He closed his communicator and stood, to be faced with Spock.
“Oh. Hi. I was coming back inside.”
“Yes. I was told to check on you.”
Jim smiled. “Everything okay?”
“Affirmative.” Spock hesitated. “Captain, I was wondering if I could speak to you later, after dessert.”
“Sure, Spock. Any time.”
He followed Spock inside and smiled at and thanked Ensign Parks as she excitedly handed Jim a slice of sweet potato pie. “This looks delicious, Ensign, thank you.”
His smile slipped only a little when Spock returned to Uhura’s side. Uhura stood talking to Sulu and his husband and daughter. She put her hand on Spock’s back as he rejoined them. Jim shook his head and turned away to seek out Bones. He could use a drink.
I literally only have Christmas Day to write for the 25 Days of Christmas. Which I will be working on the minute I post this. The list of what you can expect has been updated too.
Unfortunately I still have my Jim/Prime Holiday story to finish, but I am super super proud of being very nearly finished with my December flashes. I will have earned January off for flashes!
Happy Thanksgiving Week everyone. I am off this week but still busy busy! Ha
I will try and get a Walk With Me for November done in the next day or so. I have been doing a lot of walking at work so I figure you don’t really want a bunch of buildings and cars, but I’ll take a walk in my neighborhood this week while I am off.
The other day we got rain and so I took this picture.
Speaking of my favorite guard at the office got fired Friday afternoon and we were all very very sad. Young kid too. He made a mistake, no doubt about it, but we all thought he should have been retrained and given another chance. But that didn’t happen and it sucks bad.
I feel kind of bad that I spoiled Wednesday’s Flash Fic for this week by posting it early so I am going to try super hard to get something going for this Wednesday. Cross your fingers.
I think I only have December 19, 23, 24 and 25 left to write for December. I am hoping to get those all done and scheduled this week so if I am not around a lot or very responsive you will know why.
Lest you think I am only a boozer, I decided to do the 12 Days of Teas too. Here is a picture of them. Very nice indeed!
I don’t know if anyone else does this, but I name my frozen turkey. Someone out there probably thinks that’s cruel or insane or whatever but here is Larry (yes Larry)
The best news is not getting up at 5 AM this week. Yay.
We are predicted to be cold and rainy on Thanksgiving if you can believe that. Two years ago, in 2017, when we went out to Ruth’s Chris is was 95! This year it’s supposed to rain and be 51! What a huge difference.
Have a great week everyone and I will be back to talk to you soon.
And so we come to the end of Spirk TOS OMS for November. I decided to post it a little earlier than originally planned so I can get it all up for the OMS Challenge in AO3. I think I wasn’t supposed to post the whole thing elsewhere but you know, only a few of you read me here anyway. And I hope you will enjoy reading it all at once on AO3 when it appears.
Look for TOS Spirk to make appearances in the 25 Days of Christmas
Spock liked to indulge Jim whenever he could and so, when Jim had mentioned to him that he wanted to have a small gathering of friends the last Thursday of November, in San Francisco, before they were to depart later that weekend for a few weeks in Aspen, Colorado, Spock had agreed.
Many hundreds of years ago it had been a tradition in what was part of the United States to have a huge meal to be thankful of all that one had in one’s life. Spock had read about it, prior, of course, and had been informed again about it by Jim.
He had invited all of their former crew members, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scott. Their family really. Uhura and Scott would be attending together, of course, for Mr. Scott had made it clear he was sweet on her, and Spock guessed, she him.
Jim greeted them all warmly, pouring wine freely, and generally being an affable host to all. He had made a turkey, stuffed with bread, for those that ate meat, and many vegetarian offerings for those that did not.
Which included Spock and his father, who was coming, because he was there, on Earth, and alone now. Jim hadn’t wanted to exclude anyone even though Spock had assured Jim his father would not feel that way.
The truth was, Spock was not certain.
Not because of the memory lapses, but because there was still so much Spock did not understand about Sarek and that Sarek did not understand about him.
It was the way of things.
“Spock?”
He turned toward Jim. “Yes, T’hy’la?”
Jim smiled then. His eyes lighting up with warmth and affection. “You’ve been in the kitchen a while. Are you hiding from our guests, sweetheart?”
“No. Though I admit socializing is not my…preference.”
“I know. And you’re wonderful to allow this.”
“I would hardly deny you or them. And I understand the sentiment. I am grateful for them, for my father, and especially, for you.”
That smile widened until it nearly split Jim’s face. “I’m grateful for all that too. And you. You have no idea. This is probably our fourth or fifth chance. Whatever. But damn, I’m glad. So thankful, Spock.”
He held Spock by the arms and leaned up to kiss his husband. “Now, come. Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving.”
“Indeed.” Spock hesitated. “Jim?”
“Yeah, Spock?”
“I am most thankful to remember you.”
“Me too.” Jim squeezed his hand. “More than you can ever know.”
Spock picked up the cornbread pudding and followed Jim out to the dining room to exclaims of excitement from their guests.
And maybe, later, they could gather for a picture together. So that they would always remember this time, with all of them, together.
Spock knew they would not always be able to do this. Sooner or later the first of them would pass on. But now they had this.
He had Jim.
When I was a younger person, my Dad and I used to watch Guiding Light, a soap opera. I remember the Bauer family on the show always sang this song as Thanksgiving was approaching on the show. I also know that the sister of Anne Brancroft in Home for the Holidays attempts to sing it in that movie (she forgets the lyrics)
We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing
He chastens and hastens His will to make known
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing
Sing praises to His Name, He forgets not His own Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader in battle
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Dear Nyota
Things are going extremely well. The captain and I are becoming increasingly comfortable with each other and quite close.
He shows signs of being weaker than normal, due to his extended recovery time, but we have become completely involved with each other (pause to blush), and I am aware you will know what I mean by this. It is…gratifying.
Recently, Jim announced that we would partake in the tradition of being thankful. In ancient history, Humans in this locale took part in the feast-gathering holiday known as ‘Thanksgiving’. The captain wishes to participate.
Therefore, we went to the grocery store to purchase the necessary provisions.
“That is an eight pound turkey,” Spock said as he watched Jim place the frozen headless bird into their cart.
Jim grinned. “Yep.”
“Since you are the only one consuming the turkey is that not a lot of meat for one individual?”
“This is the smallest I could find. Don’t worry, I like leftovers. Turkey sandwiches, turkey omelet, turkey soup, Turkey Tetrazzini.” Jim patted Spock’s arm. “I got it covered. Now…cranberry sauce.”
“Over there.” Spock pointed to a display of cans.
“No, no. Not those. Yuck. I want actual cranberries. Let’s go to produce.”
Spock followed after Jim as he wheeled their cart to the produce section. Besides the turkey in the cart, Jim had already placed a package of cubed cornbread, and packages of powdered gravy mix Jim planned to doctor with some of the cooked turkey juices.
“Aha!” Jim stopped the cart at a display of numerous bags of fresh cranberries. “Now we’re talking.” He added two bags to their cart.
“Do you know how to make those?” Spock asked with no little skepticism.
“Of course I do. You add sugar and cook them in a pan. Besides, I can follow a recipe, babe.” He moved on to potatoes. “You’ll eat mashed, right? Without the gravy?”
“I will.”
“Great. And we’ll get you some acorn squash and green beans too.”
“That is satisfactory.”
“I’ll make a pumpkin pie too. Completely vegetarian, no worries.”
“I am not,” Spock assured him.
Jim picked up a few other things, checked out, and they made their way back home just as the sky opened up and started to rain.
“Ha!” Jim declared triumphantly. “We made it. Barely, but it counts.”
Spock turned toward the window as it started to downpour. “It does indeed count.”
“Now, let’s get this stuff put away so we can snuggle under the covers upstairs.”
“And perhaps a little more than snuggling.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah, okay. You found me out. Way more than snuggling.
Our time here is peaceful and uneventful for the most part. I believe if we spent more than the allotted time here, Jim would become extremely bored. Even now I see at time that he stares off into nothingness, often with a wistful look on his face.
Having experienced so much uncertainly and danger on missions that have risked all our lives, I find this extended version of shore leave quite appreciated.
My final bit of news is that I have made the discovery that Jim and I share an ancient revered bond. We are Telsu. T’hy’la.
It all makes a lot of what I have experienced and felt make more sense.
It is fitting that this is the time of year to be thankful, because I can only be filled with gratitude for Jim and for your urging of me to advise him how I felt. For that and your endless love, support and kindness, I thank you.
I have informed him I am writing to you, so he sends his best, and advised he looks forward to the reunion of our family on the Enterprise.
I am likewise pleased that your relationship with Mr. Scott is progressing at a satisfactory pace.
I must go now, as he has asked for my assistance with the pumpkin pie.
With great affection,
Spock
So I am contemplating my next song fic. Don’t get too excited as I don’t know when it will be written.
But I am torn between two songs being the next one. Now I’ll probably write both at the end of the day (meaning eventually) so I guess which order doesn’t really matter.
Nothing Compares to U – obviously the most famous version is by Sinead. But the song is originally from Prince. Anyway it would get a Spirkian flavor of course.
Here With Me – by Dido.
This gives you a chance to look up the songs if you don’t know them. I’ll take votes for which one will go next.
Now technically my December flashes are “song” fics since I am using holiday titles for each day.
More OMS
Though there was much Spock did not recall about his previous life still, he was beginning to remember larger pieces, thanks in part to melds with Jim as well as ‘reminder’ stories from Jim and others, including Spock’s parents.
And though Jim seemed more reluctant to travel these days, he still accompanied Spock on a trip back to his home planet of Vulcan.
Spock had relayed that Jim did not have to accompany him if he preferred not to, but Jim had balked at that, getting that look on his face that was a cross between disappointment, resignation, irritation, and indulgence. Spock didn’t know anyone else who wore that expression, but it seemed to be a favorite of Jim’s.
“No,” Jim had said. “I’m coming.”
Spock was glad, though, because he’d had no particular fondness for making the trip by himself. It was reported that his mother was not well and might not live much longer. Having Jim by his side was desirable under those circumstances, but he would rather Jim was comfortable than not, which was why he did say that Jim could avoid it if desired.
Jim was quiet on the shuttle ride there, and though Spock was not entirely certain, given his patchy memory, he suspected that was not usual for him.
“You are pensive,” he finally said.
Jim glanced at him, a small toothless smile appearing. “Am I? I don’t mean to be.”
Spock hesitated. “If your preference was to stay in San Francisco, I would have made no objection.”
Jim shook his head. “Not at all. I’m just…my parents have already passed on, and now, maybe your mother.”
“Yes.”
Jim shrugged. “Makes me think more about…mortality, I suppose.”
“You fear death?”
The smile grew crooked. “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
“Marcus Aurelius.”
“Yes,” Jim said, seeming surprised Spock could remember that.
Spock supposed it was surprising. “I do not think you need to worry about a life not well-lived, Jim.”
“Perhaps not. Anyway, I know that I will die alone.”
“And how do you know this?”
“A feeling.”
Spock wondered where he himself would be that Jim would die alone, but decided not to dwell on this rather morbid declaration at this time. There we other considerations.
“Likewise, I do not think that my mother has any regrets for the life she has led.”
“No,” Jim agreed. “I imagine not. Still, when she does pass, I’m not sure how your dad will handle it.”
“I suppose he will handle it like a Vulcan.”
Jim snorted at that, though Spock did not know why. “How about you, Spock? Will you be all right?”
“One expects one’s parent to die before them.”
Jim sighed. He got that look again. “Yeah I know.”
There was no one else around them on the shuttle and Spock found himself reaching over to take Jim’s hand. Jim glanced at him in surprise, but he willingly took Spock’s hand in his.
“If you are by my side, T’hy’la, I can handle anything.”
Jim swallowed, nodded, and squeezed Spock’s hands. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Thank you, Spock. And I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Not without you.”
“Good. Then we are agreed. And whatever we face on Vulcan, it will be together.”
“Always.”
Jim leaned against him then and fell asleep and though there was much that was still lost to Spock, this-this was not. And he was filled with gratitude.
Because you are my friends as well as readers on here, I thought I’d be very nice to you (after being mean on The Mysterious One) and give you a sneak peek of a holiday flash coming up. What story is this? Well you will have to wait to find out.
PS. Yes I know the shuttles probably don’t work like planes, I’m going with it!
Jim hadn’t wanted to come to Riverside for the winter break. He’d told his mother no. At least a dozen times. But then he had nothing else to do. Nothing. Bones was going home to Georgia for two weeks with his daughter and to see his dad, and though Bones had invited him, Jim felt like he’d be an outsider.
And then Spock, who he’d hoped to maybe spend some time with, to, um, make it clear he liked the Vulcan more than as a buddy, had declared he was going to Vulcan to visit with his parents. There had been no specific invitation there and Jim would have turned it down anyway.
Mom would be returning on the same day to Riverside from having visited with Sam and his family for the last month or so in Toronto.
From San Francisco to Riverside, Spock would be riding the shuttle with him. Spock had a short meeting at the shipyard there and then he would be taking another shuttle direct to Vulcan.
Just before they were due to land, the pilot had advised them that Riverside was experiencing a significant snow storm.
Spock eyed Jim. “I hope that does not mean what I think it means.”
Jim grimaced and took a chance, reaching over to pat his friend’s hand. Yeah Vulcan’s didn’t like touching. Except, well, Spock didn’t seem to mind it too much from him.
“I’m thinking it means what you think. Your shuttle won’t be leaving for Vulcan, Spock. Not today.”
Sure enough, when they landed and departed their shuttle, the boards were filled with cancelations to every single destination.
Jim stood next to Spock as they surveyed the information.
“Sorry, Spock. Looks like you’ll be stuck here. At least overnight.”
“It would seem so. Wasn’t your mother due to return on the shuttle from Toronto?”
Jim followed his gaze to the cancellation board for arrivals. “Uh-oh.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 