Okay so had a pretty lazy weekend. Didn’t write much, I am sorry to say. You saw what I wrote on The Love of a Lifetime, and other than a single paragraph on Where Do People Like Us Float, that was it man. I opened The Experiment and closed it again.
So, yeah, first up this week will be a chapter of The Experiment, hopefully. I am also going to try to finish Revealing, but if not, you might get another Flash with Surak. Also, up this week is the next chapter of Bitter Frost. When last we left our heroes the Joker had the caped crusaders over a vat of boiling oil. Oh sorry, lapsed into the Batman and Robin 60s television show. Jim had discovered Spock has green blood.
We finally saw the sun again this week though it remains cold for us. Rained some more on Friday though. We’re looking at 50s during the day and 30s at night for the next week or so.
My special dinner turned out great. M has a cold though so no sexy times, damn it.
That’s about it for now. Don’t think there’s anything at the movies we want to see but we have a lot of shows and stuff to catch up on at home, so we shall see!
I have finally started the final chapter of Love of a Lifetime. It’s going to take some time to finish it, but here is the first part.
Spock could not deny
he was anxious about Suvoc speaking with Jim without his presence. He trusted
their son and knew that Suvoc would do nothing to hurt Jim, not intentionally
anyway. But Spock had become more than just Jim’s bondmate and husband, he was
his guardian, and leaving him alone with anyone
went against everything Spock had become.
He hovered anxiously.
Pacing in the apartment when he could no longer stand still.
He could hear Ronan
speaking softly in another room, obviously communicating with someone outside
their circle.
Spock stopped outside
the bedroom he shared with Jim and reached out through their bond to ascertain
Jim’s emotional state. Jim did not seem frightened or upset, but neither was he
getting any positive emotion from his husband. Just neutrality.
He turned and went
into the kitchen to pour himself tea. Spock had time to wonder if perhaps his
need to protect and care for Jim had led to obsession. He did not know. He
could not bear Jim being hurt in anyway. Coming home the night when his meeting
had run late to find Jim in such a state had convinced Spock that he might not
be able to leave Jim alone any longer. And then when Jim had gotten lost after
that, Spock had become even more convinced. Losing Jim was not at all something
Spock was prepared to do. Not at this point. Not ever, actually, but he knew it
was likely he would someday.
There had been a
time Spock had hoped Khan’s blood would keep his T’hy’la alive much longer than
he would normally be expected, but the tests Leonard had done prior to his own
passing had not revealed that to be the case.
The door opened to
the bedroom, and Spock set his cup down, hurrying over to see the result of
Suvoc’s visit with Spock.
The two emerged together.
Suvoc had his arm linked with Jim’s, his expression very soft, gentle and
affectionate. Jim had a slight smile on his face. Spock did not yet give in to
relief.
“Jim?” he ventured.
“We’re going to New
Vulcan, Spock,” Jim announced with a look at Suvoc.
“I have convinced
Father that the healers seek to help him. With your permission, Sa-Mekh, we
will all leave for New Vulcan tomorrow. Ronan and I will make the arrangements.”
Spock went to Jim
then, removing his son from Jim’s side, aware he was doing so, perhaps, possessively.
“You are sure, Adun?”
Jim smiled, his blue
eyes bright and clear, no confusion visible. “I’m sure. Maybe it will actually
help.”
Spock hoped so too,
but he was concerned that both Jim and Suvoc could get their hopes up for
nothing. Suvoc could deal with it, Spock was sure, but Jim…he feared not. And Spock,
himself, he was not sure if he could deal with the disappointment that there
might not be any hope for Jim.
He drew Jim into his arms and held him close. “Let us go then. Tomorrow.”
The little dark haired boy with the not quite bowl
cut and the pointy ears held up his hands for Jim to inspect.
“Hm. Keep them up. Might as well practice. Do the
ta’al so we can surprise your Sa-Mekh with what you learned.”
The boy made a face. He used one tiny hand to move
the fingers apart on the other tiny hand.
Jim tried not to laugh. “Better. You’ll get there.”
He resisted, barely, ruffling the hair of Surak. Spock had taken a bit of flak
for naming his son after the most famous Vulcan, but as was typical Spock, he didn’t
pay them much attention.
“Okay. So. Now, your Sa-Mekh left you in my care
for the night. Did he tell you that you can have pizza?”
“No.”
Jim nodded. “Did he tell you that you can’t have
pizza?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s too bad. How can I be a terrible
influence then? All right, sit at the table.”
Surak, who was all of four years old, dutifully scurried
over to Jim’s dining room table and crawled into a seat. He didn’t need a
booster seat anymore but it was a near thing.
Jim went to the kitchen and opened the box for the
pizza meant for Surak and took out two slices. He took out two slices of his
own pizza too, and went to the table with both.
“Yours has a cauliflower crust and vegan cheese.”
Surak wrinkled his nose. “Yuck.”
Jim laughed. “I’m totally kidding. It’s a regular
crust, tomato sauce and regular cheese. You’re vegetarian not vegan.”
Surak picked up a slice and took a bite, chewing
happily. He eyed Jim’s piece. “That looks good.”
“Oh it is. But it’s got pepperoni on it and your Sa-Mekh
would be very angry with me if I let you have it. He wouldn’t leave you with me
anymore.”
Surak agreed with a nod and continued to eat his pizza.
He also got sauce all over his little face.
“You’re supposed to eat it not wear it,” Jim
admonished, but not too severely. “You want more?”
“No. Maybe for breakfast.”
“Ha, fat chance on that. Your Sa-Mekh wouldn’t let
you eat pizza for breakfast.” Jim got up and went into his kitchen for a wet
wipe and returned, wiping Surak’s face and hands. “PJ’s?”
“Please.”
He was so darn cute saying please. Just like a
little adult. None of this ‘pease’ other little obnoxious children said.
He took Surak’s hand and walked with him into the bedroom
where he’d left the bag that Spock had given him with Surak’s things he was to
use for the night. He unzipped it and dug inside, pulling out feety pajamas.
“These are them?” he asked, surprised. They were kind of golden and brown and had a furry looking collar around the throat. “Is it supposed to be a lion?”
Surak said, “Yes. I like lions. Sa-Mekh said we
can go look at them at the San Francisco zoo on Saturday. Are you coming?”
“Of course I am.” He removed the boy’s shirt and
pants and then helped him into the pajamas, noting the feet were paws. He
couldn’t help but smile at the image of Spock picking these out.
With Surak all situated in his absurdly cute lion
pajamas, Jim took him back out of the living room.
“Okay, you can watch one program and then it’s off to bed. I promised your Sa-Mekh you’d
be put to bed at a reasonable time.”
“Popcorn.”
“What?”
“You said I could have popcorn.”
“I did? Oh. Yeah. I did. All right.”
“Caramel popcorn,” Surak reminded him.
“Your Sa-Mekh will not thank me for getting you jacked up on sugar.”
But he led Surak into the kitchen to pop the popcorn
and melt the caramel. He then mixed the two, threw it in a bowl and went back to
the living room with Surak, both of them curling up on sofa to watch the show
Surak had picked out for them to watch.
It was a couple of hours later when Jim sort of
blinked awake at the sound of someone accessing the apartment door. Surak
stayed completely asleep against him.
Spock walked in, arching that picture perfect brow
at him.
“How was he?”
“Completely perfect and adorable, of course.” Jim
shifted and Surak woke up, rubbing his eyes as he did so.
“Look, kiddo, here is your Sa-Mekh!”
Surak scrambled up from Jim’s lap and ran to
Spock, hugging his legs. “You are earlier than anticipated.”
Spock leaned down and scooped his son up into his
arms. “I am. I finished early and could not wait to return to you.”
“And to Daddy!”
Spock met Jim’s gaze over their son. “And to
Daddy.”
Jim leaned over and kissed Spock’s lips. “Welcome
home.”
If you can stand another post from me, here it is!
Of course today I posted a short story called Always Shall Be on AO3. Most of you have already read it. I was contacted on tumblr last night by a reader who follows me there and discovered my secret identity (kidding). Anyway, she asked if I would write something to go with her Spirk art and I agreed. Fortunately she was okay with just a short piece because I just don’t have time for long requests right now.
I finished the next chapter of All I Ever Wanted and I will post that tomorrow to give anyone who wants to read Always Shall Be a chance to focus on that. I’ll probably add the other Valentine story I did to my one-shot collection either tonight or tomorrow as well. The one with the Vulcan card. I swear I can’t even remember what I called it anymore. Ugh, Anyway, I posted it here last Friday!
Long time followers know that me and M aren’t huge huge on V Day. I got him a small present (candy) and he’s making me dinner. But he’s not making it until Friday because we have our WW meeting tomorrow. I requested chicken and mushroom pie (it’s an English thing made with puff pastry) and mashed potatoes. He is also going to make me Pot Au Creme (some fancy creamy custardy lovebird dessert, ha)
I got my one-shot done for Friday and it’s super dupery cute if I do say so myself. Hope you guys will like it.
I may get some garage cleaning done this weekend. We shall see. It’s supposed to rain through Friday and again possibly Sunday, so it’s a small window of opportunity there. We’ve had a rainy season so far. And COLD for us. We’ve had more fires in our fireplace (M’s mistake on NY’s notwithstanding) this year than we’ve had in the last ten, I swear. Tonight I am off to Target and will likely buy a couple more logs.
And that is definitely it for now (well until Friday obviously)
There are stories I want to write. I also want to write the second part of Hello Darkness. It will be set about 6 years in the future. I am thinking of combining it with a previous idea I had with the song ‘Dancing on My Own’, so that when Jim becomes the captain of the Enterprise after not seeing Spock all these years, he finds Spock is with Uhura. I haven’t fully decided on this yet because at the end of Hello Darkness Spock does call Jim his T’hy’la. Men, as we know, are stupid though, so we will see. I also said I would take up ‘The Thought of You is Consuming Me’ again, which was my Regency/Victorian set Pinto story I deleted. I also want to write the one that began in First Footing that was requested by a reader. And others, too. My head is spinning with ideas.
But I can’t write any of those until I give my readers and myself some relief on current stories. I just hope the ideas and mojo doesn’t leave for those unwritten stories.
My plan is to have The Experiment finished in the not too distant future. Perhaps only a few more chapters more. I’m also thinking of ending My Heart’s a Virgin sooner rather than later. Nine Lives will be done, hopefully, before the summer and, perhaps, Bitter Frost, as well. That’s the potential of 4 stories (If I know how to count, ha)
I also need to finish The Love of a Lifetime.
As for, Didn’t We Have it All. Well. On the one hand the guys are together, finally, but I don’t know if I am at the point where I want to say goodbye to them.
Anyway, so I plan to get some of that stuff done before tackling on another. I also have Revealing to finish here, but I will be honest, it won’t be this week. I am sorry. I’ll have something else up on Friday. I know…I suck.
Work is crazy too right now, so I am busy busy here. Anyway, that’s it for now!
Went for my walk this morning. Here’s a shot of my area as I approach the park. See how it’s partly cloudy? More about that later!
Wash by House
I don’t know if you folks in other areas called it the same thing, but we call these things “washes”. This one is right by the park and with the rain we’ve been having it’s so full of water parts of it have become waterfalls. This is from the bridge you take over it to get through the park and to the houses.
Apartments
Years and years ago M and I lived at these apartments you see over the wall.
Neighborhood
Uh oh the clouds are becoming more threatening! Is it going to rain again?
Yep, it started raining shortly after I took this picture. If you are on my walk with me, I hope you brought your umbrella. I did not! ha
My Favorite House in the Area
Think they’d let me buy it for $10,000. No? Damn, Wait, Where would I get $10,000 from anyway? Bummer.
And now I head home as it begins to rain on my poor little head.
“Huh?” Jim’s steps faltered in the grocery store where
he walked beside Bones.
“You know. For Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh. Um. Sure, I guess. Does she like chocolate?”
Bones smirked. “Doesn’t every kid?” He stopped
before a display of brightly colored heart shaped boxes. He eyed Jim. “What
about you?”
“Me? Since when have we exchanged Valentine’s Day
gifts?”
“Not with me, genius. Aren’t you…well whatever…?”
“Involved in a sexual relationship? Yes.”
“So, there’s like no feelings there or anything.”
Jim eyed the glittery boxes with a baleful stale. “None
worth these monstrosities.”
“A romantic to the end, our Jim.”
“Well. It’s not, um, you know. Not like that.” He
felt himself turning hot and red, probably to match the candy boxes. But
really.
“I see.”
“Well, it’s not like we have, you know,
conversations and stuff. Candlelight dinners.”
“So, it’s just bend over and take it?’ Bones chortled
and Jim turned redder. His friend held up his hands. “Kidding. You know what? I
just don’t care that much about whatever goes on between you guys.” He made a
face. “Maybe chocolate is a bad idea. A toy? Like a doll? Or maybe jewelry.”
“Or maybe a gift card and let her pick out her own
gift.”
“That’s no fun. And not much thought into it.”
Jim shrugged.
“I know, look who I’m talking to.”
“You know my family isn’t much into gift giving
and celebrations.”
“I know. That would mean you’d actually have to
see each other.”
“Exactly. And God knows why we’d want to do that.”
Jim picked up a large pink, sequined box. “How about this one?”
They watched the tall, slender Vulcan enter the
story and briefly pause in the doorway as he surveyed the store.
Jim opened his mouth to call out to him but Bones
elbowed him in the stomach. He gave Bones a look.
“Let’s see what he does,” Bones whispered, drawing
Jim away to the next aisle.
They watched as the Vulcan, Spock, stepped over to
the display of heart shaped chocolate boxes. Jim frowned but Bones grinned.
“Isn’t that too sweet?”
“Shut up,” Jim whispered furiously.
Spock chose a big red heart with a ribbon bow and
then walked up to the front of the store to the register. He quickly paid and
left the store.
“Well?” Bones said.
“Well, er, what?”
“Come on, Jim. You have to get him something now.”
Jim bit his lip. He was so sure Spock wouldn’t be
into Valentine’s Day. It was so unlike him. They’d even talked about it before
and how stupid it was. It made no sense.
“I can’t get him chocolate, Bones.”
“Get him something else then.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, do I?” Bones laughed suddenly. “Sexy
underwear.”
“Sexy…what?”
****
On Valentine’s Day, Jim went to Spock’s apartment.
After a particularly vigorous sex session, Spock said he would get them takeout
for dinner, and that Jim could take his time getting out of bed and getting dressed.
Jim got up, grabbed his clothes and went to go into the bathroom when he saw the big red heart box Spock had got for him. With a smile, he walked over to it. He’d left the wrapped package of the red silk boxers he’d bought for Spock in his book bag when he’d first got there as it had felt a little weird to give it straight away to him.
His smile widened when he spotted the tag Spock
had included. He flipped over the heart
shaped tag.
“To: Nyota, From: Spock.”
Jim dropped the tag and backed away, disappointment
coursing through him.
Of course it hadn’t been for him. What had he been
thinking, anyway?
Nyota was just a friend. That much Jim had known. So he knew there wasn’t any grand romantic
gesture on Spock’s part in giving her the candy. Likely, his mom had told him
to or someone like that.
His disappointment didn’t come from romantic jealousy.
But from his own foolishness at thinking he was getting a present. Gifts were
for suckers. Jim’s family had taught him that. And expectations were for fools.
He went to his book bag, took out the package and
stuffed it into the back of Spock’s sock drawer. Then he texted Spock.
“Oh, hey. Can’t stay for dinner after all. Sorry.
I’ll be in touch.”
Jim hit send before he chickened out.
He was on his way out when he spotted a white
envelop on the coffee table. He stopped. From where he stood he could see his
name in Spock’s ridiculously neat handwriting.
Jim bit his lip, walked over, and picked up the unsealed
envelope. Inside was a card.
It was a rather artistic drawing of a Vulcan with
a pulsing heart at his side, beating, or the drawing was meant to imply a beating
heart anyway. Inside were the words,
I want
you to live long and prosper…with me.
Just then the door to Spock’s apartment opened and
Spock stepped inside holding two bags of takeout. He stared at Jim.
“You are still here. I received your note and—”
Jim rushed over to Spock and threw his arms around
the Vulcan, kissing him hard. Spock
seemed startled a moment, but then returned the kiss with equal fervor.
“Bones is right. I am an idiot.”
“I do not understand.”
“I know. But I swear, from now on, I’m going to be
better.”
“About what?” Spock asked cautiously.
“About everything.”
“Then…are you staying?”
“I’m staying. And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I’ve been practicing this. Um.” He leaned in and
whispered in Spock’s ear.
Spock’s arms tightened around him.
“Did I say it right?”
“What were you trying to say, Jim?”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you, in Vulcan.”
Spock’s lips twitched but his eyes were shining. “I
love you as well, however, you did not say Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Jim frowned. “No? What did I say? I got the words
from your family and they said—”
“You said that you were mine forever, that you
were obedient, that you loved me…”
“Oh.” Jim smiled and nodded. “That’s okay then.”
“And you like to cluck like a chicken.” Spock
paused to let Jim laugh. “Sybok?”
“How did you know?”
Spock shook his head. “An educated guess.”
“We can reheat the food,” Jim said. “I have a present
for you in the room. I’m dying to see you wearing it.”
Spock arched a brow, but he hurried after Jim, leaving
the food containers on the coffee table as he passed by.
To say Jim was startled when he entered to see Spock
already waiting there would be an understatement. It was true that he was a few
minutes later than he’d said he’d be. He could chalk that up to Bones, who took
ten minutes longer than usual to tell some story Jim had already heard before.
It was a funny story though and with Bones latest embellishments, added for purely
showing off purposes, it had amused Jim even more.
But he had told Spock they could play chess at 1900
hours and clearly Spock had taken him quite seriously.
It was unusual for Spock to access Jim’s quarters when
Jim was not there though.
“Oh. Hi, Spock.”
“Hello, baby.”
Jim blinked. He could not have just heard what he
thought he’d heard.
“Uh. Give me a moment, okay? I want to get out of this
uniform.”
Jim pulled off his tunic and walked over to the laundry
chute. He felt Spock’s gaze on him, and wondered at it. He shook his head and
dropped his tunic into the chute. Then reached for the hem of his undershirt.
As he did so, his gaze fell on the open heart-shaped box
of chocolates lying on his desk. At least half of the wrappers were empty.
Jim turned quickly to stare at Spock and almost ran into
him, for he’d moved a lot closer.
“I can assist you with that,” Spock murmured.
“Spock, have you been eating those?”
Spock followed Jim’s gaze. “I received them as a gift.”
Jim frowned. “From whom?”
He was not jealous. At all. Because he completely did not
have a right. Spock could receive gifts from whomever and Jim had nothing to
say about it.
Spock shrugged. “Anonymous.”
“Anonymous,” Jim repeated.
“I suspect that they are from Nyota, however.”
“Wouldn’t she have just put her name on it?”
“There was no name, but they are similar to chocolates
she has presented me with in the past.”
“Oh.” Jim turned away and pulled off his undershirt. “I
wasn’t aware you guys were, um, you know. Still exchanging gifts for you know,
that stupid day.”
“You believe Valentine’s Day is stupid?”
“Pretty much.” Jim dropped his undershirt, so he bent
over and picked it up. Spock’s hand landed on his butt. Jim froze. “Commander.”
“Yes, baby?”
Jim laughed, straightened and turned around. “Have you
really eaten all those chocolates? I guess you have. Why would Uhura give you
those of all people? I mean she has to know.”
Spock nodded. “She does. They are for courage.”
“Courage, huh? Take it from me, Spock, using intoxication
for courage is never a good thing.” Jim stepped over to his wardrobe, took out
his t-shirt, and pulled it on over his head. Then he went back to where Spock
stood. “Baby, huh?”
Spock looked unexpectedly intense and sincere as he stared
into Jim’s eyes. “I will use whatever your preferred endearment is.”
Jim smiled. “You don’t need endearments. You know why I
keep inviting you over for chess?”
“To improve your obvious lack of finesse in playing?”
He laughed. “No. I don’t even really like it much. I
used to play with Sam before he left and before I took up with you, I hadn’t
played in years.”
“Then why—”
“To spend time with you,” Jim said, carefully. “Baby.”
Spock straightened a little, but green had splashed across
his cheeks. “I apologize for my earlier assault of your person.”
“My–”
“My accosting of your…derriere.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “It’s only assault if I object. And I
don’t.”
“That is good to hear.” Spock made an odd sound between
a burp and a choke.
“Uh.” Jim stepped back. “I think you might want to sit
down, Spock, while I get you a trash can.”
“But I wish to—”
“Yeah, me too. It’s
going to have to wait, though, honey.”
Oh.” Spock’s eyes widened. “I like that better.”
Jim laughed again. “Sit down. I’ll get the trash.”
Spock nodded, staggered toward the bed, suddenly covered
his mouth, and with a pained cry, threw up all over the coverlet Jim’s mom had
sent him.
“Damn.” Jim eyed the half eaten box of chocolate. “This
is definitely going in the trash.” He stepped over to it. “After I try one, of
course.” He took a bite and closed his eyes. “Oh, my God. No wonder you ate so
many.”
“Jim,” Spock moaned, sagging to the floor next to the
bed.
“Oh. Um. Yeah. Sorry.” Jim went over to Spock. “Are you
going to barf more?”
Spock shook his head.
“Okay, then, um, let’s get you cleaned up. And the bed
obviously, too.”
“I am sorry.”
“No, no, it’s fine.”
“But my declaration—”
Jim smiled. “Was perfect. I’m not a subtle guy, Spock.
Patting my ass and calling me baby is the kind of blunt declaration I go for.”
He helped Spock to his feet and started toward the
bathroom. “Hang on.” He leaned Spock against the wall and hurried over to the
chocolate, popping it into his mouth. “These things are insanely good.”
“I thought you wished to throw them away.”
“Er, yeah. But um, why waste food?” Jim brushed hair out
of Spock’s eyes. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”
“Even with vomit—”
Jim laughed. “Well, not as beautiful.” He rolled his
eyes. “Come on, Mr. Romance. Let’s clean you up.”
It was 28 degrees at my house this morning. That’s way too cold for me. It’s warmed up to 34 at work. Brrr. No clue who this kid is in this picture, it just seemed cold! ha
At least the rain seems to have stopped for now. It rained so much my wood garage door was finding itself too heavy to operate as it was too bogged down by water.
No idea what I will update next, so we will see. But I have updated When I Loved You and Didn’t We Have it All, which is what I said I would do. Anything else is extra!
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 