Jim opened his eyes to see Bones hovering over him with a medical tricorder.
“Hey.”
Bones smiled slightly as he met Jim’s gaze. “Hey yourself. How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good considering. How’s Spock?”
“Unconscious like last time but otherwise fine.”
Jim nodded and licked his lips. “Kinda thirsty.”
“You’re getting fluids currently and I’ll get you some water in a minute. I’ve ordered you some food too which the staff of this here fancy hotel is bringing up any time.” Bones lowered the tricorder. “Your vitals are near normal. But you need food, water, and rest.”
Jim smiled faintly. “Fortunately I’m in a luxury hotel for that. They even have a whirlpool tub.”
Bones nodded. “When you’ve slept some, go ahead and use it. Should help with any sore muscles. I’ve fixed any actual wounds.”
Jim arched a brow. “Were there a lot?”
“Nah, just a few. Nothing too dramatic.”
“How long will Spock be out?”
“I’d say twelve hours or so. I’ve given him fluids too but see that he eats when he wakes, will ya?”
“Of course I will.”
Bones straightened. “There’s the door and your food. I’ll bring it and then, you, after you eat, go to sleep.”
Jim smiled as Bones helped him to sit up in the bed, and got him situated with pillows behind him so he could eat.
Part of him was relieved they’d made it through another Pon Farr. But admittedly, part of him was sorry it was over. He’d heard terrible things about it before their first one. Spock had even been concerned. But it was nothing they couldn’t handle, either of them, and this one had been even easier.
He could see that Spock was in another bed in the hotel room, lying on his stomach, his hair standing on end every which way. But he looked peaceful, the intense desperation having passed.
And as Bones returned with his dinner, Jim felt pretty peaceful too.
The interview question took Jim by surprise and in order to think about it, he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip of the bitter brew and tried not to wince. There’d been a reason the coffee was mostly untouched since he’d ordered it. This place knew nothing about a good cup of coffee.
He set the cup down with a noticeable clink and looked out over the grounds located near the table he shared with the reporter. It had been a mistake to accept the interview request. He didn’t like giving interviews. Didn’t like talking about himself, no matter what others thought.
Directly next to him and the female reporter from Risa was a row of animal shaped hedges and over and beyond them was an Olympic-sized swimming pool loaded with bathing beauties of both genders.
“Captain, shall I repeat the question?”
“No. It’s just I’ve been with my husband for a number of years, Jill. It’s hard to come up with just one memory. If you could be more specific?”
“Rumor has always been that you two met under difficult circumstances. Did you?”
“Sure. He wanted to bring me up on charges of cheating his test and have me expelled from the Academy.”
“So it is true?”
“Yep.”
She typed madly into her PADD. Jim suspected she was going to make Spock out as some villain in her article. He couldn’t quite have that.
“I did.”
“Captain?”
“Cheat. Sort of. I reprogrammed the test. Anyway, that’s all ancient history.” He gave her a winning smile. ”We got over it.”
She gave him an assessing look. “Like you got over being marooned on Delta Vega where you were almost eaten?”
“That’s classified. How’d you know about that?”
Jill shrugged. “People talk. Is this some kind of honeymoon, Captain? Being on Risa and all.”
“We’ve been married fifteen years.”
“A second or third one then?”
It wasn’t anything like that. Jim had no intention of telling her what it was. That Spock’s Pon Farr was imminent and Risa was close to their location when they became aware of it. There was a luxury hotel there that could accommodate both Spock’s and Jim’s needs, and so here they came. The crew got shore leave out of it too.
But tell this busybody reporter that? No.
“Just shore leave for my crew. They’ve earned it.”
“You don’t think they’ll end up being too rowdy?”
Jim laughed. “I don’t think that’s possible here.”
His communicator beeped and he flipped it open. “Kirk here.”
“I think it’s time for you to report for duty,” Bones said, dryly.
His heartrate punched up, his anticipation too. The last one had been…remarkable.
“On my way.” He closed the communicator and made to rise.
“You have to go now? We haven’t finished my interview.”
“You can submit your questions to me electronically.”
“Can’t you spare just a few more minutes?”
“I am afraid not. Have a good stay.”
And ignoring her pout, Jim headed to the Risa Grand Princess for the definite beginning of his shore leave.
Jim found his first officer alone gazing out from a balcony that overlooked one of the parks in Yorktown. It was just outside of a conference room and something about Spock’s body language gave him pause.
“You okay?”
Spock let out a slow, soft breath, then glanced at Jim. “Nyota and I have ended our relationship.” He paused. “For good I believe.”
“Yeah? I mean, you guys seemed like you were getting close again just two days ago.”
“We disagree on the direction our relationship should take,” Spock replied. “It is not altogether unexpected. It has been challenging between us for a while.”
Jim nodded. “Okay. Listen, how come I didn’t know today was your birthday?”
Spock blinked at him. “I do not know. Vulcans are not in the habit of marking their birth as a remembrance, but it is a part of my official record.”
“I think there’s a reprimand there somewhere,” Jim said. He put his hand on Spock’s arm. “Funny our birthdays are so close together. That’s crazy.”
“I see no particular significance in it.”
“Well, I do. I’ve never had a birthday buddy before.”
Spock frowned. “Birthday buddy?”
“You know you really should have been part of the party two days ago. If I had known…you know, Bones has to know, right?”
“I…”
“I’m sure he does. I’ll have to have a word with him.”
“Captain, I do not think that is necessary.”
Jim ignored that to say, “Want to go have a birthday drink with me?”
Spock glanced away, out at the park. “I am not in the mood.”
Jim deflated. “Oh. Okay.”
Spock straightened away from the railing and faced Jim. “But if you are amenable, we could have tea in my temporary quarters.”
Jim’s gaze met Spock’s and the warmth there made him smile. “I’m definitely amenable.”
Spock had long been used to his husband’s flirting.
Even when they hadn’t been together it had been hard to miss. Back so many years ago, walking side by side, and Jim walking backwards almost to give females attention. It was the start of Spock developing a sort of crush on his then captain (briefly demoted shortly after),which he had assumed would fade with time.
After all crushing on someone with questionable morals was not in his best interests.
Then Jim had died saving them all and Spock’s crush became love.
He did nothing about it for a long time. He had still been convinced that Jim’s flirting was likely a good indicator that he would never be a faithful mate. And he could not deny that Nyota had encouraged that way of thinking.
After he had finally ended things with Nyota for good and actually pursued a relationship with Jim, Spock had learned the truth of Jim’s character. He was nothing like what everyone assumed, Spock included, and in fact he was everything Spock had ever wanted in a faithful, loving mate.
Jim still flirted, of course, but Spock knew it was nothing.
“What?” Jim asked as they stepped inside their San Francisco apartment after a lengthy party. “What’s that look for, honey?”
“You were flirting,” Spock said, reproachfully, but without much heat. In their now twenty-five years together neither of them had ever strayed. When you had perfection why would you?
Jim laughed. “Only a little. And just with, uh, what was that, er, hell, I can’t even remember what she, er, was.”
Spock shook his head, bemused. “And Doctor Flanners?”
His husband gave him a quizzical look. “Who?”
“Tall, thin man with a mustache. Graying hair.”
“I was not flirting with that guy.”
“But I—”
Jim stepped forward and kissed Spock. ”Sorry, babe, but he was interested in you not me.”
“Surely not.”
“Surely so.” Jim laughed. “Just admit you’re a hottie and get over it. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
Spock had been meditating when Jim came home so when he had completed his usual afternoon hour of meditation, he sought his husband out.
After checking the house, Spock came to the conclusion that Jim was sitting outside on the small patio. He made Jim coffee and took the mug of the steaming liquid outside.
Sure enough, Jim sat on a lounge chair there looking rather hunched in on himself. Spock approached him and handed him the coffee.
Jim gave Spock a strained smile as Spock placed himself in the lounge chair beside him.
“Is something amiss?”
“No more than usual. I don’t really care for this planet or the assignment.”
They were currently residing on the planet, Armiron. It was not Spock’s favorite place either. It rained nearly every day and in fact that particular day was a rare day when it had not. It was a dreary, depressing place.
Jim had been promoted to a diplomatic admiral position within Starfleet and was being sent to various different planets. This was their third different one within the last few years. They also maintained homes in San Francisco, Riverside, and on Vulcan. They had not been awarded any length of time for any of those lately and it was wearing on both of them.
Spock had taken on the ambassadorship from his ailing father and had, on occasion, also been sent to a different place from Jim. Neither of them cared for this at all.
“It is only for six months,” Spock said, in an attempt to placate him.
“That’s what they said before when they sent me to Lorand and we were there for 18 months.” He sighed, frowned into his coffee, and then took a sip. “Perhaps it’s finally time to retire.”
Spock was understandably skeptical. Jim had talked of retirement before. After he’d been demoted to captain and then, finally, had the ship taken away from him for good. They’d promoted him again, once more to admiral. He was going to retire then, he’d told Spock, and yet, he couldn’t sit still even for a few minutes, and soon he was accepting this position which included so much diplomacy.
“I will support whatever decision you make, Jim.”
Jim sighed again. “I know. I’m tired of talking, Spock. I spend all day talking. Then I leave the conference and walk in the rain every day to come to this rundown place.”
It was hardly rundown. It was old though. One of the oldest homes on Armiron. They’d given him the home as a temporary residence believing it was an honor for them to stay in such an ancient revered home. But there were numerous challenges.
“I’m going to tell them. I’m giving it the six months and then I’m going back to Earth.” Jim drained his coffee. “First to our apartment in San Francisco. We’ll spend a month there. Then we’ll go to Riverside and spend maybe two there. And then to Vulcan to see your dad and a few months there.” Jim smiled then. “Doesn’t that sound good?”
“It does,” Spock agreed.
“Let’s plan on it.”
“Very well. When you are ready, I have soup warming for dinner.”
Jim handed his empty cup to Spock and then struggled to his feet. “I’m ready now. I think I just felt a raindrop. I never hated the rain before.”
Spock nodded and took Jim’s arm as they made their way inside. And even as he closed and locked the door to the patio behind them, the sky opened up and it poured again.
It was nearly midnight and Jim knew he should be sticking around for the virtual ball drop and for everyoe to screamHappy New Year while kissing everyone that they could get their lips on. But he’d finished his champagne, set down his glass, and snuck out a side door.
He’d explain to his date, Olivia, later. When last he’d seen her, she was surrounded by her throng of admirers. If she didn’t talk to him again, he wasn’t really sure that was a bad thing.
It was crisply cold outside and windy. It blew the scarf he’d wrapped around his neck around so violently it was a wonder it didn’t fly off into the air never to be seen again. He quickened his stride, wanting to be anywhere else but the streets of San Francisco as midnight struck.
There was only five minutes to spare when he made it inside the apartment building. He took the stairs two at a time not wanting to chance getting stuck if the lift broke down yet again.
It was a foolish dream. Time wasn’t even the same where Spock was. And yet, he had this burning need to contact his former first officer.
It has been months since their…whatever it was they’d had before their mutual departure.
He opened his apartment door, ordered the lights on, and rushed to his terminal. He immediately pulled up the information for contacting New Vulcan. But as the seconds ticked away and there was no answer, Jim’s heartbeat slowed, and disappointment soured the champagne that sat inside his stomach.
Jim briefly closed his eyes, willing himself not to give into the illogical emotion of regret. He hadn’t seen Spock since February. And yes they’d spent a night of scorching intimacy but parted as mere friends.
Spock had said so and Jim had done his best to convince himselr that was what he wanted too.
A knock on his door had him rising, prepared to face an angry Olivia or even a nosey Bones. He could hear the countdown to midnight outside his apartment even as he opened the door.
“Hello Jim.”
“Spock,” he whispered.
“Happy New Year.”
And the kiss he received at midnight was the best he’d ever had.
“Did you ever think we’d be together like this on Yorktown for the week between Christmas and New Year’s?” Jim asked his mom as they strolled along the street together toward the restaurant where he’d made a reservation for them.
“No way. It’s bene years since we’ve seen each other in person, let alone got to spend any quality time together. It was sheer luck that had me having to come here for my boss while you’re still here stuck waiting for the Enterprise.”
Jim agreed. “Most of my crew’s been temporarily assigned elsewhere. It was just fortuitous they decided to keep me assigned to Yorktown.”
His mom smiled and linked her arm with his. “I can hardly believe it. I’ve been so excited to get here. You didn’t need to arrange a fancy dinner though.”
“There’s not a huge kitchen in my apartment and the replicated food is okay, but I figured one night while you’re here, we can splurge.”
She sighed. “You’re right, of course. And it’s been a long time since I had a real dinner out, let alone with you.”
They arrived at the restaurant and shortly after got seated.
Jim ordered them a bottle of red wine while they settled in.
“When was it, you think?”
“Hmm?”
“Last time we went for a real dinner together.”
“Oh, gosh, Mom. Probably my first year in the Academy.”
“See? Absolutely shameful.”
The waiter returned with the bottle and poured them each a glass. Jim sent the waiter away and told him to come back for their dinner order in about fifteen minutes.
“We live in different worlds, mostly.” Jim leaned back after talking a sip of his wine. “Literally. Things could be a lot worse. At least we’re both still alive, yeah?”
She gave him a gentle smile. “Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine for you. And probably still some of that luck for both of us. How is your first office?”
Of course she’d guesseed his reference to Spock when speaking of lost parents. She’s met Spock once back when she visited Jim in the hospital back when he’d been “revived”. And she knew all about Nero. All too well.
“Good, I think. He was temporarily assigned to a science vessel exploring sector 24. He’s supposed to be back to Yorktown next week.”
“And you miss him, don’t you?”
Jim laughed. “Mom, come on. I mean yeah, I miss him because we’re friends. That’s all. He’s got a girlfriend or a fiancé or whatever.”
“Are they engaged?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. I’d heard they were off and then after my ship was destroyed they were on.”
“Hmm. Are they on assignment together?”
“No separate assignments. He hasn’t mentioned her when we’ve communicated but that’s not unusual.” He waved that away. “Enough about Spock. Let’s order.”
He flagged down the waiter and they both ordered steaks and baked potatoes.
“This realy is an indulgence,” she said. “I can’t remember when I last had steak. Your dad was a vegetarian.”
“I didn’t know that.”
She smiled wistfully. “Oh not always. He tended to change his eating habits at his whim. He’d eat nothing but chicken. Then everything but chicken.” She laughed. “Whatever some fad was he’d read about. At the end though, yes, he was a vegetarian. And after, well, replicated steak isn’t so great. And I wasn’t…” She sighed again and shook her head.
“What?”
“I wasn’t home much after that. But you know that better than anyone, Jim. And here I’m going on about food when you were…:
“Hey.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Tarsus was a long time ago now. And we’re having a nice dinner remember? Just the two of us.”
“Yes, you’re right.” She drank some wine. “I wish it could be three of us.”
“A logical friend of mine tells me not to have regrets,” Jim said gently.
“You’re right again. All right, all right. Tell me about the new Enterprise then.”
He perked up right away and began to tell his mom all about the improvements his new lady would have.
They had a nice dinner and Jim didn’t think about Spock again. Much anyway.
As a child (okay and as an adult) I always remember feeling letdown when Christmas was over. You do so much planning and then blam, it’s over, and another year before the next one. So, there’s a slight element of that here.
Winona founder her son outside fairly early on the day after Christmas. She had been quite happy to have him home for the holiday season. A very rare treat. In fact, since he’d joined Starfleet and came its most famous starship captain, this was the only time it had ever happened.
They’d had a good day on Christmas with food and drink and presents. Lots of reminiscing and hoping for the future, whatever that would be. They’d gone to bed late, so it was why she was surprised to spot him outside from her bedroom window so early.
She pulled on her snow boots and a heavy coat and trudged on out there.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” He asked as she joined him, bringing him a travel mug of steaming hot coffee.
“Not really. I got up to pee and saw you out here. You okay?”
“I don’t sleep late most days,” he admitted. “But I was particularly restless this morning.”
“How come?”
Jim shrugged. “Christmas is over. Not much to look forward to. The day after is always a bit of a letdown.”
“Yeah. But there’s always New Year’s. When do you have to be back in San Francisco?”
“January second. It’ll be here before you know it. I’m grateful we’re getting this time together though.”
“But?”
He smiled. “No but. I do… miss some people though.”
She smirked. “People huh? Not just one Vulcan in particular?”
“I understand he wanted to spend the break seeing his dad on New Vulcan. Just like I wanted to see you.”
“Mm.”
“Plus, before the break, we’d barely gotten started. Only involved officially for three weeks.”
She sipped her own coffee. “Who are you trying to convince? It’s okay to miss someone you love.”
Jim snorted. “Love? Who said anything about that?”
“Well either way you’ll be happy to know I have one more present for you.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s not under the tree though.” Her smile widened as she spotted the hover car down the path to their home, approaching quickly. “In fact, here’s the delivery now.”
“Delivery?” Jim frowned.
“I couldn’t quite get it delivered on Christmas.” She paused. “Him.”
The hover car pulled up right next to where they stood. The door opened and out stepped—
“Spock!”
Winona couldn’t keep the beaming smile off her face as Jim went straight into his first officer’s arms.
It was funny to be stuck on a planet doing diplomatic negotiations on Christmas. Not to mention the three-year anniversary of when he had asked his now husband to marry him during a crew performance of the Twelve Days of Christmas. He smiled faintly remembering Spock dressed as a piper while he presented the Vulcan with a golden ring.
They had bonded and married a month later, but still Jim would rather be spending the holiday with his husband, family, and friends rather than fighting off the advances of a planetary inhabitant who couldn’t or wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Jim had just resigned himself to go back into a conference when a male from the planet approached him.
“Captain Kirk?”
“Yeah?”
“Lieutenant Uhura from your ship has contacted us and advised that you are required to return for an urgent situation.”
Jim nodded, all business, as he retrieved his communicator. “I’ll be in touch. Enterprise, energize.”
He stepped off the transported immediately.
“What’s the emerg—”
Standing there in the transporter room was Spock dressed in his dress uniform, holding a rose. Around his neck was a wreath with a big red bow.
“Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary, Jim.”
Jim laughed. “Well, hell. There’s no emergency?”
“Only for you to spend the evening with me, having dinner, and then later celebrating with our friends.”
Jim rushed at him then, thoroughly kissing him. “Thank you. You always know just what I need.”
“It is the bond,” Spock murmured, kissing Jim back.
“No, it’s just you.” Jim hugged him. “I sure hope you’re my present because I have intentions of unwrapping you.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 