“The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown,” Jim sang enthusiastically as he pinned a branch of ivy with holly berries on his apartment door.
“O, the rising of the sun, and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir, the holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, to be our dear savior.”
The door to the apartment next to his abruptly opened causing Jim to jump. He adjusted the giant Christmas wreath he currently wore around his neck. He’d been about to add it to his door as well.
“Do you know what time it is?” the Vulcan who lived next door to him demanded.
“Uh. No?”
“It is midnight. Five minutes past.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded, giving him a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“I was meditating. That is until you started singing loudly from the hall.”
Jim’s smile broadened. “I’m sorry, I just got carried away. I picked up all this greenery while I was out and didn’t want to wait to put them up.”
“There may be others trying to sleep on this floor of the building,” the Vulcan pointed out.
“Yeah.” Jim licked his lips and turned back to the door to hang the wreath. He removed it from around his neck and fastened it to the tiny nail he’d placed there. He turned back toward the Vulcan, wiped his hands on the front of his jeans and held out his hand. “Jim Kirk.”
For a moment, the Vulcan stared at Jim’s hand, giving him a chance to realize Vulcans probably didn’t shake hands or anything and he started to draw his hand back when the Vulcan took his hand at last.
“Spock.”
“Spock,” Jim said, softly. Spock hadn’t yet released his hand and Jim wasn’t sure how he felt about that. There was something that felt right about their hands clasped like this and Jim couldn’t have said what. “Well, uh, I should probably go inside and stop bothering you.”
Spock said nothing, but he did look down at their still held hands.
Jim took a chance. “Unless you’d like to come in for, uh, some peppermint mochas?”
“Does that include chocolate?”
“Uh, yeah. Is that a problem?”
Spock glanced toward his own apartment door and then back at Jim. “It…does not. Let me just get my sweater and I will be over.”
Jim smiled. “Great. I’ll start the mochas.”
And Spock released Jim’s hand. Jim almost grabbed it back, but managed to control himself. As he went into his apartment he continued humming his Christmas song.
Bones said it with such distaste Jim could only laugh. His tone suggested that anyone who chose snow over the sunny warm weather of the tropics was out of their mind.
And maybe Jim was.
“I really am.” He patted Bones’ arm. “You and Carol are going to have a great time in Fiji.”
“Don’t I know it? You, however…”
It was sorta strange to think of Bones with Carol. After Khan’s murder of her father, Carol spent a brief time on the Enterprise, during which she and Jim had sort of done a bit of flirting. Okay, a lot of flirting. And maybe more.
Then Carol had announced she was leaving and returning to San Francisco to pursue a position at HQ and that was that. At least for Jim and Carol.
But then after the end of their last five-year mission, Bones had met Carol in San Francisco and they’d connected and started up an affair that had, ultimately, turned into a relationship.
Jim remembered when Bones had come to him and asked him how he felt about them being together. Jim had wished them well. He had no left over feelings for Carol. His affections definitely lay elsewhere, no matter how unlikely those affections would ever be returned.
But now, in the middle of the second five-year mission, they had a bit of an extended leave thanks to significant damage the ship had experienced and as luck would have it, the leave was in December. And on Earth.
Jim planned a quiet few weeks at a mountain retreat. It had belonged to Christopher Pike and his wife, Una, at one time, but it was just Una’s now and she had agreed Jim could use it.
He was going to have all the food in the world he wanted, get a small tree and decorate it, and just have a nice safe white Christmas, free of drama and memories of his childhood. He greatly looked forward to it, even if Bones thought he was nuts.
“Bones, it’s going to be fine. I have everything planned. Spock’s going to drop me off on his way to see his Human relatives in Canada, then he’ll pick me up in a few weeks when the ship is finished.”
“I don’t like the idea of you being up there by yourself for weeks. What if something happens?”
Jim frowned. “Like what?”
“You could fall and break your hip.”
“How the hell old do you think I am?”
Bones snorted. “You know what I mean.”
“Actually, no. I’m fine, it’ll be fine. You’ll see me again in no time. Have a great time with Carol. Happy Holidays.”
Bones reluctantly accepted Jim’s goodbye hug and they went their separate ways.
****
The snow was falling rather heavily as Jim opened the door to the cabin that would be his home for the next few weeks. It was freezing cold, and snowflakes clung to his coat and hair. He should have worn a knit hat.
Like Spock.
“You don’t have to carry all those groceries, Spock.”
“You have the pine tree.”
Jim carried the tree further into the cabin as he called for the lights to come on. It was quite a charming little place with a fireplace in the living room, a kitchen and a couple of bedrooms.
Spock headed into the kitchen with Jim’s purchases as Jim set up the tree in the living room next to the couch.
His next task would be to turn on the heat.
Jim stepped into the kitchen where Spock was putting away the purchases.
“I could do that,” he protested. “Wow, it’s really coming down.”
“You did choose this area hoping for such weather.”
“True.” Jim laughed. He leaned against the counter as Spock finished up. “So?”
Spock gave him a look. “Yes, I stuck to the story that I was visiting relatives in Canada. I do not know why.”
“Because I want this whole time to be just about us without nosey questions and innuendos and jokes.”
Spock pulled him close. “I am quite happy to let everyone know that we are together, Jim. It is you who wish to retain secrecy.”
“Mm. Have you told Uhura?”
“Not yet but she will be displeased that I kept the information from her.”
Jim smiled. “We’ll tell them all soon enough. In the meantime, we have this place all to ourselves. I’ve been so looking forward to this.”
Spock kissed him. “I cannot deny that I too anticipated it. And there was some element of excitement in that no one knew we would be spending the time together but us.”
“See?” Jim grinned. “Now, I’m going to get the heat on and take our luggage into the bedroom, and you can make us tea.”
This might be his best holiday season ever, Jim thought. Just the two of them. Snow. Merriment. And Love.
They’d done it again. His crew. Saved the world or as much of the world that belonged to them from another threat of disaster.
This time they’d gone back in time for whales.
Sarek nodded at Spock, raised his hand in the ta’al and then walked away in another direction as Kirk waited for Spock to join him.
“Everything all right?”
“Of course.”
Side by side they walked as they had surely done so many dozens of times.
“What did your father have to say?”
Spock was contemplative for a moment. “Merely that perhaps he had been wrong about his dissatisfaction with my choice to join Starfleet.”
Kirk smiled faintly. “After all this time?”
“Indeed. And he inquired if I had a message for my mother.”
He glanced at Spock. “And did you?”
“I said I felt fine.”
His smile widened. “Good.”
He saw Spock’s gaze sweep over the crowd gathered outside the building they had just vacated. HQ. Still standing, though damaged from the probe. For a brief moment, Spock’s gaze landed and froze on Gillian Taylor as she stood talking to those that would train her on their time and their technology.
“Jealous, Spock?”
It wasn’t something they talked about often. Perhaps they should have. For Kirk there had been others over the years of their friendship, their…relationship. Many others. For Spock, a few as well.
They didn’t really talk about Saavik and what had happened on the Genesis planet. Kirk really didn’t want to either. Spock was alive and anything else didn’t make a difference.
With Gillian Taylor nothing had happened. Nothing would have happened. But there was history there and so Kirk wondered.
“No,” Spock said, softly.
Kirk looked at him bemusedly. “No?”
Spock arched a brow then. “Is there a reason I should be?”
He thought of their brief conversation where he’d joked with Gillian that he didn’t have her number. He shook his head.
“No.”
Spock looked at him then. “I know that no matter who catches your eye, your attention, your interest, in the end, you always come back to me.”
Kirk felt his heart twist. “Yeah, I do. As you do to me. Even without every memory you had before.”
“We are T’hy’la. No one else matters but us at the end of it all.”
Kirk looked away, swallowing hard. Perhaps he really was old now for he felt the prick of tears. He shook his head. “There’s not going to be anymore of those others, Spock. You’re stuck with me.”
“As you are stuck with me.”
Kirk grinned. “There’s an old Earth song that reminds me of us. It goes ‘I’m happy to be stuck with you’.”
He didn’t sing it but it was a near thing. He liked to sing even if he couldn’t really carry a tune. Spock had reminded him of that many times.
Kirk took a deep breath and turned away from the crowd and pointed to a much quieter street to use for their escape.
“Well, Mister Spock? Shall we?”
Once more they walked, side by side, as they had always been, as they were meant to be.
And that is a wrap of November and the “jealousy” theme. I hope you enjoyed my different takes.
As I have indicated, I really wanted to explore all forms of jealousy. Here’s another.
“Jim.”
Jim buried his head under his pillow.
“Jim.”
“I don’t wanna go to work.”
A long pause.
“No doubt, but as you are captain and due on the bridge, I am afraid there isn’t much choice.”
Jim turned on his back, squished the pillow to his face and groaned. “Damn.”
“I have your coffee.”
He lowered the pillow and glared up at Spock.
“Why are you dressed in your meditation robes?” he demanded.
“Yesterday was the ship’s celebration of the thankful festival.”
“Thanksgiving,” Jim muttered.
“I manned the bridge while you indulged in several indulgences.” Spock paused as Jim sat up and handed him his coffee. “I am currently off shift. I intend to meditate, then shower, and break my fast.”
Jim clutched the coffee. “I am so fucking jealous right now you have no idea.”
Spock hesitated. “If you require it, I will take your shift.”
Jim closed his eyes. “No, sweetheart. Of course not. I’m just being a baby.”
“What does being an infant have to do with it?”
“Just my behavior sucks. You were good enough to watch the bridge while I ate too much, made merry too much, and definitely drank too much. My stomach may never recover from all the turkey I ate. Ugh I have the devil of a headache.”
Spock nodded. “I do have Leonard’s hangover remedy to give you for that.”
“Yeah, thanks. In a second. Everything all right with the ship?”
“No issues, Captain.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks, Commander.”
“In all seriousness, Jim, I can take your shift if you are too uncomfortable.”
Jim swung his legs out of bed and stood. “Absolutely not. I’m going. You take your time as you’re entitled too. But I’m still a bit jealous.”
“Given what I heard about the celebration, I imagine there will be others in the same condition as you on the bridge today.”
“Mm.” Jim took the tablets Spock offered him, put them in his mouth and swallowed. “There may have been some drunken Christmas Carols.” He rubbed his neck. “And uh, pictures or videos, maybe, of me and Uhura singing Santa Baby with her on my lap.”
Spock arched a brow. “It’s a little early for Christmas songs, is it not?”
Jim gave him a quick kiss. “That’s why I love you, honey. Your only comment after hearing that was that it’s too early for Christmas songs. And right you are.” He stretched and yawned. “I wonder if there’s any leftover turkey.”
Spock stared at him.
“What?”
“You just said your stomach ached from eating too much turkey.”
“Yeah, so?”
Spock muttered, “Illogical. Enjoy your shift, Jim.”
Jim closed the oven door with satisfaction and then almost wiped his hands on his Kiss the Cook turkey apron. Aborting that action, he went to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. He was aware Bones was leaning a hip against a nearby counter, smirking, as he sipped his black coffee.
“I’m jealous, you know.”
“About time you admitted I have a cuter ass than you,” Jim said. “After all these years.”
“Hardy har har. I concede you probably do, but that’s not what I’m jealous of.”
Jim dried off his hands. “No?”
“Nope. I’m jealous of your mad skills at cooking the Thanksgiving turkey. Don’t know anyone who’s better at it.”
Jim chuckled. “Well, thanks, Bones. That means a lot coming from you.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know, that’s why it means a lot.” He patted his stomach. “I know how to eat. Dinner will still be a few hours, so you can go relax in the living room. Get yourself a drink. There’s wine for sure and probably whiskey.”
“Okay.” Bones smiled faintly. “Jim, about Spock—”
Jim’s smile slipped and he waved his hand. “Forget about that. It’s nothing.”
“You sure?”
“Sure I’m sure. I’ll be in with my own glass of wine in a second.”
Bones left Jim to the kitchen and Jim sighed, glancing out the window. It was then that he saw the flakes of snow coming down. It made him smile and shake his head.
Yeah, he had a lot to be grateful for, and so he was feeling good about the upcoming meal.
“It’s snowing,” he called.
“What?” Bones exclaimed. “Damn.”
He heard Bones go to the front door and open it.
“Hey Jim?”
“Hmm?”
“There’s a frozen Vulcan out here.”
“What?”
Jim hurried from the kitchen and to the front door. Sure enough, Spock stood there, one of his knitted beanie hats on his head. It and the rest of the Vulcan was covered in snow.
Spock opened his mouth to speak but Jim flung himself into the Vulcan’s arms and thoroughly kissed him.
Bones cleared his throat. Jim pulled back and grinned at Spock. “Welcome home.”
“Unfortunately, I have already made prior plans for that period of time,” Spock replied.
His newly established boyfriend, Jim Kirk, had asked Spock if he’d care to come to Riverside, Iowa for the short Thanksgiving break they were receiving from Starfleet Academy. Jim planned to take a shuttle to Riverside Tuesday afternoon and then return Sunday afternoon to San Francisco.
He’d explained to Spock that it would be him, his mother, and Jim’s brother, Sam, and his new wife, Aurelan. His mother had a new man she wanted them all to meet as well.
Jim smiled at Spock’s response. There seemed nothing unusual in that smile.
“Oh, okay. No problem.” He paused. “Should I be jealous?”
Spock stared. “Jealous? Of what, Jim?”
Jim laughed then. “That you have plans with someone else.” He laughed again. “I’m only kidding, Spock.” He patted Spock’s arm just like he often patted McCoy’s arm, who at that moment was watching their interaction with narrowed eyes. “I gotta go. Got a class in three minutes and on the other side of the campus.”
“You will be late,” Spock predicted.
“Guess I’d better run then. Bye.”
And Jim was gone. Spock was left with a now glaring Leonard McCoy.
“Are you out of your Vulcan mind?”
Spock had no idea what had earned him that question and he opened his mouth to reply.
“That was rhetorical,” McCoy snapped. “Just what do you have planned that’s more important than Jim?”
Spock frowned. “The importance of my plans has little to do with Jim. It is a science symposium I planned participation in many months ago that takes place in Colorado.”
“Uh-huh. You don’t get it. Jim invited you to meet his family. That’s hugely significant. He has…issues. Family issues, personal ones. This is the first time his whole family has gotten together in, well, maybe never before this. He wanted you to be there. Everyone’s going to have a significant other there except Jim. Can you imagine how that makes him feel?”
“No,” Spock admitted. “Since my attending a symposium is no reflection on my feelings or lack thereof for Jim. To conflate them is illogical.”
McCoy pinched the bridge of his nose. “All I’m saying here, Spock, is you are on extremely thin ice, and you really ought to rethink your rejection of Jim’s invitation.”
“As it was merely a rejection of his invitation and not of him, I cannot agree that it is a cause for concern. My plans for this coming week have already been set for months and Jim seemed all right with that.”
“Yes, he seemed all right, I’ll agree.”
“Then—”
“Look, you figure it out, Spock. Or don’t. But in the next day or so, Jim is going to distance himself from you and you’re going to wonder why and don’t say I didn’t warn you. And I have to go too. I don’t have a class, but I am meeting someone. If I don’t talk to you again, have a good symposium.”
Spock watched the doctor walk away and with a shake of his head, Spock dismissed his words. He and Jim were fine.
***
Sorry, Spock. I have a bunch of stuff to do and can’t make it tonight.
Spock read the message from Jim in regard to their evening plans. Spock was disappointed as he had been looking forward to spending time with Jim prior to their differing plans over the next few days.
There was, of course, tomorrow night, which would be the night before their Tuesday departure.
Understood. Tomorrow evening then? I will make dinner at my apartment, and we can retire early if that is your desire.
Spock got busy doing other things and didn’t see Jim’s response for a while.
Can’t make it tomorrow either. Really busy. Sorry. See you after the break.
And that set alarm bells off in Spock’s head. Since they’d gotten together, Jim was never too busy for Spock and vice versa. Any moment of spare time they spent together and in fact, Spock was close to asking Jim to share his apartment.
Spock had not spoken in person to Jim since Spock had advised he could not make the trip to Riverside.
Jim is going to distance himself from you and you’re going to wonder why.
Those words played in Spock’s head now. He re-read Jim’s two messages a few times before typing out,
Jim, is something amiss?
No, why?
And Spock, prior to his “warning” from McCoy would have just accepted Jim’s answer on face value. But now Spock conjured up in his memory that smile Jim had given him when he’d said, “Oh, Okay.”
Now that Spock thought about it, his words were much more. “Oh. Okay.” Two separate words. Not “Oh, okay.” Which the more he thought about it, there was a definite difference, subtle though it might be.
Spock brought up the site for the symposium and found his reservation.
***
Spock could see the look of surprise on Jim’s face when Jim arrived at his shuttle gate to find Spock standing there, waiting for him, bag in hand.
“Spock? What are you doing here?”
“I am here to accompany you to have Thanksgiving with your family.”
“But…”
“My plans changed.”
“They did or did you change them?”
“Does it matter?”
Jim shook his head. “Except you didn’t have to do that, Spock. You had something else to do. No big deal.”
Spock exhaled slowly. “I found that I decided it was a…big deal. You are concerned with seeing your family over these next few days, are you not?”
“Well. Yeah. I haven’t seen Sam in…I don’t know how long. Years. I was surprised he was coming. And bringing his wife. And Mom. Anyway, I was okay with you not coming. I can’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to deal with me and my family.”
“Spending time with you is not “dealing” with you, Jim. In fact, perhaps, when we arrive you can announce that you are now living with me.”
Jim laughed. “I am?”
“I want you to.”
Jim smiled and leaned in close to kiss Spock softly, and though Spock did not care for public displays, he found this time, he did not mind.
“You know you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Jim almost jumped when Uhura spoke behind him. He turned to see she was smirking slightly at him. “Huh?”
“Every time that Andorian girl Brooks brought talks to Spock, which is often, you tense up and get an aggravated look on your face.” Uhura shook her head. “He’s not even slightly interested in her.”
“She’s interested in him though.” He decided not to pretend she wasn’t reading him right. He didn’t like that girl practically invading Spock’s personal space. “And didn’t she come with Brooks?”
“He says they’re only friends. To be honest I think maybe she asked to come when she found out Spock would be at the dinner.”
“And that’s not supposed to bother me?”
“Right. Jim, Spock is completely smitten with you. She doesn’t stand a chance. Didn’t you make him vegan pumpkin pie?”
Jim nodded.
Uhura padded his arm. “Not a chance. Now I’ll go and distract her and you snatch him away.”
Jim smiled his thanks and watched as Uhura lured the Andorian away from Jim’s boyfriend, who Jim slid over to.
“Doing okay?”
“I am, yes.” Spock paused. “I am ready to depart whenever you are.”
Jim laughed. “Had enough, have you?”
“Not if you haven’t,” Spock replied diplomatically.
Jim glanced around, saw the Andorian was watching them with narrowed eyes, and leaned into kiss Spock.
“Now I am ready,” he announced with a wink.
Spock shook his head. “Illogical display of your claim.”
“You betcha. Let’s make our goodbyes and go home.”
Jim sighed. “I just don’t get it, Bones. I thought I was more popular than this.”
He’d been sitting at the kissing booth for charity for hours and not one person had come up to kiss him. It was strange.
The Mid-November event was being held for the Starfleet Family Charity. When members of Starfleet died in action, their families were given donations.
“I’ll be right back, Jim.”
Bones walked away and Jim’s mind went to his plans for Friday night. All his friends were getting together for a Pre-Thanksgiving get together. Of course, some of those he knew at the Academy simply didn’t get while they still observed the old American holiday, but Jim did. It was all about gratitude and eating. There was always eating.
A few minutes later, Bones returned, chuckling.
“I know why you have no kissers.”
Jim frowned. “You do? Why?”
“Spock.”
“Spock?” Jim was trying to figure out what his boyfriend had to do with it.
“He’s been paying them off.”
“He’s been…”
Spock appeared then, from another area of the charity even, looking not at all apologetic.
“Spock, have you been paying people not to kiss me?”
“Indeed. Since you belong to me it is inappropriate for others to kiss you.” He paused. “Even for charity. I have been keeping track and will donate what you would have earned. Now, however, the booth is closed, and we can leave.”
“Spock, you devil.” But Jim cracked up. He got up from the stool he’d been perched on and hung the sign that said Kissing Booth Closed. “I thought I’d lost my charms.”
Spock arched a brow. “I would have been fine if you had volunteered for the dunk booth.”
“Oh, great. You’d rather see me dunked into ice cold water than kiss others? Okay, okay. I get it. I probably would be the same way with you.” Jim leaned over and kissed Spock softly. “You’re adorably possessive, you know that?”
Bones shook his head at them. “Some of us have a date, so I’ll see you two turtle doves later.”
Jim didn’t look at Bones as he waved goodbye.
“Gotta stop at the store by the way.”
“For?”
“Stuff to make pumpkin pie. We’re having dinner with everyone Friday and I’ve been assigned pie. I’m making it vegan so you can eat it.”
“That is very considerate.”
“I want you to have things you can eat.” He linked his arm with Spock’s. “Come my jealous Vulcan. I can’t wait to get you home. You can make up for all the kisses I’ve been missing.”
Now that I have finished all the flashes for November I am mad at work on December flashes
Advent Calendars are popular these days (I personally have one for Wine, Shortbread, and Tea this year)
So you can think of this year’s December flashes as my own personal flash fic Advent Calendar. You get to open a new one every day.
That means 24 days of flash fics beginning December 1. And yes that also means I intend to stop with December 24. I will likely take the final week of the year off, but you never know. And of course those 24 flashes are in addition to my AO3 Winter Wonderland (2021) story.
Again this means I simply do not have time for other updates at this point.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 