For Fun

Flash Fic, February 07,2024

A bit of a sequel to Monday’s flash

“How was shopping?

Spock accepted Jim’s welcoming kiss somewhat greedily. He would never tire of Jim’s kisses and he acknowledged that made him a sap.

“It was quite challenging until I thought, what would Jim do?’

Jim laughed. They were in the kitchen where Jim was preparing dinner. He handed a cup of steaming hot tea to Spock.

“A logical thought.”

Spock arched a brow. “Hardly. But as it happens I know you well enough to tell Amanda that we would just buy both of her purchases.”

“Bet that made her happy.”

“Indeed. For five minutes anyway.”

“Dad, Mandy’s cheating!”

“I am not. I just play better.”

“Dad!”

Jim sighed and laughed. “Seran, just…deal.”

There was a long-suffering sigh but the children quieted down.

“Did you acquire a Valentine’s Day gift for me?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Amanda told me you had and asked what I was getting you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know gift giving isn’t your thing.”

“That is hardly the point,” Spock replied. “I am terrible at choosing presents, as you have repeatedly told me, but the effort must be made if you indulged me.”

Jim kissed him. “Just give me a rose. Or candy. Or something easy.”

“What did you get me?”

“Nothing extravagant. A special tea.”

Spock nodded. That wasn’t so bad.

“A teapot to go along with it.”

“Jim.”

“Maybe some matching cups. No big deal.” Jim smiled.

“I will never be able to compete with you, will I?” Spock asked dryly.

“Nope. So don’t even try. A small box of chocolate almonds will do the trick and make me your slave for life.”

Spock arched a brow. “For only a small box?”

“Mm. For a few hours then.”

“Father!”

“Oh dear.” Jim chuckled. “Now he’s going for the big guns.”

“I had better break up the melee.”

Jim gave him a lingering kiss. “Dinner in fifteen minutes.”

And so Spock went to deal with the children.

Life was amazing.

February 7, 2024

In Case You Were interested

Thought you might enjoy seeing a few pics from the cruise

The cruise was a success and we had a great time. The one small bummer (that and the choppy seas due to the weather system hitting California) was that we received little half bottles of wine as part of our excursion in Mexico and as we were returning to the ship fellow passengers absconded with our wine. Yep. It sucked. I complained to Carnival but there wasn’t much they could or would do. They were little $5 bottles of wine they weren’t going to view CCTV footage or anything. Sigh. Oh well it was a small unpleasantness in the scheme of things.

We both earned free cruises during the cruise so you can bet we will be going again in the future.

Tomorrow they are going to start the drywall for our kitchen. It’s the 4th Month Anniversary from our leak being discovered. So up, you know, something is happening.

I’m still on cruise time/dreaming so haven’t gotten anything written yet but there’s tomorrow’s flash

And yes, where I live we are getting a LOT of rain right now. So far my city hasn’t been hit with too much disaster though one of our little mountains called Rocky Peak did have a mudslide. No cars or homes were damaged.

February 6, 2024

Flash Fic, February 02, 2024

It’s love month. And I’m on a cruise, but here’s a little flash for you

“Jim?”

He smiled faintly at his husband’s voice, already aware through the bond they shared that Spock was on his way to find him.

“Doctor McCoy said you left the celebration.”

Jim nodded even as Spock came up behind him and pulled him into his arms, wrapping his strong arms around Jim’s middle.

“Not really in the mood for all that.”

“You are sad.”

It sounded faintly accusatory and Jim supposed from Spock it kinda was. But he knew Spock meant well.

“Just a bit. Been a trying day.”

“I heard that Ensign Walker didn’t make it.”

Jim nodded. “I knew his mom. You know, back in the academy. She wasn’t his mom then.” He laughed. “God I feel old.”

“You are in the prime of your life,” Spock insisted.

“Mm. Thanks to evil maniacal blood.”

“Blood has no emotions or such characteristics. It is simply blood.”

“Well, in his case not simple.”

“I am grateful for what it has done for you. What else has you sad?

“I don’t know. Just…sometimes it gets to be a lot.” Jim turns and buries his face in Spock’s neck. “But you here with me is the best thing ever. I love you so much.”

“And I love you, my T’hy’la. If you do not wish to return to the party there is a massage waiting for you in our bedroom.”

“Now I really love you.” He kissed Spock. “You really are the best. Ever. Thank you.”

February 2, 2024

Tuesday Update

Unfortunately I am feeling lazy

I have started what I think will be the last chapter of A Heart Needs a Second Chance, (if not the last then at least the second to last) but it’s slow going. I only write a few sentences at a time before giving up for the time. I’ll get it done but let’s be honest. I am going on a weekend cruise in less than 3 days, it won’t be done until I return. At least I can say that I am pretty certain this one will be called done in February.

I did get two short flashes up for February 02 and 05 (I will be on the cruise with no access to internet)

So…anyway, that’s where we stand. Me being lazy until I return.

January 30, 2024

Surprise Flash, January 16, 2024

“Geez, I’ve never been so cold in my life,” Jim complained. He’d been fiddling with the heater controls in the farmhouse for what seemed like hours but was likely no more than twenty minutes. “What kind of moron decides to arrive in the middle of the worst blizzard to hit Riverside in decades.”

“When the plans were made, no blizzard was anticipated,” the robot replied.

Okay, he supposed that was unfair. The robot was Spock and he wasn’t really a robot. Still, Jim was mildly annoyed with him so at present he didn’t give a damn.

He eyed the Vulcan who wore a big woolen sweater as he gazed blankly back at Jim. He had been of no help whatsoever since they arrived. Jim had gotten the fire going in the living room and now he was fiddling with the heater to try to get it to go on.

His family had never switched to a computer-controlled heat apparatus. They’d been convinced an old-fashioned heater was “charming”. Charming his ass.

“If I’m this cold you must be freezing,” Jim said as amiably as he could manage under the circumstances.

“As a Vulcan, I am able to—”

“Blah blah blah.” If Jim didn’t have his hands full of instruments, he’d be sticking his fingers in his ears. Immature? No doubt. “You know you didn’t have to come with me.”

Jim was sorry he’d come with himself. Or you know, whatever. Stupid blizzard.

They’d barely made it there and he wanted to turn right around and leave except the weather got even worse and they’d been stuck.

“You did not want me to?” Spock asked, neutrally.

He had wanted Spock to. They’d just started a…thing…er a whatever. Prior to this shore leave or break, they’d maybe had sex. Okay, not maybe, they had. Even though they hadn’t had the conversation as to what that meant at all. Jim didn’t really want to have that conversation. It made him sick even thinking about that conversation. And as far as he could tell the robot didn’t either.

But instead of answering that loaded question, Jim grimaced. “If I can’t get this heater started we’re going to be in a world of trouble. That fire isn’t going to do it to keep us warm enough.”

“I could look at it,” Spock offered.

And it was on the tip of his tongue to ask what a stupid Vulcan would know about an old-time heater, because he was that irritated with the world, but what the hell. He wasn’t having any luck.

He stepped aside and thrust the tools into Spock’s hands. “Knock yourself out. Well, actually, don’t. I don’t think I have any medical equipment for that.”

Spock didn’t bother to comment on that and Jim didn’t blame him.

With a sigh, he rubbed his neck and said, “I’ll be right back. I gotta pee.”

So he trudged up the basement stairs, shivering madly as he made his way up to the bathroom. He was really starting to hate this place and he was going to have more than a few words with his mom over it.

In the bathroom, having to lower his pants to pee, he thought his dick was going to break off it was so damn frozen.

He was eying the faucet and wondering how cold the water would be when he washed his hands when he suddenly heard the heater kick on.

A moment later a triumphant Spock came up from the basement, looking altogether pleased with himself.

“How did you—”

“Well, scientifically speaking, I—”

Jim covered Spock’s mouth with his to shut him up.

January 16, 2024

Forced Retirement (2023)

And a sequel to the sequel

Photo by Sebastian Hietsch on Pexels.com

Jim’s at his retirement party.

He doesn’t want to be here. When he was young he liked parties, but he’s not young now. And even though the expert on all things Jim, Bones, has said all his vitals are good and strong due to the super blood running through his veins, he’s at mandatory retirement age for Starfleet.

It sounds just as weird thinking about it as it did out loud when he was told in what could only be described as a gentle nudge.

He remembers Bones talking about it when he hit retirement first. He was being “put out to pasture” in Bones Speak.

Jim’s gaze sweeps the noisy room, seeking out Spock, who dressed in Vulcan robes, speaks with a casually dressed Uhura.

He remember a time when he was jealous of her, even of their very close friendship after their romantic relationship ended. He never viewed his own friendship with Spock as being as close. It bothered him then.

But it doesn’t now. Everything they have has evolved into what they have now. It is beyond friendship and romance. Somehow. And he can’t really explain it but it feels right.

Better than right.

He is happy with life, except for the forced retirement.

Coincidentally, it is New Year’s Eve. Long ago he’d experienced a few painful ones. One in particular when he was still a young admiral.

He remembers the heartache like remembering a toothache when you are a child. It’s distant and no longer relevant, but a memory of one’s passage through life events.

He avoids the captain deliberately making a beeline for him by hurrying to the double doors leading outside. He should feel guilt but somehow he doesn’t.

He makes his way down to the oversized balcony he once stood at all those years ago and stops there. He looks down from there, at the side of the building where he once let go of a picture of himself and Spock.

A lot has changed since then.

Some has not.

He still never found out what happened to Sam. And that still breaks his heart when he thinks about it too much. He wishes he could have saved his brother. His mom wished that too when she was alive. But they both were unable.

“Admiral?”

A smile touches his lips as he turns to greet his husband.

“Not anymore, my love. Retirement, remember?”

“Indeed.” Spock pulls him into his arms and draws him close, holding him into the warmth of his embrace.

“It’s not cold tonight. You know, like it was then.”

“Mm. It has been a warmer year. What have you been thinking?”

“Little things, mostly. Wondering what the hell I’m going to do with retirement.”

“I feel certain I will find a way to occupy your time.”

Jim laughs and it feels good to do so.

Fireworks are suddenly released in the distance and Jim knows it’s time.

“Happy New Year, Spock.”

“Happy New Year, Jim.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

December 31, 2023

Flash Fic, December 26, 2023

“Another Christmas over,” Jim said, forlornly, as he sat on a stump in their yard next to his older brother.

It was after midnight, and they really should be in the house and in bed but they had no school so Mom had given them permission to stay up a bit late.

Jim was six and Sam nine.

“I’m glad.”

“Don’t say that Sammy.”

Sam snorted. “Now the grandparents can go home. And Mom’s new boyfriend too. I hate all those people in my house.”

“I like them,” Jim insisted. “Grandma and Grandpa anyway. I don’t like Mom’s boyfriend. Besides what if Daddy comes back?”

“I’ve already told you Dad’s not ever coming back. He died, stupid.”

“But I wished on a star!”

“Wishes don’t work. And guess what? There’s no such thing as Santa. That was Mom.”

“What? There’s no Santa?” Jim was on the verge of tears.

“The sooner you grow up the better off you’ll be. Dad’s gone. Santa doesn’t exist and Mom’s gonna marry that guy and ruin all our lives. Life isn’t fair, Jimmy. It’s just life. And you live it. And sometimes good things happen, but mostly bad things do. You just gotta accept it.”

“But—”

“And Christmas sucks.” Sammy rose from the stump he’d been on and went slamming back into the house, leaving Jim to sit by himself, now in tears.

He sat there for a while wondering why Sammy hated him. Because he must. Sammy was always mean to him, Jim thought.

He was still there when his grandpa came t sit with him on the stump beside him.

“Getting a little cold out here, isn’t it, champ?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve got some cocoa brewing right now, so when we go in you can have some before bed.”

“Grandpa?”

“Yeah?”

“Daddy really isn’t ever coming back, is he?”

“No, I’m afraid not. Your daddy passed away. But he saved a lot of people and was a hero. We’re very proud of him and you should be, too. And his spirit is always with us. All of us.”

“And Santa?”

“What about him?”

“Sam says there’s no such thing as Santa.”

His grandpa put his hand on Jim’s knee. “Sam doesn’t know everything, Jim. He only thinks he does. You believe me when I tell you Santa is real.”

Jim brightened. “It’s true?”

“You bet it is. Now let’s go in and get that cocoa, all right?”

“Okay.”

They got off their stumps and Jim took his grandpa’s hand as they went back inside the house. He felt much better. And didn’t care what Sammy said. Santa was real!

December 26, 2023