I’m so stoked! How cool is this
“What exactly is a…hayride?”
Jim smiled as he pulled on a heavy, quilted plaid shirt. The plaid was a sort of umber color and he wore khaki cargo pants and combat boots with it. Spock was dressed in black jeans and gray sweater that appeared to have metallic silver threads through it. It might have looked a little too dressy on anyone other than Spock, but somehow it suited the Vulcan.
“You never did one as a kid?”
Spock arched a brow. “On Vulcan?”
Jim laughed. “No, I guess not. But I thought, you know, on Earth, when you’d come with your mom or something.”
“Generally, when we visited, it was with Father for his diplomatic visits,” Spock explained as he wrapped a gray scarf around his neck. “Even if we saw Mother’s family, which was rare, they always came to us in the hotels and accommodations provided to us for Father’s diplomacy.”
Jim frowned. “So your mother never really got much time to visit where she was from?”
“She did not.”
“Well…that sucks.”
“She never expressed such a sentiment.”
“Maybe your dad never gave her much of a chance.” Jim shook his head. “I don’t know, Spock. I’m glad you aren’t like him and try to, I don’t know, logic away every ounce of my humanness to conform to expectations.”
Spock stepped close and tugged the collar of Jim’s shirt into place. “I suspect such methods would have little to no success where you are concerned.”
Jim grinned. “You’re right about that.”
“You did not answer my question.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. You get into this wagon full of hay and you’re dragged behind a tractor or a truck while you ride in it.”
“For what purpose?”
“Fun.”
Spock simply stared at him and so Jim’s grin widened.
“Come on, babe. Let’s go.” He went to move forward and swayed as he got lightheaded. Spock was right there grabbing onto him.
“Jim…”
“I’m all right.”
“You are not. You are doing too much. You are supposed to rest and you have done nothing of the sort.”
“Spock, I am fine. I just…as my grandmother used to say…had a spell.”
“You are not your grandmother and you were recently severely injured.”
“Babe, it’s fine, I swear. Okay?” He leaned in and kissed Spock on the corner of the mouth. “Can we go?”
“Very well.”
But Jim noticed that Spock held onto Jim’s arm as they left the farmhouse and made their way, on foot, down the road to where the planned hayride was to be held.
When they arrived there were already several others, including families excitedly waiting for their turn, so they had a while to wait in line for it. Spock still held on to Jim, like he could keep him standing by sheer will. Jim supposed Spock could.
There was a crispness to the air that was normal for November here, and soon enough it would become crisper still. Something Spock was definitely not looking forward to.
Finally they made it to the front of the line.
“Our turn,” Jim said cheerfully to his grumpy Vulcan.
They piled into the wagon full of hay with a family that included four rambunctious children. One of which kicked Jim in the side, accidentally as they scrambled around the wagon.
Spock gave the child’s mother a death glare.
“Uh, sorry. Sorry,” she said hurriedly, pulling her little boy away from Spock. “Anthony, watch your feet. You kicked that man.”
Jim smiled. “It’s all right.”
Spock glanced at him, stonily.
“Behave,” Jim whispered.
Spock pursed his lips, but said nothing as the tractor started up and began to pull along the wagon.
“Sometimes they’d use horses,” Jim told him.
“They would be far less smelly.”
Jim laughed. “I don’t know about that. Horses have a tendency to go when they gotta go.”
They were pulled around the field at a rapid speed that made Spock hold onto the side of the wagon, his face looking even paler than normal. Jim thought it was exhilarating.
When they finally stopped, Spock was the first one out of the wagon, practically hauling Jim right off his feet to take him out of it.
Jim put his hands on Spock’s arms. “Fun, yeah?”
Spock actually rolled his eyes. “I will be picking hay out of parts of me for hours.”
He couldn’t help but laugh again as they headed back down the road toward the farmhouse, their hands locked together.
“Corn chowder for dinner?”
Spock nodded. “Yes.”
Jim knew their domestication wouldn’t last. Eventually they’d be back on the Enterprise, returning to missions and danger and all of that, and truly, he could not wait. But this was nice too.
This series of flashes for Wednesdays in November are my TOS guys from What Now and a TOS Flash. I thought you might be able to figure out which one but I have changed my mind and added the link in case. It was the departure after the mission. Anyway, they are all related to each other. So, thus the November Wednesday Flashes Begin. When the flashes are finished for the month I will be putting them together to be my TOS OMS story posted on AO3. It’s called “Try to Remember” (after the song)
It was hard to believe for Kirk that Spock was back, after all this time. If he was back. Obviously, he’d come to help the Enterprise and spoke of his inability to complete Kolinahr. He’d known, somehow, as he’d always known, seemingly, that Kirk needed him, and he’d come.
But all that didn’t mean he was back for Kirk. For Kirk. There was a difference between being back for and being back because and though the difference might be subtle to some, it was not to Kirk.
And all of that talk about “this simple feeling” didn’t necessarily mean what Kirk desperately wanted it to mean.
They’d both been hurt and by each other.
Kirk had hurt Spock with his…marriage and fathering a child with Miramanee. And even though he’d had memory trouble at the time, even after it, Kirk had felt so much for her, for the loss of her and their child. He’d admitted he didn’t know if what he felt for Spock was enough for him. If he could be…monogamous. It had been a lot for Spock to accept. Too much and it had ended them.
And then there was Reyna, perhaps not Kirk’s finest of moments or decisions, he didn’t know exactly what he’d been thinking, except that she had reminded him in so many ways of Spock, of who he could no longer have, Spock had made that clear, and before Kirk had even known it or could rationalize it, he was falling in love with a…a robot. A machine. And she could not be Spock. Ever.
At the end of the mission, Spock had walked away, predictably. Part of Kirk had told himself even if he hadn’t wrecked everything with Miramanee and that whole aftermath, Spock would have left him. What had he really to offer Spock? He couldn’t even agree to commit fully to Spock when it counted, and it had made him lose Spock.
The night before the mission ended, Kirk had gone to Spock, and had, admittedly, and without shame, seduced the Vulcan. He’d known then Spock would walk away and he’d wanted one last time.
And yet as they said goodbye, it had seemed so final and so…stilted and cold.
Jim nodded. “Okay. So.”
“So,” Spock repeated, tonelessly.
Jim looked behind him at the crowd bustling past them in the shuttle bay. Going about their business without thought to anyone else. Certainly not an idiot Human and an awkward Vulcan.
“Guess.” He cleared his throat. “Guess I should let you be on your way. Don’t want you to miss your shuttle.”
“Yes.” Spock moved to turn around.
“Goodbye, Spock. Good luck with everything.”
Spock looked back at Jim. “And you as well, Captain.”
Jim smiled faintly. “Jim. You’re not even in Starfleet anymore.”
“That is true,” Spock acknowledged. “Jim.”
“Give my best to your parents.”
“And to yours.”
“Will do.”
And that had been the end of them. Of him and Spock. Until V’Ger.
They were headed back to Earth now, and whatever awaited them, as a crew, and them, as a couple. Kirk was…hopeful. Guardedly. But he believed he’d learned a lot in the time they had been separated and he very much hoped Spock would give him a chance.
As it happened, they made it back to Earth, to San Francisco, in record time, and Kirk hadn’t had any alone time with Spock. He refused to believe Spock intentionally avoided him as Bones had implied.
Bones had just left his apartment, after they’d had a quiet dinner, just the two of them, and though Bones had tried to have a real conversation, Kirk found himself far too distracted by thoughts of Spock.
His doorbell rang just after Bones had departed, so soon after, he’d gone to the door with a ready smile and a, “What you forget, Bones?”
It was not Bones.
“Spock.”
Kirk was aware of a million different emotions in that one name that filled him and made him feel unsteady on his feet. But gripping the door, he stood back to let Spock inside.
The Vulcan was dressed in simple brown slacks and a wheat colored sweater, but even in such simple, plain attire, he looked stunning to Kirk.
“Can I get you anything? Tea? Or?”
“Not at present.” Spock glanced around. “I would like to speak with you, Cap…Jim.”
He nodded and brought Spock into his living room, by the windows that looked out over San Francisco. He wanted to sit close to Spock, beside him, but he didn’t have a sofa for such purposes, only chairs. It had never mattered before.
He gestured to a chair for Spock and then sat in the other that was opposite.
“What’s on your mind, Spock?”
“You.”
He should have guessed Spock wouldn’t beat around the bush. When had he ever?
“Me,” he repeated.
“And your expectations.”
“I see.” Kirk found himself nodding again. And he felt vaguely like one of those old-fashioned bobble-headed dolls he’d seen in ancient pictures. “I don’t…really have any.” He looked down at his nails, which he’d been biting much too often these days, and so he winced. “With respect to the Enterprise or…?”
“It was my understanding you might not get the Enterprise again.”
Kirk made a face. “Er. Yeah. That’s plain enough. I’m still an admiral in their eyes and admirals don’t command starships. No matter how decorated.” He paused. Looked at Spock. “Have they offered her to you then?”
“They did not, however, had they done so I would have refused. I have no desire to captain a ship.”
“But they did promote you.”
Spock nodded. “Indeed. But command of a ship is not a destiny I sought. I have been asked to instruct cadets.”
“Cadets?”
“In the taking of the Kobayashi Maru, more specifically.”
Kirk smiled faintly. “So you’ll be here in San Francisco.”
“Yes. For now. Which is the point of my coming here. If you are not in command of the Enterprise, will you be here as well?”
“Looks that way. Are you sure I can’t get you a drink?” And was more to have something to say then and desire to move away to see to it.
“I am sure. A lot has happened since-since we made our mutual departures.”
Kirk wasn’t sure it was mutual, actually. He hadn’t wanted things to end the way they had and yet…what had he done to stop it? And he certainly had contributed to it.
“The Kolinahr?”
“A small part. But important, I suppose. I did wish to purge the hurt and pain associated with our relationship,” Spock said softly. “But also the more positive emotions as well.”
“Understandable,” Kirk murmured. But he wasn’t really sure he meant it. He decided Spock was being far too vague and he was beginning to lose patience. He needed to know why Spock was here, what it meant for them, if anything. “Spock, what’s on your mind?” he asked again.
“I know that given our last night together after the mission ended, you might have had different expectations as to our future.”
“You mean, did I think we were getting back together after we made love that night?”
Spock moved his head downward, almost a nod, but not quite.
Kirk shook his head. “You gave me no indication that was the case.”
“The act of making love…”
“No,” he interrupted quickly. “I knew it was a-a goodbye. A way to end things between us tenderly. I had no expectations you meant anything but farewell.”
Spock stared down at his hands which were clenched in his lap. “And now? After V’Ger?”
“Do you remember our first night together? After T’Pring and everything.”
“I have an eidetic memory.”
Kirk sighed. Nodded. “Yes. But…do you remember? Not that way. How we felt. How you felt.”
Spock did not answer at first but then said, “Yes. And my feelings have not changed.” He looked up, meeting Kirk’s gaze. “And yours?”
He swallowed heavily. “Never. They’ve never changed, Spock, and they never will. I know I haven’t always been worthy of your trust and affections. Miramanee…”
“I did not fault you for actions that occurred while you were not yourself.”
“No. But…after. When I…I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I couldn’t get past her death and the death of our child and I pushed you away…I’m sorry, Spock.”
“That was not our time, perhaps. It was difficult maintaining the secrecy of a relationship during such trying times aboard the ship.”
“I should have…”
“Jim. We can spend hours upon hours, maybe an eternity even, going over what we should have done, should have said, what actions we could have taken, how we could have avoided hurting each other, and in the end, none of that matters now. What does is this. Have your feelings changed, your expectations, or do you want what I want?”
“And what is that?” Kirk asked, carefully, perhaps foolishly. “Because I know what I want, Spock. What I’ve always wanted and what I threw away as the coward I must have been.”
Spock rose then and moved the few steps over to Kirk’s chair, and knelt down in front of it. “What I want is our time, T’hy’la. To fully embrace what we are, what we should be, have always been, with whatever time each of us has left.”
Kirk was suddenly aware there was wetness on his face, and he wasn’t even sure when he’d started crying, but Spock lifted a hand to wipe at a tear of Kirk’s cheek.
“Yes, Spock. I want the same. I want it all. With you.”
He fell to his knees beside Spock, cradled his beloved Vulcan’s face in his hands and kissed him.
Kirk didn’t know much, but he knew he would never let Spock out of his life again. He would fight for him, fight for Spock, and them, through anything.
Had a fairly quiet weekend at home with M. We did have someone come over on Sunday though but with the time change and it being dark as hell by 5:30, she thankfully left at a decent time.
Didn’t get much done writing-wise. I did post a short flash as you know. I am determined this week to update Cadet Ashayam, just don’t know when. I did get two more Holiday flashes done and am half way through another and those are just taking precedence right now, but I will get to Cadet Ashayam.
This week is supposed to be warm and dry, though thankfully, I think, anyway, wind-free. It cools off at night at least.
We’ve already begun to plan for Thanksgiving even though it’s at the end of the month. It’s at our house. We’ll have about seven of us again this year. That means decorating! HA. Those are leaves and pumpkin lights though you can’t really tell.
Anyway, later this month I will indulge in my two Thanksgiving-related movies.
Of course, I have other writing to finish as well, including the AOSJim/Prime Holiday story. Not sure what I will title it yet, but if anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear. Here’s the plot:
After his revival, Jim finds himself mostly alone in the hospital. The crew has been given leave, and with it being holiday time, they’ve all dispersed since Jim will make a full recovery. Into this come Spock Prime. He reveals that he knew of Jim’s “death” due to their T’hy’la bond. When Bones wants to go to Georgia for the holidays to see his daughter, Prime volunteers to watch over Jim during his absence, and Jim moves into an apartment with Prime. Jim begins to add bits of the holidays into their lives and an indulgent Prime allows it and eventually succumbs to the adorable charms of the season and his young T’hy’la.
Title ideas? I’d like something merry/holiday sounding.
Hope everyone has a great week.
“Captain, I have something to tell you.”
Jim fired his phaser at the approaching Klingons. “Now? Come on, Spock. I’m a little busy.”
Spock fired his phaser. “I am aware. But in case we are unable—”
“Mr. Spock, I don’t have time for this.” The truth was Jim was pretty sure he knew what Spock wanted to say. And he appreciated it, really. He’d been waiting for this for a long ass time. But now—
“A logical response, Captain, however—”
“No. Really. Not now, Commander. Cover me.”
He rolled away from his spot by the wall, firing his phaser frantically, even as he could hear Spock doing the same. He reached the unconscious Sulu and quickly assessed him.
“Captain?”
“Yeah he’s alive but in bad shape. We’ve gotta get out of here now.”
“Acknowledged. In the event that either or both of us do not make it…”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Get over here now.”
Spock broke out into a run and slid in to where Jim waited with Sulu. Jim eyed him.
“You’d be great at stealing home, by the way.”
Spock frowned. “Captain?”
Jim flipped open his communicator. “Kirk to Enterprise. Beam us up now.”
A Klingon disruptor shot barely missed his head. Jim winced.
“I must inform you, Captain, that I have developed…”
They suddenly dissolved and appeared on the transporter. The three of them fortunately. Bones rushed toward them.
“Romantic feelings for you. In fact, I love you.”
Bones froze just a few feet away from Sulu. He stared at them, then shrugged. “I guess I owe Scotty some scotch.”
Spock blushed furiously as he scrambled to stand.
Jim grinned and stood up, leaning toward Spock and planting a big fat kiss on his lips. “I love you too.”
Jim had loved November most of his life. He really had. The month had some of his better memories when he was a kid. For years, prior to his eleventh birthday, he would leave Riverside and travel to San Jose in California where his grandparents lived, his dad’s parents, his only connection really to the Kirks for the most part, and he’d stay there from November 01 to November 30th.
In those days, Sam came with him too, though already he had an attitude. He couldn’t understand why Grandpa and Grandma Kirk wouldn’t or couldn’t keep them full time instead of them having to live in Riverside with Frank, with Mom gone most of the time.
They’d never had any real explanation either. Sam had asked. Their grandparents had gotten silent and weird about it and it had been the worst of the Novembers they’d spent there, so the next November, Jim had begged Sam not to say anything, and to his relief, Sam hadn’t, and everything had been normal.
The year Jim turned eleven, though, that October, his mother had come home for a time and had taken them aside to tell them that Grandpa Kirk had ‘passed away’ as she’d said, and Grandma couldn’t handle a visit with them that year. That meant the previous November was the last time Jim had ever seen either of them, because Jim was sent to Tarsus IV the following year and when he came home from that nightmare and it became just him and his mom, no Frank, no Sam, no one, his mom had the task of informing him Grandma Kirk had died too.
For a while, when November came it only brought Jim sadness, but time brought distance from his sorrow, and he didn’t feel that way anymore.
“Captain?”
Jim looked up from the box of stuff he was going through in the basement. He sat on the ground.
“Are you down here?”
“Yeah, Spock, I am. Come on down.”
He smiled faintly as Spock’s footsteps descended the stairs. Spock appeared, still wearing the scarf he had wrapped around his neck earlier.
“Done with your walk?”
“Yes. What are you doing?”
Jim looked down at the box. “A box of my grandparents old things.” He shrugged. “I didn’t get much. Or I…didn’t save much, I should say. I was just a stupid kid when they died, you know? And I received these boxes. I didn’t open them for a long time, because, well I was stupid, like I said, and angry too. Because they died. Some were addressed to Sam, too. He was already gone though and…” Jim closed his eyes and shook his head.
Spock crouched down next to him. “What, Ashayam?”
“While I was gone to-to Tarsus…” He paused at the sharp intake from Spock, but the Vulcan wisely said nothing. “Well, Frank got rid of all of Sam’s stuff. He wasn’t coming back, not ever, and we all knew that. But he also got rid of the boxes from our grandparents. Threw most of it away without ever even opening any of them. Sold some stuff he did go through. When I got back from that place, I went through some stuff, and I was just, I was so messed up then, Spock. I saw so much horror, I didn’t care about anything.”
Spock reached for Jim’s hand then, closing his fingers around Jim’s palm. “I grieve with thee.”
He smiled a little “The point of that long rambling is to say that this box, well, it’s all I have left of them. It’s just…knick-knacks mostly. Mementos that aren’t worth anything. Like this.” He reached in and took out a marble seal. “When I was six, I wanted this. We were at a store, you know, and I asked for it and she got it for me. But I was six and the moment we brought it back to her house, I completely forgot about it. But she kept it. And it ended up in this box of stuff sent to me.”
“For her to have kept it, she must have found it important,” Spock said softly.
“Yeah. Sam was convinced they didn’t want us and that’s why we spent a month with them every year and that was it. But I-I’m not so sure. Guess we’ll never know now.” Jim moved to stand up and Spock straightened and pulled him up. “Hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Let’s go into town and have dinner at Eric’s Restaurant. They have some good choices for both of us. And I need to get out of this space for a bit.”
“This house or the space in your head?” Spock asked, drawing Jim near.
“Both I suppose. Sorry, I don’t mean to be melancholy. November just gets me thinking of them. They were really all I had of my dad. Mom didn’t like them around much because she thought about him, too, but that wasn’t a good thing for her.”
He leaned down and reached into the box again. He pulled out a small stuffed white cat. It was yellowed now. It was that old.
“Yours?” Spock guessed.
Jim smiled. “Nope. His. Dad’s. When he was a little boy. She sent it to me.” He rubbed his chest. It ached but it was emotional ache. He blinked away the moisture in his eyes. “Never mind. I’m glad you’re with me. I love you. So much. Thank you for being here.”
“I will always be by your side, Jim.” Spock drew him up the basement stairs. “Come dinner waits.”
Coming full circle.
On October 31, 2014 I began the fic that would be known as Professor Spock. The first words I wrote were…And it started on Halloween. Two other fics later, they finally got married and fully bonded last October.
So I thought it fitting that I end October’s Flashes with yet another peek into their lifes
“Are you going to the party tonight?”
Jim looked up from the title of the message he’d received to stare at his best friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy. “Party?” he asked, absently.
“The Halloween party. Being held at the cafeteria and hosted by Rand and Uhura. I know you said you didn’t have a costume but…”
“Not now, Bones.” He thrust his PADD at Bones, who scanned the message title.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll have to tell him. I just…I thought there’d be more time.”
Jim took the PADD and read the title of the message one more time.
Congratulations on your assignment to the Farragut
Jim opened the message to read it.
James Tiberius Kirk you will report to Captain Garrovick with the rank of Lieutenant as a Weapon’s Specialist. Report on…
Jim stopped reading it.
He should be excited. He knew he should. But Spock…
“I thought for sure they’d assign me to the Enterprise. Spock is my husband and we filed all the papers and I posted for the Enterprise.”
“Hello Leonard. Jim.” It was Pike, who was suddenly standing next to their table in the cafeteria that would later be decorated for the Halloween party. “Can you excuse us for a bit, Leonard?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Bones looked at him uncertainly, but got up and walked away.
Pike sat in his place, looking serious but not unkind. “Then you got the memo?”
“Yeah. I don’t understand.” He clenched his fists. “I thought I’d be on the Enterprise with Spock, serving under you.”
“And that was my recommendation. But the admiralty thought the separation and differing assignments would be beneficial to both of you, this early in your career.”
“That’s bullshit. Spock and I are married and bonded. We’re supposed to be together.”
“Spock advised them that separate assignments would not be detrimental to your bond.”
“He what?”
Pike sighed. “They asked him straight out and Spock wouldn’t lie. Look, Jim, I know you’re disappointed but Garrovick—”
“Disappointed?” Jim asked, incredulous. “That doesn’t even begin to describe it. This is exactly why I didn’t want to join Starfleet in the first place. They do nothing but jerk you around. This is complete shit and you know it. I fucking resign.”
“Jim…”
“No. Seriously. Fuck you. Fuck them. I’m done.”
Jim got up from the table and fled the cafeteria, running blindly from the campus.
This was his anniversary, damn it. He was supposed to have a wonderful night with his husband. Maybe they’d show up at the party and maybe they wouldn’t. But this? It was too much.
Tears stung his eyes and as Jim stood there trying to decide which way to go, he stepped off the curb just as a hover bike changed lanes and ran right into him.
****
“Unnh.”
“We must stop meeting this way.”
“Bones?” he asked groggily.
“I am not Bones.”
Jim’s eyes flew open and he had a huge amount of de ja vu. “Professor Spock?”
Spock’s eyes crinkled just a bit. “Yes.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You have been injured and are in the medical ward of Starfleet. You have a broken leg. You have a concussion and a cracked rib. You are fortunate it was not worse.”
“All right. Thanks. You can go now.”
“Jim.”
He smiled a little. “Sorry. I thought we were replaying the day we met. Or the…after. You know.”
Spock leaned down and kissed him. “I know.”
“Happy Anniversary. Sucks.”
“You do have a dramatic way of protesting your assignment.”
Jim winced and looked away from his husband’s piercing gaze.
He felt the bed shake a bit as Spock sat down.
“Ashaya, I have news.”
Jim sighed and bit his lip. “I’m sorry I ran in front of a hover bike.”
“It was on purpose?”
“No. Still sorry though.”
“You are an exceedingly emotional being. This I have learned frequently since we became acquainted. Always running.”
“Yeah.”
“There is no need, Jim.”
“But they are separating us.”
“Not any longer.”
“Break it up, break it up, you two love birds.”
Bones came in. At least Jim thought it was Bones. Pirate Bones. With a parrot on his shoulder.
“I thought you had a party, doctor.”
“I do. And I’m on my way. Obviously. Just wanted to check on stupid here first. You’re doing fine, Jim. But you will have to stay here for a few days. I’m thinking four at least.” He thrust a drink container at Jim. “Pumpkin latte. Happy Halloween.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks.”
“And anniversary, I guess. Hard to believe just a year ago, Spock was wearing fangs. Unlike last time you got creamed by a hover bike and Spock begged to stay with you—”
“I did not beg. I merely pointed out that it was appropriate given we were bonded by the laws of—”
“Blah blah blah. Spock can stay with you tonight, no problem. As it’s all official and everything. I think I can go to the party leaving you in his capable hands.”
“Of course.” Spock was bristling.
“I’ll be by early in the morning to check on you.” Bones stopped at the door. Jim wished he could see if he had a peg leg. “Did you tell him?”
The question was directed at Spock.
“I was about to when you interrupted.”
Jim barely refrained from wincing at the censure in Spock’s voice. Bones merely rolled his eyes and left the hospital room.
Jim gazed at his husband nervously. “Tell me what?”
Because he was waiting for the other shoe to fall. Of course he was.
“The Farragut is departing in two days,” Spock said softly.
Jim frowned. “But Bones said I had to stay here for four.”
Spock nodded. He reached for and held Jim’s hand. “Your assignment has changed.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“You will not be on the Farragut.”
Forgetting for a moment he had told Pike he resigned, Jim’s frown deepened. “Where will I be assigned?”
Spock paused a beat. “The Enterprise.”
His heart leaping into his throat, Jim gripped Spock’s hand tightly. “What? But I thought…”
“Ambassador Sarek spoke to the Admiralty about our bond. Though it is true that most ordinary Vulcan bonds do not prevent a separating assignment, little is known about our T’hy’la bond, as it is so rare. He recommended against splitting us.”
Jim’s jaw dropped open. “He did?”
“Indeed. And they agreed. Which you would have found out prior to your hospitalization had you not had an emotional outburst and ran away, yet again, as Father was already working on the solution.”
Jim smiled. “I sense a reprimand in there.”
“Oh it was an obvious reprimand, Jim. Perhaps next time you will wait to speak with me.”
“There won’t be a next time.” Jim’s smile slipped. “We do seem to repeat the same behaviors, circumstances. Whatever.”
“Mm.” Spock leaned over to kiss him. “Happy Anniversary. This was not exactly what I had planned.”
“What did you have planned? The Halloween party?”
Spock drew back and gave him a look. “Hardly. A romantic dinner for two, champagne for you, chocolates for me, naked wrestling in bed…”
Jim sighed. “That does sound…wait. What?”
Spock’s lips twitched. “Or you know, making love.”
“Damn it. I had to go and get hit by that stupid hover bike. Again.”
“It was not the same one.”
“You know what I mean.”
Spock released his hand and rose from the bed, confusing Jim.
“Wait. Where are you going?”
“To fetch your dinner. We will have what passes for a romantic anniversary dinner here in your hospital room. Without the champagne and chocolate truffles, of course. And no vampire costume this year.”
“Awe. Okay. Everything else…sounds amazing. I love you, Spock.”
“And you own my heart, body and soul.”
And yes…it started on Halloween.
PS. This is being posted on AO3
In the nearly a month they had been living together at the Riverside farmhouse, Spock had become used to Jim rising from their bed before he did. It was a strange experience, because Spock had always risen well before Nyota during their time together and Spock was aware that Vulcans didn’t need as much sleep as Humans.
But of course, Spock was no ordinary Vulcan. And Jim was no ordinary Human. At first he was worried about Jim’s sleep patterns and wondered if his sleep was disturbed with unpleasant dreams that woke him, but it soon became clear that was not the case, on average anyway, and that Jim’s sleep patterns were normal for him. He functioned very highly with much less sleep than others around him.
Spock found himself often quite exhausted after nights of explorations between him and Jim. Though they had not fully consummated things between them, they’d experienced a lot of erotic play. Spock was careful never to take things too far while Jim recuperated. But last night their mutual blowjobs, as Humans called them, had been extremely satisfactory. Jim had referred to their position as 69.
Curious.
Today, Spock recalled as he rose from their bed to shower, they were going into the city proper for an event Jim told him was the Harvest Festival. Children would also be participating in an ancient custom called ‘Trick or Treating’ where they were given candy.
“I know, you never went Trick or Treating on Vulcan,” Jim had said with a wry smile.
“I did not.”
Jim had told him the neighborhood kids traipsing about from door to door was no longer especially practiced, but there were generally activities such as this for children. He’d also asked Spock if he wanted to wear a costume.
Spock had declined.
Spock did dress in autumnal colors after bathing. He pulled on a pair of brown slacks that he paired with an auburn sweater. He also put on his brown ankle boots.
He found Jim sitting at the dining room table, coffee and coffee cake in front of him, furiously typing on a PADD.
Spock walked behind him to peer down at the screen. He straightened. “Jim, you are on leave.”
“I know.” Jim absently held out two fingers toward Spock, who, of course, met them gratefully. “Good morning.”
Spock shook his head and went into the kitchen. “Good morning. What time do you want to leave for the Festival?”
“Soon as I finish this.”
“You aren’t supposed to be doing that.” Spock lifted a cup to his mouth and took a large swallow of tea that Jim had left for him. It was still hot, so Jim must have heard him getting ready upstairs. He did love an efficient boyfriend.
“It’s just the roster for when we’re back on the Enterprise.”
“I could have attended to that.”
“It’s your leave too.” Jim forked a bite of the cake, popped into his mouth and chewed.
Spock was endlessly puzzled with Jim’s love for sweet breakfasts. “I was not subjected to mass internal injuries.”
“I’m fine, honey.” Jim swiped his finger across the PADD and then set it aside. He leaned back in the chair and gave Spock a heart stopping smile. “You look scrumptious.”
“At least you are looking at me now,” Spock replied with a raised eyebrow. He noted Jim had on a bright orange T-shirt with a ghoulish Jack O Lantern face on the front. “Where did you get that?”
“Ordered it online.” Jim stood and went to where Spock stood. “Don’t look so grumpy. This is going to be fun.”
“Wandering around in crowds of strangers who paw at merchandise they do not need, running to stand in lines for rides that are unsafe not to mention unwise, throwing darts at balloons in an effort to win prizes they will throw away next week…”
Jim laughed and kissed him. “You are grumpy.”
Spock shook his head. “I will do anything you wish to, Jim.”
Jim’s grin slipped into a soft smile. “I know. Because you’re just happy I’m alive and that you love me.”
“Yes.”
Jim kissed him again. “All right. Harvest Festival time.”
Much later, they returned home, Jim drooping again, but proudly holding the stuffed pumpkin with legs Spock had won him, and Spock holding the water filled bag with the goldfish Jim had won him.
And they’d both ate far too much candy.
But Spock had to admit, that yes, it had been fun.
We’re having the evil chaotic winds again. Supposed to for the next few days. Just ugh. Basically that means we are on fire watch. There’s a big fire up north in Wine Country. They got hit hard last year. So sad as it’s such a beautiful area. I love it up there.
I’ve made some progress on my Jim/Prime Christmas story. I hope to make it somewhat shortish but whenever I say that…well…
I’m also working on another December Flash. I don’t know if I mentioned this, but all the 25 Days Flashes in December are named after Holiday Songs. The one I am working on now is called…oh wait. No spoilers! ha ha. But I think you will be very pleased.
Nine Lives will be up next for AO3 updates, but not sure when I will get to that because the next few days will be quite busy for me and I still want to get some Flashes done and scheduled.
Have a party Saturday and then I’m going away Monday and Tuesday. So anyway, I hope it won’t be too long until I get to it because I’d like to wrap Nine Lives up soon.
I greatly look forward to you reading the continuation of my Fall Guys tomorrow
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 