Story Related

Flash Fic, October 23, 2019

A wee bit weird!

“Rumors are this place is haunted.”

Spock glanced at Jim with what could only be considered derision. “I am surprised you would listen to rumors, Captain. Especially nonsensical ones.”

Jim snorted. “Tell me how you really feel, Spock.”

“I always endeavor to do so.”

Jim sighed. Crossed his arms in front of him as he looked at the ruins of the ancient civilization. It was little more than abandoned decaying buildings and crumbling stone arches. It was kind of eerie but more than that it made Jim sad for what was lost. Whoever had lived here, had dreams and hopes and wishes for a future that never happened.

“Did you want to go into the dwelling further, captain? I do not recommend it. It looks dangerous.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll be careful. Report over to the chieftain of the village and I’ll meet you there shortly.”

“You do not intend to go in there alone.”

“It’s not haunted, remember? You said yourself.”

“Indeed, but they are crumbling ruins, Captain.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Spock hesitated, but he finally nodded. “If you do not return to the village in fifteen minutes—

“I will.”

He waved Spock away and headed into the ruins. He knew his first officer watched his every moved, but Jim ignored it. He’d chalk it up to their new-found…er…well whatever it was they were…more than friends, less than lovers? Jim sure as hell didn’t know—but Spock had been weird about watching Jim’s every move even before all that. Jim used to think Spock was looking for a way to file a report against him, but he no longer thought that.

Jim didn’t know all that much about this ancient, almost-forgotten civilization. The chieftain had told them that the ruins had been abandoned for hundreds of years, long before any of them were alive, and had long been the subject of stories about ghosts and hauntings.

Spock had barely contained his skepticism as the chieftain spoke, but Jim figured that was mostly because the chieftain had a huge crush on Spock and had been openly flirting with Jim’s second in command since they’d arrived.

The chieftain had suggested they go look at the ruins while he prepared the feast for them, but he’d wanted Spock to stay at the village and Jim to go alone. Jim had decided he’d just let Spock go back early. Especially since the Vulcan hadn’t wanted to go anyway.

Jim ducked under a half collapsed arch, trying to imagine what the people from this planet would have been like hundreds of years ago. They had jewel eyes now and lilac skin, attractive. It was unknown what their ancient ancestors looked like. Perhaps the same.

It had been an earthquake that had destroyed them, sudden and catastrophic. When they had rebuilt, it was on the other side of the planet, less prone to seismic activity, and this place was never rebuilt.

Jim stepped through what must have been a doorway into a house or something.

He heard a child’s laugh, merry and bright, and so real-sounding, Jim turned quickly. But there was nothing and no one there.

“I’m getting punchy.” He shook his head and decided maybe he was better off going back to the village sooner rather than later.

He took a step and fell through a hole.

“Shit!”

He didn’t know how far he fell but it seemed like a long distance and when he landed, his leg was twisted underneath him at a painful and clearly broken angle. He went to fish his communicator out of his pocket and discovered it was missing.

All around him was nothing but darkness. Even looking up, he couldn’t even see the sky. And he suddenly felt like it was all a setup from the chieftain.

He hoped he was wrong.

****

“Come on, Jim. Wake up.”

A gentle hand on his face. Light as a feather.

“Jim. Jim. Please. Wake up. Come on. You can do it. Come back to us. Come on, kid.”

He was trying. He was. Couldn’t-couldn’t whoever it was tell? He should know the speaker. He should. But he couldn’t think of them. Couldn’t…

So tired.

“Jim. Please. Jim.”

A different voice. But still familiar.

Drifting. Let me rest.

“No!”

Jim woke with a gasp and he sat up straight into strong arms that held him. He blinked hard, and stared into Spock’s dark eyes.

“Jim,” Spock said, it sounded almost like a whimper. He pulled Jim close.

“Easy, Spock. Easy,” Bones said. “Let him breathe. Let him catch his breath.”

Spock pulled back, but only a little.

Jim put his hand up to Spock’s face. Spock was shaking. “Medbay?”

“Yes. We…”

“You almost died on us again, Jim.”

Jim looked at Bones. “The ruins?”

“You fell down some giant crater thing. Lost consciousness. It took us a long time to reach you and you’d lost a lot of blood.”

He nodded. Looked back at Jim. “The chieftain?”

“Chieftain?”

“Of the village. He had the hots for you. I thought maybe he set me up to fall.”

Spock shook his head. He covered Jim’s hand with his. “There was no chieftain, Jim. The planet was abandoned. The ruins were from an extinct civilization. It is unknown what happened to the people from there.”

“But…they were lilac with jewel eyes and…”

“No, Jim. There was no one on the planet. We had barely begun to explore the ruins when you fell.”

He could barely believe it but his friends were looking at him like he was crazy, so he nodded. “Okay.”

“You gave me and your husband here a heart attack.”

Jim’s mouth hung open. “My-my what?”

“Ashaya, perhaps you ought to lie down.”

“You are unaware Spock is your husband?”

“Since?”
“For a year!” Bones exclaimed. “Spock is right. Lie down. I’d better check a few things.”

Jim allowed Spock to ease him back down on the biobed and as Spock held his hand while Bones examined him, Jim heard the faint laughter of a child.

October 23, 2019

Flash Fic, October 18, 2019

Spock searched the whole house, looking for Jim, after he got out of bed and showered, but there was no sign of him. He squelched down the sense of panic that threatened to take hold. It was, of course, ridiculous. Jim was probably outside or even had gone off to the store in the city as he had done before.

There was nothing at all unusual in his absence. Jim insisted on his independence even after being so grievously injured, something Spock had been forced to get used to and accept.

Prior to Jim’s near fatal injury, Spock had only been friends with Jim, but as the mission had turned so dangerous, Jim had confessed his love for Spock. It wasn’t until Jim was revived that Spock could share his own deeper feelings. The fact he even could was…remarkable.

Sure enough, as Spock approached the back covered porch, he could hear Jim softly singing to himself. Next the scent of Jim’s pumpkin spice coffee hit his nose.

Spock pushed open the screen door. “Jim?” He didn’t immediately see him.

“Here, babe. On the ground.”

Spock looked down and noticed Jim sitting in the middle of the porch floor, knife in hand, tongue sticking out, with a giant pumpkin he had purchased at the pumpkin patch in between his spread legs.

“Ashaya? What are you doing?”

“Carving a Jack O Lantern. Didn’t your mom ever…never mind. She probably didn’t. But remember? I mentioned it at the pumpkin patch. Come sit down.”

Spock shrugged slightly and made his way over to the mess Jim was making. He had papers all spread out and gooey looking seeds all over the papers.

“You are killing it?”

“Already dead. I’m just pulling out its guts now.”

“A curious practice.” Spock watched as Jim finished gutting the pumpkin and then began to stab its flesh.

“I’m making a face for it,” Jim explained.

“I see. What is the purpose?”

“You put him out on your front porch all lit up for the harvest or whatever. Halloween. That kind of thing. I’ll just put him next to the uncarved ones. He’ll look cool.”

Spock thought, not for the first time, Earthlings were strange, and Jim, perhaps, stranger than many. And yet, Spock loved him. Almost obsessively so.

Jim looked at Spock and grinned. “What?”

“I am…” He cleared his throat. “I find myself very glad that I am sitting on your porch floor while you slaughter that member of the squash family.”

Jim laughed. It was an amazing sound. “Me too, babe.”

Spock doubted, really, that Jim actually got it. How much this almost didn’t happen. Couldn’t happen. Jim was there but he was out of it much of the time. And he didn’t think either him or McCoy, for that matter, could ever describe how horrible it had all been.

He reached his two fingers toward Jim. He paused in his cutting to extend his to Spock, and he felt the warm jolt that seemed to accompany their skin contact, their joining in any way. Spock suspected he knew the reason, yet he waited to know for sure.

“I am going in to get some tea, if you do not mind, then I will return.”

Jim grinned. “Sounds great. I’ll be here.”

And yes, Spock thought, he would, and Spock felt gratitude.

For Fun, Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

October 18, 2019

Flash Fic, October 16, 2019

Featuring Pinto

Chris stepped outside as Zach held the door open of the Starbucks they had just had coffee at just moments earlier.

“Dinner next?” Chris wondered, because truth be told, he was hungry. The espresso he’d just downed hadn’t really done much to get rid of that.

He’d been vaguely surprised to even hear from Zach as he knew his friend had a pretty busy filming schedule right now. Still, Chris wouldn’t complain about any chance to spend time with Zach.

“Eventually, sure,” was Zach’s reply. “But it being October and just a couple of weeks until Halloween, I thought we’d do something else first.”

Chris eyed him. “Something else? Halloween? Oh, God. Please tell me you aren’t having us go to an Escape Room. I’m claustrophobic.”

Zach rolled his eyes. “I know that, Christopher. Not an Escape Room. A haunted house.”

“A haunted…damn it, Zach. Most of those are so lame. I haven’t gone to one of those since I was a teenager.”

“A very long time ago,” Zach cracked.

“Says the guy who is older than me. Okay, fine. We’ll go. But you are so buying dinner.”

Zach smiled amicably. “Sure, sure.” He clicked open the locks of the rental car. “Get in, my boy.”

Chris snorted, but got in. Zach remained mostly silent on the way to the haunted house. Beating a rhythm on the dashboard to Monster Mash playing on the radio.

He pulled into a parking lot that proclaimed it was for the Haunted House. To Chris it looked like one of those prop houses on the movie lots, but he shook his head, grinned good-naturedly, and got out to follow Zach up to the door where his friend forked over two five dollar bills as entrance fees.

A woman stood in the front entry way of the house, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a Disneyland costume from the Haunted Mansion.

“Welcome, Victims,” she declared in a falsely eerie voice. She pointed to an elevator. “This way.”

Chris withheld his eye role and followed Zach and a few others into the elevator, which predictably dropped several flows below. There was a scream and the elevator went dark.

“Disney should sue,” Chris muttered. He put his hand on Zach’s arm.

The elevator stopped and the lights flashed on.

He turned to Zach to say something about the lameness when he saw his hand was on some other guy’s arm. He stared at Chris.

“Do you mind, dude?” the guy said, moving away.

“Zach? Where the hell did you go, man?” He glanced around but didn’t see his friend. Everyone was moving on to the next part, so Chris followed, all the while looking for Zach, figuring his impatient friend had gone on without him.

At the next part, Chris jumped a little when costumed performers jumped out unexpectedly. And okay, maybe the first time his scream was a little high-pitched.

“Zach? Dude, where’d you go?”

He moved on to another part with a room full of twisted mirrors, but still didn’t find Zach. He was starting to get pissed. He hadn’t expected Zach to ditch him.

At the end, the last room had a mad scientist, and he was working on a mannequin in a chair. He pulled out a drill and aimed it for the dummy’s mouth.

And then the dummy screamed.

“Chris! Chris! Help! Help!”

****

“Hey, come on, Chris. It was a joke, okay?”

“Not funny.” Chris walked ahead back to the car.

“It was a little. You should have seen your face.” Zach stopped to double over laughing.

“Fuck you, Quinto.”

Zach straightened and scrambled after him. “Sorry. Come on. Sorry. Okay.”

Chris looked away, and wiped his eyes.

“Wait. Jeez. You…you aren’t crying, are you?”

“No.”

“Shit. Yeah, you are. Chris, man, no. I didn’t mean anything. It was just a stupid…” Zach grabbed Chris’ arms and turned him. “I would never…”

Chris laughed and smacked him in the face. “Crying. Get real.”

“You asshole!” Zach touched his face where Chris hit him. But he was laughing too. “You had me going.”

Chris smirked. “Yeah? That was lame, Quinto.”

Zach nodded. “Yeah, a little.” He searched Chris’ eyes. “So, we’re good?”

“Yeah.” He moved in close, putting his hand over Zach’s that still touched his face where Chris had hit. “Did I hurt you?”

“Stung a bit.”

“Yeah?”

“Want to kiss and make it better?”

Their hands lowered from Zach’s face and Chris smiled, leaning in, kissing his stubbly jaw.

“Did that make it better?”

“Hmm. Not sure. You’d better do it again.”

Chris chuckled, but he did, and just as his lips touched Zach’s jaw, he turned his face, so that Chris was kissing his mouth instead. Chris’ tongue teased the corner of Zach’s mouth.

“Better?” Chris murmured and kissed him again, this time longer.

“Way better. Dinner? How about we order a pizza and eat it at your place?”

“Best idea you’ve had since you called me, Quinto.” He kissed Zach long and slow, lingering over the stubble of his jaw as he pulled back. “Maybe you can try escaping from my room.”

Zach shook his head. “I’ll fail. Because I’m not leaving until morning.”

Chris laughed. “I thought surely that should be my line. You’ll never get away.” His laughter was sinister.

Zach opened the rental car. “Just get in, Pine.”

“Home, James.”

“Zach. Remember? Zach.”

Chris reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “Yeah. Yeah. I know.”

October 16, 2019

Flash Fic, October 11, 2019

When Spock opened his eyes, he was staring into the intense blueness of his boyfriend’s irises. He blinked and let his gaze move down to the soft smile lighting up Jim’s face.

“Ashayam?”

“Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. It’s morning.”

Spock’s gaze toward the window, noting the light streaming through. “I overslept?”

“No, no. It’s only ten.”

“Ten? That is late.”

Jim laughed. “Guess I wore you out. I brought your tea. I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the pumpkin patch with me.”

“Pumpkin patch?”

“Yeah. You know what a pumpkin is.”

Spock nodded as he sat up. “Of course. Ever since our arrival on Earth you have been obsessed with pumpkin spice everything.”

Jim had even purchased pumpkin spice tea for Spock and it mostly tasted like cloves and cinnamon, so Spock didn’t mind.

Spock didn’t mind much of anything that made Jim happy at this time. Only a short time ago, Spock had feared he’d been robbed of Jim once again.

The mission had been untenable from the start and everything had gone absolutely wrong culminating in Jim’s life threatening injuries. Both Spock and Doctor McCoy thought more than once Jim would succumb, but he’d come out of it, thankfully, wonderfully, alive. Starfleet had ordered Jim to take an extended medical leave, a minimum of three months. At first, Jim had balked, until Komack had agreed Jim could take that leave on Earth, with Spock by his side.

Jim was much improved. He still limped slightly, but even that would eventually go away. And Spock found himself filled with gratitude and abiding love for Jim.

“Right. But this is pumpkin. I mean just the fruit. The squash. You go to this place and it’s filled with all kinds of them. Some you can carve and some you make into pie and just…you know. I want to go.”

Spock nodded. “Give me some time to get ready and then we will leave.”

Jim smiled and leaned in to kiss him. “You got it. Tea’s on the bedside table. See you downstairs.”

Spock watched Jim walk stiffly from the room and when he was gone, Spock closed his eyes. Jim was still with him. Yes. And mostly better. They’d even been able to enjoy intimacy.

He rose from their bed and went into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. His mind had been disordered since the ‘incident’. No doubt the real reason he’d slept all the way until ten.

He took his tea with him and went downstairs to be greeted once more by Jim, this time with a slice of fresh baked banana bread. Even though it was Jim who had been injured, Spock noticed Jim seemed determined to take care of him.

The pumpkin patch turned out to be crowded with families, but Jim seemed unbothered by this. He wandered up and down the aisles looking at pumpkins of various sizes. Some he said were sugar pumpkins, the kind used for pies, and others were carving pumpkins for what he said were Jack O Lanterns.

By the time Jim had chosen several pumpkins, Spock could tell that Jim was suddenly, incredibly exhausted. He’d lost several shades of color and was very pale. Spock immediately rushed to him.

“Jim, ashaya.”

Jim sagged against him, clutching the sleeves of Spock’s sweater. “I’m okay, sweetheart. Just a little tired.”

“You have done too much. We need to return home.”

“I won’t argue with you, but I want to buy these pumpkins first.”

Spock blew out a breath. “Very well.” He lowered Jim to a bench. “You wait here while I arrange the purchases.”

When Spock had paid for all Jim’s pumpkins, he got Jim into the hover car and drove them back to the farmhouse.

Jim moved to get himself into the house and then protested when Spock came toward him. “I can walk, Spock.”

“I know but—

“I’m okay, I promise. Just got too much sun exposure and did too much, I got tired. That’s all.”

Once inside, Spock made Jim sit again.

“Spock—”

“Indulge me. You almost died again and—”

Jim took Spock’s hand and drew him down onto Jim’s lap.

“I am too heavy.”

“Oh be quiet,” Jim said with a laugh. Then he put his arm around Spock to hold him there. “I’m here. I didn’t die, okay?”

“Because of Dr. McCoy’s expertise. You take too many chances.”

“Spock. Just…kiss me.”

Spock did lean down and place a chaste kiss on Jim’s lips. He then got up when Jim let him. “Pumpkin soup for dinner?”

Jim smiled. “Sounds great. Want my help?”

“Are you capable?”

“Give me five minutes. Then we’ll cook together. Come here.” Jim pulled him back down. “I love you. Thank you for going with me to the pumpkin patch.”

“You are welcome. And I love you. More than I have words to convey.”

For fun here is a link to a pumpkin soup recipe: https://thesaltymarshmallow.com/easy-pumpkin-soup/

October 11, 2019

Flash Fic, October 09, 2019

“Do you believe in ghosts and the like?”

“Oh, for God’s sake, Jim. I’m trying to study for a big exam here.”

Jim nudged Bones’ leg as he sat before his terminal in their combined dorm. Bones didn’t just have a cup of black coffee next to him, but a carafe.

Hand on one hip, Jim smirked. “I’m serious.”

“You think asking me if I believe in spooks is serious?”

“Uh-huh. I think I saw one.”

“How much did you have to drink?”

“Nothing! It was at the library. I was sitting at the table in the back by the philosophy section. All by myself.”

Bones snorted. “And you’re surprised? It was philosophy. Boring.”

“I know.” Jim rolled his eyes. “You’re a doctor not a philosopher.”

“Yep. Go away. You’re bugging me.”

“Anyway, as I was sitting there, he appeared…”

“Of course it was a guy.”

“Dark hair, pale skin, all dressed in black, and like a hooded cape on.”

“And that makes him a spook?”

“No. But I looked down at my PADD for like a second when I got a message from Sam and when I looked up the hooded figure was gone.”

“Hooded figure? You watch too many movies. He just went to another part of the library, Jim.”

“I would have thought so but I looked around everywhere and he was nowhere to be found.” Jim sat on the edge of Bone’s desk. “I think he was a ghost.”

“Sure, sure.” Bones leaned back in his chair. “Did you tell the professor?”

“No,” Jim said quickly. “He’d think I was crazy and illogical to boot.”

“Gotta agree with him there. I’m actually surprised you aren’t with him. Or he’s not with you. I thought you two had been sewn together or something.”

“Don’t be stupid. I asked if he wanted to be and he said no.”

Bones rolled his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you to get lost?”

“Yeah, yeah. He’s having dinner with his folks.”

“Didn’t invite you?”

“Not this time. It’s still pretty new, you know? And I think he’s waiting to see if he can stand me that long.”

“Oh he can stand you. I know from all the times I’ve seen his tongue in your mouth.”

Jim laughed and shoved him. “I’m going back to the library.”

“In search of ghosts?”

“Nah, philosophy. I still want to find a book I’m looking for. Haven’t found it yet, though it’s supposed to be there and no one has checked it out.”

“Woooowooo, spooky,” Bones said, sarcastically.

“Oh be quiet. See you later. And ease up on the caffeine dude. You’re shaking.”

Jim headed back down the campus to the library. It was a quiet night without many people around. There was a slight crisp in the air, the kind that would make his boyfriend pull on a sweater but Jim didn’t mind it.

It was a Friday night, so he knew hardly anyone would be around and though he’d mentioned his “ghost” to Bones, Jim hadn’t really believed it.

He went right up to the Philosophy section to look for his book. He’d been looking for about ten minutes when he decided to go to the table he’d sat at before and leave his book bag there. He turned the corner of the aisle and saw…

The hooded man. He was leaning over the table, placing something there.

“Hey!”

The man turned toward him and his hood fell slightly revealing pointed ears.

Jim frowned, heart thundering. “Spock? Is that…”

But no, the Vulcan looked older and…

He disappeared in front of Jim’s eyes.

“What the…”

Jim shook his head rapidly. No way. He went over to the table and looked down at what the figure had placed on his table.

It was the book he’d been looking for. He put his hand on it. Real.

His communicator beeped and Jim jumped. He fished it out of his pocket, looked at who it was, and flipped it open.

“Hi. You through? Yeah. Me too. I’m leaving the library. Meet you at your apartment. Bye.”

He closed it. Put it away and stuffed the book into his bag.

“Thanks,” he muttered and left the library.

October 9, 2019

Flash Fic, October 4, 2019

Spock was knocked onto a giant pile of leaves that, fortunately, broke his fall. And normally he would be offended by the action, but since it was Jim who had done it…no, he was still offended. Even as his beautiful, laughing boyfriend lay atop him in the pile of moist, dead leaves of reds, browns, and oranges.

“Gotcha!” Jim exclaimed, gleefully.

“You already had me, Jim,” Spock replied, dryly. “There was no reason for an attack.”

“It’s not an attack, sweetheart.”

“You made a running jump upon my person and knocked me to the ground. How is that not an attack?”

Suddenly Spock felt something wiggle right under his shoulder and he jumped ten feet.

“There is an insect—”

Jim laughed like a maniac. “Spock, sorry, sorry. That was me.”

“What?” Spock’s heart was hammering in his side.

“I wanted to see your reaction.” Jim grinned and leaned down to kiss Spock, who moved his mouth out of range. “Ah, now I made you mad.”

“I am not angry. I just find your behavior childish.” Though perhaps Spock was very vaguely amused. Jim was appealing like this.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I forgot you don’t like to be teased.”

“I am not opposed to being teased as a means of flirtation, however—”

“I know.” Jim kissed his lips, Spock allowed it this time. “I didn’t know you’d jump. You’re so calm, cool and collected most of the time.” Jim moved off Spock and he missed the weight of Jim’s body immediately as Jim turned onto his back to lie beside Spock in the leaves, staring up at the sky. “October was always one of my favorites, you know?”

Spock turned his head to look at Jim. “Why is that?”

“The leaves. They start changing in September, but really, in October they go crazy. And they fall like this and you pile them up. November too. I don’t know. It was different. And it was also light a little bit later than it is in November. It got dark really fast then. But October? I loved lazy days lying around in leaf piles.”

“A strange custom.”

Jim laughed and shook his head. “Not a custom, mostly. Just…I don’t know. Fun. Before Sam left he’d lie here with me in the leaves, like you are. And in the late afternoon we’d watch the clouds float by and decide what they were shaped as.” He sighed. “I loved it.”

“You are sad, Ashayam.”

“Only a little. Memories do that sometimes, I guess. There weren’t a lot of good memories from my childhood, but that was one of them.” Jim sat up. “Ready to go back inside?”

Spock reached for Jim’s hand and drew him back down to him, to lie along Spock’s chest. “Not quite yet. Let’s stay a moment.”

“Yeah?” Jim smiled.

Spock pointed. “That cloud there? It looks like a cat.”

Jim chuckled. “It does. The one behind it? Might be a dog chasing it.”

“Perhaps. But it resembles a duck more to me.”

“A duck? You need glasses!” He snuggled closer to Spock. Spock’s lips twitched. “I love you. And thank you.”

“I love you as well. And it is a duck.”

October 4, 2019

Flash Fic Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Every Wednesday in October you will get an October themed flash (including Halloweenish, though I will try not to make them too scary. Enjoy!

“Bones hates pumpkin spice.”

Spock looked up from his PADD to eye his captain who had just flopped down across from Spock at the table in the mess room. “While unfortunate considering your obsessive love for it, I hardly think it warrants the alarm in your tone, Captain.”

“Well.” Jim sighed and leaned his chin on his hand. “I’ve known him for, I don’t know, years and years, and you think you know a guy and…then wham. They declare such a blasphemy.”

“You could look at it as an indication that leaves more pumpkin spice for you.”

His captain smiled. “That’s true.”

“And also an indication that the doctor is not entirely right in the head.” Spock paused. “Although I have long suspected that.”

Jim’s smile widened. “Damn, but you do know how to make me feel better.”

“As first officer, it is my duty to do so.”

“Mm. I guess so.” Jim lifted a cup to his lips and Spock gave a sniff.

“Speaking of, is that…”

“Pumpkin spice tea. Yes. Uhura got it for me on Starbase 9. She said she saw it in the store and knew because I was a pumpkin spice nut, I would appreciate it. She was right.”

Spock considered. “It does smell good. But was it a recent gift, Captain?”

“Uh.”

“I wondered as this is the first time in my presence that you have had a cup and I could not imagine you were, perhaps, holding back from me that you had acquired it.”

“Uh.”

“As I recall Nyota returned from Starbase 9 a month ago.”

“Well.”

“The same as the rest of us. And I believe she also found pumpkin spice coffee for you at that time as well.”

Jim bit his lip. “How’d you know that?”

“She was excited to tell me about her findings. This may come as a surprise to you, Jim, but many of the crew think about your preferences when they are at places like the store on Starbase 9. They like to please you.”

“That’s so sweet,” Jim said with a wide smile.

“But you were, in fact, holding back the tea. And I don’t believe Nyota mentioned that purchase to me. Did you convince her not to tell me?”

“Uh.”

Spock shook his head.

“I’ll make you some tonight over chess,” Jim said in a rush. “And, you know…” Jim paused to let his tongue trace over his lips in a deliberate flirtation Spock was well aware of. “Before bed.”

Spock inclined his head. “Very well. And the pumpkin truffles, too.”

“Damn it!” Jim laughed, held his fingers out for Spock, who met them, and then went back to his PADD.