I have finally started the final chapter of Love of a Lifetime. It’s going to take some time to finish it, but here is the first part.
Spock could not deny
he was anxious about Suvoc speaking with Jim without his presence. He trusted
their son and knew that Suvoc would do nothing to hurt Jim, not intentionally
anyway. But Spock had become more than just Jim’s bondmate and husband, he was
his guardian, and leaving him alone with anyone
went against everything Spock had become.
He hovered anxiously.
Pacing in the apartment when he could no longer stand still.
He could hear Ronan
speaking softly in another room, obviously communicating with someone outside
their circle.
Spock stopped outside
the bedroom he shared with Jim and reached out through their bond to ascertain
Jim’s emotional state. Jim did not seem frightened or upset, but neither was he
getting any positive emotion from his husband. Just neutrality.
He turned and went
into the kitchen to pour himself tea. Spock had time to wonder if perhaps his
need to protect and care for Jim had led to obsession. He did not know. He
could not bear Jim being hurt in anyway. Coming home the night when his meeting
had run late to find Jim in such a state had convinced Spock that he might not
be able to leave Jim alone any longer. And then when Jim had gotten lost after
that, Spock had become even more convinced. Losing Jim was not at all something
Spock was prepared to do. Not at this point. Not ever, actually, but he knew it
was likely he would someday.
There had been a
time Spock had hoped Khan’s blood would keep his T’hy’la alive much longer than
he would normally be expected, but the tests Leonard had done prior to his own
passing had not revealed that to be the case.
The door opened to
the bedroom, and Spock set his cup down, hurrying over to see the result of
Suvoc’s visit with Spock.
The two emerged together.
Suvoc had his arm linked with Jim’s, his expression very soft, gentle and
affectionate. Jim had a slight smile on his face. Spock did not yet give in to
relief.
“Jim?” he ventured.
“We’re going to New
Vulcan, Spock,” Jim announced with a look at Suvoc.
“I have convinced
Father that the healers seek to help him. With your permission, Sa-Mekh, we
will all leave for New Vulcan tomorrow. Ronan and I will make the arrangements.”
Spock went to Jim
then, removing his son from Jim’s side, aware he was doing so, perhaps, possessively.
“You are sure, Adun?”
Jim smiled, his blue
eyes bright and clear, no confusion visible. “I’m sure. Maybe it will actually
help.”
Spock hoped so too,
but he was concerned that both Jim and Suvoc could get their hopes up for
nothing. Suvoc could deal with it, Spock was sure, but Jim…he feared not. And Spock,
himself, he was not sure if he could deal with the disappointment that there
might not be any hope for Jim.
He drew Jim into his arms and held him close. “Let us go then. Tomorrow.”
The little dark haired boy with the not quite bowl
cut and the pointy ears held up his hands for Jim to inspect.
“Hm. Keep them up. Might as well practice. Do the
ta’al so we can surprise your Sa-Mekh with what you learned.”
The boy made a face. He used one tiny hand to move
the fingers apart on the other tiny hand.
Jim tried not to laugh. “Better. You’ll get there.”
He resisted, barely, ruffling the hair of Surak. Spock had taken a bit of flak
for naming his son after the most famous Vulcan, but as was typical Spock, he didn’t
pay them much attention.
“Okay. So. Now, your Sa-Mekh left you in my care
for the night. Did he tell you that you can have pizza?”
“No.”
Jim nodded. “Did he tell you that you can’t have
pizza?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s too bad. How can I be a terrible
influence then? All right, sit at the table.”
Surak, who was all of four years old, dutifully scurried
over to Jim’s dining room table and crawled into a seat. He didn’t need a
booster seat anymore but it was a near thing.
Jim went to the kitchen and opened the box for the
pizza meant for Surak and took out two slices. He took out two slices of his
own pizza too, and went to the table with both.
“Yours has a cauliflower crust and vegan cheese.”
Surak wrinkled his nose. “Yuck.”
Jim laughed. “I’m totally kidding. It’s a regular
crust, tomato sauce and regular cheese. You’re vegetarian not vegan.”
Surak picked up a slice and took a bite, chewing
happily. He eyed Jim’s piece. “That looks good.”
“Oh it is. But it’s got pepperoni on it and your Sa-Mekh
would be very angry with me if I let you have it. He wouldn’t leave you with me
anymore.”
Surak agreed with a nod and continued to eat his pizza.
He also got sauce all over his little face.
“You’re supposed to eat it not wear it,” Jim
admonished, but not too severely. “You want more?”
“No. Maybe for breakfast.”
“Ha, fat chance on that. Your Sa-Mekh wouldn’t let
you eat pizza for breakfast.” Jim got up and went into his kitchen for a wet
wipe and returned, wiping Surak’s face and hands. “PJ’s?”
“Please.”
He was so darn cute saying please. Just like a
little adult. None of this ‘pease’ other little obnoxious children said.
He took Surak’s hand and walked with him into the bedroom
where he’d left the bag that Spock had given him with Surak’s things he was to
use for the night. He unzipped it and dug inside, pulling out feety pajamas.
“These are them?” he asked, surprised. They were kind of golden and brown and had a furry looking collar around the throat. “Is it supposed to be a lion?”
Surak said, “Yes. I like lions. Sa-Mekh said we
can go look at them at the San Francisco zoo on Saturday. Are you coming?”
“Of course I am.” He removed the boy’s shirt and
pants and then helped him into the pajamas, noting the feet were paws. He
couldn’t help but smile at the image of Spock picking these out.
With Surak all situated in his absurdly cute lion
pajamas, Jim took him back out of the living room.
“Okay, you can watch one program and then it’s off to bed. I promised your Sa-Mekh you’d
be put to bed at a reasonable time.”
“Popcorn.”
“What?”
“You said I could have popcorn.”
“I did? Oh. Yeah. I did. All right.”
“Caramel popcorn,” Surak reminded him.
“Your Sa-Mekh will not thank me for getting you jacked up on sugar.”
But he led Surak into the kitchen to pop the popcorn
and melt the caramel. He then mixed the two, threw it in a bowl and went back to
the living room with Surak, both of them curling up on sofa to watch the show
Surak had picked out for them to watch.
It was a couple of hours later when Jim sort of
blinked awake at the sound of someone accessing the apartment door. Surak
stayed completely asleep against him.
Spock walked in, arching that picture perfect brow
at him.
“How was he?”
“Completely perfect and adorable, of course.” Jim
shifted and Surak woke up, rubbing his eyes as he did so.
“Look, kiddo, here is your Sa-Mekh!”
Surak scrambled up from Jim’s lap and ran to
Spock, hugging his legs. “You are earlier than anticipated.”
Spock leaned down and scooped his son up into his
arms. “I am. I finished early and could not wait to return to you.”
“And to Daddy!”
Spock met Jim’s gaze over their son. “And to
Daddy.”
Jim leaned over and kissed Spock’s lips. “Welcome
home.”
If you can stand another post from me, here it is!
Of course today I posted a short story called Always Shall Be on AO3. Most of you have already read it. I was contacted on tumblr last night by a reader who follows me there and discovered my secret identity (kidding). Anyway, she asked if I would write something to go with her Spirk art and I agreed. Fortunately she was okay with just a short piece because I just don’t have time for long requests right now.
I finished the next chapter of All I Ever Wanted and I will post that tomorrow to give anyone who wants to read Always Shall Be a chance to focus on that. I’ll probably add the other Valentine story I did to my one-shot collection either tonight or tomorrow as well. The one with the Vulcan card. I swear I can’t even remember what I called it anymore. Ugh, Anyway, I posted it here last Friday!
Long time followers know that me and M aren’t huge huge on V Day. I got him a small present (candy) and he’s making me dinner. But he’s not making it until Friday because we have our WW meeting tomorrow. I requested chicken and mushroom pie (it’s an English thing made with puff pastry) and mashed potatoes. He is also going to make me Pot Au Creme (some fancy creamy custardy lovebird dessert, ha)
I got my one-shot done for Friday and it’s super dupery cute if I do say so myself. Hope you guys will like it.
I may get some garage cleaning done this weekend. We shall see. It’s supposed to rain through Friday and again possibly Sunday, so it’s a small window of opportunity there. We’ve had a rainy season so far. And COLD for us. We’ve had more fires in our fireplace (M’s mistake on NY’s notwithstanding) this year than we’ve had in the last ten, I swear. Tonight I am off to Target and will likely buy a couple more logs.
And that is definitely it for now (well until Friday obviously)
There are stories I want to write. I also want to write the second part of Hello Darkness. It will be set about 6 years in the future. I am thinking of combining it with a previous idea I had with the song ‘Dancing on My Own’, so that when Jim becomes the captain of the Enterprise after not seeing Spock all these years, he finds Spock is with Uhura. I haven’t fully decided on this yet because at the end of Hello Darkness Spock does call Jim his T’hy’la. Men, as we know, are stupid though, so we will see. I also said I would take up ‘The Thought of You is Consuming Me’ again, which was my Regency/Victorian set Pinto story I deleted. I also want to write the one that began in First Footing that was requested by a reader. And others, too. My head is spinning with ideas.
But I can’t write any of those until I give my readers and myself some relief on current stories. I just hope the ideas and mojo doesn’t leave for those unwritten stories.
My plan is to have The Experiment finished in the not too distant future. Perhaps only a few more chapters more. I’m also thinking of ending My Heart’s a Virgin sooner rather than later. Nine Lives will be done, hopefully, before the summer and, perhaps, Bitter Frost, as well. That’s the potential of 4 stories (If I know how to count, ha)
I also need to finish The Love of a Lifetime.
As for, Didn’t We Have it All. Well. On the one hand the guys are together, finally, but I don’t know if I am at the point where I want to say goodbye to them.
Anyway, so I plan to get some of that stuff done before tackling on another. I also have Revealing to finish here, but I will be honest, it won’t be this week. I am sorry. I’ll have something else up on Friday. I know…I suck.
Work is crazy too right now, so I am busy busy here. Anyway, that’s it for now!
“Huh?” Jim’s steps faltered in the grocery store where
he walked beside Bones.
“You know. For Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh. Um. Sure, I guess. Does she like chocolate?”
Bones smirked. “Doesn’t every kid?” He stopped
before a display of brightly colored heart shaped boxes. He eyed Jim. “What
about you?”
“Me? Since when have we exchanged Valentine’s Day
gifts?”
“Not with me, genius. Aren’t you…well whatever…?”
“Involved in a sexual relationship? Yes.”
“So, there’s like no feelings there or anything.”
Jim eyed the glittery boxes with a baleful stale. “None
worth these monstrosities.”
“A romantic to the end, our Jim.”
“Well. It’s not, um, you know. Not like that.” He
felt himself turning hot and red, probably to match the candy boxes. But
really.
“I see.”
“Well, it’s not like we have, you know,
conversations and stuff. Candlelight dinners.”
“So, it’s just bend over and take it?’ Bones chortled
and Jim turned redder. His friend held up his hands. “Kidding. You know what? I
just don’t care that much about whatever goes on between you guys.” He made a
face. “Maybe chocolate is a bad idea. A toy? Like a doll? Or maybe jewelry.”
“Or maybe a gift card and let her pick out her own
gift.”
“That’s no fun. And not much thought into it.”
Jim shrugged.
“I know, look who I’m talking to.”
“You know my family isn’t much into gift giving
and celebrations.”
“I know. That would mean you’d actually have to
see each other.”
“Exactly. And God knows why we’d want to do that.”
Jim picked up a large pink, sequined box. “How about this one?”
They watched the tall, slender Vulcan enter the
story and briefly pause in the doorway as he surveyed the store.
Jim opened his mouth to call out to him but Bones
elbowed him in the stomach. He gave Bones a look.
“Let’s see what he does,” Bones whispered, drawing
Jim away to the next aisle.
They watched as the Vulcan, Spock, stepped over to
the display of heart shaped chocolate boxes. Jim frowned but Bones grinned.
“Isn’t that too sweet?”
“Shut up,” Jim whispered furiously.
Spock chose a big red heart with a ribbon bow and
then walked up to the front of the store to the register. He quickly paid and
left the store.
“Well?” Bones said.
“Well, er, what?”
“Come on, Jim. You have to get him something now.”
Jim bit his lip. He was so sure Spock wouldn’t be
into Valentine’s Day. It was so unlike him. They’d even talked about it before
and how stupid it was. It made no sense.
“I can’t get him chocolate, Bones.”
“Get him something else then.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, do I?” Bones laughed suddenly. “Sexy
underwear.”
“Sexy…what?”
****
On Valentine’s Day, Jim went to Spock’s apartment.
After a particularly vigorous sex session, Spock said he would get them takeout
for dinner, and that Jim could take his time getting out of bed and getting dressed.
Jim got up, grabbed his clothes and went to go into the bathroom when he saw the big red heart box Spock had got for him. With a smile, he walked over to it. He’d left the wrapped package of the red silk boxers he’d bought for Spock in his book bag when he’d first got there as it had felt a little weird to give it straight away to him.
His smile widened when he spotted the tag Spock
had included. He flipped over the heart
shaped tag.
“To: Nyota, From: Spock.”
Jim dropped the tag and backed away, disappointment
coursing through him.
Of course it hadn’t been for him. What had he been
thinking, anyway?
Nyota was just a friend. That much Jim had known. So he knew there wasn’t any grand romantic
gesture on Spock’s part in giving her the candy. Likely, his mom had told him
to or someone like that.
His disappointment didn’t come from romantic jealousy.
But from his own foolishness at thinking he was getting a present. Gifts were
for suckers. Jim’s family had taught him that. And expectations were for fools.
He went to his book bag, took out the package and
stuffed it into the back of Spock’s sock drawer. Then he texted Spock.
“Oh, hey. Can’t stay for dinner after all. Sorry.
I’ll be in touch.”
Jim hit send before he chickened out.
He was on his way out when he spotted a white
envelop on the coffee table. He stopped. From where he stood he could see his
name in Spock’s ridiculously neat handwriting.
Jim bit his lip, walked over, and picked up the unsealed
envelope. Inside was a card.
It was a rather artistic drawing of a Vulcan with
a pulsing heart at his side, beating, or the drawing was meant to imply a beating
heart anyway. Inside were the words,
I want
you to live long and prosper…with me.
Just then the door to Spock’s apartment opened and
Spock stepped inside holding two bags of takeout. He stared at Jim.
“You are still here. I received your note and—”
Jim rushed over to Spock and threw his arms around
the Vulcan, kissing him hard. Spock
seemed startled a moment, but then returned the kiss with equal fervor.
“Bones is right. I am an idiot.”
“I do not understand.”
“I know. But I swear, from now on, I’m going to be
better.”
“About what?” Spock asked cautiously.
“About everything.”
“Then…are you staying?”
“I’m staying. And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I’ve been practicing this. Um.” He leaned in and
whispered in Spock’s ear.
Spock’s arms tightened around him.
“Did I say it right?”
“What were you trying to say, Jim?”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you, in Vulcan.”
Spock’s lips twitched but his eyes were shining. “I
love you as well, however, you did not say Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Jim frowned. “No? What did I say? I got the words
from your family and they said—”
“You said that you were mine forever, that you
were obedient, that you loved me…”
“Oh.” Jim smiled and nodded. “That’s okay then.”
“And you like to cluck like a chicken.” Spock
paused to let Jim laugh. “Sybok?”
“How did you know?”
Spock shook his head. “An educated guess.”
“We can reheat the food,” Jim said. “I have a present
for you in the room. I’m dying to see you wearing it.”
Spock arched a brow, but he hurried after Jim, leaving
the food containers on the coffee table as he passed by.
To say Jim was startled when he entered to see Spock
already waiting there would be an understatement. It was true that he was a few
minutes later than he’d said he’d be. He could chalk that up to Bones, who took
ten minutes longer than usual to tell some story Jim had already heard before.
It was a funny story though and with Bones latest embellishments, added for purely
showing off purposes, it had amused Jim even more.
But he had told Spock they could play chess at 1900
hours and clearly Spock had taken him quite seriously.
It was unusual for Spock to access Jim’s quarters when
Jim was not there though.
“Oh. Hi, Spock.”
“Hello, baby.”
Jim blinked. He could not have just heard what he
thought he’d heard.
“Uh. Give me a moment, okay? I want to get out of this
uniform.”
Jim pulled off his tunic and walked over to the laundry
chute. He felt Spock’s gaze on him, and wondered at it. He shook his head and
dropped his tunic into the chute. Then reached for the hem of his undershirt.
As he did so, his gaze fell on the open heart-shaped box
of chocolates lying on his desk. At least half of the wrappers were empty.
Jim turned quickly to stare at Spock and almost ran into
him, for he’d moved a lot closer.
“I can assist you with that,” Spock murmured.
“Spock, have you been eating those?”
Spock followed Jim’s gaze. “I received them as a gift.”
Jim frowned. “From whom?”
He was not jealous. At all. Because he completely did not
have a right. Spock could receive gifts from whomever and Jim had nothing to
say about it.
Spock shrugged. “Anonymous.”
“Anonymous,” Jim repeated.
“I suspect that they are from Nyota, however.”
“Wouldn’t she have just put her name on it?”
“There was no name, but they are similar to chocolates
she has presented me with in the past.”
“Oh.” Jim turned away and pulled off his undershirt. “I
wasn’t aware you guys were, um, you know. Still exchanging gifts for you know,
that stupid day.”
“You believe Valentine’s Day is stupid?”
“Pretty much.” Jim dropped his undershirt, so he bent
over and picked it up. Spock’s hand landed on his butt. Jim froze. “Commander.”
“Yes, baby?”
Jim laughed, straightened and turned around. “Have you
really eaten all those chocolates? I guess you have. Why would Uhura give you
those of all people? I mean she has to know.”
Spock nodded. “She does. They are for courage.”
“Courage, huh? Take it from me, Spock, using intoxication
for courage is never a good thing.” Jim stepped over to his wardrobe, took out
his t-shirt, and pulled it on over his head. Then he went back to where Spock
stood. “Baby, huh?”
Spock looked unexpectedly intense and sincere as he stared
into Jim’s eyes. “I will use whatever your preferred endearment is.”
Jim smiled. “You don’t need endearments. You know why I
keep inviting you over for chess?”
“To improve your obvious lack of finesse in playing?”
He laughed. “No. I don’t even really like it much. I
used to play with Sam before he left and before I took up with you, I hadn’t
played in years.”
“Then why—”
“To spend time with you,” Jim said, carefully. “Baby.”
Spock straightened a little, but green had splashed across
his cheeks. “I apologize for my earlier assault of your person.”
“My–”
“My accosting of your…derriere.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “It’s only assault if I object. And I
don’t.”
“That is good to hear.” Spock made an odd sound between
a burp and a choke.
“Uh.” Jim stepped back. “I think you might want to sit
down, Spock, while I get you a trash can.”
“But I wish to—”
“Yeah, me too. It’s
going to have to wait, though, honey.”
Oh.” Spock’s eyes widened. “I like that better.”
Jim laughed again. “Sit down. I’ll get the trash.”
Spock nodded, staggered toward the bed, suddenly covered
his mouth, and with a pained cry, threw up all over the coverlet Jim’s mom had
sent him.
“Damn.” Jim eyed the half eaten box of chocolate. “This
is definitely going in the trash.” He stepped over to it. “After I try one, of
course.” He took a bite and closed his eyes. “Oh, my God. No wonder you ate so
many.”
“Jim,” Spock moaned, sagging to the floor next to the
bed.
“Oh. Um. Yeah. Sorry.” Jim went over to Spock. “Are you
going to barf more?”
Spock shook his head.
“Okay, then, um, let’s get you cleaned up. And the bed
obviously, too.”
“I am sorry.”
“No, no, it’s fine.”
“But my declaration—”
Jim smiled. “Was perfect. I’m not a subtle guy, Spock.
Patting my ass and calling me baby is the kind of blunt declaration I go for.”
He helped Spock to his feet and started toward the
bathroom. “Hang on.” He leaned Spock against the wall and hurried over to the
chocolate, popping it into his mouth. “These things are insanely good.”
“I thought you wished to throw them away.”
“Er, yeah. But um, why waste food?” Jim brushed hair out
of Spock’s eyes. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”
“Even with vomit—”
Jim laughed. “Well, not as beautiful.” He rolled his
eyes. “Come on, Mr. Romance. Let’s clean you up.”
Briefly, I did two updates today, My Devotion, and When I Loved You. And that doesn’t count Revealing, which I posted here. Yes, I really am that good. HA HA. Kidding.
That frees me up for more of The Experiment and…the next chapter of Didn’t We Almost Have it All and the next part of Revealing. So stay tuned for those coming your way
Jim was
aware Spock watched him very closely as they walked through the city. He was
used to those around him giving him funny looks, but he definitely didn’t want
those to come from Spock.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and tried to
pretend Spock didn’t find him as strange as everyone else did. “I really don’t
want to stay here.”
Spock stiffened beside him. “If you desire to
return to your home—”
“That’s not my home,” Jim said, quickly. “And I
didn’t mean that. I like being here with you, Spock.”
“Very
well,” Spock said, cautiously.
“I’ve…never had a boyfriend.” Jim felt himself blush.
“I mean…not that you are or anything.”
“You may think of me that way, if you wish.”
Jim’s face got hotter. “I like walking around
with you. And lunch was nice, too. I’ve not really had a lot of friends either.
I made friends on Tarsus, but…well.”
“Did they die?” Spock’s voice was soft and very
gentle.
Jim nodded. “A few survived, but after we left,
we lost touch.”
“I am sorry, Jim.”
Jim bit his lip. “It’s nice to have a friend.”
“For me also.”
He glanced at Spock. “Yeah?”
“I do not make friends easily,” Spock said. “I
am welcomed neither by Humans or Vulcans. Not warmly anyway.”
“Well, don’t they suck.” Jim smiled. “But the
thing is, when I’m finally old enough to blow this place, Eltron I mean, and
never look back, I’ve met you.”
“It is Eltron you do not want to stay.”
“I don’t want to have to deal with Frank
anymore. If she won’t leave him…I just don’t know what to do. It’s just so
complicated now.”
“I have made a commitment to reside here for
two years in order to teach the children here.”
Jim sighed. “I know. That’s part of the
complication. I can’t stay here another two years, Spock.”
“And I cannot leave here before that.” He did
not sound particularly happy about it, so that was something.
But it left things at a standstill between
them. Jim liked Spock a lot. But to stick around for two more years…
That ended up putting a damper on things and
both of them lapsed into a heavy silence. Eventually Jim suggested they go back
and so they returned to Spock’s hover car and back to Jim’s house.
“Thank you, Spock. For lunch and everything. I
didn’t mean for you to have to pay.”
“I did not mind.” Spock hesitated. “Jim.”
“Yeah?”
Spock shook his head. “It is nothing.”
Jim’s chest felt tight and his stomach kind of sour.
He didn’t like it. He got out of the hover car and turned back to Spock. “I
guess I will see you.”
“Yes, Jim.”
And he watched as Spock pulled away in the
hover car.
He glanced toward the house. At least there was
no screaming. That was something anyway.
When he got inside, he realized neither his mom
nor Frank were home. And he was glad. The less he had to deal with them the
better.
He was surprised his mom hadn’t left a note
though. He went to his room and ended up falling asleep. When he woke again it
was dark outside and in the house.
And his mom and Frank were still gone.
He made himself some food, added the additive
and waited for them to come home. When it was pretty late and they still hadn’t
come home, Jim went to bed.
****
Spock was surprised to see Jim so early in the
morning. He was frankly a little surprised to see Jim at all, for things didn’t
end very well between them the prior day.
He liked Jim a lot. Was very attracted to Jim.
But if Jim was leaving—
“Jim?”
The human looked a little spooked. His blue
eyes were wide and his hair disheveled. And his bottom lip was very red, as
though he had been biting it over and over.
“Jim? What has happened? Are you all right?”
Jim clutched at him. “Something has happened.
They’re gone.”
Winona ignored him as her gaze surveyed the space station for her son.
Where he’d gone to, she didn’t know. She had just gone to the bathroom and had
left Frank there to keep an eye on him. Obviously she couldn’t trust him to do
anything right.
“The shuttle leaves in less than ten minutes,” the man next to her
whined.
She had grown to hate him. What she had ever seen in him, she no longer
knew. It was thanks in large part to him that she’d nearly lost two sons. Sam
was gone. She didn’t know where to find him. Had just walked off one day, Frank
told her. Jim confirmed it.
And then Frank had sent Jim away.
To that hell hole.
Yes, she hated him.
But she hated herself more. This was really her fault, wasn’t it? If
George had lived he would be so disgusted with her. But of course—
“Wi, the shuttle.”
God, she had grown to hate that nickname. She turned on him. “Well, why did
you let him out of your sight?”
“The little shit tricked me,” Frank protested. “Said he wanted something
from the vending machine.” Frank looked sullen. “And you said to feed him whenever he was hungry because-because-”
“I know why.”
Overhead they announced final boarding for the shuttle.
“If we don’t go now we’re going to miss it! There’s not another shuttle
back to Earth until tomorrow morning.”
“You get on the shuttle,” Winona said. “I’m not leaving here without my
boy.”
“He could be anywhere. He might even be on another shuttle somewhere
else. Look—”
“Go, Frank,” she said, giving him a shove. “Get out of here. And when you
get to Riverside, you can get your stuff out of my house.”
“Wi—”
“I’m done, Frank. I should have been done before you destroyed my family.
Get on that shuttle and out of our lives for good!”
“Bitch,” he muttered as he turned and headed for the ramp that would take him onto the shuttle and back to Earth and away from her and her son for .good. She only hoped it really would be that easy.
“Ma’am.”
She turned toward the guard she had reported Jim missing to earlier. “Did
you find my son?”
He nodded. “I think so. Come this way.”
They rounded a corner and then she saw her boy. So skinny, like a
skeleton, really, and she wanted to weep at the sight, but she had to be strong
for him. For her son. He was only thirteen and so fragile right now.
Jim was not alone though. He sat on the floor of a waiting area, sitting in the corner next to a boy who looked a few years older than him and Vulcan, from the looks of it. They looked to be having a very intense conversation. Jim kept nodding at whatever the Vulcan boy said, but she was relieved to see that Jim didn’t look afraid.
“Is that him?” the guard asked.
“Yes. Yes, thank you.”
She hurried over. “Jimmy!” Jim flinched as he looked up at her, blue eyes wide behind his glasses. He shrank back against the Vulcan boy. Her heart clenched in her chest. She forced herself to relax and to smile. “There you are, honey.”
“Hi Mom.” He glanced at the boy with him, who stared at her with dark,
intense eyes. “Mom, this is Spock. Spock, my mom.”
“Hello, Spock. It’s nice to meet you.”
Spock held up his hand in a Vulcan gesture she could not recall the name
of but before he could do more than raise it, a human woman dashed up to them,
and she was holding two drinks. She smiled at Winona.
“Hello there. I’m Amanda Grayson. Spock’s mother. You must be Jim’s
mother.”
Winona nodded. She was surprised the Vulcan had a human mother. She had never met any Vulcan who seemed to be particularly tolerant of humans, yet she could see that Spock sat very close to Jim, and her son did not seem to mind.
“Jim got lost, I guess, looking for food and something to drink, so I
thought I’d just leave him here with my son while I got them a drink. And some
candy.” She held up candy bar. “Is Jim allowed to have this?”
“Oh,” Winona said faintly. “Yes. Yes, he can.”
“Wonderful.” Amanda handed the drink and candy to Jim and then handed a drink to the Vulcan boy. “I was intending to have them page you after I brought their drinks.” She lowered her voice. “It’s just…he seemed so hungry, you know and I thought–“
“Yes. Thank you. Come, Jim.”
He bit his lip. “Do I have to go?”
“Jim—”
Spock said something very softly to Jim that she couldn’t hear. But whatever
it was, Jim nodded, and stood up, going over to Winona. Spock also stood.
“Where’s Frank?” Jim asked then, looking around.
Winona patted Jim’s arm, and then turned to the woman and her son. “Thank
you so much for looking after him. What do I owe you for the drink and candy?”
“Oh, nothing. It was a small thing we could do. I’m glad you found your mama, Jim. Please stay safe. Come, Spock.”
Winona drew Jim away as the woman and her son departed. “Honey, Frank is
gone.”
Jim frowned. “He left on the shuttle without you?”
“I told him to go,” she said fiercely. She hugged his small bones, tears
springing to her eyes. “He’s never ever coming back.”
“He…isn’t?”
“No,” she whispered. “It’s just the two of us from now on, Jimmy. I promise. Nobody else. You’re going to be my priority.” She drew back and put her hand on his cheek. “We can’t go out of the space station until tomorrow. So we’ll get a room tonight. But in the meantime, are you hungry?”
Jim nodded, swallowing.
And of course he was hungry. It was a stupid question.
“We’re going to have a big dinner.” She held his hand, gently for his bones were fragile, and she turned to call out, as a thought occurred to her, “Amanda!”
Amanda Grayson and her son, Spock, stopped, and turned back toward them.
Winona smiled. “We have some time here. And Jimmy and I are going to have
dinner at that restaurant down at the end near gate D. Would you like to join
us?”
Spock turned that intense gaze on his mother, who smiled. “Yes, I think
Spock and I would very much like to join you.”
Jim brightened instantly and he gave Winona a very tentative smile, but it was there, as he hurried to walk beside the Vulcan boy, who said nothing, but inclined his head in a way that seemed to please Jim, and they made their way to the restaurant.
“I’m Winona…Kirk.” She’d about to introduce herself with her married name
with Frank, but then changed at the last minute. “And of course, you’ve met
Jim.”
“Yes. And Spock is my son with my husband, Ambassador Sarek. We’re on our
way back to Vulcan, but we don’t depart for a few hours ourselves.”
And she continued to chat as they walked along and Winona watched as Jim’s
step was just a little lighter.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 