“I hate
to admit it but the song you played earlier is quite correct.”
Jim eyed
his boyfriend, who admittedly looked quite grumpy at the moment. He looked
adorable, of course. Spock was bundled up in a down jacket with a woolen cap,
thick waterproof gloves, and earmuffs as though they were camping out in an
igloo instead of merely standing outside in the yard. Oh. A scarf around his neck too.
Jim was
pretty sure before this moment he could not be any more in love. He’d been
wrong.
“How’s
that, babe?”
“The
weather is frightful.”
He said
it was such a straight face and so deadpan that Jim fought the laugh that
wanted to spill out. Instead he nodded. “The snow bothering you, Spock?”
Because
yes a little bit ago, the snowfall had become harder than when they’d first
come outside. It had snowed overnight and Jim had suggested that they come out
and build a snowman.
“A what?”
“A snowman.”
“A man made out of snow?”
“Right.”
Clearly
the concept had been quite lost on Spock, but he bundled up, thusly, and
accompanied Jim outside, somewhat begrudgingly.
“And it
does not show signs of stopping.” Spock tilted his head to look up at the sky.
“I have also noted a marginal decrease in the optimal temperature.”
Jim
smiled. “I love you so much.”
That
earned him the raised eyebrow. “And I love you as well, though I do fail to
make the connection with what I just said.”
“I know.
Well. The good news, Spock, is we have no place we need to go and I can build
us a fire. Just like in the song.”
Spock
seemed troubled by this, which Jim was unsure why.
“Spock?”
“In the
song, they kiss goodbye. I do not wish to do that part.”
Jim
laughed. “Well. No. We won’t. Babe, we’re not actually living the song. It’s
okay. We’ll just have a nice fire and cuddle on the couch.” Jim’s smile
widened. “I noticed you like to cuddle.”
Spock
turned green. “Well. There is the plain fact that you are quite tempting to
cuddle with. I did not notice a prior need to cuddle.”
It was
on the tip of his tongue to mention he could see why Uhura wouldn’t be very
cuddly, but decided not to go there. He liked her. And Spock did too. Loved her
even. And well, Jim didn’t like to be reminded that they’d been very close to
marrying or the Vulcan equivalent. Or at least he thought they had been.
“Want to
go back inside?”
“You do not appear to have finished your snow humanoid.”
“Er.
Right. But I can finish him tomorrow or something. By myself if you don’t want
to come out into the cold. No big deal.”
“Very
well. Then I would enjoy spending time inside with you.”
Jim eyed
his half-finished snowman regretfully and linked his arm with Spock’s to go
back into the farmhouse.
In some
ways the place was haunted by memories, not ghosts or anything, and not all of
them bad. When he was that young guy who’d Pike picked up off the floor, he’d
ended up enlisting in Starfleet to get away from this place more than having an
interest. Sure, the dare had something to do with it. To young Jim, anyway. But
he’d grown up since then. And analyzed himself in those days a lot.
He got Spock
situated on the couch, made them hot peppermint mochas, and then built up the
fire.
By the
time he joined Spock on the couch, he could tell his first officer was losing
patience. But he instantly pulled Jim closer to him on the sofa.
“This is
much more delightful, as the song says,” Spock said softly.
Jim laughed,
kissed him and murmured, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”
Jim looked up from the annoying message from
Admiral Chang to frown at Bones. His friend sat across from him sipping a muddy
looking cup of coffee. “Spock’s.”
Bones rolled his eyes. “Like that wasn’t rigged.”
“Oh. It absolutely was. I figured Spock would
be the only one guaranteed not to be disappointed with whatever I gave him. He
doesn’t care about that stuff. In fact, Uhura twisted his arm to get him to
participate at all.” He smiled. “So, yep, very much rigged.”
“What are you getting him?”
“I don’t know. She’s going to ask him what he
wants.”
“Jim, could you try to make some effort here.”
“I’m busy,
Bones. Do you know what it takes to captain this ship? I don’t have time to be
playing ‘Here Comes, Santa Claus’ or whatever Uhura decided to call this crap
this year. I only agreed if I could have either Spock or you. She chose Spock.”
“Wait.” Bones grimaced. “You didn’t care
about disappointing me?”
“Eh. You’ve been disappointed by me our
entire friendship.”
Bones nodded. “Touché.”
Jim nodded absently and went back to the
message.
“Don’t you want to know whose name I got?”
Bones asked, poking him with his right boot.
“Huh?” Jim looked up. “Oh. Uh. Yeah. Me, I’m
guessing.”
“Why would you guess that?”
“Uhura handed out the names, right? She’s not
going to give my name to some quaking ensign who’s worried about getting me the
perfect gift or he or she will be demoted. Which is patently ridiculous by the
way.”
“I know that.”
“I’m sure she gave Spock her own name. So I
figure she must have given mine to you.”
“She didn’t.” Bones frowned. “Why would she
give Spock her name? They broke up. She’s seeing Scotty now.”
“I know
that. But Scotty is going to get her a gift anyway, right? So she’d choose
someone else for the exchange. Spock knows her better than anyone, given their
history, and so he’s the logical choice.”
“You’ve been hanging out with Spock too much
lately. No, she didn’t give me your name, by the way. I don’t know if Spock has
her, but I know I don’t have you. I got Sulu.”
“Wait. What? Then who has my name?”
“It’s a mystery.” Bones stared at him.
“What’s wrong? You seem off. Well, more off than usual.”
“Funny. Nothing serious. Just annoyed with
Chang. Extra reports nobody needs over missions nobody cared about. Fond of red
tape and bureaucracy as usual.”
“Well he made admiral younger than anyone
ever has before. Probably thinks he has to justify himself. You ought to know
how that is.”
“Yeah.” Jim sighed. “Then Mom said the roof
is leaking on the farmhouse.”
“And?”
He shrugged. “I’m not there to fix it for
her.”
“I’m sure she can call someone, Jim.”
“She can, yeah. But…” Jim shook his head.
“Just, I feel bad.”
Bones squeezed his arm. “The holidays can do
that to a person. I’ll leave you to your PADD for now. Let me know what you
come up with for Spock.”
****
It was much later that Jim got back to his
quarters. After a bout of rather heavy drinking with Bones, Scotty and Chekov.
As he turned to go down the corridor he saw
Uhura talking to Spock.
“I wanted to ask you about the gift
exchange.”
He stopped just out of their view to listen.
He had thought she would be a little more discreet about finding out what Spock
wanted for a gift, but what the hell. The information was the information.
A door behind him slid open with a loud buzz.
Jim glanced at it in annoyance. No one came out of the conference room though,
the door was opening and closing itself, obviously a malfunction, but it made
it hard to overhear what Spock and Uhura were saying.
“Tequila.”
Jim scratched his head. What? Was Spock actually saying he wanted tequila for a gift? Spock didn’t drink, did he? Well. He had some fruity looking concoction at Jim’s birthday party after Altamid, but he’d assumed it was juice or something.
Maybe not.
He was pretty sure Scotty could hook him up
with tequila if that was what Spock wanted.
He leaned heavily against the wall as he
heard Uhura say goodnight to Spock and head down the corridor in the other
direction.
Good, now he could move. In a second or two.
“Captain?”
He tried to open his eyes and straighten at
the sound of Spock’s voice, but he just couldn’t do it.
“Spock?”
“You are intoxicated.”
Strong arms wrapped around him and Jim had to
admit Spock smelled live heaven.
“I am not certain what heaven smells like,
but I appreciate the sentiment.”
Oh crap.
“Come, Captain, I will take you to your
quarters.”
“Rather go to yours,” he muttered.
The room kind of spun and Jim wasn’t sure
what happened next, but suddenly he was on a bed. And it was super hot in the
room.
“Computer, lower temperature ten percent.”
Jim smiled faintly. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“You are welcome.” There was a long pause. “How
do you feel?”
“Kind of woozy.”
“You imbibed a lot?”
“Bones. Mom’s roof leaks and Chang’s a pain
in my ass.”
“If you feel overwhelmed by required tasks I
will gladly assist you.”
Jim felt suddenly emotional and tears pricked
his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Of course.”
He felt a cool hand on his fevered brow. “Jim,
what is the meaning of your tears?”
“I just…I really want you to like me, Spock.”
“You are a silly human.”
“I know.”
“You have nothing to worry over. I like you.”
“Not the way I like you.”
“Yes, that way.”
Jim frowned. “Do you really want tequila?”
“Jim?”
“Sleepy.”
****
“So you spent the night in Spock’s bed?”
Bones demanded in the morning as he pushed coffee at Jim.
“Yeah. Cause when I told him I would rather stay
in his quarters, he took me at my word.”
“You two are hopeless.”
Jim smiled. “At least we now know.”
Bones gave him a look. “What do we know?”
Jim rolled his eyes. “We like each other.”
“Like huh. So Spock’s tongue in your mouth
this morning in the turbolift was to show you how much he liked you?”
“Yep.” Jim chuckled. “Plus he was offering to
help me with reports.”
“So now you two are sweethearts for life?”
Jim laughed. “Something like that.”
****
Spock looked at bottle of tequila he had just
unwrapped to stare at his captain. The last few days had been full of wonder
and contentment. But even he found this gift from Jim puzzling.
“Was that the right thing?” Jim asked, anxiously.
He was wringing his hands and looking very uncomfortable.
“Right thing?”
Jim nodded. “I-I heard you tell Uhura that
you wanted tequila.”
Nyota blinked at him. “Tequila?”
“In the corridor.” Jim bit his lip. He was
starting to get that panicked look that concerned Spock. “You asked and he
said…”
“T’hy’la,” Spock whispered.
Nyota covered her mouth with her hand.
Jim’s eyes widened. “I got it wrong, didn’t
I?”
Spock took Jim’s hand and drew him close
until they were under the mistletoe Nyota had put up in the rec room. “No, T’hy’la.
You got it exactly right.”
“Wait,” McCoy exclaimed. “Who had Jim’s name?”
Nyota smiled and winked. “I did. I gave him Spock.”
Spock kissed Jim.
“Oh. And Spock gave him the complete works of
Charles Dickens. It’s under the tree.”
Jim kissed Spock.
And in the background the song, “Here Comes
Santa Claus” played for the tenth time.
Jim sucked in a breath as he gazed down at the
perfect little angel nestled in Spock’s arms. She had blue eyes, dark hair and
the most perfect set of pointy ears he had ever truly seen. Present company
excepted of course.
“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this
little munchkin,” Bones said, leaning over the tiny baby girl. “What are you
two gonna call her?”
“Well.” Jim paused to exchange of adoring looks with
his husband. He could hardly believe she was here. After all their planning for
her. All the donating this. And testing that. Mixing genes. All of that had brought
her.
“Don’t tell me it’s going to be something like T’Spock
or T’James,” Bones said dryly.
“Hardly, doctor.”
“Let me hold her,” Jim said, reaching for her. He
could barely contain himself. But fortunately he had an indulgent husband.
Spock actually smiled gently as he carefully placed the baby in Jim’s arms. Emotion
clogged his throat. “I’m gonna cry.”
“Me too,” Bones said, rolling his eyes. “A name?”
“Spock and I went back and forth on whether to
name her in the Vulcan tradition or the human.”
“Indeed. But ultimately since she is three
quarters human, we decided it would be more appropriate to use a human name.”
“Right.” Jim smiled and leaned over to kiss Spock.
Bones sighed.
Jim just laughed. “And then we couldn’t decide if
we should name her Amanda or Winona. Something like that.”
“Indeed. Or some combination. Such as Amanda
Winona or the reverse.”
“I even thought of Leonora or Horatia.”
Bones made a face. “She’s far too lovely for
either of those.”
“Agreed,” Spock said.
“So…we discarded all those.”
“And?”
“Considering the time of year she was born…”
“And?”
“How pleased we are at her arrival,” Spock put in.
“And?” Bones
kept getting louder and louder.
Their daughter, to her credit, did not seem upset
by her Uncle Bones’ theatrics.
Spock arched a brow. “Her name is…”
Jim met his gaze and smiled with all that he felt
in his heart. Which was…
Chris got close to the screen, bending at the waist at an
odd angle, as he peered at the video I had just put in the player.
After having just a moment ago teased me for still
having a VHS player.
“Mom sends me home videos like this one. How else can I
play them?”
Chris got even closer to the screen.
I shook my head affectionately. “Need your glasses, Christopher?”
“No. I just can’t believe this is you. Wow.”
But it was, of course. Well, thirteen year old me. I did
go to Catholic school after all. And I was standing on a choir stage, wearing a
choir robe, red for Christmas, singing in a Christmas pageant. The song was in
Latin, In Dulci Jubilo.
“I didn’t know you knew Latin.”
I snorted. “I don’t. I learned the song. I don’t speak
it.”
“Look at those pink cheeks!”
“Christopher.”
Chris laughed. “I can’t help it. You were so damn cute.
Oh. My. God.”
“Do you want a glass of this eggnog or what?”
He straightened, but instead of walking away from the TV
screen, he dropped down to his haunches in front of it. “You sound good.”
“You can’t possibly pick out my voice out of all of us.”
Chris laughed again. “No. I meant all of you together. I
don’t think you’ll beat the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or anything, but you’re
good. Really good.”
“Eggnog?”
“Uh-huh.”
I went over to the table where I’d left the carton of eggnog
and poured some in two frosted holiday glasses. I picked up the brandy bottle.
“Brandy?”
“Of course.” He rose, finally turned away from the TV. The beat up T-shirt
he wore rose up to expose some of his belly. Chris absently scratched at it. “Let’s
hear it.”
I arched a brow, giving my Spock character a run for his
money. “Hear what?”
“In Dulci Jubilo? Do you remember it?”
“Sure, I remember it. But I was a kid with my voice
having not changed yet. Now I’d sound like a frog trying to croak it. Just
listen to kid me singing.”
“Spoil sport.” But he was smiling as he took the drink from me. “I love that your mom recorded that kind of stuff and sends it to you to see. That’s so sweet.”
“That’s the Quintos. Sweet as can be,” I said, dryly.
“Well, I know you are.” He took a big swallow of
eggnog and then put down the glass, coming into my arms. He took my glass and
put it down beside his, then looped his arms around my neck. “Thanks for coming
here.”
“You came here, remember? This is my house.”
“I know. I meant here. For Christmas. Instead of staying
in New York. Every time you go away, you take a piece of me with you.”
I snorted. “Lord, you’re corny. Quoting from songs now.”
But I kissed him, long and slow.
“So. In sweet rejoicing, right?”
“Yep. That’s the translation. Dates back to medieval
times in some forms. It’s been popularized and modernized since those days.”
“Well, I like to rejoice at how sweet you are,” Chris
cracked.
“Try not to be quite so much of an ass.” I kissed him to
soften the words.
“I do try, honest,” he murmured against my lips. “How
about we cuddle on the couch with our eggnog and watch little Zach sing and
then watch corny Christmas movies together all night until we fall into bed and
ravish each other?”
“Sounds like the perfect night to me,” I agreed. “Love
you.”
He smiled, bright and beautiful. “Love you, too.”
Jim could not contain his mirth as he eyed the
outfit Bones wore. “Oh. My God. Are you actually the partridge?” He fingered
the outer part of Bones’ costume. “And this part is the tree?”’
“Shut up.” Partridge Bones shoved him. “What the
hell are you, anyway?”
“Five Golden Rings. Duh.”
Jim wore a lightweight T-shirt with golden rings
he’d cut out from gold lame material and then attached them to the T-Shirt. No
way was he going to wear something as ridiculously extravagant as Bones’ Partridge
in a Pear Tree getup.
Bones narrowed his eyes and grimaced as he
snatched up a glass of Holiday Punch as an ensign with a tray passed by. “I
only see four rings. Four, Jim.”
Jim frowned. “Hmm. Weird. I wonder where that fifth
one went.” He turned around to look behind him.
“No, it’s not hanging from your ass. Damn, Jim.
You can’t even get something that simple right.”
Jim grinned and shrugged.
“Oh hell. There’s Scotty and Uhura as Two Turtle Doves.
I may throw up.”
He laughed. “It was her idea to do this in the
first place.”
“I know. Where’s your lover boy?” Bones scowled. “Don’t tell me you let Spock get out of this because…”
“I didn’t! He’s over there piping or something.”
“Huh?”
“Eleven Pipers Piping. That’s what Spock is. Only
he’s just one. Obviously.”
“One Spock is enough to handle,” Bones said dryly.
Jim smiled. “I don’t know. I’d be happy dealing
with eleven Spocks.”
“I have a pounding headache, Doktor. Hikaru will
not stop Drumming Drumming.”
Bones rolled his eyes. “Go A’Leaping somewhere
else, will ya?”
Chekov eyed Jim. “There are only four rings.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll find the other. Must have lost
it.”
Chekov leaped off.
The two turtle doves walked up then and Jim had to
admit he might join Bones in throwing up.
Across the rec room he saw Rand doing the ladies
dancing thing. He shook his head.
“Captain, you’re missing a ring,” Uhura pointed
out.
“Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”
At that moment, Jim’s own true love appeared by
his side, dressed as a piper and holding a musical pipe thing. He looked a
little more Pied Piper of Hamlin than a Christmas Piper, but whatever.
“Hi, honey,” Jim greeted him.
Spock arched a brow. “What happened to the fifth
golden ring?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Jim exclaimed. He patted
himself up and down. “It’s gotta be here somewhere.” He reached into his pants
pocket and withdrew a small golden band. “Here it is.”
Uhura gasped.
Jim winked at her and then dropped to his knees. He
wiggled the gold band. “Here’s the fifth one. Five golden rings. Spock, will
you…”
“I can’t believe you’re gonna do this now,” Bones
muttered,
“Shut up.” Jim grinned up at a blushing Spock. “Will
you be my husband?”
“Jim,” Spock whispered.
His brows furrowed. “Is that a yes?”
“Of course it’s a yes!” Uhura yelled.
Jim smirked at her. “I’d still like to hear it
from Spock, if you don’t mind.” He rose to his feet and held out the golden
ring. “What do you say, Piper? Want to play my pipes for the rest of our lives?”
“Jim!”
“Oh. My. God. I take it back,” Uhura said,
laughing uncontrollably. “He says no!”
Spock gave her a look, then looked back at Jim. “Ridiculous
proposal notwithstanding, yes, I will.”
Jim whooped and pulled Spock the Piper into his arms
for a thorough kiss.
“All right everyone. Places! We’re going to act
out the song.” Scotty said with a clap.
Jim kept kissing Spock. “Later.”
“Much later,” Spock murmured, leading Jim and his
golden rings away.
Jim lowered his coffee cup and looked up from
his PADD into the wide blue eyes of his four year old nephew, Peter. He smiled.
“What’s up?”
“Whatcha doin’?”
“Looking at some messages I received.”
Peter scrunched up his face. “For work?”
Jim sensed a trap. He slowly sipped his
coffee. “Er.”
“Daddy said you aren’t supposed to be doing
work while you’re here.”
Daddy has a big ugly trap, Jim thought. But
he continued to smile. “It’s just a teeny bit.”
Peter sort of shrugged at that. “Santa comes tonight!”
“I know he does.” Jim scooped the boy up onto
his lap. “Are you excited?”
“Yes. Are you?”
Jim chuckled. “Well, sure I am.”
“What did you want Santa to bring you?”
“Uh. Well.”
“Mister Spock?”
Jim’s face heated a little. “Uh, no.”
“He likes you, Uncle Jim. I know he does.”
“Well, even if he does, I wouldn’t ask Santa
for that. Santa doesn’t bring people,” Jim told his nephew.
“He doesn’t?”
“Nope.” Definitely time for a change of
subject. “What did you ask Santa for?”
“A red truck,” Peter said, matter-of-factly.
“Well, I bet he brings you one. Did you make
him cookies?”
“Yep. Mister Spock helped me.”
Jim found himself laughing again. He patted
Peter’s leg. “This I gotta see.”
Peter jumped off him and Jim stood up
following him into the kitchen. They’d made sugar cookies, of course, with all
kinds of colorful icing. Some were much more neat and elegant than the others
so Jim figured he could guess who made those.
“Those are cool. Okay, go see your Mommy. I
think it’s probably time for you to go to bed so Santa can come.”
Peter ran off to see his mommy and with a
shake of his head, Jim grabbed a tree shaped cookie and went in search of
Spock.
He found the Vulcan sitting outside on the
front porch with Sam. He’d been quite surprised when Spock had decided to come
with him to visit his brother and his family for the holidays. Sam, Aurelan,
and Peter had moved to the old farmhouse in Riverside, taking it over from
their mom, who now resided on a colony planet, doing research there.
The Enterprise and her crew were on a short
leave on Earth while some repairs and upgrades to the ship were done. Spock had
declared there really wasn’t enough time to warrant spending his leave on New
Vulcan and since he and Uhura had never really revived their ended relationship
after their experience with Krall and Altamid, they weren’t spending their
leave together.
That left Spock deciding to join Jim.
It was a rare delight to get to spend time
with his family for the season, especially since he and Sam had put aside their
differences a while back, and an even greater delight to have Spock there.
And yeah, he guessed it should bother him
that even his four-year-old nephew figured out he had a crush on Spock. A
crush. Only. Really. But he doubted anything would ever come of it. Spock and
Uhura had been done for a while and it wasn’t like Spock declared undying love
as a result.
Sam glanced up at Jim from his chair. He
smiled. “I guess it’s time for me to go play Santa, huh?”
“Getting close, yeah. Peter’s pretty excited
for his red truck.”
Sam grinned. “Santa will deliver, no
worries.” He rose from his chair. “All yours. Oh.” He looked back at Spock.
“Think about what I said. Goodnight.”
Jim watched him go into the house and then he
lowered himself into the chair Sam had vacated. He was pretty sure there was a
faint green hue across Spock’s cheeks, but the light on the porch was pretty
bad.
Spock was avoiding Jim’s gaze too and Jim
didn’t feel like making Spock even more uncomfortable, so he decided not to ask
his first officer what Sam had said to him.
“I had one of your cookies,” he said instead.
That caused Spock to look at him and he
visibly relaxed. “I had one as well. They do not taste terrible.”
Jim shook his head. “Yeah, good job. You can
make cookies for me anytime.” He winked. Then paused. “Are you all right? This
has got to be pretty boring for you.”
“Not at all,” Spock replied. “You have a very
lively and interesting family.”
Jim snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Spock looked away once more. “Jim.”
“Yeah?”
“I
wanted to come along with you on leave for a more personal benefit.”
“Oh?”
Spock blew out a breath. “It is…I find it
difficult to discuss this with you.”
Alarm shot through Jim. “Spock, you aren’t
going to…you don’t want to leave again, do you?”
Spock looked quickly at him. “You know about
that?” He shook his head. “Of course. The doctor. He has a big mouth.”
Jim agreed with that, but he said, “True, but
in this case it wasn’t Bones. Uhura told me.”
“I see.”
“Are you? Going to leave?”
Spock looked down at his hands. “That depends
mostly on you.”
Jim licked his lips. “On me?”
“Your brother recommends that I be honest
with you. I have…developed romantic feelings for you.” Spock let out another
heavy breath. “In reality, I have held them for some time, but for some of that
I was in a serious relationship with Nyota, and without some prior indication
from you of a mutually shared level of feelings, I thought it best to maintain
that relationship, but afterward when Nyota and I decided to remain friends only,
I…”
“Spock.”
He looked up at Jim, his dark eyes wider than normal in his very pale face.
Jim smiled bright. “Stop rambling. I have the
same feelings.”
“You…do?”
“Are you kidding?” Jim jumped up from his
chair and moved the few feet to where Spock sat. “Move over a bit.”
Spock did, of course, without hesitation. Jim
sat on the chair with Spock. Mostly on top, but he noticed that the Vulcan didn’t
seem to mind. In fact Spock’s arms came up and around him.
“Why don’t you kiss me and find out for
yourself?”
They leaned in for the kiss when the door
from the house burst open.
“Uncle Jim! Uncle Jim?”
Jim rolled his eyes, pulled back and gave Peter
a smile. “Why aren’t you in bed, buddy?”
“I wanted to see Santa.”
“Oh. I see. And did you?”
“Yes! And Mommy was kissing him!”
Jim laughed. “I bet she was.”
Peter eyed them. He was dressed in the most
adorable feety pajamas Jim had ever seen, green and red striped with some
Christmas creature on them.
“Santa brought you your present too!” Peter
exclaimed.
He laughed. “Yeah, I guess he did.”
“I wanna see if he ate the cookies!” Peter hopped
up and down and ran back into the house.
Spock arched a brow. “Your present?”
Jim put his hand on Spock’s jaw. “Uh-huh. I guess
I was wrong when I said Santa didn’t bring people for presents. Because he definitely
brought me you. About that ki—”
But Spock’s mouth was already covering his, silencing
him.
“Jim? You going to go to the rec room for a drink
with me and Scotty?”
Jim smiled faintly at Bones. He was feeling a
little melancholy, truth be told. They were in deep space. Way too far from
Earth or anywhere, really, for a shore leave for the holidays. In fact it was
unlikely they’d get shore leave any sooner than another three months.
Not that they got to spend the holidays with
family often anyway. Jim was used to that, for the most part, even from his
days on the Farragut. But at least then he’d been able to keep in touch with
his parents. Now they were so far out, communications with Earth or any planet
out that way were non-existent.
And maybe that wouldn’t even bother him if the
last time he had spoken with his folks it had been revealed his mother wasn’t
feeling well. He’d been assured it was nothing to worry about, but they were
getting on in years and both had lost some zest for life after Sam and
Aurelan’s deaths. Still they had Jim’s nephew to watch over.
Jim would just feel better if he knew his mother
had improved. But he wouldn’t get to know that. Not now.
“Well…”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Jim. One drink.”
“One,” Jim agreed. “And then I really need to go
to bed. I’m beat.”
It ended up being two drinks, because Bones and
Scotty could not or would not be refused, and Jim admitted he might have felt a
little more cheerful at the end, especially when Uhura dropped by to croon,
“Santa Baby”.
But Jim did refuse the third drink. And
made his way back to his quarters.
Rand had put a few festive touches there. Hung
some red and green garland. Put up a few silver and gold bulbs. He’d mostly
ignored it. But now it just reminded him just now alone he felt.
He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth
and washed his face, his gaze going to the door that led into his first
officer’s quarters.
Spock.
He walked over to the door and rested his hand
there momentarily.
Spock.
How long had he been foolishly in love with Spock?
More pointedly, how long had it taken him to realize it? Too long.
Jim knew he felt a great deal of affection for
Spock, knew that his feelings were deep and that he felt such a comfort knowing
Spock considered him a friend. But when it occurred to Jim that Spock meant
more to him than anyone, any woman he’d ever been with, anyone really, then he
began to analyze things.
His own behavior could only be considered
flirting, borderline outrageous, and the more he analyzed himself the more he
realized he really had been at it for a long time. He was surprised Bones
hadn’t called him on it for had the situation been reversed he certainly would
have teased Bones.
And when he first recognized it, he had tried to
curtail it. Spock didn’t seem to respond much, and Jim didn’t want to make
Spock or anyone else around them uncomfortable.
Eventually, though, he hadn’t been able to stand
it and he’d gone back to his usual flirtatious behavior. Not that it did any
good.
With a sigh, Jim left the shared bathroom and returned to his quarters to get comfortable for the night. The holiday season prior, his mother had sent him a pair of pajama pants with holiday lights adorning them, so he put those on and then grabbed an old worn T-shirt he’d saved from his long ago Academy days.
He obtained himself a glass of eggnog from the synthesizer,
added a bit of brandy and headed to his desk.
“Computer, shuffle holiday music.”
He pulled up the bridge logs, computer recordings
and all, figuring if he tortured himself with them long enough, he’d finally give
it up and realized Spock simply didn’t harbor any secret feelings for him just
because he did for Spock.
The first
few he observed were nothing special and pretty much what Jim had expected to find:
nothing.
But then he played the bridge log from their
mission to Eminiar IV.
Spock said, “A feeling is not much to go on.”
“Sometimes a feeling, Mister Spock, is all we humans
have to go on.”
“Captain, you almost make me believe in luck.”
There was just the barest hint of…amusement, affection
there.
Jim leaned in.
“Why, Mr. Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles.”
And then, there was that little raising of his
eyebrows before Spock turned away and went back to his station.
Okay, well, there was something there, but…
Jim frowned, took a big sip of the eggnog, and
pulled up another entry.
“I don’t understand why it gives you such pleasure
to have me proven wrong.”
“An emotional earth weakness of mine.”
And then he pulled up another.
“Has it occurred to you that there’s a certain inefficiency
in constantly questioning me on things you’ve already made your mind about?” A
little smirk.
Jim leaned in so close now his nose almost touched
the screen.
“It gives me emotional security,” Jim replied,
looking sly and flirty. Ridiculous really, even if he did say so himself.
Spock blushed and smiled.
Damn it! He blushed and smiled.
And…
Jim slammed his fist on his desk almost sending
his eggnog flying.
“Spock!” he yelled before he could stop himself.
The door to their shared bathroom slid open and
the man…Vulcan…appeared himself.
“Jim? Is there something wrong?”
“Wrong?” Jim laughed and leapt out of his chair
and over to where Spock stood. “Wrong, Spock? No. There’s nothing wrong. Absolutely
nothing!”
“Captain?”
Jim seized Spock’s forearms pulling him closer
until they were face to face, nearly mouth to mouth.
“Spock. I…”
Up went the eyebrow.
“I have these…feelings.” He smiled a little. “Earth
feelings.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jim nodded. “Probably not. Join me tonight? Chess?
A glass of eggnog? On Earth, it’s traditional to spend a night like this with
the one being that’s the most important to you.”
“I thought that was Valentine’s Day.”
He laughed. He was full of mirth. “That too. But
see, that’s still months away, and I find myself wanting to spend this day with
you, this night, with you. Only you. Do you maybe understand now, Mister Spock?”
He leaned up just a little, placing a very chaste,
tentative kiss to Spock’s cold, stiff, unyielding lips. And if he’d miscalculated…
“I would like that,” Spock replied. “But if you
will give me a moment, I would like to change, and then I will return.”
Jim swallowed and nodded. “Anything. You can have
all the moments you need.”
But as it turned out, Spock was back remarkably
quickly, and he’d taken off his uniform and put on this big brown, rather fuzzy
robe, and Jim tried to remember seeing Spock in anything quite that casual
before, and honestly he didn’t care, he was seeing him now, and it was all just
a little crazy, but he thought that maybe this was the best holiday season he’d
ever had.
“You look…amazing,” Jim said softly. “What can I
get you to drink?”
Spock paused only a moment. And the little faint
blush was back. “Hot chocolate?”
His eyes shining, Jim smiled. “Coming right up.”
He moved over to the synthesizer and Spock moved
up close right behind him. There was a charge in the air or something, because
Jim turned from the synthesizer as it made the chocolate and ended up in Spock’s
arms. Pulled there or going there himself, it little mattered, because he was
there, being held by Spock and he held Spock right back.
And Spock was the best present Jim had ever received.
It occurred to me that I can’t really make the Fall Guys flashes (At His Side) part of the 25 days of Christmas since those flashes will be posted all at once on AO3 at the end of the month to conclude their story. This means three flashes would be missing from the 25 Days of Christmas for posting on AO3 purposes. I can’t have that. So you get three extra flashes, one today, one the 13th, and one the 20th.
“Dashing through the snow, on a one horse open sleigh.”
Vanik stopped in the middle of the store at the sound of the singing. He glanced around for the source of the singing.
“O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way.”
“Vanik? What are you doing?”
For the moment, Vanik ignored his uncle calling for him.
Of course his uncle, Spock, hadn’t even wanted to take him to the department store on Van Ness. He’d agreed, rather impatiently Vanik thought. But since they’d arrived, Spock had been rushing him through the store. At this rate, he would be unable to find gifts for his parents.
“Bells on bob tail ring, making spirits bright.”
Spock reached his side and took his arm. “Come, Vanik, I told you I do not have a lot of time. I have a meeting scheduled and…”
“What does it mean bells on bob tail ring?”
His uncle, tall and regal, gazed down at him. He arched a brow. “To what are you referring?”
“The song. Someone is singing. Can you not hear him? He has a very nice voice.”
Spock shook his head. “I do not have time for this. You told me that you wished to acquire gifts for your parents, though I am at a loss as to why, and…”
“For the holiday.” Vanik sighed. “I know that you and grandfather find the celebration of Terran holidays illogical and a waste, however, just as your mother is, my mother is human, and she does celebrate Hanukkah.”
“What fun it is to laugh and sing, a sleighing song tonight.”
“There.” Vanik headed to the right.
“Vanik…”
There, standing next to a rack of sweaters, was the man who had, apparently, been singing the Terran tune. He was tall with golden hair and bright blue eyes, his fair skin flushed red, probably from coming inside from the cold.
“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.” He stopped and looked down at Vanik. That was when Vanik noticed that the man wore a name tag, Jim, and looked like he was possibly an employee of the store. “Oh. Hello.”
Vanik tilted his head. “Hello. Jim.”
Jim looked up and past Vanik to Spock who had come up behind Vanik. He smiled brightly at both of them. “Can I help you?”
Vanik nodded. “Do you work here?”
“I do.”
“That is fortunate,” Vanik said. “My name is Vanik and this is my uncle, Spock.”
Jim’s smile grew brighter. “Spock, Vanik.”
“First, I have a question.”
“Go on.”
“What does bells on bob tail ring mean?”
At this Jim laughed. It was a good laugh and Vanik noticed that his uncle seemed to appreciate it too for he flushed a light green. Spock blushed when he liked someone, Vanik knew.
“It’s something they do to the horse. They tie up his tail when he’s leading the sleigh and they hang a bell so it rings when the horse and sleigh move.”
“Oh. That is logical. Then is it really fun to ride in a one horse sleigh?”
Jim laughed again and it had the same effect on Spock and Vanik as before. “I don’t know. I haven’t actually done it.” His blue eyes shined as he glanced at Spock. “I’d be willing to try it someday though.”
Very interesting, Vanik thought. Jim liked Spock, too.
“And finally, as you work here, can you assist me in determining eight appropriate gifts each for my parents for the celebration of Hanukah?”
Jim looked back at Vanik from gazing long at Spock. “I’d be delighted.”
“Ding Dong Merrily on High, In Heaven the Bells are Ringing,” Jim sang out. “Ding Dong Verily the Sky, is Riv’n with Angels Singing.”
“What is the meaning of this song you are singing, Captain?”
Jim smiled as he lifted a string of lights to the artificial Christmas tree he’d put up in the living room of the farmhouse. They’d compromised on the fake tree. He had wanted to get a real one, but Spock had shown his displeasure over killing trees.
“It basically means that a whole bunch of angels are singing in heaven because the birth of the son of God. This particular Christmas Carol is quite old.”
“From the twenty-second century?”
Jim laughed. “No older. The music is from some time in the fifteen hundreds, but the lyrics were added about three hundred years after that. Anyway, my grandmother liked the song, so that’s how I know about it. It’s not that widely sang now, probably wasn’t even before. But you know, I like to. Makes me think of her and those old days.”
“You have a pleasing singing voice, Jim,” Spock informed him.
“You don’t have to say so, I still love you even if my singing bothers you,” Jim joked.
“It does not and I meant what I said.” Spock bent over a box of ornaments they had purchased along with the tree. Jim supposed there might be ornaments and lights somewhere in the basement, he sure as hell didn’t know where, but he felt disinclined to go searching for them so they’d bought new ones. Red and Green and Silver and Gold balls. Spock removed several from the box and put some on the branches of the tree and handed some to Jim to place them himself.
Jim looked toward the kitchen and the window in it. “It’s clouding over. Which means it’s probably going to storm later.”
“Snow?” Spock could barely hide the alarm in his voice.
Jim tried not to show his amusement. “Nah. I don’t think so. I could be wrong, but it seems early in the season for that. Probably just rain.”
Spock relaxed slightly. “It seems cold enough for snow. And I can say that being cooped up inside with you is not an unpleasant undertaking.”
Jim winked. “Sounds great to me too. And even if it’s just rain, we can be cooped up together. Hell, we can just pretend. I sure don’t want to go anywhere. We have plenty of provisions. Coffee, tea, ice cream, eggnog. Lots of food. We’ll be good for several days if we want.”
They finished adding the last ornaments and then Jim connected and turned on the lights.
He stood back, arm around Spock, as they gazed at the lit, decorated tree.
Jim smiled. “Oh, wait I forgot the star for the top.”
He grabbed up the gold sequined star and stood on tiptoes to put it on. Then he returned to where Spock stood.
“What is the significance of the star?”
“I guess to represent the star that led the three wisemen to the manger when Jesus was born. Some people put other things up there. Angels and the like. But I like the star. It’s pretty, huh?”
Spock nodded. “It is.”
Jim leaned over and kissed Spock’s jaw. “Let’s grab some nog and cuddle on the couch in front of the tree.”
And as they turned toward the kitchen, Jim noticed the first flakes of snow falling. He decided not to point them out to Spock.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 