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December 2021

Last Christmas

Advent Day 18

Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com

“Well, Jim, you went and broke your leg but good.”

Jim grimaced. “You don’t have to tell me. I was the one who came crashing down those stairs.”

Bones patted his shoulder. “You want the good news or the bad news?”

“Both.”

“Your leg can be fixed so you won’t have any long-term issues.”

Jim nodded. “But?”

“It’s broken in so many spots that we need a specialist to come in and use the regeneration on it.”

“You mean you can’t just do it?”

“Correct. I’m calling in an orthopedic surgeon. He’ll get you fixed up, no problem.”

Jim smiled. “Good. When does he get here?”

Bones sighed and squeezed the shoulder his hand still rested on. “That’s part of the bad news. He’s on Rigel 3 at the moment.”

“Rigel 3?”

“Yup. Won’t get back to Earth until after the first.”

Jim frowned, taking that in.  ”Of January?”

“Exactly. So you got a few weeks to wait. Now, you’ll have a full cast on that leg, so my recommendation is—”

“No way, forget it,” Jim quickly interrupted. “I am not staying in the hospital until then.”

“Jim, it’s going to be hard for you to get around with your leg in a cast like that. You live upstairs.”

“You live on the first floor of your building. I could stay with you.”

“Maybe but I’m supposed to be going to see Jo.”

“Okay, so I’ll stay at your place by myself.”

“Jim—”

“It’s a broken leg, Bones. I’m not paralyzed.”

“Still. Maybe I should see if someone can stay with you.”

Jim shook his head. “There’s no one.”

“How about—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence. No. I’ll be fine by myself. You can set me up with food and I’ll stay inside and not bother anyone. Before you know it, you’ll be back and taking me to see the surgeon.”

“This is against my better judgment, Jim.”

“Duly noted.”

****

By the time Jim struggled to the door of Bones’ apartment, he was out of breath and sweating. He couldn’t say his leg hurt exactly, but the whole experience was extremely uncomfortable, and if it was just some delivery person he was going to be pissed because whoever it was kept ringing the bell repeatedly.   

Jim couldn’t deny he was cranky. He just wanted to be done with having his leg fixed and back to his own place and his job back at HQ. It was Christmas Eve and he was alone, heating up left over mac and cheese.

“What do you want?” Jim demanded as he yanked open the door.

To his dismay, it was no delivery guy but instead a Vulcan. A stupid, arrogant, asshole one. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Jim—”

He started to close the door but Spock stopped the action.

“Please. May I come in?”

Jim was in no condition to fight him, so he moved back far enough to let Spock in.

Spock closed the door after himself.

“Look, last Christmas—”

“That is why I am here.”

Jim shook his head. “I gave you my heart, but you threw it away. Didn’t want to have anything to do with me and my illogical Human heart.”

“I was wrong and I have come to tell you—”

“Save it. This year I’m giving my heart to someone special.”

Spock, momentarily nonplussed, frowned. “Who?”

“I don’t know, but definitely not you.”

“Jim, last year was a mistake. When I learned of your injury…”

“Did Bones contact you? I told him not to. Look, I don’t want anything to do with you and your too logical Vulcan heart. Get lost.”

“Please. I…know I deserve your disdain, but this past year has taught me that I cannot live without you. I am in love with you.”

“That’s too bad because…what?”

Spock moved closer to him, took Jim’s hand. “I am irrevocably in love with you. I cannot change the mistakes I have made in the past, I can only spend the rest of our lives loving and worshiping you.”

Jim blinked. “I don’t need to be worshipped.”

“Loving you only then. And only loving you. From now until the rest of our lives.” Spock paused. “And beyond.”

“That’s pretty romantic coming from a Vulcan.”

“You bring it out in me. Please. Give me a chance. And allow me to care for you until your leg is repaired. I will wait upon you hand and foot.”

Jim bit his lip. “Well.”

“Whatever you want for your meal for Christmas Eve and Christmas and every day beyond, I will make it happen.”

“Spock—”

“Please.” Spock looked down at their entwined hands. “It is not in my nature to beg, but I realize it is required in this situation. If you ask me to leave, I will do so, but I am, in fact, begging you, not to send me away.”

“Spock, I have only one thing to say.”

Spock squeezed the hand he held.

“Kiss me.”

It’s a Marshmallow World

Advent Day 17

 Jim stopped before the sign that read on the door Cookie Competition. He smiled and glanced at the message  he’d received. Yep, this was definitely the place.

He pushed the door open and entered the building. He could see his mom’s station toward the back, so he headed there.

“How’s it going, Mom?”

She clapped. “Jim! You made it. You tell me, how do they look?”

He surveyed her marshmallow cookie creations. She’d made some into the shape of igloos and then made penguins and polar bears. They were adorable.

“Fantastic. They look great. Who’s your biggest competition?”

“See that lady at the end there with the scarf and the Vulcan hovering beside her?”

Jim looked and his heart stilled. Oh yeah, he was well familiar with that Vulcan.  

“Jim?”

“Uh. Yeah. I’m sure yours are better. What’s she making?”

“Spice cookies but she has it all beautifully decorated with poinsettias and cardinals.”

Jim bit his lip. “I’ll go swing by.”

“Okay, but be inconspicuous!” she called after him.

“Fat chance,” he muttered.

He saddled up to their display and checked it out while the pair were speaking to someone else.

Jim had to admit the lady’s work was very elegant and pretty compared to his mom’s cutesy stuff. A moment later, the Vulcan moved to stand beside him, hands linked behind his back.

“You, uh, were gone when I woke,” Jim said out of the side of his mouth.

“I had to teach an early morning class. It was no reflection on you and our…activities.”

Jim’s lips twitched. “That’s good to know as I’d like to have more of those activities.”

“As would I.”

“Your mother?”

“Indeed. And yours?”

Jim laughed. “Yeah. She’s here for Christmas and decided to enter this competition.”

“My mother and father are currently here also.”

“Maybe we should have a get together,” Jim said, turning to Spock. ”Your mom does beautiful work.” He paused. “Just like her son.”

Spock arched a brow. “I will see you after the competition.”

“Maybe my mom will win the cutest and your mom the prettiest.”

“Perhaps. Dinner, Cadet?”

“Of course, Professor.”

Jim returned to his mom’s display.

She eyed him. “You were getting pretty cozy there.”

“Well, uh, turns out I’m seeing her son, that Vulcan.”

“Jim! You didn’t tell em you were seeing someone.”

“It’s…recent.”

“Well.” She crossed her arms. “I guess it’s okay if she beats me. Sorta.”

He laughed and kissed her. “Either way, you’re the best in my eyes.”

She hugged him. “And you for me. I can’t wait to meet your boyfriend.”

“Now, I didn’t say he was my boyfriend,” Jim protested.

“Would you like him to be?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I would.”

“Then I am sure he will be. It’ll be my Christmas wish.”

He laughed. “If only you really were Santa Claus.”

“Who says I’m not?” She winked. “Now, shh, here come the judges.”

Merry Christmas, Darling

Advent Day 16

It was stupid, Jim guessed, to be spending the evening of Christmas Eve wishing Spock was there with him.

Spock didn’t celebrate anything, never had, and Spock’s Human family had been Jewish.

Hell, even Jim and his family hadn’t been religious in any way. Back when Jim was a boy living at the farmhouse with his dad and Sam, they’d done Christmases. Well and before that, before Jim’s mom had left because she wanted more from life than being George Kirk’s wife and Sam and Jim’s Mom. Mom had been there for a few too. The live tree, the boughs of greenery and holly berries. He’d loved it, though Sam acted like it was lame. Once Jim went to stay with his mother on Tarsus IV, well there were no Christmases there and when he returned there was Starfleet and starships and Jim let his old Christmas memories go.

But then he’d retired from Starfleet, hell, for the fourth time, Jim figured, he’d go back to it. Living part of the time in San Francisco, Spock preferred it there, and part time in Riverside, where Jim preferred it, he’d had a number of Christmases with trees and wreaths and big meals of way too much food and little token gifts Spock always deemed illogical. Jim told him dozens of times that was the point.

Last Christmas had been in San Francisco and Spock had been with him. This year, though, Spock was away on Vulcan dealing with some crisis involving Sarek, nothing Jim had to be involved in, Spock assured him, and he was alone at the farmhouse instead.

He’d debated even bothering with the usual Christmas trappings. But in the end he’d gotten a tree, strung lights and put up the decorations.

Now it was Christmas Eve and he was standing before the tree by himself. He’d put on a fire and there was a casserole baking in the oven.

“Merry Christmas, Darling.”

Jim smiled faintly. There was an old song that came to mind from hundreds of years before.

“I wish I were with you.”

He should have gone to Vulcan with Spock. They didn’t do something as illogical as Christmas, of course, but he’d be with Spock.

With a sigh, Jim turned from the tree to go into the kitchen to check on his casserole. He opened the oven and bent down to take out the casserole and then remembered he had no potholders.

“Dummy,” he mumbled as he reached for the potholders. “Trying to burn yourself.”

“That would be unfortunate.”

Jim dropped the potholders and stumbled back from the oven.

“Spock?” He rubbed his eyes.

“Your eyes do not deceive you,” his husband said from the edge of the kitchen. He wore a robe similar to the one he’d worn on Earth when they went back for the whales.

Jim rushed at him and embraced him, crushing Spock to him. “It’s a Christmas miracle.”

“Hardly,” Spock said dryly. “There was nothing miraculous about it. I came on a passenger ship and then a shuttle here.”

Jim laughed and kissed him. “It’s my miracle anyway. I wished for you. How is it you’re here?”

Spock raised a brow. “As you said, you wished for me.”

“Right. But really…”

“I know how much you love this time of year and especially here. So I made the effort. I will be returning to my duties on Vulcan in a few days.”

“Perhaps I’ll come with you.”

“Perhaps you will.”

Jim took his hand. “Come, darling. Merry Christmas.”

Little Drummer Boy

Advent Day 15

“Jim, say you’ll come.”

Jim pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He was seated at Spock’s favorite vegetarian restaurant waiting for Spock to come back from the bathroom.

“Mom—”

“Please. Just for a few days. Peter—”

He frowned. “Who? Who’s Peter?”

She sighed. “Sam’s little boy. He’s three and a half. I know I told you about him. It’s just going to be me and Peter. So it would be so nice if you can come. And Spock, of course.”

“Where’s Sam then?”

“He and his wife have to be off planet, so they asked me to watch the baby.”

“Of course they did.”

“Jim.”

He spotted Spock headed back to their table.    

“We can get a tree, like I said. And all your favorites. We can get Spock’s too. It would be so nice for you to meet Peter. He’s such a sweetheart.”

“Fine, okay.”

“You’ll come?”

“Yes, Mom. When?”

“Can you be here the 22nd?”

Jim glanced at Spock as his boyfriend slid into the booth to sit across from him. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be there.”

Spock looked his question after he disconnected. “Your mother?”

“Yes. Invited us for the holiday. On December 22. I guess Sam saddled her with his kid for the season.” Jim blew out a breath. “You don’t have to come but…”

“I will accompany you.”

***

Peter was cute. Even Jim had to admit it.

He looked like a miniature Kirk. Which is exactly what he was.

His mother had arrived at the shuttle bay in Riverside to pick up Jim and Spock and she’d, of course, brought Peter.

He had a mop of blond curls and big blue eyes with chubby cheeks dotted pink from the cold.

Until that moment, Jim had never thought about having kids, but he couldn’t deny if he had one like Peter, it might be okay. Of course being with Spock, that was highly unlikely.

Jim crouched down next to the boy to talk to him at his level. “Hi, Peter. I’m Jim.”

“Daddy’s brother.”

“Yes. And that’s Spock, he’s with me.”

“Hello, Peter,” Spock greeted him.

Jim straightened up and made to move away, therefore he was surprised when Peter reached for and took Jim’s hand. He smiled down at the boy.

“We’re all going to get a tree on the way home if that’s okay.”

“Sure.”

On the way to the tree farm, Jim asked the kid, “So what do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas?”

“A drum!”

Jim laughed. “A drum? Yeah?”

“Uh-huh. Wanna bang it.”

“I sure hope your daddy’s around when you do,” Jim said. “I bet Santa gets it for you.”

Peter smiled happily.

Jim ended up going around with Peter at the tree lot, holding onto Peter’s hand the whole way.

Winona watched them and moved closer to Spock so she could speak to the Vulcan.

“Thank you for bringing him here.”

Spock shook his head. “I had nothing to do with it. He would have come without me.”

“I’m not sure.” She smiled. “But I appreciate you’re coming too. I think it makes it easier for him. He and I have our problems.”

“He has not mentioned it.”

“Really?” she asked, doubtfully. “We’re not…close. I want to be but Jim…anyway, thank you.”

Spock inclined his head as Jim approached with Peter.

“All right, Peter has chosen the tree he thinks is perfect for us.”

Winona laughed. “All right let’s get this done.”

****

“Your mother is concerned about your relationship.”

Jim glanced at Spock as they shopped in a store for Christmas gifts.

“She brought it up?”

“She did.”

Jim sighed. “I’m sorry she involved you.”

“It was no issue for me. I was not aware that you and your mother do not get along.”

“We do actually. I think…she just wants us to be closer than we are.” He shook his head. “There’s too much in our history, I think, for us ever to be the shining example of Mother-Son she wants us to be. Years where she wasn’t there.”

“And your stepfather was.”

“Yeah,” Jim said softly. “I love my mom, but there’s still a lot of pain there. I guess she’s gotten past a lot of Sam’s walls, but I’m not Sam. And Sam left and wasn’t there for a lot of Frank’s shit.”

“Understandable. Was this why you were reluctant to come here for the holidays?”

“Sure. Part of it. Anyway, I’m having a good time and it’s nice to spend time with Peter.”

“Indeed.” Spock stopped before a display of drums. “And here we are.”

***

“A drum! Santa gave me drum!” Peter exclaimed excitedly Christmas morning.

Winona beamed happily and rested her hand on Jim’s leg. He sat beside her on the floor, each of them clutching a cup of coffee. Spock sat in a chair right behind Jim’s back.

Peter sat directly in front of the Christmas tree.

“Thank you,” she whispered to her youngest son.

He smiled. “You’re welcome, Mom.”

Peter started right in banging on his drum.

Jim chuckled.

“Now, honey, Santa brought you other presents. Why don’t you open those?” Winona asked indulgently.

“Wanna play my drum!”

“Sam’s gonna kill me,” she mumbled.

“Pay back’s a bitch.”

“Jim.”

He laughed again. “Now how about I put those cinnamon rolls in the oven?”

“Okay, but one more present for you.” Nervously she handed him a small, wrapped box. She had no idea how he was going to react to it.

Jim raised both eyebrows at her but finally he tore off the green and red plaid paper. He opened the box and stared down at the contents.

“That was your dad’s Starfleet insignia.” She bit her lip. “Not the one he wore that-that day, obviously. But before.”

His gaze flew to hers. As usual, she could not read him.

“Thank you.” His hand closed around the symbol, his thumb rubbing the command part. He nodded. “Thanks.”

She smiled. “Merry Christmas, Jim.”

“Merry Christmas.”

In Dulci Jubilo

Another request/suggestion

Advent Day 14

‘What’s wrong, lass?”

Nyota looked up as Monty moved to sit at her table in the mess room. She’d been staring into her cup of spiced tea for a while now so she wasn’t surprised he’d come to ask her what was wrong.

“I have a problem.”

“And what would be that?”

“I think Kirk wants to get with me.”

Monty frowned. “The captain? But well, now, are you sure?”

“Not entirely,” she admitted. “But I do have evidence to come to that conclusion.”

“What evidence?”

“You know how he came on to me when we first met.”

“That was a long time ago, lass.”

“I know, but I was with Spock for years, so obviously he wasn’t going to jeopardize his friendship with Spock and command over that. We’re not together now and ever since Kirk found out he’s been paying far more attention to me.”

“Oh?”

“Even had a drink in my quarters a few weeks back. We started talking about music and I was playing some holiday stuff. I admitted to him how much I loved In Dulci Jubilo.”

“The old hymn?”

She smiled. “Yes. Spock told me long ago that it was his mother’s favorite, even though, you know, she was Jewish, she loved that song and even sung it in choral when she was young. I told Kirk all this and I said when I listened to it, I fell in love with it. I thought it was so pretty and I play it every year since.”

Monty shrugged. “A few outings with the captain hardly proves he’s interested in you, lass. He hangs out with McCoy and Spock too.”

She waved away that. “They’re different. They’re his male buddies. You know what a hound dog with the women Kirk is.”

He pursed his lips. “Hmm.

“There’s more.”

“I’m listening.”

“He’s been acting mysterious lately. Throwing me furtive glances. So one night I kind of followed him. I wondered what he was up to and if there’s something mentally wrong with the captain, I think Starfleet should know.”

“Ny—”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I like Kirk as much as everyone else these days. Not at all romantically, of course.”

Monty smiled. “I should hope not.”

She laughed and touched his hand. “I just mean, I was worried about him. That mission on Alasidair was particularly hard as four crew members died and Kirk himself was seriously injured. So I found him in this little area of engineering no one else goes to. He was making something.”

“Making something?”

“Yes. Out of wood. Carving this little box. I couldn’t see what the carvings were but while I was there, he operated a mechanism in the box that played music and I realized he was making some kind of music box. It looked very pretty, honestly. The song he was playing was In Dulci Jubilo.”

“So?”

Nyota sighed. “Don’t you see, Monty? It’s obviously a gift for me. He was obviously grilling me that night to find out what I liked and he’s making it for me. Probably to give to me for the holidays to soften me up to the idea of him as a partner.”

“Surely he knows you and I are seeing each other,” Monty pointed out.

“I don’t know if he does as I haven’t told him, but even if he did, it might not matter.”

“I don’t believe that. You said yourself Kirk didn’t try anything once he knew you were with Spock.”

“True. Then he must not know. I just don’t know what to do when he presents the gift to me. I’m not at all interested in him. I’m with you. I don’t want to hurt him, but I have to be honest with him.”

Monty nodded. “Perhaps you should explain to him. But in private, not in front of others, so as not to embarrass him.”

“Yes, exactly. It’s not a conversation I wish to have with him, but he’s leaving me no choice.”

****

Nyota approached the captain’s quarters. As she started down the corridor she heard low murmuring, so she stopped her forward motion.

Standing in the corridor next to Spock’s quarters were Kirk and Spock. She could see from where she was that Spock was blushing. She didn’t quite understand why.

“It is calligraphic Vulcan,” Spock whispered.

“Yeah.” Kirk’s tongue darted out and he shifted nervously. “I, uh, I studied it. Wasn’t easy to carve believe me.”

“You carved it yourself?”

“Well, yeah. I made the whole thing from start to finish. Sam and I used to do a lot of woodwork when we were kids. Our Grandpa Kirk taught us. Making the boxes, carving, even the little musical parts. He taught us all that.” Kirk ran his hand over his hair. “It’s been a long time since I made one.”

Spock’s warm brown eyes were glistening as he looked at Kirk, somewhat in awe. “And the music?”

“In Dulci Jubilo.” Kirk paused. “Your mother’s favorite, right?”

Nyota’s breath caught in her throat and she put her hand to her mouth as she realized what an absolute fool she’d been.

“Yes,” Spock agreed. “How did you know?”

“A friend told me.”

Spock looked toward the door of his quarters. “Will you come in?’

Kirk smiled. “I’d love to.”

Spock opened the door and her two command officers disappeared inside. With a shake of her head, Nyota smiled, and went to tell Monty.

The next evening at the Enterprise holiday party, she was not at all surprised to see how cozy Kirk and Spock were.      

Here Comes Santa Claus

Advent Day 13

as requested

“That Vulcan you like is here.”

Amanda glanced up from her spot on the floor where she was finishing up wrapping a gift for a child.

It was a holiday party for Federation children of all races and religions. Some had been orphaned, some just had parents off planet doing things for the Federation and Starfleet. Many hundreds of toys had been donated and Amanda was helping to wrap them.

“Sarek?”

Her friend, Ellie, smirked. “Is there more than one Vulcan you like?’

Amanda felt herself blush. “I didn’t expect him to come to the party.”

“He arrived with several other ambassadors. I heard he was looking for you.”

She bit her lip. She wanted to see him. It was true she had something of a strong crush on him, but she did say she would wrap these gifts.

“Oh take a break, Amanda. I’ll wrap these toys.”

“Well…” She smiled. “Okay!”

She struggled up from the floor, smoothed out her blue and silver gown she had chosen to wear and walked out of the private room to the main room of the party.

A waiter passed by, and she snagged a glass of sparkling cider off his tray. Her gaze sought out her Vulcan and spotted him only a moment later approaching her.

He wore severe black from head to toe but somehow it managed to make him look more attractive. Amanda was aware he’d been married before to a Vulcan woman and that they had a son together. She’d been told that Vulcan woman had died, and she knew absolutely nothing about the son.

“Ms. Grayson,” he greeted her and bowed slightly. “It is quite pleasant to see you here. I had been told you were a volunteer at this event.”

Amanda dared to hope that was why he had come.

“It’s Amanda, please. And it’s equally pleasurable to see you, Ambassador.”

“Amanda, then. And I give you the use of my name as well.”

She smiled widely. “I’d ask you to dance but it’s not that sort of gathering.”

“Amanda!”  Ellie suddenly rushed up to her. Amanda realized she was clutching the Santa costume in her hands. “It’s an absolute disaster.”

“What’s happened?”

“The Santa we hired has canceled.”

Sarek arched a brow. “That hardly seems to be a disaster.”

She chuckled. “It is for the children, believe me.” Amanda sighed. “We’ll have to find another to play him.” A thought occurred and she glanced at Sarek. “Ambassador—”

“Sarek.”

“You could play Santa Claus.”

“Me?”

Ellie closed her mouth and shoved the costume into Amanda’s hands. “I’ll, uh, get back to wrapping. Good luck.”

Amanda muttered ‘coward’ as her friend scurried away. She turned back to the Vulcan who looked downright owlish at the moment.

“All it takes is wearing this costume with a bit of padding and a fake beard.”

“Amanda—”

“You wouldn’t want to distress all those children who will be arriving to see Santa any minute, would you? You just sit on that throne over there and the child sits on your lap—”

“On my person?”

“Well, just for a moment,” Amanda explained. “Long enough to tell you what they want from Santa Claus.”

“I do not understand.”

She moved closer to him and patted his arm. “I know. Let me summarize it. You put this on, pretend to be Santa, go ho ho ho and all that, speak softly and kindly to the children, ask them what they want from Santa, no need to make promises or anything, and hand them a candy cane, and they move off to another part of the party where the wrapped gifts are. Once you’ve seen every child who wants to visit with you, you’re finished and can take off the costume.”

Sarek frowned. “How many children?”

“Oh…perhaps fifty or sixty.”

“That is a lot.”

“It will go fast. Please?”

Sarek looked away and then back at her. “This is quite illogical.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “My family is Jewish. But…the children were promised Santa.”

“If I agree then you must accompany me to dinner tomorrow night.”

Amanda smiled. “I would have agreed to that anyway.”

Sarek nodded. “Then you have made quite the bargain.”

She laughed. “Indeed.” She pushed the costume at him. “Thank you.” She leaned close and kissed his cheek.

Sarek took hold of the costume and with one hand, held out two fingers. She looked a question at him.

“You touch your same two fingers to mine.”

Amanda exhaled and touched the pads of her fingers to his. “Is this right?”

“Yes.”

Both of their eyes were shining.

****

A bit later, Amanda snuck close to Santa’s throne to listen in on the children visiting the very serious “Santa.”

“And what is your name, child?’

“Billy.”

“Very well, Billy, what logical present do you wish Santa to bring you?”

Amanda covered her mouth to stop her laugh from bursting forth.  

“Huh?”

“What is it you want?”

“A bicycle.”

“Santa” nodded. “A practical present for traveling to school.”

Billy frowned. “No. I wanna ride it around the neighborhood.”

“Want to.”

“Huh?”

“The proper way to make your request is to say, I want to ride it around the neighborhood.”

“Oh.” Billy nodded. “Can I have my candy cane now?”

“Santa” sighed and presented the candy cane to Billy. “Ho ho ho.”

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

“J” or “Dreams” wanted a happy Consuming Me Pinto fic so this is it. She wanted something about a tree, but in their time period, Regency, there were not yet Christmas trees. Sorry!

Advent Day 12

 I stood back as Chris stepped down the stairs his coachman had set up for his carriage. He was dressed quite formally with a top hat and gloves, his cravat neatly tied at his throat, an elegant evening overcoat over his other clothing, more for show than warmth.

There was a December chill in the air to be sure but the coldest weather was yet to come. Not that Chris ever seemed to care about the weather.

“I shan’t let a little bit of inclement weather stop me from looking my best, Zach,” I recalled him saying, quite fondly. That is I was fond of him saying it.

He glanced in my direction and offered me a dazzling smile that caused my heart to flutter, my stomach to tingle, and my balls to tighten.

He was here, at last. And I was filled with a thrilling anticipation.

“All right, my good man,” Chris said to his coachman. “Be on your way before the weather turns temperamental. Should you decide to stay overnight in the village, tell them to look to me for the charges. And come back to fetch me in exactly one week.”

“Yes, my lord. And a Merry Christmas to you.”

“And to you and your family as well.” Chris handed the man a small bag of coins and the man beamed happily.

“Thank you, sir.”

Chris moved to stand beside me then, his face carefully not giving anything untoward away. We watched his carriage drive away down the long road off the estate together. When it was gone and out of sight, he put his hands on my arms.

He did not lean in to do anything else but the feel of his hands on me, even through his gloves was a thrill.

“Welcome and Merry Christmas.”

“And a very happy one to you, my friend,” Chris said with a teasing lilt. He looked toward my house. “Shall we? It is a trifle cold out here.”

I led him inside my country home, which would house only the two of us for the next week. I had already dismissed by staff to go and make jolly for their own holidays.

Chris set his bag down at the foot of the stairs that led to our bedroom, where we would stay for the next definite future, and I would happily reacquaint with him all night.

But just then I took his hand in mine and removed the gloves so I could feel his bare skin with mine.

“Zach,” he murmured, the light in his blue eyes enchanting me.

“I have quite a feast ready.”

“A feast?”

“Mm. A turkey roasted to perfection. And many accompaniments including roasted chestnuts and a Christmas pudding which I shall light aflame when we are ready to consume it,”

I dragged him off toward the formal dining room, making him laugh as I did so.

“I have yet to remove my overcoat, oh eager one.”

“Well do so then.”

Chris discarded his coat on the nearest piece of furniture as we entered the dining room.

He smiled wide when he saw all the greenery I had the servants lay out. Boughs of holly and ivy and mistletoe. Glittering candles. There was hardly any space that had been left bare.

“Oh and I have smoking bishop too,” I declared, pointing to the bowl of mulled wine.

“You’re positively glowing as though you were Father Christmas himself. I did notice the growth of beard, perhaps you intend to play the part.”

I laughed. “Perhaps I should. But before we have our feast there is yet one more thing before our true celebrations can begin.”

Chris gave me a quizzical look. “And what is that pray tell?”

I took him to the side board where lay, tied together with yet more greenery, holly, and yes, mistletoe, with dark mulberry colored ribbons.

His eyes widened. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did. How could I ever forget you mentioning we ought to be handfasted? And though it may not make us legally wed, I believe under the eyes of God and this house, and each other, we are.”

I wrapped the greenery and ribbons around our wrists, entwining us together.

“In the joining of the hands and the fashioning of a knot, so are our lives now bound, one to another…” I tied a knot of the ribbons about us. “May this knot remain tied as long as our love shall last.”

“Forever then.”

I smiled and kissed him. He kissed me back, moving closer, his eyes closed, his lips pink like his flushed cheeks.

“I love you.”

“And I love you.”

Taking our still linked hands and arms, I brought him to the table.

“Not only is it our Christmas but our wedding feast, too,” I whispered.

“You are a very romantic, merry gentleman, my dearest Zachary.”

And that night and every night after was magic.      

White Christmas

Advent Day 11

“I’m so tired of this, Bones.”

“About time,” Bones replied. “I told you not to go out for a second five-year mission.”

Jim sighed glumly. “It’s not even that. I heard from my mom. Back home it’s the holidays and it’s snowing. And Sam’s there with Aurelan and their son, Peter. Did I tell you she’s expecting again?”

“Congratulations.”

“I’ve never even met Peter and now there’s going to be another one.” Jim shook his head. “I’m never going to have a family. Not like that.”

“Well, it would be hard for you and Spock to have kids. At least in the same way Sam is with Aurelan,” Bones pointed out.

“Yeah. It’s just…sometimes.”

Bones frowned as he took a sip of his coffee in the mess room. “Don’t tell me there’s trouble in paradise, Jim.”

Jim snorted. “Hardly paradise. I wanted to put up a Christmas tree and I got ‘that’s illogical’.”

“What did you expect from Spock?”

“A little more consideration? I don’t know. It took so long for us to get together, Bones, and admit our feelings. Was it too late or something? Maybe I should have given up a long time ago. You know Carol wanted to get married and have a family but—”

“You were too hung up on Spock.”

“Yeah. Is it too much to dream of a white Christmas?”

“On a starship? Yeah I think it is. Are you saying you don’t love Spock anymore?”

“No, of course not. I just…sometimes what you want doesn’t end up being as great as you thought it would be, I guess. Of course I love Spock. And I don’t know, maybe I should cut him some slack. He’s not Human. Not fully anyway. And his mother was Jewish. He doesn’t have any experience with Christmas trees and all that.”

“What you’re saying is you’re feeling homesick and left out.”

“Yeah.” Jim laughed a little. “Yeah. And I really hope Mom and the rest of a great time. I just wish I was there, that’s all.”

****

Jim woke to the smell of gingerbread and smoke from a fireplace. He sat up, frowning.

“Spock?”

“Who’s Spock?”

Jim’s head turned quickly to see his brother, Sam, standing in his bedroom doorway.

Wait, what?

“Sam? What are you doing here?”

“Aurelan and I were coming for Christmas, don’t you remember? It’s Christmas Eve. Mom said to come wake you up.”

“But when—”

“We got here about an hour ago. Get dressed and come down. Mom has coffee made.”

Jim looked around the room after Sam left. It looked like his bedroom in Riverside, but he hadn’t been there in years. There was no sign of his boyfriend either.

He got out of bed and went to the bathroom. While there he peered at himself in the bathroom and realized he looked about five to ten years younger than he was. Weird.

He found jeans and a pullover sweater and got dressed.

When he got downstairs he still saw no sign of Spock. He did see his mom in the kitchen and Sam and a very pregnant Aurelan in the living room by the tree. No sign of Peter. It looked like maybe Sam’s wife was pregnant with Peter at that moment.

He wouldn’t know as he hadn’t known her when she had Peter. He’d never met Aurelan in person. Only over a video chat. Sam had met and married her on the planet, Deneva.

“Mom?”

“Oh there you are, honey. You got your wish.”

He stared at her. “Wish?”

“It’s snowing. It’s a white Christmas.”

He followed her gaze to the window and saw that, yes, snow was falling.

“Coffee’s ready. Help yourself. I’ve got gingerbread in the oven. You want some breakfast?”

“Uh. Okay.” Jim went to the coffeemaker and poured himself some.

“What time is that girl coming?”

He turned and stared at her. “Girl?”

Mom laughed. “Your fiancé. Or so you say. She’s coming today, isn’t she?”

“Fiancé,” he said faintly.

“Mm hm. Ruth.”

Jim had no clue who Ruth was. He didn’t know a Ruth. He blinked and looked around the house.

“You okay?”

“Not sure. I…I think I had a strange dream last night.”

“A dream? What kind of dream?”

“I was the captain of a starship—”

“Jim,” she interrupted sharply. “We’ve had this discussion. No Starfleet.” She shuddered. “We lost your father thanks to Starfleet. And you almost weren’t born. No more Starfleet.”

His head hurt. He took a sip of the strong brew. “Well,  it was a dream I guess. And I had this Vulcan boyfriend.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “A boyfriend? All you’ve done was chase girls. And don’t forget Ruth.”

Except he had. Or he thought so anyway.

There was a knock at the door and he automatically went there to open it to a blonde, pretty woman who grinned at him.

“I’m here! I can’t wait to meet your family.”

“Ruth?”

“Of course, Ruth,” she said with a laugh. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. “Merry Christmas, Darling.”

“Jim, close the door, you’re letting in the cold.”

Jim did and then Ruth linked her arm with his and he moved away into the rest of the house where everyone waited to meet her.

“I’m Ruth,” she declared. “Jim’s fiancé. It’s so great to meet all of you.”

Aurelan smiled her welcome. “We’re happy to meet you, too, Ruth. Jim’s so settled since he met you.” She glanced at Jim’s mom who was talking to Sam. She lowered her voice. “Jim had been talking about joining Starfleet.” She shuddered. “For obvious reasons we all hated that idea.”

“Oh, don’t any of you worry. There’s no way I’m letting Jim join Starfleet. He’s going to stay grounded right here on Earth. We’ll have children and make a home here.”

“Here?” Jim asked, absently. It all seemed so strange. It was like he was watching this whole scene happen to someone else. They were talking about someone else. He didn’t know any of these people.

Ruth snuggled up to him. “Yes, here. Daddy’s already been looking for a house for us. And he has the perfect job for you in mind.”

“A job for Jim?” Mom put in. “Do tell.”

Sam came up to stand by Jim and he put his arm around Jim’s shoulders. “See, Jim, we can all be a real family. What you’ve always wanted. Look, little brother, it’s snowing harder.”

Sam led Jim over to the kitchen’s picture window where several moments they stood watching the snow fall on the farm.

Jim shook his head. “This isn’t…”

“Isn’t what?”

“Spock,” he whispered.

“I don’t know who that is, Jim. You’re with Ruth. You’re getting married soon and you’ll have a family. Just like me and Aurelan.”

“That’s not what I want.”

“Of course it is,” Sam insisted. “Before you know it, you’ll be happy with Ruth and your family and you won’t even remember the dream of Starfleet.”

“No, I want stars and space and Vulcans and—”

“Jim.”

“I don’t want Ruth or any of this—”

“Jim, wake up.”

Suddenly Jim sat up straight, gasping for breath. In front of him on the bed, dark eyes wide with concern, was Spock.

Spock!

“Oh my God, it’s you.” He threw his arms around the Vulcan and hugged him close.

“Jim”, Spock murmured. “It is all right.”

“Yes. Now it is. Spock, I missed you so much.”

Spock pulled back just a little to look into Jim’s eyes. “I have been right here all along, ashayam.”

“No…you were gone. And there was Ruth—”

“Ruth?” Up went the eyebrow.

“A nobody. It was a white Christmas. What I-I thought I wanted. But what I want is you. Always you.”

Spock’s lips curved upward. “And you have me. Always.” He stood then. “Look, Jim.”

There on Jim’s desk was a Christmas tree, decorated and lit with bright twinkling lights.

Jim grinned. “You put up a tree.”

“Indeed.”

“Thought it was illogical.”

“Well, as a Human, you are. But I want you to have what makes you happy.”

Jim grabbed Spock’s hand. “You are what makes me happy.”

Spock sat back on the bed and drew Jim into his arms, kissing him thoroughly.  

Mele Kalikimaka

Advent Day 10

“It’s like 80 degrees out on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes, that’s the joy of being on Hawaii,” George told his girlfriend, Winona. They’d arrived for a vacation just two days early. He’d sprung it on her in San Francisco. She’d wanted to go home for Christmas, but George had other ideas.

“Hmm.” She picked up the sunscreen and handed it to him. They were lying on oversized towels at the resort’s private beach on Waikiki. Winona wore a tiny little green and red bikini she had purchased for their tropical Christmas vacation. “And it’s only nine in the morning. It’s only going to get warmer.”

“Yep,” George said, cheerfully. He squeezed out some sunscreen and began to rub her shoulders. “It’s great. I mean, sure, I miss seeing the family just a teeny bit, but there’s always next year. And since we’re leaving paradise on the 27th, we can have a belated Christmas New Year kinda thing with family.”

Mercifully shortened due to the fact they’d have to be back to San Francisco for the next semester at the Academy. To George it was merciful, anyway. He liked her parents okay. He wasn’t sure they liked him, but whatever. George could usually charm people into liking him. She missed her family though. George’s dad had passed away a couple of years ago and his mom was spending the holidays with George’s sister in New York. Everyone in the Kirk family was happy, and so George figured Hawaii and only a short time with his sweetheart’s family was the perfect compromise.

“But it doesn’t snow here,” Winona pointed out obviously.

“Honey, there are a lot of places where it doesn’t snow for Christmas.”

“Yeah, but I’ve never been to any of them.”

George laughed. “Come on, Winnie. It doesn’t snow every year where you’re from.”

She sighed. “No. But I have had lots of white Christmases.”

“No one cared about all of that until a Jewish guy wrote a song about dreaming of one,” George said. He moved down from her shoulders to the small of her back. “That and that printing company, Currier and Ives, who put out all those sleigh riding pictures.”

“Another history lesson, Georgie?”

“Of course. The point is, the first Christmas, in Bethlehem, it was most definitely not snowing.”

She sniffed. “I still like white Christmas.”

He leaned back and stopped rubbing. “Are you sorry you came then?”

“What? Oh no.” She turned on the towel to face him, linking her arms around his neck. “I didn’t mean that, George. I love being with you no matter where we are. Just not used to being away from family for Christmas is all. But this place is beautiful.”

He smiled. “Good. You know here they say Mele Kalikimaka.”

She grinned. “Mealeee Kaileekiiimaka”

George laughed. “That’s um, almost right.” He pulled away. “Listen, I have something for you.”

“A present? But Christmas isn’t until tomorrow!”

George searched through his bag. “I know. But I think maybe you need this now.”

He pulled out the ring box and turned toward her. Her eyes got real big as she spied the box. He flipped it open to reveal the diamond ring he’d picked out a few days before their vacation.

“Will you-“

“Yes!” She squealed, knocking him over into the sand.

George laughed. “I didn’t even finish.”

“It’s still yes.” She kissed him. “George Kirk, you know I’ll marry you.”

“Still, a guy likes to get to ask.”

She nodded and straightened up, smoothing the strings of her bikini and attempting to look serious, though her eyes were shining brightly.

“Winona, will you be my wife?”

“Well.” She pretended to consider. “Let me think about this.”

“Hey!”

She laughed again and knocked him into the sand once more. “Yes, a thousand times yes. And Merry Christmas!”

“Mele Kalikimaka,” George said as he pulled her in for a kiss.

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