Appropriately this is taking place on Christmas Eve, 5 months exactly from today!
Now that Jim sat alone in the café on Starbase 13 he felt foolish.
He wasn’t used to being stood up. But this hadn’t been a “usual” meeting. This had been important. Too important and it hurt.
He gazed down at the sparkly green wrapped present on the table in front of him and felt more foolish still.
It was Christmas Eve and he had impulsively prepared the gift, a holo photo of them together, happy once, long ago, presented in a gold-rimmed frame and placed in a velvet lined box, then wrapped in Christmas green with a red bow.
It likely wouldn’t have been appreciated, but now he felt extra idiotic for even making the effort and he eyed the nearby trash.
“Want another drink, sir?” An Andorian woman, his waitress, asked, giving him a sympathetic smile. “Another George Washington Eggnog?”
He’d arrived early, too eager to wait any longer.
He eyed the remnants of his extra boozy eggnog, a recipe attributed to George Washington, but without much evidence he had ever been the creator of it.
“Mm. And some of those fried mushrooms with extra ranch dressing.”
“Sure thing, honey.”
Just before he sat across from Jim, he’d felt the concern flash through his mind. He hadn’t had time to reassure Spock.
“Hey,” he whispered, not trusting his voice to speak any louder without him crumbling.
Spock, dressed in a burgundy sweater that looked amazing on him, reached over and took Jim’s hand. He almost joked about how pathetic he must look if Spock was willing to show affection in public, but the lame joke never materialized.
“He is late.”
Jim shook his head. “He’s not coming. I should have known better.”
“I do not understand. It was your brother who contacted you.”
“Sam has never made any sense my entire life.” He gestured to the present. “I guess I’ll trash that.”
“You should keep it yourself as a memory of what you once were to each other. Right now you are thinking with your wounded heart but in a few hours you might change your mind.”
Jim nodded. “Maybe. I feel stupid.”
“Wanting a relationship with your family is not stupid, ashaya.”
“Sam’s never wanted to be my brother.”
“Jim.”
“It’s true, and I just need to accept it.”
The Andorian arrived with his eggnog and mushrooms. “Something, sir?”
“Cranberry tea, please. With an Orange scone.”
She nodded and hurried away.
Jim smiled faintly. “That sounds downright festive for you, babe.”
“It is Christmas Eve.” Spock shrugged. “While I did not celebrate holidays growing up, I am happy to observe them with you.”
“And Uhura before me.”
Spock inclined his head in acknowledgement.
“Ah well, at least I have the best husband in the universe to be with me.”
“I am fortunate to have the same.”
Jim laughed. He picked up a mushroom and ate it. “These are really good.”
Spock’s lips curved. “I will take your word for it.”
A moment later he had his tea and scone and they ate and drank in companionable silence until Jim received a message.
“I’m sorry, Jim, I’m not going to make it,” Jim read, rolling his eyes. “No kidding.” He set his communicator down.
“Will you respond?”
“I think I may just block him.”
Spock shook his head. “You will not.”
He sighed. “I know. Anyway, we have that holiday party tonight with the crew. What do you want to do before then?”
Spock arched a brow. “I can think of a thing or two that will keep us occupied.”
Jim laughed, leaned over and kissed Spock.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 