They had just been seated for dinner at a restaurant known for an extensive selection of meat, seafood, vegetarian and even Vulcan specific dishes that Spock had chosen for their first “real” date. Jim seemed pleased by his choice so Spock knew he had done well.
The waiter had just taken their drink order, when Spock heard a familiar voice.
“Spock! It is you.”
And suddenly his mother and father were next to their booth gazing down at Spock and his date.
“Mother, Father,” he greeted them.
Mother beamed. “I didn’t expect to run into you tonight. And who is this?”
Jim had that look Humans called ‘deer in the headlights’ on his face but he was also attempting to smile.
“This is Jim Kirk. My parents.”
“Nice to meet you.”
His mother opened her mouth to say something, but Sarek spoke up first.
“We planned to dine here tonight, perhaps we will join you.”
Now Spock suspected his own expression mirrored Jim’s. “I am here on my first—”
His mother turned to his father. “Not now, darling. I suspect Spock would rather wait to schedule a time to dine with us. Spock, dearest, I’ll contact you later to choose a time and day. It’s wonderful to meet you, Jim. Perhaps we will see you again?”
Jim’s smile was more genuine now. “Perhaps.”
They moved away and he could see his mother whispering in his father’s ear.
“I apologize,” Spock said. “I assure you that was not some sort of setup.”
Jim laughed. “I never thought it was.”
“Good. They can be…overbearing sometimes.”
“I get it. My mother’s the same way? When we first met for our chess match she was all over me as to whether it was a date. She’s always trying to find me a significant other.”
Spock arched a brow. “Is she?”
“Mm. She already has my brother settled. Sam left home when we were kids. The reasons don’t really matter, but after he reentered our lives, he got married and had a kid. They’re settled on Deneva. Mom has been working on me ever since.”
“I see. Have you told her about me?”
“Not yet.” Jim laughed again. “She’d be picking out China patterns.”
Spock shook his head. “I understand. But…would you be averse to joining me for a meal with my parents? I would understand if you would rather not. I know the timing is quite soon in our relationship. It is merely that their visit to Earth is now. No pressure though. As I said, I understand.”
“To be honest, meeting the parents isn’t something I’ve ever done before. My relationships, if you can call them that, never reached that point. But I guess technically I’ve already met them tonight.” Jim shrugged. “So, sure. I’d come with you.”
Spock was relieved to hear it as he believed it meant that Jim was serious about their future. As a Vulcan, he did not wish to participate in a casual relationship.
“In the meantime, let’s enjoy this parent-free dinner.”
My apologies for the delay in getting something up here. I’m feeling a little ennui these days and am fairly uninterested in writing anything, to be honest.
Anyway here it is.
When the light in his dorm room suddenly came on, Jim quickly shielded his eyes.
“Jim?”
“Yeah, can you dim that light or something?”
The light dimmed to acceptable brightness and Bones’ face suddenly appeared next to him. Fortunately his face wasn’t floating in the air and was attached to the rest of him.
“Thought you had a date with the Vulcan.”
Jim groaned. “Canceled. My head’s killing me.”
“Migraine?”
“A bitch of one.”
A moment later he felt a hypo inject into his arm.
“That should give you some relief.”
“Thanks.”
“Sorry about the date, Jim. I know you were looking forward to it.”
Jim sighed. “Yeah. I’m sure that’s over.”
Bones frowned. “Because you canceled?’
“I canceled with a headache. The lamest reason known to man.” He paused. “Or Vulcans. Everyone know when you cancel something with a vague ‘headache’ it’s just an excuse.”
Bones smirked. “Well, it wasn’t with you, though.”
“He won’t know that. And his reaction wasn’t very positive.”
Bones patted his arm down lower where he didn’t just give him a shot. “Sorry, kid. Get some rest.”
And after a while of lying there, closing his eyes, Jim was able to fall asleep. He wasn’t sure for how long, but when he opened his eyes, his migraine was at least manageable. He no longer felt nauseous, and he could smell food.
Pizza.
Jim sat up.
“Bones?”
“I am not the doctor.”
His heart thudding, Jim called out, “Spock?”
And yes Spock appeared, with a plate containing two slices of cheese pizza. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“I-I am. How did you—”
“McCoy contacted me and asked me to come over.”
Jim smiled. “Wow. Thanks, Bones.”
Spock’s lips twitched. He handed the plate to Jim. “How is your head?”
“A bit better, thanks.”
“You suffer from these headaches frequently?”
“Every few months.”
Spock pulled up a chair. “Perhaps I can alleviate this one.”
“Yeah?”
“I have some Vulcan methods.”
“Wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. A simple matter of touch telepathy.”
“Will it hurt?”
“Not at all.”
Jim thought about it a moment, then nodded.
Spock’s hand came up to rest on his face and Jim wouldn’t exactly say it hurt, but he felt like a little sizzle in his skin.
Then Spock’s hand dropped away and he was staring at Jim in wonder.
Jim frowned. “That did help but I did feel something. Was that how it is supposed to feel?”
Spock looked at Jim as though he hadn’t been paying attention to what Jim had been saying for the last ten minutes.
And honestly, Jim was sort of used to that. If Jim wasn’t talking about Starfleet related business, Spock pretty much shut him out. So much for the friendship to end all friendships.
“About what?” Spock asked, cluelessly.
Jim sighed. He probably shouldn’t even bother. Mostly he had tried to engage Spock more because his relationship with Uhura was on the outs again. Some said it was permanent this time but Jim doubted it. Uhura got made at Spock’s lack of emotional connection all the time, only to decide he was worth it for the orgasms.
Jim snorted out loud.
Okay, he didn’t know that for a fact but Jim couldn’t really guess why they were on again off again all the time. When he had briefly tried a real relationship with Carol, once it was caput, he had zero interest in going again with her. And he was pretty she concurred.
“Whether I should accept the invitation to stay at the royal palace on Cridal.”
Spock stared.
“Princess Alia extended an invitation to stay in the suite next to hers during the negotiations.”
“Why would you not accept, Captain?”
He shrugged. “Mostly because we have a sort of history and I’m thinking she wants me to stay there to—”
“You have previously engaged in coitus with her royal highness?” And here he sounded both shocked and appalled.
“Not the way I’d phrase it, but basically yes. A long time ago and it didn’t end well and I—”
“Certainly not.”
“What?”
“You should stay at the official quarters arranged for you by Starfleet for the negotiations.”
“But you just asked why I wouldn’t accept?”
Spock arched a brow. “That was before I realized that she might perceive this as an opportunity.”
“Okay, sure.” Jim nodded. “But why would that matter? I mean to you. It wouldn’t interfere with my duties if I were to—”
“I believe that it would. It is best to be neutral in this instance.”
“But Cridal isn’t part of the negotiations. They are just hosting them.”
“Nevertheless it is inappropriate to give the appearance of any impropriety.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You did seek my counsel,” Spock pointed out.
“I did. And I really don’t want to restart something with Alia.”
Spock frowned slightly. “Then why are you arguing with me?”
Jim opened his mouth to reply then closed it. “I don’t know. Habit, I guess. We’re like a bad rom-com. The only time it seems like we communicate is when we’re fighting.”
“I was unaware you felt that way.”
Jim shrugged. “Well. I mean, I know you don’t like me much. You never have. I’m pretty much used to it.”
“I was under the impression that we were friends.”
“Sure, we’ve talked the talk, but we’ve never really walked the walk.”
“What?”
“What I mean, Spock, is we always say we’re friends, even when I was dying, you admitted we were friends, but to be honest I’m not sure we’ve ever acted like friends. Saying the words really isn’t the same thing. I mean, I rely on you, definitely, but I never quite get beyond the fact you seem just to tolerate me. You never even told me you broke up with Uhura or why. I had to hear about it from other sources.”
Spock started to reply but Jim cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“And the very fact that you’re about to tell me that’s private and personal is exactly why I am saying we aren’t really friends. Not by my definition.”
For a moment, Spock remained silent, and Jim thought he was going to walk away in a huff or something.
But then he said, “We ended our relationship for good due to my emotional attachment to another.”
Jim frowned. “You like someone else?”
“Negative. I love someone else. Given that, Nyota was not interested in continuing our romantic connection.”
Jim sputtered, “Well, yeah I imagine not.” He thought about it. “Who is she?”
“My emotional attachment is not to a female, Jim.”
“Oh. Well.” Jim nodded. He wondered why that made the pit of his stomach ache. Well, and his heart too. A strange reaction to a friend being in love with someone else. He licked his lips. “Who then?”
Spock gave a slight huff of air that could have been a sigh. “I am quite certain if you consider the matter long enough, you will figure it out. If you will excuse me, Captain, I am due on the bridge.”
And this time Spock did walk away, leaving Jim staring at him in confusion.
Spock entered the hospital room, glanced around, spotted his husband, and quickly approached. There was a severe looking woman hovering over Jim in the hospital bed.
“You can’t be here,” she snapped at Spock. “This is a private room and there are no Starfleet visitors allowed.”
Spock bristled. “I am Admiral Kirk’s husband. I most definitely can be here.”
“Now listen here—”
“Spock, come in. Come here,” Jim said. He smiled faintly. He looked pale and battered and bruised. “I’m fine. This is my nurse, Eloise.”
Spock approached and ignoring the glaring nurse seized hold of Jim’s outstretched hand. “What happened? Are you all right?”
Eloise sniffed. “He fell down a flight of stairs. He’s lucky he didn’t do more damage than he did. You can’t stay long. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Jim watched her leave with some bemusement. “Sorry for the gargoyle. She knew my mom I guess, a long time ago. God knows what Mom told her.”
“Are you all right?” Spock asked again. “When they told me you had been severely injured and in the hospital—”
“Not severely. I felt a little woozy at the meeting. I guess I have a bit of a fever. The flu or something. I fainted.”
“Fainted? Why did they not take you here at once? How did you fall down stairs?”
“I told them I didn’t need the hospital. It was just a little fainting. I’d go home and rest. You know how it is.”
“I definitely do not know how it is,” Spock said with a touch of force in his tone.
Jim laughed softly. “So I left and was going to go home. The stupid lift broke again, so I decided to take the stairs. I took a few steps and went down.”
Spock’s heart thundered rapidly in his side. “You could have died.”
“I have a hard head.”
“You hit your head?”
“And some other things. Yeah. But I’m okay. There were others with me so I got help right away, which helped tremendously. And I guess I gotta stay here for three days. I’m sorry about that.”
“I will stay with you. No matter what the gargoyle says. I will arrange to have a cot brought in so I can stay by your side. And when you do go home I will watch over you until you are cleared.”
“I’m pretty sure when they release me in three days I will be medically cleared.”
“I am speaking of being cleared by me,” Spock advised him. He leaned down to kiss Jim’s forehead. “I will be back. I am going to speak to medical personnel as well as the gargoyle. A bed will be brought in shortly. This is a Starfleet hospital.”
“And you’re going to throw your weight around, aren’t you, babe?”
“When it comes to the care of my mate, there is nothing I will not do,” Spock agreed. “I will return.”
Jim smiled. “Good. Hurry back. I’ll miss you.”
Spock touched his fingers to Jim’s and left to take command of the situation. He was secure in the knowledge he could out gargoyle anyone.
Jim spotted Uhura going into her quarters holding a single red rose. She had a dreamy look on her face.
He knew Sulu had been experimenting with growing different varieties of Earth plants and flowers in his botany lab.
But Jim couldn’t help feeling…well not despondent. That was a little extreme. Disappointed? Definitely. Disheartened? Was that as bad as despondent? He didn’t think so.
Anyway, since rumor had been that Uhura had ended things with Spock for good this time, Jim felt the brief spark of hope he’d felt for his own chance with Spock fizzle out.
Strange, too, as he could have sworn during his recent flirting with Spock that Spock was reciprocating.
With a weary sigh, Jim decided he’d better mind his own business and enter his own quarters.
When he stepped inside his bed was covered in red rose petals. To the left of his bed, a table and chairs had been set up with two table settings, candlelight and glasses of champagne.
Jim blinked.
It was then Spock stepped into his view.
Jim grinned as Spock held out his hand for Jim to accept.
“Geez, I’ve never been so cold in my life,” Jim complained. He’d been fiddling with the heater controls in the farmhouse for what seemed like hours but was likely no more than twenty minutes. “What kind of moron decides to arrive in the middle of the worst blizzard to hit Riverside in decades.”
“When the plans were made, no blizzard was anticipated,” the robot replied.
Okay, he supposed that was unfair. The robot was Spock and he wasn’t really a robot. Still, Jim was mildly annoyed with him so at present he didn’t give a damn.
He eyed the Vulcan who wore a big woolen sweater as he gazed blankly back at Jim. He had been of no help whatsoever since they arrived. Jim had gotten the fire going in the living room and now he was fiddling with the heater to try to get it to go on.
His family had never switched to a computer-controlled heat apparatus. They’d been convinced an old-fashioned heater was “charming”. Charming his ass.
“If I’m this cold you must be freezing,” Jim said as amiably as he could manage under the circumstances.
“As a Vulcan, I am able to—”
“Blah blah blah.” If Jim didn’t have his hands full of instruments, he’d be sticking his fingers in his ears. Immature? No doubt. “You know you didn’t have to come with me.”
Jim was sorry he’d come with himself. Or you know, whatever. Stupid blizzard.
They’d barely made it there and he wanted to turn right around and leave except the weather got even worse and they’d been stuck.
“You did not want me to?” Spock asked, neutrally.
He had wanted Spock to. They’d just started a…thing…er a whatever. Prior to this shore leave or break, they’d maybe had sex. Okay, not maybe, they had. Even though they hadn’t had the conversation as to what that meant at all. Jim didn’t really want to have that conversation. It made him sick even thinking about that conversation. And as far as he could tell the robot didn’t either.
But instead of answering that loaded question, Jim grimaced. “If I can’t get this heater started we’re going to be in a world of trouble. That fire isn’t going to do it to keep us warm enough.”
“I could look at it,” Spock offered.
And it was on the tip of his tongue to ask what a stupid Vulcan would know about an old-time heater, because he was that irritated with the world, but what the hell. He wasn’t having any luck.
He stepped aside and thrust the tools into Spock’s hands. “Knock yourself out. Well, actually, don’t. I don’t think I have any medical equipment for that.”
Spock didn’t bother to comment on that and Jim didn’t blame him.
With a sigh, he rubbed his neck and said, “I’ll be right back. I gotta pee.”
So he trudged up the basement stairs, shivering madly as he made his way up to the bathroom. He was really starting to hate this place and he was going to have more than a few words with his mom over it.
In the bathroom, having to lower his pants to pee, he thought his dick was going to break off it was so damn frozen.
He was eying the faucet and wondering how cold the water would be when he washed his hands when he suddenly heard the heater kick on.
A moment later a triumphant Spock came up from the basement, looking altogether pleased with himself.
“How did you—”
“Well, scientifically speaking, I—”
Jim covered Spock’s mouth with his to shut him up.
“Another Christmas over,” Jim said, forlornly, as he sat on a stump in their yard next to his older brother.
It was after midnight, and they really should be in the house and in bed but they had no school so Mom had given them permission to stay up a bit late.
Jim was six and Sam nine.
“I’m glad.”
“Don’t say that Sammy.”
Sam snorted. “Now the grandparents can go home. And Mom’s new boyfriend too. I hate all those people in my house.”
“I like them,” Jim insisted. “Grandma and Grandpa anyway. I don’t like Mom’s boyfriend. Besides what if Daddy comes back?”
“I’ve already told you Dad’s not ever coming back. He died, stupid.”
“But I wished on a star!”
“Wishes don’t work. And guess what? There’s no such thing as Santa. That was Mom.”
“What? There’s no Santa?” Jim was on the verge of tears.
“The sooner you grow up the better off you’ll be. Dad’s gone. Santa doesn’t exist and Mom’s gonna marry that guy and ruin all our lives. Life isn’t fair, Jimmy. It’s just life. And you live it. And sometimes good things happen, but mostly bad things do. You just gotta accept it.”
“But—”
“And Christmas sucks.” Sammy rose from the stump he’d been on and went slamming back into the house, leaving Jim to sit by himself, now in tears.
He sat there for a while wondering why Sammy hated him. Because he must. Sammy was always mean to him, Jim thought.
He was still there when his grandpa came t sit with him on the stump beside him.
“Getting a little cold out here, isn’t it, champ?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got some cocoa brewing right now, so when we go in you can have some before bed.”
“Grandpa?”
“Yeah?”
“Daddy really isn’t ever coming back, is he?”
“No, I’m afraid not. Your daddy passed away. But he saved a lot of people and was a hero. We’re very proud of him and you should be, too. And his spirit is always with us. All of us.”
“And Santa?”
“What about him?”
“Sam says there’s no such thing as Santa.”
His grandpa put his hand on Jim’s knee. “Sam doesn’t know everything, Jim. He only thinks he does. You believe me when I tell you Santa is real.”
Jim brightened. “It’s true?”
“You bet it is. Now let’s go in and get that cocoa, all right?”
“Okay.”
They got off their stumps and Jim took his grandpa’s hand as they went back inside the house. He felt much better. And didn’t care what Sammy said. Santa was real!
Peppermint Chocolate Martinis (A Little Bit Longish)
While it was true Spock did not normally participate in leisure activities, he had allowed Nyota to talk him into having drinks in a rather secluded bar on Yorktown. She had indicated that their captain and Doctor McCoy would join them later.
The captain was meeting with the admiralty regarding the rebuild of the Enterprise and McCoy, according to Nyota, was still treating members of their crew for injuries sustained on Altamid and its aftermath.
Though initially Spock had surmised that he and Nyota would reconcile in their romantic relationship, ultimately, after many long, very personal conversations, they had made the decision to move on from their intimacy and to build a friendship instead.
Thus why he agreed to the drink, though it was not his habit.
“There’s a booth over there.” Nyota pointed to the corner booth. “We’ll go there. I’m going to get us peppermint chocolate martinis.” She winked.
“Is that wise?”
She laughed. “It’s not unwise. It’s the Terran holiday season. I think getting peppermint chocolate martinis will be very festive.” She put her hand on his arm. “You can handle one, Spock. You need to relax a little. You’ve been wound tighter than an old clock.”
Spock shook his head at such euphemisms but went dutifully to the booth while she ordered their drinks.
Nyota soon appeared bearing a drink for each of them, which she put on the table before sliding into the booth next to Spock.
The drinks were rather large in Spock’s opinion and had been presented in martini glasses with a peppermint stick sticking out the side of the glass and there were chocolate sprinkles covering the top.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you are trying to get me intoxicated,” Spock said, taking a sip through bright red straw.
Nyota smirked. “Now why would I do that?”
Spock could not imagine why she would and after another few sips, he had to admit the drink was delicious and he was feeling more relaxed.
Just then a uniformed ensign approached their booth. He appeared to be quite embarrassed.
“So sorry to disturb you, Lieutenant, Commander, but Lieutenant Uhura is needed for a rather urgent communication console issue aboard the Enterprise. It won’t take long.” He paused. “I think.”
Nyota sighed. “My work is never done. Okay, be right there.”
She went to slide out of the booth as the ensign moved off. “Kirk and McCoy should be here any minute, Spock. And I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I will await you.”
She gave him a funny look and then sauntered off.
Spock quickly finished the remainder of his peppermint chocolate martini. And when the captain and doctor had still not arrived, nor had Nyota returned, he pulled her martini in front of him and began to drink it.
He’d finished hers, when finally, Jim and McCoy entered the bar.
Jim came straight over to the booth and smiled at Spock.
Spock liked his smile. And he couldn’t help but notice Jim was dressed casually in denim that hugged what could only be described as a bubble butt, a snug dark blue T-shirt that set off those eyes perfectly, and a soft leather looking jacket.
McCoy was right behind him, but Spock ignored the doctor.
“Sorry we’re late.”
“You are right on time.”
Jim laughed. “Okay. What are you drinking?”
“Peppermint Chocolate Martinis.”
Jim blinked. “Um. Yeah?”
“Indeed. Nyota had a communications emergency, but she was drinking the same.”
Jim glanced then at McCoy. “Two more of those then, Bones. Just a red wine for me. Surprise me.”
“What am I the barmaid?” McCoy asked, sarcastically, but he moved off to get the drinks,
Spock patted the booth seat directly beside him.
Jim did that slow blink again, but he slid in beside Spock.
Spock put his hands on Jim’s jacket and felt it up. “This is a very nice coat.”
Jim turned his head toward Spock, openly staring. “You think?”
“It is not real leather, I hope.”
Jim smirked at that. Spock loved his smirk.
“Of course not. Synthetic. And God, I’m hot.”
“Yes,” Spock agreed.
Jim laughed again. Spock decided Jim didn’t laugh nearly enough. But Jim was shrugging off that jacket. “In here. It’s warm in here.”
Spock angled his head. “It seems quite comfortable to me.”
“Did you drink both of those by any chance?” Jim asked, pointing to the empty glasses.
“Oh. Yes.”
“Oh yes.” Laughing again. “How do you feel, Mister Spock?”
“Very relaxed.”
“I can tell.”
Spock put his hand on Jim’s leg under the table. He felt Jim’s muscle jump and looked up into Jim’s widening eyes.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have the most extraordinary iris color?”
“Uh. Well. Not quite that way, but so I’ve been told, sure.”
Spock frowned. “I imagine many tell you how sexually attractive you are.”
Jim licked his lips. “Well. Um. Sure. Some have. But not you. Before.”
Spock nodded at this. “I have been quite remiss then.”
McCoy arrived with some drinks then. He put the red wine in front of Jim and Spock’s drink in front of him, then with what could only be called a sardonic look, he left again.
Jim smiled faintly at Spock and reached for his wine. He had just taken a sip when…
“I would like to take you to bed.”
Jim choked and spit his wine across the table.
Alarmed, Spock stood up slightly in the booth and began to pound on Jim’s back.
“Spock! Spock!” Jim gasped. “Stop! You’re going to break my back.”
Spock ceased his pounding and sat back down, closer still to Jim. In fact, he realized he had partially sat on Jim’s lap because his captain very carefully but gently pushed Spock off him.
“Are you all right?” Spock demanded.
“Yeah. You just surprised me. Spock, I don’t think you’re yourself.”
“I am not.”
Jim nodded. “Thought so.”
“But I would still like to take you to bed.” Spock took a sip of his martini. “My sexual attraction to you is not fueled by intoxication. My desire for you is unwavering.”
Jim stared open mouthed at him now.
Spock took another sip of his martini while he waited for Jim to process this.
“You sure?”
“Vulcans do not lie.”
“They could be mistaken…”
“No.” Spock shook his head. “Is it that my wish to take you to bed is an affront to your—”
“No,” Jim said, quickly. “Nothing’s affronted, I assure you. No. I mean, um, you know, I guess, I like the idea.”
Spock noticed that Jim’s cheeks had reddened. “You are embarrassed.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah. This is a bit of a weird moment.”
McCoy returned with the other drinks and gave them a strange look. He put them down and just that minute Nyota returned to the booth. Her eyes widened when she saw three empty martini glasses in front of Spock.
“Spock! Did you drink all of those?”
“Yes.”
McCoy snorted. “Uhura, maybe you’d better take him back to where he’s staying.”
Nyota shook her head at McCoy. “Actually, I think Spock would prefer the captain escort him.”
Spock nodded quickly.
Jim shared a look with her, but then he also nodded. “Yeah, good idea. Listen, Bones, I’m going to say goodnight and take Spock back to the Regal Yorktown Hotel. I think he’s had enough.”
“But what about…oomph.” McCoy scowled at Nyota who had just elbowed him.
“You can have a drink with me, Leonard.”
McCoy blew out a breath. “Fine. Damn fools. I just wanna say—” He eyed Nyota’s raised elbow and closed his mouth. She smiled serenely.
“Goodnight, Spock. Captain.”
“Lieutenant. Bones,” Jim said with one of his smirks. But he helped Spock out of the booth, holding his arm as he got him out of the bar.
“I did not mean to remove you from the enjoyment of your evening,” Spock said, somewhat remorsefully.
“Don’t worry about it. How are you feeling?”
“Somewhat as though I may hurl.”
Jim sighed. “Was afraid of that. Come on then, babe, let’s get you to your room.”
Spock warmed at the endearment but chose not to comment on it just yet.
To be truthful, and Spock generally was, he didn’t really remember the walk from the bar to his room at the Regal Yorktown Hotel. He did somewhat notice the holiday festive decor set in deference to Terran citizens.
But Jim got him there and brought him over to sit on the edge of the bed. Spock couldn’t hide his surprise when Jim knelt in front of him, hands on Spock’s legs, by his boots.
“Let’s get these off you.” He tugged Spock’s boots off.
Jim’s smile was Spock’s favorite. Gentle, sweet, and indulgent all at the same time. He used it a lot for Spock and that…
“You love me!”
Spock winced at the accusation in his tone.
But it earned him another laugh.
“Yeah, I do, sugar plum.”
“What exactly is a sugar plum?”
“Hell if I know. I used to think as a kid it was a plum covered in sugar but my mom said…you know what? Who cares?” Jim grinned. “You love me too, right?”
Spock reached for the hands Jim had on his leg. He leaned forward so that Jim would rise to his knees and held Jim’s hands in his.
“More than peppermint chocolate martinis,” Spock replied.
“That much, huh?”
“Yes,” Spock said, seriously. “And as much as I would like to take you to bed right now, I am quite sure I am about to vomit.”
Jim let go of his hands quickly and scrambled to his feet. A moment later he came back to Spock holding a trash can.
Later when he was certain nothing else would come out, Jim took Spock into the bathroom, got him cleaned up, and then helped him into bed.
“Thank you, Ashayam.”
“You’re welcome, babe.”
“I like that one better than sugar plum.”
Jim smiled. “I’ll remember that. Think you can sleep?”
“If you will stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Spock closed his eyes and then opened them again quickly. “Jim!”
Jim, who was still right where he was before, gave him a funny look. “Yeah?”
“Thought you left,” Spock mumbled.
“No more peppermint chocolate martinis for you, Mister.”
“It is the holidays.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Will you lie beside me?”
Jim brushed Spock’s hair off his face. “Sure I will.”
He felt Jim get into the bed next to him. Spock grabbed his hand and pulled Jim’s arm around him.
“I am sorry it took intoxication for me to—”
“Shh. Go to sleep. Whatever worked. You know?”
Spock closed his eyes, feeling Jim’s hand covering over his heart. “I know.”
Whatever worked.
He didn’t know much about holidays or drinking, obviously, but he knew that he would remember this night forever.
“It doesn’t matter what you have to say because…wait.” Jim stopped talking, suddenly looking uncertain. His bottom lip trembled. “What did you say?”
“I love you,” Spock said again, louder this time. “I-I have for the longest time. I…I am not sure when. Like you, I never said anything. I was with Nyota and I…that relationship was comfortable if not particularly passionate. I thought that was the way romantic relationships generally occurred.”
“Your parents—”
“They never openly showed affection except to touch fingers. That is not the Vulcan way. I did learn that my father loved my mother after she was gone.” Spock shook his head. “Nyota and I also touched fingers and, as I said, it was comfortable and pleasant. I thought, perhaps, to discuss my growing affection for you after the events involving Khan but you quickly established a romantic relationship with Carol Marcus. And then when she left, there was always someone else or some other mission or something that kept me from speaking up.” Spock looked down at the ground. “I was also a coward as I never dared hope you would share my affection. What could you possibly see in a skinny emotionally stunted Vulcan? It is painful to know that you gave your love to another Spock.”
Jim just stared at him and Spock began to realize it was too late. He’d lost his chance. He’d lost Jim.
The lump in his throat made it difficult to swallow but it was nothing compared to the pain in his side where his heart surely had ceased to beat.
“You’re wrong.”
Jim’s voice was a soft whisper.
Spock was afraid to ask what he’d gotten wrong as he was certain he was not going to like the answer.
Jim shook his head and took a step toward Spock. Suddenly he put his fingers on Spock’s wrist.
“You’re a touch telepath, what does that tell you?”
“I…”
“I never gave my love to anyone else. He was a replacement for you. A really great replacement, sure. But he could never be you. I gave my heart to you a long time ago. No one else can have it unless you give it back.”
Spock’s gaze held his and he saw only what he hoped to see…love.
“I would selfishly keep it forever.”
That earned him the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. And all of Jim’s smiles were gifts.
“Can I kiss you now?”
Spock shook his head. “No.”
“No?”
“I want to kiss you. To show you what it’s like to kiss the real me, the one who loves you beyond reason and who will all his days, however many that may be.”
Spock lifted his hand to Jim’s face, framing his jaw, and lowered his mouth to Jim’s at last. And if it seemed like stars and sun and water swirled around them, surely that was merely imagination. As was the click he heard in his mind.
Jim leaned into him, deepening the kiss.
Spock forgot anything else other than the taste of perfection.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 