The minute the words were out of his mouth, Jim wanted to take them back. He knew they were idiotic. They barely knew each other and it was just way too early for “meet the family”. He wasn’t even sure anything they’d done so far even counted as an actual date. And he’d put Spock on the spot to have to come up with a polite way to decline. Jim would be doing that himself if the shoe was on the other foot.
“Forget I said that,” Jim said, forcing a smile. “I know that was crazy and way too soon. Sorry.”
He could see signs of relief in Spock’s expression though he was trying to fight them. “It is only that—”
“No.” Jim laughed. “I know. We just met a few days ago. Sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain. Some other time, maybe, but for now, I’m good.”
“When you return, perhaps, on Monday evening, I would like to have you over to my apartment for dinner,” Spock offered.
It was a nice Segway into getting out of the way too awkward gaffe Jim just did.
“That sounds great.”
Spock nodded. “I hope all goes well with your family.”
“Thanks. My dad is doing better already. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll serve dinner?”
The evening turned out to be very nice once they got over Jim sticking his foot in his mouth with the stupid invitation. Dinner was delicious if he did say so himself and they spent the meal talking about each other’s work.
When it was over, Spock helped with the dishes, and then excused himself to go home.
All in all slow progress, progress, yes, but slow. Jim was pretty impatient sometimes so it was hard to force himself not even to try a kiss with Spock, but he had held back, figuring even that might be a bit too fast for this strange guy. Because yes Spock was different somehow then anyone Jim had ever met. But he liked him.
Having a bit of fun with this, totally modern setting
“I think the guy next door’s a monk or something.” Jim lowered his phone for just a second as he eyed the door to the apartment next to his. He carried a pizza box. He was talking to his mom.
“Why do you say that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve seen him walking in wearing this gown thing. Well, you know, not a gown, but like a robe a Tibetan monk word wear or something.”
“They’re Buddhist.”
“Yeah, so maybe, I don’t know. But he wears a hood. Do they wear hoods?”
His mother laughed. “How should I know? How long has he lived there?”
Jim used his key to unlock his own apartment. He stepped inside and closed the door with a kick, ignoring the jaw jarring slam.
“I dunno. A week or so. I never see him without that hood.” Jim put the pizza box on the counter and the fridge for a beer. He twisted the top and took a swig from the bottle. “Long day. How’s Dad?”
“Fussing about still being in the hospital, but better.”
“He had triple bypass.”
“I know but you know your father.”
“Can’t wait to see him next week.” Jim yawned. “I should probably go and eat my pizza.”
“Okay, sweetie, talk soon.”
Jim set his cell down and glanced toward the apartment wall he shared with the “monk”. With a shrug, he picked up his beer and pizza box and grabbed his keys.
It took a few knocks on his neighbor’s door before it opened.
“Hi, I have a pizza and I was wondering if you’d like to have some. I’m your next door neighbor by the way. I teach at the University.”
The guy, hood and all, eyed Jim. “Does it have meat?”
“Just cheese.” Jim paused. “You a veggie”
“Vegetarian, yes. But I will eat some cheese.”
Jim was surprised when he stood aside to let Jim inside.
“Jim.”
“Spock.”
Jim set the pizza down on the table. “I could get you a beer if you want.”
“No. I have Sake.” Spock replied. “It is Japanese.”
Jim smiled. “Yeah, I know.” He peered at Spock as he took another drink of his beer. “Are you a monk then?”
Since both Primes birthdays are this week (22 and 26) I give you OMS
“Where shall we go for our vacation?”
It was the third time his husband, Jim, had asked him the question, and though in all truthfulness Spock had no particular preference, he supposed he was going to be required to pick a destination.
Still, Spock decided to try one more deflection.
“I do not care. You choose.”
Jim leaned back in his chair and eyed Spock over the rim of his coffee mug.
Jim had made the mug himself; it was one of the many hobbies he had attempted to pick up since he retired from Starfleet. He’s purchased all the equipment and supplied to make his own ceramics.
It had not gone particularly well, and Jim eventually grew bored with it. The kiln had sat unused in the basement of the farmhouse for months before Spock finally took the initiative to sell it.
All the was left of Jim’s many attempts were the rather blah gray mug he used for his coffee and a bud vase that resembled an erect penis. Spock had hidden it away.
“Vulcan?”
“I have no particular need to go there at present,” Spock replied. “My parents were here on Earth not long ago and we saw them then.“
“You’re not homesick? To see the planet, I mean?”
Spock shrugged. “No.”
“We could go camping again.”
Spock barely refrained from showing a wince. “If that is your wish.”
Jim sighed. “It’s not my wish, Spock. This is your vacation too.”
Spock pursed his lips but did not respond.
“What?”
“It is just that we have been busy and running around for months, lately, years, if you think about it, and only recently have had the opportunity to return here to spend any period of time. I haven’t even been able to fully tend to my garden yet.”
Jim frowned. “Wait, are you saying you don’t want to go anywhere? You want to spend our vacation at home?”
“At one time it was called a ‘staycation’,” Spock explained. “I know that you wish to go somewhere exotic but—”
“No, no.” Jim put down his mug. “If you really want to stay here on the farmhouse, I’m good with it.”
“Are you certain?”
Jim smiled faintly. “Yeah. As long as you don’t mind me helping you with your garden. And putzing around the kitchen making bread.”
“Bread?”
“I got a new bread machine. You can help me.”
Spock nodded. “If you are sure.”
“Sure, sure. I just thought maybe we deserved a relaxing spa vacation or something. But if you want to stay here for a while, just the two of us, how can I refuse?”
“Thank you. I will be rising at five tomorrow.”
“In the morning?”
Spock’s lips twitched. “Yes, but you can join me in the garden later when you get up.”
“Whew. Glad to hear it. I’ve had enough getting up early to last me a lifetime.”
Spock picked up his tea and took a long sip.
“I should have made you a teacup. You know when I was doing my ceramics.”
Spock nodded. “It is all right. It would have been nice but—”
“I could take it up again and—”
“I sold your equipment.”
Jim deflated.
Spock sighed. “I suppose we could purchase new.”
“Orrrrrr…I have been thinking of taking up painting. A nude of you would be—”
“No.”
Jim might be bored, occasionally, during their retirement, but with a husband like Jim, Spock was not.
Spock was aware of Nyota watching him as their captain slipped out of the booth after a muttered, “I’d better take this.”
Spock’s gaze followed after Jim.
Nyota sighed but there was a small smirk on her face. “You’ve got it bad. You’re really in love.”
He thought about denying it, thought to do so was idiotic, and shrugged instead.
“It’s all you can do not to get up and follow after him,” she continued. “Anyone else wouldn’t notice, but I know you pretty well.”
“Does it…bother you?’
“Oh, not really. Maybe at first,” she conceded. “It’s difficult to maintain a friendship with your ex-lover, Spock. I don’t know many former couples that do it successfully. So I’ve had my challenges.”
“I realize,” Spock acknowledged. “And I appreciate all the efforts you’ve made.”
“It’s because of my great affection for you that I do. And I also want to maintain my position on the Enterprise. Anyway, when your relationship with Kirk first started, it bothered me. It made sense, too, because there always seemed to be an invisible third person in our relationship, and I realized then who it had always been. The point is, that doesn’t bother me anymore, Spock.”
Jim reappeared at their table. “Sorry about that.”
Spock wanted to move out of the booth and allow Jim to slide in first, mostly in a protective manner, but he also knew his captain would not appreciate it at all, so he scooted a little bit in and allowed Jim to resume his seat on the outside.
“Trouble?” Spock asked.
“Only in a purely bureaucratic matter,” Jim answered. “Did you order?”
“No,” Nyota replied. “We were waiting for you.”
Spock sniffed. “Why do you smell like perfume?”
Jim laughed. “Oh that.”
His gaze narrowed while Nyota snorted.
“After I talked to Harker, I had to go to the bathroom—”
“There was perfume in the bathroom?”
“No, no. Anyway, I was coming out and…you remember that girl from Risa I hooked up with in our second year?”
Spock’s lips thinned. “Yes.”
“Well as I came out of the bathroom, she launched herself into my arms and kissed me.”
“Kissed you?” Spock bristled.
“On the cheek. I moved at the last minute so she wouldn’t get my lips,” Jim grinned.
“I suppose she thought you would just pick up where you left off.”
Jim shrugged. “Who knows. But whatever she thought, I did tell her I was here with the two of you, and that you and I were together.”
“Hmm.”
Nyota stifled a laugh. “All that in just the few minutes you were gone?”
“I don’t know why this kinda stuff happens,” Jim said.
She rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Wanna share a pizza?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Spock said. He shook his head. They continued to talk about what pizza they would get. Coming down the aisle toward their table, Spock spotted the female from Risa. He gave her a death look as she met his gaze. Her eyes widened and she turned and went the other way.
Jim glanced at him. “You look smug. Why?”
“No reason,” Spock assured him. He turned his attention to his own menu and food choices.
Jim looked up, annoyed at the interruption from Uhura as he sat in an isolated corner of the mess choking down what passed for his dinner while he attempted to file multiple reports that were due yesterday at least.
“Yeah because I’d definitely rather be doing this,” he snapped.
She wrinkled her nose. “I just mean…today’s the anniversary of his mother’s death.”
“I know. I was there.”
She sighed and sat down. “He’s upset and trying not to show it.”
“I know, Uhura. But this has to be done. Komack is breathing down my neck and I’m so behind on this shit, I’m getting my ass chewed and spit out.”
“I could do them for you,” Uhura offered.
He shook his head. “It’s classified. You aren’t allowed to touch them.”
“Since when do you care about regulations?”
Jim snorted. “I’ve cared for a long time. And so should you. I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
“Okay, but…”
“You could go and spend time with him.”
“Sure, I could. But he’s stopped wanting me around for comfort a long time ago, Jim. He needs you. He wants you.”
Jim pinched the bridge of his nose, eyed his half-finished fried shrimp and fries and grimaced. “Okay. I can spare a few minutes.”
She covered his hand with hers. “I’m sorry you’re feeling so much pressure. You know I would help if I could. We all would.”
“Yeah, I know. They send the Enterprise out for everything these days.”
She smirked. “Our famous command team.”
“It’s creating way too many headaches. I don’t know why they need all of this.” He turned off his PADD and stood.
“You go on to Spock. I’ll clean up here.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
****
When he got to his quarters, Jim wasn’t surprised to find Spock there and meditating in his alcove.
So Jim sat down at his desk and turned his PADD on, continuing to work. He’d learned long ago not to interrupt Spock when he was meditating.
Since they’d gotten together, though they had separate quarters, Spock spent all his time with Jim. They both slept better together, and they had decided not to bother fighting that.
He worked for an additional hour before he saw movement where Spock had been, so he paused his work, and rose from behind his desk.
“Spock?”
“Jim.”
He approached the alcove and without a word, opened his arms.
Spock hesitated only a second before he stepped into Jim’s embrace. He wrapped his arms around his Vulcan boyfriend and just held him wordlessly.
Finally Spock whispered, “I will help you with your reports.”
“If you want to.”
“I need a distraction and you need help. No better solution.”
Jim drew back and offered a soft smile. “I love you.”
“And you own my heart,” Spock responded. “Thank you. Let us finish your reports.”
Jim took Spock’s hand and led him over to the desk.
Not quite the right situation but decided to use it as it is them hugging
“You’re half Human, haven’t you got any goddamn feelings about that?”
The angry, irritated words spoken by Jim during the recent crisis stuck in Spock’s memory, like an old song playing over and over in your head.
Perhaps it should not bother him. He was a Vulcan after all.
He’d gone through the “trial” standing beside his comrades while they were judged, Jim being demoted back to Captain. Jim had been pleased, so Spock accepted this. Had it upset Jim, Spock would have argued against it.
Spock had spoken to his father before his father left to return to Vulcan and they had parted…well. A definite improvement from the past.
And still the way things had been left between himself and Jim nagged at him.
Jim had left his side to speak with the president of the Federation, but when he was finished, he once more found Spock.
He smiled faintly at him. “I’m starved, but I don’t really feel like going to a restaurant and being on display. The, uh, the apartment is nearby. Wanna go there?”
Spock inclined his head in agreement. He noted that Jim didn’t say “my apartment”, so Spock suspected it was a mutually shared residence from their time together. His memories were returning, albeit more slowly than any of them would have liked.
The air was chilled and they wore only their uniforms, having not prepared with overcoats. He was glad that Jim kept up a brisk pace.
Once inside, Jim ordered the heat on and Spock was grateful for the immediate warmth.
“Tea?” Jim asked.
“Indeed, but I will attend to it.”
Jim followed him into the small but efficient kitchen, and Spock noted the familiarity there. Yes, he’d been there like this with Jim many times.
But he also noticed Jim watching him, a contemplative look in his eyes.
“What is it?” Spock asked. He returned his attention to his task of preparing his tea.
“Is something wrong, Spock?”
“Wrong, Cap…Jim?”
Jim blew out a long breath and leaned on the counter next to where Spock stood.
“Just…I don’t know.”
Spock pursed his lips. “I have been thinking about what you said during the mission. Are you angry with me?”
“Angry?”
Spock turned to him. “You seemed displeased with my reaction to certain events regarding the possible destruction of Earth.”
For a moment Jim’s frown was one of confusion, but then his expression cleared, and he shook his head.
“I’m not angry, Spock. I wasn’t then. Just…frustrated and irritated. Sometimes…I can’t help myself. It wasn’t any reflection on you.”
“Yet you used a colorful metaphor.”
“I did,” Jim admitted. “Ah, and I’m sorry about that. Like I said I was frustrated by the situation.”
“And my lack of reaction to it.”
“True. Sometimes, I forget, Spock, that you don’t react the same as me to what’s going on. I lashed out at that time because of that, but I’m not angry with you at all. I’m-“ He smiled faintly. “I’m grateful for you. And every moment I get to spend with you is special.”
Spock felt warmth blossom in his side, and he was, admittedly, in eminent danger of an illogical display of emotionalism. He looked at the tea before him to get control.
But then Jim touched his arm and that control eluded him.
“Spock,” Jim whispered.
Spock turned and allowed himself to be pulled into Jim’s embrace. Jim’s warm Human arms held him tight, and Spock felt love. Both loving Jim and having that love be returned.
I felt stupid the moment I walked into Spock’s office to see Nyota Uhura sitting on the edge of the desk directly next to him. The hear-shaped box I clutched in my hands slipped as my palm sweated.
Across the front of the desk, taped there, were various garish Valentine Day’s cards, no doubt doing their best to ask the Vulcan to be theirs.
“Was there something you wanted Mister Kirk?” Spock asked politely.
Uhura craned her neck to look over her shoulder at me. She gave an ugly smirk that made me hate her. I didn’t like the feeling.
There’d been rumors at the factory that she was sleeping with the boss, but up to that point I hadn’t believed it. There were also rumors he was gay and I’d wanted to believe that one. How wrong I’d been.
“I was just leaving,” she said coolly. She slipped off the desk, bent close to Spock, and said something in his ear. His only response was to nod. She straightened, gave his shoulder a squeeze, and sauntered around the desk and out the door without sparing me another glance.
Spock now gave me his full attention and it made me break out in a fresh sweat. Not that there was anything fresh about sweat.
Besides the cards, I noticed a few wrapped gifts on his desk too, pink and red. I wondered how silly he thought Humans were to celebrate such a thing as Sweetheart’s Day or whatever it was called.
I glanced down at the box I clutched and brought it forward. The box itself was dyed ruby red and then it had a cellophane wrap over that, cinched to the middle to give it an extra fancy appeal. I’d had the girl at the shop wrap it special.
I’d been an idiot.
His gaze went to the box. “I do not indulge in chocolate.”
He said it stoic and somewhat harshly as though he’d said it a hundred times that day and I supposed he must have had to do so. There was a slight derisive curl to his lip too.
“I know. This is…this isn’t chocolate. It’s an…well…it’s a carob assortment.”
“Carob.”
“It’s made from plants.”
“Yes, I know.”
He made no move to come out from behind his desk to take the box and I felt even more ridiculous. What had I been thinking?
Sure, Gaila had said…she’d been wrong, obviously.
Before I could think better of it, I slipped the lid off the candy box myself and took out a carob confection. When I was in high school I’d known a girl named Nicolette. Her parents were Dutch and they ate very healthfully. I remembered she’d always brought carob covered raisins to school.
I took a bite and blanched. “Oh, my God, that’s atrocious. Ugh. Yuck.”
I probably should have been embarrassed, but I was kind of past that, so I spit it out directly into my hand. Spock was now staring at me with wide eyes, no doubt wondering if the lunatic in his office was next going to commit some act of violence.
I spotted a tissue on his desk, so I reached for it and wiped the spit carob from the palm of my hand onto it.
“Gross,” I declared. With a disgusted grimace at my own idiocy, I turned and chucked the heart box of carob candies in the nearby trash basket. The box, which was still partially open from my having pilfered one, opened the rest of the way and spilled the contents into the trash.
“Did you just throw away my box of carob candy?” Spock asked.
I quickly glanced from the trash to him and saw how I had shocked him. I suddenly felt my face flame with heat.
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry! I did. I just…do you like carob?” I asked in a strangled voice.
He nodded but otherwise did not speak.
“Wow. Okay. Yeah. That was a super dickish thing to do. I just…I tasted it and then the thing was you had your uh your girlfriend here and—”
“Nyota is not my girlfriend.”
“And I felt super stupid to even be here when you clearly don’t want Valentine’s Day gifts from anyone and—”
“I would not have minded the box of candy from you.”
“You…what?”
Spock stood up finally and came around the desk. He walked over to the trash basket and looked down. “A lost cause, I think.”
“Yeah.”
He glanced at me. “Dinner perhaps?”
“I’d-I’d love to, but it’s really short notice to get a reservation tonight.”
“Quite. I shall have to make you dinner at my apartment.”
My jaw dropped open.
“For dessert I will make carob mousse.”
My mouth closed.
“I am in jest, of course, though there are many delicious carob mousse recipes.” Spock paused to arch a brow at me. “Do you accept?”
“Gaila said…well…she said that you might like…”
“Gaila is right. Do you accept?” he asked again.
I smiled for the first time since I’d walked into his office. “I definitely accept.”
no actual carob candies were harmed
There are a surprising amount of carob mousse recipes should you wish to look for one
Nicolette is a real person I knew in high school who brought carob raisins to school
“So much for the Valentine’s Day party,” Jim mumbled.
Spock was certain he could not have heard his captain correctly. After all they were stranded in cave in a snowstorm on a formerly hostile planet waiting for a rescue they both knew would take some time.
And that was not by far the worst of it.
“You are injured and need medical attention and we are in a cave trying not to freeze to death and your main concern is a ridiculous frivolous inappropriate festivity on the Enterprise that you will now be unable to attend,” Spock snapped.
Jim, face almost as white as the snow falling outside the cave, grimaced. “Well, when you put it that way…”
Spock relented slightly as he had no desire to be waspish to his captain. He clamped his lips shut for a moment as he continued to set up their shelter.
Concern for Jim’s injury was making him—as Jim would say—cranky. Spock got the fire going and then turned to the emergency blankets. He wrapped one completely around his captain, who now eyed him silently.
Once Spock was certain Jim was as comfortable as possible, he set the emergency beacon near the cave entrance so the Enterprise would get their signal when they were able to return after the storm.
He then approached Jim to check on his injured leg.
“You should join me in these blankets next to the fire, Spock.”
He intended to as soon as he ascertained Jim’s state. He crouched down to look at the blaster burn below Jim’s left knee. The material of his pants had been burned away, the flesh was a sickly charred mess and there was caked blood visible.
Jim’s pained gaze met his. “Looks gross huh?”
Spock pursed his lips. “I have seen worse,” he tried to say lightly and failed. “I would feel better if the doctor were here.”
“You want Bones to be along? Boy, I must be in bad shape.”
“I will give you some pain medication, Captain.”
Jim nodded. “All right. Then come in here with me.”
Spock injected Jim with the medication from the medkit in their emergency pack, and then watched Jim’s face to see the relief appearing there.
“Better?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Spock then, having seen to everything he needed on behalf of himself and his captain, joined Jim by the fire in the emergency blankets.
For a moment, Jim stayed stiff and straight beside him, but after a time, he slowly leaned into Spock, his strength waning.
“Why are you so disappointed not to attend the Valentine’s party?”
“I’m not that disappointed, really. Just…” He blew out a breath. “I intended to make a big grand gesture there to my Valentine.”
“I see.” Spock put his arm around Jim’s shoulders to draw him closer against him for shared warmth. “I do not believe your Valentine needs grand gestures.”
Jim sagged further against him. “Are you mad at me?”
“Of course I am not. I apologize for snapping at you earlier. I am…concerned.”
“I know, but we’ll be rescued eventually.”
“Yes,” Spock agreed. “But it disturbs me when you are in pain.”
“It’s not that bad,” Jim whispered.
“I can see that it is, T’hy’la.” Spock closed his eyes for a moment. “What grand gesture?”
Jim chuckled softly. “I was going to propose.”
Spock nodded. “Very well. I accept.”
“Yeah? You do?”
“Of course, Jim. I would bond with and marry you. I do not need a frivolous party for such a thing.”
He felt Jim’s smile. Not physically, but in his mind, and Spock blew out a breath of his own.
“I think bonding will be quite easy.”
“Yeah?”
Spock took his hand and held it. “I am certain of it.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 