Spock did not move from his position in front of the building with the Cat Rescue. On the window was a picture of a super cute black cat that declared, Needs a Good Home.
Jim had known it was a mistake to walk this way with his husband. But it was the shorter route and with the cold wind he had been, admittedly, in a hurry to make it home.
“Spock, we already have four cats. In that tiny apartment.”
“It is two bedrooms. The cats have their own bedroom.”
Jim sighed. “I know but—”
“We have a good home. The cat will have friends.”
“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”
Spock arched a brow.
“I thought so.” He moved toward the handle of the door. “Let’s go get another cat.”
Jim Kirk stopped before the sign attached to an auditorium on the Academy’s campus.
“Pie contest,” he read.
His best friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy finally caught up to him as Jim read the words out loud. Bones had been lagging behind per usual.
“Ooh. I could do a pie eating contest.” He patted his belly. “Now that’s the kind of Harvest fun I can get onboard with. None of this other stuff like a carnival. Do you know how dangerous those old rickety rides are?”
Jim smiled. “Not a pie eating contest, Bones. A pie baking contest.”
“Baking? Oh forget it.”
He shook his head and laughed. “My mom used to make a mean pecan pie.”
“Mean, huh? Did it bite you? Forget it. You don’t want to enter. Maybe we could sign up to be judges.”
“What qualifications do you have to judge pies, Bones?”
He patted his stomach again. “I know how to ‘em. What other qualifications do I have to have?”
“Well—”
“There you are, Jim.” Spock came up behind them, hands clenched behind his back. “Doctor.”
“Spock,” Bones returned.
“I hope you were not waiting long,” Spock said.
“No, just got here. Was thinking about the pie contest. Bones wants to judge.”
“I believe I heard they had all the judges they required.”
Jim smiled. “Spock’s on the Harvest planning committee.”
“Reluctantly.” He eyed Bones. “I believe they are still looking for volunteers for the dunking booth at the carnival.”
“Harty har har. No thanks.”
“Also someone to dress up as a clown in the funhouse.”
Jim grinned as they started walking. “You’d make a good scary clown, Bones.”
His friend snorted. “I think I’ll stick to being a guest. All that greasy makeup messes with my beautiful skin.”
“Maybe I’ll be a clown.”
“You are a clown.”
Jim just laughed and caught up with Spock’s long strides, leaving Bones behind.
Spock reluctantly went to the sickbay to speak to McCoy. Generally their discussions ended up being somewhat acrimonious and he was truly not in the mood for a sparring match with the doctor.
But he had heard the way to a Human’s heart was through his stomach and he realized, to his embarrassment, he did not know what Jim liked to eat. What his favorite dishes were. And he wished to declare his affections in this manner, as thus far, all his attempts had been unsuccessful.
Spock did not want to think that Jim was simply not interested. He preferred to hold onto the belief that Jim was oblivious. He was not used to subtle attempts to be wooed.
“Spock, what can I do for you?” McCoy looked up from studying a medical report.
It bothered Spock that there were things McCoy knew about Jim he simply did not, but he tried to remind himself that one’s favorite food dishes were trivial things.
“Can you tell me what the captain enjoys eating?”
“He eats everything, he’s not picky.” McCoy was once more studying his report.
Not at all helpful. He inwardly sighed.
“Yes, but what does he like in particular?”
McCoy glanced at him. “What’s this about?”
“I want to know what the captain likes to eat. His favorite.”
“Why?”
“Does it matter for you to give me the answer?”
McCoy snorted. “It’s October, right? So, if um, your idea is to impress him, pumpkin cheesecake.” The he smirked. “That is what you want to do, right? Impress him.”
Spock decided to be noncommittal. “Is it difficult to make?”
“Not for a genius like you.”
Spock decided it was time to depart before things became more difficult. He turned and left without another word.
***
“Uh.”
“It is pumpkin cheesecake,” Spock told Jim as he presented the slice of runny orange colored cheesecake to Jim.
They were in his quarters about to play chess.
Jim stared at it, took it from Spock, and smiled. But Spock could tell it was one of his fake smiles.
“Well…this is a surprise.”
“You do not like pumpkin cheesecake?”
“I love it but…uh…this is nice. Why the cheesecake, Spock?”
Spock stared at it. “It is not supposed to be this consistency, is it?”
“No.” Jim smiled and put the plate down without trying it. “Did you make it yourself?”
“I attempted to.”
That earned him a genuine smile. “That’s very sweet of you. Let me try it.”
Spock watched eagerly as Jim stuck his fork into the gooey runny mess and put a forkful into his mouth. But Spock’s spirits deflated when he couldn’t miss Jim’s wince.
“Well.”
“It is terrible, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Because you are attempting diplomacy.”
Jim laughed. “It has nice pumpkin cheesecake flavor but it’s not cooked through. Cheesecake can be difficult if you don’t know what to do. Did you put it in a bath?”
“Why would it need a bath?”
Jim laughed again. But this time to Spock’s utter delight, okay reserved delight, Jim threw his arms around Spock’s neck and kissed him.
Vanik was pleased when Jim stepped aside to allow him to enter the apartment Jim shared with Vanik’s Uncle Spock. He glanced around, already anticipating Jim’s Halloween decorations throughout the apartment.
Jim closed the door and turned to Vanik with his usual congenial smile. “Would you like a snack?”
“I would, yes.” He followed Jim into the kitchen. Jim always kept the best snacks. Spock didn’t prior to meeting Jim. Vanik was responsible for their relationship and he was quite proud of that.
“Cheese flavored chips or pretzels?”
“Where are the decorations?” Vanik asked rather than respond to the question. He didn’t really want to make a choice, he wanted them both.
“Hmm?”
“The bats, the skeletons, the ghosts. It’s October.”
“October third.”
“Yes you had two days to begin.”
Jim shrugged. “I’m going light on decorations this year.” He pointed to the coffee table. “I have a pumpkin.”
“That’s it?”
Jim smiled. “Chips or pretzels?”
“Both?” Vanik said hopefully.
“A kid after my own heart. Both it is.” Jim got out a giant plastic bowl and filled it with the cheese chips and pretzels.
Vanik started munching as he sat on the bar stool next to the kitchen counter. “Uncle Spock won’t eat these, huh? Since it’s got cheese dust.”
“Well, yeah, and he thinks their messy. His loss.”
“Indeed.”
Jim eyed him with a sudden frown. “Put those chips down.”
“What?”
The adult grabbed his arm, surprisingly gently, and brought him into the kitchen, pointing to the sink. “Wash those hands. You’re wearing your school uniform and your Uncle Spock and parents are gonna kill me if you get stuff all over it again.”
“But I want—”
“I’ll put you in a big T-shirt. Just clean up and we’ll take off that shirt.”
A few minutes later, back perched on the stool munching chips and pretzels, Vanik said to Jim, “You are wise.”
Jim laughed.
“You’ll need more decorations for the party though,” Vanik said, returning to the reason he had come.
“Party?” Jim paused with a beer bottle halfway to his mouth.
“Halloween. If you will recall you had one the last two years. It will, admittedly, be difficult to top last years.”
“Uh.”
“What does uh mean?”
“I hate to break it to you, kid, but we’re not having a Halloween party this year.”
“You…are not?” Vanik scrunched up his face.
“Nope. Parties are a lot of work and expense, Vanik. Your uncle and I decided not to have it this year.”
Disappointment washed over him, but with a heavy sigh, he popped another chip in his mouth. “Got any strawberry milk?”
Jim rolled his eyes and went into the fridge for a small bottle that he handed to Vanik. They kept the milk especially for him and Vanik loved that.
“What are the plans for Halloween then?”
“Scary movies, snacks, and cuddling on the couch.”
The door to the apartment opened then and Vanik’s uncle entered. He stopped short on seeing Vanik, then shook his head and reclosed the door.
“Did we expect you today?” Spock asked.
Vanik watched as he came to Jim and gave him a quick kiss. Spock had definitely changed. Thanks to Vanik, of course.
“No. I came to check on the Halloween plans.”
Spock frowned. “Halloween plans? We are not—”
“I know. Jim told me no party. What snacks are we having?”
“What?”
Vanik took a sip of his milk. “I’ll skip the cuddling. I can sit on a chair instead of the couch.”
Spock glanced at Jim, who smiled serenely. He turned away then, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I am getting a headache.”
Vanik looked to Jim. “Snacks?”
Jim laughed. “We have time to think about it.:
He nodded satisfied and realized, mournfully, between he and Jim, the chips and pretzels were gone. He sighed regretfully and slipped off the stool.
:”It is fortunate that Mother, Father and I now live in the same apartment building as you,” Vanik declared as he made his way to the door.
“Yes it is,” Jim agreed, amiably.
Jim was a good egg, Vanik thought. And he said his goodbyes, retrieved his school uniform shirt, and left.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 