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Flash Fic, February 07, 2022

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“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.”

Flash Fic, February 04, 2022

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“Who are you going to buy a Valentine’s Day Card for?”

The card slips from Jim’s hand and onto the floor as he jumps at the unexpected voice coming from behind him. He bends down and scoops it up from the floor of the shop before someone steps on it to ruin it. He abruptly puts it back in the slot of the shelf.

“Geez, Spock. Don’t sneak up on people.”

Spock arches a questioning brow at him. They are in a gift shop on the main thoroughfare in the heart of Yorktown. A couple of days from going out on the newly repaired and upgraded Enterprise.

“We are in the shop together, Captain. How could I have snuck up on you?”

“Well.” He shrugs. “You gonna get a card for Uhura?”

Spock looks like is considering it and he steps past Jim to the display. After a moment he holds up one that says something about his loving friend.

”That’s for her?” Jim asks. He is surprised, yes. Rumors were swirling that despite Spock helping to rescue her, they were not reconciling. Jim didn’t know because she had seemed like she’d wanted to at Jim’s party.

“Yes.” Spock picks up the card Jim had been studying which showed a big flashy glittery red heart. He opens it to read it. His gaze goes to Jim, but it is unreadable. “If Only You’d Be Mine?”

Jim smiles. “Thought you’d never ask,” he jokes.

Spock puts the card back and chooses another one. It has a small red heart and hands that seem to be holding it. He hands the card to Jim.

Who reads out loud, “Logically, you should be mine.”

Jim laughs. “That’s cute, I like that one.”

Spock nods and puts it with the card for Nyota. “Then I shall get this one for you.”

He walks away and Jim stares after him, eyes wide, and jaw dropped open.

“Catching flies?” Bones cracks as he approaches.

“No,” Jim whispers. “A Vulcan.”

Flash Fic December 29, 2021

It was not normal for Jim’s first officer to hide in the labs after his shift, but that was where Jim found him.

They were supposed to be playing chess or Jim thought they were. He recalled some kind of promise to play chess a few days after the Crew Holiday Party and that was this day. Granted things were a it fuzzy from that time, but he didn’t think that fuzzy, so when Spock didn’t  show, Jim went looking for him.

Spock was sitting before a bunch of test tube looking things and because he didn’t seem to know Jim was there, he was allowing himself to frown very slightly.  

Earlier that day they’d returned from a difficult landing party mission and someone Spock had been quite friendly with had been killed. Jim was aware there were those who didn’t think Spock had any friends, present company exempted of course, because everyone knew of their friendship,  and Spock still maintained a sort of friendship with Uhura.

It hadn’t occurred to Jim at the time, even though he knew Spock was friends with Martinez, that Spock was upset. Sometimes Jim could be a little too obtuse. Now as he observed Spock, he realized just how upset Spock must be.

“Hey,” he said softly from the doorway.

Spock looked up, startled, his expression going instantly blank. “Captain. I apologize. Was there something you needed?”

Jim hesitated, but then said, “I might have gotten my days mixed up, but I thought this was the day we mentioned playing chess when we talked at the holiday party.”

“I had…forgotten. May we reschedule?”

“Sure, Spock. No problem.

And he supposed he should turn around and leave Spock alone, but instead he drew closer to where his science officer sat. Since he’d met Spock he’d seen Uhura hug him several times. Spock never initiated the hugs as far as he could tell.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Did you…did you ever hug your mother?”

Spock seemed surprised by the question, but he finally said, softly, more a whisper, “She hugged me on a few occasions.”

“But you didn’t embrace her first?”

“No.”

Jim nodded. “I never did with my mother either. Pretty much I never hug anyone first.” He shook his head. “I might have done a sort of manly pat hug with Bones a time or two.”

“Manly pat hug?”

Jim smiled. “Yeah, you know. Anyway, uh, look. I’m really sorry about Martinez. I know you two were friends and I should have thought of that before.”

“I appreciate your consideration now, Captain.”

“So, is it okay, then, if I give you a commiserating hug?” Jim was embarrassed the moment he said it. He knew he was ridiculously red because of it. And he fully expected Spock would say, “Oh, no, Captain, keep your hugs to yourself.”

So yeah, when Spock stood up from the stool he was perched on and opened his arms, Jim was so startled he almost flubbed it.

Almost.

Instead he went into Spock’s arms and wrapped his arms around the Vulcan just as Spock wrapped his around Jim.

He wasn’t sure who was hugging who and somehow it didn’t at all matter as they stood holding each other for a long time. Minutes for sure.

And then as Jim finally figured he should pull away and as he did so, Spock surprised him with, “Perhaps a chess game with you is just what I need, Captain.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I will come to your quarters shortly.”

Jim smiled nodded and squeezed Spock’s shoulder, then left the lab, feeling better than he had in a long time. He had needed that hug as much as Spock did.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Advent Day 23

“I hear something.”

Spock looked up from his PADD. “Like what?”

Jim frowned. He took a long sip of his coffee. He was seated at the dining room table. He was still wearing his pajamas and robe. His hair was adorably rumpled and at present he wore a pair of wire rimmed spectacles that only seemed to enhance the shade of the blue of his eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“Then how do you know you hear something?” Spock went back to his messages.

“Hmm. It sounds, I don’t know, like a faint rustle. Or scratching maybe.” Jim nudged his foot against Spock’s. “Whatcha reading?”

“One is a message from my father.”

Jim’s lips twitched. “What does dear old dad have to say?”

“He intends to retire his ambassadorial duties,” Spock said, musingly. “And is considering recommending me to replace him.”

“Oh?”

“Only if I am interested,” Spock clarified.

“And are you?” Jim put his coffee down. “You heard that, didn’t you?”

“What, Jim?”

“Maybe we have a rat!”

“On the fourth floor of a high rise apartment building?”

“Well. Come on, you didn’t hear what I heard?”  Jim pushed away from the table and stood, taking his coffee with him to the living room. He stopped before the Christmas tree that had been situated by the picture window of their apartment.

Spock sighed and put his PADD down, following Jim. “Do you think I should say no?”

“If you didn’t hear it, yeah.”

“No, ashayam. To Sarek about the ambassadorship.”

Jim, hands on hips, turned to face him. He had removed the glasses and stuck them in the pocket of his robe. “What do you want to do? Do you want to say yes?”

“It would mean brief periodic separations between us.”

“You aren’t answering the actual question, Spock. Do you?”

“I do not know,” he admitted. “It is worth considering. But I do not wish to be parted from you for excessive lengths of time.”

“I don’t want that either but we’ve survived worse.” Jim turned to face the mantle of their apartment where two stockings had been hung.

Spock watched him carefully as Jim walked toward the stockings.

“It’s coming from here, I know it. I’m telling you somehow a rat got into one of these.”

Spock arched a brow.

Suddenly Jim yelped and jumped back as something squirmed in the stocking with the name Jim stitched on it.   

“What the—?”

A moment later a furry black head with slightly rounded ears with tufts of hair coming out of them appeared and mewled.

“Oh my God!” Jim rushed to the stocking and scooped up the fluffball kitten, who immediately began to purr at being held.

Spock smiled. “Do you like her?”

“Do I like her? Are you kidding? She’s the cutest thing ever!”

“Merry Christmas,” Spock said. “I put her in there this morning. I was surprised you did not realize sooner.”

“You devil!” Jim grinned. “She’s so sweet. I love her. And I love you.”

He came to kiss Spock, who kissed him back ignoring the paw that came out to swipe out at his chin.

“You should say yes,” Jim said, softly.

“To?”

“Your dad. We’ll work it out, Spock. Whatever it takes, we’ll always work around everything as long as we are together.”

“Yes, we will,” Spock agreed.

“And I now have this adorable companion. I think I’ll call her Holly.”

“That is purrrfect.”

Jim laughed. “You are.”

Blue Christmas

Advent Day 21

Jim was just putting the finishing touches on his present for Mommy when his brother came slamming into the house.

Sam was dressed in a heavy coat and scarf with a knit hat on his head. There was a light dusting of snow on him too.

“What are you doing?” Sam asked.

“Working on my Christmas present for Mommy. It’s a necklace with my hand print.”

His brother stood there silently for a moment or two and then he shook his head. “She’s not coming home for Christmas, Jimmy.”

“Sure, she is,” Jim said, matter-of-factly. He stuck out his tongue in concentration as he put glue on the bale of the necklace.

“No.” Sam paused. “She isn’t.”

Jim looked up at his brother. He had a flicker of a doubt but he quickly dismissed it. “She said she was. She promised.”

“Well she’s breaking that promise. You might as well learn now that adults break their promises all the time.”

“Not Mommy.”

Sam sighed. “She sent a message earlier today. She can’t make it off that rock she’s working on in time to make it. I’m sorry, Jimmy. But she won’t be home from Christmas.”

Jim stared down at the necklace he clutched in his hands. He felt the tremble in his bottom lip even as Sam turned away and stomped upstairs in his snow boots.

A minute later, Jim stood up from the table, scooped up all the stuff he had for the necklace and threw it in the trash.

****

Jim smiled faintly as he looked up at the tall blue Christmas tree with white lights. It was in the so-called city square on Yorktown. Jim was dressed casually, having ditched his uniform a short while ago. It was the “evening” on Yorktown complete with atmospheric coolness piped in for the time of year.

“You seem sad.”

Jim glanced at Spock, who had just appeared beside him. “I was thinking of blue Christmas.”

“The tree?”

“The song actually. But yeah the tree reminded me of it.”

Spock tilted his head. “And why is it a blue Christmas?”

“Not today really. It’s just…when I was a kid, pretty young, I was expecting Mom to come home, only she couldn’t make it, her work wouldn’t let her get away. I was absolutely beside myself over it. Threw away the present I was making for her and cried for hours.” He shook his head. “I didn’t understand adult obligations then. I just knew she had disappointed me again. After that, for the longest time, I wanted nothing to do with holidays. It just meant disappointment to me and so I stopped even thinking about them let alone celebrating them.”

“Understandable,” Spock spoke quietly. “And now?”

Jim turned to face Spock and smiled, holding out his two fingers as Spock had taught him. Spock met them and, as usual, Jim felt the slightest of zings.

“Now, I couldn’t be happier, and I say, welcome Christmas. But when we get back to the room? I need to video conference Peter. It’s not nearly enough. But I’m close enough to his location to reach him. Mom wasn’t and it was something I really resented for a long time. I should have cut her some slack.”

“You were just a disappointed child,” Spock pointed out, falling into step next to him.

“I know. But I don’t want Peter experiencing any Blue Christmases.” Jim reached for and received Spock’s hand, as they walked back to their room surrounded by twinkling lights.   

O Tannenbaum

Advent Day 19

“It is illogical for us to be obtaining a Christmas tree when we do not normally celebrate Christmas,” Spock’s father told his wife, Amanda, Spock’s mother, as they arrived at the tree lot to do just that.

Spock’s father, Sarek, a full Vulcan celebrated nothing. Spock’s mother had been born and raised Jewish but as far as Spock could tell, she likewise celebrated nothing.

Yet here they were.

“Susan converted to her husband, Tom’s religion and they do celebrated Christmas,” Mother said as they passed through the open gate.

Susan was Mother’s sister and Spock’s aunt. They were on Earth at present in San Francisco near the Federation Head Quarters. Aunt Susan and Uncle Tom lived there and at present Spock and his parents were staying with them.

“I told Susan we would get the tree for them,” Mother continued.

Spock was aware that his father knew all this and yet Sarek chose to complain anyway, which Spock found most illogical. A part of marriage, his mother would have told him had he asked.

Spock had decided some time ago he had no intention of ever being married.

“Spock, why don’t you look around and see if you can find a tree? As soon as you find one you like, come and get us and we’ll take it home.”

“I can choose the tree?” Spock decided to clarify the point.

“Yes.” Mother smiled. “There’s a stand over there selling hot cocoa. I’m going to make your father buy me one.”

Spock nodded. “Very well.”

Spock walked away from his parents and down the next aisle. He quickly noticed two Human boys on the same aisle. One was about his age, but the other was a few years younger and wore some sort of elaborate Christmas tree costume. On the top of the boy’s head was a star and only his face and feet were uncovered by a giant fabric tree upon which glittery applique ornaments had been glued.

“You look ridiculous,” the older boy said.

Spock had to agree.

But the boy noticeably deflated and his bottom lip trembled.

“Oh don’t cry,” the older boy snapped. “You had to know how stupid you would look in that dumbass costume when you chose to wear it, Jim. Why Mom agreed to let you wear it when we came to get a tree is beyond me.”

“Because she made it, Sam. It was for the pageant at school.”

“I know what it was for. I just don’t know why you had to be such a dork as to wear it tonight.”

“Because we were coming for a tree and I thought it would be funny.”

Sam grimaced. “Well, it’s not. It just makes you look stupid. I’m going over to the next aisle so no one sees me with you. Don’t follow me.”

“Sam—”

And the older boy left the younger one standing there by himself. For a moment the young boy did nothing, just stared at the ground. His cheeks were so red, Spock feared he might have a fit.

When Spock took a few steps closer, he noticed a single tear had fallen onto the boy’s cheek. And he realized then that he not only did not agree with the bully “Sam”, he actually hated the other boy.

The young boy suddenly looked up and Spock saw that he had the bluest eyes Spock had ever seen. And they were…beautiful, even as they glistened with tears.

“Uh.”

“I am sorry I overheard that other Human picking on you.”

“That’s my brother,” he said. “I’m used to it. He doesn’t like me.”

“He is a fool. My name is Spock.”

“J-Jim.”

“Hello, Jim.” Spock held out his hand. “Come with me.”

Jim frowned though he put his hand in Spock’s. “To where?”

“I was told that I could choose any tree on the lot,” Spock explained. “I have chosen you.”

“Me?”

“You are a tree, are you not?”

“Well…”

“Spock? Oh there you are.” Mother came down the aisle toward them. She smiled widely at Jim. “Oh who is this?”

“His name is Jim and he is the tree I have chosen.”

Mother actually laughed. “Hello, Jim. Spock, Jim is a boy, not a tree.”

“But he is dressed as one and you said—”

“Jim! James Tiberius! Where are you?”

Jim’s eyes widened and he dropped Spock’s hand. “That’s my mommy.”

Suddenly a blonde Human woman appeared together with the bully “Sam”. “There you are. Don’t get separated from the family.” She glanced at Spock and his mom. “And you shouldn’t bother other people.”

“He’s not bothering us,” Mother assured her.

The woman smiled. “Oh, well, good. But we do have to go. Say goodbye to your friends, Jim.”

“K. Bye Spock and lady.”

Spock nearly took hold of an ornament on Jim’s tree to pull him back, but at that moment, Mother put her hand on his shoulder and stopped him. They watched the Humans walk away.

“Spock? What’s gotten into you? You know you can’t keep another child.”

Spock nodded. “Yes. But I have not chosen another tree.”

“I know. It’s all right. Your father has found one. Let’s go.”

Spock trailed after but he did not forget the Human boy dressed as a tree and in fact he was certain he would meet that boy again some day. He was right.    

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.”

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.”

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