Plot: A three-part story containing three Christmas miracles that the Enterprise crew could witness. A touch. A smile. And a kiss.
Afterthought: I know it's July and here I am writing about December. Although, I do not have to explain myself I will. I think that Christmas is the perfect opportunity for the ship crew to witness the human side of Spock that he so dearly tries to suppress.
1. Touch telepath
It was the first Christmas of the five-year mission of USS Enterprise. A few months had passed since their journey had started and their mission was peaceful, without complications. It was so uneventful that the Captain's Log description was ''No new life form encountered. The planet not inhabitable. Overall, the similarity between the previous planets and this one remains the same. They are all boring.''
The monotony of life aboard the ship for the past few months was the reason why Captain Jim Kirk decided to celebrate a Terran holiday known as Christmas even though not all of the Starship's population was human. About one third of the currently present crew were of other species. The event was to take place in the mess hall and everyone was invited.
The Captain's decision was met with great acceptance, cheery Christmas spirit and anticipation. Unfortunately, as it is not a custom to celebrate such holidays aboard the starships, they did not have a Christmas tree, which one would say is the one necessary ornament of the holiday. That and alcohol. Some would also argue for a mistletoe in hope of having a chance to legitimately kiss their chosen targets.
The problem, however, did not last for long as Jim decided to beam on the surface of the nearest planet with evergreen coniferous trees. The chosen planet was one discovered decades ago that could not sustain human beings but had great acidic soil for conifers to grow, though they are mutant. The characteristics are seen in their big growth, the trees rising in the sky for over 200 feet once fully grown, and their cones actually being little white flowers that could potentially look like snow.
A team of Bridge Crew beamed down consisted of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Sulu and Chekhov. McCoy and Scotty were also persuaded to come by Jim but agreed only after being promised a bottle of Romulan ale each. Their sole aim was to find a baby tree that was about 8 feet tall, cut it and bring it aboard the Enterprise. Spock as always was providing the others with fascinating and educational facts about the planet and its vegetation.
''Currently, the planet is in the season that humans call winter though the time period here is precisely 23% longer than the Earth's average. The snow and the ice have the same characteristics.'' Nyota shook her head in delighted exasperation at her lover and smiled lovingly, though others did not notice.
''Wet and white?'' McCoy nagged sarcastically.
''Precisely,'' Spock answered. ''However, may I remind you that sometimes the color perception depends on the way the sunlight hits the thing we are looking at. It is actually a fact that the reflected light when looking at snow includes all the colors and these together look white. However, the snow itself can look blue or pink, depending on how the sunlight hits it. You might want to be more accurate next time, Doctor.''
Spock's educational monolog was met with snickers, smirks and an outraged look from McCoy. ''Excuse me, Mr. Encyclopaedia,'' Leonard muttered annoyed.
''However, Doctor,'' Spock continued. ''In this case, your observation is accurate.''
''Could have spared me the lecture,'' he muttered the answer.
''I am sorry, Doctor. I do not know to what lecture you are referring. I was merely stating a fact lest you do not make this mistake in the future.''
Nyota, knowing that Spock was teasing the doctor in his logical Vulcan way, laughed. Spock looked at her and raised his eyebrow innocently but she could see veiled amusement. That only made her give him a big smile, which Spock interpreted as her approval.
Jim saw the exchange and because he knew of their relationship smirked at them. ''Okay, lovebirds, that's enough.'' Nyota quit laughing and Spock raised his eyebrow again, though this time in a way that suggested he did not appreciate the term that was directed at them.
The rest laughed at the couple that stood silently before them, neither confirming nor denying their relationship. The only two people aboard the Enterprise that knew of their relationship status were Jim and Scotty. The latter had a talk with the Captain in which the Captain ordered him to keep the secret until the couple revealed it themselves.
Despite the secret staying just that, the crew had some suspicion of the two being more than two colleagues and the minority, mainly the Bridge, would argue that they are even more than friends. The speculations came to be because they could see that both of them were less reserved around each other. They often spoke about languages, different cultures and some even overheard them sharing stories about their lives. Nevertheless, it was not that which was surprising, but rather the fact that Nyota often laughed at what Spock was saying and that he, in turn, raised his eyebrow, an answer to fascinating and unexpected things. What was more, in her company, he spoke a lot, held a decent conversation and never outright told her she was wrong about something, in which case he would remind her to think logically instead of saying that she is illogical.
''Our mission,'' Jim repeated the goal of their short trip. ''is to find a Christmas tree big enough for the mess hall. Preferably wide and bushy.''
''Captain!'' Chekhov yelled excitedly with a big grin that was an indicator of his holiday spirit. Flapping his arms around, he pointed at a beautiful coniferous tree that was just the right size, both in height and width. The young man's joy was infectious and Sulu soon joined him in inspecting the tree closely.
''Great job, Mister Chekhov,'' Kirk nodded in approval of his choice. ''Bones? Will you do the honor?'' he asked the irritable doctor and offered him the hatchet.
''Damn it, Jim. I'm a Doctor, not a farmer,'' he answered disgruntled.
''Captain,'' Scotty grinned wickedly. ''We can travel faster than the light and yet we will cut the wee tree with an axe?''
''Affirmative,'' Jim nodded. ''It's part of Christmas spirit.''
''I do not understand,'' Spock said.
''Of course, you don't,'' muttered McCoy and swung the hatchet on his arm like a professional forester.
Spock did not honor him with an answer. ''Why would the, as you refer to it, spirit depends on the way we cut the tree? It is illogical to achieve the goal in a way that is time-consuming and needs physical power if there are other more logical options.''
''Spock,'' Nyota scolded him softly. ''Holidays do not need to be logical,'' she answered. ''Just enjoy it and don't analyze every tradition.''
''That is impossible, however, I will try to understand what your species sees in Christmas.'' Nyota grinned and the rest of the group looked at one another with raised eyebrows, smirks and in Jim's case wiggle of his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
''How does she do it,'' muttered McCoy to himself, wondering how the woman could stop the Vulcan from sharing his logical thinking. Scotty, however, heard him. ''Ay, do not question what you do not understand.''
Just then the wind blew and interrupted the group. ''Bones, cut the tree before we freeze to death.'' The cold was still bearable but the wind made it worse. It was also not very bright of the team to not change into something warmer but come in their standard uniforms, with the exception of Nyota who put on leggings and a light coat. Men will be men and rather freeze than seem weak. The exception, in this case, was Spock who with his Vulcan blood could withstand the cold better.
''Are you cold, Lieutenant?'' Spock asked Nyota once his attentive eye caught sight of her actions. She was rubbing her palms together to keep them warm because the jacket she had put on was lacking the pockets. She reprimanded herself silently and made a mental note to take gloves with her if they ever made such a trip again.
''I am alright, Commander,'' she answered politely.
''Please, Nyota, it is illogical to deny that which can be seen,'' he answered. She smiled weakly and moved her fingers vigorously to keep the blood flowing through them.
By that time the rest of the team had noticed the commotion between the two and tried to cover the fact that they were snooping in on them. The couple was immersed in the problem at hand and did not notice that the other people stopped what they were doing to witness the outcome.
They rarely heard him refer to her by her first name. Usually, he addressed her with her official title or by her last name only. The first name of the lieutenant rolled from his tongue with a special softness and warmth that the half-Vulcan would most probably deny using.
''Seriously, Spock,'' she said getting a bit annoyed because he did not want to accept her answer. ''I am fine.''
''Fine is a loose term, Cadet,'' he answered automatically. It was a sentence he very often had to use when he was a professor at the Academy.
''Fine is a fine term for this,'' she added just to be difficult.
Spock remained silent for a few moments and just looked at her. The rest stood silently as well and barely dared to breath to not come in between the argument that was flourishing.
''Nyota.'' At last, Spock breathed out and repeated her name to gain her complete attention again. As expected, she raised her eyes from the ground and saw masked concern in his deep brown eyes. ''Your hands are turning blue.''
She sighed. ''I can manage a few more minutes,'' she finally admitted the discomfort.
In answer, Spock held out his hands and waited for her to react. At first, she did not understand his intention, however, that did not last long and she realized that he wanted her to give him her hands to help keep them warm. She slowly raised her hands and with a barely noticeable shaking offered them to him, not yet touching, just in case he changed his mind on the offer.
And there they stood, both with their hands offered for the other to take. ''No way,'' McCoy widened his eyes and nearly dropped the hatchet in bewilderment. His medical knowledge on Vulcans was lacking but he knew, and the others did too because it was a widely known fact, that Vulcans were touch telepaths. That being said, you never touch a Vulcan directly on the skin unless they initiate it. And the chances of them initiating it are very very slim. You have to be someone special or the situation has to be very grave for them to offer you their touch which connects emotions, a trait that Vulcans disapprove of.
The telepathic link can be controlled if the Vulcan expects the touch, however, if it is sudden the link transfers emotions from the other participant. And emotions are something that the species avoids like the plague. Expected or not, Spock was offering his hands to Uhura, which was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. Never has the crew seen him initiate or allow contact skin to skin directly. There were a few shoulder slaps from Jim that the Vulcan accepted with great difficulty and displeasure but allowed them nevertheless. And sometimes a member of the Enterprise would tap him on the shoulder to gain his attention, though that happened very rarely because everyone was too intimidated to come that close to the Commander. He never accepted handshakes either. His customary greeting was always the traditional Vulcan salute Ta'al or a small bow.
Spock slowly reached for Nyota's hands and embraced her smaller ones without a second thought. She gasped at the sudden warmth but other than that did not react so she would not startle him and make him change his minds.
The display was met with smirks. ''I'll be damned,'' McCoy raised his eyebrows in wonder. ''No emotions my ass.''
''Indeed,'' Scotty nodded. ''he cannot deny it anymore.''
''Deny what?'' Chekhov asked innocently.
Sulu laughed and put his arm on the younger man's shoulder. ''You'll understand someday.''
''That's enough,'' Jim scolded the men. ''Bones, finish your task and you two, beam up. Scotty, come with me.''
They did as ordered and left the couple to their own little wonderland. Nyota couldn't stop smiling and Spock tried to pretend like his action was logical and that the touch of their hands did not affect him. Yet, he felt a tingle of happiness and love from Nyota through their link and reluctantly reciprocated the emotions.
Thank you for reading this fluff and the second part comes soon :)