"Are you stalkering me?"
The Vulcan didn't move, but Kirk knew he heard him. He could also imagine a little smile on the man lips, although Vulcans didn't smile.
"Why are you here?" Asked Jim, sitting down on the bank near the Vulcan.
"I just wanted to see how are you doing." He replied.
"How I am doing or how me and Spock are doing?"
"Both."
Jim laughed with a joyful expression.
"Spock and I are good. Great. We're very… connected, y'know? I don't know what I'd do without him. He's a great first officer, a great friend. It's so good to talk with him!"
Spock listen to him silently –and was it really the littlest hint of a smile?
"Also Jim and I were really… connected, as you said." He admitted.
The Captain was quiet for a while, searching for something in the sky above them.
"You… you were in love with him, weren't you?" He asked, softly.
"I weren't." Replied Spock. "I am."
"He's dead." Pointed out Jim, then he lowered his voice. "Isn't he?"
"He is." The Vulcan confirmed. "But Vulcans love forever."
"This is untrue!" The Captain exclaimed. "Spock and Uhura have broken their relationship."
"She was not his T'hyla."
"T'hyla?" Repeated Jim, confused. "What does it mean?"
"T'hyla is… friend, family… lover." Spock explained.
"The other me was… your T'hyla?" The Captain asked.
"And I was his." Confirmed the Vulcan.
"So you were engaged…"
"We had a bond."
"A bond…" Jim repeated, gazing around.
"A mental bond." Specified Spock. "Our minds were one. I knew his thoughts and feelings and he knew mine, without any words."
Jim laughed out loud.
"Is this why you came to see me so often? Because I'm like your T'hyla?"
"It would be illogical. You are not him."
"Yeah, I'm not." Jim repeated. "I wish I were." He added softly.
"You are not happy to be you?" The Vulcan asked.
"I am. But I'd be happier if I had someone like you." Jim answered without looking at the man.
"You could have someone like me, if you really wanted to."
"No, I can't. It seems I can find just one-night stands."
"Before we were engaged, I did not think you were interested in a long term relationship. You always acted like you did not wanted one. Or… like you were not worth to have someone who loved you forever."
Jim didn't talk for a while, than he sighed.
"Maybe I am not."
"I know you are." Murmured Spock.
He waited for a while, hesitating in a sort of way, then he caressed Jim's hand just with the index and middle fingers, sweetly.
Jim looked down to see that movements.
"This is… the Vulcan kiss, isn't it?" He asked softly.
"Exactly."
They were both silent for a while.
"Do you think… do you think you could love me?" Jim asked.
"I think the other me can, if you let him to." Spock answered.
The Captain nodded slowly, then a big smile lighted up his face.
"Well, it's time to go back to my ship. I have something to tell to my First Officer."
"Yes, you have to." Spock repeated.
Jim couldn't understand exactly every expression of the Vulcan, but he was quite sure he was smiling, in his Vulcan way.
He stood up, smiling.
"I hope I'll se you soon."
"It may be possible." Spock answered, standing up. "Live Long and Prosper."
The Captain laughed, moving forward to kiss the Vulcan on the lips.
"Live Long and Prosper." He repeated. "And thank you."
He smiled again then he walked away, under the gaze of the old Spock.