Five days ago, Admiral Kirk and the crew of the newly refit Enterprise had saved the Earth from the entity called V'ger, and command of the ship had been returned to him in gratitude. The ship was being inspected after its unexpected exertions, and the crew had been on shore leave all week. Kirk and Spock had not left each other's side for longer than a few hours.
"V'ger wanted what we have, you and I," Kirk observed into the sunset. "What we've shared, and what we have yet to share in the future."
"Agreed," Spock replied. "V'ger rifled through my memories, and in doing so, discovered moments we had shared. It found itself lacking in any experience as satisfying."
Kirk grinned warmly. "Which moments?"
"Anything causing me to feel warmth for you and for our relationship," Spock answered, "such as the time we were forced to stay up all night entertaining the Andorian ambassador so that she would not discover that a Starfleet oversight had left her without an assigned cabin. Or the adventure on Sigma Iotia, where you taught me to speak like a Chicago gangster. Or the incident in the Enterprise swimming pool, where we tried to invent a new stroke and Mr. Scott called for security."
Kirk chuckled. "He thought you were drowning!"
"I am not the most graceful of swimmers," Spock stated.
"All very human moments," Kirk pointed out. "I treasure them, too. I remember some Vulcan ones as well," he added.
"Such as?"
"The time we'd... just finished making love, and you spent an hour running your fingernails across my back and explaining alternation of generation to me. Not the usual human pillowtalk. But you finally made me understand the concept, which two Academy professors had never been able to accomplish."
"Vulcans believe that a day in which something new has been learned or understood is a day unwasted."
"I think that's the way many humans feel about loving, or being loved," Kirk countered. "Good thing we're so good at doing both." He stopped walking and looked out across the bay at the twinkling lights of San Francisco. Spock came to a stop beside him, and he turned to face the Vulcan. "Marry me. Let's keep learning--and loving--together as long as we can."
Spock paused before responding, letting the sounds of the bay crashing against the base of the bridge decorate the silence. "Nothing would please me more."
Kirk glowed and drew closer. "I've always wanted to kiss you on the 'bridge'," he murmured.
Spock raised his eyebrow. He knew only one way to stifle Jim's penchant for wordplay--but luckily, it was something they both enjoyed.
They leaned up against the railing and sealed their promise.
Hours later, in a penthouse restaurant in Chinatown, they sat discussing the more practical particulars of the arrangement over a plate of midnight dim sum. "I like the idea of having a service on the ship, except for the fact that I'm the captain, and I can't marry myself." Kirk dipped a dumpling into a saucer of soy sauce.
"Another captain or admiral could be brought on board to perform the ceremony," Spock suggested.
"I don't want to have to interfere with official Starfleet business," Kirk replied. "And I certainly don't want to offend your parents, either. They might appreciate having something to do with this--your mother, anyway. She's a human and I think she'd want to be a part of this."
"You are suggesting we wed on Vulcan?"
"It makes sense to me. Of course, we could always just have a justice of the peace perform it quietly here in San Francisco before we ship out again."
"I find that is the most logical solution. Vulcan is not a world on which I have found much welcome."
"Do you mind if I eat this? It's the last vegetarian one."
"Please. I am not accustomed to eating this late at night and have already consumed more than what is prudent."
Kirk dipped the dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth.
"When will you bond with me?" Spock inquired.
"When am I supposed to?" Kirk asked when he had finished chewing.
"Customarily, the bonding ceremony for adults is part of the formal wedding," Spock explained. "However, such a service is unlikely to be available at the San Francisco justice of the peace."
"So will we have to wait until we can get to Vulcan for that?"
"No," said Spock. "I will bond us." He caressed Kirk with his eyes. "I would prefer to be the only one inside your mind."
"You're sexy when you're possessive."
"I suggest we depart for your living quarters," said Spock. "If we are to find a justice of the peace tomorrow before beaming back to the Enterprise, we will need to get an early start."
"And the bonding?"
Spock graced Jim with the rare treat of a tiny smile. "I will bond us on the ship."
Kirk's heart soared.