Stolen

Written by: TrekkieGirl12

Summary: [Story Change: Now Multi-Chaptered!] Jim has contemplated how Spock has stolen his heart, and has vowed not to show how Spock is constantly affecting him. But as time progresses, their relationships begins to evolve into something much more, and no matter how hard Jim tries to fight it, fate certainly wants them to be together. Eventual K/S; slow-building. :Slight AU:

A/N: Okay...*sigh* Yes; I am a big sap. I have went against my previous idea of just leaving this story as a angsty one-shot. But I have found that over the course of the week following posting this story, it would not leave me alone. Don't you fellow writers hate when that happens; when the story keeps bugging you to finish it? Well, more ideas and plot-lines kept blossoming in my mind, and before I knew it, this one-shot was turning into more. I hope you like it!

NOTE: Yes; so I changed the category from Angst/Romance to General/Romance, but there still will be some angsty moments. Hopefully, though, this story WILL have a happy ending. I think...

Disclaimer: Star Trek does not belong to me; if it did, Spock and Kirk would've been married by now.

[Pairings: Established Spock/Uhura, but will eventually become Kirk/Spock]

NOTE2: Without a doubt, I absolutely ADORE Spock. He's awesome to the tenth degree. But I find that I am enthralled by Jim Kirk's new character attributes; yes he's mouthy and cocky in the movie, but in my mind, I'd like to think that some of that's a front; that he has another side to him, a side that's removed, cool, and calulating in some ways. What if he only acted like an ass, but was really a complex individual, with endless compassion and other positive qualities that he merely downplayed to fit his "bad guy" persona? I will try to keep him as nuTrek!Kirk as possible outwardly, but you can consider this story as slightly AU, because this Jim Kirk is going to be a lot more...politer (internally) than we're used to. ^_^

Chapter One

Jim had faced a lot of terrifying things in his life, though he'd like to think he handled them to the best of his ability. Among some of the most challenging (and traumatizing,) he'd insist it was the Nero ordeal. Not a lot of things affected Jim too deeply (and if they did, he damned sure didn't let anyone else know something was affecting him), but the whole Nero charade had torn into him something fierce. All those lives, lost…

With a shudder, Jim pulled his thoughts from the shadows of the recent past and with a considerable amount of effort, planted them firmly into the present. To the here and now.

To the "who" walking along side him. Spock.

Jim had faced a lot of terrifying things in his life, though he'd like to think he handled them to the best of his ability. And yet, for all the experience he'd gained, it only proved to show him one thing; he still had a lot more to learn. Like effective communication between him and other people, and the communication preferably didn't involve violent tendencies.

He and Spock had been walking for a good three or four minutes now, simply following along some unspoken path, trailing smoothly across the soft sand. Their footprints stamped into the miniscule sediments, the only evidence leaving behind a trail showing where their little trek had originally begun.

Jim had yet to say a word to Spock, content with letting the silence hang between them. This was an instance in where his ineptitude at fruitful communication was painfully apparent, though it was luckily enough that Spock seemed to not mind the absence of noise in the least. He seemed quite content, actually, his arms held behind his back, his shoulders lax, and his gait easy and light. This was the closest to relaxed and untroubled as Jim had ever seen the usually prompt and stiff half-Vulcan.

It was refreshing to Jim to see Spock so at ease. He didn't know why, it just…was.

Usually I feel the need to fill the silence with noise around people…Jim mused, as he turned to look out at the ocean waves, which were still reflecting the golden light from the sun's warm rays. But I feel completely at ease. So relaxed; it's almost like the ocean waves have some Zen-like qualities. Maybe Spock would find it perfect to do his meditation rituals listening to this.

At the thought, Jim chuckled to himself. If anyone knew that he secretly had an affinity toward Zen-music-(a mental picture of Bones' incredulous face popped into his mind)-they'd probably laugh all of his remaining dignity into the ground. He shuddered.

"May I inquire as to what you find so amusing, Captain?" came Spock's mellow voice; a strange, but not altogether unpleasant, song all its own. Jim decided to look straight ahead of them, figuring it would be easier to concentrate on his words that way.

"Jim, Spock. Call me Jim, when we're not on duty, okay?" he said automatically. It seemed that Spock was almost incapable of taking out the formalities between them, even when they were involved in informal affairs.

From a quick sideways glance, Jim saw Spock incline his head down in a nod ever so slightly.

"May I inquire as to what you find so amusing…Jim?" Spock asked the question again, looking at Jim.

Well, he was almost incapable of informalities.

Hearing his name spoken made Jim smile, and he felt like he was finally shortening that distance between him and Spock; whatever "distance" there was between them. He honestly couldn't put a title to it, but he knew it was there; invisible but there nonetheless.

The dark ambers of Spock's eyes were bottomless, and as he looked at him, Jim found himself slightly leaning in his direction, almost as if hypnotized. The corners around Spock's eyes tightened microscopically as the distance between him and Jim waned, and had he not been so focused on the face before him, he would not have caught the slight shifts in his First Officer's face. But he did, in any case.

Hastily catching himself, Jim brought up his arms and wrapped them about him, as if he was suddenly chilled, and lightly stepped away from Spock, putting that distance between them again.

Damn, he'd let his guard down only for a second, simply by staring into his Officer's eyes like some love sick teenager. He'd have to be careful from now on, because he couldn't risk what little he had with Spock, simply because he couldn't get his inappropriate affections under control.

Jim let out a light laugh, trying to play off his lapse in control. Better to have Spock think he'd meant to get that close momentarily, than to know the truth.

"I was just thinking about the ocean," Jim said, grinning at Spock. One of the things Jim had learned early over the years was to hide what he was really feeling; whereas Vulcans just suppressed all emotion, he covered up the unpleasant ones with false postive emotions to compensate. He had to learn how to, in order to survive. His own grim childhood was proof of that…

Jim's thoughts were interrupted by Spock raising an eyebrow.

"And what, specifically, about the ocean made you succumb to amusement? If I may be so bold as to ask, of course." Spock said, ever the diplomat. Hell, the Vulcan could hate your guts, and you'd never catch on to it. Unless you pushed him over the edge, and found yourself getting the stuffing knocked out of you. By now, he and Spock had come to a halt in their walk, quite a ways away from the rest of the crew, though they were still in sight.

Failing miserably to catch himself, Jim's cheeks turned crimson. How in the world could he tell Spock, of all people besides Bones, that the ocean reminded him of music? He was James Kirk; "Golden Boy" extraordinaire, youngest Captain in Starfleet history, a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy. He was not supposed to like cheesy music, as it didn't fit into his persona.

Which was kind of ironic, because the persona the public displayed him as was so far from the truth, that if anyone really knew who he was, they wouldn't know what to believe. Besides; Jim found it easier to act like the badass jerk everyone took him for granted as. So much easier with that façade as his barrier; keeping everyone out, but still close. Touching, but not really.

Jim shrugged slightly, hoping to get off the topic before he revealed too much about his embarrassing affinities.

"Nothing interesting, promise. If I told you, you'd be bored to tears!" Jim teased, and the image of Spock crying was so hard to process, he burst out laughing. Spock's face remained neutral but the light in his eyes brightened just a notch, and Jim didn't know how he knew, but he could sense that Spock found his statement unfounded but amusing nonetheless.

"Vulcans do not cry," Spock needlessly reminded Jim, who rolled his eyes. He briefly wondered if Spock was retorting just get him to tease back, but quickly squashed the thought, because why would Spock ever try to promote a reaction out of him without a "prefectly logical" reason?

With a shrug, Jim decided to roll with the punches, and retort back regardless of if that had been Spock's intentions or not.

"Of course, Spock. I would have never have guessed. You are usually so emotional, I don't know what to expect." He said sarcastically, with another eye roll and grin for good measure. Then Jim chuckled to himself, finally uncrossing his arms. But he didn't want his arms to dangle down by his sides uselessly, so he stuffed his hands into his knee-length jeans cutoffs. He looked over at Spock again, as his eyes were drawn to him, and saw that Spock was watching him, expectantly.

Another bout of self-consciousness washed over Jim, and he fought the urge to duck his head. He was supposed to be a brash man, not afraid of anything, and most definitely not shy. Sometimes he needed to mentally remind himself of that, lest he started behaving like he usually did when he was around people who didn't know who he was supposed to be.

"What? Something on my face?" Jim joked, hoping to distract Spock in any way he could. If only he could get him to stop looking at him like that…it wasn't good for Jim's control, damn it.

"There is nothing on your face, Jim. I am merely waiting for you to answer my question, as I have just assured you I will not cry should you decide to give me the answer." Spock answered him coolly, and Jim narrowed his eyes.

Damn Vulcan memory and one-tracked minds. He sighed. Might as well get it over with.

"…the sounds from the ocean waves are therapeutic, and they reminded me of Zen-music. I laughed because I was considering getting you the music, so you could meditate, is all." He said, trying for the entire world to look nonchalant and play it cool.

People offered Vulcans meditation music all the time, right?

Even Jim had to internally wince at the stupidity he'd just proposed to his Vulcan Officer. He just hoped he didn't lose any ounce of respect from Spock because of it.

Both Spock's eyebrow rose up, in a brief display of surprise, before they lowered and he hastily made his face neutral again.

He seemed to hesitate, before his eyes turned thoughtful. He seemed to be thinking of a response, and Jim waited patiently, though not sure if he wanted to know whatever it was Spock was trying to get across.

"While Vulcans meditate alone and in the accompanying of silence, I must confess to the fact that I do find the ocean waves…conducive to a rather peaceful enviornment. I do not require this "Zen music" you offer for meditation, however…"

Jim tried to keep the open curiosity out of his face as he waited for Spock to continue.

"…I would not be opposed to having it simply to listen to for recreational purposes." He concluded. He calmly looked back at Jim, seemingly awaiting his response.

Jim blinked. And then he smiled. Spock didn't think he was weird! Well, if he did, he certainly didn't mention it, so that was a plus.

"Sure," Jim chirped happily, feeling great all of a sudden. "Maybe tomorrow or sometime before we're due back to Starfleet, we can go and look for some music you might like?"

He looked up at Spock's face hopefully, not bothering to suppress his grin. It was most likely a product of his imagination, but he could have sworn that Spock's lip faintly twitched at the corner.

"Have you forgotten tomorrow is when our official leave begins?" Spock inquired. "Surely you would find your time well spent in the company of your family, instead of in my presence looking for music?"

Without thinking, Jim let out a loud laugh.

"Are you kidding me? I'd prefer you over my family any day!" he said. It took the awkward silence and the subtle curious look in Spock's dark eyes for Jim to realize what he'd just said. Oh, crap.

"I-I mean, I could visit my family and stuff," Jim floundered for an excuse, conscious of how Spock was watching in rather intensly. "But we don't usually do much of anything..."

Just the thought of being stuck with his mom for any amount of time-alone-made him sick to his stomach. She would be better behaved if he had company, however. Then an idea popped into his head seemingly out of nowhere from that random train of thought. He looked at Spock judgingly, trying to sum up the courage to propose his next question.

Just get it out already, he chastised himself mentally.

"How about you come with me to meet my mom? Then we can still go look for the music in town or something and just hang out?" he asked, holding his breath for the answer. Spock looked back to the way they'd come, and Jim, after a beat, turned to look in the same direction. His eyes found what he instinctively knew Spock was looking at.

Coming out of the watery depth, with her skin glistening from the water was Uhura, and with a sickening feeling, Jim remembered dejectedly that if there was anyone whose family Spock wanted to visit, it sure as hell wasn't his. Before the dreadful feelings could get any more oppressive, Jim pushed them away with practiced ease, and his face twisted into a light grin. Any traces of rejection or his being upset were nonexistent in his eyes.

He took his hand out of his pocket and clapped Spock on the shoulder good-naturedly. Spock turned back to look at him, as if suddenly remembering he was there. Jim pretended that the shock of pain through his chest didn't happen.

"Nah; forget it. I bet you have loads of things to do with your girlfriend's family, anyway. I'll just look for the music on my own and bring it to you later, how about that?" Jim proposed, putting his hand back into his pocket. Spock's eyes flickered briefly as he peered into Jim's face as if he were looking for something.

"I am to meet Lt. Uhura's family three days from today; I am sure I will be able to accompany you and meet your family, before leaving to meet hers. That is, if you are sure I will not be intruding on your reunion, and provided the invitation is still open." He told Jim, and Jim couldn't keep the bright heartfelt grin from forming on his face to save his life. Then it faltered.

"It'd be great for you to come, but you don't have to on my account." He assured Spock, not wanting Spock to feel obligated. Spock inclined his head slightly.

"I am aware, Jim. I would find it perfectly amiable to meet your family members; no obligation is persuading me." He informed the young Captain.

Jim nodded, satisfied.

"It's just my mom, but hey. We'll leave to visit her tomorrow, because she already sent me a message saying she'll be home for the week, before she has to leave for another mission."

Jim didn't let on the fact that he was wary; why in the world had his mother bothered to contact him? As far as he was concerned, he knew she wouldn't bat an eyelash if she got a message saying he'd suffered some unfortunate fatal accident...

Quickly taking his mind off such depressing matters, Jim forced a grin onto his face again for Spock's benefit. He didn't notice that Spock's eyes had narrowed slightly at the abrupt change in his facial features. Again.

"Does that sound good to you?" Jim asked, as they turned, and they quietly began to walk again neither having made the decision aloud. It was Spock's turn to look straight ahead as he answered.

"Indeed, Jim. Indeed."

A/N: Phew! So? Whaddya think? I warned you that Jim isn't the cocky guy internally as we all thought him out to be. I think it will make Spock getting past his barriers all the sweeter, don't you agree? Oh, and I love Jim to death, but he's in for some major future angst and whumping. Just thought you guys would like to know before hand! Feel free to review; they are what inspire me and feed my muse! XD

-TrekkieGirl12