Spock got into an old pair of khakis and a soft button-down shirt and walked out to his stepson's room. He knocked on the door as a courtesy.
"David?"
David opened the door. "Hi, Father. I'm sorry." He lowered his eyes.
Spock tilted his head. "For what are you apologizing? Certainly you did not place your father in this condition."
"No, but you both told me to stay in my room and I didn't."
"Ah." Spock nodded. "Are you well? You are not injured, are you?"
David shook his head. "No. Just a little scared. What's going on?"
Spock lifted a shoulder slightly. "I do not know, David. Something has upset your father greatly, but he is in no shape to tell us now. He will awaken tonight worse for the wear but we will receive our answers. You were entirely correct to use my emergency-page system. I thank you for your maturity." He gestured to the stairs. "Do not come to the lower level until I am done cleaning the mess. You are certain you were not injured?"
"I'm fine, Father. Thanks for coming home." David shut the door and Spock went downstairs with several large towels to begin soaking up the disaster in the living room. While he worked, he dialed a number on the comm system.
When it was answered, Spock stood briefly to greet the recipient.
"Dr. McCoy. It is pleasing to see you. Are you well?"
"Hi, Spock. I'm great. What did he do this time?"
Spock pretended to be affronted. "Am I not allowed to call to converse with you?"
"You never call unless dumbass has pulled some stupid stunt. So spill it, Mr. Pixie. What did he do this time?" McCoy replied.
"It is embarrassing to recount the story. Are you alone?" Spock asked slowly.
McCoy got up and locked the door and pressed the privacy button. "We are now. What's wrong, Spock?"
Spock sighed. "I was called home unexpectedly to find James thoroughly inebriated."
"What? He got drunk? Wait." McCoy checked the computer. "It's not anything big today, right? We're not missing some anniversary or something?"
"Not of which I am aware."
"Is everyone okay?" McCoy continued. "David's not hurt or in trouble at school or anything?"
Spock shook his head. "No, doctor."
McCoy put his chin in his hand. "Wow. Uh, okay. Maybe he just did it for no reason, but if he did I hope you give him a piece of your mind. What if David had needed him or something? He can't just pour himself in a bottle whenever he pleases anymore!"
"Indeed. Thank you for your assistance, Dr. McCoy. I will release you now."
"Okay. Sorry I couldn't help, Spock. Talk to you later." McCoy closed the connection
Spock finished cleaning up and opened the windows to air out the room. A soft breeze was blowing outside and Spock walked out the door to the back yard. Standing on the small porch, he closed his eyes and felt the heat of the September sun and the teasing whisper of the wind. For a moment he forgot about drunk bondmates and frightened stepsons and incomplete lectures and just existed. Then the moment passed and he opened his eyes and turned back in the house.
He climbed the stairs to the main bedroom and opened the door and looked inside. Jim was not asleep; he was sitting on the edge of the bed crying. Spock entered the room quietly and knelt beside his mate.
"Jim, what is wrong? What happened?"
Jim sniffled. "Your dad called."
Spock nodded. "And?"
"Solion's dead."
Spock inhaled. "Oh, James, I am so sorry. I stand by you in your time of mourning, as I mourn too," he intoned in Vuhlkansu.
The ancient phrase, given to family members during their time of grief, undid Jim and he sobbed even harder. Spock got up and sat beside him, wrapping his arms around him and rocking him.
"I – I didn't even get to say goodbye!" Jim choked out.
"We knew this day would come," Spock tried. "You both remained in close contact and much of what needed to be said was said." Spock leaned in to whisper in Jim's ear. "He is with his Jim now."
Jim took a couple of hitching breaths and wiped his eyes. "I know. You're right, I shouldn't be sad. They're finally together again. It's just, he was the first person to believe in me, you know? He barely knew me and he had all the faith in the world in me. He knew I could save Earth, he knew I could captain the Enterprise, and he knew I could love you. And I know it's because of the other me, but for once it was nice to be Jim Kirk the hero, not Jim Kirk the fuck-up."
Spock took one of Jim's hands in his. "He was a parental figure to you, was he not?"
"Yeah. Actually more like a great-uncle who knew my worst traits but I was his favorite anyway. We started talking when I was on the ship. I still thought you two couldn't talk or the space-time continuum would explode. He would listen to me bitch and then he would tell me a tale of the other Jim, and I would think, hey, I can do this, and I'd try again."
Spock looked down. "I remember speaking with the ambassador and confiding in him my feelings for you. If I had been more observant, I would have noticed it did not shock or offend him. In fact, he always praised you to me. I would call him, seething over some stunt you had performed, and he would remind me that as First Officer my duty was to support you, but also protect you from yourself." He tilted his head. "I did not understand the magnitude of that charge until I bonded with you, and realized how reckless you often were."
"He stayed alone for so very long," Jim sighed. Then he looked at his mate. "I don't want you to stay alone that long. Please? When I finally die," and he broke off when Spock shook his head and turned away. "No, babe, please listen to me. When I die, I know you're going to mourn. But when you're done I want you to find a new mate. You'll be young enough."
"My age has nothing to do with it, James. You are my t'hy'la. I will never find another mate equal to you, and it would be wrong to begin a substandard relationship solely for the purpose of companionship. I would rather be alone. I believe he felt the same."
There was a knock at the door and Jim wiped his face and climbed under the covers. "Come in," he called.
David stuck his head in the door. "Are you okay, Dad?"
Jim nodded and waved the boy in. "It's okay, David, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done this and I'm really sorry. It was childish of me."
"So why did you do it?" David asked innocently.
Spock looked at his mate and then at the child. "David, someone your father and I knew very well has died."
"Oh," David breathed. "I'm so sorry. Who was it?"
Jim sighed. "Do you remember the old Vulcan you stayed with last year? The one you said was cooler than any other Vulcan?"
"Solion?" David cried. "Solion died?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, David," Jim told his son, whose face had crumpled.
"I knew he was old, but Vulcans live a really long time," David told his parents. "He was really awesome. He kinda reminded me of Father, even before I knew."
Jim laughed and through the bond he told his mate, I knew he was going to figure out Solion eventually.
"David, is there something you need?" Spock asked politely.
"Nah," the boy answered. "I just wanted to check on Dad."
"Very well. I need to have a discussion with your father, so if you will excuse us …."
David nodded and ducked back out the door, shutting it quietly. Spock turned to his mate and the expression on his face promised trouble. Jim swallowed and held still for the verbal beating to come.