Jim was up before anyone else. He found it hard to sleep in the heat, not to mention his dreams were filled with flashes of Spock grabbing his hand.
He crept into the living room, not turning any of the lights on so as to not wake anyone up. With just his padd for light, he almost made it safely into the room when he suddenly banged his shin into the coffee table, rattling the chess board and pieces.
"Damn…shit!" He hissed, lifting his leg up to cup his injured shin. "Son of a…Surak." In spite of the pain he found himself grinning at his choice of a swear word. The past couple of days on here must really have been affecting his thought patterns. His grin turned into chuckling at his own private joke. His laughter was broken when someone else spoke up from further in the darkness.
"It is illogical to take the name of such a great figure in vain." Sarek said.
"Oh –" Jim gasped and dropped his padd, scrambling to catch it before it hit the ground. "Sorry…I didn't know anyone was in here."
"Logically so, as the lights are off." Sarek was standing by the alcove looking out the large window. The sun hadn't even begun to rise yet, but the stars looked nice.
"Am I…bothering you?" Jim asked, reaching for the dimmer switch. He turned it just to get enough light to see Sarek's expression properly. It didn't help much, as he could only see Sarek in profile since he was still facing the window.
"Negative. Your company is not disturbing my meditation, James."
"You meditate standing up? I guess it's harder to fall asleep that way, am I right?" He laughed, thinking of what Amanda had said yesterday. A second later he wondered if his joking was a little inappropriate, since he didn't really know Spock's father that well.
"Precisely the point." Sarek turned towards him just a tad and Jim could have sworn his saw the faintest hint of a smile in his eyes.
A moment later, when Jim was pretty sure Sarek was consumed with his meditation once more, Jim settled down by the chess board and starting setting the pieces up once more. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much convincing to get Spock to play another game once he woke up.
"Would you like to hear something strange?" Sarek asked after a minute.
"Oh…kay?" Jim turned his head to look over.
"I find it illogically frustrating that the stars from the view here do not match the ones I watched my entire life." Sarek's voice didn't show any of the frustration he spoke of. "Of course it is different here. I should not feel anything but gratitude that we have found any place at all."
"It's not illogical." Jim said. "It's perfectly normal. I mean, Vulcan is gone. The place you lived your whole life, the place you raised your son. It's perfectly normal to miss it. You can still be glad to have this place, though. You know, you can feel more than one emotion at the same time."
"That would be more than I have ever felt in my life." Sarek responded.
Jim actually sputtered into laughter, clapping his hand over his mouth to keep quiet. After a second, he glanced up. "I was supposed to laugh at that, right?"
"It was an exaggeration meant solely to convey a point." Sarek walked away from the window and sat down across from Jim. After a second of scanning the board, he made an opening move. "A hyperbole."
"A joke." Jim grinned, countering the move. "You're a funny guy, I bet. Secretly though, like Spock."
"You find my son amusing?" Sarek raised an eyebrow just like Spock did, before looking back at the board.
"Yea, he's a riot." Jim chuckled, feeling his face flush just slightly.
"That is…a good thing?" He took a moment to make a move on the board.
"Definitely." Either that would stay between them, or it'd make its way to Spock in one way or another. He didn't mind either way. After a minute, his curiosity was too much. "Hey, uh…I thought Vulcans didn't really talk about feelings, but you just told me all about yours."
"It is my understanding that humans enjoy doing so, as well as filling silences. Was it not an adequate social interaction?" Sarek blinked in what could have been confusion.
"Oh…yeah." Jim nodded. "It was fine."
"I've found that having a human wife has allowed me to learn quite a bit about their socialization."
"Ha," he smirked. "You should think of all the stuff you've learned about humans and teach it to Spock."
The sunlight was starting to come in the window just as Spock walked in. Jim and Sarek were still playing, and Jim was pretty sure he was going to lose. When Spock sat on Jim's side on the coffee table to observe the game, all of his concentration went out the window.
"Good morning, son." Sarek nodded before taking another one of Jim's pieces.
"Good morning." Spock nodded. Jim was just about to make a move when he felt Spock's hand on his knee. "Good morning, Jim."
"Hey…um." Jim cleared his throat, feeling as if he could feel searing heat in just that small contact. The thin fabric of his sleep pants was the only thing separating skin-on-skin contact and Jim shuddered. So much for Jim making the first move this morning. "Do you wanna play the winner?"
"As it has been years since I have played against my father, I think it would be very mentally stimulating, as well as nostalgic, to do so again."
"Is that your way of saying you think I'm gonna lose?" Jim glanced over in disbelief before looking back to Sarek. "See, what did I tell you? He's a riot."
"He is not wrong." Sarek reached for a piece on the board. "As I have just won the game."
"Damn…" Jim wasn't really disappointed at all. "Son of a Surak."
Spock and Sarek played in relative silence. They both seemed to make the moves they thought were most logical, meaning they each took a long time to make a move. Jim really wanted to touch Spock's hand in a knowing Vulcan kiss, but he didn't wanna do it in front of Sarek. He didn't want Spock to think he was doing it as a joke or out of anything other than what it really was.
He busied himself by sitting in Amanda's chair and glancing in the knitting bag on the table next to it. There was a half-finished brown sweater and Jim found himself hoping it was for Spock, since it would probably look great with his eyes. He turned on his padd and realized he had a message from Bones from yesterday that he'd yet to even open.
How's The Goblin family?
He smirked before typing back.
Fine. Spock kissed me yesterday.
Jim did the math and realized it was only about five in the morning where Bones was currently enjoying leave in Georgia. That apparently didn't stop him from waking up and replying at lightning speed.
WHAT!? You lied to me dammit! I knew you liked him! I can't believe he put the moves on you first!
Relax. It wasn't like that. He just held my hand yesterday, but I found out later that's actually how Vulcans kiss.
They would kiss in the most boring way possible. Still, the bottom line is that you lied to me. I'm your best friend. I practically raised your ass for three years in the academy.
Yeah I lied a little. I actually really like Spock.
Jim…remember Gary.
Bones' reply actually made Jim scowl. He hated to be reminded of his ex-friend-with-benefits. That entire relationship crashed and burned just because someone (Jim) couldn't keep their feelings to themselves.
Fuck Gary. This isn't like that. I actually think I might be in love with Spock.
That makes it different from the Gary situation…how?
Because this time I know Spock likes me back. He held my hand first! Trust me, I have this entire situation under control. I know what I'm doing.
As much it surprises me to say this, I actually think you have sound enough judgement not to fuck this up.
I hope so. I want this so much.
Jim only felt a little weird about sending that last message. It was weird to come out about something he'd kept a secret for so long, but it was nice to have someone else to talk to about the whole thing that wasn't Spock's mother. Amanda was nice, and definitely a big help, but Bones was his best friend.
He glanced down when he saw a new message. For a second he thought it was another lecture from Bones, but the ID was one he didn't recognize.
Your order is ready to pick up at our shop.
It took Jim a minute to realize it was the tea place. That was a lot faster than he expected, but he wasn't complaining.
He looked over at Spock and his father. They both seemed pretty absorbed in their game and didn't notice when Jim got up and went to go get dressed.
"I have to go back into town and get something." He said, coming to stand by the table again.
"Would you like company?" Spock looked up.
"No, it's fine. It's sort of a surprise, what I'm gonna go get. So, I'll be back in just a little while." Jim had the urge to reach out and touch Spock, but again, repressed it.
"Very well, Jim." Spock nodded and turned back to the game.
Jim paced himself in his walk to the shop. The heat wasn't so bad since it was morning, but he still didn't want to risk anything. The last thing he wanted was another hypo to the neck.
"Hello again." He said to the Vulcan girl behind the counter. "I'm here for my order."
"Hello again." She replied, reaching beneath the counter and producing a small package. "You are here for the special tea. I was quick to find a replicated replacement of this kind soon after you left. Before we accept your credits, I must warn you of a rather unpleasant side-effect that has been reported in Vulcans who consume this replicated variety of tea."
That didn't sound good at all, but he quickly shook his head. "No, it's not for a Vulcan. It's for my uh…mother in law?" Strangely, he didn't feel weird about saying that.
He could have sworn her eyebrows went up just a tad, and there was a slight bit of surprise in her voice. "You are…Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." He blinked, not sure where that came from.
"I thought I recognized your name." She tilted her head just a tad. "If you have a human mother in law, and you are visiting her here, would that not mean your bond-mate is Commander Spock?"
"I –" He stopped, at loss for words. He felt his entire face heat up and she just looked back at him with a blank expression. "Well…no." He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He was surprised at how much he was sweating near his hairline. "Commander Spock isn't my bond-mate…and Amanda isn't my mother in law. I was just…joking."
She stared back at him, her face still unexpressive. He found himself longing for even the subtlest bit of emotion that was ever-present in Spock's eyes. It was so hard to read full-Vulcans, and Sarek seemed to be the only one with the slightest incline on how to get on with humans.
"Listen, can we just forget this entire conversation?" He reached up and took the box from the counter and quickly payed his credits.
"I apologize for making you uncomfortable, but I would not like to forget this encounter. I would very much like to tell my sister about you, as she is a fan of Starfleet and you and Commander Spock in particular." Jim could have sworn he saw her smile. "My sister thinks you are very aesthetically pleasing."
"Really?" He actually smiled. The idea of two Vulcans after his attention was entertaining, even though he knew who his heart really belonged to. "How old is your sister?"
"Four and a half."
"Of course…Well tell her I said hello."
Jim unwrapped the tea box and put it on the kitchen counter right where Amanda would find it. He figured it was more than just a gift to her, as it would also keep her from drinking so much coffee, which would be good for everyone.
He went back into the living room and saw that Sarek and Spock's game had concluded. Spock was now sitting with Amanda who was finishing her knitting.
"I think I may have accidentally dropped a few stitches, since I'm so rusty." She sighed.
"I'm sure it will still be adequately warm, mother." Spock nodded.
"And it's good practice for getting back in the habit. I can make you a few more that will be a lot better. Then you'll have plenty by the time you go back to work."
"Amanda, will you come help me for a moment?" Sarek poked his head in the living room from his office door.
When she put down her knitting and left, Jim was finally alone with Spock. Spock reached out to the side table for his padd but Jim grabbed his hand.
"Don't do any work, talk to me…" There was a slight whine in his voice.
"I was not going to work. I was going to read through my correspondences with Doctor McCoy."
"You're talking to Bones?" Jim's eyes widened and he felt as if he blood was running cold. "What about? About me?"
"Affirmative. We were discussing how you are adapting to the atmosphere."
"Oh…" Jim sighed in relief. The last thing he needed was Bones spilling his business to Spock, when he wasn't ready for it. Spock raised an eyebrow at him, and Jim realized he was still holding Spock's hand. He grinned, finally having gotten exactly what he wanted in the first place.
"So, who won your game?" Jim asked, lowering their joint hands to his lap.
"It was close, but I did end up winning against my father." Spock said coolly, as if unaffected by their hand-holding. Considering they held hands yesterday, it's not really a surprise.
Jim decided to turn it up a notch and really return yesterday's favor. He turned Spock's hand over and gently ran his fingertips up and down the back of his hand. He didn't really have any idea of how to properly Vulcan kiss, but he guessed he was doing a pretty good job, based on the way Spock stiffened and there was a sharp intake of breath.
"You know, it's not so bad here." Jim said, letting his fingers trace over the pale skin. "I think I'll come back for all my vacations."
"…If you like it here, then I'm sure more accommodations could be made for us to return on the next leave." Spock's voice was soft and with a slight tightness that may actually be nervousness.
"Us? That'd be nice…" He knew he was going directly again what Amanda advised in her book. She said specifically to avoid touching hands, but wasn't this okay since Spock did it first?
"You wish to spend the next leave together, Jim?" Spock's eyes had that softness again, the kind that made Jim's heart melt.
'Be still my beating heart.'
"And the one after that…and the one after that…" He purposely stroked his fingers firmly across Spock's hand, praying it came out as anything other than desperation.
"That would be most adequate." Spock nodded.
"Good…" Jim smiled, his fingers going to trace swirls and circles on the back of Spock's hand. "Is this bothering you?"
"Negative." Jim's heart soared until Spock said in his most logical tone, "It is my understanding that humans greatly enjoy physical contact, such as holding hands."
"But what about Vulcans? What does this do for you?" Jim placed his hand flat against Spock's hand.
"I find it most –"
Jim's mind went a mile a minute, racing to wonder what Spock would say. Fascinating? Enjoyable? Distracting? Spock didn't get a chance to finish his sentence however, for there was a loud crash from down the hall followed by a shriek. Jim and Spock stood abruptly and started towards the noise.
"Mother…are you alright?" Spock asked, reaching for the door to Sarek's office.
The door opened and Spock stepped back as his parents emerged. Amanda was face was lit u in excitement and she was carrying what looked like a data padd. Sarek followed close behind.
"Oh, I can't believe you found it! I thought it was lost forever!"
"I thought that my discovery would please you, wife." Sarek seemed pleased as well.
"What is it, mother?" Spock asked.
"Yeah, what's all the yelling about?" Jim tried to look over her shoulder.
"I was looking through old computer files in my office." Sarek explained as they all went into the living room. "I backed up majority of my files up to the embassy's servers just days before Vulcan's destruction, so they were all saved. I also, however, accidentally backed up some personal files of your mother's as well, meaning they were also saved."
"Oh, accidentally?" Amanda smirked and playfully shoved her husband's shoulder, something that greatly surprised Jim. "Sarek, you know you're secretly just as sentimental as I am."
"What is so special about these files, mother?" Spock asked.
"Oh, you'll see…It's mostly pictures from a long time ago, but there's a couple of videos that I haven't seen in years." Amanda actually giggled. There was a computer desk in the living room and Amanda went to work of bringing up the files from the padd.
"I was unaware you made videos, mother." Spock attempted to look over her shoulder.
"Well, you were probably too young to remember, but I used to make videos all the time, and that's what these are."
"Woah, hold your horses!" Jim exclaimed, the expression earning confused looks from the two Vulcans. "Are you telling me…that you have baby videos of Spock?"
"That's precisely, what I'm telling you!" Amanda sounded just as excited.
"Mother…" Spock's voice was extra tight, his posture rigid once more as it was so often on the bridge. "I do not think we need to watch these."
"Oh, I think we definitely need to watch these!" Jim was practically giddy.
"Father…" Spock looked desperately at Sarek, hoping he would have some shred of logic in him that agreed with Spock's insistence that there was no necessity in watching the videos.
"I too would like to see them, as I have not seen them in a very long time. It will be quite the familial bonding experience." Sarek said with a firm nod.
Jim grabbed Spock by the arm and pulled him back towards the couch. Amanda moved the screen closer and they all sat down on the couch. Jim was squashed between Amanda and Spock, but didn't really mind. Amanda reached over and hit play.
You could hear Amanda laughing from behind the camera. After a second of focusing the lens, the picture showed up nice and clear. It was a kitchen not unlike the one at their current house. A very young Spock was sitting at the table with a bowl in front of him.
"Are you sure he doesn't need any help?" Amanda's voice came from behind the camera.
"Vulcan children learn to feed themselves very early on." Sarek's voice came from next to his wife's. "He will be alright."
"He's not eating…" Amanda sighed. "Maybe he doesn't like it? Sarek, do something."
A moment later, Sarek stepped in front of the camera. There was a collective gasp from everyone on the couch. Not only did younger Sarek have dark hair as opposed to his current grey, his was also sporting facial hair.
"Nice mustache, Mr. Trebek." Jim chuckled.
"Maybe we should turn this off…" Sarek said quietly over Amanda's laughter.
"Shh!" She hissed, turning their attention back to the screen.
Baby Spock picked up the bowl from the tray in front of him, but instead of eating, he promptly flung it at his father. Some sort of red mush flew through the air as Amanda shrieked with laughter and tried to keep the camera from getting covered. A moment later, the camera turned to see Sarek covered in food, staring blankly at Spock as Amanda laughed.
A moment later, a large furry creature leapt up with its paws against Sarek and attempted to lick the food off of him. Amanda laughed harder as baby Spock just watched.
"I-Chaya, how did you get in here?" There was slight panic in Sarek's voice as he attempting to push the animal off of him. "Who left the kitchen door unlocked? Sybok!" Amanda's laughter faded as the screen went dark.
The next video began playing a moment later. Spock was a few years older, standing in dark clothes with a bag over his shoulder.
"Who's ready for their first day of school?" Amanda cooed from behind the camera. "You are such a big boy…"
"Mother, I am five years old. I am not very big." Spock said, his voice tiny.
"You are big!" She reached out from behind the camera and carefully smoothed his hair. "You're not a baby anymore." Spock looked off to behind the camera, and Amanda turned it to follow his gaze.
A young man was leaning against the wall in a rather un-Vulcan stance. His dark shaggy hair almost completely covered his pointy ears. "Sybok." Amanda said. "Do you have anything to say to your brother on his first day of school?"
Sybok looked over in a way that reminded Jim very much of a moody teenager. He reluctantly moved from his spot by the wall and walked over to Spock. "Don't let these emotionless fiends get you down, little man." Sybok reached down and ruffled Spock's smooth hair.
"Mother, he's is making me unpresentable!" Spock took several steps back and nearly tripped over his own feet.
"Oh…" Amanda reached out to Spock as the video faded.
When the screen went dark, Jim immediately noticed the tension. Spock and Amanda were looking at Sarek, and Jim could see the concern on their faces, Amanda's much more present.
"I didn't know he was on there…" Amanda said softly.
"Obviously, I did not either." Sarek sighed and stood up from the couch. "Or I would not have saved that video."
"Sarek, don't say that! He's still your son…even if he's gone." Amanda got up and went to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to miss him…"
"I am not having this discussion again." Sarek said firmly, stepping away from his wife and going towards his office. He closed the door behind him and they all heard the lock click.
Jim noticed Spock was sitting stiffly, his hands clasped in his lap and his face downwards. "Hey…" Jim put his hand on top of Spock's, this time not trying to do anything lewd. "Are you okay?"
"I am adequate." Spock replied, squeezing Jim's hand in response. "However, I am going to take a walk to keep my emotions in check."
Jim sat further back on the couch and drew his knees up to his chest. He watched as Spock picked up the sweater Amanda made and headed into the kitchen. When he heard the back door close behind him, Jim and Amanda were alone again.
"Are…the gonna be okay?" Jim asked, resting his chin on his knees.
"Eventually." Amanda sighed before coming to sit by him on the couch. "It's a very hard subject for Sarek. He wasn't bonded with Sybok's mother very long, so he essentially raised him alone. He'd always been…difficult, and by the time it got bad, it wasn't like I could do anything. I had a baby to take care of, and he wouldn't have listened to me anyways."
"Because you were his stepmother?" Jim thought of Frank and how even before they knew what kind of man their new stepfather was, he and Sam rebelled against the new authority figure.
"No, he just never listened to anyone." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "He didn't like the Vulcan way. He was never happy…he wanted to embrace emotion, and Sarek was ashamed. One day…Sybok was just gone. He'd been banished."
"Oh…" For some reason Jim was thinking it was the easier answer; that Sybok had been on Vulcan during its destruction. He could see how this was way worse. For Sarek to have a son out there somewhere he'd never see again. At least Jim knew where Sam went once he'd run off.
"Well," Amanda took a deep breath and stood up. "I think that was enough excitement for one day. Time to get started on my next project." She went to her chair and reached into the knitting bag. Jim saw her pull out a ball of black yarn and get to work.
"What are you making now?" He asked.
"Socks. I always made socks for Sarek around Christmas. It was the only gift he'd except, and thus, our only form of celebration."
"Gifts are illogical." Jim said with a smirk, remembering something Spock had said when Jim tried to give him a birthday present a few months ago. He'd accepted the book anyways, despite the statement.
"That's what my boys tell me, but it doesn't stop me from giving." She smiled.
"Hey, speaking of giving…" Jim suddenly remembered the tea. "Come here, I got you something while I was in town."
"Oh." She sat up in surprise, putting down her knitting. "You didn't have to do that…"
"It was nothing…"
They went to the kitchen, where the box of tea sat on the counter. Amanda picked it up and smiled. "Oh, where did you find this?"
"Girl at a shop in town replicated it for me." He tried to sound nonchalant but he was quite pleased by her reaction.
"Did you try it?" She asked, looking into the box.
"Nah, it's just for you. I'm not a tea person, really."
"That's odd…it's been opened and one of the bags is missing." She turned the box towards him so he could see.
"Oh no…" Jim stood up from leaning on the counter. "Vulcans aren't supposed to drink it. It's bad for them…or something. I can't remember what she said…"
Just then, the backdoor opened and Spock walked in. He was wearing the sweater, but as nice as he looked, Jim didn't notice, because Spock was also carrying a mug of tea.
"Oh no, did you drink that!?" Jim practically screached.
"Yes…" Spock put down the mug and looked between the two humans.
Amanda and Jim shared a look of dread. "It has some kind of horrible side-effect on Vulcans!" Jim grabbed the box and frantically turned it over to read.
"Side-effect…" Spock said in almost disbelief. "…What does that entail?"
"Do we need to go to a hospital?!" Amanda's eye were wide.
"Found it!" Jim located the declaimer on the back of the box and began to read. "Vulcans who consume this replicated variety may experience temporary emotion composition, uncontrollable laughter, in particular."
"Laughter…" Amanda sighed in relief. "Uncontrollable laughter? That's it?! Thank god…"
"Well, I guess that would be what Vulcans consider a horrible side effect." Jim chuckled, putting the box back down. "Do you feel anything yet, Spock?"
Spock considered himself for a moment, his eyes closed for longer than a blink. "Negative, Jim. I feel completely fine."
"Maybe it won't affect him." Amanda said with a shrug. "His biology with things like that were always strange."
"I apologize for drinking your tea, mother." Spock said, starting towards the back door. "But I only wished to take a drink with me when I went to obtain something from one of the shops in town. There is a florist with Earth plants, and I brought something for Jim."
"Me?" Jim blinked.
Spock opened the back door and returned a moment later with a yellow rose. It had a long stem with a ribbon around it.
"It is a…gift." Spock said, the uncertainty in his voice betraying how new he was to the concept.
"Oh, Spock…" Jim took the rose from him.
For a split second, Jim though he'd be fine. He thought maybe this one was different. Maybe the Vulcan environment, or his will alone would keep his allergies at bay. But no. A split second later, Jim sneezed loudly. Just when he opened his eyes, he sneezed again.
Only after a third sneeze, could Jim look up again. With one hand pressed to his nose and mouth, and the other still holding the rose, he looked to Spock. Spock looked on for a second, and just when Jim was afraid Spock would express sadness that his gift did not yield the expected response, the most curious thing began to happen. Spock started to laugh.
"I should have known…you would be allergic." Spock laughed.
Jim looked to Amanda, both of them wearing matching looks of shock and amusement. Jim was just about to ask if Spock was okay, when he sneezed again.
Spock laughed harder, leaning back against the counter and holding his stomach. His laughter was so amazing. So rusty from lack of use, but throaty and warm. Jim started laughing too, only to have it punctuated by sneezes from the rose he was still holding.
Jim sank to the floor, dropping the rose and rolling onto his back as he howled with laughter. He looked to Amanda, who's sleeves pressed to her face was the only thing muffling her own laughter. They all looked to one another, unsure of what was so funny, but unable to stop laughing.
Jim looked up from his spot on the floor to see Sarek standing in the doorway from the living room. "What is all of the commotion?" He asked, looking down at Jim with confusion.
The three of them shared a look, and Jim opened his mouth to explain, when he sneezed again. Spock fell to his knees, clutching his side and howling with laughter. Amanda leaned back against the refrigerator, unable to keep her balance from laughing.
"What…" Sarek's eyes were wide in alarm as he looked between the three of them. "What is so amusing?" His voice was almost demanding.
"Father…" Spock gasped as his laughter died off. He looked up at Sarek desperately. "I have been emotionally compromised!"
"It's the tea!" Amanda tried to explain between giggles.
"It's the rose!" Jim took a deep breath, and sneezed again.
Sarek stood for a moment, trying to comprehend why his wife, his son, and his son's intended bond-mate were laughing so hard. He'd not seen Spock laugh in this way since he was a toddler. He hadn't seen Amanda this zealous in years. After a moment, he deduced it must have something to do with James Kirk, who was currently rolling on the kitchen floor.
Beside Jim, the rose still lay. Sarek carefully picked it up and walked through the kitchen and out the backdoor. A moment later, he returned empty handed.
"That's…better. Thank you!" Jim gasped, breathing heavily as he sat up.
Spock had sunken into a ball on the floor. His laughter seemed to have died down as he finally lifted his head. Tears actually had streamed down his face, which was bright green.
"Are you alright?!" Amanda chuckled, leaning down to place a hand on his shoulder.
"I do not know…" Spock answered, his breathing slow. "I have never been so emotionally compromised in my life."
"Quite unbecoming." Sarek said with a shake of his head, but Jim had a feeling he didn't really mean it.
"Now that is something I wished I'd gotten a video of." Jim smirked. "Bones is never gonna believe it."
"You intend to tell Doctor McCoy of this?"
"Don't worry, I'm not actually gonna tell anyone…" Jim stood up, still trying to catch his breath in the thin air. "But next time, I swear I'm getting a video."
After dinner, Spock insisted on taking Jim into town to get him a gift he'd actually like, rather than one that would just make him sneeze. Jim felt a little weird about Spock buying him something.
"I thought gifts were illogical." Jim smirked.
"Humans often exchange gifts." Spock said in his best scientific tone as they approached the shopping center. "Gifts are a sign of friendship…and we are friends."
"That sounds like sound logic to me." Jim smiled and reached for Spock's hand.
At the shopping center, Spock bought Jim a book on Vulcan poetry. On the way back, Jim insisted on stopping by the tourist stand once more. Seeing as today was apparently a very giving day, and that he was still feeling a little sad on Sarek's behalf, he bought something he thought Sarek would like. Tomorrow, Sarek could have his morning tea in a mug that proclaimed he was the best dad in the galaxy.
Spock was just finishing his meditation before bed when there was a soft knock on the door. He'd meditated for twice as long in order to counter any lasting effect of the tea, so he hadn't expected anyone else to be awake. The door opened a fraction and Jim poked his head in.
"Hey…" Jim said in a whisper.
"Good evening, Jim." Spock nodded before standing up and rolling up his mat.
"…I'm cold." Jim kept his eyes down, hoping the darkness of the room wouldn't show the blush on his face.
"If your room is cold, I could get you another blanket, or perhaps adjust the temperature."
"No, don't bother anyone else." Jim looked up, his face still red. "Can I sleep in here with you?"
Spock took a full ten seconds to consider it. "I find that most logical." He nodded, going to the bed and turning back the covers.
"Really?" Jim blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that answer. He always wasn't even sure why he'd asked.
"Affirmative." Spock nodded. "As I will likely awaken before you, it is most logical that you sleep on the side of the bed against the wall."
"Okay." Jim tried not to seem too eager as he climbed into the bed and shuffled over until his shoulder touched the wall. Spock climbed in next, lying flat back on his back and tugging the covers up to his chin.
Jim tried to stay still and just let himself adjust to Spock's body heat. After all, he wasn't really cold in his room. On the contrary, it was quite warm. At first he just wanted to go to Spock's room to talk, but his brain just sort of supplied the bed-sharing fantasy, and apparently his mouth liked it enough that the question just came out.
"Are you adequately warm?" Spock whispered.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Jim rolled over on his side so he was facing Spock's shoulder. "Thanks."
"You are welcome."
"…Are you okay, after what happened?"
"I am no longer emotionally compromised from the tea." Spock answered.
"No, I mean…after watching those videos of your brother." Jim felt under the covers for Spock's hand but couldn't find it.
"I am fine. I found that I was more upset at the thought that my father was upset, rather than for my own sake." Spock reached for Jim's hand and found it.
"Well, as long as you're okay…" Jim started stroking Spock's fingers again. He still had no idea if he was Vulcan-kissing correctly or not, but he really liked doing it this way.
"I am fine." Spock repeated. After a few minutes of silence, Jim thought Spock had fallen asleep, before he spoke again. "Humans enjoy physical contact."
"I'm pretty sure Vulcans secretly enjoy it too. Oh, and Spock?"
"Yes, Jim?"
"You were a super cute baby."