Chapter 7
The years had passed on, and everyone on the old Enterprise crew settled into their lives on earth. McCoy had no problem moving with Spock to San Francisco, the both of them taking over positions at the Academy, him training the new physicians cadets coming in, and Spock returning to his Xenobiology position that he had left to deal with the Vulcan crisis, and then to go on the five year mission. Jim had also taken a post at Starfleet Academy as the head of the Tactics department, while Nyota worked in the communications department at Headquarters.
Their lives were good, and McCoy had to admit that he was happier now than he'd ever been. It was true that his relationship with Spock was far from perfect, their different ways of coping with situations being the subject of more than one argument, but he knew that what they had wasn't something that would fade or worsen over time. No matter how much they argued, he knew the other loved him beyond everything else. He could see it in the way the Vulcan looked at him, and he could feel it thrumming between them in their bond.
And this bond had to be the most miraculous thing that Spock had ever showed him, and it made him thankful for every weird freaky mind trick that Vulcans possessed, because, he didn't care how strange it was if he sat down and thought about it. It let him know that he meant something, really meant something to someone else in the universe without a single doubt in his mind. It gave him the kind of balance in his life that he never had with his ex wife, and surely would never have with another person again. He didn't plan on leaving Spock any time soon, and so he had no choice but to be the kind of man that Spock deserved.
It was nice to feel such a part of something with Christmas finally rolling around again this year. It was no longer a time he hated. It was easy to know why. He wasn't alone and he finally felt needed this time of year. It wasn't a time to just lock himself in his room and drink himself silly. He now could spend it with the people most important to him, and feel no guilt, remorse, or loss over a life in the past. He had moved forward, and he'd found a way to be happy in a way he thought he'd never find again on being rejected by his ex wife.
Spock found a way to let him know how he cared every day through subtle and not so subtle means, and McCoy appreciated every second of it. He broke away from his thoughts momentarily to take one last look at himself in the mirror. It wasn't often that he cared much about his appearance beyond being clean and presentable, but he and Spock were about to leave for the Christmas party that Jim and Nyota were throwing, and since those parties tended to be big, he hardly wanted to make a bad impression of Spock having married a complete slob.
He never much liked parties while he was at Starfleet Academy or during much of their five year mission, but this was another thing that changed about him too. He now knew that he had something to celebrate and that people actually wanted him. That Spock would always want him. This made him smile to himself as Spock entered the room.
"Are you ready to leave?" Spock's lips quirked upward to both see and sense his happiness through the bond.
McCoy then turned to his mate and he said, "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."
Spock paired his index and middle fingers, reaching them toward McCoy in a now very familiar gesture that he met with his own fingers, and he said, "You are quite handsome, as always, Ashal-veh."
McCoy then let his fingers curl about Spock's, making the gesture far more intimate as far as Vulcans were concerned, and with a small smirk on his lips he replied in a low tone, "You're making it very tempting for me to make us late, Spock."
The look in Spock's eyes was then simultaneously warm and mischievous as he took the movement up a notch by rubbing those fingers all around his hand as he practically purred, "As easy as it would be to cave to the obvious desire, it is often said that waiting makes receiving all the more enjoyable."
McCoy couldn't help but shiver at the way Spock looked at him as he spoke in that tone, just about ready to throw the idea of going to the party out the window completely, but he knew the other was right. It would be much better if they waited.
McCoy's smirk then grew lightly, "Fine, but now we might just be leaving early."
"I would not dispute your logic on that point, k'diwa." Spock's look was far too playful, and McCoy knew that he had to get them out of there before he, himself, made it very impossible for them to leave.
"Alright, let's just get out of here already." He chuckled and began to lead the way out of their apartment.
As he was pulling the door open, Spock leaned close and whispered in his ear, "I very much look forward to our return."
McCoy just hummed pleasantly in response and grabbed onto Spock's hand as they moved to their transport, knowing then that this was the kind of life that he'd always wanted. He finally had found a home.
