Hey guys!
I'm sorry it's taking so long for me to update, I had an exhausting month and additionally got dragged to a psychiatrist by my Mom.
Kim:Of course, I should have thought of that :) Glad you enjoyed Spock's freak out and even Jim's petulant behaviour. He's around... 22... 23 right now, I think... I wrote this crap down somewhere...
Talltree-san: I'm so glad you didn't crash your car! Jim has yet to steal Spock's shirts :P Aye, you don't want to have the girdle thing. My aunt had it and she could not even roll over when she reached eight months. ;)
meakamaxwell: Glad you liked it and... Leonard just needs to get laid, I think. ;)
ShayLove: No one gets hurt, don't freak out, sweety. Thank you for the cake!
Alrightey. Hope you enjoy the chapter. There's not much plot... But hey, I'm writing this story because it distracts me from the reality of life. :)
Secret World
Chapter 7: win or lose it
Four days later, Jim was lounging on the couch in front of the TV, skipping through the channels as he tried to distract himself from the nervousness coiling in his stomach. Most of it was Spock's, filtering through the bond and refusing to dissipate. It was tiring and coupled with the Vulcan's overly protective behaviour, it was becoming downright annoying.
He just wanted Bones to call already.
Jim reached out for the apple slices on the coffee table, dipping it into the small bowl filled with ketchup, before lifting it to his mouth. Although he was not eating more than usual, his cravings had become weirder by the day. Just this morning, he had caught himself smearing mustard onto a piece of cucumber bread, before sprinkling it with plomeek root flakes. Needless to say, Spock had been less than thrilled to watch him eat and decided to go food shopping on his own.
Jim slid another ketchup laden apple slice into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Maybe he should make some plomeek soup for Spock later as a kind of peace offering. Sighing softly, Jim slipped a hand underneath his shirt to rub the warm bump on his abdomen. Since he had started to show, he felt like his belly rounded out more and more each day. Which was, of course, completely illogical, as Spock would say.
Huffing out a quiet laugh, Jim popped the next apple into his mouth.
He needed to search for his green sock too. Somehow, it had gotten lost the last time Spock did the laundry and now Jim had been mourning the loss of his favourite sock. Maybe the monster living behind the washing machine got it and dragged it off to Raggedy Clothes Town or something like that. Yeah. That sounded even less logical than his theory about the fact that there were two ridges instead of only one on Spock's-
The front door opened and Jim sat up, smiling brightly at his husband. "Welcome back, Mister Grayson-Kirk."
Spock lifted an eyebrow at him, dropping the key onto the coffee table, before reaching into one of the paper bags and pulling a heating pad out to set it down on Jim's stomach. "What are you eating, Jim...?"
"Apple slices with ketchup. You want some?"
Spock's paled and shook his head. "No, thank you."
Jim snickered, dunking an apple into the ketchup and stuffed it into his mouth. "Too bad, it's delicious."
"I highly doubt you would find it delicious were you not pregnant, Jim." Spock wandered into the kitchen to put away the other things he had bought. "Have you taken your copper supplements today?"
"Yep, after finishing my cucumber bread." Jim snorted when a suppressed gagging sound came from the kitchen. "You know, for a Vulcan, you really have a weak stomach. Seriously, Spock, it's like my morning sickness all over again only this time, it's you who's nau-"
A loud retch alerted him to the fact that it had become too much for Spock and Jim grimaced when he heard him vomiting into the sink. Cautiously, he stood and made his way into the kitchen, coming to stand beside his heaving husband to rub his shoulder blades. "Okay, let me guess. The bond is a little screwed up because of the pregnancy and your constant worrying corroded your shields. Because of that, my morning sickness was accidentally transferred over to you. That's why I've been fine the past days, right?"
Spock nodded shakily.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jim pressed a tiny kiss to Spock's sweaty temple and turned on the water to rinse out the sink. "You can be such an idiot, Spock."
"I apologise."
"Yeah, yeah," Jim pushed Spock over to the couch, urging him to sit, before clearing the coffee table to lessen the chance for another random bout of puking.
Bones was going to have a field day with this. Jim put the apple slices and ketchup into the fridge before grabbing a glass to fill it with water. Marching back towards the sofa, he found Spock sprawled out on his stomach over the entire length of the couch, one foot dangling over the arm rest. Shaking his head, Jim set the glass down and lifted Spock's torso somewhat to slip into the small space between the other arm rest and Spock himself. The Vulcan huffed and carefully rested his head against Jim's stomach. Jim ran his fingers through Spock's tangled hair, calming the turmoil and sifting through their bond's twined tendrils to find the source of the Vulcan's discomfort. It turned out to be quite a difficult task, since the bond had thickened with new strings and twining, yarn-like threads, pulsating like a heartbeat. The twine he was searching for was buried deep within the confines of the bond itself. It was fairly new, judging from the almost whitish light it gave off, knotted and writhing weakly as if in pain. Jim guessed that the knot kept the nausea from being divided between the two of them.
Diligently, he worked on opening the knot, shushing Spock when he began to squirm."I'm almost done, Spock, just a little longer... how could you let it get this tangled up? Geez..."
"My mind was occupied with other things, I had not thought about examining the bond." Spock pushed Jim's shirt upwards and nuzzled his face against the soft skin beneath, nose dipping into the belly button, prompting a laugh from the blonde.
"Don't do that, Spock, you know I'm ticklish!"
Jim had finally managed to open the knot, watching the tendril unfurl and stretch. Spock heaved a sigh. "Thank you, Jim."
"It was hurting you, wasn't it? Damn it, Spock, we've been married for five years now, don't you think you could at least try to communicate with me?" Jim leaned down, practically folding himself in half to bite Spock's ear. "There was a huge knot in one of the threads. What if it had gotten worse? What if it had affected our Baby?"
Spock was spared from having to answer, when the comm. unit started to beep. They scrambled off the couch, almost falling in the process and dashed towards the comm. As soon as Spock hit the answer button, Bones' face appeared on the screen. "That was quick. Where ya camping by the comm., or somethin'?"
Jim laughed, shaking his head, "Do you have the results?"
"Yep. Baby is perfectly healthy. Twenty-five percent Vulcan, no genetic disorders, chromosome abnormalities or neural tube defects; everything is as it should be."
Jim felt Spock practically deflate with relief and he would not have been surprised if he had fallen to the ground in a dramatic display of gladness.
"Alright, since we cleared that up... ya wanna know whether it's a boy or a girl?"
"Oh." Jim shared a quick look with Spock who nodded. "Yes, please."
"Right. It's a boy. Congratulations, you two," Bones grinned, "If he's anything like you, Jim, you'll have one heck of a time trying to get him to sit still. I don't envy ya two at all."
"Heh, yeah... hey, Bones, is it normal for Vulcan pairs that both partner's experience pregnancy symptoms?"
"If the bond is strong enough, yeah. Happens with Human pairs too, due to the mirror neurons in the brain, but it's a very rare condition called Couvade syndrome. Why? Don't tell me Spock threw up or something."
"He did. I was wondering why I wasn't throwing up at all and when he did, I found a knot in one of the bond's threads," Jim nudged Spock's side, "That moron didn't tell me."
"Why am I not surprised? Try to take it easy ya two and Jim, lie down, it's a little too obvious that your hip is hurtin' ya again. Oh, and I found a Doctor for you on Earth. He's an old friend of mine who was really happy to hear from me again. I'm gonna give ya his address before ya leave for Earth, whenever that is. Jimmy, yer next appointment is in about four weeks, no matter if you're on Earth or still here on Vulcan... one second-," Bones turned his head away, looking off to the side, frowning as he listened to someone speaking of screen, "Okay, Christine... alright ya two, I gotta go again, I've got other patients to attend to. Have a nice day and call me if somethin' comes up or if ya have questions."
"Bye, Bones!"
The Doctor gave a mock salute and the screen went black.
Spock looped his arms around Jim, lifting him slightly as he embraced him. Chuckling, Jim kissed Spock's nose, "We're having a boy, Spock."
The Vulcan-hybrid's mouth curled into a rare smile. He pressed his lips to Jim's enthusiastically, before he pulled away to grimace."You taste of apples and ketchup."
Jim snorted, lifting his legs to wrap them around Spock's waist, his bump pressing against Spock's stomach muscles. "Well, I'm really not sorry about that, sweetheart."
"Jim." Spock nuzzled their noses together.
"What? It's delicious! Don't knock it till you've tried it!"
Shaking his head, Spock moved back over to the couch to sit down. When the Vulcan-hybrid was settled, Jim wiggled down to seat himself firmly on his husband's lap, a large grin on his face. "We gotta tell Amanda. She'll throw a fit if we don't."
"Indeed." Spock leaned back. "But I believe we can do this at a later time."
"Yeah... we could drive over too. I think she'd be delighted to see us again. We've been kind of neglecting your parents for the past three weeks..." Jim furrowed his brows, leaning forward to bury his face against Spock's neck, inhaling the spicy scent of Spock's aftershave. "She's gonna be so mad at us."
He bit Spock's neck, then sat up properly again to glare at his husband. "You know, I'm still mad that you're able to grow a beard and chest hair, while I'm stuck looking like a twelve-year-old."
"You do not look like a twelve-year-old, Jim. Believe me." Spock's hand slid down to his bottom, squeezing his left cheek gently.
"You're such a horny bastard," Jim snickered, "Thanks for the heating-pad, by the way, it was getting a little hard to find a comfortable position to sit in."
"You are welcome, Jim." Spock shifted, moving to lie down, pulling Jim along until he was sprawled out on top of the Vulcan-hybrid.
Jim had to move sideways to keep the pressure off his abdomen like Bones had told him to. Otherwise, his uterus would put pressure on the aorta the inferior vena cava that supplies the blood for the lower body and, in this case, the baby. He sighed heavily. Being pregnant was a horribly complicated thing to be. There was so much you had to do, so much you had to be careful about. Additionally, he was learning things about his own body that he really did not care about. And having an over-protective husband was not an easy thing to work with either, it was like having a physical shadow that kept interrupting simple things like cooking and getting in his way, when he wanted to tend to the garden. Jim was aware that Spock was trying to better himself and that it was merely a primal instinct that urged him to keep his bondmate and the unborn child safe.
Spock tilted his head, lifting an eyebrow. "What is it you are thinking about?"
"I'm wondering where my second green sock disappeared to," Jim answered. "Do you think we have a sock-eating monster in our washing machine?"
"I highly doubt that a living being could survive within a washing machine, Jim. The sock may have landed in a corner of the laundry room or slipped behind the washing machine itself."
"You're no fun, Mr. Logical," Jim pouted, sitting up again in a swift move that he regretted almost instantly, when his pelvis gave a painful twang, "Crap... ah, how about we go and visit your parents now? I'm sure Amanda will feed you something that helps with the nausea. Don't look at me like that, I know you're feeling queasy, the knot is gone, remember? And it's my not-really-morning sickness you're experiencing anyway."
"Jim-"
"Nope, I'm going to rub that in your face until you stop being such an idiot." Jim smacked a kiss to Spock's cheek, before slipping off his husband to walk into the anteroom. "You coming?"
"Jim, you are not wearing any socks."
"Oh, yeah. Could you get me a pair from upstairs?"
He heard Spock sigh and stand up. "Yes, Jim."
After a long discussion about who should drive, Jim put his foot down and told Spock that he would not enter this car through any door but the one on the driver's side. After a few more threats, including a rather low blow regarding the child's safety and Spock's currently compromised health, the Vulcan-hybrid had finally given in and handed over the keys.
Apparently, Jim handled nausea better than Spock. While he felt an unpleasant twinge in his stomach from time to time, he had to pull over twice for Spock to get out of the car and throw up. By the time they arrived at Spock's parent's house, the hybrid was almost asleep, mouth slack and head resting against the side window.
Jim gently shook his husband's shoulder, "Spock? We're here."
Spock nodded, blinking blearily as he opened the car's door, slipping out with the elegance of a tired slug. Jim shook his head as he tugged his bondmate towards the door. He pushed the electronic doorbell and almost yelped when the door was ripped open almost instantly. "Jimmy!"
Amanda grinned at him, eyes twinkling as she reached out to embrace both her son and Jim. She ushered them inside and into the living-room, practically forcing Jim to take a seat. While she busied herself with fetching Kray-juice and cookies, Jim pulled at Spock's wrist to get him to sit. The hybrid plopped down beside him, pale faced and eyes unfocused. "You look awful, Spock."
"I was never aware of how you must have felt every morning, Jim," Spock said quietly, "I apologise for the following sentence, but I feel the need to express it. I am very grateful that I am unable to become pregnant."
Jim refrained from punching Spock even if his sole reason for it was that he wanted to avoid another session of projectile vomiting. "It's okay."
Amanda returned, carrying a bowl of cookies. She set the large container down onto the coffee-table between the jug of Kray-juice and the stack of napkins. "Well, what brings you two here?"
Jim smiled up at her. "We just wanted to tell you that Bones called us with the results of my amniocentesis and that your grandson is perfectly healthy."
Blindsided, Amanda did not speak for a few moments before a smile etched itself across her face. "A boy! Oh dear, I have to- Sarek! Sarek!"
She ran from the room, her calls echoing through the large house for a while. Jim shook his head in a display of exasperated fondness. That woman was going to give herself a heart-attack one of these days. Spock's head came to rest on Jim's shoulder and Jim wondered if it was a good idea to come here to visit instead of simply calling Amanda. Patting Spock's hand, he pressed a kiss to the black mop of hair tickling his chin. "We're not gonna stay long, alright? How about you lie down and get some rest, I'll handle your Mom."
Spock did not answer outright, merely draped himself a little over Jim's side and covered the small bulge on Jim's stomach with his broad palm. A tiny grin blossomed on Jim's face as he laid his own hand over Spock's.
Amanda came rushing back into the room, face red from exertion an, judging from the way she kept tugging at her braid, embarrassment. "I'm such an idiot. Sarek is at a council meeting. I'll tell him later."
Jim snorted. "You're crazy, Manda."
"I know, I know," she quipped, sitting down on the edge of the coffee-table. "Goodness, Spock, you look like death warmed over."
"Illogical, Mother. No one would care to warm me if I were dead."
"Oh shut up, you know what I mean." Amanda reached out to rest the knuckles of her dainty hand against Spock's forehead. "You're clammy... are you ill?"
"He was sick three times today," Jim explained, "The bond produced a new tendril and it's screwing with Spock a little."
Manda laughed, eyes watering with mirth. "Oh dear, Sarek and I had the same problem. You should have seen his face when he woke up at five in the morning and immediately threw up all over himself. I don't think he has ever looked that mortified before. Probably the most hilarious thing that happened while he was affected by the link was when he started to put salsa over everything he ate. It got a little exhausting to make salsa everyday just because he needed to eat it. I know what cravings can be like, but Sarek was extreme. If there was no salsa, he would not eat. It was like dealing with a small child. Luckily, it wore off after a few weeks and I hope it'll be the same for you two. Having to care for a whiny Vulcan husband is not the best way to spend your time while pregnant, believe me."
"I can imagine." Jim snickered, rubbing Spock's back with his free hand. "Spock can't stomach my cravings at all."
"He's always been a little picky when it came to food."
"That is not true, Mother."
"Oh, don't be such a pouty-face.
"Mother..." Spock seemed to give up and shifted to stretch out on the couch, head planted firmly on Jim's thigh while his feet were pushed against the armrest.
"Yeah, well, I think it has to do with the fact that apple slices and ketchup are a little... too exotic."
Manda doubled over with laughter. "Oh, Jimmy! You're going all out, huh?"
"What? It's scrumptious. You two just have no taste," Jim drawled.
"Apple slices, Jim. With ketchup." Amanda lifted an eyebrow, a smirk curling the corners of her mouth. "My cravings were at least edible to other people!"
"Pshaw," Jim huffed, then stilled, frowning down at his stomach.
He swore he just felt- ah. There it was again. A tiny flutter just to the side of his belly button, like a feather brushing across his insides. Jim licked his lips, ignoring the confused stares he received as he concentrated on the strange sensation. Was that the Baby moving?
"Jimmy?" Manda's slender hand reached out to touch his belly. "Can you feel him moving?"
"I... I think so. It feels a little like butterflies in my stomach. Is that normal?"
"Perfectly alright, although people who are pregnant for the first time usually don't feel anything until around... twenty weeks, I think. I felt Spock doing cartwheels around eighteen weeks or so. You're rather thin so I guess it's only logical that you'd sense it a little earlier." Amanda poked his ribs playfully. "Are you eating enough, Jimmy?"
"Bones said my metabolism is too high, that's why I'm not putting on any weight." Jim shrugged. "But the Baby is healthy and I've not fainted from malnutrition yet either. I'm eating enough, don't worry."
Manda shook her head. "Nothing but trouble with you boys."
"Hey, I said I'm eating enough!" Jim whined, then sobered up a little when he felt a tiny poke in his abdomen, sharper than before but not unpleasant. "Say... can you feel Baby moving, Spock?"
The Vulcan-hybrid shook his head, nose brushing against the baby bump. "It is too early, Jim."
"Oh." Jim was a little sad that Spock was unable to share this particular part of the pregnancy with him yet. "Too bad, it feels really funny. It's like he's trying to tickle me."
Spock huffed out a warm breath against Jim's stomach and he could have sworn he felt the Baby flutter in response.
On the next episode of Spock Hunters: Spock and Jim finally leave for Earth. Will they like their new, temporary home? And why is there a kitten sitting on the coffee-table?
I should stop writing these things. :)
