It was dark when they pulled up to the old farmhouse. The front lights were burning, as were most of the lights in the house. The adults got out of the car slowly but David leapt out and went running up the steps.

"Gramma!" he called. Winona met him at the door.

"Hey sweetness! Merry Christmas and welcome home! I am so glad you're going to be here. It's our first family Christmas. Are you excited?"

"Yeah!" David cheered. Then he glanced back at the car. "I think Mom and Dad are fighting again but Mr. Spock keeps interrupting," he whispered.

Winona frowned over her grandson's head. "Well don't you worry. Between your stepfather and your grandma we'll keep those two in line. Come on in and get warmed up."

Spock and Jim got their luggage out of the back and walked up the stairs.

"Hi Mom," Jim sighed. He gave her a peck on the top of the head.

"Winona," Spock murmured.

Carol came last. She had a bright smile on that didn't reach her eyes. "Hi Winona. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Carol. Come on in." Winona ushered her in and shut the door. She went into the hallway and nudged the temperature up quietly. "So who wants sugar cookies?" she called.

"ME!" David exclaimed.

"You need to have dinner first, mister," Carol reminded him. David's face fell.

"Oh, we have macaroni and cheese and black-eyed peas and salad. We can eat right now." Winona began setting out the dishes on the table. "I know three young men who haven't washed their hands," she hinted.

"Doesn't Carol have to wash her hands too or do women not get germs?" Jim groused.

"James..." Spock warned. He turned to his stepson. "David, will you accompany me upstairs to wash our hands?" David nodded slowly and the two left the room.

"Okay, look, if you're going to fake being happy for your son's sake, that's fine, but for God's sakes, put some effort into it," Winona scolded the remaining adults. "If you ruin this for him so help me I'll take both of you over my knee."

Jim looked from his ex to his mother and back. "Fine with me. I'll be happy as long as David is. But I'm not the one making cutting remarks about others in their presence."

"Jim, grow up. David knows I don't like you. It's no secret." Carol brushed her hair back.

"Drop it, both of you," Winona hissed. "Jimmy, go wash your hands. Carol, you can use the bathroom down here."

Jim passed his husband and son on the stairs. He gave them both a cheery smile and ruffled David's hair.

T'hy'la? Spock tried.

"Out loud, Mr. Spock," he reminded his husband. "I'm fine. I'll be right back down." Jim took the stairs two at a time.

Their dinner was pleasant enough. The conversation was pretty much limited to Winona, Spock, and David talking about inane topics like Christmas tree decorating and shopping for presents. David told his grandmother about his 'girlfriend' and Carol smiled at Winona's encouragement.

Jim got up and rinsed his plate and went out on the front porch. He sat in one of the rocking chairs and stared out into the night. After a while Spock joined him. Neither said a word; they just sat there peacefully.

Finally Jim glanced over. "Aren't you cold?"

Spock shrugged. "Yes. But I wished to be with you. I did not realize this was going to be such a trial for you. I was unaware of how Ms. Marcus baits you. It is completely unbecoming."

Jim laughed. "Unbecoming is the kindest adjective I think you could have chosen."

There was silence for a while, then Spock turned his head again. "Jim, you do realize I care for you, and am honored that you are my bondmate?"

"Yeah, babe, of course. What brought that up?" Jim squinted in the weak light.

Spock shook his head. "The cause does not matter. That you know this information does." Spock had decided he would go purchase the rings tomorrow. If necessary, he would bring his mother-in-law with him. It was better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

Finally after another five minutes Spock stood. He walked back in the house and found the others unpacking ornaments to go on the tree.

"Hey Mr. Spock, wanna help?" David asked.

Spock took off his coat and walked over. "What, precisely, is the process involved?"

David picked up what appeared to be a large wad of tissue paper. "You take this and unwrap it and then Gramma tells us the story behind it and we choose where it goes on the tree."

Spock took the ball and unwrapped it. It was a yarn kitten, which he held by its hook.

"Oh, well Marissa met me the Christmas after George died. She fell in love with my boys and decided they should have homemade ornaments on their tree. She made this one when Jimmy was one and Sammy was five." Winona smiled.

Spock nodded. He looked down at the tiny mass of yarn. "And where do we place it?"

Winona pointed to her grandson. "It's David's turn to pick."

David gave the tree a once-over and pointed to a bare place. "Put it here, Mr. Spock." Spock put the hook on the tree and stepped back. "Isn't this great? Where's Dad?" David asked.

Spock went over and looked out the window. "He is still outside. I believe he needed some time alone. He will return shortly."

The four decorated the tree slowly. Spock was fascinated by the stories behind each of the ornaments. He found that, given proper space and due consideration, Carol could be pleasant. David ended up placing most of the ornaments by default; Spock helped him with the upper branches.

Jim was just about to come inside when he saw the lights of a vehicle coming up the road. His first thought was to curse the fact that he didn't have a phaser. He stood at the stairs and watched as the car approached. It pulled to a stop beside Carol's car and a man got out.

Jim's jaw dropped and he dashed down the stairs. "Sammy!" he shouted. Sam opened his arms and Jim bear-hugged him. "Oh my God it's really you! And you've got everyone with you!"

Aurelan got out and opened the back door for Peter. Mark and Justin sat in the car watching the commotion while Peter ran around the car and tackled his uncle. Jim picked him up easily.

"Ooof! You're getting big, boy! Hey, are you going to introduce me to your brothers?" Jim asked.

Peter squirmed down, walked over and motioned for the older boys to get out. They did so with caution and Peter turned around professionally. "Uncle Jim, this is Mark and this is Justin. Guys, this is your Uncle Jim. Hey Uncle Jim, is David here?"

"He sure is. He's inside," Jim began but the young boy was already dashing up the stairs. Jim shrugged and held his hand out to the boys. "Nice to meet you and welcome to the family. We seem strange but I assure you we're fine, as long as you've had all your shots." They shook hands.

Winona came out on the porch. "Sam? What on Earth are you doing here? Last I heard you couldn't get away for Christmas!"

Sam shrugged to his mom. "There was a little boo-boo at the lab and we're kinda out of work for another month. I figured it was time to visit the homestead again."

Winona laughed. "As long as you're alright. And there is my beautiful daughter-in-law. Aure, how are you sweetie?"

"I'm fine. I'm glad the flight is over. By the time we hit Luna if Peter had asked me one more time how far it was I would have lost my mind." Aurelan walked up the steps and into the house.

Jim slung an arm around his brother's shoulders. "So, big bro, how goes life on Deneva?" The two walked up the stairs chatting amongst themselves.