Please read my last author's note!


"And so, I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety two

And though it's been said, many times, many ways

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you"

~"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban


"Jim! Jimmy, unlock this door!"

Jim groaned and buried his face in the pillow. Too early, his brain screamed at him. Way too freaking early.

"James Tiberius Kirk you will open this door right now or we'll break it down!"

Jim rolled ungracefully out of bed. His mother only used his full name when she was angry beyond all belief, so it wasn't impossible that she would break down the door. He pulled the blanket up over Spock and pulled on some pants.

He unlocked the door.

The effect was immediate. Winona opened the door forcefully, so angry that she was red in the face. That anger deflated somewhat when she caught sight of the yawning, sleep-muffled Jim in front of her.

"Morning, Mom," he mumbled tiredly. He hid a yawn behind his hand as Sam came into the room as well.

"Jim," Winona said patiently, "it's eight in the morning."

Jim blinked at her blankly.

"On Saturday," she insisted. Jim looked up, surprised.

"What? Mom, it's only Thursday. You know, Christmas Day?"

"Jim, honey, you've been up here since Thursday. It's Saturday." Winona glanced at the bed and saw Spock for the first time. "Oh my. Are we interrupting something?"

Jim glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping Spock.

"Nah. I think we're done." Jim raised his arms above his head and stretched. "You know, I'm starving."

Sam shook his head, chuckling. "I'm not surprised, Jimmy. You just spent about a day and a half engaged in…strenuous activities and forgot to eat." He patted Jim on the shoulder. "Nice, baby brother."

Jim smirked, and Winona ushered both of them out of the room.

"You are going to eat something now, Jim. And drink water. You might be dehydrated, too."

Jim waived off her fretting. "I'm fine, Mom. I'll just eat breakfast and everything will be fine."

Winona didn't look convinced, but followed Jim and Sam downstairs.

"So," she said as Jim got himself a bowl of cereal, "you want to tell me what that was all about?"

Jim almost choked on his cornflakes.

Sam patted Jim on the back and handed him a cup of orange juice. "She means the strangling, Jimmy," he assured.

"No," said Winona, "I meant all of it." She fixed Jim with a penetrating stare as he slowly ate his cornflakes. Sam patted his back again, this time sympathetically.

"Sorry, Jimmy," he said, and left the room.

The tension was palpable.

"Okay, awkward," Jim said after a minute. "Where're Aurelan and the kids?"

"They went out," Winona answered simply. The stare didn't ease up.

Jim swallowed uncomfortably.

"And how's Jenna?" His tone implied that he didn't really care. Honestly, she'd deserved it. But still, she was his friend, and he didn't want her hurt too badly.

"She's fine," came the clipped reply.

Jim sighed and set his spoon down in the bowl.

"Mom, I can't explain this to your satisfaction. It's Spock's private matter and not my business to tell." His tone left no room for argument. Winona raised an eyebrow.

Jim braced himself for the yelling.

"I'm proud of you, Jimmy," she said with a slight smile. Jim blinked.

"What?" he asked, confusion evident. He had been sure she'd pop a blood vessel.

Winona squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.

"You're growing up, Jimmy. This is evidence enough that you've matured since I last saw you. I'm so proud."

And the captain grinned.

*~*Merry Christmas*~*

Spock woke, disoriented and worried.

"Jim?" he asked, looking around for the captain. "T'hy'la?" He felt the horror begin to set in. Jim wasn't here. He had gotten up and left, most likely disgusted and injured.

Injured.

Spock buried his face in his hands. He had wronged his captain. All evidence pointed to that conclusion, and Spock closed his eyes.

"I am sorry, Jim," he whispered. Slowly, he got up from the bed and dressed, stiffly and methodically. Then he began to pack his things.

He would not stay any longer.

After everything was folded neatly back into his bag, Spock reached for the sweater he had grown used to donning in the morning. He stopped his hand short when he remembered that it was Winona's.

He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. As he descended the stairs, Spock noticed the low hum of voices from the kitchen. One of them was definitely Jim's and Spock allowed himself a moment to pause and listen to his t'hy'la talk.

"So, what are we going to do today, Mom?" Jim sounded happy to Spock's ears, but perhaps it was to fool Winona?

"Oh, I don't know, honey. I was just going to hang out. When Spock wakes up, you could ask for his opinion."

The silence that answered her broke Spock's heart. However, even his Vulcan ears could not pick up the slight crunch of Jim eating his toast, nodding along happily to Winona's suggestion.

Jim heard the front door open.

Quickly, he swallowed his mouthful of toast and jam and rose to see who was there. Surely Aurelan and the kids couldn't be home yet? And Sam had no reason to open the door…

"Spock?" he asked, catching sight of the back of the Vulcan's head as Spock fled. "Where are you going? Spock?"

Spock stopped walking, standing on the doorstep with his hand still on the doorknob. Jim gazed, baffled, at his back.

"Where are you going, Spock? Leave doesn't end for another week."

Spock slowly stiffened and removed his hand from the doorknob.

"T'hy—Ji—Captain, I must leave. I apologize for the trauma I have caused you. I, of course, will be submitting my resignation promptly by the end of shore leave—"

"Wait, wait, wait," Jim said, holding up a hand and shaking his head. "Trauma? Resignation? What are you talking about, Spock?"

"I am speaking of the assault over the past few days, Captain," Spock informed him succinctly. "It is an offense punishable by court-martial."

"Spock, all we did was have sex. I don't think that counts as assault. In fact, I kind of liked it. A lot. So, if it is assault, it was the best assault ever. And we should do it again. Often."

"Captain—" Spock began exasperatedly, turning around.

Jim kissed him.

"You're not going anywhere," Jim said quietly, leaning his forehead against Spock's. "All right? You're going to stay here. What made you think you caused me trauma? If I remember correctly, I seduced you."

Spock frowned at him. "You were not with me when I woke. I logically assumed that this was because you chose to leave and were disgusted by the events that—"

"Logically?" Jim laughed quietly and pressed a kiss to the corner of Spock's mouth. "Spock, I wasn't there because I had to eat. I'm only human."

The Vulcan flushed.

"…I am a fool," Spock said, turning his face away. When he glanced back at Jim, the captain wore a soft look that Spock had never seen before.

It made him…feel.

When Jim noticed him looking, the expression on his face hid away again, but Spock knew what it was. As the captain turned to go back into the kitchen, Spock pulled the front door shut and grabbed Jim's wrist. He tugged until the captain looked back at him.

"You love me," the Vulcan said softly. Jim raised a hand to Spock's cheek and ran his fingers lightly over the flesh before he smiled.

"Yes."

*~*Merry Christmas*~*

That day they hung out. Spock leaned against Jim on the couch and read until Aurelan and the kids came home and Matt and Jacob demanded more stories.

Jim shot Spock a 'help' look, but the Vulcan just raised an encouraging eyebrow. Jim's pleading glance was also lost on Sam, who just shrugged and gestured to the kids with an evil grin.

"All right, you want another story?" Jim asked, leaning back and settling Spock more comfortably against his side.

"Yes, please," Matt said politely.

"Yeah!" Jacob said, climbing up onto Jim's lap. Matt looked put-out until Jim patted the armrest of the couch, scooting Jacob over a little so the boy wasn't touching Spock's pink-clad shoulder

Jim had made him put the sweater back on.

"Okay, a story. How do you feel about Romulans?" Jim asked dramatically, setting the stage for yet another exaggerated (or completely fake) story.

"Nero?" Matt asked.

Jim comfortingly rubbed Spock's arm and said, "Nah. You guys already know all about that. No, what I have to tell you is better than Nero."

Spock raised an eyebrow, and the boys leaned in close to hear.

Jim ended up spinning them a fantastic tale about fistfights, ancient, sacred duels, laser fights, life-threatening situations, and cranberries.

"Cranberries?" Sam asked incredulously when Jim said it.

"Yup," the captain nodded. "Cranberries. Romulans have a secret weakness for cranberries, don't'cha know."

Sam shook his head and turned back to the news.

"Oh, yes," Winona said, just as Jim ended his story in a flourish, "I forgot. I still have something to give you, Jimmy."

"Hmm?" Jim hummed, looking up as she left the room.

"Here," she said, returning with a bag of something.

Jim's eyes widened and he snatched them out of her hand with an excited whoop.

"Craisins! I love you, Mom!" The captain hugged the bag to his chest and grinned like a fool. Then, he ripped it open in began to eat them.

Spock was watching him amusedly.

"Want some?" the captain asked, holding some out to him. "They're good."

"I must decline—"

"Come on, they're good. You've never had cranberries, right? Now you can try some!"

"Jim."

The captain stopped fussing and looked at him. His eyes were wide and pleading and Spock found he was actually having a difficult time refusing.

"C'mon. Please?" Jim whined. Sam shook his head from where he was sitting with Aurelan and muttered something about Starfleet captains and their dignity, or lack thereof.

"…Fine," Spock acquiesced. "I will try one."

Jim grinned and told Spock to 'open up.' Spock did so, and the captain popped a craisin into the Vulcan's mouth.

Spock chewed thoughtfully for a moment, and then swallowed.

"Well?" Jim asked, head cocked to the side in curiosity.

"I find it…agreeable."

Jim grinned. The rest of the time was spent happily munching on craisins, soft conversation filling up the room. At about eight, Winona brought out a box of chocolate truffles.

"Everyone's welcome to have some," she said with a smile. Jim shot forward and grabbed the raspberry one and the cranberry one before anyone could blink.

He happily bit into the raspberry one, making appreciative noises.

"You still have favorites, huh, Jimmy?" Sam remarked as he took the hazelnut truffle out of the box.

"Well, you do too," the captain shot back. "It's the system. I get the raspberry ones, and you get the hazelnut ones. That's how it's always worked."

"You grabbed the cranberry one, too, Jimmy," Sam said with a smile.

"Yeah, I know. This one's for Spock. Duh." Jim stuck his tongue out at his brother and offered the truffle to a confused Spock. "Here."

"…What is it, Captain?"

Jim's mouth fell open in shock.

"What is it? What is it?" he asked incredulously. "You've never had a truffle?"

Spock honestly though the captain was over-reacting. Was there some deep significance in this small round ball?

"No, Jim. There was no such…food on Vulcan."

"Oh. Well, here, then. It's like cranberry flavored chocolate."

Spock froze, and then looked down at the object with close scrutiny.

"Chocolate?" The eyebrow went up. "…Fascinating."

"Here," the captain said again. "Open your mouth."

Spock did so.

Jim gently placed the truffle on Spock's tongue, and Spock closed his mouth slowly, obviously enjoying the taste.

His eyes slipped closed.

"Oh get a room, already," Sam ribbed from the couch. Spock's eyes snapped open and a slight green flush rose onto his face.

"You're ears are green," Jim said with a grin, reaching up and rubbing the tip of Spock's ear.

Then something weird happened.

Spock kind of…melted against Jim and buried his face in the captain's chest. Jim held his arms away from Spock, as if touching him would cause more weird things to happen.

The Vulcan wrapped his arms around Jim middle.

And began to purr.

"Uh…Spock?" Jim tried, awkwardly setting his hands on Spock's back. The Vulcan just purred louder and nuzzled Jim's chest.

"I—I think y—you broke him," Sam got out around his laughing.

"That's so sweet," Winona said, sharing a gushing look with Aurelan.

"I hope I didn't break him," Jim said concernedly. "I don't even know what happened!"

Minutes passed.

Then, suddenly, Spock stiffened. Very self-consciously he untangled himself from Jim and sat up, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Things were very quiet.

"So…uh…Spock?" Jim began after a minute.

"Yes, Jim?" Spock replied softly.

"Do…do you want another truffle?"

Spock weighed his options carefully. On one hand, eating another truffle would possibly diffuse the tension and awkwardness. On the other hand, however, ingesting more chocolate might lead to…interesting results.

"I would not be adverse to that, Jim," the Vulcan answered.

At nine, Jim and Spock were snuggling on the couch. …Snuggling. The Vulcan was slightly flushed, and Jim was confused. But happy. Very, very happy.

"Spock," Jim said quietly, "are you okay?"

"I…I am fine, Jim," the Vulcan answered, face pressed into Jim's neck. "I am merely in...ine…inebriated."

"Oh." Jim sat quietly for a moment. "Wait, what?!" He looked down at Spock in surprise. "You're what?"

"In...tox...i...ca…ted," the Vulcan replied, slowly sounding out the word to get it right.

"You're smashed," Jim said simply.

"No, t'hy'la, I am not," Spock said, looking up at him for a moment. "I am quite in one piece." Then he went back to nuzzling Jim's neck.

"Um…" Jim said intelligently. "How? There weren't any rum truffles or anything…"

Spock just hummed happily and surreptitiously began trying to take Jim's shirt off.

"Whoa!" the captain exclaimed suddenly as Spock's hand slipped under the hem. Everyone turned to look at him, confused. "We're…we're going to go upstairs now." And he took Spock by the wrist and pulled him toward the stairs.

"Don't be too loud," Aurelan called after them. "The kids are asleep."

Jim flushed and grinned, pulling Spock up the stairs behind him and ignoring the chuckles from his family.

When the door was firmly shut behind them, Spock succeeded in taking off the captain's shirt.


XDDD Drunk Spock is so much fun!

I have a feeling that I owe you some explainations about the Pon Farr in the last chapter, since I recieved a few confused reviews. A few people believed that since Spock is a very intelligent Vulcan, he would know when his next Pon Farr would come about. This isn't necessarily true. Here are some reasons to support my thinking:

1. Vulcans never talk about Pon Farr. Therfore, I believe it to be a logical conclusion that beyond the necessary base facts, Spock wouldn't know that much about it, or at least about the signs and predicting it, since this would be his first Pon Farr.

2. Pon Farr is a versatile condition that can come anytime when you are between 20 and 35. At present, Spock is thirty. The estimate was based on Vulcans who lived their entire lives on Vulcan. However, Pon Farr can be affected in its arrival by certain factors. Thing such as space travel and being off-world can affect the onset of Pon Farr. (I read this in a ST novel BTW)

3. When all else fails, go for the canon. In the episode of TOS "Amok Time", Spock was not able to predict when his Pon farr would come. If he had been able to, he would have had the Enterprise deliver him to Vulcan sooner. In fact, he was never expecting to even experience Pon Farr, hoping that his human blood would cancel out the effects. This is what my nu!Spock was hoping, too.

Okay? I hope that explains everything!


ANONS:

Nate - I agree about the nephews being present too long in the confrontation scene in a practical way, but I'm also trying to be realistic. Have you ever tried to shoo two little boys away from interesting things? If you haven't, I assure you it's not easy. They would have been putting up one heck of a crazy fight to keep watching what was going on.

I've always kinda wanted to exhaust the character limit, too... XD

DO IT. Write a K/S fic! I will love you forever! I know how you feel about the Original stuff, too, though.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

kitchan - Actually, I was kinda planning a little exerpt omake where Jacob hears Jim and Spock and goes to ask Sam waht they're doing, just to make a really awkward onversation. XD

Hey, to each their own. I love it when people find funny parts in my story that I missed. It makes me happy to know that I can appeal to other people's senses of humor and not just my own. :)

Even though I wrote her for plot developement and crap like that, I'm actually starting feel bad for her. I mean, what happened had to happen for the plot to move forward, but still...Look at it this way: Jenna was in love with Jim for as long as she can remember, believing he felt the same for her, only to suddenly find out that he is in love with a MAN and never liked her at all. Ouch.

Thank you, my dear. I always look forward to your reviews. ;)

TheOneTheyCallEcho - I know the type of girl you're talking about. It was kind of intentional, becaus I based Jenna off this girl that I hated at school. She even looks like her a little, at least in my head. I can't wait for Christmas!

LostSchizophrenic - I only made it last for a day and a half because otherwise, Jim might be in trouble. XD That's so cool! I want to get the IDIC symbol tatooed! That would rock! I've also been entertaining a little fantasy about getting 'Dif-tor heh smusma' (Live long and prosper) tatooed on my palm. Of course, this is just wishful thinking. My Dad hated tatoos and would kill me if I ever got one.

Thanks so much!

- Thanks! And no, I don't think he ever tells Jim. But it was just a difference in opinion that led to an amicable breakup or something minor. Maybe they decided it just wasn't working?

jerhanner - Thanks!


Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers! I couldn't do it without your support!

Before I go, I have a request to make of all of you talented writers! Since this fic is only rated T, and I can't write smut to save my life (but I love reading it! ), would anyone consider writing in the missing Pon Farr scene? You don't have too, but I would love to see what you come up with! Strongly encouraged!

Thank you. Live long and prosper,

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