Sam made a beeline for his brother and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. "What the holy hell is your problem, Jim? Your seven year old is standing in the kitchen watching you make an ass of yourself!" he hissed under his breath.

Jim knocked his brother's hand off him. "I'm in the middle of something, Sam. Buzz off."

Sam was insistent. "James Tiberius, I am not above beating you senseless if you hurt my kids or yours. I don't honestly care what your issue is with Carol, you're not going to fight about it now."

Jim gritted his teeth. "David is staying with me."

Carol laughed maliciously and Jim lunged forward. Sam blocked him and looked over his shoulder at Carol. "Sweetheart, you might want to concede this for tonight. I can't hold him back forever."

Carol paled and edged around the two men to go to the kitchen. She came up to Winona and David and bent down in front of David. "David, do you still want to stay with your dad tonight?"

David swallowed and looked up at his grandmother. She squeezed his shoulders. "Honey, you know you're welcome here. I already had Sam's room ready for you."

David looked back to his mother. "Mom, I want to stay with Dad, but not just for tonight. I want to come live with Dad forever."

Carol inhaled slowly and stood back up. She looked like she had been punched in the gut. Finally she found her voice. "I'll let you stay with your dad during this visit. But when he goes back to San Francisco you're coming home. Do you understand me?"

David nodded sharply and a tear fell down his cheek. Carol leaned over and kissed it away and then turned and walked out to the foyer.

"Jim, he's all yours. Enjoy him, while you can." She grabbed her coat and purse and walked out the door.

Spock came to the edge of the hallway and looked around before motioning behind himself. The three boys came back out with their mom. Jim noticed them and blushed crimson.

"Spock, I'm sorry," he began.

"I am not the one to whom you should be apologizing," Spock corrected him. "I am an adult. I am capable of handling unpleasant situations. Your nephews are not."

Jim held a hand out to them. "I'm sorry, guys. I got a little more intense than I expected to."

"Why did you invite her?" Peter asked quietly. "I mean, if you don't like her, why was she here?"

"That's David's mother, you dolt," Mark commented, hitting his little brother's shoulder.

"I knew that," Peter retorted softly. He rubbed his shoulder.

Spock turned to to Aurelan. "I require solitude. If you depart before I return, I hope to see you again during this visit. However, if it does not happen, I will understand."

Aurelan shook her head. "You'll see us again. Don't worry about tonight. I know that was hard on you. I'm sorry, Spock. Go do what you need to." Spock inclined his head and went up the stairs. She looked at her other brother-in-law and shook her head. "You really know how to crash a party, Jim."

"Aurelan, I'm sorry, okay?" Jim felt tears of frustration building. "I'm sorry. I just forgot. I'm sorry, alright?" He pressed his lips into a tiny line and then walked over, grabbed his coat, and walked out the front door.

"Jim?" Aurelan called after him.

"Let him go," sighed her husband. "He won't get very far in the dark."

Sam got his family ready and said goodbye to his mom. He gave her their hotel information and promised they would return, regardless of the night's excitement. Before he walked out, he turned and locked eyes with his mother.

"Mom, Jim's most likely in the barn. If he isn't back in a couple of hours, send Spock after him. He'll stay out there all night otherwise. I love you. See you tomorrow."

Winona got her novel out and decided to read aloud to her grandson while his stepfather did whatever it was he had to do and his father pouted in the dark. It was a romance novel, so she didn't expect it to keep his attention long. Finally she took him up to his room and made sure he had everything he needed for the night. Spock had carried in his luggage earlier that night, which was fortunate because Carol was long gone. David got ready for bed and came back downstairs to kiss his grandmother good night.

The grandfather clock struck midnight and Jim still hadn't come back. Winona climbed the stairs and knocked on Jim's door and there was a shuffling before Spock answered the door.

"Hey, honey, I hate to do this to you, but Jimmy's gone off and is hiding in the barn. Given the choice of having his mother come get him or his husband, I think he'd choose you. Do you want a flashlight?"

Spock shook his head. "I am capable of seeing in the dark. Can he access the upper level of the structure?"

Winona nodded. "That's probably where he is. The ladder's on the far right on the back wall."

Spock went downstairs, put on his coat, and walked down the stairs and through the front yard. He went down to the barn and peered inside. The horses were still, with little puffs of white showing their breath. Spock walked in the barn and through to the back, and he found the ladder exactly where Winona had described it. Resigning himself to the task, he climbed up the ladder.

When he reached the top he stepped onto the wood and glanced around. At first the place seemed deserted, but then there was a sniffling noise, and Spock followed it to the far wall. In the moonlight he could make out a form sitting against the wall.

"Jim," Spock spoke quietly. The form raised its head. "It is time to come to bed, Jim."

"I can't get it right. I can't fucking get it right. Every time I try to do something good, I screw it up." Jim did not move from his huddle.

Spock walked over and slowly lowered himself to the floor beside his husband. "Jim, I believe the phrase goes 'your heart was in the right place'. You made mistakes tonight but Ms. Marcus is not entirely blameless. You remember I told you I was unaware of how she baited you? She did so tonight."

Jim pulled himself tighter into a ball. "I swear to God, if I keep this up I'm going to lose David entirely."

Spock shook his head. "James, your son informed his mother tonight of his intention to live with you on a full-time basis. She did not take this well, however, he made his point."

Jim raised his head and in the moonlight his tears shone slightly. "You think so?" he said hopefully.

"Indeed," Spock intoned seriously. He reached out and touched Jim's hand. "Jim!" he exclaimed. "You are extremely cold. We must get you back inside quickly."

Jim touched the back of his hand to his cheek and sucked in a breath. "How long have I been out here?"

Spock looked abashed. "I am not aware, Jim. I was not downstairs when you left."

Jim unfolded himself and got to his feet, helping his partner up as well. "It's okay, hon. I've spent worse nights out here before." He inched forward in the dark. "Let me find that ladder …."

Spock walked around him and positioned himself by the opening. "It is here, Jim. Watch your step."

The two left the barn and went back in the house. Winona was sitting up in the living room, but had changed into her nightgown already.

"You boys going to bed for the night?" she asked. Jim nodded. "Whatever you do, remember David will hear you in Sam's room. Good night," she called lovingly as she left the room.

Jim looked at his husband. "You want to explain the sound of loose shingles and poorly weatherproofed window panes to your stepson?"

Spock flushed slightly, remembering his story to his mother-in-law the first time they had stayed there. "I believe I have learned my lesson in that regard." The two climbed the stairs and went to their bedroom. They got ready and climbed into bed, grateful for the heavy blankets Winona had piled on. Spock, he of the clear conscience, was asleep within five minutes. Jim listened to his steady breathing before finally drifting off himself.

A/N: I think I'll stop here for tonight and rest myself. Hope I gave you all enough to keep you occupied until I return. G'night!