A/N: First and foremost, thanks to everyone who has reviewed, alerted, and/or favorited "Ephiphany." Your responses and comments have been awesome! Do you KNOW how much I love getting reviews???? (Yeah, I'm pretty sure you do. So thanks!! :-)
This chapter is fairly short, by my standards. Mostly because Chapter 12 is going to be really long. It got away from me - to no one's surprise, I'm sure. I don't know when I'll get the next chapter posted. Real Life is about to demand its "pound of flesh" but I will update as soon as I can.
Thanks again. Enjoy. And let me know???
They remained wrapped in their own thoughts, a reflective silence between them until they reached the hotel.
"You did not wish to stop at the Piggly Wiggly?" Spock asked belatedly.
"We will tomorrow. I think we've caused enough excitement there for one day," he said as he collected the items they had gotten from the store while Spock got the fruit. "We can get milk and Dos Equis from room service."
"Very well," Spock agreed, following him to the elevator after they had turned over the keys to the valet.
When they entered the suite, it was to find a dozen flower arrangements present, the small table near the kitchen covered with fruit baskets of all types and descriptions. Jim sighed softly when he saw all of it, taking off his jacket and hanging it up.
"We will sleep for a time. Then we will deal with the attached cards," Spock said, gently guiding him toward the bedroom.
"Wait," Jim said, evading him enough to go to the computer. "I want to contact Bones. And Pike."
"Very well," Spock said, going over to sit by him. Neither were surprised that the indicator said that there were 4 messages awaiting their attention.
Jim took a steadying breath, activating the message program. The first was from Noik, explaining that he had seen to the deliveries and if they wanted other arrangements, please let him know and he would see to it. Jim typed his response, asking that further deliveries be held at the front desk until he contacted them at which time they could bring them up. The message program acknowledged the delivery of the message, Jim playing the next. It turned out to be from Aleola, repeating what Noulaul had said, that if Jim wanted her assistance with dealing with the contents of the house, he only had to let her know.
He kept that message, to reply to it later.
The third message was from Bones, checking in. He told them that it was 9 a.m. on Ritilla and to call if they needed him. The program indicated that he had called around noon their time so Jim tried the comm code, smiling when Bones actually answered.
"Hey," Jim said with a smile at the sight of his perpetually grumpy friend.
"Hey, Jim. How ya' doin'?" Bones asked, even from half a galaxy away studying his friend with all-knowing eyes.
"You know. I showed Spock the farm," Jim said with a shrug. "The memorial ceremony will be Wednesday."
"Good," Bones said with a nod. "Pike coming?"
"I don't know. I haven't talked to him yet. We figured someone from Starfleet would come."
"Without a doubt. How much weight have you lost?" McCoy asked with a frown.
"None," Jim claimed.
"Spock?"
"I am uncertain. I will however find out before the day is out," Spock assured him.
"Are you sleepin'?" Bones asked.
"Yeah. You know."
"Spock?" Bones repeated.
"It is somewhat disrupted and sporadic. However, recently it has gotten more restful. We will be taking the opportunity to sleep as soon as we contact the Admiral."
"Good," Bones said with a nod.
"How's your convention?" Jim asked just so Bones would scowl at him.
"Fine. Nothing you'd understand," Bones said in his typically irritable way. "Found some great new hyposprays I'm lookin' forward to tryin' out on you."
Jim just shrugged innocently at that. "You can't come to Earth, can you?"
Bones shook his head. "By the time I got there, it'd be time to leave."
"I know," Jim said with a sigh. "Had to ask."
"I understand. Why don't you go wash your face or brush your teeth?" Bones suggested.
"If you want to get rid of me, just say so," Jim laughed.
"Go," Bones ordered, smiling even so.
Jim nodded and left the sitting room so that Bones and Spock could talk about him in peace, something that should have irritated him but he found he could not be annoyed. He understood even if it did make him feel like a four year old being discussed by his parents. Loving parents but still.
Deciding his face and teeth were clean enough, he stripped off all his clothes and climbed into the bed, waiting. It wasn't too long before Spock came in the bedroom, studying him as he approached.
"Hey," Jim said, sitting up to accept Spock's light kiss.
"He is worried about you."
"I know," Jim sighed. "I'm okay. I promise."
"He said that if you need him to come, he will. He wanted to know from me what my opinion was."
"What did you tell him?" Jim asked, gently caressing the side of Spock's face.
"That you are stronger than you appear. That your emotions are multiple and conflicting. And that I have no doubts about your ability to undertake all that must be accomplished as you have always done."
"Thank you," Jim said, kissing him gently. "Get in bed with me?"
"I will. However, I will be wearing my sleeping pants."
"You spoil all my fun," Jim claimed.
Spock shook his head at that, disrobing as Jim watched in approval. "You need to sleep, Captain. Not undertake any strenuous activities."
"Having sex with you doesn't have to strenuous," Jim said.
"If we do it correctly, it will be," Spock replied, making Jim laugh much as he had planned.
"That's some sexy talk, Commander."
"Indeed. An area of expertise in which you can tutor me."
"Okay…wait. Did you just insult me?" Jim asked.
"Not intentionally," Spock said, looking down at him with a light in his eyes that Jim recognized.
"You're the one who dated the linguist," Jim pointed out.
"You are the one with the talented tongue," Spock said, making Jim collapse backward and cover his face with his hands.
"She told you?" he asked, incredulous.
"Nyota and I kept no secrets in the time we were together," Spock teased, entering the bed to lay next to him.
"I'm demoting her. And you too. I hope you can live on a yeoman's salary," Jim threatened.
"If I cannot, I am certain I can depend on the kindness of my Captain to provide for my needs."
"Maybe," Jim said, removing one hand to look at Spock. "Why did you two break up?"
"It was a mutual parting of the ways," Spock said thoughtfully. "I love her. I do not believe, in retrospect, that I was ever in love with her."
Jim nodded in understanding. "She loves you."
"Yes. As she loves you. Even when she claims otherwise."
"I know," Jim said. "I heard that you broke up with her. Is that true?"
"As I said, it was mutual. We knew that our relationship was not for the long term."
"I'd say I'm sorry. But I'm not really."
"Nor am I. I am with the person I am supposed to be with," Spock said with a light kiss.
"I sure am glad. I think that Bones should date Uhura," Jim said.
"It must be their decision," Spock scolded gently.
"Maybe they need a little push in that direction," Jim suggested with a familiar glint in his blue eyes.
"They do not. They will decide or they will not. Interfering never comes to good."
"Alright. Spoilsport," Jim complained, yawning before he could stop himself.
"Go to sleep. I will be here," Spock said, kissing his forehead.
"Did you check the fourth message?" Jim asked, his head nestled in his pillow, sleepy blue eyes looking up at Spock.
"It was from the Des Moines Registry. Acknowledging that they would be at your farm at 10:00 tomorrow morning," Spock said.
"Okay," Jim sighed. "We need to contact Chris when I wake up."
"We will," Spock assured him with a light kiss. "Sleep now."
"Mmm…" Jim responded, relaxing and very soon falling asleep.
