"Of all the crazy…" Bones said as he scanned her with a tricorder. Sunday morning, Uhura returned to the embassy as promised with Bones and Pike in tow. Jim was now sitting in Sybok's study with the two men she considered family.
"It's a Vulcan thing that you don't actually have to understand, Bonesy," she told him. "Just be glad it's over for now. A couple days ago and he probably would've killed you for being this close to me."
"I otta kill him. You're covered in bruises and contusions… and bite marks," her best friend growled. It was a good thing she took a shower to wash off everything else, he'd be having a fit if he knew every naughty way that Jim and Sybok went at each other.
"Completely consensual. You should see Sy's shoulders and back," Jim sighed and looked at Pike, who was more rational then Bones. "I can't tell you what caused all this, it's a big Vulcan secret. The only time they tell aliens is if it's an emergency or the alien is their mate. Which, in this case is me… and Uhura, since she's dating a Vulcan. Anyway, I knew what I was getting into when I walked into the building. And Ambassador Sarek ensured as much before he let me near Sybok. There were plenty of people here if I felt even a little uncomfortable. This isn't the first time I've gotten a little banged up during sex."
"A little banged up?" Bones look at her. "I swear, kid…"
"Leo, stop. You know she's okay. And most of those marks are superficial. We do worse to each other in the gym," Pike said with a smirk.
"I'm still gonna give him a piece of my mind," her best friend said. Jim laughed. "What?"
"Right. Is that a hickey I see at the edge of Christopher's collar?" she asked. "Should we have words about that too?"
"She has a point," Sybok said as he walked into the room with his father. Jim felt heat roll up her spine before he even touched her. He rested a hand on her back, she intensively relaxed and leaned into him. Pike watched them for a long moment.
"What's the rest?" the captain asked.
'Should we tell him?' Sybok asked in her head. Jim just shrugged. Her husband looked at her friends, "We are married."
"Have you lost your damn mind?" Bones asked. "Married? What were you thinking?"
"I felt like it," Jim smirked.
"Adun'a," Sybok gave her a look.
"What? It's true," she chuckled. "Also, to explain would be explaining other stuff and it's not my place to do that."
"She is correct," Sarek agreed with her. "However, as you are James' family, we will tell you as much as we can without violating our most sacred laws. Will that suffice?"
"N…" Bones started but Pike gave him a nudge. "Yes."
Jim didn't really pay attention as Sarek explained what was going on while Bones checked her over. She really just wanted to go back to bed, she was exhausted. Everyone looked at her as she let out a loud yawn.
"Perhaps we should get you to bed," Sybok said. Jim smiled at him. "To sleep."
"Ruining my fun," she smirked.
"She's gonna be insufferable now. I just gotta know one thing and maybe I'll let it go," Bones said. She looked at her best friend, waiting for him to continue. "You knew that you'd end up married and you did it anyway. Why?"
"It was pretty logical, actually," Jim chuckled, Spock would get a kick out of that. "Sybok was going through pon farr and would die if it wasn't abated. All I had to do was have really hot sex with the man I love and save his life. The marriage stuff was just a bonus. If it was Pike, what would you have done?"
"You know the answer to that," Bones told her, his eyes avoiding the look the Chris gave him.
"Yes, I do. So you should understand exactly why I did what I did," she said with another yawn. "Now, if you're done torturing me, I'm gonna go curl up in my husband's bed and sleep until tomorrow."
"Make sure she at least stays hydrated, Sybok," Bones ordered.
"I will," her husband said.
"Congrats, I guess, kid," her best friend said.
"Thank you," Jim smiled.
"Make sure you give me your marriage paperwork when you get it, I'll file it myself so some clerk doesn't send a copy to the media," Pike told her.
"I always knew you loved me," she chuckled.
"I do. Congratulations, Jimmy," her mentor smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He looked at Sybok. "You know about how she and I met, which means you know that if anything happens to her, I will hurt you."
"Yes, sir," Sybok nodded.
"Good." The captain looked at his boyfriend, "Come on, Leo. Let's leave the newlyweds be."
"My brother is with…"
"Your father," Jim finished Spock's statement with a tap against her temple as she walked into Sybok's study and found his brother sitting at the desk. Through her bond, Jim knew that other than a bedroom, Spock didn't really have his own space in the embassy.
"Ah, yes, the marriage bond," Spock nodded. "You appear to be acclimating to it."
"It's comforting to be honest with you," she smiled and sat on the couch, pulling her legs under her. "You and Uhura thinking about getting married?" Spock gave her a look. "Sorry. Vulcan's are private about this kind of stuff. I know that."
"It has crossed my mind," he answered honestly. "Do not tell Nyota."
"Of course not."
"May I make a personal query?"
"Please," Jim shrugged.
"You stated that you do not like any test that teaches one to give up before they begin," Spock said.
"This again?"
"I wish to understand why. As a command officer, you must know that not every situation will conclude the way you desire."
"I do know that," she chuckled. "My issue is the lack of realism. In the real world, there is always a solution. You may not like the choices you get but you do have them. Your test eliminates the chance to come up with a solution, obvious or otherwise."
"That is an interesting way of looking at the universe."
"Let's just say, I've made an art out of finding the third option."
"So, you said you had good news and bad news," Jim said to her husband when she walked into the embassy's kitchen.
"I also said I was going to tell you over dinner," he chuckled as Jim wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his back.
"You sure you don't want to just tell me?" she asked, feeling his contentment and amusement. They'd only been married for eight days but you wouldn't know it to look at them.
"Lady T'Pau is will be here in seven point three hours. She will verify our bond tomorrow before giving us the appropriate paperwork," Sybok said as he continued cooking some kind of soup.
"The Lady T'Pau? Like the only person to turn down a spot on the Federation Council? That Lady T'Pau?" Jim asked.
"That would be correct," he chuckled. "You're giddy."
"You just told me that I get to meet one of the leaders of the Syrrannite movement who helped to reform Vulcan society by bringing forth Surak's true teachings. She's a diplomat and a judge, a philosopher and a solider. And she's gonna confirm our bond. That's cool."
"I'm glad you approve, she's our clan matriarch," Sybok said, she could hear the smile in his voice.
"So, I'm sorta related to her?"
"I suppose that you are."
"That's awesome," she smiled. "Now, tell me the bad news?"
"When she returns to Vulcan in nine days, I will go with her," he sighed.
"What? Why? How long?" A whole bunch of stuff ran through her head.
"Calm, k'diwa. I will not be gone long," Sybok turned in her arms so he could look at her. "Eleven days maximum."
"You're gonna miss me and Spock fighting in front of an audience."
"Nyota said she would give me the highlights. There are some things I must take care of and some personal property I wish to retrieve from my father's home."
"Are you moving?" Jim chuckled and realized that he was considering it. "You are."
"We are," he said. "We are married, Jim, it is inadvisable to live with my parents. You are due to graduate, so you will need to move as well. The Enterprise is not due to leave for months and I know that you do not wish to live in officer's housing."
"Any ideas on where?"
"I have compiled a list of options. You have the final decision, as it will be your home as well."
"Home. I never really had that. I mean, echoes of it but never the real thing," she sighed.
"Now you will. We will."
"Live long and prosper, Lady T'Pau," Sybok said to the old woman in front of him, his hand in the ta'al.
"Peace and long life, son of Sarek," T'Pau returned the greeting before her eyes moved to Jim. "James Tara Kirk, daughter of George, son of Tiberius."
"Yes, ma'am. Live long and prosper," Jim copied her husband's gesture. She wasn't even going to ask how T'Pau knew her grandfather's name.
"Peace and long life," T'Pau said. "I will inspect thee bond separately, then you will meld and I will observe."
"Yes, ma'am," Jim nodded. T'Pau decided that Sybok would go first, so Jim watched as the Vulcan leader joined minds with her husband. After a few moments, that felt like a lifetime, T'Pau released Sybok and motioned for Jim to step forward.
"My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts," T'Pau said as she pressed her warm fingers against the points on Jim's face.
Not one to waste time, T'Pau went straight for Jim's shoddy memories of Sybok's pon farr and the blood fever that he passed to her. Then, T'Pau watched as they recited -what Jim now knows were- their vows. It was weird, having someone other than Sybok in her head. She knew the honored woman wasn't being nosey, just curious. It was only logical for someone to have questions about Sybok's association to a human, especially when he knew people were already looking at his father like a crazy person for doing the same thing.
'Sarek is not alone in his love for an outworlder, his position makes it appear so,' T'Pau told her through the bond before releasing Jim. "Son of Sarek, meld with your wife."
"Our minds," Sybok's fingers caressed her face before pressing against her psi points, "one and together."
'You changed it,' Jim chuckled in her head, so used to the whole 'separate and together' thing.
'It was necessary where you are concerned,' he replied in amusement. Jim was sure that the phrase before melding was more ritualistic than necessary as they vary between multiple people. 'You would be correct.'
'Fascinating.' Jim was so busy goofing off with Sybok in their heads, she didn't even realize that T'Pau was there until the clan leader said something. It was strange, someone in her husband's mind while they were joined, even a little off-putting. 'Many Vulcans do not have a bond this deep.'
'You hear that, our bond is deep,' Jim thought to her husband.
'Indeed it is, adun'a,' Sybok replied and she had to clamp down the thoughts that that word causes in her head. T'Pau didn't seem to care that Jim's head went all lusty, she simply left Sybok's mind. After another moment, Sybok released Jim from their meld, his hand slid down her arm and into her own.
"Your marriage is valid according to the laws of our people. I will provide you with the necessary documentation within two standard hours," T'Pau told them. Though he didn't show it, Sybok was thrilled.
"Thank you," Jim smiled.
"Your thanks are unnecessary," T'Pau told her.
"Of course," the younger woman nodded. "Live long and prosper, Lady T'Pau."
"Peace and long life, S'chn T'gai James."