After the chess game Jim and Spock went to the main observation deck and stood there, watching the ship in movement. Jim surreptitiously reached out and took Spock's hand. Spock allowed it.

"I'm so sorry, t'hy'la," Jim whispered.

Spock turned his head. "Sorry for what, ashayam?"

Jim rubbed his thumb on the back of Spock's hand. "For all the trouble I've caused you."

"Trouble?" Spock turned around fully to face his husband. "Jim, what brings this apology? You have not caused me any more trouble than I have caused you. Being with you for the past five years has been the greatest thing to happen to me. I regret nothing."

Jim leaned his head against Spock's shoulder. "You just get so mad sometimes, and I do stupid stuff like trying to run off and hide when what I need to do is come to you."

"You are learning, as are we all, Jim. I have not been the perfect partner either. But we forgive each other and we always come back to each other. You are everything to me and I am thankful for every day I have with you." Spock wrapped his arms around his mate.

"Ugh, PDA at one o' clock," came a voice from the doorway.

"Uhura, you're just jealous." Jim glanced over Spock's shoulder.

"I cannot argue his point," Spock replied calmly. Uhura snorted at them. "What may we do for you, Nyota?" Spock asked.

"Well, Jim, your shuttle is an hour out. They're running on a tight schedule so Scotty recommended you take your luggage down to the hanger deck now rather than later." Uhura put her hands on her hips. "And I owe you a proper goodbye. I was pissed last night and then – " She chuckled. "Then I went all Holyfield on you. I apologize again, Captain."

"You're the reason Spock and I are still together, Uhura. Don't apologize for that." Jim smiled and walked over. "Hug?" he requested gently. She embraced him warmly. "Now, I hear tell you're going to be visiting us when you get to Earth."

"Yep. So you have to get the best place possible. I'm thinking a beachfront condo with private access and a huge porch." She smiled at them.

"Yeah, on whose salary? Besides, I've got to get something kid-friendly." Jim went silent.

Uhura nodded. "You'll find the perfect place and your son will love it. Listen, if you have your hearing before I make it back I want updates. If there's anything I can do don't hesitate to ask. Same goes for Hikaru, Pavel, Leonard, and Scotty. You tell us if there's anything we can do." She looked at the chronometer on the wall. "Crud. I've got to get back to the bridge."

At the door she turned and laughed. "Remember the first time you told me to call you Captain? On the simulator? God, that was forever ago. It's been real. I'll see you later, Captain." She headed out the door.

"Walk me down there?" Jim asked his mate.

Spock nodded. "I remember the simulator as well." They walked down the hall slowly. "There was an infuriating young man who had reprogrammed my entire simulation and somehow beaten the test. Why no one else had thought to reprogram it did not occur to me until I had been married to said man for a year."

"It took you that long to figure 'why not'?!" Jim exclaimed. "I must be slipping."

Spock hummed in response. They got to the room and packed up the rest of Jim's clothes and took the suitcases down to the hanger deck. Jim sat in a chair in the waiting area.

"I'm scared."

"That is understandable. However, you are no longer facing this alone. You have your crew behind you, and you have your mate behind you." Spock stood by Jim's side; the time flew by.

They watched the shuttle ease into the hanger bay and touch down. The bay doors closed and the area pressurized. The doors opened and Jim stood up. Scotty was carrying his suitcases to the ship.

"Scotty, you have better things to be doing than carrying my luggage," Jim complained good-naturedly.

"Aye, it's ma last service to tha cap'n. It's ma pleasure." Jim shook Scotty's hand. "I'll be thinkin' o' ya, sir."

"Bye, Scotty. Keep her together for me." Jim saluted the man as he walked away. Then he turned and held out two fingers to Spock. Spock touched his two fingers to Jim's and they held them there for a moment. "I'm going to be calling you. Hopefully your dad will have forgiven me by then. I'll see you as soon as you get to Earth. Meet me at our Christmas place," he whispered.

"I will be there," Spock intoned seriously. Jim looked around quickly and snuck in a human kiss as well. Then he climbed aboard the shuttle. Spock watched him find his seat and then walked back to the waiting area. The pilot boarded and the bay depressurized. Spock kept his eyes on the craft as it lifted off and exited the ship. Then it was gone.

I love you, came the soft call across the bond.

And I you. Spock gave a small smile and walked back to the turbolift.

Spock took the time to brief Commander Demarcus properly. She knew everything he was telling her; it was more a way to say goodbye to a treasured colleague than anything. He turned over control to her and retired to the quite empty quarters. He moved everything he had left in Jim's room over to his room and locked the captain's quarters until the cleaning crew could get to it. He went back and sat down at his computer. The time read 1530. It was seven thirty in the morning on New Vulcan. Spock decided to try his party at home.

The comm. link chimed for three minutes before it connected.

"Hello?" Sarek glanced down at the screen.

"Father. I understand you need to be in the office in thirty minutes. However, do you have time to discuss a topic at this time?" Spock's voice turned hopeful at the end.

Sarek sat down. "I have time, son. What may I do for you?"

"It is regarding Jim," Spock began, but that was as far as he got.

"I have no time to be discussing the captain. What is it the humans say? 'He has made his bed.' Choose another topic, son." Sarek's eyes were cold.

"Father, that is the topic I wish to discuss. The situation between me and Jim has changed dramatically. He is counting on me to get this information to you before he requires your help."

"My help?" Sarek was incredulous. "For whatever reason could he need my help? I believe you need to elucidate, son."

Spock began with the hard truth: James T. Kirk had a son, and the mother of his son was blackmailing him in order to get what she desired. Spock repeated verbatim the comment Jim had given about doing anything for his child. Then he gave a harsh, factual representation of the woman he had seen in Jim's memory. He recounted the story of Uhura getting physical with the captain in Spock's defense and how they had come to realize he didn't need reprimanding, he needed help. He finished with an explanation of how the crew was backing Jim up as he fought for his son.

"Jim is doing everything he can on his side. I request formally as his sa-telsu that the clan support him." Spock locked eyes with his father, who had gone silent.

"You are a stepfather. Well, as your mother would say 'stranger things….' What is the child's name?" Sarek took out a padd.

"David."

"And he is approximately five Earth years of age?" Sarek looked up.

"Affirmative."

"And the name of this woman who bore him?" Sarek's words were clinical but the distaste was evident to his son.

"Carol Marcus." Spock watched his father. "Is there anything the clan can do?"

"He is not officially a member of our clan. Yet," he added when his son went still. "I believe if I coordinate my offensive with concurrent action on the part of Winona Kirk, we as grandparents may be able to affect the outcome of the custody hearing. You know I am still somewhat displeased at James for his behavior in this matter. Is the Lady Kirk just as displeased with you?" Sarek tilted his head.

"Displeased with me? No, I do not believe so. However, as always, I feel the need to remind you reaching the Lady Kirk is a matter of finding what planet she is on at the time. You should be prepared for what Jim calls a 'wild goose chase'." Spock shifted in his seat. "Father?"

"Yes, son?"

"You are not displeased that Jim has a son?" Spock was nervous about the answer. But if he didn't ask he would never know.

"From what human biology I recall, it is entirely feasible for a man of his age—and he was a man at the time—to father a child. I regret that this occurred, most especially since the child is now being used as a weapon against him." Sarek closed his eyes briefly. "However, this is more a failure on the part of the mother. James agreed to leave a stable, functioning, and preferred relationship at her behest in order to be with his child. I cannot fault him for that. I am simply relieved someone got through to him. Although," Sarek gave a small smile, "I regret not being there when Ms. Uhura struck him. The thought had crossed my mind more than once after your initial call."

Spock gaped at his sire. "You would have become violent over this?"

"James attempted to leave you for the sake of his child. What do you think I would not do for you, son?" Sarek stared at Spock.

Spock blushed. "I understand, Father. I thank you for your diligence in this matter. I will be arriving home in two days time, correct?"

"I have sent a shuttle to meet with the Enterprise that should be arriving in less than eighteen hours. The return trip should take an additional twenty-seven hours from your location. When you arrive I will meet you at the visitor's center." Sarek paused and took a drink of water.

"I had arranged for Ambassador Solion to take my position for several days upon your return. However, I see now you will not be leaving for Kolinahr, so I will return to work. You may keep the aircar for your use during the day. Ambassador Solion will not mind transporting me to and from work." Sarek checked the chronometer. "I must leave now. I will see you when you arrive, son. Peace and long life."

"Live long and prosper, Father." Spock cut the connection and sat back. So his father wasn't mad at Jim. That was a relief. And Spock had completely forgotten about the law giving grandparents rights. In a complicated way, Jim was Sarek's son as well, making David his grandson. But this was why he had wanted to involve his father. The man was shrewd when it came to family law.

Spock remembered what his father had done for Jim immediately after their bonding. Jim was psychically attacked and left near death. In a brave move, Spock had brought the ship to New Vulcan against orders. Jim was healed, but not before the Vulcan Embassy, at the behest of the entire clan, had placed the crew of the Enterprise in political asylum. Solion had told Spock at a later date that the clan had felt entirely justified in its actions. The Federation seemed to be forgetting that the Vulcan people helped create the Federation and were still part of it.

Well, the clan was about to make headlines again, it seemed. A thought crossed Spock's mind and he froze. What would David think of this? What if the boy had been raised xenophobic? His mother certainly came across that way. David might not like the strange Vulcans fighting his mother for possession of him. Spock remembered one of his missions where he had to pretend to be human in order to be included in the landing party. They could have sent another scientist. But Spock wasn't about to leave his ashayam with those violent beings. He had passed for human once before. He could do it again.

Spock decided he had to know how this happened in the other universe. His father had chastised him and Jim for asking questions of Solion, but sometimes the old Vulcan would answer, and the answers always seemed to help. Spock dialed the office number.

"Vulcan Embassy, Ambassador Solion's office." The secretary looked up at Spock.

"This is Commander Spock. Is the ambassador available?" Spock asked politely.

"One moment." The screen changed to a holding pattern and Spock's stomach rumbled. He was quite nervous. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know the answers to his questions. He had almost decided to hang up when the screen changed again.

"Greetings, Spock." The ambassador was seated at his desk. "May I assist you?"

"I need to have a private conversation with you," Spock began, and then paused. "If you do not mind," he added weakly.

Solion nodded and got up to shut his door. When he returned he gave a small smile. "Is it time for an old man's stories again?"

"I was hoping you could explain why it alarmed you so greatly that I was going into Kolinahr, and then I wanted to ask you a related question."

"The story of Kolinahr is relatively simple. My Jim accepted promotion to Admiral and seemingly left me behind. My response was to enter Kolinahr. I had very nearly succeeded when Jim's mind, as well as the consciousness of another entity, contacted me and pulled me back. However, the fruits of my labor were that I alienated everyone I knew before I came back to myself. It is not something I highly recommend." Solion nodded in memory. "What else did you wish to ask me, tomasu?"

Spock's mouth was dry and he had to swallow before forming the words. "Did your Jim have any children?"

Solion's eyes narrowed. "What a remarkably specific question. Why do you not explain to me what brings this inquiry and then I will tell you what I know?"

Spock breathed in. "Very well. My Jim has a young son, approximately five years old."

"David," supplied the older Vulcan.

"Correct. So this is not restricted to my timeline?"

"Unfortunately not. However, it is a peculiarity that you know of him at this time. I was not made aware of Jim's son until…" Solion paused and cleared his throat "…later."

Spock eyes narrowed this time. "But your Jim knew of him?"

"He was made aware of his birth; however the mother had requested that Jim keep his distance. She was never particularly fond of Starfleet."

"Overgrown Boy Scouts," Spock murmured, and the older Vulcan chuckled. "Did David know you?"

Solion grew uncomfortable and shifted in his seat. "Tomasu we are headed for murky waters. It is best that we drop this line of questioning."

Spock sat forward. "You cannot tell me whether David knew you?"

"He knew me."

"Did he like you?"

"Ahh, child, is that was plagues you now?" Solion stood up for a moment. "Forgive me; sitting exhausts me after a time. So you want to know if David will like you. My Jim's son was an adult when we met. He had his own opinions by then."

"Jim is planning on fighting for joint custody of David, and intends to raise him within our marriage. I became concerned about possible xenophobia." Spock's eyes pleaded with Solion.

Solion sat back down. "He is a human child. His mother's opinions will weigh upon him, but he will be more influenced by the behavior of those around him. If Jim is accepting of you, and loving toward you, David may very well be just as open."

Spock bit his lower lip. "A remarkable way to say 'I do not know'."

"Ahh, but I did not say 'I do not know'. I merely did not quote you the probabilities of the child accepting you. I am learning in my later years. My Jim often lamented me giving the odds of every situation." Solion's eyes were kind.

Spock nodded. "Very well. I will be back on the planet in two days' time. It is probable that our paths will cross some time while I am there."

"We shall see. I must return to work now. Safe travels, child. Peace and long life." Solion raised the ta'al.

"Live long and prosper," Spock replied in kind. They ended the call.