I don't own Star Trek

(Hey, I don't know if everyone got an alert, but chapter 20 has been posted, it is no longer an author's note. Warning: I HAD TO GET PIKE IN HERE. Because seriously, he was tortured and he still hits the guy with his first shot? And not many people made suggestions.)

And really they could just go in circles, trying to get the ones they love trying to tell them why they were avoiding them, and getting annoyed, and being coy, and skillfully trying to get an answer, except they're on a space ship. In space. Where there are aliens and diplomatic ventures and people, like a head-strong captain, his best friends, and a very good fencer, are constantly getting hurt by aliens and said diplomatic mission. (Because if JTK is involved something always seems to go down the way it shouldn't)

So Spock, Uhura, and Chekov stop trying to find out what happened. Because the ones they love are recklessly dangerous. (Or get dragged along because they can tend to the wounds the recklessly dangerous ones get) Which means you have to love them as much as possible so they know that they have someone who loves them. And when they are losing way to much blood for a human, they hold on because they know they have someone who loves them.

That doesn't mean that the three stopped wondering. But they respected the ones they loved and didn't bring it up.

Which confused the hell out of Kirk, Bones, and Sulu. But they didn't bring that up.

/././

And then one of the diplomatic missions takes them relatively close to Earth, so it's no surprise to see Ambassador Pike.

It is a surprise to Kirk when, during a private conversation with the man, his relationship with Spock is brought up.

"How did you even find out?" Kirk said mouth gapping.

A grin, that Kirk knows his face has done many times before, plays across Pike's face. "I guessed, and your reaction answered."

Kirk would've face-palmed himself, but Captain's don't do that. "I.. wow. So wait what was the question?"

"To many to ask within the small amount of time I have to talk with you, alone, without the Klingons thinking that we're planning something, so I'll just say this, You do anything to hurt him, in any way, and I'll have you out of the Captain's chair, and the Federation so fast your head will be spinning. Is that clean son?" Pikes face was serious, and Kirk could tell that this was no laughing matter.

"Crystal sir." He said swallowing a gulp.

"Fantastic. Door open." And with that Christopher Pike left.

\.\.\

Of course, Pike didn't just have fatherly feelings for Spock. While his conversation with Kirk was short and brief because suspicion arose quickly when a Captain and a man of high power talked, not much arose when an Ambassador and a close companion chatted, especially when they hadn't seen each other for awhile.

When Pike had first met Kirk he had been beaten but, as always, never broken. Pike had known his father and his mother, and could feel the young man's personality radiating off of him. He had liked the boy from the moment he met him. So of course he encouraged him to join Star Fleet. If Kirk's actions in the bar had been any sort of reference, Winona could use a break. Pike would never go as far as to say that Kirk saw him as a father figure, but he knew the boy respected him. And he respected the over confident non-believer in no-win situations. Pike didn't want to see Spock hurt, but he also didn't want to see Kirk hurt. He could tell from the stories he heard about the young man, that Kirk didn't usually stay with one person for more than one night. And Pike would almost bet money that Spock had also heard these stories. So a talk with the Vulcan was in order.

"It's nice to see you Spock." Pike said smiling broadly to the younger man in the room.

"Same to you Ambassador."

"So, I do actually have matters to talk to you about." Pike said. Though he would like to talk about the man's relationship, he did actually need to inform the Vulcan of something that he really didn't want to.

"And what would that be sir?"

"I'm sad that I have to be the one to tell you this, but Miss Charlotte has passed away."

Brief sadness passed through Spock's eyes very quickly, but was soon shoved away. "That is quite unfortunate. Do you have the details on what happened?"

"Not with me, but I'm sure I could get them sent to you. She had specified that she would like you to take care of her will."

"I don't believe we will have a shore leave on Earth for awhile."

"She was aware of this also. Most of the stuff is transferable through the net, and I'm sure she would understand if you can't get to it all right away." Spock nodded. "Now, I hate to venture so far off topic, but I don't know when I will see you again, so I feel that I need to deal with the might be problem on hand."

"Problem?" Spock said quirking an eyebrow.

"The relationship that is forming between you and the captain." And suddenly some sort of emotion that Pike can't even begin to describe because there are just too many emotions mixed together in Spock's eyes but the most prominent is fear. And no, Spock's isn't overly emotional, Pike would assure you of that, but Pike and Kirk both have known him long enough to read his eyes. And Pike can see the fear, and guilt, and shame and he knows he has to say something but he can't exactly find the right words, so he simply opens his mouth and lets the gibberish spill out. "I'm not saying that the relationship is a problem! I mean well... it has the potential to be a problem, but I'm not talking about it in the context that Star Fleet doesn't encourage relationships between Captain's and anyone, but that wasn't the problem I was really talking about. I mean, the two of you had a rocky start, and I don't want to see either of you hurt so, I mean..." Pike realized that he had rambled a bit to much. He was usually a collected man, and he remembered only being this flustered once before. And that was when talking with his son's girlfriend. "Dear Lord," he thought to himself, "Kirk is not your son, Christopher."

"Sir, I... Thank you." Spock said so quietly Pike almost didn't catch it. "Thank you for understanding. I didn't mean to have an outburst like that, and if it bother you in any way I apolo-"

"Spock, showing emotions is not an offense. And I'll leave you with that. Don't let what Kirk used to be get in the way of what the two of you may become." He smiled at the somewhat confused man standing in front of him. He maneuvered his chair to the door as the door slid open and Pike made his way out.

\./

Way further into the future, Kirk and Spock would sit in San Francisco and their talks with Christopher would come up. They would laugh(mostly Kirk) and think about the affect the man had on their lives. Then they would make their way back inside where Spock would prepare dinner. They both would know they had to leave the next day to do their jobs, so they would enjoy themselves together for the remainder of the time.

But right now, there was turmoil in the space and in their hearts. So they would need to get that straightened out before they could get to that point. Which was okay, because no good relationship is cut and dry. That never makes for a good story to tell your kids.

\/\/\/

So they went back to the Enterprise and Kirk asked Spock over to play chess. And they played, and Spock won(like every game they played). And both were a little to tired to do anything yet, and Kirk was wanting to take it slow and Spock wouldn't know how to go about doing anything with the budding relationship. There were just a few chaste kisses and sweet little touches. And Kirk would have asked Spock to stay but Spock said he had business to attend to, so Kirk let him go.

Spock got to his room and opened up the attachment of Charles's will that Pike had sent to him. Everything was very simple. Almost everything went to a museum, and what ever money she had or would make because of her insurance(the fact that an insurance company was still around from the 21st century and that they owed her a lot because of interest intrigued Spock) went to various charities. Spock couldn't help but silently admit that he had expected something a bit more peculiar from the woman. Of course then he got to the end of it, and he couldn't help but let the smile that tugged at his lips briefly flash across his face.

Oh and Spock honey, this is what you must do for me. That associate of yours who behaved irregularly, and I could totally tell you had a little crush on? Love him. And I don't mean 'Make love to him.' or anything along those lines, but I have a feeling you love him already. So show him your love. But don't get to dramatic honey(not that you will) Just show him with small gestures. Please? And thank you, because you made the last few weeks of my life so much more enjoyable than I thought they would be.

Charles's had died of brain cancer, which Spock found interesting since she had never showed any symptoms of it. Of course, her death was something Spock felt that he didn't need to dwell on. But he did feel like complying to her wishes. So he went to the Captain's quarters. Unsurprisingly Kirk was not asleep. He was checking over the ship. Though Spock felt quite awkward when he asked the Captain if he could sleep in his bed tonight. The captain had agreed and they woke up yet again the next morning cuddling.

Neither could think of a time that they had felt more content.

(I hope you guys liked. So, tell me the truth. In the next chapter, would you like to see all three of the couples on the ship's romances progressing, or would you like Kirk and Spock to have sex? I won't judge, just leave your opinions in your comments. The next update will be on Friday. Oh and that whole 'talk with my son's girlfriend' happened to me once. I was friends with my (now ex-) boyfriends dad(who was a sub) and we had this awkward talk about me and his son's relationship. Love you guys and please leave some reviews!)