Ritual Christmas music filled the air as Jim sat on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate, Nyota snuggled up next to him. Spock sat on his other side, their thighs touching and a hand on Jim's knee as he sipped his own soy hot chocolate. His brother and sister in law sat across from them, similarly cozy. Mom, Bones and Christine sat in the kitchen playing card games with Peter, the occasional shout of "go fish!" drifting into the living area.
"This is nice," Jim murmured.
"It is," Nyota agreed.
A knock on the door interrupted. "Spock, can you get the door?"
Arching an eyebrow, Spock inclined his head and moved to answer the knock. Jim felt his partner's surprise the moment the door opened.
Sarek offered the traditional greeting. "Hello, Spock."
"Father," he murmured. "What-?"
Arching an eyebrow, Sarek replied, "Your bondmate issued us an invitation 7.364 days ago. He informed us he wished for it to be a surprise."
Spock turned to find Jim shrugging his shoulders, a wide grin on his face. "I know you said Vulcans don't celebrate Christmas, but I figured nobody deserves to be alone during the holidays."
Not even a moment after Spock had gestured his father inside, three more guests had appeared in the doorway.
"Where's my baby girl?"
Nyota froze and pulled away from Jim to look in the direction of the voice. He didn't miss the sparkle in her eyes or the way her breath hitched when she spotted her family stepping over the threshold. She squealed in delight as she jumped up from the couch and hurried to embrace her mother, speaking in rapid Swahili.
"Not that I'm not thrilled to see you, but how did you know where to find me?"
"Your Captain told us he'd invited you and Spock here for the holidays," the older woman explained. "Then proceeded to invite us to join you."
Nyota's gaze then locked with Jim's and she smiled, motioning him and Spock forward. "You already know Spock," she murmured.
Mahia grinned. "Good to see you again, mhibu. May I-?"
After a moment, Spock inclined his head and accepted the embrace. "It is agreeable to see you again as well, Mahia."
Mahia broke the embrace, her eyes locking with Jim's. "Can I assume that this fine young man is your Captain?"
Jim nodded and grinned, extending his hand. "Jim Kirk, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you. Nyota's told me a lot about you."
Mahia's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her gaze flickering to her daughter. Nyota flushed and nodded confirming her mother's suspicions.
"Both of them?"
Nyota winced. "Yes. Both of them."
"Fascinating."
The group turned to find Sarek's eyebrows arched high as he studied his son. Spock averted his gaze and the familiar green flush filled his cheeks. "I had intended to discuss the matter with you following Christmas," Spock murmured. "However, my th'y'la's surprise has made that moot."
"And they're having babies!" Peter squealed excitedly.
Jim sucked in a sharp breath, not aware that his nephew had entered the room. The announcement made Sarek's eyebrows arch, if possible, higher. "Is this true, Spock?"
His partner's flush deepened. "Yes, Father. However, it is a great deal more complex than I'm certain you believe it to be."
Jim took the initiative to explain the away mission gone awry and their later discovery that Nyota was carrying two children who had genetic contributions from all three parents. "She's about 12 weeks," he concluded.
He scarcely breathed as he waited for their parents' reactions. Winona came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of solid support and he whispered a choked, "Thanks" to her.
Mahia broke into a grin and laughed excitedly, embracing the three as one. "Oh, how exciting! Congratulations!"
Jim breathed a little easier now that he knew Mahia was happy. It would have devastated Nyota, he was sure, to go through this without her mother's support. From the conversation he'd had with Mahia, she was the only parent Nyota had left, her father having disappeared on a deep space mission just after she'd applied to the Academy.
When Mahia broke the embrace, his eyes locked with Sarek's, his heart racing as he struggled to find some hint of how the Vulcan was reacting to the news. But Sarek's features were as stoic as ever, not even a crack in the mask.
"This news is surprising," Sarek acknowledged. "But not unwelcome." Jim almost laughed at the relief that flooded the bond. "I only wish your mother was here to share in this moment. I am certain she would be quite pleased at the prospect of becoming a grandmother."
In the first emotional display Jim had witnessed between the two, Spock embraced his father tightly. "Thank you, Father," he murmured. "I am gratified that this news pleases you."
"Your presence in my life is gratification enough, sa-fu," Sarek replied. "The grandchildren your th'y'la bears are only a furtherance of that."
He released his son from the embrace, then turning to Jim and Nyota, offering each the gesture reserved for family. Jim's throat tightened with emotion as Sarek then said, "Welcome, my children, to our family. Your place in it is secured always."
Jim inclined his head. "Thank you, Ambassador."
Sarek arched an eyebrow. "Such a formality is unnecessary. You may call me Father, sa-mekh, or if either of these discomfort you, then Sarek will suffice."
"Thank you, Sarek," he grinned.
Sarek's gaze then shifted to Nyota and the slight roundness of her abdomen. He paused. "May I?"
Nyota smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Cautiously, he laid a hand on her abdomen and his eyebrows arched in surprise when the babies kicked. "Your children are strong, ko-fu. You provide well for them."
Nyota flushed at the compliment. "Thank you."
It was at that moment that his mother stepped forward and hugged each new person in turn, Sarek stiffening slightly but allowing the gesture nonetheless.
"I'm Winona. Jimmy's mom. These two behind me are my son, George and daughter-in-law Aurelan. And," she explained, patting Peter on the head, "This precocious little wonder is their son, Peter."
McCoy introduced himself next to Nyota's mother, who he'd never met, then saying hello to Sarek, who he'd met after the destruction of Vulcan, introducing them all to Christine Chapel as his date.
"Please, join us for dinner," Winona insisted. "We've got more than enough for everyone. We've even got some vegan options."
The already crowded kitchen meant that some of the group was going to have to eat in the living area. Jim was more than happy to give up his seat in the kitchen so the women could talk. He, Spock, Sarek, Nyota's brother Jaali, and McCoy sat around the coffee table trading stories and discussing the latest sports games. He himself followed football, having played as a running back in his secondary school years.
He laughed at Spock's surprised expression. "Mostly did it because I could, not because I actually wanted to."
Spock sombered as he heard the unspoken words to escape Frank through the bond.
When everyone had finished eating, Spock had insisted on taking a turn doing the dishes. Certain that Spock didn't know how to work a dishwasher, Jim offered to help him. Once all of the dishes had been cleared and the leftovers put away, Jim grabbed Nyota's hand and pulled her toward an open space in the living room, spinning and dancing her to the tune of Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.
She laughed at Jim's enthusiasm. The song ended and she looked up to find them standing beneath the mistletoe. Without a moment's hesitation, she pressed her lips to his, then embraced him tightly and whispered, "Merry Christmas, mpenzi," into his ear.
Not surprisingly, Spock wanted his turn, a slight smile turning up the corners of his lips as they moved to the upbeat melody of Jingle Bell Rock.
Within moments, George and Aurie were spinning around the room. Not wanting to feel left out, McCoy and Chapel joined in followed by Jim and Nyota's sister Penda. He'd only managed to draw a laugh from his future sister-in-law when he heard another familiar laugh and his eyes widened when he saw his Mom dancing with, of all people, Sarek. Her eyes sparkled as the surprisingly graceful Vulcan imitated Spock's movements perfectly. As the song ended, Sarek's concluding flourish drew laughter and applause from the rest of the room.
"I wasn't aware that you danced, Father," Spock offered, his brow furrowed.
Sarek arched an eyebrow, his gaze flickering to Winona. "I do not. Winona is a most skilled instructor."
Jim gaped, not sure of what to say to that. Was Spock's dad seriously hitting on his mother?
Winona blushed. "Well, I can't take all the credit. You're a fast learner. Does anyone want coffee?"
A few people replied with a resounding yes.
"Mom," Jim offered. "Let me help you."
Once alone with her in the solitude of the kitchen, Jim sputtered, "Mom, you-Sarek-you can't. That would be creepy and weird on so many levels."
Winona chuckled. "Oh, Jimmy, don't worry. Sarek's a very nice man, but-" She worried her lower lip. "I already have someone and we're fairly serious-"
Jim raised a hand to stop her. "Mom, I honestly don't want to know."
She opened her mouth to argue when the sound of the door opening caught her attention. Peeking her head around the corner her eyes widened and she gasped in surprise when her gaze locked on their newest arrival's.
"Se-I mean, Captain, what are you doing here?"
Jim sucked in a sharp breath as he came face to face with the man he presumed to be his mother's 'someone serious'.
The man smiled and shook his head, brushing his lips against hers. "How many times...it's Seth off duty, Wy."
Seth's gaze looked with Jim's and he nodded in greeting. "Captain Kirk."
A tense silence filled the room as Jim strode toward the door. His gaze narrowed slightly before he extended his hand. "I prefer Jim off duty."
The man relaxed, his smile returning as he grasped Jim's hand. "Jim it is."
"With respect, sir," Jim began. "If you break her heart, I'll break every bone in your body."
A deep flush stole into Winona's cheeks. "Jim," she chastised.
"I'd expect no less," Seth replied.
Sa-mekh is 'father' in Vulcan.
Sa-fu is 'son' in Vulcan.
Ko-fu is 'daughter' in Vulcan.
Mhibu is 'dear one' in Swahili.
Mpenzi is 'love', 'lover' or 'boyfriend/girlfriend' in Swahili.