Alright, next chapter! I didn't get to my 150 reviews, so now the 3rd review on this chapter shall get the cake! (IT'S NOT A LIE!!!!) I'll contact that reviewer and let them know! This chapter was SO MUCH FUN. You have no idea. Warnings for this one is that it's established relationship, and in the same universe as "Life" and "Crave" though it's sort of before both of those in a way. Also, hooray for Spock Prime, who makes an appearance in this chapter, and OH BOY for teeny!tiny!Vulcans!

That is all.

36

Disfavor

unfavorable regard; displeasure; disesteem; dislike

"We've arrived at New Vulcan, Captain, and have entered standard orbit." Sulu's voice snapped Jim out of his thoughts and the blond smiled, sitting upright in the Captain's chair.

"Good to hear, Sulu." He turned slightly to look towards Uhura. "Any word from the surface, Lieutenant?"

The woman nodded. "Aye, sir. I have an Ambassador Selek contacting us."

Jim nodded. "I thought so. I'll take it in my quarters. Everyone else, settle in, we'll be here for a while. Sulu, you have the conn for now."

Sulu smiled at his Captain as Jim pushed himself to his feet, pausing briefly to rub at the small of his back before walking towards the turbolift. "Aye sir. Have fun on the surface!"

The blond flashed a smile over his shoulder, and then the doors closed. The door to his quarters slid open as he came close, and Spock took a step out before meeting his mate's eyes with a slightly smile. "I was just about to come retrieve you, Jim, as my counterpart is prepared to speak with you."

Jim laughed softly, following Spock into their rooms. "Anxious, is he? He's probably wondering why we did all that shuffling to make sure that we got this mission. After all, it's not that exciting, and he knows me too well."

Spock nodded, stepping forward to touch their fingers together in greeting before reaching out to brush his hand along the slight curve of Jim's belly and the reason that they were here in the first place.

Once Jim had discovered that the surgery had been a success and he was pregnant, he had wanted to go tell the Elder Spock the news, feeling somehow that he owed it to him. Spock had wondered briefly at the reasoning, but he hadn't said anything, understanding that his mate had a rather intense fondness for his counterpart. Jim had contacted Starfleet not long after and had arranged for them to take a simple mission that would keep them near New Vulcan for about three weeks, taking much needed supplies for the experiments that were still being conducted to allow the new planet to grow Vulcan plants. While the two years that they had been on this planet had been fruitful, there were still certain things that were being worked on.

Jim settled at his desk, pressing the comm button to accept the call and smiling widely as the face of Spock Prime, now known as Selek, appeared on the screen. "It's good to see you, old man."

"And it is pleasing to see you once again, old friend." Selek responded in kind, warmth in his tone and a gleam of affection in his eyes. "Although I am afraid that I am still confused as to why you wished to come to New Vulcan. This is not the mission that I believed you would have wanted, especially when you went through so much trouble to obtain it."

A laugh sounded softly in Jim's throat. "I'm not going to tell you that yet, you'll just have to wait until we beam down. Is everything set for that?"

Selek nodded. "Indeed. I have already sent the coordinates to you, and I am merely waiting for your arrival."

"Good to hear, we'll be down shortly then." Jim replied with a nod of his own. "I'll see you soon, old man."

With that the call was ended, and Jim turned to look up at his mate. "All ready to go?"

Spock nodded. "As Selek pointed out, we are merely waiting for you, Jim." he teased gently, at which Jim smiled before leaning up to kiss him swiftly.

"Well then, let's go!"

Selek greeted them when they arrived, a smile in his eyes and warmth in his tone. "It is good to see you, Jim, and you, Spock. I trust that you both are well?"

Spock nodded. "Indeed."

Jim was practically bouncing beside his mate, the smile on his face shining brilliantly. Spock could feel the excitement flooding from his mate's mind, and it was difficult to restrain the emotion in himself.

The man gestured a hand towards them. "Come; let us go inside out of the heat."

Once inside what appeared to be Selek's home, Jim couldn't resist anymore and rushed to the elder Vulcan, gently encompassing him in a hug. Shock passed briefly over the older man's face, and then he raised a hand to lay it against Jim's shoulder blade. "You are quite… enthusiastic, Jim. I suspect that it has something to do with the reason that you are here?"

Jim nodded, stepping back from the elder and giving him a few moments to observe, practically vibrating while he waited for it to kick in. Selek's eyes suddenly widened, and then he looked up into Jim's excited blue eyes. "Jim…"

"Yea!" Jim couldn't contain it anymore. "I wanted to tell you before, but when I found out about the mission, I wanted to wait to ask you something." He paused only a second before plowing on. "Will you be the godfather?"

Selek suddenly surprised them both by smiling widely, reaching out to grab Jim again, hugging him with a slight chuckle of happiness, something that to Jim was louder than any laugh could have been. "This is wonderful, Jim!" Selek said with happiness clearly in his tone. Leaning back, the old Vulcan glanced up at Jim, one hand extended. "May I?"

Jim nodded, his own face glowing with his smile. "Of course."

Selek gently laid a hand on Jim's swollen stomach, wonder on his features and a strange glimmer in his eyes. "Amazing…" he murmured. "I never thought… This is spectacular. My Jim wanted children, but this time is farther along in technology than we were, it was not possible for us to conceive on our own. We adopted a Vulcan child after we settled on Earth, but that is the closest I came to fatherhood." He looked to Spock. "This is a rare thing that you are able to experience, Spock."

The younger Vulcan bowed his head slightly. "I do understand that. Jim and I discussed this at great length, but the surgery is still experimental, we were not sure that it was going to be a success. We had originally also planned to adopt a Vulcan child, as we previously mentioned to you."

At those words Selek frowned faintly, sitting before waving for the other two to do the same. Jim settled next to the elder Vulcan, concern showing on his face as he saw the tension descend on Selek. "Those words bring a matter to my mind that I had been meaning to ask the two of you about."

Jim tilted his head, but said nothing for the moment. Spock shifted in his seat, eyebrows twitching together as he steepled his fingers in front of his face.

"I intended to contact you sooner, but I was delayed by complications. Both of you are aware that since the destruction of Vulcan there are many orphaned children, as well as many others that have experienced… emotional complications." Selek paused here for a moment before assuming a position near identical to Spock's. Jim giggled softly to himself, but said nothing to interrupt was appeared to be a serious moment.

"There is a child in a nearby orphanage that is experiencing difficulties more so than the other children. He has what is known to Vulcans as a sort of disability that does not allow him the same control of his emotions that Vulcans have. It does not occur often, and so it has never been an issue. But as this child has lost his parents, there are none who wish to care for him. He is being abused quite extensively by his peers."

Jim's face sobered at those words. "People are bullying him?"

Selek nodded. "I became interested in this child when I observed that abuse outside of the orphanage. It is not always physical, but he is being secluded and verbally abused quite often. As you can imagine, Jim, this is very serious for a Vulcan who cannot control his emotions."

"This is especially true for a Vulcan." Spock entered. "Vulcans have more intense emotions than humans; this is why we suppress them."

"God he probably feels awful all the time." Jim murmured, concern on his features. "And no one wants to take him in?"

Selek moved his head in an affirmative. "The orphanage is attempting to have someone adopt him, but none of the Vulcans wish to deal with his emotional issues. His family was prepared to care for him, but without them, I fear that he will spend his life ridiculed and outcast. For one with emotions as strong as this and incomplete control…" Selek shook his head, his face slightly sad. "He may destroy himself before long."

Spock looked up to meet the elder's eyes. "I assume that you wished for Jim and I to take him."

"I would care for him myself, but I have many responsibilities with the rebuilding of our planet, and I am old; I do not believe I would be able to teach him the skills that he will need in the time that I have left." Selek replied. "However, in light of Jim's pregnancy, perhaps it is not wise for you to take him…"

Jim interrupted stubbornly. "No way! Just because we've got a kid on the way doesn't mean that I won't help out!"

"Jim…" Spock murmured. "Perhaps Elder Selek is correct…"

Blue eyes turned to his mate, and Jim folded his arms over his chest before speaking. "Spock, come on. Can we at least go meet him then?"

Spock hesitated, and then nodded. "Very well."

Selek smiled faintly. "I am pleased that you would consider this, Jim. We may go now, if you wish it."

Jim nodded. "Can you tell me about him? How old is he? What's his name? What's he like?"

"Slow down, Jim." Selek said, humor coloring his tone. "His name is Sovik, and he is approximately four years and 3 months old."

"He's only four and people are abusing him?" Jim asked, a faint hint of horror in his words. Spock passed a hand over the small of his back in an attempt to calm him as they left Selek's home and walked through the houses toward the orphanage.

Spock couldn't help the amusement that he allowed to pass through their bond. "Vulcans are much farther advanced at that age than humans. I would equate Sovik to a human of approximately 10 years of age."

Jim whistled faintly. "Still, that's really young to be bullied like that."

Selek paused in front of the orphanage, knocking on the door and lifting his hand in the traditional Vulcan salute as a young Vulcan woman opened it. "We have come to see Sovik."

The woman returned to salute. "You informed me earlier that you may be coming, Sovik is prepared for your arrival. Follow me."

Spock and Jim were quiet as they followed the Elder through the halls, Jim glancing after her when the woman had left them in front of a room near the back of the building. Selek opened the door and led them in, closing it behind them as Jim turned to find a small Vulcan seated on the bed, watching them with wide eyes.

"Hello." Jim said softly, getting down on a knee in front of the bed and resting his arms on the bed, his chin on his wrists. The child watched quietly as Jim lowered himself, blinking in surprise when the human purposely placed himself in a lower position. Jim moved carefully and quietly, making sure to be open in his movements. "My name is Jim. What's yours?"

Sovik tilted his head. "I believe that the matron told you my name."

Jim smiled and nodded. "She did. But I would rather hear it from you."

Again a surprised blink, and then the child spoke, his voice noticeably shy. "I am Sovik."

The smile on Jim's face widened. "That's a wonderful name. That grump behind me is Spock."

Spock raised an eyebrow at the title, but said nothing, merely raised a hand in the traditional Vulcan salute, which Sovik returned quietly, though he stared up at Spock with slightly wide eyes. Jim observed him quietly; marveling at the fact that Vulcans thought this was exceptionally emotional. While Sovik was certainly more demonstrative than any other Vulcan that Jim had ever met, except perhaps for Selek, who was still rather closed off at the best of times, he still wasn't quite as open as a human would be.

Even so, for Jim it was remarkably easy for him to read the child's emotions; after so long of learning to read Spock's features, Sovik was an easy shift. Jim turned his attention back to the child. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, Sovik? What kind of things do you like to do?"
At those words Sovik frowned. "Vulcans do not like."

"Nonsense." Jim replied, his voice still soft. "I know that you like to do something." He pointed over to the corner of the small room where a table was set up with a little chair in front of it. "What's that?"

A faint hint of green passed over the child's face. "A game known as kal-toh. It was a… gift from my mother."

Jim felt a bolt of sadness at the look of sorrow on the child's own features, and then held out a hand towards him. "Why don't you show me how to play?"

Sovik blinked. "I do not think humans can learn."

"There is no reason why a human could not attempt to learn." Spock suddenly interjected. "And Jim is remarkably intelligent for his species; I believe that he could understand the concept."

Jim glowed faintly at those words of praise, and he smiled at the amusement projected through the bond. Sovik looked up at him with a renewed sort of interest, and then slowly moved off of the bed, walking over to the table and sitting in the little chair. Jim took a moment to stand and stretch his back before folding his legs beside him, leaning back on his hands.

Sovik watched all this with interest, and then tilted his head. "May I ask a personal question?"

"Of course, Sovik." Jim replied, warmth filling his heart as the small Vulcan looked up at him with fascination.

"Are you with child?" the boy asked. "I was not aware that human males could carry offspring."

Jim chuckled, both at the question and at Sovik's expression. "They usually can't, it's a highly experimental procedure that we weren't even sure was going to work. But yes, I'm about 18 weeks along."

"Fascinating." Sovik murmured, and Jim could help the laugh that escaped him at that. Sovik raised a little eyebrow, which just made Jim laugh harder. "Have I done something amusing?"

The blond tilted his head back to look up at his mate, who was standing just behind him. "He's like a little you, Spock!" Jim said with another laugh.

"Indeed." Spock replied, raising an eyebrow and earning another bout of laughter from Jim.

Jim turned his attention back to Sovik. "Alright, let's get going. So what's this kal-toh all about?"

As Sovik started to explain the concepts, Spock turned his gaze to his mate as Jim leaned forward and paid rapt attention. The half-Vulcan could already tell that Jim was getting attached to the child, and he knew that they were most likely going to end up adopting Sovik. While this wasn't a concept that Spock was against, he was concerned about their ability to care for an emotional Vulcan child while Jim was going through pregnancy.

At that moment there was a surge from the bond, and Spock focused on Jim, who was still paying attention to Sovik. There was reassurance as well as faith and a hint of pride, and Spock understood; Jim knew that they could both handle it, and he was telling Spock just that. Returning his gaze to the game, Spock watched Sovik with an interested gaze. The boy was exceedingly intelligent, easily at or above the level that he should be at this age, and for one with a disease that affected his control, he was doing a remarkable job. While he was noticeably more expressive than a Vulcan, he was still less demonstrative than a human.

Despite himself, Spock felt a faint hint of pride and protection towards the child, and, with a mental sigh, he knew that he had become attached to this boy as well. Their similar circumstances had already interested him in Sovik, and upon meeting him, he had cast aside most of his worries. If he could do something to help this child, who was so similar to himself, he would do it.

Jim's voice suddenly distracted him. "Hmmm… So, then this…" With those words he reached out, shifting a silver t'an and succeeding in progressing the kal-toh further. Jim smiled, turning his gaze to Sovik. "That's good, right?"

Sovik was staring at the blond man with a strange sort of awe in his gaze, and he nodded. "Yes. That was a wise move."

"That's it." Jim suddenly proclaimed, looking up at Spock. "We're so keeping him."

The child's mouth fell open and he leaned forward slightly in his seat. "You would… you would want to adopt me?"

Jim nodded with a wide smile. "Of course, that's why we're here. I think it would be a good idea, and you're a good kid, I can tell."

"I am…" Sovik trailed off, searching for words. "I am damaged. I do not understand why you would want me."

A sigh came from Jim. "Sovik… we would want you no matter what. It doesn't matter to me or Spock that you have troubles, we'll help you with them and give you a home, as well as people who accept you for you are. And you're not damaged, you're just you, and there's nothing wrong with the way you are."

Again the boy looked up, eyes wide in awe. "I can be myself? And people will not… push me away?"

Jim nodded with a grin. "They deal with me; I think they can handle you."

There was a moment of quiet, and then a smile spread across Sovik's face before the child could stop it, though he seemed to realize it and quickly tried to hide it a moment later. Jim laughed and reached out, ruffling the boy's dark hair affectionately. Sovik looked at him in surprise, a tinge of green on his cheeks, but Spock could almost see the respect that the boy held for Jim.

You have such a way of reaching people, Jim. Spock told his mate, at which Jim merely flashed a brilliant smile at him.

Spock turned to his elder self, unable to resist his amusement as he saw the glimmer in the older Vulcan's eyes. "I believe we have documents to take care of."

"Indeed." Selek said in response. "I shall go speak to the matron, if you wish to remain here with Sovik."

Jim had already returned to the game with Sovik settled beside him, a little closer this time then he had been. Sovik had just completed his move and was watching Jim as the human contemplated when suddenly the boy spoke up. "I also… enjoy puzzles."

A smile passed over Jim's features. "That's awesome, I like puzzles too! I've got this one on the Enterprise, it's huge; I've never managed to put it all together. Do you think you'd like to help me with it?"

Sovik once again couldn't stop the smile. "I look forward to it."

Spock nodded to Selek. "I will remain." The elder Vulcan returned the nod with a smile, leaving the room while Spock returned to watching his mate bond with their new family member.

-dies-

I loved writing this! Don't worry, Sovik will continue to make appearances, I can't give him up that easily. Sovik is actually the Vulcan word for "aerial" which I thought was nice. I looked a while for a name, and I finally settled on Sovik because... well, actually, I really don't know why. I just liked that name, I guess. I got the kal-toh from my knowledge of Voyager, though I did look it up to make sure I was getting it right... Hope you enjoyed this one!