The two finished their run and went upstairs to get ready for their day, and they noticed the light was already on in David's room. Jim stuck his head in the room, knocking out of courtesy.

"Hey Dad," David panted. He had his feet hooked under his bed and was doing situps. He was counting under his breath, and was coming up on 100. He collapsed backward at the end and wiped away the sweat gathering on his brow and upper lip. Jim noticed that there was hair developing on his upper lip and chin; he'd have to start shaving by the next summer.

"So, uh, how'd you like to play hooky today?" Jim started.

David sat up and frowned. "What is it?" he demanded crossly.

"What is what?"

"No, answering a question with a question isn't an answer. You don't let Father do it, you can't do it either. What's wrong?" he rephrased.

Jim dug the toe of his shoe into the carpet. "Nothing's wrong, really. Your old man just wants some quality time and has decided this momentous occasion should occur right this instant, not Saturday."

"You know Father says you have impulse control issues and that you're addicted to instant gratification more than caffeine or sugar combined." David got up and got his clothes ready for his shower.

"Will you stop ganging up on me with your father?" Jim whined. "I just want to see my baby boy."

David laughed softly. "Has Starfleet figured out time travel yet? Cause your baby boy is back in 2261."

"When you get your security clearance, I'll answer that question. And my little boy is my little boy whether he's just figured out how to aim for the toilet properly or he's performing math calculations that stump his parents." Jim came in and shoved David's shoulder gently. "Can we just hang today?"

David searched his father's eyes. "Dad? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Jim assured him quickly. "I'm fine. I just want to talk with the man living in my son's room before it gets too late."

His son relaxed a little, but then furrowed his brow. "What man?"

Jim led his son out of the room and into the bathroom and then ran a finger across his son's chin and upper lip. The motion across the downy fine hair tickled David and he snorted.

"That man. The man who's going to be shaving next year. The man who's got a steady love, albeit across the continent. There used to be two men and a boy living here. There are now three men in this house, and in recognition of this fact, Spock and I want to spend a day mano-a-mano with you."

David blushed. "You really want to have a guys-only day with me?"

Jim backed out of the bathroom with his thumbs held aloft. "See ya when you get out."

When David emerged, he was grinning wildly. He pounded down the stairs and slid into the kitchen, where Spock was reading something and Jim was sipping his first cup of coffee of the morning.

"What's first?" David asked breathlessly.

"First? We're hitting the mall and getting new clothes. Something sharp."

David looked uncertainly at his ripped blue jeans and baggy t-shirt. "What's wrong with the clothes I have on?"

"Do you sincerely wish an answer to your query?" Spock murmured, not looking up.

"Oh, come on, Father, you didn't even see what I have on!"

Spock touched the screen to pause the data stream and looked up. "You are clothed in the same general outfit you have worn for the past year. I did not need to see to know what you were wearing."

"Says the man who's worn an Oxford shirt and khakis my entire freaking life," retorted the teen.

"I have not."

"Have too."

"I have not."

"Have too!"

"HEY!" Jim hollered. The other two fell silent and Jim cleared his throat. "We're getting you dress clothes and that's final."

"Yippee," David grumbled.

Spock looked at David for a long moment, and then put his padd down. "Jim, I believe the young man does not wish to change his attire. If this is truly to be a men's day, he should have a say in its itinerary."

"Thank you, Father."

Jim leaned back and took a long drink of his coffee. "Fine. What do you want to do, David?"

David looked at the floor for a moment, then a huge grin broke out on his face and he looked up. "Let's go somewhere there are chicks!"

"Objection," Jim spoke up. "You're dragging two men who are married to each other along with you while you cheat on your girlfriend. Not cool, dude."

"It's not cheating if I don't do anything but look, right?"

"What is it they said in that movie? 'Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, but don't inhale'? The Devil's Advocate. Great movie. You ought to watch it someday. But anyway, I think your father would have words with you about your definition of fidelity if you did that."

"I'm not married yet!" David protested. When nothing but silence met his pleas he shrugged. "Okay, chicks are a no-go. How about skateboarding?"

"We could do that," Jim conceded. "What would Spock do?"

David thought about it for a good long while, and then cracked up. "Father can try to predict our injuries based on probabilities of falls and rate of speed and stuff like that!"

Spock raised an eyebrow. "That is a fascinating, if not somewhat morbid, choice of activity. I presume you will have standard gear on? Helmets, knee and elbow pads, mouthguards, et cetera?"

David groaned. "I will seriously kick the next kid who asks how I survive without a mother."

Jim smirked at Spock. Clapping his hands, he pointed to the coffeemaker. "If you want to try coffee again, go right ahead."

David frowned and shook his head. "I remember what it tasted like when I was a kid. It's nasty. Got anything stronger?" he hinted with hope.

There was a silent discussion between Jim and Spock and Jim sighed. "Not yet, kid. Give it to eighteen and I'll sit and hit the bottle with you then. But there is something on me and Spock's itinerary."

"What?"

"We'd like to have a talk with you." Jim had David sit down and they began the discussion with honesty and bravery. David began to relax in the peer-to-peer atmosphere and asked some questions he had been hiding in his mind. Nothing he asked was too embarrassing or silly; Jim answered most of them but Spock chimed in on a couple. When David finally indicated he was comfortable and his questions had all been answered, Jim sat back and smiled.

"That's really cool, Dad, I appreciate you answering my questions, but how do I explain to people that I'm waiting because I don't want to be a father before I'm ready?"

Jim shrugged. "Just like that. It doesn't embarrass me or hurt my feelings that your life with me has colored how you want to live your adult life. I know it wasn't the greatest life, but I love you so much and I would endure the worst fights imaginable just to have you in my life."

David colored and looked down. "Thanks. Hey, is there an R rated movie I can watch now? Would you rather do that?"

Spock tilted his head and Jim rubbed his chin. "Well, you haven't seen any of the Saw movies. We could start that, but that leaves your father out, because he'll barely watch the movies with me. But there are other movies. Oh, there's a great classic called Alien that I think you'd like. There's a woman in there – Sigorney Weaver – who's hotter than blazes. How about that? Fictional chick and a movie?"

"Okay!" David chirped. The three ate breakfast and Jim called David's school to let them know he was staying home that day. When they were all ready, Jim cued up Alien and they began watching.