Arthur's Note: I do not own Star Trek. Still writing this on my phone. I have no beta but I do try to find my own errors. If you see any let me know. I'm glad I've gotten back into this. The chapters might not be as long as normal but I'm hoping to get one out once every two weeks are so. The pace is going to be a little slow as I find where I was going with this. On a side note there is a short story that takes place in the same universe as this one. It can be read alone or not at all. It's called A Wish That Makes Us Whole. It's about our favorite bcome. There is also a work in process called Determanation Makes Us Stronger. set in the same universe as this one but leads up to A Wish That Makes Us Whole. There may be more side stories to come.

It was strange. So many years had passed and yet Spock still knew what he needed before he said anything. The same could be said about Jim as they passed items between the two of them. He could barely hear his son getting up for the day. Several minutes later the boys joined them in the kitchen. David pulling Lhai by the hand.

"I help set the table. You can help too." It was better than yesterday but he still had to strain to hear his son speaking. He kept an eye on them as his son went through the cabnets to get the cutlery. Before he could turn to help get dishes down Spock moved away from the stove and helped the children with the items too high for them.

He turned off the stove and took the serving dishes to the table. Once again both boys sat on his books side by side. "Careful it's hot." He placed the omelet next to the stack of pancakes on his sons place before putting a smiley face of ketchup on top. Taking the can of whip cream he did the same to the mouse pancakes. He turned to Lhai. "Want some? Non dairy."

The sour look on the kids face made Jim smile. He knew he was about to hear the words illogical from mini Spock until the boy made the mistake of looking at David. his son had the biggest blue eyes and it was hard to say no to them. The tips of his ears turned green and he noddes. "Yes...Thank you." Grudgingly Lhai pushed his plate forward and accepeted the smiley face on his pancakes.

They ate in mostly silence except for David who hummed as he ate. It wasn't long before Jim found his finner tapping along. The tune was familiar. It tugged at his mind until he hummed along. Fields of green and gold came to mind. An old woman with a kind smile and sweets.

"Jim are you alright?" Spock's voice came through the fog of memories. He looked over to see the frown between Spock's brows. "You were staring off in space."

He glanced at his son who looked frightened and Lhai who wore a disapproving expression. "Yeah I'm fine. Just the song reminded me of someone I use to know. Where did you hear it David?"

At once his son looked small as he sunk into the chair putting his fork down. Jim wanted to kick himself. Of course it had to have been from someone his mother knew. Jim had never taught the kid it and he knew Sulu wouldn't have had the chance.

"It's fine David. It's an old song a friend of mine use to sing while she worked. I haven't heard it in a long while. You're not in trouble." Still his son wouldn't look up and he was sure if someone could die from a look alone he would have from the glare Lhai was giving him.

"...I'm not hungry can I go play?" A tiny voice came from David as the kid still looked at his lap. Sighing Jim nodded. It hurt watching his son bolt from the table.

"Father may I be excused? I will finish eating later." Barely waiting for his father's response Lhai followed David to his room. In his hand was the bowl of fruit slices.

Jim poked at his own food for a moment before pushing it away. "Jim..." The former captain looked up and shrugged.

"It's fine. I know I'm going to screw up. This isn't my first time around kids Spock. He'll be fine sooner rather than later. Besides I think he has a guardian angel following him." Standing he began clearing away the dishes. "So I think I might know what the next password might be. Or at least sort of."

Looking at his former First Officer Jim smiled. He began to hum a tune before stopping. "The one language Uhura doesn't know and you do, music."

Spock arched a brow. "Explain." That was why Jim had grown to love working with Spock after their little hiccup. He didn't dismiss Jim's ideas and would wait until Jim had explained himself before he decided if Jim's idea was crazy or not.

"Music is universal. In every culture it's in some form. But what is music made of? Notes right? Like z flat or something. Don't give me that look. I couldn't care less what the notes were when I was being taught. It was boring." He quickly waved his had as if clearing the air. "Moving on." He grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit. "Like this is an apple but it could be called many things from planet to planet. It doesn't change that it's a red skinned fruit that taste sweet."

Spock nodded. "That would explain why there was no pattern to the words. If each word was a note..." They just had to figure out which note each word represented.

Grinning Jim bit into his apple. "I never learned sheet music but I can match sound for sound. It's worth giving a try." He glanced away hearing David's laughter from the other room. "He's going to miss Lhai when you go..." His heart squeezed tightly in his chest as the word go passed his lips.

"That will not be for some time Jim. I would not be opposed to comm calls when he is not in lessons. My father has also been talking about retiring. It would not be hard to bring Lhai to visit Earth." Spock's voice was soft. It reminded him a lot of the the start of their relationship.

Jim nodded. He smiled as he turned to face Spock. "Thank you." Taking a bite from his apple he pushed away from the counter passed the half Vulcan.

"Thanks is not nessasary Jim." Spock said as he watched his former captain. "Lhai does not make friends easily. It is no hardship to keep him in contact with the few that he does have."

Jim snorted and finished his apple. No, thanks had never been necessary between them but it had been spoken too few times. Maybe if it had been spoken more...No it was best not to go down that path. "If he is anything like you were as a kid I'm sure the 'few' is one right?" A nod was all Spock gave in response. "Well one is all you need sometimes."