Ch 5: Parting Words

The Starfleet shuttle soared high in the Earth's atmosphere. Though he was leaving almost a week before his leave would end, Kirk's stay at home turned out to be more stressful than no leave at all. Okay, that wasn't entirely true, but in his current state, the only way he could comfortably sort himself out would be aboard the Enterprise with no one else around.

He thought back to the moment he left his home. His mother had a sad look on her face. "Honey, are you sure you want to leave so early? You said yourself that when your leave ends, you'll be out in space for 5 years straight. Shouldn't you enjoy your free time a little more before going back?"

Kirk gave his mother a sad, yet loving smile. "You're right, I should. But there are some things I want to take care of back on Enterprise before I lead her and the crew. 'Course, if you wanted to make some more of your homemade blueberry cobbler, I might be convinced to stay a little longer."

His mother laughed, "If you have any more of my cobbler, you won't be able to fit into your uniform!"

The two laughed together and then just looked at each other. His mother's eyes grew misty as she looked at her son. She placed a hand on his face, which he covered with his own. She smiled, and said, "You look so much like your father now. I just know that if he were alive today, he'd be so proud of what you've become."

Hearing these words from his mother struck a chord in Kirk's heart. Tears came to his eyes, and he attempted to shake it off. "Aw, come on mom. It'll do no good getting me all choked up before I go."

His mother's lip trembled as she drew her son into a tight hug. Kirk wrapped his arms around her as she cried softly. Kirk found himself getting swept in the moment and let tears fall from his eyes as well. He held on to his mother tightly, fully aware that it would be last time he'd be able to hug her for at least another 5 years.

After holding on for some time, the two finally broke their hug and looked at each other again. While his mother left the tears to dry on her face, Kirk quickly rushed to wipe his away. "Dang it mom, I didn't want to leave home on such a sappy note."

She smiled at her son, amused by his feeble attempts to hide his feelings. He reached up for his face and brought it down low enough for her to plant a kiss on his forehead. Looking him in the face, she said, "Don't ever try to hide who you really are dear. Those of us who love you love you for all that you are, not what you present to us."

He stood up fully and looked at his mom. It was amazing how strong and wise a woman she really was. He took a deep breath and said, "Well, it's about time I get going. After all, what's Enterprise without her captain?" He gave his trademark pearly white smile and stared at his mom again, who smiled back.

"Take care of yourself mom."

"You too, honey."

Kirk hopped onto his motorcycle and revved it. He turned to his mother and waved. She waved back, a look of fondness and sadness mixed together on her face. With a final rev, Kirk hurtled down the road and soon faded out of sight.

Kirk wiped away a stray tear as he recalled his sad departure from home. Now's not the time to get sentimental, he thought. I've got some major thinking to do once I get back on the Enterprise.


The Two Spocks stood facing each other in the early morning light. The elder Spock stood on the steps of his home, while the younger stood at the bottom, looking up. The two took a moment to simply stare at one another, one looking at his past, the other at his future.

"You have my thanks for allowing me to reside temporarily in your home," Spock said, giving a bow out of respect for his elder.

Prime nodded in return at Spock. "It seemed the most logical choice to make. You had much to learn, and there was no way of guestimating your potential reaction." He paused for a moment, looking at the youth before him. "Spock, this may sound strange, but seeing as the timeline has altered greatly, I feel it necessary to mention. All that you learned of my own past does not dictate any decisions you should make in the near and distant future. While my Jim and your Jim are technically still the same person with only slight differences, the difference between you and I are much greater. Your destiny is yours to choose, and if you choose not to be as…intimate…as Jim and I were, there is nothing wrong with that."

Spock took a moment to let these words sink in. He then raised his head up high, and said, "You and I both know that I do not believe in the human definition of destiny. As you said, my destiny is my own to choose and direct. However, you and I both also know that when given concrete evidence, I am compelled to believe something as true and unavoidable. If your Jim and my Jim are truly near mirror images of one another, it is logical to assume that my bond with him will be just as strong as yours."

Prime chuckled lightly as Spock gave a smug smirk in kind. "It will take more than a simple mind meld for you to know all that James T. Kirk truly is. There are many things you will have to see and experience for yourself. However, you have proven that you can boldly face the unknown and come out brilliantly in the end, and I have no further worries of what will come. This may very well be the last time we see each other, and so it should be."

Prime raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan farewell hand sign. "As before, I will simply say, 'Good luck', but I will also add, 'to thine own self, be true.'"

Spock reciprocated the hand sign and nodded. "Be well, Prime."

"Be well, Spock."

Spock turned away and began his trek back to his ship. He turned back one final time to gaze at his older self, who still stood on his door step, looking back at him. He nodded one last time, and then continued back to his ship.

I know, I completely switched gears from the last chapter, but that was kind of my intention. Don't worry, it'll get juicy again, I promise. ^_^