Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek it is all property of Gene Roddenberry, J.J. Abrams, Paramount, and whoever else owns rights to the franchise. I am not making any profits off of this so please don't sue me.

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Chapter 30

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Sarek took a light sip of his tea as he silently watched the two younger men sitting at his breakfast table out on the veranda. Jim and Spock were in deep conversation, so deep that they were oblivious to Spock's father sitting in audience. Spock was telling Jim about the newly established Vulcan Science Academy while Jim was listening with rapt attention and also enjoying spoonfuls of the fruit porridge he had chosen to have for breakfast. From where he sat Sarek was silently enjoying the sight of his son and Jim being so natural with each other, it reminded him of bygone mornings shared with Amanda. It filled Sarek with both sadness at his own loss, but warmth at what his son had worked for hard to regain.

" So where are we headed to first Spock?" Jim asked after he had enjoyed another mouthful of his delicious breakfast, which so much better than the oatmeal from the replicators on the ship.

" I had a thought that we could start off at the center of the colony where the metropolitan area has been established. You did express that you wished to see the colony so we shall start at the epicenter."Spock replied.

" Sounds good, but when are we going to see the sehlats?" Jim asked, barely containing his eagerness.

" I spoke with the owner of the farm, Lady T'Sera, she has informed me that the best time to interact with the sehlats would be in the late afternoon, so I thought it best that were go there after we've had lunch." Spock explained.

" Are you amenable to that Jim?" He added.

" That's totally fine Spock, you don't gotta ask." Jim said with a smile.

" I shall always ask." Spock countered with warmth in his deep brown eyes.

" I have no doubt of that." Jim sighed with mock resignation before he chuckled and went back to all but inhaling his porridge.

Sarek watched as Spock's eyes lingered on Jim for a few moments longer before he too focused his attentions to his breakfast. From where he sat Sarek felt inwardly amused at the exchange between his son and Jim. To Sarek it was quiet clear that his Spock was, as the human saying went, totally gone for the blond haired and blued eyed young man sitting at the table with him.

Amanda would have been most please.

Once breakfast was over, Jim and Spock took their leave of Sarek, although Jim did ask Spock's father to come along with them, the Vulcan Elder sited that he had work with the New Vulcan High Council and the Building Commission that he needed to attend to. This was in fact true that Sarek did have important meeting to attend, but there was also no way in hell he was going to be a third wheel, so Jim and Spock headed off to tour the colony.

A little while later...

From where he sat behind the wheel of his father's hover car Spock kept stealing furtive glances at the young man sitting in the front passenger seat beside him. Against the late morning sunlight Jim looked incredible. It took all of Spock's self control not to land the hover car and show Jim just how much he appreciated the human appearing so attractive in that moment. Thankfully for both their sakes Spock wisely did not act on these urges. He simply kept glancing at Jim and wordlessly admired his lover who seemed to be radiating excitement despite sitting casually in his seat.

Spock would never admit it out loud, but it pleased him greatly to see Jim so eager to look upon the people of New Vulcan and see the progress that had been made in the colony thus far.

" Where are we headed to first Spock."

Spock was broken from his musings but quickly moved to reply.

" I had a thought that we would go to the very center of the colony's metropolitan area where we could then tour the area by foot."

Spock turned momentarily to Jim.

" Are you agreeable to this?"

" No problem Spock, I have it in mind that just walking about is the best way to explore any place."

Jim smiled at Spock before both men turned their gazes back to the wide dirt road they were traveling on.

" If that is your opinion then are you planning to walk around the vast expanse of space, if so I would very much like to see how you would make such a feat possible Captain."

Spock deliver was deadpan while his eyes were on the road as he waited for Jim's reaction. The Vulcan was blank faced as ever, but inside he was smirking at his own cheekiness. There was a moments pause where Jim turned and simply stared at Spock, and then the next moment he was throwing his head back and laughing brightly.

" C-Careful there Mr. Spock cause I just might come up with a way to walk through space, and then you'd have to come running after me."

Jim broke of into quiet chuckles as he envisioned the aforementioned feat.

" I will gladly follow you through space Jim, and anywhere else within the universe you will go."

Spock had kept his eyes on the road, but his voice had softened with conviction as he had spoken. Spock's softly spoken words with all their meaning caused several emotions to rise up within him all at once, and if he felt it a little difficult to speak, Jim blamed it on the dry desert air.

" That's... That's really good to know Spock, thanks."

Jim swallowed with difficultly until the constricting feeling in his throat diminished to a faint dull ache. A warm smile slowly spread across his face as he ducked his head gather himself. From where he sat behind the wheel Spock allowed his eyes to fall upon Jim for a few moments.

" You are welcome Jim."

With that Spock turned his gaze back to the road so as to avoid veering off it. The next few minutes of the drive were spent in a charged silence with only the occasional question from Jim here and there to bring ease between them, which naturally worked to some degree so that the pair were once again in a more or less comfortable place with each other for the remainder of the journey to the colony.

Ten minutes later...

Sarek's hover car settled onto the smooth pavement with a light thud as all of its systems shutdown. Once the craft was firmly on the ground its two front passenger doors opened simultaneously as Spock and Jim climbed out. The New Vulcan sun was naturally beating down from up above and Jim was glad that he dressed light and that he had begrudgingly taken the tri-ox compound earlier. Spock quickly walked around the hover car to stand beside Jim as they both took a silent look around. True to his earlier words Spock had driven them to the very center of the colony and it was indeed a small metropolis. Though not quite grand in scale yet, the place was filled with life. Hover cars were going this way and that up above, shops lined the streets, and most importantly there were countless New Vulcan citizens going about their lives.

A bright grin spread across Jim's face as he turned to Spock.

" Spock this is amazing."

" Indeed Jim, it is most gratifying to see that the people of Vulcan have started living anew."

Jim felt his smile dim for a moment at Spock's words, but it was fleeting. With his smile back to full force Jim spoke.

" How about we just walk around and see where it takes us Spock?" He asked.

" While I would prefer a set location, I did tell you that I would follow you wherever you wished to go." Spock replied before he leaned in close and stared into Jim's eyes with his own dark eyes.

" So to that I hold, lead the way Jim." He added.

Jim chuckled to hide the delicious shiver Spock had cause to ride up his spine before the blond took another look around. When a shot filled with some particularly interesting merchandise Jim grinned at Spock over his shoulder as he headed off towards it. So began Jim and Spock's exploration of the colony. The shops that they visited were filled with items of a very wide variety. Jim particularly liked the Vulcan book shop that stood a few blocks away from a large, cathedral-like building that Spock informed him was the new home of the Vulcan High Council.

What truly surprised Jim was that for all of their famous stoicism and emotional control, the Vulcan people he encountered were courteous, almost bordering on full-on warm to him. There were many a passerby who recognized Jim and Spock as the famed Captain Kirk and Commander Spock of Starfleet. While there was no demands for autographs or crazy fan behavior, there was a great deal of dignified greeting and quite conversation that lasted a few minutes every now that then from New Vulcan citizens. It was all very refreshing to Jim, and only mildly embarrassing to Spock, who was unfortunately not at all used to such receptivity from his own people.

Jim and Spock went on to explore just about the entirely of the court square shops. It was while they were walking side by side that Jim's stomach made its presence known with a particularly loud groan.

" Look like breakfast's been thoroughly digested."

Jim grinned as he patted his restless stomach.

" Indeed therefore the logical step would be to partake in lunch at this time."

" Know any good places here Spock?"

Jim was still smiling as he watched Spock gave a minute quirk of one perfectly slanted eyebrow as he spoke.

" As a matter of fact I know of an establishment that I am most certain will be to your liking, giving your new found partiality to plomeek soup."

" Really now, well if that's the case then lead the way cause I am starving!"

Jim let out a chuckle and playfully swatted at Spock's shoulder, earning another quirked eyebrow for it before he followed after the Vulcan to the aforementioned establishment.

About half an hour later found Jim and Spock sitting at a table for two outside a homely looking eatery that was already buzzing with a substantial lunch crowd. Jim and Spock had just been presented with their respective orders. It was after Spock had taken his first bite of the vegetable stir-fry he had ordered for himself that he turned his attention to Jim and noticed the way the young man was tucking into his bowl of freshly made green Plomeek soup, a variation of the traditional yellow-colored soup, but made with only green ingredients. Jim looked to be thoroughly enjoying the dish, the sight of which had Spock's heart beat increasing slightly in its speed. Feeling eyes on him, Jim reluctantly turned his attention away from his lunch and looked up to see Spock silently staring at him.

" Something wrong Spock?"

Spock gave a nearly unnoticeable start and felt the tips of his ears heat up in olive-hued embarrassment.

" Forgive me for staring, it was impolite."

To say that Spock was silently mortified would have been a major understatement. When the sound of Jim's deep chuckling filled his ears, Spock looked up to see Jim's mirth-filled countenance. When Jim saw the barely disguised look of questioning on Spock's face he was quick to speak.

" Spock, would you lighten up already?" He asked with a smile.

" Jim I am currently not in possession of any portable lighting devices to further illuminate myself." Was Spock's reply.

The reaction they caused in Jim was instantaneous. Before he could think any better of it Jim threw his head back and laughed out loud. From where he sat Spock was completely mesmerized by how Jim's face just lit up with mirth. Jim went on laughing for a good few minutes until he noticed the besides the sound of his own laughter, things were a bit too quiet. Tapering of into softer chuckles, Jim finally took a look around. Jim's chuckling abruptly cut off and his eyes widened as he realized that all of the other customers who were sitting outside with him and Spock were openly staring at him. Being one to always think on his feet, Jim was quick to try and remedy any perceived disrespect.

" Please excuse my emotional outburst everyone, just me being the illogical human that I am."

To Jim's silent relief he watched as one by one the other Vulcans all seemed to accept his apologies and went back to their meals and conversations. All except for a certain Vulcan who was sitting across from the blond human.

" What is it Spock?"

Jim felt curious as to what Spock was staring at him like that for. Was there something on his face?

" Nothing is wrong Jim." Spock finally replied. " I simply could not help but admire the exquisite sight before me."

Jim felt a jolt go through him at Spock's words, that coupled with the earnestness shining in the Vulcan's dark eyes had Jim feeling a myriad of emotions, the chief of which were warmth and love. Jim fought off the urge to duck his head, and instead looked Spock square in the eyes as he spoke.

"Thank you Spock."

" You are welcome Jim."

The pair held each others' gaze for a long moment after that, lost in everything that was between them, both good and bad, but mostly focused on the good. It was Jim who reluctantly broke the moment between them.

" Spock, we really should finish lunch."

Spock blinked and seemed to come back to himself as he nodded in agreement.

" Indeed we should, the sooner we are finished with our meal the sooner we will be able to visit the Sehlat breeders."

Jim grinned widely at Spock before picking up his spoon.

" Now you're talking."

With that the pair went back to eating their respective lunches, a little quicker in pace this time. About ten minutes later the pair were bidding farewell to the fine Vulcan establishment and making their way back to where Spock had parked the hover car.

As they walked side by side, Jim found himself stealing fleeting glances at Spock. Jim was currently in the process of psyching himself up to make a bold move, and he just hoped that he would not end up making a complete fool of himself and embarrassing Spock as well. Taking a subtle look around as he and Spock walked, Jim felt his heart speed up in pace when he caught sight of the entrance to a small alleyway next to a small Vulcan tea shop. Gathering his nerve, Jim wordlessly made a B-line for the alley.

" Jim where are you going?"

Jim heard Spock's soft baritone behind him and turned his head to look over his shoulder at his Vulcan. When their eyes met Spock found himself pausing mid-step in following after Jim. When he gazed into those pale blue orbs, Spock could see the warmth that was perpetually there, but beneath this warmth was something else, something far less innocent that spoke of Jim's as of yet unrevealed intentions. Despite all his control Spock felt a small spike in his own pulse at what all of this could mean.

A calculating smirk slowly spread across Jim's face as he continued to look at Spock over his shoulder before turning back around and making his way into the alley and disappearing inside it. Spock was frozen where he stood for a few seconds longer before he snapped out of his indecision and continued following after Jim, his pace just little bit quicker than before.

With his long stride Spock made quick work of getting to the mouth of the alleyway. No sooner had Spock set one foot inside, a familiar had was reaching out and lightly grasping him by the front of his tunic. Spock put up no resistance as the hand pulled him further into the alley by his tunic and turned him so that his back softly hit the wall.

The next thing Spock knew, a pair of soft and familiar lips were gently sealed over his own. This time there was no hesitation as Spock responded in kind, his arms snaking up to wrap themselves firmly around Jim's shoulder, pulling the human flush against him. Jim wrapped his arms around Spock's waist and lost himself in all the wonderful sensations that came with kissing the Vulcan.

It was only after several, really long moments that the pair finally parted enough to speak.

" Not that I have any complaints Jim, but what brought this on?"

" What, I guy can't sneak into an alleyway for the sole purpose of making out with his lover?"

" That may be perfectly acceptable-" Spock paused he so that he could pressed a chaste kiss to Jim's lips before he continued.

" But it was quite unexpected."

" Yeah I know right?" Jim ducked his head shyly for a moment before he looked back up into Spock's dark eyes.

" Just really glad I didn't loose my nerve."

" You have no reason to be nervous with me Jim, you may do as you have done just now at your will."

" Does this mean I can grab you and kiss you senseless inside the new building for the Vulcan High Council."

"... As appealing as that may be, I do not think that particular location would be the best place for the behavior we are currently partaking in."

" Relax Spock, I wouldn't do that to you, and I would hate to see the political backlash if we ended up causing several ancient looking Vulcans to suddenly have spontaneous heart attacks."

" Though I doubt our partaking in 'making out' as you have put it, will actually cause in kind of coronary episode in our Vulcan Elders, they will no doubt be quite scandalized."

Jim chuckled at that before prompting burying his face into the side of Spock's neck, earning a small gasp from the Vulcan who unconsciously tightened his hold around the blond haired human. If it were up to Spock, he would have been content to spend the rest of the day right there in that alley, holding Jim to him, allowing all of his senses, from sight all the way to touch to revel in the human and his warmth. But unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for the sake of dignity, that was not to be as the sound of someone lightly clearing their throat caught both Spock and Jim's ears.

The pair reluctantly pulled back from each other as saw that there was a petite, ancient looking Vulcan woman with snow white hair standing a few yards away, eyeing them blankly.

Jim let out a breathless little huff as he felt his face flush with the heat of embarrassment, and a quick glance at Spock rapidly greening face told Jim that the Vulcan was feeling just the same.

Despite his embarrassment, Spock was the one able to speak.

" We beg your pardon Madam."

Jim nodded while looking thoroughly sheepish as he reluctantly took a step back from Spock.

The elderly Vulcan continued to looked at the pair, her weathered brown eyes going from Spock to Jim and then back to Spock before she spoke.

" You are pardoned Younglings, though I strongly urge some discretion in the future."

" Yes Ma'am." Jim said immediately.

" Indeed Madam, we shall." Spock added.

Seemingly satisfied, the elderly Vulcan lady gave a small nod before turning and going on her way. Jim let out a small huff of relieve before turning and sending Spock a sheepish little grin. Spock for his part looked back at Jim with his face blank, but his dark eyes smiling.

" I think it would be best for us to be on our way to Lady T'Sera's Sehlat breeding facility as I promised."

Jim's smile widened as he nodded.

" Yeah let's go, I wanna meet some sehlats."

With that the pair headed off back towards where Sarek's hover car had been parked, and if they walked a bit closer together than what was normal proximity, they paid it no mind.

A few minutes later found back Spock in the driver's seat and Jim strapped in beside in him riding shotgun. The silence between them was comfortable, if a little charged both with the remnants of what had transpired between Jim and Spock in the alley, and Jim's quiet excitement at finally going to meet the sehlats. The drive was spent in a comfortable, albeit slight charged silence between the pair, both because of what had transpired between Jim and Spock in the alleyway, and the former's quiet excitement at finally meet some saber-toothed fur balls. From where he sat in the driver's seat, Spock silently kept glancing at Jim who had his face all but plastered to the glass car window, taking in Vafer-Tor City as they drove past.

The drive to Lady T'Sera's facility took all of about ten minutes to get from the center of the city to the most outer ring. Spock expertly turned the hover car round a street corner and them spoke.

" Here were are Jim, that is the Sehlat breeding facility up ahead."

Spock then pointed at the moderately large cylindrical glass-panned building that stood tall and proud off in the ever diminishing distance. Jim was mildly surprised by the size of the facility.

" Wow, that big building's for sehlats?"

" Indeed Jim, because of what Nero did Vulcans were not the only ones to be driven to the brink of extinction, in addition the facility is cordoned off into several sections to ensure a sufficiently run operation in increasing sehlat numbers." Spock explained.

Jim nodded sadly in understanding.

" Cool."

Spock pulled up in front of the large building, and then smoothly turned the hover car into the small area that had been reserved for parking. This parking lot was already moderately full of other hover cars, indicating that Jim and Spock were not the only ones eager to see some sehlats. Spock found an empty space and expertly parked the hover car. Once all of the cars systems were shut down, Jim and Spock exited the vehicle and began walking towards the waiting arched doors of the facility. It was as they walked that Jim was suddenly struck with some truth.

" Spock, I've never been near a sehlat, what am I supposed to do?"

" Do no worry Jim, interaction with a sehlat is in fact quite simple, I shall explain it to you once we are inside."

Jim smiled and nodded, Spock's reassurances more welcome as the pair reached the facility doors. When the doors opened for them with a soft hiss, Jim eagerly stepped across the threshold with Spock right there behind him.

The main lobby of the building was plain and simple with a circular, metallic reception desk up against the front wall, which was manned by a young Vulcan woman with dark brown hair that was cut in a fashion nearly identical to the cut Spock himself was sporting. Spock led the way to the front desk and came to stand before the young Vulcan receptionist. The woman looked up to regard the new guest with signature Vulcan blankness. There was a beat of silence before the woman raised her right hand in the signature Vulcan greeting and spoke.

" Peace and long life to you both."

Spock and Jim smoothly raised their hands in turn and spoke nearly in perfect sync.

" Live long and prosper to you."

The Vulcan receptionist nodded in acknowledgement before she spoke as she stepped out from behind the receptionist desk.

" Lady T'Sera informed me that the both of you would be visiting our facility today so I shall not cause further delay, please follow me."

Jim and Spock smoothly fell in step behind the woman as she led them down the long corridor that stood behind the receptionist desk.

" If I may ask miss, which part of the facility are you taking us?" Jim asked out of curiosity.

The receptionist promptly replied to Jim's inquiry.

" This corridor leads to the main sehlat habitat that has been established, it is half indoors, and half out-door so that the sehlats are both protected and allowed a sufficient area to roam about as they would naturally."

" Sounds brilliant." Jim commented with a smile as he walked.

" The Sehlats have no complaints." The receptionist replied, surprising both Jim and Spock when she glanced at them over her shoulder, with her face held neutral as Vulcan decorum dictated, but with her light hazel eyes shining with a mild warmth.

The rest of the journey down the corridor was made in comfortable silence save for Jim asking questions now and then about the facility. Finally the trio reached a pair of arched glass doors. It was here that the Receptionist, who's name was now revealed to be T'Melia took her leave, instructing Jim and Spock to simply head right in.

Jim grinned brightly at Spock as he spoke.

" Well, what are we waiting for?"

With that Jim walked off towards the glass doors that led to the Sehlat habitat with Spock dutifully following right behind him. How things would fair once Jim actually came face to face with the creatures that looked like living teddy-bears but with six-inch fangs was anybody's guess.