: 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 from this so please don't sue me.

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Chapter 32

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" Ow." Jim groaned as he pulled the hypo-spray away from the side of his neck where he had just administered his daily morning dose of Tri-ox compound so that he wouldn't end up completely overwhelmed by the near boiling temperatures of New Vulcan's desert atmosphere.

" I do believe that it would be of great convenience if someone were to invent a more painless method of administering an injection, for your sake at least Jim." Spock said from where he was sitting at the foot of Jim's bed, having watched his lover go through his dreaded morning ritual.

A soft, high-pitched bark followed Spock's words, and both had Jim turning around with a bright smile as he faced the Vulcan, and the white sehlat cub who was all but lounging on said Vulcan's lap.

" I'd have to agree with you both whole heartedly there." Jim chuckled as he rubbed at the sore spot on his neck before he stepped away from the table where he had put his hypo-spray kit and made his way over to where Spock was sitting with Khiori.

Jim's already bright grin brightened further when without any preamble Spock gently lifted Khiori from his lap and held the little sehlat cub out for Jim to take. Jim naturally took Khiori into his arms and held the baby sehlat to his chest. Spock smoothly rose to his feet as he observed little Khiori snuggle into Jim's embrace, a look of contentment on both his and Jim's faces.

" Shall we proceed to breakfast?" Spock asked quietly.

" Yeah, I'm starving, and we shouldn't keep your dad waiting." Jim said with a smile.

Spock nodded in turn before he and Jim, with Khiori in tow, all headed out of Jim's bedroom and then out of the guest quarters. The trio made quick work of getting across Sarek's house to the veranda were it had become somewhat customary for breakfast to take place. Jim and Spock reached the living room area and made their way across it to the door leading out to the veranda. Sarek was already out there waiting for them.

The moment he caught sight of Sarek, Khiori let out a happy and excited little bark as he started lightly wriggling in Jim's arms. With a chuckle of understanding Jim swiftly bent down and set Khiori on the ground, watching as the sehlat took off like a lighting bolt and happily barreled toward Sarek. Sarek was as blank faced as ever as he stepped forward to meet the baby sehlat running towards him, gracefully bending down so that he could deftly scoop up Khiori when the sehlat was within his reach. Jim and Spock glanced at each other, both silently acknowledging that Khiori had basically come to Sarek's house and had everyone from the maid that came in twice a week, all the way up to Sarek himself wrapped around his little sehlat paws.

Khiori happily trilled away as he feverishly nuzzled his little black-nosed snout against Sarek's cheek. Though Sarek remained as stoic as ever on the outside, Jim knew full well that Sarek was in his own silent way was enjoying the morning shower of affection from the little white sehlat cub he was holding.

It had truly amazed Jim how quickly Khiori had taken a shine to both Spock and Sarek, basically doing the same ritual he had done with Jim back at the breeding facility. It had taken Jim a great deal of will power not to laugh too hard when he had witnessed both Spock and Sarek gaining Khiori's acceptance by sniffing his outstretched little paw. That had been a mere week ago, and now Khiori was completely settled in with Jim, Spock, and Sarek.

Jim and Spock made their way over to join Sarek at the table just as the Vulcan elder set Khiori down on the stone floor once more so that the little cub could trot about their legs, furiously sniffing at everything in sight.

" Greetings father." Spock said.

" Good morning Sarek." Jim greeted as well with a smile.

" I greet you both this morning in turn." Sarek said with a small nod before he gestured to the table. " Come, let us partake in breakfast"

Jim and Spock both gave nods of whole-hearted approval as they stepped to the table and took their usual seat.

" Khiori, come here." Jim called to the baby sehlat who had wandered off almost to the far end of the veranda.

Khiori instantly stopped his sniffing about and turned in Jim's direction before he gave a high bark and barreled back towards the breakfast table. The little cub all but crashed into Jim's legs, earning a happy chuckle from the young man as he scooped up Khiori into his arms and gave him a firm squeeze.

" Who's a good boy?" Jim grinned into the soft fur of Khiori's neck, to which the sehlat gave a happy trill in response.

Spock and Sarek watched on in comfortable silence, each with eyes warmed at the sight of Jim, Captain of the flagship of the Federation and one of the saviors of Earth itself, happily nuzzling a snow-white baby sehlat.

Jim set Khiori back down on the stone floor and then took a small bowl from the table and filled it with freshly cut fruit from the spread. He then set the bowl down in front of Khiori with a smile.

" Bon a petit Buddy." He said.

Khior didn't need to be told twice and with a small yap, he set on the bowl of fruit Jim had given him with the very best.

" Such a voracious appetite for one so small." Sarek commented as he took some bread and fruit for himself.

" Indeed, and we were told by Lady T'Sera that Khiori belongs to one of the smaller sehlat breeds." Spock replied as he ladled some steamed vegetables onto his plate.

" Yeah, she said when he gets to adulthood, he's gonna be about the same size as a beagle back on Earth, which is actually pretty manageable for us when we get back to the ship." Jim said with a smile as he watched Khiori maneuvered his little walrus-like fangs against his bowl to get at the fruit Jim had given him.

At Jim's words, Spock paused in eating to look to the young man as he spoke.

" I take it you have spoken with command in regards to Khiori?" Spock asked with a knowing glint in his eyes.

" Talked to Chris Pike the day after we got Khiori, we can take him with us seeing as to how he's so small." Jim explained.

" I take it on good authority that you would have taken Khiori with you back to the ship regardless of having consent from command or not." Spock said, to which Jim ducked his head and grinned as he nodded in agreement.

" Most unsurprising." Sarek commented flatly as he took a sip of his morning tea.

The rest of breakfast went on with comfortable conversation about everything from the new building project Sarek and the rest of the council were discussing, to what Jim and Spock were going to do for the rest of their vacation of Vafer-Tor. Conversation did dissolve into hearty laughter for Jim at one point when Khiori managed to get a piece of fruit skewered on his left front fang, and then couldn't get it out no matter how hard he tried with his tiny sehlat paws.

Not a bad way to start the day.

A couple of hours later found Jim and Spock walking together outside behind Sarek's hilltop residence, where a large shadow had been cast by the house against the sun, making a little more manageable for Jim. It was still dry and near scorching though, but Jim had taken his tri-ox compound so he was fairly certain he could handle the heat. They had left Khiori with Sarek in the elder Vulcan's office. Jim and Spock's parting image of Khiori was of the little white cub happily rolling around on the oval-shaped floor rug Sarek kept in front of his work desk, chewing on the plush chew toy Jim had bought for him a few days earlier. Sarek had sat at his desk, nonchalantly sorting through papers, but now and then glancing at the baby sehlat that was in his company with slightly less severe eyes. Jim and Spock had wisely not commented on the absolutely adorable site, and had simply taken their leave of Sarek. Although Jim did chuckle lightly once he and Spock were outside.

Now the pair were walking in comfortable silence in the shade behind Sarek's house. It was Jim who broke the silence.

" Our baby sehlat's got your dad wrapped around his little paws." He said with a light laugh.

" I sincerely doubt that my father, for all of his Vulcan sensitivities, minds this in the least." Spock said with a completely straight face.

Jim stopped and stared at Spock for a moment, and then he blinked. Once he blinked the proverbial floodgate seemed to open as Jim threw his head back and laughed out-loud. From where he stood, Spock simply stared silently, while inwardly he rejoiced at having made Jim laugh. It was one of Spock's favorite ways for Jim to look, with his entire face bright and alive with joy and mirth. Over the course of their say of New Vulcan, Spock had secretly made it his duty to get Jim to laugh as often as he could, both for Jim's benefit, and yes, for his own desire to see Jim in such a way.

Jim was still laughing when he suddenly felt his face gently taken into a pair of warm and strong hands. The next thing Jim knew, his lips were taken into a deep kiss. Jim was only stunned for a moment before he smiled against Spock's lips and responded in kind, wrapping his arms around the Vulcan's waist, pulling Spock flush against him. The pair lost themselves in the kiss they were sharing, until the need for oxygen could not be ignored. They pulled apart with a light gasp, but they did not stray far from each other as Spock pressed his forehead to Jim's.

" Not that I mind or anything, but what was that for?" Jim asked, slightly breathless, but smiling.

" It was your laughter Jim, it garners such urges from me." Spock answered.

Jim's grin widened further.

" So if I start laughing while we're on the main bridge for whatever reason, you'll lay one on me?"

Spock raised a slanted eyebrow at Jim's tease before he spoke.

" Tempting as that sounds, rest assured that I will exercise my utmost restraint when we are on the main bridge however, once we go off-duty is a whole other matter entirely." Spock said, his baritone voice laced with a low rasp that had Jim feeling a thrill run up his spine.

With a slightly breathless laugh Jim tightened his hold around Spock and buried his face into the spot where the Vulcan's neck met his shoulder. Spock let his eyes flutter shut in absolute contentment as he pressed his cheek to Jim's golden hair. The two embraced each other so for what seemed like hours rather than seconds, and it was in the span of those seconds that something Spock had been thinking about for a very long time suddenly became his very foremost thought. Jim seemed to notice a shift a well as he felt Spock suddenly tense against him. Jim drew back so that he could look Spock in the eye as he spoke.

" Spock, what is it?" He asked as he saw barely veiled conflict marring his Vulcan's countenance.

Spock gazed into Jim imploring blue eyes and found himself coming to a decision right then and there as he spoke.

" I love you James Tiberius Kirk, will you do me the greatest honor and be my bond mate?"

There, he had said it and there was no turning back. No sooner had Spock's words died down, an all-consuming silence seemed to blanket everything around the pair. If New Vulcan had crickets, they probably would have been chirping. Jim stood there before Spock with his eyes wide as saucers and his jaw making good friends with the ground as he gaped at Spock. Spock for his part stood there wordlessly resigned to hear Jim's rejection at any moment. The stunned silence seemed to last for what seemed like hours instead of seconds before Jim blinked and snapped his jaw shut. The Jim blinked again before he finally spoke.

" Spock... um... Spock, did you just ask me to marry you?" He asked softly, as though he could scarcely believe it himself.

Spock blinked before he spoke.

" Yes Jim, I did." Spock replied.

" Oh my God Spock." Jim whispered in awe.

" Forgive me Jim if I have offended you, I will readily admit that I had not come out here with you with the intention of proposing marriage." Spock said before he reached out to gently cup Jim's cheek as he continued.

" But believe me when I say that you are the one whom I desire to bond with above all others."

There was a long, very long beat of silence after that, Jim and Spock staring a each other without saying a word. It was a stalemate that seemed not to have any end in sight, until Jim finally spoke.

" Spock, of course I'll marry you. It would be my honor to bond with you." He said softly, awe written across every line of his face.

" Y-You will?" Spock asked, stuttering for once in his life out of shock.

Spock watched as a grin slowly spread across Jim's face, the brightness of it literally putting the sun to shame.

" Why are you so surprised Spock?" Jim asked.

" I had not thought that you would be receptive to my proposal Jim." Spock answered, actually looking somewhat dazed where he stood.

" Spock, c'mere." Jim ordered as he held his hands out to Spock.

Spock wordlessly complied and stepped forward, letting Jim gently take his face into his hands. Still smiling Jim leaned up and pressed his lips to Spock's in a tender, chaste kiss. Spock couldn't help but melt into the kiss as he placed his hands on Jim's hips. When they drew back several moments later, they still remained closed as Jim spoke, his breath ghosting over Spock's parted lips.

" Why would you think I would say anything other than yes Spock?" He asked softly.

" After all that had transpired between us, I did not believe that you would want to spend the rest of your life with me after how I abandoned you when you needed me most. I may have asked you to bond with me, but by no means does it mean that I am in any way deserving of having you as my mate." Spock said softly, earnestly.

Jim felt something inside his wrench painfully at Spock's words, and with a shake of his head he gently pulled Spock's head down towards his own and pressed his forehead to the Vulcan's as he spoke.

" Damn it Spock, of course you're deserving." Jim said softly, but vehemently.

" But after all I did Jim-" Spock began when Jim cut him off.

" I know what you did Spock, you don't have to remind me of the Hell you and everyone else put me through." Jim said flatly before he drew away and stared at Spock with searing blue eyes that had the Vulcan fighting the strong urge to avert his gaze from. Jim's gaze did not lose its intensity as he continued.

" You already know that I have forgiven you for the mistakes you made, so when the Hell are you gonna forgive yourself so that we can move on?" Jim asked, anger and sadness both tinting his tone.

" I... I desire to move on as well, but it is as if my very Katra will not allow me to forget the part I played." Spock said quietly.

" Well you aren't supposed to forget what happened, what happened is gonna be there for the rest of our lives, what I want if for you to forgive yourself and move forward and realize that you've earned back your place with me." Jim said firmly.

Spock had to close his eyes for a moment as several powerful emotions suddenly rose up inside him at Jim's words. Chief among these many emotions was relief, relief at Jim's acceptance and confirmation the he had in fact earned his place back with Jim.

" Spock." Jim said quietly, waiting for the Vulcan to regain his composure and open his eyes again.

Spock slowly opened his eyes and met Jim's now softened gaze as the human spoke.

" I think that after all the crap we've been through together, that we've earned the right to be happy, don't you?" Jim asked, his voice wavering a little while his eyes grew over bright with the sheen of tears.

" I-Indeed Jim, I believe we have more than earned it." Spock agreed as he reached up and tenderly ran the tips of his long fingers over Jim's smiling lips before cupping his cheek.

" So we're doing this?" Jim asked with a watery laugh as he leaned into Spock's touch.

" Yes Jim, we are doing this, my Sa-kugalsu." Spock confirmed with his dark eyes openly smiling.

" What does that mean Spock?" Jim asked with a grin.

" It means 'intended' or 'fiancée' as it were." Spock explain with the ghost of a smile on his lips.

Jim let out a happy laugh before he lunged forward and proceeded to kiss the very breath from Spock's lungs, to which the Vulcan had no complaints as he kissed Jim back. When they drew back several long moments later, Jim's soft and happy laughter rang through the air as he held on tight to Spock.

A little while later...

Sarek set down the data padd he had just finished going over and turned his head to the side to eye the small sofa he kept by the large arched window in his office, and the little ball of snow-white fluff that was currently curled up on it, fast asleep.

Khiori had played himself straight into a nap about ten minutes ago, much to the silent amusement of Sarek. Though he had not been opposed to having a Sehlat cub playing around in his office while he worked, Sarek was grateful for the silence of these last ten minutes that had allowed him to concentrate on his work.

Now that he had finished the most pressing items of in agenda for the day, Sarek rose from his seat behind his desk and gracefully made his way across his office to the sofa where Khiori was sleeping. With great gentleness Sarek reached out and picked up the sleeping sehlat cub. Khiori made a small mew of protest at being moved, but settled once Sarek cradled him in his arms. Sarek had it mind to take Khiori back to Jim and Spock's rooms and put the baby sehlat in his proper bed, but the arrival of Spock and Jim halted those intentions.

" Father we must speak with you." Spock said as he and Jim entered Sarek's office.

" Spock, James, what is it?" Sarek asked with all seriousness while he held a sleeping baby sehlat in his arms.

Spock and Jim looked at each other for a moment, a huge grin spreading across Jim's face as they turned back to Sarek.

" I had thought of several ways to tell you this, but I believe that the simplest way would be the best." Spock began before he reached out and took Jim's hand firmly in his own.

" My son what is going on?" Sarek asked as his eyes undoubtedly went to Jim and Spock's joined hands for a moment before he looked back up to meet his son's gaze.

" Father, while we were outside walking, I asked Jim to join with me in the sacred bonds of marriage." Spock answered before he turned his gaze to Jim and continued.

" He has accepted my proposal and agreed to be my bond mate."

Jim's already bright grin widened further before he and Spock turned their gazes back to Sarek who had fallen silent.

Spock's father was still standing in his office with a sleeping baby sehlat in his arms, and he was mutely staring at his son and the young man who he had just revealed to now be his intended mate.

" Sa-mekh?" Spock asked in concern.

" Sir, are you alright?" Jim asked

Sarek blinked very slowly at the pair before he took a deep breath and spoke.

" Spock, as your mother would often say in the figurative sense, are you and Jim pulling my leg?"

Before he could stop himself, Jim was throwing his head back and laughing out loud while Spock's ears turned a bright olive-green. Sarek continued stare, and through all of this, Khiori slept like well, he just slept on like the baby he was.