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.

Chapter 33

Jim let out a breathless laugh that was gently cut-off midway when a pair of warm and very welcome lips sealed themselves over his own. Jim's whole body seemed to sigh as he wrapped his arms around Spock and kissed the Vulcan back. If it were possible, Jim would not have minded to staying like this for the rest of the day, but seeing as to how Spock had interrupted him while he was about to undertake a particularly important task, Jim reluctantly broke the kiss after several long moments of indulgence and spoke, albeit with some difficulty since Spock had moved to nuzzling his neck. The pair were currently standing by the desk in Jim's room where the subspace communication terminal was situated.

" Hey, not that I... not that I mind in the least, but there are some very important subspace calls I gotta make Spock."

With great reluctance, Spock ceased his ministrations and drew back to meet his soon to be Bondmate's smiling, crystalline blue eyes as he spoke.

" So I take it you are informing Dr. McCoy about our decision to bond?"

" Yeah, him, Chris, and the others, I gotta see if any of them came make it to New Vulcan for the ceremony."

" That is logical, and in the off-chance that anyone whom you wish to be in attendance cannot travel to Vafer-Tor in time, I will see that perhaps some form of sub-space video conferencing can be established so that they can at least see our ceremony."

Jim felt his smile widen into a bright, full-blown grin at Spock's considerate gesture.

" Spock that would be perfect, thank you."

" You have no need to thank me, you're happiness on the day we are to be joined is what matters to me most of all."

Jim ducked his head for a moment as a felt his face heat up in both pleasure and slight embarrassment at Spock already devoted behavior. Jim looked back up to meet Spock warm dark eyes as he spoke.

" I love you." He said softly as he leaned in and pressed his forehead to Spock's.

" And I you Jim." Spock replied, his voice a low rumble that sent a thrill through Jim's whole body.

The pair stayed that way for a long moment before they reluctantly parted.

" I shall leave you to your subspace calling then Jim, and then we are to go and enjoy an afternoon meal with Elder Selik at his residence."

" Yeah, he's been pretty eager to have us over, especially now that he knows we're getting married." Jim said with a nod and a smile before Spock took his leave and he turned to the desk with the terminal.

Jim took his seat and pressed the necessary buttons to get his first subspace call to Earth out. Jim waited patiently for the person on the other end to answer his call, and sure enough after a small beep the screen on the terminal changed from a standard screen saver to the perpetually grumpy looking face of one Dr. Leonard McCoy. However, said grumpy look faded somewhat from the doctor's face when he caught sight of who it was that had called him.

" Good morning Bones." Jim said to his best friend with a bright grin.

" Hey Jim, glad to see ya' haven't gotten yourself baked by the Hobgoblin's new planet yet, have you been taking the tri-ox I gave you?" Bones asked, instantly going into doctor mode.

Jim let out a small huff of laughter as he spoke.

" I knew you were gonna start with the tri-ox, but to ease your mind, yes, I've been taking it and you'll be happy to know that Spock's been taking it upon himself to remind me to take the damn hypo." Jim said in mock annoyance before he let out a light laugh.

" Well, that's good, I got the hobgoblin on my side making sure you don't die of heatstroke. Where is Spock anyway?" Bones asked.

" He's probably out on the veranda with Khiori." Jim replied.

" Well, I again reiterate that I would love to see in person the little sehlat cub that's got your Vulcan wrapped around his paw." Bones said with a crooked smile.

To this Jim felt a grin spread across his face as he spoke.

" Well Bones, I can give you a reason for coming to Vafer-tor to meet Khiori personally."

A small frown of confusion marred Bones's face at Jim's words as he spoke.

" What do you mean by that Jim?" The good doctor asked.

Feeling equal parts nervous and excited, Jim took a small, steadying breath before he spoke.

" Well, I'm gonna need you to come to New Vulcan for me." He began.

" What's going on here Jim?" Bones asked warily. " Why would I ever need to come to that hot rock?"

" Well, I'm gonna need you to be my best man Bones." Jim said simply.

The second Jim said these words, he watched as his best friend's face became a picture of complete and total shock. Bones just gawked at his best friend and captain from where he was sitting in his apartment back in San Francisco. The stunned silence between Jim and Bones went on for what seemed like an hour before the doctor finally regained his ability to speak, and when he spoke, he said only one word.

" Explain."

And explain Jim did, from how he and Spock slowly but surely reconciled, and how the Vulcan had asked him to be his bondmate yesterday, to Sarek's hilarious reaction when they broke the news to him, and how they had all sat down and Jim and Spock had explained to Sarek that they were indeed not pulling his leg. After that Sarek had voiced his whole-hearted approval, albeit is a very dignified and Vulcan manner, although Jim and Spock had both seen that Sarek was, in his own quiet way, very pleased with this turn of events.

By the end of his explanation Jim and Bones were both laughing their heads off at the surprisingly humorous turn of events that had unfolded just the day before.

Once he had sobered somewhat, a now smiling Bones quirked his eye brow at Jim as he spoke.

" So, you're finally making honest men outta each other." He said good-naturedly.

" Yup, and it's been a long time coming. You know, he was actually going to ask me to bond with him earlier, but then... All the crap that happened." Jim said, going quiet for a moment as he remembered the not so happy events that had led him to where he was now.

Bones's face instantly saddened as he too remembered the Hell Jim had gone through, and the part that he himself had played, how badly he had let his best friend down.

Upon seeing this, Jim instantly brightened and spoke.

" Hey Bones, lose the long face, this is a happy call remember?"

Bones let out a small huff of laughter and let a truly happy smile spread across his face as he spoke.

" You are correct about that, and just for the sake of formality, Jim Kirk, of course I'll be your best man, it would be an honor." He said, meaning it to his very soul, but saying it with his usual gruffness.

And if Jim suddenly had something in his eye that made him blink rapidly, and Bones had that very same affliction, neither commented on it. After that, the conversation turned to the nuts and bolts of when Bones was to get to New Vulcan to attend the upcoming nuptials. By the time they were saying goodbye, Bones had given Jim his solemn promise to get onto the next available transport to New Vulcan that was available.

Once his conversation with Bones ended, and the older man had signed off of the sub-space terminal was a gruff but fond farewell, the next person Jim called was one Admiral Christopher Pike. Needless to say that Jim spent a good amount of time explaining his very recent engagement, and fast approaching wedding to his first officer to his predecessor. In addition, Jim spent a good deal of that time flushing in slight embarrassment as Chris good-naturedly teased him and said that he would be honored to attend the bonding ceremony that was set to happen within the next few days, not weeks.

After Jim was done speaking to Chris, who to Jim's utter delight assured him that he would be in attendance come time for the wedding, Jim then phoned up the rest of his senior staff, personally inviting Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, and even Keenser to his wedding, and specifically charging Lt. Uhura as Communications Officer to inform the rest of the Enterprise crew of their Captain's upcoming marriage to his First Officer.

By the time Jim had finished calling his senior crew, and receiving congratulations and promises to get to New Vulcan, he found himself feeling like he now truly had something that he had never really had in his life.

A family that would be there for him on one of the most important days of his life, and it was a glorious feeling.

Which was why, Jim didn't even bother trying to send a subspace call out to one Lt. Cmdr. Winona Kirk who was currently stationed at Star-base 81 as a science officer in the Veridian star system. It most likely would not have been a happy conversation if he had. So, taking a moment to compose himself because he truly was touched by how happy everyone was for him and Spock, Jim let out a breathless, slightly watery laugh before he shook it all off and got up from the chair he was sitting in and walked out of his bedroom area within the guest room he shared with Spock.

With how he was feeling inside, Jim felt a strong and slightly embarrassing urge to skip down the hall, but instead Jim restrained himself to walking with a slight bounce in his step as he reached the living room area of Sarek's house and made his way across it to the glass door that led out to the veranda. The moment he stepped out into the late morning New Vulcan sun, Jim felt the smile that was already gracing his face grow into a happy grin at the sight that greeted him.

There standing by the railing that over-looked the desert landscape that surrounded Sarek's home was Spock, with his arms full of one very happy white sehlat cub, who was currently trying to nibble on the Vulcan's nose. Spock for his part, kept his expression blank in the signature Vulcan way, but his dark eyes were warm as he allowed Khiori's antics without complaint. It was an absolutely adorable thing to behold, to see Spock so unguarded. Not wanting to stand apart one second further, Jim made his way across the veranda to Spock and Khiori.

" Hey guys." He said with a smile as he came to stand beside Spock and reached out to scratch behind one of Khiori's velvety soft ears, earning a happy purr from the little white cub. While he petted Khiori, Jim leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Spock's lips. When they drew apart, Spock spoke.

" I take it that things went well with your communications?" He asked.

" Really well in fact, everyone's pretty happy with the news, expect some calls yourself, especially from Bones." Jim said with a chuckle.

" Am I safe to assume that the good Doctor will be calling to let me know that if I hurt you in any way before and after we are married, he will personally see to my punishment?" Spock asked.

" Yeah, safe to say he will. Leonard's a Southern gentlemen at heart after all." Jim said as he gently took Khiori from Spock and laughed lightly as he promptly had his face enthusiastically bathed in baby sehlat kisses.

Spock's eyes were smiling as he gazed at the interaction between Jim and Khiori, silently thankful that he had arranged to take Jim to the sehlat breeding facility that day, where they had met Khiori and claimed him as their own.

" Will Dr. McCoy and the others be able to attend?" Spock asked.

" You better believe it, I'm pretty sure if I had told them the wedding was tomorrow, they would have all found a way to get here." Jim grinned.

" That would be highly unlikely seeing as to how even at maximum warp, it would take approximately 2.1 days to reach Vafer-Tor and-" Spock's explanation of the impossibility of Jim's statement was cut off when Jim gently sealed his lips over the Vulcan's in a deep kiss, one that Spock had no problem reciprocating. When they drew away a few long moments later, Jim smiled widely as he spoke.

" There you go again taking things literally." He said softly.

" Indeed Jim." Spock replied, his voice a low rumble as he gracefully wrapped his arms around Jim and pulled him in close before he continued. " And I have it on good authority that it is one of the so called quirks about me that you are quite fond of."

" Yeah, you got me there." Jim chuckled as he wrapped one arm around Spock in turn, while he used the other to hold Khiori close to his chest. They embraced for a few moments before Jim broke the comfortable silence between them.

" Not that I wouldn't mind staying like this all day, but we have a lunch date with a certain eager Elder we need to get to."

" Indeed, we should not keep Elder Selik waiting, especially with the news we have to share with him." Spock said with a nod as he and Jim started walking across the veranda to the door that led back into the house.

They left Khiori with Sarek and took his leave before they headed out the front of the house to get to Sarek's hover car. A few moments later the pair were driving across the desert landscape, headed toward the main Metropolitan area of New Vulcan and from there, the small suburban neighborhood where Elder Selik's residence was located.

Jim was equal parts giddy with excitement, but also slightly nervous for reasons he could not quite explain. It wasn't like Elder Selik was going to disapprove of their decision to bond, but Jim just had this slight feeling of apprehension as he and Spock made a turn onto the street that the Elder's house was located on. As they cruised closer and closer to the Elder's house, Jim felt his heart starting to pound faster and harder inside his chest, the sound of blood rushing through his ears.

" C'mon Jim, get a hold of yourself." Jim thought as Spock maneuvered the hover-car off the street and onto Elder Selik's driveway.

With one swift motion, Spock turned off the ignition and the hover car gently landed on the ground. Spock turned to Jim and spoke.

" Shall we Ashaya?"

Jim found himself smiling at Spock's term of endearment, meeting his soon to be bond-mate's dark, coffee-colored eyes and feeling the nervousness that had been plaguing him dissipate almost completely.

" Yeah, let's go, gotta give that old man a good reason to jump for joy."

" But Jim the Elder-" Spock began before Jim cut him off with a bright grin.

" Spock, you know full well what I mean."

" Indeed Jim."

With that the pair climbed out of the hover car and then made their way up the path that led to Elder Selik's front door. The walk itself seemed both infinitely long, and incredibly short, but inevitably, they were standing before the light gray colored arched door and Spock was reaching out to press the door-bell to announce their presence to the owner of the residence.

A few moments after Spock pressed the button, the gray door was sliding open with a soft hiss to reveal Elder Selik. The Elder Vulcan stood dressed in a simple Vulcan tunic with silver Vulcan runes embroidered along the hemline and the cuffs of the sleeves, paired with simple black slacked and dark grey slippers adorning his feet. Silently regal, and with a warm smile behind his weather amber eyes as he gazed on his visitors.

Feeling all of his nervousness disappear in that instant, both he and Spock, as though telepathically linked already, raised their hands in the traditional Vulcan greeting and spoke almost as one.

" Peace and long life Elder Selik" Spock said formally.

" Peace and long like Elder." Jim said with a warm smile, although he was fighting very hard not to just run to the elder Vulcan and throw his arms around him. Jim had the feeling that he would have ample opportunity to do that later.

" Live long and prosper my Young ones." Elder Selik said in return as he raised his own weathered hand before stepping aside, clearing the doorway. " Please do come in."

Jim and Spock did not need to be told twice as Jim stepped in first with Spock following right behind. The door shut behind them with a soft hiss as the three stepped further into Elder Selik's home.

" It is quite pleasing that you have both finally taken up my offer to join me in afternoon repast." Elder Selik said as they all took seats in the elder Vulcan's living room space.

" Indeed Elder, Jim and I were also eager to see you." Spock said neutrally, while Jim bit back the urge to grin like a loon an instead nodded his own agreement before he spoke.

" Like we wouldn't be?" He said with a smile.

Warmth danced behind Spock Prime's eyes as he gazed at his younger self, and the younger Jim Kirk. It warmed the elder Vulcan greatly that they had come to visit him.

There was a beat of silence before Spock Prime spoke.

" So, how have things been since last I saw you both?"

At this, Jim and Spock shared a subtle look before facing the expectant Elder. Things had been good, more than good, and a lot had happened. They may as well start with how they came to adopt a certain snow white baby sehlat.

Spock Prime was quite charmed with the story of how Jim and Spock had gone to the sehlat breeding facility, and had both bonded with Khiori in the way that they had, through the sniffing of paws. It charmed the elder even more when Jim and Spock told him of how Khiori had basically wrapped them and even Sarek himself around his little white paws.

" I look forward to meeting your Khiori in person when next I visit Sarek's home, before you're shore leave is at an end of course." Spock Prime said warmly as Jim smiled and Spock nodded in agreement.

" Well, you'll be meeting Khiori a lot sooner then you think." Jim said, feeling his heart starting to pound, but this time it was all out of excitement and not apprehension.

From where he sat beside Jim, Spock turned to meet the human's bright blue gaze and gave a nod of understanding before turning back to face his older self. It didn't take long for Elder Selik to realize that there was something going on, something important. With that in mind, Selik spoke.

" What do you mean Jim?" He asked.

Selik watched as a near blinding smile spread across Jim's face, lighting it up in a way that was truly breathtaking as the young man shifted closer to Spock and reached out, taking one of the Vulcan's hands firmly in his own. Spock in turn, gripped Jim's hand, seeming not at all bothered by the blatant showing of intimacy as they both faced Selik. It was Jim who finally spoke.

" You're gonna have to come help with the preparations." Jim said with a mischievous glint in his bright blue eyes.

Selik blinked owlishly before he spoke.

" What preparations do you speak of?" He asked.

Now it was Spock who spoke.

" There is a story to these preparations, but I shall be straight forward first. Elder, the preparations are for our upcoming nuptials, I have asked Jim to bond with me, and he has done me the great honor of saying yes."

After Spock said these words, there was complete and total silence. Selik sat across from his two guests with his face completely blank as he gazed back at Jim and Spock. As the seconds ticked by, Jim and Spock grew more and more concerned, until Jim could no longer just sit there. In one swift motion he was on his feet and across the living room to Selik's side.

" Elder, are you okay?" He asked as he knelt before the elder Vulcan.

Movement to his left had Jim looking in time to see his Spock coming to kneel on Selik's other side, his face almost visibly showing that he too was deeply concerned for the elder.

" Elder please, if we have offended-" Spock began to saw when a weathered hand gently cupped his cheek, effectively silencing him. Moments later Spock Prime was also cupping Jim's cheek with his other hand as he spoke.

" All the both of you have done is make this old Vulcan most happy and relieved."

Jim felt a wide grin spread across his face while Spock's eyes shone with his happiness as they both instinctively leaned into the Elder's warm touch.

" So does this mean you'll help with things?" Jim said with a cheeky glint in his bright blue eyes.

The next moment Jim was letting out a small yelp that quickly turned into a soft chuckle as Elder Selik gave his cheek a light pinch as he spoke.

" You know full well I would not miss it for anything." Elder Selik replied with the ghost of a smile across his face.

Spock for his part had to look down for a moment and swallow, his throat feeling slightly tight for some reason before he looked back up to meet his older self's weathered and knowing eyes that were now on him as he spoke.

" Thank you Elder, for everything." He said softly. The older Spock simply shook his head as he swiped his thumb light across the younger's cheekbone as he spoke.

" Anything for family." He said simply.

If Jim suddenly found himself blinking rapidly after hearing these words, well he would just say that it was New Vulcan's dry air irritating his eyes.

A few moments later the Jim, Spock, and Elder Selik were walking out of the living room to go and enjoy the lunch that was promised by the Elder outside in the backyard. It was a good meal, made all the better by Jim and Spock listening on happily as the Elder voiced his opinions regarding what should and should not happen at their bonding ceremony. In his own quiet way Elder Selik was quite enthusiastic during that whole conversation. The most poignant thing he said however, what that while it was good that they were sticking to tradition and following customs of a Vulcan bonding ceremony, they should still just be Jim and Spock and not be afraid to shake things up. This made Jim grin like a cheshire cat while Spock silently grew a bit nervous at that look, wondering just what kind of seeds the Elder has just planted in his soon to be bond-mate's brilliant mind. But a look from Elder Selik directed his way with a small quirk of a grey eyebrow had the cogs of Spock's own mind turning as well.

" Now young ones, let me tell you of the time when, I almost got married in my own universe." Elder Selik began.

" I shall begin by saying that it was by no means a calm and collected event as your impending nuptials will be, barring anything unforeseen. It all started while we were on the ship going about our daily business..."

By the time Elder Selik was done with his recount of how Pon Farr had struck him and he had almost battled his Jim to the death, and Dr. McCoy's quick thinking intervention that saved all of their hides, Jim was nearly breathless with laughter while Spock's face was so flushed that he very nearly resembled an Orion male. Elder Selik for his part was as calm and composed as ever, if with a bit of a satisfied gleam in his weathered eyes at the state he had reduced the younger version of himself and his beloved James T. Kirk to.

With Elder Selik promising to come to Sarek's house the next day to discuss the preparations for the impending bonding ceremony, Jim and Spock took their leave, albeit with some reluctance for they could have spent all day there listening to Elder Selik's epic tales. Still chuckling every now and then as he and Spock climbed into Sarek's hover car, the pair looked back and gave a final Vulcan salute to the Elder where he was standing at his front door and then they were driving off back to Sarek's house.

When they were safely back inside Sarek's house, Jim and Spock were walking down the hallway towards their shared room when Sarek appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

" My son, James, how was you visit with Elder Selik?" Spock's father asked.

" It went very well Father, Elder Selik was most please when we informed him of our impending bonding." Spock replied.

" He may have also unofficially made himself the wedding planner, especially for the reception." Jim said with a grin.

" Well rest assured, any assistance the Elder is willing to provide, I shall welcome in the coming days. The ceremony is taking place in a weeks time after all." Sarek said simply.

It was then that both Spock and Jim noticed that Sarek was holding a neat little stack of rectangular data PADDs in his hand. Sarek seeming to notice this addressed the matter.

" Do forgive me if I am being too forward with you James, but I have taken the liberty of preparing some materials for you that will aid you in understanding what a Vulcan bonding ceremony entails, and since the usual sense of urgency is not involved between you and Spock, I believed these would be to your benefit." Sarek explained as he held out the PADDs to Jim. Jim took the offering with a smile and a nod as he spoke.

" Thank you Sarek, I will read through them thoroughly. We wouldn't want me offending anyone now would we?" Jim said with a self deprecating chuckle.

" Rest assured James, I have no doubt that you will only bring honor to our house on the day of the ceremony, for you have already proven yourself more than capable of such. These PADDs are simply a means of addition guidance." Sarek said with all seriousness but veiled warmth in his eyes are he watched Jim's face flush slightly at the unexpected praise he had just received, while Spock looked on approvingly.

" Thank you again Sarek, these...um...these will be very helpful." Jim said, finding his throat to be just a little tighter than was normal. As he gazed down at the PADDs he was holding. He noticed that they were a bit worn and with a scratch or two here or there. He looked back up when Sarek spoke.

" Indeed James, I am most certain that they will be helpful to you, just as they were many years prior when I prepared and presented them to She Who Was My Wife." Jim's soon to be father-in-law said, with the barest hint of an upward curve to the side of his normally neutral lips.

Jim felt his heart skip a beat as Sarek's words registered, and beside him Spock reached out and gently ran his fingertips over the surface of the topmost PADD in quiet reverence. Both Jim and Spock looked back up to meet Sarek's gaze with slightly wide eyes. There was a long silence, and in that silence there seemed to solidify a bond that may have been totally different from the one Jim and Spock were soon going to enter into within a week's time, but was by no means any less poignant.

The bond between a father and his two sons.

Dear Readers,

I am so sorry it took me so long to update. Life has just been massively hectic with family events and issues happening left and right, massive writer's clock, and being a full time student on top of that. Please find it in you to forgive me, and know that I'm still here.

Thank you all.