I'm still working on #6, but life and general angst has gotten in the way lately. I WILL finish it, do not worry! Thanks for putting up with me!

This was started (and was supposed to be finished) on Father's Day. This takes place about 2-4 weeks after Chris convinces Jim to come back and join Starfleet. I had always planned that he had been picked up shortly before the Summer term/session/trimester/semester, so the timing works out.

I hope you enjoy! :D

I'll be there when the light comes in

"What is that racket?" Jim grumbled as he stuck his head into the fridge, trying to find something to eat. He extracted a forgotten chocolate bar from the back, cringing when the pounding started up again outside. Chris shrugged absently with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly what was going on, and had no real intention of saying anything, causing Jim to glare. "That's not an answer."

"Alkaios been getting his house overhauled for the last month; I have no clue what they are doing over there, but it's beginning to sound like they are constructing a labyrinth in the non-existent bedrock below the place." Jim flopped into the chair across from his dad, noting the sour expression with amusement.

"Hopefully he doesn't sink the neighborhood while he's at it." Chris smirked, tipping his head back and downing his drink before setting the glass on the table between them with a thunk.

"Because you are just getting used to that nice shower, right?" Jim crumpled up the wrapper to the candy bar, then got to his feet and threw it in the recycler with a lazy toss.

"Damn straight! That thing is awesome, if you had told me about it, I would have come back soo-" Jim snapped his mouth shut as Chris's face went horribly blank, but not before Jim could see the hurt that flashed behind the older man's eyes. He needed to learn when to keep his goddamned mouth shut. Chris rose to his feet, his eyes shuttered; Jim felt like shit.

"I need to go to Command for the afternoon. I'll be back this evening." Jim tried to get his mouth together to say something, but the words died on his tongue as he watched the clean lines of his dad's back as he left the room, the front door opening and closing only a minute or so later. Jim groaned and pillowed his head in his arms. God, he was an idiot. Chris had convinced him to come back, hadn't given up on him, as the newly installed massive shower in his room clearly showed, and he had shoved it all back in his face. Again. A niggling feeling at the back of his mind made him push himself to his feet and head straight over to the nearest console, hitting a few buttons before his shoulders slumped.

"It's Father's Day." Jim licked his lips and shifted from side to side as he tried to process that information. "Shit!" He had to do something. Even if it was just a small gesture, he couldn't just let the day go unacknowledged, especially after the near-clusterfuck that he had made of this morning. He licked his lips again as he contemplated a plan of action before sitting down in the chair by the console. He had some calls to make.

Jim heard the click of the front door lock, and he scrambled to get the enchiladas and tamales onto the table before Chris made it all the way inside. The door closed seconds later, and he could hear exaggerated sniffs from the other room, causing him to stifle a chuckle. He had considered just taking him out to dinner, but you just couldn't find the right stuff north of Santa Barbara...not the way he knew Chris liked it, so cooking it was. It had been awhile, but he didn't think he had screwed it up too badly.

"Something smells great, Jim. Planning on throwing a party or something?" Jim just grinned as Chris came into the room, watching as the other man took in the spread laid out on the dining room table, his eyes widening at the sight. "Jim- what's all this for?" Chris's raised eyebrow was trying its best to compel him to speak, but Jim just blinked at him innocently until his dad sighed and rolled his eyes. "Am I allowed to eat any of this?"

"What do you think, Dad?" Jim snorted, waving the older man to a seat. "What do you want to drink? I went out and picked up tequila and Negra Modelo, if you want something somewhat fitting." The smile creeping onto Chris's face was one Jim hadn't seen in awhile, and the fine lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes were a welcome sight as the man reached out and took the beer from his hand, taking a sip before setting it down and surveying the table again.

"You didn't have to do all this, Jim." Yeah, he had figured it out. Jim shook his head as he sat down across from him, grabbing a beer for himself before indicating the food.

"I wanted to, Dad. Simple as that." Chris nodded as he began to load up his plate, and the silence that descended was comfortable as Jim followed suit. After a few minutes filled with the clatter of silverware against plates and the faint sounds of chewing, Chris took a long pull of his beer as he set his fork down, and Jim paused mid-bite as the older man turned his grey-blue eyes on him.

"Thank you, Jim. Everything is wonderful; you must have started on this as soon as I left." Jim gave his dad a boyish grin, neither admitting or denying, and he finished up the bite of enchilada on his fork before setting his own fork down on the plate.

"I've got something else for you, too-" Jim got to his feet and crossed the room to where he had left a PADD, hitting a few buttons before walking back to the table and passing it over to Chris, who squinted suspiciously at the information on the screen. Jim settled back into his seat and began to eat again as he kept an eye on his dad, whose gaze narrowed further as he took in what he was looking at.

"You rotten brat," Chris said, trying to give Jim a dirty look; the smile quirking up the corners of his mouth made the statement rather impotent, and Jim snorted as he waved a hand towards the PADD.

"I was assured that a Klingon could get on some of these horses without freaking out, so I thought we could make a day of it without having to worry about me getting thrown or kicked." Chris was grinning unabashedly now, and Jim could feel his cheeks warm as the older man's eyes told him exactly what he thought of the gift.

"Convict Lake, huh- haven't been there since my own Academy days." Chris set the PADD down and got to his feet; Jim watched from his chair as his dad maneuvered around the table and walked up behind him, closing his eyes as Chris leaned over and wrapped his arms around Jim's shoulders. Chris and John were the only ones who could get away with it without Jim having a borderline panic attack, and Jim welcomed his dad's body heat as he felt soft, dry lips press briefly against his temple before withdrawing, a hand ruffling his hair. Chris returned to his seat and picked up his fork, glancing down at his plate before meeting Jim's eyes firmly. "It's good to have you back, son." Jim nodded, keeping his head lowered as he fought back an irritating prickle at the corner of his eyes.

"It's good to be back, Dad."