Sorry for the wait! School and finals got in the way of any fun writing. Hopefully I won't have to worry about either for a while.

Enjoy the chapter, more adventury stuff happens next time :D

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The look on Spock the younger's face when they reappeared on the transporter pad was as close to excited amazement as he could get past his Vulcan sensibilities. Jim smiled, fallowing the family off the pad.

"Ambassador Sarek," a man with very large purple eyes and orange skin greeted. He had a few wrinkles in the corners of his eyes and mouth and his hair was white, slicked back with a deep widows peak to between his eyebrows. "It is an honor to have you aboard with your esteemed family. I am Kenool, Captain of the Enlightenment." He bowed to them.

"My thanks for your timely offering of aid, Captain Kenool," Sarek said.

"Of course. A Vulcan ship once helped a Quazian trade ship that had been too damaged reach home, we are always glad to help such friends and my crew agreed."

"I am sure it was only logical."

Kenool just smiled and nodded.

"You are a Quazian?" Spock asked.

The captain looked down and smiled again, nodding. "Indeed, I hail from Quazen."

"I am Spock, son of Sarek."

"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you." He bowed slightly again.

"And this is my wife, Amanda," Sarek said.

"Thank you for your assistance, Captain," she said with a smile.

"But of course." He bowed once more but looked up to Jim. He tilted his head at him, surprised if the way his second eyelids fluttered was any indication. He had two sets evidently "Forgive me, I had not expected another Terran in the exchange."

"I'm...well, just call me Jay. I'm a guest of the Ambassador's."

"Jay then. I will have another room prepared for you. I have a family quarter's ready for you Ambassador."

"...Is Jay not to room with us? We are meant to watch out for him, it would be logical for him to be nearby," Spock said as a few security officers gathered up their bags.

"Ah, then shall he stay in the family quarters as well?"

"...I believe a room of his own next to ours will suffice. He will likely appreciate the privacy more."

"Uh sure, fine with me."

Spock seemed upset for a moment but then schooled his face back to its neutral state.

"Very well," Kenool said. "Would you like some time to relax and put your things away to your satisfaction? Then perhaps a tour of the ship, if you would find it interesting."

Spock looked up in attention again. Jim had to smile fondly at him. "I think that sounds very interesting."

"I as well," Amanda said with a smile. "Lets go put our things away and relax a bit while the ship heads back on route."

"Very well."

"I will show you to the quarters once miss T'Fua and your other assistant arrive."

Jim tried not to grimace, creating a tight forced smile on his face, and leaned in to whisper to Amanda. "That Vulcan lady that doesn't like me is coming?"

She tried not to smile and whispered back. "How do you know she doesn't like you?"

"Because she gave the Vulcan equivalent of the "I stepped in something gross and stinky," face when she looked at me."

Amanda snorted and tried to cover the sound with a cough. "Jay, really..."

"Am I wrong?"

"...Just stay out of her way and I'm sure you'll get along fine."

"If she does the same, sure."

They stopped talking as the transporter worked again, Jim turning to look and noticing an odd look on Sarek's face as he did. It was gone before he could identify it, but he knew it was there. He'd puzzle over it later he supposed. When T'Fua and another Vulcan man Jim had seen Sarek speak to sometimes arrived. He believed his name was Sarrin, but decided it best not to address him without actually knowing.

More officers came to take their luggage and Kenool lead them to a row of rooms. "We always try to have extra rooms just in case, and I believe we have enough for all of you."

"Jay should have a room next to us," Spock said. "He is still under our care. Should something happen, we must get to him quickly."

"Spock, I doubt anything will happen on the ship," Amanda said gently.

"Indeed. And it is more pertinent that we, as your father's assistants, take the rooms on either side of your family quarters."

Spock leveled his gaze at her. "If we are in the same vicinity, it will be easy enough to get to our room should my father need you. Which is just as doubtful."

T'Fua's eye twitched barely a centimeter, but Jim could tell she was not amused. "And the same can be said of 'Jay'. If he needs you, you are a door away, not across the ship."

Spock looked like he was trying hard not to glare. Jim knelt down and set a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, It's alright Spock. If I need you or anyone, I'll call. Don't worry. I don't mind taking the father room."

"...Very well." Jim thought he say the boy look pouty a moment but decided it was just his imagination. He couldn't be that good at reading Vulcans already.

Kenool directed the security personnel carrying the bags to the different rooms.

"You'll want to come on the tour with us, right Jay?" Amanda asked.

"Of course, wouldn't miss it."

"Then we'll knock on your door in about...forty five minutes?"

"Sounds good." The separated and Jim sighed as he sat on the bed. He noted that the beds were a little firmer than the standard issue of his time, but doable. He relaxed a bit before putting his things away and stowing his bag. They'd be here for a few days and he was past his days of living out of duffle bags or suitcases.

He was about done when the chime on his door-also different from the one on the Enterprise-signaled someone was there. "Jay, are you ready for a tour?" Amanda asked through the intercom.

Jim smiled. "Yeah, I'm coming." He combed through his hair quickly before going to the door and smiling at Amanda, Spock and Sarek. "Hey, gang's all here."

"We are not a gan-"

"He just means we're all together, Sprocket," Amanda said with a smile.

Spock's ears tinged green at the affectionate nickname. "Mother..."

Jim's lips twitched. "Sprocket?" Oh, there will be so much teasing when I'm back in the future...

Spock blushed more and looked away. "Nicknames are illogical, please don't call me such. Either of you." Amanda pouted a little, but she didn't look that hurt.

"In any case," Sarek interjected, "it is time for the tour. Kenool's second in command, a Mr. Foster, is to show us around."

"Right, let's go," Jim said.

"Indeed," T'Fua agreed.

Jim bit his tongue to keep from saying "you're coming too?" and instead fell instep with Amanda among the family, leaving T'Fua and Sarrin to walk behind them.

Mr. Foster was human, as one might expect though Jim had long since learned to be prepared for anything. He had read hair and brown eyes, and was fairly tall and lanky like a growing teen despite looking about thirty. He smiled at them and bowed slightly. "Good morning. It's very nice to have all of you on board. I'm Corbin Foster, second in command and an engineer on board."

"Are you not chief engineer?" Spock spoke up. Amanda blushed but before she could admonish him, Foster just laughed.

"I could've been, but I very much wanted to be second in command and help Captain Kenool. I wouldn't be fully able to help him if I was always off the bridge in engineering, I recommended another man even better than me to be chief engineer. I help out on the bridge however by reading certain readouts, giving my opinion and helping out."

"I see...I believe I could manage two positions."

Jim arched his eyebrows. So that confidence started early...

Foster just smiled again. "Well, I'm not Vulcan so I have to be aware of my limitations. If I tried to do too much, I could put my ship and crew in danger."

"...You have a good point," Spock conceded. "Do you have any Vulcan's on your crew?"

"There are not enlisted Vulcans in Starfleet," T'Fua said. "It is not practical for us to be involved thusly in such matters. To be on the council of the United Planets is one thing, but our presence is not necessary within Starfleet. Is that not so, Ambassador Sarek?"

"That has been the frame of mind in the past..."

Spock frowned a little, looking like someone had just stepped on his dream. Jim glared at T'Fua. "Actually, I think a Vulcan's presence would be great. Maybe not on a light cruiser-no offense Foster- but on a ship with exploratory missions a Vulcan could provide a lot of good insight into finds on other planets, not to mention learn valuable new data for their own planet's archives. Vulcan's do pride themselves on learning things and bringing knowledge to not just their world, but to others that seek to better themselves as well?"

Sarek looked at him. "That...is one of our beliefs, yes."

Spock looked up at Jim in surprise before, looking down again. Jim caught the slight shine of gratitude and a green tinge to his cheeks and ears. He smiled a little at the young Vulcan.

Foster smiled a little as well. "I've learned all things are possible. It's just a matter of time really."

Tell me something I don't know... Jim thought.

"In any case, shall we begin the tour?" Foster asked.

"Please," Amanda smiled. Spock nodded once, but it was eager Jim could tell.

Foster started the tour with the basics: the bridge, the galley, the sickbay and housing. Finally he brought them down to engineering. Spock's body seemed to vibrate a little in excitement, looking at the room from a glass overlook.

"Sorry we can't bring you any closer, but safety protocols and all that."

"Understood. Observation from this distance is acceptable."

Foster arched his eyebrows at the younger Vulcan but smiled, watching as he took notes. "You really interested in ships, huh?"

"I am interested in many scientific endeavors. Ship engineering is one of them. I also enjoy mathematics and biology," Spock said almost distractedly as he copied his notes.

"Well, you would certainly be an asset with all those specialties to the fleet."

Spock blushed slightly at his ears. "...My thanks for your compliment."

Amanda smiled fondly and set a hand on his shoulder. Sarek however looked troubled, or as troubled as he could. Jim wasn't entirely sure, but he thought he saw a slight pucker between his brows in annoyance. It made him frown just slightly as well and gave him the urge to tell Spock to enroll in the fleet as soon as he could. But he kept his mouth shut and instead watched the engineers below bustle around and ensure their ship was ship shape.

The rest of the tour was relatively uneventful, maybe even boring. A cruiser class didn't have very much, being meant for fast and light travel. On the Enterprise there would've been the gym, the labs, the green house, the observation decks, rec rooms, and several other features. Some of which would not even be considered for ships for years. By the end Jim felt a strong pang of longing for his ship. And by dinner he felt a stronger longing for his crew.

"I...think I'm gonna go rest for a while. Kind of a lot to process, going to Earth and the ship and everything..."

Amanda frowned a little. "Are you feeling alright, Jay?"

"Oh yeah, just tired and not really hungry. Sorry, I just kind of want to rest. I can get something to eat later if that's alright."

"Of course," Foster said. He handed him a card. "Use that, it's a guest meal card."

"Thanks." Jim looked down and noticed wide dark eyes looking up at him. He smiled back. "I'm fine Spock, really. Just going to rest a bit."

"...Very well, but eat something later. Humans require regular nourishment."

He chuckled and nodded, mock saluting. "Yessir."

The slanted brows above the wide dark eyes moved down, but he nodded slightly. Jim turned and made to head back to his room, but paused and instead veered off down an adjacent hallway instead. If he went to his room, he'd just end up lying on his bed and sulking. If he was going to sulk, he'd rather have a great view.

Luck was on his side when he walked into the rather homey observation deck. The ones on the Enterprise were large enough to hold a good fifty people. This one could hold about ten at once. But it was empty, and he was alone. And that was how he wanted it. Going to a nearby replicator, he replicated a bottle of beer. He wanted something stronger but replicators couldn't do anything beyond a simple beer.

Sitting down, he sighed and looked out at the vast amount of stars. Somewhere among them were other worlds, worlds he'd been excited to explore when he was made captain. To boldly go where no man had gone before or at least had lightly treaded. And in one year he'd nearly gotten killed at least five times, he'd gotten chewed out by Bones more times than that, and he'd lost some good men but always managed to avenge them if he could.

Bone's face came up when he thought of him. Older than him, wiser, a little bitter, but also one hell of a sarcastic wonderful bastard best friend. If...when he returned home, the rant awaiting him was probably epic. McCoy would likely just strap him to an infirmary bed if he was lucky. But at the same time Jim wanted to see him again. Hug him, get yelled at for being an idiot, yell back he just wanted to help, and in the end just end up laughing with him like always.

He wondered if Uhura missed him at all. Maybe they weren't the closest, but he liked to think he'd grown on her. Like a fungus she would say, probably in some other language. But still, she would miss him and smile a little when she saw him again. Before also calling him an idiot.

Chekov wouldn't call him an idiot. The boy wouldn't be that bold to say something like that out loud. But he would probably stare in wonder and relief when he returned before asking how he had survived. Uhura and Bones would say it's because he's an idiot.

Sulu would laugh and say he was the craziest, bravest idiot of a captain ever and thank god he's on their side. He would then ask he not do that again because he rather liked having their crazy brave captain around.

The rest of the crew would have varying degrees of happiness and relief mixed with shock and surprise. There would be drinks and partying and eventually they would all be told to stop by...

Spock.

Jim stared at his reflection. How would Spock react when he returned? Would time be different? Would Vulcan be back? Would he remember and thank his captain?

"Thank you captain. You...have done something for which I...I can never adequately express my thanks."

...Yeah, that's more like it, he smirked to himself, sipping his beer. Finally get some respect from the pointy eared little- He thought of little Spock and paused, his beer bottle leaving his lips slowly. I wonder if he'll remember this...His mind wandered as he continued to stare out the window, the beer warming as he rolled it between his hands absently.

He didn't notice when the door opened or the footsteps coming over to him.

"Jay?"

He jumped, fumbling the bottle, before turning and smiling at Spock. "Hey, you startled me."

"My apologies. Are you alright?" He climbed up onto the bench to sit next to him closer than he usually did.

"Yeah, just got lost in thought."

"..."

He chuckled. "When my mind kind of wanders and thinks of lots of different things at once without a real focus."

"Ah, I see. If you could focus such rapid thought processes you might become as smart as I am now one day."

Jim grinned wryly. "Oh, as you are now huh? Meaning you'd still be smarter than me eventually?"

If Jim didn't know better, Spock sniffed haughtily. "More than likely as my brain is still more developed than yours."

He laughed. "You are lucky you're cute, Spock, because I don't like brats that much."

"...I'm sorry."

Jim blinked in surprise before smiling. "I'm just teasing. I know you're not a brat."

"...Thank you."

"Now you're being very illogical, aren't you?"

"For a Vulcan, perhaps, but I am not speaking with a Vulcan. So it helps to be illogical, if just a little."

He smiled. "I think that lesson will serve you well if you remember it."

He nodded then noticed the bottle. "You are drinking alcohol?"

"Huh? Oh, the beer. Yeah, just a little. I'm pretty sure my tolerance is high, so one beer won't do anything don't worry."

"Very well...but humans typically drink alcohol to relax or "drown" negative feelings. Though it is impossible to drown feelings as they are not alive or capable of being submerged."

"Yeah, I know..."

They were quiet a moment before Spock spoke up again. "What are you trying to drown?"

He smiled a little. "It's nothing, really."

"Jay, I...I am not an adult yet, by Vulcan or human standards, that is true. But I would like to help if I can. Where are your thoughts getting lost that you wish to drink?"

Jim sighed and leaned back. "Just...looking out at space. It's not actually empty, but everything is so far from each other...it can feel a little lonely."

"You are...lonely?"

"A little. After all, I don't know what my friends or family-if I have any-are up to, if they miss me," he trailed off quietly.

Spock blinked up at him before rising to his knees on the chair. He hesitated before reaching out and setting a hand on his shoulder. "I am here, Jay."

Jim looked at him, surprised and unsure for a moment before smiling and setting a hand on top of his head. Spock's hair was smooth and silky under his fingers and he smirked as he ruffled it. Spock glared but it faded as Jim grinned at him. "I'll remember that, Spock. Thanks."