Ha, another update! :D Hope you all enjoy.

"No...Just, um...you gave him his first kiss I believe."

Jim blinked rapidly as he stared at her. He followed automatically as they began crossing the street, but still stared at her. "...Kiss?" he finally asked, the only word he could really focus on out of what she'd just said.

"Yes...Vulcan hands have certain very sensitive nerves." She glanced at Spock, walking stiffly ahead of them and hopefully not listening as she dropped her voice. "Erogenous nerves. It's a sign of great affection is to press fingers together, or hold hands. In essence, it's like a Vulcan kiss."

Jim gaped, feeling like someone was playing a bad joke on him. Unfortunately, Amanda was perfectly serious. As a heart attack, Bones would say. If he could stop laughing long enough at this situation to speak. And oh, his Spock's reaction...that was truly a frightening thought.

"So...that thing you and Sarek do...?" he gestured slightly with his fingers before realizing and shoving them in his pockets. That felt wrong too though so he put them behind his back.

Amanda nodded with a small pitying smile. "Yes, that's us kissing. Sarek can also feel our bond through it."

"Shit...I was going to ask before but I kept forgetting..." He looked at Spock and winced. "And now I feel like the creepy Uncle Jay." Kissing a seven year old the way his parents kissed out of the blue was not okay. He thought back to his grown up officer once more and turned even redder before remembering how likely he would try to kill Jim again if he knew.

Amanda patted his back. "It's alright. It was an accident, and you possibly saved his life besides. I should've also explained it earlier."

"Just makes me glad I didn't take his hand crossing the street back on Vulcan. I might've gotten arrested..."

Amanda tried not to smile. The rest of the walk to the restaurant was uneventful and even quiet. Spock ordered eggplant parmesan, which Jim had to admit looked pretty good for being vegetarian. Amanda ordered spinach ravioli and he finally settled on good old spaghetti and meatballs. The resteraunt was a good choice apparently because everything was good. Spock eventually seemed to relax, but if he looked at Jim he blushed green again and quickly busied himself with something else.

At the end of dinner they returned to the hotel and Amanda invited Jim in to talk for a bit. Sarek was apparently not back yet so they sat in the family room and Spock excused himself to his own room to study. Jim thought perhaps he was avoiding him from embarrassment though. Amanda brewed some tea and they sat relaxing and watching the news, chatting about different things.

"You're remarkably secure," Jim remarked at one point. Amanda hummed curiously, looking at him. "I mean...I can imagine another woman in your shoes would be worried about their husbands working late."

She laughed, a genuine laugh of surprise but also of "you can't be serious" amusement. He frowned but she smiled and waved a hand. "You've been watching soaps since we returned?"

"No...just thinking."

Amanda smiled. "More like being worried for me?"

"A little, maybe..."

"You don't have to be, really. I'm more than confident Sarek is all mine."

"Are you now?"

"Yes. For one thing," she held up a finger, "Vulcans can't lie. It's illogical and would take a huge amount of effort."

"Ah, that would make cheating at anything very hard."

"Mmmmhmmm. And for another, we're bonded."

"You mentioned something about that before..."

She smiled. "I suppose that's another bit I neglected. Vulcans are so private about such things, I suppose it's rubbed off on me." She sipped her tea and set the cup down again. "Bonding...well, in a way it's like a marriage of the minds. When Vulcans find their perfect mate, they create a telepathic link. It's like...Sarek is always present in my mind."

"Seriously?" Jim asked in surprise.

"Yes. And I have a presence in his. Even now, if I concentrate I can hear him arguing with an Andorian down stairs. Well, not arguing because that would be illogical." He chuckled. "And if he concentrated, he'd hear me talking with you. It's a two way street."

"Wow...doesn't that ever feel weird, though? Or like an invasion of privacy?"

"At first, yes. Sarek was very kind about it though. He let me get used to it on my own time, and kept his shields in place around my own mind so it didn't feel like he was there exactly. His mind was open though, so he allowed me to practice poking around in it. And later I grew more receptive to having him in my mind. Now, well, I hardly notice. And truly, if the bond is ever severed...well, he's told me before it can be painful. It could even mean death because a Vulcan would slip into depression. He theorizes I would have a similar experience, but he doesn't want to test it."

"I'm glad," Jim said honestly. "Must be nice having so much confidence in a relationship."

Amanda smiled a warm loving smile, and Jim felt suddenly envious. Not of Sarek for having Amanda, and certainly not of Amanda for having Sarek. It was more a jealousy of them for having each other. He couldn't remember ever having smiled like that at the mere thought of someone. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd felt truly close to someone. There was Bones, but that wasn't the same. He didn't feel anything romantic for his best friend, and the one time he'd tried kissing him didn't end well. Being drunk and lonely at the Academy, he'd made his advance and woken up in the morning with a hypowound in his neck and a black eye. Even after that he realized it just felt wrong because Bones was...Bones. His best friend, his confidant, the Watson to his Holmes and all that.

But when Bones wasn't around-like now-there were times he was prone to a feeling of empty loneliness. All the one night stands in the world never seemed to fill that void, and the few "relationships" he had tried to foster never went anywhere because something still felt wrong.

At the same time though, the idea of someone being in the back of your head was oddly familiar. He remembered the older Spock and how he transferred his memories in the mind meld to him, like there was someone else in his brain. But there was more to it than that, it had been like there was someone there before. When he had attempted putting his mind together in the hospital...

"Jay?"

He snapped to attention at her and smiled wanely. "Ah, sorry...mind working overtime I guess."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. I guess...that bond thing sounds kind of nice. To never feel alone..."

She blinked before gently taking him into a hug. "Oh Jay..."

Jim leaned into the touch. Again, he felt nothing romantic, but there was a stirring of almost familial feelings he'd all but given up on. It felt nice.

A few moments later she pulled back. "Sarek is on his way..."

"The bond tell you that?" he smiled.

"Yes. It also tells me he's rather worn out from trying to keep the peace till-" she looked at the clock. "Goodness, one 'o clock! I better make sure Spock went to bed," she rose and smiled at him again. "You should get some sleep too...big day tomorrow." The last was said softly, almost remorsefully, and for a moment he was lost. Then he remembered his appointment with people tomorrow that were going to help "Jay" find his place on Earth.

"Right...Goodnight, Amanda." He rose and headed out the door, his mind reeling again as he reminded himself that he had to talk to Sarek.

Speak of the Vulcan, he thought as the Amabassador ambled out of the elevator and down the hall.

"Sarek!" he called, quickly jogging up to him. "Sarek, I gotta talk to you."

"Can it not wait, human?" T'Fua asked snidely. Monotone, but Jim knew snide when he heard it. "We have just spent most of the day on frivolous, illogical excursions and the evening making peace. We require respite and meditation."

Jim glared at her. "No offense, but I wasn't addressing you."

She bristled, a testament to how frayed her control must've been, before Sarek held up a hand. "Be calm, T'Fua. You betray your emotions." Jim chose to take that and the lime green blush that came to her cheeks as 'Shut up'. He smiled a bit more. "I sense urgency, Jay. It radiates from you."

"Yes. I really, really need to talk to you about something important. Life and death important." Mostly death, he thought rather morbidly. He looked at the two other Vulcans beside the Ambassador warily. He could just imagine what their reaction to his claims would be: Locking him up in a Terran funny farm.

"I see..." He nodded to his assistants. "Please, leave us."

"Sir-" T'Fua began, and even Sarrin looked ready to object.

"I wish to listen alone. f it is as Jay says, I would prefer few distractions and I would also like to hear him out with no interruptions. Both of you are tired, and will be no good to me tomorrow in this state. Go rest." Both looked slightly put off but slowly made their way to their rooms. Once gone, Sarek regarded Jim levelly. "If this is about your appointment tomorrow—"

"Sarek, I appreciate that. I do. But please believe me when I say it's not necessary."

Sarek's brow ticked. "You have recovered a sufficient amount of memories?" he asked, a note of surprise in his voice.

"Yes...All of them in fact." Both brows rose and Jim quickly held up a hand. "I didn't mean to deceive you. Well, I sort of did, but I had good reason! I wasn't sure how to exactly explain who I am...I'm not a fugitive or anything, so don't worry about your family. I'd never hurt them or you, you have my word. Ugaya," he said, using the Vulcan word Spock had taught him.

Sarek regarded him coldly. "I do not appreciate deception."

"And I don't blame you. But please believe me when I say this is of the utmost importance. You can even mind meld with me if you want."

Sarek's eyes widened. "You know of the meld?"

"Yeah. And before you ask, neither Amanda or Spock told me. Amanda did explain a little about being bonded for my sake of clarity, but not that deeply. I know from my own past. I've gone through it before. It wasn't pleasant, but if that's what it takes for you to believe what I have to say I will do it."

Sarek regarded him steadily still before giving a silent sigh. "If you are so certain...I will hear you. However," he held up a hand before Jim could start. "My mind is already frayed from calming diplomats earlier. There was a kidnapping thwarted while we were gone."

Jim was surprised. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. An Argelian diplomat was nearly taken from his room at threat of bodily harm. He still resisted and was stabbed. He is in critical condition." Sarek's face tightened. "The would be kidnapper is still loose. And accusations have been flying all afternoon. The Argelians believe it was a plot by the Selations, the Selations believe they were implicated by the Terakians..."

"Damn...and you're in the middle, huh?" Jim could sympathize, he'd been in the middle of warring factions before. Sometimes literally.

" have attempted to keep this incident contained and out of the media as much as possible."

"No worries there, I won't say anything..."

"My thanks. However, attempting to bring logic to...highly illogical beings and circumstances is beginning to weigh on me, if I am to be honest. I say this only because I fear what melding with you now may cause. If Amanda explained bonds to you, you will understand that she may be able to hear and see what I pull from your mind as clearly as myself. And I am unsure if my shields would be strong enough to protect her."

Jim felt physically ill at the thought. How would it feel to learn about your own death, the death of a planet you had all but thought of as home for years, out of the blue like that? Sarek must've seen something-the paling of his skin or the wide fearful gaze- but he seemed to grow more at ease again. He likely took it as a sign Jim was indeed serious. "Allow me to rest and Meditate. In the morning, I will take you to breakfast somewhere we may talk. If however I find what you supposedly know less than the urgency you make it out to be, you will be taken straight to your appointment where you will gain a new life here on Earth."

Jim gulped but nodded. "Alright...that sounds reasonable. Are you going to tell Amanda though?"

"I will tell her we will be having breakfast before your appointment. What I tell her later will depend on your information and it's validity. I will not distress her unnecessarily."

Jim had to smile a bit. "You seriously put her first more than you admit..."

Sarek said nothing, brushing past him towards his room. "I will see you in the morning."

"Right..." Dear God, let me do this one thing right on purpose...

Jim couldn't sleep that night, agonizing over how to properly explain this to Sarek. He knew the meld would likely be needed because hey, if he hadn't lived through it he wouldn't believe it either. But it was convincing Sarek to even go through with it that was plaguing his thoughts. How do you convince someone that in like two decades some crazy ass Romulan from the future with a vendetta for his destroyed planet is going to destroy Vulcan with red matter and a planet miner? And, may I add, not sound like a complete raving lunatic that should be taken out back like Old Yeller?

When morning came, Jim didn't look quite his usual self. Purplish circles dragged his lower lids, and he had trouble keep those eyes more than half open, giving him a bedraggled look that was not all the rage. Combing through his hair and brushing his teeth helped wake him and make him look a little less like a zombie. He dressed quickly and went out to knock on the door to the Ambassador's quarters.

Amanda opened the door and smiled, though it looked a bit forced. "My, you're usually such a morning person..."

"Couldn't sleep..." he said. Not a lie.

"Ah, nervous about today?"

"Yeah..." Not a lie either.

"Well, come in. Sarek is getting ready, he told me you two were going to have breakfast. I think he was a little on edge due to...well, the incident with the Argellian diplomat yesterday."

"Ah, he told you too?"

"Yes, he wants me to be cautious. But can I offer you a bit of coffee to pick you up?"

"Sanu," he said with a smile, using the Vulcan word for please.

She smiled and went to the little kitchen where a small coffee maker stood and was already keeping warm. She poured him a cup. "You've gotten better and better at Vulcan."

"Spock is a great teacher." He took the cup and stared at it a moment as his more turbulent emotions climbed up his throat. "I'm really going to miss him...and you. And Sarek. And I-Chaya..." When did being with them feel like home? When did anywhere feel like home? The closest thing to a home in Jim's memory was the Enterprise. There he belonged, among his crazy wonderful crew, never in one place for very long. It was like his life before when he would ride his motorcycle anywhere to get in fights and sleep with whatever he could find for some simple contact with a warm body. But on the Enterprise he had all the contact he wanted in a surprisingly non-sexual sense. Oh he still had sex, but it was far and few now. A thought that would've mortified him before, but as he settled into being captain he found new connections. Friendly chats, breaks playing chess or debating or listening to music...The 500 plus crew had become a sort of surrogate family for him. It hurt when one of them would die, no matter how little he knew the individual, because he would blame himself and his inability to protect them. Even if it was pure chance what happened.

But Spock's family...he couldn't say it was a surrogate feeling. This was real, they felt like family. Leaving them, even if it meant he was helping them, was going to hurt.

Amanda smiled sympathetically, giving him a hug. "We'll miss you too, Jay. But...this is for the best. You need to find your own life, here on Earth."

"Yeah, I know..." More like I need to get back to my own time, but it still applies.

"You're leaving?"

Both of them gasped and turned, seeing Spock standing in the living room. He'd apparently come out of his room when they were still wrapped in their own conversation and thoughts. Jim's heart twisted when he saw the look of utter betrayal on that young face though, not hidden by any emotional control. It hurt him far worse than he ever thought possible, so he could only imagine what the boy must feel.

"Spock-" he began.

"Why are you leaving?" he asked loudly.

"Spock, I just-there's something I have to do. I have to go-"

"No you don't! You should stay with us!"

"Spock," Amanda said.

"Do not make him go! Jay has done nothing wrong, he should not be made to leave!"

"It's not like that, Sprocket," she said gently, blinking rapidly. "Jay needs to find his own life. He's not a pet we can just keep."

"But he is happy with us! Aren't you?" He turned those big dark eyes to him, imploring him. Jim felt his heart clench again, wanting desperately to say yes but knew he couldn't. Even if it wasn't Earth, he would be leaving some day. How could he say he wouldn't and then still do it?

The silence seemed to close in around Spock and the pleading look morphed into pain. "Jay, don't go! You belong with us!"

"Spock," a cool voice said, but it startled the boy. Sarek stepped over, regarding him levelly. "You betray your emotions."

"But-"

"Go meditate."

"Father, Jay says he is leaving!"

"Indeed. I am helping him to facilitate his needs here on Earth."

Spock seemed to gape before glaring. "Why?"

"Spock!" he said more crisply. "You are compromised. Go meditate and you will see this is best."

"How can it be best!"

"Go meditate," his father said again, more sternly. Jim had a feeling that was the same as 'Go to your room'.

Spock shook with his emotion, casting one last glance at Jim that betrayed how hurt he really was before turning and practically rushing to his room. The door shut and there was a click of a lock.

Amanda dabbed her eyes a bit and Sarek walked over to her, setting a hand on her shoulder. "I did not wish to distress him further. I hope that he will come to realize this is best, even if it is not ideal."

She nodded. "I-I know..."

Jim swallowed the own lump in his throat, feeling the pressure behind his eyes that he tried to keep contained. It wouldn't be good to cry now, not when he needed to focus. Part of him was angry at Sarek for being so cold when his son was obviously in distress, but another part was just as angry at himself for putting Spock in that distress.

"Jay, we should leave now."

"Y-yeah..." He sat the nearly full mug of coffee down.

Amanda quickly hugged him, sniffling. "I h-hope we'll see you before we o-or you have to go..."

Jim nodded, giving her a hug back before pulling away and kissing her forehead the way he hoped a brother would. She smiled at him and ruffled his hair before letting him go.

Sarek waited for him by the door and thy both exited and went to the elevator. However, rather than go to a resteraunt, the elder Vulcan led him to an empty private meeting room. Inside a cart of various choices in breakfast foods was at one end of the long table, coffee and tea brewing with decanters of orange juice and milk. "I hope this is adequate. I thought it best to discuss whatever you had in mind in private."

Jim had to smile a bit and moved to sit in one of the end chairs, letting sarek take the other next to the cart. "This is great, Sarek. Thanks again for this, I promise it's not a waste of time and I'm not crazy. And I don't have anything bad planned."

"I have observed you for the past six months, Jay. While you exhibit to usual human emotionalism and flights of fancy, you have given me no reason to question your sanity or motives."

The blonde smiled. "That means a lot, thanks..." Taking a deep breath, he launched into the explanation he had worked on all night. Sarek listened quietly without interruption-something he wasn't sure Spock would ever do-but his eyebrows did rise and fall quite often in various patterns. The massive surprise pattern of an inche higher, the dubious arch, the unamused push downwards...all subtle enough most humans would, but Jim was proud he could distinguish them.

For a while after the explanation they were both quiet, Sarek leaning back and steepling his fingers deep in thought. Jim nervously jittered his foot nervously on the floor, sipping his coffee now and then and nibbling a Danish to try and settle his stomach. The silence was more nerve wracking than anything he'd encountered in the last few months since his crash landing on Vulcan.

Finally Sarek looked up. "What you say is...not easy to believe. To believe that you are from twenty five years in the future is a difficult concept in and of itself. Yet you also state that in that time, Vulcan will be destroyed by a Romulan from a further hundred years after that time...The same Romulan that destroyed the USS Kelvin about a year ago that apparently your mother was a member of?"

Jim winced on reflex but sighed sighed. "I know, I know. Like I said, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't live through it. And there is more, but I didn't want to overload you..." He set the coffee cup down and rolled his chair closer. "I'm serious about that mind meld. I've gone through it before, also in connection to the Narada incident. It wasn't enjoyable in my opinion. It felt a bit like lightening in my head. But if it means proving what I say is true and keeping Vulcan from being destroyed, I'll do it."

Sarek looked into his eyes before nodding slowly. "Very well. Without that added proof, I cannot logically approach this in anyway."

Jim smiled despite himself. "I concede I see the logic in that...whenever you're ready, I am."

Sarek nodded and reached out his hand to press his fingers into the same points Jim vaguely remembered from the ice cave. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself as Sarek's mind sought his out. He focused on the events of the Narada, recalling as much as he could.

Calm yourself, Sarek's voice echoed in his head, still monotone and control. I will look at only what is necessary. Pushing such information at me is making it difficult to read.

"Sorry," Jim muttered. He relaxed instead and tried not to tense as he felt something move through his memories and pull them up manually. He could see them at the same time behind his eyelids: The memory of his mother describing what happened to the Kelvin, joining the academy, the Kobayashi Maru, getting on the Enterprise, the drill, Vulcan's destruction, Delta Vega, Old Spock, and the eventual destruction of the Narada. He tried to keep Spock away but Sarek was by then not apparently willing to let him keep it away. He'd at first skimmed the information quickly but efficiently, but the memories slowed once Spock's name floated up with the image of his First Officer. He looked at everything in detail then. Jim didn't see everything of course, but moments where he himself found out something distressing were often played again. The news of the death of "Spock's Mother", as he had known her then, was played thrice and it took a moment for the memories to continue. It felt almost like real time, though when he finally pulled back after Jim's adventurous ride to the past only a few hours had passed.

Sarek was...shaken. Jim was shocked to see it. He was still trying to keep control, but his hands were shaking and his eyes unfocused. Jim gulped and quickly poured him some water, offering it to him. The Vulcan took it and drank it down, breathing deeply afterwards with his eyes closed. "You tell the truth..." he finally said. "No one can lie through the mind meld..."

"Yeah..."

"You are...you know Spock when he is an adult."

Jim nodded slowly. "Yeah...He...he tried his best to save Amanda. He went to save the whole council, including both of you, but the cliff collapsed and took her out of range just as everyone was being beamed aboard. He was the very epitome of being a Vulcan before that, but it...it was a big shock. And I did use it to my advantage, but I didn't like it! I didn't! I knew he cared, but I had to-"

"James," he said, surprising him. Hearing anything but Jay was jarring after all this time. Sarek's dark eyes were not angry or accusatory. If anything, they seemed sad. "I understand. I was in your shoes as I looked through your memories, I understand your choices. While it was difficult to see my son lose control, I know what your motive was and given the result I cannot fault you." His eyes grew more somber. "In truth, I think it is my fault he should feel such...overwhelming emotion at your prodding."

"Yours? But-"

"We do feel, James," he went on, holding up a hand to halt him. "But those emotions are powerful. You have seen what happens when we lose control, and that is just a taste of it. Before Surak's reformation, we were a violent people on the verge of civil war. We it's very possible we would've taken that war further into the galaxy as we learned to travel the stars. There would have been much blood shed, and that is why we practice our control." Jim nodded slowly. He'd heard of the warring era of Vulcan, a barbaric time of tribes based more around strength than logic. Hearing it from a Vulcan, when most of the people tried to keep their bloody history from the attention of others, made it more real. Seeing the planet with his own eyes made it easy to imagine tribes of wandering warriors journeying across the red and orange sands beneath the sun. Remember Spock's hands around his throat made it easy to believe in those deep running emotions as well, but not as much as spending time with the young seven year old Spock.

"I have done my best to teach my son control because I did not want his emotions to rule him," Sarek went on. "Seeing his...outburst however, and knowing the reason, I cannot fault him. I feel I may have instituted feelings of shame over his love for his mother in trying to teach that control though. Shame for being of two worlds...He asked once why I married Amanda, and I told him it was logical."

Jim furrowed his brow, not sure what to say. It was hard to understand being ashamed of love, the romantic in him said, but at the same time he wasn't Vulcan. His own mother...well, he loved her he supposed, but they hadn't spoken more than two words since the end of the Narada incident. It wasn't a well informed sort of love. Not like Spock's love for his mother. It made what he said hurt all the more in his own mind, even if he did apologize soon after the Enterprise's mission begain. It didn't feel like enough.

"That was...it was not a lie, precisely. But that logic may have been created by my efforts because I do love her. Very much. And the thought of her-and my home destroyed..." he swallowed, placing his head against the edge of his hands. "It is much to take in. But I will do whatever possible to prevent that fate."

The human smiled in relief, slumping over. "Thank you..."

"I will need your help."

"What?"

"I doubt I will be able to effectively convince the council of this without you. You will need to return with us to Vulcan so that I may bring you before the council as soon as possible."

Jim felt suddenly even more relieved and sighed. "Y-yeah...that makes sense."

"You are pleased?"

He nodded a bit, blushing. "My own family is...distant to say the least. So getting close to you and Amanda and young Spock has been really great."

"I see...In a way, I agree. Though I admit some reticence at first."

"I get that a lot. But I've been on my best behavior."

"Yes, I know. I merely..."

"You merely...?"

Sarek looked less than amused. "I was not open to the idea of my wife spending so much time alone with you during the day."

Jim blinked before laughing. "Y-you were jealous?"

Sarek narrowed his eyes further. Jim had a sudden feeling that Sarek had been feeling this for a while, and it explained how he often didn't seem happy to see them acting close. "That is an illogical emotion I feel has no place. Amanda is my wife, she would never betray my trust."

"Yeah, I know," he grinned, chuckling more. "Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. She's my friend's mom, it would be way to weird to even consider it. Ever."

Sarek regarded him. "...Do you refer to Spock as your friend now or in the future?"

Jim was surprised by the question before thinking. "...Given how we started out, it's been...hard to move past everything. But I think we're friends. Or at least becoming friends. He's my first officer on the Enterprise, so I trust him with my life and the lives of my crew on a daily basis. And we've played chess together, which I think is helping to melt the ice. But...I guess I hope we are but not sure. Here..." He looked sad. "I think we were but after today it'll be hard to talk to him I think..."

"Indeed..." Rising, Sarek nodded. "In anycase, I will cancel that appointment with the counciling agency. I do not wish to distress Amanda or Spock, so I shall simply abide by the statement that you will return to us due to extenuating circumstances."

"Yeah...sounds good." He rose as well, taking the cup up to drink only to discover it was cold. He'd forgotten how much time had passed.

Stepping outside, they were almost run over by the concierge. "Ambassador Sarek! Ambassador, we have an emergency, it's horrible! You must come quickly!"

"Is it the Argellians?" Sarek asked soberly. Jim had to give him credit, he'd recovered from the disturbing mind meld in record time.

"No! Oh no, no..." He looked utterly shamed and fearful and Jim's gut told him this wasn't good.

"What happened?" he asked. "You look freaked."

The man gulped before looking at Sarek. "I-it's your son, Ambassador. He's been kidnapped."