Hey all. I've had one hell of a week so far. Earlier in the week I had a problem with one rather unhelpful and cantankerous user through reviews and PMs. I won't be going into details because it's not worth it, but I've blocked this user (only time I've ever done that) and am moving on.

However, the experience has made me incredibly grateful for the rest of you, my wonderful reviewers. You have all been so supportive with encouragement or constructive criticism that helps me improve and keep going. I feel very bad that I don't respond to nearly enough of your amazing reviews, but I often just don't know what to say and sometimes there are so many I don't know where to start. So please know that even if I don't respond, I do read each and every comment and they bring me a great deal of joy and happiness. I do these fics not just for my enjoyment but for yours and to practice my writing. Knowing you enjoy them makes me happier than I can adequately express in any one reply. So to all of you, please know that even if I don't respond I am grateful for your input and kind words. And to those who have added my stories or myself to your watch list without commenting, I am of course still very touched and happy that you want to keep coming back. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you all :D

But, the much more stressful incident of the week happened to be my laptop crashing and burning. Almost literally, it got incredibly hot and smoked for a bit before it went black. I almost got the fire extinguisher but it just kind of smoldered. Couldn't even start it up again after that. Apparently it was a common problem with my model I was never informed of :\ Luckily I had recently backed up my important writing files (or I guarantee I would be bawling my eyes out in a rubber room). And I wasn't in the middle of VT or my other fics, whose most recent chapters I can retrieve from here on FF. And best of all, I had some money saved up from my graduation about a year ago and I bought a nice shiny new one. Which then kept freezing on me. So I took it back and they apologized for apparently giving me a lemon and gave me another new one, which so far is working perfectly. Keep your fingers crossed.

Anyway, sorry for the unnecessary update of my life XD I had thought I might be on hiatus again but I got right back on the horse and I just feel pumped. Onto the chapter!

Edit: changed a few things for the next chapter

Jim was rather torn with how to approach this new development in the swirling "what the hell is going on" that was his life. His First Officer, who he had left twenty years in the future, was standing in front of him. Vaguely he rationalized that maybe it really was Spock's "cousin" and there was just an incredibly strong family resemblance, but he had the look. The look only his Spock gave him in his captain's greatest moments of stupidity, at least until he pulled their bacon back out of the fire. Jim knew that look well and he didn't think it was hereditary.

"Uh…hi," he managed, trying not to scream his rather valid question of what the man was doing there. "Nice to meet you, Selek."

Amanda smiled. "He's on his way to a temple in the mountains, but needs to wait here for some money to come through."

"I see…"

"I understand our family owes you great gratitude, Jay, for saving my younger cousin," Spock said.

Jim tried not to look too wary as he smiled. "It was nothing."

Amanda pushed forward to wrap her arms around his neck. "It was not nothing! You saved my son's life."

He smiled and gently patted her arm. "I'd never let anything happen to Spock." He smiled at the young Vulcan, noting a slight green flush to his cheeks and ears. He also noticed the elder's slight eyebrow twitch.

Amanda just smiled and gave him another squeeze. "I can never thank you enough," she said. "Never. Oh, are you hungry? You've had nothing but intravenous fluids for the past few days."

The mere allusion to food apparently woke Jim's stomach up and it growled loud enough to be heard by everyone. He smiled wanely. "Apparently that's a yes."

Amanda chuckled and pulled back. "I'll go make you something to tide you over till dinner. I was going to make something special for Selek's arrival, but now we have can celebrate your recovery too."

He smiled at her. "Thanks, Amanda."

She smiled back before looking to her son. "Spock, would you like to help?"

Jim saw his first mate open his mouth before quickly closing it and looking away. His heart went out to him, knowing this was probably difficult. The younger boy looked up at his mother and hesitated as well. "Should Jay be left alone?"

"I could watch him," elder Spock said.

"Hey, I'm not incapacitated anymore," Jim pointed out. He wasn't nervous about being alone with Spock and the possibility of being choked to death. Not at all.

"I merely mean to ensure you don't strain yourself after your ordeal," he said. "That and I express curiosity. I would like to speak with you for a time."

"I think that's a nice idea. Spock, why don't you help me fix something to eat for Jay and Selek can talk with him."

"…Very well." He rose from the chair. "Please rest, Jay."

"Sure, no problem," he smiled. Spock nodded and followed his mother out.

As soon as they were gone, Elder Spock leaned over him and practically glared at his soul. Jim reflexively moved back against the smooth cold stone of the wall, feeling it against the new skin over his wound through his thin sleeping shirt. Dark eyes he'd remembered in moments of speculation of the future narrowed on him.

"Captain Kirk," he said quietly, with just enough bite to make him flinch.

"…Hi."

He stared at him a moment longer, as if expecting more words or a plea for mercy, but Jim honestly didn't know what to say. Everything he thought of resulted in the likely chance of getting punched, choked or otherwise harmed. Silence was his best option at the moment. Finally the Vulcan took the seat his younger counterpart had vacated, still leaning towards him with an intense gaze. Jim tried to relax enough that he wasn't hiked against the wall, though he scooted over to another part of the bed. "Captain…all my questions come down to one word in this situation. Why?"

"…Why am I here, you mean?" easing a bit more. Vulcan control was both off-putting and comforting in a strange way. He wasn't sure which way he was being pulled, whether he could relax or remain on guard. He knew what it felt like for Spock to lose control and lash out, and he wasn't keen to repeat it. Anything could trigger it in a precarious situation like this though.

"Indeed," the Vulcan growled, setting the human on edge again. "Why did you come to the past? And further more, why are you here in my…in this house?"

Jim sighed through his nose, rubbing the side of his face. His jaw and cheek was stubbly under his hand, he needed to shave. "I guess…I just wanted to try and make things better. I thought if I could warn Vulcan then maybe...maybe it wouldn't have happened like it did."

"Your intention may be commendable, but things were acceptable as they were," Spock argued.

Jim leveled his own glare at him, confused and angry. "Bullshit. Losing Vulcan, losing billions of your people, losing Amanda, your mother? That's acceptable?"

Spock stared him down, that fire Jim remembered on the bridge during the Narada incident burning under the dark pupils of his eyes, but he kept it contained. Barely, because Jim could see his hand tightened on the sheet of the bed in a shaking grip. If the sheet weren't between them, his nails may have drawn green blood. Jim was tempted to stop him but didn't want to risk angering him further. "You know the answer to that. But one cannot simply change the past. The repercussions of your actions could have long reaching negative effects no one can predict. Already you have apparently changed my own life."

"Oh?" He knew acting dumb wasn't going to endear him here, but he wasn't quite sure what else to say to that. Apparently any changes that might have happened yet Spock didn't know about.

"I never went to Earth with my father in my youth," he said with conviction, leaning in further. "And I certainly never was kidnapped, which was a result of my going to Earth."

Jim glowered, though he knew he had a point. "I was just trying to keep you close to your father…"

"The closeness between myself and my parents is none of your concern."

"Hey, I've been living under this roof for like half a year! Considering you-that is Spock and Sarek live here too, it's hard to avoid getting in the middle of things. And Amanda wanted it too." Spock glared him more openly. "Look, I don't want to argue, Spock…I did what I did and got here. I crashed in the desert more like it, was pretty banged up and delirious. I apparently walked away from the wreckage somehow—"

"I read a news file," Spock said. "It mentioned you were found wandering the desert by the nightwatch near the border of Shi'Kahr."

If you knew that why the hell did you ask how I got here? he wanted to ask, but just breathed in. "Well, then you know I was taken to the hospital and since your mom is like the only human on the planet, she volunteered to help take care of me rather than leave me rotting in the hospital."

He nodded slowly, knowing that was his mother's way. "Indeed…why have you lied to my family?"

"What?"

Spock seemed to be getting under control, though still obviously not happy even for a Vulcan. "You are called "Jay", and they are obviously not aware of your identity."

Jim shifted again, feeling guilty. "Yeah, well…"

"You do not have amnesia," he continued.

"Obviously," Jim replied snidely. "I did for a while though." Spock's eyebrow arched. "After the crash, when I was in the hospital. I couldn't remember much of anything."

"Is there gaps in your memory now?"

"Well I wouldn't remember if there are, would I?"

He glared again. "I am not in the mood for games, Captain."

Jim glared back before finally shaking his head slowly. "No. I'm sure there aren't, I remember pretty much what I knew before. Name, birthday, social security, when I lost my first tooth…pretty much everything I could remember before I remember now. I think."

Spock looked somewhat curious. "I see…that is fortunate."

"I know. But by then, well…I wasn't sure how to exactly bring up "hey I'm from the future and I came to warn you about your planet being destroyed". I didn't have any physical proof…" Should I tell him now that his father knows?

"I see. That may be for best."

"What?" he asked incredulously. "Spock, are you serious when you say this shit?"

"I would not say something I am not serious about in this matter."

He glared. "Spock, I don't want to dig into an old wound, but you can't tell me you haven't wished things turned out differently. That Vulcan wasn't destroyed, or at the very least that you saved your mother! You can't say seeing her again here you want to send her unknowingly to a future where she dies?"

Spock's hand shot out and Jim gasped as he felt it around his throat, pushing him back against the wall roughly. But it wasn't hard or meant to choke him, more like pinning him in place. His dark eyes were staring into Jim's and he could see that inferno he remembered from flare once before easing, smoldering in warning. It was tempered by other emotions, painful looking emotions that made Jim flinch in sympathy and guilt. "I have desired as many times that the past was different," he said so quietly that Jim almost had to strain to hear him. "More times than you could ever count, Captain. But desire and action are two different things. To change the past can have untold repercussions. The odds of everything going as you planned are too low to even mention. "Good" may come out of the changes, but so could unintentional bad results."

Jim gulped, working against the hand at his throat. Vaguely he recalled what Amanda said about Vulcan hands, but he pushed that thought aside since even he knew this wasn't the time. "Oh yeah?" he asked defensively, trying to keep his voice strong through the grip. What is with this guy and trying to choke me?

Spock paused before releasing him and easing back in the chair. Jim rubbed at his throat with a small glare, though he couldn't blame Spock. Not entirely anyway. "…T'Fua was the one who attempted the kidnapping according to one article I read on the recent incident, correct?"

"Yeah, and she was psychotic."

"Not in my memories," Spock said serious. Jim straightened. "She was…cold, even for a Vulcan, but gave my father many years of loyal service before eventually being promoted and moving away. However, now she is a murderer and will be locked up for likely the rest of her life. Am I saying she did not have the potential of psychotic behavior? I never took notice. But she never had a occasion to show it and lived a quiet life till Vulcan's destruction."

Jim was quiet for a long moment, looking down as he mulled that over. "…I get what you're saying, Spock. But if you never take chances because of the possibility something bad might happen then nothing worthwhile would ever get done. There would be no experimentation, no explorations, no breakthroughs in science…No one certainly would've gone into space or developed warp technology. Maybe something bad will happen, but I can't honestly think of anything worse than what's already happened."

Spock regarded him steadily for a moment before also looking down. "You raise some valid points regarding risk…" Jim smirked but it died when angry eyes turned back to him. "But I still find your actions unsound. My ship is whole and ready to leave, I suggest we make use of it as soon as possible.'

Jim was both relieved that he had a way to his time now, and unrelieved because he very well couldn't leave now. Sarek believed him, he said he'd get a meeting with the council to convince them. He'd already come this far and he'd be damned not to go all the way. "I can't. Not yet."

"Captain—"

"Spock-"

They both jumped as the door opened and the younger Vulcan took a step in. He arched his eyebrows at his older self in his chair before looking at Jim. He had a tray of sliced fruit and vegetables with bowl of smooth green dip in his hand. "Did you say my name, Jay?"

"Uh, yeah. Was just telling Selek about what happened."

"I see…please, eat." He moved to try and set the tray on the bed. It was meant to go over Jim's lap but he wasn't tall enough to manage that. Realizing this, Elder Spock rose and gently took the tray, setting it over Jim's lap.

"He is correct. You should build your strength back up. We will speak more later."

Jim tried not to let that intimidate him, or laugh at the rather pouty look younger Spock gave at being helped. He started eating the snack as he tried to work out the best way to approach all these problems that were building up before him like turning molehills into mountains.

Jim and Big Spock hadn't gotten he chance to talk to one another again because Little Spock had decided to stick around. He quizzed Jim in Vulcan, surprising the older, and then talked a bit about what happened after Jim had passed out. They'd rushed him to the hospital and he'd gone into surgery to remove the bullet. He'd apparently lost quite a bit of blood. Almost too much, but Sarek had known his blood type from what the hospital told him before releasing Jim into his custody. He'd been in surgery for about four hours while they removed the bullet and then used a high capacity regenerator on part of his shoulder blade that had been damaged from impact. Then it had been another two hours under another regenerator to help his muscles and skin heal faster before they'd finally said he'd be okay as long as he rested constantly for a few days. Thus he'd been brought back unconscious on a much faster ship, surviving on IV bags of nutrients.

Jim had to smile a bit at the fidgety way Spock finished. If he had to guess, the young Vulcan had been worried about him but was trying to remain in control even when recalling it. He wanted to ruffle his hair or hug him, but he wasn't sure the young Vulcan would appreciate it. And he was sure his older self definitely wouldn't appreciate it.

Finally, Amanda had come up and smiled as she took the tray. "I'll be starting dinner soon. Would you like to come downstairs, Jay?"

"Sounds great. I may have been asleep most of the time, but I'm feeling restless."

She smiled. "Do you need any help dressing, Jay?"

Spock seemed to straightened more, his eyebrow twitching again. "I can help him if necessary," he said rather quickly.

Amanda blinked before smiling a bit. "That would be helpful, thank you Selek. I'll see you all downstairs." She headed back out and Jim moved to get out of bed.

"Be careful, Jay. Do not overextend yourself," Younger Spock said.

Jim smiled at him. "Thanks. Hey, mind waiting downstairs? Maybe get some tea waiting, I'm getting thirsty."

The boy seemed to hesitate a moment before nodding. "Very well, I will see you downstairs." He exited and the door shut once again.

Jim sighed and moved to take his shirt off, but the elder Spock gripped the bottom first. "Uh…what are you doing?"

"I am helping you undress and redress, as I said I would."

"Spock, I really don't need it. I feel fine."

"Your shoulder is still likely tender. I would rather help you than risk exacerbating your injury."

He looked at the other man dubiously but acquiesced and leaned over enough that Spock could pull the shirt off without him raising his arms. When hands went towards his pants though he quickly shoved them away. "Whoa, not without a couple of drinks there buddy. The pants I do on my own." Spock arched his brow but didn't argue, letting him move to stand. Jim's legs wobbled a bit from disuse and his knees buckled enough he had to put the hand on his good side on the bed. Spock tensed but he held up his other hand just enough to make him pause. "I'm okay…just need to get my blood circulating properly again." After a bit he was more steady and straightened. He paused as his hands went to his pants though and looked at Spock.

"…Is something wrong?"

"No, just…okay, knowing you as a little kid now, it's weird having you see me undress. That's why I sent him out. That and I didn't want him to see the scar." His eyebrow arched again and Jim rolled his eyes. "I got the scar protecting him. It might freak him out a little-and don't damn well argue "Vulcan's don't freak out" or something. He's seven, that'd be a lot for a seven year old to see and deal with."

Spock was silent a moment. "You wish me to turn around?" he finally asked.

"Just for my peace of mind, yes. Maybe go to the closet and toss me some new clothes?"

The Vulcan nodded and walked over to the closet, opening it up. Jim pushed the pajama pants down, kicking them up to catch them with his hand. He realized he was wearing new underwear, and tried not to think that it had been Amanda or Sarek that had helped him. Don't think about it, don't think about it… "Actually, mind if I take a shower real quick? A sonic I mean. I feel a bit…unclean."

Spock didn't turn, draping clothes over his arm. "By all means."

Jim nodded and went to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he saw he indeed had some stubble around his jaw and quickly took care of that. He'd never thought he'd look good with a beard and a five o'clock shadow never cut it at the Academy so he'd gotten rather attached to a clean shaven face. He then hopped into the sonic shower and allowed it to get him clean of oils and dead cells that had built up over his skin and hair. It didn't give him much time to think, but he didn't want Spock coming in after him.

Walking back out, he got a fresh pair of underwear from his drawer and slipped them on. "Toss me some pants?" Spock didn't even look back as he threw the pants at him, almost hitting Jim in the face. He didn't comment on that and slipped them on, pulling a sash out of another drawer nearby to secure it around his waist. "Okay, now the shirt."

Spock did turn around this time and wordlessly walked over. Jim gave him a flat look, but it was nothing compared to the one he got back. Snorting through his noise he finally held his arms out at his sides enough Spock would help him put the undershirt on. He paused however as he moved behind him to pull it over. It was quiet for a moment and Jim shifted. "Spock?"

"...The scar is…painful looking."

Jim was a bit surprised but actually relaxed a little. He wasn't sure why but the soft tone of Spock's voice was somehow endearing. It reminded him of his younger self he supposed. "It was. Bullets suck, I'm rather glad they're out of fashion."

"Indeed…Thank you, I suppose. I had not truly realized I suppose that you indeed risked your life to save my younger self."

Jim grinned a bit. "I've actually gotten attached to your younger self. Somehow you're less of a brat now than you were in the future." Spock narrowed his eyes. "I'm kidding. Mostly. Uh, mind helping to pull the shirt all the way down though?" Spock did so and over the shirt he secured a light wrapped over shirt. "Thanks." Spock merely nodded. "We should head down." He nodded again and they headed out the door and down stairs.

Younger Spock sat in the hollowed out couch area, a tray of drinks on the table in front of him. He looked up as they walked down and stood to climb up the steps and meet them. "How do you feel?"

Jim smiled and couldn't resist patting his head this time though he could feel the narrowed gaze at the side of his head. "I'm okay. Feels good to be up and walking around."

The boy nodded. "It is good to see you walking around as well. Mother and I made you some tea. The sweet kind you enjoy."

"Thanks, sounds great." He was about to head to the sitting area when the sound of claws on stone alerted him to an incoming sehlat. I-Chaya practically skid across the stone floor towards him. "Oh god-"

Though young Spock had moved to intercept, it was Elder Spock that got in front of Jim and held out a hand. "Pekhau, I-Chaya!" he said in an authoritative voice. The sehlat slid when he tried to quickly brake but came to a stop just in front of him with a whine. But the elder Vulcan then reached out and gently stroked over the animal's head soothingly. I-Chaya gave a rumbling purr-like noise and Jim had to smile a bit.

"Thanks."

The elder Vulcan nodded, while young Spock looked at him suspiciously. "I have not seen I-Chaya listen to someone so well outside of my father, mother, and myself…"

Jim winced but Spock only regarded him serenely. "As I mentioned to your mother, I had a sehlat much like him once. I merely used my past experience to attempt to keep him from treating Jay too roughly yet."

"…Indeed. Let us have tea," he said. He surprised Jim by grasping the end of his sleeve and tugging him gently to the steps down into it. Jim followed and sat down on the couch. Elder Spock followed, but the younger version sat between them almost defensively. Jim just put that to his imagination though and took the cup of tea that had been chilled in the refrigerator. It had a very refreshing, almost spiced fruit flavor to it he'd actually come to enjoy a lot.

From the corner of his vision he could see his Commander staring at the glass dully. Jim wondered how many memories were brought back from the sight and smell of the tea and felt another pang of sympathy. It must've been tough to come back to the past for me…knowing he'd have to face everything he lost that day and couldn't get back…but he still came back.

Spock seemed to rouse himself from whatever reverie he was lured into and sipped the tea once before setting it down. "Thank you."

The younger Vulcan eyed him before nodding. "You are welcome."

Jim smiled and relaxed back to drink his tea. "Spock, you did otherwise enjoy seeing Earth, right? Before all…that happened?"

Spock blinked up at him before nodding. "Yes. It was fascinating to see the cultural differences among the people, as well as the differences in city structure."

Jim smiled. "What was your favorite part?"

"…The aquarium was fascinating and enjoyable. However, I also liked watching movies with you. The beach was greatly stimulating though. We have nothing like it on Vulcan. Our 'oceans' are mostly underground due to our heat. They are more like wells that are many hundreds of kilometers across."

"Huh…interesting though," Jim said. "Did you give your father the sea shell?"

His eyes widened a moment. "I did not. I had forgotten given the circumstances."

"Give it to him when you can then, I think he'll like it."

He nodded slowly. "I will. Thank you for reminding me." He paused before looking away. "I am also glad you are back here, Jay. Though of course I wish it were under better circumstances," he added quickly. "But…I did not like the idea of returning to Vulcan without you. Though I know it is logical…"

Jim smiled a bit, though he couldn't make it as happy as it should be. Crap…guess he's become as attached to me as I've become of him. This is going to make going back rough. Trying not to let such thoughts weigh his voice down, he leaned over enough to catch his eye. "I'm glad to be back too."

The boy flushed slightly but seemed more content as he relaxed back. Other Spock arched his brow, looking confused slightly but didn't comment. "After watching one such movie with you, I had thought to perhaps look through my mother's own movie collection. Would that be acceptable now?"

Jim smiled. "Sure, we got time before dinner I think."

He nodded and brought the menu up on their screen player. Amanda had a few movies saved on a storage device attached, though others could be streamed in if necessary. "You mentioned that one movie we watched, Toy Story, was an earth classic?"

"Yeah, most everyone watches it when they're young on Earth. It's got a few sequels too."

"Oh?"

Jim smiled and maneuvered through the menu to a movie hosting cash that spanned much of the galaxy. "See? 3 is one of my favorites, but of course they should be watched in sequence to understand what's going on."

"That is logical."

"I do not know the series," Elder Spock said morosely.

Jim immediately wanted to ask 'Are you kidding me,' but Vulcans didn't kid. Not well anyway. Plus, being "Selek", it made sense he wouldn't know much about an Earth children's movie series. "Ah…maybe something else then."

Younger Spock didn't look entirely pleased but nodded. "Very well…"

He smiled again and looked through more of the lists. "How about a documentary on Vulcan and Earth's first encounter? I'd like to know more about that."

The younger Vulcan nodded slowly. "I know the events as told by my class. But it would be intriguing to see how someone from Earth view the events."

Jim smiled, glancing at the older Vulcan. It took a moment before he nodded. "I would…find that acceptable."

Nodding back, he selected the documentary and sat back to watch it. Jim didn't pay much attention though, still thinking over how best to approach telling Spock he had no intention of going back now. Not before he helped Sarek and made sure Vulcan wouldn't be caught unawares twenty years from now.

Before he knew it the documentary was winding down. It was a shame because he had been curious. He knew the basics of how first contact happened, it was taught in grade-school. The T'Planna-Hath locating the Zefram Cochrane's engine signature from his Phoenix engine that was the first to achieve warp, then coming down to meet him in the middle of Montanna, and…Well, by then Jim had tended to zone slightly. It wasn't that he had ADD or anything, he was just more curious how the engine worked than the blasé way his teacher had described the events of 2063. All he cared about in the third grade was that they got the day off for First Contact Day.

Amanda came in as a rather theatrical narrator posed even more theatrical questions about the future of Earth, the Federation and beyond. "Dinner will be on the table in a few moments, come take your seats boys."

"Right," Jim said, standing and heading for the dining room. He sat in his usual seat, and tried not to laugh when Spock went for his younger counterpart's usual spot. The younger Vulcan was holding the chair on the other side, and gave him a look that was both confused and annoyed under his control.

"This is my usual seat, cousin Selek," he said coolly.

"Of course. My apologies, I sit in the similar area."

Spock didn't say anything else and climbed into his seat. Spock to the seat next to him that happened to be across from Jim. Jim tried to smile but there was still an air of animosity surrounding Spock. He was apparently still not in a family mood.

Finally Sarek arrived in the room and took a seat next to Jim in his own usual seat. His eyes flicked to the older version of his son just once before looking towards the kitchen door. Jim tensed, realizing suddenly that after that mind-meld Sarek more than likely recognized Spock for who he is. Shit…well, maybe this will make things easier.

Amanda stepped out of the kitchen and set down a deep dish of noodles and vegetables in an orange-red sauce and slices of thick eggplant like vegetables. She made another round trip for a large bowl of salad and a large bowl of fruit. Then a tray of drinks.

"Amanda, you shouldn't have had to do all this on your own, I could've helped," Jim said.

"I don't mind. Part of the fun of cooking is presenting the final product after all," she smiled as she set all the glasses down. Jim smiled back and sipped the drink again as Sarek and Amanda served themselves first, then Amanda helped Young Spock despite some mild protests. Jim motioned for the other Vulcan to serve himself first, but he held up hand.

"Please, after you Jay." The manners were something else that both worried and relaxed him. He couldn't' tell if it was an act for the sake of the others in the room and he was really seething with aggravation or if he was sincere. Jim served himself plenty of the entrée and the sides. Spock served himself more sparingly but the blonde human thought he saw another moment of nostalgia go through him at the first bite. "This is quite pleasing, Amanda," he said.

"Thank you."

Jim smiled a bit sadly but took a bite as well. The sauce was savory and delicious, like an Alfredo sauce with a slight tang of spice to it. The vegetables in the pasta were soft and almost meat-like in flavor, while the salad was crisp and fresh. And the fruits were all sweet and ripe. Jim smiled as he ate, a full stomach always putting him in a good mood even under dire circumstances.

"How do you find our home, Selek?" Sarek asked. Jim paused in chewing, glancing between the two Vulcans.

'Selek' looked back coolly. "It is quite appealing. I commend you and your wife, cousin."

Amanda smiled at that. "I hope your day was good."

"It was…interesting. But while you are all accommodating I do not wish to overstay my welcome. I hope to be able to move on very soon."

Jim tried not to frown openly but swallowed the bite in his mouth.

"It's no trouble, Selek," Amanda said. "You're welcome to stay as long as necessary."

"Affirmative," Sarek said simply.

Spock glanced at her before looking back to the food. "That is…appreciated."

Jim smiled a bit. He should have known that Spock would have trouble saying no to his mother. He filed that away as a last resort, but he truly didn't want to dig into old wounds again. Not just for his own safety, but because he didn't want to be that cruel to a man he still hoped to be friends with one day.

"Spock, I got some of the work you missed from school the last few days sent to your padd earlier. Try to get most of it done tonight before school tomorrow."

"Yes, mother," the youngest present said. She smiled at him and patted his shoulder.

"What did you think of that documentary you watched, Spock?"

The boy launched into a small compare and contrast on what his teachers had told him about the first contact with Earth and what the documentary had said. The contrast mostly consisted of the emotional tone of the documentary as well as the reenaction of events where he was certain the landing party was not played by actual Vulcans but Terrans in unconvincing make-up. Jim had to laugh about a lot of his observations, noting Elder Spock just remained quiet. Jim smiled even afterwards, feeling strangely at home. It was a feeling he had really only associated with the Academy and the Enterprise since his childhood. His crew was his family there. Here…it felt as if he had slipped into a place in the household like a new suit.

After lunch, Amanda once again went into the kitchen and came back with five little cakes fresh out of the oven. "And we have dessert. I know it's lunch, but I couldn't resist. Slorsvai!" The Vulcans all seemed to perk up at the mention of the sweet, even Sarek looking at the little cakes intently.

Jim blinked as he tried to translate the name of the sweet. "Sweet…flower?" Jim asked curiously. His commander looked at him, obviously still not used to the idea of his Captain knowing even some of his native language.

Amanda beamed as she placed each cake on a small clean plate. "Very good, Jay. Yes, it's a sweet made from a cactus like plant in the desert."

"You did not have to go through such trouble, Amanda," Sarek said.

She smiled at him warmly. "It wasn't much trouble. Plus, they're so good I knew it would be good to make for desert. I'm making fruit pudding for dessert at dinner, a little lighter then. I knew I wanted Jay to try them, and Selek coming was a bonus, so I figured the sooner the better."

Sarek didn't press the subject, but Jim saw a slight warmth in his eyes. The human looked down when Amanda set the plate in front of him. The cake was about the size of his fist, light and fluffy looking like a creampuff and the color of champagne. It didn't have any apparent frosting or glaze on it, but he could detect a very sugary smell.

Picking up their fork, they each cut a piece from their respective cakes and took a bite. Jim was shocked by the sugary sweet taste in his mouth, but it was also cool and refreshing like a slice of cucumber. He couldn't remember a dessert ever quite like it. "Wow, that's good…"

Amanda smiled proudly. "It's a traditional dessert of Vulcan. One of very few."

"My wife often laments the lack of sweets. A variety of sweets are unnecessary as it is illogical to eat them too often," Sarek said, though he was still eating the cake. Amanda rolled her eyes but kept eating. Young Spock was also enjoying the cake obviously, though he at slowly as if to savor it. Older Spock was also eating slowly to savor it, but Jim wondered if it was more because he missed the cake and more specifically how his mother made it.

Eventually though, bite by bite, the cake was gone from each of their plates and Amanda began cleaning up. "Let me help," Jim said, standing to gather some of the plates.

"It's not necessary, Jay, you're still recovering," she disputed.

"I'm recovering, not an invalid," he shot back, picking up the glasses and silverware.

"Actually, Jay, I wish to speak to you about something important," Sarek said.

He gave him a look that was meaningful even for a Vulcan and Jim gulped. The human tried not to look anxious and nodded as he sat the glasses and silverware on one of the trays. He'd wondered when maybe Sarek would want to talk or if he'd made any progress getting a meeting with the council. Apparently he was about to find out. "Alright…"

He rose and turned before pausing and turning back. "Selek, I believe your presence would be appreciated as well."

The blonde blanched at the request but he couldn't very well veto the decision in front of everyone. He didn't have a right to and he didn't think opening that can of worms right then would be a good idea. He'd just have to brace himself for what was about to come he told himself as 'Selek' rose as well and followed him down the hall. He looked at Jim from the corner of his eye and Jim tried to smile, though he wondered if this was going to result in another attempted choking of the Captain.