Slow Way Home
Chapter 17
[Day 25 of 45]
"Do you have any Christmas plans?" Gaila asked as she and Jim sat in Spock's quarters. Her quarters too but they were technically Spock's.
"How do I have Christmas plans when we are here?" Jim asked, being honest.
"Do like Bones and I did… we ordered ingredients to be delivered the twenty-third, as well as pre-wrapped presents so we'll have them Christmas Eve. Now we just have to hope we arrive on time," Gaila admitted.
"That's a lot of hope that may not happen," Jim told Gaila who stuck her tongue out. "I'm being serious. One thing could push us back a day or two. Two things… buh-bye Christmas." Jim sighed not liking that idea because she had never missed Christmas with the twins. As an only parent she'd always been there, always had to be but also because she didn't want them to spend them lonely like she did several years, Frank passed out on the couch while she wondered where her mother and Sam were. Having to figure out what you were going to eat because Frank only had alcohol left in the house.
"We will get back. You have to have faith in that," Gaila stated.
"What if we don't, I mean, I've never missed a holiday, ever and I don't know how to miss one now," she admitted. Gaila rolled from her stomach to her knees which had been in the air with her ankles crossed.
"You don't give up. I mean, aren't you the one always stating there's no such thing as a no-win situation," Gaila stated. Jim glared at Gaila from the little arm chair. "We will get there. You won't miss Christmas with your children."
That's when the door opened and their attention turned to Amanda and Spock entering the room.
"You need to make sure we get to Earth before Christmas. I want to spend the holiday with my grandbabies, not stuck on this bucket of bolts," Amanda said and Jim felt insulted since it was her bucket of bolts.
"I do not see how this ship could be compared to a bucket filled with Bolts," Spock stated and Jim rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to let the slight against the ship go," Jim said, "Since I'm worried about the exact same thing."
"All of the parents are," Gaila said.
"You a mother?" Amanda asked and Gaila blushed.
"She's dating Bones who has a daughter. Though his daughter does act like she's more a mother, especially since her own is going to prison for child negligence," Jim admitted and Gaila lowered her face so her hair hid her.
"Ah, adopted child. You are still the mother whether by blood," Amanda said and Gaila sputtered, face turning up and eyes wide though Amanda had turned to face Spock so she didn't see that. Jim tried to hold back her laughter. She actually bit her lip to keep quiet. "You must get us back Spock. I know you don't want to miss this specific holiday any more than I do."
"Yes mother," Spock said and to anyone else the tone would see detached. To Jim he sounded both annoyed and placating. Her Urge to laugh was getting harder to control.
"Good boy," Amanda said before giving them a nod, then left. As soon as she was gone both Gaila and Jim burst out laughing breaking the dark mood that had settled earlier.