"Spock! come outside and look at what I got!" Spock had opened the door for Kirk, only to be pulled from his dorm room and lead downstairs and out of the building to the road
And there sat a vehicle. And Old Earth-style car that Spock knew was called a pickup truck and that Jim seemed to be very proud of.
"Do you like it?"
"Did you purchase this?" Spock asked his friend.
"No of course not! Scotty did-It was one of the things he restored over the school year this year. I'm borrowing it to drive us back to my place for the summer."
"Jim, providing we drive following all posted speed limits and could even feasibly drive the entire journey at once-which would be impossible due to your human limitations and this machine's limitations-it would take a minimum of twenty-eight hours."
"I know that's why it'll be a three or four day trip." He said. "I'm going to call Bones and see if he wants to beam up here and come too."
"And when we're done?"
"The car had to live at the starfleet base while Scotty goes home for the summer anyway, may as well live at the one in Riverside." Kirk shrugged "What do you say? come with me?"
He considered it a moment before responding. "I'll come but only for the opportunity of a new experience."
"Awesome. we'll leave as soon as finals are done-be ready! Jim said cheerfully.
"I'll miss you."
"Aw come on, I'm not leaving for another ten days."
"But I'll miss you!" Jocelyn said, leaning on Bones while he typed on his PADD. "Why you come stay with me this summer? I have my own apartment this year."
"I promise to come visit." He said, turning his head to kiss her before turning back to writing his finals paper. "And I'll visit during the school year."
"And Christmas?"
"Actually, why don't you come with me to the Kirk's for Christmas? I think you'd like Jim and his family. and Spock's not so bad."
She sat up, smile falling away. "Actually. I've met them."
"What?"
"Ah, last week when they were here and you were out I stopped by to drop off some books."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"And you didn't get along." Bones stated.
"I didn't say that."
"You have that look on your face that you get when talking about things you don't like...looks like Jim and Spock are two of those things."
"...Yes. Look, Leonard I'm sorry it's just...well you know."
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do! I don't want you to go back to Starfleet..."
Bones sighed and held open his arm to her. "come here. Darlin, please?" he asked, slipping into his more natural accent which he felt far more comfortable with here and with her than at the Academy.
She sat back down, leaning against him. He put his arms around her then began to speak.
"I love you." He told her. "And I hope I always do. But after going to the Academy, then here, I know where I gotta go and work to be happy. And it's not some hospital or my own clinic. But I promise-whatever crazy schemes Jim has in mind for him and me and Spock-I'll do everything I can to try to get that sleepy little southern post we've talked about. remember that?"
She smiled and leaned back on him.
"We've talked about life a lot. Which possible future was this? the one where I'm the sweet little housewife? Oh, Or the one where I have a job all of my own?"
"The one where we do well enough that you quit your job when we have kids."
"mm, Delicious." she tilted her head back to kiss him gently. "So am I forgiven?"
"M'not the one you need to say sorry to, doll."
"I know. I'll see him sometime and I'll apologize then. I don't do not-in-person apologies."
"Fair enough." He laid back, holding her for a while. "...We both shoudl get back to studying."
"In a bit." Jocelyn prompted.
"Alright."
"Love you Leonard."
"Love you Jocelyn."
"I know." He chuckled and smiled, closing his eyes.
this would definitely be something he'd miss.
Hey! I'm cutting this one a bit short so that the road trip will all be in one chapter. hopefully it'll be up soon. I've r3ecently found some new ambition to work on this.