Current time

After Jim's shift was over on the bridge he met his husband and son in the senior staff room. Leonard quietly asked his husband, "How are you feeling Jim?"

He gives him a soft smile and a kiss before responding, "I'll be alright, but I am going to focus on the mission before I can feel or deal with my emotions with Spock." McCoy nodded in understanding and took Jim's hand. David, who had been quietly playing, walked over to Jim. He hugged Jim's leg, looked up at his father and said, "Sa'mekh here to stay. Sa'mekh missed us."

Before Jim could respond to his son they heard the swish of the door, and turned to see Spock walk into the room. Spock took a moment to look at the men in front of him before he came to kneel in front of Kirk, his head bowed. "K'diwa," he murmurs, "your Alpha mate has failed you. He left thee when you were most vulnerable because your mate feared facing his emotions. He knows he does not deserve forgiveness but seeks it from thee. He knows he will not be welcomed back and will need to earn your's and Leoanrd's trust." Spock ceased speaking, as a tear ran down his face.

Jim knelt down in front of Spock, putting a finger under his chin to lift his face, with his other hand he reached out to Leonard pulling him down to join them on the floor. "Ashayam, you are worthy to speak your name and mine in the same sentence. You are worthy of love. I speak for both Leonard and I when I say we still love and cherish thee. We will need to discuss our emotions and what we have been through. David's sickness was traumatic, although your response was hurtful to me beyond expression it was also understandable. Ashayam, you are welcome back with open arms but it will take time for us to heal from the damage that has been caused."

Spock looked at Jim with tears streaming down his face before he pulled him into a searing kiss. "Words escape me to express my gratitude K'diwa," Spock murmured to Jim.

"Well that's a first," McCoy responded with his usual banter. Spock turned to him and opened his arms and McCoy shuffled into the Vulcans warm embrace and searing kiss. Murmuring into his hair, "I have missed thee, Lenoard McCoy and your ability to humble me and make me feel loved." Leonard kissed Spock's neck, and murmured, "I've missed you too you pointy eared hobgoblin. Don't you ever run out on us again."

David cautiously walked over to his fathers before asking, "Sa'mekh okay? Sa'mekh here to stay?"

Spock picked up his son, kissed his head and said, "David, nash-veh la' tor stay. Nash-veh worla leaving etwel skan va'ashiv."*

"Sa'mekh made daddy, papa, me sad. You sad too. I got sick but papa fix me! Papa doctor! Papa makes you feel better!" Spock smiled at Leoanrd who had tears in his eyes as he said, "Yes, David, your father does make people feel better. Hopefully I can help everyone feel better soon too. How about we start with getting our favorite dinner?"

"Mac cheese!" David exclaimed while Jim pondered for a moment before he said, "With bacon?" David nodded his head excitedly as he took Jim's hand while they headed to their quarters.

As the men got up to follow their Captain and son, Spock said "I thought you were supposed to be a healthy influence on them Doctor?"

"Well, I was until a certain Alpha thought it was okay to purge his emotions and left us."

Spock had the decency to look chastened. Leonard looked at his mate, took his hand and said, "You're back, that's all that matters. You have to promise, though, never to leave us again."

Spock nodded solemnly before responding, "I told David, I would never leave our family again, and Vulan's do not lie. I will never leave my family again."

Leonard stopped them, looked up and down the corridor to make sure it was empty before he crowded his husband against the wall, cupped his cheek and began gently stroking his thumb against his skin. "I love you Spock, and trust you never to make that mistake again. You forget I'm a doctor and know how to make people disappear." With a smirk, his hand then found its way to the back of Spock's head and he leaned in to press his lips to Spock's. Leonard's fingers became more entangled in Spock's silky black hair as he began gently swiping his tongue along the seam of Spock's lips, seeking permission to deepen the kiss. Spock opened to him immediately, and soon they were both lost as their tongues rolled languidly together. Both men began to shift awkwardly as they felt the familiar tightening in their pants, and then began to slowly grind against each other. Spock drew back and harshly whispered, "Not here Leoanrd, not now. I will not cum in my pants in a public hallway like some out of control teenager."

Leonard looked at his spouse, slowly closed his eyes that were blown wide in lust, took a deep breath and nodded, "I agree, let's go join our husband and son shall we?" The family sat quietly, finishing their dinner when Spock began to speak. Looking down at his folded hands in his lap, he began "While attempting my final Kolinar, I telepathically sensed Jim's thoughts about the attack on the Klingons. I was sent away without achieving Kolinar; however, even if the Vulcan high council had offered it to me, after hearing Jim's voice I knew I could not do it. I knew I had made a horrible mistake. I realized that purging my emotions was not the answer, that I had abandoned the progress I had made with the two of you in balancing my two selves. So, I came to a conclusion. I am retiring from Starfleet, effective when this mission ends."

Jim gasped, "Spock are you sure? Starfleet is everything."

Spock took his sleepy son out of his highchair and snuggled him. He looked at his son for several long moments before looking at Jim and Leonard. "This, right here, at this table is my everything. You three are what matter the most in the universe to me. I allowed Starfleet to get in the way of that. I will retire, and focus on my family and my experiments. I have also contacted Dr. M'Benga at headquarters. I have requested that he give me some therapy as well as couples therapy. Is that okay with the three of you?" Both men nodded their agreement before reaching out and each taking one of Spock's hands.

"We love you Spock," Jim responded with tears in his eyes, "and will do anything to keep our family together. So, yes of course we will do therapy and if retirement is what is best for you then we support you one hundred percent." Leonard nodded his agreement. This was not the end of the little family's journey, but whatever the universe decided to throw their way they would face it together and be all the better for it.

David, I am here to stay. I am never leaving our family again.