The BLTS Archive - Unnamed series:
Orange Juice
by Isla (islaofhope@aol.com)
and
T'Aaneli ( t_aaneli@excite.com)

---

Disclaimer: Star Trek and its characters all belong to Paramount.
Selek, T'James, and Tomas are original characters created by Isla and
T'Aaneli.  This is fan fiction. We won't make any money from it.

Thanks to Jat Sapphire, Hafital, T'Len for beta duty.

Both positive and negative feedback are welcome.

---

The smell of coffee tickled at his consciousness.

He was in San Francisco at an outdoor cafe with a cup of Jamaican
Mountain, his bare legs stretched out in front of him, soaking up the
warm sunlight.  Hot sunlight actually.  One of those rare and welcome
hot days in San Francisco.  He'd lost his boots...somewhere.  His
shirt, too.

And the warm wind was ruffling his hair and brushing against his
cheeks;  maybe he was working on a sunburn.  But when he lifted the
cup to his lips, what he tasted was herbal tea.  Cardamom and cinnamon
tea.  He preferred coffee, of course, but if he had to make do with
herbal tea, hot and spicy was the way to go.

Cardamom and cinnamon?  His eyes flew open, and he was staring up into
the most beautiful pair of dark brown eyes he'd ever seen.

"Jim."

"Spock."  He put his hand up to the back of Spock's head pulled him
down for a swift, fierce, open-mouthed kiss.  Cardamom and cinnamon.
That mystery was solved.

Now, what about the coffee?

"You are awake."  Spock sat down on the bed, and stroked his fingers
through Jim's hair.

Sunlight streamed through the window.  "You're here."  Jim stretched
lazily, unwilling to stir from the oh-so-comfortable bed, drinking in
the sight of his oh-so-handsome mate.

"Yes, I told you that I would have more leisure today.  We can spend
the day however you choose."

Jim captured the hand that was in his hair, and he brought it to his
mouth. "In that case, you're overdressed."

Spock lifted an eyebrow, but he placed his hand at the top of his
robe.

"Wait.  Don't you dare take off a stitch until I can watch you."

"A stitch?"  Spock raised an eyebrow in a question mark, but he sat
down  again, and his eyes followed as Jim jumped out of bed and
crossed the floor to the bathroom.

When he walked back into the bedroom, Jim noticed the breakfast tray
out of the corner of his eye.  Coffee?  But his eyes were drawn back
to the  apparition seated on his bed.

His smile widened and he stopped in his tracks, admiring.  Spock
tilted his head fractionally.  "Jim?"

"I just wanted to look at you."

"Ah."  Spock stood up and put his hand once more at his collar.  He
kept his eyes on Jim's as he slipped his hand in and opened his robe.
With one swift motion, he dropped it  to the floor.  He wasn't wearing
anything underneath.  Jim swallowed; his knees felt weak.  Spock's
body was long, lean, muscular, lightly furred on his chest, and his
cock pointed unerringly at Jim.

Spock's left hand rested lightly on his hip.  His expression remained
solemn, but his eyes were sparkling as he reached behind with his
right hand to remove the fastening on his braid.  As he combed through
his hair, unplaiting it, dark silken locks fell around his shoulders
and down his back.

Jim propelled himself forward into Spock's arms with such force that
it  seemed to knock the breath out of them both for a moment.  At
first, Spock was like an unmoving wall, but when Jim pulled Spock's
head down to kiss his mouth bruisingly, Spock's knees buckled and they
fell back onto the bed with Jim on top.

Spock rolled them over so that he was on top.  His hair fell forward
to  create a dark curtain around their faces.

Jim wrapped his legs around Spock, and their cocks pressed together
trapped between their abdomens.  "You are so gorgeous, Spock."

"As are you, my own."

Spock's weight held Jim down, and he wrapped his long fingers around
both of their cocks.  Jim's hand slipped down between them to hold
their balls together, but he didn't grip them quite as tightly as
Spock gripped their cocks, his hand slick with their mingled precum.
Jim's tongue probed Spock's mouth, keeping rhythm with Spock's
stroking hand.  They climaxed together, slow and deep and easy.

As Jim lounged back contentedly, Spock efficiently cleaned their
mingled seed from their stomachs with the damp towel that he'd
apparently brought for this very purpose. "I believe that your coffee
is still hot."

Jim grinned up at him.  "So that's why you were in such a hurry."

Spock sat up, pulled back the covers, and gestured to indicate that
Jim  should slide back under the covers.  As soon as Jim complied,
Spock brought the breakfast tray over, and then slid under the covers
beside him.

A sip of the coffee confirmed that it was exactly the right
temperature.   "You couldn't have timed it better if you'd tried."

Spock poured himself a cup of tea from the other pot and took a sip.
"I  *did* time it perfectly."

Jim laughed and leaned back against the pillow.  "What else do we have
here?"  He gestured at the glass of what looked like orange juice,
but, on Vulcan, it was probably vegetable juice.  For a moment, his
memory wouldn't pull up the name of the vegetable.

Spock turned to study him.  "Try it."

A cautious sip confirmed that it was, indeed, fresh-squeezed orange
juice.  "Spock, I can't believe it.  Do you know how long it's been
since I've had coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice?"

Spock opened his mouth, presumably to tell Jim, but then he looked
uncertain.  After all, they hadn't had much time to spend together in
the last several months.  Also, Spock couldn't know that Jim had
enjoyed both in Iowa during his Christmas holiday during which Spock,
unfortunately, had been unable to join him.  Instead of answering
Jim's rhetorical question, Spock said, "It pleases you?"

Jim put down the glass and turned to kiss Spock swiftly.  "You know it
does.  I can't believe that you went through all the trouble - "

"I did not."

Another sip of coffee.  "Tell me."

"It was Tomas."  Spock reached over to sweep a fallen eyelash off
Jim's  cheek.  "Selek's and T'James' young professor is an excellent
tactician."

Jim began to spread jam over several pieces of toast.  "How so?"  He
offered the first piece to Spock who took it with a nod of thanks.

"He came bearing gifts to 'soften up' Selek's parents."  Spock sipped
his tea.

Jim laughed and took a bite of his own piece of toast.  "He brought
the  coffee and orange juice?"

"He brought coffee beans and oranges.  He ground the beans and
squeezed the oranges this morning before they left on their hiking
expedition."  Spock finished his piece of toast and wiped his fingers
on the napkin.  He still hadn't learned to lick toast crumbs from his
own fingers although, given the right circumstances, he was willing to
lick them from Jim's.

Jim took another sip of coffee.  "So you've been up for awhile, and
you  talked to them.  Have they left already?"

"Yes, they left shortly after dawn.  They wished to say good-bye, but
I  convinced them not to disturb you.  You had a late night."  Spock's
expression was one of studied innocence as he looked down into his tea
cup.

"And a lot of champagne, and other...um...stimulation."  Jim grinned
at the memory.  It had been nearly dawn before he'd fallen into a
contented slumber, his head pillowed on Spock's hairy chest and
Spock's arms wound around him.  "You were wonderful, Spock.  As
always."

Jim took another sip of coffee and shrugged.  "As it turns out, Tomas
didn't have to soften me up.  He just reminded me of what we went
through with your parents when we got married, and I told him that I
would give him whatever help he needed in talking to his parents."

Spock took Jim's left hand and lifted it to his mouth to kiss the
finger that wore his wedding ring.  "I do not believe he was ever
concerned about convincing you.  I was the one he was anxious about
'winning over.'"

Jim studied Spock with affectionate amusement.  "Then why would you
say that Tomas was an excellent tactician?  You hardly ever drink
coffee, and you don't care for orange juice.  He should've brought you
... hmm, what should he have brought you?"  Jim shook his head.  "I
think that you're above bribery, love."

"Incorrect.  He guessed at my one weakness."

Jim tilted his head.  "And that would be?"

"You."

Jim looked puzzled for a moment, and then he blushed.  "Oh, Spock, you
silver-tongued devil."  Jim leaned over to brush his lips lightly
against Spock's, and then said, "Is there any more coffee?"

Jim's breath caught in his chest at the sudden warm smile that lit
Spock's face.  Jim found a wide grin stretching across his face.
"What?"

"I am the most fortunate of Vulcans to possess thee as my own."  Spock
pulled Jim into an almost-bone-crunching embrace.

"And don't you forget it."  He inhaled deeply and was nearly dizzy
from the combination of the tight embrace and Spock's heady aroma.  A
dizziness he didn't mind. Jim laughed and nipped at the side of
Spock's neck.  "I feel pretty damn lucky myself."

Spock released him after one swift, sweet kiss.  "It is not random
chance.  You have earned my devotion by your deeds and by the beauty
of your mind."  He turned away and swung his long legs over the side
of the bed.

Jim grabbed his shoulder.  "Where do you think you're going?"

Spock turned with a puzzled look on his face.  "You desired more
coffee."

"You don't have to wait on me.  I can get my own."  Jim bounded out of
the bed and extracted his robe from his pile of clothing on the chair. 
"Jim."

He looked up as he heard a sudden sternness in Spock's voice.  Spock
stood still with his arms crossed on his chest.  His dark hair hung
down his back, his lightly-muscled body was naked.  A beautiful,
fierce Ancient Vulcan warrior from a museum painting.

"It gives me pleasure to wait on you.  However, if you insist on
retrieving your own coffee, I see no reason to cover yourself.  We are
quite alone," said the warrior, his eyes narrowing slightly as he
gazed at his mate.

"Spock, I prefer to wear a robe."  But he inexplicably found himself
unfastening that robe and tossing it back on the chair.

"Why?  It is certainly warm enough that you will not be chilled."

Jim laughed.  "Modesty?"  Well, modesty was hardly something of which
James Kirk could be accused.  Spock's eyes were sliding over Jim's
body, and he was damn glad that he'd been running and lifting weights.
His human body was aging faster than Spock's half-human once, but he
didn't look half-bad for his age.  Spock said that he admired Jim's
mind primarily, but it was his ass and chest and all that Jim wanted
Spock to run his hands over with the studied concentration that was in
those dark eyes now.

Spock, possibly in answer to Jim's thoughts, said, "The only logical
reason for draping a work of art is that the owner does not wish to
share the sight with others.  That is, of course, why I prefer you to
dress when there are others in our home.  When it is only you and I
here, I see no reason - "

'Flatterer' was Jim's first thought, but then he had another one.
"Spock, are you trying to say that you 'own' my body?"  Jim came
around the bed and, fists on hips, looked up into Spock's eyes.  His
expression probably wasn't as stern as he intended it to be; he was
aware that his heart was beating a little faster than normal, and a
slight grin was tugging at the side of his mouth.

"Affirmative."  Spock was succeeding far better at his expression of
sternness, but it was belied by his gentle massage of Jim's shoulders.

Jim closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Spock's
collarbone,  sliding his arms around Spock's waist.  "I wonder," he
said softly against Spock's chest.

"Jim?"  Spock's hand stilled, and he simply rested both hands on Jim's
shoulders.

He opened his eyes and leaned back slightly to look into Spock's face.
"If I had known what I was getting myself into, would I have said yes
to you?"

"Full knowledge?"  Spock tilted his head fractionally, and appeared to
consider the question, but then he nodded firmly.  "Undoubtedly.  In
spite of the pain that we have occasionally caused each other,
overall, our bonding has been a source of great happiness for both of
us."

Jim grinned.  "It *has* been paradise."  He pressed himself back
against  Spock's heated torso.  "But, as you always remind me, I can't
tolerate  paradise for long."

Spock nodded and slid his hands down from Jim's shoulders to caress
his back. "That is why I have ensured that there have been thorns on
the roses."

Jim laughed out loud.  "Logical as always."  Dropping a kiss on the
side of Spock's mouth, he twisted himself out of his mate's grasp.
"I'm going to get that coffee.  Do you want anything else?"

"No, Jim."

Once in the kitchen, he poured himself another cup of coffee, scooped
up an orange, and briefly regretted his lack of pockets.  He wanted
some more toast, but it could wait.

He smiled when he came back into the room.  Spock was sprawled on the
bed with a padd in front of him and a stylus in hand, engrossed in his
work.

Jim reclaimed his comfortable seat against a pillow at the head of the
bed. He rubbed his hand along the back of Spock's muscular left leg,
grinned when he found a ticklish spot behind the knee that made Spock
jump slightly, and silently enjoyed the view for a moment.

He'd spent many years watching Spock work - at his station on the
bridge, at the computer console in their shared quarters, or in a
briefing room.  The Spock in Jim's memories wore his dark, glossy hair
cut in a conservative style and dressed in a succession of Starfleet
uniforms or a simple black tunic and black trousers.

The Spock sprawled on Jim's bed was naked with powerful shoulders, a
muscular ass, and legs that went on for miles. His long, glossy, dark
hair spilled over his shoulders and down his back and fell forward
into his eyes; he occasionally pushed a long strand back behind an
elegantly pointed ear.

Jim had a moment of guilt knowing that he, too, had work that was
waiting for him, but he decided that he was content just watching his
mate.   

After a time, Jim's coffee cup was empty, and he'd finished his slow,
almost absentminded massage of as much of Spock's legs as he could
reach.  He looked out the window, considering whether it would be too
hot to go for a hike.  He moved his hand down to grasp the heel of
Spock's left foot.  "Spock?  Have I lost your attention completely?"

Without looking up from his padd, Spock said, "I was under the
impression that you wished to take a break from our activities.  If
you are rested, I would, of course, be very pleased to - "

"You mean, did I want to make love again?"  Jim's cock gave a slight
leap at the thought, but it seemed slightly decadent to spend the
entire day in bed.  They were getting a little old for that, weren't
they?  "Maybe, but don't you remember?  We used to do other things
together, too."

Spock sat up smoothly and turned to face Jim.  "Jim, forgive me, I did
not mean to imply that I was unwilling to spend time with you in other
ways.  I must work on this presentation, but I did promise that I was
at your disposal today.  What is your wish?"

Jim stretched out a kink in his neck.  "What's the presentation for?
One of your classes at VSA next week?"

Shaking his head, Spock said, "I am on sabbatical from the VSA for six
months.  As I told you, it is my intention that you and I spend more
time together."  He touched the padd.  "Tomas asked me to participate
in a seminar at Berkeley next week.  It will consume my mornings, but
my afternoons will be yours."

Jim smiled at the thought of six months during which Spock's purpose
was for the two of them to "spend more time together," but he couldn't
resist teasing his mate.  "What makes you think *my* afternoons are
free?"

Spock steepled his fingers in front of him.  "It was most presumptuous
of me to assume that you would go to Terra with me."

Jim reached out to touch the back of Spock's hand.  "Of course, I'll
go to Earth with you.  I can reschedule my appointments here.  Nothing
is  particularly pressing." He tried to look stern.  "Just next time -
"

"Notify you in a more timely manner."  Spock bowed his head, but then
looked up again with a slight smile.  "In truth, I did not expect that
we would be traveling to Terra, but Tomas received notification that a
speaker could not attend his seminar.  He found me to be an acceptable
'last minute' replacement."

"Acceptable?  He had to be delighted to get Spock cha' Sarek as the
replacement."  Jim reached out to grasp Spock's knee.  "It's very
generous of you to help him."

Spock lifted an eyebrow.  "He is our son's t'hy'la, which makes him
our son, also."  He touched the padd again.  "Additionally, I have not
had the opportunity to do any genetics research in five point seven
Standard years.  The opportunity to update my knowledge is very
welcome."

"Are you serious?"  Jim began a slow massage of the slightly bony knee
under his hand.  "You haven't done any genetics research in years, and
you just agreed to make a presentation at a major seminar?"

"Jim, are you implying that I will be unprepared?"

Shaking his head with a smile, Jim said, "No, Spock.  Not you.  But I
think that you're going to be a little busy between now and then
getting caught up.  I don't think you'll have time for a hike this
afternoon."

"Really, Admiral?"  Spock stood up and went to his closet to select
clothing appropriate for hiking.  "I read very fast.  My work will not
prevent me from granting your wish for a shared hike this afternoon."
He began to dress but paused to look at Jim.  "As I have heard you say
on more than one occasion, Jim, 'move your gorgeous ass.'  I will soon
be ready for our hike, and yet you continue to lounge on our bed."

"I'm moving," Jim said as he jumped from the bed to retrieve his own
clothes. ---

On the evening that Jim and Spock arrived on Terra, they chose to walk
from the transport station to the house where Selek, T'James, and
Tomas lived.  After dropping their bags in the guestroom, they walked
into the kitchen where T'James and Tomas were stacking plates and
opening containers of food.  T'James' smiled faintly in welcome.
"James T, Father, I hope you do not mind eating take-out Chinese food.
Neither Tomi nor I had a chance to cook."

Jim lifted T'James off the floor with an enthusiastic hug and then
turned to grip Tomas' hand.  "We're easy to please.  It's good to see
you both, but where's Selek?"

T'James and Tomas traded looks before T'James said, "Selek said that
he would be here by now."

Grinning, Tomas added, "And, if he's not here in fifteen minutes,
we'll eat without him. Maybe that'll teach him a lesson."

"Doubtful," T'James said.

"Need any help?"  Jim leaned against the counter and surveyed the
table.

"Perhaps you can open the champagne when we are all here.  For now,
tell us your plans for your stay."  T'James pulled serving utensils
from a drawer.

Jim shrugged.  "This trip's for Spock to appear at Tomas' seminar.
I'm just here to carry his bags."

Spock opened his mouth to comment that he had carried his own bag from
the transport station, but he closed it again.  Of course, Jim was
joking.

They all looked up at the sound of the front door opening, but it was
T'James who said, "Sel?  We are here in the kitchen."   "Coming!"
They heard Sel's voice, followed by the sound of a bag being  dropped
on the floor, and shortly afterward he appeared in the doorway. 
"Hey, T and T!  Did you miss me?"  Selek hugged and kissed T'James and
then Tomas.

He then threw his arms around Jim.  "Hi, Dad."  Over Jim's shoulder,
he  smiled at Spock.  "Hello, Father.  Tomi said that he recruited you
for one of his seminars."

Spock nodded.  "Yes, I am scheduled to present tomorrow morning."

Selek went over to the sink to wash his hands.  "Dinner looks great.
Sorry to hold everybody up.  You got my message?"

"We both did," Tomas said, "T and I decided to get take-out. And since
it's just family, we decided to eat here in the kitchen."

Each selected a plate and piled it with food, and Spock seated himself
next to Jim as they gathered around the kitchen table.  Although
Spock's attention was primarily engaged by an interesting conversation
with Tomas and T'James about the politics that often occurred in
academia, he found himself unable to resist watching Jim and Selek out
of the corner of his eye and listening to their animated conversation.
Spock nearly jumped when Jim placed his hand on Spock's thigh and
squeezed.

After a few minutes, T'James cleared her throat, and all eyes turned
to her. "Jim, perhaps you would open that champagne now?"

Jim retrieved the champagne from the counter and looked questioningly
at  Selek.  "So, what's the occasion?"

Selek looked from T'James to Tomas.  "Start opening, Dad, and I'll
start  talking."  He took a deep breath.  "Okay, I don't know if T and
T mentioned where I've been these past couple of days.  You know I
played part of last year in the minors, but today after a winter
league game, I got an invitation to join the pitchers for spring
training next month.  The Giants.  Can you imagine?  There's no
guarantees, of course, but..."

"Sel!  That's great."  The champagne cork popped, and Jim chuckled as
he  began to fill the glasses around the table.  "I'm so proud of you!
I know that you'll make the team."  With his glass in one hand, Jim
engulfed Selek in a one-armed hug.

Wordlessly, Spock studied the bubbles swimming to the top of his
glass.  Jim and he had already had one rather heated discussion
concerning a parent's inability to dictate a child's career choices.
After that unpleasant conversation, which took place when Selek joined
the minor league team last year, Spock had delayed his discussion with
Selek about the illogic of wasting his considerable mental abilities.
That discussion would soon be necessary, but he would not cause any
unpleasantness this evening.

"My son, I am certain that you will be successful in whatever you
attempt."  Spock had a sudden memory of a tricorder tape that he had
not viewed in many years, which would give pleasure to his family on
this occasion. "I have a gift to offer."

Jim turned with an exclamation of surprise.

"Father, you don't have to ... what is it?"  Selek's eyes were lit
with  excitement, and T'James and Tomas also had eager looks on their
faces.

Spock left his untasted champagne on the table and started for the
door.  "It is a sort of holovid.  Please join me in the living room in
a moment; it will take me a short time to prepare."

T'James stood up.  "Father, we'll clean up here while you prepare."

As Spock started to exit the kitchen, Jim intercepted him and slipped
his hand in Spock's and said very quietly, "Thank you.  I know how
much it means to Selek that you're being accepting about this."  He
squeezed his hand. "Now tell me what this is all about."

Spock gently disengaged his hand from JIm's and said, "I know you are
fond of surprises.  You will be pleased by this one.  You will wait
here with the others - it is a gift to you as well."

Spock went to the office that had been his while they lived in this
house many years ago, and quickly found the appropriate disk.   All
were gathered around the holovid with refilled champagne glasses in
hand when he pushed the play button.  An impossibly-young James T.
Kirk appeared on the screen, lecturing a throng of men on guerrilla
warfare tactics.  Just as Spock remembered, the volume control and the
picture wavered slightly.  He reached for the fast-forward button.
"This is not the part..."

"Oh, please, we wish to see it all," said T'James, her expression
rapt.

"Spock, what is this?"  Jim gasped.  "This is from Neural?  That's
Tyree."

Spock froze the screen showing Jim addressing a tall, well-built young
man.  "Yes. Tyree."

Tomas put down his glass of champagne and stared wide-eyed at the
screen.  Spock had seen that look of fascination directed at James T.
Kirk many times.  "How old were you then, Admiral?" Tomas said.

"He was thirty-four," Spock said softly, an odd pain in his chest.  He
swallowed and looked at Jim.

Jim laughed and said, "I was a kid starship captain.  I don't know
what they were thinking when they gave me the Enterprise not too many
years before this."  He rubbed his jaw.  "Damn, Spock, this was one of
the worst decisions that I ever made.  I almost started a bush war on
Tyree's planet."

"Fortunately, all was well in the end."  Spock realized that he was
standing his accustomed twenty-five centimeters behind Jim's right
shoulder

Jim threw a wide smile over his shoulder.  "Thanks to my brilliant
first  officer."

Spock did not respond directly, but watched intently as Jim, on the
tape, said, "It's your world, and you must choose what to do."

There was a slight pause, before the picture showed Jim in a
completely  different attitude.  He was standing with a sphere in his
hand and a look of utter concentration on his face.  The picture
panned to show various people spread out in the background and one
person standing with a stick in his hand.  An officer crouched behind
the person with the stick in his hand, and another officer stood
behind.

"A baseball game, and Dad is pitching!"  Selek crossed the room to
place his hands on Jim's shoulders.

Spock said, "I had believed that the admiral was teasing me when he
told me that if he were not a starship captain, his second choice of
careers would be to pitch for the San Francisco Giants.  It is
intriguing to think that you have made that choice, Selek."  Spock had
long ago categorized Jim's enthusiasm for baseball as merely a
puzzling hobby, so he had been unconcerned when that enthusiasm was
transmitted to their son.   Spock touched the play button.  He
remembered Lieutenants Riley and Collins arguing softly over whether a
pitch was a ball or a strike; Spock had since learned enough about the
game to understand their argument.  Spock provided the commentary on
this occasion.  "Full count.  Two outs.  Bottom of the ninth.  The
game is on the line.  Mr. McGwire has fouled off the last three
pitches."

Spock turned to look at Jim.  "As I recall, Mr. Riley was of the
opinion that you should have walked Mr. McGwire and 'gone after' the
next player."

"Which explains why I had to settle for being a starship captain," Jim
said with a laugh. 

Jim's face on the vid showed fierce determination.  McGwire's showed
the  same.  McGwire swung at the baseball, and it lifted into the air
and flew back out of sight.  Selek whistled loudly.

The tricorder operator captured stunned expressions on first Jim's and
then McGwire's face.  Jim appeared to recover before McGwire did.
"Lieutenant, you better run those bases.  You stand there and show me
up like that, I'll bust you down to ensign."

Selek, Tomas, and Jim all laughed, drowning out the laughter on the
vid as the young man began to run the bases.  As the vid ended, Selek
approached Spock and embraced him swiftly.  "Thank you, Father, that
was the best gift ever."

Jim waited his turn to claim a hug from his son.  Releasing Selek, Jim
turned to Spock.  "Where did you get that?"

"A gift from Mr. Collins.  You have never seen it?"

"No.  Can you believe it?"

"As I recall, I did warn Mr. Collins that if you saw the vid, I would
deny giving my permission to distribute copies on the Enterprise."

"Everyone on the Enterprise saw this except me?"  Jim grinned and put
a hand out to touch Spock's arm.

"Yes, Jim."

A shadow passed over Jim's face.  "McGwire.  He died a month later."

Spock reached for Jim's hand and gripped it tightly.  "He died doing
his  duty."

Jim shook his head.  "Too many people died, Spock."

Spock had no answer.  Just a suspicion that Jim's grief over the
deaths of his crewmembers over his many years as a starship captain
had contributed to Jim's reluctance to argue with their son when Selek
had resigned from Starfleet shortly before Jim's retirement.

---

Jim woke up with the sun in his eyes.  He'd slept fitfully all night,
waking up occasionally to find Spock still awake, working.  Just as
Spock had been every night for the last week.   But when Spock worked
in his office or failed to come home at all because of his
responsibilities at the VSA, Jim found it even harder to sleep without
the warm presence beside him.  Whenever possible, Spock gave in to
Jim's preference that he work in their bed at night.

When Spock came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Jim rolled on
his side to watch him dress.  "Morning, Spock.  Did you finish writing
your talk?"

"I did."  But there was no warmth in his voice and the set of Spock's
shoulders set off alarms in Jim's mind.

"Something wrong?"

"Negative."

After so many years together, Jim was used to the fact that Spock
wasn't  *always* a pleasant conversationalist in the morning.  Jim
suspected that Spock was irritated with himself because he had been
still working on his talk last night.  Spock had never been one to
procrastinate, so he was unused to completing a project with so little
time to spare.  He was probably feeling guilty.

Jim relaxed with his arms under his head and introduced a more
pleasant topic of conversation.  "Last night was fun.  I'm so pleased
that Selek is getting a chance to try out for the team.  And I'm glad
that you're pleased for him, too."

"Pleased is hardly the word that I would use.  My son has earned
degrees both from Starfleet Academy and the Vulcan Science Academy,
and he chooses to pursue a career that will use none of his
considerable intellectual gifts."  Spock, his back still turned to
Jim, still wearing only a pair of briefs, yanked open a dresser
drawer.  "I should not be surprised to find that you are pleased.  As
I recall, one of the activities that you and Selek enjoyed together
when he was young was mindlessly tossing a baseball back and forth."

Jim sat up in bed, feeling as if Spock had doused him with a basin of
ice-cold water.  Where was this coming from?  Last night, when Spock
had  congratulated Selek, Jim had allowed himself to believe Spock's
words.  Jim bit back his irritation.  Spock was as angry as he had
been the last time they had discussed Selek's baseball career, and
they had an unspoken agreement that only one of them got to be angry
at a time - unspoken because, of course, Spock *still* would never
admit that he was capable of anger.

No, he didn't want a fight.  Not when Spock had an important
presentation to make.  In what he thought was his most diplomatic tone
of voice, Jim said, "I think that we've had this argument before,
Spock.  Last year when he first tried out for the minor league team,
you were so annoyed with me that - "  

"I did not say that I was annoyed with you for Selek's choice of
career.  In addition, I did not say that I disapproved of his choice.
We agreed that we would be supportive of whatever career our son chose
to pursue.  I am not Sarek, and you are not George."

Jim opened his mouth to respond, but Spock wasn't finished talking.
"I  merely pointed out that it was you who inspired him to excel in
this area.  Your early instruction in these skills appears to have had
the desired effect."

Jim bit his lip to keep from smiling.  The fact that his normally
courteous mate was talking non-stop without allowing Jim to respond
was a dead giveaway that Spock was angry in spite of his calm tone of
voice.  Add to that the fact that the normally neat Vulcan was pawing
through dresser drawers looking for ... what?   Jim was almost afraid
to ask if he could help.

No, his best bet was to let Spock wind down.  He had a sudden very
disloyal thought that McCoy would love to be here to see this.  He'd
be laughing his ass off.  Scratch that.  He didn't need to referee a
match between McCoy and Spock about Selek.  He had all he could handle
with the discussion between Spock and Selek that he knew was coming.

Meanwhile, Jim had to admit to himself that he was kind of enjoying
Spock's show of temper.  What was wrong with him?  He loved his calm,
cool, controlled mate.  How many times had he relied on Spock to keep
his head in a crisis?  It had saved them more than a few times.

But he had a secret fondness for those rare moments when Spock wasn't
completely in control.  Maybe because it reminded him of how Spock
made a deliberate effort to *not* control his reactions in bed.  Jim
felt his cock twitch.  Yes, it was true: Spock "out of control" turned
Jim on.

Of course, Spock in control, Spock concentrating on a difficult
problem,  Spock playing chess ... well, there wasn't anything about
Spock that didn't turn Jim on.  Jim realized that he'd stopped
listening and was gripping the bed sheets, staring at Spock's ass.

He looked up guiltily when he realized that Spock had stopped talking,
had turned around, and was surveying him with his arms crossed and a
look of open annoyance on his face.  "And that is, of course, your
answer to everything, is it not?  The Terran tendency to use sexual
arousal as a method for defusing tension can have most unfortunate - "

"Stop right there, Spock."  Jim's voice was quiet, but it was his
command voice, and Spock was conditioned to obey it.

"Sir?"

Jim ran a hand through his hair.  "Do me a favor - if we're going to
argue, can we please argue about you and me and not about Vulcans and
Terrans?"

"It is a logical request."  Spock stood a little straighter and
gripped his hands behind his back.  Dignity clothed in nothing but
beauty and a pair of dark briefs.  "Nonetheless, we are not arguing."

"No?  I guess not.  You're yelling at me and I'm listening."  Jim
smiled  faintly.

"I am merely..."  Spock stopped speaking and appeared to be reviewing
their conversation.  "The fact that I am..."

Jim waved a hand at him.  "Forget it.  It's OK.  I understand why
you're  angry.  And I love you."

"Non sequitur."  Spock gripped his hands a little tighter behind his
back, the tension causing the muscles in his shoulders to ripple.  "It
is a most illogical way to win an argument."

"We aren't arguing, remember?"  Jim struggled to hide his smile at the
dismay in Spock's eyes.

"Your statement was intended to derail the discussion."  Spock lifted
his chin slightly.

"No, not exactly."  Jim threw off the covers and swung his legs off
the bed. "What I meant was, whatever you're feeling, it's OK."

"One might have said so."  Spock's eyes swept over Jim's unclothed
body, but he looked away swiftly to focus on a point over Jim's
shoulder.

Jim stood up.  "You know damn well that's what I mean when I tell you
I love you.   Among other things."

Spock looked down at his feet, but not before Jim saw a slight smile
appear in his eyes.  "My father did request that I marry a Vulcan
female.  My life would be far more well-ordered if I had listened to
him."

Jim smiled and took a step closer to Spock.  "You should have listened
to him when you were eighteen and gone to the Vulcan Science Academy.
Then you would never have met me."

Spock's head came up and his eyebrow lifted.  But he also took one
step  closer to Jim.  "Strictly speaking, I did not meet you at the
Academy."

"True."  Jim was silent for a moment.  "Okay, you should never have
served aboard the Enterprise with me as your captain.  If you had just
gone back to Vulcan after Chris relinquished command..."  He took
another step closer to Spock.

Spock tilted his head fractionally to one side, but he also took
another step forward.  "No doubt you would have found a reason to
visit Vulcan, and we would have met."

"Maybe."  Jim frowned slightly.  "That probably wouldn't have worked.
If some starship captain showed up on Vulcan, you wouldn't have looked
at him twice.  You weren't even interested in me until we were friends
for a couple of years."  Another step forward.  "And remember how long
it took before we were even friends?"

Spock took another step and they stood centimeters from each other.
Jim  could feel the warmth radiating from Spock's body as the Vulcan
said, "There was no reason for me to reveal my interest in you when we
first met.  If, instead, we had only a limited amount of time to spend
together, I would have arranged to have you fall in love with me in a
more expedient manner."

Jim lifted his arms and looped them around Spock's neck. "So you admit
that you made me fall in love with you?"

"Affirmative."  Spock slid his arm around Jim's waist and pulled him
close.

Jim laughed and buried his face in Spock's neck.  "Okay, you win.  Do
you think we have time to go back to bed together before you have to
leave for that seminar?"

Spock brushed a hand through Jim's hair and kissed his temple.  "I
win?  I believe I have already told you that we were not arguing."

---

Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his dark wool coat, Dr. Tomas
Everett increased his pace, the hem of his long coat slapping against
his legs.  The tower bells, chiming their nine a.m. greeting, reminded
him that he was ten minutes late.

Within minutes he had crossed the brown lawn in front of the Robinson
Lecture Hall and entered through the revolving doors.  As the warmth
of the lobby surrounded him, he straightened up and removed his hands
from his pockets.  He breathed across his hands and rubbed them
together before beginning to look around.  Within moments, his eyes
had landed on his young nephew.  Young.  He had to chuckle.  Tomi, as
he had called him since he was a child, was already a tenured member
of the Berkeley faculty.

"Uncle Tomas."  A tall, lean man moved through clusters of students
towards him.

"Tomi."  As he hugged his nephew, he noticed the darker tone to his
skin.  "Looks like your holidays suited you.  You've finally gotten
rid of that academic pallour."

Tomi laughed as he released his uncle.  "The hiking suited me.   The
heat--well, that's another story.  I don't understand how Selek's dad
can stand it for months on end.  The coolest it got during the days
was .... "

Listening to his nephew's opinion of Vulcan's climate, Tomas felt an
odd  sensation --as though a finger were stroking downwards along his
spine.   Selek's dad.  Jim Kirk.  Just the mention of his name brought
back vivid  memories of days long ago; of a shared night of pleasure
and comfort; of a friendship which grew over lunches and dinners; of a
remembered smile.

"Uncle Tomas?"  His nephew's voice broke through his reverie.

Shaking his head, Tomas smiled at his nephew.  "Sorry.  Just an old
memory.  Looks like we better get going.  I don't want to miss Spock's
lecture.  Or the opportunity to meet your new father-in-law."

---

The End