Grandparents' Day

“Spock,” Jim was saying as he entered the quarters he shared with Spock. He stopped when he saw Spock involved in a conversation with someone Jim couldn’t see on their computer. “I’m sorry.”

Spock held out one hand, inviting him to join the conversation.

“Clanmother,” Jim said with a tiny bow when he saw T’Pau’s regal face on the screen.

“James,” T’Pau said, measuring, evaluating. “You are well.”

“Very well, Clanmother. I trust you are as well.”

“I am. I am wondering when you will be coming to New Vulcan,” she said, making it sound for all the world like an order rather than a simple statement.

“We have requested assignment there, Ko'mekh-il. That is all that we can do,” Spock reminded her unnecessarily.

“Yes. When you finally arrive, you can make your bond official.”

“Yes,” Spock said with a nod. “The elders will not object?”

“They will not. Although most would request that you procreate, some know that following your heart can be more important. As your father did.”

“Thank you,” Spock said warmly, relishing the permission she had just given him. It meant there would be no pressure from the Vulcan High Council for him to do the logical thing and marry a Vulcan woman in order to further increase the population on the colony.

“Thank you for your words, Clanmother,” Jim added with a smile. “I will leave you to complete your conversation.”

“I intend to see you soon, James,” T’Pau said, a warning wrapped in a farewell.

“As soon as we can,” Jim agreed, leaving their quarters so Spock could have the time with his grandmother. He wandered down to Officers’ Mess, getting a cup of coffee as he waited for Spock to join him for dinner. He was not without company as he waited, several of the crew stopping by to talk with him about topics of no particular importance. Engaging in  informal chats with his crew had become one of the most useful ways he had found to really understand what was going on with the ship and those who kept her flying.

He smiled up at Spock when he entered the large room, coming directly to stand by the Captain’s table. “Hey.”

“Are you eating?” Spock asked, his head tilted slightly to one side.

“Yeah. I was planning to. Why?” Jim asked, looking up at him with a sparkle in his eyes.

“You are simply sitting here, sir. Shall I bring you food?”

“Goodness no. I was talking with the crew,” Jim said, standing up. “Is everything okay with T’Pau?”

“All is well. I initiated the contact. According to your American calendar, today is Grandparents’ Day. It was a excellent excuse to say hello, as you would say.”

“Okay,” Jim said with a smile. “Have you seen Bones?”

“I have not. Shall I contact him?”

“Why are you being so accommodating? A question doesn’t imply a request, you know,” Jim laughed.

“It does when the question is from someone you love,” Spock said very quietly.

“Are you sure you’re okay, t’hy’la?” Jim asked, looking at Spock with a question in his eye.

“I believe I am feeling unusually sentimental,” Spock answered reluctantly. “Talking to T’Pau has stirred thoughts of my mother.”

“I can understand that,” Jim said warmly. “If you’ll get my dinner, I’ll find Bones.”

“Very good,” Spock agreed, going to the dispenser to request their dinners. Jim came to the table shortly after Spock sat down, sitting next to him.

“Bones is on his way. After we eat, we’ll go back to our quarters and look at pictures of Amanda if you want.”

“I would like that,” Spock agreed with a nod.

“And then we can contact Winona and she can tell me all the reasons I shouldn’t be Captain,” Jim laughed, making Spock shake his head.

“Your relationship is unfortunate,” Spock said.

“That’s something of an understatement,” Jim said. He waved to Bones as he went to the dispenser before joining them at their table. “Where have you been?”

“Working?” Bones said. “Not all of us can sit in our big chair on the Bridge and watch the stars go by.”

Jim shrugged at the vague insult, unaffected by it. “You chose the wrong track at the Academy. You could have switched to Command. Then you would have your own chair to sit in.”

Bones shook his head at that. “And who would be keeping you alive? Ever consider that?”

“I can assure you with some degree of certainty that the Captain does not simply sit ideally in his chair,” Spock said, falling naturally into their comfortable routine.

“Yeah,” Jim agreed. “I sign reports. Authorize requisitions. Uhm…. I’m very busy.”

“Sure,” Bones grumbled. “You have a tough life, Captain sir.”

“Yes I do,” Jim agreed. “About time you recognized that.”

“You okay?” Bones asked Spock more seriously, all knowing eyes evaluating Spock.

“I am. I was speaking with T’Pau earlier. We touched on the subject of my mother,” Spock said.

“Okay,” Bones said with a nod, stealing some of Jim’s French fries.

“We’re going to look at family pictures after dinner. You want to come? You can bring yours of JoAnna,” Jim invited.

“I don’t want to intrude,” Bones said.

“It would not be an intrusion, Leonard. We would welcome your company.”

“I accept then,” Bones said in agreement. “I’ll bring the popcorn.”

“Deal,” Jim said, standing up when the comm panel requested his attention. “Kirk here.”

“Sorry to bother you, sir,” Lt. Akia said. “Admiral Pike is requesting to speak with you.”

“Very well. I’ll go across to Conference Room Gadsden,” he acknowledged. He looked at Spock and Bones as they came up to where he was standing. “I’ll meet you in our quarters. I’m pretty sure I’m not in trouble.”

“Okay,” Bones agreed, going out with Spock and telling him about the most recent conversation he’d had with JoAnna. The call was full of elementary school dramatics, who liked who, who thought who had cooties, who was most popular this week.

“Sounds as though much goes on at her school,” Spock said in warm indulgence.

“I don’t remember it being quite so… complicated,” Bones agreed. “Jim’s okay, right?”

“He is fine. Feeling no anxiety,” Spock assured him.

“Good. I’m going to go get the pictures. I’ll be right back.”

Spock nodded, entering their quarters as Bones continued down the corridor. It wasn’t long before Jim arrived, smiling at Spock.

“Guess where our next assignment is,” Jim said, sitting next to Spock on the loveseat.

“Surely not New Vulcan,” Spock said in barely disguised amusement.

“Surprisingly, it is. Nobody says no to T’Pau. And Chris was sure to tell me that she said we did not request her to make the call.”

Spock shook his head, his eyes sparkling. “It is good to have friends in high places.”

“Is that about me or her or Chris?” Jim asked, kissing the side of Spock’s head.

“Yes,” Spock agreed, making Jim laugh. They were still sitting close together when Bones returned, hands full of picture discs. Jim repeated to Bones the news about New Vulcan, Bones shaking his head.

“It will be good to see the Ambassadors,” Bones said.

“It will,” Jim agreed, starting the show of pictures. “Try not to fight too much with elder Spock.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Bones asked.

“He takes no exception,” Spock assured them both, watching the pictures float by, lost in the memories they represented. Jim mostly watched Spock, more interested in studying his barely changing expressions than the images that were the source of those changes. Bones watched his two friends, enjoying the pictures and their reactions.

The pictures of JoAnna brought laughs and smiles and general ohhhs and ahhhs as they enjoyed the glimpses into her life. When they had watched them all, Bones excused himself, going to bed, pretty sure that that was Jim and Spock’s plan as well. And if they had more in mind than sleeping, well, he just didn’t need to know.