“Come in,” Jim said when Chris Pike had rung the door bell. Layla was on his hip, happily sucking on her bottle. She smiled at her visitor, her cheeks dimpling. She was graced with dark brown eyes surrounded by way-too-long eyelashes, her hair light brown but not quite blonde. Mason was wagging in happiness at his visitor.

“Hello, darling,” Admiral Pike said, accepting the baby in his arms when she reached out for him. “Hi Jim,” he added belatedly, Jim laughing.

“I understand. She charms everyone,” Jim acknowledged. “Come on back,” he invited, leading him to the office that had a tall table set up, mysterious cloth spread out all over it.

“What are you doing?” Chris asked, sitting in the rocker with Layla, Mason at his feet.

“Making AK’s Halloween costume for the Starfleet kids’ party,” Jim said, picking up the scissors to continue his work.

“Which princess is she going to be this year?” Chris asked, watching him as he efficiently cut out the pattern.

“Leia,” Jim laughed.

“Really? You could have just bought it, surely.”

“Not when she insists it has to be pink,” Jim said, holding up a part of it to show him.

“Nice color,” Chris confirmed. “She pick it out?”

“Of course. Had to be the exact right shade. Not too too pink. Not too pale. This one, fortunately, was just right. And we were just relived that she agreed not to be slave Princess Leia,” Jim said.

“Good lord. Not at 14,” Chris said with an exaggerated shudder.

“Marybeth tried to talk her into it. When Spock said absolutely not, that was pretty much it,” Jim admitted.

“You wouldn’t have agreed, surely?”

“Never. But lucky for me, she asked him first. So she didn’t have the chance to try and manipulate me into agreeing,” Jim said with a shrug.

Chris had to laugh at the confession, shaking his head. “When did you learn to sew?”

“Mmm… I’m still learning. But it’s just a matter of reading and following the directions. Spock researched all the sewing machines. I said it didn’t really matter but that has never stopped him before. This one we bought is easy to use and still has some fancy features. I discovered that sewing is very…relaxing. If you make a mistake, you take it out and do it again. And nobody dies.”

“Well, good for you,” Chris said with a nod. “Spock helping?”

“He helps with the measuring and figuring. He’d help with the sewing if I needed it. But I don’t yet.”

“What’s George going to be?” Chris asked, putting Layla’s bottle on the table next to the chair and rocking her.

“Luke Skywalker. It wasn’t his first choice but AK left him no choice,” Jim laughed.

“George only lets her talk him into things he would do anyway. You dressing up?”

“I’m going to avoid it if I can. AK said something about me being Darth Vader but I’d really rather not. We are going to dress up Layla like Yoda,” Jim said.

“Sounds like they will be a shoe-in for best costumes,” Chris said. “You making GK’s costume?”

“No. We were able to buy it. I don’t know if they’ll win with AK’s costume pink,” Jim said with a shrug, setting aside one of the pieces to start on the next.

“You never know,” Chris said, reaching over for Layla’s stuffed dog, her favorite toy, which she accepted and hugged tight to her. “Are you going to accept the teaching position for spring semester?” Chris asked. They had agreed that Jim would give his answer today, Chris spending many enjoyable visits trying to convince him it was the right decision.

“I’ll teach part time,” Jim finally agreed. “When Layla goes to school, I’ll consider teaching full time. Under one condition.”

“What condition?” Chris asked, wondering what he wanted. He considered and discarded several possibilities before Jim answered.

“I don’t want to wear the uniform,” Jim admitted, not surprised when Chris laughed. “Really. I’ve spent nearly half my life in a uniform. If I can’t wear jeans, I’m not going to do it.”

“That’s fine, Jim. You won’t be the first. I would request that you not wear those jeans,” Chris laughed, nodding his head at the threadbare jeans that Jim often wore.

“You know I never wear them in public, Chris,” Jim laughed. “Spock would have his version of a cow if I tried it.”

“That’s something I would pay money to see,” Chris teased.

“It’s not pretty,” Jim laughed. //You know it’s true.//

//Which part?// Spock returned with great amusement and love.

//You would have a cow and it would not be pretty.//

“You want to teach on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?” Chris asked, reaching down for the stuffed dog which Layla had dropped.

“Yeah. Betty has agreed to watch Layla. My first class can’t start in the morning until after AK and GK are in school.”

“Of course. It won’t be a problem. I’ll bring over the materials on tactical next week when I come.”

“You’ll still come see us even though I’ve said yes?” Jim asked with a laugh.

“Convincing you to teach at the Academy is not the only reason I come, you know.”

“True. Layla is very charming,” Jim said. “You know, I never graduated from the Academy, what with being promoted from cadet to Captain.”

“You had completed all the requirements. The rest is just a formality,” Chris assured him.

“Don’t most of the instructors have advanced degrees? Like Spock?”

“Some do. Some don’t. None of them saved Earth the first time they stepped foot on a starship.”

“Well, there is that,” Jim acknowledged with a  laugh, picking up Layla when she fussed. “You need to be changed, don’t you, darling?”

“You want me to take her?” Chris asked, looking at Jim’s loving expression as he held his daughter close.

“Nah. We’ll be back in a minute. You want to get something to drink?” Jim asked as he headed for the stairs, Mason close behind.

“Yeah. You want anything?” Chris asked as he went toward the kitchen.

“No. We’re good,” Jim said, kissing Layla and talking to her softly as he went up the steps. //She’s fine. Why?//

//I thought I detected some anxiety from her,// Spock returned.

//Aren’t you teaching? Why are you with us?// Jim asked in amusement.

//They are working on their mid-terms. Why is Chris bringing you the textbook on tactical when you are every example cited?//

//Not every example,// Jim returned. //How many students will you have left once you grade their exams?//

//I believe I will be down only four students. It is entirely likely that they will be expelled at the end of this week,// Spock said.

//It’s a wonder I never was,// Jim laughed, putting Layla in a fresh pair of yellow overalls.

//Except you made excellent marks. Which is more the wonder as Leonard told me you never studied.//

//Who is that?// Jim asked when a student began talking to Spock.

//One of my problem children.//

//He’s not your problem, t’hy’la,// Jim reminded him. //He’s responsible for his own actions.//

//Yes except he reminds me of someone with whom I am in love,// Spock said with a mental laugh.

//Mmm…have I just been insulted?// Jim asked, picking up Layla to carry her downstairs, Mason going with them.

//Would I ever say anything ugly about the father of my perfect children?// Spock teased.

//All the time,// Jim returned. He handed Layla back to Chris when she reached out for him the moment she saw him. “Can you stay for dinner?” he asked as he returned to working on the costume.

“Are you cooking?” Chris teased.

“Isn’t it your turn?” Jim responded.

“I don’t even live here,” Chris protested.

“You could if you wanted,” Jim reminded him as he often did.

“I know that, Jim. And I appreciate it,” Chris said with a warm smile.

“Jim, Chris,” Dr. McCoy called out as he entered the house, Mason raising his head and wagging at the new arrival.

“Back here, Bones,” Jim called, Layla eyes lighting up at the sound of McCoy’s voice. “Sorry, Chris. Her first boyfriend just arrived.”

“I know. I’m second banana,” Chris conceded, surrendering Layla to her favorite non-family person.

“Hello, darlin’,” McCoy said, winking at Chris and Jim. “How’s it going?”

“Good. I’ll have it cut out before dinner. Are you cooking? Chris won’t stay if I cook,” Jim said with a laugh.

“Sure. What do you have to make?”

“Pasta. Betty made us a meatloaf yesterday. It’s in the freezer. I picked up a vegetarian pizza sauce. Whatever,” Jim said with a shrug.

“Alright. I’ll see what I can come up with,” Bones said, going into the kitchen. “Anyone else coming?” he called out.

“I don’t think so. Unless the kids bring home some strays,” Jim called back.

“’Kay,” McCoy acknowledged.

“Are you ever letting Spock go to the grocery store again?” Chris asked, rocking Layla who had been returned to him when Bones went to find dinner.

“Not with me. I’m not responsible for the illogical arrangement of the shelves. Like it matters. They will never move the milk to the front and it doesn’t matter how many times he tells them they should.”

Chris laughed, shaking his head. “Being married to a Vulcan has its challenges.”

“He’d tell you being married to a Human is much harder,” Jim said in affection.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Jim thought he ought to be nervous about his first day of teaching class at the Academy. But he wasn’t. Spock told him it was because being an instructor to 40 cadets at a time paled in comparison to being the captain of a starship. Jim thought there might be something to that. He also thought Amanda and George were part of the reason for his lack of nerves. They had declared him too utterly cool for his own good and that seemed to help reinforce that he had made the right decision to teach. Spock had smiled when the twins declared him the sultan of cool, but did nothing to disagree with their assessment. He’d always thought his Human t’hy’la was the coolest of the cool, not that under any circumstances he would ever admit to thinking such a thing.

When the clock showed 9:00 a.m. precisely, Jim looked out at the students looking back at him. The classroom had auditorium seating so he had a clear view of all 40 faces.

“Good morning,” he said, sitting on the desk in the front of the room. If any of the cadets were surprised he was wearing jeans with a button down shirt instead of the standard uniform, he couldn’t tell from their expressions. “I am Jim Kirk and this is Tactical 101. If you are supposed to be here, good. If not, we’ll wait while you leave to find your correct class.” None of the cadets stood so he nodded. “Some ground rules first, so we all know what’s okay and what’s not. No electronic devices are allowed in this class. And don’t make the mistake of thinking I won’t know. I will. And if you use any such devices, you will receive a zero for that class. As class participation is 20% of your grade, you can see that ignoring rule #1 is not in your best interest.

“Rule #2 is that I will tolerate no disrespect from anyone. Again, class participation is essential from each of you. You will respect what your classmates say. Even if you think it’s so much hogwash, you will disagree respectfully. We will have an open  exchange of ideas and casting aspersions on the thinking of others tends to put a damper on that free flow.

“Rule #3 is that all assignments will be completed on time. I do not accept late homework, projects, or papers. If you don’t get it to me the class when it’s due, don’t bother getting it to me.

“I am aware that the Academy has a very strict attendance policy. I am also aware that learning doesn’t always occur within the walls of a classroom. If you think you can make as good a grade by not coming to class as you can by being here, more power to you. I can tell you with some degree of certainty that you will not master the material presented without being in this class the majority of the time. And keep in mind, again, the class participation portion of your grade.

“We will have four tests, each of which will be cumulative. The tests will only be given on the date already assigned to them, as you will see on your syllabus. If you don’t take the test on the date assigned, you will receive a zero. If you miss the first test, drop the class because you will not pass.”

Jim looked out over the class, their focus completely on him and what he was saying. A handful of students were furiously taking notes and he could not help but wonder what they were writing.

“You will have a final project due the last week of the term. The project will consist of researching an historical conflict and determining what the loosing side could have done to win. Not all combat situations are winnable but you’d be surprised how many losses could have been avoided with better planning or better strategy. The conflict can be from a planet’s history or it can be from a space mission. In three weeks, you will submit to me the battle or conflict you are going to use so that I can evaluate your choice. You can do the project in teams of three or four or you can do it by yourself. I would recommend you form teams but I leave that to you. And be assured I will know if one person on your team does all of the work and you take the credit. When you submit your chosen topic, also provide me the names of those on your team.

“Now. That’s a lot of information. Too many ‘you wills’ and ‘you won’ts’. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them.” Jim waited, looking out at the students looking back at him. Some had expectant expressions, some looked slightly stunned, a few looked like they didn’t really care all that much where they were or what was going on around them. He figured that last group would never make it past their freshman year and wondered vaguely why they were even there at all.

One tentative hand rose and Jim nodded. “Yes, Cadet Williams.” He could tell they were all surprised that he knew their names but it hadn’t been hard to study his rosters and look up their records that included their photos. Besides which, they automatically sat in alphabetical order even though he hadn’t requested them to. Ah, the discipline of being at Starfleet Academy.

“Sir,” the cadet said hesitantly. “May we ask you a personal question?”

“Depends on how personal. As long as it not of the ‘briefs-or-boxers’ variety,” Jim said with a smile. Williams returned his smile and nodded.

“Will you tell us about how you saved Earth from the Romulans?”

“Eventually,” Jim agreed. “Not today. And I wouldn’t exactly call that a personal inquiry. Other questions? Yes, Cadet Simmons.”

“Is it true, sir, that you never graduated from the Academy?” The question could have sounded disrespectful but she said it with such awe that he had to smile.

“I did very recently, Cadet. When the Narada appeared, all cadets were commissioned. I never had time to return and go through the formality of graduating. Admiral Pike rectified that a couple of months ago. Yes, Cadet Krnsb.”

“Are you the only cadet ever to be promoted to Captain, sir?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I am. But then it’s not everyday an insane Romulan tries to destroy Earth,” Jim reminded them.

“That’s a very good thing, sir,” the cadet told him.

“I think so as well. Other questions. Even personal ones as long as they are not overly personal. And this will be your one and only chance to ask those. After this, my life outside this classroom is pretty much off limits.” He waited, several cadets raising their hands at the same time. “Cadet Tvoc?”

“Sir, it is true that you are bonded to Spock of Vulcan?” the Vulcan cadet asked.

“Yes. That’s pretty widely known,” Jim reminded them. “Spock and I have been married for almost 16 years. He could tell you the exact number of days,” Jim laughed.

“And your children, sir?” Cadet Tvok asked. “Are they more Human than Vulcan?”

“Yes. As Spock is half Human. They have characteristics of both but all three are more Human than Vulcan,” Jim explained.

“You are telepathetically linked, sir?” Tvok asked. Jim wondered why he was so incredibly curious about his life with Spock but he had allowed the questions.

//No doubt he has a hard time comprehending what it is to be married to a Human,// Spock suggested with a warm laugh.

//I should make you come and explain it to him,// Jim said. “Yes, we have a very strong link. With each other. Less so with the children. The twins are very close and are probably closer to the baby than we are.”

“How old are your children, sir?” one of the young female cadets on the first row asked. There was a gleam on admiration in her eyes he tried very hard to ignore and pretend was not really there.

“The twins are 14. And the baby is 9 months old,” Jim said. “Cadet Rw’suu.”

“Where is the rest of your former Bridge crew, sir?” he asked, standing up as was the tradition of his race.

“They are teaching here, Cadet. You’ll no doubt have each of them before you graduate. And if you go to the infirmary, don’t tell Dr. McCoy you’re in my class,” Jim laughed. “He might quarantine you just on principle.” That got a laugh from most of those in the class, except the dozen or so Vulcans who looked at him as though they could not possibly comprehend what it was he had just said. Well, they were on Earth now and he wasn’t going to try to explain Human humor to them.

//They will learn eventually,// Spock assured him.

//Don’t you have anything more important to do than spy on me?// Jim laughed.

//Nothing more interesting, t’hy’la. And my first class does not begin for another 23.6 minutes.//

//Don’t you need to prepare for it? Or at least write your name on the blackboard?// Jim teased.

//As all of the students were in my class last semester, writing my name anywhere is completely unnecessary.//

“I apologize, Cadet Williams. I missed your question,” Jim said, asking Spock to go away.

//I will as long as you remember that I adore you,// Spock returned.

//Cut it out,// Jim laughed, turning his entire focus on the question the Cadet was asking him. After six more questions, some entirely appropriate and some close to not, class was over and the Cadets filed out orderly and quietly, a few lingering just to make eye contact with him before going on to their next class. His next class followed much the same pattern except that these Cadets failed to sit in alphabetical order which he thought was vaguely fascinating.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Grandpapa,” the twins said in greeting as Sarek disembarked from the shuttle that had brought him to Earth. He had finally given into the persuasion of his perfect grandchildren, traveling to spend Christmas with the three children and their fathers. He again briefly wondered why he had agreed to come to spend the most Human of all holidays with the family but the pure happiness on the face of the children was his answer.

“Amanda, George,” Sarek said, kneeling down to accept the children in a warm hug. “Jim. My son,” Sarek said when he was standing, one hand on each child’s shoulder.

“Ambassador,” Spock said, surrendering Layla to him. She looked a little confused but stared back at Sarek.

“Sarek,” Jim said with a  smile. “We’re so glad you could come.”

//She’s not sure who he is,// George told Spock and Jim. //She’s about to cry.//

Sure enough, her eyes filled with tears and she reached out for Jim who took her. “I’m sorry, Ambassador.”

“Not at all, Jim. She does not remember me,” he acknowledged. “She is very beautiful. Like her sister.”

“Thank you,” Amanda said quietly, her usual overt enthusiasm dampened by the presence of her grandfather. It wasn’t that she wasn’t thrilled he had come but he was so dignified and still, she tended to be more reserved around him, not wanting to risk annoying him by talking too much or too loudly.

“Is she talking?” Sarek asked, going with the family to leave the airpark.

“Not a lot. Mostly because George and Amanda talk for her. She’s more vocal when they are at school,” Jim said.

“And she communicates with you?” Sarek asked.

“Not generally. Like the twins, I know if she needs me,” Jim explained.

“I am aware of her. I cannot read her every thought,” Spock added. “I could not read the thoughts of AK and GK when they were 20 months old. Not until they reached puberty.”

Amanda frowned at the word, George ignoring it. It didn’t bother him nearly as much as it did Amanda.

//Papa is never going to stop saying it. And he only says it to our closest friends,// George reminded her.

//I hate it when he says that. Why can’t he say 12 or 13?//

//Because I am a scientist and accuracy is essential,// Spock answered for himself.

//Not when you’re talking about the children,// Jim had to agree.

//Wait. This is too much. Go away, Daddy,// Amanda said with a frown.

//Come on, AK. You can keep up. You just aren’t the center of the conversation,// George scolded lightly.

She snorted at them, taking Layla when she reached for her.  //Sorry Daddy.//

//I don’t mind. She misses you both when you’re at school,// Jim said before talking out loud to Sarek, answering his questions about teaching at the Academy now that he had finished his second semester. “They want me to teach full time.”

“Please don’t, Daddy,” Amanda said, mildly surprised when she heard the sound of her own voice.

“I’m not going to, princess. Not until Layla is in school,” Jim assured him.

“And you manage to remain… occupied?” Sarek asked, making it sound only vaguely like an insult.

//He does not mean it as such, love. He simply cannot imagine you could be happy without a starship to command,// Spock assured him.

“There aren’t enough hours in the day, Ambassador. I can never get everything done,” Jim said evenly.

“I meant no criticism, my son,” he said, realizing his error. He only called Jim “my son” when he knew he had insulted him or was trying to talk him into something.

“I know many people think as you do, sir. That to go from starship captain to full time father is a huge sacrifice. But it is the farthest thing from a step down. I have been blessed many times over, and that’s entirely due to your son.”

“And our children,” Spock agreed, looking at the three children with undisguised affection.

“Yes,” Jim agreed, brushing his hand against Spock’s, wanting the extra contact to warm and reassure him.

//I will make it up to you,// Spock promised.

//You don’t need to. I understand why he said it,// Jim assured him, taking Layla back when she reached for him. They were waiting for the tram to take them to the parking area, Spock watching the children carefully in the press of people.

//We’re not going anywhere, Papa,// George said with a  laugh.

//Not intentionally, GK. You could still get lost in the crowd,// Spock returned.

//We aren’t babies, Papa,// Amanda informed him, taking his hand to show there were no hard feelings.

//Why did you not tell me you have a headache, princess? I would have gotten you some aspirin,// Spock said in some concern.

//It’s not a big deal, SK. I’m fine, really. You don’t need to be worried,// Amanda assured him.

//You know it’s ‘that time of the month,’// Jim reminded Spock.

//Daddy,// Amanda said in exasperation. //Don’t talk about it.//

//I’m sorry, princess. I don’t want him worried,// Jim explained.

//Haven’t you noticed how cranky she is?// George asked with a  laugh.

//I am not. Daddy.//

//He’s teasing you, baby. You know he doesn’t mean it,// Jim said, kissing her on the head.

When the tram arrived, they all boarded, making their way back home with little fuss. Spock made them lunch, the children talking with Sarek, Jim feeding Layla, always a slow process.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Daddy,” Layla’s voice called out. Jim had put her down for a nap but it wasn’t taking. How she had so much energy at two was beyond him. Surely the twins had napped every day. But then he hadn’t been with them every day. They might not have.

“Daddy!” she called again. He put down the mop he had been using in the twins’ bathroom to enter her room, Mason following behind. Jim found her standing in her crib waiting for him. “Down Daddy.”

“You need to nap, baby,” Jim tried.

“No nap, Daddy. No nap,” she insisted, shaking her head, her cheeks dimpled from her smile.

“Alright, princess. The cleaning can wait,” he said, taking her out of her crib.

“Dance, Daddy,” she said, swaying in his arms to the music only she could hear at the moment.

“We danced before lunch,” he laughed.

“Dance, Daddy,” she insisted. Mason lay down in the doorway to watch the show.

He wrapped his left arm more securely around her before starting the music, bouncing her as he danced around her room. They were both singing along, “Layla” their very favorite song to dance to. Layla was laughing in delight when the song ended. Jim turned to the door, his face flushed from the dance, to find Spock standing in silent amusement, love shining in his eyes as he looked at Jim and their daughter.

“How long have you been here?” Jim asked slightly breathless, surrendering Layla to Spock.

“Long enough to watch you two dance,” Spock said, kissing Jim lightly. “Is this a common occurrence?”

“Almost every day,” Jim agreed with a  smile. “Some day we’ll have to tell her the song wasn’t written for her.”

“But not today,” Spock said, kissing her and holding her close. “May I have this dance?”

“Dance, Papa, dance,” Layla agreed, swaying in his arms. Jim started the song again, watching Spock and Layla dance, Layla singing along, Spock not able to stop his smile.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Daddy,” George said, standing in the doorway to Jim and Spock’s very large, very comfortable, very tidy bedroom. Jim was folding clothes from the basket but stopped at the sound of George’s voice. He looked over at him, thinking again what a fine young man his son had become. He was a few inches taller than Spock, and was dressed in jeans like his father, with a neatly pressed button down shirt that he had ironed himself. His blond hair was short enough to stop it from curling, reveling the graceful points on his ears to match the upswept blond eyebrows that were furrowed as he gazed back at Jim. All those thoughts faded as Jim considered the fact that his son hadn’t called him daddy in just over a year. This wasn’t good.

“Hey, GK. What’s up?” Jim asked, hoping to keep his voice light as George entered to sit on the bed, Mason greeting George as he sat next to him. George automatically scratched his ear, Mason wagging in thanks.

“I… uhm… would you be mad if… uhm… well, that is…” George finally stopped, reaching down for one of Layla’s shirts, folding it very neatly. Anything was better than meeting his father’s eyes.

“What is it, George? Surely you know there’s nothing you can’t tell me,” Jim assured him. He avoided giving into his natural impulse to touch his son, not wanting George to think he was trying to violate his privacy.

“I don’t want to attend the Academy,” George admitted, his voice low, his eyes averted so he could not see the disappointment he knew would be on his father’s face. He divided his focus between the clean laundry and his dog behind him.

“Okay,” Jim said, still studying his son.

“Oh,” George said, looking up at Jim. “You aren’t mad?”

“Is that what you’re worried about, GK? That I would be mad you don’t want to go?”

“Uh huh. You and Spock did. And now you teach there. And… well, you know,” George said with a shrug.

“And you are Jim Kirk’s son,” Jim finished for him.

“Yeah. Sometimes it kind of sucks,” George admitted.

“Yeah, baby, I know it does,” Jim assured him, laying a light hand on his shoulder. “At least I’m not dead. Competing with a ghost can be even harder. I’m still here to fuck up.”

“Daddy,” George laughed.

“Okay, don’t tell Spock I said it. He’ll wash my mouth out with soap,” Jim laughed.

“You never use the f word.”

“I used to. All the time. You and Amanda changed that,” Jim confided. “I know you use it.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry,” George shrugged.

“If we weren’t telepathic, I wouldn’t know. And I have no plans to wash your mouth out. Unless you say it in front of Layla.”

“I would never, Daddy,” George assured him, reaching down for another one of Layla’s shirts.

“What do you want to do, GK? Instead of attending the Academy?” Jim asked.

“I’m not sure. Jake said something about riding motorcycles cross country. That could be kind of cool,” George said with a  shrug.

“You’ll wait until you graduate high school first, right?”

“Of course. I’m not going to be a drop-out, JK.”

“Alright. And if you do ride cross country? What’s next? Have you decided what you want to be when you grow up?” Jim laughed, a question George had never been able to answer.

“No. Not yet. I guess I get that from you, huh?”

“I’m afraid so. If Chris hadn’t talked me into enlisting, I’d surely be long dead,” Jim agreed.

“Will SK be mad I’m not entering Starfleet?” George asked.

“No, baby. We’ve talked about it. We both understand. It’s hard on you and Amanda. Being our children. Layla will have it easier. He wants you to be happy. His Vulcan side really wants you to be successfully but his Human side knows that has various meanings. What is successfully to some is not necessarily your version.”

“Yeah,” George had to agree. “The bad thing with riding cross country is leaving you guys. Jake is anxious to go ‘cause, well, you know.”

“Yes, I do know. Unfortunately. If you decide to try it, you know you can always come home. We’ll miss you desperately but I can’t say that you shouldn’t do it. You’ve never had the chance to just be you. When you weren’t our son or Amanda’s twin brother.”

“I’m not sorry I’m your son, Daddy. I don’t want you to ever think I’d leave because you are who you are. Or Papa is who he is.”

“Thank you, baby. I don’t think that. I think that you want to know what it’s like not to be the son of James Kirk and Spock of Vulcan. I totally get that,” Jim said, kissing his head.

“I thought you’d be all freaked out over it,” George admitted.

“Did you forget who your father is?” Jim laughed. “Do I need to find my arrest records to remind you?”

“No,” George laughed in return. “But you’re so…you know. Respectable. And you are the guy who saved Earth.”

“I’ll accept the guy who saved Earth. I’ll beat you if you ever call me respectable again,” Jim warned, his laugh spoiling the threat.

“You could try, JK. You wouldn’t win,” George informed him.

“You may be part Vulcan. But I’ve had 17 years to learn to subdue a half Vulcan. I can take you,” Jim said.

“You can’t beat Papa. Who are you trying to kid?” George laughed.

Jim just snorted at him instead of answering. “Have you told Amanda?”

“Not in so many words. I can’t actually tell her because she’s going to cry. And… well, I don’t want to leave Layla. She won’t know me.”

“You’re connected to her, GK. She will always be part of you.”

“Yeah,” George said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know what I want to do.”

“You don’t have to know, baby. There’s no timeline for making life’s decisions.”

“There you go being all respectable again,” George claimed which got him shoved off the bed. He had to lay on the floor, laughing too hard to stand up.

~0~

Jim lay in bed next to Spock, staring up at the dark ceiling. He knew Spock was also awake but didn’t know if he wanted to be the one to break the silence. He worried what would happen once the dam burst.

“I do not blame you, t’hy’la,” Spock finally said softly.

“Yes you do. Why do you think you can lie to me? And did you think our son would be completely like you? He’s not. He’s only quarter Vulcan. That makes him three quarters Human. And this Human was an utter fuck-up until he met you. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. What if it were…” Spock’s inhumanly warm fingers silenced him before he could go on.

“Can you listen for a moment, please?” Spock requested, up on one elbow so he could gaze down at Jim. Jim nodded, his eyes wide and sad. “I love you. And I love George. And if you think for one minute that I love George any less because he has inherited some of his Human father’s traits, you are completely wrong. I do not blame you. There is no blame to cast. Like you, I understand the difficulties George has had growing up with two well known fathers. Like you, I labored under unfulfilled expectations as I grew up. We have both had our share of difficulties. And if making sure George knows we love him and support him in whatever decision he makes is all we can do, then we will. And when he decides to come home, he knows he will be welcomed with open arms.”

Jim continued to start up at Spock, not speaking even after Spock had freed his mouth.

“Now, what were you going to say?” Spock asked, one eyebrow raised.

“I have no idea,” Jim admitted. “I’m sorry I accused you of lying to me. Of course you can’t.” Jim sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t want George to leave. I also want him to have the chance to be his own person. Being anybody’s anything is hard enough.”

“Anybody’s anything?” Spock teased.

“You know what I mean,” Jim huffed. “I should make you sleep in the guest room.”

“I don’t think Chris would appreciate that,” Spock pointed out.

“Yeah, like we don’t have two more rooms you could sleep in,” Jim said, laughing.

“Daddy, Papa,” George said from the doorway, Mason jumping up on their bed to greet them both. “Can I come in?”

“Of course, baby,” Spock answered for them as they sat up to lean against the headboard, their shoulders in warm contact, Mason at the end.

“I don’t want to interrupt anything,” George said, slowly approaching the bed.

“If there was anything to interrupt, the door would be locked. Not that there has been much to interrupt since Layla was born,” Jim laughed.

“Amanda and I can take her to Bones’ for the weekend if you want,” George offered, sitting on the end of their bed, careful not to disturb Mason.

“No thank you, baby,” Spock responded. “We’re going to leave you during spring break.”

“You are?” George laughed.

“Apparently,” Jim said, looking at Spock.

“We are,” Spock confirmed. “For several days. So long as you and Amanda do not mind watching Layla and Mason at Leonard’s.”

“Of course not, Papa,” George assured him. “Where are you going?”

“That I cannot tell you,” Spock said mysteriously. “Do you want Betty to come here instead?”

“No. We’ll go to Bones’. Does he know?” George asked.

“Yes. He is looking forward to having you with him.”

“We could just stay here, Papa. We’re nearly 17,” George reminded him.

“I am aware. However, Layla is not yet three. That is too much responsibility to expect of you and AK,” Spock said gently and warmly.

“Okay,” George said, looking at Jim who was studying him. “What Daddy?”

“I know you didn’t come just to see if you would interrupt anything, baby,” Jim responded.

“I …uhm…I guess I needed to make sure you aren’t mad at me,” George admitted. They all looked over at the door when Amanda arrived wearing a fuzzy pink robe, her hair in a thick ponytail on top of her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me we were having a family council?” Amanda asked, climbing into the bed to wedge herself between Jim and Spock, Mason wagging at her arrival.

“Come in. Make yourself comfortable,” Jim teased, kissing her head.

“Thanks, JK. What are we talking about? GK being stupid enough to want to leave us?”

“You knew?” George asked in surprise.

“Yes, you dope. Of course I know. I’ve always been able to read your thoughts. You need to ask Papa to teach you to reinforce your barriers if you really want to keep me out,” she told him.

“JK would be a better teacher,” Spock said. “He’s learned quite well.”

Jim just shrugged, trying to put some order to Amanda’s hair.

“Stop Daddy,” she said, leaning away from him.

“What do you think of George leaving, AK? Besides your opinion that he is being ‘stupid’,” Spock said.

“He’s being stupid,” AK said.

“You said that,” Jim scolded lightly.

“I understand,” she said more seriously. “We love you but it can suck being your children. We’re lucky but, really, couldn’t you be a little less…awesome?”

“Less awesome?” Jim laughed.

“I do not believe either of us have done anything particularly ‘awesome’ for quite a few years,” Spock pointed out.

“Sure. You’re only chair of astrophysics. And JK is the most popular professor at the Academy. No. Not awesome at all,” Amanda said, shaking her head.

“SK is very popular,” Jim said.

“Except for the guys terrified of him,” George laughed.

“Daddy,” Layla called from her room. “Papa.”

“I’ll go,” George offered, leaving the bed to go to Layla’s room.

“I’m sorry we woke her up,” AK said.

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll sleep in tomorrow. SK won’t but we will,” Jim said with a smile.

George soon returned, Chris following behind with Layla in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Chris,” Jim said, accepting Layla when she reached out for him.

“Not a problem. I’ll leave so you can finish your family council,” Chris said.

“You don’t have to go, Chris,” George said. “Do you know what it’s about?”

“I have some idea,” Chris said, sitting in one of the armchairs by the dark window.

Layla was leaning against Jim, one arm tightly around her stuffed dog, her thumb in her mouth, a habit she only had when she was especially sleepy or very content in the company of her entire family. Unlike George, it wasn’t a sign of distress.

George told Chris what he had earlier told Jim, Chris nodding in understanding.

“Yeah, GK, it can be way too hard, trying to live up to those expectations. Which is why Jim spent more time in jail than in school,” Chris laughed.

“I wasn’t that bad,” Jim protested. “And I did graduate high school.”

“True. What does your heart tell you to do, GK? That’s how you have to decide what you want.”

“I know,” George sighed. “I’ve never known what I wanted to do. ”

“On the contrary, love. You’ve never been able to decide. You have always had an idea. It was simply a different idea each day,” Spock said.

“That’s true. I’ve always envied you, AK. You’ve always known.”

“Yep,” Amanda agreed. “I’m going to be a Captain, just like Daddy.”

“Good for you,” Jim said, kissing her head. “You know you can’t paint your starship pink.”

“Daddy,” Amanda protested.

“And your crew will have to call you Captain. Not Princess,” Spock added.

“Papa,” Amanda said in exasperation.

“Princess,” Layla chirped happily.

“Well,” Jim laughed, kissing Layla’s head.

“Daddy,” she sighed, leaning more into him and closing her eyes, almost instantly asleep.

“I’m pretty sure you don’t have to decide tonight, baby,” Jim told George with a warm smile.

“I know. And thank you both for not freaking out on me,” George said.

“I do not believe I have ever ‘freaked out,’” Spock claimed with great indignation.

They all laughed at him, Jim leaning closer to kiss his head. “True. Good thing for us, huh?”

“Daddy never freaks out, GK,” Amanda reminded him.

“I’ve seem him get close a couple of times,” Chris said, making the children laugh.

“Close but not completely,” Spock said in Jim’s defense.

“Thank you love,” Jim returned.

“Daddy,” Amanda said, deciding to change the subject before it got too mushy. “Will you make me my prom dress?”

“Isn’t it a little early to be worrying about that, princess?” Jim asked.

“Not when you’re in charge of the prom,” George said.

“You’re in charge of the prom?” Spock asked in his version of surprise.

“I am junior class president. That makes it my job,” she informed them.

“And chess team president,” George added.

“And drama club president,” Jim said.

“And school newspaper editor,” Spock contributed.

“And junior cadets vice-president,” Chris said with an affectionate laugh.

“I like to stay busy,” Amanda said with a shrug.

“And you like to order people around,” George reminded her.

“Whatever. So Daddy, you’ll make it, right?” Amanda asked, looking up at Jim.

“Sure, princess. It’s not going to be pink is it?” he teased.

“Not this time. I want it blue,” she informed them to their collective surprise.

“Blue?” Spock asked, certain there had to be some mistake.

“Uh huh. Sky blue,” she told them. “We can go tomorrow and find the pattern and the material, right?”

“Do you know what you want it to look like?” Spock asked.

“Sort of. We’ll decide tomorrow, right, JK?”

“Of course,” Jim agreed.

“And you and SK will be chaperones, right? And you too Chris,” she said.

They all had to agree to serve, Spock a little more reluctant than the others but he would never disappoint her.

“If we’re all at the prom, who’s going to keep LK?” George asked.

“Betty,” Amanda said, her fathers confirming that Betty would be coming. “So Dillon wants to take me but I’m not sure I want him to…well, you know.”

“If you don’t want to go out with him, princess, you need to tell him,” Jim said tenderly.

She just shrugged at that. “You asking Marybeth?” she asked George.

“It’s not for another five months, AK. We may not be dating by then,” he reminded her.

“You’re coming even if you aren’t, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Of course. I told you I’d be on your committee,” he agreed.

“’Kay,” she said, scooting off the bed. “I’m going back to bed. Don’t do anything stupid until tomorrow, okay?” she requested, kissing George on the head.

“I promise,” he said, standing up to stretch. “I’m going back to bed too.”

“Good night, babies,” Jim said, watching them leave, Chris following them out shortly after they were gone. Jim moved down the bed, Layla contentedly sleeping on his chest. “We are very lucky, aren’t we?”

“We are indeed,” Spock agreed, turning on his side, one hand on Layla’s stomach, his eyes on his love’s face until they drifted off to sleep.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“SK,” Jim said, catching Spock’s hand as they crossed the train station on their way to the mysterious location where Spock had arranged for their spring break vacation. Jim had some reservations about leaving the children but it was outweighed by the idea of spending uninterrupted time with his bondmate. “Look,” Jim said, nodding toward the display screen of one of the games available to amuse waiting children. “We’re a video game.”

Spock joined Jim in studying the figures on the screen which could possibly have been them. The uniforms were mostly correct and the one wearing the gold command shirt had blondish hair compared to the Vulcan in a blue uniform shirt. It was hard to tell exactly what the figures were supposed to be doing but it certainly was noisy. “What do you suppose our purpose is?”

“No idea,” Jim said quietly, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention to them. “What does it look like to you?”

“It could be the mission to Clavalc,” Spock speculated, tilting his head to watch for another moment. “Or possibly shore leave.”

Jim had to laugh at that, shaking his head. “You want to play?”

“What is the purpose of this activity?” Spock asked.

“Probably to defeat the bad guys. Most likely Klingons or Romulans. You seem to have quite the aim,” Jim said.

“Indeed,” Spock agreed. “I do not believe there is time for us to triumph once again.”

“Okay,” Jim laughed. “We’ll ask GK and AK when we get home. See if they’ve ever played it.”

“Do they engage in these activities?”

“I think so,” Jim shrugged. “Most teenagers do.”

“Ah, that is our train, t’hy’la,” Spock said when the announcement came over the loudspeakers.

“We’re going to Denver?” Jim asked.

“We must stop there. It is not our final destination,” Spock said, leading him to the correct gate.

“Why are we not flying?” Jim asked as they waited in line.

“Because I want to watch you watch the countryside. I never tire of seeing your delight at the landscape of your home world,” Spock explained.

“Thank you,” Jim said with a sparkling smile up at Spock. “When will we get where we are going?”

“Tomorrow at this time. If you choose, we can fly home instead of taking the train.”

“’Kay,” Jim agreed, watching as one of the terminal employees approached with a smile.

“Captain, Commander,” he said quietly.

“Not any longer,” Jim returned with a smile.

“Not actively,” the man agreed. “I am Vince Tracker, with the train company. If you want to come with me, I’ll escort you directly to your car.”

“Thank you,” Spock agreed for them, following him to a discreet doorway and directly onto the train.

“Here you are,” he said, showing them their private sleeper car, larger and more comfortable than Jim had expected. “An agent will meet you in Denver with all of your arrangements taken care of.”

“Thank you,” Spock repeated with a nod.

“Have a delightful journey, gentlemen,” he said, leaving them to themselves.

“You arrange for him to meet us?” Jim asked ideally as he surveyed the cabin.

“I did not,” Spock said, pulling the shade on the door and reaching out to pull Jim down next to him. A warm hand leisurely unbuttoned Jim’s flannel shirt as Spock’s tongue explored Jim’s mouth.

“What are you doing?” Jim laughed.

“What I plan to do for the next six days,” Spock said.

“We’re going to spend the entire week making love?”

“Except when we must stop to eat and you must sleep,” Spock agreed, mouthing Jim’s neck and causing goose bumps all over his body.

“We haven’t even left the station,” Jim said, moaning as the kisses continued.

“I am aware. We have much time to make up for,” Spock said, silencing further protests with a soul illuminating kiss.

“You aren’t entering pon farr early are you?” Jim asked breathlessly.

“I am not. I am very much in love with someone with whom I have not had enough time to prove it.”

“I don’t even think that makes sense,” Jim whispered into a pointed ear.

“It does. And if it did not, it makes no difference as you know precisely what I mean. And what I desire.”

“Uh huh,” Jim agreed, undoing the fastenings on Spock’s warm shirt. “No one will come in, right?”

“Correct,” Spock agreed, reaching for the button on Jim’s jeans and getting them open.

The trip to Denver was exciting and restful and…everything they could have wanted it to be. There was time for Jim to gaze out the window at the passing scenery and for Spock to watch him watch the landscape go by, a smile in his eyes if not on his lips.

When they arrived at the station, transportation was waiting for them, Spock still not telling Jim where their finally destination was. Jim was content to wait and enjoy the ride, especially since they had contacted the children in Denver and been reassured they were all just fine.

An hour and a half out of Denver, the driver stopped in front of a small cabin, the closest town half an hour away.

“This is it?” Jim asked, looking at the structure, welcoming smoke coming from the chimney.

“Indeed,” Spock agreed, turning to the driver. “We will see you in six days.”

“Yes sir,” he agreed, leaving them alone.

“Wow,” Jim said, looking at the cabin, surrounded by nothing but snowy fields, dense snow covered trees in the distance. “You hate snow.”

“And you love it,” Spock said, taking his hand and leading him into the cabin. It was toasty warm, a fire blazing in the hearth to welcome them.

“How can there be a fire?” Jim asked, standing before it to appreciate the warmth it was providing.

“I made certain of it,” Spock said, leading him to the adjourning room. “And this is where we will be sleeping,” he said, showing him the large bed with the down comforters piled high. The fireplace also warmed the bedroom, making it cozy and snug.

“Wow,” Jim repeated, looking at the beautiful, roughhewn walls which allowed none of the cold to seep in from outside. “Whose cabin is this?”

“Ours,” Spock said, unzipping his own down coat before helping Jim out of his.

“What? We don’t own a cabin.”

“We do now, my love,” Spock corrected. “I bought it for you.”

Jim had to laugh at that, shaking his head. “Why?”

“Because I knew you would like it. We can come with the children during the summer.”

“Where will they sleep? With us?”

“In the loft,” Spock said, taking him back to the leaving room to show him the loft that overlooked the main floor.

“How pretty. This is so cool,” Jim said, knowing he should be more eloquent but he was unable to find the words to adequately express how pleased and surprised he was.

Spock was pleased by the pleasure the cabin brought to Jim, hugging him to his warmer body. “We have all the clothes we need. And there is plenty of food. And it has central heat so we do not need to tend the fire the entire night.”

“You thought of everything,” Jim said, turning in the circle of Spock’s arms to admire the cabin once more. “Thank you so much.”

“In the summer, there will be horses in the pasture. For you and the children to ride, if you desire.”

“Whose horses?” Jim laughed.

“I have arranged to borrow them,” Spock assured him.

“Did you tell the children about the cabin?” Jim asked in awe.

“No. I feared they would be unable to keep the secret. I told Leonard and gave him photos to give the children. There is no computer but our communicators will function here.”

“So they probably know now,” Jim said.

“Undoubtedly. I am hungry. Do you want some lunch, love?”

“Yes. Absolutely. And for dessert, I’ll show you just how grateful I am,” Jim promised, kissing Spock’s ear in a most tantalizing manner.

“I accept,” Spock said, turning to kiss Jim full on the mouth, smiling under his. “Can you wait until after lunch?”

“Uh huh. As long as it won’t take too long,” Jim replied, backing up to smile at him in love and gratitude.

“It will not,” Spock promised, going with him to the small kitchen to make a very quick but satisfying lunch, dessert even more satisfying to them both.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Hurry up, Daddy, Papa,” Amanda said. She was already dressed and ready, wearing the sky blue prom dress that Jim had made for her. Although she had been at school most of the day getting it ready for the prom, she had come home an hour and a half earlier to get ready, including Nyota stopping by to pile her hair on top of her head, the curls cascading down in a most becoming manner.

She had wanted to leave by now but Jim was having trouble tying the regular tie. He surely must have worn one at some time in his life but he couldn’t remember when. Betty finally came to his rescue, entering their bedroom to finish tying it for him. Her green eyes crinkled even more at the corners as she smiled at him.

“Maybe you want to practice?” she suggested, straightening it one final time.

He kissed her on top of her head, his only answer before pulling on the coat to complete his suit.

“Very nice,” Betty decided, smoothing down the lapels and the blue handkerchief in the breast pocket, the material leftover from Amanda’s dress. His tie was the same color, a good match for the blue of his eyes, which Spock appreciated. Jim’s custom fit suit was a dark grey with pin strips of lighter grey, the color of Betty’s hair that was pulled into a knot. The severity of her hairdo was in contrast to the warmth and admiration in her expression. “You’ll do.”

“Thank you, love.” He looked down at Layla when she tugged on his pants. “Yes, baby?”

“You are very handsome,” she declared. “More handsomer than anybody else’s daddy.”

“Thank you love. Isn’t SK also very handsome?” Jim asked, picking her up so she could better see Spock in his Starfleet uniform.

“Uh huh. Why don’t you wear real clothes, like Daddy?” she asked Spock.

“Because I do not refuse to dress like a member of Starfleet,” Spock reminded her with a twinkle. “Not all of the Kirk family is rebellious in nature.”

“I not ‘bellious, Papa,” Layla said.

“Not yet,” Spock said, accepting her in his arms when she reached out for him. “Perhaps you will be the one other Kirk that is not.”

“Don’t count on it, SK,” George said from the doorway, laughing at his fathers.

“I know, GK. I have given that hope up years ago.”

“Stop making it sound like being a Kirk is a disease,” Jim requested, checking the mirror one last time.

“It is one I will gladly suffer from for the rest of my life,” Spock assured him with a kiss.

“Good. The end of all of our lives will come sooner than later if we don’t get downstairs. Amanda will kill us,” Jim said with a laugh.

“I heard that,” Amanda called up the stairs. “And hurry up.”

“We’re coming,” Jim called back, kissing Layla. “Be a good girl for Betty.”

“I’m always a good girl, Daddy,” Layla informed him.

“Yes you are. And we’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Jim promised her.

“Sleep well, baby girl,” Spock said, also kissing her before going downstairs with Jim and George.

“About time,” Amanda said. But she had to smile at the sight of her three favorite men, all dressed up and looking exceptionally handsome. “Very nice.”

“Thank you,” they responded, two with an accompanying smile, one a favorable nod.

“We’ll see you there,” Jim said to George as he left to go and collect Marybeth, Jim and Spock going with Amanda.

“Okay, Daddy, tell me you remember the rules,” Amanda said, one on her hands in Jim’s and Spock’s.

“I’m not to flirt with anyone at the prom,” he recited.

“And if they think you are?” Amanda asked.

“I’m to get Spock to rescue me. Or them,” he said as seriously as he could.

“Uh huh. And rule number 2?” she said.

“I’m not to tell anyone how I saved Earth.”

“That goes for you too, Papa,” Amanda reminded Spock.

“Yes, ma’am,” Spock agreed.

“And I’m not supposed to tell any boring stories about starships or planetary disputes,” Jim said.

“Uh huh. Can you try really hard to be a wallflower, please?” Amanda requested.

“Why did you request he attend, princess? He is no more capable of fading into the wallpaper than you are,” Spock reminded her.

“I know,” she sighed. “And no embarrassing stories about me or George.”

“How about Layla?” Jim teased.

“Daddy,” she said in exasperation.

“I’m teasing, princess. I’ll behave, I promise.”

“I’m counting on you to make sure, SK,” Amanda said in pleading.

“I will do all that I can. He is extraordinarily stubborn, even for a Human,” Spock reminded her, sending warmth to Jim over their bond.

“Stop that, Papa. Not while I’m holding your hands.”

“You do not like the feelings of admiration I am conveying to JK?”

“It’s weird,” she claimed but her smile spoiled her words.

“What am I allowed to discuss, princess?” Jim asked with a laugh.

“The weather,” she decided.

“On Earth, right?” Jim asked.

“Yes,” she said with a sigh.

“Anything else? That movie we saw last week?”

“No. You hated it. All my friends loved it,” she told him.

“Alright. Once I’ve exhausted, ‘yes it is lovely for this time of year,’ what can I say?”

“Papa,” she requested.

“I will monitor his behavior, AK. Do not concern yourself,” Spock assured her.

“I’m not four, AK,” Jim said in some indignation.

“I know that, JK. But sometimes, well,” she said.

“Not to worry, Amanda love. He learned to comport himself very well at all of the diplomatic functions which we were required to attend.”

“Thank you, I think,” Jim said with a laugh. “I could tell your friends about some of the aliens we met.”

“None of the ones with two heads. Or the ones who talk by touching your hair. Or…”

“Okay, AK. I’ll stick with the weather,” Jim promised in good humor.

“Stay close to Chris. Or Papa, please.”

“Yes ma’am,” Jim agreed. //When did she get so bossy?//

“I heard that, Daddy,” Amanda told him, dropping their hands as they approached the school where her friends were arriving. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jim agreed, watching her leave them, looking lovely, elegant and way too much like an adult in her dress. “When did she grow up?”

“I have no idea. She is no longer our little girl,” Spock said with a note of wistfulness creeping in his voice.

“She is a beautiful young lady,” Jim agreed. “Even if she is bossy. And thinks I’m going to mortify her.”

“She is torn between bursting with pride to be our daughter and concern that you will outshine her.”

“I know,” Jim said, moving closer to Spock to absorb his warmth, physical and emotional. “Maybe she shouldn’t go to Starfleet Academy either.”

“Except she is destined to follow her father’s footsteps and be the Captain of her own starship.”

“True. Maybe I’ll stop teaching when she gets there. So she won’t be competing against us both,” Jim suggested, greeting some of the children’s friends as they passed by.

“She would be disappointed if you were not still there,” Spock told him.

“I know,” Jim sighed. “Well, we don’t have to worry about it tonight. Let’s go in and do everything possible not to embarrass her.”

“Certainly,” Spock agreed, going inside with him to be greeted by Amanda’s friends.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Guess what?” George said at dinner on family night, the one night a week when they all were required to be home. The twins liked to grumble about the rule but would no more miss family night than would their fathers.

“What is that, GK?” Jim asked as he helped Layla cut up her lasagna. She was eating the vegetarian one, deciding she didn’t want to eat meat if her Papa didn’t. They tried to convince her she didn’t need to avoid it but she had made up her mind and like the other members of her family, there was no changing it once she had decided.

“I know what I want to do,” George announced.

“When? Tomorrow?” Amanda asked.

“No. When I grow up.”

“No way,” Amanda said, shaking her head.

“Yes way,” George said. “I want to teach.”

“Teach?” Amanda repeated, studying her brother. “Like SK and JK?”

“Yes. Well, no. I want to teach elementary school. You know, first and second grade.”

“Good for you,” Jim said with a pleased smile. “When did you decide this?”

“I decided from volunteering at the elementary school. I really liked being with the kids. Helping them learn to read and write. They are so… eager and, you know.”

“This is an excellent decision, GK,” Spock said. “You have the temperament to be a truly fine teacher.”

“You think so?” George asked Spock with a questioning look.

“Certainly. You are patient and kind and possess the ability to explain difficult concepts in ways that can be easily understood,” Spock said.

“Thank you. And I thought maybe I’d teach on New Vulcan for a while, after I graduate,” George suggested.

“As long as you promise to come home,” Jim said with a smile.

“I will. I can’t leave you for long. But since I speak Vulcan, I thought I’d like to try teaching there for a while.”

“Oh,” Amanda said, her eyes wide. “You could wait until I leave.”

“You will have left, AK. Once you graduate from the Academy, you’ll be assigned to a starship,” George reminded her.

“I’ll be assigned to the Enterprise, right Daddy?”

“I don’t make those decisions, princess,” Jim reminded her with a laugh.

“But if you ask them to assign me, they will,” she said in certainty.

“Where are you going?” Layla asked finally, looking from her brother to her sister.

“Nowhere right away, baby,” George assured her.

“When?”

“Not until you are 8. A long time,” George said.

“Can I go?” Layla asked.

“No baby. You’ll be in school. You’ll be here with Daddy and Papa,” George explained.

“But why are you going?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

“You don’t need to worry about it now, baby,” Jim told her, pulling her into his lap to comfort her. “GK is going to be here for a long time.”

“You promise, Daddy?”

“Yes, LK, I promise,” Jim assured her, wiping her tears and helping her eat her lasagna. George reached over to touch Jim’s arm, sending a silent apology. //I understand, love. You don’t need to worry.//

George nodded, eating more of his dinner and trying not to feel guilty now that he had finally made a decision about the rest of his life.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“AK,” Layla said to her sister as they were playing Barbies in the playroom. Amanda was trying to redress all the Barbies that had mysteriously lost their clothes, especially the action figures of her fathers. There was something overtly creepy about small plastic versions of JK and SK with no clothes on.

“Yeah, LK?” Amanda asked as she reached for a captain’s uniform for Jim.

“I know a secret,” Layla said in a whisper, her brown eyes wide.

“What secret?” Amanda responded.

“I saw GK kiss Flora,” Layla told her breathlessly.

“They are dating, Layla. Of course they were kissing,” Amanda said, putting the miniature captain’s tiny boots back on.

“Now they’re going to have a baby,” Layla informed her quite seriously.

“What?” Amanda said, focusing on her baby sister. “Have a baby?”

“Uh huh. You kiss and then you have a baby,” Layla explained. One of her Barbies was busy kissing one of her Captains, which Amanda also found vaguely creepy. But as Layla didn’t associate the plastic figure with her father, it was not a concern to her.

“That’s not how it works, Layla. You don’t have a baby because somebody kisses you,” Amanda told her gently.

“Uh huh. That’s what Insara told me,” Layla said, certain that her friend from daycare was correct on all manner of information.

“Insara is wrong about that, baby,” Amanda assured her. “Papa and Daddy kiss all the time. They only have three children.”

“Insara said that’s ‘cause Daddy’s not a girl,” Layla told her.

Amanda sighed at that, shaking her head. //Where are you? I don’t know what else to tell her.//

//I’ll be home in three minutes,// George promised. //I didn’t mean for her to see us when I picked her up.//

//I know. I guess she thinks I’m going to have Dillon’s baby.//

//Has she ever seen you kiss him?// George asked.

//Who knows? You didn’t know she saw you and Flora,// Amanda reminded him. “Do you think I’m going to have Dillon’s baby, LK?”

Layla looked at her with a shocked expression, her mouth agape. “You kiss him?”

“Yes, LK, I kiss him. And I’m not going to have a baby.”

“Does our daddies know?” Layla asked, clearly scandalized.

“Yes they know. Where did Insara get her information?” Amanda asked.

//She won’t know, AK. Just change the subject,// George advised.

Layla shrugged at that, taking the uniform off of one of the Spocks.

“Why do you undress all your Barbies?” Amanda asked her.

“So they won’t get hot,” Layla explained as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Aren’t you worried they’ll get cold?” Amanda asked, sighing in relief when George walked in the front door.

“GK, GK,” Layla called in utter happiness that her big brother had come home. She loved George almost more than she loved Amanda and Jim and Spock, which George was grateful that they found funny rather than annoying.

“Hello, darling,” George said, picking her up to hug her tight. “What are you and AK doing?”

“Playin’ Barbies. Play with us?” she requested, tracing his golden eyebrows. “I wish my ‘brows were like yours and AK’s. You know, and Papa’s.”

“You have JK’s eyes and ears,” George reminded her, sitting at the low table where the Barbies waited in plastic patience.

“Uh huh. Will they be home soon?” she asked Amanda, picking up two Barbies.

“In a little while, LK. The faculty meeting shouldn’t last too much longer.”

“’Kay,” Layla agreed, taking the captain’s uniform from George who was going to try to help Amanda dress all the captains and commanders. “No GK. That’s Barbie’s.”

“Which Barbie?” George asked with a laugh.

“This one,” she declared, picking up one that was decidedly a Vulcan Barbie. She was not smiling, unlike most of the dolls. “She’s the captain.”

“Okay, LK,” George said with a warm smile. “Do you want to come help me make dinner?”

“’Kay,” Layla agreed, jumping up to go with him to the kitchen, Amanda lingering behind to make sure all the Barbies were fully dressed before following to help.

~0~

When Spock and Jim came home, Amanda quietly told them what Layla had said, Jim having a hard time not laughing, Spock nearly frowning at the baby’s incorrect information and at Jim’s amusement at Layla’s confusion.

“Do you want to talk to her?” Jim asked Spock. “Or let sleeping dogs lie?”

“I am uncertain what Mason sleeping has to do with Layla’s incorrect assumptions concerning reproduction,” Spock responded.

“It’s a saying, SK. Surely I’ve used it before,” Jim sighed. “Anyway, do you want to talk to her or wait for it to come up again?”

“I am of the opinion that she does not need that information at this age. AK pointed out her error and for now I believe that will suffice,” Spock decided.

“I agree. Hopefully the next time Insara tells her something, one of us will be here to explain the truth to her,” Jim said, kissing Spock’s cheek. “Oh dear. Now you’re going to have a baby.”

“I am not a girl,” Spock reminded him with a twinkle in his eyes.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Well before the twins graduated from high school, Amanda had been accepted into Starfleet Academy and had been offered the opportunity to take college level classes while she was a senior. She declined, not that she didn’t appreciate the offer but she was having such a good time in her last year, she didn’t want to be burdened by studying for the advanced classes. She knew attending the Academy was going to be a lot of work and she wanted to enjoy her final year of relative freedom. Jim had enthusiastically supported her decision, Spock telling him privately he thought she was making a mistake. But he did not take her to task for deciding to live it up while she could.

George decided to attend San Francisco State University so he could still live at home, as Amanda was. It wasn’t that he didn’t think living on campus could be cool but he just didn’t have any interest in leaving his fathers or his sisters, another decision that Spock would have recommended against if Jim hadn’t persuaded him to leave it alone.

“When did you become their primary parent?” Spock asked late one night well after they had gone to bed, the children safely in their rooms. Jim was laying on his side snug up against Spock, his right arm thrown over Spock’s stomach, Mason asleep on the end of the bed.

“Don’t say that, t’hy’la. But I do have more experience being a Human than you do,” Jim reminded him.

“Our children are not all Human,” Spock reminded him unnecessarily.

“I do know that,” Jim said, sitting up and putting some distance between them. “You are welcome to tell the twins they are making a huge mistake. But it will only drive them away. It won’t change their minds.”

“You cannot know that for certain,” Spock countered.

“Oh yes I can. The more we push them, the more they’ll do exactly what they want. They are Kirks after all. And you’ve pointed out on more occasions than I care to remember that being a Kirk is like having disease.”

“I am uncertain as to why you are so angry,” Spock said, studying Jim.

“Because you think I’ve screwed up the children as much as I screwed up my own life.”

“I think no such thing,” Spock informed him sternly. “We have three wonderful children. They are intelligent, kind, loving, and mostly Human. I would have them be nothing else.”

“You also think they should do as they’re told. And that we, or you, should be able to tell them what they should and should not do with their lives.”

“I believe they should be allowed to make their own decisions. As you and I did. It was not an easy decision for me to turn down the offer to attend Vulcan Science Academy. I did it.”

“Because they were being racists. They didn’t deserve you. But I probably didn’t deserve to go to Starfleet Academy. I only got in because Chris said I should.” Jim stopped and sighed, studying the face of his bondmate. “I’m sorry.”

“For attending Starfleet Academy?” Spock teased.

“No,” Jim laughed. “For being so Human. And for being mad at you when you don’t deserve it.”

“I do not take it personally, t’hy’la. Although you are being awfully Human tonight. Are you angry about something else?”

“No.” Jim sighed again. “It’s the idea of the twins growing up and leaving. All this talk of them going to college makes it so real somehow. That they aren’t our babies any longer.”

“They are not,” Spock agreed. “They will, however, always be our children. And we will always love and cherish them.”

“I wish now even more that we hadn’t lost the baby in between. We should have had a dozen children, not just the three perfect ones we have,” Jim said wistfully.

“You must remember that it is miraculous that you had any children at all.”

“I know. New Vulcan Science Academy asked me again to come so they could try to figure it out,” Jim said.

“I know you do not want to submit to their tests, love,” Spock said in sympathy.

“No. But maybe it’s selfish of me to refuse. If more men are able to have children, it would help increase the Vulcan population.”

“If you wish to go, I will accompany you,” Spock assured him.

“Do you think they would let Bones come?”

“If you will agree, I feel certain they will allow your personal physician to assist with the tests.”

“Do you want me to go?” Jim asked, moving down the bed to lay back beside Spock to absorb his warmth.

“It must be your decision, love. I will support whatever decision you make.”

“Yeah,” Jim agreed, snuggling closer. “But not tonight.”

“Do you wish to attempt to conceive again tonight?” Spock suggested, kissing him soundly.

“The children are here. What if they need us?” Jim asked, licking his ear and receiving a moan in response.

“Then we will desist in our activities and attend to their needs.”

“This is a lot of sexy talk,” Jim teased, kissing his mouth.

“I know you enjoy being seduced,” Spock confirmed, smiling under Jim’s lips. They moved further down the bed, removing their pajamas beneath the covers, skin in delicious contact.

“I’m going to have my way with you,” Jim told him, his hands all over Spock’s body.

“You have my permission,” Spock assured him, shifting beneath his caresses.

“Turn over,” Jim whispered in one graceful ear.

“Mmm…” Spock moaned when one of Jim’s cooler hands wrapped around his hard need. Jim kept his hand around him as Spock rolled onto his stomach, his legs spread in anticipation. “Hurry.”

“I’m coming,” Jim assured him, disappearing beneath the covers to kiss Spock’s back down to his curved and fine ass. He continued kissing the warmer skin, nudging his thighs apart to have greater access to the sensitive skin and the warm sack that resided there.

“Papa,” Layla’s voice said as she approached the bed. Jim felt Spock tense around him, laying very still.

“What is wrong, baby?” Spock asked, untangling one hand to reach out to her.

“Where’s Daddy?”

“He’s…uhm…”

//In the bathroom,// Jim suggested.

“He is in the bathroom, baby,” Spock told her. He carefully rolled onto his side, avoiding kicking Jim. “Why are you up? It’s the middle of the night.”

“I had a bad dream, Papa. Can I sleep with you?”

//Tell George to come get her,// Jim suggested from where he was still hiding.

//He is sleeping. He cannot hear me.//

//Did you try Amanda?//

//She is asleep as well,//  Spock said.

//Oh god. Okay. Talk to her. I’ll try to get to the bathroom.//

“Can I Papa?” Layla repeated, looking up at him hopefully.

“I am not wearing bed clothes, LK. If you will go back into your room, I will come to get you when I am wearing pajamas.”

“Why don’t you have on your pjs, Papa? You’re always cold.”

“Go to your room, please, baby. I’ll be right there,” Spock said, caressing her soft brown hair.

“You’ll be soon, right?”

“Very soon.”

“’Kay,” she agreed, taking her stuffed dog with her and looking back over her shoulder at him as she left.

Jim came out form beneath the covers, breathing in the fresh air. “She okay?”

“Did you hear her say she had a bad dream?”

“Uh huh. What do you think?” Jim asked.

“She probably did,” Spock said. “I need to dress to go to her as I promised.”

“I do too,” Jim agreed. “She can’t sleep with us if I don’t have on pajamas.”

“I am sorry we cannot finish,” Spock said, kissing him lightly.

“Me too,” Jim said with a sigh. “Oh well. We should have locked the door. Such are the sacrifices of being dads.”

~0~0~0~0~0~

Jim dismissed his class and they began to file out in their usual orderly manner. “Cadet Kirk,” he said as Amanda got to the door. “A word.”

“Okay, Simon, I’ll catch up with you in the library,” Amanda said with her usual smile as her friends left the classroom. She retraced her steps to stand in front of her father. “Captain.”

“Are you really going out tonight with Tyryk?” Jim asked without preamble.

“He invited me to the social and I said I’d go. Why? What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the anger and disappointment in her father’s blue eyes.

“What does Dillon think of this plan?” he asked in a hard tone he rarely used with any of the children.

“Uhm…well…” she stammered, staring down blindly at the floor.

“Amanda,” Jim said in warning.

“I know, Daddy.”

“You can’t go out with Tyryk without breaking up with Dillon, baby. It’s not fair to either of them,” Jim said more kindly.

“I don’t want to hurt Dillon.”

“And you don’t think he’ll be hurt when he finds out you went out on a date with Tyryk?” Jim asked.

“It isn’t a date, exactly. Everybody’s going.”

“Everybody but the boy you’ve been dating since high school. Do you really think Dillon would see you going to the social with Tyryk as ‘not a date’?” Jim asked.

“No,” she conceded.

“You have to tell Dillon or you have to tell Tyryk you can’t go. This is about responsibility and leadership, baby. How can your crew trust you if you won’t be honest with the man you’ve been dating for all these years?” He put a gentle finger under her chin so she would meet his eyes.

“I know,” she repeated with a sigh. “I really really like Tyryk, Daddy.”

“Then tell Dillon, baby.”

“But I really like Dillon too. And we’ve been together for so long.”

“Maybe you weren’t meant to be together forever. You’ve grown up together. That doesn’t mean he’s your soulmate.”

“Did you know Papa was yours?”

“Once he stopped hating me,” Jim agreed with a laugh. “We both knew we had no choice. It was destiny.”

“You don’t believe in destiny, JK,” Amanda said with a small smile.

“When it comes to me and SK I do. Otherwise I would never have had our three perfect children,” Jim reminded her.

“This one isn’t so perfect,” she said softly.

He shook his head and kissed her forehead. “Of course you are, baby. Are you attracted to Tyryk because he’s half Vulcan?”

“I think so,” she agreed. “He’s so…sensible, like Papa. And so smart, like you and Papa. And…well.”

“I understand. I think he’s quite remarkable. And if you want to go out with him, that’s fine. But not if it’s going to hurt Dillon.”

“I know. I’ll tell Tyryk I can’t go. And this weekend, I’ll talk to Dillon, I promise.”

“That’s all I ask, baby,” Jim agreed, picking up his bookbag to put it over his shoulder. “Can I buy you lunch?”

“Sure. Are you going home after that?”

“I’m going to Spock’s office to grade some papers. Then I’ll pick up Layla and go home. Are you coming home for dinner?” Jim asked as they walked down the corridor toward the faculty/staff dining room.

“I am now,” she agreed with a sigh.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Jim and Spock were having lunch at the Academy, chatting about summer vacation that was only a few weeks away. The semester had been interesting and challenging and they were both ready for some time off, time to spend with their three children. George was excited about going to the Colorado cabin, and Amanda had been happy about it when her fathers and brother had agreed that Tyryk could come along. Layla was just happy that she would be in the same place as her entire family and didn’t really care where that was.

Jim looked up as George entered the faculty/staff dining room, telling Spock that he had just arrived.

“He is not upset,” Spock assured Jim as they watched him cross over to them, greeting those faculty and staff that he knew, especially those with whom he had grown up on Enterprise.

“That’s true,” Jim agreed, smiling up at George when he stopped by their table. “Hi baby.”

“Hi JK, SK.”

“GK,” Spock returned, studying their very handsome son. “What can we do for you?”

“I need some money,” George requested.

“For what?” Spock asked as Jim reached into the pocket of his jeans to take some out.

“Layla needs a new pair of jeans. And some new runners. Didn’t you notice that her shoes are too small?” George asked with a smile.

“Yes, baby. We haven’t had time to buy her new ones,” Jim admitted, giving George the money.

“I know that, JK. I’ll take care of it on my way home. Should I pick up something for dinner?”

“Yes please,” Spock agreed. “Where is your credit chip?”

“I gave it to AK.”

“Oh that’s right,” Jim said. “She needed it for books for next semester. I wish she wouldn’t take them to Colorado but she’s insisting.”

“She can be such a nerd,” George laughed.

“And so can you,” Jim reminded him with a loving smile.

“I come by it honestly,” George said with a shrug. “Is it okay if Akrity comes to dinner?”

“Of course she is welcome,” Spock agreed. “Did you wish to invite her to Colorado?”

“Not yet. I don’t want her to think I’m all that serious. I mean, I like her and all. But I don’t know if I like her well enough to take her to Colorado.”

“I understand,” Spock said. “You are much like your daddy when it comes to playing the field.”

“Spock,” Jim said in mild dismay.

“It’s not much of a secret, JK,” George assured him with a laugh. “I can’t tell you how many of my classmates told me that you dated their mothers, fathers, or both, while you were in the Academy.”

“Most of those stories are not true, GK,” Spock assured him.

“They can’t possibly be true,” George agreed. “If they were, JK would have to be 145 years old to have had time.”

“Would y’all like me to step out of the room until you finish talking about me?” Jim asked in mock indignation.

“Sure,” George laughed. “But I’m eating your carrot cake once you leave.”

“You’re welcome to it,” Jim responded. “It isn’t nearly as good as yours.”

“Thanks,” George said.

“Have you eaten lunch already?” Spock asked George.

“Not yet,” George said.

“Go and get something to eat, baby. We’ll wait for you,” Jim said with a smile.

“Okay. You want anything else?” he asked, accepting Spock’s id card to pay for his lunch.

“I’ll have another cup of coffee,” Jim requested.

“I would like more Vulcan spice tea,” Spock decided.

“Okay. I won’t be long,” George said, going over to get his lunch, stopping to talk to those he knew.

“We are very lucky,” Spock agreed, seeing the love and pride reflected on Jim’s face as he watched their son.

“We sure are,” Jim had to agree.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Papa,” Layla squealed as she left her pre-school classroom. Normally one of the twins or Betty picked her up when Jim was teaching. But today Spock had gotten finished at the Academy early and told the family he would stop by for Layla on his way home.

“Hello, princess,” Spock said as he picked her up to kiss her. The other parents had to smile at the picture but neither of them really noticed.

“I didn’t know you were comin’ today,” she said.

“I told JK I would come as I had some free time this afternoon,” he explained as they left the school to go into the cool San Francisco spring day, Layla walking by his side, her small warm hand firmly in his.

“And you’re stayin’ with me?” Layla asked.

“I certainly am,” Spock agreed. “Would you like to stop by the house for Mason and then go to the park?”

“’Kay,” Layla said with a nod as they walked down the sidewalk.

“Why are you upset, darling? Because JK didn’t come?” Spock asked, studying his small daughter who did not look particularly unhappy. But their physical contact had transmitted her unspoken sadness to him.

Layla shrugged, watching the sidewalk under their feet as they continued the short trip to their house. Spock did not press the issue until they were inside, Mason excited to greet them.

“What would you like for a snack, LK?” Spock asked when they were in the kitchen together.

“I don’t want one,” she said from where she was sitting on the floor petting Mason.

Spock frowned at her words, sitting next to her and scratching Mason’s ear. His shoulder brushed against hers and he sent silent love and reassurance to her. It didn’t surprise him when a slow tear fell. “Won’t you tell me what’s upsetting you, princess?” he asked gently, wiping away her tears.

“Sturc says I’m not really a Vulcan,” Layla whispered.

“He is incorrect, princess,” Spock assured her, kissing her head.

“I don’t have pointed ears. And my eyebrows are like JK’s. He said that means I’m not really Vulcan.”

“How you look does not determine who you are, love. Does he think I am not half Human because I look like a Vulcan?” Spock asked her.

“I look all Human, Papa,” she said sadly.

“And I look all Vulcan. That makes me no less who I am,” he assured her.

“He said you can’t be my Papa,” she admitted, her silent tears melting into sobs.

Spock gathered her into his arms so that she could cry onto the front of his uniform. He rocked her as she cried, wondering what else he could possibly say to comfort her. //Will you be home soon?//

//Another 45 minutes,// Jim returned. //Try distracting her. That usually works.//

“Of course I am your father, baby. Just like I am George and Amanda’s father. And I could not be more pleased to be the father of our three perfect children. Just as JK is,” he told her, kissing her on the head.

“But I don’t look like you, Papa,” Layla sobbed.

“You look like us both, baby. Your hair and eyes are from us both. Your ears are from JK. And you look a lot like Amanda and George. No one in their right mind could doubt that you are the child of me and Daddy.”

“I am your baby, aren’t I?” she asked, looking up at him with wide, sad eyes.

“Yes, baby, you are mine. And JK’s. And we love you very much.”

“I love you, Papa,” she said, hugging him and receiving a warm hug in return.

“Shall we go to the park with Mason?” he suggested.

“Can I have somethin’ to eat first?”

“What would you like, darling?” he asked, kissing her in relief.

//Good job,// Jim said with much warmth.

//I’m not sure she has resolved it or if she just doesn’t want to risk upsetting me,// Spock confessed.

//We’ll talk to her tonight if you want,// Jim suggested.

//If she desires it,// Spock agreed as he finished up her peanut butter and jelly sandwich, no crust.

//She’ll out grow her aversion to crusts. I did.//

//You did not. You still don’t eat them. Do you think I don’t notice that you give them to Mason?// Spock teased.

Jim snorted at him, returning his attention to the presentation that was way too long and way too boring.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Daddy,” Amanda said as she entered Spock’s office. She was frowning at the notebook in her hand and not paying a lot of attention to where she was going.

“Amanda,” Spock replied, looking up at her with a smile in his eyes. He was behind his desk, nothing on the broad surface except his computer.

“Oh. Hi, Papa. I was looking for Daddy,” Amanda said unnecessarily, looking around Spock’s spacious office as though she had overlooked the presence of her other father. Spock’s new office was one of the largest on campus, befitting the Dean of the division of Astrophysics and Advanced Theoretical Physics. Jim could have been assigned his own office even though he was still only part time but he was so accustomed to sharing Spock’s, he decided not to accept the offer. Once he was full time, he would move into his own but not until then. And Spock had no objection. If he needed the office to himself, Jim knew to make himself scarce, which almost never happened.

“He’ll be back in a few minutes,” Spock said, rounding his desk to approach her and kiss her on the head. “Can I be of any assistance until he returns?”

“I wanted to ask him about my assignment for your class,” she admitted, sitting next to him on the couch.

“Why do you not ask me?” Spock asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“’Cause I don’t want to admit to my professor I don’t understand,” she said with a smile just for him. “You’ve tried to explain it to me three times. I’m just not getting it.”

“Are you certain JK understands?” he asked.

“Pretty sure. Since he’s the one who first tried reversing the polarity. I know you told him not to do it, but it worked,” she said with a  laugh.

“Many things worked that he should never have tried,” Spock confirmed.

“And he should have never had us,” Amanda added. “Maybe I’ll go find Scotty and ask him to explain it.”

“JK is with Montgomery, baby. In his office.”

“Are they drinking?” Amanda asked with a laugh.

“No. They are…” Spock tilted his head before continuing. “They are deciding which one of them will take the lectures and which the labs next semester.”

“Daddy hates teaching labs. Why is Scotty even suggesting it?” Amanda asked.

“I believe Mr. Scott is going to agree to teach the labs when he has what he wants,” Spock said.

“And what is that?”

“Our cabin for an extra week,” Spock said. //Of course he can have it.//

//Tell AK I’ll wait for her here,// Jim replied before he returned to fighting with Scotty just because he could.

“JK will wait for you in Montgomery’s office, baby,” SK said, kissing her head.

“Okay,” she agreed, standing.

“Will we see you and Tyryk home for dinner?”

“Uh huh. George said he’s coming too. And bringing Akrity.”

“Alright. I will make certain we have enough for everyone,” Spock promised.

“Do I need to go for Layla?” Amanda asked as Spock walked her to the door.

“No, princess. I’m leaving to get her right now,” Spock said.

“’Kay. Thank you for your time, Dean,” she said with a wink as she left his office.

//Yes, she is a lot like me. Stop being so damned surprised,// Jim requested with a laugh.

//I delight in your similarities,// Spock claimed making Jim laugh even more.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Daddy. Papa,” George’s voice said from the doorway to their bedroom. Jim immediately sat up and look over in the darkness at the shape of their son outlined by the faint light in the hallway.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Jim asked. Spock also sat up, looking over at George who was slumped against the doorjamb.

“I feel like hell,” George said, slowly crossing their bedroom. He lay down on their bed, staring blindly up at the ceiling.

“What are your symptoms?” Spock asked, one hand on George’s overly warm forehead.

“Everything hurts. I’m burning up. And the room won’t stop spinning,” he said, closing his eyes in an attempt to still the room.

“Is there something going around school?” Jim asked, caressing his blond curls.

“Not that I know of,” George whispered.

“Are you nauseous?” Spock asked.

“Uh huh. And my head is pounding. I’m sorry I woke you but…”

“It’s okay, baby. Did you take some aspirin?” Jim asked.

“No. It was too far away. And I’m not sure I could swallow it,” George said.

“Daddy. Papa,” Layla’s voice called out. “Daddy! Papa!”

“I will go,” Spock said, getting out of the bed carefully so as not to kick George. When he arrived in Layla’s room, it was to discover that she too was sick, the unfortunate evidence on her pajamas and bed linens.

“I made a mess, Papa,” she said, her eyes full of tears.

“I see that, baby. You don’t need to cry. Let’s get you cleaned up,” Spock said, carrying her to the bathroom. He did not enter when he heard the unmistakable sounds of Amanda retching. //Can you come see to Amanda?//

//I’ll be right there,// Jim agreed, kissing George’s forehead and explaining. He carefully entered the children’s bathroom, holding Amanda’s hair for her as she once again vomited. “George and Layla have it too,” he said in sympathy, wetting a washcloth for her.

“Oh no. You okay?” she asked, squinting up at him.

“I’m fine. And so is SK. I’ll ask Bones to come in the morning,” Jim said, helping her to stand unsteadily on her feet.

“Can I sleep with you?” she asked, sounding like she was four instead of almost 20.

“It will be a little crowded with all of you but we’ll make do,” he agreed, holding her up as they went into his bedroom. George was curled on his side, clutching his stomach. Amanda lay down next to him, sighing when Jim covered them both with a quilt.

“Thanks,” Amanda whispered.

Once Spock had Layla dressed in fresh pajamas, he gave her to Jim so that he could return to her room to change her bed. That done, he changed into fresh pajamas and carefully got into bed, not disturbing any of the children who had fallen into a fitful sleep.

//They’ll be okay,// Jim assured him as they lay curled around Layla.

“Yes,” Spock whispered. “I’ll have Scotty cover your classes tomorrow so that you can stay home with them.”

“Okay. All the materials are on my desk. I’ll return their tests next week.”

“Very well,” Spock agreed, caressing Layla’s hair when she shifted. “Shh…go to sleep, baby.”

“Do you want to sleep in the guest room?” Jim asked, studying his Vulcan to make sure he too was not getting sick.

“I am fine, t’hy’la,” Spock said, reaching over to kiss his forehead.

“’Kay,” Jim agreed, closing his eyes to fall into a light sleep.

~0~

Bones came first thing the next morning, the three children still miserable. He assured them that it was a virus that had been going around. It should be out of their system in the next 24 hours. He administered a hypospray to each of them which helped with their symptoms and made them all very sleepy, which was the best thing for them.

“If I don’t give it to you, you’re going to come down with it next,” Bones said, hypospray at the ready. But Jim was being worse than his usual terrible-patient-self.

“I’m not going to get it. I have father’s immunity. I never catch what they bring home,” he protested, backing further away from Bones and his damnable hypospray.

“Stop being such a baby and let me give you this shot.”

“No. I’m bound to be allergic to it. Then you’ll have to give me 6 more shots to counteract the one you shouldn’t have given me to start with.”

“Don’t make me call Spock to come home,” Bones warned. “Because I will.”

//I heard that. Be a good boy and let him give you the shot,// Spock said.

//No. I’d rather have the virus than the inevitable allergic reaction.//

//I will come home if I must,// Spock warned.

//You’re in class. No way you’ll tell your graduate theoretical astrophysics students you have to leave because your bondmate hates hyposprays.//

//They have read all about the legendary Captain Kirk and his near manic aversion to medical intervention of any sort. They will not be surprised.//

//I’m not legendary any longer. I won’t be alive much longer if Bones wins.//

“Stop being such a drama queen,” McCoy said in exasperation. “The kids didn’t even flinch. And here you are running around the house like a chicken without a head.”

“The kids aren’t allergic to every medication you’ve ever given them, you charlatan.”

Bones sighed, taking out his communicator. “You have to the count of five. Then I’m calling Spock.”

“He’s in class. He turns off his communicator,” Jim said triumphantly.

//Class is over in 20 minutes. I will be home directly after it is out,// Spock informed him. //Actually, I have no concerns about leaving them to come right now.//

//No. I’ll let him give it to me,// Jim finally conceded. He flopped down on the couch and tilted his head to one side. “Fine.”

“Not your neck, hot shot. Lower your jeans,” Bones instructed.

“What? Why?” Jim asked in protest.

“Because of the type of vaccine it is. Standard protocol says administer it in the gluteus maximus,” Bones said with an undeniable gleam of triumph.

“I don’t believe you. You’re making that up.”

“Payback’s a bitch,” Bones said with an indifferent shrug. “Spock should be home in 15 minutes. He’ll take your jeans down if you don’t.”

Jim sighed and slowly stood, taking his time in lowering his jeans and turning his back to Bones. “I hate you. You know that don’t you?”

“Whatever,” Bones responded, lowering his briefs to give him the injection. “There. Was that so terrible?”

“I still hate you,” Jim claimed, pulling his jeans back up. “You’ll wait until after my tongues swells up and my ears start bleeding, right?

“Stop being a baby,” Bones repeated, putting away his supplies. “You want waffles for breakfast?”

“Yeah. And coffee,” Jim said, going with him into the kitchen to wait for the allergic reaction that never actually came. No way was he apologizing to Bones though.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“You are sure you do not want Leonard to come?” Spock asked as they finished making the arrangements to go to Colorado. They were expecting the onset of pon farr within the next five to seven days.

“He doesn’t need to,” Jim said. “Last time we were fine. And we’re seven years older. You aren’t going to hurt me.”

“I wish I felt so confident, t’hy’la.”

“And I’d rather have him here to help Chris watch the kids. Well, Layla anyway. It’s not like George and Amanda need watching. Although with both of them here, the chances are less likely that Tyryk and Akrity will sleep over.”

“I understand,” Spock said, kissing his head.

“Besides, Bones can be there in just over an hour if we need him. We’ll be fine,” Jim assured him with a smile.

“Very well. Shall we go explain to Layla?” Spock suggested.

“I hope she doesn’t cry,” Jim said as he followed Spock to the playroom where Layla was busy coloring under George’s watchful eye.

“Daddy, Papa,” Layla said in greeting. “Come color with me.”

“I’d love to,” Jim agreed, sitting down next to her, Spock on her other side.

“You want some crayons?” she asked her fathers.

“I would like the grey one, please,” Spock requested as he opened one of her coloring books to the page with the USS Enterprise.

“It needs to be silver, SK,” Layla told him, giving him the appropriate crayon.

“Very well,” Spock agreed. “What are you coloring, GK?”

“Uhm…I’m not sure,” he admitted, turning the page around so they could see it. “An uncharted planet?”

“Must be,” Jim said with a shrug. “Hot pink seems an appropriate color.”

“I thought so,” George agreed with a smile. “What is your picture?”

“The transporter room,” Jim said, studying the page. “But it should have five pads, not seven.”

“Don’t tell Scotty,” George laughed.

“Never,” Jim agreed. “Tomorrow SK and I are going away for several days.”

“How long, Daddy?” Layla asked, studying her fathers in turn.

“Probably five or six days, baby. We’re not sure,” Jim said casually.

“Where are you going?” she asked, returning her focus to her page.

“Colorado,” Jim responded.

“And we can’t go?” she asked, looking at George.

“No baby. Daddy and I must go alone this time,” Spock said gently.

“’Kay,” Layla agreed, reaching over for a green crayon.

“Do you have any questions for us, baby?” Jim asked.

“Nope. Chris and Bones’ll be here, right?” she asked, the tip of her tongue peeping out as she carefully colored in the sky of a planet her fathers were pretty sure they had never visited even though they were part of the away team pictured on her page.

“Yes they will,” Jim agreed. //She’s much calmer than I expected.//

//She is taking it into stride,// Spock agreed.

//Do you think one of her friends told her about pon farr?// Jim asked him.

//Ask George. He may know.//

Jim laid a light hand on George’s arm and asked if he thought it possible.

//I don’t think so. She knows as long as Bones and Chris are here, everything will be fine,// George said.

//Even though she doesn’t remember that we have ever previously left her?// Jim asked.

//She’s very adaptable,// George reminded them with a smile.

“So when you wake up tomorrow, baby, we’ll be gone. Chris and Bones will sleep over so if you need them, you know they will come for you,” Jim reminded her.

“Uh huh. GK and AK’ll be here too,” Layla said with a nod.

“Yes we will,” George agreed. “I’m going to start dinner. AK should be home in a little while.”

“Can I help?” Layla asked, also standing.

“Of course, baby,” George said, taking her hand and going with her to the kitchen.

“Well,” Jim said with a huff. “I guess we know where we rate.”

Spock shook his head and leaned over to kiss his Human. “I had thought you would be glad she did not cry.”

“I thought I’d be glad too. Shows how unpredictable I really am,” Jim said with a shrug.

“As you always have been,” Spock said in confirmation, kissing him firmly.

“Come up for air, you two,” Amanda laughed from the doorway to the playroom.

“It’s rude to spy on your fathers,” Jim said, grinning over at her.

“Then don’t make out where we can see you,” she scolded. “Layla okay?”

“Very much so,” Spock agreed. “As long as you, George, Chris, and Leonard are here, she is content for us to leave her.”

“You could just let me and George watch her,” Amanda said.

“Then we could not be sure that Tyryk and Akrity also do not watch her,” Spock said, one eyebrow raised in silent accusation.

“Papa,” Amanda said in not-entirely-convincing indignation. Both her fathers laughed at her.

“Don’t try that on us, baby. We were 20 years old once,” Jim reminded her.

“You were. Papa never was,” Amanda teased, kissing Spock to show there were no hard feelings.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Spock,” Jim called, rolling onto his side in the comfortable cabin bed to try and find his bondmate. He could not see him or reach him over their bond. “Spock?”

It was only a moment later that Spock entered in his meditation robe, sitting next to Jim on the bed. “Good morning, love,” Spock said, kissing his head. “How are you feeling?”

“Sleepy. Lonely,” Jim decided. “Are you coming back to bed?”

“I will once I have finished meditating,” Spock promised.

“You’ve already stopped. Come join me,” Jim requested with a charming smile up at him.

“I would think you would want some time to yourself,” Spock said, shaking his head.

“Nope. I want you here in our bed. Where you belong,” Jim said.

Spock removed his robe, climbing into bed to kiss Jim and roll on top of him. “Is this what you wanted?”

“Yep. Once last day in bed since we’re leaving tomorrow,” Jim said, reaching up to kiss him. “Make love to me.”

“We have done little else for the past five days, love,” Spock reminded him.

“Are you saying you don’t want to make love to me?” Jim teased, thrusting his hips up so that their erections were in warm and firm contact.

“I am saying that you must surely be tired and sore. That resting should be your only interest today.”

“I am tired and sore. And I don’t care.”

“Would you like to enter me?” Spock whispered into a round ear before chewing on it.

“You sure?”

“Quite sure, t’hy’la,” Spock promised. And make love they did. Slow and sweet. Hot and steamy. Wonderful and fulfilling in everyway.

“I sure hope I’m not pregnant,” Jim said as he lay curled into the warmth of Spock as they were drifting off to sleep.

“It would be…difficult,” Spock agreed.

“Surely I’m too old,” Jim said with a sigh.

“I would imagine,” Spock agreed.

“Do you think George will have children?” Jim asked.

“Not if he marries Akrity.  Only if he marries a man. Then it is very doubtful.”

“True. He’d probably have to marry a Vulcan,” Jim added.

“Do you worry about Tyryk entering pon farr?” Spock asked, tracing light patterns on Jim’s arm that was flung over his stomach.

“Not yet. Since he’s half Human. Are you worried?” Jim asked.

“I am not concerned. And I would not object if Amanda chose to marry him,” Spock said.

“Me neither. Although he can be awfully serious. Do you think the inherent Kirk chaos is too much for him?”

“He seems to enjoy it, love. I believe he relishes his time with us although he does not make it obvious.”

“He does spend a lot of time at our house,” Jim agreed. “And he wouldn’t if the chaos bothered him. And he adores Layla.”

“Everyone who knows her adores her. And how could they not?” Spock asked with a kiss.

“Exactly,” Jim agreed with a sleepy smile.

“Sleep, t’hy’la. Dream of our perfect children and how much I love you.”

“Mmm…” Jim sighed.

~0~0~0~0~0~

When they arrived home, the children were excited to greet them and tell them everything that had happened while they had been away.  Layla wanted to finish shopping for supplies for the first day of school, not that she wasn’t fully prepared but she insisted she needed more purple notebooks and pencils. Amanda and George had tried taking her but she would not hear of it, waiting for her fathers.

Bones insisted on herding Jim upstairs to his bedroom, telling him to remove his jeans and tee shirt. “Of course you are telling me you are fine,” Bones said in growing impatience. “I don’t care. I’ll leave you alone just as soon as finish checking you out.”

“I don’t need to be checked out, nosey. I’m fine.”

Bones went to the top of the stairs to call down. “Spock!”

“I am on my way,” Spock said, mounting the steps to enter their bedroom and stare unflinching at Jim after closing the door.

“I’m fine. Stop looking at me like that,” Jim protested.

“You always claim to be fine, JK. And often you are not. Remove your clothing so that Leonard may ensure that you are indeed fine,” Spock said, his fists on his hips.

“You know I’m okay, t’hy’la. I’m not even bruised.”

“I know that. You know that. Leonard needs to know that as well.”

Jim sighed in defeat, pulling off his tee shirt before removing his jeans. Once bare except for his briefs, he lifted his arms and circled before them. “See. No bruises.”

Bones put one hand on his shoulder so that Jim’s back was to him and pulled down his briefs.

“Bones,” Jim protested.

“Hold still,” Bones ordered, pulling them down to his knees. He then circled in front of Jim, studying him. “Alright.”

“I hate you,” Jim said, pulling up his briefs.

“Why do you say that when it has absolutely no effect on me?” Bones asked, taking a hypospray out of his medical bag.

“What’s that for?” Jim demanded as Bones approached him with it.

“Don’t be a baby. Spock,” Bones requested.

“Allow him to administer the shot, love,” Spock requested, hugging Jim to him.

“Don’t you even care what it is?” Jim protested.

“I am guessing that it a combination of vitamins and nutrients. As you did not eat very much while we were in Colorado.”

“Then you need it too,” Jim said, frowning at McCoy.

“And I will allow him to administer it, like an adult,” Spock agreed.

“Because you aren’t going to break out in hives.”

“I’ve given it to you before, Jim. You aren’t going to get hives,” McCoy said, injecting him as Spock continued to hold him.

“Ow,” Jim said, flinching away from him.

“It doesn’t hurt, you big baby. You ready?” he asked Spock

“Indeed,” Spock agreed, waiting as McCoy gave him the shot too. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Spock. Get dressed, you infant,” McCoy said, leaving them alone in the bedroom.

“You do it on purpose,” Spock said, shaking his head at Jim.

Jim just shrugged innocently, pulling back on his tee shirt and jeans. “Let’s go make dinner for our perfect children.”

“With pleasure,” Spock agreed, kissing him before following him back down the steps.

~0~0~0~0~0~

“Bones,” Jim said a month after they had returned from Colorado. He entered McCoy’s office right on time for his appointment.

“Hey,” Bones greeted him with a smile. “I can’t believe you actually showed up.”

“Yeah,” Jim said with a shrug. “I’m not pregnant this time.”

“Probably just as well. Since you’re 48. A little old to have another baby.”

“Yeah,” Jim agreed, sitting on the biobed without Bones insisting or cajoling or threatening.

“Are you okay? Never have I known you to voluntarily sit on anything remotely resembling a biobed.”

“I’m fine. I’m picking up Layla once you finish your infernal poking and prodding. She’s much better company than you are,” Jim claimed.

“How have I allowed you to be my best friend all these years?” McCoy demanded as he scanned Jim.

“My general awesomeness,” Jim told him with a  smile.

McCoy snorted at him, studying his scanner. “Put your hands over your head.”

Jim did it, looking ideally up at the ceiling. “You coming to dinner?”

“Of course. Mind if I bring Summer?”

“Please do. What she sees in you is beyond me,” Jim laughed.

“No idea. Free medical care for life?” McCoy guessed.

“You going to make an honest woman of her?”

“I hope so. I’m planning to ask this weekend.”

“Good for you. You want the cabin?” Jim offered, sitting up with McCoy’s permission.

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not. We aren’t going until Christmas. Are you coming?” Jim asked.

“Not this year,” McCoy said, walking him to the door. “You are disgustingly healthy and definitely not pregnant.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at home for dinner,” Jim said with a charming smile. “Thanks.”

“Get out of my office,” McCoy growled at him but Jim only heard the affection in his voice.