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Leonard was pissed, and not just his usual curmudgeon level of pissed, but pissed pissed. He was edging on a migraine, and his teeth were hurting from how hard his jaw clenched. The antiquing Leonard had done earlier in the day with the upscale flea market had been wonderful. He found a complementary set of living room furniture that had the woodworking aesthetic of the mid-twenty-second century that was a throwback to the nineteenth century Victorian, only with more sustainable and sturdy synthetic wood products and vegan leather. The coloring was subtle and rich, and his bondmate would look absolutely fantastic sitting proudly, pin-straight, on the armchair, which was sturdy enough to handle other activities.
The auctioneer called out the last call, and Leonard cursed to himself before raising his paddle. He’d nearly missed out on another item he wanted, only it was due to his brain taking a trip down horny lane instead of being outbid by whatever Moneybags McGee was behind paddle number 642. Who, of course, upped the bid a-goddamn-gain. This was the second to last item he wanted, but the price was quickly getting out of hand, and he absolutely had to have the final piece, a centuries-old Vulcan lute, or else...or else nothing.
Leonard would rather combust than miss out on an anniversary present that would please both of them: Spock for his joy—although he didn’t call it that—of playing, and Leonard for his listening pleasure.
When Leonard received a message a few months ago from a friend at the CDC that one of their Vulcan colleagues had passed away, he didn’t think anything of it. Well, other than it was a shame that an already endangered species had lost yet another, especially one that was also a healer. His friend explained that the man had moved to Earth specifically to look after the Vulcans who chose to settle there rather than try to pretend that New Vulcan was any substitute for the home they’d lost.
Leonard decided he was going to look up the Vulcan’s research papers as he reached the bottom of the message, and he stared at it. Well, now he fully understood why this was sitting in his inbox rather than Spock’s. At the bottom, in big, bold letters, his friend told him that the man was a collector of ancient and antique medical tools—human, Vulcan, and other—and had a small music collection that would be auctioned off.
And his and Spock’s first anniversary—their ‘bondiversary’ as Jim was fond of calling it—was coming up.
And they had a house to furnish in Georgia.
And he had absolutely zero obligations to get in the way.
All Leonard had to do was block out the entire day on their shared calendar and tell Spock not to snoop through their bond. It was the perfect plan, and so he left their brand new home in Sunny Side to head to Atlanta. He’d had a lot of credits stored up since he wasn’t one to indulge in too much luxury, other than a fine bottle of bourbon on occasion. Since Spock was a Vulcan prince or whatever, he’d been the one to purchase all the luxuries beyond the basics that the Federation provided. Leonard had racked up many credits without notice over the years, and spending them on Spock and their relationship was the perfect way to bring the balance back down.
Unfortunately, the current bid was swiftly approaching his absolute limit of way-too-many-credits and Leonard’s entire life savings, nearly double what he’d initially intended on spending at the auction. And it was just Leonard McCoy versus Moneybags McGee, no other bidders. If it weren’t for the upscale shindig he was in providing actual replicated wooden paddles, his number would have long been torn to shreds. As it was, he wouldn’t be surprised if he managed to scratch off the paint or splinter some of the wood.
Leonard was about ready to start gnawing on the paddle when, much to his surprise, Moneybags stopped upping the bid. Both his brows shot to his hairline, and he looked around for confirmation, not that he could confirm, considering Moneybags was sitting in one of the private observation booths while he was in the pit with the other plebs, but still. He won!
Once the announcer made the call, Leonard hopped out of his seat with a whoop and exited the room to transfer the money and delivery instructions. They’d normally beam it over to his place, as they had a private transporter in their house due to their status with Starfleet sciences and medical, but like hell would Leonard trust such a fabulous and vital piece of music history with a transporter. It was bad enough that he had to trust his body, his husband’s body, and all their friends and family, but not. This. Lute. No, no, no, this was worth more than his life; it was worth his entire life savings. But damn if it wasn’t gonna be worth it to see the look on Spock’s face when it arrives, just in time for Sarek’s visit.
That was another point of contention riding on Leonard, though he’d mostly settled down. Sarek insisted on joining them for their first bondiversary, along with a Vulcan mind meddling master of some sort, to ensure that their bond was healthy and growing as it should. Apparently, Spock’s counterpart had secretly written a letter to Sarek about his bond with his Leonard that was only shared when he and Leonard successfully bonded.
Leonard didn’t see the letter, but Spock told him about it, and it was pretty concerning, not that he understood all of it. The other Leonard had a run-in with yet another Spock and ended up with damage that their bond struggled with. However, they were never quite sure if the bad Spock was the real cause or if he just exacerbated it, hence the checkup for them in this universe.
So now, instead of spending the day lounging around the house, buck ass naked, and indulging in whisky and chocolate-covered strawberries from their own garden, Leonard had to make the home accessible for his father-in-law and some stuffy old Vulcan who probably disapproved of their pairing to begin with. Spock had tried to convince Leonard that his fears were unfounded, given the profound respect that the Vulcans had for him due to his caring for the evacuated Vulcans on the Enterprise, but he knew that deep down it had to bother them.
Leonard was emotional and emotive, quick to anger, and very much not a Vulcan in every way, but most importantly, he wasn’t a Vulcan who could pop out babies. Though that last part never stopped Spock from trying to knock him up, and their bond made it so those dirty, dirty thoughts couldn’t hide anymore.
After all the auction business was finished on his end, Leonard went out to his mostly-full hovertruck and did one last check that everything was secure. It was, of course, as his daddy trained him well, and he wasn’t no spring chicken. Leonard’s had to move furniture plenty of times before, but he was excited to get home and unload this with Spock and really make their new house a home.
Sparing one last stroke over the smooth leather arm of the wingback armchair that Leonard couldn’t wait to see Spock sitting in, he hopped out of the truck, closed everything up, and went to put the pedal to the metal. Or more like press a button and pretend that pedals were still a thing in rental vehicles.
—
Spock was in the middle of fixing lunch when the first vestiges of Leonard’s feelings were beginning to seep through the walls of their bond. It concerned him to have his mate feeling something so deeply that it overpowered their blocks, but he trusted Leonard would lower his side if he needed anything from him.
Still, when those vestiges started turning into a steady trickle, and Spock was able to identify the feeling as frustration and anger, Spock nearly pulled his side of the wall down. He refrained; it would do no good for his mate’s offense to turn toward him for breaking the promise that he made that morning before he left. Leonard was doing something for him, and he needed to trust that everything was well and his mate was handling it appropriately. Well, as appropriately as the hot-headed human could.
An hour later, after the salad he had made with ingredients from their garden, Spock finally felt Leonard’s emotions change to elation. Both of their walls were still up, but his mate had a considerable ability to bypass them despite very little training. It caused him to wonder, on numerous occasions, if Leonard was not as psi-null as his tests had indicated. No matter, Spock was gratified to feel his mate’s happiness wash over him and hoped that it meant that he would be returning soon.
They only had one more day before his father would visit them, and they had yet to furnish the living room. While he knew Sarek and his guest would likely prefer to be in the Vulcan-themed sitting room, it was highly probable that it would bother Leonard to have a barren living room. He was already worried about not being a perfect host, which was, if Spock understood correctly, an essential role in his culture.
Since they were neither expecting, nor asking for, company at their house, they focused on the rooms that mattered to them most. The bedroom was the first to be furnished, and it remained the only furnished room for a week while they relied on the house’s replicator and Leonard’s mother’s gifted dinnerware—which, his mate assured, his mother would ‘skin him alive’ if she ever found out that they were using it for anything but formal dinners.
Spock thought fondly of that week, where they partook in each other’s bodies without any outside interference. Their property was private, and summers in Georgia, although humid, were comparable to New Vulcan. While Leonard couldn't convince him to go ‘skinny dipping’ in the ‘watering hole’ on their property, Spock did enjoy watching his mate enjoy himself while he waited on a large towel on the grass nearby, both of them nude.
In some sense, this was equivalent to the Terran custom of honeymoons. Since their marriage and bonding were rushed due to Pon Farr happening near the conclusion of their five-year mission, it was decided that they’d take their year of mandatory shore leave as a chance to build their home and start their life together as a family unit. Spock was also hoping to convince his mate to allow room for one more in their family unit, as the Enterprise would be refitted to allow for committed personnel to bring their partners and children aboard. The thought was large enough that he let a smile show on his face, not that there was anyone to see it.
Medical science was advanced enough to allow them to have biological offspring, and it had long been Spock’s desire to have a child with his now-mate. However, given the state of his species, it was more pertinent to see to it that more full-blooded Vulcans were brought up safely to adulthood. In fact, there was such an overwhelming amount of Vulcans willing to be surrogates for couples who could not otherwise have offspring that it surpassed the number of Vulcans willing to be parents. Though this child would not be of their blood, Spock would cherish them nonetheless, as would Leonard.
Lost in thought, Spock nearly missed the chirp from his communicator, followed shortly after by a second chirp. The first was from his father, stating that he was early, alone, and would be using their private transportation pad shortly. The second was a fond note from Leonard that asked him to let his side of the wall down but reminded him not to snoop. He did as instructed, and he also adjusted the settings on the transporter pad to allow for incoming beams.
As soon as both of their walls were down, Spock sent a surge of love through their bond. Leonard returned it… With lust. And a very provocative image of Spock sitting in a deep red leather chair with his robes open, legs spread, with presumably Leonard’s hands sliding closer to his groin. Considering the angle, Leonard was likely on his knees in front of him and…
// Love ya, darlin’. I’ll see ya in about twenty minutes, and this is the only bit I want to bring in when I get home. Light some candles and be ready for some lovin’ because I’ve had a mostly shit last few hours, an’ you know how I like to redirect anger. //
// I truly regret to inform you, but my father is arriving— // Spock heard the transporter chime and the computer announce his father’s presence. // My father has arrived. I am sorry, Leonard; we will not get to satiate our physical desires when you get home. //
// God dammit! Can you meet me by the shed for a quickie or something, at least? Please?? //
// Negative. Or, more accurately, you would not enjoy the ‘quickie’ that we would have time for. //
// Now hold on, hold on, I might. What did ya have in mind? //
// I could meld with you in our bedroom—//
// I like where this is going… //
// And bring you to climax by stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain directly. //
// Oh, that thing you did when I couldn’t get off when I switched depression meds? Yeah, ditch that idea. We’ll figure somethin’ out. Go say hi to your daddy for me but also know that I’m currently upset with him for showin’ unannounced. We haven’t even finished setting up the living room, and we were supposed to be doing that after we got done doin’ each other. Anywhoo, I’ll be home soon, darlin’. //
Spock nearly smiled at the affectionate insult. // I cherish thee, ashayam. Drive safely. // With their mental link now shifting back to feelings, he was able to properly greet his father and take his belongings to the guest bedroom, which they finished furnishing the night before. His father, however, quickly returned to the transporter pad and looked as if he was awaiting more than his luggage. “Father, it is unlike you to travel with supplies requiring more than one transport beam. Is the healer sending supplies early?”
“No, Spock, I have prepared gifts in honor of your first year together with your bondmate. I was, unfortunately, unable to procure the large gift I had intended for you, but I am still satisfied with the presents I can bestow upon both of you.” Sarek’s lips twitched, and his eyes were fond. “While I do not know what will be revealed in tomorrow’s visit with the healer, I do trust that my son has found an invaluable match, and I am grateful.”
Spock’s brows furrowed. It was unlike his father to give unnecessary gifts and make grand gestures. “While I am indeed gratified that you find my selection in a mate to be satisfactory, I am perplexed as to the reasoning for these gifts.”
“I am merely doing what your mother would have done had she been able to witness this day.” Spock started to speak, but Sarek raised his hand to stop him. “It is through me that she may still give love. Please allow me to fulfill the desires I know my mate would have had.”
Spock nodded. “I thank thee, father, and my mate and I will cherish these gifts.”
“Ah yes, where is Leonard?” Sarek asked as he stepped forward to grab the first batch of boxed-up items. “Much like your mother’s, his presence can rarely escape my ears.”
“Leonard is out at the moment, but he will arrive in approximately ten minutes with furniture for our living room.” Spock couldn’t keep the small smile from his lips as he thought of Leonard returning, likely with a boisterous announcement. His father was right; although Leonard and Amanda did not share the same roots, their tendency toward frequent and animated speech patterns was similar when in the presence of family. “While he has yet to inform me of what happened, Leonard has had negative experiences today and will likely need to vent his frustrations.”
“Though it is unfortunate that your mate has experienced that, it does provide me with adequate time to arrange the gifts,” Sarek said as he began unloading the second and apparently last load of gifts off the transporter pad. “Do take your time, Spock.”
“Father, these gifts do not appear as if they traveled from New Vulcan.” Spock picked up one of the smaller packages and inspected the box it was in. “The packaging would suggest that it was not meant to be in transport for longer than a few days.”
“Ah, yes, I participated in an auction in Atlanta shortly before arriving.” Sarek’s eyes lit up as he turned to his son and took the package back. “A remarkable finding, although regretfully it came at the expense of losing a dear friend and fellow Vulcan elder.” Sarek and Spock both stopped to say words of traditional Vulcan mourning before they continued. “Healer Falk would have had much to teach Leonard if they had met, and I am certain Leonard could have passed on wisdom of his own. I was intending on introducing the two during my visit, but he died three point two months ago.”
“I have heard of Healer Falk, and Leonard had mentioned him in passing after the news of his death.” Spock looked at the packages again and felt differently about them. They belonged to a Vulcan elder, yet they were being auctioned off by humans. He was gratified that his father was in attendance and would feel more so if other Vulcans also attended. “Was the experience satisfying, father?”
Sarek let a grunt slip out and turned to rearrange the packages. “There was another who bid on every item I wished to purchase. I was successfully able to outbid them leading up to the final item, but I could not justify the expense, both total and specifically for this item. While it is illogical to apologize for an event outside of my control, I feel… disappointed that I could not obtain this item for you.”
Spock felt a burst of happiness through his bond, turned toward the front door, and focused his hearing. “Leonard is arriving. Both he and I would be grateful for the mere thought of bestowing gifts on us. While the item you were unable to obtain may have a high meaning for you, you need not worry as I do not know what it is and therefore have no connection to it.” Spock felt more happiness, although it was tainted with the lingering frustration and anger stemming from earlier, and returned happiness and calm as Leonard came closer to the front door of their home. “I find that Leonard is as exuberant through the bond as he is in verbal conversations.”
“Amanda would have loved him, Spock. You chose well.”
“Indeed.”
—
Sure enough, Leonard strolled in at roughly the same time Spock had told his father, and he marched through the house until he got sight of Spock. His nostrils flared a bit, and he was pretty sure his forehead vein was popping out again, but he needed to let it out, Sarek be damned. (But not really, he did like the man, even if he was slightly terrified of him.) Leonard spared a quick Vulcan salute and greeting—properly in Vulcan—before his eyes darted between them. “Hey, Sarek, mind if I rant a bit?”
Sarek looked borderline amused. “Of course. This is your home, and I do not intend to intrude.”
“Okay, but please don’t hold it against me. I just had a really sh—shoddy day.” At Sarek’s nod, Leonard took a deep, soothing breath common in the meditation routines he did with Spock. “Don’t go snoopin’ cause I did manage to get you one gift, but my god Spock. I went to an auction today, and it’s like this one goddamn person wanted everything that was on my shortlist to bid on. Everything! Literally every item, this guy was there. Number 642. Bid on everything I wanted for either you or for me or for us. It was like he was also shopping for a doctor and a Vulcan, an’ it was maddening.” He knew his arms were flailing as he paced the room, emphasizing specific points with jerking hand movements and sneers. Leonard felt Spock’s amusement through the bond, which calmed him a little, but he was still worried about Sarek.
Who was handing Leonard a small, flat rectangular box? Leonard stared at the offering in confusion, lifting his right eyebrow up. “Err, thank you?”
Leonard didn’t know Vulcans gave gifts like this, and it was weird. He was in unfamiliar territory and wasn’t sure what to do. His father-in-law just listened to him rant for three minutes on two breaths, and he was giving him a gift? Spock’s cool calm blanketed him, and he settled down like a flame being snuffed before it could get out of control.
Sarek took a step back, gestured to another, larger upright box, and indicated for Spock to go to it. “Please, I wish for you two to open these. I apologize that they are not wrapped appropriately as per Terran tradition. I intended to give these to you two this evening and the rest tomorrow, but I believe you should open them now. Do be gentle, as they are delicate items.”
//Well, this just got interesting… I wish I got rewarded like this after every rant. //
// My father is doing this in honor of my mother, as she would likely have given anniversary gifts. // There were lingering notes of amusement behind Spock’s words and sincerity. Something was up.
// You S'chn T'gai’s are all closet romantics, ain’t ya? //
// I do not believe my tendency toward romance is closeted, Leonard. Open your gift. // Oh yeah, it’s all amusement now. Pointy’s up to something.
Leonard did as he was told and gently opened the protective casing and pulled out another protective case, although it looked leather and old. He looked up to see Sarek’s eyes on him, intent and sparkling. //I think your father’s laughing at me. // Leonard felt an urge at the base of his skull, prompting him to open the hinged leather case to reveal… “Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Leonard?” Spock asked, slightly worried. Leonard didn’t put a wall up, but he knew his emotions tended to level out to almost zero when he felt a spike of shock like this. Due to his doctoral training, it was mostly out of habit now, and unfortunately, didn’t always work as it should. In this case, the shock was not due to a code being called but rather a fun little coincidence. “Leonard…”
“Why thank you, and nice to meetcha, number 642,” Leonard said cheekily with a lopsided grin. He took the two-hundred-year-old stethoscope out of the box and slung it around his neck. Not only was the thing solidly built and well taken care of, but all auctioned items that are typically meant to be worn were treated with a protective coating that would prevent the materials from degrading further, even when introduced to skin oils. Leonard was enjoying this, even if he didn’t enjoy how much he spent. He put his hands on his hips and shifted his shoulders toward Sarek and Spock. “How do I look?”
“It is very becoming of you, number 523. Had I known you would be in attendance,” Sarek eyed Spock at this, “I would not have pursued the bids as high as I did.”
“It ain’t Spock’s fault, I told him not to snoop ‘cause I was getting bondiversary presents.” Leonard waved to the box that Spock began opening. “Luckily, I got the best present of the lot, even though I spent...way too much.” Leonard winced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Thankfully, I’m a kept man, and capitalism is no longer a thing necessary to survive in the Federation. Anyway, enough credit talk, how ‘bout we get the living room furniture outta the truck and get some tea. Sarek, you gotta try my Vulcan sweet tea, at least a sip!” Leonard’s voice trailed off as he wandered out of the transporter room.
“Leonard, you should remove the stethoscope,” Spock chided.
“Right, right,” Leonard said as he jogged back to the room and carefully removed the device, and placed it adoringly back in the case. “Thanks again, Sarek. Maybe once I’ve recovered my life savings, we can go antiquing together next time.”
“I would be amenable to that, Leonard,” Sarek said as he followed Leonard and his son to the front porch. “I am also curious about this Vulcan sweet tea that you mention. While I do not typically favor sweetened teas, I have yet to be less than pleased with your cooking to date and trust your instincts.” That Vulcan tradition of guests cooking their hosts a meal or two during their visits took Leonard by surprise, but he kind of liked it when he was the guest. It practically guaranteed that he’d have something he’d eat. But his southern side was not looking forward to having Sarek cook for them at their place.
They made quick work of getting the couch, loveseat, and wingback chair inside along with the sizeable Vulcan rug—the only item Sarek didn’t bid on—into the living room. Once inside, Leonard let Spock take control of the decorating, and boy, did he do a good job making everything look prim, proper, and comfy.
Leonard was itching to sit down on the loveseat in his usual haphazard way (he swore he knew how to use a chair properly, he just didn’t like to, posture be damned), but he promised tea so they’ll be getting tea. “Spock, come help me with the tea. You get yourself comfortable, Sarek. We’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Leonard was thankful that their kitchen was on the opposite side of the house because he had plans for more than just tea. He sent a few instructions through the bond and pushed back against Spock’s admonishing, forcing more explicit images, to which Spock finally conceded to his original plan grudgingly. // Oh, calm down, he knows what newlyweds get up to, he can turn his hearing down, now hurry up and— // Leonard groaned as Spock flipped him around and forced him against the kitchen island, pressing their lips together, consuming him. // Now that’s more like it, darlin’. //
Spock lifted his husband off the floor and onto the counter, just the way he’d been instructed, and gripped the back of his hair. // You are incorrigible, adun. // He kissed his way down Leonard’s neck, and much to his mate’s chagrin, he made it clear he would be careful not to bite or scent mark. // This brief tryst will inevitably leave you wanting more. // Nevertheless, Spock indulged him for another few minutes of heavy petting and kissing. // I believe I will be similarly affected. //
Leonard pulled his face away from Spock’s and embedded his fingers in his husband’s robes. “Hoo, boy, you do things to me.” His grip tightened as he yanked Spock in for another couple of kisses. “Alright, I think that’ll hold me over, but don’t you dare sit in that armchair, y’hear?” Leonard rested his palm against Spock’s cheek and traced his bottom lip with his thumb. “It’ll do things to me that I don’t want yer daddy to see, m’kay?”
Spock nodded and placed his hand on top of Leonard’s. “Affirmative. As I do not wish to be tempted again through our bond, I will therefore not sit in the chair until my father leaves.” He laced his fingers with Leonard’s and brought them up to kiss his palm. “We should get the tea now, ashayam, before my father comes to fetch us.” Spock kissed Leonard once more. “Though, I believe, he is aware of what we are doing.” Spock went for more, but Leonard slid off the counter and avoided the trap. // You started this, Leonard. //
“Yeah, well, I’m finishing it ‘cause I’m parched, an’ I want Sarek to try my tea.” Leonard grinned and gave Spock a parting peck and a smack on the ass before he started pulling out the glasses and running out to the small deck outside of the den—which was attached to the kitchen, one of Leonard’s requirements—to bring in the pitcher of sun steeped Vulcan tea. Sure, there were high-tech gadgets and gizmos, but this sweet tea recipe was passed down through a half dozen or more generations of McCoy’s, and he wasn’t about to mess with perfection.
Well, mostly. Instead of the usual tea leaves the McCoy’s used, he used the tea leaves from the Vulcan tea plant that was gifted to them—well, to Spock specifically—by a patient nearly three years back. Leonard smiled as he thought about how their great love affair started, with just a series of casual intimacies. If it weren’t for him almost dying, Leonard wondered if they’d have ever crossed the bridge into a full-fledged relationship. Granted, they’d probably have still ended up together, just without the sex and kissing. Just bedsharing, meditating and eating together, and all the non-sexual, non-sensual stuff that most couples did.
“Ashayam, you are distracted again.” Spock filled the glasses with the appropriate amount of ice and set them in front of Leonard, who eventually got the hint and started pouring. “As I have said on sixteen previous occasions, I assure you, I would not have allowed us to maintain our course. Joanna would not have allowed us to maintain our course.” Spock maneuvered around Leonard to kiss the back of his neck. “She is, after all, a McCoy, and from experience, I can say that McCoys are particularly stubborn.”
Leonard snorted and leaned back against Spock’s chest. “Yeah, she would have conspired with Jim, an’ we’d end up walking into our own wedding ceremony, none the wiser.” He turned around and extended his first two fingers for a Vulcan kiss, which Spock eagerly returned. “We McCoy’s can be thick-headed sometimes, but eventually we come around. Now, let’s get us some Vulcan sweet tea!”
“That would be a wise choice considering we’ve been away for approximately twenty-two point five minutes.” Spock’s elegant eyebrow moved upward, and his head tilted in a playfully mocking gesture. “Though, as you said, my father knows what we have been doing.”
“Shut up and take yer tea, ya green-blooded elf,” Leonard grumbled lovingly as he took his and Sarek’s glasses out to the living room. He took a second at the door to admire how lovely the furniture set and rug looked in the space, and he was delighted that they went with neutral wall colors. It took another second for him to notice that Sarek had gotten up and was awaiting his drink, and his southern upbringing kicked him in the ass for being such a bad host. “Apologies, Sarek, I was just admirin’ the new furniture. Here’s your Vulcan sweet tea, made with the tea plant we got from Ambassador Slen. I’ll eventually learn the real Vulcan name for it, but ‘til then...tea plant.”
Sarek let down his guard again and gave his two sons a kind, albeit small, smile. “I am satisfied that you have learned our clan name and traditional greetings, Leonard. You need not know more than that.” He took the glass between his hands. “I believe it is customary to propose a toast to the anniversary of your union.”
“I agree. It has been a splendid year.” Spock gave Leonard’s shoulder a squeeze.
Leonard grinned and hefted his glass forward. “And to many, many more!”
They all clinked glasses and took their first sips. Leonard looked on eagerly to see Sarek go for another drink and another. “This is quite unique, Leonard. I commend your creativity.”
“Aw, thanks, Sarek. I’m glad you like it! Now let’s all take a seat and catch up. I wanna hear how it went with that new federation planet the news has been harpin’ on about.” Leonard waved them all toward the couches and sat on the loveseat, making room for Spock, who sat down right next to him. Normally he’d sprawl out with one leg draped over Spock’s lap, one forearm on the armrest, and the other on the back of the loveseat. But they had company, so he sat proper.
Leonard was mid-sip when Sarek decided to sit down in the wingback chair, and… Leonard promptly lost his drink. Half of it went into his lungs, the other half sputtered out in a mist in front of him. He choked, coughed, and died a million times, and fuck all of his thoughts right now because Leonard saw his father-in-law as an older version of Spock for a second, and he had feelings. Although his coughing fit was starting to make him lightheaded, and those feelings turned briefly to panic before his doctor brain reminded him that it was just a little goddamn tea.
Spock, of course, knew what happened and why but it didn’t make him any less concerned. He removed the glass and patted Leonard’s back until the coughing finally subsided. “Are you alright, Leonard?”
“Yeah, sorry, wrong pipe…” Leonard wheezed for a few more seconds before settling back into Spock’s arms and leaning on him slightly. “Haven’t done that in years.”
// It is a recurring habit of yours, ashayam. //
// I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about. //
Leonard avoided looking at Sarek, and while he was trying to find something else to look at, his eyes found another box that he knows, for a fact, was not in the living room when they left it earlier. “What’s that?”
“I informed the auction house of our relation and instructed them to transport the item rather than risk it on ground transportation. Once they verified that your transporter location matched your address and confirmed our identities, they sent it over.” Sarek gestured to Leonard. “I would be most grateful if you would allow me to witness my son opening his gift.” The twinkle in Sarek’s eyes returned. “Afterward, I plan on going to the Vulcan embassy on business, where I shall be spending the night.”
// Hell yes, we get to be alone for one more night! // Leonard mentally whooped in happiness. // Though I don’t think I can look at that chair for a while. Sorry, darlin’. //
// It is of no consequence, ashayam. You were not seeing my father, rather an older version of myself. It pleases me to know that you will not lose attraction to me as I age. // Spock moved his hand over Leonard’s back before giving his shoulder a squeeze. // And I will undoubtedly feel the same for you. //
“Sounds good, Sarek. ‘Though I admit I’m a little disappointed that you already know what I got ‘im. I was hoping to impress you, too.” Leonard’s lopsided smile turned to a full one when he patted Spock’s thigh and tossed his hand toward the gift. “Well, whatcha waitin’ for? Go open it!”
Spock lifted himself off the couch and carefully started to unbox the item. The bond was thrumming with growing excitement as his husband broke down the possibilities and probabilities of what the item might be. Leonard tried to keep a lid on his thoughts, and Spock was respectful of his quickly crumbling shield. Finally, finally, Spock got to the good stuff and could clearly see that the case belonged to a Vulcan lute. The bond rippled with shock and fondness, and Leonard’s shield tumbled down as he sent excitement and pushed him to open the case and take it for a spin.
When the lute was finally released from all its packaging and Spock held it for the first time, Leonard fell in love with him all over again. From the pure, unguarded look on his face as his hands brushed the finely carved and detailed wood to the enormous surge of love sent through the bond, it all culminated in a look from Spock. Leonard shot up out of his seat, took the lute from his hands, and set it back in the case before wrapping his husband in a giant hug. “Happy anniversary, adun.”
Spock didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around Leonard, pulling him close and tight. “Thank you, Leonard.”
“I do wonder,” Sarek interjected as he walked toward the pair, “however illogical it may be to do so, how high the bid would have gone had Amanda and Leonard both been competing for it.”
Spock pulled away and picked up the lute again, moving to the vacated wingback. “I believe the bid would have been lower for all items purchased, as I have no doubt that my mother and Leonard would have conspired to get us all of the desired items.” He plucked each string once and then tuned it to perfection. “A pairing between the two would have been unstoppable.”
“Damn straight we would be! Y’all wouldn’t know what to do with us,” Leonard boasted as he moved behind the wingback chair to lean on it. He didn’t want to risk seeing Spock from any front angle that might resemble his little fantasies from earlier. Sarek sat down on the couch closest to Spock, and once everyone was settled, Leonard couldn’t keep his excitement at bay any longer. “Whatcha gonna play us, Spock?”
“My mother’s favorite, an old Earth song from a movie she loved as a child. I am positive that both of you are familiar with it.” Spock plucked a few more strings to set the chord in their ears and began playing a tune Leonard was absolutely familiar with—it was his own momma’s favorite—and he couldn’t stop himself from humming a countermelody he’d learned as a boy. Soon Spock’s voice joined his playing, and Leonard’s joined Spock’s, and together they sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow while Sarek sat and smiled.
If either of them were paying attention to Sarek, which they weren’t, they would have seen him struggling to maintain his composure. But all they could see was each other; they were in their own little world. There was no illness, no crisis, no antics from the crew, there was just Leonard and Spock, and for that brief moment, everything was perfect.