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“This is illogical, mother,” Spock said as he followed his parents into the event hall. Spock stopped and looked around at the tables of kids of various ages and species. Some were running around, playing games. Others were sitting at tables, coloring, or sipping juice boxes.
“It’s a Starfleet and Federation Friendsgiving,” his mother said. “Your father has to be here for diplomatic reasons.”
“Then I request to sit with you and father.” Spock turned and looked up at his parents. “I am not a child.”
“You are ten,” his mother looked down at him and spoke.
“Ten in Vulcan years is…”
“Still ten,” his father spoke up. “You will stay here and socialize.” He glanced at his wife. “Your mother said it will be beneficial to interact with others your age.”
Spock looked between them. He logically assumed his father had thought the whole ordeal was illogical as well, but mother talked him into it.
“Yes,” his mother smiled and nodded. “Spock, it will not hurt you to spend a few hours around other children.”
“You do not know that.”
Her smile didn’t falter but her brow quirked up.
Spock internally sighed. “Yes, mother.” He glanced down at the sweater his mother bought for him.
“We’ll come get you at the end of the event. Try and make a friend.”
Spock internally sighed again. He turned and walked into the space. The noise was a bit too much for him. Workers were corralling kids; others were standing about. Spock shook his head and decided to head for a table in the far back corner away from everyone. He could close his eyes and meditate.
He snaked through the kids until he came to a section that was somewhat quiet. The tables mostly had teenagers in this section, quietly engrossed in themselves and their communication devices. There were no free tables expect one off to the side that had a boy sitting by himself.
The boy had his arms crossed on the tabletop with his head resting on them. His eyes met Spock’s. Spock sucked in a breath as something called him to walk over, his feet carrying him while his brain shut off for a moment. He blinked and was standing next to the table.
The boy picked his head up and sat back in the chair. “Hi.”
Spock stared into such breath-taking blue eyes.
“Do…do you want to sit with me?”
Spock nodded. He sat down at the round table across from the boy. Spock couldn’t help but keep staring at the boy.
The boy cocked his head to the side. “Are you okay?”
Spock blinked again and mentally shook himself out of the spell the boy had put him under. “Yes. Greetings.” Spock held his hand up in a Vulcan salute. “My name is Spock.”
The boy tried to copy Spock’s hand but was not that successful. “Hi, I’m Jim.”
“Jim,” Spock repeated.
“That’s me,” Jim said with a little smile. “I like your sweater.”
Spock glanced down at it. His mother had bought it for him. He had no say in not wearing it. It was yellow with a character called Charlie Brown on the front with a dog named Snoopy. The sweater said, ‘happy thanksgiving’. It was illogical.
“Thank you. My mother insisted.”
“My mommy made me wear this too.” Jim grabbed at the ends of his sweater and pulled it down some. It was a simple grew sweater with the words ‘one thankful kid’ on the front.
“It suits you,” Spock said.
“I guess. Yours is better.”
Spock gave a little shrug.
Jim put his elbows on the table and head in his hands. “Is your mommy or daddy in Starfleet?”
“No. My father is the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth.”
“Oh, wow, that’s cool.” Jim’s eyes widened in surprise. “What’s he get to do? I bet he’s really cool.”
“Vulcan body temperature is warmer than those of humans and various other species.”
Jim laughed. His body shook and he leaned forward over the table and giggled. Spock’s cheeks felt warm listening to Jim.
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Jim said, calming down. “I meant like…he’s neat. Impressive. Hip.”
“I see. I…I suppose he is cool,” Spock admitted. He had never given much thought to his father’s job before. It could be seen as impressive. “Is your mother or father in Starfleet?”
Jim nodded. “My mommy is. My dad was, but he died.”
“I am sorry for your loss,” Spock said.
“Yeah, me too. I didn’t know him, though. Mommy says he was really cool. I have Uncle Chris. He’s kinda like a dad but not really. He’s fun. He said I can work on his starship one day.”
“Will you?”
Jim shrugged then grinned a big grin. “Actually, I think I might take over his ship. I wanna be the captain. They’re going to start building a new ship near my house soon. I’ll just take that one.”
Spock gave a small smile at that. “I wish you luck in your future endeavor.”
“Hey, do you wanna be my co-captain?” Jim reached across the table and grabbed Spock’s bare wrist.
Spock’s whole body seized up. His heart seemed to stop as his mind desperately tried to grab at the one it could feel from Jim’s touch.
Jim shivered and pulled his hand back. He shook his and chuckled. “Whoa, static.”
Spock gave a small nod.
“So, co-captain?” Jim asked again, eyes shimmering.
Spock gave another nod. For some reason, he wanted to follow Jim’s lead anywhere. “Perhaps, you would like to go to the Vulcan Science Academy first with me?”
Jim scrunched up his face like he was thinking really hard then nodded. “Okay. I like science.”
Spock’s cheeks warmed again.
“Hey.”
Spock and Jim looked up to see a boy standing next to them. He was about Spock’s age and height. The boy glanced at Spock then looked at Jim.
“Mom said I had to check in your you from time to time.”
“I’m not a baby,” Jim said.
“I know. Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Jim huffed.
“Make sure you eat when they open the buffet.”
“Okay,” Jim huffed again.
“Mom will be mad if you don’t.”
“I’ll eat,” Jim said, crossing his arms over his chest.
The boy shook his head then walked away.
“I eat I’m just picky about it,” Jim said to Spock. “And every thanksgiving, mom’s family makes yucky stuff. Can’t I just have a big plate of turkey and potatoes?”
“I see nothing wrong with that,” Spock said. “I do not eat meat, but I do not mind potatoes. I am a vegetarian.”
“I don’t like veggies that much,” Jim said. Jim looked around. “Do you want to go play any games?”
“I am not overly fond of the games human children play.”
“What about chess?”
Spock raised a brow. “Do you know how to play chess?”
Jim gasped. “Excuse you, Spock, I do know how to play and I’m very, very good.”
“I did not say you were not good. I am just surprised to find a young human who knows how to play chess. My cousins on my mother’s side find the game boring.”
“It’s not boring. Its fun!” Jim stood up. “Wait here, I’ll go see if there’s a board with the games.”
Before Spock could respond, Jim was running away. Spock turned in his chair and watched Jim weave through the other kids to the far side of the room and out of sight. Spock frowned and tried to locate Jim but there were too many children.
Soon, though, Jim reappeared, rushing back towards him with a box. “I found one!”
Jim made it to the table and put the box down next to Spock. Jim sat next to him at the table. The box said checkers.
“I know it’s not chess but we can pretend the checker pieces are the chess pieces.” Jim took out the board and laid it on the table. “We can pretend, right?”
Spock met Jim’s bright blue eyes and found himself unable to say no, even if pretending was illogical, he would happily go along with Jim’s plan.
“Yes,” he said.
The smile Jim gave him was worth it. Spock helped Jim set up the pieces. He would be black, and Jim would be red.
They started to play. Spock was quite impressed with Jim’s skills. Some moves he made had Spock wanting to scratch the back of his head. It was interesting and not at all how one should play but Jim seemed to know what he was doing.
Spock tried not to pout at losing the first game. Or the second.
He blamed Jim’s distracting blue eyes that watched him intently whenever it was Spock’s turn. The third game, Spock kept his gaze down and managed to win by forcing Jim to lose most of his pieces.
“You’re good, Spock,” Jim admitted.
“You are as well. Where did you learn to play?” Spock asked.
“Some books,” Jim said. “And my mom. And this computer program at school. I brought the program though. Apparently my moves were not in line with its programming responses.”
“Fascinating.”
“Hello.”
They looked up and found a woman standing by their table. “We are letting kids come up to eat now. Your table can go on up and get your food.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Thank you,” Spock said as well.
They put up the board game and walked together to the buffet line, joining behind the other kids.
“I don’t see a lot I like,” Jim commented as he poked his head around the other kids to see down to the buffet.
“I am certain we will find you food you will enjoy.”
“Maybe.”
Spock glanced down at the blonde head of hair in front of him. He wanted to reach up and pet him for some reason. So Spock did. He raised his hand and gently patted Jim’s soft locks. “There, there.”
Jim turned around. Spock dropped his hand. Jim stared up at him. “You’re weird, Spock. But it’s okay, I’m weird too.” Jim grinned and raised his hand, patting Spock’s head.
They made it to the servers with the plates and took ones offered to them. Spock followed behind Jim as they stopped before the first server at the buffet.
“Salad?”
“No thanks,” Jim said.
Spock accepted some salad.
They moved to the next server. “Glazed carrots or roasted butternut squash?”
Jim made a face. “No thanks.”
“Squash is good,” Spock said. “My mother makes pasta with squash.”
Jim gave him the face but held his plate out. The server put a little of the squash on his plate. Spock accepted the carrots and the squash.
They moved down. “Green bean casserole and sweet potatoes.”
“No thanks.”
Spock accepted some of the sweet potatoes, mostly because of the marshmelons on top.
The next server had mashed potatoes and baked mac-n-cheese. Spock was pleased to see Jim accept both of those items.
Next came the stuffing. Two kinds. Jim said no to both. Spock accepted the one that appealed to him.
“Turkey, ham, and vegan wellington,” the next server said.
“Turkey and ham please,” Jim asked, holding out his plate.
“Vegan wellington,” Spock said.
After that server there were a few different kinds of cranberries offered plus pies and rolls. Jim said no to the cranberries but yes to pecan pie before heading back to the table. Spock followed after taking a slice of pumpkin pie.
They sat down together. Jim started to pick at his plate. Spock ate his dutifully while watching Jim with his plate. When half the items on Jim’s plate was gone, Jim started to push his plate away. Spock glanced his way. Jim noticed and pulled the plate back to him. He ate a bit more, finished his potatoes and mac-cheese and most of the meat. He didn’t touch the squash.
"Its gross looking."
"It tastes good. I promise."
Jim made a face but tried a bite. He chewed and swallowed then looked at Spock and shook his head. "No, it doesn't."
Spock finished his plate, plus the squash on Jim’s before they both ate their pies. They threw away their trash then sat with some juice boxes and played another game of chess until their parents showed up.
Spock noticed his parents first. He stood up and stood beside Jim’s chair. “Mother, father, this is Jim.”
“Hello, Jim,” his mother greeted the boy.
His father raised his hand up and greeted Jim the Vulcan way.
Jim waved his hand. “Hi. Spock said you’re cool.” Jim pointed to Sarek and said the last part. “You’re an ambassador so that’s cool. Do you get to boss people around?”
Sarek dropped his hand and raised a brow. “I have not given much thought to whether I boss people around or not. My primary function as an ambassador to Earth is to establish and maintain diplomatic relations between our two planets, convey important information and instructions between our two governments. I also provide advice and counsel on foreign policy matters, as well as to participate in negotiations and mediations.”
“Cool,” Jim said. “I’m just a elementary school student. But one day I’ll have a starship. Spock said he’d be my co-captain but first we gotta go to the vulcan science academy first.”
Spock nodded in agreement.
“It is rare for a human to accepted into the VSA.”
Jim shrugged. “My mommy says I’m too smart for my own good sometimes so maybe I’ll be smart enough for the school when I’m bigger.”
Spock nodded in agreement.
His father’s eyes went to his mother’s who looked quite amused. Amanda smiled down at Jim. “I very much look forward to that day, Jim.”
“Jim, there you are.” A woman around his mother’s age appeared. Spock could see the resemblance between her and Jim. “Your brother ate too much pie and is getting sick in the bathroom.”
“Jim ate the appropriate amount of pie and dinner,” Spock offered. “Although he would not like the butternut squash I recommended.”
“Yeah, it was gross,” Jim added. “Mommy! This is my new bestest friend, Spock. He’s what I’m most thankful for this year. Oh, and that’s his mommy and daddy. His daddy bosses Earth around.”
“I do not,” Sarek muttered.
Jim’s mother turned to Spock’s parents. “Amanda, its nice to see you again.”
“Likewise, Winona. It seems our boys found each other.”
Winona looked at the two of them. “Perhaps Spock will be a good influence on Jim.”
Jim and Spock nodded.
“Remember when we first met?”
“I remember everything,” Spock said as he and Jim went around the dining table putting plates down and silverware.
“You were supposed to be a good influence on me.”
“It is impossible,” Spock said.
Jim snorted. “Not my fault you told the VSA council to fuck off. How was I supposed to go to the VSA if you burned that bridge before I could get there.”
“I am certain you would’ve done the same.”
“I think I’ve become a bad influence on you.”
“You have.”
Jim stopped and gave Spock a look.
Spock leaned over and kissed Jim’s cheek. “I am thankful we are here now. Together in Starfleet with new friends. And Dr. McCoy.”
“He’s my bestie!”
Spock turned and walked back to the kitchen. He was Jim’s bestest friend, not the cantankerous doctor.
“I’m thankful,” Jim followed Spock into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Spock from behind. “That you love me and put up with illogicalness after all these years.”
Spock turned in Jim’s arms and held his t'hy'la close. He rested his forward against Jim’s. “I am also thankful for your love.”
"And that you love me?"
"Yes."
“And my illogicalness.”
“Yes, I love you," Spock said instead.
Jim chuckled and kissed him. He pulled his head back from Spock, his blue eyes still so bright and sparkly. “Do you still want to be my co-captain when we take Pike’s ship in a few years?”
“Of course. I will distract him.”
Jim grinned. “Good.”
Spock gave Jim a kiss before the doorbell rang, signally their first guests were here for their Thanksgiving with friends.