#*vulcan kissing my husband as he recovers in the hospital*

[andyoullhearitagain]

cinematic parallels

[aliencowboyqueen]

FIC: I Want To Know What Love Is (6)

Pairing: Michael/Alex, Alex/Kyle, Michael/Alex/Kyle (happy Mylex ending)

Summary: Michael spent five years in space. A lot has changed while he was gone: Max and Liz are married, Isobel is in a relationship with Maria, and Alex is raising an alien child with Kyle Valenti.

Rating: Teen+

Chapter 1. | Previous Chapter. | Fic Masterlist.

Chapter 6: My Planet Is Dead

"I do actually need you to fix the freezer," Liz says when Michael swaggers into Crashdown fully expecting a party and finds it empty. "But you'd better stay afterwards," she adds as she puts up a 'Closed for private event' notice.

So Michael works on the freezer while people trickle in. Not that there is a large number of them, the ones who know where he'd been all those years and who care to have him back.

Liz is there, of course, because even though there is a new study for her to work on at the hospital, she is still at home at Crashdown.

Isobel saunters in short after Michael and rearranges everything from the chairs to the napkins as if this was some large town event. As if this mattered just as much as all her parades and fairs and fundraisers.

Max comes in straight from work, still wearing his uniform, and doesn't appreciate Michael's stripper joke.

Maria brings a box that clearly holds a cake, because they have all apparently given up on any sense of mystery. She and Isobel share a brief kiss and Michael will never get used to that.

And then Alex walks in holding his daughter's hand, just as Michael closes the freezer door, and Michael has to hide behind a dividing wall for a second do regain composure. Because Alex never stops looking like he's just walked out of Michael's dreams. Except in his dreams, Alex usually has a ring through his nose, not on his finger.

"Where's the husband?" Isobel asks when she walks up to Alex and kisses both his cheeks. Apparently having an alien for a child makes one popular with the local extraterrestrial population. Then Michael remembers that Isobel's girlfriend babysits Marcella on occasion and wonders if he should make a chart of all the changes in his social circle. It has all shuffled out of place while he was gone.

"Parking the car," Alex says. He looks around himself and Michael steps from behind the wall.

It's Marcella who notices him first. "Space Cowboy!" Her face lights up.

Michael tips his hat at both of them and he tries to pretend his breath doesn't catch in his throat at the sight of Alex. Or the way Alex looks at him.

Then the door opens one more time and Kyle walks in and his fingers brush Alex's arm before he finds his seat.

ooo

Words are imprecise. Verbal communication leaves so much space for error. Michael is eerily aware of this when everyone's eyes focus on him after Isobel's demand that he gives them what they came for.

This is not a party he'd have imagined for himself. They are sitting at Crashdown, there's a child present, and they are eating cake designed to look like the Earth ("I swear she tried to recruit me into the Flat Earth Society," Maria mutters about the baker).

But everyone their eyes on him when he takes a seat on a bar stool for better visibility. Even Max. Even Valenti, whose arm rests protectively around his daughter's shoulders.

They all came here for him. For what he has to tell them. And maybe because they care about him. But all his friends are couples, his ex-boyfriend has a school-aged child, he can count four wedding rings around the room.

And he feels like an outsider looking in.

But he tells them about the planet, its alien population still recovering from the long war. He tells them about the languages the aliens have but rarely use, favoring instead the simpler and more precise sharing of ideas and concepts through their psychic connections. He tells them that the aliens have all kinds of powers, but most of them are weak, barely a hint of something supernatural.

Marcella whispers a little too loudly: "Will I have powers, too? When I grow up?"

"Yes," Alex answers. "If you eat your vegetables and never ever smoke."

Kyle snorts into his drink and then glances around at everyone else's grins and gestures for Michael to continue.

So Michael tells them a story about a planet waiting for someone with powers strong as theirs.

And then he tells them: "It will be decades if not centuries before anyone leaves that planet again. It took me two years to get there, two years back. If I ever visit again, it'll be a one-way trip."

There's a long silence. No questions to answer.

Then Maria gets up. "Alright, this's been depressing enough. Let's get this party started, shall we?"

And she marches to the jukebox.

ooo

He finally escapes the clutches of Liz and Isobel and the impromptu dance party. There's a much more comfortable place for him here and that's away from their makeshift dance floor. Watching, leaned against a counter, as Marcella tries to teach Kyle some uncomplicated dance routine. Likely memorized from a video. As Maria drags Max to dance with her, both of them singing along with the music. As Isobel kicks off her heels and copies flawlessly the moves Marcella is performing while Liz takes a video.

Alex leans against the counter next to him.

"Are you okay?" he asks. "You're sitting out your own party."

Michael shrugs. "This song is about 4 years past my time," he says. Alex is standing close enough that every time Michael takes a breath, their arms brush against each other. "Does the husband know you're talking to me?"

"Who do you think dragged me to this event?"

Finally Michael looks at Alex. Really looks at him. He sees Alex looking back as if he has a question and thinks Michael might be the answer.

"You all grew up while I was gone. There's a kid at my homecoming party, and no alcohol." He notices Alex's features hardening and quickly adds: "I like Marcella being here. I'm not sure I'm supposed to be here, too." He is not sure if he belongs.

Alex puts a hand on Michael's shoulder. "You are. Of course you are," he says with unexpected softness.

But Michael doesn't know what to say back and they fall into silence.

Which is interrupted by Kyle nudging Marcella towards them. "Marcella has something to ask you, Guerin," he says, though it's clear the words are more of an encouragement to his daughter than information for Michael.

Marcella shuffles from one foot to the other, then asks: "Can you do the hand thing?" She lifts her hand up in what could be an awkward Vulcan salute.

"She's been hoping you could… show her… some of your world," Kyle explains slowly. "Maybe some natural sights," he adds.

And Michael just blinks in surprise because huh, this is the last thing he'd have expected Kyle Valenti to ask of him, and he looks at Alex for confirmation. Alex just nods. His expression is carefully neutral.

"Please?" Marcella begs.

And so Michael drops down to his knees and holds out his hand. She presses her tiny palm against his. And he gives her the purple sands, the night sky like they'll never see it from the Earth, lands reclaimed by nature, feather-like leafs swaying in the breeze, and the sugar-sweet scent of strange white flowers in the air.

Only the good things.

[jamest-kirk]

AOS Bones dealing with his father's death? In TOS, his dad died of xenopolycythemia.

Jim has his ritual on his own father’s passing. Before meeting Bones, this was mostly drinking himself into a stupor. But Bones treats it respectfully. One drink for himself, one for Jim’s birthday, and one for George Kirk. It’s been like that since their first year in the Academy, and Jim is secretly grateful for it. Bones is sweet and gentle, when he’s not yelling and chasing Jim down the corridors of the Enterprise with hypo spray.

And Jim knows Bones’ father has been dead for a while, but Bones doesn’t really talk about it, other than saying his pop was the reason he became a doctor. Bones talks about his mother a great deal, and Jim’s seen her a couple times over video chat - promised to take care of her boy and bring him home safe after their missions. He knows a lot about her, but nothing about Bones’ dad. Doesn’t even know the day of his death, it’s not something Bones shares with him.

Then Bones gets sick of Xenopolycythemia, and recovery is a long and torturous, almost miraculous process. There was no cure, but thanks to Bones, there is one now. Jim is with him when he’s in med bay to recover, and when Bones is sent to his quarters to rest it all out, Jim thinks that’s reason to celebrate. After all, how often does one get to cure an incurable disease? That’s impressive. Bones is impressive. 

But he finds Bones alone, and not in a celebratory mood. The way he’s curled up on his own sofa, Jim thinks he’s in pain, and immediately panics. “Bones, are you okay? Can I do… can I do anything for you?” Bones doesn’t respond, not immediately. He’s quiet, but the way he shakes his head is at least some indication that he’s not in pain. “I couldn’t save my father,” Bones says. “What?” Jim asks, walking over and sitting down next to him. “My dad,” Bones says, “died of Xenopolycythemia. I became a doctor to be able to cure this very disease. Maybe if I studied harder, I could have-” “Stop,” Jim raises his hand, “you’re the first doctor in this quadrant of the galaxy who’s been able to cure this disease, Bones. You’re going to change lives because of this.”  

Bones’ mother calls Jim over video chat a day or so later, and that’s terrifying. Jim is charming when he needs to be, but this is… different, and Jim tries not to look awkward about it. “I heard you had a hand in helping Len cure his own Xenopolycythemia,” she says. “Who told you?” Jim asks, and Nancy raises an eyebrow. “Well,” she says, “Leonard did tell me you were a bit thick for a genius. Hit on the head a lot, he says. I called to say thank you.” “Oh,” Jim says, “that’s really not necessary. I didn’t do much. Didn’t find that cure. That’s all Bones– er, Leonard. I just kept him from giving up.” “You saved his life,” Nancy says, and Jim isn’t sure why that makes him feel so incredibly awkward. “He saves mine all the time,” he replies. “If it’s not too much to ask,” she says, “I’d like you to make sure he knows no pie’s ever made without breaking a few eggs.”

Bones is writing. Actually writing something on paper, like it’s the old days. “What are you doing?” Jim asks. “I’m writing.” “I can see that. With a pen? Looks exhausting,” Jim replies, sitting down next to him, though he respects privacy enough not to read what Bones is writing. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” “It’s okay if you’re not,” Jim says, and Bones sighs. “My dad died 20 years ago. It doesn’t make sense that this affects me.” “I never knew my dad and it affects me,” Jim replies to that, resting his hand on Bones’ arm. “Tell me about your dad.” “He died.” “Tell me about what he was like when he was alive,” Jim presses on, though carefully so. 

David McCoy was a stern, grumpy old man (“that sounds familiar,” Jim says). A general practitioner in a small Atlanta hospital, and devoted husband. Worked long hours to support his family, and Leonard resented him not being present at his high school games for being at work, but then Leonard ended up doing the same to Joanna, so maybe they were much more alike than he first thought - or wanted to be. David McCoy hated space (“that also sounds familiar.” “Shut up, Jim.”), though he loved his Vulcan neighbors. Quiet, educated folk he could have deep and meaningful debates with about politics, new medicine, and world histories. Leonard thought all of those conversations were always incredibly boring. But David got sick, and the sickness got to him fast. Much faster than nowadays, when medicine slows down the dying process significantly. And, with Bones’ discovery, cure it completely. “It just doesn’t feel like a victory,” Bones says, “I expected it to feel more like one, but it doesn’t. It didn’t change anything.” “You can’t change the past,” Jim says, “but you’ll change the future.”

And he does. Because the cure is far from perfect; it's being tested on vigorously. Two more patients don't survive the cure over the next few weeks, but at least ten of them do. Jim follows them carefully. Bones says he doesn't, but Jim knows he does. He can see Bones upset when he hears one of the patients have died, even if they're planets away and they've never met. He sees him a bit more excited knowing it saved the life of an elderly lady who wanted to see her grandchildren being born. "I knew you were a good doctor," Jim says when he catches Bones in his office, "I never thought you'd become a famous one, too. Don't let it go to your head." "I know what a big ego does to a personality," Bones counters, "and I won't. I don't need the fame. I don't want the cure named after me." "Who, then?" "My pops,"  Bones says, and Jim smiles fondly. "Mr. Sensitive," he calls him out, though gently so, and Bones huffs. "Shut it," Bones says. He straightens up, clearing his throat, and adds; "thank you." "For what?" Jim asks. "Being there," Bones says, "I know it's stupid, it should've felt like a victory right away, but it does now. Thanks to you." "Well," Jim says, fingers running over Bones' cheek fondly. An intimate gesture he's not familiar with - not with Bones, but neither  of them are stopping it, "can't make a pie without breaking a few eggs." Bones laughs at that. "You sound like my mom," he says, and Jim grins. "Can't have that," he replies, going in for a long overdue kiss.

[janeykath318]

Good Medicine: Kirk x Reader

Note: This was written under the influence of wacky hormones, which usually results in me writing either tear-jerking fluff or soul-crushing angst. Today it was the former. #55 “I fell in love with my best friend” Kirk/Reader

“We’ve been inseparable since the moment in eighth grade when you told off Matt Higgins for rubbing it in about my dad. I was so unused to people sticking up for me, I didn’t know how to handle myself, but you declared we were friends from then on and we were. You wouldn’t give up on me even when I was acting the fool and wasting my life and hurting you. Once I was up in space and we were together again, I felt like I was finally where I was supposed to be. I fell in love with my best friend–my beautiful, amazing, brilliant, caring best friend.”

Your eyes misted over with tears as Jim Kirk spoke these words to you, blue eyes bright with his own emotion. The two of you had eyes only for each other standing hand in hand in front of the small group of wedding guests gathered in the hospital’s quiet little chapel. Jim still wasn’t allowed to leave yet, given his difficult recovery from the radiation, but you’d promised him you’d marry him as soon as he could stand upright long enough, hoping it would entice him out of his gloom.

“Jim, darling,” you started softly, “The world came to a stop for me when I thought you’d left it. I’m glad I followed my instincts that day in PE, because you deserve to be treated right, you deserve to be loved for your own precious self. Your friendship was invaluable to me and thank goodness I’m as stubborn as you are so there was no way I was going to let you convince me to stop being your friend. It’s been a wild ride, but we’re finally here, and there’s no getting rid of me now. Too late to escape now, honey.”

You grinned at him impudently and Jim gave a laugh–a genuine hearty laugh unlike any you’d heard since the Daystrom tragedy kicked off the Khan debacle. It was so good to see him happy again. He’d dealt with a lot of pain and frustration in the aftermath of the coma and it had hurt to see him so frail and tired all the time. He was still very thin, but was starting to gain strength back and was doing physical therapy regularly now.

You thought he looked gorgeous in his pale blue dress shirt, tie, and khakis specially brought in by Winona for the occasion and noticed that Spock and Len had also attired themselves similarly for the occasion as groomsmen.

Across from you, Jim could hardly believe this was happening! After all he’d done and been through he was deeply humbled and touched by your devotion to him. He knew he didn’t deserve you, but he was hopelessly in love and when he’d seen you walking toward him in your wedding gown, he thought he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his life. He was glad Bones had let this happen, even though the doctor had told him the honeymoon activities would have to wait “until your heart can take the exertion and I’m sure you won’t break in half, kid.” Jim had mildly protested this as a matter of principle, but admitted Bones was right.

He took a breath and launched into the second part of the vows, repeating this part after the chaplain. He promised to love and cherish you, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death did you part. If your hands tightened a bit on his when he spoke the last line, well, it was quite understandable. He knew you’d been devastated with what he’d had to do to save the ship and both of you had been seeing counselors, both separately and together to help work out the emotional fallout of the trauma you’d been through, But, you’d been his rock through the dark days Post coma and he wanted nothing more than to be your husband.

You, in turn, tried not to let your voice quiver as you repeated your vows, but were unsure of your success. However, given the way Jim was looking at you with an adoring gaze, you decided it didn’t really matter.

As he slid the ring on your finger, you smiled and remembered the day you’d decided to make things official.

Jim had had a very trying day, dealing with reacting badly to the supposedly nourishing liquid they were trying to feed him and needing more IVs then getting disappointing results in his latest blood work which meant he wasn’t progressing as fast as they’d hoped.

When you’d come to visit him, he was in the depths of despair.

“I’m never getting out of here, Y/N,” he sighed resignedly. “Every time I think I’ve made progress, some kind of setback happens. Bones wasn’t happy and I could see it, but he didn’t even pretend to lecture me, so I knew it was bad. I’ll probably never see a Starship again, much less captain one.”

“Jim!” You exclaimed worriedly. “What happened to not believing in no-win scenarios?”

He grimaced. “Khan happened, that’s what. I’ve been a cocky fool and Pike warned me what would happen. He was right.”

There was a poignant silence as both of you missed the Admiral all over again.

“I’m sorry you’re struggling, love,” you consoled, leaning down to rest your face next to his. “But you’re forgetting a few things.”

“What’s that, beautiful?” He asked half-heartedly.

“For one, you’ve only been awake a week, so setbacks aren’t too unexpected at this point, and for another, you’re a medical marvel, and there’s no way to know how long it will take, recovering from being dead and all. You’re looking pretty good to me, baby,” you reminded him. So much better than that awful stillness in the body bag, you thought.

Jim mustered a weak smile. “You make good points, beautiful, but I you know I hate hospitals. The prospect of being in one for another month is pretty daunting.”

“What if I had an idea to make it less terrible for you?” You hinted, kissing his scruffy cheek.

“Now, how would that be possible, babe?” Jim asked skeptically.

“Well, given that we both agreed we’re it for each other, I thought we could get married here sooner rather than later. There’s a cute little chapel on the first floor that would do just fine. Give you something to look forward to and incentive to get back on your feet.”

Jim’s eyes went wide and he got quiet–so quiet that you started to get nervous before he spoke again.

“Here? That would be very effective incentive, Y/N, but didn’t you want to have a nice, medium-sized wedding?”

“Time changes priorities,” you said honestly, squeezing Jim’s hand. “My goal is foremost to see you healthy and happy. The wedding details don’t matter just so long as you’re the one putting the ring on my finger.” You rubbed at his left ring finger affectionately and kissed the knuckle, coaxing a fond, blissful expression to Jim’s face.

“So, what do you say? Will you marry me, James Tiberius Kirk?”

“Absolutely I will,” he murmured, then turned his head to kiss you.

Doctor McCoy had taken some convincing to allow such excitement near Jim yet, but at last he said he’d let it go forward as soon as he felt Jim could handle it, which ended up being two and a half weeks later.

When you slid his wedding ring on, you repeated the little kiss to his knuckle and batted your damp eyelashes at him. Jim responded with a smirk and a wink that showed the old Jim was still in there.

When Jim received the instruction to kiss the bride, you didn’t realize how gingerly you were holding him until he broke the kiss and whispered in your ear, “You can hug me harder than that, Mrs. Kirk. I promise I won’t break.”

“You’d better not, Jim,” you replied, tightening your hold. “I’ve got a honeymoon with a hot husband to look forward to.”

Your friends (the non Vulcans, at least) let loose in cheers and applause as the two of you hugged for a long time.

“Do you think Y/N’s tactic worked in raising the captain’s spirits?” Spock asked Dr. McCoy as you and Jim made your triumphant retreat.

“Given the way he’s grinning like a loon and been acting like an overexcited puppy, I’d say it was a resounding success,” The Doctor replied, genuinely very happy to see his best friend smiling again. Turns out love was good medicine when it came to Jim Kirk.

@feelmyroarrrr

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