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Jim typed in the security code for his cabin and slowly walked in, rubbing a hand over his face in exhaustion. He had just gotten out of a multiple hour meeting with the admiralty that had caused him to miss both the annual winter holiday party and the associated gift exchange. He had really been looking forward to it this time - he was supposed to give Spock a present, and he had spent hours picking out the perfect thing. But even on the holidays, captain's duties came first, so instead of spending time with his crew and giving his best friend a thoughtful gift, he'd sat in a conference room and reviewed the details of their next mission a hundred times.
After that brain-frying experience, he was ready to collapse into bed, and just give Spock his present tomorrow. He took off his boots and command shirt inside the door before going to set his computer to mute for the next few hours. As he was reaching over to hit the button, though, he noticed something sitting on his desk. "Lights 25%", he called.
In the softly raising light, he could see that it was a gift wrapped rectangle - a present. Whoever had me for the exchange must have given it to Rand to put in here, he thought. He pressed the mute button on his computer, then picked up the gift and sat down on his bed with a sigh. It had been a very long day.
He didn't expect anything much - it was hard to be the one tasked with buying a workplace-appropriate gift for the boss. It was probably just some nice socks. Flipping the package over, he started to peel off the shiny blue paper. But as it was removed, the rough, weathered back cover of a book was revealed. Jim paused for a second in confusion. Who would have gotten him a book? There weren't more than two or three people on the ship who were close enough to him for such a specific gift. Although - who had given this to him? Jim realized he hadn't checked the tag on the front. Quickly turning the gift back over, he flipped open the tag, and read:
"To Jim
From Spock
Something that reminded me of us. Happy holidays."
Reminded him of - what? Jim pulled the rest of the wrapping paper off, revealing... an antique, hardcover copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
He had to sit for a second and process all the implications of that. That Spock would go to the trouble of tracking down a physical, centuries-old novel, as a gift for him - and that he would choose Pride and Prejudice, because it - because it reminded him of their relationship. And clearly, Spock meant himself to be Darcy, but that would mean Jim was -
Oh.
Oh.
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Spock moved around his cabin, nervously pacing logically exercising while he considered the present he'd given Jim. He'd spent an inordinate amount of time and effort to find it, and then at the last minute decided it would be inappropriate to give such an item in a public setting, and chose something else. But when Jim was pulled into a meeting minutes before the party, Spock had seen an opportunity to deliver the book in private, and left it in Jim's quarters before he could talk himself out of it. Now that he'd had several hours to turn over the decision in his mind, though, he almost wished he had convinced himself to give Jim his backup present.
Suddenly, his doorbell buzzed.
The comm crackled, and Jim's voice came through. "Hey, Spock, it's Jim. Uh, can I come in?"
"Enter," Spock replied.
The doors whooshed open, and Jim came in.
The tension in the room was palpable, and Spock couldn't tell if it was because Jim was happy or upset.
"I, uh. I got your present, and I wanted to bring yours over, since I had you for the gift exchange. What are the chances, huh?"
Spock took a pause, and then said, "I suspect there was external interference from one or more of our crew members, but if you wish, I could calculate the odds of it happening at random."
Jim laughed, and Spock felt himself relax slightly. "No, no, that's okay. It's just a figure of speech. Anyway," he said, walking closer to Spock, "let me give you your present, since I got mine tonight."
Spock felt his breathing pick up as Jim moved forward, only stopping when he was right in front of him. "Here," he said, holding out a long box wrapped in shiny paper.
Spock reached out and took the box from Jim. Carefully opening the package, he revealed a tall, curving glass vessel. Clearly handblown, the near spherical base extended upwards into a thin, winding neck, and the glass itself was a beautiful, swirling combination of sparkling gold, silver, and blue. Engraved on the front was Vulcan calligraphy, reading "na'uzhau'es ak'shem eh katra" - for refreshment of body and soul.
Spock's eyes widened. This was a traditional gift between friends on Vulcan - a vessel for fresh water, to welcome guests into the home with. "Jim-" Spock said, and then stopped. "I don't know what to say."
Jim gently lifted the vase out of Spock's hands and placed it on the desk behind him. "You don't have to say anything."
Spock looked up into Jim's eyes, seeing the same sparkling blue as one of the colors in the glass, and felt a hand on his cheek as Jim leaned forward slightly. "Can I...?", he asked.
Spock responded by closing the distance between them, bringing them together in a soft, sweet kiss.
After a few moments, Jim broke away and gave a small laugh. "Happy holidays, Spock."
Spock felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward. "Happy holidays, Jim."