Chapter Text
The meds also sedated him enough to sleep. He woke up between Spock and Scotty. Sulu and Bones were up with a freshly changed Pavel while Uhura watched the news. Janice had the other half of the bed and most of the blankets.
Seeing their captain was awake, Uhur assured him she had a picture of caterpillar-Janice. He was groggy, so he lounged against Spock’s chest for another while before he thought to ask the time.
“Oh-seven thirty-seven, Jim,” Spock replied. “Our watch was quiet. McCoy and Uhura took over at oh-two hundred hours. Sulu awoke in time to take his first dose of medication and has already iced his ankle as per Dr. McCoy’s orders. Pasha awoke shortly after he did and has successfully completed another trip to the restroom. We were going to give you until oh-eight hundred hours if you were not awake by that time.”
Jim rolled off Spock and onto Scotty, who was still snoozing. “Mm...coffee?”
“I will make you some, as well as breakfast, if you would come downstairs?”
Jim grunted.
“I shall give you until oh-eight hundred.” Spock left the bed to prepare for the day.
Jim ran his hands over the sleeping Scotsman, enjoying his furred planes, the concavity of his throat, his large wrists and strong forearms. He let his hands lazily roam over his soft stomach and relaxed chest. He squeezed the inside of his closest thigh and ran the backs of his fingers over the totality of the black boxer briefs Bones had ordered him into. Scotty inhaled as he awoke, turning and smiling at Jim.
Jim kissed the side of his chest. “G’mornin’, Scotty.”
“Scotty stretched. “Lovely way tae wake up, Cap’n.”
“Gotta get up,” murmured Jim.
“Halfway there, sir,” Scotty joked. Jim kept running appreciative hands over his engineer.
“Might keep you like this today,” Jim whispered. “It’s Friday. You’re all mine today.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Scotty approved. He’d love whatever Jim had in store for him. He’d bet good money that Jim would want him flushed and on display today. He tended towards possessiveness after a bad day.
On his other side, Janice sat up. Disgruntled and with astonishing bedhead, she turned to the two of them next to her.
“Good mornin’, lass.” She frowned at him. Jim cleared his throat and said hello too, never stopping the movement of his hands. She blinked at them.
“I’m going to play with Scotty today,” he told her. “Would you like to tell him he’s pretty?” He pinned the man in place with a leg over his hips when he squirmed.
Janice squinted. Voice rough with sleep, she told Jim, “Of course he’s pretty. Now shut up.” She rolled back over and covered her head. Grumpy this morning. Jim and Scotty looked at each other, stifling chuckles.
Pasha, who had crawled over to Janice’s side of the bed to say hello to his most favoritest person ever and started bothering her. She groaned but sat back up to give him a tired good morning kiss. He burbled happily at her.
Bones came to perch where Spock had been. He leaned over his friends and occasional subs. “Feeling playful today, Jimmy-boy?”
Jim grinned. Scotty whimpered. McCoy turned to him “Feel like being played with today, Monty?”
Scotty nodded solemnly. “He’s got me green light, Sir.”
Bones chuckled. He smacked Jim’s bottom. “Nothing serious until after breakfast. You need to wake up a bit more first. I know those meds get you a little groggy for a while. Bet you slept well, though.” He waggled his eyebrows. Jim glared at him. He knew he had, the ass.
Bones slapped Jim’s flank for real. “Get up! Get some coffee in ya and then you can play with Monty.”
Jim sighed. There was just no fighting Bossy Bones. He smoothed a hand from Scotty’s pec to his knee but sat up. Bones and moved away to get Pasha to release Janice’s hair. Sulu and Uhura laughed at them all.
“Alright, you layabouts,” Jim started in on them, grinning. “We have things to do today. Let’s get them done. Chop, chop!”
Uhura’s eyeroll told him all he needed to know about what she thought of him this morning.
Breakfast was pancakes with a full spread of yogurt, blueberries, bananas, peanut butter, and of course, syrup. Pasha was relegated to the special chair Jim ordered with a belt and a clip-on tray for just such an occasion. He’d been stripped of his top to spare it inevitable syrup-death. Sulu cut up his pancakes and drizzled syrup and bananas on them as finger food before letting him go at them.
Spock buzzed around, making food and refilling coffees and teas, generally being the best host. Jim buzzed with excitement when Bones leaned in to say ‘mighty fine housewife we have here,’ regarding Spock while the man was in easy earshot. Spock’s instant blush like Jim up even further.
Jim had Scotty on the kneeling bench at his side, patiently waiting for his next bite. Jim smiled down at him, offering him a sip from his mug. He didn’t let Scotty use his hands. Bones ruffled Scotty’s hair and took a sip of his own coffee.
“Tell me what’s on that mind of yours, Jim.”
“I think...” he thought over ways to have everyone in one place today. “I think Scotty needs some sun. Might be a great day for a pool party. Set up some sprinklers and a kiddie pool.”
“Jim, we don’t have a kiddie pool,” Bones reminded him.
“Spock can grab one. Maybe a slip n’ slide. We’ve got sprinklers and plenty of space.”
“I draw the line at slip ‘n slides. D’you know how dangerous those things are?” The accent was back. Danger zone. Deploy diffusion techniques.
“What if Scotty and I design something similar but without the major hazards?”
Bones’ eyebrow twitched. “The whole damn idea-”
The Great Distractor himself butt in. “Ah can do it, Sirs. Reduced friction, a longer slide an’ we can negate a majority of the problems the commercial models are famous for by makin’ simple changes and following beside safety procedures...” Scotty excitedly began before seeing Leonard’s face twist.
“Scotty wants to show off, Bones. You gonna tell him he can’t?” Jim goaded his friend.
Bones looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.
“Alright, fine, but I get final say on the finished product.”
Jim pinched Scotty’s ribs. “Hear that? You get to design a bigger, better, safer slip ‘n slide.” He waggled his eyebrows. “What do you say?”
“Thank you, Sirs-” Jim pinched him again. “-Ah, yes! Very safe, ah promise.” Jim soothed a hand over Scotty’s abused flesh.
“See, bones? Nice and safe. Scotty promises.”
Bones rolled his eyes, muttering about why he even bothered.
Jim winked at Scotty. Mission success.
Jim turned to Spock. “Mr. Spock.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“You’ve got a shopping trip in your future. Pasha needs a pool for a kid his size and some toys to go with.”
“Of course, Captain,” Spock calmly agreed from his post at the stove. “Anything else?”
“I believe you also have some clothes to wash and dry today.”
“Indeed.”
“Anyone else have anything pressing to do today?” He asked, looking around the table.
Uhura shook her head. “I have nothing to consult on this week. I heard there might be a pool party later?” She smirked.
Sulu indicated Pasha. “Just babysitting. Pasha hasn’t been swimming yet.”
Leonard indicated Sulu. “I’ve got work at Gamma shift, but I bet I can get a good nap before then. I guess I’m giving a bath to the world’s stickiest kid, then supervising slip ‘n slid construction.”
“That just leaves Scotty and I to do the constructing,” Jim smiled.
A plop interrupted their peace.
“And another sticky mess for the kid if you please, Mister Spock.” Bones leaned into his hands and groaned.
The day was beautiful. Clear skies, birdsong, and several acres away from pryin geyes to do whatever they wanted. Jim had updated the security team regarding their plans for the day. He and Scotty had then been strongarmed into proper sunscreen application before getting kicked outside. After going over Scotty’s idea, Jim had approved a shallow hold to be dug down a slope in the yard not too far from their back patio. It naturally dipped into a low spot underneath, which Scotty insisted was perfect for reducing speed with minimally impactful restraint. In essence; a splash zone. A massive tarp (why did they have a greenhouse-sized tarp?) would be placed from the top of the ‘slide’ and widen to encompass the oblong low spot, making almost a pool itself. Scotty insisted that as long as no one was an idiot, that was as safe as he could make it.
Jim left Scotty to it as he went to change into swim trunks. He swiped a pair of quick-drying boxer briefs from Bones’ stash on his way back. They swapped placed when he returned; Jim now digging and Scotty disappearing to change.
Bones finally made an appearance around an hour in. Scotty explained the slide and the keeper, longer pool part at the bottom. The doctor grumpily agreed that it sounded like Scotty had thought this through but warned him not to leave any stones under the tarp.
“Well, yes, Len. Ah’m a wee a bit more decorated an engineer than yer average toy designer.” McCoy merely pinched him and walked away.
Scotty turned his wounded eyes on Jim.
“Aw, Scotty, don’t be sad. He’s just mad you outsmarted him like how I knew you would,” Jim bragged to Scotty’s embarrassment and delight. He drew Scotty over to him by his waistband. “I mean it Scotty. You’re so damn smart even our lovely Bones should know better than to doubt it. You showed him, huh?” He pinched Scotty again.
“Back to work, Mr. Scott. We have a baby to impress.”
Scotty walked away, smiling. “Aye, sir.”
The boy of the hour made it outside just after they’d finished with the improved slip n’ slide. He was in new swim trunks. Sulu had ensured his sunblock had time to soak in after Spock had returned. Spock was currently adding hot glue to the hole on the bottom of the new toys, so they couldn't fill with water and mold later on. Uhura had designated herself a Cabana girl, manning the giant umbrella and cooler, as well as a modest drink par.
“Water, Captain?” She handed him his reuseable water bottle.
He smiled and took it. “Thank you kindly. You’ll see to it our Mr. Scott has one?”
“When he’s done, yes. Looks like McCoy’s first up,” she said. Two pairs of shaded eyes whipped to their doctor hooting as he launched himself face-first down their new waterslide. Scoty stood up above, shaking his head.
“Len insisted he had to give it ‘the old college try.’ Hope he remembered to close his mouth,” she sniggered. As the doctor came up gulping and sputtering, they supposed he hadn’t.
Jim should his head in disbelief as Scotty threatened to show him how it was done.
“At least we know it passed muster. I love your outfit. New hat?”
She spun in a circle for him. The sunrise bikini and matching sheer wrap went perfectly with the peach ribbon on her straw sunhat and rhinestone sunglasses.
“Old hat, new ribbon. Thank you for noticing.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You’re looking remarkably well yourself, mister. See what a full night of rest can do for a man?”
He faked a pout. “I like to think my excellent looks stem from my remarkable self-confidence. Sleep is for the weak.”
“No, Jim, your good looks come from your genes, and you’ll have those forever. Sleep is for the well-rested.”
“If you’re going to be complimentary, might I offer you a place to sit? I’ll bring the umbrella over for you.”
“I’ll soak up the sun for now, but if you wanted to move it closer so I could be near the cooler, I’d love to steal your spot,” she smirked.
Smirking back, Kirk said, “How could I refuse such an opportunity? I’ve always wanted to be a pool boy.”
She laughed. “You’re new job then. You’ve got the butt for it.”
He flashed her a smile. “Don’t I know it.” He retrieved the cooler and umbrella for her, and she stole his lounge chair.
Janice finally emerged in a yellow one-piece bathing suit. Spock was right behind her, closing the door behind them as they carried Pasha’s new toys his way. They deposited them in the pool Sulu had filled. They deposited them in the pool Pasha was investigating, Janice joining them on the grass to show Pasha how everything worked. Spock silently hefted Sulu off the ground to deposit him in a lounge chair with a firm glare.
“C’mon, it’s fine!” protested Sulu. Spock crossed his arms. Maybe it was just Jim, but the scowl was definitely doing it for him. Or maybe it was the trunks. He wasn't sure.
Sulu relented but requested his lounge be turned so he could see Pasha. Spock complied, evidently playing it up to make Sulu laugh as he spun him in a few half circles until he found the ‘right’ position. Pasha and Janice clapped at his display of strength. Spock, blushing, came over to the shade to hydrate and apply sunblock near Uhura.
“You look splendid, Nyota. I think the new ribbon compliments your outfit well,” he told her.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him, too. “Why, thank you, Spock. Glad you noticed.” She side-eyed Jim.
“What?” He squeaked.
“James has many fine qualities. His attention to women’s fashion is not one of them,” Spock said, aggrieved.
“Hey!”
“Too true,” Uhura agreed. “He does alright for himself in the men’s department.”
“I think so, but one should always be aware of their own biases. He cleans up well,” Spock replied.
“I don’t have to stand here and be talked about like this,” Jim playfully growled.
A beat.
“It is a good thing you are seated, then,” observed Spock.
Jim threw his hands up. “You know what? We need towels. No, don’t worry about it, I’ll get them. He retreated into the house before he could be further insulted.
Uhura turned to Spock. “You know...Len and Hikaru might not have remembered sunblock.”
Spock’s eyes snapped to Sulu.
“I’m not sure about Janice. She’s the palest person here apart from you.”
“Nyota,” Spock sighed as he finished a solid application of the very stuff to his face and ears. “I am not pale. I am olive-skinned. By the end of the day, I will have a healthy tan; Janice will still be the palest person here. Of course she received sunblock before coming outside. Jim’s has a higher SPF. I retrieved it for her.”
Uhura cackled. “You got Jim’s SPF 75 out for her? And we call Len the mama bear around here...”
Spock ignored the dig. “When Jim returns with the towels, may I rely on you to distract Leonard for me?”
“Of course, Papa Bear. We’ll make sure all the cubs get their sunblock. Mama Bear, too.”
“You are insufferable,” he told her.
“It’s part of my charm. Take Hikaru his water for me?”
“Of course.” He swapped their waters and strode off to disturb Sulu’s peace once more. Uhura started throwing some mint Juleps together for when Jim returned, which he did shortly. She waved him off to get Scotty and McCoy for her. She winked at Spock when she caught his eye.
Janice and Pasha were now standing in the shallow pool. Pasha didn’t look like he knew whether or not he liked it.
She hollered and waved. “You’re doing great, Pasha!”
His head jerked up and he smiled but almost lost his balance. Janice steered them into a controlled fall into the water. She cheered and clapped before he could decide to hate it. When he smiled, she grabbed a toy for him.
“Look at him,” Leonard declared, drying off. “Like a duck to water.”
“Here you are, Doctor.” Smirking, Uhura handed him a fresh mint julep.
“Thank you,” he said, pleased.
“Don’t thank me yet,” she replied.
Pausing before his first sip, he warily asked her, “Why?”
“Because the drink was a ruse,” came Spock’s voice from behind him as a handful of cold sunblock hit his back.
“Gah!”
“Don’t spill it!” Uhura cried. “Now, scooch. I made Scotty and Jim one too. Would you like one, Spock?”
“I would. Thank you, Nyota.” He shoved McCoy off to the shade. McCoy yelped but maintained a hold of his drink.
Jim signaled to her that Sulu would like something too. He’d stopped to stack the baby frogs on the mama frog while Pasha played with the ducks. She made herself and Sulu some Oolong Hais with the oolong tea now sufficiently chilled she’d made earlier for just this occasion.
“Scotty had wondered their way to laugh at Leonard but also likely to wait for his friend. Uhura handed him his water and offered him a sip of her drink in exchange for his delivery of Sulu’s.
His face scrunched up when he tried it. “Tha’s...well, tha’s somethin’, tha is.”
“Not your style?”
“Ah’d say not, no.” That’s alright. I made you a mint julep, if you’d like, and one for Jim, too.”
He brightened. “Kind as ye are lovely. I’ll bring it to him, if you’d like. Send Miss Janice yer way, see if she’d like anything?”
“I’d appreciate that.” She truly admired Scotty’s affinity for arranging the household exactly to her liking. He delivered Jim his drink and swapped her spots. They had to take turns keeping Pasha distracted while the other took a drink because he kept reaching for their glasses. They’d clearly forgotten that small children always wanted to be doing what the grown-ups were doing. Janice smiled when she came over. “Got the makings for a mimosa?”
Uhura smiled back. “Matter of fact, I do. Hold this for me?”
“Ooh! Is this the one Hulu was talking about?”
“It is. They’re called Oolong Hais. The secret is to chill the tea in advance.”
Janice took a sip. “That’s good. Not as sweet as I normally enjoy, but I’d lvoe one later, if you don’t mind?”
“I can do that,” Nyota said, pleased. Janice stayed to talk with her until Leonard was released from Spock’s ruthless sense of time. Sulu had slipped to the ground next to Pasha while Spock was distracted. Scotty and Leonard reconvened at the waterslide while Jim initiated a splash fight with Sulu. As long as most of the water touched his face, Pasha seemed delighted, splashing both hands in the water, mostly splashing himself.
Spock, shades on, reclined in Jim’s spot to keep an eye on everything. She poured them both some tea when they finished their drinks, clinking them together at their success in arranging the best seats in the house.
They were both convinced to try the waterslide after Scotty and McCoy could barely stand; they’d run up the hill and slid down it so many times. Jim snagged Scotty on his way past, reminding him to hydrate. He pinched his thigh. Pasha laughed as Scotty stumbled away from them.
Janice joined them on the slide, then Jim again. Even Pavel and Sulu got a turn with Spock and McCoy to help them down the slide, and Uhura, Janice, and Jim to help lift them out of the water. Spock took Pasha for a bathroom break around noon while Janice and Jim tried to find out who could go farthest on the slide. Nyota entrusted Leonard to supervise while she went to make sandwiches. Spock had kindly made a veggie tray earlier, so Uhura commandeered Scotty to help bring everything outside.
Pasha was happily slobbering on a cookie why he returned, to which they all told him how good he was being. Thankfully, Pasha also liked veggies and PB&Js and ate plenty of both with some water. Uhura got a blanket rolled out in the umbrella’s shade when she noticed the baby becoming cranky as the meal came to an end. He curled up with her and had a nap while she dozed.
Eventually, the others hooked up a sprinkler and played for another hour or so before Leonard left to bring Sulu his medicine and an ice pack. Spock told them it was time to reapply sunblock, so he took over waking Pasha and applying his while Uhura made another round of drinks for everyone. Spock decided to lead Pasha around the perimeter of their backyard. Her playmate stolen, Janice stayed to hang out with Sulu on the patio.
Jim took the opportunity to give Scotty the most sensual sunblock application any of them had ever seen. Scotty was practically purring when Kirk was done with him. They switched when Jim commanded before Jim dragged Scotty behind an upright lounge chair and pushed him to his knees in front of him.
Janice noticed Jim’s face and commented on it to Sulu. “He’s feeling much better,” she giggled.
Sulu turned to look. “Who is that over there, Scotty?” He smiled. “Yeah, looks like. Cap just needs to feel in charge after a scare like that. He doesn't like being out of control. Being unable to help is his worst nightmare. Any day after he takes his rescue meds is usually a family day for us. Scotty’s great for that. He lives for when Cap gets all bossy and demanding.”
“They’re so sweet to each other.” She sighed, dreamily. “It’s so hard seeing Jim so stressed. He always seems so confident.”
“I know what you mean. He was never like that before, ah, before the island.” He swallowed the ball of ice that grew in his throat and soldiered on. “It wasn’t until after we were back for a month or so before the first time any of us saw him full panic attack. They were pretty violent for a while, too. He’s come a long way to be comfortable acknowledging them. Thank goodness Spock and Doc finally got him to agree to the rescue meds, too. They help when he just can’t snap out of it, you know?”
She nodded. The rest of the household didn’t talk about it much, but she knew the time they’d spent on that island had affected them all. It’s part of why they were so close.
“How are you?” She worked up the nerve to ask. “After yesterday, I mean.?”
He thought about it. “Better, I guess. Still messed up. Julian says we won’t know anything for sure unless Pasha starts talking about it, but what we saw is pretty hard to misinterpret, you know? Like, there’s no way.”
“Is that what caused his drop yesterday?”
“We aren’t sure. We think so. At least in part. Spock convinced me he needed to see Julian after his weird drop on Tuesday, and because, well, on the-the island, Pavel had to take care of me then, too. We didn’t know how my ankle would affect him. Spock didn’t think it was a good idea to wait until Friday to find out.”
“I thought Jim said it was his idea?”
Hikaru snorted. “I bet he did. No, it was Spock’s idea, but Jim signed off on it. Cap wanted any responsibility to be on him, not Spock. And it’s not Spock’s fault! It kind of feels like my fault at this point. Pavel was upset as soon as we asked to talk. That kid is far too smart for his own good, sometimes.”
Janice nodded. She knew that well enough. “What happened?”
“Honestly? No idea. He just got worked up incredibly fast, was obviously repressing something, then dropped. Like, he went limp. Julian wants someone with him at all times until we can determine if he’ll have more drops like that. He says it’s not uncommon for both acute and complex PTSD sufferers like Pavel to discover a deeply buried memory after they’ve been in a safe environment for a while. His guess is that Pavel’s life is going to suck for a while, but this is all a good thing, in a way.” He gave her a week smile.
She grabbed his hand. “Thank you for letting me know. I’m glad he had you with him when all this happened. I’m glad he has you to be there with him. Not everyone would sign up for what you do.”
He squeezed her hand back. “You’re great with them both. Both Pavel and Pasha adore you. He tells you how amazing you are, right? From the very first day we every saw you, he knew you were special.”
She blushed, ducking her head. “I barely remember it. He just looked so upset, and hey, I had some extra candy. Imagine my surprise at seeing him at the club later!”
They laughed, still holding hands.
“You know...” Sulu eventually said. “Pavel's going to be okay. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, and I don’t care if he needs someone to watch him sometimes when he wants or needs it for the rest of his life. He’s special, and he deserves to have a good childhood this time around. I’m just honored to be part of the process. Grateful you’re here, too. People used to joke that he’d never get a girlfriend. I told him not to give up, you know? He’s too sweet; there's no way someone wouldn’t see that. And all this time later, here you are.”
“Pavel is special. I always feel so cherished. That’ the only word I can think of that’s strong enough. When he told me about the age regression, I just remember thinking, ‘that makes sense. I’d redo my childhood if I could.’ Now that I know more about his past, it just makes me so grateful he found it, you know? And all of you.” She took a second to gather herself. “He told me how angry he was after he was cleared from the hospital. He was so lost. Hostile was the word he used. I’ve seen him on his bad days now, but he says it’s nothing like it used to be. You guys help him so much, and I just-” She broke off, angrily wiping tears off her cheeks.
He squeezed her hand again. “He has us. I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on going anywhere, anytime soon.
She met his eyes. “Neither am I. Heck, I don’t think I could leave here even if I wanted to. I know I’ve only been here a few months, but if feels like what home’s supposed to feel like. I’m happy. I feel safe. I have a future that I’m actively choosing, not living in a present I didn’t ask for and just have you accept, you know?”
“I do know. That’s a great way to put it ‘How home is supposed to feel’. I like that. I do have some bad news for you, though.”
Janice immediately straightened, eyes wide.
“You’re stuck with us even if you do decide to leave,” he hurried to say, noting her sudden anxiety.
She smacked him. “Don’t do that! You had me worried!”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed.
She eventually joined in.
“We’re happy to have you, Janice. You fit right in.”
She squeezed his hand once more.
“I’m getting a popsicle before Pasha sees you made me cry. Want one?”
“Green, if we have it?”
“You’re so weird. Nobody likes green best.”
“I do.”
“I know, and you’re weird.”
She brought out the box of popsicles and swung by Jim and Scotty, who looked like they were done defiling the lawn now. Jim was kneeling, petting Scotty’s cheeks and praising him. She rattled the box next to his ear.
“Hm? Oh, yes, please. A red one for Scotty. He might be needing one.” He winked at her. Scotty looked both chagrined but pleased and a little spaced out.
“Red for Scotty. What about for you?”
“I’ll take a yellow so Uhura doesn’t have to,” he said.
She plopped a kiss on Scotty’s head and gave Jim his color. She gave Sulu his green one and headed over to Nyota and McCoy, who was getting that nap he’d talked about. Uhura was sunbathing properly now. Spock and Pasha returned from their adventure, Pasha towing Spock behind him at the sight of frozen treats.
“What color do you want, buddy? You like orange. I have blue and yellow and green and red, too.” He immediately grabbed the yellow one. She offered one to Spock. Surprisingly, he indulged.
“Pi’veh, allow me.” He unwrapped Pasha's snack, so he’d stop chomping on the wrapper. Just as Janice suspected, he took one big bite of the banana flavored confection and spat it out. Pasha liked yellow things. Too bad yellow things tasted yucky. She held out her hand in a ‘give it here’ motion and traded Spock for an orange one.
He shook his head. “He does that every time.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “It’s cute though. I’ll finish this one.”
“I thank you.”
“And I’ll thank you if you bring Scotty another one. Poor man’s getting bullied by your husband.”
“Is it considered bullying when both parties enjoy themselves?” He asked her.
“Mh. Not sure. But his throat could likely use a break. She gave him the last red one and pulled Pasha to his big brother.
Seeing the half-eaten yellow treat, he chuckled. “Every time, huh?”
“Every time!”
He nuzzled his long-lost baby bro’s face. “You’re just so darn cute! How do you do that? Huh? How are you so darn cute?” Pasha blew orange spit bubbles at Sulu for his efforts.
Janice returned the remaining popsicles to the freezer. When she returned, she grabbed the biggest towel and poked McCoy’s shoulder.
“Mr. McCoy?”
He grunted.
“Can I share this lounge with you? I don’t want to be out in the sun much longer.”
A rueful eye opened. “Hmph.” He eventually rolled over, offering her his arm as a pillow. She curled up with him and shared her blanket. He found a pillow for himself and they were out. Uhura took a picture.
McCoy was such a girl dad it wasn’t even funny.
She’d gotten a great series of pictures today; Leonard dive-bombing the slip n’ slide, Leonard holding Pasha on his trip and Jim holing Sulu for his. There was one of Janice jumping through the sprinkler and one of Pasha in his new Pool. There was one of Jim looking like a bronzed Adonis with his shades on, lounging. There was one of Spock, arms crossed, about to go down the water slide. She’d taken one during Scotty's rub down by Jim, and one of everyone enjoying lunch. She’d even managed to get a picture of Spock slathering a very irate Pasha with sunblock after the Little’s nap.
As she was smiling at her new collection, Hikaru texted her. The first photo was of her smiling down at her phone with the afternoon light just so. He just took it. The other one was her mixing drinks, looking thoughtful.
‘Gotta watch the watchers, right? He texted her.
She smiled over at him. He sent another pic of Pasha eating popsicles, faces scrunched together and smiling. She loved that man.
Scotty, Spock, and Jim took over the patio proper to chat. Jim stood behind their engineer, constantly keeping a hand on his neck, shoulder, or in his hair. Spcok got everyone water, and they spent a good while like that before the wind picked up enough to blow Janice’s towel right off her.
Pasha shrieked as one of his toys blew out of his hands. Everyone rushed to grab things as they started blowing away. Leonard wrapped Janice in a towel and sent her inside. Jim and Scotty went to help Sulu with Pasha. Uhura grabbed any loose towels and water bottles that were blowing away. Spock bunched up the umbrella.
Finally, everyone made it inside, laughing.
“That was fun,” Sulu grinned.
From where he was standing behind Scotty, possessive arms around his waist and throat, Jim asked, “Who’s up for a shower?” He leered at Spock.
“Everyone must have at least eight ounces of water,” Spock insisted.
“I definitely second that motion,” said McCoy.
“I’ll grab one after I wrestle the kid into another bath,” Sulu said, indicating Pasha.
Everyone agreed showers or naps sounded like a great idea, and either hopped right in or split to the kitchen for their water. Jim and Scotty disappeared while Spock Stayed long enough to ensure everyone present was sufficiently hydrated before leaving for his own shower.
In the upstairs shower, Jim was busy cleaning every inch of prime Scotty real estate. He had him soaped up and rinsed off just in time for Spock to walk in. Seeing the two of them already at he, he undressed and grabbed a towel for the Scot as he pulled him from the shower. Spock thoroughly dried his hair and body before folding the towel and instructing Scotty to kneel on it.
“You will watch.” He turned to his husband, seeing him fondling himself at the sight of them. “You may continue until I am clean enough for your services. You may not cum.
Jim whined.
Scotty observed as his blond, tanned, hairless captain pleasured himself as his lean, hairy, olive-skinned commander cleaned himself. He always thought they were such a gorgeous contrasting set. He had to clench his hands into fists so he wouldn’t reach out to touch them. Finally, finally, Spock considered himself fit for consumption.
He looked Jim in the eye. “Kneel. I want you to bring me to completion with your mouth while you stimulate my prostate.”
“mm. You say the sexiest things,” Jim laughed, getting down on his knees.
“You are a rather distractible person. I did not wish for there to be any doubt about what I prefer today,” Spock smirked down at him
“Uh-huh. And what-”
“I didn’t ask for your sass, James. Suck.”
Eyes growing impossibly wide at the order, Jim got to work.
Scotty got to sit back and enjoy the scene play out in front of him. He loved his life.