Fic: Mothers Know Best (STXI, Winona/Amanda, Sarek/Amanda, K/S)
Title: Mothers Know Best
Fandom: STXI-- but Sarek and Amanda at least are strangely TOS
Pairing: Winona/Amanda friendship, Sarek/Amanda, K/S
Rating: R
Word Count: ~2000
Summary: Inspired by this prompt on the kink meme: AU in which Winona Kirk and Amanda Grayson meet and decide to play matchmaker and get their sons together...
Disclaimer: Not mine.
"My son," Winona Kirk said distinctly, "is a man-whore." She slid down in her seat on the rather uncomfortable couch, and put two dainty feet up on the coffee table.
Amanda grinned. Her friend was not normally so plain-spoken, but Vulcan port could loosen anyone up, which was why it was utterly banned on Vulcan. Amanda had a special dispensation. "I told you to go easy on the port."
Winona ignored her. "Why?" she lamented, looking up at the ceiling plaintively, "Why is he this way? Did I not love him enough? It's the lack of male role models, I know it is!"
"You did a good job with him," Amanda reassured her, "and so did Chris Pike. Jim's just sowing his wild oats a little; he'll come round."
"He's thirty-nine years old!"
"Tell me about it," Amanda sighed, slumping into the couch herself. "Spock's forty-two, and he's never even been in a relationship before. I find all the nicest young men for him for his pon farrs, but can he be bothered to bond with them? Oh no. It's all 'I thank thee' and 'live long and prosper', and then he's back off into space again with that son of yours."
"At least the pon farr makes him come home to you," Winona groused. "I know Jim wouldn't even have bothered to come to the alpha quadrant this year, if he didn't have to Spock to think of. He's space mad, that's what he is. Gets it from his father." She smiled rather sadly. "George was quite the ladies' man, you know, before he met me."
"At least they'll both be here soon," Amanda said, squeezing her friend's hand.
"But for how long?" Winona bit her lip. "Three or four days, a week at the most. That isn't anywhere near enough time. I wish I could give him a real family."
It was depressing. Amanda poured them both another round. Then they both stared morosely into their drinks, contemplating their wayward offspring.
"I just wish Jim would stop bedding all those space sluts," Winona burst out in frustration. "He knows they don't make him happy!"
"I wish Spock would deign to even think about being happy," Amanda retorted. "But he's married to his work."
"So's Jim. I wish he'd settle down."
"Exactly, settle down! Find someone to take care of him."
"Someone smart enough for him-"
"Someone who'll keep his attention-"
"- who'll keep him in line -"
"- push him out of his comfort zone -"
"- and watch his back while doing it -"
"- a nice human boy, who'll understand that side of him, and stop him from pretending to be so logical all the time!" Amanda exclaimed. "Is that too much to ask?"
They lapsed into silence once again, mulling over the problem as the Vulcan port spread its comforting warmth through their bellies. Then Winona sat up with a start.
"Mandy," she said suddenly, leaning forward with a conspiratorial smile, "I have an extremely logical idea."
*
Amanda couldn't believe she was doing this. It had taken weeks of careful planning to get everything in place for Spock's third pon farr; was she really going to mess it all up for some harebrained Kirkian scheme?
Sarek had washed his hands off the matter entirely. "Your plan is illogical," he'd said condescendingly. "It is unnecessary and would be most inconvenient to all parties involved."
So of course she'd had no choice but to do it. Her husband had had a point, though. It was never easy to find a man for Spock's pon farrs. Quite apart from the fact that only around five percent of the Vulcan population was homosexual, there was also the small matter of Spock's rather mixed reputation. Sarek's status and Spock's growing prominence in the Fleet certainly worked in their favour, but after two cycles in which he had refused a full bond with his partner, he had apparently become somewhat notorious for his unwillingness to take a permanent mate. The Vulcan equivalent of a man-whore, Amanda thought with a rueful grin.
It had been sheer good fortune that Sverak had been available and willing this Time. Sverak was a cousin of one of Sarek's closest friends. He was thirty-eight and recently widowed, and was a highly respected member of the Vulcan intellectual elite. Sarek had had high hopes that he and Spock would make a match of it, but Amanda privately thought that if the previous two handsome, serious, successful young men hadn't done the trick, there was no reason to expect that this one would.
Which was another reason why she was going along with Winona's ridiculous plan. It was a bit sacrilegious, to be sure, all this meddling with the Mating Time, but Spock was her only son, and after several decades of marriage to Sarek she was no longer intimidated by the mystique that surrounded pon farr.
Besides, the risk of a real disaster was actually very small. It was possible that Spock might go into early-stage plak tow if there was a hitch in the plan, but Kirk had a very reliable hero complex, and Winona was confident that her son would step up to the plate.
Her decision made, Amanda squared her soulders, dialed the comm code for Sverak's residence, and prepared for the thoroughly unpleasant task of being sued for a breach of contract.
*
Sarek had looked at her sourly when she'd informed him of his role in the Plan. However, she had applied Persuasive Technique #7 (pok tar and a blowjob; men were the same everywhere), and had secured his reluctant cooperation.
"There has been a complication," her husband now said to Winona's son. Amanda hovered just out of sight of the vidscreen, peering critically at her prospective son-in-law. Jim's hair was lighter than she remembered it being. She imagined the wedding holos - he and Spock would make a delightfully handsome pair.
"What's wrong, Ambassador?" Jim sounded gratifyingly concerned.
"What is my son's condition?" Sarek deflected.
"Slightly cranky, but that's about normal for this time," Jim said. "We're right on schedule, but we can go to Warp 9 if there's a problem."
"That will not be necessary," Sarek told him. "I merely called to inform you of a slight change of plan. Upon your arrival, Spock will not be beaming down to the T'Penna estate. Have him come to us at D'H'riset instead."
"I'll let him know," Jim looked relieved. "Anything else?"
"Affirmative. You are Spock's closest friend aboard the ship?" Jim nodded. "In that case, we request that you accompany him."
The blond looked intrigued. "What for?"
"All will be made clear in time," said Sarek, and he cut the connection.
Amanda smirked; there was nothing sexier than her husband in Stern Diplomatic Mode. Perhaps there'd be a second blowjob, as a reward.
Sarek turned to face her. "This is highly unethical," he informed her. "He is an outworlder, and unprepared. There is no logical reason to think he would be a better match than Sverak, apart from Mrs Kirk's 'woman's intuition'."
"Jim's a starship captain. He can take care of himself. Besides," she reminded him, "mothers know best. Now are you going to lecture me, or shall I fellate you again?"
Sarek shut up immediately. Amanda grinned. She loved married life.
*
"They're here!" Winona shouted, rushing up to the front gate.
Sure enough, two tall figures were approaching from a distance, dressed in familiar shades of gold and blue.
"Behave, will you?" Amanda called after her, following at a more sedate pace. "And stop smiling like that, or they'll know something's up for sure."
"Right," said Winona, but she couldn't suppress her grin.
Sarek ignored them both. He did not wholly approve of Winona Kirk - she brought out the worst in his wife.
In a few minutes the two young men had arrived, and Winona dove right into her son's open arms.
"Hey Mom," Jim said, looking down at her fondly.
"I've missed you, Jimmy," Winnie whispered.
"I know, Mom. I'm sorry."
Amanda looked away.
"Father, Mother," Spock greeted them formally. "I am pleased to see you are well."
No hug for her. Not that she minded - Vulcans were always extra-Vulcan during pon farr - but it only reminded her how different her son and Kirk were. Perhaps this hadn't been the best idea after all - legendary friendship or not, there really was no telling how Spock would react to her plan.
It was too late to go back on it now, though.
"The east wing has been prepared for you," Sarek said briskly. "I would ask you and James to accompany me."
Spock looked up sharply. "James?" he repeated. "Where is Sverak?"
"Sverak is unavailable."
"Who replaces him?"
"We were unable to find a replacement."
"What?" Jim was horrified. "How the hell did that happen? What's Spock going to do?"
"Language, Jimmy!"
"Your refusal to commit to a permanent bond has made it difficult for us to find you a mate," Sarek told their son.
"You should have informed me sooner," said Spock stiffly.
"What could you have done?"
There was a pause. Amanda bit her lip guiltily. She knew this was part of the plan, but it didn't make it any less awful that Spock would think that they didn't care about him.
"There has to be something we can do," Jim insisted. "What are our options?"
Sarek shifted his weight. It was the most discomfort Amanda had ever seen him show. "There is a custom," he said, "dating back to ancient times. If no partner can be found, the male's closest friend may stand in for his mate."
"No," Spock said immediately, before Jim could react.
"No, wait-" Jim said, but Winona cut him off.
"I forbid it!" she said dramatically. "It's too dangerous!"
Amanda winced inwardly, but she played along. "Winnie's right," she said. "It's too big a sacrifice. We can't ask poor Jim to do that. Sarek, what were you thinking?"
Sarek glared. Jim looked furious, but determined. Spock looked like he wished he could sink into the floor.
So far, so good, Amanda thought. For a given value of good.
"Well," said Jim decisively, breaking the stalemate. "I'm doing it."
"No," Spock said again.
Jim rounded on him, fists clenched. "You have no choice."
"There are forms of euthanasia-"
"That is not an option," Jim snarled.
"It is too much to ask of you."
"Well, I'm offering!" Jim was yelling now. "I'm not about to see the man I love die because he's too fussy to sleep with me!"
There was stunned silence.
"Love?" said Spock eventually, in a very small voice.
Amanda felt Winnie clutch her arm.
"Yeah, love, Spock," Jim sighed, deflated. He sounded very tired. "I know you don't feel the same way, but I'd- I'd be happy to do this for you, okay? It's got to be better than dying."
"But Jim, all those women-"
"Didn't mean a thing, Spock, you know that."
Spock blinked rapidly, several times. "I did not know you wished our friendship to progress in this way."
"Well, I do," Jim said shortly.
"I see," Spock replied. "Does your offer to aid me still stand?"
"It does." Jim grinned up at him finally, and Spock's tiny, answering smile sent a pang through Amanda's very human heart.
Then Jim took Spock's arm gently, and they headed off into the house without a backward glance.
*
Once they were out of earshot, Winnie turned to Amanda and let out a girlish squeal.
"I know!" Amanda said gleefully. She nudged her husband. "Did you see that? Did you see?"
"Insufferable," Sarek replied.
And that was that.
Fandom: STXI-- but Sarek and Amanda at least are strangely TOS
Pairing: Winona/Amanda friendship, Sarek/Amanda, K/S
Rating: R
Word Count: ~2000
Summary: Inspired by this prompt on the kink meme: AU in which Winona Kirk and Amanda Grayson meet and decide to play matchmaker and get their sons together...
Disclaimer: Not mine.
"My son," Winona Kirk said distinctly, "is a man-whore." She slid down in her seat on the rather uncomfortable couch, and put two dainty feet up on the coffee table.
Amanda grinned. Her friend was not normally so plain-spoken, but Vulcan port could loosen anyone up, which was why it was utterly banned on Vulcan. Amanda had a special dispensation. "I told you to go easy on the port."
Winona ignored her. "Why?" she lamented, looking up at the ceiling plaintively, "Why is he this way? Did I not love him enough? It's the lack of male role models, I know it is!"
"You did a good job with him," Amanda reassured her, "and so did Chris Pike. Jim's just sowing his wild oats a little; he'll come round."
"He's thirty-nine years old!"
"Tell me about it," Amanda sighed, slumping into the couch herself. "Spock's forty-two, and he's never even been in a relationship before. I find all the nicest young men for him for his pon farrs, but can he be bothered to bond with them? Oh no. It's all 'I thank thee' and 'live long and prosper', and then he's back off into space again with that son of yours."
"At least the pon farr makes him come home to you," Winona groused. "I know Jim wouldn't even have bothered to come to the alpha quadrant this year, if he didn't have to Spock to think of. He's space mad, that's what he is. Gets it from his father." She smiled rather sadly. "George was quite the ladies' man, you know, before he met me."
"At least they'll both be here soon," Amanda said, squeezing her friend's hand.
"But for how long?" Winona bit her lip. "Three or four days, a week at the most. That isn't anywhere near enough time. I wish I could give him a real family."
It was depressing. Amanda poured them both another round. Then they both stared morosely into their drinks, contemplating their wayward offspring.
"I just wish Jim would stop bedding all those space sluts," Winona burst out in frustration. "He knows they don't make him happy!"
"I wish Spock would deign to even think about being happy," Amanda retorted. "But he's married to his work."
"So's Jim. I wish he'd settle down."
"Exactly, settle down! Find someone to take care of him."
"Someone smart enough for him-"
"Someone who'll keep his attention-"
"- who'll keep him in line -"
"- push him out of his comfort zone -"
"- and watch his back while doing it -"
"- a nice human boy, who'll understand that side of him, and stop him from pretending to be so logical all the time!" Amanda exclaimed. "Is that too much to ask?"
They lapsed into silence once again, mulling over the problem as the Vulcan port spread its comforting warmth through their bellies. Then Winona sat up with a start.
"Mandy," she said suddenly, leaning forward with a conspiratorial smile, "I have an extremely logical idea."
*
Amanda couldn't believe she was doing this. It had taken weeks of careful planning to get everything in place for Spock's third pon farr; was she really going to mess it all up for some harebrained Kirkian scheme?
Sarek had washed his hands off the matter entirely. "Your plan is illogical," he'd said condescendingly. "It is unnecessary and would be most inconvenient to all parties involved."
So of course she'd had no choice but to do it. Her husband had had a point, though. It was never easy to find a man for Spock's pon farrs. Quite apart from the fact that only around five percent of the Vulcan population was homosexual, there was also the small matter of Spock's rather mixed reputation. Sarek's status and Spock's growing prominence in the Fleet certainly worked in their favour, but after two cycles in which he had refused a full bond with his partner, he had apparently become somewhat notorious for his unwillingness to take a permanent mate. The Vulcan equivalent of a man-whore, Amanda thought with a rueful grin.
It had been sheer good fortune that Sverak had been available and willing this Time. Sverak was a cousin of one of Sarek's closest friends. He was thirty-eight and recently widowed, and was a highly respected member of the Vulcan intellectual elite. Sarek had had high hopes that he and Spock would make a match of it, but Amanda privately thought that if the previous two handsome, serious, successful young men hadn't done the trick, there was no reason to expect that this one would.
Which was another reason why she was going along with Winona's ridiculous plan. It was a bit sacrilegious, to be sure, all this meddling with the Mating Time, but Spock was her only son, and after several decades of marriage to Sarek she was no longer intimidated by the mystique that surrounded pon farr.
Besides, the risk of a real disaster was actually very small. It was possible that Spock might go into early-stage plak tow if there was a hitch in the plan, but Kirk had a very reliable hero complex, and Winona was confident that her son would step up to the plate.
Her decision made, Amanda squared her soulders, dialed the comm code for Sverak's residence, and prepared for the thoroughly unpleasant task of being sued for a breach of contract.
*
Sarek had looked at her sourly when she'd informed him of his role in the Plan. However, she had applied Persuasive Technique #7 (pok tar and a blowjob; men were the same everywhere), and had secured his reluctant cooperation.
"There has been a complication," her husband now said to Winona's son. Amanda hovered just out of sight of the vidscreen, peering critically at her prospective son-in-law. Jim's hair was lighter than she remembered it being. She imagined the wedding holos - he and Spock would make a delightfully handsome pair.
"What's wrong, Ambassador?" Jim sounded gratifyingly concerned.
"What is my son's condition?" Sarek deflected.
"Slightly cranky, but that's about normal for this time," Jim said. "We're right on schedule, but we can go to Warp 9 if there's a problem."
"That will not be necessary," Sarek told him. "I merely called to inform you of a slight change of plan. Upon your arrival, Spock will not be beaming down to the T'Penna estate. Have him come to us at D'H'riset instead."
"I'll let him know," Jim looked relieved. "Anything else?"
"Affirmative. You are Spock's closest friend aboard the ship?" Jim nodded. "In that case, we request that you accompany him."
The blond looked intrigued. "What for?"
"All will be made clear in time," said Sarek, and he cut the connection.
Amanda smirked; there was nothing sexier than her husband in Stern Diplomatic Mode. Perhaps there'd be a second blowjob, as a reward.
Sarek turned to face her. "This is highly unethical," he informed her. "He is an outworlder, and unprepared. There is no logical reason to think he would be a better match than Sverak, apart from Mrs Kirk's 'woman's intuition'."
"Jim's a starship captain. He can take care of himself. Besides," she reminded him, "mothers know best. Now are you going to lecture me, or shall I fellate you again?"
Sarek shut up immediately. Amanda grinned. She loved married life.
*
"They're here!" Winona shouted, rushing up to the front gate.
Sure enough, two tall figures were approaching from a distance, dressed in familiar shades of gold and blue.
"Behave, will you?" Amanda called after her, following at a more sedate pace. "And stop smiling like that, or they'll know something's up for sure."
"Right," said Winona, but she couldn't suppress her grin.
Sarek ignored them both. He did not wholly approve of Winona Kirk - she brought out the worst in his wife.
In a few minutes the two young men had arrived, and Winona dove right into her son's open arms.
"Hey Mom," Jim said, looking down at her fondly.
"I've missed you, Jimmy," Winnie whispered.
"I know, Mom. I'm sorry."
Amanda looked away.
"Father, Mother," Spock greeted them formally. "I am pleased to see you are well."
No hug for her. Not that she minded - Vulcans were always extra-Vulcan during pon farr - but it only reminded her how different her son and Kirk were. Perhaps this hadn't been the best idea after all - legendary friendship or not, there really was no telling how Spock would react to her plan.
It was too late to go back on it now, though.
"The east wing has been prepared for you," Sarek said briskly. "I would ask you and James to accompany me."
Spock looked up sharply. "James?" he repeated. "Where is Sverak?"
"Sverak is unavailable."
"Who replaces him?"
"We were unable to find a replacement."
"What?" Jim was horrified. "How the hell did that happen? What's Spock going to do?"
"Language, Jimmy!"
"Your refusal to commit to a permanent bond has made it difficult for us to find you a mate," Sarek told their son.
"You should have informed me sooner," said Spock stiffly.
"What could you have done?"
There was a pause. Amanda bit her lip guiltily. She knew this was part of the plan, but it didn't make it any less awful that Spock would think that they didn't care about him.
"There has to be something we can do," Jim insisted. "What are our options?"
Sarek shifted his weight. It was the most discomfort Amanda had ever seen him show. "There is a custom," he said, "dating back to ancient times. If no partner can be found, the male's closest friend may stand in for his mate."
"No," Spock said immediately, before Jim could react.
"No, wait-" Jim said, but Winona cut him off.
"I forbid it!" she said dramatically. "It's too dangerous!"
Amanda winced inwardly, but she played along. "Winnie's right," she said. "It's too big a sacrifice. We can't ask poor Jim to do that. Sarek, what were you thinking?"
Sarek glared. Jim looked furious, but determined. Spock looked like he wished he could sink into the floor.
So far, so good, Amanda thought. For a given value of good.
"Well," said Jim decisively, breaking the stalemate. "I'm doing it."
"No," Spock said again.
Jim rounded on him, fists clenched. "You have no choice."
"There are forms of euthanasia-"
"That is not an option," Jim snarled.
"It is too much to ask of you."
"Well, I'm offering!" Jim was yelling now. "I'm not about to see the man I love die because he's too fussy to sleep with me!"
There was stunned silence.
"Love?" said Spock eventually, in a very small voice.
Amanda felt Winnie clutch her arm.
"Yeah, love, Spock," Jim sighed, deflated. He sounded very tired. "I know you don't feel the same way, but I'd- I'd be happy to do this for you, okay? It's got to be better than dying."
"But Jim, all those women-"
"Didn't mean a thing, Spock, you know that."
Spock blinked rapidly, several times. "I did not know you wished our friendship to progress in this way."
"Well, I do," Jim said shortly.
"I see," Spock replied. "Does your offer to aid me still stand?"
"It does." Jim grinned up at him finally, and Spock's tiny, answering smile sent a pang through Amanda's very human heart.
Then Jim took Spock's arm gently, and they headed off into the house without a backward glance.
*
Once they were out of earshot, Winnie turned to Amanda and let out a girlish squeal.
"I know!" Amanda said gleefully. She nudged her husband. "Did you see that? Did you see?"
"Insufferable," Sarek replied.
And that was that.