Starfleet Kidets

[Gothicruby]

"Ah c'mon," Jim chuckled through his swelling heart, reaching to lift the little one up into a comforting hug "You can do better than that; bet you could even hit admiral one day little guy," he couldn't pretend that he wasn't proud of Spock's statement--hell, he was all but holding back from bursting into proud, elated tears--but even when he was an adult, he always knew that Spock was up for better. Call it latent-paternal instinct, Jim knew that little Spock was up to so much more than he ever was.

"Challenge accepted!" Hikaru giggled, but instead of diving into the creamy-pink glazed dessert; the boy stopped to really appreciate the sight. A soft sort of warmth seemed to run across him, an old memory maybe? Either way, that was why he chose to take the spoon into his mouth and savour the burst of sweetness filling his mouth. It was incredible...familiar...he chewed slowly, he didn't want to let go of it...the foggy image of a family dinner table--someone humming something...he hadn't noticed his eyes beginning to faintly water.

[KingCrowley]

The little boy lifted his arms up instantly when Jim reached down to pick him up. Spock laid his head on Jim's shoulder and he listened as he explained about being admiral. "You should also be admiral, you are so good!" he said happily, one small hand going up to play with Jim's hair, he liked the softness of it. "I want to be your first officer!" he sad happily, making that his life ambition now, what could be better than working side by side with his Father? To Spock, nothing.

"I thought so." Bones grinned and ruffled Hikaru's hair gently, watching with intrigue as the little boy delved into the sweet tasting dessert. "I'm glad you like it buddy." he said before taking a few bites of his own dessert. It wasn't until he noticed the silver in his little eyes that he stopped and turned Hikaru to face him. "Hikaru, pal, what's wrong?" his voice was filled with concern.

[Gothicruby]

"Oh really now?" Jim couldn't help but grin, taking the opportunity to whirl around with the boy to face the table where his soup had been placed "Well if you're gonna be my first officer, we gotta get ya pretty big and strong, right?" he sat the boy down and removed the lid from the soup.

Tentatively, Hikaru swallowed the last of the first bite as his little face seemed to contort into some odd mix of confused sorrow; he shook his head at first, quietly trying to just piece together something of what he must have been feeling "Remember somethin'..." he mumbled as a tear snaked its' way down his cheek "Mom...? I think...? I-I dunno, just...s-somethin' nice but..." he shook his head again "Can't 'member..."

[KingCrowley]

"Yes, big and strong like Daddy!" Spock answered enthusiastically and he looked down at the Vulcan soup, wondering what it was going to taste like. "Okay I'm going to eat!" he said, picking up the spoon and then putting some of the warm soup into his mouth. The Vulcan child paused to savor the flavor and he grinned up at his Daddy, "I like it Daddy, it is nice!"

Maybe there was need to worry about this transformation, Hikaru's memory of his previous life seemed to be leaving him and that concerned Doctor McCoy. The man looked down at his baby, unsure what to say so he wrapped an arm around him, "Hey, it's okay pal, it's not a bad thing to be unable to remember something...I do it all the time." he chuckled.

[Gothicruby]

"Yeah?" Jim continued to grin as he watched the "Well if you eat all that up, I bet that you might grow just that little bit big enough to come down to the bridge..." a knowing smile caught at his lip "Maybe play first officer for a few minutes?"

Hikaru could feel his lip trembling all the worse at Bones' chuckle. He tried to be brave, suck in a deep breath--but all resulted in was more tears dripping down his chin while he tried to shake his head "I-it was somethin' important..." he weakly defended "Like...a-a lullaby...o-or was it...?" a small sob found its' way past the little boy's throat "I-I...I gotta go!" he suddenly yelped, having to push past Bones and sprint from the cafeteria, down the hall and...anywhere. He didn't know where, he just had to run--had to remember, or more importantly, try not to forget.

[KingCrowley]

"Really?!" Spock gasped, his expression priceless as he thought of the prospect of doing that. "I would love that Daddy! You are the best Daddy ever!" he declared, confident in that as he finished off the soup, careful not to wolf it down, even if it did end up all around his mouth and on his hands. The little Spock tried not to touch anything and he grinned, "Sticky!"

"Hikaru!" Bones called as his little boy jumped off his lap and ran off to god knows where. "Hikaru....." he sighed and held his head in his hands. It wasn't a good sign that he was losing his memory...but all he could focus on was how much it hurt that the little boy didn't turn to him for comfort and would rather run. It was like rejection at the worst degree. Was he doing something wrong? That was the only thought trailing through his mind as he wiped away held back tears. The man stood and then quickly headed off in the direction the little biy had run, but he couldn't see him. "Hikaru!?" he called, tone broken.

[Gothicruby]

"Sticky?" Jim chuckled as he took a wipe to the little Vulcan's hands "More like glue," he joked, exaggerating how much of a struggle it was to grapple with the soup around his hands and mouth; topping it off with the fake gasps of a dying man "Can't...go...on..." he 'heaved' as he pretended to loll against the table.

After a while Hikaru couldn't even begin to tell the difference between gasps for breath and hysterical sobs; all at once everything seemed to just hit him--a backlog of tears exploding from behind a dam he hadn't even realised he'd built up--all at once he felt terrified; of losing who he was, what he remembered--something about that lullaby was important but he couldn't remember, especially not as he slammed head-first against the door to the sick-bay.

[KingCrowley]

(( sorry about that, sorting stuff out... ))

"You are very strange Daddy!" Spock laughed and jumped on the man's back as he lolled onto the table. He was happy the man was so playful, it engaged the little one's interest quite a bit. "I am not sticky any more now Daddy!" he giggled.

"Hikaru..." Bones sighed and looked around for the little guy, wondering where the heck the little one could have gone. Then...he heard a bang. "Shit..." he gasped and ran toward where he heard it, only to see Hikaru laying down on his back, "Hikaru!" he yelled and scooped him up in his arms, holding him close to his chest. "What happened, are you okay?!" he asked, rubbing his head.

[Gothicruby]

(No problem )

Jim waited for a second, just to drag out the boy's excitement before he swiftly stood and reached back to sling Spock into his arms "Oh yeah? Well I guess we're just gonna have to go to the bridge now, aren't we?" a teasing grin took his features "The slow way, right?"

At once, Hikaru reached up to wrap his arms around Bones' neck--letting it all out in one pitiful little wail "I-I'm sca-ared!" he tearfully confessed as he clung tightly and desperately to his newfound father--absolutely terrified of being lost to all of this; the ship, the lost memories, everything.

[KingCrowley]

"Nooooo the fast way Daddy, please!?!" Spock protested and he playfully batted at the man, since he wasn't intending to hurt his Father. He was so excited to go to the bridge and play first officer, he hoped his Daddy noticed him doing a good job since he was going to try really really hard to do it right! "Can I choose the course? Please Daddy?" he pleaded, eyes wide as he looked up at Jim.

Immediately Bones embraced the little boy tighter, one hand on the back of his head and he rocked back and forth, trying to soothe him. "Daddy's here, shhh, Daddy's here." he said softly and kissed his head, "Everything's okay shhh.....want to talk to Daddy?"