Hey Trekkies!

This is a four-shot I wrote, the pairings are Kirk/Spock, Original Kirk/Spock and a little reminiscent Spock Prime/New Kirk. Kirk and Spock are in an established relationship by now, it probably takes place two or three years after the end of Into Darkness, so halfway into their 5 year mission.

Unfortunately, I am not Gene Roddenberry nor am I JJ Abrams and therefore I own nothing in this wonderful world we call Trek.

This story was originally posted as a four shot inside my collection of Spirk drabbles called 'T'hy'la Tribbles' so if you like what you see here go check that out!

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Three is a Crowd

Vulcans do not feel nervous. At least Spock assured himself of this fact repeatedly as he stood stiffly at alert in the transporter room. The enterprise had responded to a call from New Vulcan to take a small group of diplomats aboard and transport them to a Federation Outpost in the Alpha Centauri system. If ambassadors were coming from the colony, there was approximately a 93.2159% chance that his older self would be among them.

As the first of three members of the Vulcan Council began materializing on the telapad, Captain Kirk finally hurried into the room then quickly fell into a comfortable but authoritative stance, to create the image that he had been waiting patiently for some time. He caught Spock's questioning eyebrow quirk and threw his first officer and companion a playful wink. The Vulcan looked away, not flustered in the slightest.

At least not admittedly.

The first ambassador stepped off the pad, extending the customary Vulcan greeting of spread fingers in the shape of a V. Kirk reciprocated the "Live Long and Prosper," accompanying it with a blinding smile.

"Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise," he welcomed, greeting the second diplomat. The third materialized and Spock resisted the urge to sigh. The final ambassador stepped forward and, to most of the assembled group's undying surprise and in the case of the council members, horror, offered a handshake to the young Captain. Jim smiled broadly-it could really only be called a grin-and accepted the gesture.

"It is good to see you again, Jim," he said warmly, and his eyes smiled at the golden man.

"I'm glad to see you too," the Captain replied with sincerity, and then Spock Prime turned his dark gaze on his younger self, expressive eyes twinkling almost mischievously.

"Mr. Spock," he said as way of greeting, and the first officer allowed the old man his fun.

"Mr. Spock," he replied, and Jim startled them both with a bright burst of laughter.

"Alright you two, as amusing and ironic as this is, we've all got duties to attend to. Mr. Spock, if you would show the Ambassadors to their quarters?" Spock nodded, and took the lead at the front of the trio of Vulcans.

"You are not restrained to your quarters; G deck is equipped with recreation rooms and lounges which may be pleasing to you. You are all well versed in the usage of both the replicators and communications system, so I will not reiterate these components. Should any need arise please contact me or a security personnel officer. Our journey to the Alpha Centauri system should take approximately nine days, eighteen hours and twenty-two minutes. I sincerely hope your stay aboard the enterprise will be satisfactory."

The two stern Vulcans split off as they were shown to their rooms, but the elder spock lingered beside the younger a moment, taking in the corridors and doorways. He seemed reminiscent.

"Is she as you remember her?" Spock inquired, gesturing around to the general ship, and Spock Prime allowed himself a small smile.

"She is. A bit older and worse for wear in my memory, of course."
They stood in silence that felt companionable for a few moments before Spock Prime turned to the first officer with a glitter of hopeful curiosity in his eyes.

"Unless you have any pressing matters to attend to, it may be to our mutual enjoyment to tour some of the non-confidential areas of the ship," the old man urged, and his younger self gave a tight shake of his head.

"My duties as first officer cannot be shirked."

The ancient Vulcan accepted this and gave him a parting nod and turning towards his designated quarters. Spock quickly amended his statement.

"However...if I find my time is not otherwise occupied after the current shift I will alert you at my first available moment."

Was that a hint of a knowing smile around Spock Prime's lips? Surely not, the younger chided himself, and set off for the bridge and his unshirkable duties there.

At the aforementioned first available moment, Spock the younger found himself outside the ambassador's quarters with every intention of spending a pleasant evening showing himself around a ship he probably knew like his own mind. But his first call of the bell seemed to go unnoticed, and a sudden burst of laughter from within startled him as his long finger hovered over the button to request access again. His request was granted, and he strode briskly into his elder's space to find a sight simultaneously familiar and disorienting.

Jim, draped across a chair with one leg over the armrest in a blatant refusal to properly use furniture was staring across a chessboard at a stiffly seated Vulcan-although not as stiff as Spock himself usually sat-with affectionate eyes. Spock had presumably arrived in the direct aftermath of some wit on his alternate's part, as the laughter still hung suspended in the air and danced in a smile upon Jim's lips.

A surge of startlingly aggressive territorialism surged through Spock-Chess was his pastime with the Captain, and something Spock Prime had said sent Jim into a bout of joyful laughter. Would he one day repeat the same humorous statement onto to find Jim's mirth diminished due to the repetitiveness of the action?

Why did that thought send a shard of painful jealousy through him?

"Oh hey Spock. Er, younger Spock? We were just talking about you," Jim said, eyes brightening at the sight of his first officer. He straightened, instinctively angling his body positively towards the Vulcan officer. When he noticed the microscopic signs of stress in his number one-tightening around his dark eyes and in the clenching of his hands-his expression dampened. Spock Prime noted this non-verbal communication with a softly nostalgic expression. He recognized this scene-how many times had his own Jim greeted him with that smile and then shifted directly into the concerned Spou-

He ended that train of thought before it could become painful or draw attention to his distress. This was not his Jim. It wasn't fair for him to place such expectations on him.

"Is something wrong?" the Captain asked, and Spock realized that his fists were clenched. He released them quickly, folding his arms at the small of his back.

"Of course not, Captain. What would make you believe otherwise?"

Jim shrugged, but gazed across the height difference inquisitively. "Would you like to join us?" he suggested, and Spock swept his eyes across the half-finished chess game, meeting Ambassador Spock's eyes coolly for a brief instant before he gave a curt nod.

Kirk readjusted his seat across from the Ambassador, and Spock the younger stared pointedly at his usual place currently occupied by the elder, initiating a stare-down between them until Kirk, growing uncomfortable with the possessive silence in the air, cleared his throat.

"Why don't you have a seat, Spock?" he urged, pulling a third chair over to the table, diplomatically angling it slightly closer to his own.

"I'm losing pretty badly-maybe between the two of us we can take him," the Captain said with a laugh, but he had just unwittingly unleashed a monster: Spock vs. Spock.

The play resumed, Kirk's thoughtful silences filled by Spock Prime's reminiscent gazes and Spock's stiff refusal to speak. The tension in the air rose slightly, but it felt competitive and friendly as Spock assisted Jim's moves, drawing him slowly out of the losing spiral he had fallen into.

After a while of only muttered comments to each other, Spock glanced up at his elder self calculatingly, dark eyes bright.

"I heard a rather unfortunate collapse of the new Vulcan temple on the colony occurred. I hope no one was injured," he commented, causing elder Spock to pause mid-move. He seemed to compose himself, setting the black Knight down.

"No. But it was a great loss to the progress of the colony. It will, of course, be rebuilt in due time," he replied, and younger Spock nodded, seeming to be glad for this development but still regarding his counterpart thoughtfully.

"You were involved, were you not?"

"Yes," Spock Prime retorted curtly, "and I am afraid you are in check," he pointed out, and Spock quickly took Kirk's bishop and intercepted the offending rook.

"Am I?"

The two Vulcans met gazes with a clash, one challenging and the other determining whether it would be prudent to rise to it. This was no longer a game of chess; it was a battle of wills.

"And the schools. Are they well?"

"Quite well."

"I have heard the diplomacy with the colony's neighbors are...unsatisfactory."

Spock Prime glanced at Spock with a disgruntled but curious look in his eyes. "Why are you purposefully antagonizing me, Mr. Spock?" he asked calmly, and the younger gave a tiny shrug.

"I was under the impression that we were engaging both in a chess game and an intellectual conversation," he replied innocently, and the elder's eyebrows knitted.

"You are jealous," he realized, and the first officer's fist clenched before he could stop it.

"Jealousy is illogical and I avoid feeling it," he retorted.

"That is a lie."

"You are in my chair," Spock broke in suddenly, and Kirk's eyebrows shot up in quite a comical manner. Was Spock really jealous? Of himself of all people?

Then Spock Prime flicked his King onto its side, nodding in surrender to his younger self. Although Kirk may not have known it, it was a concession of more than just the game.

Vulcans do not feel such emotions, but Spock almost felt pleased with himself nonetheless and settled back. Some sort of victor had been decided.

Elder Spock stood, bowing his head to the Captain. "Since I am not wanted here, I will speak with you at a later time," he said in a soft voice, emotionless on the surface but undercurrented with a striking sorrow. He departed, and Spock felt Kirk's eyes on him like the glare from the sun. He glanced over and was shocked to see an icy glint of disappointment in his Captain's blue eyes.

"That wasn't very kind of you, Spock," Kirk chastised softly, and the Vulcan let out a breath of frustration through his nose.

"I am failing at controlling my emotions," he noted, and Jim flicked his eyes towards the door where the elder Spock had disappeared.

"You should probably say something to him," he urged, and Spock frowned minutely.

"Apology would be inappropriate this soon after a transgression, as it would appear I am only trying to atone myself in your eyes-"
"He's really lonely, Spock. He's so painfully lonely," Jim said gently, and Spock stiffened. Spock Prime was Spock once, and if he had grown to become this way once...what was to stop him from doing so again? Did he want to forfeit this opportunity to assuage his own loneliness due to a childish bout of selfishness?

"I will speak with him," he decided, and Jim smiled, resting his hand briefly atop Spock's and leaning over to kiss him softly. They did not often speak of their relationship, but it existed as palpably as the chess piece that still touched Spock's long graceful fingers, as truly as the equation 2 + 2 = 4, as ephemeral as their own existence.

"Will you accompany me?" Spock inquired, maybe a little hopeful, but Kirk shook his head.

"I'd better leave this delicate matter to the Spocks. Three is a crowd you know."

Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful

Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul

I know you will, I know you will

I know that you will

Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?