The party was an event to remember. Bones said they needed to celebrate Jim's life, and celebrate they did. They managed to get Sulu and Chekov back to Earth. Spock's younger daughter Yemaya was also able to come home. Only George was unable to attend, but they hooked up a live feed for much of the shindig so that he and his family could join in the celebration.

Bones put himself in charge of the grilling, Scotty played bartender and the wives and daughters did the cooking and serving. It was a perfect early summer day. The sun was bright overhead but not too warm. A light breeze blew. The kids spent most of the day in the swimming pool. Jim sat on the patio in the sun and watched them. Spock was his constant companion, making sure he had whatever he needed. He'd settled his soul mate on a padded chaise lounge in an attempt to make him as comfortable as possible. A portable oxygen tank stood beside his chair. Spock sat beside him, watching his grand children splash in the pool. Jim had spoken to George, his daughter-in-law and all three of his grand children. His son had wept, apologizing for not being able to get home. The Enterprise was halfway across the galaxy, and no amount of warp speed could get them back in time.

"I know you'd be here if you could," Jim had said. "I thought I had a little more time, but it's finally caught up with me."

"Dammit, Dad, it kills me to not be able to be there. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. You're doing what I'd be out there doing if I wasn't sick. I would have liked to have you here, but I got to talk to all of you. Stay out there and discover the galaxy, son. Don't burden yourself with guilt or regrets." They talked about the part of the galaxy the Enterprise and her crew were exploring, how the ship was running, what sort of intelligent life they'd encountered. Shop talk, and Jim reveled in it, remembering the places he'd gone, the things he'd seen. The part he and his crew had played in mapping and charting the Milky Way.

Everyone spent time with him, talking, reminiscing, and laughing. They shared stories of missions past, the trouble they'd gotten into on occasion, the things they'd seen, and the places they'd discovered. The children knew their grand-uncle was sick but they were too young to really understand what that meant. The same went for Jim's grand kids. They talked to him about their studies, their friends, their life onboard the ship, and that was enough for him. He didn't want them to know he was going to die soon. They didn't need to be burdened with that at such a tender age. There was really no talk of dying at any time during the party. The whole point of the get together was to celebrate Jim's life, not get an early start on mourning his death.

Jim held up well during the festivities, managed to eat a decent meal, and even drank a beer. But as the sun began to descend into the West, Spock noticed that his soul mate was getting tired, his energy waning. He spoke to the wives and they began to wrap up the party. Everyone said goodbye to their friend, their captain, their hero, and made their way home, each to let go and grieve in his or her own way. Most of them would not see him again. Sulu, Chekov and Yemaya returned to their ships. Scotty, who was also retired, but teaching engineering at the academy, gave Jim a tight hug and held back tears before leaving to head home with his wife. Finally it was only the family left. The family included Bones and his wife, of course. Everyone kissed Jim goodnight and then Spock took him to bed.

xxxxx

Four days later...

Jim was leaving him today. Spock found no logical reason why he should be so sure of this, but then, logic didn't work well in affairs of the heart. Jim and Spock were soul mates. Bonded together for life and beyond. Spock just knew. Today is the day he will leave me, leave us.

Jim had become progressively weaker after the party, his lung function getting worse. Soon they would stop working. Jim could barely take a breath, and those breaths would no longer go into his bloodstream. His lungs would stop absorbing the oxygen. He would suffocate. Spock prepared to settle in with him and be as close to him as possible. He informed the families of his premonition, and arranged for everyone to come and spend time with him. Spock didn't tell Jim of his vision, but Jim picked it up from Spock's mind.

"Today? Are you sure?"

"I am sure. I do not know exactly what time, but you will leave us today."

"You gotta get the family in here, right away."

"I have already spoken to our wives. You will be receiving the family shortly."

Once the family had all come in to say their goodbyes to Jim, Kianda's husband took their kids out of the house. They didn't want the children to experience their parent's and grandparent's reaction to Jim's passing. Bones arrived as they were leaving. His wife was not with him; she had an emergency procedure to attend to and had to leave.

Nyota, Ree, Kianda, Bones and Spock all sat on or beside the bed with Jim. At the moment Ree was lying beside him, talking to him softly. The others moved away from the bed to give the couple some privacy. Spock stood to the back of the room. He would let each of them say their goodbyes to Jim, and then it would be just the soul mates together until Jim passed. Everyone had agreed this was how it should be.

The room was quiet except for the ever-present hum of the oxycon and the sound of Jim's labored breathing. The soul mates were alone now, Spock holding Jim in his arms as they lay on the bed together. Spock had raised the bed so they were half-sitting. It made it easier for Jim to breathe, and easier for Spock to hold him. Jim's head rested on his shoulder. The Vulcan kissed his forehead gently. Jim looked up at him. He smiled weakly. Spock smiled back. Jim's blue eyes began to sparkle with tears.

"I love you so much," he said.

"I love you just as much," Spock answered.

"I don't wanna leave. I'm scared."

"I know. So am I. But you do not need to be scared. Soon you will no longer be sick. There will be no more suffering. You will be free."

"But I won't be with you. I'm gonna miss you so much."

"I will miss you as well, my soul mate. I find it difficult to imagine my life without you in it."

"But we will see each other again. They promised us that, didn't they?"

"They did, and we will. But until we do, I will wait for you, and I will grieve."

"Don't grieve too much. I don't want you to. I want you... to get on with your life. And don't tell me... that you have no life without me, because you do." Jim was starting to have trouble speaking. His breathing became shallow. Spock felt a wave of panic hit him. The emotions that stumbled over each other inside him were varied and conflicting. He felt angry, helpless, defenseless against despair that threatened to overwhelm him. He felt a deep sorrow, but at the same time he was happy that finally, Jim would no longer suffer. He wanted to hold onto his soul mate and refuse to let him go, knowing, of course, how illogical it was, but not caring about logic in the face of losing the one person who was the other half of himself.

Jim was still looking up at him. And then he looked past him, at something only he could see.

"What do you see?" Spock asked.

"I see a light. A bright, beautiful light." Jim continued to look, and then his expression became one of surprise.

"Jim, what do you see?"

"Not what. Who. I see Admiral Pike."

"He has come to help you cross over. Go with him."

"Spock..."

"It is all right, Jim. Go with him. I will wait for you."

"I have to go with him. It's time. I love you, Spock. Now and always. You are my heart."

"You are my heart, Jim Kirk. Say good bye now, and go. I love you now and always."

Spock had a viselike grip on his emotions. He didn't want to break down until after Jim had passed. He kept watching his soul mate's face. He watched the life force ebb out of his sick, ruined body. The light went out in Jim's eyes. He was gone.

xxxxx

Nyota and Ree heard a strange, wailing scream come from the bedroom. They looked at each other.

"Oh my God, he's gone," Ree said, and broke down in tears. Nyota held her, supported her. Kianda came into the room with Bones. The wives jumped up and everyone went to the bedroom. Nyota opened the door and found her husband sobbing uncontrollably, Jim in his arms. Spock had closed Jim's eyes, and he looked like he was asleep, but everyone knew that he had passed. They gathered around the soul mates, trying to lend Spock their support, their love. At this point he was inconsolable, but they had known he would be. They stayed together until someone arrived to take Jim's body away. At first Spock didn't want to let him go, but finally he did.

The house was too quiet. The oxycons were all turned off. There was no sound of Jim's raspy, uneven breathing. No voices. No one had the heart to speak. In three days Jim would be buried with full Starfleet honors. For now, there was nothing to do but mourn the loss of a man who was husband, father, grandfather, uncle, best friend... soul mate. A starship captain, an explorer, a rebel, an innovator and a risk taker. James T. Kirk, a true living legend, was gone.