Can I just apologize for being absent for so long? So sorry, and I am working on a longer, multi-chaptered de-aged Jim fic, but it's much more difficult than previously anticipated, plus this little idea just wouldn't leave me alone, so I'm gonna post it and hopefully the other fic will be up soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: In his own, repressed Vulcan way, Spock missed Jim.

In which Spock misses Jimmy.

Spock, son of Sarek, six Terran years of age, was on Earth.

Spock, son of Sarek, six Terran years of age, did not like Earth. It was loud, and the people were very much into tactile contact that on Vulcan, his native planet, would be completely unacceptable, even crude.

However, his mother had demanded that he learn his human side as well, and therefore he was on Earth for the year as his father worked as Ambassador, and his mother aided him. He was on Earth for the entirety of the Earth year, 365 days, and he had been enrolled in a Terran school.

It was fascinating, if entirely too slow for his much faster half-Vulcan brain, and as on Vulcan, it was difficult to make friends. The human children were entirely too undisciplined and he really did not want anything to do with them, even if they found him oddly fascinating.

The only native being on the entirety of the planet, other than his mother, that he found he could tolerate for anything even resembling an extended period of time, was another little boy in his class. This child was remarkably bright, and unfailingly kind. He had a shock of blonde hair that just simply didn't exist on Vulcan, and his eyes were an almost unnatural shade of bright blue. He smiled almost constantly and even though it was obvious through his gestures that he wanted very much to touch Spock (especially his ears) the child was remarkably restrained, having seen Spock's aversion to the other children touching him in any manner.

Yes, in his own sort of way, Spock did like this other child, he found his days much more…..tolerable when in the indomitable presence of one James T. Kirk, whom he almost fondly (how illogical) called Jimmy.

However, Jimmy had injured himself again, keeping him from school for another day. Spock knew that there was something odd about the number of absences that Jimmy had. His bruising did not always concur with the story that was told to the teacher and to Spock, also Jimmy had mentioned on several occasions how he did not like his stepfather.

Spock found himself in agreement although he did not know just why, he did realize that there was something wrong at Jimmy's home and it all entirely had to do with his stepfather.

Also, Spock found school much more enjoyable with Jimmy's constant chatter and sweet smiles.

He supposed that Jimmy could be called a friend, Jimmy himself called Spock his friend all the time, however Spock was reluctant to return the favor, never having a friend before he was not aware of the proper protocol and in knowing that his presence would not remain around Jimmy for more than a year, he did not wish to raise the other child's hopes, as his mother would say, although how a feeling such as hope could be raised he wasn't entirely certain.

But, yes, in his mind at the very least, he called Jimmy friend.

Going through several days of said friend's absence though allowed all sorts of strange thoughts to flicker through his mind. How Jimmy's smile would have brightened up the clouds that caused the class to be unable to play outside at recess; and would have made staying indoors and reading that much more tolerable. How Jimmy's chatter could remind Spock that he was not alone, even if only for the moment. How Jimmy's hair color was an endless source of fascination, as it was wild and untamed, a color Spock had never before seen on hair follicles. How Jimmy, with his easy laugh and warm spirit, made it so much easier for Spock to relax and be himself, to indulge, if only for a little while, his buried need to be accepted.

Jimmy inspired feelings of contentment and relaxation that only his mother had previously been able to invoke within him, and he found that he did not truly mind his control being relaxed if only a little.

He liked being Jimmy's friend, for Jimmy was a very good friend, who treated Spock as though he weren't any different than the other boys the blonde played with, all the while being able to realize that Spock was indeed different, and never failing to accommodate that fact. Spock found himself grateful that such a being existed in the universe, and also found himself somewhat regretful that he would need to return to Vulcan, return to being alone and unwanted by his peers, leaving Jimmy behind on Earth.

It seemed so unacceptable, somehow, even though he knew that was what must happen.

He would simply get through this day without Jim, and then when the small boy did come back to school, did return to Spock's life, he would make certain that the pair of them were together for as much as possible.

Spock's dark gaze retreated to the door for the eighth time in the past 2.7 minutes and he illogically found himself wishing that his playmate would come through the door, all smiles and mirth, ready to play some more. He gave a resigned, Vulcan-esque sigh and turned from the door, going to retrieve his book to read a while before class began, when his sensitive ears picked up the sound of the door being opened and small feet pounding into the room and the shouted murmur of his name from an all too familiar voice.

"Spock!"

He turned to find Jimmy running towards him, smiling, a bruise dotting his small cheek. Something within Spock's chest released at the sight of Jim before him, as simultaneously something within his stomach clenched at the molted purple skin of his friend's cheek. He was so caught up in the warring emotions that he didn't notice how close Jimmy had gotten before the smaller boy's arms were wrapped tight around him and that fascinating hair was pressed against his face.

"Jimmy?" it was a soft whisper of his friend's name, curious as to the outburst, but Jimmy simply hugged him tighter, moved closer, and Spock very gently placed a single hand on the space of Jimmy's back between his thin shoulder blades, and pressed the small body close, returning the hug as best he knew how. The day already seemed more tolerable, brighter, and Spock found, that in his own repressed Vulcan sort of way, he had missed Jimmy.

Perhaps he should inform the other child of their status as friends, if only to have an excuse to write each other when he inevitably returned to his home planet, for he did not believe he wished to give up this feeling for anything in the universe.