It was hotter back on the farm in Iowa than it was on the coast in San Francisco. Back at the house Spock could hear Peter playing on a swing that Jim had strung up on one of the branches of the great oaks. He could hear music coming from the house where Jim's mom was listening and working. Before him he could hear the wind rustling the dry seed heads of the full-grown wheat. Before him he could see the wind rustling the dry seed heads of the full-grown wheat. The field was golden, edged with green grass and trees in dark green leaf.

In his hand he held the dark glasses that he had worn in all of his waking hours for the past week. He had finally been approved to take them off that morning, when tests at the hospital had shown that the nerve regeneration had grown beyond the most sensitive state. He had chosen to wait until now, alone with Jim on the edge of the wheat field.

'How is it, Spock?' Jim asked quietly, after Spock had stood silent for some minutes.

'The field of vision is still somewhat restricted,' Spock said after a moment. 'There is some blurring in the distance.'

'But how is it?' Jim repeated. 'How do you feel, Spock?'

'Jim,' Spock said softly, looking sideways at his lover. Even after all this time Jim didn't know better than to ask such a question. Or was it that he knew just enough to ask such a question?

It had been so long since he had really seen Jim's bronzed and sculptured face. So long since he had been able to take in all at once the dark-blond hair, the shape of the nose, the hazel eyes, the soft lips and the set of his jaw. Just the sight of him made Spock want to take him by the hand and lead him into the wheat field and disappear below the level of the plants with him. He wanted to be utterly alone with him for years.

'I feel glad,' he admitted finally, although glad was a very muted expression for the feelings that were actually churning inside him, below all of the carefully held disciplines.

'Glad,' Jim repeated with a knowing smile. 'Just glad.'

He touched his fingers to Spock's jaw, turning his face so that he could kiss him softly.

'I know you, my Vulcan,' he said. 'You're a lot more than glad.'

He put his hand on Spock's arm and walked with him away from the field, back towards the farmhouse where Peter was swinging so hard that the leaves rustled in the trees. Now Spock could hear Jim's mom singing along to the music. Despite everything, there was a lot of happiness very close to him at this moment. As they came into the yard Peter jumped from the swing in a way that momentarily gave Spock pause, and then ran to the two men calling out, 'Uncle Jim, Uncle Spock, grandma's making doughnuts!'

'Is she?' Jim asked, exchanging a look with Spock. 'Well, we'd better make sure we get them all eaten before the Enterprise is here, otherwise my doctor will throw me in the brig.'

'Aww, the ship's not here for another week,' Peter protested. 'They'll be gone long before then.'

Jim ruffled his head. 'You may be right, Petey, especially if I have anything to do with it. Your grandma's doughnuts are the best. Why don't you go ahead and see how she's getting on?'

Peter looked toward the house door then said, 'Okay, Uncle Jim!' and raced across the grass to the house.

'Oh to have his energy,' Jim said with a smile.

Spock caught a sudden sense of weariness from the human. He had endured so much loss.

'But Peter is fine,' he said quietly. 'Your mother is fine. You are all healing.'

'Yes, we're all healing, Spock,' Jim smiled. 'You included. Come on, my lovely Vulcan. Let's go into the house.'

The End