snowynight

While Jim was reluctant to leave his ship, he found it more enjoyable than expected to spend shore leave together with Spock in San Francisco. Besides sharing their favourite places at the academy, they also visited the Yosemite Park, the California Academy of Sciences and the Ocean Beach. Despite Spock's protest that Vulcans didn't need vacation, Jim was glad to see the tension gone from Spock's shoulders and back.

"I read that a live butterfly exhibit opens today. Are you interested in going, or do you have anything in mind?" Jim asked. It was the last day of their vacation. While part of him looked forward to be back on his ship among the stars, He knew that he would miss relaxing under the sunlight with Spock. "

"I find a visit to the butterfly exhibit agreeable."

"Let's go then. The butterflies won't wait for us."

The hot and humid air enveloped Jim when he entered the butterfly garden. Following the path, they walked to a small house which showed chrysalis in various states.

Jim was surprised how different they looked: jade green, old brown colour that mixed well with dry old branches and orange red. He wondered what they would grow into, but was sure that Spock would be able to identify everyone of them.

"Look!" Jim signaled Spock when a dark red chrysalis shook.

The butterfly inside struggled to stretch open the hardened shell. Jim watched breathlessly as it climbed out of the crystalis head first, clinging onto the empty shell until it stretched open its wing.

"I loved watching monarch butterflies when I was a kid," Jim said. "It's amazing to see one transforming before your eyes."

"It is an interesting subject to study."

Jim laughed. "Always the scientist. Do you know that in some places people believe that dead people's souls return as butterflies?"

"Humans tend to give a lot of meaning to animals and plants."

"It's true, but I can get why they think so. The caterpillar dies so the butterfly could be born. And, yet, the caterpillar lives in the butterfly and they are but one. It is nice to think something beautiful can come out of our deaths."

Spock turned to look into Jim's eyes. "While it is illogical to assume a link between an insect with a metaphorical part of humans, the Enterprise has built a legacy into the minds of numerous others and the stories they share about its success and triumph, and it is as significant as the life we witness."

A sense of warmth filled Jim's heart. "Mr. Spock, I don't know that you're secretly a poet at heart."

Spock raised an eyebrow at Jim's remark and Jim burst into laughter, patting Spock's arms. "Whatever legacy we may leave, I'm glad that I can share my life with you. The Enterprise and me would have been destroyed and millions life lost without you."

He raised a hand when Spock was about to reply. "But I'm starting to embarrass you with my sentiments. Let's take our time watching the butterflies. Their lives are short so let's etch them in our hearts."

They continued their visit to watch the butterflies flying around them, and their beauty was striking. However to Jim, the most amazing creature he had come across was the one walking by his side, and he thanked the universe for bringing their lives together.