He grinned up at the Vulcan, who was holding a pair of plastic bubble wands in his hands, as Jim himself poured the soap-and-water mixture into an aluminum pie pan.

"This was something my mother used to do with my brother and I during the summertime. We'd eat lunch outside, and spend the afternoon playing with bubbles. I guess I'm just feeling a little nostalgic, is all." He reached for a wand. "Let me show you how it works."

In a short time, the air all around them was filled with bubbles, gleaming as the sunlight brought out rainbow hues.

"They are aesthetically pleasing, Captain."

"Yeah, they're pretty." To Jim, Spock himself seemed to fit right in under the floating cloud. "Since it's just the two of us..."

They kissed, hidden in a shower of popping, soapy bubble.

Jim decided that this was far better than any previous bubbly summer.