A Ride to Yesteryear

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K/S Fanfiction
Title: A Ride to Yesteryear
Author(s): Doreen C. DuBois
Date(s): 1980
Length:
Genre: slash
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
External Links:

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A Ride to Yesteryear is a Kirk/Spock story by Doreen C. DuBois.

It was published in the print zine Duet #1.

Summary

"Kirk takes Spock with him to the Kirk farm, though Spock is unaware that they are there to sell it to cover the debts left by Kirkʼs brother."

Reactions and Reviews

In A Ride to Yesteryear, Kirk and Spock are spending time at Kirk's family farm in Iowa. Ifs their last visit, though Spock doesn't know that, because Kirk is being forced to sell the property to pay for his brother Sam's debts and estate taxes. He refuses to let his bondmate know because of his pride: he refuses to take anything material from Spock.

They go for a ride to a favorite childhood haunt (Spock knows how to ride horses!), then they attend a party given by a local friend so all of Kirk's acquaintances can say hello. Spock isn't too comfortable, but he's especially disturbed when Kirkis accosted by a woman named Kath, a former sweetheart with whom he slept before leaving for the Academy. There's an odd sequence where Spock seems to be silently telling Kirkthat he's had too much to drink, and also when Kirk takes Kath off to dance Spock watches them so closely that Kirk feels under the microscope. His resentment grows and he just continues to accentuate his behavior to flaunt his bondmate. Things are not as good as they should be in Paradise!

The next day Spock cures Kirk's hangover with a touch, and the captain goes off to see his lawyer, although it isn't until a family friend stops by and talks with Spock that he realizes the purpose of the trip is to sell the farm. Of course, Spock works quickly and buys the property. He presents it to Kirk later in the day as an early birthday present. But Kirk has a hard time accepting it, saying first that Spock owns the house and then that they both own the property. A little confusing.

I find this story to be interesting in part because it frustrates me! I don't understand how someone could be committed/married/bonded to a person and yet not be willing to share something as important as having to sell of property to take care of debts, even if they are a brother's debt. And I don't understand Spock's behavior at the party, warning Kirk off the drinks: that's a stupidly sure-fire way to make sure he drinks more! And I don't understand why Kirk won't accept the gift graciously at the end of the story, but I guess I am not imbued with this type of male pride.[1]

References

  1. ^ from K/S Press #61