Disclaimer: If I owned Star Trek, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

Author's Note(s): First I'd like to say to all of you who reviewed thank you. For all the positive and even negative reviews I got. Each made the story better.

I realize it's taken a while to come out with this, and I should start by explaining why.

When I started "The Prince" I expected it to be dark. But I didn't expect to write in certain situations. The last chapters were very intense. To be quite frank about it, I shocked myself. Continuing on while thinking about a way to address what happened on Vulcan without discounting the severity of the crime and yet maintaining the dignity of all the characters was something I continue to struggle with. I don't want to play down the situation, because I believe that would be disrespectful. Wounds take time to heal. And to warn you all, it's going to get worse, before it gets better.

For my first time readers, check out "The Prince" before you read this. There's a discussion post on LJ that talks about fics that deal with such themes.

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The Prince: Absolution

Prologue:

Spock moved to the bed as Sarek and Amanda stood silently by, watching cautiously. He stared down at the broken figure his actions had brought so much harm too. Outwardly, he remained stoic. His emotional controls were fully in place. But inwardly…there was an emptiness no amount of meditation could fix; despair no control could reach…His own grief still very much in existence. But he was strong enough to control it.

He displayed nothing. But he was overcome with a desire to…touch her…

Lost in his own thoughts he began to stroke her cheek. She was so beautiful. She was perfect. She was…love…He had never known such a thing: To feel completely connected to and accepted by someone. She had never judged him. She did not let his coldness affect her. She had become essential to him…she was a part of him…and now…No.

He couldn't hurt her again. He wouldn't. He loved Nyota. He loved her with every fiber in his being. His soul cried out to her… He wanted her to love him, to keep him. They had planned their future. Marriage, a family. Now that future was gone. He desperately wanted to cling, to hang on, but… He had to let her go.

Outwardly, he remained calm. Inwardly, he hurt.

It was now just he and her. He had blocked out the others in the room…

He leaned forward, whispering to her, "My ashayam, I love you."

His heart was breaking. But he had too…for her sake. He would not allow her to wake up to…this…

He touched her face for the last time. They had melded many times before, each time in love…Now…it was an act of mercy.

Amanda sobbed silently into her husband's robe as the realization of what Spock was doing dawned on her. Sarek held her tightly to him, as he watched his son work.

Pike looked on quietly, not understanding what was happening. Something must have told him it needed to be done, however.

"I love you Nyota. I am sorry." Spock closed his eyes, his fingers touching her meld points, as he entered her mind. He worked slowly over the events that brought them to this point…editing, snipping…eliminating…

He leaned close to her ear and whispered the word he could never take back…

"Forget."