A/N: This is the sequel to Essential. I noticed that my readers dropped off a good amount after I switched that one to the M section...so this one is going to be rated T, and if I feel that I want to add something a little more mature, I'll just write a one-shot for it, so more people can enjoy the story. I understand that not everyone likes that sort of thing.
If you didn't finish reading Essential because I switched it to M, but want to read this one, I suggest that you go read it, but skip through the sex scenes. Because even the two chapters that contained sex had other, important scenes in them that will be addressed later on, that were non-sex-related.
Chapter 1: Tranquility
"Shore leave, Captain?" Spock repeated, eyebrows rising high, almost meeting his hairline. Kirk grinned.
"Mandatory shore leave, Mr. Spock." Kirk corrected. Spock looked across the table at Nyota, who was smiling also.
"You agree with this?" he asked her across the bond.
"We could use a break. We've stayed on board for every shore leave since New Vulcan." Nyota replied. She turned to Kirk.
"I, for one, am glad that Starfleet Command ordered this." she declared. Everyone else around the table nodded in agreement.
Spock looked around at the other senior officers at the staff meeting. They seemed enthused. He, for one, disliked the idea behind shore leave. He did not 'relax'. He much preferred working on the bridge.
"We need to spend some time on Earth." Kirk said. "It's been over a year since we spent more than a few days there at a time. I think we deserve visits with our families, uninterrupted by work. The last year has been tough- we've had to deal with a salt vampire, androids, time travel, Romulans...a whole bunch of strange encounters. I think the whole crew will feel better after this shore leave."
"I maintain the opinion that shore leave will only make the crew less motivated. When it comes time to return to the ship, efficiency will be down by 30.4 percent." Spock said, folding his arms over his chest. Kirk looked at Nyota, and she rolled her eyes.
"What are you looking at me for?" she asked.
"You're his wife. Convince him." Kirk said. Nyota glared at him.
"Captain, I wouldn't change Spock's opinion even if I wanted to. I may disagree with him, but I let him think what he wants. I'm not the controlling type."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Spock said, his eyes still on Kirk. "Captain, I see no reason for the entire ship to go on leave."
"Starfleet ordered it. We have no choice to go to Earth after that Klingon warbird damaged the ship. We have to dock for repairs, and Scotty says that it will take at least three weeks. Being so close to home, I see no reason why we can't all have a break." Kirk shrugged. "That includes you, Spock. If you want, I can drop you and the Lieutenant off on New Vulcan."
"That is unnecessary, Captain. If we must have leave, I prefer that we stay on Earth." Spock replied.
"So, it's settled. Uhura, I want you to broadcast the good news ship-wide at 1800 tomorrow. In two days, we'll arrive home, and everyone gets three weeks of shore leave!" Kirk grinned at his senior staff as he stood. "Dismissed."
Outside in the corridor, Spock eyebrows were slightly furrowed as he and Nyota walked toward their quarters.
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad." Nyota said, nudging her shoulder against his arm as they walked.
"We have three weeks with no duties to attend to. It is pointless."
"You enjoyed New Vulcan didn't you?" Nyota asked with a smirk. They were in their quarters now, away from prying eyes, so she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close to her. He rested his forehead against hers, looking directly into her eyes.
"That was entirely different. What you call the 'honeymoon cave' is a tradition observed by Vulcans for thousands of years. To spend an entire shore leave-"
"Spock, we'll have a good time, I promise." her eyes sparkled as she said this. "We'll find things to do. Besides...our anniversary is next week."
"By anniversary I assume you mean the date that we bonded, as our wedding ceremony was two months later." Spock replied. She nodded, and kissed him.
"Exactly. And human couples get each other gifts for their anniversary. So we're going to be spending some time shopping."
Spock was uneasy at this, and she felt it.
"Don't worry, I'll love anything you get me." she said, kissing him again and smiling as she pulled away. "And I already know what I'm going to get for you."
"May I ask what it is?" he asked, clasping his hands behind his back as she moved to take off her boots.
"You may ask, but that doesn't mean I'll tell." she said, and he felt her mischievousness. He reached out, catching her around the waist with one arm and pulling her back to him.
"And if I find it to be displeasing?" he asked.
"You won't. I promise." Nyota said, and kissed him yet again, the kiss lingering longer this time. "Remember the red lingerie?" she whispered into one pointed ear before taking the lobe between her lips and biting gently. One eyebrow rose.
"I do not suffer from memory loss, adun'a." he said. Nyota tugged at his ear with her teeth before pulling away.
Janice Rand, an acquaintance of Nyota's, had given her a gift of red intimate apparel for their Terran wedding reception. Both of them had found the garments stimulating- unfortunately, after only three uses, Spock had torn the lingerie to bits. Accidentally, of course.
"Well, keep that in mind." Nyota said, arching her own eyebrow before turning away from him. "But other than shopping for anniversary presents, there are other things I want to do. I haven't seen Remaja in what, six months now? Not since she stopped calling me."
"It was inevitable that once she become accustomed to the academy that she become less dependent on your support." Spock replied.
"She's probably halfway through the cadet curriculum already." Nyota said. "Well, it will be nice to see her again. Maybe you can play chess with her- last I knew, she was learning how to play, which means she's probably the strongest rival you'll ever have by now."
"Her learning rate is astounding." Spock said. He was now watching as Nyota stripped out of her uniform, wearing only her standard white bra and underwear. She rifled through the closet for something more comfortable to wear.
"We could do some traveling, you know. Do some sightseeing." she said. "Or we could just stay in a hotel room the whole time, and order room service."
"I plan on spending this time on research. There are many subjects of interest that I have meant to read about, but have not had the time due to bridge duty." Spock said. Nyota found a pair of sweat pants in the closet and pulled them on, then an old t-shirt. Spock regretted the fact that she had covered up most of her smooth skin.
"Research is not the point of shore leave, Spock." Nyota said, crossing her arms over her chest and frowning. "The point is for you to spend time with family. Which means me."
"I am fully capable of balancing you with my research, Nyota." Spock said.
"Spock, we've been married a year now, and we haven't been alone together for a consecutive amount of time since we were on New Vulcan. In fact, we haven't seen much of each other at all lately, because our schedules are conflicting right now. I'm usually asleep when you get off bridge duty, and by the time I'm up you're already gone for a second shift. By the time I get to the bridge, you're off again. We only get a few hours a day together."
"You have a valid point." Spock said. He could feel that she was upset. He did what he had learned to do when he upset her, and reached out for her, drawing her against him. "I will only research when you are asleep." he said.
"Deal." Nyota said, before climbing into bed. He followed her.
__________________________________________________________
Nyota watched as San Francisco came into view from the shuttle window. The Enterprise was now docked at the space station, and repairs were underway. Everyone was excited about the three-week-long shore leave.
Everyone but them had plans to stay with their families. They would be staying at a hotel...neither of them had any family on Earth. Well, Spock did have an aunt in New York City, but he had not seen or heard from her in fourteen years. And Nyota had her parents, but...they weren't exactly supportive of her marriage.
All the same, Nyota was excited. They really did need a break. Their shifts had been long and almost back-to-back for the last few months, which meant they had hardly any time to spend together. Maybe a meal here, a quickie in between shifts there, but for the most part, it was almost like they didn't live together. She missed not having him to herself.
They had had little spats here and there, of course. What married couple doesn't fight, at least occasionally? But the quarrels were always resolved within hours, and they would be especially affectionate with each other for days, or even weeks, afterward.
All in all, it had been a very content, happy marriage so far. Not bad, considering that on Earth, most couples were sick of each other by the end of the first year.
The shuttle began its descent, the glittering, sun-kissed city below them getting closer with every second. Nyota leaned over Spock so that she could watch the ground loom up at them. She could feel his hot breath against the back of her neck.
"Nyota, you are invading my private space." he said, and she felt his annoyance. She gave a short laugh as she drew away.
"Oh, and I never invade your private space, now do I?" she asked.
"Not in front of others." he said, casting a look at the people surrounding them.
"They're not paying any attention, Spock." Nyota said. Her eyes were shining with excitement as the shuttle evened out and coasted to a stand-still. "Do you realize how long it's been since I've set foot on land?" she asked.
"I believe that you were allowed to be part of a landing party four months ago." Spock said.
"That hardly counts. It was work- not that I did much of it, considering that it was an uninhabited planet." she barely concealed her scowl at this. Ever since Kathosia, she hadn't been allowed on away missions that could be even slightly dangerous. At first, it hadn't bothered her- but life on the bridge quickly got boring when everyone but her was allowed to leave the ship every once in a while. It was frustrating, and unfair. Not every planet was Kathosia or Scorpius Three.
"You now have three weeks to be planet-side." Spock said, unbuckling his safety harness and reaching over to help with hers, which was stuck. They both stood, and Spock gathered their bags from the overhead rack.
"I hope it passes by slowly." Nyota said as they shuffled into the crowded aisle full of loud, boisterous Starfleet personnel.
"Three weeks will pass in precisely twenty-two days, Nyota. It will not be any slower or faster than that." Spock said. Nyota smiled and rolled her eyes as they stepped off the shuttle into the bright sunlight.
The shuttle port was full of people waiting to greet their loved ones. Spock led Nyota through the tight press of bodies, toward the nearest exit, and she followed.
They stopped at the rental center to pick up the hover-car Spock had reserved. Then they headed for the hotel.
"Ahh, sunlight." Nyota said, smiling as she opened the sun roof of the hover-car and let the bright rays fill the vehicle, bathing her skin golden. She saw Spock looking at her from the corner of his eye, and her smile widened, eyes crinkling up at the corners. "Do you like what you see, adun?" she asked teasingly.
"You are beautiful." he said simply, and turned his attention back to the stretch of road before them. Even such a simple comment as this made her swell with love for him, and she let him feel it.
They enjoyed a peaceful silence during the rest of the ten-minute journey to the hotel they were staying at. Once there, Spock checked them in and they went up to their room.
"Nice." Nyota said when she saw the spacious suite of rooms. There was a living room with a computer console, a kitchenette, a bedroom with a very large, comfortable-looking bed, and a bathroom that had a jacuzzi. That brought up memories of their honeymoon on Vulcan, and she exchanged a meaningful look with Spock. His lips quirked up- he was thinking the same thing she was.
"Well, now that we're here..." Nyota went to him, and slid her hands under his shirt, running her fingers through the sparse hair, her nails grazing against his skin lightly. "How will we start off our shore leave, Commander?" she asked. Spock raised his hands to lay them on her hips, bringing her closer to him.
"I have never understood your need to ask questions that you know the answer to." Spock said. She tilted her head, the smallest of smiles curving her lips.
"Well...I suppose it's to tease you." Nyota said, as he brushed his lips against hers- not kissing her, but almost. She closed the distance between them, sighing against him as she caressed his lips with hers. She slid her hands down, down...under his waist band, one hand unzipping to make room. She began to touch him.
Then there was a knock at the door.
"You've got to be kidding me." Nyota groaned, her hand stilling. She stood there for a moment, hoping that whoever it was had gotten the wrong room and would leave. Spock's breath was warm against her neck, where he had been kissing before the interruption- across the bond, she felt his own irritation. The knock came again, and Nyota withdrew her hand. Spock fixed himself as she headed for the door, shaking her head in frustration. Whoever had interrupted what was promising to be a very fun afternoon was going to be yelled at.
"Excuse me, do you-" Nyota began as she swung the door open- eyes flashing, chin jutting out- and then she stopped cold when she saw who stood on the other side.
A/N: Hee hee, cliffhanger! Sorry, couldn't resist ;)
The beginning part of this story will be fluffy with a touch of angst...there will be action in later chapters, I already have an idea for when they get back on the Enterprise.
Anyway, since I'm also working on The Vulcan's Wife (my Sarek/Amanda fic, if you don't already know- 2 chapters of it are up, if you're interested) the chapters of this story will be shorter than they were for Essential.
Reviews make fanfic writers happy :D