Just This Once, For Luck!
The Mustang had been in the Grayson family for over one hundred years. It had been purchased new by her great-grandparents on their first wedding anniversary, and named "Myrtle". The family kept it on the road, in good running condition for almost seventy years. Now the replacement parts were either too expensive or just no longer available. No one wanted to get rid of Myrtle, for she had great sentimental value.
Rather than be sold for scrap, Myrtle was moved to a barn on the far side of the family property. When her tires rotted away, she was placed up on blocks. The only thing that still worked was the old fashioned music player, which two of Amanda's cousins rigged to on a solar battery. They "detailed" her quarterly, and touched up her baby blue paint job every five or six years. Myrtle was special. She was the clan "fun mobile", and a partaker in a closely guarded Grayson family secret.
Amanda's great-grandparents had determined that their first child had been conceived in the back seat of that Mustang. He had turned out just fine, so not wanting to jinx anything, they conceived the other three kids in Myrtle as well. Thus began a family tradition. When a Grayson decided it was time to reproduce, they brought their spouse or significant other to the farm and to Myrtle. They never spoke of it to outsiders, except those very few who became involved with Graysons.
Sarek and Amanda had been "trying" for a few years, with no success. Even the Mayo Clinic in her hometown of Rochester, Minnesota had not been able to help the inter-species couple achieve a viable pregnancy. Now it was time for them to return to Vulcan. Once there, they would begin the poking, prodding, and testing all over again at the Vulcan Science Academy's Medical Center.
Amanda expressed her frustrations to her mother, who was sympathetic. However, she had a question. "Honey, have you tried the Mustang?"
"Mom, I'd never get Sarek into the backseat of a non-functioning vehicle for the purpose of procreation. I can just hear him now, telling me that now and how illogical it would be. He'd never go for it."
"Sweetie, you never know until you try. Tell him the truth, that it is a family tradition. He has honored all of our others. If that doesn't work, get him loaded!"
"Mom!" Amanda feigned shock, but then she smiled. She had two packages of peanut butter cups stashed in her purse. They might just do the trick.
It was their last night in Minnesota. Tomorrow Sarek and Amanda would return to the Vulcan Embassy in San Francisco. Two days later they were to depart for Vulcan. "My husband, let's take a walk. The evening is pleasant and there is something I'd like to show you."
"That would be agreeable, my wife", said Sarek, his curiosity piqued.
They walked to the far end of the property, to Myrtle's barn. "Is this what you wanted to show me, beloved, this barn?"
"Not just the barn, my love, but the contents as well. It is time we did our part to uphold another Grayson family tradition." With that, Amanda opened the barn door, turned on the light, and they stepped inside.
"Sarek, meet Myrtle. Myrtle, meet my husband Sarek. "
He gave his wife a quizzical look. "Amanda, this is not a sentient being, but rather an automobile, one that appears to be non-functional."
"You are correct in one thing, husband, she is an automobile, a very old one that no longer runs. However, she still retains one very important function. For the last one hundred years, most of the Grayson family members have been conceived in Myrtle."
"Your family engages in procreational activities in this vehicle? That is why you brought me out here? This is highly illogical, and the odds of us successfully conceiving are extremely low. Also, this is a very confined space." Sarek was quite tall, with very long legs.
"Very true, however it is a tradition. Couldn't we try it just this once, for luck. I even brought your favorite treat." Amanda opened the car door and slipped into the back seat. Then she reached into a pocket and held out a peanut butter cup.
He sighed, raised an eyebrow, and climbed into the back seat. Amanda turned on the music player for a little inspiration. An old, late 20th century tune, Paradise By the Dashboard Light by someone called Meatloaf...
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During his second year as an instructor at Starfleet Academy, his mother insisted that Spock spend part of Spring Break on the family farm, now owned by his uncle. He learned much of the family history and lore. One of his cousins, Johnathan, roped him into helping "detail" and paint Myrtle. While they were painting, Spock listened to the story of Myrtle's "special purpose". Johnathan also said he had heard that Spock's parents had "visited with Myrtle" the year before he was born.
When he returned to San Francisco, Spock immediately contacted Amanda. He had a few questions about Myrtle. Amanda had always told her son that he could ask her anything, and that she would answer him truthfully, even if it was embarrassing. Yes, they had indeed "visited with Myrtle", but the only thing they had produced was good luck. The Vulcan scientists were successful in helping them achieve a pregnancy. Still, somehow Spock found even that fact comforting. He stored it away for future reference.
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Spock and Nyota had been married now for a year. It had been nearly three years since the destruction of Vulcan and his mother's death. Nyota said that it was time to start a family, a fact he agreed with wholeheartedly. When the Enterprise was granted a brief shore leave period on Terra, the couple decided it was time for a short trip to Minnesota to see the Graysons. It was also time to "visit with Myrtle." Just this once, for luck.