Who You'd Be Today

All named characters belong to me! T'Pren is Riella's mother, T'Resta is her sister, and Sorek is T'Resta's son. Enjoy and tell me what you think.

You died too young

Like a story that had just begun

But death tore the pages all away…

No one could take your place

And sometimes I wonder

Who you'd be today

- From Who You'd Be Today by Kenny Chesney

Shi'Kahr, Vulcan

T'Pren brushed a strand of gray hair back behind her veil as she watched her grandson Sorek tossing a ball for his sehlat in the yard. Her narrow lips curved in an almost imperceptible smile before she turned away, glancing at the holoimage on the wall.

The young woman in the picture had reddish-blond hair cut to her chin, light green eyes, and a determined expression. The blue uniform emphasized her slender frame and perfect military posture.

T'Pren gently reached out to brush a finger against the image of her daughter's face. "T'Reilani." The daughter who had left Vulcan eighty-two years ago and had been presumed dead almost as long.

On beautiful days like this, when the sun reflected off the cliffs and a soft wind blew in from the desert, T'Pren was reminded vividly of her oldest. Perhaps it was because the girl had always loved the desert. Or perhaps it was due to the intensity of her personality, so different from her younger sister T'Resta.

Had T'Reilani remained on Vulcan, what would have happened? She had been only thirty-two. Just beginning her life, by Vulcan standards. It had been far too early for her – healthy and intelligent as she was – to disappear forever.

Maybe she would have continued exploration. Her name was well-known as it was, just from those fifteen years of service. If she had gone on, perhaps 'T'Reilani' would have been a household word. She had loved exploring.

Perhaps, like T'Resta, she would have been married with children by now. What would her children have been like? T'Reilani had been so different, so independent, and perhaps those traits would have been passed on. Would they have had her unusual hair and eyes, or would they have appeared more typically Vulcan?

It was illogical to think that she could ever speak to her daughter again. When T'Reilani left Vulcan, she had severed all ties irrevocably. There was no way to find her now.

Maybe that was how she wanted it.

But would she have left, had her attempt to have a certain race recognized as sentient been successful? If she had had more support, if there had been more evidence, if everyone had listened – would she still be on Vulcan?

Would she have stayed if T'Pren had listened?

If her mother had believed her, would T'Pren still have a daughter? Would T'Resta have a sister, would her children have an aunt?

T'Pren turned away from the holoimage abruptly. Such thoughts were illogical. But surely illogic from a mother nearing the end of her life could be forgiven…and with that thought, she turned back.

"I am sorry, daughter," she said softly, touching the image again. "If I could bring you back, I would. My only hope is that wherever you went, you found what you sought."