A Tale of Two Christmas

Chapter 2, "Home for Christmas"

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, don't profit.

Acknowledgement: My thanks to T'Ashalik for the beta and for her continuing patience, support, and encouragement - and to you, the readers, for your kind reviews.

Credit: Dr. Daniel Corrigan was a character invented by Jean Lorrah in her professional Star Trek novel, The Vulcan Academy Murders.

Sarek frowned as he exited his ground car and gazed at his home. The exterior lights shone amber through the deep blackness of the Vulcan night, but the interior was dark. Reaching out through their telepathic bond, he tried to get a sense of Amanda's emotional state, but her mental shields were firmly in place.

Suddenly uneasy, he hurriedly entered his home. From somewhere in the dark house came the soft strains of a Christmas song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." He hung his cloak on a peg in the entry hall and removed his boots. Slipping his feet into his worn house slippers, he called out, "Amanda?" No response.

He went in search of his wife. The kitchen was dark and silent. Depositing a small package on the kitchen counter, he entered the living room. Multicolored lights glowed on the small artificial Christmas tree they had set up on a low table, but there was no sign of his bond-mate. I-Chaya rose from his bed next to the picture windows to greet his master. "Where is she, old friend?" Sarek asked his cherished pet. The sehlat gazed up at his master with soulful brown eyes and emitted a soft "Yowp."

"Come, let us go find Amanda," Sarek said as he stroked the rough fur of his pet's head. He headed for their bedroom, I-Chaya padding silently behind him. When he entered the room, he saw her, a small silhouette standing next to the windows facing out toward her garden. She was leaning against the wall, tracing patterns with one finger on the window glass.

Through the intimacy of their bond, he knew she was aware of his presence. "I've been looking outside all day, but there's no sign of snow," she said quietly. It was the middle of Vulcan's "winter," and the temperature had struggled all day to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sarek walked over to stand close behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "There is little likelihood of snow this evening, my wife," he said softly.

She leaned back against him, reaching her right hand to caress his left hand where it rested on her shoulder. "I can always dream," she replied.

After a few moments of silence, she went on. "I saw Dr. Corrigan today. He said that I'm recovering nicely and we can resume marital relations in about six weeks. He advised against trying to conceive again for at least four months so my body has a chance to fully recover."

"Amanda. . ." Sarek began, but she turned to face him.

"Did you see her before they took her away? She was a beautiful little girl with blue eyes and pointed ears," she said, her sapphire eyes filmed over with unshed tears.

"I saw her," he replied quietly, stroking her cheek with paired fingers.

She gripped the soft fabric of her husband's soft burgundy tunic and buried her face against his chest so he wouldn't see her tears spilling over and running down her cheeks. Sarek wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close against him, lowering his mental shields completely so she could feel his own unspoken grief.

"I am sorry this happened again, ashayam. Dr. Corrigan told me this process has taken a toll on your body. Perhaps we should stop trying to have a child and be content with our life as it is now. You are all I need, Amanda. If I were to lose you, I do not know how I would go on."

She burrowed deeper against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I want to give you a child," she whispered. "I want that more than anything."

He sighed and rested his chin on the top of her head. After several moments of silence, he said, "Your parents contacted me at my office this afternoon. They were concerned because you had not responded to any of their messages."

"I didn't know what to say to them."

He pulled back and turned her chin up so they gazed into each other's eyes. "What would you say to a Christmas visit to your parents in Minnesota, aduna? While I do not relish the thought of snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures, I took the liberty of booking passage to Earth for the two of us tomorrow morning at 0500 hours. I calculate that we should arrive at your parents' home at 1800 hours on Christmas Eve. Would you like that?"

She smiled mistily up at him. It was the first time he had seen her smile since the loss of their stillborn daughter. "I would. Thank you for thinking of it. I missed being home for Christmas last year."

"I bought you a surprise I hope will improve your mood at least a little," Sarek replied, his dark eyes shining with what she knew to be love, even though he would never admit to feeling that emotion.

"What is this surprise?" she asked with a small smile, her curiosity piqued.

"Come to the living room. Sit and enjoy listening to your Christmas music. I will bring it to you there." Taking her hand, he drew her into the living room and gently lowered her into the antique oak rocker she had brought with her from Earth.

After covering her with the dark blue afghan her mother had crocheted for her the previous Christmas, he went into the kitchen and closed the door behind him. I-Chaya settled at her feet, resting his massive head on her lap. "Whatever is he up to in there, sweet pea?" she said, scratching the ecstatic sehlat behind his ears.

Closing her eyes wearily, she leaned back in her rocking chair as she listened to the the heavenly sounds of her favorite Christmas carol, "Silent Night." Within minutes, a familiar smell began to emanate from the kitchen. The kitchen door opened, and her husband walked out bearing a tray with a pot of hot chocolate and two Christmas mugs.

"Merry Christmas, Amanda," he said as he set the tray down on the table beside the rocker. He poured hot chocolate into one mug and handed it to her. After pouring another cup for himself, he sat down in his favorite chair on the opposite side of the table.

She took a cautious sip and sighed with pleasure. "Delicious," she commented, smiling at her husband. "Merry Christmas, Sarek. Thank you for thinking of this. You are so sweet, and I love you so much."

Sarek replied, "Talukh nash-veh k'dular, aduna," as he extended his hand in her direction. She reached out and placed her small hand in his. He squeezed it gently and released it.

They sat and sipped their hot chocolate in comfortable silence as they listened to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." Sarek stole a brief glance at his wife. She seemed more at peace than she had been in days. Perhaps this trip to visit her family would be healing for them both. Perhaps, in time, their wish for a child to complete their union would be fulfilled after all. As his grandfather Solkar had often said, "There are always possibilities."