A/N As promised we visit our young pair again as bonded and truly each one is half of the other's heart and soul. We will visit them on and off with accounts that lead up to their marriage after Nyota's graduation.
Epilogue Part One
When You Wish Upon A Star
Chapter One
Chapter One
Nyota was the one who had made the suggestion to Spock. It seemed like a good idea that a group should be formed-one that would support instructors who had married or intended to marry their students. It eventually comprised other inter-species couples. It could best be described as a group that would encourage and assist and offer assistance in crisis situations.
There was a wide array of attendees at the initial meeting. Of course, she and Spock were the only Vulcan/Terran couple present. The predominate matched pairs were Betazoid/Terran. This coupling would have the additional burden of telepathy training in order for the pairing to succeed.
It was decided that they would not meet on Academy grounds and after clearance from Sarek, a room was held open for their use at the Embassy. The kitchen was even involved in this act of hospitality and according to Spock's request, either light snacks or a 'politically correct' meal would be prepared. This was indeed the most open the Vulcan species had ever been. A step forward since 'First Contact.'
The Betazoid/Terran couples had been married legally by a justice of the peace and then experienced their joining at the Betazoid Embassy. The Betazoid Ambassador was a very pleasant person, who always attempted to learn from each couple exactly what had attracted them to one another.
The one Orion/Terran couple could definitely use assistance in the area of fidelity. It was a new concept for an Orion. The rest of the group was comprised of Terran/Terran couples, instructors and students who had married.
Spock and Nyota realized that over time this group's numbers would grow and eventual, they would be assigned to active duty, for that reason neither one of them would seek office within the framework of the group. Instead, they thought their place was to offer encouragement and suggestions.
It was during some of these later meetings that the stories about each couple came to light. Interestingly, some of the instructors were female, and their mates were younger than they were. The species that these females had sort attachment to, were those that reached maturity at around thirty years of age, and then lived for fifty or sixty years and then reached the end of their life cycle. Apparently neither one of these pairing desired a long period of widowhood.
At times the meetings' air was light, peppered with humorous stories or experiences from various couples. At other times tears were shed because of the non-acceptance of family members to the couple's pairing. It was during such sessions that our couple felt extraordinarily fortunate-their acceptance by family and friends was the state that each of those couples eventually wished to reach.
As various star ships docked for refitting, the group's size would swell. Conversely, with deployment, the group shrank. Some relationships, that were not instructor/student, were nonetheless welcome. Extremely amusing would best identify some of the experiences of these new members.
Spock and Nyota were viewed with such deep respect-they were considered the forerunners for everything positive that had to do with these relationships. He was obligated on many occasions to remind the group that his parents were the real originators of such a concept-as the expression goes, 'they wrote the book.' Even though that thought was true when it came to this development as it touched Star Fleet's Fraternization Policy, Spock and Nyota were considered the heroes.
During Nyota's junior year an incident occurred that allowed Spock the opportunity to realize the strength of their bond. Nyota had returned to USA to attend her sister's graduation. She was giddy with excitement, but extremely melancholy about their separation. The night before she left they spent at the Embassy. She explained their evening together should be viewed as 'a preview of what to expect upon her arrival home.' Their evening together made Spock reach two conclusions.
One, that the preview was extremely fulfilling and two, that he would have a difficult time as he awaited her return. She finally fell asleep in his arms and he spent the rest of the evening memorizing everything about her sleeping form, for it would have to comfort him at night while she was away.
He accompanied her to the transport station and before she climbed onto the pod, she reached up her hand and grabbed the back of his neck, standing on tip-toes she whispered into his ear,
"I will keep in touch with you on our own 'private line'. Keep focused on my return."
She then ran her lips across his cheek. and as the lights enveloped her Nyota blew Spock a kiss.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
He was pensive during his walk back to their room. It was indeed illogical to keep drifting back to her parting words…my return. He did dwell on the farewell kiss she had given him in their rooms before she left, and hoped that a programming problem, with a high degree of difficulty would present itself and that it would cause him to work day and night during this week without his aduna.
In less than fifteen minutes, after she had passed through customs, through the bond he heard, 'I am here, safe in Nairobi, all are well. I already miss your touch. Even with the bond, it is like food with no taste, something is missing. Your voice is no substitute for the firmness of your body against mine, your scent, your chin whiskers… I love you forever and a day.
Her statement, though illogical did capture the essence of his wife and served as a comfort to him.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The accident occurred one day after the graduation and two days before she was to return home. She and some of her cousins had chosen to spend the morning on the bike path that was part of their family's compound. As usual, the competitive spirit in his aduna was awakened, so she challenged,
"I'll beat all of you to the bridge," was her dare as she sped off with the others in hot pursuit. As she turned to see who was gaining, her front wheel hit a rock that was partially buried and sent her over the handle bars of the bike. Thankfully, her head was the second part of her body to hit the ground. Her sister, a medical doctor rushed to her side to find an unconscious Nyota, lying sprawled on the dusty path.
Checking her vitals and her eyes, Dede connected to the relay station and advised them to bring a truck or a van to their site. Within minutes they were there…