Amanda looked at the tall figure of her son talking with her husband. When she had heard of Spock's decision from Sarek she had known that although Sarek was disappointed about Spock rejecting the Vulcan Science Academy for Starfleet, he was also very proud. Not that he would ever show it, but if there was one thing that Amanda had learned in all her years on Vulcan it was how to read Sarek. Her husband was proud and as Amanda had promised Spock, so was she.

However, now it was time to say goodbye and she wasn't sure if she could. Not to her Spock, her child. Although he was no longer a child, he was still her child and he would always would be and it hurt her to send him off to an alien planet. Even if it was her planet, Spock had never been there before and now he was going without her.

But it was her son's turn to make his own way in the world. She was proud of him and she wouldn't embarrass him with an overly emotional send-off regardless of her own feelings on the matter.

"Mother," a soft voice inquired. Amanda looked up into the soft brown eyes of her son, her eyes. Eyes that were unlike the common cold black of most Vulcans. Although she loved seeing a piece of herself in Spock, she also knew that his eyes, her eyes, were a great source of pain because of his peers. Luckily he had been able to surpass all that.

"It is time all ready, Spock?" Amanda gave him a watery smile. Spock gave her a sharp nod.

"Yes," he replied. "I have all of my affairs in order and I have said my farewells to father. My shuttle will be leaving in approximately 2.4 minutes."

The corners of Amanda's lipd twitched slightly when Spock gave the approximate time. Only a Vulcan would consider 2.4 minutes to be an approximation of time.

"Will you be all right, Spock?" Amanda asked even though she knew that it would be too vague a question for her son.

"All right, mother?" Spock's eyes squinted at her slightly, a tell-tale sign that he was confused just as she thought he would be.

"How are you feeling?" Amanda clarified, her voice low.

"Feeling?" Spock raised his eyebrow. "I fail to understand the purpose of the question."

"Oh, Spock," Amanda sighed. "You know what I mean. I know that you've fully embraced the Vulcan way as your father and I have encouraged you too, but you are half-human."

Spock stayed silent and to the world he was the very definition of apathy and impassivity, but a mother knew better. Although Spock had gained a great deal of confidence in himself and in his actions over the years, he was never quite as comfortable with his human heritage. Amanda didn't blame him either. In a culture where being human was so detestable, she couldn't imagine any other way he could feel about it.

"I know," Spock replied stiffly.

"I know you do too, but you'll be living on Earth and be living with humans for a long time. Earth is a part of your heritage. I know it will be difficult for you, but I want you to do something for me while you're in Starfleet. Something that will put my heart at ease while I'm not able to see you"

"I will do my best to do whatever you ask of me, mother," Spock leaned forward slightly in anticipation. Amanda smiled at her son and stepped forward so that she could put her hands on his shoulders.

"Make a friend, Spock. Just so that I know that you won't be alone," Amanda said softly. The look Spock gave her was even more confused then the one he had before, but he nodded.

"I will try my best"

"Good"

"It's time for me to leave now, mother," Spock said as he carefully took his mother's hands from his shoulders and held them in front of him. He gave them a light squeeze and took a step away from her, signaling that it was truly time to say goodbye.

"Goodbye, Spock, and good luck," Amanda said with a smile that was more forced than the one she had been wearing before. Spock straightened his posture and raised his hand to form the Vulcan salute.

"Live long and prosper, mother"

And then he was gone.

Chapter End Notes:

And there you go.