ch 3

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?!" Pike snaps. "That's insane!"

"It's no worse than dropping them off at some orphanage and leaving them there." Amanda snaps. It's always interesting to watch Amanda Grayson lose her temper. She walks the line between Vulcan and human so carefully that it actually frightens everyone who has to deal with her. Pike is not excluded from this effect. He has to visibly make the effort to not shrink back in his chair. Amanda stands just in front of his desk, hands clasped behind her back. Her voice is even, her face neutral, but her eyes burn with fury.

Pike clasps his hands on top of the desk. "There's a reason mixed-species adoption is frowned upon by polite society." he bites out.

"Probably for the same reason mixed-species marriage is frowned upon." Amanda retorts. "Or did you forget that Serek and I are in a unique position to raise the boys?"

"No, I have not forgotten." Pike growls. He glances over at Serek. "Well? Anything you wish to add to this?"

"I believe my wife is making our point rather clearly." Serek says mildly, but Pike suspects the Vulcan is actually laughing hysterically inside. No one can stand up to Amanda Grayson on a warpath, not even T'Pau – hence the marriage. Pike rolls his eyes.

"Lovely. I'm sure there are plenty of logical reasons why you should take the boys."

"Of course." Serek says blandly, and he's probably the only Vulcan who can use that flat tone to convey everything from of course to No shit, Sherlock. He's also the only Vulcan Pike wants to strangle on a regular basis. "I only informed you of our decision because I suspect you will wish to challenge us."

"I'm a captain, Ambassador." Pike points out. "I don't have the time to take care of a child."

"Very well. Seeing as how you would be my only challenger, that means the paperwork will not take as long." Serek says. He stands up. "I would like to accompany the children down to the planet. I wish to see the orphanage for myself."

"Make sure it's up to your standards?" Pike sighs. "Whatever, go for it. I need to go down there myself anyway and sign the transfer documents." He stands up from behind his desk and leaves the office, Serek and Amanda following.

The trip to the planet is tense – at least for Pike it is. Tarsus IV is the closest planet with a Federation outpost and an orphanage, but he knows that if Serek and Amanda do not find this place satisfactory, they will force Pike to take the boys elsewhere. Pike and Serek sit up front in the shuttle while Amanda sits in the back with the boys. She talks quietly to them in Vulcan, and it's only mildly surprising that both boys respond. Jim is actually fairly comfortable around Amanda in a way he has never been with any other adult.

Serek breaks the silence. "Who was the captain of the Nelson?" he asks.

Pike sighs. "George Kirk. A good friend of mine. He and his wife died in the incident."

"There is still no sign of what caused the Nelson's destruction?"

"No." Pike leans back. "Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity."

Pike snorts. "There is no such thing as just curiosity with you. You're a chess player – you're always six steps ahead of the rest of us. What's on your mind?"

"The boys have formed a bond." Serek says. "One of Spock's parents attempted to mind-meld with Jim in order to break it. I do not have to tell you what a painful process that can be."

"No, you don't." Pike says, sitting up a little straighter again. "Who authorized this?"

"Apparently, Captain Kirk."

For a long moment, Pike just stares at Serek. Finally, he groans. "That explains so much." he mutters. "No wonder he never trusted me. Kid's probably scared to death of all authority figures."

"I thought you would like to know that it wasn't personal."

Pike grins. "Don't let anyone else know, but I'm pretty sure you actually care." he teases lightly. "We'll be on surface in about thirty minutes. Hopefully Jim won't make the connection between captain and anyone else in authority." Suddenly his mood sours. "Damn it. I can't imagine George authorizing something like that, not without consulting Jim's parents."

Serek nods. "I find it highly unlikely as well. However, Spock left me with the impression that Jim's parents were not aboard the ship."

"You think that's true?"

"I think that is what they wish to believe to protect themselves from the truth." the Vulcan says quietly. "They are still children. No child wants to believe that their parents are gone."

Pike shakes his head. "Which also means we're no closer to figuring out who they belong to."

"I would rather you leave them in my hands." Serek points out. "A bond such as theirs should be cherished, not broken. They should not be separated."

"Yeah, I know." Pike waves him off. "I'm not that big of an ass. But Starfleet law comes first. If I can find their families before your adoption goes through, then I have to separate them. That's the law."

"Then, for the children's sakes, I hope you never find their families."

/-/

Tarsus IV is a desert planet, but the settlement has been expertly terraformed. The boys exchange looks as they are lead off the shuttle, flanked on either side by Amanda and Serek. Jim speaks first. It's huge. he says. Spock nods.

It feels different from the ship. he observes. Jim shrugs.

I guess it should. I mean, it's not a ship – it's a planet.

Spock nods again. It does make me wonder what planet is used for setting Federation life support systems. he muses. It's not this one.

Jim laughs. It only sounds inside Spock's head, through their bond, but it warms Spock regardless. He hasn't heard Jim laugh since the Nelson exploded. He allows a small smile to cross his face as the adults take them to the orphanage.

They're getting looks. The colony is predominantly human, and the two Vulcans are attracting attention. Jim takes hold of Spock's hand and lifts his chin. Now he's getting looks as well. The whispers fly ahead of them as they make their way through the colony. There's a gentle touch on his shoulder, and a flash of foreign pride as he looks up to see Serek giving him that not-smile that he's used to seeing from Spock. He grins back as only a child can and turns his focus forward, schooling his features in a passable imitation of Serek's expressionless façade.

When they make it to the orphanage, Amanda immediately begins to scowl. "I hope this place isn't built completely yet."

"They don't have that many kids here." Pike explains. "It's actually being run out of this woman's home. There is a facility being built on the edge of the colony." Amanda nods acceptance.

Serek allows Amanda to sort out any problems with the facility. As illogical as instincts can be, Amanda's are spot-on. If there is anything wrong with this place, she will know it far quicker than he will. Instead he crouches down and focuses on the children.

"This will not be the last you see of us." he says quietly, switching from Standard to Vulcan. "Amanda and I will come again."

Spock nods. "To visit?"

"At first. Then, soon, to take you home."

Jim brightens. "Home. You hear that, Spock? He said home."

Spock blinks, shock flickering across his face for just a moment. "You mean, to live with you and Amanda?"

"Yes." Serek assures them. "By then, I believe it would be prudent for you to call us Mother and Father." He spreads his hand out in the ta'al. "Live long and prosper." There's a small flicker of amusement as the children attempt it as well.

As they leave, Amanda leans against his shoulder briefly. "They'll be ours, right?"

Serek nods. "Of course."