Have We Been Here Before?
Chapter Four - Family Man
Enterprise
Mid August 2268
Spock
The two days that Nyota and Grayson stayed in the sick bay, Spock spent every possible moment with them. He arrived in time to have breakfast with her, and to sit and talk a while afterwards, watching while she nursed their son. He marveled as the tiny fists clutched at her breast, while the tiny mouth sucked lustily. And when their son's hunger was sated, he fell asleep, still nursing. When Spock carefully lifted him away, so that Nyota could close her gown, his tiny mouth still worked, small bubbles of milk in the corners. He laid his son against his shoulder, and patted gently, as he had been shown, and was rewarded with a tiny hiccup. He moved his hand slowly up and down the small back, and his son settled into sleep, familiar with that warmth.
At noon, he came to share a large salad with her, and tell her of happenings on the bridge, before having to leave too soon to return there. And in the evening, he came and sat by her side until they made him leave, saying she needed to rest. The first evening, he brought his ka'athyra, and played soft lullabies, the doorway full of nurses, listening.
The second night, he watched in utter fascination as one of the pediatrics nurses showed them how to bathe their son. He asked so many questions that she finally turned to him, laughing. "Commander Spock, it's not that exact a science. You don't have to be letter perfect."
He nodded gravely, but he did not believe her. He memorized everything that she did, in great detail. When she was finished, she gave him the small basin she had used, after wiping it dry, saying it was for them to take home. He carried it to their quarters when he left, sitting it beside the changing table, there in their bedroom, waiting to be used.
It was during this time, as well, that he learned the correct way to change a small boy's diapers, so that one did not receive a faceful of urine. Nyota had to cover her mouth with her hands to prevent laughter from spilling out at the look of utter shock on his face when that happened. Thankfully, his Vulcan reflexes had moved him out of the way fast enough that his clothing was not drenched. One of the nurses brought him a wet cloth and a small towel. She began to explain the physiological cause of what had happened, and he grasped it quickly. "He does not have any voluntary controls as yet. I must remember this in future."
On the third day, when he arrived at lunchtime, there was Nyota, in the outer waiting room, wearing her own gown, with her own blanket in her lap, sitting in an autochair with their son in her lap, an orderly standing behind her, waiting. They were coming home! He bent, to touch his son's face gently, his hand stroking against Nyota's fingers briefly, conveying his relief at having her away from sick bay. When he straightened, the orderly touched the controls of the autochair, and they exited to the corridor, headed for their quarters. As soon as they were inside, he took his son and laid him in the cradle, waiting there at the end of the couch, and then he lifted Nyota and set her on the couch, putting the fat pillow under her feet. He turned and thanked the orderly, who was already wheeling the autochair out the door.
And then they were alone. Just the three of them. He folded himself down next to the fat pillow, where he could touch both his wife and his son. His family. Nyota smiled at him, feeling the intense emotion that he could not hide. He did not move until it occurred to him that she may not have had her lunch. "Nyota, do you require nourishment?"
"No, they fed me early, so that we would be ready when you got there. But you need to eat."
"No, I have received all the nourishment I require."
She reached out and grazed the side of his face with her fingers, sighing happily.
"Do you require the use of the facilities before I return to the bridge?"
"That would probably be a good idea."
He stood, and offered his arms, and she wound hers around him, grasping his shoulders, and carefully levered herself up. When he was sure she was stable on her feet, he stepped back, and watched her make her careful way across the room. When she returned, he questioned whether she wished to nap on the bed, but she said not, stating that she could not move the cradle, and besides, she had been napping on the couch for weeks. She moved into his arms, wrapping hers around his body, and he relished the feel of her, holding her close for several minutes before helping her to sit again. Getting down seemed to be easier than getting up. He tucked her blanket around her again, and brought her a bottle of water, hesitating.
"Just bring me my knitting, and then go. We'll be fine."
He found her knitting bag and brought it to her, then kissed her lightly and left. If he had known she was coming home at noon, he would have arranged to have his relief on the bridge. Tomorrow he would be able to spend the entire day with her. And all of the next week. By then she should be healed enough to manage without him, she had assured him of this.
When he entered the bridge, Jim turned to him, grinning. "There's our family man!"
He considered this. It was true. And it was pleasing. He quirked his lips slightly, nodding his assent. Pleased, Jim turned the command chair back to center, ready for whatever might happen next.
At shift end, he silently queried what she wished for supper. He went to the mess hall, and filled the carry-out boxes, arriving at their quarters to find her nursing their son again. He sat the food containers on the table, and sat on the couch beside her, one long finger caressing their son. Tiny fingers closed around his, grasping tightly, and he held impossibly still, not wanting to break that connection. He could feel his son's bliss at the sensation of warmth, dryness, not-hunger. So simple as yet, so pure.
At bedtime, he carried the cradle in, setting it beside the bed, where he could reach it easily. And then he laid Grayson down, covering him gently with one of the soft blankets that they had purchased the day they found the cradle. He assisted Nyota in rising from the couch, and waited for her return from the bathroom, easing her into the bed, being sure she was comfortable before changing from his uniform. And then he slid down into the bed, careful not to jostle her, and wrapped himself around her, so glad her half of the bed was no longer empty. She sighed and settled down, pulling his arm close over her ribs, tucking his hand against her midriff, and was asleep almost instantly. He lay there for some time, treasuring the sensation of three different sets of exhalations in that room. Family. His own treasure.