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markervin63- Thanks so much for your thoughts!

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Earth; San Francisco, California; 2249

Laken was having such an amazing Saturday morning. Her friend Sheila Haymich, who lived just a few floors below her and Amanda, had invited her and a few others to a study group in her living room. They were all in Amanda's class, so they figured that looking over their work together would make the process a lot easier. It quickly proved to be effective when they first started gathering a year earlier, and it was definitely staying that way.

It wasn't just studying that went on, of course. Laken had lunch with Spock each week. He was adjusting very well, and was almost ready to board starships for training. The more she heard about it, the more the girl warmed up to the idea of joining Starfleet once she was old enough. Amanda had been quite encouraging of the prospect, as her adopted daughter was doing wonderfully in her classes. Sheila was thinking of it too. In fact, it was one of the things they had in common when they first met in the residential building's lobby.

Once the study session was over for the day, Sheila walked Laken back to her apartment.

"Don't forget, tomorrow's meeting is engineering. But we'll all go out for pizza later on."

"Got it. I'll see you then."

She let herself into the flat, only to find Amanda standing by the kitchen table with a grim expression.

"Laken, I…I'm afraid I have some news."

"What? Oh, no… Your mother, is she…?"

"Oh, no! She's fine, it's not that."

The girl breathed a bit easier. Amanda's mother hadn't been feeling well lately, and her aunt Matilda, the one who lived in Seattle, had already died a few months earlier. But whatever the news was, it appeared to have the older woman on edge.

"Amanda, what's wrong?"

"You won't be happy with me in a moment." A few seconds of silence passed before she finally went on. "We're going back to Vulcan."

Laken's expression didn't change, but on the inside, her guts felt like they were twisting.

"Why?"

"I just heard from T'Pau, and she said Sarek's father died yesterday. She's delaying the service until we get there."

"Oh." She wondered if it was temporary…prayed, even. "So we're going to the burial, and then coming back, right?"

"No, we're returning for good." She continued before the teen could respond. "And please know, I understand that you've made friends, and that you're happy here. But you're just seventeen. A year from now, you can come back."

"What about Spock? Is he still exiled?"

"Most likely."

"Then how…? How can you think of going back?"

"I…" It took a great deal of effort for her to answer. "It's his father, sweetie. Sarek needs me…and I need him."

Laken couldn't say anything. Her eyes were starting to water heavily in frustration and grief, but she didn't want to let the tears fall.

"Well…we don't have to go for a while, right?"

The look of regret on the woman's face wasn't reassuring.

"The transport leaves tonight, honey."

"Why can't I stay with Spock, or with Sheila?"

"Laken, I know you're upset, but I'm your guardian. It's my responsibility to make sure you're safe, and I can't do that if we're on different planets."

No longer bothering to hold back her tears, the girl looked down.

"Can I go downstairs and say goodbye to her?"

"Oh, of course. And we'll call Spock from the ship. Come back soon, okay?" Her adopted daughter nodded, turning towards the door. "Laken, I'm really sorry."

The weeping girl couldn't speak, or else she'd have started sobbing. It was too much to handle. Everything was wonderful five minutes earlier. She had friends, Spock was nearby, and she was far away from the planet that made her feel so unwelcome. But now, she suddenly had to go back. The poor girl could only carry herself down the stairs to her friend's flat. When Sheila opened the door, she was horrified to see the other teen's wet face.

"Hang on, my mom's napping," she muttered, closing the door behind her before looking back at Laken with alarmed eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I…I have to go back to Vulcan. Tonight."

"What?"

She proceeded to tell her friend what happened. Even though Sheila said her mom wouldn't mind if Laken stayed with them, she knew Amanda's resolve wouldn't be swayed. Despite both of them being upset over this news, the Human girl tried to be optimistic.

"Well, it's only a year. And we'll definitely keep in touch, won't we?"

Laken nodded as the other girl pulled her in for an embrace. She couldn't stand the idea of returning to that rigid planet, especially not when she was finally starting to fit in here for the first time in her life. But she tried to mirror her friend's encouragement.

One year. Just one more year.

Eventually, as soon as she mustered the strength to do so, Laken departed the Haymich residence and focused on the arduous task of packing.

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She was barely able to keep herself together as she and Amanda spoke with Spock while on the ship. The older woman took the first turn, for which Laken was grateful; she'd be embarrassed if she broke down in front of her brother. By the time Amanda was done, the girl was in a better position to talk. In his usual logical mood, Spock expressed regret at no longer having lunch with her each week. While Laken said the same thing, words couldn't express how she really felt to be on a ship that was warping away from her joy. The only respite she had was when she cried herself to sleep the first night of the trip.

Laken's grief had dissipated a little bit by the time they made it back to the dry planet. By the looks of it, Amanda was able to dig up one of her Vulcan gowns from the suitcase. All Laken had nearby were her trousers, along with a cloth vest worn over her shirt. She figured they might not be the best things for a memorial service, Human or Vulcan, but it was all she could reach.

It's not like they'd notice at a funeral.

Unfortunately, when the two females made it to the gathering, the younger woman's garments appeared to be all others could notice. Though Sarek seemed both surprised and content to see his wife again, Laken couldn't decipher the look he gave her. She figured he was displeased with her clothes, but there was something else she couldn't read within him. Unsure of how to proceed, she kept her head down as the ceremony commenced.

It was a very quiet affair, and Laken was surprised at how void it was of all feeling. Everyone had the same straight-lipped expression; despite the fact that it was his father who was gone, Sarek's composure didn't crack one bit. Barely any words were spoken until the three of them had arrived back at the homestead.

"The attire you left behind in your room would be more suitable for future occasions," the Vulcan man told her.

The teenager didn't bother to answer, even in light of a persuasive glance from her adoptive mother. She was too numb to get upset with him. After all, now that she was back on Vulcan, there would be plenty of opportunities for that. But as she unpacked her things and set up her family's photos around her old room, it almost felt like she was still on Earth.

No. I'm stuck again.

She hadn't needed to sleep with Fluffy for a while, but she certainly needed him tonight. Feeling him nestled in her arms was a somewhat sufficient reminder of the comforting aura of her home on the Terran world. It had been such a new feeling, almost like an embrace. And it was far away now. All she could do to make herself sleep was focus on Sheila's words until her eyes got heavy.

One more year. One more…

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