Title The Keepers

Authoress' Note: This story is a lot longer then I originally thought it was going to be but my original characters cried out to be noticed. This chapter is dedicated to Musingsage who has continuously reviewed my story and thus has motivated me to finish it. Enjoy!!!!

"May I present their Majesties King Alexander and Queen Ramona." The announcement rang clearly across the room and all eyes turned towards the entrance. The rulers entered arm in arm and smiled to their subjects. They were ornately dressed as if to show 'we are in charge' to everyone; behind them also enter several people, an entourage of some sort Kirk thought. He had just arrived at the reception with McCoy just before the Keeper's rulers came in.

"So you can make a subtle entrance," Kirk turned around and saw Lady Nila Engel smiling at him and the Doctor. She was dressed in another sari that was more embellished than the one she had on before. "Your reputation says otherwise."

"My reputation?"

"Oh you just always seem to have some sort of grand entrance." Lady Nila explained. "As do most Starfleet Captains."

"Can you tell me who are following your King and Queen,"

"Their Majesties aids and one of their wards the Lady Philomena Engel."

"Engel—as in… " McCoy began.

"The Lady Philomena is the younger sister of Lord Christopher." Lady Nila nodded. "He is also a ward of their Majesties. They treat the Engles as their own children."

"So I take it your in-laws aren't alive." McCoy conjectured.

"I'm sorry, I forgot you didn't know," Lady Nila exclaimed embarrassed. "Forgive me, let me explained; my husband, sister-in-law and myself with about two hundred others are survivors of genocide of our planet."

This information struck deeply in the Starfleet officers and they were unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry." Kirk said for lack of anything better to say.

"Thank you Captain, many of us have a hard time talking about it." Lady Nila returned her gaze to the King and Queen. "My husband and I never speak of it to each other. But let us not talk of such things at a happy gathering of friends."

"May I have you attention ladies and gentlemen?" A voice carried out over the murmur of the room. Kirk wanted to apologize if he caused Lady Nila any discomfort but her attention was diverted to the announcer, who happened to be her husband Lord Christopher.

"As you all know my people were a people steeped in tradition," Lord Christopher began. "Traditions that define who we once were; one such tradition was a gesture of goodwill. To show trust between the two parties ambassadors would ask their children, their most cherished treasure, to meet and perform a dance before all present.

"As you all know I have no children," Lord Christopher continued. "But the Creator has blessed me with a wonderful sister, the Lady Philomena." He put his hand out beckoning his sister to his side. She came from the King's entourage; she was dressed in the similar Victorian style as her brother. McCoy could see the familial similarities between the two and thought she seemed rather familar to himself. Lady Philomena smiled at everyone around her and curtsied before them. "So I ask permission of Ambassador S'chn T'gai Sarek of Vulcan if he will allow his son, Commander S'chn T'gai Spock, to dance with my sister, Lady Philomena, as a gesture of goodwill and trust."

At these words McCoy felt his jaw drop and he was sure he was not the only one; he glanced over to where Spock was standing with his parents. As expected neither one of the Vulcans betrayed any reactions; McCoy was hoping to see how Amanda reacted but she too wore a neutral expression as she stared at her husband and son.

"Let this display of trust be more than a gesture." Sarek said looking at Lord Christopher then to the King and bowed to the King. Spock, without being motioned, moved to Ambassador Engle's sister and gave her a small bow. A smile crept onto the girl's face as she curtsied to the Vulcan.

Spock surprised his crew by knowing exactly what to do; he took her into a closed position as they waited for the music to start. What surprised Kirk was how at ease his first Commander was while holding a strange woman in his arms.

"Did you know Spock could dance?" McCoy asked Kirk in a hushed tone.

"I don't know if he knows any of their danced." Kirk replied back in a similar hushed tone.

A slow waltzing music started and the couple danced; it was an odd thing to see a Vulcan dance the waltz, or even to dance at all. It was a simple waltz, but it was very well done with a few spins here and there. Nyota Uhura watched surprised, but she could not help but smile at her commanding officer – in this act Spock was showing that he was more in tune with his human side then he had let on before; Uhura would be one of the few to realize this. She was glad she had made a second copy of her findings of the Engels' conversation on the Bridge. Uhura had a supision that the copy she gave to Spock might make a paraphrastic journey to the Captain's hands.

Christine Chapel felt her face burn but she could not tell if it was from embarrassment or envy. Spock usually acted very reserve, especially when it came to things of a personal nature, but here he had no problem dancing with a woman he had just met. She wished she could exchange places, if only for a brief moment, with the woman Spock was dancing with. After a while she could no longer watch and slowly made her away from the dancing couple careful not to draw attention to her action.

Spock and Lady Mina finished their waltz close to the Captain and Doctor who were still gaping as everyone began to clap. Spock bowed to Lady Philomena and was about to leave but Lady Philomena stopped him.

"Spock," She whispered to the Vulcan with a kind smile and, unfortunately, Kirk and McCoy could hear her as well. "You're forgetting something."

Without another word Spock put out his arm and she rested hers on top of his; he then returned to the side of her brother and bowed to them both before returning to his parents.

AN: For anyone who has noticed - Yes I am being rather mean to Christine Chapel, I didn't intend to it just happened that way!!!