I do not own Star Trek. :(
I'd like to give a special shout out to Josie010 for providing inspiration for the end of this chapter.
Let's see what our young lovers are up to now.
****
Over the next several days, Nana, Nyota and Spock explored various points of interest around Nairobi. There was a recent surge in popularity of open air markets which had all but disappeared in the wake of advanced technology the past few centuries. A couple of their jaunts to the bustling market places involved purchasing fresh produce for lunch. However, Nyota has insisted upon having dinner at local restaurants so Nana wouldn't be trapped in the kitchen all day. She wanted to spend as much quality time as possible with the two most important people in her life.
Their final evening together was spent at the Uhura homestead with dinner catered in. They ate in the formal dining room and Nana pulled out the good china and silverware. A gentle stream of baroque music played while the three enjoyed their meals and each other's company. When they finished dinner, the trio moved to the music room where Nyota entertained Nana and Spock with a few selections on the grand piano.
"I will be right back," Nana said as she rose from the sofa.
Spock stood up from his chair as well as a gesture of politeness and when Nana had disappeared through the doorway, he sat to Nyota's left on the piano bench. He silently watched as her lovely hands gracefully struck the ebony and ivory keys to produce a melody that Spock found most pleasing. His eyes traveled from her hand up her bronze arm to her glistening, bare shoulder. He lowered his head and tenderly brushed his warm lips across the enticing body part that had commanded his attention before planting a willowy, open-mouthed kiss to her shoulder. Nyota closed her eyes to savor the moment and unintentionally slowed the tempo of the song as her attention was being divided between her performance and Spock's display of affection.
Nyota's hair was swept up in a ponytail that began at the crown of her head and cascaded to the middle of her back—a style that Spock had only seen her don a few times before, but always found alluring. Particularly because it allowed for a more complete view and better access to her swan-like neck. Spock draped Nyota's hair across her right shoulder and then left a trail of kisses that began behind her ear and ended at the nape of her neck.
A delighted sigh escaped Nyota's lips and was soon followed by a sour note that reverberated through the room and down the hall. She was finding it difficult to focus on the music through such rapturous distractions from Spock. Nana, of course, heard the stray note and said to herself, "What are they up to now?"
Nana quickly found the items for which she was searching and made her way back to the music room. She was humming along to the tune Nyota struggled to play and Spock could hear her approaching well enough in advance to allow him to move back to his seat before Nana returned. Nyota looked at him with a hint of disappointment because of his abrupt departure from her side and he quietly explained, "Nana is coming down the hall."
Mere seconds later, Nana reemerged with several photo albums tucked in her arms. Spock immediately stood and assisted her with the bulky items. Nyota ceased her play when she realized what Nana brought back from her impromptu scavenger hunt.
"Oh, no," she painfully groaned. "Are you trying to completely embarrass me, Nana?"
"I just thought Spock would like to see what his Nyota looked like growing up."
Nana summoned the young couple to join her on the sofa. Nyota plopped down on Nana's left side while Spock settled to the elderly woman's right. She waxed nostalgic as she flipped through the albums which visually documented the history of the Uhura clan. Spock saw images of Nyota's grandfather as a young man, in the days before he founded the company that would birth an intergalactic communications technology corporation.
"Mr. Uhura was first and foremost a scientist. He developed a technology that helped advance and perfect sub…sub…" Nana struggled to find the precise term.
"Subspace communication," Nyota supplied. "Something Starfleet is quite familiar with," she smiled sweetly at Spock.
"Quite familiar, indeed," he concurred.
The trip down memory lane continued as they moved through the albums and Nana became misty as she came across photos of the reception from the Uhura's wedding day. Nyota's parents absolutely beamed and the joy of the occasion jumped off the images on the page. Nyota's father was draped in traditional Kenyan attire while her mother adorned the flowing robes of her native Ethiopia. If there were any doubts before, Nana's position within the family was bolstered that day when she was seated at the head table in the placed reserved for the mother of the groom.
Nana soon made her way to the album that contained numerous photos from Nyota's childhood. The pictures of her as an infant and toddler provided no cause for concern since, as Nana put it, "She was such a gorgeous baby."
However, for Nyota things took a turn for the worst when they came upon a picture of her as an awkward 13 year old. Complete with stereotypical braces, thick-lensed glassed, and a horrid hair don't, Nyota could not contain her glee as she displayed for the camera an impressive trophy awarded for winning a regional spelling bee.
"I knew I should have burned that picture," Nyota hissed.
"Well, at least your inner beauty still shines through," Spock said with an undeniable smirk in his voice.
Nyota shot him a dirty look and reached behind Nana to flick the pointed tip of his ear and Spock let out a pained grunt.
"Behave children," Nana demanded without looking up from the photo album.
"Yes, Nana," Spock and Nyota replied.
****
As the evening was winding down and the trio relaxed in front of a raging fire in the family room, Nana's mood turned austere.
"Spock, I need to ask a favor of you."
"Yes, Nana?"
"I need to be able to touch your hands and your face."
While Spock was confounded as to why it was imperative for Nana to make physical contact with him, he implicitly trusted her reasons for wanting to do so.
"Can you prepare yourself?"
"Of course, Nana."
Spock closed his eyes and focused on setting up the necessary mental barriers to prevent any transfer of thoughts and emotions. When he was successful in his task, he opened his eyes and said, "I am ready."
"Spock, Nyota, come kneel in front of me."
The couple complied with her request and Nana grabbed both of their right hands.
"Nyota told me of your bond, Spock. She also told me of your conscious decision to remain abstinent since the issue is not yet resolved—though I am confident that it will be. And because of the wisdom you have displayed and because of the amount of love a respect you have for Nyota that this demonstrates, there is and will always be a spot in my heart reserved especially for you. Nyota can choose whomever she wishes as her mate, so what I am about to say and do does not give her any more freedom that she already has. But I wanted you both to know that you have my blessing if you ever decide to marry."
With those words, Nana joined Spock and Nyota's hands and pressed them tightly between her palms. She then took Nyota's face between her hands and firmly placed a kiss on her forehead. She then repeated the gesture with Spock.
Nana had provided her blessing in this manner to several members of the family, including Nyota's father, but this instance was particularly unique given her finishing touch. She raised her hand to display the traditional Vulcan greeting and Spock could not suppress a smile as she said, "Live long and prosper."
****
Spock and Nyota's trip to Vulcan was shrouded in secrecy, beginning with the private shuttle that awaited them at the spaceport conveniently located in Nairobi. The clandestine nature of their journey was due to Sarek's status as a diplomat and not because of any intentional efforts to make Nyota's trip to Vulcan covert—although Nyota found their travel arrangements quite beneficial. There were instances when Sarek's diplomatic missions needed to be as discreet as possible. There were also times when he would be in the midst of negotiating a treaty and the family would play host to ambassadors from across the galaxy. Sarek felt it was important to take great care in assuring his guests could arrive on Vulcan and to his home with complete anonymity. As a consequence, the entire family adopted this as standard procedure for all of their off-planet travel.
Nyota was thankful that her arrival on the planet would not include any fanfare. She and Spock exited the shuttle and moved immediately to the hovercar that awaited them at the bottom of the stairs. They waited for a few moments as their luggage was take from the shuttle and placed in the car's trunk. The tint in the sound proof privacy screen separating the driver from the back of the car was set at maximum, so they had complete privacy until they arrived at his home.
As the hovercar finally sped off, Spock held Nyota's hand and asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Just a little."
"Do not be. We should arrive at my home in approximately 10 minutes, and if I know my mother, dinner should already be prepared."
Spock was correct on both counts. The hovercar pulled inside a set of huge gates, made its way down a long, winding driveway, and stopped outside of the home's main entry. Spock got out of the car and made his way around to open the door for Nyota who was immediately greeted by a smiling Amanda Grayson.
"Welcome, Nyota," she said as she stretched her arms out to the young woman who was successful in stealing her son's heart.
Nyota gladly walked into the welcoming embrace and any concerns she had about receiving her acceptance were washed away. She saw two familiar eyes looking back at her. Spock definitely had inherited his mother's soft, kind eyes.
"I was so thrilled when Spock told me you agreed to visit."
"I wouldn't have passed up this opportunity for the world ma'am."
"Let's go inside—dinner is ready," she said grabbing Spock by his arm and standing at his side. "I have missed you, son."
Amanda rested her head against his arm and noticed the increased muscle mass since the last time she had seen him—no doubt a result of his training at Starfleet. He extended his free hand out to Nyota who happily latched on. Spock was pleased to be entering his home with the two women he loved the most in the entire universe.
****
Much to her surprise, Nyota found dinner to be a relaxing affair and she was not the nervous wreck she was anticipating to be. Spock had asked where all the servants were and Amanda explained she had given them the next several days off.
"Vulcans are famous for their stoicism, but they are just as notorious as humans when it comes to gossiping. But there are a few I can trust to practice discretion concerning Nyota's visit." In other words, there were those who wouldn't run to Sarek with tales of the human woman that his son brought to visit.
The staff of their household was made up of not only Vulcans, but humans as well. It was a way to ensure Amanda would not feel isolated as a human living on a foreign planet, and it worked. But she also had close relationships with several Vulcans on staff.
"I would ask you what you think of Vulcan so far, but I don't believe you've seen enough to form an opinion."
"No ma'am. Although I did manage to see a hint of the Vulcan sky at dusk when we walked out of the shuttle at the spaceport."
"Ah, yes. Sunsets here are magnificent. I believe it's to make up for having no moon to gaze upon at night," Amanda giggled. She continued, "Well, I'm sure my son feels just fine, but I can imagine you must be awfully tired, Nyota. Get some rest tonight and I promise to give you a tour of the city tomorrow."
"I can't wait," Nyota beamed.
"Spock, see Nyota to her room, and I will see you both in the morning."
****
Unlike Nana, Amanda had no cause for concern when Spock led Nyota to the guest room that was closest to his own. They walked into the spacious yet sparsely furnished room and as soon as Spock placed her luggage on the floor, he swept Nyota into his arms. They engaged in a passionate kiss that lasted for several minutes. Spock weaved his hands through Nyota's hair and she stroked and kneaded the muscles in his back with the tips of her fingers.
When it became necessary for them to finally come up for air, Spock said in a rumbling baritone, "I have deep affection for Nana, but I have missed being able to kiss you like that for the past few days."
"So have I," Nyota purred. Motioning towards the open door, she then asked, "Aren't you afraid one of the servants will see us?"
"By now they have left for the evening. They all have their own homes."
"And your mother?"
"My parents' quarters are on the other side of the home."
"Nana would have a fit if she could see us. Are you sure you feel safe with me right next door to your room?" she said, teasingly poking his chest.
"Oh, I think I can take care of myself."
Nyota giggled and replied, "Good night, sweetie."
"Nyota, are you able to stay awake for a little while longer?"
"Um…I'm sure I can. Why do you ask?"
"There's something I need to do first, but I will come back in about an hour."
"What are you up to, Spock," she said shooting him a suspicious look.
"You will see soon enough. Just do not go to sleep."
"Ok, I won't"
Nyota spent the next hour settling into the room and unpacking her belongings. She changed into more comfortable clothing and washed her face so she could completely reapply her makeup, since it was beyond the point of freshening up. Nyota had managed to preoccupy herself enough to help the hour pass by quickly. She heard Spock's soft rap at the door and provided permission for him to enter.
"Are you ready," he asked peeping around the door.
"Yep. Do I need to bring anything?"
"Just yourself," he smiled.
Spock took Nyota's hand and led her out of the room and down the hall. The house was still and absent of light until they turned a corner and Nyota could see an orange glow emanating from the patio outside. The two walked outside and Nyota saw a large chaise lounger placed next to a stone fire pit containing dancing flames that licked the cool night air. Spock had spent the last hour starting the fire for warmth and placing and lighting the numerous torches around the patio for effect.
Nyota stood behind him, leaned into his body, and wrapped her arms around his waist to soak in his warmth. He could feel her shivering and guided her to the chaise where he covered her with a large blanket.
"Wait right here," he told her.
From the shadows, Spock picked up a large, pliable pole made of bamboo. At the end of a long piece of thin, clear plastic string affixed to the pole was a luminescent orb. Spock positioned the pole so the object looked as if it were suspended in the night sky and then shined a black light on it to produce a silvery glow.
Once he was finished setting the mood, he slid next to Nyota underneath the blanket and held her close to his body to generate enough heat to take away the chill. He could hear muffled sniffles and looked down to see her eyes pooling with happy tears. When once escaped, he quickly kissed it away.
"I thought I would give you a small reminder of home."
Nyota leaned in for a peck on his lips and stroked the back of his neck. She rested her forehead against his and said, "I love you so very much, Spock."
He smiled broadly at her declaration and knew the moment was perfect for what he had been waiting to present to her for weeks. He pulled the crimson velvet covered box out of his pocket and handed it to Nyota. She opened the large, flat box to reveal a necklace with a modest diamond at its center, surrounded by sparkling Austrian crystals. The torches and the fire cast enough light to make the impressive bauble shimmer.
"And I love you so very much, Nyota Uhura."
Nyota was left speechless, for in one night, Spock had managed to give her both the moon and the stars.
****
A/N – As I mentioned at the top, many thanks to Josie010 for providing inspiration for the close of this chapter. She shared with me how tickled she was by some of the, ahem, 'special effects' in the original series which included objects suspended by visible strings. God love 'em!
Spock's construction of the moon is also an homage to one of my all-time favorite TOS scenes from The Man Trap. Uhura asks Spock to, "Tell me how your planet Vulcan looks on a lazy evening when the moon is full." Spock's reply? "Vulcan has no moon, Miss Uhura."