That Could Have Been Better
Opening his eyes again, Sarek squinted as sunlight filtered in through sheer curtains. Emma sighed softly, mumbling something unintelligible, and snuggled up to his back. He gently rolled over taking her into his arms, cradling her head on his shoulder, encountering a marvelous display of bed-head, sticking out everywhere it should not have.
As he could hear talking downstairs, Will's voice booming with laughter, Sarek thought it time to rise. Emma shifted in his arms, and stretched very slowly. She opened one eye, then the other, and yawned.
"Ha'tha ti'lu, Aduna," he whispered, softly.
"Good morning," she smiled at him.
"I believe the family is already downstairs preparing first-meal. I smell coffee," he tempted her, as he rose to dress. She perked up a bit, eyeing his naked body with delight. "I shall return momentarily," he said, pulling on his pajama bottoms, sitting low on his lean hips.
"I quite enjoyed last night," she said, feeling somewhat tingly in places she did not wish to awaken.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked into her eyes. "That sentiment is mutual, k'diwa t'nash-veh," he said, touching two fingers to hers.
He rose, opening the door to find Will was standing there with one hand raised to knock a cup of coffee for Emma in the other. His jaw dropped open as he looked Sarek over, very nearly naked with bed-head of his own.
Emma burrowed deeply under the duvet attempting to will the situation into going away. /Oh. My. God./
Nonplussed by neither her mental communication nor his own embarrassment, Sarek greeted him. "Good morning."
Will stood there for another moment, and then his manners returned. "Sarek. Well, good morning. I brought Emma some coffee, a tradition she and I have," he stammered. "I'd have brought you some as well, if I'd known, that is."
"Most kind, but I prefer tea," he said, gently taking the coffee from him and placing it on her night table. "Emma - coffee."
He then returned to the door. "Will, I would speak with you momentarily," he requested, stepping past her father toward the bathroom.
"You're still standing there, aren't you?" she asked, voice muffled by bed linens.
"Umm…"
"That would be a yes. Are you upset?" the muffled voice asked.
"I'm surprised, yes, but not upset. Tell you what Emma, why don't you go use the master bathroom, so we can all sit together for breakfast, and the most interesting conversation in this house for many, long years," he suggested.
She shot a thumbs-up from under the duvet.
Will quietly shut the door and walked down the stairs. He passed through the kitchen and out the back door, stopping only to respond to his wife.
"Will, is Emma up yet? I don't know what Sarek prefers for breakfast, do you, Will?"
"He's up there, all right. They'll be down in a few minutes," he responded curtly, slamming the door behind him.
Anna crinkled her nose wondering what Will's problem was.
Emma stood in her parent's shower. /Well, that was fun,/ she thought.
/It certainly was not./
Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of wood being chopped with an aggressively swung axe. She and Sarek walked downstairs together and were sharing a private moment, when Anna came into the living room looking confused, speaking before she saw them.
"Emma, I don't know what has gotten into your father but - " she stopped midsentence. "Ah. It makes perfect sense. I'll call him for breakfast. Good morning, Sarek."
She walked away trying to hide the smile on her face: Murron was right about them.
Breakfast was eaten in quiet, the only sounds were utensils on plates, cups being into saucers. Emma was grateful for the customary silence during a meal.
/That is not the reason we observe silence during a meal, Aduna./
/It is today, Adun./ He looked at her sharply and then back at his plate, serving himself another slice of tomato.
After finishing one last piece of toast, Will scooted his chair back just enough to cross his right leg over the left, and then set his eyes on Emma. He imagined them phaser beams, boring holes through her forehead.
When all reasonable attempts to vaporize his daughter failed, he shifted in his chair. He really wasn't angry, he just would have preferred to not find out that way. He also did not like the thought that a man seventy years older than he had a better waistline. "Sarek, you requested to speak earlier."
Sarek looked at him, then Anna. "Emma and I have taken one another as husband and wife," he answered, matter-of-factly.
Pretending to speak to Sarek, Anna directed her comment to her husband. "I see. When did this happen? I don't mean to invade your privacy; and you're under no obligation to explain yourselves to us," she paused. "Are they, Will?"
She loved her husband, but he could be insensitive at times. Will looked at his plate quietly, avoiding her glare.
"I ask forgiveness for causing disruption," Sarek said.
Will sat forward and put his forehead in his hands, rubbed his ears a moment and then spoke.
"There is nothing to forgive. I'll not begrudge my daughter joy in her life, especially after all that's befallen her. All we desire is Emma to find satisfaction with her life, as it is and with whom she'll share it. If that comes with you Sarek, I gladly welcome you to our family."