The Prince

Chapter 12

Spock had been tense and anxious since arriving on Vulcan. He'd tried meditation. It hadn't worked. He'd worked out for four hours. That didn't help either. He was simply…restless. He had been experiencing such anxiety since entering Vulcan's atmosphere, but he had simply attributed it as not being home in a long time. But that was six hours ago. Now, all he really wanted was to be left alone, but that would be impossible, as he was expected in the citadel for the delegation reception.

Sometime during the day, Spock couldn't exactly remember when (which was an oddity in itself considering the Vulcan eidetic memory); he'd been updated on what Captain Pike and Nyota were doing on Vulcan. Apparently, there had been a marked disturbance on the Romulan- Klingon border. The Romulans were accusing the Klingons of illegal entry, and the Klingons claimed the Romulans had destroyed 42 of their ships. Nyota, being fluent in Vulcan, Romulan and Klingon, was there to act as translator for Pike. Pike, as head of Starfleet tactical was there in an advisory role, and the Vulcan's as current Federation Council heads, had to sort the mess out. He was there….well, simply because T'Pau and his mother found a convenient excuse to summon him. It was simple as that.

He knew Nyota would be looking for him. And, he didn't really want to see her right then. He knew she had questions, but if there was one thing about his lover, she had excellent deduction skills. Pike did too. They'd figure it out. But he knew they would want to hear from him. He'd spent nine years trying to break free of Vulcan's shadow and it seemed with one fell swoop it had engulfed him again. Waves of anger coursed through him.

Spock looked down at his hands, watching them shake. What was happening here? He wracked his mind, to discern his situation but what he found he simply chose not to acknowledge. Now was simply not the time.

He needed to dress. He noted that his ceremonial robes had been laid out for him upon his arrival back to his room. He hadn't worn them in years. He'd intentionally left them on Vulcan, but even back then they'd been large on him. They had been his father's. Now, they were his. He had a fleeting thought to simply dress in his Starfleet uniform as a sign of his own personal displeasure with having been summoned, but he really didn't want another fight. So he resigned to wear the robes. And he began to dress, ignoring his trembling hands and his own growing irritability.

---

She couldn't get the image of a shirtless Spock out of her head. She hadn't returned to Pike's quarters yet. What would she say? I've found your first officer beating a punching bag to death wearing nothing but a pair of highly revealing yoga pants and looking absolutely sexy dripping with sweat (which was a mystery to her because Vulcans don't sweat)?. No, she needed to calm down and prepare for the reception. Upon arriving back to her room she'd received a message from Pike informing her of their task on Vulcan- ascertain the threat on the Klingon-Romulan border. She was Pike's interpreter. She supposed she should be excited about this. After all, she'd always wanted to visit Vulcan. She wanted to know how it resembled the Sahara, her own beloved desert of Africa. But ever since arriving she'd felt so anxious. And as the hours grew that anxiety only increased. Seeing her lover half-naked almost gleefully beating a punching bag hadn't helped. In fact, if she were perfectly honest, the sight scared her. It was so-unlike Spock. He had been teaching her K'a'sum'i, but even during their lessons together she'd never seen the force or the strength he'd exhibited today. And she'd never thought him capable of violence. No, what she'd witness was pure, unobstructed force. She was painfully reminded that it was only by his own will that he'd never accidentally hurt her during any of their sessions, sexual or otherwise. It was a reminder that they were different- and in very dangerous ways. And she couldn't ignore the growing warmth she felt in… other regions…she crossed and uncrossed her legs, then finally gave in and squeezed them together as she closed her eyes…This was sooo not the appropriate time or place!

Finally, still frustrated and anxious, she rose. She needed to dress for the reception.

---

After notifying Starfleet and receiving the orders Pike had settled down for a nap. Intergalactic travel was always a draining affair. And Vulcan's location in the north quadrant hadn't made the travel easier. Why couldn't that species live closer to Earth? Mars seemed to be a good planet for relocation- hot, dry, barren…He'd disseminated the information to Uhura. He knew someone from Vulcan would be informing Spock and although he sent Uhura on her way to explore (he was too tired really) he knew he wouldn't see her before the reception.

It was several hours later when Pike woke. Vulcan was a warm planet, but the stone walls coupled with the giant windows heated his room perfectly. He figured this location had probably been by design, in order to ensure he and Cadet Aura's comfort.

He had noticed that his first officer had grown increasingly anxious (as anxious as Spock would appear anyway) when they'd arrived in Vulcan's atmosphere. He hadn't seen him since they'd left the transport and rather chalked it up to nerves. He figured Aura's nervousness was due to this being her first time off-world. They'd both be alright.

Secretly, Pike was glad for his Cadet and his first officer. Although one was human and one only half, they were very much alike. Focused, careful, determined. Stubborn, hard-headed and driven.

He knew Spock loved Uhura, although the Vulcan would never admit it. He'd seen their interactions; their unspoken communication with mere looks. They were in love. That last note may have explained why Pike suddenly felt so uncomfortable.

Maybe it was nothing, and he brushed the thought away. But as he stood to ready himself for the reception he couldn't shake the knot of anxiety forming in the pit of his stomach.

II

Amanda had been watching her son closely. After her initial delight at seeing him again she had left him to become re-acquainted with his home. She had watched his attempted meditation, and then saw him stride purposefully out the door to the gym. She knew what that meant.

Sarek had often gone to the gym when he was having difficulty mastering his own control, and as a child Spock had done the same. That gym had seen many a violent outburst from angry Vulcans. She knew Sarek's temper, and could hardly blame her half-human son for his own.

Spock had often retired to the gym after a disagreement with his father. It was in that same place he'd been trained by their head guard, Golan. Indeed, Spock's proficiency in the K'a'sum'i was only behind Golan and Sarek, and that made him a very dangerous commodity even on his home planet.

The K'a'sum'i was the Vulcan martial art of death, and was meant to inflict as much damage upon an enemy as possible before before incapacitating them completely. It was a violent art, and hearkened back to Vulcan's primal past. If one could say it, it was equivalent to torture. Few Vulcans learned it, as the planet was now ruled by logic. But for Spock and Sarek, it was the only thing that helped them curb their tempers.

She had watched as Spock destroyed the newest punching bag. She didn't comment on it, as Sarek had destroyed one right before Spock's arrival. Like father, like son, she thought sadly. It was so true about Vulcan emotions. It had taken her a long time to truly understand their way.

Amanda, along with the rest of Earth's population didn't believe in not having emotions. At first the idea had seemed so ridiculous. How could a people not feel. Then she'd discovered her husband. And watching his tempers, the havoc he wrecked, the near-death of her son…in fact, if she was completely honest, it was the latter event that truly focused her attention on the need of Vulcans to have logic. It was vital to the preservation of their race. Without it, they were little more than savages. She inwardly cringed at the word, but it was true. Behind that stoic veneer was a very violent, dark nature, forged by the planet on which they lived.

So she'd rather watch Spock destroy a punching bag that was easy to replace, than to destroy himself or someone else He'd already done that once as a little boy. And she knew to this day it was the one thing he most regretted. Losing control to that point. It was the single incident when Spock changed and grew so stoic

The memories made her hurt for her boy, and she could tell there his emotions were raging, although throughout his workout, his face remained impassive.

There was something else Amanda noticed too. ..

She had first been intimidated when Sarek brought her to the fortress, but nearly thirty years later she'd learned every nook of the 5000-year old structure. Subsequently, when the young cadet had found her way to the gym, Amanda hung back in the shadows and merely watched.

She watched the girl gaze in at her son, and noted that he hadn't noticed her. That in itself was strange behavior from Spock. Even in his deepest sleep and meditation he was always alert. She had watched as the girls face revealed…fright, apprehension, longing…arousal (she had to grin at that one, remembering her own lusts after Sarek in the same position) and…love…

Yes, Amanda had spent thirty years on Vulcan but the human emotion of love was near and dear to her heart. And it was obvious this woman loved her son. She thought for a moment.

It had been two months back when Spock had called her…

Her son's face lit up her holovid and Amanda was temporarily startled before her face gave way in a big smile. It was her baby. She hadn't spoken to Spock in several months, and although she knew he wasn't dead, she was seriously considering going to Earth to ascertain his well-being.

"Spock! Where have you been? Have you forgotten your mother? Spock saw the smile melt into a hard line and inwardly grimaced. He had indeed been negligent of his mother, but it had not been intentional. He had just been trying to figure out a way to tell her about Nyota. He hadn't spoken to his mother about women in years, ever since Leila. But he loved Nyota, and he loved his mother. It was only logical to discuss the matter with her.

Amana saw her sons grimace and lightened her face. She could tell from his stiff posture and fidgeting eyes he wanted to say something. So, she simply waited.

"Mother, forgive me. I did not intend to neglect you. But I have a matter of importance I'd like to discuss." It was quiet, as Amanda waited and Spock continued.

"I have not discussed my…relations …with you since Ms. Komeni years ago. However, the need has arisen to seek your counsel once again."

Amanda's face betrayed nothing, but her eyes twinkled. Spock saw this and continued after a deep breath.

"I have found a…human female…who has seemingly captured my thoughts. I feel a strong attachment to her, quite different than…the last time…and…"

She watched shocked as Spock's voice trailed off, his eyes to the floor. She watched his shoulders slump slightly…What was this? Was he…blushing? Fascinating…Amanda thought, biting back a smile.

"And?" she encouraged.

"She heard it softly… "I think I love her."

If Amanda didn't know her son, and didn't have keen hearing, she would have missed it. Subsequently, her child's mumbled confession warmed her heart and made her want to reach through the holovid to hug him! She was happy. Her baby had found love!

"Well, Spock, if you love her, and I know that you don't accept any old thing, so she must be special, I suggest you tell her."

Spock had looked at his mother sharply. She knew that look…

"Spock, you will eventually find the words."

As she had watched the young woman watching her son, she realized that Spock hadn't found the words yet.

And of all the times to leave things unsaid…this was the most inopportune time. She hadn't told Spock this, but T'Pring would be attending the reception as well.

She felt a knot form in her stomach.

She resolved to observe tonight. To intervene if necessary. She hoped both Sarek and T'Pau would be fairly distracted. But she doubted it.

Amanda rose and began to dress for the reception.