After an hour of tossing in the bed, Maeve gave up on the idea of a nap. She was simply too upset to rest. After pacing their quarters for a few minutes, she decided to visit her grandparents. There were several things she wanted to discuss with them, primarily her ancestry. She'd been too bewildered when Sarek had first given her the news and after, he seemed edgy whenever she mentioned going anywhere. She wasn't sure why he disliked the notion so much but after his emotional display over the idea of her going to live with her grandparents, she did understand how deeply this affected him. So, she'd made herself content around the Embassy. But now that he was away…

It was a beautiful morning, the sun bright in the sky with only wisps of clouds. The temperature was just right and she decided to walk to her grandparents. The exercise would be good for her, she reasoned.

"Maeve," her grandmother greeted her with a surprised hug. "My goodness, what brings you here at this time of the day?"

"Sarek is away…on a mission and I…well, I've missed you," she said. It was at that moment that she realized she hadn't seen her grandparents since they'd come to dinner at the Embassy and she and Sarek had announced her pregnancy. Her grandparents had been surprised but pleased. Her grandfather had hugged her and whispered, "it seems you will have everything you want." He'd patted her back and then as they parted, he'd winked. Maeve had missed her grandparents more than she realized.

Her grandmother called out to her husband and informed him that they had a visitor. He was joyous when he entered the living room to find Maeve. "It is so good to see you again, Granddaughter," he exclaimed as he crossed the room to hug her.

"Sit," her grandmother ordered, "and I will bring tea." Maeve sat in a cozy chair next to the sofa and smiled as her grandfather settled into his favorite chair.

"How are you, Maeve," he asked. "The pregnancy is going well?" He knew how much having this baby meant to her.

"I saw Solek this morning and he says everything is 'satisfactory', which is about the most I ever get from him. He seems surprised that I am behaving myself and following his instructions."

Grandfather chuckled. "As I recall, Solek used to get very frustrated with Amanda. She was notorious for ignoring instructions that she deemed too restrictive."

"Oh," Maeve said with a smile. "I had not heard that but…Sarek seems surprised at times, as well. He looks at me as if he expects me to do something outrageous."

"You and Sarek are…your relationship is …growing?"

"Yes, Grandfather. I… miss him terribly."

"Yes, I'd heard that he'd departed for Letaria. These negotiations should not take long. He'll be back soon, I'm sure."

Maeve opened her mouth to tell him that she suspected her would detour to Vulcan on the way home, but Grandmother came in with the tea and distracted her from their conversation.

"So, you are lonely without your husband and came to visit your old grandparents in your time of need," her Grandmother said with a chuckle after the tea had been served.

"Well, yes…and also I wanted to discuss something with you," Maeve replied. Her grandparents looked at her expectantly. "In the testing that Solek did…for the baby, he found out that I'm not completely human."

Surprise registered on both of her elder's faces. "Not…human?" Grandfather asked, his eyes showing his confusion.

"It seems that somewhere in my ancestry, there is a member of the Yonalrik." Maeve sat silently as she watched her grandparent's expressions.

"The what?" Her grandmother asked.

"Yonalrik," Maeve said clearly. "They have a history with the Vulcans. Solek said it is why conception happened without assistance. It seems the genetic contribution from my alien ancestor made it possible." Maeve sat quietly as the news settled in.

"So, this mystery ancestor has done you a favor?" Grandfather proclaimed.

"Well, yes…and no," Maeve said hesitantly. "But do you know…I mean, which side of the family…and how far back…"

Her grandparents looked at one another and shrugged. "It must've been your mother's side, dear," grandmother said softly. "We never knew much about her family. I'm not sure she did. She was orphaned when she was young, you know."

"Yes, I…I'd remembered that. So, there's no way to find out?"

"I can look into it if you wish," Grandfather offered. "It might take some time; the records will be old if any exist at all."

"Please do. I want to know."

Grandmother looked at her questionably. "But you said yes and no. What is the 'no' part of that?"

"The history with Sarek's people is… difficult. It seems the Yolnarik have an unwanted effect on his people." Maeve blushed as she thought of her effect on her husband.

Grandfather's brow furrowed as he noted the blush and Grandmother smiled. "It brings out his romantic side?" She asked her granddaughter.

"Um, yes…" Maeve blushed even more. "It seems that…well, he… well, something about me being pregnant has brought it to the forefront and he…well," she sighed and then forged ahead. "It is a good thing he is away because I need the rest."

Grandfather cleared his throat and then rose from his chair. "Perhaps I should leave the two of you for a few minutes. This sounds like girl talk to me," he said as he shuffled from the room, obviously embarrassed.

Grandmother smiled at her. "Well, it has been awhile but I seem to recall that in the early stages of pregnancy at least, there is more…romance involved."

"I knew that; I mean, some of my friends told me…but this is…" She took a deep breath and then continued. "Grandmother, he can't seem to think of anything else when I am around. The last couple of weeks were awful for him, I know. He'd have to come home at mid-day to…um, …. "

"Get comfortable?" Grandmother offered.

Maeve looked at her, relieved. "Yes. And then…again when he came back in the evening and…then either he would spend the night in meditation or…"

Grandmother patted her hand, "in bed."

"Yes." Maeve couldn't look at her grandmother and occupied herself with a thread in the leg of her pants. "He's been insatiable. And I'm afraid it will be just as bad when he gets back. I love that he…that I'm the one he wants, but I don't know how much more I can take."

Grandmother chuckled. "You certainly stepped into it, didn't you? Have you talked to Solek about this?"

"Sarek has. He says Solek is looking into a solution, but their people had to sever all connections to the Yolnarik because of the problems the trade ships encountered. All Solek has said to me about it is that in time, it will not be advisable for me to …help Sarek with it."

"Well, Solek is an excellent healer. He has been Sarek's personal healer since I've known them. And he was very diligent in learning all he could about human healing so that he could attend Amanda. He cared for her in her last days. And he's a relative of Sarek, so he has a personal interest, as well. I'm sure if there is an answer, he will find it. But if it becomes too much, you should come stay with us. That way, you can rest and perhaps Sarek can too."

Maeve's eyebrows knitted together in thought. "I suggested that I should stay with you, but he…I've never seen him like that. He got so angry."

"Angry?"

Maeve blinked. "Well, yes. I know everything thinks Vulcans are incapable of emotions, but that's not true. They just …manage them."

"Except Sarek is having a difficult time managing them with you around? It sounds like this situation is threatening him…"

"It is. But as much as it worries him, he is more worried that he might hurt me and the baby. I don't know how to help him, Grandmother."

The old woman patted her hand again. "Let Solek do his research. And with Sarek away, I'm sure he's had a chance to think clearly about it all. Perhaps he will be more willing to let you stay with us when the time comes. But my dear, you must be careful, not only for your safety and that of your baby, but for his as well. Vulcans pride themselves on their logic," Grandmother chuckled as she saw surprise register on Maeve's face. "Yes Dear, I understand that pride is an emotion, but when you observe other beings as long as I have, you tend to understand things that even they might not. Vulcans do take pride in their logic and your husband is no exception. For him to lose control over that and become a completely emotional being will do him harm. Even if he protests, you must remove yourself from his reach if it becomes too much. We will take you back home, if necessary… until the baby is born."

Maeve sighed with relief. "I'm afraid it will destroy him…"

"You love him very much, don't you?"

"I do," Maeve admitted with a tear in her eye. After a quiet moment to compose herself, she moved to the other pressing matter in her life. "T'Pau dropped in for a visit earlier."

Grandmother looked at her, astonished. "I didn't think she ever left Vulcan," she exclaimed.

"She doesn't. And Sarek happened to call while she was there; her visit clearly disturbed him. She was very…" Maeve tried to think of a good word for the woman's behavior but couldn't. "She seemed angry that Sarek married me."

"She probably is… probably had some Vulcan woman all picked out for him, a marriage of convenience for her clan, I'm sure."

"You think?" Maeve looked at her grandmother miserably. "How terrible…for Sarek, I mean. He has said that after being with Amanda so long, he didn't think a Vulcan female would…be comfortable for him."

"He's a very wise man, Maeve. And from what you've told me, also a bit emotional…at least for a Vulcan. I'm sure he has a plan for dealing with T'Pau."

"Yes, but she's here and he's … not," she said miserably.

Grandmother chuckled and again patted her granddaughter's hand. "It will be fine. Just don't let that old battleaxe get to you. Sarek has chosen you and you are bonded. She knows that if she were to force a break in the bond, it would probably mean his demise and she doesn't want that, for many reasons. Let Sarek deal with his Elder. You just be nice and polite to her and weather the storm until he returns. It will be fine in the end, I'm sure."

Maeve wasn't as confident as her grandmother, but it felt good to voice her concerns and to hear that T'Pau wouldn't go so far as to break up her marriage. Taking a deep breath, she decided she could wait out the storm and began to relax. "Thank you Grandmother; I knew you'd make me feel better about things."

"Just remember that your grandfather and I are here for you whenever you need us," Grandmother said lovingly.

As Maeve walked back to the Embassy, she thought about her conversation with her grandmother. Sarek did love her and would handle T'Pau; Maeve was certain of that. But could he handle himself when he returned or would the madness creep over him again? Maeve was frightened about the possibilities. She didn't know if moving to her grandparent's would be that easy if Sarek objected. He had become very possessive of her.

Her comm. unit buzzed just as she walked into their quarters. She smiled as she realized it was Sarek. "Hello my love," she said as she opened the connection.

"Where have you been," he insisted from the other side. He looked frantic, Maeve thought.

"I went to visit my grandparents. T'Pau's visit unnerved me and …"

"You should not have left the Embassy," he said emphatically. "And I checked with Security; you did not take a flitter…."

"I walked; it is a nice day," she said, dread overcoming her happiness at seeing him.

"You walked? Why would you do that? You could have been hurt. You should not be out alone. From now on I insist that you have someone from the embassy accompany you, one of the women."

Well now, he's just being ridiculous, Maeve thought. "That's not necessary, Sarek," she snapped. "I am fine. I walked to my grandparents and I walked back and I am fine." She knew her own frustration was showing.

The moments of silence that followed were deafening. Maeve stared into the console as Sarek glared back. And then suddenly, his expression broke and he looked calmer. "My apologies, my wife. It is just that after I called several times and had no response, I began to worry."

Maeve chuckled. "Worry is an emotion, you know."

Sarek blinked and looked a little sheepish, she thought. "I'm afraid I am somewhat emotional where your safety is concerned," he admitted. "You will please be careful when you go out?"

"I will," she agreed. "Not only for my sake but for our baby's …and for yours."

She watched as he visibly relaxed. "That is all that I ask," he said softly.

"So, why were you trying to call in the first place?" she asked.

"Does a husband need a reason to call his wife, other than he wishes to hear her voice and see her face?"

Maeve grinned. "Why Sarek, I do believe you miss me."

"Most assuredly, A'Duna. Most assuredly."