Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek or any of its associated content.


Nyota's body was conflicted. She felt an irrepressible urge to get out of her quarters but her back made movement almost impossible. In the mirror, Nyota looked at herself and decided that human bodies were simply not meant to carry a child for this long. She hoped that her trip to sickbay would kill two birds with one stone and that McCoy would be able to give her something for her back pain that was safe for the baby and that the walk to sickbay, accompanied by Spock, would help curb her cabin fever.

She held Spock's hand as he moved slowly, compensating for Nyota's pace. She smiled at him as they walked and passed crew members one by one. Spock, despite the fact that they were bonded and had been together for years, was still rather sensitive about displaying open affection toward Nyota while aboard the ship. Spock had, during the years, become increasingly affectionate toward her but he cringed at doing so publicly and his open display as he walked with her to sickbay was, for Nyota, delightful.

Spock's hand holding certainly took the edge off the fact that Nyota felt completely out of place in the halls of the ship. It had only been four weeks since she was assigned to bedrest but the corridor lights seemed bright and unfamiliar. Nyota wore what could only be deemed a bright green smock; she had grown out of her largest maternity wear more than a month ago and there was nothing in the Starfleet uniform catalog that would fit someone with her current proportions. Nyota felt like her belly arrived in sickbay a full five minutes before she did.

"Hi Jamila." Nyota smiled as Nurse Abdullah helped her onto the examination table.

"Hi Lieutenant. How are you feeling today?" Nurse Abdullah scanned Nyota with a tricorder, taking her vitals.

"I'm okay. My back is killing me. I haven't slept properly in weeks. I'm hoping that you and Len will be able to help me out with that."

"Hmmm." Nurse Abdullah looked at the tricorder readings and frowned.

"Is something the matter Nurse Abdullah?" Spock had been standing back as Nyota had been scanned but now he strode up behind the shorter woman, looking over her shoulder at the screen of the diagnostic device.

"No Commander." Nurse Abdullah shielded the screen from Spock's view, a habit developed after too many years working with expectant fathers. "I just wasn't expecting these results. I'll be back shortly. I'm going to show them Dr. McCoy." And with that the stout little nurse padded off toward McCoy's office.

"What did you see?" Nyota whispered, feeling Spock's worry as it seeped into her mind.

"I believe Nurse Abdullah is correct to consult Dr. McCoy for his interpretations." Spock straightened his spine and looked away from Nyota.

"Spock!" Nyota hissed. "Tell me! If there is something wrong with the baby... I deserve to know." Nyota suddenly felt her cheeks turn hot and her eyes fill with tears. She was being irrational. She took a deep breath and stared at Spock.

"Ashayam." Spock bent at the waist and spoke quietly into to Nyota's ear. "The probability of there being nothing the matter is quite high. More than 96.9812 percent. Please be assured." Spock took Nyota's hand in both of his and squeezed gently. She finally looked up at him and nodded, still thinking of the slightly more than three percent chance that something might go horribly wrong."

When McCoy came out after analyzing Nyota's test results he looked grave. He told Spock and Nyota what they both already knew. Nyota's body was not equipped to handle such a long pregnancy and it had been a medical miracle that it had gone on this long. McCoy said that he had estimated Nyota's initial due date based upon Amanda Grayson's medical records, an amalgamation Vulcan natal histories and their fetus's own development; however, they'd exceeded that date by two months already. McCoy told them that everything was fine for now but that they would have to make a choice within the next few days.

McCoy informed the couple that the time had finally come where the risks of continuing the pregnancy were beginning to outweigh the risks of inducing labor. McCoy soberly showed the expectant parents where their daughter's development was in comparison to both Human and Vulcan fetuses. Fortunately, McCoy also had Spock's natal records that showed where his development was just before his birth. Spock and Nyota both nodded as they took in McCoy's information. It appeared that the baby was not quite within the range that was optimal for her neural development. What McCoy said next surprised them.

"Ordinarily, you two, I would encourage labor within twenty four hours at this point with Uhura's stress levels and based upon these comparisons; however something is unusual. Now, see, just because she's not where she ought to be for a full blooded Vulcan wouldn't bother me since she's three parts Human. However the thing that we keep running into, that we've discussed before, is that she isn't developing as she ought to be for someone with only a small portion of Vulcan DNA. This could just be an instance of odd genetics." McCoy paused and looked between the couple, Nyota's mouth a thin line and Spock, with his hand on Nyota's back, his head inclined toward McCoy. "Like I said, if she wasn't where Spock was, or someone who was fully Vulcan, I wouldn't be concerned. But Vulcans do the vast majority of their specialized neural development at the end of the gestational period, after all of their other development is complete. It makes sense really to get all of the other systems in place first and then move onto higher level cognitive functioning since they'll be preparing to interface with a telepathic people on the other side of it. "

"Dr. McCoy. I truly find the evolutionary natal development of my people to be fascinating however would you please make your recommendation for this situation?" Spock said abruptly, irritation coloring his voice. Nyota's hand found his waist and her touch calmed him.

"Sorry Spock. Sorry." McCoy shook his head. "My point is that your daughter continues, for no apparent reason, to display a higher affinity toward your genetics that her mother's. Look, this is where I have to give you the best information and let you figure it out. In either case, I want this baby born within the next seventy two hours. The choice you two will have to make is this: you can either check into the birthing suite within the next 12 hours and risk interrupting her development slightly while averting other risks slightly or you can wait 48 hours in the hopes that she comes naturally and without the risk of an induced labor, even though the wait carries slightly more risk. The risks are about equal right now, in either case. After the forty eighth hour, however, the risks will increase and I cannot let you continue with this pregnancy. We'll have to induce."

Nyota and Spock slowly walked back to their quarters. They were silent but they were vigorously exploring the pros and cons of McCoy's choice through their bond. They both knew that Vulcans final stages of neural and cognitive development was fast and unusually concentrated to just before birth. Sarek had spoken with his son of his communications with Spock as his mind had completed its final stages. Indeed, Spock was constantly attempting to stimulate the little mind of his daughter and had felt the rapid changes take place. Spock took Nyota's hand again and they exchanged a look. They decided to wait. It would only be a day or two but if the baby came on her own it would be all the better.

2162.350

All of my notes and interviews are finally getting me somewhere! Plus, I dreamed of her again last night. She was so vivid, so real. We talked for what seemed like hours. No, not hours. It just seemed like we shared a mind. Is that possible? It's happened before but now it feels like we were thinking the same thoughts, separate but at the same time united. This is the fourth dream in a week. I feel like I know everything about her. All she wants from life. She said she wants to travel, learn about art. She still loves music. Somehow she saw all of my memories of music and she seemed fascinated by them. We shared them. That we did for hours.

2162.359

T'Mana was incredibly hard to get a hold of. No, that's not it. I think that no one wanted me to get a hold of her. I understand that a Human living on Vulcan without an actual occupation (although for the amount of digging I do through archives, I may've found an alternate career path if enrolling in Starfleet academy doesn't pan out) is suspicious but I just wanted to talk to her. I'm glad that she finally agreed to see me though, the money that mama left me will be running out sooner than later and the manager of the rooming house I'm staying in already gives me the eye even though I pay him on time.

She wasn't at all what I expected. She's nearly a foot taller than me. I can certainly see a family resemblance though. She has the same dark skin as T'Ura, the same waist length black hair. I don't see many Vulcan women with such long hair. In fact, most of them seem to keep their hair short, at least above their shoulders. Perhaps hair style is tied to clan membership? She also dresses far more... provocatively when compared to other Vulcan women. T'Ura certainly did not do that, but T'Mana wears bright colors and well tailored clothing, modest as all of the others, but it gives me some sense of... personality? I know Vulcans have personalities but they tend to spend so much time repressing anything that would make themselves stand out that when I was finally presented to T'Ura in that huge office that she has at Vulcan high command I was sure that I'd been brought to the wrong person.

Instantly, I liked her better than anyone I'd met on this planet so far. Even old Vamik. Vamik talked about her grandmother being noble but I can't actually imagine that anyone would inspire the word noble more than T'Mana. Her posture alone made me wonder if I were in the presence of royalty. She was kind though, as far as Vulcans go. She didn't talk down to me and instead of assuming that I only spoke Standard, she asked me what language I wished to communicate in.

She told me she recognized me from the B'Jahl. She, like other Vulcans, didn't mess about with small talk. She asked me why I'd been trying to contact her for the last fortnight and why I had been snooping around her family's compound.

I decided to be honest. Honesty is the best policy is what mama always said. I told her about working with T'Ura. I told her that I thought it was important that I find her, that I had a sense that there was something unfinished between us. I told her that I knew what T'Ura was and that I'd tracked her to the Ashv'cezh clan. I told her that I understood the sensitive nature of T'Ura's work but that anything she could offer me would be a huge help.

And that was it. T'Mana looked down for a while but never said anything. She told me I could leave. She didn't seem angry or anything like that (unless she's better than any other Vulcan I've ever met at repressing her emotions) but she clearly wanted me gone. Since she's obviously some sort of higher up, I left without arguing. I hope she understands that I'll be back though.

2163.001

After a few days with nothing from T'Ura, my new year's eve sleep was filled with her. I've dismissed the possibility that this is just me dreaming of a girl I fancy. Can I even call T'Ura a girl? I guess. She is the same age as me biologically if not chronologically. In any case, I know that she's contacting me psionically.

I've learned a great deal more about Vulcan psionics. Having access to their information stores helps. I found absolutely nothing on Earth. I wonder if the Federation knows how secretive they are. Really, the only reason I have access is because of my time on B'Jahl. If I were just an average Terran reporter or researcher, I'd be screwed.

Last night T'Ura did something... unusual. She rubbed her forehead against mine. I thought that she was going to kiss me but she never did. She just stood facing me, her hands brushing mine, her forehead pressed against mine.

Yes, in a way I'm disappointed that that was the extent of our contact, but at the same time it felt... right somehow. Tomorrow I have another appointment with T'Mana. Suddenly, I'm hopeful.


Author's note: Thanks to ayachan1412 for being my beta reader! Okay folks, only 5 more chapters left! There's a mystery to solve, a baby to bear, a baby to name and a final explanation for everything! Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I love your theories on where this is all going. :)