Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Back to Tia's POV.
The ship mourned the loss of their helmsman, but their grief was so subtle that I hardly noticed it. It wasn't that the crew was lacking in efficiency now (as if Solok would tolerate it), but I noticed a little less talk than normal, more distant glances, as if the ship were taking several deep breaths.
But somehow this subtle display of grief was comforting, and I told Torik so as we walked in the observation deck.
I carefully relayed a little of what had happened after the crash to him, and a knowing look entered his eyes as I went on with my story. I told him about carrying Solok out of the shuttle on my back and the trek through the desert and up the mountain, but then I stopped.
"And?" he asked, turning to me. But I remained silent, not daring to betray Solok's trust.
"Ah," he murmured, "it is a private matter."
I nodded slowly, then smiled.
"Did he declare koon-ut so'lik?"
My smile turned into a giddy grin, and I laughed. Torik let one of his tiny smiles grace his lips, and he touched me lightly on the shoulder.
"I am pleased...for you both. I had a feeling that such an occurrence might happen, but...there are times when it is best to keep silent."
"Words to live by...wait, you knew?"
He raised his eyebrows. "I suspected, Tia. Nothing more."
I nodded. "He was being way too nice to me...I knew something was up, but I didn't dare let myself believe..." I trailed off, then smiled. "But he's a Vulcan. Can I really blame myself for not knowing?"
"Do you require an answer to that question?"
I chuckled. "No, Torik, I don't. The fact is he's mine now, and I'm his. I just hope he can stand my family..."
I turned to him and laughed at his expression. "They're a fun bunch, but to a Vulcan, they might be a little overwhelming. I'm trying to pick a day where it'll only be Mamá and Papá, but with them, you never know who's going to drop in to say hello."
"I have a feeling that Solok will tolerate a lot on your behalf," he replied gently. "I do not think there is any cause for you to worry."
I stared at him for a minute, then smiled. "That means more to me than you know, Torik. Thank you."
…
The bag I was carrying bumped against the small of my back with every step I took down the shady road. Solok strode confidently beside me, and I looked around with wistful nostalgia at everything around me. I was home again, and not much had changed in the time I had been gone. The white pines lined the road like steadfast soldiers, spaced between the cyrilla and willow bustic that grew by the wayside. Palm trees sprouted tall near the low, white adobe house in the distance. The sandy gravel crunched loudly beneath our feet, and I noticed a figure bent over in the garden that grew in front of the house.
When I got closer, the figure stood, and I recognized my cousin.
"Solidad! Buenos tardes!" I called to her, quickening my pace. She turned to me and smiled widely. Her long black hair was pulled back into a braid, much like mine. Her high cheeks were flushed from working in the garden, and she quickly wiped sweat off her forehead before embracing me.
(AN: See translation at end of chapter. This is just an opportunity for me to practice some Spanish.)
"Buenos tardes, Tia! ¿Qué tal?"
"Bien, bien...mi mamá, ¿donde está?"
"Allí, en la casa."
"Gracias, Solidad..." I turned to Solok, who had been looking around at the property. I gestured him over and quickly introduced him as the captain that he was. My mother knew I was bringing someone special to meet her, but I hadn't mustered the courage to tell her that I was getting married. He shook my cousin's hand, then expressed interest at examining my mother's flower bed. I took that as a sign that he was giving me a minute to talk to my cousin without him in earshot, and I appreciated it.
"Él es vulcano...¿como estabas en la T'Kumbra?"
"Bien, chica. Es fantastico."
"Espero que sí, Tia."
I smiled and shook my head. "¿Nos vemos pronto en la casa?"
"Sí, en...cinco minutos."
"Bueno, voy a hablar con mi madre. Nos vemos en un momento, Solidad."
I called Solok back over, then led him to the door. My mother was expecting me, but even so, I knocked. After a minute of tedious waiting, I finally heard her footsteps and the door opened.
My mother's face was a little more lined than when I saw her, and her black hair was streaked with gray. But even so, the beautiful woman who raised me smiled brightly at the sight of me, and I embraced her before she could even say hello. She buried her nose in my hair and held me tight, then broke away and looked me over. After a few moments of examining me, she turned her attention to my companion, who bowed his head in solemn but sincere greeting.
"Captain, I'd like you to meet my mother, Alejandra Valentin. Mamá, this is Captain Solok of the T'Kumbra. He's the special someone I told you I wanted you to meet."
Her brow furrowed momentarily at that, but she gave him a welcoming smile and held out her hand. He shook it, his face calm and serene, almost pleased, and he followed me inside. A breath of cool air hit me as I walked through the front hallway to the kitchen in the back, but I stopped at the entrance to the living room and put my bag down. I slowly approached the man reading a book in the armchair near the window, and he glanced up at me at my approach.
He smiled. "Tia," he murmured, setting down his book and standing to hug me. Once he broke away, he examined me like my mother did, then clapped me on the shoulder. Only then did he notice Solok, and he raised his eyebrows at him.
"I thought I heard that a captain would be visiting us. Tia, would you mind introducing me?"
"Papá, this is Captain Solok of the T'Kumbra. Captain, this is my father, Jorge Valentin."
My father grinned. "Well, you're the first Vulcan I've had the pleasure of welcoming into my home. Why don't you sit down and tell me about your ship? Tia, your mother wants to talk to you."
I gave Solok an encouraging glance when Papá turned around to sit in his chair, and the captain nodded to me in return. He took a seat on the couch and I walked down the hallway to the kitchen. My aunt Rosita was deep in conversation with my mother at the kitchen table, but once I walked in, they both stopped and my aunt stood to greet me.
"Tia, welcome back home. How have you been?" she said warmly, giving me a hug.
I took a seat at the table and smiled. "I've been great! Life aboard the T'Kumbra has been quite an experience."
"I've read some of your messages and it sounds like its been interesting. But Tia...why did you bring the captain to meet us?"
I gave her a look that demanded that we go to a private place to talk, and she followed me to my old bedroom. I had painted the room green a long time ago, and the woven blanket was still spread across the bed. I sat on the edge of it and waited for my mother to close the door, and she sat down beside me, taking my hand.
"You're thinking about marrying this man, aren't you?" she murmured softly with a smile. I couldn't help but smile back, and I sighed.
"I'm not thinking any more. I am going to marry him."
She sighed and pulled me closer so that my head was resting on her shoulder. "Felicitaciones, Tia...I'm happy for you both."
"Then why don't you sound like it?"
She was silent for a few moments. "Because I'm losing my baby girl to a Vulcan I've never met."
I wrapped my arms around her waist and buried my face into her shoulder. "Do you trust me, mamá?"
"Sí, por su puesto."
"Then trust me when I say that when you get to know him, you'll like him. He's saved my life three times."
"What?"
I sat back up and stared at her sincerely. "You heard me. He saved me from bandits, he saved me from drowning..."
Her eyes grew wide. "Tia, you're scaring me..."
"Starfleet is dangerous sometimes, mamá," I said quickly, "but you can be positive that with Solok around, I won't come to harm. He...he loves me too much to ever let that happen."
My mother smiled, but grief still clouded her warm brown eyes. "How long will you two be staying?"
"We'll leave tomorrow night."
"And when will you get married?"
I sighed. "Probably when the T'Kumbra gets near Vulcan again, I guess. We haven't discussed it."
"I won't miss my daughter's wedding, no matter when it is. Call me when you decide and I'll get on the next transport to Vulcan."
I laughed. "I wouldn't dream of getting married without you there, mamá. I'll contact you, don't worry."
We stayed in my room for a while, silent, contemplating this new step in my life, when we heard a soft knock at the door. I called for them to come in, and Solok entered the room and glanced around the room. Then he turned his attention to my mother.
"Mrs. Valentin, your husband would like to talk to you," he said politely, stepping away from the door so she could pass. But when she stood, she did not walk out the door. She crossed her arms and looked Solok up and down, and I knew she wasn't looking at this man as a stranger, but rather sizing him up as her future son-in-law. I couldn't read too much about how she felt about him, but I could see the so you're the man who captured my daughter's heart, keep it well or I'll break your neck look in her eyes. After a minute she nodded politely to him and gave me a knowing glance before exiting the room. She was kind enough to close the door when she left, and Solok walked over and took my mother's place on the bed.
"I talked to your father," he began, raising an eyebrow. "I do not believe he trusts me."
"Don't worry, he'll come around. I'm his baby girl and of course he's not going to trust you at first. But when he realizes how much I love you...he'll see."
I swore I almost saw him smile, and in a move that surprised me, he leaned forward and gave me a brief kiss on the lips. His soft mouth was so warm and inviting as it pressed to mine for those short seconds, and I closed my eyes, longing for more of him. But instead I simply rested my head on his shoulder, and he pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around my waist.
"What I wouldn't do for a thousand of those kisses..." I murmured softly into his shirt. He gripped me tighter for a moment, then lifted my head up and pierced me with his intense gaze.
"You would give me your heart?" he whispered, his eyes glinting teasingly. I grinned.
"Anything you want," I whispered back. His eyes glittered in triumph, and he took his first two fingers and wrapped them around mine. I recognized the Vulcan version of holding hands and I smiled into his shirt.
"I may not have expressed it directly," he murmured, pulling me closer so that I was half in his lap, "but you are a very attractive woman." His fingers trailed lightly up my thigh, and I gasped and stared at him incredulously. He simply quirked an eyebrow at me, and I narrowed my eyes.
"You are asking for it," I growled mischievously with a grin.
Both eyebrows were raised. "Asking for what?"
I took hold of the front of his shirt and pulled him forward, kissing him hard on the lips. His intake of breath was quick but controlled, and he reciprocated eagerly to my kiss. That only made me want him more, but I pulled away and nestled myself against him. He kissed the top of my head and continued to caress my thigh, and we stayed still and silent until my mother called us for dinner.
Translation:
Solidad! Good afternoon!
-Good afternoon, Tia! How are you?
Good, good...my mother, where is she?
-There, in the house.
Thank you, Solidad.
…
-He's Vulcan...how have you been on the T'Kumbra?
Fine, girl. It's fantastic.
-I hope so, Tia.
I'll see you in a bit in the house?
-Sure, in...five minutes.
All right, I'm going to talk with my mother. See you in a bit, Solidad.
…
-Congratulations, Tia. I'm happy for you both.
…
Do you trust me, mamá?
-Yes, of course.
