A/N All mistakes are my private property. This work was not reviewed by anyone but myself. So I take full responsibility, for the good, the bad and the ugly. :0) In addition I don't own anything except my original characters and none of them pay me anything.

Christine's Story

Chapter Twelve Part Twenty-four

A Gesture of Respect

It was three o'clock in the morning when Christine could no longer keep her eyes open. Lo'vaak climbed the stairs with her, touched her back lightly, opened her bedroom door, guided her in and shut the door. Two doors down the hall he found the third guest room and laid on the bed, fully clothed. Rest would help him strengthen his shields for the day ahead but meditation would serve him better.

So he knelt by the bed and closed his eyes.

By the time he awoke, Spock had already finished his meditation and was seated in the kitchen with a cup of tea. Without words, he poured a cup for Lo'vaak and sat back in his chair, and eyed his friend.

"You rested well?"

"As well as can be expected for a man in love," was Lo'vaak's reply. "I chose the third bedroom, the linens were not disturbed for I meditated the entire night. That and the barrier of my clothing aided me to remain where I was, even though Christine was two doors from me. It was a learning experience."

"As will all the days until your marriage bond," was Spock's reply to Lo'vaak's revelation.

"Have you made plans for today?" Spock continued.

"Yes, Christine and I will visit my apartment to see if it is a suitable place for us as a residence. I have debated whether it would be suitable for us to venture there, but I am sure that our brief stay will not present a problem. Do you have any suggestions?"

Spock responded, "As a gesture of respect for her, leave the apartment door open."

Dear Friends:

The next chapters, which lead to the actual wedding are set up as a count down to W day. Each day is filled with activity in preparation. These chapters will include purchases, planning, fittings, and a little side trip when Spock volunteers to baby sit the twins.

As always, thank you for reading.

Botsey

Christine's Store

Chapter Twelve Part 25

May 15th W day minus one

"I Count the Days…"

Lo'vaak and Christine traveled to his housing by public transportation. As he opened the door to his apartment, warm air filled with the wonderful scent of spices reached Christine. He opened the door wide and kept it open-still cautious.

They stepped into a foyer decorated with several pleasing works of art and then he guided her into the living room that also featured additional paintings. There was an alcove for dinning. Christine was surprised at the warmth seen in his home, not like the proverbial bachelor's living space. She was able to see art as one of his passions, how is it that she had not known that. Christine knew Spock was a musician, she wondered, what if any, was Lo'vaak's medium.

He gestured toward the couch, "Perhaps I could get you a beverage, My Christine."

"No, Lo'vaak, I am fine. Your apartment is very beautiful and inviting."

He hesitated as he said, "Let me show you the sleeping quarters-she noticed that his right hand was clinched in a fist as he extended his left arm in the direction of the bedroom.

It was a spacious room with a large bay window fitted with a seat. Again, the room's walls were adorned with beautiful paintings. Christine's mouth opened and she said, "Oh." On one of the walls was her portrait.

Lo'vaak nodded, "I painted that picture the evening after we bumped into one another at the Academy. She went closer and ran her fingers over the brush strokes and turned, he was next to her in a second, standing stoically before her.

"I count the days," was all he said as he took her hand and led her out of the apartment.

Christine's Story

Chapter Twelve Part Twenty-Six

May 16th

W day minus two

Vulcan Rising

It was a work day for Sirin and Lo'vaak, but they left work early and met Spock for a quick trip to a jeweler they had heard about. It appeared that this particular person had received a shipment of rare and extraordinarily beautiful gem stones from New Vulcan. Lo'vaak had decided that he would give Christine a wedding gift of pearl earrings to wear that day. In addition, he was going to pick up a gem today for her ring and then have her pick the mounting for the stone he chose/

The jeweler spread out the shipment for Lo'vaak to see. He beckoned for Spock and Sirin to take a look at a most unusual stone. It was rectangular, opaque, and swirled with various colors of blue. But what made the stone so extraordinary was at what Lo'vaak perceived was the bottom of the stone silver rays of various lengths emanated upward, some even reaching the top of the stone. It was similar to the appearance of dawn. The jeweler had named the stone, 'Vulcan Rising'. The three friends nodded their approval and the deal was sealed without even bargaining.

To save the woman, the men brought home food from Wong's Nyota propped up Xon and Hov so they could observe the entire meal. Within the silence of the room, the only sound heard was the usual caused by eating utensils and the cooing and babbling of the two infants. After dinner Sirin left to go to his home, while Spock and Lo'vaak decided to play three games of chess. They thus departed into their self-imposed period of isolation.

Nyota and Christine cuddled the babies and verbally outlined the various deadlines involved in their planning. The invitation, the dress, the catering, the bride and groom's cake,* the decorations, the flowers, favors, the list kept on growing.

"You must stand with me Nyota, and you must have something that belonged to Gaila with you-she would have been here, urging us on. If I ever am blessed with a girl, her name will be Gaila and she will have to marry one of your sons.

Nyota responded, "But, if you have a son, I will have to plan on a daughter to wed him." Placing her hand on Christine's arm Nyota continued, "Don't we sound like two meddlesome mother-in-laws?" This was Nyota's estimation of that last bit of conversation.

Lo'vaak appeared at the door and watched the sight of his intended foundling a baby and it caused him to promise himself, that within a year he hoped he would hold a child of her body in his arms.

He approached Christine and said, "Do you think it would be prudent to visit the jeweler this afternoon?"

Christine stood up and walked toward Hov's bassinet. She kissed his forehead and said, "I pick you for my son-in-law."

Nyota smiled, for in truth the boys were identical in appearance, but she was beginning to observe the first signs of each one's personality. Her son with the sweetest disposition was Hov. Xon, on the other hand seemed to be always studying everything around him, already a scientist.

She couldn't let Christine leave without first asking her, "Do we have a pre-arranged marriage her?" Christine simply said, "Of course, I know what is best for my unofficial godson."

Lo'vaak had informed the jeweler that he would be bringing Christine to his shop to pick out their wedding bands and a setting for the stone he had purchased. He also wished the jeweler to pick out a pair of baroque pearl earring for his approval.

As always is the case when a person takes pride in their work a craftsman will display his work to its best advantage. This jeweler was no different. He had placed the stone in a beautiful ring box lined with white satin. When they arrived, he handed that box to Lo'vaak and he brought Christine close to him and opened the box. She gasped, the stone was magnificent.

"This is for you, who will wed me, bond with me, join yourself to me and be the mother of my children. Please pick a setting for your stone."

The jeweler had lined up over a dozen mounts that could accommodate the stone, most of them white gold or platinum.

Christine asked the professional, "Which would you recommend?' The man immediately picked out two, both were simple mountings because the natural beauty of stone should take the ascendancy. He placed the gem on top of each mount and then picked one. Even to an untrained eye, the ring would be a thing of beauty.

She then asked Lo'vaak to pick the wedding bands. He followed Christine's wise example and requested the jeweler's assistance. When he brought out the tray of bands, his hand went to the upper left hand corner of the display, picked one band and placed it against the engagement ring setting. They matched perfectly.

His beloved was radiant as she looked at him, "Thank you My Lo'vaak." she said.

He nodded.