As it turned out, the members of the crew that were chosen to stay on planet for the duration of our visit were to be roomed in the recently built staff housing for the new Vulcan Science Academy. Due to the fact that New Vulcan was still very young and the population relatively small a decent amount of the housing was empty. A few unlucky crew members would end up with dorms but I had been fortunate to land a staff quarter rather close to Spock's. When we arrived to confirm which rooms we had, Spock and I were informed that it was actually rather late in the day. This lead to everyone immediately retiring to our separate rooms so to assimilate to New Vulcan's time and left me just as clueless about Spock as before.

Sighing, I laid on top of the covers on my bed dressed only in underwear and a tank top that was pulled up to bare my stomach. My hair was fanned out so to not touch my skin that still shone with a thin sheet of sweat despite the fact it was technically night and therefore cooler than a New Vulcan day. As I stared at the ceiling, I absent-mindedly played with my mother's necklace. Something about Spock's behavior seemed both familiar and foreign at the same time. Any effort I made to label it, however, left me searching for a word somewhere near the tip of my tongue. I was nearly at my wits end searching for that word.

Giving a defeated huff, I rolled over onto my stomach in search of a cooler spot on the fabric and found myself looking directly out my window at the rocky landscape of this planet. It was shockingly similar to its predecessor, consisting mainly of deserts and rocks, only where the former had numerous caverns of orange stone New Vulcan consisted of either cavernous mountains or stony plains of seemingly perished vegetation poking up from the red ground. The landscape seemed to enter my room as well, the simple two room staff chamber consisting of red hues and sharp angles. Laid out before the window, my sage clothing was easily spotted.

Before leaving the ship, I had been sure to regenerate some more appropriate clothing to counter the heat as well as many other officers had who would be remaining on New Vulcan. This visit was more to offer friendly help rather than a diplomatic mission so uniforms were deemed unnecessary. Everything that I had brought to wear was thin, billowy, and consisted of lighter tones so as to reflect light instead of absorb it. As a child, I had spent many a shore leave on Vulcan with my former t'hy'la. At that time, we mainly kept to his family's house and surrounding land so I often frolicked around dressed like belly dancers or Arabian princesses I had learned about. Vulcan's dual suns had always been quick to tan my pale skin and often my t'hy'la had been forced to pull me inside and treat my numerous sunburns. Now, however, my clothing was much more modest and slightly Vulcan-esque. Even though it was colored and billowy, it covered everything to my wrists and neck and was slightly more fitted around my torso. While it would stand out against what other Vulcan women wore it would not be scorned upon by them.

Sighing again, I rolled onto my side, hugging a pillow close to my head, and settled in to finally sleep. Slumber was sure to be evasive in this heat, but it would be necessary in order to become use to a Vulcan schedule.


"What…is this?" Sulu asked over breakfast, spooning the porridge-like substance in the bowl in front of him before letting it splatter back down.

"Plomeek soup, a popular dish on Vulcan," I informed him, not looking up from the cup of tea I was currently stirring.

"It looks like sludge," McCoy said distastefully, scowling at the soup.

"Deal with it," Jim said, taking a seat next to mine. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Taking a heaping spoonful, the captain performed a mock salute before pouring it into his mouth. It took only a moment for what little expression his face had held in the early morning to fade away and slowly be replaced by an uncomfortable frown.

"It is not to everyone's taste," I added from my previous point. As McCoy passed off napkins to Jim who was turning green and looking for somewhere to puke, I sipped my warm beverage, inadvertently looking up at the entrance as two women joined us.

Nyota and Aurelia were involved in light conversation, but it did not even take my Vulcan half to determine that Nyota was carrying the weight of the discussion. A side from the silence emanating from Aurelia, her expression offered little in reply to the lieutenant's bright smile. Aurelia appeared distant, her fingers weaving her hair into a braid almost absent-mindedly. Unlike Nyota, who still wore her Starfleet uniform, Aurelia had opted for wearing clothing more suited to the customs and weather of New Vulcan. The sage dress covered everything except for her hands and head. Despite its length, I could easily identify her slim legs moving beneath its skirt, the fabric hiding their subtle contours along with the rest of her curves.

Taking a deep breath, I drank more of my tea and focused on clearing my mind.

"Uhura, Aurelia, there you are!" Jim called, coughing and bunching up the napkins that held the remnants of the Plomeek soup he had ate. "Sleeping in, were we?"

"Hardly, captain," Nyota sighed, going to gather her own breakfast as Aurelia opted for walking towards Scotty who looked eager to speak with her. A sudden pang in my chest had me clearing my throat and rubbing at it firmly until it went away, shifting my gaze elsewhere.

"Something wrong, goblin?" Dr. McCoy asked from across the table at me.

"No, Doctor, nothing," I told him. "I believe it is time that I am on my way, I have an appointment at the Vulcan Science Academy."

"Commander," Scotty called out from the other end of the table where he was sitting. "Would ya mind taking this lass along with ya? She's meant to be there too," he said, nodding off to Aurelia.

"Of course not. We will depart once you have ate," I said, my voice tight.

"I wouldn't want to make you late, Commander Spock," Aurelia commented, moving over towards me. "Besides, I'm not that hungry."

"Very well, let us be on our way," I said, turning to dispose of my cup before we departed from the rest of the group.

The Vulcan Science Academy, much like its predecessor, was a feat of architecture that truly inspired awe. All angles and mirrored glass to reflect the desert habitat of New Vulcan. For a moment that it almost felt like home. But then, the Science Academy had been a place of constant onslaught of glances from the corners of people's eyes as they waited for me to fail simply because of my mother's blood. For most, this would inspire anxiety.

Instead, the small, quivering woman beside me was anxious enough for the both of us. She had been unable to cease playing with the ends of her hair. She had donned a headscarf for their journey, but she kept her face angled down, icy eyes flashing out every once in a while to survey their surroundings before hiding from sight once more. As the prejudice my family had experienced because of my parents bond was still so fresh in my mind, I could only imagine what Aurelia had encountered as a child.

"Do you know any of the former teachers well?" I asked.

"Huh?" she asked, her head whipping up in shock before there was a flash of relief in her expression. "Oh, no. Not personally. Well, maybe one, if he's here." Again, she returned to fidgeting.

"When was the last time you had been on Vulcan?" I asked. She was quick to answer, but then quicker to hesitate.

"I suppose…it's been a few years," she answered.

"Humans grow much quicker than Vulcans. Perhaps those who are concerning you will not recognize you." Her lips pressed into a thin, unamused smile.

"That's very doubtful." I held the door to the Great Hall open for her, allowing her to pass through first. When I followed, I found her standing only a few steps in, her head tilted upwards to the ceiling and the scarf having fallen from her head to expose her golden hair. "It's beautiful. Like the one on Vulcan."

"Yes," I said, only glancing upwards. "I believe this may have been the first building they put effort in to building properly after the emergency camps were erected."

"Makes sense," she said, still staring with awe.

"I believe you are looking for engineering. If this building reflects the old, then it will be-."

"Up the left stairwell," she said, finally bringing her eyes down to meet mine.

"Yes." We stood there for a moment, staring at each other in silence. The longer we stood, the sadder Aurelia's eyes became. She turned, preparing to leave, when I found I was speaking without having ever intended too. "I apologize for my absence recently. Perhaps we can talk tonight? Over hot chocolate?" Aurelia looked at me with surprise, but I was all too pleased by the small, upward quirk the right side of her lips gained.

"I would like that," she said.

"Very well," I replied, nodding.

"I'll see you tonight," Aurelia told me softly before walking back down the hall, her blonde braid swinging back and forth. Turning at the sound of footsteps I found my future self staring intently in the direction that the young woman had gone.

"Who was that woman?" he asked, his grey slanted brows furrowed.

"A co-worker," I answered, unsure as to why I felt the need to keep Aurelia's identity from him.

"She seems very familiar," he mused.

"Seeing as your life was mine, it is only logical that certain people would appear in both," I told him, folding my hands behind my back.

"Yes, it would. Now, what do you wish to discuss?"

"I am afraid that it is a bit personal. However, considering we are…quite personal in one another's knowledge of each other already, I felt it best to seek guidance from you.

"A logical conclusion," my future self said. "Go on."

"I find that recently I am having quite some difficulty with controlling my emotions. They are expressive in a broader range than normal. They…have caused me to react on impulses that I am previously unfamiliar with," I explained. Mr. Spock hummed and nodded. "I was wondering if at my age you had experienced anything similar."

"Yes, indeed. In fact, I am positive you know what is happening," he said. "I assume you have already attempted meditation."

"Yes," I replied.

"And the result?"

"Failure," I said.

"That's not surprising, but not good," the older Vulcan said in a low voice. "It is too early for you to…" he paused, looking over at Spock, "…take a mate. Too early." Spock nodded, agreeing. "That leaves only one option."

"Who did you battle?"

"I survived my Pon Farr by battling Jim. It was a dangerous option, one I do not believe would have such a fortunate outcome if attempted a second time," his future self said, coming to a stop. Spock took a step further, turning to look at the more experienced Vulcan.

"Then your suggestion?"

"More meditation until there is no hope it will bring you what you need. Then, we will be forced to make a very difficult choice," he said. "There are caves in the mountains, not far from here. How far along are you?"

"Nearly a week," I said.

"Then I would go now. You have no time to lose. Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock. Believe me when I say it is far too early to give up now. We have a lot of great things yet to come, some of the best parts even," he said, smiling before turning serious. "Go. I wish you the best. I believe that you will need it."


"Has anybody seen Spock?" I asked as we all gathered for lunch. I had returned late last night and had decided to wait until breakfast to talk with him, only the half Vulcan was nowhere to be seen.

"Yeah, he said he was going off somewhere and wouldn't be around for a few days," Sulu said in passing.

"Where?" I asked.

"Caves, I think he said," Jim spoke up, giving me an almost knowing look. "Something else about not wanting to be disturbed." Caves? Why would Spock go there, not to mention alone, for a few days? Vulcans never really made a distinct effort to isolate themselves except for when they were beginning to enter Po-.

Pon Farr.

"Of course!" I breathed to myself. How had I been so stupid? It was so obvious now that I thought back. The clues had been absolutely everywhere. I burst up from the table, running out of the dining hall and ignoring all of the calls the crew cast after me. My blue dress rippled around me as I ran, but if I was right then I didn't have much time. Reaching for the bond, I pushed the limit as far as I could on Spock's obstruction. Thankfully, he was distracted, so I could locate him. He was far away, in a cave. It would take me until sunset to get there and I had no time to grab anything. Deserts were hostile and worse at night. So I ran, heading for the mountains without so much as a phaser.


It was a failure. Already, I had burnt all of my incense, meditated with every mantra I knew, and even attempted to build a mental barrier surrounding the areas of my brain that were triggering the Pon Farr. Still, every effort was met in failure. Crouched on the floor, sweating profusely, all I wanted was a soft body beneath mine to bury myself into again and again and again with little thought of what I was doing, why, or to who.

No. There was a thought as to who. Unbidden, Aurelia appeared in my mind. Thoughts of her tears, of her fierce expression when sparring, of her unbridled awe at the Science Academy, and of the small, hopeful look she had given him when we last saw each other. I wanted her beneath me. No other would do. My body was demanding my t'hy'la. It was time. We would bond or I would die and my body would allow me no other option now that I had found my one and only mate.

Our bond flickered and I growled somewhere deep within me. It was playing trickery on me, attempting to lure me out into the desert to hunt for her by pretending she was close. It was impossible. She could not be here. It would be too dangerous. It would-

"Spock." I jerked upwards, my muscles taught and rigid as I looked to the tunnel I had entered this cave through.

Aurelia stood before me quietly, wearing airy blue robes that brought out her shining glacial eyes. At first, I thought she was a vision, but logic told me otherwise. Her voice, her smell, my reaction, she was truly here.

Finally, some semblance of logic returned. Some small bit of humanity.

I wanted to claim her, possess her, protect her. No matter what, however, I could not. Becoming my life mate was her decision and I refused to force her to do so against her will. Death was a better option than coercing her to bond with me.

"Spock," she said softly, walking forward. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did not wish to influence your decision," I choked out, struggling to hide my emotions and hold off Pon Farr. Her lips curved up into a gentle smile as she finished her approach, standing directly before me.

"I'm yours, Spock, there was never a doubt that I was anyone but yours," she assured me. Spreading her arms she offered herself to me, making my control almost shatter.

"You must…you must say it."

"I accept to be your bondmate, Spock of Vulcan, son of Sarek." With those words I surrendered to Pon Farr and Aurelia, praying only that I could control myself enough to not hurt her.


So...

It's been a while. A few years. So...I'm sorry? That feels like it's not enough, but also all I have. For those of you who are still hanging on and returning to read this, you are truly amazing.

So, chapter twelve has existed since the last time I updated. There were two little sections that needed to be filled in, but it was there. The rest of the story still exists too, written in a notebook at home. However, I have a new home now (I'm actually a grad student now, can you believe it?) and thus no notebook. I still remember everything that has happened too, and then some, but I doubt there will ever be any sequel to this. Especially with how long this update took.

Recently, I have been writing fanfiction in more of my notebooks. That being said, it has all been for Bleach. One is for an old idea I had that I've actually written down and outlined. It's a Hitsugaya Toshiro x Kurosaki Karin ship and is short, only 8 chapters long. Still, since I considered adding it, I felt I owed you guys this missing chapter. I will say that I'll try to update again, at a reasonable time, but I can't make any promises. Again, I'm a grad student, and I really should be writing essays.

Also, my style has changed since I started this. Most noticeably, I write entirely third person POV now, so adding the couple sections I did was difficult. If my POV is still messed up in some places, I apologize.

Thank you all for reading Time Will Tell and I hope you enjoyed it!