Temptations
Chapter 14 : Yearning
November, 2268
During the time it took the Enterprise to reach the nearest StarBase, McCoy tried to involve as many of the crew as possible in the care of the children. Some he got to take them to the gym, for exercise, and swimming lessons. Some he convinced to accompany them to the mess hall. Others were coerced into reading bedtime stories or assisting with craft work. He tried to keep the children busy and escorted at all times.
Some of the crew found that they really enjoyed being with the children. Others found, to their surprise, that children were interesting. Spock was one of those. He had not spent very much time at all in the presence of children since he had ceased being one himself. He discovered that their minds were like flowerbuds, ready to unfurl in the presence of light, in this case, eager to absorb knowledge. All he need do was present the knowledge in a manner in which they could understand it. He found the oldest child, Tommy, to be extremely interested in science, and spent at least an hour with him each day, giving him small research projects to complete, and then discussing them with him the next day.
Some of the crew were natural parents. They cuddled the small ones when sadness came over them, rocking, even singing to them. Nyota was one of those. She could be found singing lullabies every night. Spock overheard her one night, and the next he was there, with his ka'athyra, accompanying her. She smiled at him over the head of the child she had in her lap, and he felt her love flow out to him.
When they reached the StarBase, many crewmembers came to the transporter deck to bid farewell to the children. They ran and hugged their favorites, tears sparkling in their eyes. Some of the crew surreptitiously wiped tears from their own eyes. Spock observed that Nyota's face was streaked with tears she did not try to hide.
That evening, Spock sat in front of his firepot, thinking. For only the second time in his life he contemplated progeny. He had felt something very satisfactory in assisting the young male to learn. It was not the same as assisting the young ensigns, straight from the academy, who were assigned to his department. This was much more satisfactory, causing a warm sensation that he was not at all familiar with. And playing while Nyota sang lullabies had been a new sensation as well, one which he felt a strong desire to repeat. He found that it had filled an empty place in his psyche that he had been unaware of.
He remembered the tears streaking down her face as she hugged the children in the transporter deck. She had not wanted to see them go. That had been very obvious. She had spent much time with them while they were on their way to the StarBase, much more time than McCoy had asked for. This must certainly indicate that she wished to spend time with children, that they satisfied some need which she had. Of course, it was still possible that this did not indicate that she wished for children of her own. But the likelihood was very great. Very great. He did not know how to approach this subject with her. But he felt that it was something that they must address, at some point.
He composed himself and drifted down into meditation, the image of a small child with mocha skin and pointed ears in the back of his mind.