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Spock had once told Nyota that more than a third of the Vulcan population were trained as physicians. He was unsure of the statistic at present; however, when Spock had found her, there was no shortage of those familiar enough with human physiology to examine her. Ultimately it was T'Mana that had evaluated Nyota's health and decreed her well enough to avoid any further treatment. She did admonish Nyota not to do anything strenuous, however, she was looking at Spock when she spoke. T'Mana had not set up a home on this world, else she would have asked Nyota to stay with her. Of course, once news began to spread about T'Mana's presence, droves of New Vulcan settlers approached her with offers of their own humble dwellings. T'Mana's great grandaughter lived on New Vulcan and T'Mana opted to stay with her.
Spock had shared quarters with Sarek that evening while Nyota recuperated in Spock's room. Nyota wanted his company, but Spock did not trust his control. Nyota was tired, dehydrated and suffered a mild concussion from the blow that had knocked her out; however, after seeing the battered, rasping body of the guard, she trusted Spock's judgment on his control. Before T'Mana would let Nyota rest, she wanted to talk.
"Child," T'Mana began, "you continue to call the very best of the worlds of the Federation to your aid. I am heartened that you are well." T'Mana placed a hand against Nyota's cheek. Nyota, always more affectionate than T'Mana, forwent the restrained affection and embraced the woman who had been more of a mother to her than her own mother had been.
"Thank you for coming for me T'Mana." Nyota spoke into the taller woman's shoulder as they sat on Spock's modest bed.
"Do not be illogical. You know that you have but to ask, and I would do anything you requested." T'Mana spoke softly and allowed her arms to return Nyota's embrace, Sarek's words still fresh in her mind. T'Mana finally broke the embrace and looked into Nyota's face. "We must speak of less comforting things child."
Nyota told T'Mana everything. She told her about the sacrifice that Spock was prepared to make for her. She told her about the council's recall. She told T'Mana about pon farr and about Sarek bringing her to Vulcan to comfort Spock. In turn, T'Mana told Nyota about Tovik's plan and how it replicated Skiak's work of more than a century ago. Nyota cried when she realised what could of happened, and she blamed herself. She blamed herself for not being there for Spock when he needed her the most. She told T'Mana that if she had been with Spock this whole time, none of this would have happened. She would have known that Spock was going through pon farr, his feelings would not have been so unmanageable and he would not have suffered so much.
Nyota had wanted to talk to T'Mana about everything, but it had all happened so fast. Spock had proposed that they become bondmates just before Nero had prompted the fleet into action. Nyota had said yes; however, the hasty mind meld that followed Amanda's memorial service was not what she had anticipated. She loved being connected to Spock, but she had a hard time understanding the mechanics of it all. Telepathy was not her strong suit. She had barely told anyone on the ship of her "official" status with Spock, if it could even be called that. She wanted to speak to her father and to T'Mana, but both were so busy after the fall of Vulcan and the attack on Earth. And when everyone had begun to recover from their shock and grief, Nyota was engaged in her mission. There simply had been no time. Nyota's head was reeling. Spock had only told her what pon farr was a few weeks ago, and now he was going through it, nearly killing a man with his bare hands. She had spoken with Spock before about her discomfort with his capacity toward violence and seeing it didn't make it easier. It was not really the capacity for violence, Nyota admitted to T'Mana, because everyone had the capacity, but Spock's effective demonstrations of it. Everything poured out of Nyota so rapidly that she was uncomfortable in the silence that followed. She looked at T'Mana, exhausted, expecting T'Mana to say something stern, practical and intelligent. Instead, when T'Mana spoke, it was gentle.
"Such is life when one is bonded to a Vulcan." T'Mana took Nyota's hands in her own and let her fingertips touch hers. Nyota felt T'Mana's love for Nyota and pride in her accomplishments. Nyota also felt T'Mana's pride in Nyota's selection of Spock. T'Mana had worried when she had visited Nyota and her father in San Francisco only to find out that Nyota was considering a longer term commitment to Spock. It was not simply her feelings about Sarek that colored her impressions of the couple, but she worried that Nyota would live a frustrated life, looking for affection where it would not be found. From all appearances, however, Spock met Nyota's needs. T'Mana let her mind drift back to her own bondmate Visec and the improbability of their union. Her bonding with Visec had had been the best thing in her life for more than 98 years. She wished the same comfort, love and challenge for Nyota and let all of it float through her fingers into Nyota's mind. T'Mana was not surprised when the younger woman began crying again, and fell into her arms once more. T'Mana decided that this was acceptable and constituted balance.
Before T'Mana left, she spoke frankly to Nyota about pon farr. She wanted Nyota to understand that it would could be frightening and difficult, or it could be an experience that deepened her connection to Spock. She explained that Vulcans were bonded prior to pon farr but the true bond, the bond that would last their whole lives, would begin during this time. She candidly answered all of Nyota's questions and assured Nyota that she would work to ensure that her relationship with Spock went as smoothly as possible.
The next day Nyota woke to a low grade headache that went away when she drank water and administered a dose of muscle relaxer to ease the tension from her neck. She was up late by Vulcan standards and once she dressed, she went to find Spock. They needed to talk. She found Spock at the Science Academy where he was anxiously ensuring that every thing was in place.
"Spock?" Nyota said meekly. Spock turned to look at her, his face contorted to hide his smile. "Can we talk?"
"Of course." A million things went through Spock's mind and his face darkened in dread. Both he and Sarek had spent the previous night in deep meditation to control the emotions that were associated with the events of the day. Spock had no idea what T'Mana might have spoken to Nyota about. Spock did know that Nyota had been disturbed by what Spock had done to the man, identified as Z'lich, the night before. She had been disturbed by his attack on Captain Kirk. If T'Mana disapproved of Spock in the way she disapproved of his father, Nyota might be here to announce her plans to end their relationship. T'Mana's great granddaughter was an accomplished healer and could probably break their bond. Spock took a deep breath and walked toward Nyota. "What do you wish to speak with me about Nyota?" Spock looked into her eyes, fearing that it was the last time he would do so as her lover.
"I wish to," Nyota paused gathering up her courage. "I wish to make a koon ut so'lik Spock." She looked up at him and watched as his eyebrows shot up. Of the many things he was prepared to hear, a formal proposal of marriage was not one of them. "How do you respond Spock?" Nyota smiled. "Or do you need some time to consider my worth as a bondmate?"
Sarek was speaking to the recently arrived Federation authorities when he saw Nyota and Spock walk into the shadow of the Vulcan Science Academy together. He watched as Spock's face change from dire to surprised to rapturously happy. Sarek had never seen such gladness on his son's face and despite an initial twinge of discomfort at the expression, he was happy to have lived to see such a thing. Sarek had never had a means to know if Spock was content. The fact that his face lit up and so reminded Sarek of Amanda' filled Sarek with joy. Sarek continued to watch as Spock pulled Nyota into his arms, then touching his forehead to hers. The pair stood like that for sometime before Nyota finally pulled away and pressed her lips to his one more time before jogging past Spock. Sarek looked in the direction of Nyota's path and saw that he had not been the only one observing the young lovers. T'Mana waited for Nyota and Nyota walked with her into the center of Shi'Kahr Beta.
When Sarek returned home for the evening Spock was still displaying significant symptoms of pon farr but he was strangely focused.
"Spock? What is your condition at this time?" Sarek inquired, having given up asking Spock if he was well.
"Nyota has made a formal marriage proposal. I am preparing my vows so that I may incorporate certain elements of her culture's marital traditions." Spock looked up from his PADD at his father. "It is the least that I can do after all that she has given me."
"A proposal?" Sarek was surprised. More and more Vulcans were left to declare koon ut so 'lik since so many bondmates had unnecessarily died on Vulcan, still, that Nyota had done so after such a traumatic event surprised Sarek. He had not expected such a response.
"Yes. She said that T'Mana told her it would be appropriate. She will be staying with T'Lal until the ceremony. T'Lal is T'Mana's great granddaughter. You are aware of her status as a healer. T'Mana suggests that T'Lal will strengthen our bond. T'Mana has volunteered to perform the ritual." Spock was very calm when he spoke, no hint of emotion in his voice. His mouth, on the other hand, curved up drastically at the corners and his eyes shown with excitement.
"T'Mana suggested all of this?" Sarek was genuinely surprised. He had not expected such action from T'Mana. He realized with a start that T'Mana always surprised and confounded him in some way. With some bitterness, Sarek realized that this relationship with T'Mana was one of the only constants of his life. He had known of T'Mana since he was a boy and she never failed to throw his established thoughts into disarray.
"Yes. Nyota's father Kiano will arrive in the morning." Spock looked up at Sarek. "I do hope that you will be able to function with both T'Mana and Kiano without feeling the need to interrogate them?" Sarek just stood with his mouth slightly ajar. Sarek would not have characterized his inquiry into Kiano's relationship with T'Mana in such a manner, especially considering T'Mana's reputation for ruthlessness in her own pursuits of justice. Further, Sarek had not been aware that Nyota had shared that information with Spock. Ultimately, however, Sarek nodded his head.
"Father. I must ask you a favor." Spock paused, "Should my...time... interfere with the opening of the academy" Spock began.
"Of course. I will handle all." Sarek was relieved that Spock was not going to ask that Sarek avoid the ceremony or something worse. "I imagine that you will have returned to yourself before the Academy opens. There is a great deal of speculation about Tovik's arrest, so the media is currently uninterested in the opening of the Academy. Of course, I have arranged that your and Lieutenant Uhura's statements will only be taken when your fever has cooled."
"You have my thanks father." Spock turned back to his vows and changed his mind. "Nyota and I are both very fortunate at this time. Both you and T'Mana have assisted us in ways that I had not thought possible; however, father, you especially have offered me a great deal of support during my time here on New Vulcan." Spock abruptly turned back to his PADD. Sarek thought about responding, but could think of nothing to say, so he left Spock to write. Spock had been doing much writing during his time on Vulcan and it seemed to soothe him.
Author's note: Thanks for reading! Up next, a little marriage, a little pon farr, a little loving. I know I said this chapter would be the lovey chapter but I needed to break it up so it wouldn't be too chunky. There was some parental love though! I hope you enjoyed it.